Still Second Class…

Maine rejected marriage equality today by voting yes on #1.

If only they knew how it feels…
Maybe things would be different…
If only they knew they made me cry…

I’m sorry, I just don’t have it in me to write much more…I really had hoped I wouldn’t end the night teary-eyed and feeling like I was second class.

Looking on the brighter side, Washington approved Ref#71, so we have everything but the title in Washington state.

We Are One Step Closer To Not Being Second Class Citizens!

 

Today, President Barack Obama made good on his first promise to LGBTAmericans by signing the hate crimes legislation into law!

Today, we are one step closer to no longer being second class…

From an article entitled “President Barack Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislation Into Law” at HRC.org:

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised President Barack Obama today for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.  The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.  The legislation was added as a provision to the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act earlier this Summer.  For a comprehensive retrospective and historical overview of hate crimes advocacy visit: www.hrc.org/loveconquershate.

“This law honors our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short because of hate,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “Today’s signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality.  Although this is a major step in fighting the scourge of hate violence, it is not the end of the road.  As a community, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to changing not only laws but also hearts and minds.  We know that hate crimes not only harm individuals, but they terrorize entire communities.  After more than a decade of advocacy, local police and sheriffs’ departments now have the full resources of the Justice Department available to them.”

“We applaud President Obama for signing this bill into law and thank the leadership and our allies in the House and Senate.   We also will always remember the tireless efforts of Senator Edward Kennedy on this issue.  Senator Kennedy once said that this legislation sends ‘a message about freedom and equality that will resonate around the world.’   This marks the first time that we as a nation have explicitly protected the LGBT community in the law.  And this law sends a loud message that perpetrators of hate violence against anyone will be brought to justice,” said Solmonese.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act honors the memory of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student brutally murdered in an act of hate violence in 1998, and James Byrd, an African-American man who was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas, in 1998.

“We are incredibly grateful to Congress and the president for taking this step forward on behalf of hate crime victims and their families, especially given the continuing attacks on people simply for living their lives openly and honestly,” said Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.  “But each of us can and must do much more to ensure true equality for all Americans.”

“We appreciate everyone who worked so hard on this bill.  My son was taken at such an early age and we hope this law will help prevent other families from going through what we experienced,” said Stella Byrd, mother of James Byrd.  “Even though we’re different colors and different sexual orientations or gender identities, God made us all and he loves us all.”

The new law also provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. It also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes.

This legislation was first introduced in the 105th Congress.  There have been 14 total votes in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to bring this historic legislation to the president’s desk.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Let’s keep this momentum going!  One day soon, we are no longer going to be Second Class Citizens!

Barney Frank: The March Is Pointless

From Advocate.com:

As gay rights activists prepare to descend on Washington, D.C., for the National Equality March, one of the highest ranking openly gay politicians in the nation took to Michelangelo Signorile’s radio show to say the whole thing is pointless.

Barney Frank discussed the march, hate-crimes protections, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the military’s gay ban, but got the most listener response to his rant on the march, saying it won’t likely do anything and that President Obama “doesn’t need any pressure.”

Frank went on to say that gays and lesbians would better spend their time at home lobbying their politicians than making the trek to D.C.

“I literally don’t understand how this will do anything,” he said. “People are kidding themselves. I don’t want people patting themselves on the back for doing something that is useless.”

Listen to Frank’s full radio interview here.

October is GLBT History Month!

From Equality Forum:

In the 1990’s, teachers and community organizations determined that a month should be designated for GLBT history. They chose October because public schools are in session and traditions, such as National Coming Out Day, occur then.

GLBT History Month is endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations. In 2006, Equality Forum assumed responsibility for GLBT History Month.

Celebrate Our Heritage

The GLBT community is the only community worldwide that does not learn its history at home, in public schools or in religious institutions. GLBT History Monthteaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community and makes the civil rights statement of our extraordinary national and international contributions.

About Equality Forum:

Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual international GLBT civil rights forum. For more information, visit www.equalityforum.com and GLBTHistoryMonth.com!

Gay MEP Michael Cashman criticises UN General Assemblypresident’s ‘unacceptable’ anti-gay views

From PinkNews:

As PinkNews.co.uk reported last week, Ali Abdussalam Treki said that homosexuality is “not really acceptable”.

Treki, who is the Libyan secretary of African Union Affairs, opened the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly last Friday with a press conference.

One question concerned the UN resolution which calls for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality.

In reply, Treki said: “That matter is very sensitive, very touchy. As a Muslim, I am not in favour of it . . . it is not accepted by the majority of countries. My opinion is not in favour of this matter at all. I think it’s not really acceptable by our religion, our tradition.

“It is not acceptable in the majority of the world. And there are some countries that allow that, thinking it is a kind of democracy . . . I think it is not,” he added.

In a statement released today, Cashman attacked the “inappropriate and unacceptable” comments.

He said: “Such statements are totally inappropriate and unacceptable. He must now speak on behalf of those who do not have a voice and forget his religious beliefs which must remain private. He must realise that the implications of his words could legitimise violence towards LGBT people.”

Cashman, who is the president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT rights, called on Treki to “think again” and added: “He is there to defend the principles of the United Nations and that includes the Universal Declaration Human Rights Act 1948 and all following amendments and covenants of rights, including LGBT human rights.”

The resolution on homosexuality which Treki referred to was signed by 66 countries and passed last December.

Florida court throws out case of lesbian banned from seeing dying partner

From PinkNews:

A lesbian who was banned by a hospital from visiting her dying partner has had her case thrown out of court.

Janice Langbehn sued Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for not allowing her to see Lisa Pond, 39, her partner of 17 years.

Pond suffered a fatal brain aneurysm on February 18th, 2007. Langbehn says a social worker would not let her see her partner, who died alone the next day.

The couple, who had three adopted children, were on holiday on a gay-friendly Caribbean cruise when Pond became ill.

Langbehn and her children were not allowed to be with Pond in her final hours and hospital officials allegedly told Langbehn she was in an anti-gay city and state.

After waiting eight hours, she was eventually allowed to see Pond for five minutes as a priest performed the last rites.

Langbehn and gay charity Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit against Jackson Memorial Hospital but this was thrown out of court this week.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the case should be dismissed because the hospital had no obligation to allow visitors to see patients.

It also ruled that there was no obligation to provide patients’ families, healthcare surrogates, or visitors with access to patients in their trauma unit.

The court has given the Langbehn-Pond family until October 16th to review the ruling and consider all legal options.

Beth Littrell, staff attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, said: “The court’s decision paints a tragically stark picture of how vulnerable same-sex couples and their families really are during times of crisis.

“We hope that because of Janice’s courage to seek justice for her family in this case that more people better understand the costs of anti-gay discrimination. This should never happen to anyone.”

GLSEN Names Georgia High School Senior Austin Laufersweiler Student Advocate of the Year

From GLSEN:

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is pleased to announce that 18-year-old Austin Laufersweiler will receive GLSEN’s inaugural Student Advocate of the Year Award presented by AT&T at GLSEN’s fifth annual Respect Awards – Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Oct. 9. Laufersweiler is a senior at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga.”Austin is an outstanding student leader who responded to the difficulties he faced in high school by committing himself to making Lassiter High School safer, as well as contributing to efforts to change schools throughout the Atlanta area,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “His courage and dedication are remarkable, and he is a tremendous example of how students can effect change. We are honored to present Austin with GLSEN’s first Student Advocate of the Year Award.”

Since experiencing anti-gay bullying at school as a sophomore, Austin has worked as an advocate for equality and safety at Lassiter High School and his broader community. He founded Lassiter’s Gay-Straight Alliance, organized last year’s Day of Silence at the school and has worked with the administration to implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Austin also worked to ensure a safer school climate at his former middle school, creating a safe-space training for teachers to provide the tools to effectively intervene when they hear anti-gay remarks, specifically “that’s so gay.” Austin used materials from GLSEN and the Ad Council’s Think Before You Speak campaign to develop the training, which attracted over 40 educators and led to requests for additional trainings.

Affected by the suicide of 11-year-old Jaheem Herrera, Austin also participated in a panel discussion about the need to address anti-gay bullying in schools at a town hall organized by the Georgia Coalition Against bullying after Jaheem’s death. Jaheem, who did not identify as gay, took his own life after enduring bullying, including anti-gay bullying, in elementary school.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Student Advocate of the Year Award. I feel like my efforts are being recognized and understood by others as important,” Austin said. “This award reinforces my sense of purpose to put down homophobic attitudes. Our GSA is trying to stand up for safety in schools. We’re trying to give a voice to others who are silenced. We just want a safer school environment. We didn’t want people to be afraid to come to school.”

GLSEN’s Student Advocate of the Year Award presented by AT&T honors an outstanding young person whose efforts have helped ensure a safe learning environment for all students – and have served as a voice of change in their school and their community.

About GLSEN:
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN’s research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org

NYPD Ripped In Gay Bash

A popular Manhattan deejay yesterday charged that cops “did nothing” after he and two friends were attacked in a gay-bashing incident in Hell’s Kitchen over the weekend.

“I am more angry at the lack of response than the incident,” said Blake Hayes, a WPLJ disc jockey. “We asked several times to file a report. They [cops] never opened a pad of paper.”

The NYPD hate-crimes unit is now investigating the incident, after City Council Speaker Christine Quinn intervened, Hayes and officials said.

Hayes said the disturbing incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday as he and two friends, Danny Calvert and Alec Bell, were walking past McCoy’s, a bar on Ninth Avenue.

A patron standing outside threw a lit cigarette butt at one of his friends, saying, “Keep moving, faggot,” Hayes said.

This led to angry words, and the man threw Calvert against a car and punched Bell in the face twice, Hayes said.

Shepard Murder Still Stirs Anger, Fear

From Advocate.com:

As the 11th anniversary of the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard nears, celebrations of his life are casting a wide net across the country. 

His mother Judy Shepard, who has become a figure in his foundation and in lobbying for hate crime legislation is making appearances to talk about her book, The Meaning of Matthew. While speaking at Salt Lake City’s Main Library on Sunday, however, the mood went from celebratory to sour, when an onlooker called Shepard out from the crowd. 

According to a report on Pam’s House Blend, a man in the audience took Shepard to task, saying that she was exacerbating the premises under which her son was murdered for her own political gain. He said the murderers only targeted Matthew because they wanted to rob him and were high… not because of his sexual orientation. A visibly upset Shepard, however, refuted the claim, pointing out that neither of the killers tested positive for drugs when they were picked up by the police. They also each admitted to their actions because of the flight. 

Meanwhile, the creators of The Laramie Project, a play centered around Matthew Shepard’s death, are celebrating the project’s 10th year on stages across America with an epilogue, which includes a prison interview with convicted murderer Aaron McKinney. 

In the jarring interview, conducted by Greg Pierotti, McKinney admits to being drawn to crime since childhood and feeling sympathy for Shepard’s family… but not for killing Matthew.

“As far as Matt is concerned, I don’t have any remorse,” McKinney is quoted as saying, according to a script acquired by the The Associated Press. He added, “Yeah, I got remorse, but probably not the way people want me to. I got remorse that I didn’t live the way my dad taught me to live.”

McKinney and his accomplice Russell Henderson approached Shepard in a bar in Laramie on October 7, 1998. They offered Shepard a ride in their car, but then they savagely beat him and left him tied to a fence. Eighteen hours later, he was found by a passing bike rider, and eventually died on October 12. 

More than 1,000 actors will perform the updated version of the show when it premiers in October on the anniversary of Shepard’s death. Pierotti and other members of the Tectonic Theater Project will perform the piece at New York’s Lincoln Center while actors will stage the work at more than 100 theaters nationwide.

Gays Warned: No More Mr. Nice Homophobe

Be sure to take a deep breath before you read this, it comes from The Progressive Puppy:

During the last four decades, religious conservatives have used the vilest language imaginable to degrade and demonize LGBT Americans.  They’ve portrayed us as perverts and child molesters, blamed us for Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, compared us to Nazis and communists, and warned that same-sex marriage will lead to the downfall of civilization.  And now they’re saying it’s time to stop being so “nice.”

Peter writes on Right Wing Watch:  Religious Right leaders say the key to resisting the “homosexual extremist movement” is to stop being so nice and polite when it comes to the gays.  About 100 activists at the “How to Take Back America” conference attended the workshop on “How to Counter the Homosexual Extremist Movement.”   Workshop speakers Matt Barber and Brian Camenker urged people to be loud rabble-rousers when opposing the teaching of tolerance or sex ed in public schools.  They said not to worry about being nice or polite or liked, but to push God’s anti-gay agenda forcefully.  “Christ wasn’t about being nice,” said Barber…  There was some small disagreement about how much people should rely on religious arguments in the public sphere, with Matt Barber urging people to focus on the “ick” factor around gay sex and on claims that homosexuality is a health threat, which he called the movement’s “Achilles heel.”  In response, Sally Kern, the Oklahoma legislator who knows a bit about anti-gay not-niceness, argued that the anti-gay movement had to stay grounded in “God’s truth” and blamed churches for not having done enough. (Oh I dunno, Sal.  Seems to me like fundamentalist churches have done an admirable job of spreading hate.  We’ve even seen a Baptist preacher telling his flock that gays should be executed.)

Professional homo-hater Matt Barber is wrong about the effectiveness of a “health threat” strategy, which is easy enough to refute with science.  Sure, evangelicals snap their fingers at science - but most reasonable citizens still accept the opinion of researchers on public health issues.  The “ick factor” will be more difficult to counter because it’s so ingrained in the minds of (mostly male) heterosexuals.

I honestly can’t imagine how the Religious Right plans to be less “nice” toward gays than they already are.  It would be like saying they now plan to be less “honest” in their campaign against same-sex marriage.  These people reached the bottom of that barrel a long time ago.