Equality in the News February 13-19

Thanks again to stellar Communications Intern Danielle for rounding up the news!

State

NC LGBT Advocates Seek Protections

After successfully passing the LGBT-inclusive School Violence Prevention Act, LGBT rights advocates have set their sites on passing employment protections here in North Carolina. We will have to be patient though; an initiative like this will have to wait until 2011 when the legislature will reconvene for a long session.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in North Carolina

Recent polls suggest that North Carolinians are moving away from their conservative roots and toward embracing progressive social causes. More than 50 percent of North Carolinians support President Obama’s proposal to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Perhaps residents are beginning to recognize LGBT rights as a not political issue, but as a human rights issue.

Nation

New Hampshire Equal Marriage Safe

On Wednesday, two measures that would have eliminated equal marriage in New Hampshire were struck down. The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 210-109 to end the HB 1590 initiative that would have repealed the legalization of equal marriage. Afterward, that same body voted down a proposition that would have given New Hampshire citizens the right to approve or reject same sex marriage.

It is refreshing to see that there are legislators who recognize that the rights of the minority should NEVER be decided upon by the majority group. The preservation of equal marriage is a great step in our fight. Now if the rest of the states would follow suit, we would really be making progress.

Former Mayor of Cambridge to run for State Senator

The first lesbian African-American mayor has announced her candidacy for State Senator of Massachusetts.

Way to Go Equality California!

Our friends at Equality California have sponsored the first bill in the nation that included gender identity and sexual orientation on state forms. This bill would allow the state to gather real data about gays, lesbians, and transgender people and their usage of public services.

Should this bill pass, this would increase the state's ability to evaluate the needs of the LGBT community in terms of crucial public services and programs, such as job training. Studies have shown that families led by same-sex couples do not have the same economic resources as other families.

This bill is tremendous for California. After the heartbreaking passage of Proposition 8, this could begin California's redemption to the LGBT community. Any bill that would recognize California’s diverse population are positive ones for the LGBT community.