tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91490035552605496942024-03-18T05:13:52.347-04:00Equality NC Blogsecuring equal rights and justice for<br>lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender north carolinians.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481413725026749284noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-28910680970439378502011-05-24T18:55:00.004-04:002011-05-24T19:07:25.670-04:00Pastor’s Message God Showed Us<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-frcMDUZia3U/Tdw5RE3_5JI/AAAAAAAAADw/E8d3NuGm4D0/s1600/NC%2BEquality%2BPress%2BConference%2BFaith%2BLeaders%2B051711.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 152px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-frcMDUZia3U/Tdw5RE3_5JI/AAAAAAAAADw/E8d3NuGm4D0/s320/NC%2BEquality%2BPress%2BConference%2BFaith%2BLeaders%2B051711.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610422201325970578" border="0" /></a>By Rev. Susan Smith<br /><br />[Article featured in Rev. Smith's weekly column for <span style="font-style: italic;">The County News</span>, a newspaper reaching Caldwell, Catawba, Rowan, Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties, on the recent faith press conference sponsored by Equality NC.]<br /><br />Acts 10:27-28 (NIV)<br /><br />“While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”<br /><br />Last week I was invited to join other faith leaders from across the state at a press conference in Raleigh to stand together in opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act which would prohibit all forms of legal relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. We were from different denominations and faith traditions, serving the one God who is in all, and through all.<br /><br />Faith-based condemnation against gay and lesbian people is at the root of the legalized discrimination they face in our country today. Those who quote scriptures chapter and verse continue to rail against the growing demands for full and equal civil rights for gay, lesbian, bi- sexual, transgender, and questioning people. “We cannot allow them to marry because we are standing on the word of God!” say those who are fighting to stop them.<br /><br />The case to deny full and equal civil rights to others based on religious arguments is an old one. Standing on the word of God was used to justify and defend slavery, deny women the civil right to vote, and deny people of different races the civil right to marry. Scripture was used to justify and defend segregation. The KKK holds Bibles in their hands while they burn crosses. It is a tragedy that the good news of Jesus Christ has been such bad news historically in the struggle for full and equal civil rights for all of God’s children.<br /><br />In Acts 10, Peter was a Jew called to a Gentile’s house by God. His faith tradition required him to reject them as unequal, but God gave him a revelation that expanded his spiritual consciousness. He said to them, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”<br /><br />So it is today with faith leaders who have had a revelation about sexual orientation. Science has proven conclusively that it is seated in the brain, not the genitals. People do not choose minority sexual orientations to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning. They have the same normal desires for family and marriage as heterosexuals.<br /><br />Marriage in America is a civil right giving legal protections for committed couples in important areas such as family law, insurance coverage, property ownership and much more.<br /><br />In the landmark 1967 civil rights case Loving v. Virginia; the United States Supreme Court unanimously decided that the State of Virginia denying marriage between people solely on the basis of racial classifications violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.<br /><br />I believe that the civil rights movement for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, and questioning people is moving in the same direction, and will be won for the same reasons. People of faith may continue to be divided on this for a long time. Some still use religious arguments to condemn interracial marriage, but they cannot deny the civil right of marriage to interracial couples.<br /><br />Just like Peter, many faith leaders today have had a revelation. God has shown us that gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, and questioning people are his children, and that we need to accept them as equals before God just like Peter did with the Gentiles. Humanity is advancing, and our God consciousness is expanding. Faith leaders who do not agree will sooner or later have to accept their civil right to marry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-79559798512493942142011-04-18T14:21:00.018-04:002011-04-18T18:39:05.706-04:00Not Exactly the Job-Creation Legislation We Voted For<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSGFzRb8o4w/Tay8LxQb2cI/AAAAAAAAADE/pKOgCN5KEzI/s1600/outofwork"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 169px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSGFzRb8o4w/Tay8LxQb2cI/AAAAAAAAADE/pKOgCN5KEzI/s320/outofwork" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597055347301538242" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Last year’s midterm elections ushered in a new wave of North Carolina leadership on the promise of job creation in a state facing severe deficits and double-digit unemployment. Unfortunately, we’re not exactly getting the job-creation legislation we voted for. </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Take for example the priorities of North Carolina Senator Jim Forrester who, at the beginning of the year, promised to forego an eighth attempt at a "Super DOMA" in the Tar Heel State in order to focus on more pressing economic issues. "It will probably be brought up next year," Forrester told the <i><a href="http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/hastings-54400-committees-general.html">Gaston Gazette<span style="font-style: normal;"> on January 19, 2011</span></a></i>. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Fast-forward four weeks later, and Forrester went back on his word. While even his own hometown newspaper acknowledged that “there are more pressing issues to attend to,” the Gaston County Republican sponsored Senate Bill 106, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite sex couples, as state statute already does, as well as outlawing civil unions or domestic partnerships. The N.C. House followed this month with its own narrower version (House Bill 777), that represents the same divisive, discriminatory and distracting legislation which would effectively write discrimination into our state's founding document.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The anti-LGBT amendment joins a host of other social legislation that prompted Taylor Batten, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Charlotte Observer</span>'s editorial page editor, to manifest what many were already thinking in his recent article "</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/16/2228679/lawyers-guns-and-money-but-no.html">Lawyers, guns and money, but no jobs</a>."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In it, Batten writes, </span></p><blockquote style="font-family:georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">"...almost three months into the session, jobs have been the primary focus of very little legislation. What has your legislature, led by House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, been doing instead?<br /><br />Fighting to repeal federal health care reform.<br /><br />Working to expand gun-owner rights.<br /><br />Making emergency room doctors almost completely immune from any penalties for practicing sloppy medicine.<br /><br />Trying to decline $461 million in federal money for high-speed rail that would instead go to another state.<br /><br />Requiring photo identifications from voters.<br /><br />Overturning already-completed annexations.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Contemplating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.<br /></span><br />Working to bar the state from giving any money to Planned Parenthood.<br /><br />Aggressively expanding charter schools.<br /><br />And one out-of-touch freshman even introduced a bill creating a new currency based on the gold standard, in case the Federal Reserve defaults.<br /><br />You may agree or disagree with some or all of those initiatives. Either way, they have next to nothing to do with creating jobs or balancing the state budget.<br /><br />And those, sadly, were the two imperatives that deserved attention above all else."<br /></span></p></blockquote><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >But with your help, we can push our politicians to keep their promises as we also push for equal rights for all North Carolinians.</span><br /><div style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b> </b></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=395">Contact Your Legislators.</a></b><br />We’ve made it easy for you to let state legislators know, that we, the people of North Carolina, are more interested in them<b> keeping their focus on creating jobs, and not furthering hateful discrimination.<br /><br /></b></span> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" class="external-link" href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=139">"Write" the wrongs of this harmful legislation</a>. Help us send a message to the legislature by volunteering to get people in your community to complete postcards to their legislators in opposition to the anti-gay amendment. We'll make it easy by sending you a kit with everything you need.<br /></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><a href="https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=34">Build a State of Equality.</a><br />Join our statewide movement against this type of LGBT discrimination</b> with a donation to Equality North Carolina today.<br /><span style=""> </span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=49">Help Others Stay Connected to the Action.</a></b><br /><b>Recruit friends and family to join the Equality North Carolina Action Network</b> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> so they too can receive important local alerts and updates on legislative affairs affecting them.<br /></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b> </b></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#%21/equalitync">Join Us on Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/equalitync">Twitter.</a></b><br />To quickly and easily share news and information with friends, fans and followers (like your rights depend on it…and they do), <b>join Equality North Carolina where you already are</b>—on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#%21/equalitync">Facebook (facebook.com/equalitync)</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/equalitync">Twitter (@equalitync)</a>.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">-Jen Jones, Equality NC</span><br /></span></p> </div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-26132283373671868772011-03-29T22:39:00.012-04:002011-03-30T14:51:16.827-04:00The STARTA Something Big? Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) introduces the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORoHzdSB1bQ/TZKf2jTZJuI/AAAAAAAAACs/V7C8KzTIsyg/s1600/view.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORoHzdSB1bQ/TZKf2jTZJuI/AAAAAAAAACs/V7C8KzTIsyg/s320/view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589705847058540258" border="0" /></a>A bill that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited basis for workplace discrimination was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Despite the fact that nearly 90% of Americans favor equal employment rights for LGBT citizens and the apparent readiness of President Obama to sign </span>the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (or ENDA)—a bill that has been introduced in every Congress but one since 1994—it is <span style="">unlikely to pass in the current House of Representatives.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Conservative opponents argue ENDA would <span style="">disallow faith-based businesses from making personnel decisions based on their religious beliefs.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">But these critics fail to see ENDA for what it really is: a long-overdue jobs bill.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Throughout the country, LGBT people live in fear that they will lose their job if their employer finds out that they are LGBT. It is intolerable that people are forced to hide who they are in order to secure or maintain employment. <span style="">And with so much of our government’s focus on the economy and creating jobs</span>, each job that is lost due to prejudice compounds the unemployment challenges not just for the LGBT community, but for our nation’s economy as a whole. <span style="">It is a core American value to judge people on their work ethic and work product, not on who they are.<br /><b> </b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">ENDA will make the American dream available to LGBT citizens nationwide.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Think this is all hyperbole? Think again.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The National Transgender Discrimination Survey results show that transgender people in throughout the U.S. suffer from tremendously high levels of job discrimination and economic security, with</span><span style=""> 26% losing a job just because of who they are and 90% experiencing mistreatment or harassment, or hiding who they are to avoid it. Transgender people experience twice the unemployment rate as the general population and almost four times the poverty.<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Add to these facts the finding that in 2007, 28% of LGBT adults reported experiencing workplace discrimination with 21% reporting discrimination on a weekly basis.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Factoring in unemployment benefits, wasted training expenses, and lowered productivity—of both the abusers and their victims—discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace costs all of us as much as $1.4 billion per year in lost output. This amount is substantial by any measure, but given the need to restore our nation’s economic well-being, it is downright unacceptable.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Currently, <span style="">12 states and the District of Columbia</span> recognize these realities and have already enacted anti-discrimination policies that protect employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. <span style="">Over 100 localities</span> have adopted similar policies. Taken together, these protections extend to <span style="">40%</span> of the US population.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">For the majority of our country however, including in North Carolina, there are either no laws protecting LGBT people from workplace discrimination and harassment or inadequate laws that do not protect all members of our community.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">That is why we need a federal standard calling for equal treatment of all employees. <span style="">That is why we need ENDA. Because whether or not you get to keep your job should not depend on where you live.<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">In the meantime, you can also catch this cause at work here at home. Yesterday (3/29), </span>Equality NC secured introduction of <span style="">House Bill 472: Nondiscrimination in State/Employment</span> by Representatives Luebke, Brandon, Fisher and Harrison, along with 14 co-sponsors.<span style=""> </span><a href="http://equalitync.org/leg/11/h478">Click here to learn more about this important legislation</a>.<span style=""> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The vast majority of North Carolinians join the rest of the nation in opposing employment discrimination against LGBT people. And so </span>this bill falls in line with public opinion, protecting state employees from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. It amends the State Personnel Act by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes for discrimination in hiring; denial of promotion, transfer or training; retaliatory demotion, reduction in force or termination; and harassment.<br /><span style=""><br />Let’s hope ENDA can be the STARTA something bigger.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Until then, we must ensure that equality works here at home.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style="font-style: italic;">-Jen Jones, Equality NC</span><br /></span> </p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-82729179121562445612011-03-28T17:23:00.012-04:002011-03-28T18:35:47.779-04:00In North Carolina, Bullies Come In All Shapes and Sizes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZVkdKSLXYk/TZD_Isq3JaI/AAAAAAAAACE/Wm3CdeGWBw8/s1600/itgetsbetter_highres_custom-1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZVkdKSLXYk/TZD_Isq3JaI/AAAAAAAAACE/Wm3CdeGWBw8/s200/itgetsbetter_highres_custom-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589247662461756834" border="0" /></a>You may have caught last week’s <em><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Fresh Air</span></em>, when <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/03/23/134628750/dan-savage-for-gay-teens-life-gets-better">Terry Gross interviewed columnist Dan Savage and Terry Miller</a> about their marriage, the adoption of their son, and the impact of their “It Gets Better” movement, on teenage bullying. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The "It Gets Better" movement, as it's now called, spurred by a rash of teen suicides in 2010, is based on the premise that if older gay people offer hope and encouragement to gay teens, the teens would realize that their lives were worth living. Thereby, Savage and Miller created a YouTube video about their own experiences being bullied as teens, to tell teenagers a simple message about the future: It gets better. </p><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7IcVyvg2Qlo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The "It Gets Better" movement is now a global sensation, receiving over 10,000 video submissions, including entries from the likes of President Obama to Ke$ha. This month, Savage and Miller also published a companion book, <em><span style="font-family:Georgia;">It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying and Creating a Life Worth Living</span></em>, featuring essays from more than 100 of the video contributors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Notwithstanding the recent success of Savage and Miller’s now-viral campaign and its premise of older advocates offering encouragement to gay teens, we’re proud to say that Equality North Carolina was ahead of the curve. In 2009, ENC helped to win passage of a historic law assuring North Carolina public school students have the inclusive anti-bullying protections they deserve. In the end, our hope was that by curbing bullying in North Carolina classrooms, we would lessen the likelihood that local teens would lose hope and be tempted to take their own lives.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText">But despite these past legislative successes, now, more than ever, it’s important to remember that bullies come in all shapes, sizes…and even ages.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/hastings-54400-committees-general.html">Instead of dealing with pressing economic issues</a> as promised, <a href="http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=S&nUserID=28">North Carolina Republican Senator Jim Forrester</a> and a small group of NC legislators are pushing to pass an anti-LGBT constitutional amendment. The bill is meant to write discrimination into North Carolina’s founding document and, with a series of votes, write part of the state’s population out of rights and protections they deserve. This month, </span><span class="description">Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James revealed the real purpose behind the proposed amendment: making LGBT people unwelcome in the Tar Heel State. "We don't want them here," <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/03/01/1021125/gay-marriage-foes-see-hope-for.html">James told the <i style="">Raleigh News & Observer</i></a>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">That’s one heckuva message to gay teens. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">What’s more, this proposed bill is considered the most extreme version of an anti-LGBT amendment, including:</span><span style=""></span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">not only limiting marriage to gay and lesbian couples, as state statute already does, but also <b>prohibiting any other form of relationship recognition, such as civil union or domestic partnership</b>--forms of recognition that <a href="http://equalitync.org/news1/new-poll-confirms-majority-support-for-legal-recognition-of-same-sex-couples">a majority of North Carolinians clearly support</a>; </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">potentially<b> taking away private benefits</b> such as health insurance for LGBT couples, unmarried opposite-sex couples, and their children and <b>challenging</b> <b>private contracts between couples</b>; and</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="">writing</span></b><span style=""> <b>bigotry and discrimination into our state's founding document</b>, and, with the same stroke, removing the rights and responsibilities that are currently available to some couples.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Once again, Equality North Carolina is taking the lead in fighting these bullies for you and yours. And this time you can join ENC and other fair-minded North Carolinians who believe basic rights are not up for vote and these bullies need to be put in their place!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5GvnZ3t0Iw/TZD_jPqi8gI/AAAAAAAAACM/F2ugqRe50sg/s1600/equality_in_action_high.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5GvnZ3t0Iw/TZD_jPqi8gI/AAAAAAAAACM/F2ugqRe50sg/s200/equality_in_action_high.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589248118532272642" border="0" /></a><a href="http://equalitync.org/events"><b>Join Us on the EQUALITY IN ACTION Tour.</b></a><br />Following the success of our Winston-Salem, Durham and Charlotte events, Equality North Carolina invites you to <b>get informed and involved </b>through a series of statewide town hall meetings devoted to discussing the <a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Ze5t9%2FPpUbZCJlibXvDweqYblzhzMHK%2B">proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment</a>. Upcoming stops on the tour include Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Asheville. Supporters who cannot attend a local stop on the EQUALITY IN ACTION Tour can follow the <a href="http://twitter.com/equalitync">@equalitync action on Twitter</a> at the hashtag: #equalityaction.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5D600VQb40X9wMzRTm4%2FtaYblzhzMHK%2B"><b>"Write" Anti-LGBT Wrongs With the EQUALITY IN ACTION Postcard</b></a><br />Getting our postcards signed by friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers is a great way to both bring the anti-LGBT amendment issue to light while also letting local legislators know that fair-minded voters in their district care about equal rights. <b><a href="http://bit.ly/fcoEQ6">Request your pack of postcards today</a>.<br /></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=576CAQzFunOt2keGNWhi5aYblzhzMHK%2B"><b>Help Fund This Fight to Build a STATE OF EQUALITY.</b></a><br />Join our statewide movement against LGBT discrimination with a donation to Equality North Carolina today. A special thanks to everyone who has recently made donations, with an extra special thanks to all who have become monthly donors--a great way to provide sustained support during this pivotal time!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And as always, thank you for joining with Equality North Carolina—your statewide source for LGBT rights and justice—as we grow our own local movement to fight against this proposed legislation and for the shared rights of all North Carolinians. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">With your help, it indeed does get better.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">- Jen Jones, Equality NC</span><br /></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-74385724460412281302011-03-23T15:52:00.022-04:002011-03-23T17:12:13.151-04:00Remembering Legendary LGBT and HIV/AIDS Activist Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r66Fa27Kzy4/TYpdfTEbrjI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Az8JAOG8Cds/s1600/elizabeth-taylor.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 189px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r66Fa27Kzy4/TYpdfTEbrjI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Az8JAOG8Cds/s200/elizabeth-taylor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587381079982714418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">She was a legendary silver screen beauty;</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />an Academy-award winner;</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />a friend of Michael Jackson.<br /><br />But Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor’s most important role came in her later years as an ardent HIV/AIDS activist and ally to the LGBT community.<br /><br />Following the death of friend and fellow thespian Rock Hudson from an HIV/AIDS-related illness, Taylor was among the founders of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and started the <a href="http://www.elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org/">Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation</a> (ETAF). In the process, Dame Taylor helped raise millions of dollars to fight AIDS. And, at a time when other stars stayed quiet, she became one of the first public voices to speak up about the AIDS crisis.<br /><br />One of Taylor’s final tweets (yes, she was on <span class="apturelink"><a href="http://twitter.com/DameElizabeth">Twitter</a></span>): “<span class="apturelinkicon"> </span><span class="apturelink"><a href="http://twitter.com/DameElizabeth/status/19304304587">Give. Remember always to give. That is the thing that will make you grow</a></span>.”<br /><br />In that sense, Taylor had grown larger than the big screen she commanded.<br /><br />And in this, we honor her life.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ucOXUmd1rtE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >-Jen Jones, Equality North Carolina</span><p></p></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-14119975899042321282011-03-21T15:39:00.031-04:002011-03-23T15:55:54.657-04:00Equality NC Takes Back the Town Hall Meeting<span style="font-family:georgia;">The town hall meeting concept has taken a hit of late, evolving from simple public meetings to scenes of violent scuffles, most recently witnessed during the vitriolic health care debates of 2009. Night after night, in town after town, media outlets projected images of Congressional members placed in the proverbial firing lines of embittered constituents, changing the face of these public forums from havens of dialogue to hotbeds of anger.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="">But last week, Equality North Carolina “took back” the town hall meeting concept when representatives from the statewide LGBT rights organization hit the road to harness the energy of citizen engagement...this time “for good.”<br /><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw59mDLfrkk/TYeyVlhg7tI/AAAAAAAAAA0/jdX-V1FHmaY/s1600/equality_in_action_high.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sw59mDLfrkk/TYeyVlhg7tI/AAAAAAAAAA0/jdX-V1FHmaY/s200/equality_in_action_high.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586629946696068818" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="">Productive Dialogue on the Proposed Constitutional Amendment<br /></span></b><span style="">The EQUALITY IN ACTION Tour—a series of statewide town hall meetings devoted to civil discourse </span><span style="">surrounding the proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, among other issues from the General Assembly—kicked off March 17, from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem.<br /><br />Instead of harkening back to the more polarizing town halls of old, in this fair-minded forum from the Triad, Equality NC began responding to the public’s desire for answers and action against the amendment, and, in the process, enlisted help from a packed room representing <a href="http://equalitync.org/news1/new-poll-confirms-majority-support-for-legal-recognition-of-same-sex-couples">the majority of North Carolinians supportive <span style="">of legal recognition for the state’s gay and lesbian couples</span></a><span style="">.<br /><b> </b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span style=""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="">Equality NC Executive Director Ian Palmquist and Director of Community Organizing and Outreach Rebecca Mann led dozens of statewide LGBT supporters through the ins and outs of <a href="http://equalitync.org/news1/events2/news1/anti-gay-amendment-faq">the proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment</a>, as well as other local legislation that could potentially impact all who care about equal rights.<br /><br /></span><span style=""><table style="width: 622px; height: 160px;" border="1"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ziy08qOfgkg/TYezfH1a9eI/AAAAAAAAAA8/WJJXB6b3RY8/s1600/IMG_0997.JPG"> </a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2K43CiYAMLE/TYe1c9Nsv6I/AAAAAAAAABU/sAYt62RbjT4/s1600/IMG_1595.jpg"><span style=""><span style=""></span></span></a><span style=""><span style=""><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QipdXoLg_rU/TYez4479g8I/AAAAAAAAABE/pj70oCTdEFw/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QipdXoLg_rU/TYez4479g8I/AAAAAAAAABE/pj70oCTdEFw/s200/IMG_1607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586631652714316738" border="0" /></a></span></span></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QipdXoLg_rU/TYez4479g8I/AAAAAAAAABE/pj70oCTdEFw/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG"> </a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCTf9tlxquU/TYe0uxkrlEI/AAAAAAAAABM/Pc3R3itbP1A/s1600/IMG_1600.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCTf9tlxquU/TYe0uxkrlEI/AAAAAAAAABM/Pc3R3itbP1A/s200/IMG_1600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586632578450560066" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfYEk8mKA4E/TYe3USm8z8I/AAAAAAAAABk/_gM6hQfeUJE/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfYEk8mKA4E/TYe3USm8z8I/AAAAAAAAABk/_gM6hQfeUJE/s200/IMG_1595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586635421996863426" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><b style=""><span style="">Engaging Grass<i style="">roots</i> and Grass<i style="">tops</i></span></b><span style=""><br />Following an informative presentation and Q&A on pertinent legislative issues such as the </span><span style="">anti-LGBT amendment, participants broke into smaller brainstorming sessions devoted to the many ways that local communities can become more involved in Equality NC’s grassroots and grasstops efforts.<br /><br />From the grasstops, concerned citizens participated in group discussions on the best ways to address concerns and seek support from prominent political, business, and civic leaders in their local communities. Supporters were also encouraged to “get back to their grassroots” by “writing” anti-LGBT wrongs in the <a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=23">EQUALITY IN ACTION postcard campaign</a>—a powerful way to bring the anti-LGBT amendment issue to light while also letting local legislators know that fair-minded voters in their district care about equal rights.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zh10LzPQRt4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /></span><b style=""><span style=""><br />The EQUALITY IN ACTION Tour Comes to You</span></b><span style=""><br />Following the success of the Winston-Salem kick-off, the EQUALITY IN ACTION Tour will take off across the state in separate town halls in <a href="https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=634">Durham</a> (March 22), <a href="https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=635">Charlotte</a> (March 24), and <a href="https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=641">Greenville</a> (April 6), as well as future events slated for Asheville, Raleigh, and Wilmington.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><b style=""><span style="">New Ways of Engaging</span></b><span style=""><br />Can’t make a town hall meeting but still want to get involved? The power and principles of EQUALITY IN ACTION are also available in online advocacy, including:<br /><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Y%2FrX12liWiQNgaS%2BiYhW895L2R%2BdikLZ"><b><br /></b></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style=""><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Y%2FrX12liWiQNgaS%2BiYhW895L2R%2BdikLZ"><b>Keeping Others CONNECTED TO THE ACTION.</b></a></span></span><span style=""><br /><span style="">Supporters can recruit friends and family<b> </b></span>to join the Equality North Carolina Action Network so they too can receive important local alerts and updates on legislative affairs affecting them.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=576CAQzFunOt2keGNWhi5aYblzhzMHK%2B"><b>Build a STATE OF EQUALITY.</b></a><br /><span style="">Help us fund this important fight.</span> Join our statewide movement against LGBT discrimination with a donation to Equality North Carolina today.<br /><br /></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style=""><a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tuEA0Vs2gxFTL1MLJjDWwd5L2R%2BdikLZ">Joining ENC on FACEBOOK</a></span></b></span><b><span style=""> and <a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=G0oIT%2FgbW6RnFfszNTTI%2F95L2R%2BdikLZ">TWITTER.</a></span></b><span style=""><br />To quickly and easily share news and information with friends, fans and followers, supporters can join <span style="">Equality North Carolina where they already are</span>—on <a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JcgAU4mEkiSUnVbuiYyUat5L2R%2BdikLZ">Facebook (facebook.com/equalitync)</a> and <a href="http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kUmHZ540VmIwgUndl%2B8bAt5L2R%2BdikLZ">Twitter (@equalitync)</a>.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=""> </span></p> <span style="font-family:georgia;">The ENC social media mobilization extends to the town hall meetings themselves as supporters who cannot join us at each event can follow the @equalitync action on Twitter at the hashtag: #equalityaction. Share resources, ask questions, get answers, and make your voice heard—however virtually.<br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="">Because, in the end, the goal of these meetings is not simply to reframe town hall rhetoric, but rather to speak civilly to the rights and respect at stake—for all. </span></p><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">-Jen Jones, Equality North Carolina</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-19862022426218911582011-03-07T09:15:00.001-05:002011-03-08T09:39:50.075-05:00March 10: Women and Girls and HIV/AIDS, Oh My!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPgntlBDuWGr568HaB-Ohc3KXhJvnedWDvHtvmLIyiP_Igmqxjs9NnzO1OvFu-uZt-sTA7rJVPQt41sjY1ObiflPc6a5FhsXxZw-C5ddC9sXClSs6Jx6e1zvjTEqWS7YmlM1xqkRNaAqz/s1600/national-women-girls-hiv-awareness.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPgntlBDuWGr568HaB-Ohc3KXhJvnedWDvHtvmLIyiP_Igmqxjs9NnzO1OvFu-uZt-sTA7rJVPQt41sjY1ObiflPc6a5FhsXxZw-C5ddC9sXClSs6Jx6e1zvjTEqWS7YmlM1xqkRNaAqz/s320/national-women-girls-hiv-awareness.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581715428393961858" border="0" /></a>National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed specifically on March 10 every year, and it is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/about-us/">Office on Women's Health (OWH)</a>. OWH encourages organizations to hold events throughout the entire month of March. <p>National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that encourages people to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls. </p><p>According to the CDC, HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue affecting nearly 280,000 women in the United States. While men account for most HIV/AIDS cases, the impact on women is growing. In addition, research shows that, when compared to men, women face gaps in access and care.</p> <p>For a handy fact sheet, go here:</p><p><img src="http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/images/acrobat.png" alt="PDF" /> <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/activity-planning/materials/nwghaad-fact-sheet.pdf">National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Fact Sheet</a> (PDF, 434 KB)</p><p>(The new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, will prohibit insurance plans from putting lifetime caps on the dollar amount that they will spend on benefits. In the past, patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or other chronic diseases ran the risk of hitting a lifetime cap and losing access to care. The law also restricts most insurance companies' use of low annual dollar limits on benefits. In 2014, annual limits will be eliminated. In addition, the Affordable Care Act will help those living with HIV/AIDS be better able to afford their medications.)<br /></p><p>The Affordable Care Act and National HIV/AIDS Strategy are two important steps in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but HIV/AIDS is an issue that affects all people, and we each need to do our part ot make a positive difference. On National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, OWH calls on individuals and organizations across the country to take action and bring attention to the impact HIV/AIDS has on women and girls.</p><p>It helps organizations across the country come together to offer support, encourage discussion, and teach women and girls about <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv/prevention/">prevention of HIV</a>, the importance of <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv/testing/">getting tested for HIV</a>, and <a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv/livingwith/">how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS</a>.</p> <p>Education is key to making a difference with the disease, but action items that people can do in response to HIV/AIDS are most empowering. Some ideas include: </p><ul><li>Get tested for HIV, and encourage your friends to do so. If you can, offer incentives for people to get tested.<br /></li><li>Encourage your newspaper or schools to sponsor an essay contest on the epidemic.</li><li>Submit an editorial or letter on local needs to your newspaper.</li><li>Encourage radio stations to air public service announcements. </li><li>Learn about the risk factors for acquiring HIV, and talk about them.</li><li>Make the choice to practice safer sex and avoid higher risk behaviors.<br /></li><li>Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues.</li><li>Tell people about why this day is important to you and people you know.</li><li>Talk about the epidemic’s impact on your community with friends and family.</li><li>Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS.</li><li>Volunteer at a local organization that serves people living with HIV. </li><li>Help fund an event for the Day or support it with in-kind donations.</li></ul>Visit <a href="http://aids.gov">AIDS.gov</a> for more information from the federal government about HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, research, and <a href="http://aids.gov/using-new-media/basics/what-is-new-media/">using new media</a> in response to HIV/AIDS.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-28732068624684669142011-03-02T21:01:00.008-05:002011-03-02T21:24:12.837-05:00OutServe Posts DADT Training Materials<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://outserve.org/"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 55px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuw6ZdwZ1zmTnuuRo7s-znt9oMy5fGmy0nlUjeG1t4WAybVSOVjZYnj7xbX7MNxp9PRUqAil60SBK1DD-ZC-_fz5t14vUxzkuGAoUZ288XMPYKbFj-rJ8S74cF_4kyxUuUh3xYeE27wlI/s320/Outserve-Logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579669434611752306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">The group <a href="http://outserve.org/">OutServe</a> has begun providing copies of the DADT repeal implementation materials. Here's what they have so far:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><br /><br />Early Army DADT repeal training</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuw6ZdwZ1zmTnuuRo7s-znt9oMy5fGmy0nlUjeG1t4WAybVSOVjZYnj7xbX7MNxp9PRUqAil60SBK1DD-ZC-_fz5t14vUxzkuGAoUZ288XMPYKbFj-rJ8S74cF_4kyxUuUh3xYeE27wlI/s1600/Outserve-Logo.png"><br /></a> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="st_facebook_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stFb"><span class="stFb_text"><br />Share</span></span></span></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stTwbutton"> </span></span></span> <span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://outserve.org/2011/02/early-army-dadt-repeal-training/" title="10:42 am" rel="bookmark"><span class="entry-date">February 25, 2011</span></a> </div> <div class="entry-content"> <p>Below are 4 documents that show some training the Army has handed out. The Powerpoint is specific to JAGs, but the other documents are generic for Army Training for the repeal of DADT.</p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw1"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DADT_Enclosure_5_-_FAQ.pdf">Army DADT FAQs</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw2"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DADT_Enclosure_4_-_Army_Guiding_Principles.pdf">DADT_Enclosure_4_-_Army_Guiding_Principles</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw3"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DADT_Enclosure_3_-_Top_10_Things_You_Need_to_Know.pdf">10 things you need to know for DADT Repeal</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw4"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DADT_Enclosure_1_-_Slides_3per_pg.pdf">DADT Powerpoint JAG</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Navy Tier 3 Training</span> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="st_facebook_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stFb"><span class="stFb_text">Share</span></span></span></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stTwbutton"> </span></span></span> <span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://outserve.org/2011/02/navy-tier-3-training/" title="10:13 am" rel="bookmark"><span class="entry-date">February 28, 2011</span></a> </div> <div class="entry-content"> <p>The below links are from the Navy Tier 3 (General Population Training). The Tier 3 Training has now begun and the mobile teams in the Navy appear to be starting their training early next month at various bases.</p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw1"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Navy-DADT-Pamphlet.pdf">Navy DADT Pamphlet</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw2"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Navy-DADT-Slides1.pdf">Navy DADT Slides</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw3"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Navy-DADT-Presenter-Guidance.pdf">Navy DADT Presenter Guidance</a></span></p> <p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw4"><span style="background-position: right -447px;" class="aptureLinkIcon"> </span><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Navy-Lecture-Handout.pdf">Navy Lecture Handout</a></span></p><p><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw4"><a class="aptureLink snap_noshots" href="http://outserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Navy-Lecture-Handout.pdf"><br /></a></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Marines Set Date of 31 May</span> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="st_facebook_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stFb"><span class="stFb_text">Share</span></span></span></span><span class="st_twitter_buttons"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; cursor: pointer;"><span class="stTwbutton"> </span></span></span> <span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://outserve.org/2011/02/marines-set-date-of-31-may/" title="12:53 pm" rel="bookmark"><span class="entry-date">February 16, 2011</span></a> </div> <div class="entry-content"> <p>Date Signed: 2/16/2011<br />MARADMIN Active 108/11 2011 </p> <p>R 161455Z FEB 11<br />UNCLASSIFIED//<br />MARADMIN 108/11<br />MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//<br />SUBJ/EXECUTION GUIDANCE FOR REPEAL OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL//<br />REF/A/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC/22DEC2010//<br />REF/B/MSGID:DOC/TITLE 10 US CODE, SECTION 654/-//<br />REF/C/MSGID:MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/231709ZDEC2010//<br />REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/28JAN2011//<br />NARR/REF A IS SECDEF MEMO DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL REPEAL LEGISLATION ANNOUNCEMENT. REF B IS 10 U.S.C. SECTION 654 (DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL). REF C IS ALMAR 047-10, REPEAL OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL. REF D IS SECDEF MEMO, IMPLEMENTATION OF A REPEAL OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 654 INCLUDING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.//<br />GENTEXT/REMARKS/</p> <p>1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES EXECUTION GUIDANCE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPEAL OF THE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL POLICY.</p> <p>2. ON 22 DECEMBER 2010, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED A LAW THAT SET THE CONDITIONS FOR THE REPEAL OF 10 U.S.C. SECTION 654, COMMONLY KNOWN AS DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL. THE REPEAL WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE PRESIDENT TRANSMITS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES THE CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE. UNTIL THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF REPEAL, 10 U.S.C. SECTION 654 AND ASSOCIATED POLICIES REMAIN IN EFFECT, AND HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT REMAINS A BASIS FOR SEPARATION FROM MILITARY SERVICE.</p> <p>3. SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION DEPENDS ON LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, DISCIPLINE, AND RESPECT, WHICH MUST CONTINUE TO BE PRACTICED AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL SITUATIONS. LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE AND MUST BE FULLY COMMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) INTENT TO SUSTAIN UNIT EFFECTIVENESS, READINESS, AND COHESION. IN THE PROFESSION OF ARMS, ADHERENCE TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT IS ESSENTIAL, EACH SERVICE MEMBER MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY, AND LEADERSHIP IS KEY TO CREATING AND SUSTAINING SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT AND COMMAND CLIMATE WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE AND ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.</p> <p>4. TRAINING<br />A. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. ALL ACTIVE COMPONENT MARINES, RESERVE COMPONENT MARINES (MINUS INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE (IRR) UNLESS ON ACTIVE DUTY), AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS OF MARINES MUST UNDERGO REPEAL IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING. IRR MARINES WILL BE TRAINED WHEN THEY NEXT ENTER INTO A FEDERAL STATUS. UNITS SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY WILL COMPLETE THE TRAINING PRIOR TO DEPLOYING. UNITS THAT WILL NOT REDEPLOY BEFORE 31 MAY 2011 WILL BE TRAINED WHILE STILL IN THEATER.<br />B. TRAINING PLAN. THE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WORKING GROUP DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITH THREE TIERS OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION, EACH TARGETED TO DIFFERENT GROUPS.<br />(1) TIER 1 – EXPERT/SPECIAL STAFF LEVEL (E.G., STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATES, CHAPLAINS, RECRUITERS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALISTS, MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS, FAMILY READINESS OFFICERS, MILITARY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORS, INSPECTORS GENERAL, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS AND HEALTH SERVICES PERSONNEL). SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS (HQMC) WILL TRAIN AND EDUCATE THOSE WITHIN THEIR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW POLICY NO LATER THAN 15 MARCH 2011.<br />(2) TIER 2 – LEADER LEVEL (E.G., COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISORS AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS OF MARINES).<br />(A) DESIGNATED MARINE FORCE (MARFOR) AND MAJOR SUBORDINATE COMMAND (MSC) MARINES RECEIVED TIER 2 TRAINING AND EDUCATION AT HQMC ON 3 FEBRUARY 2011. THESE LEADERS WILL LEAD IN TRAINING THE REMAINING TIER 2 LEADERS WITHIN THEIR MARFOR/MSC NO LATER THAN 15 MARCH 2011.<br />(B) LEADERS TRAINED AT HQMC WERE PROVIDED WITH THE COMMANDER’S TOOLKIT WHICH INCLUDES THE COMMANDANT AND SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS VIDEO, EXECUTION GUIDANCE, PUBLIC AFFAIRS TALKING POINTS, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, VIGNETTES, TIER 1 POINT PAPERS, TIER 2 AND 3 BRIEFS, USMC PUBLICATION AND REFERENCE CHANGES, AND THE SUPPORT PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THE COMMANDER’S TOOLKIT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WEBSITE ON 1 MARCH 2011.<br />(3) TIER 3 – MARINES, SAILORS ASSIGNED TO MARINE UNITS, AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS. COMMANDERS AND SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISORS DOWN TO THE BATTALION/SQUADRON/DETACHMENT LEVEL WILL CONDUCT THE TIER 3 TRAINING OF THEIR MARINES, SAILORS, AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS. FACE-TO-FACE DELIVERY BY COMMANDERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE (OIC) IS THE PRIMARY METHOD. PERSONNEL UNABLE TO ATTEND A COMMANDER/OIC TRAINING AND EDUCATION BRIEF (E.G., GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED, PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION/LEAVE, ETC.) WILL BE DIRECTED TO COMPLETE THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING VA MARINENET. TRAINING AND EDUCATION BRIEF WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MARINENET ON 1 MARCH 2011. TIER 3 TRAINING AND EDUCATION SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY 31 MAY 2011.</p> <p>5. REPORTING PROCEDURES<br />A. ON A BI-MONTHLY BASIS, COMMANDERS WILL REPORT THEIR TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND. MARFORS WILL REPORT PROGRESS TO THE DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF. SPECIFIC REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED VIA SEPARATE MARADMIN.<br />B. COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE COMPLETION OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM (MCTFS) VIA THE MARINE ONLINE TRAINING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR UNIT DIARY/MANPOWER INTEGRATED PERSONNEL SYSTEM (UD/MIPS).<br />C. CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS WILL REPORT COMPLETION OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE (HRO). THE HRO WILL REPORT THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT BRANCH (MPC), MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.</p> <p>6. UPON REPEAL OF THE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL LAW, THE BELOW LISTED MARINE CORPS ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES WILL BE UPDATED. A MARINE CORPS BULLETIN WILL BE RELEASED TO PROMULGATE THE CHANGES.<br />A. MARINE CORPS MANUAL.<br />B. MCO 1040.31, ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.<br />C. MCO P1100.72C W/CH 1, MILITARY PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MANUAL, VOLUME 2, ENLISTED PROCUREMENT.<br />D. MCO P1100.75D, PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MILITARY ENTRANCE PROCESSING STATION (MEPS).<br />E. MCO 1130.80A, PRIOR SERVICE AND RESERVE AUGMENTATION ENLISTMENTS INTO THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS.<br />F. MCO 1752.5A, SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.<br />G. MCO P1900.16F, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.<br />H. NAVMC DIRECTIVE 5040.6H, MARINE CORPS READINESS INSPECTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS.<br />I. MCO 5530.14A, MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL SECURITY PROGRAM MANUAL.<br />J. MCO 7220R.38C SELECTED RESERVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.</p> <p>7. GUIDANCE CONCERNING NEWS MEDIA COVERAGE OF TRAINING AT LOCAL COMMANDS WILL BE PUBLISHED VIA SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SUBSEQUENT TO RECEIPT OF DOD INSTRUCTIONS. UNTIL THEN, FORWARD ANY MEDIA REQUESTS CONCERNING REPEAL IMPLEMENTATION VIA THE LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICES TO HQMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION. </p> <p>8. THIS MESSAGE IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.</p> </div><p><br /><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw4"></span></p> </div><p><br /><span class="aptureLink " id="apture_prvw4"></span></p> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-5789183911643555732011-02-28T20:30:00.006-05:002011-03-03T09:10:47.329-05:00MAPping the Movement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVtgjlb_QQPXkj3n5v6Jx-Cms_yGQ4P7YmMZWyi-pKzR1bFHlVSGrC4V9cQWMONY9gLgT709zGPeLX5EpmN9jT54A_B_7sGurIC_txmteEJI1T5KpIiGVK7_jUgn4OKZDAiGFYgLdoXqY/s1600/MAP+2010+report+cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVtgjlb_QQPXkj3n5v6Jx-Cms_yGQ4P7YmMZWyi-pKzR1bFHlVSGrC4V9cQWMONY9gLgT709zGPeLX5EpmN9jT54A_B_7sGurIC_txmteEJI1T5KpIiGVK7_jUgn4OKZDAiGFYgLdoXqY/s320/MAP+2010+report+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579665637327564802" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.lgbtmap.org/">MAP (the Movement Advancement Project)</a> is releasing its <a href="http://www.lgbtmap.org/file/2010-national-lgbt-movement-report.pdf"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2010 </span><i><b>National LGBT Movement Report</b></i></a>. This report examines revenue and expenses, fundraising and fundraising efficiency, and other indicators of financial health for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) social justice advocacy organizations.<br /><br />Surprisingly, <u style="font-style: italic;">less than four percent of all LGBT adults in the U.S. donated $35 or more to these LGBT organizations</u>. While organizations are generally effective at retaining smaller donors (those giving $35 or more) year over year, the number of larger donors (those giving $1,000 or more) is dropping and not easily replaced.<br /><br />The staffs of participating organizations are diverse, roughly mirroring the broader U.S. population: 32 percent identify as people of color (12 percent African American, 12 percent Latino/a, 7 percent Asian/Pacific Islander and 1 percent Native American or other). Also, 46 percent are women and 6 percent identify as transgender.<br /><br />While movement organizations overall experienced significant declines in revenue in 2009 compared with 2008, their financial health remains strong due to reduced expenses and efficient fundraising. Movement groups are highly efficient in their fundraising and programming operations, with all 39 participants exceeding the efficiency standards of both the American Institute of Philanthropy and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. An average of 79 percent of expenses is spent on programs and services, 9 percent on management and general expenses, and only 12 percent on fundraising. <p>The <i>2010 National LGBT Movement Report</i> provides a comprehensive snapshot of the financial health of LGBT social justice advocacy organizations. The 39 organizations examined for the 2010 report collectively represent 69% of the budgets of all LGBT social justice advocacy organizations. Among the key findings:</p><p> <b>Revenue and Expenses.</b> Organizations are experiencing significant declines in revenue (down 20% from 2008 to 2009), a sign of the combined effects of the economic downturn and decreased giving in an off-election year (2009). Organizations are adjusting to revenue declines by cutting expenses; 2010 budget estimates are down 18% from 2009 to 2010.</p><p> <b>Fundraising and Fundraising Efficiency.</b> Organizations are faring relatively well at retaining smaller donors, but are losing larger donors who give $1,000 or more per year. Fewer donors are attending fundraising events and organizations show less income from these events as a result. However, despite recent fundraising challenges, LGBT social justice advocacy organizations continue to be quite efficient in their fundraising, with an average of 79% of expenses being spent on programs and services, 9% on management and general expenses, and only 12% on fundraising. </p><p> <b>Other Indicators of Financial Health.</b> Other indicators remain strong. Reduction of expense budgets has helped organizations maintain good average working capital, liquidity ratios, and cash and cash equivalents.</p> <p><b>Participating Organizations:</b><br /><a href="http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights">ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project</a><br /><a href="http://www.lgbtcenters.org/CenterLink">CenterLink</a><br /><a href="http://www.colage.org/">COLAGE</a><br /><a href="http://www.globalequality.org/">Council for Global Equality</a><br /><a href="http://www.prideagenda.org/">Empire State Pride Agenda</a><br /><a href="http://www.eqca.org/">Equality California</a><br /><a href="http://equalityfederation.org/">Equality Federation</a><br /><a href="http://www.equalityforum.com/">Equality Forum</a><br /><a href="http://www.familyequality.org/">Family Equality Council</a><br /><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/">Freedom to Marry</a><br /><a href="http://www.glad.org/">Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)</a><br /><a href="http://www.glaad.org/">Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)</a><br /><a href="http://www.victoryfund.org/">Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund</a> and <a href="http://www.glli.org/">Leadership Institute</a><br /><a href="http://www.glsen.org/">Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)</a><br /><a href="http://gsanetwork.org/">Gay-Straight Alliance Network</a><br /><a href="http://groundspark.org/">GroundSpark</a><br /><a href="http://www.hrc.org/">Human Rights Campaign (HRC)</a><br /><a href="http://immigrationequality.org/">Immigration Equality</a> & <a href="http://immigrationequalityactionfund.org/%22">Immigration Equality Action Fund</a><br /><a href="http://inthelife.tv/">In the Life Media</a><br /><a href="http://lambdalegal.org/">Lambda Legal</a><br /><a href="http://www.logcabin.org/">Log Cabin Republicans</a> & <a href="http://libertyeducationforum.org/">Liberty Education Forum</a><br /><a href="http://www.massequality.org/">MassEquality</a><br /><a href="http://nbjc.org/">National Black Justice Coalition</a><br /><a href="http://www.nclrights.org/">National Center for Lesbian Rights</a><br /><a href="http://transequality.org/">National Center for Transgender Equality</a><br /><a href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/">National Gay and Lesbian Task Force</a><br /><a href="http://nyacyouth.org/">National Youth Advocacy Coalition</a><br /><a href="http://avp.org/">New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project</a><br /><a href="http://outandequal.org/">Out & Equal Workplace Advocates</a><br /><a href="http://www.palmcenter.org/">The Palm Center</a><br /><a href="http://community.pflag.org/">Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)</a><br /><a href="http://pointfoundation.org/">Point Foundation</a><br /><a href="http://sldn.org/">Servicemembers Legal Defense Network</a><br /><a href="http://www.sageusa.org/">Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)</a><br /><a href="http://www.soulforce.org/">Soulforce</a><br /><a href="http://srlp.org/">Sylvia Rivera Law Project</a><br /><a href="http://transgenderlawcenter.org/">Transgender Law Center</a><br /><a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a><br /><i>(One organization wished to remain anonymous)</i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-20627867713786287102011-02-23T20:03:00.007-05:002011-03-02T20:29:03.841-05:00Protecting Marriage From ... Southern Conservative Christians!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuhnnFOf2-4mLPaVq4ulNBiN7D_Ug_rLnoksEy_WfBnQBZnjdZVs6D7j2nwkQDDtEkdehoe9RnE2kgSc_4cHVa_95f3TEmNPeLQQu1q6ne9rrIDQOWE9rahf4I2UHeSLAEmF65LG1YdUE/s1600/rings%252C+paired.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuhnnFOf2-4mLPaVq4ulNBiN7D_Ug_rLnoksEy_WfBnQBZnjdZVs6D7j2nwkQDDtEkdehoe9RnE2kgSc_4cHVa_95f3TEmNPeLQQu1q6ne9rrIDQOWE9rahf4I2UHeSLAEmF65LG1YdUE/s320/rings%252C+paired.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656502881531154" border="0" /></a>In light of the <a href="http://equalitync.org/news1/anti-gay-amendment-faq">proposed antigay marriage amendment</a>, here's some interesting news on a true threat to this institution.<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/conservative-christians-divorce-more-study-says">The Daily Texan</a>: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average divorce rate in the United States is 47.9 percent. A recent study conducted by University of Iowa sociology professor Jennifer Glass found that conservative Christians, especially those in the South, are among the groups most likely to divorce.<br /><br />Presenting her findings at the University of Texas at Austin Glass said, “Politically and religiously conservative states, especially in the Deep South, exhibit higher divorce rates than politically and religiously liberal states in the Northeast and Midwest.”<br /><br />Glass identified a number of factors contributing to this statistical reality. She suggested that the prohibition of sex before marriage among Christians leads to marriage at an earlier age, and compared that to lower divorce rates among residents in more liberal and less religious areas who are more likely to live together for extended periods of time.<br /><br />Glass also noted that teachings against abortion and birth control lead to “shotgun weddings,” which accelerate young conservative Protestants into adulthood and early marriages. She compared those teen marriages to the average age of marriage for American women, which is 27.
<br /><br />The study also noted that young married conservatives in southern states have higher divorce rates because of financial concerns and problems relating to lower degrees of education and increased unemployment.<br /><br />Despite these findings, Equality NC remains committed to the ideal that all citizens in North Carolina deserve access to the same rights (even conservative Christians, though are focus is on the marginalized and commonly discriminated against LGBT community). To help us work to stop the current attempt to make LGBT North Carolinians into second-class citizens, <a href="http://equalitync.org/news1/sen.-forrester-to-file-anti-lgbt-constitutional-amendment">click here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-72023944984505033952011-02-21T21:45:00.004-05:002011-02-21T21:50:59.273-05:00Face[book]ing LGBT Relationships<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLwhcLUXORbW6Ho9rJ6xtzpT4AQGCCDl52yoLu753rCYOt502ZhWG8sp3lnR0MAZcGzEcEByV4s5LMxdnGwlNggk5rBLgGOAdktoRqe6Bn8YoDfgFZrB0zf7ukmusf53fiOlObW6Ge98W/s1600/Facebook+relationship+statuses.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLwhcLUXORbW6Ho9rJ6xtzpT4AQGCCDl52yoLu753rCYOt502ZhWG8sp3lnR0MAZcGzEcEByV4s5LMxdnGwlNggk5rBLgGOAdktoRqe6Bn8YoDfgFZrB0zf7ukmusf53fiOlObW6Ge98W/s320/Facebook+relationship+statuses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576339963902264690" border="0" /></a>Facebook <a href="http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/02/facebook_adds_in_a_civil_union.html" target="_self">has added "civil union" and "domestic partnership" to its "relationship status" options</a> in user profiles, following an anti-bullying initiative called '<a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=161164070571050" target="_self">Network of Support</a>' in consultation with LGBT groups that began last October. <p>GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said, "Today, Facebook sent a clear message in support of gay and lesbian couples to users across the globe. By acknowledging the relationships of countless loving and committed same-sex couples in the U.S. and abroad, Facebook has set a new standard of inclusion for social media. As public support for marriage equality continues to grow, we will continue to work for the day when all couples have the opportunity to marry and have their relationship recognized by their community, both online and off."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-55964293396318246742011-02-16T21:25:00.002-05:002011-02-27T09:27:20.470-05:00LGBTs in Black History Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvc3zBOIVrRcYumK-IPA9n4ipldQVBXwuJYeLQxvGsHtLGqPwjx1R44iSI7QJOFFIbYU77kfcBttrUTNnMdES462HlA6XgyuK_Oy036-K8i3f_41QxmBf9QNMTeUnmhfdRNYdRNSog6Xu/s1600/bayard+rustin+with+students.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvc3zBOIVrRcYumK-IPA9n4ipldQVBXwuJYeLQxvGsHtLGqPwjx1R44iSI7QJOFFIbYU77kfcBttrUTNnMdES462HlA6XgyuK_Oy036-K8i3f_41QxmBf9QNMTeUnmhfdRNYdRNSog6Xu/s320/bayard+rustin+with+students.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576337341159005474" border="0" /></a>February is Black History Month, which means it's also the month to celebrate black LGBT folks in history. Check out <span><a href="http://gsanetwork.org/BlackedOUTHistory">BlackedOUT History</a>:<br /><br />"</span>LGBTQ Black folks have been major contributors to society and social justice movements for hundreds of years! From the famous scientist <em>George Washington Carver</em> to the legendary blues singer <em>Ma Rainey</em> – LGBTQ Black figures have made long-lasting contributions and have had a significant influence on U.S. culture. It is important for GSAs to celebrate the contributions of Black LGBTQ people and to advocate for the visibility of these important historical figures. Recognizing how interconnected our oppressions are makes our movements stronger. <div id="document-body-container"><div id="document-body-content"><div id="node-501" class="node"><div class="body"> <p>One way GSA clubs do this is by celebrating <strong>Black History Month</strong> every February. If your school has no Black History Month celebration, organize with your GSA to start an official commemoration at your school. Work with administration and staff, student groups, and others to ensure the lives of LGBTQ Black historical figures are included in your school’s activities. </p> <p>Here are some helpful ideas of activities you can do at your school during Black History Month:</p> <p><strong>Teach Your School!</strong></p> <ul><li><strong>Create a PowerPoint presentation</strong> highlighting important Black LGBTQ leaders and present it to your classes. Make sure to include leaders that are not as well known. You can do your presentations in ALL of your classes because LGBTQ Black folks have made contributions in EVERY subject including music, literature, art, science, health and more.</li><li><strong>Train your social studies and English teachers</strong> on Black LGBTQ authors and historical figures and suggest ways they could incorporate them and their biographies into their lessons.</li><li><strong>Work with your school librarian or administration</strong> to make sure there is a Black History display board that includes LGBTQ people, as well as books by important authors like Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry.</li><li><strong>Organize with other student clubs</strong>, such as the Black Student Union, to make sure the month’s activities include LGBTQ leaders. To learn more about building successful coalitions, see our resource <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/resources/coalition-building">Coalition Building</a>.</li><li><strong>Invite speakers to your school </strong>who can talk about LGBTQ Black history.</li><li><strong>Organize discussion</strong>s on the current events related to LGBTQ Black folks that demonstrate how homophobia, transphobia, and racism affect their lives today.</li><li><strong>Highlight local LGBTQ Black people</strong> who have given back to your community.</li><li><strong>Screen a film</strong> like <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://frameline.org/youthinmotion/brotheroutsider.html">Brother Outsider</a><span class="ext"></span>, which documents the life of Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin.</li></ul> <p><strong>Be Creative!</strong></p> <ul><li><strong>Organize a poster art campaign</strong> or contest featuring <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/BlackedOUTHistory#Historical_Figures">LGBTQ Black historical figures</a>. Create a display of pictures and biographies. You can find a list of some of these leaders at our <strong>BlackedOUT History</strong> page on GSA Network’s website.</li><li><a href="http://gsanetwork.org/BlackedOUTHistory#Timeline">Create an LGBTQ Black History Timeline</a> and display it in your school.</li><li><strong>Use your school’s public announcements to share stories!</strong> Play sound clips from legendary blues singers Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Read poetry from Audre Lorde and Countee Cullen, or read selections of important speeches by Bayard Rustin.</li></ul> <p><strong>Use Social Media!</strong></p> <ul><li><strong>Highlight important figures via your GSA’s social networking sites</strong> like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. Make videos, post photos, tweet, and even make a Facebook or Wiki page for your favorite icon.</li><li><strong>Learn about and celebrate the LGBTQ Black art of voguing!</strong> Host a workshop, watch videos online as a group, and research the history of this dance art.</li></ul> <p> Remember that having one month of commemoration of the lives of LGBTQ Black people is just the beginning! Have ongoing conversations with your GSA about why it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ people of color to society and to social justice movements and why it’s important to build an anti-racist GSA. For more information, see our resource <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/resources/creating-inclusive-gsas/building-anti-racist-gsas">Building Anti Racist GSAs</a>.</p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Most of all, have fun learning, teaching and celebrating some of our most important LGBTQ leaders and community members in history! </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span><a name="Historical_Figures"></a></p> <h1>LGBTQ Black Historical Figures</h1> <p> </p> <table style="width: 610px; height: 1541px;" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><strong>Name<br /> </strong></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <p><strong>Date-of-Birth</strong><br /> <strong>Date-of-Death</strong></p> </td> <td class="rtecenter"><strong>Profession<br /> </strong></td> <td class="rtecenter"><strong>Quote</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2009/icon.cfm?id=33">Alvin Ailey Jr<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td> <address class="rtecenter">Jan. 5, 1931<br /> Dec. 1, 1989</address> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Choreographer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“I am trying to show the world that we are all human beings and that color is not important. What is important is the quality of our work.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2009/icon.cfm?id=34"> John Amaechi</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <address>Nov. 26, 1970</address> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Pro Basketball Player</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“I am gay, black, British…and I am now asserting my activism.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"> <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=1">James Baldwin</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <address>Aug. 2, 1924<br /> Nov. 30, 1987</address> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Author</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/baker_josephine.html">Josephine Baker</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <address>June 3, 1906<br /> Apr. 12, 1975</address> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Singer and Dancer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=29">Jean-Michel Basquiat</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <address>Dec. 22, 1960<br /> Aug. 12, 1988</address> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Graffiti Artist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"SAMO© as an end to mindwash religion, nowhere politics, and bogus philosophy"</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/bentley_g.html">Gladys Bentley</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Aug. 12, 1907<br /> Jan. 18, 1960</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Blues Singer</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Butler">Octavia Butler</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>June 22, 1947<br /> Feb. 26, 2006</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Author</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"People have the right to call themselves whatever they like. That doesn't bother me. It's other people doing the calling that bothers me."<b><br /> </b></em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2010/icon.cfm?id=66">George Washington Carver</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>July 12, 1864<br /> Jan. 5, 1943</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Scientist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” </em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/rupaul.html">RuPaul Andre Charles</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td><em>Nov. 17, 1960</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Actor, Dancer and TV Show Host</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em> “What other people think of me is not my business. What I do is what I do. How people see me doesn’t change what I decide to do. I don’t choose projects so people don’t see me as one thing or another. I choose projects that excite me. I think the problem is that people refuse to understand what drag is outside of their own belief system.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/literature/cullen_c.html">Countee Cullen</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>May 30, 1903<br /> Jan. 9, 1946</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Poet</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em><span class="sqq">“My poetry, I think, has become the way of my giving out what music is within me.”</span></em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/daniels_lee.html">Lee Daniels</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Dec. 24, 1959</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Film Director</td> <td class="rtecenter"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=3&tab=vid">Angela Davis</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Jan. 26, 1944</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Civil Rights Activist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em> “Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary's life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2009/icon.cfm?id=37&tab=video">Ruth Ellis</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>July 23, 1899 Oct. 5, 2000</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Activist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“I never expected I’d be 100 years old. It didn’t even come to my mind.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2010/icon.cfm?id=68">Sharon Farmer</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>June 10, 1951</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">White House Photographer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“Never turn down a chance to show what you can do.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=12&tab=vid">Peter Gomes</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td><em>May 22, 1942</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Theologian</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“There can be no light without the darkness out of which it shines.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/herstory/a/MabelHampton.htm">Mabel Hampton</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>May 2, 1902<br /> Oct. 26, 1989<br /> </em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Lesbian Pioneer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"I, Mabel Hampton, have been a lesbian all my life, for eighty-two years, and I am proud of myself and my people. I would like all my people to be free in this country and all over the world, my gay people and my black people."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/literature/hansberry_l.html">Lorraine Hansberry</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>May 19, 1930<br /> Jan. 12, 1965</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Author and Playwright</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“All real and lasting change starts first on the inside and works it way through to the outside. Politically speaking, each person being the change we wish to see in the world is the only stance that can make a lasting difference. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2010/icon.cfm?id=71">E.Lynn Harris</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>June 20, 1955<br /> July 23, 2009</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Author</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“I want people to know they don’t have to live their lives in a permanent ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ existence. Truth is a powerful tool.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=22&tab=vid">Sherry Harris</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Feb. 27, 1965</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Politician</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“All real and lasting change starts first on the inside and works it way through to the outside. Politically speaking, each person being the change we wish to see in the world is the only stance that can make a lasting difference. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday">Billie Holiday</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Apr. 7, 1915<br /> July 17, 1959</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Singer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em><span class="body">"A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted."</span></em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/literature/hughes_l.html">Langston Hughes</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Feb. 1, 1902<br /> May 22, 1967</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Poet</td> <td><em><span class="sqq">“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly, Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams go, Life is a barren field, Frozen with snow."</span></em><span class="sqq"><br /> </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2009/icon.cfm?id=42">Zora Neale Hurston</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Jan. 7, 1891<br /> Jan. 28, 1960</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Author and Folklorist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2008/icon.cfm?id=28">Bill T. Jones</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Feb. 15, 1952</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Dancer and Choreographer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"Living and dying is not the big issue. The big issue is what you’re going to do with your time while you are here." </em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=8"> Representative Barbara Jordan (D-Texas)</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Feb. 21, 1936<br /> Jan. 17, 1996 </em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Politician</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=19&tab=vid">Audre Lorde</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Feb. 18, 1934<br /> Nov. 17, 1992 </em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Author</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsha_P._Johnson">Marsha P. Johnson</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>1945<br /> July 6, 1992</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Transgender Activist and co-founder of <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Transvestite_Action_Revolutionaries">S.T.A.R.</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>When asked what the P stood for in her name, she replied "Pay it No Mind."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.junejordan.com/">June Jordan</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"> <p><em>July 9, 1936</em></p> <p><em>June 14, 2002</em></p> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Activist, Poet, Teacher</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"<span class="body">Bisexuality means I am free and I am as likely to want to love a woman as I am likely to want to love a man, and what about that? Isn't that what freedom implies?"</span></em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.transmarch.org/performers/miss-major-tgijp">Miss Major</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Unknown</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Transgender, Public Health and Prison Activist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/rainey_g.html">Gertrude "Ma" Rainey</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Apr. 26, 1886<br /> Dec. 22, 1939</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Singer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,<br /> They must have been women, 'cause I don't like no men.<br /> Wear my clothes just like a fan, Talk to gals just like any old man<br /> 'Cause they say I do it, ain't nobody caught me, Sure got to prove it on me."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=19">Bayard Rustin</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>Mar. 17, 1910<br /> Aug. 24, 1987</em></td> <td class="rtecenter">Civil Rights Activist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"We are all one. And if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=7&tab=vid">Bessie Smith</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td> <p class="rtecenter">Unknown<br /> July 1892<br /> Sept. 26, 1937</p> </td> <td class="rtecenter">Singer</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em> “It's a long old road, but I know I'm gonna find the end.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=26">Sheryl Swoopes</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Mar. 25, 1971</td> <td class="rtecenter">WNBA Player</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbtq.com/arts/sykes_w.html">Wanda Sykes </a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Mar. 7, 1964</td> <td class="rtecenter">Comedian</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em><span class="body">"If you feel like there's something out there that you're supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.</span>"</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Leon_Talley">André Leon Talley</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Oct. 16,1949</td> <td class="rtecenter">Fashion Editor</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“It's not about canceling shows, but initiating things on an individual level. When much is given to you, much is expected. If you're an honest American, you can't wake up and not be affected by the neglect of the government after Katrina. You can't be an honest American and not think about it every day.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2008/icon.cfm?id=6">Alice Walker</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Feb. 9, 1944</td> <td class="rtecenter">Author and Feminist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>“The truest and most enduring impulse I have is simply to write.”</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2006/video.cfm?LeaderID=15">Phill Wilson</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Apr. 29, 1956</td> <td class="rtecenter">AIDS Activist</td> <td class="rtecenter"><em>"The price of the ticket for life is to leave the world in a different place than you found it, to leave the world a better place than you found it."</em></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="rtecenter"><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/artistswriterset1/a/JWoodson.htm">Jacqueline Woodson</a><span class="ext"></span></td> <td class="rtecenter">Feb. 12, 1963</td> <td class="rtecenter">Author</td> <td class="rtecenter"><span class="sqq"><em>“I think it's important that everyday we think about the work we need to do to make this world a better place. I mean, we should wake up thinking about it and go to bed thinking about tomorrow's tasks. There's an awful lot of change needing to be made around here.”</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <hr /> <h1><a name="Timeline"></a>Black LGBTQI History Timeline</h1> <h2>by In Our Own Words Project</h2> <p><strong>1782:</strong> Deborah Sampson disguises herself as a male and enlists in the Continental forces under the name of Robert Shurtleff. Sampson’s gender is discovered when she is hospitalized for wounds suffered in battle near Tarrytown, NY. Some historians believe that Deborah Sampson was African American.</p> <p><strong>1790:</strong> George Middleton, leader of The Bucks of America, an all-black Revolutionary War regiment, and Louis Clapion, a French mulatto hairdresser build and live together in the oldest standing house on Beacon Hill, at 5 Pinckney St.</p> <p><strong>1860:</strong> Edmonia Lewis, African American/Native American sculptor, known for her masculine dress, studies and works in Boston. It was in Boston that she meets the group of feminists and artists, headed by actress Charlotte Cushman, with whom she is to live for several years in Rome.</p> <p><strong>1880:</strong> Angelina Weld Grimke, (often confused with her famous aunt, the white abolitionist Angelina Grimke Weld), is born in Boston into a distinguished biracial family. Grimke becomes a teacher and a poet of the Harlem Renaissance. Her love poems are written to women. “…Oh Mamie, if you only knew how my heart beats when I think of you, and it yearns and pants to gaze– if only for one second– upon your lovely face.”</p> <p><strong>1920</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span>An artistic movement in New York that becomes known as the Harlem Renaissance...</p> <p><em><strong>To see a full timeline, visit </strong></em><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.inourownwordsmcc.org/index.php/mcc-black-lgbtqi-history-project-timeline/">In Our Own Words by the Metropolitan Community Churches</a><span class="ext"></span>.</p> <hr /> <h1><a name="Resources"></a>More Resources!<img style="width: 355px; height: 271px;" alt="Photo courtesty of Rustin.org" src="http://gsanetwork.org/files/aboutus/school-of-nonviolence.jpg" align="right" /></h1> <ul><li>More <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.qrd.org/qrd/browse/black.lgbt.history.list">Black LGBTQ Historical Figures</a><span class="ext"></span> courtesy of the University of Delaware.</li><li>More<a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.blackvoices.com/life-style/gay-african-americans"> Black LGBTQ Current and Historical Figures</a><span class="ext"></span> courtesy of AOL.</li><li>Black LGBTQ <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/BlackedOUTHistory#Timeline">History Timeline</a>.</li><li><span><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" ><a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.equalityforum.com/">Equality Forum</a><span class="ext"></span> also has a website, called <a target="_blank" class="ext" href="http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2010/">The GLBT History Month</a><span class="ext"></span>, which highlights LGBTQ figures.</span></span></li><li>Build <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/resources/coalition-building">coalitions</a> in your school.</li><li>Make your GSA an <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/resources/creating-inclusive-gsas/building-anti-racist-gsas">anti-racist GSA</a>.</li><li>Have a <a href="http://gsanetwork.org/get-involved/change-your-school/campaigns/lgbtq-visibility-and-awareness">visibility campaign</a> at your school.</li></ul> <address>Photo of Bayard Rustin with School Children: Courtesy of Getty Images</address> <address>Photo of Bayard Rustin Teaching: Courtesy of Bayard Rustin Film Project"</address> </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-83100851528935480222011-02-14T21:11:00.001-05:002011-02-21T21:24:45.306-05:00Valentiny Activism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoIM7BsluZwDNe2InSH_0pq8yld2GX8O24hdocqKo9GfFuRu4P0S7tk8vFtKIThqhTaQnhbbSNzbDAbZ7_U0UGLg0mXgfLl0L2yT5g5IfYiznUXXuHCjxvGzDlZHfVBIp1QRcRcHWicFY/s1600/get+engaged+graphic.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoIM7BsluZwDNe2InSH_0pq8yld2GX8O24hdocqKo9GfFuRu4P0S7tk8vFtKIThqhTaQnhbbSNzbDAbZ7_U0UGLg0mXgfLl0L2yT5g5IfYiznUXXuHCjxvGzDlZHfVBIp1QRcRcHWicFY/s320/get+engaged+graphic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576333753508253154" border="0" /></a>GetEQUAL and Marriage Equality USA are staging protests across the country to show the inequality in our nation's marriage laws.<br /><br />"Over the weekend and this afternoon, LGBT activists across the country took action at marriage counters and city halls across the country, drawing attention to the fact that loving couples – some of whom have been together for decades – are still living as second-class citizens without the right to marry."<br /><br />One of those <a href="http://equalityevents.ning.com/events/asheville-nc-valentines-day">protests is occurring right here in Asheville, NC</a>.<br /><br />“Today, we're so proud of all the people taking actions across the country,” said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. “We're thrilled with how many people across the country have decided that enough is enough, and have committed to organizing in their own communities in order to draw attention to their desire to marry the person they love.”<br /><br />Molly McKay, media director of Marriage Equality USA, said, “The actions that have taken place across the country are just one more way that we are bringing discrimination out of the shadows and into the light, highlighting the loving relationships that are thriving throughout the country despite government-sanctioned discrimination.”<br /><br />GetEQUAL will be posting photos and video on its <a href="http://www.facebook.com/getequal">Facebook page</a> throughout the day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-86996048290786465572011-02-09T09:40:00.001-05:002011-02-14T09:57:11.213-05:00CBS Sports Honors Late Out Pro Hockey Player<!-- Article Start --> <p>Last year we had this blog:</p><h2 class="date-header"><span></span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry"> <a name="6131878449934270115"></a> <h3 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://equalitync.blogspot.com/2010/03/hockey-homophobia-and-fathers-love-for.html">Hockey, Homophobia, and A Father's Love for His Gay Son</a></h3>This year, CBS featured a retrospective on this aforementioned gay son, who was an out pro hockey player when he died.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">From www.towleroad.com</span><br /><br /></div></div></div><p><a href="http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0147e275681e970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Burke" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c730253ef0147e275681e970b" src="http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0147e275681e970b-800wi" title="Burke" border="0" /></a></p> <p>In a touching CBS Sports segment, Miami University hockey players and coaches remember Brendan Burke, who <a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/brian-and-brendan-burke-busting-homophobia-in-pro-hockey.html">made international news with his coming out story</a>, and died a year ago <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mapleleafs/brianburke/article/761556--leafs-gm-brian-burke-s-son-killed-in-crash">in an apparently weather-related car accident</a> in Indiana.</p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E4oadHkEsHw" title="YouTube video player" width="480" frameborder="0" height="293"></iframe> <p class="posted"> <!-- Article End --><!-- Author Start --> <!-- google_ad_section_end --><br /><a title="" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=RT%20%40tlrd%20%23gayWatch%3A%20CBS%20Sports%20Honors%20the%20Late%20Brendan%20Burke%20-%20Towleroad%20%7C%20%23gay%20%23news%20http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F" class="retweet vert self" style="float: left; margin: 4px;"><span></span></a> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-20505594398524385252011-02-07T21:47:00.004-05:002011-02-07T21:56:06.010-05:0083% of Kentuckians Support Fairness for LGBT Families!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhlyAjEC83fbEbjQA3XLOjIlA8-jsnhFCfODt4P67yoyLuXC-E5uHrnYO8U4NGVI0iV3GaIe7dd3O9K-vIrs5okgT1qiFDQsFtvKM_-7IzvkyCP6l9X5oAiEUiZGsoJ9IEmgWrVocwQU/s1600/kentucky+fairness+alliance.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhlyAjEC83fbEbjQA3XLOjIlA8-jsnhFCfODt4P67yoyLuXC-E5uHrnYO8U4NGVI0iV3GaIe7dd3O9K-vIrs5okgT1qiFDQsFtvKM_-7IzvkyCP6l9X5oAiEUiZGsoJ9IEmgWrVocwQU/s320/kentucky+fairness+alliance.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571146013075036930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">From the Kentucky Fairness Alliance</span><p></p><p>Today, the <a href="http://kentuckyfairness.org/">Kentucky Fairness Alliance</a> is pleased to announce that a statewide survey commissioned by the Fairness Coalition shows that Kentuckians continue to believe that everyone should be afforded the opportunity to earn a living, put a roof over their heads, and have dinner at their favorite restaurant without being turned away just because someone doesn’t like who they are.</p> <p><strong>83% of registered Kentucky voters agree that gay and transgender people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, in housing, and in restaurants or other forms of public accommodations</strong>. </p> <p>Public opinion has come a long way since the last available data in 2004, when only 65% of voters supported these same non-discrimination protections. And while providing the same legal protections for gay couples as straight couples lags in the polls – currently 70% support compared to 63% in 2004 – Kentuckians believe in fairness for hardworking gay and transgender employees who simply want to earn a living and provide for their families, just like everybody else.</p> <p><a class=" issuu-link-hijacked" href="http://www.kentuckyfairness.org/surveyresults.pdf">Read the survey results (including Congressional district breakdowns) here.</a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-66060855850603149432011-02-02T20:50:00.000-05:002011-02-07T21:46:59.252-05:00I Do - Making Marriage Mine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZodf027TBUxNSBtax0AejNe_GQ5kkiAZ4J_6wlZGEM0exT0RkOMf2OLDN7WUwYcccFBDOIAPiq13mn05Mgw5UyiGGX_FeeDUvs_ZqfbVw3aOZkE5_dIVmWvdYidsi7rloQJ60pNfzxAk/s320/Freedom+to+Marry+logo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571136711379835378" border="0" /></a>We (LGBT people) want to get married for the same reasons everyone else does: to make a lifetime commitment to the person we love and to protect our families.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/">Freedom To Marry</a> provides a ton of resources to help make this dream of equality into one of reality.<br /><br />Here's some basic info they provide:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/why-marriage-matters">Why Marriage Matters</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/marriage-101">Marriage 101 - FAQs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/who-supports-marriage-equality" title="Who Supports Freedom to Marry">Who Supports Freedom to Marry?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/talking-about-marriage-equality">Talking about Freedom to Marry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/resources/">Resources for Marriage Equality</a></li></ul><div class="featured-pub first"><p class="pub-title"><a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Elected%20Officials%20Guide%202010.pdf"><br /></a></p><p class="pub-title"><a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Elected%20Officials%20Guide%202010.pdf">Elected Officials Guide: How to Support the Freedom to Marry</a></p> </div> <div class="featured-pub"> <div class="pub-image"> <a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Moving%20Marriage%20Forward.pdf"> </a><div class="pub-image"> <a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Elected%20Officials%20Guide%202010.pdf"><img alt="" src="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/images/electedofficial10.jpg" /></a> </div> </div> <p class="pub-title"><a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Moving%20Marriage%20Forward.pdf">Moving Marriage Forward (pdf)</a></p><div class="pub-image"> <a href="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Moving%20Marriage%20Forward.pdf"><img alt="" src="http://freedomtomarry.org/page/-/images/Moving2.jpg/@s_0.68" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="pub-image"> </div> <p class="pub-title"><a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Judges.pdf">Why the UnAmerican Attacks on So-Called Activist Judges Must Stop (pdf)</a></p><div class="pub-image"> <a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/-/files/pdfs/Judges.pdf"><img alt="" src="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/-/images/featpub-judgeattacks.jpg" /></a><br /><br />One final note ... what do these celebrities have in common:<br /><ul><li>Barbara Bush (daughter of George W. Bush)</li><li> Cindy McCain(wife of John McCain)<br /></li><li>Nelly Furtado </li><li>Rev. Jesse Jackson </li><li>Antonio Cromartie (of the New York Jets)</li><li>Betty White</li><li>Alec Baldwin </li><li>John Mellencamp </li><li>Christina Ricci</li><li>Kyra Sedgwick</li><li>Jason Ritter</li><li>Sally Field</li><li>Angela Lansbury</li><li>Peter, Paul & Mary </li><li>Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarrete</li><li>Roger Ebert </li><li>Fergie</li><li>Kylie Minogue </li><li>Eminem</li><li>Jeff Probst</li><li>Jason Mraz </li><li>Pink</li><li> Idina Menzel </li></ul>They are a fraction of famous folks who support marriage equality!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-63880413555505674922011-01-31T21:54:00.009-05:002011-01-31T22:03:11.972-05:00Transnational: Passport Sex Marker Changes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQgv5CVQLqv4ywR4Xbcmbno_AgVHRSJeLhlozvP7Iv-lzLXqn6ADMbsL8jGlWENLE1M4ZTwiRev87VqEYfnf7RQkMuz6b6I3rlulhcKckRCM2Ax-3hOpYSI6ILLcyRa7yArG8GHu9LY/s1600/TLDEF+logo.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxQgv5CVQLqv4ywR4Xbcmbno_AgVHRSJeLhlozvP7Iv-lzLXqn6ADMbsL8jGlWENLE1M4ZTwiRev87VqEYfnf7RQkMuz6b6I3rlulhcKckRCM2Ax-3hOpYSI6ILLcyRa7yArG8GHu9LY/s320/TLDEF+logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568549550633143554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;">State Department Issues Amended Policy Guidelines on Passport Sex Marker Changes (from <a href="http://transgenderlegal.org/">TLDEF</a>)</span> <p>In response to concerns raised by TLDEF and other organizations and individuals, the U.S. State Department today published amended <a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/143160.pdf" target="_blank">policy guidelines</a> for changing the sex marker on passports.<br /><br />Among other things, the new policy guidelines:<br /></p><ul><li>allow you to submit a doctor's letter from <em><u>any</u></em> licensed doctor, eliminating the burdensome physician specialty requirements;</li></ul> <ul><li>allow you to submit a letter from a doctor who has either treated you for "gender-related care" or who has reviewed and evaluated your "gender-related medical history"; and</li></ul> <ul><li>allow passport holders to change their passport's sex marker by presenting an updated birth certificate instead of a doctor's letter.</li></ul> We've only described a few of the highlights of the new guidelines here, but there's much more. Please read our comprehensive <a href="http://transgenderlegal.org/headline_show.php?id=292" target="_blank">web-based guide</a> to the updated policy. We are also available to answer any questions that you may have. If you need additional assistance, please <a href="http://transgenderlegal.org/page.php?id=10" target="_blank">contact us</a>.<br /><br />We are pleased to bring you this news and will continue to update you on any additional changes to these State Department policies and procedures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-23631759763777180802011-01-26T01:47:00.001-05:002011-01-26T01:47:00.594-05:00By The Numbers: LGBT Stats in Early 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WAlgS99-0d4Ldiwv6AnZiIEQLL-QxsVsPb0yo6qtsj8osItnbdH9ZxxWz6YfOQPOQpz5Y2jZ4LZb3j3ZEnV5kjXGsY8BEQ-s5o9G1NdKlO1BJoZOnYmW3LT-FhP3R3OX5np18LPFEbY/s1600/Gay+Law+Report+Blog.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WAlgS99-0d4Ldiwv6AnZiIEQLL-QxsVsPb0yo6qtsj8osItnbdH9ZxxWz6YfOQPOQpz5Y2jZ4LZb3j3ZEnV5kjXGsY8BEQ-s5o9G1NdKlO1BJoZOnYmW3LT-FhP3R3OX5np18LPFEbY/s320/Gay+Law+Report+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566321944676790082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Crossposted information from </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.gaylawreport.com/">Gideon Alper's incredible blog</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">on gay legal issues.</span></span><br /><br /><h3>Gay Marriage Facts</h3> <p>States where gay marriage is legal:</p> <ul><li>Massachusetts (2004)</li><li>Connecticut (2008)</li><li>Iowa (2009)</li><li>Vermont (2009)</li><li>New Hampshire (2010)</li><li>Washington, D.C. (2010) (not a state)</li></ul> <p>States That Recognize Out-of-State Gay Marriages:</p> <ul><li>New York</li><li>California (only if the marriage is from before Proposition 8 was passed)</li></ul> <h3>Gay Marriage Support</h3> <p>Should gays an lesbians be allowed to marry?</p> <ul><li>43% say yes.</li><li>47% say no.</li><li>10% are unsure.</li></ul> <p>Source: <a href="http://www.gaylawreport.com/gay-marriage-poll/">Pew Research Center</a>.</p> <h3>Gays in the Military:</h3> <p>Should those who do not disclose their orientation be allowed to serve?</p> <ul><li>83% support it.</li><li>14% do not.</li><li>3% unsure</li></ul> <p>Should those who do disclose their orientation be allowed to serve?</p> <ul><li>17% say yes.</li><li>21% say no.</li><li>2% are unsure.</li></ul> <p>Source: <a href="http://pollingreport.com/civil.htm">The Polling Report</a>.</p> <h3>Demographics</h3> <p>The 2000 census did not count gay marriages directly, so the following are estimates based on how people reported their household. It counts households with 2 members of the same sex that are unrelated. 2010 census information on gay couples has not yet been compiled.</p> <ul><li>Total Number of Gay Couples: <strong>594,391</strong></li><li>Number of People in a Couple: <strong>1.2 Million</strong></li><li>State With the Most Couples: <strong>California</strong> (92,138)</li><li>State With the Least Couples: <strong>North Dakota</strong> (703)</li><li>Highest Concentration of Gay Couple (% of all couples): <strong>Washington, D.C.</strong> (1.29%)</li><li>Lowest Concentration of Gay Couples (% of all couples): <strong>North and South Dakota</strong> (.22%)</li></ul> <p>Gay people make up 1-4% of the population in most cities, but are more concentrated in metropolitan areas.</p> <p>Most Same Sex Couples by City:</p> <ol><li>New York, NY: <strong>47,000</strong></li><li>Los Angeles, CA: <strong>12,000</strong></li><li>Chicago, IL: <strong>10,000</strong></li></ol> <p>Source: 2000 Census.</p> <h3>Highest LGBT Concentration by Major Metropolitan City</h3> <ol><li>San Francisco, CA: <strong>15.4%</strong></li><li>Seattle, WA: <strong>12.9%</strong></li><li>Atlanta, GA: <strong>12.8%</strong></li></ol> <p>Source: 2000 Census.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-47496972556983969812011-01-24T21:21:00.004-05:002011-01-25T21:38:31.737-05:00LGBTs in the House! HUD Proposes Rule To Ensure Equal Access<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T6bcqutAyD8L7Ztw9wYRh_gvyL73xFmkVm1zFdkowQq7DjBMqq0snpHinShyphenhyphenNmPQcQx8Wdu2mxh_gwMsZlFR2ez-zpdskJpH_TVQ2b4aBrv3ZRPVmhQkYKL-7RrKDwydFiAoNLX81Ks/s1600/HUD_logo2.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 83px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T6bcqutAyD8L7Ztw9wYRh_gvyL73xFmkVm1zFdkowQq7DjBMqq0snpHinShyphenhyphenNmPQcQx8Wdu2mxh_gwMsZlFR2ez-zpdskJpH_TVQ2b4aBrv3ZRPVmhQkYKL-7RrKDwydFiAoNLX81Ks/s320/HUD_logo2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566314820396071874" border="0" /></a>While Equality NC can claim direct influence on the federal inclusive hospital visitation policy that went into effect, this new -- and welcome, and long overdue! -- proposed policy comes wholly from the current administration:<br /><br /><br />HUD No. 11-006<br /> Brian Sullivan<br /> (202) 708-0685 <br />FOR RELEASE Thursday, January 20, 2011<br /><br /><p align="center"> <strong><strong><strong><strong>HUD PROPOSES NEW RULE TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO HOUSING</strong><br /> <strong>REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY</strong></strong></strong></strong></p> <p> WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today proposed new regulations intended to ensure that its core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.<strong> <strong><u><a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=LGBTPR.PDF">View the proposed rule announced today.</a></u></strong></strong></p> <p> “This is a fundamental issue of fairness,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “We have a responsibility to make certain that public programs are open to all Americans. With this proposed rule, we will make clear that a person’s eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”</p> <p> HUD is seeking public comment on a number of proposed areas including:</p> <ul><li> Prohibiting lenders from using sexual orientation or gender identity as a basis to determine a borrower’s eligibility for FHA-insured mortgage financing. FHA’s current regulations provide that a mortgage lender’s determination of the adequacy of a borrower’s income “shall be made in a uniform manner without regard to” specified prohibited grounds. The proposed rule would add actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity to the prohibited grounds to ensure FHA-approved lenders do not deny or otherwise alter the terms of mortgages on the basis of irrelevant criteria.<br /> </li><li> Clarifying that all otherwise eligible families, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, have the opportunity to participate in HUD programs. In the majority of HUD’s rental and homeownership programs the term “family” already has a broad scope, and includes a single person and families with or without children. HUD’s proposed rule clarifies that families, otherwise eligible for HUD programs, may not be excluded because one or more members of the family may be an LGBT individual, have an LGBT relationship, or be perceived to be such an individual or in such relationship.<br /> </li><li> Prohibiting owners and operators of HUD-assisted housing, or housing whose financing is insured by HUD, from inquiring about the sexual orientation or gender identity of an applicant for, or occupant of, the dwelling, whether renter- or owner-occupied. HUD is proposing to institute this policy in its rental assistance and homeownership programs, which include the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs, community development programs, and public and assisted housing programs.</li></ul> <p> Other actions:</p> <p> HUD is conducting the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Every ten years, HUD does a study of the impact of housing discrimination on the basis of race and color. HUD undertook this important research in 1977, 1989 and 2000 and is currently undertaking this study again. It is believed that LGBT individuals and families may remain silent because in many local jurisdictions, they may have little or no legal recourse. While there are no national assessments of LGBT housing discrimination, there are state and local studies that have shown evidence of this sort of bias. For example, <strong><a class="external" href="http://www.fhcmichigan.org/images/Arcus_web1.pdf">a 2007 report by Michigan’s Fair Housing Centers</a> </strong>found that nearly 30 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently when attempting to buy or rent a home.</p> <p> HUD currently requires its recipients of discretionary funds to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that cover sexual orientation or gender identity. In July, the Department issued new guidance that treats discrimination based on gender nonconformity or sex stereotyping as sex discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, and instructs HUD staff to inform individuals filing complaints about state and local agencies that have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination laws.</p> <p> The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in rental, sales and lending on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status. Approximately 20 states, and the District of Columbia, and more than 150 cities, towns and counties across the nation have additional protections that specifically prohibit such discrimination against LGBT individuals. Under guidance announced last year, HUD will, as appropriate, retain its jurisdiction over complaints filed by LGBT individuals or families but also jointly investigate or refer matters to those state, district and local governments with other legal protections.</p> <p> <strong><strong><strong><a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=LGBTPR.PDF">View the proposed rule announced today.</a></strong></strong></strong></p> <p align="center"> ###</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-35250985867573449752011-01-19T20:13:00.000-05:002011-01-23T20:46:10.033-05:00Healthcarelessness for Transfolks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://transequality.org/PDFs/NTDSReportonHealth_final.pdf"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHwgbF9ztG8CsTs8RuGYDs4fSEr-IYdHGF-H-9zfTAZ0CuvSaBpRR8IM2yHjk4NnBuHVU-Mn6aK4GZ0-LY6AQ3T0cpbWzjB3Sv6_qhCOfMM67v5HNCXZtsTY2lKlJDct0Q4cgretFI5s/s320/natl+trans+disc+surv.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565558925322994306" border="0" /></a>The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released the <a href="http://transequality.org/PDFs/NTDSReportonHealth_final.pdf">National Transgender Discrimination Survey: Report on Health and Health Care</a>.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, transfolks and gender non-conforming people face rampant discrimination in health care settings, are regularly denied needed care, and experience a range of health risks because they are transgender or gender non-conforming, according to this report of over 6,450 transgender and gender non-conforming people.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">KEY FINDINGS</span><br /><ul><li>Survey participants reported very high levels of postponing medical care when sick or injured due to discrimination (28%) or inability to afford it (48%);</li><li>Respondents faced significant hurdles to accessing health care, including:<br /><ul><li>Refusal of care: 19% of our sample reported being refused care due to their transgender or gender non-conforming status, with even higher numbers among people of color in the survey;</li><li>Harassment and violence in medical settings: 28% of respondents were subjected to harassment in medical settings and 2% were victims of violence in doctor’s offices;</li><li>Lack of provider knowledge: 50% of the sample reported having to teach their medical providers about transgender care;</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Despite the barriers, the majority of survey participants have accessed some form of transition-related medical care; the majority reported wanting to have surgery but have not had any surgeries yet;</li><li>If medical providers were aware of the patient’s transgender status, the likelihood of that person experiencing discrimination increased;</li><li>Respondents reported over four times the national average of HIV infection, 2.64% in our sample compared to .6% in the general population, with rates for transgender women at 3.76%, and with those who are unemployed (4.67%) or who have engaged in sex work (15.32%) even higher;</li><li>Over a quarter of the respondents misused drugs or alcohol specifically to cope with the discrimination they faced due to their gender identity or expression;</li><li>A staggering 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6% of the general population, with unemployment, low income, and sexual and physical assault raising the risk factors significantly.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">RECOMMENDATIONS</span><br /><ul><li>Anti-transgender bias in the medical profession and U.S. health care system has catastrophic consequences for transgender and gender non-conforming people. This study is a call to action for the medical profession;<br /><ul><li>The medical establishment must fully integrate transgender-sensitive care into its professional standards, and this must be part of a broader commitment to cultural competency around race, class, and age;</li><li>Doctors and other health care providers who harass, assault, or discriminate against transgender and gender non-conforming patients should be disciplined and held accountable according to the standards of their professions.</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Public and private insurance systems must cover transgender-related care; it is urgently needed and is essential to basic health care for transgender people.</li><li>Ending violence against transgender people must be a public health priority, because of the direct and indirect negative effect it has on both victims and on the health care system that must treat them.</li><li>Medical providers and policy makers should never base equal and respectful treatment and the attainment of government-issued identity documents on:<br /><ul><li>Whether an individual has obtained surgery, given that surgeries are financially inaccessible for large majorities of transgender people because they are rarely covered by either public or private insurance;</li><li>Whether an individual is able to afford or attain proof of citizenship or legal residency.<p></p>Rates of HIV infection, attempted suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and smoking among transgender and gender non-conforming people speak to the overwhelming need for:<ul><li>Transgender-sensitive health education, health care, and recovery programs;</li><li>Transgender-specific prevention programs.</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Additional data about the health outcomes of transgender and gender non-conforming people is urgently needed;<br /><ul><li>Health studies and other surveys need to include transgender as a demographic category;</li><li>Information about health risks, outcomes and needs must be sought specifically about transgender populations;</li><li>Transgender people should not be put in categories such as “men who have sex with men” (MSM) as transgender women consistently are and transgender men sometimes are. Separate categories should be created for transgender women and transgender men so HIV rates and other sexual health issues can be accurately tracked and researched.</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-43733566869384066562011-01-17T09:28:00.004-05:002011-01-19T09:56:04.299-05:00End Segre(gay)tion!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iQZw6FSOchHdtn7kxowl_VpVZlA7EhRsEGo54TJC4quJilVOmSNeHXzeU52aX06wrKil-o0RMPRelfikjMM9RLgGOxYO5lXTh8-IGu40Y2EtV4Um-EP6Bygpn_oaGTA3-1kZQl2uwD0/s1600/MLK+Day.aspx"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iQZw6FSOchHdtn7kxowl_VpVZlA7EhRsEGo54TJC4quJilVOmSNeHXzeU52aX06wrKil-o0RMPRelfikjMM9RLgGOxYO5lXTh8-IGu40Y2EtV4Um-EP6Bygpn_oaGTA3-1kZQl2uwD0/s320/MLK+Day.aspx" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563910306308891634" border="0" /></a>In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and MLK Day, it's important to note that civil rights struggles, whether for racial equality or LGBT equality, are all basically the same. MLK himself had a trusted openly gay advisor, <a href="http://rustin.org/?page_id=2">Bayard Rustin</a>, who is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest nonviolent protests ever held in the United States.<br /><br />Here are some noted leaders of the racial civil rights movement voicing their support for the LGBT civil rights movement.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">(Thanks to SoulForce, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Lambda Defense and Education Fund, and Freedom To Marry for information and source references.)</span><br /><br /><h2>Coretta Scott King</h2><em></em><em>Coretta Scott King was the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a leader in the civil rights movement.</em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Coretta Scott King" class="content_image_left" src="http://www.soulforce.org/images/coretta_scott_king.jpg" width="170" height="190" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><ul><li>"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King, Jr., said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere' ... I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."1</li></ul> <ul><li>"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing, and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."2</li></ul> <ul><li>"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny... I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be," she said, quoting from her husband. "I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy."<sup>3</sup></li></ul> <ul><li>"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida, and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions."<sup>4</sup></li></ul> <ul><li>"We have a lot of work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say 'common struggle,' because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry & discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination."<sup>5</sup></li></ul> <ul><li>"We have to launch a campaign against homophobia in the black community."<sup>6</sup></li></ul> <ul><li>"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group."<sup>7</sup></li></ul> <p class="caption"><sup>1</sup> Coretta Scott King, 25th anniversary luncheon for Lambda Defense and Education Fund, March 31, 1998</p> <p class="caption"><sup>2</sup> Coretta Scott King, speech at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, USA Today, March 24, 2004</p> <p class="caption"><sup>3</sup> Coretta Scott King, 25th anniversary luncheon for Lambda Defense and Education Fund, quoted in the Chicago Sun Times, April 1, 1998</p> <p class="caption"><sup>4</sup> Coretta Scott King, 25th anniversary luncheon for Lambda Defense and Education Fund, quoted in the Chicago Tribune, April 1, 1998</p> <p class="caption"><sup>5</sup> Coretta Scott King, Opening Plenary Session, 13th annual Creating Change conference of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Atlanta, Georgia, November 9, 2000</p> <p class="caption"><sup>6</sup> Coretta Scott King, Reuters, June 8, 2001</p> <p class="caption"><sup>7</sup> Coretta Scott King, a speech at the Palmer Hilton Hotel, quoted in the Chicago Defender, April 1, 1998</p><p class="caption"><br /></p><h2>Julian Bond</h2><em>Since 1998, Julian Bond has served as Chairman of the Board of the NAACP</em>.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/SHAWNL%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.png" alt="" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Julian Bond" class="content_image_left" src="http://www.soulforce.org/images/julian_bond.jpg" width="170" height="210" /></div><ul><li>"That's why when I am asked, 'Are gay rights civil rights?' my answer is always, 'Of course they are.'"</li></ul> <ul><li>"Rights for gays and lesbians are not 'special rights' in any way. It isn't "special" to be free from discrimination -- that's an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship."</li></ul> <ul><li>"No parallels between movements for rights is exact. African-Americans are the only Americans who were enslaved for more than two centuries, and people of color carry the badge of who we are on our faces. But we are far from the only people suffering discrimination -- sadly, so do many others. They deserve the law's protection and they deserve civil rights too. Sexual disposition parallels race -- I was born black and I had no choice. I couldn't and wouldn't change if I could. Like race, our sexuality isn't a preference -- it is immutable, unchangeable, and the Constitution protects us against prejudices based on immutable differences."</li></ul> <p><em>Julian Bond speaking at the 2008 Creating Change Conference. Bond was a founding member of SNCC in 1960. While a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he helped organize a sit-in movement at Atlanta University.</em> <em></em></p> <p class="caption"><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pktRacMYSD8">Julian Bond's Creating Change 2008 Plenary Speech</a> YouTube video, February 7, 2008. Also available from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as a <a href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/creating_change/cc08_julian_bond_speech.pdf">pdf</a>.</p><p class="caption"><br /></p><h2>Mildred Loving</h2><em>Mildred Loving, along with her husband, Richard, were plaintiffs in the historic Supreme Court decision "Loving v. Virginia" which overturned state laws preventing two persons of different races from getting married</em>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Mildred Loving" class="content_image_left" src="http://www.soulforce.org/images/mildred_loving.jpg" width="170" height="210" /></div> <ul><li>"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the 'wrong kind of person' for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights.</li></ul> <ul><li>I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what <em>Loving</em>, and loving, are all about."</li></ul> <p class="caption"><strong>Source:</strong> <em>Loving for All</em> by Mildred Loving, June 12, 2007 (the 40th anniversary of <em>Loving v. Virginia</em>). Available from Freedom to Marry as a <a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pdfs/mildred_loving-statement.pdf">pdf</a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-46593863903444627392011-01-12T10:48:00.006-05:002011-01-12T11:29:57.657-05:00Sports Outage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwN6eS79FdhaujXn5yPfiq1_Ftx9-MUyfveWYrsvxCDiRmvfBVScOzJ3IZTyB7Bk5jRBqDwYV8p8mce_MhQL1QihE-LRcTt2MlQaZS0F8fCAWqipwjKUerWLnpcHBF_0OgZUymSjFXXo/s1600/Steve+Buckley.image"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwN6eS79FdhaujXn5yPfiq1_Ftx9-MUyfveWYrsvxCDiRmvfBVScOzJ3IZTyB7Bk5jRBqDwYV8p8mce_MhQL1QihE-LRcTt2MlQaZS0F8fCAWqipwjKUerWLnpcHBF_0OgZUymSjFXXo/s320/Steve+Buckley.image" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561331516322737010" border="0" /></a>Last week, sports columnist Steve Buckley came out of the closet. Given the amount of homophobia in the sports industry and the relative shortage of openly LGBT sports figures, having a noted columnist come clean about his gay sexual orientation is still a big deal (though fortunately it's becoming progressively less and less of a big deal).<br /><br />Buckley's article in the <i style=""><a target="_blank" href="http://bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/20110106welcome_to_my_coming-out_party/srvc=home&position=1">Boston Herald, "Welcome to My coming Out Party,"</a></i> has been well received. Buckley says his mother told him to write the piece seven years ago, but when she died mere months later, he lost his nerve. “I’ve put this off long enough,” he said. “For too many years I’ve been on the sidelines of Boston’s gay community … figuratively and literally, as I feel I would have had a pretty good career in the (gay) Beantown Softball League.”<br /><br />Every bit of visibility is good. Here are some of the most prominent LGBT names associated with various sports:<br /><ul><li><strong>Martina Navratilova, tennis player, came out in 1981</strong></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg Louganis, swimmer, came out as gay and HIV+ in 1994</span><br /></li><li><strong>Mike Penner, sports columnist, came out as trans in 2007</strong><strong></strong></li><li><strong>John Amaechi, NBA player</strong>,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> came out in 2007</span></li><li><strong>Gareth Thomas, rugby player, came out in 2009</strong></li><li><strong>Johnny Weir, figure skater, came out in 2011</strong></li></ul> Additionally, several retired NFL and MLB players have also come out of the closet, including David Kopay, Roy Simmons, Esera Tuaolo, Glenn Burke and Billy Bean.<br /><br />Wikipedia has a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople">List of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sportspeople</a>," which currently includes these atheletes:<br /><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="A">A</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Allard" title="Jenny Allard">Allard, Jenny</a>, US-American softball player<sup id="cite_ref-amaechi_0-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-amaechi-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amaechi" title="John Amaechi">Amaechi, John</a>, basketball player (2007)<sup id="cite_ref-amaechi_0-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-amaechi-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyson_Annan" title="Alyson Annan">Annan, Alyson</a>, field hockey Gold medalist<sup id="cite_ref-dividedunited_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-dividedunited-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Arndt" title="Judith Arndt">Arndt, Judith</a>, cyclist<sup id="cite_ref-arndtrossner_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-arndtrossner-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="B">B</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mianne_Bagger" title="Mianne Bagger">Bagger, Mianne</a>, pro golfer (2005)<sup id="cite_ref-bagger_3-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-bagger-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bean" title="Billy Bean">Bean, Billy</a>, baseball player (1999)<sup id="cite_ref-bean_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-bean-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Berling" title="Thomas Berling">Berling, Thomas</a>, footballer (2001)<sup id="cite_ref-berling_5-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-berling-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Burke" title="Glenn Burke">Burke, Glenn</a>, baseball outfielder (1993)<sup id="cite_ref-burke_6-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-burke-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latasha_Byears" title="Latasha Byears">Byears, Latasha</a>, basketball player (2003)<sup id="cite_ref-byears_7-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-byears-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="C">C</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._P._Calderon" title="J. P. Calderon">Calderon, J.P.</a>, volleyball player and coach (2007)<sup id="cite_ref-calderon_8-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-calderon-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cook" title="Natalie Cook">Cook, Natalie</a>, beach volleyballer (2008) <sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toller_Cranston" title="Toller Cranston">Cranston, Toller</a>, figure skater <sup id="cite_ref-cranston_10-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-cranston-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Curry" title="John Curry">Curry, John</a>, figure skater (1976)<sup id="cite_ref-curry_11-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-curry-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%B3nal_%C3%93g_Cusack" title="Dónal Óg Cusack" class="mw-redirect">Cusack, Dónal Óg</a>, hurler (2009)<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="D">D</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Zaharias" title="Babe Zaharias">Didrikson, Babe</a>, athlete, golfer and baseballer<sup id="cite_ref-didrikson_13-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-didrikson-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drolet" title="Nancy Drolet">Drolet, Nancy</a>, hockey player (2002) <sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Dumaresq" title="Michelle Dumaresq">Dumaresq, Michelle</a>, mountain biker (2002)<sup id="cite_ref-dumaresq_15-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-dumaresq-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imke_Duplitzer" title="Imke Duplitzer">Duplitzer, Imke</a>, Olympic fencer<sup id="cite_ref-duplitzer_16-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-duplitzer-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="F">F</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu" title="Justin Fashanu">Fashanu, Justin</a>, footballer (1988)<sup id="cite_ref-fashanu_17-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-fashanu-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigi_Fern%C3%A1ndez" title="Gigi Fernández">Fernández, Gigi</a>, tennis professional<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="G">G</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Galindo" title="Rudy Galindo">Galindo, Rudy</a>, Olympic figure skater (1996)<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gallagher_%28football%29" title="Ed Gallagher (football)">Gallagher, Ed</a>, offensive lineman for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pittsburgh" title="University of Pittsburgh">University of Pittsburgh</a> (1985)<sup id="cite_ref-gallagher_19-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-gallagher-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missy_Giove" title="Missy Giove">Giove, Missy</a>, mountain biker (1994)<sup id="cite_ref-giove_20-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-giove-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Goldstein" title="Andrew Goldstein">Goldstein, Andrew</a>, lacrosse goalie (2003)<sup id="cite_ref-goldstein_21-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-goldstein-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Guetschow" title="Joan Guetschow">Guetschow, Joan</a>, Olympic biathlete (1992, 1994)<sup id="cite_ref-guetschow_22-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-guetschow-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="H">H</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hall_%28figure_skater%29" title="Matthew Hall (figure skater)">Hall, Matthew</a>, figure skater (1992)<sup id="cite_ref-hallmatthew_23-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-hallmatthew-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro_Hammerseng" title="Gro Hammerseng">Hammerseng, Gro</a>, Handball player (2002)<sup id="cite_ref-hammerseng_24-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-hammerseng-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Hawkins" title="Kyle Hawkins">Hawkins, Kyle</a>, Collegiate lacrosse coach (2006)<sup id="cite_ref-hawkins_25-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-hawkins-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Hayes_%28swimmer%29" title="Bruce Hayes (swimmer)">Hayes, Bruce</a>, Olympic swimmer<sup id="cite_ref-hayes_26-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-hayes-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Holst" title="Erika Holst">Holst, Erika</a>, ice hockey player (2006)<sup id="cite_ref-holstlindberg_27-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-holstlindberg-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Jacobs" title="Helen Jacobs">Hull Jacobs, Helen</a>, Tennis champion<sup id="cite_ref-hulljacobs_28-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-hulljacobs-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Hundvin" title="Mia Hundvin">Hundvin, Mia</a>, Norwegian handball player<sup id="cite_ref-Hundvin_29-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Hundvin-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="J">J</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Jeffrey" title="Patrick Jeffrey">Jeffrey, Patrick</a>, Olympic diver (1996)<sup id="cite_ref-jeffrey_30-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-jeffrey-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Jones" title="Rosie Jones">Jones, Rosie</a>, Golfer<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Jordan" title="Orlando Jordan">Jordan, Orlando</a>, American professional wrestler. (2006)<sup id="cite_ref-ojordan_31-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-ojordan-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="K">K</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Karlsson_%28ice_hockey%29" title="Peter Karlsson (ice hockey)">Karlsson, Peter</a>, ice hockey player<sup id="cite_ref-karlsson_32-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-karlsson-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Kenkhuis" title="Johan Kenkhuis">Kenkhuis, Johan</a>, Olympic swimmer (2004)<sup id="cite_ref-kenkhuis_33-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-kenkhuis-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean_King" title="Billie Jean King">King, Billie Jean</a>, tennis professional (1981)<sup id="cite_ref-king_34-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-king-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilana_Kloss" title="Ilana Kloss">Kloss, Ilana</a>, Tennis player<sup id="cite_ref-Kloss_35-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Kloss-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kopay" title="David Kopay">Kopay, David</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> running back (1975)<sup id="cite_ref-kopay_36-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-kopay-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kowalski" title="Daniel Kowalski">Kowalski, Daniel</a>, Australian freestyle swimmer<sup id="cite_ref-kowalski_37-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-kowalski-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="L">L</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Leduc" title="Mark Leduc">Leduc, Mark</a>, Olympic boxer (1994)<sup id="cite_ref-leduc_38-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-leduc-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ylva_Lindberg" title="Ylva Lindberg">Lindberg, Ylva</a>, ice hockey player (2006)<sup id="cite_ref-holstlindberg_27-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-holstlindberg-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Louganis" title="Greg Louganis">Louganis, Greg</a>, Olympic diver (1994)<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="M">M</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Mandl%C3%ADkov%C3%A1" title="Hana Mandlíková">Mandlíková, Hana</a>, tennis professional <sup id="cite_ref-mauresmo_39-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-mauresmo-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchita_Mart%C3%ADnez" title="Conchita Martínez">Martínez, Conchita</a>, tennis professional<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%A9lie_Mauresmo" title="Amélie Mauresmo">Mauresmo, Amélie</a>, tennis professional (1999) <sup id="cite_ref-mauresmo_39-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-mauresmo-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McCall_%28figure_skater%29" title="Robert McCall (figure skater)">McCall, Rob</a> figure skater (posthumous) <sup id="cite_ref-Landing_it_40-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Landing_it-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Metcalf" title="Harriet Metcalf">Metcalf, Holly</a>, Olympic rower<sup id="cite_ref-wgbhheros_41-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-wgbhheros-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Mitcham" title="Matthew Mitcham">Mitcham, Matthew</a>, Olympic diver (2008)<sup id="cite_ref-Mitcham_42-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Mitcham-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Morgan_%28powerlifter%29" title="Chris Morgan (powerlifter)">Morgan, Chris</a>, powerlifter<sup id="cite_ref-dallas_voice_morgan_43-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-dallas_voice_morgan-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="N">N</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Navratilova" title="Martina Navratilova">Navratilova, Martina</a>, tennis professional <sup id="cite_ref-advocatemufflin_44-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-advocatemufflin-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jana_Novotna" title="Jana Novotna" class="mw-redirect">Novotna, Jana</a>, tennis professional <sup id="cite_ref-GoGay_.D7.97.D7.93.D7.A9.D7.95.D7.AA_45-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-GoGay_.D7.97.D7.93.D7.A9.D7.95.D7.AA-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondrej_Nepela" title="Ondrej Nepela">Nepela, Ondrej</a>, figure skater <sup id="cite_ref-cranston_10-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-cranston-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Newton_%28athlete%29" title="Robert Newton (athlete)">Newton, Rob</a>, Athlete<sup id="cite_ref-newton_46-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-newton-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Nyad" title="Diana Nyad">Nyad, Diana</a>, swimmer <sup id="cite_ref-diananyad_47-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-diananyad-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katja_Nyberg" title="Katja Nyberg">Nyberg, Katja</a>, Handball player<sup id="cite_ref-katjanyberg_48-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-katjanyberg-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="O">O</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_O%27Meara" title="Ryan O'Meara">O'Meara, Ryan</a>, figure skater (ice dancing discipline) (2008).<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Orser" title="Brian Orser">Orser, Brian</a>, Olympic figure skater (1998)<sup id="cite_ref-orser_50-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-orser-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Owens" title="Nigel Owens">Owens, Nigel</a>, Welsh <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Rugby_Board" title="International Rugby Board">International</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union" title="Rugby union">rugby union</a> referee (2007).<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzipora_Obziler" title="Tzipora Obziler">Obziler, Tzipora</a> (2007), tennis player<sup id="cite_ref-GoGay_.D7.97.D7.93.D7.A9.D7.95.D7.AA_45-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-GoGay_.D7.97.D7.93.D7.A9.D7.95.D7.AA-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="P">P</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Paris" title="Bob Paris">Paris, Bob</a>, bodybuilder (1983)<sup id="cite_ref-paris_52-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-paris-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Patterson_%28wrestler%29" title="Pat Patterson (wrestler)">Patterson, Pat</a>, former professional wrestler<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pichler" title="David Pichler">Pichler, David</a>, Olympic diver (1996)<sup id="cite_ref-pichler_53-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-pichler-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Pockar" title="Brian Pockar">Pockar, Brian</a>, figure skater (posthumous) <sup id="cite_ref-Landing_it_40-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Landing_it-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="R">R</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Raymond" title="Lisa Raymond">Raymond, Lisa</a>, tennis player<sup id="cite_ref-theage_54-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-theage-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9e_Richards" title="Renée Richards">Richards, Renee</a>, tennis player (1976)<sup id="cite_ref-richardsrenee_55-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-richardsrenee-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Robbins" title="Kelly Robbins">Robbins, Kelly</a>, Golfer<sup id="cite_ref-webbrobbins_56-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-webbrobbins-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Roberts_%28rugby_league%29" title="Ian Roberts (rugby league)">Roberts, Ian</a>, rugby league player (1995)<sup id="cite_ref-robertsian_57-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-robertsian-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra_Rossner" title="Petra Rossner">Rossner, Petra</a>, Cyclist<sup id="cite_ref-arndtrossner_2-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-arndtrossner-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="S">S</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Sheehan" title="Patty Sheehan">Sheehan, Patty</a>, Golfer<sup id="cite_ref-sheehan_58-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-sheehan-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibeke_Skofterud" title="Vibeke Skofterud">Skofterud, Vibeke Westbye</a>, Norwegian cross country skier <sup id="cite_ref-Skofterud_59-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Skofterud-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Simmons" title="Roy Simmons">Simmons, Roy</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> offensive guard (1992)<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-6" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Skjellerup" title="Blake Skjellerup">Skjellerup, Blake</a>, Olympic short-track speed skater (2010)<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Smith_%28American_football%29" title="Jerry Smith (American football)">Smith, Jerry</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> tight end (1977)<sup id="cite_ref-smithjerry_61-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-smithjerry-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_Spencer-Devlin" title="Muffin Spencer-Devlin">Spencer-Devlin, Muffin</a>, golf professional (1996) <sup id="cite_ref-advocatemufflin_44-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-advocatemufflin-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennae_Stubbs" title="Rennae Stubbs">Stubbs, Rennae</a>, tennis professional<sup id="cite_ref-stubbs_62-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-stubbs-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheryl_Swoopes" title="Sheryl Swoopes">Swoopes, Sheryl</a>, basketball player (2005)<sup id="cite_ref-swoopes_63-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-swoopes-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="T">T</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyth_Tait" title="Blyth Tait">Tait, Blyth</a> Olympic Equestrian<sup id="cite_ref-tait_64-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-tait-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tewksbury" title="Mark Tewksbury">Tewksbury, Mark</a>, Olympic swimmer<sup id="cite_ref-wgbhheros_41-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-wgbhheros-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_Thate" title="Carole Thate">Thate, Carole</a>, Field hockey Bronze medalist<sup id="cite_ref-dividedunited_1-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-dividedunited-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Tilden" title="Bill Tilden">Tilden, Bill</a>, tennis professional (1920)<sup id="cite_ref-tilden_65-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-tilden-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Tinling" title="Ted Tinling">Tinling, Ted</a>, Tennis professional<sup id="cite_ref-tinling_66-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-tinling-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gareth_Thomas_%28rugby_player%29" title="Gareth Thomas (rugby player)">Thomas, Gareth</a>, Rugby Player - Cardiff Blues, Wales and British and Irish Lions professional rugby player (2009)<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-67"><span>[</span>68<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esera_Tuaolo" title="Esera Tuaolo">Tuaolo, Esera</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> professional football player (2002)<sup id="cite_ref-tuaolo_68-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-tuaolo-68"><span>[</span>69<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="V">V</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Van_Gorp" title="Michele Van Gorp">Van Gorp, Michele</a>, basketball player (2004)<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-7" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Vaillancourt" title="Sarah Vaillancourt">Vaillancourt, Sarah</a>, Canadian ice hockey player<sup id="cite_ref-Vaillancourt_69-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-Vaillancourt-69"><span>[</span>70<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa-Marie_Vizaniari" title="Lisa-Marie Vizaniari">Vizaniari, Lisa-Marie</a>, Olympic Athlete and Boxer<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Veatch" title="Dan Veatch">Veatch, Dan</a>, Olympic swimmer<sup id="cite_ref-veatch_70-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-veatch-70"><span>[</span>71<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa-Marie_Vizaniari" title="Lisa-Marie Vizaniari">Vizaniari, Lisa-Marie</a>, Olympic Athlete and Boxer<sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-9" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="W">W</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waddell" title="Tom Waddell">Waddell, Tom</a>, Olympic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decathlon" title="Decathlon">decathlete</a> and creator of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Games" title="Gay Games">Gay Games</a> (1968)<sup id="cite_ref-waddell_71-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-waddell-71"><span>[</span>72<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji_Wallace" title="Ji Wallace">Wallace, Ji</a>, Australian trampoline gymnast<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-72"><span>[</span>73<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Wauters" title="Ann Wauters">Wauters, Ann</a>, basketball player <sup id="cite_ref-wauters_73-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-wauters-73"><span>[</span>74<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karrie_Webb" title="Karrie Webb">Webb, Karrie</a>, golfer<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-74"><span>[</span>75<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Whipple" title="Diane Whipple">Whipple, Diane</a>, lacrosse player<sup id="cite_ref-whipple_75-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-whipple-75"><span>[</span>76<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Wicks" title="Sue Wicks">Wicks, Sue</a>, basketball player (2000)<sup id="cite_ref-wicks_76-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-wicks-76"><span>[</span>77<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wilson_%28figure_skater%29" title="David Wilson (figure skater)">Wilson, David</a>, figure skater, choreographer<sup id="cite_ref-davidwilson_77-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-davidwilson-77"><span>[</span>78<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireen_W%C3%BCst" title="Ireen Wüst">Wüst, Ireen</a>, Dutch ice speed skater<sup id="cite_ref-W.C3.BCst_78-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-W.C3.BCst-78"><span>[</span>79<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alissa_Wykes" title="Alissa Wykes">Wykes, Alissa</a>, American footballer <sup id="cite_ref-outsports_14-10" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople#cite_note-outsports-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-57326276156743045442011-01-10T10:20:00.003-05:002011-01-12T10:47:58.701-05:00LGBT Horror and Heroism in Arizona<h6 class="mceTemp"><dl id="attachment_60088" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 190px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.dallasvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/161500_1020810048_5602183_n.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-60088" title="161500_1020810048_5602183_n" src="http://www.dallasvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/161500_1020810048_5602183_n.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="252" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Daniel Hernandez is shown with Giffords in this image from his Facebook page.</dd></dl></h6> Everyone has heard of the attempted assassination this past Saturday of democratic Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who survived though is seriously injured.<br /><br />Not everyone necessarily knows about the LGBT connections to this story, though.<br /><br />Rep. Giffords was a strong LGBT-positive official. The Human Rights Campaign gave Giffords an 81 percent pro-LGBT rating on its congressional scorecard for the 110th Congress. She supported repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and supports a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. <p>HRC said, “We are shocked and saddened by the events involving Congresswoman Giffords and our hearts go out to her and the other victims of this awful tragedy. Gabby Giffords is a champion for LGBT equality and a principled leader for Arizona.”</p><p>Here's her support record:</p><table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="2" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p>1)</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle" width="80%"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#A">Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913)</a>:</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle" width="20%"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><p>2)</p></td><td valign="top"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#B">Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act Motion to Recommit (H.R. 1913)</a>:</p></td><td valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p>3)</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="top"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#C">Murphy Amendment to National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5136)</a>:</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><p>4)</p></td><td valign="top"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#D">Souder Amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3293)</a>:</p></td><td valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p>5)</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#E">Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017) (Co-Sponsorship)</a>:</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><p>6)</p></td><td valign="top"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#F">Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 2625) (Co-Sponsorship)</a>:</p></td><td valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p>7)</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#G">Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 3567) (Co-Sponsorship)</a>:</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/n.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="middle"><p>8)</p></td><td valign="top"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#H">Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024) (Co-Sponsorship)</a>:</p></td><td valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/n.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p>9)</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/house-bills.html#I">Early Treatment for HIV Act (H.R. 1616) (Co-Sponsorship)</a>:</p></td><td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" valign="middle"><p><img src="http://174.121.137.58/%7Edbhrcorg/scorecards/image/y.gif" border="0" /></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The second gay connection is Daniel Hernandez Jr., a 20-year-old University of Arizona student who’d been working as an intern for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (for five days), who is credited with saving her life after she was shot on Saturday.</p><p>HE is openly gay and serves as a Commissioner on the Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. </p><p>According to the <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/09/20110109daniel-hernandez-gabrielle-giffords-arizona-shooting.html"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong>Arizona Republic</strong></span></a>, Hernandez was standing about 30 feet from Giffords during the “Congress on Your Corner” event outside a Safeway store near Tucson. When the gunshots began, Hernandez ran toward them and began checking the pulses of people who’d been hit. When Hernandez got to Giffords, he used his hand to apply pressure to the entry wound on her forehead. He pulled her into his lap and held her upright so she wouldn’t choke on her blood.</p>Hernandez used his hand to apply pressure to the wound until someone brought clean smocks from the meat department of the grocery store. He stayed with Giffords until paramedics arrived, then climbed into an ambulance with her. <p>Official records of events tend to downplay sexual orientation, but even when done for the best of reasons (e.g., to protect someone's privacy or because it shouldn't matter) it creates a kind of historical closet. It's important for everyone to be aware of how gay people and allies who support equality for gay folk are involved in the ordinary and tragic events of life.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-25153370197085439182011-01-05T13:22:00.006-05:002011-01-05T13:58:30.289-05:002011 Is So Gay!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4aX6Ib177o8CoWnOIktYFfJLb6qgLdErSkcuO7ZIjyVm2pizvhaI_-KqmwKpKVHE3-au2iENscORHO2pqv1VlyFoTrnKhQwrKjSctWha4-Da3mjmEyEJrroVhfaAHiQH7Ogyfgl79WA/s1600/rainbow+calendar+2011.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4aX6Ib177o8CoWnOIktYFfJLb6qgLdErSkcuO7ZIjyVm2pizvhaI_-KqmwKpKVHE3-au2iENscORHO2pqv1VlyFoTrnKhQwrKjSctWha4-Da3mjmEyEJrroVhfaAHiQH7Ogyfgl79WA/s320/rainbow+calendar+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558773709085631906" border="0" /></a>Every year, there are a variety of events, activities, and observances that are relevant to the LGBT community. It's difficult to get a comprehensive list, but here is a good start on upcoming days of observance to be aware of.<br /><br />Truly, 2011 is so gay. As is every year!<br /><br />Please feel free to leave a comment on other LGBT day or observance/holidays (holigays :) ) that you think should be added.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >January </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">February<br /></b></span></p><ul><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Feb 7</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Feb 15 - TENTATIVE SAVE THE DATE! Equality NC Day Of Action in Raleigh (lobby day)</span><br /></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="RU">March</span></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" lang="RU" ><br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" lang="RU" >National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Mar 10</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="RU">April</span></b></span><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><ul><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">TransAction Day - Apr 8 in 2010</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Day of Silence - Apr 16</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="RU">May</span></b></span><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><ul><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">National Foster Care Month - May</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) - May 17</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Harvey Milk Day - May 22</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">June</b><br /></span></p><ul><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">LGBT Pride Month - Jun</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Gay Days at Walt Disney World: the first week in Jun</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">National HIV/AIDS Testing Day - Jun 27</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Stonewall Anniversary - Jun 30</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">July<br /><br />August<br /><br />September</b><br /></span></p><ul><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Celebrate Bisexuality Day - Sep 23</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Sep 27</span></li><li><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">NC Pride - around last weekend in Sep<br /></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">October</b><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);font-size:100%;" lang="RU" >GLBT History Month - Oct</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);font-size:100%;" lang="RU" >National Coming Out Day - Oct 11</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);font-size:100%;" lang="RU" >Ally Week - around Oct 18-22 </span></li></ul> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span lang="RU" style="color:black;">November<br /></span></b></span><ul><li><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" >National Adoption Awareness Month - Nov</span></li><li><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Equality NC Equality Conference & Gala - mid Nov (date, location pending)</span><br /></span></li><li><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" >National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving</span></li><li><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" >National Transgender Day of Remembrance - Nov 20</span></li></ul><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" ><b style="">December<br /></b></span><ul><li><span style=";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="RU" >World AIDS Day - Dec 1</span></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149003555260549694.post-42759436528963461302010-12-22T10:06:00.006-05:002010-12-22T10:25:10.444-05:00Happy Holidays, and Here's To 2011!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf04xXq6Gfn6UQohSh4FAxsXmoro4F-ns0Sas-n2Yx33jjIsUjUbC7QnkJC8uZH1hBHor9ar7Ro_R_KFwNg-2a1wa-2x8EsuME-f2o-ESd5zfDcskOSCHLrnAyyWsyGj20u_r2sB50APo/s1600/ENC+holiday+banner+at+half-size.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf04xXq6Gfn6UQohSh4FAxsXmoro4F-ns0Sas-n2Yx33jjIsUjUbC7QnkJC8uZH1hBHor9ar7Ro_R_KFwNg-2a1wa-2x8EsuME-f2o-ESd5zfDcskOSCHLrnAyyWsyGj20u_r2sB50APo/s400/ENC+holiday+banner+at+half-size.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553527217817017778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrxgt7oFKhCJ3bp2woAbyRzMvJceQ8fkCjMQ81KrcINRTUAsr8WPsSGd1tOhjzjfYcQ7qWK2NOXJ2RFMYwbbCPUw956r7i3a4D3UqvnVIy9tCq81aWr_Emf1SezI3VPdCt69ReKmrq2o/s1600/happy+new+year.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrxgt7oFKhCJ3bp2woAbyRzMvJceQ8fkCjMQ81KrcINRTUAsr8WPsSGd1tOhjzjfYcQ7qWK2NOXJ2RFMYwbbCPUw956r7i3a4D3UqvnVIy9tCq81aWr_Emf1SezI3VPdCt69ReKmrq2o/s320/happy+new+year.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553527499841575634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Equality NC wishes you and yours all the best during the holiday season, and we look forward to working with you in 2011!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0