OutServe Posts DADT Training Materials

The group OutServe has begun providing copies of the DADT repeal implementation materials. Here's what they have so far:

Early Army DADT repeal training

Share Posted on February 25, 2011

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.

Army DADT FAQs

DADT_Enclosure_4_-_Army_Guiding_Principles

10 things you need to know for DADT Repeal

DADT Powerpoint JAG

Navy Tier 3 Training

Share Posted on February 28, 2011

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.

Navy DADT Pamphlet

Navy DADT Slides

Navy DADT Presenter Guidance

Navy Lecture Handout

Marines Set Date of 31 May

Share Posted on February 16, 2011

Date Signed: 2/16/2011
MARADMIN Active 108/11 2011

R 161455Z FEB 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 108/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/EXECUTION GUIDANCE FOR REPEAL OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC/22DEC2010//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/TITLE 10 US CODE, SECTION 654/-//
REF/C/MSGID:MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/231709ZDEC2010//
REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/28JAN2011//
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.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/

1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES EXECUTION GUIDANCE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPEAL OF THE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL POLICY.

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.

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.

4. TRAINING
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.
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.
(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.
(2) TIER 2 – LEADER LEVEL (E.G., COMMANDERS, SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISORS AND CIVILIAN SUPERVISORS OF MARINES).
(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.
(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.
(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.

5. REPORTING PROCEDURES
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.
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).
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.

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.
A. MARINE CORPS MANUAL.
B. MCO 1040.31, ENLISTED RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
C. MCO P1100.72C W/CH 1, MILITARY PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MANUAL, VOLUME 2, ENLISTED PROCUREMENT.
D. MCO P1100.75D, PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MILITARY ENTRANCE PROCESSING STATION (MEPS).
E. MCO 1130.80A, PRIOR SERVICE AND RESERVE AUGMENTATION ENLISTMENTS INTO THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS.
F. MCO 1752.5A, SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM.
G. MCO P1900.16F, MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.
H. NAVMC DIRECTIVE 5040.6H, MARINE CORPS READINESS INSPECTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS.
I. MCO 5530.14A, MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL SECURITY PROGRAM MANUAL.
J. MCO 7220R.38C SELECTED RESERVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

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.

8. THIS MESSAGE IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.

Face[book]ing LGBT Relationships

Facebook has added "civil union" and "domestic partnership" to its "relationship status" options in user profiles, following an anti-bullying initiative called 'Network of Support' in consultation with LGBT groups that began last October.

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."

Valentiny Activism

GetEQUAL and Marriage Equality USA are staging protests across the country to show the inequality in our nation's marriage laws.

"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."

One of those protests is occurring right here in Asheville, NC.

“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.”

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.”

GetEQUAL will be posting photos and video on its Facebook page throughout the day.

CBS Sports Honors Late Out Pro Hockey Player

Last year we had this blog:

Hockey, Homophobia, and A Father's Love for His Gay Son

This year, CBS featured a retrospective on this aforementioned gay son, who was an out pro hockey player when he died.

From www.towleroad.com

In a touching CBS Sports segment, Miami University hockey players and coaches remember Brendan Burke, who made international news with his coming out story, and died a year ago in an apparently weather-related car accident in Indiana.

83% of Kentuckians Support Fairness for LGBT Families!

From the Kentucky Fairness Alliance

Today, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance 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.

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.

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.

Read the survey results (including Congressional district breakdowns) here.

By The Numbers: LGBT Stats in Early 2011

Crossposted information from Gideon Alper's incredible blog on gay legal issues.

Gay Marriage Facts

States where gay marriage is legal:

• Massachusetts (2004)
• Connecticut (2008)
• Iowa (2009)
• Vermont (2009)
• New Hampshire (2010)
• Washington, D.C. (2010) (not a state)

States That Recognize Out-of-State Gay Marriages:

• New York
• California (only if the marriage is from before Proposition 8 was passed)

Gay Marriage Support

Should gays an lesbians be allowed to marry?

• 43% say yes.
• 47% say no.
• 10% are unsure.

Source: Pew Research Center.

Gays in the Military:

Should those who do not disclose their orientation be allowed to serve?

• 83% support it.
• 14% do not.
• 3% unsure

Should those who do disclose their orientation be allowed to serve?

• 17% say yes.
• 21% say no.
• 2% are unsure.

Source: The Polling Report.

Demographics

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.

• Total Number of Gay Couples: 594,391
• Number of People in a Couple: 1.2 Million
• State With the Most Couples: California (92,138)
• State With the Least Couples: North Dakota (703)
• Highest Concentration of Gay Couple (% of all couples): Washington, D.C. (1.29%)
• Lowest Concentration of Gay Couples (% of all couples): North and South Dakota (.22%)

Gay people make up 1-4% of the population in most cities, but are more concentrated in metropolitan areas.

Most Same Sex Couples by City:

1. New York, NY: 47,000
2. Los Angeles, CA: 12,000
3. Chicago, IL: 10,000

Source: 2000 Census.

Highest LGBT Concentration by Major Metropolitan City

1. San Francisco, CA: 15.4%
2. Seattle, WA: 12.9%
3. Atlanta, GA: 12.8%

Source: 2000 Census.

2011 Is So Gay!

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.

Truly, 2011 is so gay. As is every year!

Please feel free to leave a comment on other LGBT day or observance/holidays (holigays :) ) that you think should be added.

January

February

• National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Feb 7
• Feb 15 - TENTATIVE SAVE THE DATE! Equality NC Day Of Action in Raleigh (lobby day)
  

March

• National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Mar 10

April

• TransAction Day - Apr 8 in 2010
• Day of Silence - Apr 16

May

• National Foster Care Month - May
• The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) - May 17
• Harvey Milk Day - May 22

June

• LGBT Pride Month - Jun
• Gay Days at Walt Disney World: the first week in Jun
• National HIV/AIDS Testing Day - Jun 27
• Stonewall Anniversary - Jun 30

July

August

September

• Celebrate Bisexuality Day - Sep 23
• National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Sep 27
• NC Pride - around last weekend in Sep
  

October

• GLBT History Month - Oct
• National Coming Out Day - Oct 11
• Ally Week - around Oct 18-22

November

• National Adoption Awareness Month - Nov
• Equality NC Equality Conference & Gala - mid Nov (date, location pending)
  
• National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving
• National Transgender Day of Remembrance - Nov 20

December

• World AIDS Day - Dec 1

Happy Holidays, and Here's To 2011!

Equality NC wishes you and yours all the best during the holiday season, and we look forward to working with you in 2011!

Family Blogging

In the wake of the NC Supreme Court decision that voided gay second-parent adoption in the state (*sigh*), here are some gay family blogs.

While this decision is a setback here in North Carolina, there was an upside. The court decision also affirmed gay joint custody, which was decided by the Court of Appeals a couple of years ago.

If you're a co-parent, go here for a roadmap on how to take affirmative action - by your behavior, by conveying your intentions clearly to each other, by your agreements with each other, and by what you put in writing - to codify your desire to serve as co-parents.

Obviously you should consult a lawyer for creating legal agreements. The important thing, however, is to take steps now to show your intention to raise your kid(s) together.

In the meantime, however, share the joy (and hassle) of other LGBT families raising their children:

• Celebrating All Families, celebratingallfamilies.blogspot.com/
• Dads in the Burbs, dadsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
• Jesus has Two Daddies, jesushas2daddies.blogspot.com/
• Julie Shapiro (a lawyer’s blog on L/G adoption), julieshapiro.wordpress.com/
• Me and She, me-n-she.blogspot.com/
• Mother Issues, motherissues.wordpress.com/
• My Two Dads, patrickandcarl.blogspot.com/
• Those Two Daddies, thosetwodaddies.blogspot.com/
• Two Dads, One Girl, twodadsonegirl.blogspot.com/

"Supportive Families, Healthy Children" - Free Booklet!

Last month, the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing featured an article "Family Acceptance in Adolescence and the Health of LGBT Young Adults." This study determined that positive and accepting family attitudes and behaviors towards LGBT children significantly increase their overall health in adulthood.

(Not exactly a newsflash, but it does provide solid, peer-reviewed data to support a bit of common-sense that many people still don't get. It's still not an uncommon event for kids to be completely rejected by homophobic parents. It's a cliche, but it's also an ongoing tragedy.)

The study shows that specific parental and caregiver behaviors, e.g., advocating for children when they are mistreated for being gay or supporting their gender expression, protect against depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts in early adulthood. In addition, LGBT youth with highly accepting families have significantly higher levels of self-esteem and social support in young adulthood.

Findings include:

• Family accepting behaviors towards LGBT youth during adolescence protect against suicide, depression, and substance abuse.
• LGBT young adults who reported high levels of family acceptance during adolescence had significantly higher levels of self-esteem, social support, and general health, compared to peers with low levels of family acceptance.
• LGBT young adults who reported low levels of family acceptance during adolescence were over three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to report suicide attempts, compared to those with high levels of family acceptance.
• High religious involvement in families was strongly associated with low acceptance of LGBT children.

Results of the research are being translated into practical tools for parents by the study's author, Dr. Caitlin Ryan, and her team at the Family Acceptance Project in collaboration with Child and Adolescent Services at the University of California, San Francisco, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

They use a behavioral approach to help ethnically and religiously diverse families decrease rejection and increase support for their LGBT children to reduce risk for suicide, depression, substance abuse, and HIV, to promote well-being, and to prevent homelessness and placement in custodial care. This work is being conducted in English, Spanish, and Chinese with families from all ethnic backgrounds, including immigrant and very low income families, and those whose children are out-of-home in foster care and juvenile justice facilities.

To download a copy of their booklet, just go here and enter your e-mail address and zip code (which they'll use to track where their materials are used and ask for any feedback on the booklet):
"Supportive Families, Healthy Children."

Trans Air - Flying the Not Necessarily Friendly Skies

Over the holidays, with the prospect of lots of travel including airlines, there's been a lot of hullabaloo over the TSA(Transportation Security Administration)'s new security screening procedures for air passengers, requiring either a revealing electronic body scan or a manual full body pat down.

As is so often the case, certain groups of people will have a more difficult time with these procedures. Again, as is so often the case, these are folks who have additional struggles to begin with. With regard to the new TSA procedures, I'm specifically referring to trans folks.

Trans folks have the double-disadvantage in that they may have prosthetics (padded, underwire bras and breast forms, genital prosthetics), which may cause concern to airport screeners, and that they may be red-flagged if the screener notes a discrepancy with the gender they present, either subjectively or due to a difference between the gender markers on their ID.

The point is, the marginalized community, that already has it harder, gets to have it harder still. And of course, the TSA does not require nor necessarily provide training for its officers regarding sensitivity to the LGBT community.

Fortunately, the National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE) has come out with a resource for trans folks and "What Travelers Need to Know," as well as a useful PDF on "Whole Body Imaging."

There's a lot of just good general information for all folks, like:

• First, it is important that you KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Even if TSA personnel are not always familiar with travelers' rights, such as the right to decline a full-body scan, you should know them. You may need to politely inform the officer of your rights and choices.
  
  
• Second, calmly and clearly expressing your choices is very important. This makes it easier for the TSA agents to understand what your needs are and may help you get through the checkpoint more quickly.

... as well as some trans-specific facts:

• You have the right to have manual search procedures performed by an officer who is of the same gender as the gender you are currently presenting yourself as. This does not depend on the gender listed on your ID, or on any other factor. If TSA officials are unsure who should pat you down, ask to speak to a supervisor and calmly insist on the appropriate officer.
  
  
• You should not be subjected to additional screening or inquiry because of any discrepancy between a gender marker on an ID and your appearance. As long as your ID has a recognizable picture of you on it, with your legal name and birth date, it should not cause any problem.

During the holidays, the best way to ensure that all of us and our family and friends have safe and uneventful travels is to have the best information on travel policies that affect you.

Until we have full equality and inclusion, we simply deal with what we've got with as much grace and equanimity as possible. Travel safely!

Having Faith ... in Equality - New Report by FIA

Faith In America has released a free report on "Addressing Religious Arguments to Achieve LGBT Equality."

"Our mission at Faith in America is to confront religion-based bigotry that lies at that heart of discrimination toward LGBT people. Full equality will not be achieved until the root of the issue is addressed. This report provides important information on how to start the conversation, persuade the movable middle and win the hearts and minds of those that will help bring an end to religion-based bigotry in all its forms."

This report highlights and refutes common assertions used by people of faith to justify bigotry and discrimination against LGBT folks. For example:

"Charge: Homosexuality is a sin … it says so in the Bible. Response: First, that is your interpretation of the Bible, and you should be aware that many others don’t interpret it that way. Second, we should all remember that millions of people have been harmed over the years because the majority’s religious teachings have determined minority groups’ civil rights. Religious teachings were used to support the horrors of slavery, deny women the right to vote, deny loving interracial couples the right to be married, deny black people their full and equal place in our society and deny minority religious groups equal rights. We have learned from these horrible mistakes that it is wrong to use religious teachings to dehumanize and marginalize any minority group. It is no less wrong today to use religious teachings to deny gay people full and equal civil rights."

The report also provides strategies and techniques for addressing this type of prejudice, e.g., "Talking about religion-based bigotry is more effective than using the term 'homophobia.' Using the term 'homophobia' is generally not effective with people of faith. 'Homophobia' is defined as an irrational or unreasonable fear of homosexuality. For many people of faith, especially those who hold to a literal interpretation of Scripture, there is nothing wrong or irrational about fearing sin."

It also provides facts solid facts to covey the importance and seriousness of their message:

• Gay kids who experience family rejection are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide and 6 times more likely to report high levels of depression.
• 1,000+ rights and responsibilities are currently the exclusive right of heterosexual couples.
• If a person believes sexual orientation is a choice, they are 70% more likely to be against LGBT equal rights. If a person believes sexual orientation is part
  of how you are created, they are 70% more likely to be in favor of LGBT equal rights.
  

Faith In America was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization in 2005 by Mitchell Gold with the goal of countering the messages of bigotry, prejudice, and hostility toward the LGBT community being taught under the guise of religious belief and religious teaching.

What About The Children? National Adoption Month!

My partner and I adopted our son through the foster care system here in North Carolina, so today's blog topic is a big deal to me.

November is National Adoption Month, celebrated throughout the United States in an effort to finalize adoptions from foster care, and to celebrate all adoptive families. (National Adoption Day falls on November 20 this year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving).

This year's National Adoption Month initiative targets adoption professionals by focusing on ways to recruit and retain parents for the 115,000 children and youth in foster care waiting for adoptive families. The National Adoption Month poster (PDF - 3569 KB) notes strategies adoption professionals can implement any day, week, or month to benefit children waiting for families. The Spanish National Adoption Month poster (PDF - 3599 KB) also provides suggestions for working with Spanish-speaking families throughout the year.

Now is a great time for LGBT folks to adopt, and the foster care system is a great place to look for kids who need homes and parents.

Thousands of children in North Carolina enter the foster care system each year, and range in age from infants to 18 years old. All foster children have unique backgrounds, experiences, personalities, strengths, and needs.

The NC foster care system is open to gay parents. (OK, well, technically, they're neither open nor not open.) Your actual experience will depend on any foster care agency you go through and/or the officials in any county DSS (Department of Social Services) that you deal with. We found everyone we interacted with to be extremely positive and supportive of us as a gay male couple looking to adopt - all they cared about was being sure that the kids in need found a good, loving home that could support and care for them.

During November, there are plenty of things you can do to observe National Adoption Month, either as a parent, prospective parent, or someone who has no plans to have children but wants to support adoptive families. Some ideas for this month include:

☼ Write down your family story and add it to a scrapbook.

☼ Contact your local paper about National Adoption Month, and ask them to publish a positive story about adoption.

☼ Contact a children's organization or foster care agency and ask how you can help.

☼ Create your family tree. Complete one about your child's birth family (if information is known) as well as your adoptive family.

☼ If you have one, ask your place of worship to offer a special prayer for children in foster care waiting for adoption.

☼ Watch a movie with an adoption theme.

☼ Donate books about adoption to your local or school library.

There are already thousands of children out there who need homes, and foster care and adoption are great ways to form your family.

(And if you're thinking about having kids or are already a parent, the Family Equality Council is a great resource.)

Adoption is a great way to make a positive impact in a kid's life, and it's also an investment in the future for yourself, LGBT folks, the country, and society as a whole.

It's easy to think that you won't be a good parent, but I can guarantee you that having you as a parent will be hundreds of times better than having no parent at all.

Exciting New GL(ibrary)BT Youth Award

The American Library Association's annual children's prizes (which features the prestigious and influential Caldecott and Newbery medals) will now include an award for gay and lesbian literature.

The library association announced the "Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award" as a new addition to the ALA's Youth Media Awards, watched closely by educators and librarians as they decide which books to add to their collections.

The Stonewall prize honors "English-language works for children and teens of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience." Stonewall awards for adult books were started nearly 40 years ago, but the children`s category only now.

Books with gay and lesbian themes often place high on the association's yearly report of works most criticized and threatened with removal by parents and educators.

"And Tango Makes Three," Justin Richardson's and Peter Parnell's acclaimed picture story about two male penguins who become parents, topped the list from 2007 to 2009.

"Ours is a very inclusive profession and we represent a wide variety of viewpoints," says association president Roberta Stevens, who noted that the decision to add the Stonewall prize was made well before the recent wave of suicides by teens believed to be victims of anti-gay bullying. "Millions of children in this country are being raised by gay or lesbian parents. There are young people who are gay and sometimes they feel very alone. This is a real opportunity for youths who may be feeling alone to read about other like themselves."

The Youth Media awards, announced in January, already include a variety of categories, such as African-American literature, lifetime achievement and best children`s audio book.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! National Coming Out Day.

October 11 is National Coming Out Day when people of all sexual orientations are encouraged to come out and live openly.

(Obviously this has more significance for LGBT folks, but straight allies are included in this. Sometimes in predominantly gay situations it can be difficult for straight folks to admit to being not gay. The whole point is one of acceptance for everyone and acknowledgment of our diversity.)

(And Ally Week is coming up, Oct 18-22, BTW!)

While being gay doesn't have quite the stigma it used to, there still isn't true acceptance and equality. And considering how hard it can be to be gay today, it's that much harder to be bi, or trans, or even LGBT within another minority group like people of color. It can be hard to be unsure and questioning, wondering about your sexuality.

Coming out is a process, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. It's a wholly personal thing, and it can be a lifelong process. It's also a continuum - you may be out to your family, but you may be closeted at work, or at the gym, or at your kid's school, or standing in line at the bank.

The most important thing is to take a step today, in a conscious way. Do something that feels safe to you, but still do something to come or be out of the closet, or even just give some more visibility to all or part of the community. You can talk about your partner, the gay contestant on a reality show, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, your going to Pride, your BDSM leather club, or whatever!

Sexual orientation and gender identity are aspects of who we are, but they do not completely define us. Still, the only way to make progress is to be honest - prejudice and bigotry are based in ignorance, and the more of that we can take away, the less discrimination there will be.

Coming Out Day is actually celebrated internationally. In the US, HRC provides many resources and activities. Here's a handy map for organized events:

View these events on a larger map »

And here are some resources:

• A Resource Guide to Coming Out
• A Straight Guide to GLBT Americans
• Coming Out as Transgender
• Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans
• Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset
• Living Openly in Your Place of Worship

Whoever you are, wherever you are, come out!

"Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)"

The title is a joking reference to a song from the black comedy Heathers, but the topic is serious. Literally, it is deadly serious.

In the short span of a few weeks, there have been six gay teen suicides across the country:

• Tyler Clementi, 18, Rutgers University freshman, violinist
• Justin Aaberg, 15, Anoka, Minnesota freshman, cello player
• Asher Brown, 13, Houston, Texas eighth-grader and straight A student
• Raymond Chase, 19, Johnson & Wales University sophomore, culinary student
• Billy Lucas, 15, Greensburg, Indiana sophomore, animal lover
• Seth Walsh, 13, Fresno, California middle school student, artist and fashion aficionado

LGBT youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey.

Adolescence is hard enough, but then gay youth have the additional stressors of more limited social and societal options due to discrimination, as well as less access to information and support, and an increased incidence of bullying and harassment.

In the wake of these high-profile deaths, though, many people have taken steps to provide additional support to prevent teen suicide, in addition to already existing resources.

• Noted columnist Dan Savage created his "It Gets Better" project to send the message that suicide is not the way to go and to show that gay folks can have a good and positive future ahead of themselves, even if they may not see that at the moment. Noted celebrities who have participated include Tim Gunn, Sarah Silverman, Ashley Tisdale, Jewel, Eve, Perez Hilton, and Chris Colfer.
• The Trevor Project (provides a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth)
• The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
• National Suicide & Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Suicide is a preventable tragedy, and we must work to raise awareness of the plight of, and options for, suicidal youth. Over a decade ago, former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher called suicide a "public health crisis," and sadly, it still is.

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Ideation (thinking, talking, or wishing about suicide or obsessing over death)
• Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)
• Puposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging)
• Anger
• Trapped (feeling like there is no way out)
• Hopelessness (there is nothing to live for, no hope or optimism)
• Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies)
• Anxiety (restlessness, irritability, agitation)
• Recklessness (high risk-taking behavior)
• Mood disturbance (dramatic changes in mood, including sudden happiness or calmness, as well as)

If You See the Warning Signs of Suicide...

Begin a dialogue by asking questions. Suicidal thoughts are common with depressive illnesses and your willingness to talk about it in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational way can be the help a person needs to seeking professional help. Questions okay to ask:

• "Do you ever feel so badly that you think about suicide?"
• "Do you have a plan to commit suicide or take your life?"
• "Have you thought about when you would do it (today, tomorrow, next week)?"
• "Have you thought about what method you would use?"

Remember, always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously.

Never keep a plan for suicide a secret. It is better to lose a relationship from violating a confidence than it is to go to a funeral. And most of the time they will come back and thank you for saving their life.

Don't try to minimize problems or shame a person into changing their mind. Trying to convince a person suffering that "it's not that bad" or that "you have everything to live for" may only increase feelings of guilt and hopelessness. Reassure them that help is available, that depression is treatable, and that suicidal feelings are temporary. Life can - and does - get better!

If you feel the person isn't in immediate danger, acknowledge the pain as legitimate and offer to work together to get help. Help find a doctor or a mental health professional, participate in making the first phone call, or go along to the first appointment. If you need to, call 911 to get help.

Down To Business: Corporate Equality Index 2011

The Human Rights Campaign recently released its 9th annual Corporate Equality Index 2011: Rating American Workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Equality.

This report assesses American workplaces on LGBT equality. For the first time this year, all Fortune 500 companies, including those that did not voluntary participate, are scored on their workplace practices.

The report evaluates more than 30 specific policies and practices covering aspects of employment for LGBT workers from non-discrimination protections and the training surrounding those policies to domestic partnership and legal dependent benefits to gender transition guidelines and LGBT employee resource groups.

(The report also discusses new criteria for future studies that will go into effect next year, as well as discusses how the evaluation process has changed over time. The new standards will include 18 additional criteria that relate to benefits discrimination for transgender employees and dependents, full equal benefits for same-sex partners and spouses, and organizational competency on LGBT workplace issues that go beyond written policies.)

A total of 337 major U.S. businesses earned the top rating of 100 percent, up from 305 last year .

A few of the survey’s highlights:

• Corporate America protects LGBT workers from discrimination and provides benefits in ways that our own government does not. While only 29% of the U.S. population lives in states with statewide non-discrimination statutes that specify sexual orientation and gender identity, 99% of CEI-rated companies include sexual orientation and 76% include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies. In 2002, only 5% of CEI-rated companies included gender identity among their non-discrimination policies.
• In 2004, only 3% of CEI-rated companies addressed transgender health with limited benefit offerings. Today, 79% of CEI-rated companies provide this limited coverage and 85 companies specifically, including Google, Coca Cola, and AT&T, offer at least one healthcare plan option to all employees that covers many medically necessary transition-related treatments, including hormone therapies and sexual affirmation surgeries.
• In 2002, 70% of CEI-rated companies provided domestic partnership healthcare benefits. Today, 95% of CEI-rated companies provide that coverage.

Several high-profile companies did not respond to HRC’s invitation to be rated. Notable non-responders include Pottery Barn and West Elm (both part of Williams-Sonoma Inc.), Bed Bath & Beyond, Dillard’s, PetSmart, Western Union, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., Tyson Foods, AFLAC, Foot Locker, DirecTV and News Corp. (owner of both Fox News and HarperCollins Publishers).

(Fifteen points were deducted from the otherwise perfect scores of Target, Best Buy, and 3M for failing to respond to requests to take corrective actions following their sizable contributions to MN Forward, a political committee supporting the election of an anti-gay candidate for governor of Minnesota.)

The report was released on the eve of this year's Out & Equal Workplace Summit.

Bi, Bi, Bi! Encourage Visi-Bi-lity By Celebrating Bisexuality Day!

Thursday, Sept. 23 (and events the following weekend) will mark the 19th annual Celebrate Bisexuality Day (CBD).

Supporters and friends are encouraged to use this occasion to celebrate with activities to encouarge visi-Bi-lity and show their pride while fundraising for national, regional, and local bi/pan/fluid organizations.

Did you know there's a bi pride flag? It's true! You can see it in the picture, and find our more about its history here. The pink color represents sexual attraction to the same-sex (gay and lesbian), blue represents sexual attraction to the opposite-sex (straight), and the resultant overlap color purple represents sexual attraction to both sexes (bi).

Bisexuality is often unfairly dismissed in the gay community as an interim label (sort of a midway point used by people who are in the process of coming out as simply gay but too scared to entirely give up the relative safety of self-identifying as straight). It's not, and it's importance for us to realize this.

While gay visibility has increased over time, bisexuality has remained fairly invisible - people tend to automatically label a couple as either straight or gay depending upon the perceived gender of the people involved. It's easy, but it's not always accurate (as we all know!).

Bisexuality is, of course, quite real, and is simply an attraction to others regardless of gender. Increasingly, though, bi-folks also self-identify as "fluid," "omnisexual," "pansexual," or eschew labels completely (let's call them "free-identifiers" :-) ).

CBD was created as a response to the marginalization of bisexual people by others in both straight and gay communities.

Here are some useful resources for finding out more about our bi brethren and sistren:

• BiNet USA
• BiNet USA on Twitter
• BiNet USA's Facebook Group
• Find Bisexual Groups in America
• American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB)
• Bisexual Resource Center (BRC)
• Bi Magazine

Let's take this opportunity to celebrate and affirm the diversity of identity and expression of all LGBT folks, family, and friends, regardless of labels.

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."

(Title quote from Stacia Tauscher.)

Are you a kid? Do you know any kids? Do you have kids? Do you ever see any kids? OK, were you ever a kid?!

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition maintains a collection of resources on information about the lives of LGBT and questioning young people, as well as resources specifically for these youth and youth-serving professionals nationwide. It's mission is to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

If you ever have any questions, need a resource, or have a suggestion for a resource, they're a great place to go.

They maintain wiki pages for:

• Resources for LGBTQ youth
• Resources for Organizations
• Directory of All Resources

Check out some of their materials under these categories:

• Best Practices for HIV Prevention (Organizations)
• Best Practices for Health and Wellness (Organizations)
• Best Practices for LGBT Homeless Youth
• Best Practices for Policy and Advocacy (Organizations)
• Best Practices for Tobacco Cessation (Organizations) (including the August 2010 report, “Coming Out about Smoking: Tobacco Use in the LGBTQ Young Adult Community,” which explores the reasons why sexual minority youth smoke and suggests strategies for prevention.
• Best Practices for Youth Engagement (Organizations)

"NYAC is committed to representing the voices of young people - the largest living generation - within the broader LGBTQ and social justice movements. Through capacity building, advocacy and youth engagement, NYAC is building a generation of impact."

Hard Science, Gay Parents, Good Kids

Family values are often brought up in the discussion of marriage equality, usually in the context of questioning how gay folks do as parents.

Michael Rosenfeld, a sociologist at Standford, recently added some new scientific data to the growing collection of LGBT-family-affirming studies. Most notably, his facts and figures come the country’s largest source of data, the U.S. Census. In a study published this month in the journal Demography, Rosenfeld concludes that children being raised by same-sex couples have the same educational achievement as children raised by married heterosexual couples.

“The census data show that having parents who are the same gender is not in itself any disadvantage to children,” he said. “Parents’ income and education are the biggest indicators of a child’s success. Family structure is a minor determinant.”

In fact, Rosenfeld’s study shows that children of gay and married couples had lower grade-repetition rates than their peers raised by opposite-sex unmarried couples and single parents. And all children living in some type of family environment did much better than those living in group housing.

“One of the fundamental issues in modern family law that differs from state to state is whether same-sex couples can adopt,” Rosenfeld said. “My research makes clear that there’s a huge advantage to kids to be out of the care of the state and into the care of any family.”

Because gays and lesbians make up a smaller proportion of the American population (and those with children are a just tiny sliver), it has been difficult for researchers to conduct a representative study of how their children perform in the classroom. Opponents of marriage equality often criticize earlier studies for having sample sizes that are too small.

“Sample size is power,” Rosenfeld said. “And the census is the biggest sample we have. This study is based on a sample of thousands and thousands of kids.”

Despite the fact that the cost of becoming parents may be higher for gays and lesbians than for heterosexual couples, gay couples who did have children had substantially lower income and educational attainment than gay and lesbian
couples in general. Nevertheless, their kids did well.

Children of gay parents also tended to be racial minorities. Only 22.9% of children of heterosexual married couples are black or Hispanic, whereas 41.6% of children of gay men are black or Hispanic, and 37.1% of children of lesbians are black or Hispanic.

“Social scientists have an obligation to shed light where they can on issues that are roiling the public,” he said. “Sometimes we have to throw up our hands and admit that something is unknowable. But in this case, we could bring some real hard data to bear on an area that was otherwise really in the dark.”

"The analysis in this article, the first to use large-sample, nationally-representative data, shows that children raised by same-sex couples have no fundamental deficits in making normal progress through school. The core finding here offers a measure of validation for the prior, and much-debated, small-sample studies."

(I remember the first time I heard one of my kid's friends lament the unfairness of not having two dads. Who knew how truly disadvantaged he was? Still, it behooves us all not to hold any child's parentage against him! 8-])