LGBT Rights and Politics
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Rhode Island Governor Doesn't Want You Attending Your Partner's Funeral
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Why the U.S. House's Health Reform Bill is Good News for Gay Rights
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Sarah Palin and Barney Frank Walk Into a Dinner Gala
LGBT People Like Saving Their Planet More Than Straight People
Published October 27, 2009 @ 07:18AM PT
If Mother Nature had her way, the world might be run by LGBT people. That's because a new poll out shows that LGBT Americans think and act in more green-friendly ways than straight people. The statistics are even more stark when it comes to believing whether global warming is a significant threat to the planet, or that people should support environmental organizations and environmental causes with some money.
There's also a tinge or irony here that while anti-gay forces are busy trying to repeal marriage rights state-by-state or shift Anglicans into the Catholic Church, it's actually LGBT people on a whole that show more concern for the future generations of this world, at least when it comes to environmental sustainability.
The study, by Witeck-Combs and Harris Interactive, concludes that while on a whole everyone is doing more these days to protect the environment and save the planet, there's definitely a gap between LGBT people and straight people.
Arlen Specter Tweets About Repealing DOMA
Published October 26, 2009 @ 08:59PM PT
Oh, the things people do to stay in political office. Sen. Arlen Specter -- who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, championed it during his tough re-election GOP primary in 2004, and as late as 30 days ago was telling his constituents that he believed traditional marriage was the right way for society to go -- has potentially come around full circle and announced via Twitter that he wants to see a repeal of DOMA.
It's a welcome sign, for sure, but it certainly seems a little bit of politics as usual. See, Sen. Specter's opponent in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, Rep. Joe Sestak, has long championed a repeal of DOMA. Rep. Sestak even has a "Repeal DOMA" section of his Web site, and penned a piece here on change.org where he said that not only does he want to see DOMA eliminated, he also wants to see "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" done away with, too.
Specter's words are, of course, still good. Here's what he said in 140 characters that sure would've been nice to hear in 1996 when he voted for DOMA: "Just as we were finally able to pass hate crimes legislation, it's time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act."
Sen. Tom Coburn is Not a Legitimate Voice for a Gay Publication
Published October 20, 2009 @ 06:12PM PT
Like Karl Rove writing for The Nation, or Sarah Palin joining PETA, there are certain things you just don't expect to see. One of those was Sen. Tom Coburn writing for a gay publication, but that all changed today with the rabidly conservative Senator co-authoring a piece in The Advocate urging gay people to reject the Obama administration's attempts to reform health care.
The piece, "Government Run Health Care Isn't the Answer," is an attack on national health care reform as nothing more than an attempt to create roadblocks and bureaucracies. It's essentially the Sarah Palin death panel argument, watered down with a few bones for the LGBT population. Reading the article you might think that Sen. Tom Coburn is the second coming of the Messiah, sent to Earth to save the Ryan White CARE Act -- one of the most important HIV/AIDS pieces of legislation in the country.
The problem is that Sen. Tom Coburn has made a career out of insulting the LGBT population. A month ago, one of his senior staffers said at a Family Values Summit that all pornography is homosexual in nature, and that little boys should be told they'll turn gay if they watch porn. And then in 2004, Sen. Tom Coburn himself said that the gay agenda "is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today." He then went on to blame abortion and adultery on homosexuality.
Sen. Tom Coburn has also trashed same-sex marriage, and voted against legalizing gay adoption. But now he wants to try and sell his private insurance industry-laden health care plan to LGBT audiences?
Sorry, Sen. Coburn. Go sell crazy someplace else. And The Advocate? While you should feature diverse perspectives in your magazine, let's not get carried away by featuring voices from some of the most anti-LGBT politicians in the country. Should we assume that Rep. John Boehner or Maggie Gallagher will be on your pages next month?
Making LGBT Students Feel Safe and Supported
Published October 20, 2009 @ 12:09PM PT
Almost 90 percent of LGBT students experience some form of abuse or bullying in schools, whether it's physical or emotional. To top that off, almost 2/3 of all LGBT students feel unsafe in school. Those numbers are crazy high, and one reason why students, teachers and activists of every stripe are commemorating Ally Week.
The week, started by more than 4,000 students as a response to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, is a project of GLSEN -- the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network. It's meant as a means of urging straight allies to stand firm against homophobic speech, homophobic bullying, or homophobic taunts both inside and outside the classroom.
“Students will bring a message of respect into schools across America this week,” said Lazaro Cardenas, a 17-year-old senior from Riverside, Calif. “We will ask our friends and classmates to be allies against anti-LGBT behavior by signing a pledge to not engage in that kind of activity and intervene when others do so. This is a first step toward making schools safer places to learn.”
What's that pledge look like? It's pretty short and sweet, but hits all the right notes:
I believe all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression deserve to feel safe and supported.
That means I pledge to:
- Not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) language or slurs.
- Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where students are being harassed.
- Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.
Isn't that awesome? Yet, while more than 4,000 Gay Straight Alliances organize Ally Week, roughly four dozen lawmakers on the GOP side are wasting energy trying to get rid of the White House's Safe Schools Czar, Kevin Jennings. The crime they charge Jennings with?
Being gay, and urging an end to homophobic bullying in schools. It's GOP behavior that is anti-LGBT pandering at its worst, and it places the interests of students dead last, way behind partisan bickering and anti-gay cheer-leading.
Here's hoping that the allies and LGBT folks participating in Ally Week send the message that despite what four dozen GOP lawmakers might say, it's time to eradicate anti-LGBT bullying. As GLSEN's Executive Director, Eliza Byard, said, "Allies play a crucial role in addressing and raising awareness about the pervasive problem of anti-LGBT bullying. GLSEN’s Ally Week is an opportunity for students to show their commitment to the idea that all students should be valued and respected, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression."
And respect is something we should be teaching in all of our schools.
A Quiet Campaign for Rachel Maddow to Host "Meet the Press"
Published October 19, 2009 @ 01:32PM PT
If I were David Gregory right now, I'd certainly be looking behind my shoulders to see if I could spot any Rachel Maddow sightings.
For a few weeks now there has been a quiet, simmering push that Rachel Maddow -- one of the most popular television journalists on the block -- might be the medicine necessary to help NBC's "Meet the Press" emerge from rather slumpish ratings in the wake of former host Tim Russert's passing. That push became an outright shove this past weekend, with Brian Donovan at True/Slant arguing that while Russert successor David Gregory is a nice guy, Maddow has better news chops to take Sunday morning political television to a whole new level.
"What used to be Sunday morning’s hardest-hitting, most compelling politics show has become a little soggy," Donovan writes. "It’s nothing personal against Gregory, he does a respectable job. But Tim Russert’s shoes were ridiculously hard to fill, and most anyone would’ve been a let down. Which is why it’s time for MTP to make another change...And that person is Rachel Maddow."
Maddow, who is certainly the most prominent openly LGBT person in television news, might just be a force to be reckoned with if she were given the opportunity to shine on Sunday mornings. Her ratings at MSNBC, as of September 2009, were a bright spot for the network, and she's hugely popular with the coveted 25-54 age bracket -- those folks who will be watching Sunday morning television shows for many, many years to come. Her show on MSNBC is also the fastest-growing cable news show in prime time, with viewership up more than 92 percent from last year.
Good ratings. An ability to draw an audience and a following. Popular with a large age demographic. Yup, sounds like all the right ingredients for someone who deserves a promotion. And hey, wouldn't it be nice to finally have a woman (let alone someone openly LGBT) hosting a Sunday morning television show?
True/Slant hits one other nail on the head. With Maddow, it's not about political ideology, gender, or sexual orientation that necessarily makes her popular. It's that she's not afraid to go after the truth, whether that means targeting Republicans or Democrats.
"Maddow is ruthless when it comes to the truth. She goes after anyone – liberal or conservative – when they try to deceive the public," Donovan at True/Slant writes. "She challenges her guests to be forthright, and makes them pay when they attempt anything less. Maddow could, without a doubt, bring the fire back to Sunday morning..."
I think we'd all like to see that.
(Photo courtesy of MSNBC.)
Harvey Milk Finally Gets His Day
Published October 12, 2009 @ 10:11AM PT
Harvey Milk, the legendary LGBT activist and San Francisco Supervisor who was assassinated in 1978, has finally been given official recognition by the state of California with his own day. The bill to establish May 22 -- Harvey's birthday -- as Harvey Milk Day was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last night, capping off a whirlwind year in which Milk Day was originally vetoed by the Terminator, then the "Milk" movie exploded, then a Presidential Medal of Freedom was given posthumosly to Milk, and now, full circle, Schwarzenegger gets that Milk is an important figure for the state to honor.
Geoff Kors from Equality California noted that the honor for Harvey Milk will set history.
"The Milk Day Bill marks the very first time an openly LGBT person has been officially recognized by any state government. As a result, Harvey’s legacy and our history will be taught for decades to come and youth will learn that they have a role model who sacrified everything to make the world safer and more equal for them," Kors said. (H/T Karen Ocamb at LGBT Pov.)
What's more is that Schwarzenegger also signed into law a bill that allows California to recognize out-of-state gay marriages. This doesn't unravel Prop 8, of course, but it's certainly a welcome sign in a state where 11 months ago advocates for marriage equality were defeated at the ballot box. Said Schwarzenegger of the out-of-state marriage bill (known as Senate Bill 54):
"Following the passage of Proposition 8, there has been some uncertainty as to how California should treat same-sex couples that married out-of-state while same-sex marriage was legal in California. Consistent with the California Supreme Court’s decision that upheld the validity of those in-state marriages entered into prior to the passage of Proposition 8, Senate Bill 54 clarifies that California must also recognize as married couples that legally married in another state during the same period of time in which same-sex marriage was legal in California."
Wow. What great victories to celebrate less than 24 hours after marching on Washington. To quote Harvey Milk, "Hope will never be silent." And in these two cases, hope coupled with hard work has yielded results.
The Civil Rights Test of Our Generation
Published October 09, 2009 @ 07:06AM PT
Congressman Joe Sestak, a member of the House Equality Caucus, is a Democratic candidate for United States Senate in Pennsylvania.
When we think of the civil rights movement, we tend to think of grainy footage of marches and speeches, Selma, Ala., and the National Mall.
But our generation, too, is a part of that movement and has a critical role to play. It has been a long journey for our country, but we are now close to finally realizing our founders’ vision of a society where all are created equal and endowed with the same inalienable rights.
It’s time to end the discrimination based on sexual identity or orientation that is the only form of institutionalized discrimination still permitted in our society. That is why I am working to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and am committed to equal rights for all Americans.
On Saturday, President Obama will address the Human Rights Campaign. I hope he will use the opportunity to clearly call for the swift repeal of these discriminatory policies. We can get it done this year, and human rights should not be asked to wait.
In my three decades as an officer in the United States Navy, I lost good sailors to the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” law -- sailors that I, and the nation, depended on for their training, skills, and courage.
Over the last 16 years we’ve lost 12,500 good servicemembers to this policy. In a time of war, our national security cannot afford to lose these troops, especially high-value specialists and linguists. But more so, our military cohesion depends on honesty and integrity. How can we demand that the 65,000 of our troops who are estimated to be gay act dishonestly and conceal information from their comrades and commanders? No one who serves in defense of liberty should be forced to live a lie.
I cannot imagine denying equal rights to anyone I served with. How can anyone say, we fought and served together, we depended on one another, we risked our lives for this country, but back home you shouldn’t enjoy the rights that you defended?
That’s why I have co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA and require the federal government to extend to the tens of thousands of legally married same-sex couples the more than 1,100 federal rights and benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples, including tax, pension, and benefits rights and the right to take unpaid leave to care for ill spouses. I have sent a letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the bill up for a vote and I am circulating a petition to show support.
The struggle for equality has never been easy and it won’t be today. But I am confident. This is a historic and, indeed, an exciting time for America, when we declare once and for all that there is no such thing as equality that doesn’t extend to everyone, that we hold this truth to be self-evident.
