| TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE November 20 | ||
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| "This day was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence." Note: The original post can be found at http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/what.html The Remembering our Dead Web Project and The Transgender Day of Remembrance are owned by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, All Rights Reserved |
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Showing posts with label discrimination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discrimination. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2009
IN MEMORIAM: TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE - NOVEMBER 20
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Letter from GLAAD President on California Supreme Court Decision
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  Above: See their story from | Dear Friends, Today’s decision by the California Supreme Court is a painful but temporary setback. We know in time we will achieve full marriage equality in California and across the country, but that doesn’t make today’s news hurt any less. In Service, |
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Atlanta’s Black LGBT community condemns Rick Warrens Ebenezer invitation.
SOURCE:
January 2, 2009
The Black community of Atlanta has long been known for being imbued with a strong in belief in equal rights and religious values.
Atlanta was ground zero in the fight for civil rights in the 60’s and is home to the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church where King and his father Martin Luther King, Sr. were pastors.
Atlanta has also become something of Mecca for black gays and a 2005 NPR podcast noted that Atlanta has the largest population of black gay couples in the United States.
Each year to commemorate the national holiday honoring King, Ebenezer Baptist Church hosts a church service that has in the past attracted politicians and civil rights leaders from around the nation. Last year, the then-Democratic hopeful and now President-Elect Barack Obama spoke before the church the day the national holiday, delivering a call to responsibility that included a challenge to black churches to renounce homophobia.
Obama said in that address… “Our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community,” in part because “we have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them.”
January 2, 2009
The Black community of Atlanta has long been known for being imbued with a strong in belief in equal rights and religious values.Atlanta was ground zero in the fight for civil rights in the 60’s and is home to the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church where King and his father Martin Luther King, Sr. were pastors.
Atlanta has also become something of Mecca for black gays and a 2005 NPR podcast noted that Atlanta has the largest population of black gay couples in the United States.
Each year to commemorate the national holiday honoring King, Ebenezer Baptist Church hosts a church service that has in the past attracted politicians and civil rights leaders from around the nation. Last year, the then-Democratic hopeful and now President-Elect Barack Obama spoke before the church the day the national holiday, delivering a call to responsibility that included a challenge to black churches to renounce homophobia.
Obama said in that address… “Our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community,” in part because “we have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them.”
Friday, December 19, 2008
New Initiative Aims To Expand Universal Human Rights To Include Gays
SOURCE:
RADIO FREE EUROPE
RADIO LIBERTY
December 19, 2008
France's Rama Yade -- "At the beginning of this 21st century, how can we accept that people could be arrested, could be tortured, could be executed because of their sexual orientation?"
(RFE/RL) -- Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a legally binding document, it does define terms like "fundamental freedoms" and "human rights" as stipulated in the United Nations Charter, which is binding on all UN member states.
The declaration also has served as the basis for two binding UN pacts: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
For that reason, the 1948 declaration has grown to be regarded as an integral part of international law -- as well as a document with a mission to protect the basic rights of all people.
Nevertheless, the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not contain any specific mention of protecting the rights of those whose sexual orientation is toward their own sex.
On December 18, diplomats from 66 countries signed a memorandum, declaring that it is high time for the UN General Assembly to openly debate the issue of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The drive to collect signatures was announced by seven countries -- France, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Gabon, the Netherlands, and Norway.
"Today, 66 states are emerging from silence to claim the protection of fundamental freedom and the question of sexual orientation and gender identity are connected," said Rama Yade, France's secretary of state for international affairs and human rights.
"At the beginning of this 21st century, how can we accept that people could be arrested, could be tortured, could be executed because of their sexual orientation?" she asked.
'Historic Step'
Yade said those who fail to protect the rights of homosexuals, or even to speak out against hate crimes targeting homosexuals, are accomplices to such crimes.
"It is my conviction we should never stop," she said. "Each violation, each attack on fundamental rights must be fought. We should never accommodate injustice. We should repair it. Each violation must be exposed and denounced. It's silence that is an accomplice of crime and infamy."
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the new declaration is not enough, on its own, to improve the situation for homosexuals. But he said it is a historic step toward recognizing their basic human rights.
"Even in countries that do not criminalize homosexual acts, gays are often in a very difficult position, accepted for who they are by neither their families nor their government, nor society as a whole," Verhagen said.
"They face major obstacles to enjoying their economic, social, and cultural rights. Discrimination, exclusion, and even aggression are never far away," he added. "Indeed, the realities of life are harsh for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people."
The UN-AIDS program has supported the declaration, saying it would help people at risk with AIDS or infected with the HIV virus to receive medical assistance.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, also signaled her support, saying there is a considerable body of legal decisions affirming that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is contrary to international human rights law.
On its own, the European Union has endorsed an initiative by France, which calls for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality and a campaign to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals.
Homosexuality is forbidden and penalized in 77 countries. The death penalty is applied in seven countries against those convicted of homosexuality: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen.
That compares to 47 countries where homosexuality is legal, and 57 other countries that have passed legislation to protect same-sex orientation.
U.S. Backs Off
There is no official minimum number of signatures needed on the new declaration to force debate by the UN General Assembly. But backing from about 100 of the 192 members of the United Nations is considered a significant threshold.
Major powers that have not backed the declaration so far include Russia, China, and the United States.
After the December 18 meeting, Verhagen said he was disappointed that the United States was among the countries that did not sign the declaration.
"The United States, as such, is a country with a strong human rights record," Verhagen said. "And I note that the United States is also a traditional defender of human rights worldwide. So that is why I'm disappointed that their reading of this text made it impossible for them to sign the declaration."
U.S. officials were said to have expressed concern privately to some of the states backing the initiative that some parts of it could be problematic in that they would commit the federal government on issues that fall under state jurisdiction.
A U.S. spokeswoman for the UN mission, Carolyn Vadino, stressed that the United States does condemn any violations of human rights related to sexual orientation.
Verhagen said he hopes that the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will be more inclined to recognize that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should also apply to homosexuals.
"What we say is that Universal Declaration Of Human Rights means that they also have to be applied to homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people," Verhagen said.
"We are not saying that people should behave like certain people behave, we don't say we should apply a certain lifestyle, what we say is you don't use this as an excuse to discriminate against them, to violate their human rights or to penalize them," he added. "So I hope that also the U.S. will be the next of the countries that will support this statement."
Even as Verhagen was making those remarks, Obama signaled at a news conference in Chicago the same day that he supports the spirit of the declaration.
"I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans," Obama said. "It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency."
RADIO FREE EUROPE
RADIO LIBERTY
December 19, 2008
France's Rama Yade -- "At the beginning of this 21st century, how can we accept that people could be arrested, could be tortured, could be executed because of their sexual orientation?"
(RFE/RL) -- Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a legally binding document, it does define terms like "fundamental freedoms" and "human rights" as stipulated in the United Nations Charter, which is binding on all UN member states.
The declaration also has served as the basis for two binding UN pacts: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
For that reason, the 1948 declaration has grown to be regarded as an integral part of international law -- as well as a document with a mission to protect the basic rights of all people.
Nevertheless, the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not contain any specific mention of protecting the rights of those whose sexual orientation is toward their own sex.
On December 18, diplomats from 66 countries signed a memorandum, declaring that it is high time for the UN General Assembly to openly debate the issue of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The drive to collect signatures was announced by seven countries -- France, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Gabon, the Netherlands, and Norway.
"Today, 66 states are emerging from silence to claim the protection of fundamental freedom and the question of sexual orientation and gender identity are connected," said Rama Yade, France's secretary of state for international affairs and human rights.
"At the beginning of this 21st century, how can we accept that people could be arrested, could be tortured, could be executed because of their sexual orientation?" she asked.
'Historic Step'
Yade said those who fail to protect the rights of homosexuals, or even to speak out against hate crimes targeting homosexuals, are accomplices to such crimes.
"It is my conviction we should never stop," she said. "Each violation, each attack on fundamental rights must be fought. We should never accommodate injustice. We should repair it. Each violation must be exposed and denounced. It's silence that is an accomplice of crime and infamy."
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the new declaration is not enough, on its own, to improve the situation for homosexuals. But he said it is a historic step toward recognizing their basic human rights.
"Even in countries that do not criminalize homosexual acts, gays are often in a very difficult position, accepted for who they are by neither their families nor their government, nor society as a whole," Verhagen said.
"They face major obstacles to enjoying their economic, social, and cultural rights. Discrimination, exclusion, and even aggression are never far away," he added. "Indeed, the realities of life are harsh for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people."
The UN-AIDS program has supported the declaration, saying it would help people at risk with AIDS or infected with the HIV virus to receive medical assistance.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, also signaled her support, saying there is a considerable body of legal decisions affirming that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is contrary to international human rights law.
On its own, the European Union has endorsed an initiative by France, which calls for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality and a campaign to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals.
Homosexuality is forbidden and penalized in 77 countries. The death penalty is applied in seven countries against those convicted of homosexuality: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen.
That compares to 47 countries where homosexuality is legal, and 57 other countries that have passed legislation to protect same-sex orientation.
U.S. Backs Off
There is no official minimum number of signatures needed on the new declaration to force debate by the UN General Assembly. But backing from about 100 of the 192 members of the United Nations is considered a significant threshold.
Major powers that have not backed the declaration so far include Russia, China, and the United States.
After the December 18 meeting, Verhagen said he was disappointed that the United States was among the countries that did not sign the declaration.
"The United States, as such, is a country with a strong human rights record," Verhagen said. "And I note that the United States is also a traditional defender of human rights worldwide. So that is why I'm disappointed that their reading of this text made it impossible for them to sign the declaration."
U.S. officials were said to have expressed concern privately to some of the states backing the initiative that some parts of it could be problematic in that they would commit the federal government on issues that fall under state jurisdiction.
A U.S. spokeswoman for the UN mission, Carolyn Vadino, stressed that the United States does condemn any violations of human rights related to sexual orientation.
Verhagen said he hopes that the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will be more inclined to recognize that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should also apply to homosexuals.
"What we say is that Universal Declaration Of Human Rights means that they also have to be applied to homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people," Verhagen said.
"We are not saying that people should behave like certain people behave, we don't say we should apply a certain lifestyle, what we say is you don't use this as an excuse to discriminate against them, to violate their human rights or to penalize them," he added. "So I hope that also the U.S. will be the next of the countries that will support this statement."
Even as Verhagen was making those remarks, Obama signaled at a news conference in Chicago the same day that he supports the spirit of the declaration.
"I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans," Obama said. "It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency."
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Next Anti H8 Action: "DAY WITHOUT A GAY" Dec. 10 - Int'l Human Rights Day
IN MEMORIAM: TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR THE ANGELS THAT HAVE FALLEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Events and Locations
"Fight The H8" San Francisco Anti Prop 8 Rally Protest Nov. 15, 2008
After the passage of Prop 8 in California, there were countless vigils, protests and demonstrations.
With Join the Impact as the information hub, a call was sent out for a nationwide, coordinated day of protests, the call was answered in cities throughout the United States of America on November 15, 2008, this slideshow / video attempts to describe in pictures, the action in San Francisco.
Without going into great detail on why legislation which excludes / discriminate, is very divisive and pose a real threat to the internal security of the United States and negates the Constitutional ideal principible of equality and the right to the pursuit of happiness.
So, a slim majority voted for Prop 8, here are some thoughts about the rule of the majority:
"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities."
"Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic."
The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
-- Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
Any law which violates the indefeasible rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.
--Maximilien Robespierre
In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.
--Mahatma Gandhi
It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
--Lord Acton
With Join the Impact as the information hub, a call was sent out for a nationwide, coordinated day of protests, the call was answered in cities throughout the United States of America on November 15, 2008, this slideshow / video attempts to describe in pictures, the action in San Francisco.
Without going into great detail on why legislation which excludes / discriminate, is very divisive and pose a real threat to the internal security of the United States and negates the Constitutional ideal principible of equality and the right to the pursuit of happiness.
So, a slim majority voted for Prop 8, here are some thoughts about the rule of the majority:
"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities."
"Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic."
The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
-- Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
Any law which violates the indefeasible rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.
--Maximilien Robespierre
In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.
--Mahatma Gandhi
It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
--Lord Acton
The worldwide media attention surrounding our massive grassweb efforts for gay rights has been tremendous. Join the Impact was a HUGE success and will continue to thrive because of our efforts.
We've reacted to anti-gay ballot initiatives in Californaia, Arizona Florida, and Arkansas with anger, with resolve, and with courage. NOW, it's time to show America and the world how we love.
Gay people and our allies are compassionate, sensitive, caring, mobilized, and programmed for success. A day without gays would be tragic because it would be a day without love.
On December 10, 2008 the gay community will take a historic stance against hatred by donating love to a variety of different causes.
On December 10, you are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in "gay"--and donate your time to service!
December 10, 2008 is International Human Rights Day. CLICK HERE to join us, and search or add to the list of human rights organizations that need our help RIGHT NOW.
If you are a non-profit in search of volunteers on December 10, 2008, post your info here, or email us at info@daywithoutagay.org, and we'll add information about your group.
Email Sean Hetherington: info@daywithoutagay.org
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BUT I CAN'T CALL IN AT WORK ON 12/10 OR I'LL GET FIRED! | |||
| CALL IN GAY? BUT I'M NOT GAY, I'M ___! (Great! "Gay" just rhymes with "day." CLICK HERE for more.) | |||
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Keith Olbermann: Gay marriage is a question of love
Everyone deserves the same chance at permanence and happiness
SPECIAL COMMENT
By Keith Olbermann
Anchor, 'Countdown'
msnbc.com
updated 6:13 p.m. PT, Mon., Nov. 10, 2008
Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.
If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.
Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?
I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.
The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.
You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.
And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.
How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?
What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.
It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.
And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?
With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.
You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.
This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.
But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:
"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s "The Best & Worst of National News" October 2008
THE BEST
Op-ed in Chicago Sun-Times Voices Need for Inclusive Hate-Crime Legislation
The Chicago Sun-Times published an opinion piece reflecting on the prevalence of hate crimes against LGBT people at the 10-year remembrance of Mathew Shephard's murder. In his October 17 op-ed, "Expand hate-crimes law to cover transgender people," Ricky Garcia, the Public Policy Director of Equality Illinois, highlights the dangerous lack of comprehensive federal and statewide hate-crime legislation. Garcia draws upon his personal experience working in Illinois, and speaks to the need for gender identity to be included in the state's hate crimes law, which currently only encompasses sexual orientation. Most brutal attacks in the state have been against transgender people and those who do not fit traditional gender stereotypes. Garcia says, "unfortunately, as shown by the news, gay and transgender folks here in Illinois and across the country are too often the victim of brutal hate crimes."Â He also points to the recent murders of Lawrence King in California and Angie Zapata in Colorado as two tragic examples that highlight the dire need for inclusive state and federal hate crime legislation.
READ ARTICLES:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1226870,CST-EDT-open17.article
http://www.suntimes.com/aboutus/feedback/index.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact Ricky Garcia and the Chicago Sun-Times to thank them for drawing attention to the urgent need for inclusive hate crime legislation.
E-mail Rick (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Denver Post Shares Moving Story of Family's Loss.
Monica Zapata, the sister of Angie Zapata, an 18-year-old woman who was brutally murdered in her home because she was transgender, shared her story in the Denver Post on October 7. In "Ten years after Matthew Shepard, no change," Monica paints a moving portrait of her sister Angie and the ramifications her murder has had on her family and friends. She calls upon readers to stop hate crimes, pointing out that not enough change has happened since Matthew's death, and that LGBT youth continue to be victims of hate-motivated violence. She says, "My sister and Matthew were both torn down in their prime. At the threshold of their lives, they were brutally torn down and denied the opportunity to achieve their hopes and dreams." Monica highlights the need for federal hate-crimes legislation and reminds readers that the time has come to end violence against LGBT people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_10661633
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Denver Post to thank them for giving space to Monica Zapata's powerful story about her sister Angie and for encouraging readers to take a stand against hate.
E-mail Denver Post (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Associated Press Explores Experiences of Gay Seniors
The Associated Pressdrew attention to the estimated 2.5 million gay seniors in America and the challenges they face in an October 4 article titled, "Gay elders' distinctive challenges get a closer look." In his story reporter David Crary highlights the recent partnership between the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), and shares the stories of several LGBT seniors and how they have worked to overcome a lack of familial and institutional support. Ruth Juster, an 85-year-old lesbian Crary profiles, illuminates the need for increased outreach to gay and lesbian seniors, explaining, "Society looked down on us. A lot of people remained under the influence of that prejudice and kept their lives secret. We have to reach these seniors and let them know life is much different now. You have to speak up."
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.ohio.com/news/nation/30480519.html
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact David Crary and the Associated Press to thank them for increasing awareness about LGBT seniors and the challenges they face.
E-mail David Crary (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
"Choice" Issue Debunked Los Angeles Times
Following Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's comments prior to the election implying that being gay is a "choice," the Los Angeles Times published an October 8 opinion piece by Nathaniel Frank titled, "Gay is a choice?" Frank, of the Michael Palm Center, a public policy group that works on LGBT issues, debunks the legitimacy of the choice argument. He says, "calling homosexuality a choice is the time tested way politicians signal their belief that it is the wrong choice." On Palin's assertion that her gay friend has made a choice to be gay, Frank writes, "if Palin's gay friend is like other gays and lesbians, her sexual orientation is neither a choice to be tolerated nor a sentence to be served. It's an expression of her freedom to be herself, a freedom that, as Palin said in the debate, 'is always just one generation away from extinction.'" Frank's op-ed is a reminder that rhetoric that inaccurately suggests sexual orientation is a choice can be used as a justification for discrimination and intolerance towards LGBT people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-frank8-2008oct08,0,7682829.story
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Los Angeles Times to thank them for providing a space for this clear and convincing argument against the baseless assertion that being gay is a "choice" and the discrimination that is validated by this argument.
E-mail Los Angeles Times (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
THE WORST
Glenn Beck and James Dobson Make False Claims About Prop 8
Prior to the elections, an episode of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck featured an interview with James Dobson, head of the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family. The subject of the interview was Proposition 8, which since has passed, and will eliminate future marriages for same-sex couples in California. Beck and Dobson made repeated false and misleading claims about Prop 8, suggesting that if it was not passed churches would be called "organizations of hate." Dobson continued by saying "There's no question about it. If Proposition 8 fails, there will be a spate of lawsuit against churches …." Dobson then repeated discredited assertions about schools, saying, "all textbooks would have to be republished" and "everything in schools will change." By giving an uncontested platform to an anti-gay activist to state falsehoods about Prop. 8, CNN Headline News and Glenn Beck perpetuated the kind of fear and misinformation that contributed to the passage of Prop 8.
TAKE ACTION:
Glenn Beck, whose program will move to Fox News in 2009, has made repeated anti-LGBT remarks on his program. GLAAD urges you to contact the Fox News Channel and remind them that the LGBT community and our allies will continue to hold Beck accountable if he continues to make inaccurate and misleading claims about our community.
E-mail Mr. John Moody Senior Vice President, News Editorial, FOX News Channel (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
E-mail Ms. Sharri Berg, Senior Vice President, News Operations - FOX News Channel (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Prior to the elections, an episode of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck featured an interview with James Dobson, head of the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family. The subject of the interview was Proposition 8, which since has passed, and will eliminate future marriages for same-sex couples in California. Beck and Dobson made repeated false and misleading claims about Prop 8, suggesting that if it was not passed churches would be called "organizations of hate." Dobson continued by saying "There's no question about it. If Proposition 8 fails, there will be a spate of lawsuit against churches …." Dobson then repeated discredited assertions about schools, saying, "all textbooks would have to be republished" and "everything in schools will change." By giving an uncontested platform to an anti-gay activist to state falsehoods about Prop. 8, CNN Headline News and Glenn Beck perpetuated the kind of fear and misinformation that contributed to the passage of Prop 8.
TAKE ACTION:
Glenn Beck, whose program will move to Fox News in 2009, has made repeated anti-LGBT remarks on his program. GLAAD urges you to contact the Fox News Channel and remind them that the LGBT community and our allies will continue to hold Beck accountable if he continues to make inaccurate and misleading claims about our community.
E-mail Mr. John Moody Senior Vice President, News Editorial, FOX News Channel (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
E-mail Ms. Sharri Berg, Senior Vice President, News Operations - FOX News Channel (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Radio Station Gives Anti-Gay Activist Platform to Attack Transgender Youth
Kentucky News Talk radio station WKYX's gave Richard Nelson of the anti-gay group The Family Foundation of Kentucky a platform on the outlet's website to perpetuate misinformation about medical care for transgender youth. Nelson made a baseless and fallacious attack on Dr. Norman Spack, a pediatric endocrinologist in Boston who provides care and treatment to transgender youth. Nelson falsely claims both that the treatment is permanent and makes the false assertion that it is "the first step necessary for a sex-change operation." Expressing a blatant disregard for the struggles transgender children encounter, Nelson dispassionately states, "When little Johnny comes in for a checkup wearing a dress and women's jewelry, has it ever occurred to anybody, including his parents, that he should be told to wear pants and stop playing with Barbies?" These kinds of uninformed attacks disregard the expertise of medical and psychological professionals, and only serve to perpetuate distortions and fear of transgender people.
READ ARTICLE:
http://www.wkyx.com/local-news-details.asp?NewsID=7927
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD urges you to contact WKYX news editors and tell them not to make cheap, sensational grabs for ratings by attacking transgender youth and deceiving audiences about medical decisions that they make with their families and doctors.
E-mail WKYX News (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Dr. Phil Show Fails to Present a Fair and Accurate Dialogue on Transgender Children
On the October 29th episode of Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw interviewed transgender children and their parents. Also on the show to discuss gender identity were Dr. Dan Segal, a clinical psychologist from UCLA, and Glenn Stanton of the anti-LGBT organization Focus on the Family. While Segal's dialogue was backed by research and medical experience, Stanton was not a credited or unbiased source in any way. While we encourage informative dialogue, the Focus on the Family representative was not an expert on developmental issues or transgender children and should not have been presented as a professional counterpart to Dr. Segal. Stanton baselessly asserts that children develop transgender identities when their parents fail to enforce gender roles.
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Dr. Phil Show and voice your concerns about the platform afforded to the anti-LGBT organization, Focus on the Family, which allowed them to perpetuate misinformation about transgender children. Ask why producers presented Glenn Stanton as an equal counterpart to Dr. Dan Segal when Stanton lacks expertise or credentials in the fields of psychology, medicine or transgender issues.
E-mail Stephanie Granader, Dr. Phil Producer (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
On the October 29th episode of Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw interviewed transgender children and their parents. Also on the show to discuss gender identity were Dr. Dan Segal, a clinical psychologist from UCLA, and Glenn Stanton of the anti-LGBT organization Focus on the Family. While Segal's dialogue was backed by research and medical experience, Stanton was not a credited or unbiased source in any way. While we encourage informative dialogue, the Focus on the Family representative was not an expert on developmental issues or transgender children and should not have been presented as a professional counterpart to Dr. Segal. Stanton baselessly asserts that children develop transgender identities when their parents fail to enforce gender roles.
TAKE ACTION:
GLAAD encourages you to contact the Dr. Phil Show and voice your concerns about the platform afforded to the anti-LGBT organization, Focus on the Family, which allowed them to perpetuate misinformation about transgender children. Ask why producers presented Glenn Stanton as an equal counterpart to Dr. Dan Segal when Stanton lacks expertise or credentials in the fields of psychology, medicine or transgender issues.
E-mail Stephanie Granader, Dr. Phil Producer (Just click here, pre-filled fields, all you'll have to do is 'SEND')
Monday, November 10, 2008
NATIONAL PROP 8 PROTEST - SF CITY HALL & NATIONWIDE - We can do more than just talk, we can act @ www.jointheimpact.com
Saturday Nov. 15 - WEST COAST 10:30AM - MOUNTAIN 11:30AM - CENTRAL 12:30PM - EAST COAST 1:30PM
WHAT:
Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens.
This is not a 4 state issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the main www.jointheimpact.com to learn more.
Protest Organizers: Find your city's page and fill out info about where, when, and other exciting details.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a "community organizer"! We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
This is not a 4 state issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the main www.jointheimpact.com to learn more.
Protest Organizers: Find your city's page and fill out info about where, when, and other exciting details.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a "community organizer"! We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
WHERE:
Cities in EVERY state in America. Click your state to learn more.
"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities."
"Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic."
The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
-- Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
Any law which violates the indefeasible rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.
Maximilien Robespierre
In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
Lord Acton
Lord Acton
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Florida, Arizona & California ban gay marriage, as vote count on Ca.'s Proposition 8 finalized
DAILY NEWS
Galbraith/Reuters
Greaves/Reuters
Updated Thursday, November 6th 2008, 4:52 AM
Galbraith/Reuters Kurt Schade reacts during a rally in San Francisco against Proposition 8, which would reverse a previous court decision allowing gay marriage in California.
Greaves/Reuters Truong Quang Si, Herman Quinones and Diana Villeda (l.-r.) clap as polls show a lead for 'yes' on Proposition 8 in Irvine, Calif.
When it came to gay rights, voters in several states delivered a clear Election Night message: No, you can't.
While voters shattered racial barriers to elect Barack Obama, the nation's gays suffered a series of stunning defeats in their battle for equality as spouses and parents.
"It breaks my heart," said Leigh Grode, 50, a Queens native now living in Los Angeles with her spouse, Joan Spitler. "We're just so depressed. ... This is going backward."
RELATED: SAN FRANCISCO TURNS DOWN DECRIMINALIZED PROSTITUTION
California voters - in some cases, the same ones who propelled Obama to his historic win - chose to ban gay marriage in their state just six months after a court ruled the unions legal.
Florida and Arizona voters also voted against same-sex marriage. Arkansas passed a measure barring unmarried couples from taking in foster kids or adopting children - a move aimed directly at gays, its supporters said.
"The evening became bittersweet," said former "Star Trek" star George Takei, who watched in dismay as California's contentious Proposition 8 passed.
RELATED: DAY AFTER WIN, OBAMA WORKS PHONES TO BUILD CABINET
Even if it didn't happen Tuesday night.
"It's unfortunate that people spent their time and energy trying to stop us from loving who we love," said Stephanie Anne Davies, 47, a Brooklyn writer who married her partner of 13 years last month in California.
Like Takei and 18,000 other same-sex couples, the pair took advantage of a May court decision making gay marriage legal in California. Opponents put Proposition 8 on the ballot to overturn the court decision. The sides spent a combined $74 million on the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history.
Exit polls showed the black voters who turned out in huge numbers for Obama were nearly 70% in favor of the gay marriage ban - clearly a mixed message on tolerance. Twenty-seven other states have passed similar bans. Only Massachusetts and Connecticut now allow same-sex vows.
RELATED: CELEBRITIES, WORLD LEADERS PRAISE OBAMA
"Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away," said talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres in a statement. (Read the full text below.)
Gay marriages celebrated in California since May will remain valid - although legal challenges are likely, officials said.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the gay rights group Lambda Legal moved Wednesday to throw out the vote, arguing the dramatic change requires approval from the Legislature and not the voters. The California Supreme Court rejected the same argument in June when opponents tried to knock the proposition off the ballot.
Ellen DeGeneres' statement on Tuesday's vote
"Watching the returns on election night was an amazing experience. Barack Obama is our new president. Change is here. I, like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step towards equality. We were watching history.
"This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away.
"I believe one day a 'ban on gay marriage' will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Are you gay?
- By Aurora Grajeda:
Originally posted on 03/05/07
Are you gay? Silvia asked lifting her gaze away from my shining pearly-white nails, professionally manicured in the style known as French, the baby pink flesh showing through the neutral-colored nail polish, we were confirming our upcoming first lunch date in 2 plus years of working together.
I tried to think how many times she had asked during the 2 1/2 years of us working together. Today, I didn’t answer with the usual question: Why do you say that?
Today I firmly said, “no“
“Mmmm… Are you sure? Silvia asked, lifting her eyes to mine, pondered, “mmm… I don’t know…” Looking again at my nails… “Are you really sure you’re not gay?”
Tired of her regular queries about my sexuality, this time I said “No, I’m something else”, “What are you then?” She inquired, “I think I’m a girl” I answered.
After a couple of under-the-breath “uhms” And “aahs”, she asked if we could reschedule our lunch date.
“Sure”, I answered walking away.
Why did I tell her? As my boss’ Executive Assistant, she was the Office Politician par excellence who loved the taste of power, was very good at how to keep it and increase it; whereas I, all I wanted was to keep doing the work that I enjoyed, was good at it, was getting paid very well for doing it and having just started hormonal reassignment treatment, was looking at a future with hefty gender transition related expenses.
A superfluous question knowing that a) I resented being thought of as a gay man; it is a question of gender and not sexual orientation, b) the charade was over, I had removed the facade and now I was living my life in a rigorously brutal honesty, and c) I wanted to give her the opportunity to show me her acceptance, tolerance or rejection.
She outed me.
I witnessed and experienced my co-workers reactions, from the utter fixation with the restroom’s ceiling that some men had recently developed - as soon as they noticed my presence in the room - coupled with the not quite whistling but rather an in-between-the-lips and barely audible soft hissing of the latest “Music Brain Worm” In their heads, to the ones that acknowledged me with a curtly nod, or the ones that actually said hi and conducted business with me with a hardly noticeable discomfort, and last but not least, there was a group that never changed a iota, either because of acceptance, tolerance or conscious non-interference in other people’s business. And then, there were the others.
These were the most vicious and cowardly ones, the invisible closeted transphobes that had their own sub-division, passive-aggressive and active-aggressive.
The former chose to live with their misery and only passively projected it on me, among the latter, there was a small delegation of women who approached David, my Director, and shared with him their potential future feelings of violation were I to come into the ladies’ room, the most aggressive ones were David’s superiors who pressured him to cancel my contract, he didn’t yield because my pay came out of his Dept.’s budget, he refused until he was presented with an ultimatum whose dictates were never disclosed to me in neither one of the two official meetings I had with him RE: My “Outing”.
On the first, we talked, he was happy with my work, he pledged his support and wished me well on my journey, told me about his superior’s pressure.
I was reassured and calmer for the next few weeks until he called me again for our second meeting, he looked tired as he told me how fortunate he was because of my hiring, the satisfaction of getting more than what he expected and was paying for, deploring the bad news, he informed me of a directive to cancel my contract because of a job consolidation move, implemented over his objections, or so he told me .
A bucket full of icy water couldn’t have frozen me as much and his voice became a muffled distant murmur as realizations of the travails coming my way started materializing in countless foreboding thoughts which brought fear and anger.
David’s voice brought me back, “Do you want to say anything?”, the breath I drew felt like the first one in some time, with tense body and through clenched teeth I replied, “I’m trying very hard to put aside the thought that this is one of these ‘let’s get rid of that thing type of thing’ “.
His blanching face made his hair look whiter, he said that wasn’t the case.
“Whatever!” I thought, “Effective when?”, I asked, “One month” he answered. We had some shop talk on how best to maintain the continuity of my projects, tie loose ends etc.
And so it came to pass, August 11, 1999 was the last day worked at PG&E by this Transgender Woman beginning to face a hostile world that had no place for her.
“ Aaand no, I’m not gay.”
This piece which is an extremely abbreviated version of why and how I lost my 65K per annum job, was presented for the Mission SRO Collaborative’s writing project for it’s first issue of “Hotel Voices", published in the spring/summer of 2006, it was also published in Poor Magazine online the summer of that year.
The themes were about the experiences of SRO Hotel’s residents and/or how we came to be living in SRO Hotels, which is a step short of homelessness.
Also at the Daily Kos From this Author “Gay Panic” Defense? My Ass!
Originally posted on 03/05/07
Are you gay? Silvia asked lifting her gaze away from my shining pearly-white nails, professionally manicured in the style known as French, the baby pink flesh showing through the neutral-colored nail polish, we were confirming our upcoming first lunch date in 2 plus years of working together.
I tried to think how many times she had asked during the 2 1/2 years of us working together. Today, I didn’t answer with the usual question: Why do you say that?
Today I firmly said, “no“
“Mmmm… Are you sure? Silvia asked, lifting her eyes to mine, pondered, “mmm… I don’t know…” Looking again at my nails… “Are you really sure you’re not gay?”
Tired of her regular queries about my sexuality, this time I said “No, I’m something else”, “What are you then?” She inquired, “I think I’m a girl” I answered.
After a couple of under-the-breath “uhms” And “aahs”, she asked if we could reschedule our lunch date.
“Sure”, I answered walking away.
Why did I tell her? As my boss’ Executive Assistant, she was the Office Politician par excellence who loved the taste of power, was very good at how to keep it and increase it; whereas I, all I wanted was to keep doing the work that I enjoyed, was good at it, was getting paid very well for doing it and having just started hormonal reassignment treatment, was looking at a future with hefty gender transition related expenses.
A superfluous question knowing that a) I resented being thought of as a gay man; it is a question of gender and not sexual orientation, b) the charade was over, I had removed the facade and now I was living my life in a rigorously brutal honesty, and c) I wanted to give her the opportunity to show me her acceptance, tolerance or rejection.
She outed me.
I witnessed and experienced my co-workers reactions, from the utter fixation with the restroom’s ceiling that some men had recently developed - as soon as they noticed my presence in the room - coupled with the not quite whistling but rather an in-between-the-lips and barely audible soft hissing of the latest “Music Brain Worm” In their heads, to the ones that acknowledged me with a curtly nod, or the ones that actually said hi and conducted business with me with a hardly noticeable discomfort, and last but not least, there was a group that never changed a iota, either because of acceptance, tolerance or conscious non-interference in other people’s business. And then, there were the others.
These were the most vicious and cowardly ones, the invisible closeted transphobes that had their own sub-division, passive-aggressive and active-aggressive.
The former chose to live with their misery and only passively projected it on me, among the latter, there was a small delegation of women who approached David, my Director, and shared with him their potential future feelings of violation were I to come into the ladies’ room, the most aggressive ones were David’s superiors who pressured him to cancel my contract, he didn’t yield because my pay came out of his Dept.’s budget, he refused until he was presented with an ultimatum whose dictates were never disclosed to me in neither one of the two official meetings I had with him RE: My “Outing”.
On the first, we talked, he was happy with my work, he pledged his support and wished me well on my journey, told me about his superior’s pressure.
I was reassured and calmer for the next few weeks until he called me again for our second meeting, he looked tired as he told me how fortunate he was because of my hiring, the satisfaction of getting more than what he expected and was paying for, deploring the bad news, he informed me of a directive to cancel my contract because of a job consolidation move, implemented over his objections, or so he told me .
A bucket full of icy water couldn’t have frozen me as much and his voice became a muffled distant murmur as realizations of the travails coming my way started materializing in countless foreboding thoughts which brought fear and anger.
David’s voice brought me back, “Do you want to say anything?”, the breath I drew felt like the first one in some time, with tense body and through clenched teeth I replied, “I’m trying very hard to put aside the thought that this is one of these ‘let’s get rid of that thing type of thing’ “.
His blanching face made his hair look whiter, he said that wasn’t the case.
“Whatever!” I thought, “Effective when?”, I asked, “One month” he answered. We had some shop talk on how best to maintain the continuity of my projects, tie loose ends etc.
And so it came to pass, August 11, 1999 was the last day worked at PG&E by this Transgender Woman beginning to face a hostile world that had no place for her.
“ Aaand no, I’m not gay.”
This piece which is an extremely abbreviated version of why and how I lost my 65K per annum job, was presented for the Mission SRO Collaborative’s writing project for it’s first issue of “Hotel Voices", published in the spring/summer of 2006, it was also published in Poor Magazine online the summer of that year.
The themes were about the experiences of SRO Hotel’s residents and/or how we came to be living in SRO Hotels, which is a step short of homelessness.
Also at the Daily Kos From this Author “Gay Panic” Defense? My Ass!
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