Baltimore Gives a Damn about Youth
May 10th, 2010 07:12 PM By AdminThe following is an excerpt from a story by The Baltimore Sun:
“The 16-year-old had been living for days on the streets of Baltimore after his parents kicked him out because he is gay. He came to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore looking for assistance. A week later, a 12-year-old lesbian who had the support of her parents called the center to find other kids ‘just like her.’
“These anecdotes from the past month underscore the need for a drop-in center solely for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths in Baltimore, according to Andrew Ansel, programs manager for the community center. The 33-year-old organization plans to open the first center in the city dedicated to LGBT youths by the start of the school year in the fall.
“Ansel believes that his center has the experience needed to assist LGBT youths, who are more prone to alienation, abuse and homelessness.
“‘Youth are coming out at a lot younger ages,’ Ansel said. ‘It is becoming less stigmatizing, but there are still a lot of challenges. It is still very difficult to come out in high school. Ideally the community center would be the central focal point for after-school programming for youth.’
“A number of the centers and facilities available to assist youths in the city are not “gay-friendly,” according to Ansel. The 16-year-old homeless teen Ansel recently met reported being harassed and not feeling welcomed at a local homeless shelter for youths.
“‘He didn’t want to go back,’ said Ansel, who gave the teen referrals to homeless shelters and other resources.
“Kurt Ragin Jr., 21, said that when he attended Archbishop Curley High School, he was one of three openly gay students in a student body of about 1,600. Having an outlet like the planned Baltimore center would have made life easier for him and the other gay students he knew.
“‘In Baltimore City, [LGBT youths] are trying to survive,’ he said. ‘I think the youth drop-in center would give them an opportunity to seriously look at themselves and determine what they are going to do in their lives.’
“The drop-in center, which will be housed on the first two levels of the organization’s four-story Mount Vernon building, will provide tutoring, mentoring, HIV testing and an overall support system for the youths.”
Read the full The Baltimore Sun story >>
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Zions Bank Gives a Damn
May 10th, 2010 06:58 PM By AdminThe following is an excerpt from a story on Advocate.com:
“The board of Zions Bancorporation, a powerful Utah-based bank holding company, has pledged to clarify its discrimination policy to protect gay and transgender employees, reports the Associated Press.
“Spokesman Rob Brough said that ‘initially the board felt that since Zions already had a zero-tolerance policy in place prohibiting any kind of discrimination, the additional language wasn’t necessary.’ Several weeks later, however, the board has reversed its stance and plans to amend Zions’ equal employment opportunity policy. This follows complaints by investors represented by New York City comptroller John C. Liu, who said the company wasn’t doing enough to protect employees.”
Read the full story on Advocate.com >>
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Acceptance on a College Lacrosse Team
May 10th, 2010 09:53 AM By AdminThe following is an excerpt from a story by Katie Thomas of The New York Times:
“The Oneonta men’s lacrosse team marched two by two onto the field, sticks held with purpose for the final home game of the season. Beneath their helmets, the players flashed hard looks and cheeks smeared with eye black.
“Tough and menacing is the team’s reputation around this State University of New York campus in the foothills of the Catskills. Even Dan Mahar, the head coach, acknowledges his players are viewed as a bit ‘rough around the edges.’
“But this season, the team is developing a new reputation — as models of tolerance — after one of its captains announced in an online essay in February that he was gay. The senior, Andrew McIntosh, said he had not heard a single disparaging comment from his teammates.
“’I was embraced with open arms,’ he said. ‘I had teammates come up and give me handshakes, and people saying it takes a lot of guts to do that.’
“Sports have long been viewed as inhospitable to gay men. The number of American male professional team athletes who have come out can be counted on two hands. In locker rooms, antigay slurs are tossed around as casually as borrowed towels. Yet for those who follow the increasingly common stories of athletes who decide to come out while in college, McIntosh’s story is not an anomaly, but the norm.
“’For some reason, people continue to think that gay people in sports will have a rough time, but we haven’t seen in 10 years anyone kicked off their team,’ said Cyd Zeigler, the co-founder of Outsports.com, referring to male athletes. The site published the essay by McIntosh and has served as a public home for gay athletes to tell their coming-out stories. Since the Web site began in 2000, Zeigler estimates that more than two dozen college and high school athletes have used the site to reveal that they are gay.”
“Stories from the Frontlines” – Former Army Sargent
May 10th, 2010 09:47 AM By Admin
May 10, 2010
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Tracey Cooper-Harris. I served in the Army for 12 years, reaching the rank of Sergeant. As a soldier and a non-commissioned officer (NCO), I performed my duties with honor and distinction. I was lauded by my peers and superiors for going above and beyond the status quo to complete the mission.
And, I am gay.
I lived in constant fear serving under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I was always looking over my shoulder, censoring what I said and keeping as much physical distance as possible between my military life and my personal life.
Even with this vigilance, I was found out by some male “friends” at my first duty assignment. I was just 19 years old. The deal was simple: Perform sexual favors and my secret was safe.
I had a choice: report these men for “sexual harassment/cohesion” and end my military career or submit to their demands.
Despite the military’s “zero tolerance” policy on sexual harassment, it doesn’t apply to those forced in the closet under DADT. I was sexually blackmailed and just a teenager.
At that time, as well as other times during my military service, I had seen friends discharged under DADT who were in similar situations. My friends were discharged, while their perpetrators were given a slap on the wrist.
The signal from command was clear: being gay was a far more serious offense in the military than sexually harassing a fellow service member. I ultimately chose what I believed was the best decision for me at the time. I let these men have their way with me in exchange for their silence.
I am not proud of what I did, but I loved my job too much to let it destroy my career before it had even started.
My decision didn’t come without consequences. I was eventually diagnosed with an STD which could potentially lead to cervical cancer later in life.
I, frankly, am still ashamed of what I had to do to stay in the Army. I wasn’t discharged under DADT, but left because of it. I continue to attend counseling sessions provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for what I went through. The memories still come back to haunt me some 16 years later.
I don’t want to see other service members go through what I went through. And unfortunately, this will continue to happen as long as DADT is law.
As long as a recruit or military member meets or exceeds the criteria for military service, let them serve. A bullet doesn’t discriminate because of a person’s race, gender identity, sex, religion, or sexual orientation, so why does the U.S. military continue to do so?
The time to repeal DADT is long overdue. Please, Mr. President, do the right thing.
Respectfully yours,
Former Sgt. Tracey L. Cooper-Harris
United States Army
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Defense of Marriage Act Challenged in Court
May 07th, 2010 06:50 PM By AdminThe following is an excerpt from a story by The Boston Globe:
“A lawyer for 17 gays and lesbians who wed in Massachusetts urged a federal judge yesterday to strike down the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman, calling it an unconstitutional intrusion on a matter previously left to states.
“The case is widely considered the first serious legal challenge in the nation to the Defense of Marriage Act, and puts the Obama administration in the awkward position of defending a law that it says it opposes but believes is constitutional.
“Mary L. Bonauto, a lawyer for the Boston-based nonprofit Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, argued in US District Court that the federal government had always let states decide who was legally married until it passed the law in question.
“’Your honor, the only thing that changed here was who was going to marry,’ Bonauto told US District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro. Bonauto also led the lawsuit that resulted in the landmark 2003 decision by the state Supreme Judicial Court legalizing gay marriage in Massachusetts.
“Bonauto said that because of the law, the federal government treats the plaintiffs — seven gay and lesbian couples and three men whose husbands have died — as second-class citizens. They are ineligible for numerous federal benefits that heterosexual couples receive, including health insurance for spouses of federal employees, retirement and survivor benefits under the Social Security Act, and eligibility to file joint federal income tax returns.
“W. Scott Simpson, a Justice Department lawyer defending the government, countered that the Obama administration agrees that the federal law is discriminatory and supports its repeal. But Simpson said the department is obliged to follow the longstanding practice of defending federal laws signed by previous presidents as long as the statutes are constitutional, which, he contends, the Defense of Marriage Act is.”
Read the full The Boston Globe article >>
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“Stories from the Frontlines” – President Truman’s Grandson
May 07th, 2010 06:06 PM By Admin
May 7, 2010
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Tomorrow, my family and I will mark the 126th anniversary of my grandfather President Harry Truman’s birthday. There are many reasons we celebrate his life and contributions to our nation, but in particular we are proud of his decision to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces in July 1948, which paved the way for future civil rights advancements.
It was not easy. He faced fierce opposition from inside and outside the military. Many, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Omar Bradley, argued that mixing black and white soldiers would destroy the Army.
My grandfather, however, was appalled that African-American service members had been beaten and lynched upon their return home from fighting in World War II. They had risked their lives to defend our nation, but were denied the full rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Implementation of his order to desegregate wasn’t easy, but it made our military stronger and our nation a brighter beacon of democracy.
There are strong parallels between the desegregation of the military and the debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the law that mandates the firing of a service member based solely on his or her sexual orientation. Opponents argue that allowing openly gay and lesbian service members to serve alongside their heterosexual comrades will endanger discipline and morale.
While I have no idea where my grandfather would stand on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I do know that he admired service and sacrifice. An estimated 66,000 gay and lesbian Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen are willingly risking their lives to defend our nation, despite being treated as second class citizens.
I would hope that my grandfather would want his openly gay great-granddaughter and others like her to have the opportunity to serve the country they love with dignity and integrity.
Mr. President, as you have said many times, including in your State of the Union Address earlier this year, ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the right thing to do. This year is the right time to do it.
I commend you for your commitment and hope the example of my grandfather, Harry Truman, will help you lead with the same courage and conviction to ensure the “equality of treatment and opportunity for all who serve our nation’s defense.”
Respectfully,
Clifton Truman Daniel
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Camping in Iowa
May 06th, 2010 06:01 PM By AdminSeems an Iowa state senator wants to keep gay couples who have gotten married in the state, since it became legal last year, from being recognized as a family by the state park system.
The following is an excerpt from a story by Radio Iowa:
“A state senator who opposes gay marriage is asking questions about plans to change a camping rule in the state park system. Just over a year ago the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling which legalized gay marriage in Iowa.
“Senator Merlin Bartz, a Republican from Grafton, says it appears to him that the Department of Natural Resources wants to make gay couples eligible for family camping at state parks. ‘They’re citing the Supreme Court case and changing, you know, ‘husband and wife’ language to ’spouse,’ Bartz says.
“The rates or fees for camp sites are the same, whether you’re a family or a non-family, but the state allows families to put up more than one tent on a camp site. ‘They’re changing their language even though the state legislature has not had a debate on this particular issue,’ Bartz says.
“Bartz is a member of the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee which meets on Monday. He’s asked D.N.R. officials to explain their proposal at that meeting. Bartz says he wants to be ‘vigilant’ and keep state agencies from writing rules that extend new benefits to gay couples.”
Read the full Radio Iowa story >>
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“Stories from the Frontlines” – Former Army Staff Sargent
May 06th, 2010 03:08 PM By Admin
May 6, 2010
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Anthony Moll and I am a bisexual veteran.
I served for eight years under the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that has failed our nation. I left the service just 10 weeks ago, and I can now say: this is the time, Mr. President, to push ahead and end this law.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is just a couple weeks away from holding a key vote on including repeal in the Defense budget. The vote will be close. Please, do whatever you can.
I have been proud to serve my country since joining the Army shortly after the attacks on September 11, 2001. My proudest moment was raising my hand and volunteering to serve our country in its time of need.
When I enlisted in 2002, I knew what DADT said, but nothing could prepare me for what it meant.
I had never been closeted about my sexual orientation so joining meant not only keeping quiet, but also being asked to lie to those whom already knew. While my leaders were instilling the values of honesty and integrity in me, the law in place was forcing me to do the opposite.
I knew that despite serving with distinction as a military police officer protecting fellow soldiers and their families from harm, I could face expulsion. During my service I was hand-picked as a Phoenix Raven, an Air Force program in which only a handful of soldiers are asked to participate.
While serving as a handler in the military’s working dog program, I worked with the Secret Service in detecting explosives – working to protect you.
In 2008, I was recognized as my installation’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and Joint Service Member of the Year. Despite this distinction, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law treated me as a second-class citizen.
While I excelled at every turn, this law forced me to be dishonest with my peers, my friends and my community. Our nation’s heroes should not be forced to carry the burden of serving in silence when we need our troops keenly focused on their missions.
In the meantime, I’m not sitting on the sidelines. I am now working at the Human Rights Campaign on its efforts to repeal DADT now. But advocacy alone won’t change the status quo.
Mr. President, tell Congress to move on repeal. Please allow my brothers and sisters-in-arms to live up to the Army values of respect, honor and integrity. Don’t let another life be ruined by a failed policy that hurts our nation as well as our heroes.
Mr. President, lift the ban.
Respectfully,
Former Staff Sergeant Anthony Moll
United States Army
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Lutheran Priest Reinstated
May 05th, 2010 12:55 PM By AdminDue to the recent decision by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) to abolish its anti-gay policies, a paster and his partner were reinstated at an Atlanta church after being removed in 2007.
Here is a story from WXIA in Atlanta:
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New York Court Gives a Damn about Gay Parents
May 04th, 2010 11:49 AM By AdminThe following is an excerpt from a story posted today on NYTimes.com:
“New York State’s highest court ruled in two cases Tuesday that nonbiological parents involved in same-sex relationships have rights similar to those of biological parents.
“In one case, the court, the Court of Appeals found that a woman is entitled to seek child support from her former partner, who is not the biological mother of a child the couple raised together before they separated.
“The ruling was 4 to 3.
“In the second case, the court ruled that a woman can seek visitation rights from her former partner because she is a legal parent, even though she is not the child’s biological mother. The two women entered into a civil union in Vermont.
“The ruling was 7 to 0 that the nonbiological parent, referred to in court documents as Debra H., had parental rights.
“The rulings reflect the Court of Appeals expanding affirmation of rights for gays and lesbians. The court has generally ruled that short of same-sex marriage — which it has said should be approved by the State Legislature — gay and lesbian couples can enjoy a broad range of legal protections.
“While same-sex marriages are not legal in New York, the state does recognize same-sex unions performed in other states. The Court of Appeals has so far rejected legal challenges to out-of-state gay unions.”
Read the rest of the NYTimes.com article >>
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