When former NBA player John Amaechi announced he was gay, it was only a matter of time before someone connected with pro basketball said something monumentally stupid.
Tim Hardaway, come on down!
In a radio interview, when asked what he would think of having a gay teammate, former NBA star Tim Hardaway included this in his response:
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
It is hardly shocking that a former pro basketball player is homophobic, but I link that story here to bring the league's response to your attention.
NBA Commissioner David Stern, upon learning of the remarks Wednesday, removed Hardaway from subsequent league-related appearances. "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," Stern said in a statement to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Hardaway has been taking part in NBA festivities ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas and attended an NBA Cares outreach event at a city YMCA with Knicks forward Jerome Williams on Tuesday.
Amaechi responded:
"I will say this about the Tim Hardaway comments and the comments of people like him ... these are the loud comments that pollute the air," Amaechi said. "These are the comments that create the atmosphere that allow some of the tragic incidents of homophobia that we've seen. This is what makes the lives of gay and lesbian young people in schools miserable. It's what stops gay and lesbian people in the workplace from coming out as well as the fact they can be fined in 33 states for being gay. These are part of the problem."
Interestingly, there was quite a bit of discussion on sports talk radio today about homosexuality. While most of the hosts I heard were waaaaaay out of their depth, they were nonetheless making a sincere effort to be understanding and accepting while working over Tim Hardaway for his hateful comments.
This is progress, folks. Before we get too giddy, though, reviewing some of the comments posted on the ESPN story I linked illustrate that there is a long way to go. At least people in the final frontier for GLBT acceptance, men's sports, are talking about it.
February 15, 2007
February 14, 2007
Understand the Opposition
That is some very sage advice offered in a column in The Minnesota Daily, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota (the U for those in the Twin Cities).
Progress cannot be made until people are willing to listen to each other. For this year's National Freedom to Marry Day you are all encouraged to divorce your emotions regarding this extraordinarily divisive issue in order to understand the perceived "opposition." For those who support marriage rights for all consenting individuals, try to understand the foundations of the convictions of those who disagree with you and learn how you might dispel those predispositions. For those who would seek to strictly define the legality and the validity of a couple in the name of God or for the sake of "family values," question your convictions and test your faith.
Your values as a spiritual person can only become stronger by testing what you believe. All you need to do is sit down and ask yourself how you can truly serve God and what in your life is truly at risk.
I believe it is a good thing to engage people in discussion who might not agree with your views. Many opponents of GLBT equality do all they can to stiffle such discussion. The only time I'm not comfortable discussing an issue with someone is if I'm not confident that my views will really hold up under scrutiny.
So what are many right-wingers afraid of? In my opinion, they fear being proven wrong, something the GLBT community and its allies are gradually accomplishing.
Progress cannot be made until people are willing to listen to each other. For this year's National Freedom to Marry Day you are all encouraged to divorce your emotions regarding this extraordinarily divisive issue in order to understand the perceived "opposition." For those who support marriage rights for all consenting individuals, try to understand the foundations of the convictions of those who disagree with you and learn how you might dispel those predispositions. For those who would seek to strictly define the legality and the validity of a couple in the name of God or for the sake of "family values," question your convictions and test your faith.
Your values as a spiritual person can only become stronger by testing what you believe. All you need to do is sit down and ask yourself how you can truly serve God and what in your life is truly at risk.
I believe it is a good thing to engage people in discussion who might not agree with your views. Many opponents of GLBT equality do all they can to stiffle such discussion. The only time I'm not comfortable discussing an issue with someone is if I'm not confident that my views will really hold up under scrutiny.
So what are many right-wingers afraid of? In my opinion, they fear being proven wrong, something the GLBT community and its allies are gradually accomplishing.
February 13, 2007
A Different Approach to the Marriage Issue in Washington State
There is a group in the state of Washington that is taking a unique approach to flushing out the reasons people truly oppose same-sex marriage. Since one of the common arguements is that those unions are incapable of naturally producing children, the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance is working to get Initiative 957 on the ballot for the next election.
Initiative 957 would:
o add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
o require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
o require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
o establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
o make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits
Sound extreme? Of course. There is a method to their maddness which is detailed in this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Initiative 957 would:
o add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
o require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
o require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
o establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
o make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits
Sound extreme? Of course. There is a method to their maddness which is detailed in this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
February 12, 2007
"Toward Gay Marriage"
That's the title of an op-ed piece in the Rutland (VT) Herald. Here are a couple of highlights:
Freedom-to-marry advocates have launched an effort to persuade the Vermont Legislature to approve a bill allowing for gay marriage. Passage of a gay marriage bill will not happen overnight, but it is a cause worth supporting.
Action on the issue is not compelled this time by a court decision, and it does not need to begin tomorrow. Rather, action is compelled by our understanding of the meaning of equality. It is time to take another look at the issue.
It's that kind of balanced, well reasoned approach that just drives opponents of equality crazy.
Good.
Freedom-to-marry advocates have launched an effort to persuade the Vermont Legislature to approve a bill allowing for gay marriage. Passage of a gay marriage bill will not happen overnight, but it is a cause worth supporting.
Action on the issue is not compelled this time by a court decision, and it does not need to begin tomorrow. Rather, action is compelled by our understanding of the meaning of equality. It is time to take another look at the issue.
It's that kind of balanced, well reasoned approach that just drives opponents of equality crazy.
Good.
February 11, 2007
Gay Recruiting?
This came from an article written by Sarah Posner for the American Prospect:
Last fall, while doing some reporting in northeastern Kentucky, I was talking to two local activists (registered Democrats, no less!) about why they were trying to shut down anti-bullying training at the public high school. Their gripe? By teaching that homosexuality is normal, and that students shouldn't harass their classmates because they’re gay, the training sought to recruit students into being gay. "You know," said one of the activists, "homosexuality cannot be reproduced, because two homosexuals can’t bear children. So they have to recruit people into their organizations."
The writer points out that it is this type of mentality that allows people to believe the recent declaration that Ted Haggard is now "completely heterosexual." There are those that want to believe that Haggard and others can be enticed into the "homosexual lifestyle" by gay men that are apparently lurking around street corners (or churches) seeking out straight men to convert them.
It's hard to describe how stupid and far from reality that thought process is, but a section of society historically will do anything to justify the separation and condemnation of people who are different than they are.
Again using history as a guide, this will NEVER be completely eliminated. That's why it is encumbent on those of us who aren't afraid of people who are different and who obey God's most important commandment, to love, to step up and work on opening minds and hearts toward acceptance of GLBT people as our brothers and sisters.
Last fall, while doing some reporting in northeastern Kentucky, I was talking to two local activists (registered Democrats, no less!) about why they were trying to shut down anti-bullying training at the public high school. Their gripe? By teaching that homosexuality is normal, and that students shouldn't harass their classmates because they’re gay, the training sought to recruit students into being gay. "You know," said one of the activists, "homosexuality cannot be reproduced, because two homosexuals can’t bear children. So they have to recruit people into their organizations."
The writer points out that it is this type of mentality that allows people to believe the recent declaration that Ted Haggard is now "completely heterosexual." There are those that want to believe that Haggard and others can be enticed into the "homosexual lifestyle" by gay men that are apparently lurking around street corners (or churches) seeking out straight men to convert them.
It's hard to describe how stupid and far from reality that thought process is, but a section of society historically will do anything to justify the separation and condemnation of people who are different than they are.
Again using history as a guide, this will NEVER be completely eliminated. That's why it is encumbent on those of us who aren't afraid of people who are different and who obey God's most important commandment, to love, to step up and work on opening minds and hearts toward acceptance of GLBT people as our brothers and sisters.
February 10, 2007
Reaction to Former NBA Player's Coming Out
At Outsports.com, they have collected a broad spectrum of reactions to the coming out of former NBA player John Amaechi, the first NBA player to do so.
As you might expect, there was a mix of responses. A couple of current players said a teammate coming out would be "awkward," and that players would probably "stay away from him,"
The article on Outsports gathers not only current NBA players reactions but those of some GLBT leaders and sportswriters with the slant being fairly positive.
Evem that shows some progress in the testosterone laden world of men's professional sports.
As you might expect, there was a mix of responses. A couple of current players said a teammate coming out would be "awkward," and that players would probably "stay away from him,"
The article on Outsports gathers not only current NBA players reactions but those of some GLBT leaders and sportswriters with the slant being fairly positive.
Evem that shows some progress in the testosterone laden world of men's professional sports.
Shepard: "Stand Up and Be Counted"
That was the message Matthew Shepard's mother conveyed recently during a speech at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.
Shortly after her son’s death, Mrs. Shepard went on the speaking circuit to promote the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which promotes gay and lesbian equality, draws attention to the existence of hate crimes and addresses other issues of social justice.
“I know Matt would be very disappointed in me if I gave up,” she said. “He would be very disappointed in all of us if we gave up.”
The teenage suicide rate, she said, “is through the roof.” And for teenagers perceived to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, she said, the rate skyrockets.
"As a society, it says we are a bunch of bigots,” she said. “Maybe we are.”
Mrs. Shepard said at the least it is symptomatic of what she called a “SIC” society — “silent, indifferent, complacent.”
That last sentence brings up a very important point. There are a lot of people we've all run across that feel the approach of "live and let live" is sufficient support for the GLBT community. It's not. By sitting on the sidelines, we can allow the bigots to rule the day and prevent equality for our gay and lesbian sisters.
It's not enough to say, "gay is ok," we need to stand up and have our voices heard for the cause of seeing the GLBT community have their rightful place as equal members of our society.
Shortly after her son’s death, Mrs. Shepard went on the speaking circuit to promote the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which promotes gay and lesbian equality, draws attention to the existence of hate crimes and addresses other issues of social justice.
“I know Matt would be very disappointed in me if I gave up,” she said. “He would be very disappointed in all of us if we gave up.”
The teenage suicide rate, she said, “is through the roof.” And for teenagers perceived to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, she said, the rate skyrockets.
"As a society, it says we are a bunch of bigots,” she said. “Maybe we are.”
Mrs. Shepard said at the least it is symptomatic of what she called a “SIC” society — “silent, indifferent, complacent.”
That last sentence brings up a very important point. There are a lot of people we've all run across that feel the approach of "live and let live" is sufficient support for the GLBT community. It's not. By sitting on the sidelines, we can allow the bigots to rule the day and prevent equality for our gay and lesbian sisters.
It's not enough to say, "gay is ok," we need to stand up and have our voices heard for the cause of seeing the GLBT community have their rightful place as equal members of our society.
February 08, 2007
More About Gay-Straight Alliances
This quote if from an article in the Fort Wayne, IN News Express about Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in high schools:
Kelcie Currier of Tamarac, Fla., says her world changed the day she joined her high school's gay-straight alliance club.
"Just knowing that there are other kids like me, or who care about the same issue that I do, it makes me feel great. Less alone. That life is not hopeless," said Kelcie, 17, a junior at J.P. Taravella High in Coral Springs, Fla., who came out as a lesbian about four years ago.
Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually at high school and middle schools, that promote respect and address antigay name-calling, bullying and harassment. Spectrum, the Taravella club, is one of more than 3,000 GSAs nationally.
Can somebody rationally explain to me what is wrong with any of that? There are plenty of people across the nation that fight these groups rights to exist and meet, but I don't think rationality factors into their opposition.
Thanks to PageOne Q for the tip.
Kelcie Currier of Tamarac, Fla., says her world changed the day she joined her high school's gay-straight alliance club.
"Just knowing that there are other kids like me, or who care about the same issue that I do, it makes me feel great. Less alone. That life is not hopeless," said Kelcie, 17, a junior at J.P. Taravella High in Coral Springs, Fla., who came out as a lesbian about four years ago.
Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually at high school and middle schools, that promote respect and address antigay name-calling, bullying and harassment. Spectrum, the Taravella club, is one of more than 3,000 GSAs nationally.
Can somebody rationally explain to me what is wrong with any of that? There are plenty of people across the nation that fight these groups rights to exist and meet, but I don't think rationality factors into their opposition.
Thanks to PageOne Q for the tip.
February 07, 2007
Former Pro Basketball Player Comes Out
John Amaechi, a man who played professional basketball for five years in the National Basketball Association, has publicly come out as gay. He has become the first former NBA player to announce he is a homosexual.
While several former pro football and baseball players have come out, we still wait for an active player to do so. I also wait for someone who has not written a book about it to just make an announcement and not turn it into a revenue generating event.
LZ Granderson, a writer for "ESPN The Magazine," takes a dim view on athletes coming out after retirement.
I can't help but wonder: When will somebody simply man up? That is, come out while he is still playing and finally demystify this whole gay athlete thing once and for all.
I've read the magazines.
I've seen the interviews.
Hell, I've written the stories.
Closeted athletes are miserable.
They have thoughts of suicide, they can't perform as well as they'd like, they live in constant anxiety of being found out, and while their heterosexual teammates are out chasing skirts during road trips, they stay locked up in their hotel rooms afraid to make eye contact with anyone because the bellhop's gaydar may go off.
Get over it.
An athlete in 2007 who stays in the closet during his playing days does more to support homophobia in sports than coming out after retirement does to combat it.
Well said. The first active athlete to come out will unquestionably have a rough time of it, but can it truly be more difficult than living a lie?
I want to reiterate a point I've made here before. If you are a major league athlete living in the closet or know someone who is, I would welcome the opportunity to help him tell his story
While several former pro football and baseball players have come out, we still wait for an active player to do so. I also wait for someone who has not written a book about it to just make an announcement and not turn it into a revenue generating event.
LZ Granderson, a writer for "ESPN The Magazine," takes a dim view on athletes coming out after retirement.
I can't help but wonder: When will somebody simply man up? That is, come out while he is still playing and finally demystify this whole gay athlete thing once and for all.
I've read the magazines.
I've seen the interviews.
Hell, I've written the stories.
Closeted athletes are miserable.
They have thoughts of suicide, they can't perform as well as they'd like, they live in constant anxiety of being found out, and while their heterosexual teammates are out chasing skirts during road trips, they stay locked up in their hotel rooms afraid to make eye contact with anyone because the bellhop's gaydar may go off.
Get over it.
An athlete in 2007 who stays in the closet during his playing days does more to support homophobia in sports than coming out after retirement does to combat it.
Well said. The first active athlete to come out will unquestionably have a rough time of it, but can it truly be more difficult than living a lie?
I want to reiterate a point I've made here before. If you are a major league athlete living in the closet or know someone who is, I would welcome the opportunity to help him tell his story
February 06, 2007
GLBT Community 1, Snickers 0
Thanks to the outcry led by such groups as the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the homophobic Snickers ad campaign kicked off during Sunday's Super Bowl has been scrapped.
The ad itself didn't bother me--I thought it showed just how ignorant homophobia can be--but the alternate endings on the associated website and bigoted comments by players from the Super Bowl teams pushed it way over the line of satire into hatred.
This was a good win for the GLBT community, and the efforts of those who so strongly spoke out against this defamation should be commended.
The ad itself didn't bother me--I thought it showed just how ignorant homophobia can be--but the alternate endings on the associated website and bigoted comments by players from the Super Bowl teams pushed it way over the line of satire into hatred.
This was a good win for the GLBT community, and the efforts of those who so strongly spoke out against this defamation should be commended.
February 05, 2007
More on LGBT Youth Homelessness
I posted on this issue yesterday but since then found this post on the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force web site which discusses the Task Forces's report.
Indeed, one of our critical aims and hopes is that service providers and social service agencies will see this report as a wake-up call to the crisis of homelessness among LGBT youth. Some may already work with this population and learn from one of our contributors about how to enrich an existing program. Others might know they need to reach out to LGBT youth but need additional guidance on how to do so.
While there is clearly more that can be done at the grassroots level, in the end it is not enough to beat this epidemic without additional funding and support at the federal level.
Check out the entire column by Jason Cianciotto, Research Director, Policy Institute, who makes a strong case for a combined grass roots effort to suppliment government funding to address this growing problem.
Indeed, one of our critical aims and hopes is that service providers and social service agencies will see this report as a wake-up call to the crisis of homelessness among LGBT youth. Some may already work with this population and learn from one of our contributors about how to enrich an existing program. Others might know they need to reach out to LGBT youth but need additional guidance on how to do so.
While there is clearly more that can be done at the grassroots level, in the end it is not enough to beat this epidemic without additional funding and support at the federal level.
Check out the entire column by Jason Cianciotto, Research Director, Policy Institute, who makes a strong case for a combined grass roots effort to suppliment government funding to address this growing problem.
February 04, 2007
There's An Epidemic of Homeless GLBT Youth
That's what this story in The Advocate reports.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless said gay, lesbian, and transgender youths make up at least 20%—possibly as much as 40%—of the total number of homeless and runaway youth, a fluid population that experts have estimated at 575,000 to 1.6 million each year. ''The national response to this epidemic has been nothing short of disgraceful,'' Matt Foreman, NGLTF executive director, told reporters during a teleconference.
What is the body of Christ doing to reach these young people? If they're out of the closet, I dare say the mainline denominations are doing more to create the problem than resolve it. The encouragement families receive to condemn their kids if they even show tendancies toward being gay or lesbian succeedes in sending a lot of young lives into a downward spiral, and not all of them pull out of it.
See, when fundamentalists say, "hate the sin, love the sinner," the hate usually overwhelms the love. Most humans are not good enough to actually pull that off and make someone feel loved. Hate, however, we're pretty good at.
Jesus, on the other hand, just loved. So should we.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless said gay, lesbian, and transgender youths make up at least 20%—possibly as much as 40%—of the total number of homeless and runaway youth, a fluid population that experts have estimated at 575,000 to 1.6 million each year. ''The national response to this epidemic has been nothing short of disgraceful,'' Matt Foreman, NGLTF executive director, told reporters during a teleconference.
What is the body of Christ doing to reach these young people? If they're out of the closet, I dare say the mainline denominations are doing more to create the problem than resolve it. The encouragement families receive to condemn their kids if they even show tendancies toward being gay or lesbian succeedes in sending a lot of young lives into a downward spiral, and not all of them pull out of it.
See, when fundamentalists say, "hate the sin, love the sinner," the hate usually overwhelms the love. Most humans are not good enough to actually pull that off and make someone feel loved. Hate, however, we're pretty good at.
Jesus, on the other hand, just loved. So should we.
February 03, 2007
Upcoming Event: "Keeping Pace With God's Grace"
The National Black Justice Coalition is sponsoring the upcoming conference "Keeping Pace With God's Grace" in Philadelphia on March 10.
From the press release:
Over three hundred people from across the nation will gather to debate the issue of homosexuality and its role within the Black Church as well as provide solutions on how to create a welcoming and gay-affirming church.
Black iconic intellectuals such as the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson plus several other religious leaders both anti-gay and gay-affirming will headline the event and facilitate discussion ranging from HIV and the Black Church to debating the legitimacy of scripture referring to homosexuality.
This is one of the few occassions that I am aware of where there will be honest, balanced debate on issues relating to GLBT people and Christianity. Hopefully minds will be open and hearts changed when the word of God is honestly studied, especially at a conference where the African-American community is actively engaged.
From the press release:
Over three hundred people from across the nation will gather to debate the issue of homosexuality and its role within the Black Church as well as provide solutions on how to create a welcoming and gay-affirming church.
Black iconic intellectuals such as the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson plus several other religious leaders both anti-gay and gay-affirming will headline the event and facilitate discussion ranging from HIV and the Black Church to debating the legitimacy of scripture referring to homosexuality.
This is one of the few occassions that I am aware of where there will be honest, balanced debate on issues relating to GLBT people and Christianity. Hopefully minds will be open and hearts changed when the word of God is honestly studied, especially at a conference where the African-American community is actively engaged.
Speaking Out for Gay Straight Alliances in Utah
The Sale Lake Tribune has an editorial strongly condemning an effort in the Utah state legislature that would effectively ban Gay Straight Alliances in Utah schools.
Given that Utah is hardly a bastion of progressive thought, it's a good sign that the largest newspaper in the state would take such a strong stand on this issue.
Given that Utah is hardly a bastion of progressive thought, it's a good sign that the largest newspaper in the state would take such a strong stand on this issue.
February 02, 2007
Equal Access to School Facilities
As reported by the Christian Post, a federal judge recently ruled that a branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes must be allowed the same rights to use school facilities as other non-religious clubs. Good.
"Equal access means equal access, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) should not be discriminated against just because they want to have a Christian club," (plaintiff attorney Joel L.) Oster said after the hearing.
Despite the district's claims, Oster said this case was about religious issues.
"The message we want to get out there is that Christians are not second-class citizens," Oster said. "... They are entitled to their views, and they are entitled to free expression of those views."
Now if you substitute the phrase "Gay-Straight Alliance" for "Christian" in these quotes, you truly have equal access. However, the more frequent situation is for school districts to accept these Christian clubs and discriminate against the GSA clubs.
The same rules need to apply to all who wish to access public facilities.
"Equal access means equal access, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) should not be discriminated against just because they want to have a Christian club," (plaintiff attorney Joel L.) Oster said after the hearing.
Despite the district's claims, Oster said this case was about religious issues.
"The message we want to get out there is that Christians are not second-class citizens," Oster said. "... They are entitled to their views, and they are entitled to free expression of those views."
Now if you substitute the phrase "Gay-Straight Alliance" for "Christian" in these quotes, you truly have equal access. However, the more frequent situation is for school districts to accept these Christian clubs and discriminate against the GSA clubs.
The same rules need to apply to all who wish to access public facilities.
February 01, 2007
How About More Focus on Saving Heterosexual Marriage?
That's the theme of this op-ed piece in the Madison (Wisconsin) Times.
I've got a suggestion for Julaine Appling and her colleagues at the euphemistically named Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, the state chapter of the organization founded by Christian bomb thrower James Dobson: Quit worrying about homosexual marriage and get to work saving the heterosexual ones.
We don't need same-sex marriage to "destroy" the institution of marriage. Heterosexual couples have done a pretty good job of that already.
Of course, focusing efforts on denying homosexual couples the right to marry draws attention away from that painfully obvious fact, doesn't it? Organizations aren't going to have nearly the same level of success with their fund raising campaigning against divorce, now would they?
I've got a suggestion for Julaine Appling and her colleagues at the euphemistically named Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, the state chapter of the organization founded by Christian bomb thrower James Dobson: Quit worrying about homosexual marriage and get to work saving the heterosexual ones.
We don't need same-sex marriage to "destroy" the institution of marriage. Heterosexual couples have done a pretty good job of that already.
Of course, focusing efforts on denying homosexual couples the right to marry draws attention away from that painfully obvious fact, doesn't it? Organizations aren't going to have nearly the same level of success with their fund raising campaigning against divorce, now would they?
January 31, 2007
Anti-Gay Measures Stirring up GLBT Activists in "Red" States
A while back, I posted about a story telling how anti-gay initiatives in Kansas had stirred up more visible and active support for GLBT equality than had ever been present in the state. According to this report in the Washington Blade, this situation has also developed in numerous so-called "red" states across the Midwest.
“The silver lining from these ballot measures is that they triggered the building of a GLBT movement in these states,” (Equality Federation executive director Toni) Broaddus said. “We may be losing these fights now, but we are building our capacity to grow and build more public support in the long run.”
The fight for equality will not be won in the short-term, but merely having more people engage in the battle pushes the issues closer to resolution.
“The silver lining from these ballot measures is that they triggered the building of a GLBT movement in these states,” (Equality Federation executive director Toni) Broaddus said. “We may be losing these fights now, but we are building our capacity to grow and build more public support in the long run.”
The fight for equality will not be won in the short-term, but merely having more people engage in the battle pushes the issues closer to resolution.
January 30, 2007
Do They Really Need This?
According to this report in the Casper, Wyoming Star-Tribune, a bill has been introduced in the Wyoming state legislature that would void same-sex marriages legally performed in another state or country for couples who moved to Wyoming.
Are there gay and lesbian couples lining up to relocate into Wyoming? Doubtful.
Carrie Evans, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, echoed that: "Surely the Wyoming legislature has real problems to deal with.
"But a co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Mountain View, said the measure is extremely important. "In the past 30 years, most of the statistics support the fact that with the loss of marriage and a stable home environment there are more adverse impacts on society with crime and with various other things that cause a deterioration of our whole country," Petersen said.
This representative uses curious logic, because to protect the deterioration of the whole country, he is proposing to do exactly what he says is the cause by dissolving marriages.
Of course, if rules of logic applied to this debate there would be a whole lot less people on the other side.
Are there gay and lesbian couples lining up to relocate into Wyoming? Doubtful.
Carrie Evans, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, echoed that: "Surely the Wyoming legislature has real problems to deal with.
"But a co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Mountain View, said the measure is extremely important. "In the past 30 years, most of the statistics support the fact that with the loss of marriage and a stable home environment there are more adverse impacts on society with crime and with various other things that cause a deterioration of our whole country," Petersen said.
This representative uses curious logic, because to protect the deterioration of the whole country, he is proposing to do exactly what he says is the cause by dissolving marriages.
Of course, if rules of logic applied to this debate there would be a whole lot less people on the other side.
January 29, 2007
Equality is Great, But Safety Comes First
GLBT activists and their allies are focused on issues like same-sex marriage, acceptance of gays and lesbians in the church, and the prevention of discrimination. There are more basic issues we can lose sight of, however. One of them is the personal safety of a GLBT person who is out in a hostile environment, like, say, South Dakota.
Here is the story of one such person published in the Washington Blade. While the fight for equal rights is important, let's not lose sight of those who have to deal with concerns for their very survival on a daily basis.
Here is the story of one such person published in the Washington Blade. While the fight for equal rights is important, let's not lose sight of those who have to deal with concerns for their very survival on a daily basis.
January 28, 2007
GLAAD Lobbying For Equality in Wedding Announcements
GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has been working hard lobbying newspapers to carry announcemtns of same-sex weddings, civil unions, and committment ceremonies. According to this report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, editors at 883 daily newspapers across the United States have agreed to publish these notices.
So far, however, only 319 papers have actually printed them, and GLAAD is now trying to encourage same-sex couples to take advantage of this opportunity and announce themselves to their community. Information is posted in GLAAD's website regarding which newspapers have agreed to participate.
If you are part of a couple that is stepping forward and making a committment to each other, please allow me to encourage you to make this public declaration and let everyone know just how serious you are.
So far, however, only 319 papers have actually printed them, and GLAAD is now trying to encourage same-sex couples to take advantage of this opportunity and announce themselves to their community. Information is posted in GLAAD's website regarding which newspapers have agreed to participate.
If you are part of a couple that is stepping forward and making a committment to each other, please allow me to encourage you to make this public declaration and let everyone know just how serious you are.
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