Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 60
April 13, 2011
Kobe Bryant on defensive after use of homophobic slur against ref
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant issued the following statement today in response to feedback regarding a comment made during last night's game:"What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."
Sean Chapin made the following video in response to Kobe Bryant calling referee Bennie Adams a f*cking f*ggot:
There is a Facebook page to tell Kobe to apologize here. Other responses:
HRC:
"What a disgrace for Kobe Bryant to use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching. Hopefully Mr. Bryant will recognize that as a person with such fame and influence, the use of such language not only offends millions of LGBT people around the world, but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination and hate that all of us, most notably Mr. Bryant, should be working to eradicate. Bryant and the Lakers have a responsibility to speak up on this issue immediately. America is watching."GLAAD:TMZ has the footage up on its website.
"Discriminatory slurs have no place on or off the court," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Professional sports players need to set a better example for young people who use words like this on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. The LA Lakers have a responsibility to educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable."GLAAD has reached out to the L.A. Lakers and will provide updates on GLAADBlog.org as they become available.
Recently, GLAAD has worked with sports groups including the New York Yankees, the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) and the Hershey Bears to address issues of homophobia in sports. The Hershey Bears, top minor league affiliate of the Washington Capitals, told GLAAD this week the team would be taking steps to put a stop to anti-gay taunts from fans.
Introducing and Thanking Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Military Families
cross-posted at Daily Kos.
Yesterday the White House was caught flat-footed when asked to explain why gay, lesbian, and bisexual military partners and their children were being deliberately excluded from Tuesday's launch of the First Lady's Military Families Initiative.
Q: Thanks. Can you explain why, months after signing the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the White House didn’t allow representatives of gay military families to attend today’s event? I mean, isn’t that a missed opportunity for the President to reaffirm his commitment to see through the repeal of the policy?MR. CARNEY: I actually don’t have anything for you on that. I will take that question -- I’m not aware of it at all.
Q: Okay. Well, I mean, the First Lady’s office put out a statement confirming it. They said that it’s still the law of the land. But I’m just wondering why -- how that’s not a missed opportunity for you guys to --
MR. CARNEY: Well, wait. If you want, I can take this question, but I think you’re conflating here a couple of things. But why don’t I take that and get back to you.
The statement Mr. Carney was referring to was made to the Advocate.
In a statement to The Advocate, Kristina Schake, communications director for Mrs. Obama, said, “The president has been crystal clear that the Administration is moving forward with the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ quickly and efficiently. However, it still remains the law. The White House, including the first lady and Dr. Biden, look forward to working with the families of gay and lesbian service members after certification occurs and repeal goes into effect.”
It appears that this White House has no intention of acknowledging the reality that LGB servicemembers have partners, spouses, and children, at least not until DADT is fully repealed and gone (it's still in effect, for those who are confused). If this White House had truly intended to be inclusive of our families, there are several things they could have done without the barrier of DADT, such as inviting civilian representatives of LGB military families to the launch event. Outserve, the Military Partners and Families Coalition, and Servicemembers United are all organizations ready and willing to represent our families to the First Lady. The White House could have made a mention in the press release of our families and acknowledged our sacrifice. Instead, we were deliberately shunned and excluded on the pretext of a discriminatory law that is still, despite campaign promises, in effect today.
I'd like to take a moment and introduce those families, explain why we are a part of the larger military community, and thank them for their sacrifice.
We are the loved ones of closeted gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers. We come from all walks of life. We are all colors, religions, creeds, professions, and political affiliations. The one thing that unites us is that we are the same-sex partners of United States servicemembers.
Because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act," our families go unrecognized, unprotected, and hidden from necessity. We face the same challenges as straight military couples - the PCS moves every three years, the deployments, reintegration, injuries and PTSD. We also face additional challenges such as acquiring gainful employment and healthcare in each new duty station, moving families at our own expense, and teaching our children to never, ever talk with their friends or teachers about Mommy and Mama, or Daddy and Papa. Sometimes, we are left behind altogether due to a PCS move to an overseas duty station. Our goodbyes are said behind closed doors, in secrecy and silence.
Our families live with little things, seemingly trivial parts of the closet all LGBT people are familiar with. When our partners' fellow troops chat about what they did over the weekend with their spouses and children, they "hung out with friends" instead. When his command has picnics or other "family days," he goes alone or not at all. When he receives an award or is promoted, no one is there to smile, take pictures, or pin on his new rank, like recognized spouses are. When she reenlists, there is no certificate of appreciation acknowledging our sacrifices as a spouse, and no handshake from her C.O.
It means bigger things, like no commissary benefits, which would cut down on the grocery bill in these tighter economic times. It means we must do whatever it takes to stay employed, because there is no access to Tricare coverage for health care, like a real spouse would have. It means denying our children the healthcare to which they would otherwise be entitled. It means always having a fake second bedroom set up in the house so that if someone from the unit comes over, we're "just roommates."
It means life-altering, heartrending things. It means our partners being sent away to overseas duty stations where we cannot follow. Unlike opposite-sex spouses, we cannot receive command sponsorship to live with our partners on base. They will not receive separation allowance as compensation for being taken away from their mates. It means living through year-long deployments to combat zones with no support, and no knowledge of what the unit is doing. It means sending care packages from PO boxes and signing cards with the name of another person to protect their secret. It means never saying, "I love you" on a Skype call, when they and we need to hear those words the most, and talking in code instead. If something happens to them, we will not know unless their parents call. If something happens to us, they will not be told, or be allowed to come home to be with us, as a spouse would. They will not even be allowed to acknowledge their pain lest it give them away to their chain of command.
It means that we do not exist. Our families are isolated, closeted, and struggle on our own to make it through the bad times. We are ghosts, never fully manifesting our true selves. Always we hide in the shadows, our faces hidden lest we compromise our loved ones' secret identity.
It is a hard road that we, the Silent Partners, have chosen to walk. Yet we do so, out of love for our country, and love for our servicemember. We live like this, endure these things, out of love. Our core values are Honor, Courage, Commitement, Integrity, and Service Before Self.
I would like to personally thank every single "Silent Partner" and child out there for being a part of our military family. You are an indispensable part of our community. You love and support our troops, despite your very existence being denied by the government. You care for them, nurture their children, and keep the homefires burning while they are sent to fight other people's wars. You are amazing. I love each and every one of you.
Photo copyright Jeff Sheng 2010 and Kaycee Olsen Gallery. Used with permission. To see more of Jeff Sheng's work documenting the men and women who live under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," go to http://www.jeffsheng.com.
Guest Post By Eva Kraus: Somebody Is Saying It's Time To Come Together
Crossposted with permission from the Facebook note Somebody Is Saying It's Time To Come Together
By Eva Kraus
The Maryland HB235 debacle is over. No matter which way you wanted it to turn out, it was an absolute mess. Now the hand wringing will start. It is time for the Monday morning quarterbacking. I will let the professionals in our community, our leaders figure out just what the hell happened. While politically aware, I am not particularly savvy about the backroom deals at the statehouse or in Congress. All I know is that a half-assed bill, not supported by the trans community went down in flames (and it should have), another year of equality in Maryland is lost, and we are back to square one.
With the loss of ENDA in the 111th Congress, any near term national protections are shot. The loss of ENDA was a disaster, but it may ultimately serve a greater good. It is the same good that HB 235 adds to. It is teaching the trans community that we have to stand on our own. It is teaching us that we can't let others speak for us. It is teaching us that WE have to control our own destiny. Our gay and straight allies (cisgendered) need to follow our lead on trans rights. We can welcome, and should welcome, their help. They have the access, the support, the money that we as a community lack. But we cannot allow them to lead the discussion. They cannot be allowed to tell us what enough civil rights are. They cannot be allowed to tell us what enough equality is. They cannot be allowed to tell us that "separate but equal" restrooms or other facilities are ok. That process has thankfully started. It is an ugly process. State and local trans organizations are starting to come out from the shadows of LGB groups to stake out their positions. Trans individuals all over the country were involved in the Maryland debate.
We need trans men in the debate. We need trans women in the debate. We need trans people of color in the debate. All of our voices need to be heard. Yes, I represent the trans woman who lost white male cis-privilege. I want is back. I don't apologize for it. I don't want or care to be male. I want the opportunity and rights to compete on the same basis as before. I didn't become less or get stupid from transition.
But I want more. I want those of my sisters and brothers to have a full bite at the apple. People of Color need the opportunity to work, to have a home, visit a public accommodation without harassment and discrimination. It is ridiculous that we, as either trans people or cis people, do not tap into all of the talents of all of our citizens. Trans POC need to be well represented in our organizations.
Our national organizations like the NTCE need to represent OUR interests. I was saddened to see their support of this piecemeal bill. They should not settle for the best deal they can get. The crumbs of incrementalism are unacceptable. This is not a funding bill that deserves compromise. It is a civil rights bill. There is NO compromise on basic human rights. Does our national lobby group need a "congress" of us to come together each year so they know what we want? Can we send "delegates" to this national group elected or appointed on a state basis through our state groups? Should our lobby groups because more of a political representation of our collective desire than that of insiders who think they know what we want? Should we vote on what to include in a national and state platform? Should this happen at the state level? Are they willing to share power and represent the will of the people? Would this increase the power and influence of trans people and help us control our own destiny?
These are just some thoughts as we begin the process of redesign. What does need to stop is the rampant name calling of those we disagree with politically. Yes, basic human rights are personal. The difference on how we view the process is not. I am not much for the "collaborator" or turncoat" type of term. What it tells me is that we can't have a discussion on an intelligent level. We need to not be reduced to the behavior of the wing nuts that dehumanize us.
What it does tell me is that we don't have the strength in our own organizations to stand alone. It means that we are forced to work through the perceived "Gay, Inc." and compromise our values with those that don't always understand them don't support them or see us as a point of leverage or compromise. We need to design our own movement, uncompromising in OUR agenda and representing our aspirations and human beings and Americans.
Eva Kraus is a businesswoman and emerging trans voice. Her Facebook page is here.
.
GLSEN the victim of a homophobic smear days before annual event
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
This morning, Peter LaBarbera came out with what he called a "breaking story" on his Americans for Truth webpage:
A Facebook page affiliated with the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) — to support homosexual student clubs and GLSEN’s upcoming activist “Day of Silence” in schools nationwide (Friday, April 15) — was linked for several weeks to a pornographic “gay” hook-up website containing full-frontal nudity and personal ads expressing interest in dangerous homosexual practices including anal sodomy, “rimming” and various sadistic sex fetiishes popular in the homosexual male subculture.
The GLSEN ”Gay-Straight Alliances” Facebook page was also linked to a “Gay Trip Thailand” Facebook page with shirtless Thai males — luring men to that notorious sex-tourism destination — as well as a movie about two male lovers that is sponsored by a leading “gay” pornographic video distributor. When the salacious links were exposed April 11 by
There are so many things wrong with LaBarbera's assertion. First and most importantly, if you look at the page, you will that GLSEN has nothing to do with it. It has several banners advertising GLSEN events, such as the Day of Silence, but there is nothing on this page calling it an "affiiliate of GLSEN" or - as LaBarbera put it - The "GLSEN "Gay-Straight Alliance" page. The page, Gay-Straight Alliances, seems to be a generic page supporting gay/straight clubs.
Furthermore if you will notice - the pictures which allegedly appeared were in the photo section of this page. Anyone can join this page and place photos there. Also, notice how those alleged photos are grouped together, as if someone put there all there at the same time.
What I am saying is that the most, this was an ugly practical joke by someone with a nasty sense of humor. And at the very least, this was a nasty set-up created to harm GLSEN days before its annual Day of Silence event.
According to LaBarbera, the group Mission America discovered the photos. Mission America is a vicious anti-gay group led by one Linda Harvey. Mission America was one of the sponsors of LaBarbera's latest so-called Truth Academy. Furthermore, Harvey has said lgbts or anyone supporting lgbt equality shouldn't be around children because they would cause children to be molested. Recently she said the so-called "gay agenda" was responsible for the spate of lgbt teen suicides.
I am not saying definitely that LaBarbera and Harvey conspired here. But there is something fishy about the fact that Harvey's group - which has affiliated with LaBarbera in the past - just happened to find semi-pornographic pictures on this page.
The sick irony of the entire thing is that it allowed LaBarbera to return to his "roots," so to speak. LaBarbera is known in lgbt circles as "Porno Pete" for his penchant of going to leather conventions and subcultural sex-events, taking pictures, and going into details about what supposedly the gays did there (while conveniently ignoring the heterosexuals in attendance).
This faux GLSEN controversy allowed LaBarbera to list all sorts of graphic details about gay sex - which I won't publish here - like he used to do in his olden days.
Furthermore, he also repeats several religious right lies about GLSEN, including:
the alleged Fistgate controversy, which the organization had nothing to do with,
and the false claim that GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings did not report an underage child having sex with an adult male. The young man - Brewster - was not underage at the time and in a later interview credited Jennings for being there for him at a time at which it was difficult for young lgbts to confide in anyone.
Here is the gist of this so-called controversy:
The alleged Facebook page is NOT affiliated with GLSEN other than giving support to some of its events.
Secondly, we don't know HOW those pictures got on that page (they have been scrapped off as of now, so my guess is that as soon as the page administrator saw them, he or she deleted them).
LaBarbera and Harvey have a lot of questions to answer. Just how did Mission America just happen find these pictures. And if these pictures were on the page for "several weeks" - like LaBarbera asserted - why are we just hearing about it now.
One thing is clear though - if this turns out to be a manufactured controversy (and I am not saying by whom), the parties behind it - and they know who they are - are pretty damned pathetic.
April 12, 2011
Video: Alan Simpson: GOP Is Anti-Gay, Anti-Women For Moral Values While Diddling Their Secretary
Chris Matthews talks with Alan Simpson (former Republican Wyoming Senator). "We have homophobes in our party. That's disgusting to me. We're all human beings. We're all God's children. . . . I'm not sticking with people who are homophobic, anti-women -- you know moral values while you're diddling your secretary, while you're giving a speech on moral values. Come on, get off of it."
Update: UNC frosh filed a false police report regarding 'branding' hate crime
And what damage this does to the hundreds of victims of
real violent anti-gay crimes
around the country.You'll recall in my last post that Chancellor Holden Thorp announced that the alleged assault against Quinn Matney would be reported to the Feds as a hate crime in a letter to students yesterday. (WRAL):
Matney told reporters that he was allegedly "branded" by perpetrators who said "here is a taste of hell," and held a heated object to his skin for several seconds, leaving 3rd and 4th degree burns on his hand.An alleged hate crime against a gay student on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus last week was false, officials said Tuesday.
Chancellor Holden Thorp said a student who told authorities he was branded with a searing hot object because of his sexual orientation filed a false police report and that it will not be reported as a hate crime.
Randy Young, a spokesman for UNC's public safety department, said charges of filing a false police report are likely against Matney.
Clearly this does nothing more than feed the fundies that LGBTs manufacture their "suffering," ignoring the vicious beatings and killings that turn up in the news with great frequency. It does not however, blunt any of the sobering news in the "2010 State of Higher Education For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People," data I shared in my earlier post about the biases on campuses around the country.
In the wake of a NC marriage amendment bill filed in the House, this false incident is also the last kind of news LGBT activists in this state need. Sad and unnecessary.
Hawaii Passes Transgender Employment Protections
Hawaii has passed employment antidiscrimination protections into law based on gender equality. Equality Hawaii's and HRC's joint press release on the bill's passage:
Equality Hawaii, Human Rights Campaign Applaud Hawaii Legislature for Passing Transgender Employment Protections
Equality Hawaii, Human Rights Campaign Applaud Hawaii Legislature for Passing Transgender Employment Protections
4/12/2011
HONOLULU - Equality Hawaii, the state's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, today congratulated the Hawaii Senate for passing a bill codifying prohibitions against discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity by a 22 to 2 vote. The bill moves to Governor Abercrombie for his signature.
"The march towards full equality in the Aloha State continues," said Alan Spector, Equality Hawaii Co-Chair. "Providing employment protections to transgender citizens in Hawaii is a victory for civil rights and equal treatment under the law for all residents of our great state."
"Following the passage of civil unions for Hawaii's gay and lesbian residents, the enactment of employment protections for the state's transgender people is another step forward in our fight towards equality in the Aloha State," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "No one should be denied employment possibilities because of who they are, regardless of their gender identity or expression."
The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Hawaii have worked closely together to build both public and legislative support for this legislation. Through this joint effort, thousands of phone calls, emails and handwritten letters have been sent to legislators urging them to approve this legislation.
Hawaii law already included these protections in Housing and Public Accommodations. Employment Protections based on sexual orientation were passed in 1991.
Equality Hawaii is dedicated to securing equality for all Hawaii's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families. www.EqualityHawaii.org
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. www.HRC.org
On The Inside Politics Ball Game On HB 235
I'm tired. I gave it my all. Even though I took public accommodations out, there were people in the transgender community who were upset that I took it out and wouldn't support it. Can you imagine, I would have never been able to get it out with public accommodations. You see how the bill is treated. I hope that now they respect the process and understand what it took and how difficult it is to prepare and argue for a bill like this, because the support is not there.~Del. Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk in Metro Weekly's March 30, 2011 article Maryland Gender Identity Bill Sponsor Says of Senate President: "He Refused to See Me"
Sen. Jamie Raskin, who sits on Judicial Proceedings and supports the bill, offered a theory on what's happening:"I think the [Senate President Mike Miller] perceives the disappointment of the Senate in the House's failure to pass the marriage bill," the Montgomery County Democrat said. "There is lingering disappointment."
~Sen. Jamie Raskin, in the Baltimore Sun's March 31st article
Senators Kasemeyer (D-12), Klausmeier (D-8), McFadden (D-45), Middleton (D-28), Robey (D-13) and Zirkin (D-11) were expected to support ending discrimination based on gender identity in housing, employment, and credit, but voted instead to recommit the anti-discrimination bill.So what happened?
From Transgender protection bill faces steep climb in Md. Senate:
Miller agreed to move [HB 235, Sen. Brian Frosh] said, after hearing from his House colleagues, but added, "At this late date, I don't anticipate any progress on this bill."Miller said he would not support the measure if it comes to the floor. "I don't like discrimination of any kind, shape or form, but I think we have other bills that need to move forward."
Senate President Miller thought there was enough time for all of the bills that came from the House of Delegates this year. From Gazette's Down to the wire:
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach said he is not worried about the volume of work facing his chamber, which has moved at a faster clip than the House of Delegates for the past three months.Sen. Zirkin put this out on Facebook as justification for changing his vote from the Judicial Proceedings Committee to Senate floor:
The bill didn't have the votes to win on the Senate floor. Not even close. And there was going to be a filibuster that would have ended up killing a lot of important bills. It would have been unfair to tie everything up for a bill that would have been killed.Well, that isn't exactly true. That's what you tell constituents and activists that that you can't tell the actual truth.
One would think that Sen. Miller, as a Democrat, would take civil rights for action. But for those who don't know, he's essentially a Blue Dog Democrat.
But Sen. Miller did make promises.
[More below the fold.]
Dana Beyer in Metro Weekly's Maryland Senate Prez Tells Advocates He Will Expedite Gender Identity Bill If It Passes Committee:"Senator Thomas Miller (D-Calvert and Prince George's Counties) told us that if Equality Maryland could show him the votes on the Senate floor, if we get out of this committee, he will expedite our Senate vote," Beyer said.The activists for HB 235 did show him the votes, and there were even enough votes for cloture of a filibuster.
Hints are found in various articles.
From the Washington Blade's Trans rights bill likely dead in MD:
According to Madaleno, Miller's explanation to him on why he diverted the gender identity bill was similar to Miller's explanation to the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday.The Sun reported that Miller expressed concern that the Senate had attempted to advance the gender identity bill several times in the past four years and it has died due to lack of support in that chamber.
"There are not the votes to move it in committee," he told the Sun, referring to the Judicial Proceedings Committee. "At this point in time I'd say the chances of passage of that bill are next to none," the Sun quoted him as saying.
But there was the votes to take the bill out of committee.
From the Baltimore Sun's Transgender discrimination bill subject to discrimination, some say that may best explain what happened:
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller offered his take yesterday: "At this point in time I'd say the chances of passage of that bill are next to none." He added that his chamber "spent a lot of time" on "important social issues" only to see them die in the House, an apparent reference to the same-sex marriage legislation...."It's all up to the president," said Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, the Baltimore County Democrat who chairs Rules.
..."I'm trying to work with the president to get it out," she said. If Rules does vote out the bill, it would move to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which could hold a hearing on it, vote and send it to the full chamber.
Sen. Jamie Raskin, who sits on Judicial Proceedings and supports the bill, offered a theory on what's happening:
"I think the president perceives the disappointment of the Senate in the House's failure to pass the marriage bill," the Montgomery County Democrat said. "There is lingering disappointment."
He added: "We shouldn't express our disappointment in the failure of one major civil rights bill by killing another one."
There is this from Sen. Miller, on his website's Mike's Record webpage, states:
Senator Miller believes protecting our children from predators should be a top priority for Maryland's law enforcement community.If any belief of Sen. Miller's influenced him to twist arms against HB 235, it would likely not be his arguing that HB 235 wasn't a complete enough bill without public accommodation, but more likely that he personally buys into the "bathroom bill" meme -- the meme where trans people are described as predatory threats to women and children in public restrooms. But, none of those who I've talked to believe that is the case.
I've heard from inside sources on background that Sen. Miller had approached senators to vote against HB 235, but the senators he approached didn't want to kill the bill outright. Sen. Miller had sufficient power to have the senators he approached have HB 235 recommitted, and then have the bill passed to 2012 -- essentially, he engineered the clock running out on the bill for 2011.
There was no reason at all that even if the gender identity bill didn't have the votes to pass on the Senate floor that a vote could have been taken, and then Sen. Miller point out that there really weren't the votes in the Senate for HB 235. If Sen. Miller was so motivated to push the bill through the Senate, he could have reigned in any attempt at filibuster in the same way he reigned in the filibuster attempt for the marriage equality bill. However, but Sen. Miller chose not to do that.
So, apparently neither the "bathroom bill" meme or the "transgender kindergartener teacher" meme had anything directly to do with the bill's failure -- although the "bathroom bill" meme did have something to do with why public accommodations were stripped from HB 235. Neither did the arguments from the transgender activists who argued against the bill, saying HB 235 should be killed because the bill didn't include public accommodation protections.
No, from what I've heard from insiders and read in various publications, the failure of HB 235 appears to be about power and the "inside politics" ball game. The exact reason Sen. Miller made effort for the bill not to pass the Senate isn't known, but most insiders I've talked to believe that the reason the bill was shelved until 2012 was over the Sen. Miller's frustration that the House of Delegates didn't go on the record and take a vote on the marriage equality bill. This opinion is also born out in statements from legislators and insiders in the publications I've read.
And it's apparent that at least one senator is "extremely disappointed" that the Senate didn't have an up or down vote on HB 235. Via Metro Weekly's Maryland Out Gay Sen. Madaleno "Extremely Disappointed" By Move Killing Gender Identity Bill, the statement by Sen. Madaleno on HB 235:
I am extremely disappointed by the Senate's action today to send HB 235 back to the Judicial Proceedings Committee. The twisted and unfair process HB 235 had to go through to even make it to the Senate floor mars the Senate's otherwise outstanding work this year. The Senate's treatment of this legislation will be remembered for a long time by the LGBT community and Marylanders who believe in equal rights for all.
After an overwhelming vote in favor of HB 235 by the House of Delegates, this bill was inappropriately referred to the Senate Rules Committee, which delayed action for nearly a week. After successful votes in the Rules Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the full Senate never had an opportunity to debate this issue because of today's vote to recommit.
The Senate's action today means that transgender individuals in Maryland will continue to be denied housing on the basis of their gender identity. Every homeless transgender person that dies on the street will do so because of the Senate's failure to pass HB 235. Every transgender individual who cannot provide for themselves or their family because they are denied employment based on their gender identity will do so because of the Senate's failure to pass HB 235.
I remain firmly committed to seeing this landmark civil rights legislation pass the Maryland General Assembly. Before next session, I will pre-file a new version of the Gender Identity Antidiscrimination Act that includes provisions for housing and employment, as well as public accommodations in the hope it can receive a full debate and vote in the Senate before the last day of the session.
In the final analysis, one of the things that happened transgender community and their civil rights issues are much stronger than they were at the beginning of this legislative session. Lobbyists have noticed that one of the most marginalized communities -- the transgender community -- in Maryland had a bill for civil rights make it to the floors of both legislative bodies in Maryland when most communities and social issue lobbyists didn't get there communities' bills to the floors of both legislative bodies.
In other words, HB 235 went much further in Maryland's legislative bodies than was expected, and that indicates that trans community has more power than it was thought trans community had.
And too, transgender community members -- both for and against HB 235 -- are now awake, and with hard work and sacrifice that power provides real opportunity -- and real possibility -- that transgender people will have antidiscrimination protections for housing, employment, and public accommodations protections seriously considered in the relatively near future.
Sen. Miller knows this. So does Del Maldonado, who according to Dana Beyer, gave her a hug after the vote in the Senate. And, all the legislators and the myriad of lobbyists who had no dog in the gender identity bill fight who watched the drama on HB 235 unfold, know it too.
Dana Beyer on the political inside, and currently on the political outside, but with possibility of increased power on the inside, Jenna Fischetti and Dana LaRocca (and a number of their peers) all have gained powerful visibility in Maryland.
And in politics, the perception of having real power really matters.
Michele Bachmann can't answer Q about whether homosexuality is a public health hazard
He asked her whether she agreed with failed gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats, who said that homosexuality is a "risky health style." This is what Igor received as an answer:
VOLSKY: Congresswoman, some groups - including this one, I believe - have argued that homosexuality is a public health crisis akin to second-hand smoking. I was wondering if you agreed with that.
BACHMANN: Um. I - I don't have an answer on that. I don't have an answer. Why don't I have another question.
Here's the OUT Power 50
Power and influence are not the same thing, of course, but if the end result is the movement is accelerated by those on the list, then it's a good thing. I'm sure that Blenders will have problems with at least one person on the list, lol.
Click over for mini-bios on this year's listmakers. Here's a release from OUT:
In times of upheaval, power changes hands fast. It's no surprise, then, that two of the top 10 names on Out magazine's 5th annual Power 50 list are new entries. Or that one of those two newbies - Apple's Tim Cook - shot to the top of the list. Television and the Internet remain fertile ground for LGBT talent and power to flourish, with five more of the top 10 coming from talk shows, news programs, or tablet launches. As always, the positions were determined by a range of factors, including power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and a person's media profile.Other top 10 entries include the new queen of daytime, Ellen DeGeneres, down one slot to number 2; CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper, who held firm at number 3; MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, sticking at number 4, and Rep. Barney Frank, last year's number 2 finisher, who rounds out the top five. A Power 50 newcomer, Fox News' Shepard Smith, joins the list at number 6, while other first-timers include Glee creator Ryan Murphy (number 14), Bravo TV exec and host Andy Cohen (24), Houston mayor Annise Parker (26), Victory Fund CEO Chuck Wolfe (33), and more.
"This issue marks our fifth Power 50, an annual exercise in determining the most influential gay men and women in America (not to be confused with the most popular or meritorious)," writes Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. "It's also the first year that the list has been topped by someone from the tech world, in the shape of Apple's COO, Tim Cook, who has helped turn his company into one of the world' most influential."
Pam Spaulding's Blog
- Pam Spaulding's profile
- 1 follower
