Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 61

WH initiative launched to support, honor America's service members, families - no gay fams invited

A national initiative to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of America's service members and their families launches today, spearheaded by President Obama, Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. The program is called Joining Forces , and there is a kick-off event today. UPDATE: I posted the transcript of the event here. Below are some snippets from the First Lady:

So this is a national initiative, and here's how it's going to work. First, as part of a new public awareness campaign, we're going to highlight the service of these families that Americans don't always see, because the first step in taking action is awareness. And the truth is that our military families are all around us. We may not know it. We're going to remind Americans that most military families live off base, in thousands of communities across the country. They're our neighbors and our coworkers; the military spouse who puts a full day in at the office, then goes home to do the parenting of two while their husband or wife is deployed.

...And there probably isn't a town in this country without a veteran. So, in other words, we want Americans to realize that, in a way, every community is a military community.

So these are the stories that we're going to tell. These are the stories that we're going to celebrate. And to help us, we're being joined by some outstanding folks who know a little thing about capturing the public's attention -- folks like NASCAR and Walmart and Major League Baseball. They're going to be creating public service announcements. Other PSAs will feature the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Everyone is stepping up.

***

It's an America where every military spouse has the support that he or she needs to keep their family strong and thriving.

It's an America where every military child has the support they need to grow and learn and realize their dreams.

It's an America where our veterans and their families, especially our Gold Star families who have sacrificed so much, are honored throughout the entirety of their lives.

In short, we see a nation where more Americans across every sector of society are Joining Forces on behalf of our military families.

And believe me, this is going to remain one of my defining missions as First Lady.

Joining Forces is spearheaded by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden, who have been leaders in supporting our nation's military families and advocating for their priorities. Joining Forces was created to address the unique challenges and needs of military families that Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden have heard firsthand during meetings with military spouses, briefings with military leaders, and many visits to military communities at home and abroad, and through their work on military family priorities. Building on this groundwork, the initiative will focus on key priority areas - employment, education, and wellness, while engaging in a comprehensive effort to raise awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of military families.

"Joining Forces was created to recognize and serve our nation's extraordinary military families who, like their loved ones in uniform, serve and sacrifice so much so that we can live in freedom and security," said Mrs. Obama. "This is a challenge to every segment of American society not to simply say thank you but to mobilize, take action and make a real commitment to supporting our military families."

Guess wasn't at the kickoff - gay families . Yet another reminder that DADT is still in place and the WH isn't budging on any proactive, even symbolic means to show its support before full repeal. Reactions below the fold.


Servicemembers United issued the following statement today on the White House's refusal to allow a civilian representative of gay and lesbian military families to be present at First Lady Michelle Obama's and Dr. Jill Biden's "Military Families Initiative" kick-off event at the White House:

"It is rather unfortunate that both East Wing and West Wing staff have refused to allow a representative of gay military families to even be in the room at an event that is supposed to honor their commitment and sacrifice," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "We have been trying for nearly two weeks to get just one spot for one of our community's representatives at this event. The First Lady's office has used the continued enforcement of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' as an excuse to exclude us, even though they know that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' does not apply to the civilians who work at their advocacy and service organizations.

Many straight organizational representatives have been invited to this event, including some with few or no military families in their constituencies. Yet our thousands of gay military families are shut out from being represented today because of nothing but lingering political homophobia. Gay and lesbian military families should not have to fight this hard just to stand in the back of the room in 2011."

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis commented:

"I have no doubt the First Lady shares the President's goal of seeing open military service a reality this year. Mrs. Obama, the President, and the service chiefs all recognize that gay and lesbian service members are serving today, and that they have families who should be recognized. In fact, the Comprehensive Review Working Group created an opportunity for their voices to be heard in a confidential manner.

"Unfortunately, because 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is still the law, our LGB service members and their families will probably not be an official part of this week's public activities. However, the First Lady's welcomed visits to our military bases underscore why we need certification and repeal sooner rather than later, hopefully before the end of this quarter. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network looks forward to Mrs. Obama having the opportunity to sit down with LGB service members and their families later this year when Don't Ask is no longer the law. We believe the First Lady also looks forward to that opportunity once repeal is in place. In the interim, I remain confident that Mrs. Obama and the President value the unselfish contributions and sacrifices our LGB military families are making today and will find appropriate ways to acknowledge them this week."

Law & Order: SVU's Chris Meloni video for New Yorkers for Marriage Equality

Yeah, baby. Here's a big boost for marriage equality from the always-hot Law & Order SVU's Christopher Meloni, who plays the tinder-box-tempered Elliot Stabler on the long-running NBC drama, and portrayed inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz (both blogmistress favorites!). This is from HRC's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality:

More from The Advocate:

"We are thrilled to add Christopher Meloni to the growing majority of New Yorkers who support the freedom to marry," said Brian Ellner, senior strategist for HRC in New York. "With support for equality at a record high 58% in the state, we're confident that all loving, committed couples will soon be able to marry the person that they love. As Chris says in his video, it's time for New York to lead again."

The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, which has appeared online and on the city's Taxi TV, features prominent New Yorkers to move viewers to lobby their state lawmakers. Other videos in the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign so far have included Barbara Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush; New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg; former mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins; former police commissioner Bill Bratton and Rikki Klieman; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Joan Rivers; Whoopi Goldberg; Lucy Liu; Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon; Russell Simmons; Julianne Moore; Ethan and Ryan Hawke; Moby; Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell; Fran Drescher; Mark and Sunrise Ruffalo; chefs Mario Batali, David Chang, and Tom Colicchio; Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe; Kenneth Cole; John Slattery; and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

Gays control Congress and other things I learned last weekend

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

This is slightly nauseating.

Last weekend, a bunch of social conservatives got together to combat the so-called gay agenda. And just about all of the "talking heads" were there from Robert Knight to Matt Barber to Greg Quinlan.

It was held at Liberty University and was called the Awakening. But if I had to attend, I would have cracked myself over the head so that I wouldn't have to be awake. Amongst the highlights, according to the American Independent:

The one self-described ex-gay on the panel, Greg Quinlan — who founded the Pro Family Network in 1996 and is now the president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) but spent his gay years lobbying for the LGBT-rights group Human Rights Campaign – explained that his foray into homosexuality was caused by abuse from his father and looking at Playboy magazine as a young boy.

 . . . Matt Barber, the panel’s moderator and a dean at Liberty University, said he served in the military for 12 years. Barber made a case that promoting gays in the military presents a national threat because most gay military men will be more focused on their attraction to other men than on their military duties, saying it comes down to the soldier who “has your back or the one who wants to rub it.” (Alvin's note - there he goes again).

But if you wanted to give a prize for the most obnoxious homophobic tripe uttered, you would have a tie between Ryan Sorba of the Young Conservatives of California and perennial homophobe Robert Knight.

 

From this clip, Sorba advocates that the "gay identity" does not exist so folks combatting the so-called gay agenda should stop using the word "gay:"

According to the American Independent:

Sorba proposed alternatives to the word “gay,” which received approval by a unanimous show of hands by the 40-some audience members:
“Same-sex attraction”“Same-sex intercourse”“Sodomy”“Unnatural vice”

And then Robert Knight, according to Religious Right Watch, makes the case for the men in the white coats to come and take him away in a straitjacket. According to Knight, gay staffers control Congress:

Knight's tirade of ignorance includes the worst stereotype about lgbts - we have no lives nor families. But the sheer idiocy of his comments reveal a sad fact. There are people who are in the business of demonizing lgbts because it is just that - a business.  But Knight seems to be on a different plateau.

He actually believes the junk he spouts.

As much as I try not to be rude in describing the opposition to lgbt equality, I have to say - from the heart:

What a bunch of dumb asses!

NC: Savage anti-gay 'branding' on UNC campus; admin to report it as hate crime to feds (w/updates)

On April 5, a UNC Chapel Hill freshman was assaulted on a footbridge on campus; he was allegedly "branded" by perpetrators who referred to his sexual orientation and suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns on his hand; he was treated at Campus Health Services. WRAL:

University of North Carolina student Quinn Matney is gay. For that, he says, someone scarred him for life.

Matney said a man walked up to him last week near a foot bridge on the Chapel Hill campus, called him a derogatory name, told him, "here is a taste of hell," and held a heated object to his skin for several seconds, leaving third and fourth-degree burns.

He described the assault, which university officials are calling a hate crime, as "relentless burning, searing pain."

"It has burned all the way through the flesh and is burning through muscle and tendon," Matney said. He said he has an infection and limited movement in some fingers, and the nerve damage may require surgery.

...Jeff Deluca, co-president of UNC's Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Straight Alliance, raised concerns that the university waited two days before alerting the students and the community.

"It is shock and sadness that something like this could happen on campus and go pretty much unnoticed," Deluca said.

In a letter today to students, Chancellor Holden Thorp announced that it will be reported to the Feds as a hate crime:

April 11, 2011

Message from the Chancellor: Police Investigate Assault Tied to Sexual Orientation

Dear Carolina Students, Faculty and Staff:

Our Department of Public Safety has been investigating an aggravated assault that appears to have been motivated by the sexual orientation of a male student, who was treated at Campus Health Services for burn injuries. The incident, reported to police on April 5, occurred on the foot bridge between Craige Residence Hall and the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive.

Our thoughts are with our student and with his family and friends. As a University community, we condemn this act of violence. Our Department of Public Safety will bring the strongest possible charges against the attacker.

Based on the available evidence to date, the University plans to report this incident as a hate crime to the federal government. We're also mindful of a recently adopted UNC system policy that deplores unlawful harassment leading to a hostile environment that is based upon personal characteristics including sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Everyone in our community has the right to a safe, inclusive and welcome living and learning environment. And all of us have a responsibility to stand against acts of violence, harassment, bullying and intimidation and to treat each other with civility and respect.

Campus advocates for our LGBTQ community are asking questions about the University's response to this incident. As I explained in my message to the campus last week about the incident in Morrison Residence Hall, the University is now reviewing the notification protocols and procedures we use to inform the campus about crime reports or dangerous situations.

This most recent incident will be considered in those conversations, too.

Sincerely,

Holden Thorp

It's relevant to mention Campus Pride's comprehesive report, " 2010 State of Higher Education For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People ,"  that outlines the climate most LGBT students experience.

The report documents experiences of over 5,000 students, faculty members, staff members, and administrators who identify as LGBTQQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, & Queer) at colleges and universities across the United States.

We think of campuses as an environment for free expression; however if your not straight and gender conforming, it's an entirely different experience.

Colleges and universities are failing to provide LGBTQQ people with an environment that research suggests is necesssary for learning and scholarship: Less than seven percent of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education offer institutional support; thirteen percent include sexual identity policy protections; and six percent include gender identity and expression policy protections. While the availability of LGBTQQ services and programs have improved, far fewer institutions offer them - safe space/ally programming, LGBTQQ faculty advisors and staff positions and LGBTQQ student centers or facilities.

? LGBQ respondents (23%) were significantly more likely to experience harassment when compared with their heterosexual counterparts (12%) and were seven times more likely to indicate the harassment was based on their sexual identity (83%, 12%, respectively). Additional analyses indicated that those who identified as queer (33%) were significantly more likely to experience harassment than other sexual minority identities.

? LGBQ respondents were twice as likely to be targets of derogatory remarks (61%), stared at (37%), and singled out as "resident authority" regarding LGBT issues due to their identity (36%) when compared with their heterosexual counterparts (29%, 17%, and 18%, respectively).

? Respondents who identified as gay or similar were most often targets of derogatory remarks (66%), while lesbians or similar were most likely ignored deliberately or excluded (53%). Queer respondents were most often stared at (44%) or singled out as resident authority due to their identity (45%).

CHALLENGE: LGBQ respondents have more negative perceptions of campus climate than their heterosexual counterparts.

? LGBQ respondents (70%, 76%, 64%) were significantly less likely than their allies to feel very comfortable or comfortable with the overall campus climate, their department/work unit climate, and classroom climate than their heterosexual counterparts (78%, 85%, 76%).

? Among LGBQ respondents, queer respondents (63%) were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable with their overall campus climate; both bisexual (71%) and queer respondents (71%) were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable in their department/work unit climate; and lesbians or similar (59%) and queer (59%) respondents were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable in their classroom climate.

? LGBQ respondents (55%) were significantly more likely to perceive or observe harassment when compared with heterosexual respondents (47%) and also more likely to indicate the perceived harassment was based on sexual identity (78%, 65%, respectively).

? Among LGBQ respondents, those who identified as queer (70%) were significantly more likely to observe harassment than respondents who identified as gay or similar, lesbian or similar, or bisexual.

? LGBQ respondents were more likely to observe others being the targets of derogatory comments (77%), being stared at (41%), deliberately ignored or excluded (38%), and intimidated or bullied (30%). LGBQ respondents were twice as likely as heterosexual respondents to report they perceived physical violence in their campus environment (10%, 5%, respectively).

? Queer respondents were more likely to observe others staring, someone being deliberately ignored or excluded, and racial/ethnic profiling than other sexual minority identities.

With that in mind, incidents like the one that has occured at UNC cannot be seen as an anomoly, only an escalation from bullying and harassment. The university has to take these matters seriously; considering incidents of this kind a federal hate crime is a necessity to send the right message.Please also read Jake Gellar-Goad's diary, "I have no words".

NC: Savage assault on UNC campus; administration to report it as hate crime to the fed government

On April 5, a UNC Chapel Hill freshman was assaulted on a footbridge on campus; he was allegedly "branded" by perpetrators who referred to his sexual orientation and suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns on his hand; he was treated at Campus Health Services.

In a letter today to students, Chancellor Holden Thorp announced that it will be reported to the Feds as a hate crime:

April 11, 2011

Message from the Chancellor: Police Investigate Assault Tied to Sexual Orientation

Dear Carolina Students, Faculty and Staff:

Our Department of Public Safety has been investigating an aggravated assault that appears to have been motivated by the sexual orientation of a male student, who was treated at Campus Health Services for burn injuries. The incident, reported to police on April 5, occurred on the foot bridge between Craige Residence Hall and the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive.

Our thoughts are with our student and with his family and friends. As a University community, we condemn this act of violence. Our Department of Public Safety will bring the strongest possible charges against the attacker.

Based on the available evidence to date, the University plans to report this incident as a hate crime to the federal government. We're also mindful of a recently adopted UNC system policy that deplores unlawful harassment leading to a hostile environment that is based upon personal characteristics including sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Everyone in our community has the right to a safe, inclusive and welcome living and learning environment. And all of us have a responsibility to stand against acts of violence, harassment, bullying and intimidation and to treat each other with civility and respect.

Campus advocates for our LGBTQ community are asking questions about the University's response to this incident. As I explained in my message to the campus last week about the incident in Morrison Residence Hall, the University is now reviewing the notification protocols and procedures we use to inform the campus about crime reports or dangerous situations.

This most recent incident will be considered in those conversations, too.

Sincerely,

Holden Thorp

It's relevant to mention Campus Pride's comprehesive report, " 2010 State of Higher Education For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People ,"  that outlines the climate most LGBT students experience.

The report documents experiences of over 5,000 students, faculty members, staff members, and administrators who identify as LGBTQQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, & Queer) at colleges and universities across the United States.

We think of campuses as an environment for free expression; however if your not straight and gender conforming, it's an entirely different experience.

Colleges and universities are failing to provide LGBTQQ people with an environment that research suggests is necesssary for learning and scholarship: Less than seven percent of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education offer institutional support; thirteen percent include sexual identity policy protections; and six percent include gender identity and expression policy protections. While the availability of LGBTQQ services and programs have improved, far fewer institutions offer them - safe space/ally programming, LGBTQQ faculty advisors and staff positions and LGBTQQ student centers or facilities.

? LGBQ respondents (23%) were significantly more likely to experience harassment when compared with their heterosexual counterparts (12%) and were seven times more likely to indicate the harassment was based on their sexual identity (83%, 12%, respectively). Additional analyses indicated that those who identified as queer (33%) were significantly more likely to experience harassment than other sexual minority identities.

? LGBQ respondents were twice as likely to be targets of derogatory remarks (61%), stared at (37%), and singled out as "resident authority" regarding LGBT issues due to their identity (36%) when compared with their heterosexual counterparts (29%, 17%, and 18%, respectively).

? Respondents who identified as gay or similar were most often targets of derogatory remarks (66%), while lesbians or similar were most likely ignored deliberately or excluded (53%). Queer respondents were most often stared at (44%) or singled out as resident authority due to their identity (45%).

CHALLENGE: LGBQ respondents have more negative perceptions of campus climate than their heterosexual counterparts.

? LGBQ respondents (70%, 76%, 64%) were significantly less likely than their allies to feel very comfortable or comfortable with the overall campus climate, their department/work unit climate, and classroom climate than their heterosexual counterparts (78%, 85%, 76%).

? Among LGBQ respondents, queer respondents (63%) were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable with their overall campus climate; both bisexual (71%) and queer respondents (71%) were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable in their department/work unit climate; and lesbians or similar (59%) and queer (59%) respondents were least likely to feel very comfortable or comfortable in their classroom climate.

? LGBQ respondents (55%) were significantly more likely to perceive or observe harassment when compared with heterosexual respondents (47%) and also more likely to indicate the perceived harassment was based on sexual identity (78%, 65%, respectively).

? Among LGBQ respondents, those who identified as queer (70%) were significantly more likely to observe harassment than respondents who identified as gay or similar, lesbian or similar, or bisexual.

? LGBQ respondents were more likely to observe others being the targets of derogatory comments (77%), being stared at (41%), deliberately ignored or excluded (38%), and intimidated or bullied (30%). LGBQ respondents were twice as likely as heterosexual respondents to report they perceived physical violence in their campus environment (10%, 5%, respectively).

? Queer respondents were more likely to observe others staring, someone being deliberately ignored or excluded, and racial/ethnic profiling than other sexual minority identities.

With that in mind, incidents like the one that has occured at UNC cannot be seen as an anomoly, only an escalation from bullying and harassment. The university has to take these matters seriously; considering incidents of this kind a federal hate crime is a necessity to send the right message.Please also read Jake Gellar-Goad's diary, "I have no words".

An official retread entry! Mitt jumps into the 2012 GOP Clown Car

Bwahahahaha. An official entry! Mitt jumps into the 2012 GOP Clown Car, where the entertainment for all begins... :) From his Romney for President Exploratory Committee video:

It is time that we put America back on a course of greatness, with a growing economy, good jobs and fiscal discipline in Washington.

Join our Facebook Team: http://www.facebook.com/MittRomney

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MittRomney

Visit our Website: http://www.MittRomney.com

Modified from the original 2008 GOP Clown Car by Liss at ShakeSis .

Secretary Of The Navy Believes All Navy Jobs Should Be Open To Women

From the Navy Times'

An Admiral Mullen Moment

Cross-posted at Daily Kos.

With the author's permission, I am re-posting an essay here and around the internet to bring attention to the plight of the same-sex partners and children of LGB military servicemembers. I've posted here extensively on what it is to be a "silent partner" to a soldier. With "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and DOMA in place, these families not only go unrecognized and unsupported. They are forced to hide, in secrecy, silence, and shame, lest the brave troops they love and support are found out and discharged. DADT is still in effect. DOMA will be in effect for years to come. Our military families deserve better than this.

Tomorrow, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will launch the Military Families Initiative, designed to highlight the needs of military families and educate the public and private sector about the challenges we face. Because of DADT and DOMA, LGBT military families will not be included in this initiative. Our families go unrecognized, unprotected, and hidden out of 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. We are isolated, closeted, and struggle on our own to make it through the bad times.

Our military families deserve better.

The Military Partners and Families Coalition is standing up to provide support, resources, and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military partners, allies, and their families. If you would like to join the network or learn more, please visit us on Facebook.

Originally posted at LGBT POV.

An Admiral Mullen Moment

By an LGBT Silent Partner

On Feb. 2, 2010, Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, looked hostile Republican Senators in the eye and told them unwelcome news: He thinks gays should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces.  I was a witness to history in that Senate hearing and felt the wave of raw emotion that swept the room. Quiet, spontaneous weeping rippled through an audience peppered with gay and lesbian veterans. The highest ranking uniformed member of the military had just stated emphatically that currently serving gay and lesbian Servicemembers are worthy of our national respect.

It was a defining moment. “Speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do,” the nation’s top military officer told the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity — theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.”

On Tuesday, April 12, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will launch the Military Families Initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society — citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government — to ensure military families have the support they have earned.

But this initiative will have a glaring omission. Our gay and lesbian families, serving in silence, will be overlooked. Our military families have invisibly navigated their daily lives through the unique challenge of serving this country under the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy and our families will continue to be invisible to the Military Families Initiative.

Our children will be in the classrooms that Mrs. Obama visits – though she just won’t know it because our children are conditioned not to tell.  Our Soldiers will be on the bases she visits, but she won’t seek them out. Our families will be outside the front gate, but no one will invite us in.

We have shared the same sacrifices of our straight peers, without a Family Readiness Group to guide us. Our families are waiting to tell the First Lady our powerful stories of multiple deployments, changing jobs and school districts, missed graduations, and Skyped birthdays. We want the First Lady to understand that we also have struggled through family reintegration following grueling combat tours.

Mrs. Obama, how will you hear our stories? Do you and Dr. Biden even know that we exist?

The First Lady and Dr. Biden have an opportunity to educate American society with their own “Admiral Mullen Moment.”   On April 12, their voices can speak for the invisible families, stating emphatically that the service and sacrifice of all military families deserve the support they have earned.

BREAKING: HB 235 Sent Back To Senate Committee...And 2012

Per Metro Weekly's Gender Identity Bill Sent Back to Committee and 2012 by Maryland Senate:

The Maryland Senate just sent the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, House Bill 235, back to the Judicial Proceedings Committee during the bill's second reading, 27-20, killing the bill in this year's legislative session.

The development comes two days after supporters of the legislation were relived when the bill passed favorably in the Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee on April 9, with a 7-4 vote with only one amendment from Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery), which according to Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland, was non-substantial.

Frosh's amendment changed the wording of the bill to take out "appearance, expression or behavior" from the list of protections, and instead added "the manifestation of that identity in gender-related appearance, characteristics and mannerisms." The amendment also stated gender identity must be "persistent" and "bona fide." ...

Update 1, 4/11/2011 10:28 PDT: From the Washington Blade's BREAKING: Md. trans bill dead for year:

The Maryland Senate voted 27-20 today to recommit a bill to committee that would bar discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing and credit, effectively killing it for the year.

Full story to come.

Update 1.5, 4/11/2011 1:15 PDT. From the "full story to come," updated part of the same article:

...Of the 20 voting against the motion to send the bill to committee to kill it for the year, 19 were Democrats. Just one Republican, LGBT rights supporter Allan Kittleman, voted no on the motion to send the bill back to committee.

"Of the ones that voted to recommit, there were at least seven that we felt we had that that had committed to us that they were going to support this and then they back out," said Dana Beyer, a Montgomery County transgender activist and former House of Delegates candidate who worked closely with Equality Maryland to lobby for the bill.

"It's always a guess," said Beyer, when asked why supporters turned against the bill. "It's shocking because we didn't expect this. There are a thousand ways to kill a bill. This is one way to do it, and I have to lay it at the hands of the Senate leadership.

Among those voting to send the measure back to committee was Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Prince George's and Calvert Counties)...

Update 2, 4/11/2011 11:20 PDT:

Text of Yusef Najafi tweet: Update: @DanaBeyerMD tells me 9 Senators backed out of supporting #HB235. @EqualityMD "shocked." http://tinyurl.com/4ylpwhe

[Further updates below the fold.]
Update 3, 4/11/2011 11:27 PDT: From Yusef Najafi's Metro Weekly piece Breakdown of Maryland Senate Vote to Send Gender Identity Bill Back to Committee in 2012

Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland, said the organization was "shocked and appalled" today, April 11 -- during the last day of Maryland's legislative session -- by the 27 votes in favor of the sending the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, House Bill 235, back to committee. That move killed the bill this year, and according to Meneses-Sheets raises the question of which supporters backed out of their commitment.

...Out of the 27 votes to send the bill back to the Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee in 2012, 16 came from Democrats in the Senate. They were: Senate President Thomas Miller (D-Calvert & Prince George's Counties) and Sens. John C. Astle (D-Anne Arundel), Joanne Claybon Benson (D-Prince George's), Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), James E. DeGrange (D-Anne Arundel), Roy Dyson (D-Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties), Edward Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore and Howard), Katherine Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County), James Mathias (D-Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester), Nathaniel McFadden (D-Baltimore City), Thomas Middleton (D-Charles), C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's), Douglas Peters (D-Prince George's), James Robey (D-Howard), Norman Stone (D-Baltimore County) and Robert Zirkin (D-Baltimore County).

Update 4, 4/11/2011 12:35 PDT:

From the Equality Maryland press release, entitled Maryland Senators Walk Away From Justice - Send Gender Identity Protections Back To Committee:

MARYLAND SENATORS WALK AWAY FROM JUSTICE - SEND GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS BACK TO COMMITTEE

Equality Maryland thanks supporters for the significant progress made in 2011 and vows to keep up the fight for full protections

Annapolis, Maryland, April 11, 2011 - Today, led by Sen. DeGrange, the Senate referred House Bill 235, the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, back to the Judicial Proceedings Committee by a vote of 27-20, effectively ending efforts to pass vital protections in housing, employment, and credit for transgender Marylanders.

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.

Equality Maryland's Executive Director, Morgan Meneses-Sheets:

Six Senators who committed to support HB 235 took a walk on justice and fairness today and turned their backs on the most vulnerable members of our community. We are appalled that lawmakers continue to play politics with much needed protections for the transgender community.

We must not forget all the positive strides we accomplish as a community this year overcoming significant hurdles, including getting this legislation out of the Senate Rules Committee. Supporters of this critical legislation made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of emails to their legislators. Countless members of the transgender community shared their very personal stories of discrimination. We are grateful to them for their courage and to every supporter who made their voice heard on this important bill.

Equality Maryland remains committed to fighting against discrimination and injustice targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community at every turn. Progress takes time. Today's result was not fair or right, but we will keep up the fight to make the Free State truly free.

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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights group, with thousands of members across the entire state. Equality Maryland includes: a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that lobbies in Annapolis and across the state to create equal protection under the law for LGBT Marylanders and their families; a 501(c)(3) educational foundation that works to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through outreach, education, research, community organizing, training and coalition building; and Equality Maryland PAC, which exists to influence elections. For more information, visit www.EqualityMaryland.org.

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If HB 235 Goes Down Today, Let It Not Go Down Quietly

On this past Saturday (April 09, 2011), the gender identity bill (HB 235) passed out of the Judicial Proceedings Committee by a vote of 7-4 this past Saturday. From Chris Geidner's Metro Weekly article Yusef Najafi on Twitter today to follow what's going on with the legislative process regarding HB 235 today.

No matter if one is for or against passage of HB 235 today, the one thing we probably all agree with is the idea that the bill should not go down quietly. The conversations in trans community started by having public accommodations stripped from this bill should be a call to action for the entirety of trans community -- we have to in the future take the destiny of trans people's civil rights into our own hands. And, I mean that in the sense of what Cesar Chavez said about people and civil rights struggles:

...there has to be someone who is willing to do it, who is willing to take whatever risks are required. I don't think it can be done with money alone. The person has to be dedicated to the task. There has to be some other motivation.

And, in the sense of what Cesar Chavez said about discouragement, and our opportunity to change the world:

It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.