Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 67

USCIS: Allow Love, and Say Yes to Keeping Our Families in the US

by Chris Barnett, cross-posted from Daily Kos and Out4Immigration's blog

This posting is dedicated to Gina, who is soon exiling herself from her home on the West Coast to be with her partner in the UK.  We should be ashamed to let ourselves lose this good citizen as she does what she must for herself, and for love.  

For Americans in same-gender relationships with non-US citizens (or binationals as we refer to ourselves), the fight to try and secure the right to sponsor our partners for legal residency so that they can be with us in the US has been a long, and often dispiriting one.  So it is not surprising that our community has been thrown into a tumult with word this week that the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) was considering the possible changes as to how our families are treated under the law, following the Administration's recent change in stance re: DOMA.

From Jennifer Vanasco at 365gay.com just two days ago:

   

Newsweek/The Daily Beast has learned that the heads of two USCIS [U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services] districts, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, informed attorneys from the advocacy group American Immigration Lawyers Association that cases in their districts involving married gay and lesbian couples would be put on hold. The news could have far-reaching effects.

Questions have been swirling because of course no one knows exactly what this meant, and in fact what seemed like potential for reprieve quickly went into backpedal mode, with emphasis on the fact that the abeyance would likely only endure short-term, as USCIS considered implications of the Administration's stance and what that might mean for changes in policy. Yesterday, we found out that USCIS press secretary Christopher S. Bentley was stating:  

   "The cases were held while we were waiting for legal guidance.  There's no need to hold the cases any longer."

Essentially, what we hoped would be an end to our partners being deported, seems like a crumb tossed out instead, and cruelly so. With the abeyance now lifted, the best binational couples can now hope for--especially those facing deportation proceedings--is case-by-case review. Still, it seems a door has cracked open, and this issue is coming into the public eye with much greater frequency and to a much greater degree than ever before.  This is, I guess, a good thing--yet even so, Mr. Bentley states a falsehood, that there is no need to hold the cases any longer.  The denial of the right of LGBT Americans to sponsor their foreign partners has severe consequences not only for the couples involved, but for all who love and count on them.  It also inherently diminishes ALL of our families and relationships. In fact, the biased and misguided laws which penalize us for who we love--and by extension all those who love and count on us--are the main reason to hold these cases, in perpetuity!

Currently, Americans in same-gender binational relationships have these choices: leave the country to live in one that acknowledges our families; try to maintain the relationships long distance, which frequently leads to a ban on our partners coming in to the country due to the federal government viewing them as overstay risks; be torn apart and give up the chance for the family we should all be so fortunate to find; or recognize that the law is afoul of our families, and relegate ourselves to the shadows to live with our undocumented partners. This situation must end!  No one should have to give up being American in America, and all that means, because of who they love.  

Binationals have been working on this issue for years, as well as organizations like Out4Immigration, and others.  Much of the focus  in this effort has been on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a bill which would open family reunification to LGBT people and their loved ones. Stop the Deportations/The DOMA Project is also a good place to follow day-by-day developments as the terrain continues to shift.  While recent developments bring up more questions than answers, what is clearly and quickly emerging is that the time to lobby policy makers only has passed, and we must now also engage those who are as well enforcing the cruel laws that rip apart the lives of citizens.

Those of us who are affected know that the time is past for this cruel implication of DOMA to be relegated to the dustbin of overturned, prejudiced policies. Now, we need help. Out4Immigration is running a petition at Change.org to appeal to the President, Secretary Napolitano, and the USCIS as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop deporting our partners. Will you help?

Promoting the petition doesn't hurt, too!  Thanks, everyone!

"Si Se Puede" - It's Cesar Chavez Day

Cesar's life cannot be measured in material terms. He never earned more than $6,000 a year. He never owned a house. When Cesar passed, he had no savings to leave to his family.

His motto in life -- "si se puede" (it can be done) -- embodies the uncommon and invaluable legacy he left for the world's benefit.

~Cesar Chavez: American Hero webpage

I've been quoting Cesar Chavez a lot of late as a civil rights hero. In my home state of California, today is Cesar Chavez Day -- a state holiday.

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From the Cesar Chavez Foundation's Cesar Chavez, American Hero webpage:

Cesar's life as a community organizer began in 1952 when he joined the Community Service Organization (CSO), a prominent Latino civil rights group. While with the CSO, Cesar coordinated voter registration drives and conducted campaigns against racial and economic discrimination primarily in urban areas. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Cesar served as CSO's national director.

Cesar's dream, however, was to create an organization to protect and serve farm workers, whose poverty and disenfranchisement he had shared. In 1962, Cesar resigned from the CSO, leaving the security of a regular paycheck to found the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America.

For more than three decades Cesar led the first successful farm workers union in American history, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions, as well as countless other rights and protections for hundreds of thousands of farm workers. Against previously insurmountable odds, he led successful strikes and boycotts that resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture. His union's efforts brought about the passage of the groundbreaking 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act to protect farm workers. Today, it remains the only law in the nation that protects the farm workers' right to unionize.

The significance and impact of Cesar's life transcends any one cause or struggle. He was a unique and humble leader, in addition to being a great humanitarian and communicator who influenced and inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice and civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised in our society. Cesar forged a diverse and extraordinary national coalition of students, middle class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, and minorities.

A strong believer in the principles of nonviolence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar effectively employed peaceful tactics such as fasts, boycotts, strikes, and pilgrimages. In 1968 he fasted for 25 days to affirm his personal commitment and that of the farm labor movement to non-violence. He fasted again for 25 days in 1972, and in 1988, at the age of 61, he endured a 36-day "Fast for Life" to highlight the harmful impact of pesticides on farm workers and their children.

Cesar passed away in his sleep on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona, only miles from his birthplace of 66 years earlier. More than 50,000 people attended his funeral services in the small town of Delano, California, the same community in which he had planted his seed for social justice only decades before.

For me, his message to civil rights activists of other movements today is summed up in si se puede. We can achieve freedom, equality, and justice if we're willing to work and sacrifice for it.

Let me close with two quotes from Cesar Chavez:

Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.

And...

There is enough love and good will in our movement to give energy to our struggle and still have plenty left over to break down and change the climate of hate and fear around us.

Si se puede!

Jack*ssery of the day: FL Dem chastized for saying 'uterus' on House floor

The rational members of the Republican party need to stop its slide into complete *ssholery by checking its Florida leadership. The state is quickly becoming the laughing stock of politics. Witness this (it's not satire, people):

During last week's discussion about a bill that would prohibit governments from deducting union dues from a worker's paycheck, state Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, used his time during floor debate to argue that Republicans are against regulations -- except when it comes to the little guys, or serves their specific interests.

At one point Randolph suggested that his wife "incorporate her uterus" to stop Republicans from pushing measures that would restrict abortions. Republicans, after all, wouldn't want to further regulate a Florida business.

Apparently the GOP leadership of the House didn't like the one-liner.

They told Democrats that Randolph is not to discuss body parts on the House floor.

Uterus?! Why is this offensive - it's the home of the precious fetus? Can Randolph say "arm" or "leg", or are we only talking about women's parts that the GOP finds offensive? What about "breast"? "Vagina"? Or perhaps they would like to substitute vajayjay and pee-pee for naughty bits? Come on, you dolts, this is like something out of the Onion it's so juvenile.  

Too bad I missed out on incorporating my uterus before it was taken out last November. Could I have gotten a tax break in FL?

A page has been set up for fans of the Uterus on Facebook. Click over to "like."

Matt Barber - 'Homosexuals are picking on me!'

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

My favorite religious right pet is at it again.

On Monday, the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber made an absolutely ridiculous (even for him) comment that young lgbts are committing suicide because supposedly "they know they are committing a sin."

Needless to say Barber got some negative pushback - which he richly deserved - for such an irresponsible comment.

Yesterday, he tried a little pushback himself. According to People for the American Way's Religious Right Watch, Barber spoke with another favorite religious right pet of mine, Peter LaBarbera, and proceeded to wax Biblical about the so-called wages of sin and homosexuality:

You know, scripture says ‘woe to those who call evil good and good evil.’ When homosexual activists and other ‘progressives’ in the pro-sin movement are exposed to biblical truth, their reaction is invariably visceral and loud. There’s ‘nothing new under the sun.’ This ‘kill the messenger’ strategy is age-old and knee-jerk. These folks, as a matter of course, call evil good and good evil. Of course their gripe isn’t with me. I’m nothing. I’m nobody. Their problem is with their Creator, the natural order and the fallen state of mankind. They’re just lost.

… Right, as you know I’ve never been one to mince words or sugarcoat things. That’s how God hardwired me. I also shared my opinion that many of those caught-up in the homosexual lifestyle intuitively know that such conduct is sin – that it’s both immoral and unnatural behavior. Objective truth is objective truth. God has written His laws on the hearts of every man, woman and child. We’re all spiritual beings created in the image of our sovereign Lord. We are also all sinners. Scripture says that not one of us is righteous. When we sin, we create separation between ourselves and God.

God’s word also says that when we sin sexually, it’s particularly egregious because our bodies are the temple of Christ. This separation from God – a natural result of sexual sin – can lead to depression and even despair. It’s a no brainer. I pointed out that such despair and inner conflict can logically be one factor that might contribute to teen suicide. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness, but it’s a very painful reality.

In reality, I doubt many of us in the lgbt community have a problem with Barber. I for one love it when he runs his mouth.  All the better for me to paint him as the personification of the religious right - seemingly organized and moral, much moneyed and highly connected. But in the very core of all of that "perfection" is a dark pit made up of deception and lies; naked hatred and foul homophobia.

So you will forgive me for laughing just a little. Okay a lot. It's always amusing to me how some folks  blame God for their hatred and call out Scripture to cover up their own homophobia. "Don't blame me," their mantra always seems to me." Blame God."

Yeah right. I'm sure it was God who led Barber to make ugly, vindictive remarks about members of the lgbt community, such as calling the transgender community "she-males" like he did in this tweet:

February 23, 2011: Today’s Army: Trannies, drag queens & she-males, oh my! http://tinyurl.com/6kcrssb

Or making uncalled-for remarks about our gay and lesbians fighting soldiers:

And I'm sure God is behind his constant and noticeable mentions of gay sex. I mean let's not forget his ruminations about anal intercourse - which shows he had obviously given it some thought:

There is nothing "conservative" about "one man violently cramming his penis into another man’s lower intestine and calling it 'love'";

That's right. The fact that Barber is a rabid homophobe who obsesses about gay sex is all because of God.  If this is the case, it would prove one thing - God has a seriously warped sense of humor.

Petty Officer Derek Morado's DADT Discharge Hearing Starts Today

Nearly a year ago, speaking on the ongoing policy negotiations on Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, Lt. Dan Choi said in a statement:?

"My question still remains ... When exactly will the discharges stop?"

Now, months after DADT was declared "repealed" we're still asking, when will the discharges end?

Today, Petty Officer 2nd Class, after six years of service to the Navy Derek Morado faces a discharge hearing because he is gay.
From Lt Choi's video statement.?

"My question still remains, and I've yet to find anyone who signed off on yesterday's compromise able to give me a direct answer to, 'When exactly will the discharges stop?,' Until the President signs the papers that fully and immediately end the firing of patriotic, gay and lesbian service members, then there is no cause for celebration and no reason to trumpet mission accomplished for a job not yet done.

My concern here is for my fellow soldiers serving in uniform and how this law will affect them. We've heard a lot of talk about how this compromise can work politically, but on the day this passes Congress, no one has been able to explain how this will have any impact at all on those of us serving in uniform."

Lt. Choi was right to be concerned.?The discharges are ongoing to this day.?

The gay community has been sold a bill of goods. The circumstances of Derek Morado's case no way align with the "kinder, gentler" Don't Ask, Don't Tell we had been told would be effective immediately.?The process started for him on November 8, 2009, when someone anonymously outed him after seeing his MySpace page.

It's too late for Lt. Choi. He got his discharge papers in July. It isn't too late for Derek Morado.?Please add your name to your protest petition. We should be better nation than this. This is a disgrace.?

Out-of-state marriage recognition bill passes in the Washington state Senate

Great news from Washington state!  Today the out-of-state marriage recognition bill (HB 1649) passed in the Washington state Senate with a strong bipartisan vote of 28 to 19.  The new law will automatically recognize married same-sex couples from out of state as domestic partners when they are in Washington state.  The House passed the bill by a wide margin earlier in the month, and Governor Gregoire has pledged to sign it.

"What this bill did was really address a grave injustice.  This is just a wonderful development for Washington," said Joshua Friedes, executive director of Equal Rights Washington.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Washingtonians and their allies have lobbied hard for this bill all year, and it was a point of focus during the ERW-sponsored Equality Day 2011.

The legislation is needed to prevent tragedies like those that befell Janice Langbehn and William Schulte when they traveled in jurisdictions that did not recognize their family relationships.  Langbehn's partner Lisa Pond collapsed while away on a family holiday in Florida.  Hospital staff refused to allow Langbehn or their children see Pond until moments before Pond's death, by which time she was already in a coma.  Langbehn and Pond were Washingtonians.  Langbehn's willingness to share her story and testify in committee helped move this bill.

This was the first bill sponsored by frosh Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), the first openly lesbian legislator in the Washington state Legislature.  Jinkins has characterized this bill as a technical fix because:

The voters have already decided how they want gay and lesbian families to be treated in this state.  There are five states in the country and about 10 other countries that allow same-sex marriages.  This bill assures that marriages created in other places will be recognized as domestic partnerships when they are traveling in this state.

Jinkins's bill got solid backing from Republican state Senator Dan Swecker (R-Rochester), someone generally known for his strident opposition to pro-LGBT legislation.  But Sen. Swecker not only voted for the bill earlier in committee, he stood today during the floor debate to underscore the sensible and practical nature of the bill, saying

I think it is a good decision on our part to define how we're going to deal with relationships that are created in other states.

I think this bill eliminates a lot of uncertainty and does it in a way that's entirely compatible with the laws that have been passed in the state of Washington.

As you may recall, I was skeptical about Sen. Swecker's earlier committee vote.  It's time for me to give credit where credit is due and recognize the Senator as well as the four other Republican senators who voted for it today for their willingness to treat everyone in Washington state with fairness and dignity.  Take away message: never presume to know how a Republican will vote on pro-LGBT legislation, no matter their history with other bills.

So, welcome to Washington state all you gay & lesbian couples with marriages, domestic partnerships, civil partnerships and civil unions!  And while you're here, rest easy knowing that your family will be respected by the laws of this great state.

And for you Washingtonians reading this, please thank your legislators who voted for this bill.  The Senate vote tally is below the fold.  The House vote tally is here.

Related:

* Visiting Washington state while married: a tragedy waiting to happen

* Why the Washington state Senate must pass the out-of-state marriage recognition bill
Names of Republican senators voting in favor of the bill are in boldface.

HB 1649

Domestic partnerships

Senate vote on 3rd Reading & Final Passage

3/30/2011

Yeas: 28   Nays: 19   Absent: 0   Excused: 2

Voting Yea:  Senators Brown, Chase, Conway, Eide, Fain, Fraser, Harper, Hatfield, Haugen, Hill, Hobbs, Kastama, Keiser, Kilmer, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, McAuliffe, Murray, Nelson, Pflug, Pridemore, Ranker, Rockefeller, Shin, Swecker, Tom, and White

Voting Nay:  Senators Baumgartner, Baxter, Becker, Benton, Carrell, Delvin, Ericksen, Hargrove, Hewitt, Holmquist Newbry, Honeyford, King, Morton, Parlette, Roach, Schoesler, Sheldon, Stevens, and Zarelli

Absent:

Excused:  Senators Prentice and Regala

Indiana Republican lawmaker says women will pretend to be raped to get free abortions

I've heard of womb controlling, but what the ever-loving-f*ck is the matter with Indiana lawmaker Rep. Eric Turner (R)? This is sick (via Think Progress):

Yesterday morning, the Indiana House considered an anti-abortion bill that "would put some of the tightest abortion restrictions in the nation into Indiana law." Introduced by state Rep. Eric Turner (R), HB 1210 would make most abortions illegal after 20 weeks. Current law restricts abortions after the fetus is viable, generally around 24 weeks.

In an attempt to soften the blow this bill would land on Hoosier women, state Rep. Gail Riecken (D) introduced an amendment to exempt "women who became pregnant due to rape or incest, or women for whom pregnancy threatens their life or could cause serious and irreversible physical harm" from being forced to carry to term. Fearing this bill would "push women to the back alleys" for illegal abortions, Riecken pleaded with lawmakers to allow women to make the choice in these cases.

Turner:

I just want you to think about this, in my view, giant loophole that could be created where someone who could - now i want to be careful, I don't want to disparage in any way someone who has gone through the experience of a rape or incest - but someone who is desirous of an abortion could simply say that they've been raped or there's incest.

Doesn't it make you wonder what kind of relationship this man has with women?  

PATRIOT Act reform: April 5 "phone the White House" day

On April 5, 1792, President George Washington vetoed a bill -- the first time in U.S. history that the presidential veto was exercised. On the anniversary of this day, we're calling on Barack Obama to exercise his presidential powers to veto any PATRIOT Act renewal bill that does not include powerful reforms to safeguard civil liberties.

-- EFF's action alert

As a candidate, Obama repeatedly promised to reform the PATRIOT Act.  He also promised Get FISA Right, in his response to our open letter, that he'd ask for "recommendations on any steps needed to preserve civil liberties and to prevent executive branch abuse in the future."  With the battle in Congress over key clauses of the PATRIOT Act heating up again, now's a great time to ask him to live up to his campaign promises.

The legislative situation is very fluid.  Several clauses of the PATRIOT Act will sunset unless Congress extends them by May 27.  It's a great chance to introduce reforms; on the other hand, there's also the risk of a permanent extension.  More and more Republicans are coming out in against the extensions; grassroots Tea Partiers and Libertarians as well as Rand and Ron Paul are strong on civil liberties, and other Republican Congressmen like Jason Chaffetz have voiced their concerns about overbroad legislation as well.

Legislation in the House is likely to drop soon.  In the Senate, Leahy's S. 193 will be the basis for a floor debate, with amendments likely to be proposed by both sides.  The Obama Administration supports S.193, but many privacy and civil liberties organizations support the JUSTICE Act's much stronger protections, including better oversight of the use of national security letters (NSLs) as repeatedly recommended by the Department of Justice's Inspector General, more effective checks on "sneak and peek" searches , and roving wiretaps, and revising the "material support" standard to require that prosecutors prove that defendants knowingly intended their support to further violent extremism.

By taking a strong stand for civil liberties, Obama could help shape the upcoming Congressional debate.
It's easy to be skeptical ...

Will Obama listen?  Thus far, his administration seems to have largely followed the Cheney/Bush path on civil liberties.  With so many other contentious issues in the pipe, it's easy to be skeptical whether he'll make a stand on this one.

That said, Obama's not the only one we're trying to send a message to with this call-in day.  Making a lot of noise will also catch Congress' attention and hopefully remind the media that the multi-partisan opposition to the PATRIOT Act is continuing to organize.   So please don't let your skepticism become an excuse for inaction.   If you're sick of the PATRIOT Act, this is a chance to actually do something about it.  So please get involved even if you're not sure it'll matter.

We'll follow up on the call-in day later in April,  during the two-week recess, it'll be a great time to meet key members of  Congress in the House and Senate.   Right now, though, it's Obama's turn.

How you can help

Most importantly, call the White House at 202-456-1111 on April 5, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time.  Tell President Obama to keep his  campaign promises by vetoing any PATRIOT Act renewal bill that lacks  substantial new checks and balances to protect the privacy of innocent  Americans.  EFF has some more detailed talking points.  You can RSVP on Facebook, via EFF or Demand Progress.

Between now and then ...



help get the word out!  Share links and forward on email action alerts.  Sign up on the Facebook event and invite your friends.  Talk about the PATRIOT Act with friends and family and your colleagues at work -- ask what they think, tell them about your concerns, and tell them how they can get involved.

And start planning now to meet with your legislators when they're back in your districts between April 18th and May 1.  BORDC has some great suggestions.

Check back for updates -- At least for me, Twitter is the easiest way to stay informed; or sign up with any of the organizations involved to be on their mailing lists.  Speaking of Twitter, we will also be discussing this at #privchat on April 5.     If you're not on Twitter, here's how you can get started.



After February's unexpected victory in February, now's a key time to build on the momentum.   So please -- get involved!

AmericaBlog Gay: Why is MD State Senator Brian Frosh Blocking The GI Anti-Discrimination Bill?

Update: The gender bill was the ONLY bill among the 94 sent by the House to the Senate that was put in Rules Committee purgatory.  Read the EQMD email after the fold.
From Metro Weekly's Maryland Gender Identity Bill Moved to Senate Rules Committee -- "This is not a normal process" (emphasis added):

When the Maryland House of Delegates voted in favor of the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, House Bill 235, advocates of the measure were immediately concerned about the bill's movement in the Senate.

In the past, a similar version of the bill has died four times in the Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee, where the bill was expected to go.

Metro Weekly has learned that H.B. 235 will not be going to that committee. Instead the bill received its first reading in the Senate's Rules Committee on Friday, March 25, and a hearing is expected to be scheduled in the coming days.

Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County) chairs that committee, with Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery County) serving as its co-chair....

From the Washington Blade's All eyes on key lawmaker as Md. Senate considers trans bill (emphasis added):

As the Maryland Senate prepares to debate a bill that would bar discrimination based on gender identity in housing, employment and credit, some supporters are concerned about the role Sen. Brian Frosh will play in its fate.

Frosh, a Democrat from Montgomery County, chairs the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which must vote to report the bill to the floor. The legislative session ends April 11, so time is running short and any delay in committee could doom the measure this year.

"I would encourage the LGBT and allied community to put their energy and focus on Sen. Frosh, who year after year has bottled up this bill in committee," said Dan Furmansky, former executive director of Equality Maryland who has been working full time for the past month with pro-LGBT organizations in Annapolis on behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association. "Things are fluid ... I wouldn't be surprised if he schedules a late hearing so time runs out."

Furmansky said that Frosh refused to bring a similar bill to a vote in 2009, even though Equality Maryland had requested it. Now that the full House has passed the measure, Furmansky said he hopes Frosh will schedule a committee vote as soon as possible.

"We were willing to take our chances in 2009 because we felt it was time for legislators to be on the record," Furmansky said. "Frosh must take this vote and not wait until the end of the legislative session so Sen. Mike Miller can find the time to schedule a floor vote."

From AmericaBlog Gay's Why is MD State Senator Brian Frosh Blocking The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bill? (emphasis added):

...Well, there's a delay. And, it looks like Frosh is part of the problem -- again.

Metro Weekly's Yusef Najafi has the latest from Annapolis. He reports that the legislation will not follow the regular procedure and be heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. It is being heard in the Senate Rules Committee, which Frosh co-chairs.

That's not good:

According to transgender activist Dana Beyer, who has been monitoring movement of the bill, the switch is bad news.

"It's bad," Beyer says, adding that there's also no explanation given as to why the bill is going to the Rules committee.

"We don't trust Frosh and this seems to be his way of killing it and leaving himself with clean hands," Beyer says. "Bills don't go to Rules Committee unless there's a problem with them. This is not the normal process. There really is no reason for it. I would say this doesn't look good, and there's no excuse for it."

Another activist in Maryland who has been lobbying for the legislation, Cathy Brennan, says the move means that the bill is "dead."

"The legislation appears dead for this session and a key issue for activists is to determine why Brian Frosh insists on being such an obstacle for this legislation," she says.

Why does Frosh insist on being an obstacle?

So why does he?

Dear Laurel,

This past Saturday - the Maryland House of Delegates passed the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act (HB 235) by a vote of 86-52. The vote outcome shows that approval for this bill was well above a simple majority and included bi-partisan support.

CLICK HERE to contact Sen. Frosh and Sen. Klausmeier to keep HB 235 alive!

We made our case to the members of the House of Delegates and they agreed by a significant majority - House bill 235 will add critical protections for transgender Marylanders in the areas of housing, employment, and credit.

Laurel - This bill will literally save lives.  

Even though HB 235 was passed by the House with ample time to be assigned to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, an extra hurdle was imposed on a bill that 60% of the House of Delegates voted to send to the Senate.

Of the 94 bills that were passed by the House of Delegates on Friday and Saturday - the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act was the ONLY bill that was not sent to the appropriate committee for further consideration.  Our bill was sent to the Rules Committee - which is tantamount to procedurally killing the bill for this year.

NO committee hearing - no committee vote - No Senate consideration for a bill that passed with a 60% Majority! Contact Sen. Frosh and Sen. Klausmeier now and urge them to move this bill out of the Rules Committee to be fairly considered by the Senate.

Laurel, We played by the RULES.  But it seems like there may be special rules for only 1 of 94 bills that were passed by the House of Delegates this weekend.  TELL THE SENATE TO LET THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE!

This bill deserves a hearing and a vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Time is of the essence - there are only 2 weeks left in this legislative session.  We need EVERYONE in the LGBT and allied community to take action today and help keep this important bill moving.

CLICK HERE to tell Senator Kathy Klausmeier (Chair) and Senator Brian Frosh (Vice-Chair) to move this bill out of the Rules Committee TODAY!

Senator Frosh is also the Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee where we expected the bill to be sent.  We believe that we have the votes to get it to the Senate floor, but we need the Rules Committee to let it out!

There are less than two weeks left in the 2011 Session, Please Cathy, act today to help take this important first step in ending discrimination against the transgender community by passing HB 235 this year!

Will you speak up for fairness? CLICK HERE to take action right away!

Yours in Equality,

Morgan Meneses-Sheets

Executive Director

PS - Today, Congress re-introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which will provide job protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  Let's make sure to lead the way here in Maryland by passing HB 235 this year!

DOMA is like a cobra

DOMA is like a cobra that's bitten its last seven owners!!!  And it's looking for a new owner!  Or defending DOMA is.  Or something.

"There are things that will happen.  There are things that comes along.  There is a possibility for you and I to understand that same-sex marriage and heterosexual marriage can stand equally on the same plane." (Wait, which side is Hutch on?)

If we don't defend DOMA all around the world, clergy will be thrown in jail!!!  Just like happens all the time in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont.  (Or not.)

Nice to see Pastor Hutch metrosexualizing with those diamond studs.  Has Pastor Ken Hutcherson finally jumped the shark?  Take the poll below.