GLAA Forum

GLAA Awards pics

Metro Weekly has posted Ward Morrison's photos from GLAA's 42nd anniversary awards reception. Thanks, Ward, for doing such a lovely job as usual.

Speech of the night from GLAA reception: Jason A. Terry

Congrats again to all five honorees from GLAA's anniversary reception on April 25. For me, the highlight of the evening was this inspiring speech by the remarkable Jason Terry of the DC Trans Coalition.

JASON A. TERRY
REMARKS TO GLAA AWARDS RECEPTION
25 APRIL 2013

Thank you to GLAA, and especially to Rick, Charles, Kevin, Gary, and Alison, for this distinct – and truly undeserved – honor. Thanks also to those who have shaped me, guided me, and inspired me all through life: the fierce and fearsome Appalachian women who raised me; my three grandfathers who taught me patience and calm; the teachers, choir directors, and old school activists who lit my path, taught me discipline, and gave me hope; and to my beloved and ever-growing community of rabble rousers here in DC who make this city more livable, and bring us closer to peace. Chief among those, I have to thank Ruby Corado for teaching me everything I know. And, of course, I must thank my partner Elijah Edelman, who is with me not just in life, but in an ongoing journey towards justice, and who, without his unending support, absolutely incredible intellect, and remarkable strength, I would be less than half the activist I am.

Thanks for last night....

Thanks to everyone who made GLAA's 42nd anniversary reception a success on Thursday - from the fabulous community organizers and change agents we honored to our friends in high places to public-spirited business leaders and donors at every level who support our advocacy.

Beyond the champagne and hors d'oeuvres, the gathering was a reminder of the cooperation it takes to create change. We even had a taste of politicians rewriting history, in accidental tribute to the GWB presidential library opening. (We can blame the cocktails.) "Thanks for holding on," one honoree said to me. And that's the key thing: holding on. It hasn't been easy, and we're not done, but look how far we've come. Washington takes a lot of knocks, but we are blessed to live in this city.

Later I'll post the speeches and presentations on GLAA's main website, and perhaps post a few highlights here (though it's a lovely day and I'm heading to the park for some sunshine and fresh air); but for the moment I want to thank everyone for helping us celebrate. As Paul Kuntzler said in the Founder's Toast, "Much has been done. Much remains to be done. Here's to the cause."

Rosendall introduces Rep. Keith Ellison at ACLU Bill of Rights Dinner

(ACLU-NCA Executive Director Benétta M. Standly, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rick Rosendall, ACLU-NCA President Deborah Carliner. Photo by Lisa Helfert)

On Thursday, April 11, I had the honor of introducing Congressman Keith Ellison as the keynote speaker at the annual Bill of Rights dinner of ACLU of the Nation's Capital, which was held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. My prepared remarks are below (I added a few comments on the fly). It was a fine evening celebrating and recommitting to our coalition efforts to uphold civil liberties, with a special focus on marriage equality. The honorees were NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, Pastor Delman Coates of Clinton, MD, and Albert Foer. I was pleased to serve on ACLU-NCA's dinner committee.

Good evening. Keith Ellison of Minnesota's Fifth District is a civil rights attorney and the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress. Now in his fourth term, he is, among other things, Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Vice-Chair of the LGBT Caucus. His roots as a community activist are reflected in his congressional priorities: "promoting peace, prosperity for working families, environmental sustainability, and civil and human rights."

Late in 2006, Congressman-elect Ellison said he would take his ceremonial oath of office using the holy book of his faith. Radio host Dennis Prager, apparently unfamiliar with the First Amendment, was outraged and demanded that it not be permitted. Ellison's response was sublime: he borrowed Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Qu'ran from the Library of Congress. What a powerful act of political symbolism.

April 25 - GLAA awards reception

Please join us for GLAA's 42nd Anniversary reception on April 25 at the Washington Plaza Hotel, where we will honor five people for their community service and rededicate ourselves to equality and justice for all LGBT people in the nation's capital. Click here to order your tickets or donate online. Thanks! News release on honorees is here.

March 26 - United for Marriage rally

The rally for marriage equality at the Supreme Court is set for 8:30 am on Tuesday, March 26 at First and East Capitol Streets. Click here to sign up.

Frumin and Bonds top GLAA's D.C. Council candidate ratings

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265, Washington, DC 20013

March 13, 2013
Contact: Rick Rosendall, President
(202) 667-5139

Frumin and Bonds top GLAA's D.C. Council candidate ratings

Matthew Frumin topped the ratings by the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) candidate ratings in the April 23 special election for At-Large DC Council with a score of +7. Councilmember Anita Bonds earned +6.5. Former Councilmember Michael A. Brown earned +6. They were the highest-rated candidates in this race, but Perry Redd, Elissa Silverman, and Patrick Mara had scores that followed closely behind. No candidate received a negative rating. GLAA held its ratings meeting on March 12.

The following are explanations of the individual ratings for D.C. Council special election candidates.

Democratic candidate Matthew Frumin (+7) agreed with GLAA on every issue and showed a strong understanding of the issues. He co-sponsored a resolution in favor of a marriage equality law with the other members of ANC 3E on May 14, 2009. It passed unanimously. The resolution was timed for the marriage recognition bill and submitted as testimony later on the marriage equality bill.

Democratic incumbent Anita Bonds (+6.5) agreed with GLAA on every issue. Her questionnaire showed a good understanding of the issues. Her record in favor of LGBT rights goes back many years.

Democratic candidate Michael A. Brown (+6) wrote over his 2012 response instead of retyping the questionnaire, which had several changes for 2013. He agrees with GLAA on nearly every issue. He added no new substance. He voted reliably for all of GLAA's issues in his one term on the council.

Statehood-Green candidate Perry Redd (+5.5) agreed with GLAA on every issue, demonstrated a reasonable understanding of the issues, and has some record of support of gay people and issues.

Democratic candidate Elissa Silverman (+5.5) agreed with GLAA on every issue. Her questionnaire showed a fair level of understanding the issues. Her record reporting on LGBT issues goes back many years.

Republican candidate Patrick Mara (+5) agreed with GLAA on most positions, but disagreed on issues including school vouchers and liquor licensing reform, and offered limited substance. His advocacy for marriage equality, including his lobbying of Republicans in Congress not to interfere in the District's decision on the matter, earned him one of the highest record-related scores in this field of candidates (see points breakdown).

Democratic candidate Paul Zukerberg (+2) agreed with GLAA on most issues. He provided almost no substance. His advocacy for medical marijuana was noted.

Blade: Council race heats up

Lou Chibbaro reports on the significant support that Republican candidate Patrick Mara appears to be winning from gay and Democratic voters in the April 23 special election for an At-Large seat on the D.C. Council.

GLAA's ratings meeting will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 12 in Room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Check out our Elections Project.

GLAA Announces 2013 Distinguished Service Awards

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
www.glaa.org
www.glaaforum.org (blog)

For Release:
Monday, February 18, 2013

Contact: Rick Rosendall
(202) 667-5139

GLAA Announces 2013 Distinguished Service Awards

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., is pleased to announce its 2013 Distinguished Service Award recipients. GLAA presents awards to local individuals and organizations that have served the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in the national capital area. The awards will be presented at GLAA’s 42nd Anniversary Reception on Thursday, April 25 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle, NW. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased by contacting GLAA at equal@glaa.org or (202) 667-5139; a range of donor levels is also available.

GLAA’s 2013 Distinguished Service Award recipients are:

• Diana Bruce, DC Public Schools
• Clarence J. Fluker
• Brent Minor
• Peter Rosenstein
• Jason A. Terry

Feb. 23 - memorial gathering for Dan Massey

Our friend Dana Beyer, Executive Director of Gender Rights Maryland, has a lovely eulogy at HuffPost for D.C. activist, sexual freedom advocate, and GLAA member Dan Massey, who passed away on January 28 at age 70.

Dan was a gentle and generous soul, and will be missed by the many people he helped and inspired. Our hearts go out in particular to Dan's wife and soulmate, GLAA Secretary Alison Gardner.

Update: A memorial gathering will be held for Dan on Saturday, February 23 at 1:30 pm at the Josephine Butler Center overlooking Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park at 2437 15th Street, NW.

GLAA releases LGBT policy brief, questionnaire for special election

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
www.glaa.org
www.glaaforum.org (blog)

For Release: Monday, January 28, 2013

Contact: Rick Rosendall 202-667-5139

GLAA releases LGBT policy brief, questionnaire for special election

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., today launches its 2013 Election Project and releases both its questionnaire for D.C. Council candidates and its policy brief on local LGBT issues in Washington, D.C., "Agenda: 2013." This updated compilation of local advocacy on a wide range of issues is intended for candidates in the April 23 special election for At-Large Councilmember as well as journalists, activists, and the general public. "Agenda: 2013" is online, in both PDF and HTM formats, at:
http://tinyurl.com/glaa2013pdf
http://tinyurl.com/glaa2013htm

GLAA's D.C. Council candidate questionnaire is online at: http://www.glaa.org/archive/2013/cqspecial.pdf

GLAA's Election Project 2013 main page is at: http://www.glaa.org/archive/2013/election2013.shtml

The "Agenda: 2013" policy brief is divided into six broad subject areas: Marriage and Family, Public Health, Public Safety and Judiciary, Human Rights, Youth and Seniors, and Consumers and Businesses. It is prefaced by a two-page Action Item Summary listing specific actions GLAA seeks from D.C. officials. Included are 88 footnotes to provide documentation and to facilitate further investigation of the issues raised.

The following are some of the legislative and oversight actions GLAA seeks from D.C. Councilmembers:

• Pass Bill 20-0032, "Surrogacy Parenting Agreement Act of 2013."
• Repeal the so-called Prostitution Free Zones (PFZs) law, which facilitates anti-transgender profiling.
• Allow for the issuance of new birth certificates for individuals who undergo treatment related to gender transition; end the requirement for publishing notice of a name change in the newspaper; and allow issuance of new birth certificates via administrative process instead of a court order.
• Ensure enforcement of LGBT nondiscrimination policies in District homeless shelters and transitional housing.
• Ensure that all health insurance policies sold and used in DC cover the full spectrum of transgender health care needs.
• Enforce the anti-bullying law in all D.C. public and charter schools.
• Ensure equal Medicaid spousal impoverishment protections for same-sex partners.
• Eliminate legal standing for ad hoc protest groups and citizens associations in liquor licensing cases, to permit input by all community stakeholders via the great weight already accorded Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

GLAA President Rick Rosendall stated, "It is a tribute to the strength of coalition efforts in the District that 'Agenda: 2013' reflects input from allies across the District's entire LGBT community and its supporters. The resulting policy brief is the most comprehensive single document advancing LGBT issues in D.C."

On January 28, 2013, GLAA will email its questionnaire and policy brief to every candidate in the April 23 special election for At-Large Councilmember. (The filing deadline for the primary was January 23.) The deadline for receipt of candidate responses is March 7, after which GLAA will assign ratings to the primary candidates (on a scale of -10 to +10) based on their questionnaire responses and their records on LGBT issues.

For more information on GLAA and its four decades of nonpartisan advocacy, visit GLAA's main website at www.glaa.org and its blog at www.glaaforum.org.

Founded in 1971, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington (GLAA) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization that defends the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Nation's Capital. GLAA lobbies the D.C. Council, monitors government agencies, educates and rates local candidates, and works in coalitions to defend the safety, health, and equal rights of gay families. GLAA remains the nation's oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization.

###

GLAA elects officers for 2013

At GLAA's regular meeting on Tuesday, December 11, the following people were elected as officers of GLAA for 2013:

President:	Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Political Affairs:	Charles Butler
Vice President for Administration:	Kevin Davis
Secretary:	Alison Gardner
Treasurer:	Gary Collins

Congrats to the newly elected and re-elected officers. We welcome incoming Political VP Charles Butler, who has also been active in GetEqual DC.

Thanks also to outgoing President Miguel Tuason for his service.

GLAA supports Human Rights for Ex-Offenders Amendment Act

The following testimony was submitted today by email. Also available in GLAA's online archive.

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
P.O. Box 75265, Washington, D.C. 20013
(202) 667-5139
http://www.glaa.org
http://www.glaaforum.org (blog)

October 15, 2012

Councilmember Marion Barry, Chairperson
Committee on Aging and Community Affairs
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Councilmember Barry:

Please accept this letter as testimony on Bill 19-0017, the Human Rights for Ex-Offenders Amendment Act of 2011, for the record of the public hearing that was held on October 5, 2012.

We are pleased once again to stand with the DC Prisoners' Project of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs, which we honored in 2009 for its work in combating anti-transgender discrimination by the D.C. Department of Corrections. Today we express our support for B19-0017 with changes recommended by the Prisoner's Project.

We have been among the staunchest defenders of all the protected categories in the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977 and its pre-Home-Rule predecessor, Title 34. Over the years, the list of protected categories has been expanded to keep up with the times, including by adding "gender identity or expression" and "genetic information." The need to protect ex-offenders is of growing concern due not only to preconceived notions about all people with criminal records, but to the large number of our city's residents who are caught up in the criminal justice system for a wide range of offenses, including victimless ones. The latter category includes transgender people who have resorted to prostitution for survival after being unable to find work due to discrimination. The automatic, up-front exclusion of all applicants with criminal records greatly hampers the re-integration of ex-offenders into their communities.

GLAA Ratings for November 6 Election

(See the entire news release. See the candidates' ratings points breakdown.)

To see the full text of a candidate's questionnaire responses, click on his or her name below.

DC Council Chair (Special Election)

Candidate	Party	Rating
Phil Mendelson (Incumbent)	Democrat	10
Calvin H. Gurley	Democrat	1

At-Large DC Councilmember

Candidate	Party	Rating
David Grosso	Independent	9
Michael A. Brown (Incumbent)	Independent	7.5
A.J. Cooper	Independent	4
Leon J. Swain, Jr.	Independent	4
Vincent Orange (Incumbent)	Democrat	0.5
Ann C. Wilcox	Statehood-Green	0.5 *
Mary Brooks Beatty	Republican	0 *

Ward 2 DC Councilmember

Candidate	Party	Rating
Jack Evans (Incumbent)	Democrat	8.5

Ward 4 DC Councilmember

Candidate	Party	Rating
Muriel Bowser (Incumbent)	Democrat	6.5

Ward 7 DC Councilmember

Candidate	Party	Rating
Ron Moten	Republican	1.5 *
Yvette Alexander (Incumbent)	Democrat	-3.5

Ward 8 DC Councilmember

Candidate	Party	Rating
Jauhar Abraham	Independent	0 *
Marion Barry (Incumbent)	Democrat	-3.5 *

Note: Ratings marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a candidate who did not return a questionnaire and was therefore rated solely on his or her known record on GLAA's issues.

Key to available ratings points

Questionnaire: yes/no	+/- 2 points
Questionnaire: substantive grasp of issues	+/- 4 points
Record:	+/- 3 points
Championship: taking the lead on an issue of concern to gay men and lesbians	+/- 1 point
Total available:	+/- 10 points

Click here to view a detailed breakdown of all candidates' ratings points.

Go to GLAA 2012 Elections Project Main Page

October 9 - GLAA ratings meeting

This evening, October 9, GLAA will hold its ratings meeting for D.C. Council candidates in the November 6 General Election (including the Special Election for Council Chair) Here are the details:

Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
One Judiciary Square, Room 1112
441 4th Street, NW
Metro: Judiciary Square (Red Line), 4th and D exit

This will be a working meeting in which we carefully go through each candidate's written responses and known record on LGBT issues. This is not a candidate forum, nor does GLAA do endorsements in partisan races. Members in good standing are welcome to participate and vote. Our ratings include a certain number of points available for record and for the questionnaire; we do not do "beauty contest" scoring. We are strongly committed to preserving the integrity of our process. In the interest of fairness, members in the employ of particular candidates are asked to recuse themselves from rating candidates in those races.

View the candidate questionnaire responses.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please read the candidate responses in advance to keep the meeting efficient.

View GLAA's 2012 Elections Project page.

Note: This meeting is for rating special election and direct-access candidates, not those who were previously rated for the primary election. Later this week we will publish the ratings for all candidates in the November 6 election, including the primary winners. The questionnaires GLAA received for this cycle are as follows:
Chair (Special Election): Phil Mendelson (D - Incumbent); Calvin Gurley (D)
At-Large: Michael A. Brown (I - Incumbent); A.J. Cooper (I); David Grosso (I); Leon Swain (I)

GLAA main website restored

GLAA's main website at glaa.org has been restored after our previous hosting service vanished. [Note: it may take a day or so for it to show up for you because the move of our glaa.org domain name to a different host takes a while to propagate across the Internet.] Our GLAA email addresses are not yet operational, nor is the feed of LGBT links. You can contact GLAA by telephone at (202) 667-5139 (our telephone number hasn't changed in the last 40+ years) or by sending an email to webmaster at glaaforum dot org (or to rrosendall at star power dot net) Or send us some snail mail by addressing it to:

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, DC 20013

Web issues

The company that hosts GLAA.ORG has disappeared from the net.  So unfortunately our website has vanished.  Fortunatelyy we have a compete backup, but it will take a while to get a new host configured.  This also means that our email addresses are no longer active, temporarily.  You can still contact GLAA by telephone at (202) 667-5139 (our telephone number hasn't changed in the last 40+ years) or by sending an email to webmaster at glaaforum.org  Or send us some snail mail by addressing it to

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, DC 20013

Statement for GLAA on #FRC shooting

Friends,

You have probably heard of the shooting Wednesday morning of a security guard at the D.C. headquarters of the anti-gay Family Research Council. It has been reported that the man arrested for the shooting, Floyd Corkins II, had volunteered for the DC Center for the LGBT Community. The guard, who helped subdue Corkins, is reportedly in stable condition; Police Chief Cathy Lanier called him a hero.

Here is the Metro Weekly story: http://tinyurl.com/dyvkdah

Here is the Washington Blade story: http://tinyurl.com/9pre9ky

Here is Chris Geidner's story for BuzzFeed: http://tinyurl.com/9mcy4h8

Here is the Associated Press story: http://tinyurl.com/bsqybxs

AP quotes Brian Brown of the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage as saying, "Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as `hateful' must end."

AP quotes DC Center Executive Director David Mariner as saying about suspect Corkins, "He always struck me as a kind, gentle and unassuming young man. I'm very surprised that he could be involved in something like this."

Before the suspect's connection to the DC Center was known, two dozen LGBT groups issued a statement condemning the shooting: "We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers. The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident."

Here is a link to the LGBT groups' statement:
http://ow.ly/cZRhP

I say this to Brian Brown: Instead of exploiting this shooting, stop slandering LGBT people. We all need to coexist in this country. Hate kills. It is hardly in your interest, Mr. Brown, to start comparing who has more blood on his hands. Gay families exist whether you like it or not. We have a right to exist. Each of us has a right to our own religious beliefs, or no religious beliefs. You do not have a right to use the government to impose your religious beliefs on the rest of us. If you would stop your hate-filled campaign attacking gay and lesbian families, we could work together to promote greater tolerance and understanding for everyone in this diverse country. Who knows, we might also be able to do something about the insane proliferation of guns. Neither violence nor demonizing minority groups is an acceptable way of resolving differences.

By the way: Brian Brown's rhetoric notwithstanding, attacking gay and lesbian couples' marriage rights is NOT pro-marriage. Those of us who love our partners so much that we have spent years fighting for the right to marry, and our allies, are the ones who are pro-marriage. As the joint statement by LGBT groups demonstrates, the overwhelming consensus in our movement for equality is that our struggle must be conducted with respect and reason and in recognition of our common humanity, and in renunciation of violence. But the path toward violence begins before a gun is drawn. Incendiary and slanderous speech contributes to it, as when gay people are accused of seeking to destroy marriage. Make the case for why you think we are wrong, even dressing up your religious dogma as "natural law" if you must; but that does not require you to invent dastardly motives for us.

Finally, I draw your attention to GLAA's "Manifesto Against Religious Bullies," which I drafted and which we issued on May 25, 2012:
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2012/religiousbullies0525.pdf

In peace, hope, and dignity,

Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Political Affairs
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance

Update: David Mariner, Executive Director of The DC Center, has issued the following statement:

I was shocked to hear that someone who has volunteered with the DC Center could be the cause of such a tragic act of violence. No matter the circumstances, we condemn such violence in the strongest terms possible. We hope for a full and speedy recovery for the victim and our thoughts are with him and his family.

Now on HuffPo: Racial Privilege and Common Struggle

My latest article on The Huffington Post, published this morning under Gay Voices, is titled "Racial Privilege and Common Struggle." It contains my reflections on listening, learning, and bridging cultural differences to build coalitions for LGBT rights in D.C. Please check it out and join the discussion in the comments section.

A sudden loss - Tim Lipka

Metro Weekly reports the sad news: the sudden death by heart attack of 25-year-old Tim Lipka, a player on the DC Gay Flag Football League (DCGFFL) and a volunteer with D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans's re-election campaign. He had just begun working at the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy, and had begun pursuit of a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Wow, what a loss. Tim had become a regular presence at GLAA meetings, and I looked forward to his smart observations. He was unusually confident and poised for his age. I was just talking with him about the Chavez Schools, where I have been a volunteer subject-matter advisor on students' theses. He was eagerly looking forward to his work there. Condolences from all of us at GLAA to Tim's family, friends, and his colleagues in DCGFFL and the Evans campaign.

I said more than once last week, as I retreated into the safety of air conditioning from Washington's heat wave, "This heat's killing me." It appears to have done just that to our young friend. On our next visit to Nellie's Sports Bar, we'll owe him a toast. In the meantime, let us take care of ourselves and one another. How sad beyond words to lose someone so young.

(Photo courtesy Jennifer Pollom)

HuffPo publishes GLAA's "Manifesto Against Religious Bullies"

Friends,

GLAA's "Manifesto Against Religious Bullies," which I wrote as a flyer for distribution at our information table at Pride month events, was published June 1 by the Huffington Post. Here's a link:
http://tinyurl.com/clepsy9

I think you'll find it's a fast read at about 1,000 words. We figured it was time to turn the tables on religious fanatics who act as if religious freedom only belongs to people who agree with them. Metro Weekly reported on GLAA's document here:
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7409

Thanks to GLAA President Miguel Tuason for suggesting it and pitching it to HuffPo.

Best,

Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Political Affairs
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance

GLAA issues Manifesto Against Religious Bullies

Friends,

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. has just published our "Manifesto Against Religious Bullies" to distribute at our table at DC's upcoming Black Lesbian & Gay Pride and Capital Pride festivals.

Here is a link:
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2012/religiousbullies0525.pdf

We hope you like it and pass it along to others. And thanks to the many LGBT-affirming clergy who have provided such a welcome contrast to the bullies. As Frank Kameny often said, the tide of history is with us.

Have a great holiday weekend. If you're in the DC area, stop by GLAA's table at DC Black Pride on Sunday and say hi. Here's a link to their schedule:
http://www.dcblackpride.org/schedule.htm

A Tribute to Frank Kameny

(Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post)

Remarks by Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Political Affairs
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance
GLAA 41st Anniversary Reception
Washington Plaza Hotel
Thursday, April 26, 2012

On March 3, I was to have offered remarks at an interment ceremony for our late colleague Frank Kameny in Congressional Cemetery. Unfortunately, that event was never held. If you will indulge me, I will offer those remarks here. Please imagine that we are gathered at Frank's graveside.

Frank Kameny considered nothing sacred. Challenging orthodoxy was his life's work. Yet we stand on what many consider sacred ground. There is no great conflict. Honoring the dead can simply involve recognizing that our every step touches the stuff of those who preceded us. Frank confronted the mystery of the universe with the tools and habits of a scientist, which stood him in good stead after intolerance cut short his career as an astronomer.

Frank's biographer, David Carter, is gathering and sifting through extensive materials, including many hours of recorded interviews, to do justice to his subject. We who knew Frank can hear his ringing cadences exhorting us to embrace and celebrate who we are and demand our full and equal rights as citizens.

We touch with pride the headstone provided by the army he served. Here rests in honored glory an American soldier well known to us. He resented having to lie to fight for his country in World War II, but because of his long and pioneering service on the domestic front afterwards, no one will have to tell that particular lie again. Complementing the white marble headstone is a plaque in pink granite bearing the affirming slogan for which he most wanted to be remembered: "Gay Is Good."

In time our inscriptions will fade away, long after we ourselves fade away. In many ways, life itself is a struggle against the ruins. The magnitude of Frank's contributions compelled some of us to help preserve his papers in our great national library whose collection was begun by the man who wrote the most liberating words of the past thousand years, that all men are created equal.

Stones wear down and paper crumbles, but Frank, your legacy will not be forgotten. We and generations unborn will make sure of it.

We commit you to the ages.

GLAA releases Ward 5 D.C. Council candidate ratings

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA) issues its candidate ratings for the May 15 special election for Ward 5 Councilmember. GLAA held its ratings meeting on April 10. A key to available ratings points is provided below.

The following are explanations of the individual ratings. Note: Ratings marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a candidate who did not return GLAA's questionnaire and was therefore rated solely on his or her known record on GLAA's issues.

Democratic candidate Drew E. Hubbard (+5.5) agrees with GLAA on every issue. He did not display the depth of knowledge in his responses that we like, and he does not have a strong record; but the content of his responses was better than that of his rivals. This is a good rating for a first-time candidate.

Republican candidate Tim Day (+5) generally agrees with GLAA b! ut differs on vouchers to religious schools and supports prostitution free zone legislation in principle. He believes the law can be implemented without profiling. He did not provide details. He has openly opposed medical marijuana in Ward 5. His record on issues of concern to GLAA is mixed, but overall positive.

Democratic candidate Kenyan McDuffie (+4) disagreed with GLAA on required training and education for the Director of OHR, and wasn't definitive on PFZs, vouchers, adult businesses. His lack of specifics and definitive answers did not boost his rating. His history of work with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was noted in his favor.

Democratic candidate Rae Zapata (+2) disagrees with GLAA on Prostitution Free Zones, and had limited understanding of many other issues. She has no record on our issues.

Democratic candidate Ron L. Magnus (+1.5) agreed with GLAA on most issues, but failed to explain his answers. He has no known record on our issues.

Democratic candidate Delano Hunter (+0.5) generally agrees with GLAA except for vouchers and availability of medical marijuana cultivation centers, and he supports prostitution-free zones. His position on marriage equality is that he respects the law, but says nothing of marriage equality itself. Hunter took funding from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) in 2010. He now apologizes for the anti-gay mailers sent by NOM to support his 2010 campaign, but did not repudiate them at the time, and spoke in support of NOM at one of their rallies. Hunter's support for the Stadium Club after it was implicated in stealing from an AIDS charity, is also disturbing in that he took $5,500 in bundled donations and then opposed any additional strip clubs which would compete against Stadium Club.

Independent candidate John C. Cheeks (0*) did not submit a questionnaire and has no known record.

Democratic candidate Shelly Gardner (0*) did not submit a questionnaire and has no known record.

Democratic candidate Kathy Henderson (0*) did not submit a questionnaire and has no known record.

Democratic candidate Ruth E. Marshall (0*) did not submit a que! stionnaire and has no known record.

Democratic candidate Frank Wilds (0*) did not submit a questionnaire and has no known record.

GLAA rates candidates on a scale of -10 to +10, based on their answers to our questionnaire and their record on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The questionnaire addresses a variety of issues including marriage and family, public health, public safety, human rights, youth and seniors, and defending LGBT consumers and businesses. The GLAA agenda, questionnaire, and complete candidate responses are available online at www.glaa.org.

All candidates were provided a copy of "Agenda: 2012," GLAA's comprehensive policy brief on LGBT issues in Washington, D.C.

Ratings should not be interpreted as endorsements. GLAA does not endorse candidates in partisan elections.

GLAA has rated candidates in every D.C. primary and general election since 19! 71. Independent council candidates will be rated prior to the general election.

Founded in 1971, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. is an all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization that defends the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Nation's Capital. We are the nation's oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization.

###

Some relevant links:

News release and ratings

Ratings point breakdown

GLAA's Elections Project main page

GLAA's policy brief, "Agenda: 2012" (PDF) HTM

GLAA primary ratings ad

GLAA's primary ratings ad is to appear in this week's editions of Metro Weekly and the Blade. Here is the version for Metro Weekly. Our Elections Project main page is here.

Rick Santorum's Bing problem

Traditional media sites (and the blogoshpere) have made much this year about Rick Santorum's Google Problem though mentioning the topic often offended delicate sensibilities.  It refers to a Google bomb columnist Dan Savage created.  It led to a web page where Republican candidate Rick Santorum's name was redefined as "the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex."  Santorum's Google problem has eased a mite as the result of a change in the algorithm the company applies to search result.  Savage has commented about his demotion on SLOG and notes the number one page now is an Urban Dictionary entry that is even grosser:

The sometimes frothy, usually slimy, amalgam of lubricant, stray fecal matter, and ejaculate that leaks out of the receiving partner's anus after a session of anal intercourse.

This change will have effects on other web sites.  GLAA.ORG has long had an enviable position when searching for the record of DC Council members on LGBT issues.  For instance if you were to enter the name of a council member along with the words gay and DC our site would be one of the top results, typically appearing on the first page.  (This was not true for the council members who are actually gay since so many article mention this fact.)  Now our ratings are not listed until the second page which makes me unhappy.  The search engine competitor Bing has not made any change to their ranking algorithm.  Perhaps people will stop talking about googling a word and start to say they are going to to Bing it.

Evans dominates GLAA's D.C. Council candidate ratings #DCision12

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265, Washington, DC 20013

February 24, 2012

Contact: Rick Rosendall, Political Vice President
202-667-5139 

Evans dominates GLAA's D.C. Council candidate ratings

Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans dominated the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA) candidate ratings for the April 3 D.C. Council primaries with a score of +8.5. Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser earned +6.5. They were the highest-rated candidates in this election cycle. GLAA held its ratings meeting on February 21. A key to available ratings points is provided below.

The following are explanations of the individual ratings for D.C. Council primary candidates. Note: Ratings marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a candidate who did not return GLAA's questionnaire and was therefore rated solely on his or her known record on GLAA's issues.

GLAA Announces 2012 Distinguished Service Awards

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
www.glaa.org
www.glaaforum.org (blog)

For Release:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Contact: Rick Rosendall
202-667-5139

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., is pleased to announce its 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipients. GLAA presents awards to local individuals and organizations that have served the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in the national capital area. The awards will be presented at GLAA’s 41st Anniversary Reception on Thursday, April 26 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle, NW. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.glaa.org/anniversary/, where a range of donor levels is also available.

GLAA’s 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipients are:

Burgundy Crescent Volunteers
Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League
Ruby Corado
Jeri Hughes
Will O’Bryan
Jeffrey D. Richardson

CANCELLED: March 3 - Kameny gravesite ceremony

According the the Washington Blade:

A grave site ceremony for the late gay rights leader Franklin E. Kameny will be held March 3 at D.C.’s Congressional Cemetery, organizers of the event announced on Wednesday.

“All friends, family and the public are welcome to observe the interment for Dr. Kameny at historic Congressional Cemetery,” the announcement says. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

According to the Blade the plot will be located next to that of Leonard Matlovich.  The cemetery is located at 1801 E. Street SE, Washington DC

(via DCGayEtc)

GLAA testifies Tuesday against Prostitution Free Zone Amendment Act

GLAA will testify against Bill 19-567, the Prostitution Free Zone Amendment Act of 2011, at a hearing today, January 24, before the D.C. Council Judiciary Committee. Our testimony is here. The text of the bill, introduced by Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, is here. The hearing notice is here. Also testifying against the bill will be the local ACLU, DC Trans Coalition, The Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive, Best Practices Policy Project, and Human Rights Watch. Thanks to my colleagues who reviewed GLAA's testimony, especially GLAA President Miguel Tuason who helped with the research.

Sign our petition against PFZs here.

GLAA membership meeting tonight

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington DC holds twice mnthly membership meetings.  Tonights meeting will be at a new location: the 2nd floor community room of the Reeve Center, 14th and U Streets NW just one block from the U Street/Cardozo Metro stop.  The meeting starts at 7pm.  Among the topics for tonights meeting are the 2012 elections project, planning for candidate ratings in the Ward 5 special election, testimony on B19-567 Prostitution Free Zone Amdendment Act of 2011, and a status report on B19-11 Youth Bullying Prevention Act of 2011.  Come and meet our new slate of officers for the coming year.

GLAA officers for 2012

Greetings from the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
www.glaa.org
www.glaaforum.org (blog)
www.DCGayEtc.com (news aggregator)

Friends,

The following officers were elected for 2012 at GLAA's regular meeting on December 13, 2011:

President: Miguel Tuason
Vice President for Political Affairs: Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Administration: Kevin Davis
Secretary: Alison Gardner
Treasurer: Gary Collins

Congratulations and thanks to these volunteers, whose terms begin on January 1. Brief bios of our 2012 officers can be found online at:
http://www.glaa.org/officers.shtml

Many thanks to outgoing president Mitch Wood, who kept us on a steady keel through three terms that saw our greatest achievement — the enactment of civil marriage equality in D.C. — and a renewal of our longstanding commitment to working in coalitions, not to mention the rollout of our latest policy brief, "Agenda: 2012," online now at:
http://www.tinyurl.com/glaa2012pdf
News release at:
http://www.tinyurl.com/glaa2012rel

We look forward to working with you in the new year to keep our city at the forefront of the fight for LGBT equality.

Best,

Rick Rosendall

Metro Weekly: GLAA sets policy agenda

John Riley at Metro Weekly reports on the launch of GLAA's 2012 Elections Project:

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA), a nonpartisan political organization for the LGBT community and the oldest continuously operating one of its kind in the country, released its "Agenda: 2012" guide to local LGBT issues, along with the group's candidate questionnaire, Dec. 19.

The guide is a policy brief that serves as a summary of the major actions the organization has deemed necessary to improve the lives of LGBT residents in the District. The guide is divided into six subject areas: marriage and family, public health, public safety and the judiciary, human rights, youth and seniors, and consumers and business. The items outlined in the guide are the result of feedback from a number of LGBT activists and organizations, according to Richard J. Rosendall, GLAA's vice president for political affairs....

Specific agenda items include defending civil-marriage equality, maintaining the domestic partnership law, improving collection of data in both the health care and crime statistics as they relate to sexual orientation and gender identity; providing LGBT-inclusive culturally competent training to law enforcement officers, government employees, employers and social service providers; and measures aimed at combating the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Newer items addressed in the brief include removing the prohibition of surrogacy agreements in the District, defending the District's needle-exchange program and medical marijuana law, opposing the implementation of prostitution-free zones, allowing for the issuance of new birth certificates for people undergoing gender transition, and expanding anti-bullying efforts in D.C. public and charter schools to protect sexual-minority youth.

"People always say, 'Now that you have marriage equality done, what's left?'" says Rosendall. "This policy brief is the answer to that."

Update: Riley also reports on the Dec. 8 hearing at which Bob Summersgill and I testified in favor of a bill to allow same-sex couples who were married in D.C. but live elsewhere to get a divorce, which is a problem in states that do not recognize same-sex marriages. As Councilmember Phil Mendelson, the bill's author, tells Riley, there is no sign it will cause controversy on Capitol Hill. It would be peculiar indeed if Congress would get upset over letting gay couples divorce after it did nothing to overturn our law allowing them to marry in the first place.

GLAA releases D.C. Council candidate questionnaire, LGBT policy brief

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
www.glaa.org
www.glaaforum.org (blog)

For Release:
Monday, December 19, 2011

Contact: Rick Rosendall
202-667-5139

GLAA releases D.C. Council candidate questionnaire, LGBT policy brief

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., today launches its 2012 Elections Project and releases both its questionnaire for D.C. Council candidates and its policy brief on local LGBT issues in Washington, D.C., "Agenda: 2012." This updated compilation of local advocacy on a wide range of issues is intended for candidates for public office in the District as well as journalists, activists, and the general public. "Agenda: 2012" is online, in both PDF and HTM formats, at:
http://www.tinyurl.com/glaa2012pdf
http://www.tinyurl.com/glaa2012htm

GLAA's D.C. Council candidate questionnaire is online at:
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2012/cqprimary.shtml

GLAA's Elections Project 2012 main page is at:
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2012/election2012.shtml

The "Agenda: 2012" policy brief is divided into six broad subject areas: Marriage and Family, Public Health, Public Safety and Judiciary, Human Rights, Youth and Seniors, and Consumers and Businesses. It is prefaced by a two-page Action Item Summary listing specific actions GLAA seeks from D.C. officials. Included are 87 footnotes to provide documentation and to facilitate further investigation of the issues raised.

The following are some of the actions GLAA seeks from D.C. Councilmembers:

• Remove the prohibition on reproductive surrogacy laws in the District.
• Defend clean needle exchange and medical marijuana.
• Oppose Prostitution Free Zones (PFZs), which facilitate anti-transgender profiling.
• Pass Bill 19-585, The Immigration Detainer Compliance Amendment Act of 2011, to resist Homeland Security intrusion into local policing.
• Improve LGBT-related data collection and reporting on health and crime.
• Allow for the issuance of new birth certificates for individuals who undergo treatment related to gender transition.
• Expand and enforce anti-bullying efforts in all D.C. public and charter schools.
• Ensure equal Medicaid spousal impoverishment protections for same-sex partners.

How dare you call me stupid

Someone sent the following email message to GLAA this morning:

You stupid homosexual pervert Bastards are in league with Satan and will have to give an account of your miserable and Satanic lives when you pass away and stand before the Great God and Judge Jesus Christ for being homosexual pervert Bastards. Lev 18:22-24 states that homosexuality is an abomination before God.

I thanked him for sharing.

Kameny in Combat

(Photo by Kay Tobin Lahusen, NYPL Digital Library)

My latest column describes my first experience of Frank Kameny's combative style when I brought him to Villanova University to debate gay rights in 1978:

In response to the charge that gay people flaunted their sexuality, Frank pointed out that when you see a visibly pregnant woman in public, "you know exactly what she's been doing in bed." This was my introduction to Frank's penchant for provocation and for turning the tables on our opponents. He assailed their biased assumptions and disarmed them with reason and wit.

"I fought in front-line combat for my country," Frank thundered. As a citizen and patriot he demanded equality under the law — "no more, but not one whit less." He easily won the vote on our resolution opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation.

For his appearance at Villanova, Frank requested only travel and lodging costs, which were covered by our modest honorarium. The Political Union's officers took him to dinner beforehand at the Conestoga Mill. Frank wore a "Gay Is Good" button, and as we left the restaurant the manager wished Frank good luck. It dawned on me that Frank carried into battle the dreams of untold quieter gay people like that restaurant manager.

Over the next 33 years, I often observed Frank's fearless and iconoclastic way of challenging dogma. He said that anything that has lasted long enough to become a tradition deserves to be questioned. He declared, "The world needs more and better blasphemy." He called celibacy unnatural. He told homophobes who cited Scripture, "Your God may disapprove of homosexuality, but my God considers it a blessing."

After Congress vetoed D.C.'s first attempt to repeal its sodomy law as part of the Sexual Assault Reform Act of 1981, Frank shouted at a community meeting that repeal should be attached to every bill the District passed until we rid ourselves of "this damnable law!"

Read the whole thing here.

Note: Kay Lahusen, who took the photo of Frank used above, is the widow of famed lesbian activist Barbara Gittings. I have enjoyed many conversations with her in recent years, including in the aftermath of Frank's passing.

Frank Kameny, Best of DC

The Blade will publish its Best of DC issue on October 28. GLAA will run this ad as a tribute to Frank Kameny, who is being mourned across the LGBT rights movement for more than half a century of pioneering activism.

September 30 - DC Center Fall Reception

The DC Center will hold its Fall Reception on Friday September 30th at the Sofitel Hotel, 806 15th Street, NW starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $75. To purchase your tickets, click here.

In related news, the Center announced today that I (Rick Rosendall, for those who can't read the small print below these blog entries) will be one of its honorees at the Reception, along with Sheila Alexander-Reid, Frank Kameny, and Earline Budd. I am humbled and honored to be recognized and included in such fine company.

Fan mail

The following message was left on GLAA’s voicemail by a man with a drunken redneck voice (not that there is anything wrong with that):

What y’all are doin’ is totally wrong. And I think y’all should just get rid of your little organization, because, uh, y’all don’t deserve rights. And, uh, I can tell you one thing, if you want to act like animals you’ll be treated like animals, okay? So get rid of your little organization, okay, make America better, and probably we won’t be in this economic struggle and all these troubles we’re havin’ in America. Oh, and yes, I am prejudiced, if you can’t already tell. ‘Cause gay men know everything, they can probably tell that I’m prejudiced. Okay? Get rid of it, just get rid of it, and make America good for once. All these other countries make fun of us because we allow fags to run around our streets. That’s like lettin’, that’s like opening up a zoo and letting all the animals run around New York. It’s stupid, alright? It’s dangerous, and we don’t need it here in America. Alright? Thank you for listening to this wonderful message. Have a blessed day and may God bless you. ‘Bye.

Thank you for sharing.

June 24 - 6:30 - 9:00 pm - Rosendall on SiriusXM Left with Mark Thompson

I am heading at noon today to Jersey City to help a dear friend celebrate his 55th birthday on Saturday. Since I'm heading that way, I'll also be joining my friend Mark Thompson in his satellite radio studio in NYC this evening for his program Make it Plain. That's at SiriusXM Left, channel 127, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm on June 24. Join us for a lively discussion of political and social issues. Call in at 866-99-SIRIUS.