2723 posts categorized "Human Rights"

May 18, 2013

From Kenya: courage is beautiful

On May 17, Kenyan LGBT activists marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHO) by marching for their rights. Before I head off to set up GLAA's table at DC Trans Pride, I wanted to share this inspiring video. Bravo to these brave people. The persecution of LGBT people in Kenya and other countries is a reminder that it was not homosexuality but homophobia that was spread by colonialism. And as long as American missionaries of hate use foreign aid to spread their malign influence abroad, those of us who are rightfully ashamed of such exploitation must not forget our brothers and sisters in the Global South.

May 16, 2013

All witnesses support birth certificate bill at D.C. Council hearing

About 20 witnesses testified at the May 16 hearing on Bill 20-0142, the "JaParker Deoni Jones Birth Certificate Equality Amendment Act of 2013," and all were in favor. It was a joint hearing by the Committee on Health and the Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary. Read GLAA's testimony, in which we endorsed the bill with the changes requested by the DC Trans Coalition.

With the recommended changes, this is going to be model legislation and help fulfill DC's promise of trans equality. Kudos to all, especially Andy Bowen, Lisa Mottet, Bob Summersgill, our Council allies, and Health and Judiciary committee staff. I am so proud of our coalition. And the three students from Cesar Chavez Public Charter School who testified were great.

BTW, one of the Cesar Chavez students was a friend of JaParker. And JaParker's parents testified. So the hearing took on the aspect of a memorial in addition to a legislative hearing. I thought it was rather remarkable that not one person showed up to oppose the bill. The haters are obviously out there; but they did not crawl out from under their rocks to attend the hearing.

The practical question is whether the changes can be made to the bill and a markup scheduled to allow for the two requisite readings of the bill is legislative sessions before the summer break. It's iffy. Then there's the much more complex surrogacy bill, which will almost certainly not be done and passed before the break. But the Judiciary staff are working apace.

June 12 - MPD and hate crimes targeting LGBT people

From the DC Center:

An independent committee is currently conducting a review of the relationship between the Metropolitan Police Department and Washington, DC's LGBT communities and how police are handling hate crimes targeting the LGBT community. Please join us in a safe and confidential space. Tell us what you have seen, experienced or heard about. We want to hear from you. Your input is very important!

When: Wednesday June 12th

Where: The DC Center for the LGBT Community
1318 U Street, NW | Washington, DC 20009

UPDATE:  The time for this meeting is 6-7:00 pm

May 14, 2013

Video: Gov. Mark Dayton signs Minnesota marriage equality bill

It is done. The law allowing same-sex couples to marry in Minnesota will take effect August 1. Below, the I-35W bridge is lit in rainbow colors in recognition of marriage equality in Minnesota.

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Brazil clears way for marriage equality

AFP reports:

A top judicial panel cleared the way for same-sex marriage in Brazil on Tuesday, ruling that gay couples could not be denied marriage licenses.

The National Council of Justice, which oversees the Brazilian judicial system and is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, said government offices that issue marriage licenses had no standing to reject gay couples.

The Supreme Court "affirmed that the expression of homosexuality and homosexual affection cannot serve as a basis for discriminatory treatment, which has no support in the Constitution," said Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa on the council's website, referring to a 2011 ruling by the top court.

UN human rights office releases anti-homophobia message

"LGBT rights are human rights. Together we will build a world that is free and equal."

May 13, 2013

Still Creating the United States

We're gonna make it after all

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(Hat tip: Jonathan Capehart)

Bittersweet victory

Half a lifetime ago, I was on a flight back to DC from the GALA Choruses festival in Minneapolis when I read Justice Harry Blackmun's stirring dissent in Bowers v Hardwick. 17 years later, Bowers was overturned and we were no longer habitual criminals. Ten years further on, Minnesota becomes the 12th marriage equality state. How incredibly fast. Yet so many did not live to see it. The more victories we rack up, the more I think of vanished friends. Tonight I will raise a glass to them.

Our friend Joe Cantor especially raises a glass to our late friend Steve Endean, the founder of the Human Rights Campaign who's been gone twenty years now, whose home state did him proud today.

Minnesota senate passes marriage equality, Gov. to sign Tuesday

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(Photo by Jim Mone/Associated Press)

The Minnesota senate today passed the marriage equality bill by a vote of 37 to 30. The State House passed the bill last Thursday. The bill now heads to Gov. Mark Dayton, who will sign it on Tuesday. This brings us to 12 marriage equality states plus D.C. NYT reports. Congrats to all who made it happen.

Below, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman renamed the Wabasha Bridge the "Freedom to Marry Bridge" for the day, and city workers on Monday morning raised rainbow flags along it.

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Watch live: Minnesota Senate votes on marriage equality today

Watch live streaming video from uptakemnsenate at livestream.com

Live at 1 pm Eastern Time, noon Central Time, the Minnesota Senate will debate and vote on the marriage equality bill.

(Hat tip: Andy Towle)

May 08, 2013

Transgender Health Empowerment in financial crisis

The Blade reports. This is disturbing news. T.H.E. has been the key organization providing services to the trans community in D.C. Like several people quoted in the article, I had not heard about this crisis until this week. I would like to advise community members who want to support them on what to do; but we will have to wait for guidance.

May 07, 2013

Delaware becomes 11th marriage equality state

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Delaware today became the eleventh state, plus D.C., to allow same-sex couples to marry. Governor Jack Markell has already signed it into law. It will take effect July 1. Congrats to all who made it happen. Chris Geidner reports.

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May 06, 2013

Gail and Audrey: An Unexpected Love Story

A lovely video from Freedom to Marry on Audrey Smaltz and her wife, former Olympian Gail Marquis.

May 04, 2013

Glenn Burke: the male major-leaguer who came out before Jason Collins

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Allen Barra writes in The Atlantic:

This week's coming out by NBA player Jason Collins is momentous, but the Jackie Robinson of gay rights was Glenn Burke, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's from 1976 to 1979. He tried to change sports culture three decades ago—but back then, unlike now, sports culture wasn't ready for a change.

Burke made no secret of his sexual orientation to the Dodgers front office, his teammates, or friends in either league. He also talked freely with sportswriters, though all of them ended up shaking their heads and telling him they couldn't write that in their papers. Burke was so open about his sexuality that the Dodgers tried to talk him into participating in a sham marriage. (He wrote in his autobiography that the team offered him $75,000 to go along with the ruse.) He refused. In a bit of irony that would seem farcical if it wasn't so tragic, one of the Dodgers who tried to talk Burke into getting "married," was his manager, Tommy Lasorda, whose son Tom Jr. died from AIDS complications in 1991. To this day, Lasorda Sr. refuses to acknowledge his son's homosexuality.

(Photo: AP/LM)

Jason and Jarron talk to Oprah

Oprah Winfrey's interview with Jason Collins and his family will air on Sunday, May 5 at 7:30/6:30c on OWN. In this clip, Oprah asks Jason's twin brother Jarron about the day last summer when Jason told him he was gay. The easy humor of these brothers just shines.

The Voice

Jason Collins is interviewed by Bill Simmons at grantland.com. Jason's voice is smooth. It's like a cat purring; it comes right over and snuggles up next to you. With it he conveys maturity, seasoning, thoughtfulness, self-assuredness, and a winning sense of humor. I bet a lot of listeners forget to put up their defenses and are more receptive than they might be otherwise. When his NBA career is over (which I hope is not yet), he can make a fortune with that voice and the character that it helps convey. This guy is solid. This extended interview makes that evident.

May 03, 2013

Asante Samuel flaunts his ignorance

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel objects to Jason Collins coming out as a gay man:

Straight people are not announcing they’re straight, so why does everybody have to announce their sexuality or whatever? You know, what they prefer…So that’s just how I see it. That’s my opinion on things. All respect you know, I have nothing but respect for the people whoever decisions they make and whatever, but you know, you don’t have to show it and flaunt it like that. You know what I’m saying, we have kids out here, too.

Yeah, it's been a veritable flood. "Everybody" is doing it. Somehow, anything but complete invisibility constitutes shoving "it" in people's faces. Of course, Jason Collins did not discuss sex. That is Mr. Samuel's hangup. Our opponents persistently try to reduce us and our love lives to sex in a way they would never dream of doing to themselves. It is not a mere disagreement, it is a lie. And Jason Collins has made a large contribution toward discrediting it.

Charles Barkley and Shaq Interview Jason Collins

As this interview progresses, watching these veteran players kid each other is pretty damn wonderful. There is real respect here.

Why it matters that Jason Collins is black and gay

Saeed Jones writes on BuzzFeed that "black gay kids need heroes too."

Rhode Island becomes 10th marriage equality state

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the Marriage Equality Act into law Thursday, making that state the tenth marriage equality state (in addition to the District of Columbia), and making New England the first entire region to enjoy marriage equality.

Congrats to all who made this victory possible. The march goes on. Meanwhile, Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin issued a pastoral letter warning his flock:

[B]ecause “same-sex marriages” are clearly contrary to God’s plan for the human family, and therefore objectively sinful, Catholics should examine their consciences very carefully before deciding whether or not to endorse same-sex relationships or attend same-sex ceremonies, realizing that to do so might harm their relationship with God and cause significant scandal to others.

Thank you, Excellency, for sharing your concern about scandal. May I humbly suggest that you clean your own house before bossing others.

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(Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

May 02, 2013

Daily Beast drops Howard Kurtz after retracting his false critique of Jason Collins


The Daily Beast has retracted the erroneous Wednesday piece by Howard Kurtz on NBA player Jason Collins, who came out on Monday in Sports Illustrated. As I was typing that sentence, I learned that they have also parted ways with Kurtz.

Follow the links to get the rundown on Kurtz's amazingly clueless story. But I loved yesterday's Eat the Press telestrator (see pic below) showing how utterly wrong Kurtz was in his initial claim that Collins had not mentioned having once been engaged to a woman, a claim that showed Kurtz hadn't even read Collins's coming out story. But it was even worse than that. Kurtz showed a complete lack of understanding of the self-denial and pressure to conform endured by closeted gay people, even though Collins wrote about it quite lucidly.

As I said on Facebook earlier today, before Daily Beast dropped Kurtz: Mistah Kurtz, he done. (Apologies to fans of Joseph Conrad.)

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Emeka Okafor, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and me

I am quoted in this Time Magazine article by Sean Gregory on why sports is important in combatting homophobia.

Conan staff writer responds to tweet against Jason Collins

The Jason Collins story is the third news item in this clip. Very funny.

May 01, 2013

Dr. Phil and Letterman on Jason Collins

In the midst of an amusing male-bonding insult ritual, Dave Letterman and Dr. Phil talk about the significance of Jason Collins coming out.

Slam dunk

Toles on jason collins

Thank you, Tom Toles.

Obama: "I Couldn't Be Prouder" Of Jason Collins

The President seldom returns to the podium to answer a called-out question. But he wanted to answer this one. He has plenty of company in being proud of Jason Collins.

April 30, 2013

L.Z. Granderson on Jason Collins

L.Z. Granderson talks about Jason Collins on the PBS NewsHour.

April 29, 2013

Sir Charles weighs in

My favorite NBA Hall-of-Famer talks about Jason Collins's coming out.

Maybe Barkley, Kobe Bryant, and other supportive players and former players should invite Collins to shower with them as a show of support. Message: "He's gay. Get over it!"

Jason Collins gets a call from POTUS

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HuffPo reports:

President Barack Obama called Jason Collins on Monday to express his gratitude after the NBA player publicly announced that he is gay, two sources familiar with the call told The Huffington Post.

A White House official confirmed the call, saying that the president wanted to "express his support" and tell Collins that "he was impressed by his courage."

Fischer: Don't Sign Jason Collins, He'll 'Eyeball' Teammates In The Shower

Memo to Bryan Fischer: If Jason Collins were inclined to eyeball his teammates in the shower, he'd have been doing it his entire career. Apparently you'd prefer that he and other gay players do their eyeballing secretly. As to players' wives not wanting gay men to ogle their husbands: Really? With TV cameras routinely prowling locker rooms, you're worried about some live glimpses of beefcake? Unless you're also prepared to open girls-only gatherings for inspection by the prurient, I think it would be best to let the boys attend to their after-game activities themselves. They're big and tough; they can handle it.

Or is this really about Mr. Fischer's fearful fantasies about how he might totally melt under the gaze of this seven-foot-tall athlete in the naked vulnerability of a locker room?

Jason Collins, ready for his moment

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Look at him. In the game, on the court, confident, smiling, gleaming in sweat. This is 12-year NBA veteran Jason Collins. He is no rookie needing to prove himself. While not one of the big stars, he has been a solid contributor on six teams (most recently our own Wizards), and been in multiple playoffs. He is ready for his moment. Below, in a post-game interview from December (when he was with the Celtics), his poise comes through.

Wizards center Jason Collins: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."

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Washington Wizards center Jason Collins breaks the historic news in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated:

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

I was taking a break from reading Arnold Rampersad's biography of Jackie Robinson to check my Facebook feed. There in a dozen posts was the handsome, confident face of NBA center Jason Collins smiling out from the cover of Sports Illustrated, and tears ran down my face. We did it, we did it, we did it.

How many gay kids are looking at that SI cover and feeling an electric charge comparable to what so many kids felt in 1947 with Jackie? We're winning.

Then I think of the hatred and intolerance that have tried to monopolize public religion in this country and disfigured the Republican Party. I think of all the work we have ahead of us. But the haters are losing. The tide of history is against them. And Jason Collins and those who will soon follow have so many more people backing them up than Jackie and Rachel Robinson did. Oh happy day.

Chris Geidner at BuzzFeed writes on the inspiration Collins received from his old Stanford roommate who is now Rep. Joe Kennedy III.

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(Photo by Kwaku Alston/SI)

April 28, 2013

New conservative lobbying push for gay marriage

WaPo reports.

April 26, 2013

Video: Nevada state senator comes out during marriage debate

This news came out a few days ago, but I had not seen the video. KLASTV reports:

Before voting on a resolution that would repeal Nevada's heterosexual definition of marriage, state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson came out to his fellow lawmakers, telling them, "I'm gay." The resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 13, passed 12-9 and now moves on to the state Assembly for a vote. Atkinson, a Democrat, represents North Las Vegas.

Congrats and thanks to Sen. Atkinson for stepping up.

(Hat tip: Rod 2.0)

NOM's bizarre, persistent claim that marriage equality supporters are 'abandoning marriage'

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Brian Brown of National Organization for Marriage persists in the implausible assertion that those of us who have worked so hard for years for the right of loving gay and lesbian couples to marry are somehow abandoning marriage. Here are highlights from his latest update:

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The news this week is tough. I'm not going to sugar coat it.

In Rhode Island, all five Republican state senators joined the Democrats in the state senate to pass a same-sex marriage bill. It now goes back to the House which had previously passed a gay marriage bill and the governor has promised to sign it.

The Rhode Island bill does not create a new category of marriage for same-sex couples. Rather, it completely redefines marriage for all people in Rhode Island....

Same-sex marriage is not just an attempt to help ordinary gay people live their private lives as they choose—it is part of a push for an aggressive new public norm that affects us all....

For the politicians who refused to let the people of Rhode Island vote on marriage, this is not over!...

We intend to make sure that every Rhode Islander knows how their policymakers voted on this critical issue. We will hold the politicians accountable for their votes.

Republicans, especially, will have to answer for abandoning marriage—a core position of the GOP platform. In New York, when the dust cleared, 3 out of the 4 Republican state senators who betrayed their constituents and voted for gay marriage were no longer in office.

Brown and his allies are desperate to portray themselves as the true victims of intolerance. This can only emerge from a deeply held sense of entitlement to special status and special privileges from which some group of "others" must be excluded. But no matter how often and how brazenly they try to disguise the discrimination they demand, one couple's marriage is not in any way devalued by other couples being afforded the same status. Brown's crusade is not about mere disagreement. It is built on and sustained by lies.

One thing Brown says, though, is true: Given the increasing radicalization of the GOP, Republican primary voters can indeed often punish Republican office holders who vote for inclusion and equal protection for same-sex couples. Unfortunately for the GOP, this only puts their party more and more at odds with broader public opinion. The ongoing, aggressive self-marginalization of the Republican Party is like a slow, massive traffic accident.

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

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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.

Continue reading "Speech of the night from GLAA reception: Jason A. Terry" »

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."

April 24, 2013

Shirtless Frenchmen opposing gay marriage

This week's prize in mixed messages. These anti-gay protesters keep having to say (in French), "Excuse me, but my eyes are up here." Except they are gagged, so it's especially difficult to comprehend.

(Hat tip: Queerty)

NOM opposes anti-gay violence

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Brian Brown of the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage has finally condemned the violence in France over that country's enactment of marriage equality, though he falsely makes it sound as if the violence is on both sides:

It appears that France's socialist government is on the verge of succeeding in their ill-conceived quest to redefine marriage, despite massive grassroots opposition from the citizenry. We urge all French citizens to contact lawmakers to express their strong opposition to this policy. We also call on all citizens to conduct themselves honorably and peacefully. Even though the same-sex marriage policy being foisted on an unwilling public is profoundly unwise and anti-family, no citizen should ever express their disapproval through violent means. We condemn in the strongest possible terms violence by anyone on either side of this debate.