Posted by duy on November 24, 2009, www.metroweekly.com

”If the Democrats don’t enact marriage equality now, after years of telling us to wait, wait, wait, it will cause a huge schism between the state Democratic Party and not just the gay community, but the entire progressive base. And it could change the political landscape of New Jersey permanently.”

Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality, explaining the urgency needed for gay marriage supporters in the New Jersey state legislature to act now or for the opportunity to enact marriage equality to become much more difficult for the next several years. Current Democratic New Jersey Governor, John Corzine, is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, but lost his bid for reelection earlier this month. His term in office office ends on January 19, 2010, and Republican Chris Christie steps in. The incoming Christie has already said he will veto any gay marriage bill. So, the window of opportunity is quite small to pass legislation to legalize marriages in that state as the new governor’s term will last another 4 years. (New York Times)

——————————————————————————–

”Let’s vote our conscience. I hope your conscience says support marriage equality, but if it doesn’t, I understand your view. What I can’t understand is not voting.”

Democratic State Senator Ray Lesniak urging his fellow legislators to vote on the bill to legalize same-sex marriage before incoming Republican Governor Chris Christie can veto a positive decision. However, it does not appear that enough supporters of gay and lesbian marriage equality are willing to spend political capital on the issue since current Democratic Governor John Corzine, who promised to sign the bill, lost his bid for reelection. (Star-Ledger)

By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwa...@tampatrib.com

Published: November 20, 2009

TAMPA – Opponents of the measure framed it as a thinly veiled assault on the Christian faith that would open the door for sexual predators and all sorts of abhorrent behavior.

Supporters argued it was needed to protect a group that faces rampant discrimination.

Following two hours of testimony from grandmothers, ministers, transgendered people and representatives of Fortune 500 companies, the city council voted 5 to 1 on Thursday to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public facilities based on “gender identity and expression.”

Councilman Charlie Miranda, who supported the changes when it came up two weeks ago, voted no, saying he was concerned it will cause “disruption” in the workplace. Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena, who also previously voted for the changes, was out of the country on vacation.

Council Chairman Tom Scott, an ordained minister at the 34th Street Church of God, who as a Hillsborough County commissioner voted against numerous gay rights proposals, gave an impassioned speech explaining how he had struggled with the issue.

“I’ve asked myself, again and again, ‘what would Jesus do if he were here,’” Scott said.

Ultimately, Scott said, his support was based on religious convictions, and he criticized opponents of the measure who threatened to vote against him in the next election.

“The only vote I’m concerned about is God’s vote,” he told the packed room.

More than 60 people on either side of the issue filled council chambers to voice their support or opposition to the changes.

Members of several Christian evangelical groups and other opponents called the move an assault on their religious values they fear will sanction sexually deviant behavior.

David Caton, executive director of the Florida Family Association, told council members the city hadn’t proved that transgender individuals were being discriminated against.

“I’ve yet to see any complaints filed,” he said. “This is all about politics.”

Philip Dinkins, chairman of the Human Rights Board, said the board has received at least 13 complaints of transgender discrimination in recent years.

“We couldn’t investigate because they were not a protected class,” he said.

Supporters of extending the city’s human rights protections disagreed with Caton’s position. They told the council that transgender individuals face discrimination on a daily basis.

“I have had employers tell me that they wouldn’t hire me specifically because I’m a transgender individual,” said Tobias Packer, a member of Equality Florida.

Terry Kemple, president of the Community Issues Council, said he thought the protections would allow “sexual predators” to go into restrooms for the opposite sex, and force business owners and landlords, regardless of their religious beliefs, to accept cross-dressers.

Rocco Vallerand, who also goes by the name Raquel, said transgender individuals are not sexual deviants and are merely looking to have the same protections as others.

“I am saddened that people are using religion as a guise for hate,” he said.

A preliminary vote on the changes passed unanimously at a Nov. 5 city council meeting with little discussion from council members and nobody speaking against the measure.

Since then, council members have been barraged with phone calls and e-mail messages from supporters and opponents of the measure.

The city’s Human Rights Board, which has been discussing the issue for the past year, requested the changes.

Dinkins said that transgender individuals can lose their jobs, be denied service in restaurants and be prevented from renting or buying property because Tampa lacked protections for gender identity and gender expression.

Mayor Pam Iorio has pledged her support for the changes.

At least 13 states across the country and 16 municipalities in Florida, as well as some Fortune 500 companies, have extended such protections to transsexuals, transvestites and others with a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth.

President Barack Obama’s administration is drafting proposed federal guidelines that would prohibit workplace discrimination against transgender federal employees.

Dinkins praised the council’s decision to approve the ordinance. “Change is never easy,” he said, “but the bottom line is that this is right thing to do.”

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

Esther Rubio-Sheffrey | Fri, 11/20/2009

Pulled from Air & Shunned by Republicans

(NEW HAMPSHIRE) A political controversy began on Saturday, November 14 in New Hampshire, when radio host Doug Lambert went on anti-gay tirade at the conclusion of his morning program, “Meet the New Press.” While the program was no longer on the air, it was being still being streamed live on the internet.

Lambert and co-host Skip Murphy were in the process of wrapping things up when Lambert verbally attacked openly gay New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley. While Murphy giggled in the background, Lambert continued with, “Yea, you Faggot. That’s right I said it and I meant it. You are reprobate. How the people, the Democrats, I think of some of the gray haired ladies and older people from the old party would stand behind you is beyond me. You are a disgrace to yourself to humanity to mankind and to your party.”

Hours after the show Lambert posted an apology of sorts on his blog, GraniteGrok.com. He stated that he was simply reacting to the fact that a national gay rights group would be on hand to celebrate Buckley’s birthday.

“To be blunt, what I said is something that never should have been said in any kind of a public setting, or, quite frankly, in a private one either. Being human, and an honest person that is used to freely speaking my mind, my passion got the best of me. Politically correct? Nah, that’s not my style. Calling people names, THAT’S usually not my style, either, as I prefer to debate the issues in a battle of ideas. My sole reason for having this show is to shed light on just how quickly our country is being led down the wrong path. My remarks were not helpful to protecting the rights and the freedoms I fight for everyday.”

It would seem, however, that his apology was not enough.

On Monday, Nassau Broadcasting issued a statement announcing their immediate termination of Lambert’s contract to air his show on their station WEMJ 1490 AM.

“Although the comments by Mr. Lambert were not aired on our station, we find the comments by him to be completely out of line and unacceptable and we will not allow Mr. Lambert the opportunity to continue to air his show on our radio station” said Mr. Rob Fulmer, NH Regional Manager for Nassau.

Lambert also had a weekly column that appeared in the Thursday edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, New Hampshire’s local paper, but Editor Ed Engler echoed Nassau’s decision and will no longer be working with Lambert.

Murhpy issued his own statement via blog on Monday titled, “A Real Dumb Thing, he did.” While he acknowledged his friend’s mistake, Murphy stood up for him stating he would remain his friend and implied that Lambert was in way a victim of politics.

“No one is perfect all the time; we are all, in fact, imperfect pretty much most of the time. It is what that person does AFTER the screw up that is important. He has already apologized. I’m afraid for many that will be insufficient… the ability to accept an apology, nowadays, seems to be in short supply as well. There are those that will use this incident for their own political hay and opportunity. They, too, are unable or unwilling to accept apologies. Such is politics nowadays, and such is life if one is judged to be Politically Incorrect by those that get to set the rules.”

Politics as usual or not, Republicans were quick to distance themselves from Lambert.

NHGOP Chairman and former New Hampshire Governor, John H. Sununu said, “Mr. Lambert’s comments were disgusting, inappropriate, and offensive. That is why I, as Chairman, asked for an immediate condemnation from our State Party – and that was done. I am encouraged that so many Granite Staters of all political persuasions denounced this vicious personal attack. We are all in agreement that what Mr. Lambert said is completely reprehensible and doesn’t belong in our public dialogue.”

On Tuesday, Fergus Cullen, former chairman of the New Hampshire GOP, wrote an Op-Ed piece that was published in three local papers as well as released online at RedHampshire.com, in which he warned the Republicans “to resist the temptation to campaign to the fringe of our party. It’s not a winning strategy.”

Cullen expressed surprise that it took this long for someone to act on Lambert’s comments and also wondered why Republican politicians appeared on his show to begin with.

“Why on Earth were leading Republicans pandering on a fringe show with zero measurable audience in the first place? What were they thinking? I get the politics of primaries. Candidates know that those who vote in primaries tilt toward the far right and the far left. So, they go on a show like Lambert’s hoping primary voters are listening. But these candidates have the math wrong. There are many more primary votes to be had among mainstream conservatives than there are among the fringe, no matter how vocal. The tip of the tail must not wag the dog. There are some votes a candidate can do without.

“After suffering through two brutal election cycles weighed down by the Bush administration’s unpopularity, Republicans have reason for optimism about 2010. Let’s not blow it by giving any more birthday presents like this to the Democrats,” concluded Cullen.

For his own part, Lambert issued another apology via his last blog. “I believe that these are the proper and appropriate consequences, and I apologize to the good people at the paper and the radio station who have been wonderful to me over the years and were completely undeserving of the grief my actions have caused them. I plan on spending my time in prayer and reflection, looking inward to the unhealthy malice in my heart, for which I will ultimately have to face my Maker, begging for His undeserved mercy.

“Let this be a lesson to those who harbor such hatred as I have demonstrated—think about it. We must love EVERYBODY as we do ourselves. And all the world is a camera. There is no hiding anymore. I engaged in a WHOLE lot of free speech around here. With that, comes responsibility. Use it wisely,” Lambert said.

What the future in radio and media holds for Lambert remains to be seen, but one thing is certain for those who use public air waves to spread messages of hate and intolerance, public as well as political momentum is swinging against them.

-By The Associated Press
11.20.2009

(Toronto)Canada’s Federal Court says the country’s refugee board must reconsider the case of a lesbian who deserted the U.S. Army and fled to Canada.

Judge Yves de Montigny said Friday the board erred last February when it rejected Bethany Smith’s bid.

Smith says she fled the army instead of going to Afghanistan with her unit because she was harassed and threatened by fellow soldiers over her sexual orientation.

The U.S. military has a policy of discharging openly gay members but Smith says she was denied a discharge because soldiers were needed for the Afghanistan mission.

The judge says the board unfairly dismissed evidence suggesting that gays face harsher treatment in the American military justice system.

Smith says she would fear for her life if she were returned to the army.

-By Peter Hermann and Brent Jones

November 18, 2009

Grandmother asks why gay teen was in house with a convicted killer

It didn’t happen often, but sometimes a student – usually a boy – would poke fun at Jason Mattison Jr.

About his skin-tight jeans and funky sweaters. About his boisterous voice that seemed to run nonstop. About his exuberance in recounting the most mundane of events. About his flamboyant mannerisms. He was 15, a sophomore in high school, and he was gay.

Jason Mattison Jr

When someone harassed him in the halls of West Baltimore’s Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, he had a sharp, witty comeback at the ready, and he walked away smiling.

“Even if it hurt him, he gave the other person the impression he was stronger,” recalled his English teacher, Ryan C. Jones.

But while Jason appeared strong and confident in the safe confines of his school on North Calhoun Street, unafraid to embrace his sexual orientation as part of his personality, the world outside did not offer those same protections.

Last week, at his aunt’s house, one of the few occupied homes on a block boarded and sagging, he was found dead – raped, gagged with a pillowcase, stabbed repeatedly in the head and throat, and shoved into an upstairs closet. Jason’s killing left his teachers, classmates and relatives in tears and family members asking questions of one another even in the days leading up to today’s funeral.

Did Jason leave his mother’s house and move in with his aunt, as his grandmother suggested? Or was he just visiting on that fateful day, as a cousin said? And why did people in his aunt’s house open their door to the suspect, a convicted killer released early from prison because of flaws in his case?

“From now on, we do have to take more care in who we let in and who we trust,” said Jason’s cousin, Laquanna Couplin, who lives in the house on Llewellyn Avenue where Jason was killed.

She described Dante Parrish, 35, who is charged with first-degree murder in the case, as a longtime family friend, but she would not say whether he lived there or visited.

Couplin spoke briefly Monday while standing on her front porch, complaining that too many stories, too many accusations, made it difficult to grieve, and that she was tired of trying to set the record straight.

“He was a terrific boy, and we miss him very much,” Couplin said. “We’re hoping that justice is served and that the person who is responsible for this goes to prison and doesn’t get out.”

Of Jason, she said, “He was a sweet young man. He wasn’t afraid of who he was. He had a life ahead of him. I just wish he could’ve had a chance to live it.”

But his paternal grandmother, Wanda Williams, one of the first Jason confided in about being gay and who handed him a few dollars now and then for food and clothes, questioned how other relatives could have allowed the boy to be in the same house with Parrish, given his violent past.

“I haven’t cried so much this entire life,” Williams said. “My grandson hollering for help and there is nobody there to help him.”

Jason loved texting and talking, and he spent his evenings chatting with friends on MySpace.

Jason was one of the most popular kids at school, his English teacher said, always first to class, always first to the cafeteria, where students fought to sit at his table, always first to turn in his homework and always getting near-perfect grades.

“He was outspoken and excited about everything he talked about,” Jones said. “Walking into school, he was the first one to share what he did over the weekend. He was very, very popular, and he was everyone’s best friend.”

Jason wanted to be a pediatrician, Jones said, and the only thing the two debated was Jason’s constant chatter.

“He was not a behavioral problem,” Jones said. “He was a talking problem.”

But after every dispute, Jason eased the tension by laughing, smiling and saying: “It’s not that serious.”

The Vivian T. Thomas school has about 425 students, about 80 percent of them female, and Jason quickly gained friends with his eye for fashion. He dressed in bright colors and scarves, and if there was a hole in his jeans, he had put it there to make a statement.

Jason hated conformity. He wanted to change the spelling of his name to “Jaysen,” and that’s how his classmates remembered him on their cards.

“Normal was ugly to him,” Jones said.

Jatia Pledger, his best friend in high school, said girls at the school stuck up for Jason when boys gave him trouble: “We all had his back.”

But as much as Jason talked, he remained secretive about his home life.

“When he was in school, he was a whole other person,” Jatia said. “We were his family.”

Jones, his teacher and confidant, said he never asked. “Looking back, I wish I would have,” Jones said. “It was something that never came up. Personally, I wondered what his family thought of his orientation.”

Jason’s grandmother said the boy’s father was out of the picture and that she became the de facto authority figure. His mother did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.

When Jason came out as gay, there was some dissension in the family and though Williams said she stood by her grandson, his declaration caught her off guard.

“I accepted his sexual preferences,” she said. “But I told him, ‘You’re young and don’t understand life.’ I told him, ‘Plenty of young women would love to be with you.’ He said he likes boys. Young people don’t like to listen to adults, but I told him I’m not going to push him away.”

Williams said Jason left his mother recently and moved into the house on Llewellyn Avenue, though family members there said he only visited.

A Baltimore police spokesman would say only that Jason “was staying at his aunt’s house.” It was there that Jason met Parrish, with whom the spokesman said the teen had a “forced sexual relationship.”

Parish was 24 when he pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a man on Maryland Avenue in March 1999. In 2008, the Innocence Project, a group of attorneys who help people they believe were wrongly convicted, took up his case.

They found that Parrish had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder based on a faulty statement of facts read into the court record – there were two witnesses, not three, and a gun was found weeks after the shooting, not with Parrish when he was arrested.

A judge overturned his conviction, citing ineffective defense counsel, and in January, Parrish entered what is called an Alford plea, which allowed him to deny guilt but concede that the state had enough evidence to convict him. He was freed on time served, effectively cutting a 30-year sentence to 10.

Whether Parrish went from prison to live at the rowhouse on Llewellyn Avenue or frequented it could not be determined. Couplin would not elaborate beyond confirming that the man was a longtime family friend.

The day Jason’s body was found, it was Couplin who called police, at 3 a.m. Nov. 10. She reported that someone had broken into the house and stolen a television from the living room. A police officer came and wrote a larceny report.

Couplin called police again at 5:09 a.m., saying that she saw blood on a banister leading to the second floor. She also reported Jason missing.

Police found his body in the back of a second-floor closet. Charging documents say that “several witnesses were identified and positively identified defendant Dante Parrish as the person responsible for this act.” Couplin said she now believes the missing television was a diversion to make it look like a break-in.

Police arrested Parrish two days later at a convenience store on Moravia Road. A department spokesman said Parrish confessed to the killing the next day and is being held without bail.

Now, Jason’s family and friends are left to mourn – informally at a memorial service at the school Tuesday night, and formally at a funeral at 11 a.m. today at Unity United Methodist Church on Edmondson Avenue.

Many of his friends learned of Jason’s death from rumors on MySpace. They didn’t believe it until they arrived at school and found his chair empty and a somber English teacher to break the tragic news.

“We were in shock,” Jatia said. “We’re still in shock.”

Remembrances have filled Jason’s MySpace page, which contains one note that seems indisputable, even amid the questions swirling around this death.

It reads: “Mood: Jason is loved.”

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

- www.queerty.com 11/19/2009

Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars was the sponsor behind his state’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But now he’s behind extending Salt Lake City’s LGBT anti-discrimination to the entire state. Isn’t this the same guy who said gays are “the greatest threat to America”? Yes, he is. And yet now he says, “I don’t mind gays, but I don’t want ‘em stuffing it down my throat all the time, and certainly [in] my kids’ face.” How, exactly, do folks who are vehemently anti-gay reconcile a position on protecting gays?

Religion, of course.

Sen. Buttars is a member of the Mormon Church, which just came out swinging for the anti-discrimination measure. Which explains why he’s not on board with letting the gays run rampant all through the nation, but he is in favor of protecting any class of people who “believe” in something. For him, it’s his belief in things like three heavens, while for gays its their “belief” in loving the same sex.

For now, however, Buttars says he’s not willing to sponsor any anti-discrimination legislation. He’s just considering it.

They say god works in mysterious ways. Among them, being supported and denounced by the same group of people at the same time.

To see the video, go here:
http://www.queerty.com/utah-state-sen-buttars-sponsored-gay-marriage-ban-but-he-wants-us-protected-20091119/

- SLDN Blog, Paul DiMiglio | Thu, 11/19/2009

Today’s story in “Stars and Stripes” is yet another illustration why overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would be a virtual non-event in the U.S. Armed Forces.

An anonymous gay officer “William,” says that more qualified service members would join the military and re-enlist if Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) got the boot:

“[A repeal] would make a sincere difference to those considering re-enlisting.” William said, noting that many gay servicemembers find it difficult to maintain long-lasting relationships while in the military. “There’s a very strong argument to get out of the military to pursue that.”

“John,” an anonymous gay Army officer, says that ending DADT would build trust among colleagues and create a more cohesive, effective team:

“I was forced to keep it from my teammates [in Iraq], and I honestly believe that it drove a wedge between us,” John said. “I couldn’t be completely open about who I was, even though they seemed to be completely open about themselves. So I’m more convinced than ever that [DADT] is more of a hindrance to team-building than having openly gay people in the military.”

We’ve seen some of the strongest militaries in the world – including Great Britain and Israel – allow open service without incident. It is long past the time to treat our own service members with the respect they deserve as professionals.

- Newswire | Thu, 11/19/2009
(WASHINGTON D.C.)

The Human Rights Campaign today praised the full U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for marking up H.R. 2517, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO). Held by Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-NY), the 23-12 vote moves the bill out of committee and readies it for future consideration by the House of Representatives.

“Today’s markup by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is an important step toward guaranteeing equal compensation for lesbian and gay workers serving our government at home and abroad,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “DPBO recognizes that equal pay for equal work is a value fundamental to American opportunity. We thank Chairman Towns and Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) for their incredible, ongoing leadership in ushering this critical legislation through Congress.”

“This vote marks another significant step in our march toward LGBT equality,” said Congresswoman Baldwin, Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and author of the bill. “Extending benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees is more than a matter of fairness. As a majority of Fortune 500 companies have already demonstrated, equality and diversity in the workplace boost productivity and help attract and keep the most qualified employees.”

The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) was introduced in the 111th Congress by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate and by Congresswomen Baldwin and Ros-Lehtinen in the House. DPBO would provide the same family benefits to lesbian and gay federal civilian employees as are already provided to employees with different-sex spouses. To receive benefits, employees would have to submit an affidavit of eligibility for benefits with the Office of Personnel Management, certifying that the employee and domestic partner meet necessary criteria, as provided in the Act.

“This is a great moment for the LGBT community and for all Americans who value equal rights. This committee vote assures that this historic legislation will soon be debated and, hopefully, passed. It is high time that lesbian and gay federal employees receive the same employee benefits that every other federal employee receives. Anything less goes against the very founding principles of this Republic where equality for all means exactly that,” said Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen in a statement.

DPBO would bring employment practices in the federal government in line with those of America’s largest and most successful corporations. Nearly 60% of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits to their employees. In addition, 22 states, the District of Columbia, and over 150 local governments make benefits available to public employees and their same-sex partners. A May 2000 poll conducted by the Associated Press found that a majority of Americans favor the extension of health insurance coverage to same-sex partners. In addition, this legislation has been endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Harvard University, National Treasury Employees Union and United Church of Christ.

“The federal government should be the standard bearer for fair workplace practices, but has lagged behind the top employers for too long,” said Solmonese. “By passing DPBO, Congress can bring the federal workforce into the 21st century, ensuring that all of its workers are treated fairly and that the best and brightest are attracted to federal service.”

-www.towleroad.com 11/18/2009

Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission nominee Chai Feldblum’s hearings are scheduled for this Thursday, and according to the Victory Fund, Republican Senators and right-wing religious wingnuts (more specifically the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins) are preparing to unleash “Armageddon” to foil the nomination.

Chai Feldblum

Feldblum would be the first openly LGBT person to serve on that commission.

Says the Victory Fund:

“They plan to paint her as an anti-religious extremist whose confirmation would threaten religious liberty. Feldblum, a Georgetown Law School professor and longtime legal advocate for the LGBT community, helped to draft language for the original Employment Nondiscrimination Act. One of many Web sites dedicated to her defeat laid out the right’s argument against her confirmation:

Feldblum intends to use her position of influence as EEOC commissioner to force private institutions to follow her radical vision of society, through the enforcement of aggressive and intrusive employment non-discrimination laws.

She is a master at using the language of moral imperatives to further her agenda.

Feldblum is a lesbian activist who supports government recognition of gay marriage as a way to convey approval of gay relationships and homosexuality in general. She has also argued for the equality of “polyamorous” relationships and almost any conceivable sexual relationship to traditional marriage–a position squarely out of line with American tradition, principles, and the mainstream of public opinion.

Far from believing that government should not be involved in private relationships, she is a champion of government interference in moral and religious traditions where they intersect with her personal crusade.

The Family Research Council has edited a video from a forum she appeared at for the group, and heavily edited it to make Feldblum’s views appear radical.

Wach all videos here:
http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/wingnuts-target-lesbian-eeoc-nominee-chai-feldblum.html

Watch the video from CNN here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2009/11/16/am.boy.no.pledge.cnn.html