- www.glaadblog.org April 28th, 2011

The former West Point cadet Katie Miller was rejected for re-admission to the prestigious academy on Wednesday as a result of the lingering ban on openly LGBT service members. She has subsequently decided to abandon her dream of returning to the institution, and remain at Yale University instead.

Katie gained national attention when she resigned from West Point last August and became a public advocate of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the discriminatory law that prevented lesbian, gay, and bisexual members of the military from coming out. She felt that keeping her orientation a secret violated the academy’s honor code and did not sit well with her conscience, and chose to leave right before the beginning of her junior year. She reapplied to West Point after President Obama overturned the law in December 2010, but learned earlier this month that she was not accepted because the repeal has yet to be implemented. “Although I am deeply saddened that I will not be readmitted to West Point, I understand and respect the decision,” she commented on Wednesday. “I harbor no resentment toward the military, and I look forward to the day they deem it appropriate for me to put the uniform back on.” She ranked ninth in her class at the time of her departure from West Point.

Read the full article here: http://glaadblog.org/2011/04/28/lesbian-former-cadet-katie-miller-rejected-from-west-point-does-not-plan-to-return/

If the video doesn’t play, here is the link: http://http://youtu.be/-_6wHis6-ws

- www.joemygod.cblogspot.com April 28th, 2011

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its full commitment to implementing equal employment opportunity policies for all department employees and applicants. The policies ensure equal protections for all employees and applicants regardless of race; color; religion; national origin; sex, including pregnancy and gender identity; age; disability, whether physical or mental; genetic information; status as a parent; sexual orientation; or other non-merit factor. New, robust statements signed by Secretary Solis include updated policies on prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender identity and pregnancy. Secretary Solis strongly supports fair equal employment opportunity policies, and creating diversity and fairness in the workplace. “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,” said Secretary Solis. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.”

Read the whole story here: http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/04/department-of-labor-announces-new-regs.html

- www.bilerico.com April 27, 2011

Here’s what happened. Stephanie goes to the Cosmo in the early hours of the morning – about 2.30am. She sits down at the Vesper Bar, in the lobby of the hotel, and orders drinks. Her drinks are good, the barman is pleasant, all is well. And then, at 4am, she realizes she needs the bathroom.

She goes, as is her wont, to the women’s restroom, just across from the bar. It’s empty, as you’d expect at 4am on a Monday. Not a single person in there. She powders her nose and exits the restroom, only to be met by two security guards who immediately say “Come with us” and start marching her out of the hotel. As they walk her, they demand to see her ID (to establish her legal gender). It’s in her purse, and she fumbles for it as she’s being forcibly marched through the lobby of the hotel. As she fumbles, one of the men tells her to hurry up. She is scared, and starts apologizing, saying she’s not trying to cause trouble, but it’s hard to walk and look for her ID at the same time.

Read the full story here: http://www.bilerico.com/2011/04/trans_woman_banned_from_hotel_for_life_for_going_t.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Feed:+BilericoProject+(The+Bilerico+Project)&utm_content=FaceBook

- www.networkeblogs.com April 27th, 2011

The 18-year old woman who was arrested for a vicious attack on a transgender woman last week was arrested last year for assault in the exact same McDonald’s. A viral video shows a woman who appears to be Teonna Monae Brown, last week beat, kicked, and attacked Chrissy Lee Polis into a seizure.

“According to police Brown was arrested last July for allegedly attacking a mother after a dispute inside the same McDonald’s,” reports the Daily Mail. “In a handwritten police statement seen by the Smoking Gun, mother-of-two Danielle Dower, 38, described how Brown allegedly followed her out of the restaurant yelling : ‘Did you call me ugly?’”

Read the full story here: http://networkedblogs.com/hbkwQ

Hello readers,

I recently wrote to McDonald’s in response to the violent video circulating the internet of two customers beating a transgendered woman inside the store while the employees watched. I received a reply from McDonald’s this morning that I wanted to share with all of you.

Hello Meighan:

Thank you for sharing your comments with McDonald’s and for giving us an opportunity to share some information with you.

There’s no room for violence under the Golden Arches. We strongly condemn the videotaped assault in one of our Baltimore franchised restaurants. Working with the authorities, we now have more facts, and we want to share our actions with you.

First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victim during this time.

Our franchisee is investigating the behavior and response of his employees. Action has been taken, and the crew member who made the video is no longer employed by his organization. Appropriate action regarding other employees will take place as warranted.

We want to reassure our customers that your neighborhood McDonald’s is a safe, welcoming place for everyone. We share our customers’ concern, and we are doing everything possible to make sure the right thing is done.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald’s.

Shannon
McDonald’s Customer Response Center

ref#:7750890

What do you think of the response? What more could McDonald’s do for the victim/to the employees involved? Want to write an e-mail to McDonald’s? Go to www.mcdonalds.com and go to the customer feedback section to make your voice heard.

- www.freedomtomarry.com April 26th, 2011

Tax season brings a stark reminder of what the so-called Defense of Marriage Act costs same-sex couples and their families. They are denied the opportunity to file taxes jointly and are penalized for supporting one another, while at the same time pay higher costs for health insurance and are deprived of Social Security coverage they’ve earned. End the “gay tax” by repealing DOMA.

Hear Ron and Tom’s story here: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s/Tax-Video?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=FTM&utm_campaign=20110425RonTomVideo&subsource=20110425RonTomVideo

- www.glaadblog.com April 26th, 2011

More than 300 spectators gathered and sang “We Shall Overcome” yesterday in a rally to draw attention to violence against transgender individuals after the violent attack on Chrissy Polis, a transgender woman violently attacked in a McDonald’s bathroom in Rosedale, Md.
The rally, which brought out politicians, community leaders, and supporters, called for an end to violence and was “surprisingly upbeat and jubilant,” according to The Washington Blade.

“The turnout tonight is wonderful, I’m so happy,” Renee Carr, Polis’ mother, told The Blade. “I didn’t think that McDonald’s was a dangerous place, all she wanted to do was eat and use the bathroom,” Carr continued referring to the April 18 attack.

Read the full story here: http://glaadblog.org/2011/04/26/lgbt-community-sends-powerful-message-against-violence-we-shall-overcome/

- www.gaypolitics.com April 26th, 2011

The Tennessee House has voted overwhelmingly to bar local jurisdictions from enacting stricter anti-discrimination laws than those at the state level, an effort that would void a recently-enacted Nashville ordinance requiring city contractors to pledge not to discriminate against LGBT workers.

Critics called the effort blatantly anti-gay. “There’s a lot that’s homophobic about this bill,” State Rep. Jeanne Richardson told WSMV-TV.

Read the whole story here: http://www.gaypolitics.com/2011/04/26/tenn-legislature-could-void-nashville-lgbt-ordinance/

- www.politico.com April 25th 2011

In a real victory for supporters of same-sex marriage — and marking what seems like real marginalization for its foes — a major law firm has reversed course and will refuse to represent the House of Representatives in defending the Defense of Marriage Act.

King and Spalding Chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr., whose partner Paul Clement was to lead the defense, said in a statement through a spokesman, Les Zuke:

Today the firm filed a motion to withdraw from its engagement to represent the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives on the constitutional issues regarding Section III of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Last week we worked diligently through the process required for withdrawal.

In reviewing this assignment further, I determined that the process used for vetting this engagement was inadequate. Ultimately I am responsible for any mistakes that occurred and apologize for the challenges this may have created.

Read the full story here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/Clement_firm_drops_DOMA_case.html?showall