Homelessness, Kalamazoo, The District of Columbia, Christmas, Obamaville and love

In a conversation a few weeks back I heard these words; “I’m going to wait until after the first of the year for my advertising campaign”. Not that I have a degree in marketing but I told them they should take advantage of the Christmas season instead of waiting. I also said, “you know after the New Year everyone starts worrying about taxes”.

So I thought I should take my own advice and take advantage of the holiday ‘love’.

Just a brief side thought. Does the population in general show more love during the holidays? I think so. Which brings to question, why? Why do we tone down the love during the non-holiday time?

I can hear some one saying “We still love the same, we just don’t show it”, or something like “We can’t afford to give gifts all year round”, etc.

Anyhow, getting back on track.

For some reason in my daily cyber-travels today I seemed to run across many articles related to homelessness.

I read about a tent city in Colorado named Obamaville. They had a very large commercially produced banner out front. (article)

In recent news we’ve heard how The District of Columbia has signed off on marriage equality (article). Prior to the passing of the new law the Catholic Church (in D.C.) stated it would discontinue services to the homeless if the law passed (article). So far the Catholic Church has lied once again!

However, over in Kalamazoo, Michigan the story is a little bit different. In recent news we heard how Kalamazoo, Michigan passed a gay rights ordinance (article). Today I read that three churches in Kalamazoo are opting out on helping the homeless (article).

Here we are living in one of the richest nations in the world and we have homeless?

In case you’re brave enough to look into the face of homelessness here are some great places to start:

www.InvisiblePeople.tv

www.change.org

Oh, and Happy Holidays

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LGBT Civil Rights Fight Longer Than All Others

In a world where almost anything is possible it’s easy to expect the unexpected.

To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.
Oscar Wilde

Of course we all favor what is important in our lives. So we hope our desires will be met. But, some would say, it’s selfish to think solely of our own desires.

So we hope we aren’t a minority because it’s not possible to be equally considered if we aren’t part of the majority. After all our society is federalist by design and it’s all about the numbers, right?

I guess that part about “All Men are created equal” was a slip of the tounge.

We’ve seen women obtain civil rights during women’s suffrage. They were a minority. It took 21 years before states started to pass laws in support of women and another 50 years before the federal government would act. Totaling 71 years for federal recognition.

We’ve seen the African American community fight for their civil rights. They were a minority. It took them 80 years to receive federal recognition.

I’m part of the gay civil rights movement. We are a minority. Our fight started in 1924 when The Society for Human Rights, in Chicago, became the country's earliest known gay rights organization. It’s been 85 years so far!

So many seem to feel Stonewall was the start of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement.

I hope this information clears up the confusion.

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Dear President Obama from Col. Dan Tepfer (USAF) retired

Dear President Obama,


My wife and I and our three children, now adults, served as a military family for 23 years before I retired as a colonel in the Air Force. While my family did not have to experience frequent separations or my death or serious injury like so many service families do now, all military families make sacrifices. We moved twice with kids who were entering their senior year of high school. We appreciate that you and Michelle have made military families a top priority.


Our three adult children are responsible citizens who all work in education, one at an early childhood special needs school in Columbus, OH, one at a high school in Prince Georges County, MD and one at the University of Maryland. We are so very proud of all of them.


One of our children is gay, and that is the motivation for this letter. We have been encouraged by the difficult and courageous decisions you have made in many areas, domestic and international, and we are grateful for the promises you have made to secure civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) citizens. We worry, however, that you are moving too cautiously. Several bills are working their way through Congress, but so far we haven’t seen the special push from the White House that could accelerate the process.


As a retired military officer, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t tell is of paramount importance to me, and I spoke on the Capitol lawn with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network in March. I understand there is a legislative procedure to follow, but a stop-loss order from you now could prevent the dismissal of Lt. Dan Choi, Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, Major Margaret Witt, and all the other valuable gay military members who are losing their beloved careers while the ponderous legislative process lumbers along.


Hate crimes. Housing and employment discrimination. Immigration policy. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Defense of Marriage Act. Each of these may seem like a small matter, but taken together, they represent a significant and unconscionable disservice by our federal government to its GLBT citizens. Change is imperative.


I understand there are always political costs to evaluate, but I no longer think moving quickly on these issues will have the negative consequences you might fear. The country’s attitude toward equality for GLBT citizens is moving with a speed we could not have imagined just a few years ago, even on the issue of marriage which has always been the most controversial.


Please act with the courage of your convictions. Use the power of your office to advance equality and fairness for all without further delay.


Sincerely,


Col. Daniel Tepfer, USAF (ret.)

GayTalkRadio - Oprah, Spirituality, Philadelphia, P.A. Equality Rally 2009

2/6/2009 9:00 AM - 2 hrs

GayTalkRadio at 9 AM (PST). Call in during the live show (646) 929-2576 otherwise call voicemail at (360) 283-5052 or send me email tom@GayTalkRadio.org.

Today we will talk about recent Oprah shows on Spirituality,the 2009 Equality March and Rally in Philadelphia P.A. and more.

Join Wendy and Tom for some laughs along with your news.

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All the best to you and yours.

Gay, Lesbian Equality Education Only Way to Stop Homophobia

UKGayNews

LONDON, July 3, 2008 – TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will today call on the Government to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) equality education in the school curriculum, as the only way to address homophobic bullying in schools.

“While the UK’s education system ought to be in the vanguard of the fight against homophobic discrimination, all too often it is in fact part of the problem,” he says.

“Whereas our schools and colleges have done much to counter racism and sexism, the same cannot be said when it comes to tackling homophobia.

full article

A trip through the Gayborhood

By KATIE HUTTON Philadelphia Daily News

"Philadelphia - Get your history straight and your nightlife gay," is the catchphrase of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.'s gay tourism campaign. It will be put to the test this week as thousands of gay visitors come to town for this year's Equality Forum.

Besides the 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events planned for this year's forum, Bruce Yelk, director of gay initiatives at the GPTMC, suggests that visitors make time to see these sites of special interest to the GLBT community.

Historic marker at Independence Hall: On July 4, 1965, a group of gay and lesbian picketers held the first Reminder Day outside Independence Hall to "remind" the public of their existence. This plaque, on the north corner of 6th and Chestnut streets, marks the first GLBT civil-rights protest.

full article

Equality for all? Not in Utah.

Just two weeks before Ariana Losco became the first openly transgender person to speak to the Utah State Legislature, she was fired from her job. Her task on January 25 was to tell the conservative state’s legislators why Utah’s transgender workers needed protections against employment discrimination. The rights denied her under Utah’s law allowed her employer the legal upper hand in firing her without just cause.

Losco spoke on behalf of Equality Utah about House Bill 89, which would amend the current anti-discrimination law -- which now protects against discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, and disability -- to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

”You have to pass House Bill 89,” she told the Legislature. “The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of Utah is suffering needlessly without it.”

full article

INDIA: Equality fights 150 year old laws

New Delhi, March 8 On International Women’s Day, Jantar Mantar was congested with diverse activist groups gathered to voice their concerns and visions for the future.

In the middle of the huge banners and cacophony of chants by protestors, was a sexual rights coalition called Voices Against 377, which stood out with its bright rainbow banners, catchy chants and daring public challenges to Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Over twenty gay, lesbian, queer and heterosexual Indians and expatriates shouted, “Hey-hey, ho-ho, homophobia has got to go!” “377 down, down!” and “Lesbian rights are human rights!” while proudly holding up placards reading “377 Quit India” and “Heterosexuality is not Normal it is only Common”.

Voices Against 377 is a Delhi-based coalition that emerged in 2002 as a response to the stand taken by the government in the Delhi High Court on Section 377. “It is a forum run by civil society groups that are challenging the law, claiming that it is in violation of human rights. Different groups within the coalition are also looking at the issue from the vantage points of human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, sexual rights and HIV/AIDS,” says Sanjay, a gay sexual rights activist, law graduate and active member of Voices.

Sanjay claims the law is oppressive and stifling as it does not reflect the fluidity and complexity of gender identities and sexualities that have been celebrated throughout Indian history and mythology and that continue to be a reality in contemporary Indian life. “The legislation is vague in its wording and represents a Victorian language and morality that reflect the values of a point in time from over 150 years ago,” says Sanjay.

But he is hopeful about the future. “There is a contest between the rights of people who are affected by this law and the stand that the Indian government has taken for so long in the Delhi High Court. Different wings of the government have expressed different positions. The Law Commission of India has long argued for decriminalisation,” says Sanjay.

full article

Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Auto Zone don't like gays

The 2008 Corporate Quality index rated Wal-Mart, along with other retail giants including Toys R Us and Auto Zone, in the red category, advising LGBT and their supporters to shop elsewhere.

more

Obama rhetoric

Obama must think gay people aren't very bright.

Since his McCluckin fiasco Obama has been trying to convince us he's all for equality.

In a recent statement he said "McClurkin is a talented performer and a beloved figure among many African Americans and Christians around the country. At the same time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject.".

It's seems to me if Obama truely rejected McCluckins' beliefs he wouldn't have hired McCluckin to represent him. In addition, Obama would not have given McCluckin an open mic to preach anti-gay hate at the end of the event.

Obama also recently stated "There are good, decent, moral people in this country who do not yet embrace their gay brothers and sisters as full members of our shared community."

Let me tell you Obama, we aren't going to wait for those people to embrace us. Quite frankly we could care less if they embrace us. You are talking "pie in the sky" ideals. All people will never accept gays! The expectation of such is insulting, rediculous and unreasonable. It sounds VERY much like an excuse. Do you think all people have embraced blacks?

We are citizens of the USA and we are guaranteed equal rights under the constitution. End of story.

Schwarzenegger signs Student Civil Rights Act

Sponsored by Equality California SB 777 will become law in January 2008.

The Student Civil Rights Act would create uniform nondiscrimination standards within the state’s education code so students, teachers and school administrators clearly understand the protections that are provided within California’s publicly-funded schools and programs.

BBC Schedules Week of Pro-Gay Programs

2007 marks the 50th anniversay of the Wolfenden Report which legalized homosexuality in Britain in 1957.

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The week long extravaganza of gay-themed TV has been officially named the 'Hidden Lives Series'. The programming will range from movies with homosexual themes, to historical documentaries and the personal stories of homosexuals.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/index.shtml?survey=no&url=www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/index.shtml&site=bbcone&js=yes