9/13/08

Broward County, LLV Florida and the Broward School Board say NO 2



What Flordia's Admendment 2 says

"In as much as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

6 Reasons to Say No 2

Taking Away Benefits
Amendment 2 could take away existing benefits from all unmarried Floridians

Hurting Seniors
Amendment 2 could force seniors to choose between important benefits like sharing health care and important government benefits.

"Gay Marriage" Bait & Switch
Amendment 2 claims to ban "gay marriage" but Florida already has multiple laws banning same-sex marriage

Massive Government Intrusion
Amendment 2 puts the government where it doesn't belong - regulating the personal relationships of Floridians

Hiring Expensive Lawyers
Amendment 2 could force unmarried Floridians to hire expensive private lawyers just to protect their basic legal rights

Dramatic Consequences
Amendment 2 could take away job benefits from university employees and be used as a defense to domestic violence - as in other states which passed similar amendments

Who says No 2 government dictating our personal lives? Who sNO 2 amendment 2 Florida?
Broward School Board, Miami City Commission, The league Of Woman Voters Florida

Click here to visit No2

Dispute over Crews Inn trans ban heads to mediation

According to a recent Dallas Voice article article the transgressed upon transgender woman who have been protesting discrimination may not get a public apology or an admission of guilt from David Moore, Co-Owner of the Dallas Gay bar "Crews Inn". Protest leader Celeste Williams says it has been ‘worth it’ to stand up to discrimination, but she’s not optimistic that she’ll get the apology she wants."

The general feeling by the protesters is that making people aware that Gay, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender people are not going accept discrimination and will stand together to oppose it is a victory by it's self.

It is also agreed on that the fair and unbiased reporting of the Dallas Voice has contributed to the public understanding that transgender people are normal law abiding citizens.

This belief system is normal for Dallas Texas, but just being explored Gainsville Florida and recently confirmed in Maryland and the state of Colorado.

Los Angeles Times says "Act on gay rights bill"

Kelli Busey
planetransgender

The Los Angeles Times explores a small portion of the political maneuvering that leaves Queer folk feeling at least a Republican will tell you to your face he does not like you, respect you and will vote against you. Who do you trust?
Found in the LA Times...

"In light of the illness of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Democratic leaders in the Senate have indicated that they will not bring up a civil rights bill he has championed this year. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act....Touching as the concern for Kennedy may be, it is hardly the only motive for sidelining the act"

Dallas Texas Gay Celebration!



Jason Vincik is a writer and GLBT activist from Dallas Texas. His Blog "Anything But Straight" is so much more than just another inspired GLBT rights site. Jason is a native Texan who's focus on his home town, Dallas is with a gay eye but as he is quick to point out, no one is excluded.
I met Jason as he was conducting a interview about our protest at the Crews Inn.

What impressed me was Jason's love for our city and how he expresses it.

I thought of Jason during my walk this morning as the patroling officers waved and smiled in passing. This simple act of neighborly kindness so often repeated by our finest never fails to brighten my day and remind me "What a great place to be LGBT!"

Come celebrate our 25th Anniversary Dallas Pride Celebration!

9/11/08

Transgender and Queer Questionnaire

Today we received an email from a Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church. I am sure Rev. Colleen Darraugh Lead Pastor MCC of Greater Dallas, did not expect any recognition for her efforts, only asking us to "pass it on" and "make it widely available". ( a little plug for ya church sister ;)

Please take a few moments and complete this lovely survey from our brothers and sisters at the the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force who have partnered with National Center for Transgender Equality and the Pennsylvania State University’s Center for the Study of Higher Education to collect and analyze this data.

You do not need to be trans to do it. You can be whomever you are and or aspire to be.....I'm kinda queer/trannie.....

This maybe the first only fully inclusive, non intrusive, totaly free, scholastically certifiable trans world, transuniversal transgender and gender queer questionnaire to have full access to the millions via the Internet! Wow. Not only are we filling in the squares to make cute designs, we are participating in history.

~kelli Busey

Don't Leave us behind

By Kelli Busey
planetransgender

The Orginal ENDA 2015 submitted in April of 2007 included laungage which afforded protection to
transgender people and GLB people regardless of how gay you are.Unfortunately it is of our opinion that political mistakes were made based on incorrect interpretation of
history and a skewed sense of political expediecy..Barney Frank is of the opinion that transgender people are new to the advocacy arena and therefor not to
be allowed to enjoy the same status as the rest of the GLB community.Transgender people have been in the forefront at the Compton Cafateria and Stone wall riots.The LBGT community has voiced it's discontent via UNITED ENDA's 7 million..

On 9/27/07 without advance warning Barney Frank intoduced HR(3585) which eliminated transgender
protection. With the exclusion of gender identity laungage it will be subjective depending on the
conception of the judge, what behavior falls within sexual preference or gender identity. Thereby
eliminating the person who on a given time acted too gay, in the judges opinion and the transgender
person from protection under the law.Glbtq people have themselves often criticized identity politics, particularly on the grounds that individuals
possess multifaceted identities and thus involvement in politics based on a single identity does not suffice
On 9/27/07 Barney Frank submitted HR(3586) which has gender only protection launguageTime has shown that incremental steps when applied to a group i.e. shades of black, only serves to
weaken the validty of the entire concept and promote discord and disunity.Time has also shown that if a small portion of a group is sacrificed on the premise that they will be returned
for, then this fails to happen as the motovation to do so is not present.
Therefore It is our goal to allow the protections of ENDA to extend to the entire community.This goal is the wish of UNITED ENDA comprising 368 National, State and Local groups and 171 house
representitives.We emplore you to contact your orginization represenitives and political leaders and lend them your
wisdom. Let us welcome our entire LGBTIQ community at the finish line, together the truth will win