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Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of more than 700,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community
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Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2012 State Summit this week -- we hope you found the panels helpful. We look forward to an exciting 2012 and welcome any suggestions you might have to make the next State Summit even better!
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The America Votes 2012 State Summit is only days away. Don't miss your chance to be a part of one the most important gatherings of progressives in 2012. Check out the State Summit page here.
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Don't Ask, Don't Tell Ends Tomorrow
After nearly two decades, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be formally repealed on Tuesday. The 1993 directive allowed gays and lesbians to serve in the military only as long as they stayed in the closet, sparking debate and anger from both conservatives and liberals. Over the 17 years of DADT, more than 14,000 service members were discharged from the military under the Clinton policy.
On Monday, the Army said in a letter signed by Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III, Gen. Raymond Odierno, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and John McHugh, Secretary of the Army, that the repeal means that "gay and lesbian Soldiers may serve in our Army with the dignity and respect they deserve." According to Pentagon spokesman George Little, the military is already accepting applications from openly gay recruits, though they will wait to act on them until after the ban is lifted.
The repeal, a campaign pledge of President Obama in 2008, was approved by Congress last year, signed the President, and given final authorization by military leaders this July.
Read the Politico article here
Seven year anniversary of APA endorsing marriage equality
Despite the debates over marriage equality still going on, seven years ago today the American Psychological Association endorsed marriage equality for same-sex couples, citing that it is healthier and would provide more security for those couples to be able to marry. Even though the largest professional organization of psychologists endorsed same-sex marriage with scientific proof to back it up, marriage equality is still not the law in many states.
These are the official resolutions issued by the APA when they endorsed marriage equality:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the
APA believes that it is unfair and discriminatory to deny same-sex couples
legal access to civil marriage and to all its attendant benefits, rights, and
privileges;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that APA shall take a leadership role in opposing all discrimination in legal
benefits, rights, and privileges against same-sex couples;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that APA encourages psychologists to act to eliminate all discrimination
against same-sex couples in their practice, research, education and training
(American Psychological Association, 2002);
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the APA shall provide scientific and educational resources that inform
public discussion and public policy development regarding sexual orientation
and marriage and that assist its members, divisions, and affiliated state,
provincial, and territorial psychological associations.
While progress has been made against discriminatory policies toward the LGBT community, such as marriage equality being legalized in New York and the repeal of DADT, there is still a lot of work to be done as far as equal rights and benefits for same-sex couples.
DADT full repeal certified by the President
This past Friday President Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all signed a letter certifying that the military is ready to fully repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" which prevented openly gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women from serving in the military. By signing the certification, a 60 day period was started that will end with the full repeal of DADT. "In the meantime, a court injunction still prohibits the military from discharging or investigating individuals under DADT."
Critics accuse Obama of "thrusting" the repeal on the armed forces, which they argue are not ready for the changes in policy, despite the thorough review and trainings that have taken place since last December.
While there is clearly still some work to be done for full equality for the LGBT community in military service, this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Equality in taxes might be on its way
The Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, recently introduced to the House by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, along with New York Republican Reps. Richard Hanna and Nan Hayworth, may lead to more equality in taxing both employers who provide protections for employees in domestic partnerships and the employees themselves. Currently those in domestic partnerships have to calculate health care benefits into their income to pay taxes, while married couples do not, fiscally discriminating against gay and lesbian couples.
The bill was originally introduced in 2001 but since then the number of domestic partnerships has increased greatly, increasing the need for both employers and employees to demand a change. Employers have to make adjustments to help compensate for these increased taxes on payroll, but if the bill is passed it will guarantee equity in taxation. It should be noted that "no business would be forced to provide domestic partner protections under the legislation, but those who chose to do so would no longer be penalized."
Big Bird, Leader of the Gay Mafia
Hollywood and the television industry are now being blamed by conservatives for propagating liberal values such as tolerance for the LGBT community, which according to those conservatives is a bad thing. Ben Shapiro, author of the book "Primetime Propaganda," which promotes this view of Hollywood, attacks Sesame Street for promoting the raising of children in a gender-neutral environment because it supposedly causes children to "become gay or support gay causes."
This is not the first time Sesame Street has been pinned down for promoting an LGBT-friendly environment. In the summer of 2010, a tweet from Sesame Street's Bert regarding his hairstyle compounded with the fact that he has lived with another man for 31 years led many to speculate his sexuality. A spokeswoman for Sesame Street, Ellen Lewis, said that nothing was meant to be implied by the tweet, and that the pair of Bert and Ernie is meant to teach children that two people with different personalities can be friends. This type of speculation, coupled with the fact that the show encourages boys to play with dolls and girls to play with trucks, are what led to Shapiro's arguments against the liberal messages in television.
Both Shapiro and former Ohio Attorney General Ken Blackwell contributed to a panel discussion about Shapiro's book hosted by Fox News' Sean Hannity. During the discussion Blackwell argued that the promotion of tolerance for gay people by both Hollywood and the government is attacking "two basic intermediary institutions, the family and the church," which may lead to a totalitarian regime in his mind. Furthermore, New Jersey Representative Chris Smith has referred to this increased tolerance encouraged through Obama's policies as "something of a disconnect" as "it is integrated into our human-rights reporting and human-rights data calls."
Luckily, the Obama Administration clearly disagrees with this notion of a "disconnect," as the President has clearly asserted that LGBT rights are human rights. It seems a bit extreme to link tolerance to totalitarianism. Rather than attacking families as an institution, shows like Sesame Street can help promote families of all types, no matter the sexuality of the parents.