September, 2015 News (96 Articles with 450,820 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for September, 2015 Todd Simpson proposes to current Miss Erie, Valerie Valentino, at the end of the August FACE show at the Zone.
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
Pride Shirts Discounted for Pride Weekend
Didn't get a chance to get your shirt for Pride yet? You're in luck! NW PA Pride Alliance still has Pride shirts available and they are discounted for Pride weekend! V-neck shirts in sizes small to XL are $13, tank tops in sizes small to XL are $15, and V-neck shirts in sizes 3XL and 3XL. There are also tote bags for $12 and 26 oz metal sports bottles for $15. You can get them at our online store OR you can get them in person at either the Pride Kickoff Show at the the Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie PA this Friday or at Pride Fest this Saturday at 2 PM in Griswold Park, 150 W 14th. Pride merchandise helps NW PA Pride Alliance keep Pride events free! Thanks for your support!
Wedding Expo in Cleveland Sep 27
You and your partner are invited to the 1st Annual 'Same Love, Same Rights' LGBT Wedding Expo on September 27! Dozens of gay-friendly exhibitors will participate, eager to help you and your fiancee plan the ceremony of your dreams! Couples, singles, and allies interested in marriage rights are all invited to attend.
Crime Victim Center holds Moonlight on the Bay Sept 11
Crime Victim Center will host our 4th annual Moonlight on the Bay gala at the Perry Monument on September 11, 2015. This unique event will be sure to amaze as we bring together the best Erie has to offer including gourmet Hors d'Oeuvres, local wines and locally brewed craft beers .Performing this year are the Mercyhurst D'Angelo Department of Music's string quartet followed by The Sam Hyman Band. Food and beverages, great company with the leaders iWith your help we can make a huge impact on crime in our region.
Donations at Erie Pride Fest for Erie Food Bank
As we gather to celebrate Pride this Saturday, August 29, we ask attendees to bring non-perishable donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA At all major Pride events, NW PA Pride Alliance has collected items to help those less fortunate, and we ask your help to keep this tradition going. You may bring your donations to the Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, between noon and 1 PM, before the Parade steps off at 1 PM. You may also bring your donation to Griswold Park, 150 W 14th St, where Pride Fest will be held from 2 to 4 PM.
Billy Winn performs at Pride Fest on Saturday, August 29
Among this year's performers at Pride Fest on Saturday, August 29 in Griswold Park, we're pleased to welcome Pop/Electronic/Dance - Urban Electro recording artist and Pittsburgh native Billy Winn.
5th Annual Afternoon for Equality Recap
The Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Inc. (GEAE) would like to thank those who helped make its fifth annual Afternoon for Equality social and fundraiser the most successful one to date. On July 19th, Erie community members gathered at 21 La Rue Dix to celebrate this year's advances and advocates for the LGBTQ community from the historic SCOTUS decision on marriage equality in June to the local trans-youth that have emerged as their own advocates in area schools. This year, GEAE was proud to present the first local LGBT Community Progress Awards to two long-standing corporate allies: GE Transportation and Erie Insurance. At the event, GEAE Board President, Will Koehler, presented GEAE's 5-year vision to work with local allies in order to increase Erie's Municipal Equality Index (MEI) from its current rating of 57/100 to 100/100 by 2020 (Human Rights Campaign, 2014). His address highlighted the first phase of this vision which is to conduct a multi-phase LGBT community needs assessment. This assessment includes working with NWPA Pride Alliance to form a community roundtable discussion group and working with Edinboro University's Social Work Department to conduct a needs assessment survey. Over 80 people participated in the Afternoon including State Representative Ryan Bizzaro, City Council Member Bob Merski, and founding Board member, Bob Howden. We are grateful to this year's Hosts, Friends, Partners, and Equality Advocates that enabled us to raise over $10,000 towards our efforts to improve Erie's MEI! We look forward to working with these resources to complete our needs assessment, offer quality educational programing such as the 2nd Biennial Intersections of Equality on November 7th, and other service opportunities and social events throughout the remainder of 2015 and beyond. Please visit our website GreaterErieAlliance.org to take our survey, learn more about us, and to donate to our 2020 vision.
TransFamily of Erie is Expanding
No matter what your feelings are on Caitlyn Jenner, there is no disputing that she is having a very positive impact on our community. She may not know all the right things to say yet, but she is working hard on learning. No one can ask for more than that. Aside from Chaz Bono, she is by far the most high profile person ever to come out as transgender, and she is challenging a lot of people's thinking on what it means to be male or female. Locally, her coming out is making a difference. Since her appearance on ABC with Diane Sawyer, and the resulting local media attention, TransFamily of Erie has doubled in size. Most interesting is the explosion of attendance by trans youth, as well as people from the more rural areas of NW PA. Launched in February 2013, TransFamily started with about eight people, many of whom were already out and part of the Erie Sisters and Brothers. Since then, our group has grown to roughly 60 attendees, with our largest single attendance of 36 in June! Our attendees come from all over northwest PA and northeast OH.
Free Health Screening at Pride Fest on August 29
The NW PA Pride Alliance is pleased to offer FREE health screenings again at this year's Pride Fest! Pride Fest will take place on Saturday, August 29th, from 2 PM until 4 PM in Griswold Park, 150 W 14th St, Erie PA. Blood pressure and BMI screenings will be provided by Great Lakes Institute of Technology (GLIT). HIV testing will be provided by the Erie County Department of Health and Community Health Net. In addition to OraSure tests (oral swab; results in 2 – 3 weeks), OraQuick rapid testing will be available (small finger stick; results in 30 minutes). The newest addition to our health and wellness efforts is chair massages, courtesy of GLIT. NW PA Pride Alliance is proud to help everyone in our LGBTQ be happy, healthy, safe, and relaxed! Looking forward to seeing all of you at this year's Pride Fest!
CANCELED - Fall Candidate Forum on September 23 at MHA of NW PA
PLEASE NOTE! Due to the state budget impasse, the candidate forum originally scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2015 by the Mental Health Association (MHA) of NW PA and NW PA Pride Alliance at the Mental Health Association of NW PA, 1101 Peach St, Erie PA has had to be canceled. Our respective organizations apologize for any inconvenience. Erie Gay News will still be publishing a Voters Guide in issue #240, to be released the night of October 20.
20th Anniversary Family Portrait To Be Taken at Pride Fest on August 29
It's hard to believe, but 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the first ever LGBT Family Portrait. To celebrate this milestone, everyone is invited to be in the Family Portrait that will be taken at the start of Pride Fest on Saturday, August 29 in Griswold Park, 150 W 14th St, Erie PA. The day will begin with assembling beginning at noon for the Pride Parade from the Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th S, step off for 1 PM. The parade will end up in Griswold Park. As we arrive in Griswold, anyone who wants to be in the Family Portrait should gather in front of and facing the stage. A photographer will take the Family Portrait from the stage, and that will then kick off Pride Fest at 2 PM.
Entertainment and Travel
Buffalo United Artists Proudly Presents Buyer & Cellar
A Western NY PREMIERE for Curtain Up! Buffalo United Artists presents Buyer & Cellar, an OUTRAGEOUS comedy about the oddest of odd jobs: an underemployed Los Angeles actor going to work in Barbra Streisand’s personal shopping mall in the basement of her Malibu home. Winner of the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Best Play. A hit in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. The play is directed by Doug Weyand stars Kurt Erb. It runs September 18 through October 4 at Alleyway’s Main Street Cabaret in the heart of the Theatre District at 672 Main St, Buffalo NY. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 7:00 p.m. (no performance September 25th.) Tickets are $25.00 general admission, $23.00 for seniors, $20.00 for members, $15.00 for students. Call the box office at (716) 886-9239.
An Evening with 'Invisible Thread' creators at Mercyhurst Sept. 9
From the rolling hills of Uganda to a stifling NYC apartment, Invisible Thread (formerly titled Witness Uganda) engages audiences as it weaves poetic lyricism throughout spoken word, musical theatre and gospel. Our opening night performance features show creators Griffin Matthews and Matt Gould, alongside a local gospel choir, presenting the music from their award-winning show before it premieres on Broadway this fall. Griffin, a black American volunteer, arrives in Uganda from New York City to help build a school and escape his church's probing into his sexuality. But when he meets a group of destitute, orphaned teenagers, he becomes obsessed with a mission that will change his and their lives forever. Fresh off a workshop at Disney hosted by music theatre legend Steven Schwartz, the score from this two-time winner of the Richard Rogers Award for Musical Theater will come alive in Erie for one night only. Invisible Thread is the story of a man battling to find his place in a world full of injustice as he asks "is changing the world even possible?"
Local Faces and Photos
FACE Show Marriage Proposal
On Sunday, August 16, 2015, the last performance at Michelle Michaels' FACE show at The Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie PA, was the reigning Miss Erie, Valerie Valentino, AKA Derek. Derek's boyfriend, Todd (AKA Victoria London) had planned a surprise marriage proposal with the cooperation of Michelle Michaels and other performers. After accepting, Derek's mom, who was in attendance, had requested a song for the newly engaged couple to dance to, and soon almost everyone in the bar was on the dance floor as well. Todd and Derek both reside in Ohio, which was one of the states involved in the US Supreme Court marriage equality decision on June 26 of this year. Wishing the couple much happiness!
Political, Activism and Legal
Virginia Federal Court Rules Against Transgender Student Seeking to Use Appropriate Restroom at School
NORFOLK, Va. - September 4, 2015 – A federal court in Virginia today ruled against a transgender male student who sought a preliminary injunction to resume using the boys' restrooms at Gloucester High School when school begins this fall. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar's order keeps in place a discriminatory policy that segregates transgender students from their peers and requires them to use "alternative private" restroom facilitie
GLSEN Greater Dayton on Troy City School Board & Superintendent to NOT discriminate against transgender students
DAYTON, Ohio (September 3, 2015) – GLSEN Greater Dayton's Education Coordinator, Milea Henson released the following statement in support of Troy City Schools. We at GLSEN Greater Dayton fully support Troy City Schools in Ohio for their decision to abide by and implement Title IX by allowing transgender students to use the facilities of their gender identity. Despite the importance of a safe and affirming school climate for all students, this is not always the case. According to the 2013 National School Climate Survey (NSCS), 59 percent of transgender students had been required to use the bathroom or locker room of their legal sex. LGBT students who experienced discrimination at school were more than three times as likely to have missed school in the past month as those who did not, had lower GPAs than their peers, and had lower self-esteem and higher levels of depression.
FINALLY! Marriage Equality Arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky
WASHINGTON - September 4, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the news that marriage equality has finally arrived in Rowan County, Kentucky. After a defiant county clerk was held in contempt of court for her refusal to follow the law yesterday, an official in the clerk's office today finally complied with the law and began issuing marriage licenses.
U.S. District Court Holds Kentucky Clerk in Contempt for Refusing Marriage Licenses
ASHLAND, Ky. - September 3, 2015 – U.S. District Court Judge David L. Bunning today found Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in contempt of court for violating a federal court order that required her to issue marriage licenses to couples in the case Miller v. Davis, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.
TLDEF Applauds Obama Administration for Efforts to Ban Transgender Health Care Discrimination Across U.S.
New York, NY - September 3, 2015 - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) proposed regulation to prohibit health care discrimination against transgender Americans. If adopted, the Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities rule would prohibit discrimination against transgender people in all health care facilities that receive HHS funds and ban the widespread insurance industry practice of excluding coverage for transgender health care in all plans sold by insurance companies that participate in health insurance exchanges. It would also require all state Medicaid plans to cover transgender health care. The rule is designed to implement the Affordable Care Act's non-discrimination provision, Section 1557.
CONTEMPT OF COURT: Rowan County Clerk Held Accountable For Defying the Law
WASHINGTON - September 3, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the news that Kentucky's Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has been found in contempt of court for her refusal to follow a federal court order directing her to begin issuing marriage licenses to all qualified same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
NCLR Welcomes Proposed HHS Non-Discrimination Provision for Transgender Individuals
(Washington, DC, September 3, 2015) - Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed regulations for Section 1557, the Affordable Care Act's non-discrimination provision. The proposed regulations will prohibit healthcare providers and insurance companies from denying transgender people medically necessary care because of their gender identity. This includes everything from routine medical exams to transition-related care.
HHS Proposes Critical Regulation to Protect Transgender People From Discrimination in Healthcare
WASHINGTON - August 3, 2015 – Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights proposed a regulation that provides explicit protections from discrimination on the basis of sex stereotyping and gender identity in healthcare and insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization praised the proposed regulation, as well as the stated commitment by HHS to preventing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
HHS Proposes New Rules Banning Trans Health CareDiscrimination
Washington, DC - August 3, 2015 - Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposed rules to implement the non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act, Section 1557. The law prohibits discrimination in many health facilities and insurance plans based on race, national origin, age, disability, and sex--including bias based on gender identity. These rules would make it illegal to categorically deny health care coverage related to gender transition, exclusions that still appear in the vast majority of privateand public health insurance plans in the United States. Instead, plans must cover medically necessary medications, surgeries, and other treatments for gender dysphoria for transgender people if they cover similar services to non-transgender people with other medical conditions.
Two Landmark Transgender Rights Bills Pass California Assembly
(San Francisco, CA, September 2, 2015)-Today, the California State Assembly passed two bills-authored by Senator Mark Leno and co-sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Equality California, and Transgender Law Center-protecting transgender people who work for companies doing business with state agencies and transgender children in the foster care system.
Where Does Rand Paul Stand on Kentucky Clerk Flouting Federal Law?
WASHINGTON - September 1, 2015 -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, called on Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul, as well as others seeking the highest office in the land, to say whether they believe Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis should be allowed to infringe on the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry the person they love, and continue to refuse issuing them marriage licenses.
New Report Examines Harmful Implications of Broad Religious Exemption Laws
DENVER, September 1, 2015 —The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) today released a new report examining how state and federal religious exemption laws—which expand the ways in which people and organizations can be exempt from laws and regulations that conflict with their religious beliefs—are being used to harm a broad range of people, interfere with law enforcement, and undermine the rule of law.
U.S. Supreme Court Denies Kentucky County Clerk's Request to Continue Refusing Marriage Licenses
NEW YORK - August 31, 2015 – The U.S. Supreme Court has denied, without dissent, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis her request for a stay of an order from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that required her to issue marriage licenses immediately to couples in the case Miller v. Davis.
Supreme Court Declines Emergency Stay Request from Anti-LGBT Rowan County Clerk
WASHINGTON - August 31, 2015 – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a petition from Kentucky's Rowan County clerk Kim Davis for an emergency stay on a court order requiring her to immediately start issuing marriage licenses to all eligible applicants, including same-sex couples. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, welcomed the news as affirmation that personal religious opinions of public officials should not trump the fundamental rights of LGBT Americans.
Transgender Inmate Ashley Diamond Released from Georgia Prison after Pressure from SPLC Lawsuit
GROVETOWN, Ga. - August 31, 2015 – Ashley Diamond, the transgender inmate who sued the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) after being denied a safe environment and medically necessary gender dysphoria treatment, was released today after more than three years in prison, where she was housed with male inmates and sexually assaulted eight times.
New National Survey Shows Majority of Americans Support Open Transgender Military Service
WASHINGTON - August 28, 2015 – Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families, responded to the results of a new national survey that show a majority of Americans support open service by transgender people in the U.S. military. The results were released by University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office and were part of a survey aimed at "gauging attitudes towards transgender inclusive policies in health and healthcare, K-12 education, U.S. military, and in prisons."
Keystone Progress on Introduction of The Pennsylvania Fairness Act (HB 1510 / SB 974), LGBT Non-Discrimination Bill
Harrisburg, PA 0 August 27, 2015 – Michael Morrill, Executive Director of Keystone Progress, gave the following statement on the introduction of HB 1510 & SB 974, LGBT non-discrimination:
NCLR Statement on Federal Raid of Rentboy.com
(San Francisco, CA, August 27, 2015)—On Tuesday Federal agents arrested Rentboy.com CEO Jeffrey Hurant and six of the company's employees on prostitution charges. The agents also seized their homes, bank accounts, and $1.4 million.
PayPal Endorses Landmark Equality Act As Corporate Support for Critical LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation Grows
WASHINGTON August 27, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed PayPal for becoming the latest company to announce public support for the newly-introduced Equality Act, a landmark federal bill that would guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people from discrimination in many of the most important aspects of their lives.
BREAKING: Black Lives Matter and GetEQUAL Organizers Call On Hillary Clinton to Stand With Black Transgender Women
CLEVELAND, OH - August 27, 2015 -- Moments ago, organizers with GetEQUAL and Black Lives Matter disrupted Hillary Clinton's grassroots campaign event in Cleveland, OH, demanding that she divest from private prisons and invest in the liberation of black transgender women.
Critical Legislation Introduced To Protect LGBT Pennsylvanians From Discrimination
WASHINGTON - August 26, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the introduction of the bipartisan Pennsylvania Fairness Act in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Introduced by Representatives Dan Frankel (D-23) and Thomas H. Killion (R-168) in the House of Representatives and Senators Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr. (D-1) and Patrick M. Browne (R-16) in the Senate, this critically important legislation would update the state's non-discrimination law to explicitly include protections for LGBT people from discrimination at work, in housing, and in public places.
Court Denies Kentucky County Clerk's Request to Continue Refusing Marriage Licenses
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - August 26, 2015 – A federal appeals court today denied Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' request for a stay on the order requiring that she issue marriage licenses to couples in the case Miller v. Davis.
Public Official's Personal Religious Opinion No Excuse To Refuse Service To Same-Sex Couples
WASHINGTON - August 26, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the news that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has denied a request from Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis of Kentucky to issue a stay on a lower court's ruling that orders her to immediately resume issuing marriage licenses – including to same-sex couples – regardless of her religious objections to marriage equality. U.S. District Judge David Bunning had temporarily stayed his order directing her to do so while Davis appealed his decision to the Sixth Circuit.
Equality PA Applauds the Introduction of the PA Fairness Act
Harrisburg - August 26, 2015 – Today the PA Fairness Act was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to update the Human Relations Act to ensure that no one can be fired from a job, turned away from a business, or evicted from a home just for being gay or transgender.
Bipartisan Support Announced for 'Pennsylvania Fairness Act' to Boost Economic Competitiveness
The legislation (S.B. 974 and H.B. 1510) would update Pennsylvania's current nondiscrimination law – originally written in 1955 – to ensure that all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, disability and now – sexual orientation, gender identity and expression – can participate in and contribute to the state's economy.
Report: Military's Transgender Ban Could End By May 2016
Washington - August 26, 2015 – Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families, responded to a report by USA Today that the military could officially lift its ban on transgender service by May of 2016.
Transgender Law Center condemns Rentboy.com raid, reiterates call to decriminalize sex work
August 26, 2015- Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security suddenly raided the offices of Rentboy.com, which has been operating in public view for 18 years, and arrested several staff on charges of racketeering and promoting prostitution. This bust comes at a time when human rights advocates globally are uniting around a call to decriminalize sex work and at a time when the United States has the largest prison population in the world, with people of color, particularly Black people, representing a vastly disproportionate percentage of the incarcerated.
Campus Pride releases Top 25 list of the 'Best of the Best' LGBTQ-friendly campuses across the nation
August 25, 2015 - Campus Pride announced today the 2015 Campus Pride Top 25 LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities. For seven years, the listing has highlighted the most LGBTQ-inclusive colleges and universities when it comes to policy, program and practice in higher education.
Historic UN Briefing on LGBT People Focuses on Persecution and Killings in Iraq and Syria
(New York - August 24, 2015) – During an historic briefing before the U.N. Security Council on violence against LGBT by ISIS, Jessica Stern, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), urged world governments to act urgently to support people targeted by extremist persecution and cruel acts in Iraq and Syria.
On HBO's Last Week Tonight: GOP Candidates Duck on the Equality Act
WASHINGTON - August 24, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, called on the Republican candidates running for president to tell the American public where they stand on the Equality Act, a landmark federal non-discrimination bill that would finally extend key civil rights protections to LGBT Americans. HBO's Last Week Tonight reported last night that the entire field of Republican candidates for President refused to answer a simple yes or no question about whether they would support such a bill. The segment also noted that Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. John Kasich both weakened non-discrimination protections for LGBT people during their tenure.
Trans Liberation Tuesday: #BlackLivesMatter Organizers Stand Up for Black Transgender Women
NATIONWIDE -- On Tuesday, August 25th, in cities around the country, Black Lives Matter and organizers will stand against the violence facing black transgender women, saying once and for all that Black Trans Lives Matter.
Ellen Page Serves Ted Cruz 'Equality on a Stick' at Iowa State Fair for Defending LGBT Discrimination
WASHINGTON - August 21, 2015 – Today, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz found himself on the defensive in Iowa after his speech on the Des Moines Register Soap Box after taking questions from actress Ellen Page, who came out in 2014 at HRC's Time to Thrive conference. Page has since become an activist and role model for LGBT youth, and also stars in "Freeheld" with Julianne Moore, an upcoming film that documents the struggle of real life lesbian couple Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree to overcome discrimination.
First-Ever Security Council Briefing Focuses on LGBTI Rights Abuses
(New York - August 21, 2015) -- The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) will brief the U.N. Security Council on Monday, August 24, during the first-ever Council briefing on LGBTI human rights violations. The briefing, an informal session known as an "Arria,", focuses on alleged atrocities committed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Illinois Law Banning Conversion Therapy Against LGBT Youth First to Contain 'Consumer Fraud' Provision
August 21, 2015 - "Illinois did the right thing by passing a law to protect LGBT youth from the harmful and fraudulent practice of conversion therapy. What's new and progressive about Illinois' law banning this 'therapy' is that it's the first to include a provision that says advertising this practice amounts to consumer fraud.
Iranian Press Criticism Shows Why New Story of LGBT Persecution in Iran is Needed
(New York - August 21, 2015) -- The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) says an Iranian newspaper's disparaging characterization of its newly serialized "Yousef & Farhad " graphic novel underscores why the organization's campaign for greater acceptance of LGBTI people in Iran is so urgently needed.
Illinois Becomes Fifth Jurisdiction to Protect LGBTQ Kids from Conversion Therapy
(Springfield, Ill August 20, 2015)—Today, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 217 into law, making Illinois the fifth jurisdiction—behind California, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, and Oregon—to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy.
School Survey on Crime and Safety to Ask About Anti-LGBT Harassment and Hate Crimes, Presence of GSAs
NEW YORK (August 19, 2015) – The U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has received approval from the federal Office of Management and Budget to include additional questions about anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bias in schools and the existence of supportive student clubs in schools in the 2016 and 2018 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS
LGBT Rights Organizations Join Amnesty International in Call to Decriminalize Sex Work
August 20, 2015 – On Thursday, several LGBT rights organizations across the country issued the following joint statement in support of Amnesty International's August 11th resolution supporting sex worker human rights.
FINALLY! Defense Department Adds Germany To List of Duty Stations Available to Same-Sex Military Couples
WASHINGTON - August 20, 2015 – Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families, received word from military officials that Germany has finally been added to the list of duty assignments outside of the United States available for same-sex couples. Previously, same-sex spouses of U.S. service members were denied "command sponsorship" to duty stations in Germany due to concerns that they were not covered under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). While opposite-sex spouses were able to accompany their service member to their new duty stations, same-sex spouses and their children were left behind.
130 Major Organizations Urge Obama Administration to Rescind Discriminatory Bush-Era 'Religious Freedom' Memo
WASHINGTON - August 20, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization joined a total of 130 major religious, education, civil rights, labor, LGBT, women's, and health organizations in a letter to President Obama urging him to review and reconsider a memo from the Office of Legal Counsel that has been used to permit taxpayer funded discrimination. The letter warns that the 2007 memo "reaches the erroneous and dangerous conclusion that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) provides a blanket override of a statutory non-discrimination provision. "
New HRC Polling Shows Strong Support for Equality Act in Swing House Districts
WASHINGTON - August 20, 2015 – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released new polling to show broad support for the newly introduced Equality Act in swing districts across the country. The Equality Act – which was introduced with a record number of original cosponsors -- would ensure permanent non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans.
ACLU Comment on Chelsea Manning Prison 'Contraband' Guilty Verdict
NEW YORK - August 19, 2015 - A closed disciplinary board at the military correctional facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, last night found Chelsea Manning guilty of four charges, including possessing prohibited material and disrespecting a prison officer.
Social Justice Group Launches Largest Survey Ever of Transgender Americans
Washington, DC — On Wednesday, August 19th, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) opened the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey (USTS), the follow-up to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, in attempt to gather a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of transgender people in the United States. The 2015 US Trans Survey is expected to be the largest, most extensive study ever undertaken of trans lives in America.
Missouri Court of Appeals Allows Lesbian Mother to Seek Custody
(Kansas City, MO, August 18, 2015)—Today, the Western District Court of Appeals in Kansas City, Missouri held that a woman who planned for and raised twin children with her long-term same-sex partner can seek custody of the children.
DelBene, Pelosi Continue Fight for LGBT Equality
SEATTLE - August 18, 2015 – Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) called on Congress to pass the Equality Act, a comprehensive bill that aims to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.
Call it Out: RNC Quietly Passes Anti-LGBT Resolution
WASHINGTON - August 18, 2015 – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the following statement after media reports that the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed an anti-LGBT resolution in support of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). Going far beyond protecting the rights established in the First Amendment, this anti-LGBT legislation would undermine the rule of law and promote taxpayer-funded discrimination.
NCTE Policy Advisor Becomes First Openly Trans White House Official
Washington, DC - August 18, 2015 - National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) staff member Raffi Freedman-Gurspan has been appointed as an Outreach and Recruitment Director for Presidential Personnel in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Freedman-Gurspan is the first openly transgender official in history to serve in the White House. She previously served as NCTE's Policy Advisor for the Racial and Economic Justice Initiative.
Anti-LGBT County Clerk Gets Time to Appeal Judge's Decision Over Her Opposition to Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON - August 17, 2015 - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the news that U.S. District Judge David Bunning temporarily stayed his order requiring Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis of Kentucky to immediately begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as she appeals his decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Statement from HRC President Chad Griffin on the Passing of Julian Bond
WASHINGTON - August 16, 2015 – Following news early this morning of the passing of civil rights leader Julian Bond, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a statement from its president, Chad Griffin:
Annual NW PA NOW Fundraising Auction on Sep 12
Mark your calendars and see the date to attend NOW's annual fundraising auction party on Saturday, September 12, 2015. Come join the fun is once again celebrate Northwest Pennsylvania NOW's annual auction at the beautiful Goodell Gardens and Homesteadon on Route 6N in Edinboro. The fund begins at 4 PM and last until whenever. NW PA NOW Board member Tracie Andrews and her musical partner, known as The Flapjacks, will provide musical entertainment for the first hour. You don't want to miss this chance to gather with other feminists for great food and drinks in excellent company. Plan on coming out is a look forward to her wanted to be here that funds are chapters activities around women's issues. The food, wine, beer, soffits, and a lot of laughs. It's $10 per person and that fee will be waived for anyone who contributes an auction item.
AUF Statement on Pennsylvania Legislation
"I want to applaud Pennsylvania Competes and the coalition of businesses, universities and local advocates that have signed on to support a bipartisan effort to pass nondiscrimination legislation that would protect LGBT citizens from discrimination in the workplace and in their daily lives," said Tyler Deaton, Senior Advisor to American Unity Fund.
Powerful Human Rights Story About Two Iranian Gay Men Struggling for Acceptance Launched
(New York) – Starting Thursday, August 12, on Facebook [ http://www.facebook.com/yousef.farhad.story ], the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) launches the first episode of a commissioned graphic novel, Yousef and Farhad, a story about the struggles for acceptance by two fictional gay men in Iran. This weekly publication will be the start of the digital campaign: #LoveForAll. The campaign kickoff on Facebook includes weekly episodes in both English and Farsi with additional posts about the real life struggles of LGBTIQ people in Iran and across the world.
Chris Christie to Transgender Community: You're 'Beyond the Pale'
WASHINGTON - August 13, 2015 - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the following statement after media reports that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "laughed on Thursday about his recent veto of legislation that would have streamlined the process in his state for transgender people to change the gender marker on their birth certificates." Christie made his comments on a right-wing radio talk show. On the show, Christie defended the veto by saying, "certain things go beyond the pale."
NCLR Applauds Colorado Court of Appeals Ruling on Masterpiece Cakeshop
(San Francisco, CA, August 13, 2015)—Today the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the state's Civil Rights Commission in Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop. The Colorado Court affirmed the Commission's ruling that the store violated Colorado law by refusing services to a gay couple based on the owner's disapproval of their wedding.
Masterpiece Cakeshop Violates Civil Rights Law for Turning Away Gay Couple, Court Rules
DENVER - August 13, 2015 – The Colorado Court of Appeals today ruled that a cake shop cannot refuse service to a gay couple because of who they are. The ruling comes on the heels of oral arguments from early July in a discrimination case brought by a same-sex couple against a cake shop that refused to sell them a cake for their wedding reception.
Florida is Breaking the Law By Refusing To Acknowledge Married Same-Sex Couples As Parents on Birth Certificates
(Tallahassee, FL, August 13, 2015)—Just days ago, Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello—the first same-sex couple to be married in Florida—celebrated the birth of their twin son and daughter. But the couple's joy was soon mixed with fear and frustration when the hospital denied Cathy the right to add her name to the children's birth certificates.
Health Care Costs for Transgender Military Members Will Be Minimal
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - August 13, 2015 – A new analysis published today in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine finds that the cost of providing transition-related health care for transgender service members will be minimal after the Pentagon lifts its ban. In "Caring for Our Transgender Troops—The Negligible Cost of Transition-Related Care," Dr. Aaron Belkin, Palm Center director and visiting professor at University of California, Hastings, concludes that the analysis should allay concerns about financial implications of inclusive policy. "Under any plausible estimation method," Belkin said, "the costs are minimal."
Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction to Four Rowan County Couples Denied Service by County Clerk
August 12, 2-15 - U.S. district judge David Bunning ruled today that four couples must be able to obtain marriage licenses in Rowan County, holding that personal religious beliefs do not exempt government officials from performing the duties of public office.
After Australian Prime Minister Abbott Denies Parliament Conscience Vote, HRC Asks: What Are You Afraid Of?
WASHINGTON August 11, 2015 - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, joins with Australian Marriage Equality in expressing disappointment and anger at Prime Minister Tony Abbott's latest political stunt: overriding the nearly three-quarters of Australians who believe in marriage equality by denying Members of Parliament the right to vote according to their own conscience on national marriage equality legislation. Prime Minister Abbott met with members of the governing coalition who determined that party members will be forced to vote according to party lines, even if they wish to support marriage equality legislation. Though Prime Minister Tony Abbott remains a staunch opponent of marriage equality, members of his own party support the proposal and were expected to cross party lines if a conscience vote had been allowed.
Gov. Chris Christie Vetoes Another Important Bill for Transgender New Jerseyans
WASHINGTON - August 11, 2015 – For the second time in two years, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has shamefully vetoed a bill that would have made easier for transgender residents to obtain an appropriate birth certificate reflecting their identity. The bill Christie vetoed (S1195) would have allowed state agencies to change a birth certificate as long as proof was provided that the individual was undergoing gender transition. Currently, transgender New Jerseyans can only obtain an updated birth certificate if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, which is not always necessary or safe, and can be cost-prohibitive for low-income people.
NCLR Launches Campaign to Reform State Parenting Laws
(San Francisco, CA, August 11, 2015)—Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) launched its #Equality4Families campaign to raise awareness about the need to reform state laws so that they fully protect LGBT parents' rights to care for their children.
National Center for Transgender Equality Responds to Governor Christie's 2nd Veto of Birth Certificate Modernization Bil
August 10, 2015 - Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would have eased access to accurate birth certificates for transgender people. This is Governor Christie's second veto of this legislation despite overwhelming support in the New Jersey General Assembly. In response, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) State Policy Counsel, Arli Christian, who has worked closely with local and state advocates on this bill, issued the following statement:
State of CA and Transgender Law Center reach historic settlement over trans prisoner health care
August 7, 2015 - Today, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reached a groundbreaking settlement with Shiloh Quine, a transgender woman held in a men's prison, to provide medical care, including gender-affirming surgery, determined necessary by several medical and mental health professionals. In the settlement, the state also agreed to change its policies so that transgender prisoners can access clothing and commissary items consistent with their gender identity. The state also affirmed that it is revising its policies regarding transgender inmates' access to medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria, including surgery.
GLAD Deplores Judge's Dismissal of Class Action Lawsuit Against Social Security Administration
August 7, 2015 - U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson has dismissed a class action lawsuit in which the Social Security Administration (SSA) was charged with discriminating against SSI recipients who are married to a person of the same sex. Social Security did not recognize the recipients' marriages until more than a year after the fall of the Defense of Marriage Act with the Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Windsor in June 2013. GLAD, Justice in Aging, and Foley Hoag LLP filed Held v. Colvin in March 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Health
AHF: Porn 'Privacy' Fig Leaf Hides STD Data
LOS ANGELES (September 2, 2015) Nearly three years after Southern California's porn industry filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County seeking to block implementation of Ballot Measure B, the County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, the so-called "condoms in porn" measure spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) which Los Angeles County voters passed with an overwhelming margin of voter support—57% to 43%—in the November 2012 election, the adult industry now appears unwilling or unable to defend its own voluntary STD & HIV testing program, which the industry has long asserted negates the need for condom use.
Downtown Funk Parody of Uptown Funk Hit Music Video Promotes Safer-Sex Message
LOS ANGELES (August 26, 2015) — This week AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's largest HIV/AIDS organization serving over 460,000 patients annually across the globe, released its latest music video parody, "Downtown Funk," a high-energy, professionally-produced music video that promotes STD awareness and safer-sex inspired by "Uptown Funk," the internationally chart-topping song recorded by British producer Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. Filmed in Los Angeles and at multiple gay pride celebrations where AHF's customized "Check Your Wiener" bus rolled down parade routes, the video features lyrics and a vocal performance by Danny Fernandez—star of AHF's hugely popular "(One Stop) Thrift Shop" music video parody of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" video that logged 250K views—and included cameos by Mr. and Mrs. Gay Ohio and drag performers Allusia Alusia, Misty Violet, and Cake Moss.
Volunteering and Your Mental Health
From Life Beyond Therapy: When I lived in Los Angeles, I used to volunteer for my church. On many Sunday afternoons, I would join a group of men and women who went downtown and fed hungry people.
Addressing needs of LGBT seniors
With the aging of the baby boomers, nearly 80 million Americans born between 1946 and 1965 will need some types of service in their senior years. Of these 80 million approximately 2.4 million to 8 million are LGBT approaching the retirement age (Source: Senior Action in a Gay Environment)
Online Anonymous Survey: Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer-Identified Women Participants Needed
Online Anonymous Survey: Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer-Identified Women participants are needed. Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old, be English-speaking, self identify as a sexual minority woman (lesbian, bisexual and queer –identitied woman/women with same-sex attractions or same-sex partners.) The survey is a 10-15 minute anonymous online survey to explore issues that affect breast and cervical cancer screening usage of sexual minority women. It consists of questions about your breast and cervical cancer screening utilization, your sexual orientation, sexual behavior and her social experience as a sexual minority woman, including how you feel others perceive you. You will also be asked if you have ever been diagnosed with cancer.
AHF on Latest PrEP Ad: 'What Is Different Than What We've Said Before?'
LOS ANGELES (August 19, 2015) In response to ongoing and inaccurate media coverage and reporting on AHF's position on the use of Gilead Science's AIDS treatment Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is releasing this statement to reiterate and clarify where AHF stands—and has stood—on PrEP.
AHF's 'StraightOuttaCondoms' Ad Campaign Riffs Film, But Packs Serious Health Messages
LOS ANGELES (August 14, 2015) Timed to coincide with today's release of the widely anticipated new film, 'Straight Outta Compton,' AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is launching 'StraightOuttaCondoms,' a new safer sex media campaign that includes billboard and bus bench ads in Los Angeles as well as a related public service announcement promoting condom use that will play with the film in over 80 theaters in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Labor Day, Walmart and Me
Labor Day is the traditional end of summer. For me it's been a special summer with my wife Dee.
Another Catholic conflict ahead of papal visit
From Philadelphia Gay News: Oh, how I hoped to not be writing another column about the World Meeting of Families in September, but actions by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput and the Catholic League s Bill Donohue must be answered.
The Amazon Trail: Dykey Dorothy and Friends
Near where I live, closeted lesbians built and installed a bench on a mostly hidden concrete path between grassy sand dunes, out of sight of any casual observer. The bench was created in the mid 1990s to pay respect to members of the group who had died.
An activist's memory lane
From Philadelpia Gay News: In recent months, it has occurred to me that a little research on my past was in order for a project that has occupied my time for the last few years.
Contests
Enter to win III. from JoJo!
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Enter to win Introducing Darlene Love!
Enter to win Introducing Darlene Love! Introducing Darlene Love, the first new album in decades from the legendary vocalist, DARLENE LOVE. Featuring the Elvis Costello-penned single "Forbidden Nights" and other tracks written by Bruce Springsteen, Linda Perry, Joan Jett, Stevie Van Zandt & more! Available September 18: http://smarturl.it/DarleneLoveAlbum. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between September 11 and October 2.
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