Compiled and with commentary by Dennis McMillan
Bath, MI – Michigan Dem Epically Smacks Down Homophobic, Anti-Gay Rights Group – 9.27
You may not have heard of the Public Advocate of the United States. Public Advocate has been rightfully designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and is run by Eugene Delgaudio, the Sterling District representative on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in Virginia.
Public Advocate is a notorious anti-gay group and recently sent out questionnaires to candidates in Michigan. One of these hit the mailbox of Josh Derke, the 27-year-old Democrat running in Michigan’s 93rd House District. His response was epic.
First, here is a portion of the cover letter accompanying the questionnaire Derke received: “Every day, the radical Homosexual Lobby erodes the American family through legislation designed to incorporate the homosexual lifestyle. As a moral, pro-family organization, Public Advocate defends American citizens against such immoral legislation. The Homosexual Lobby is pushing to have pedophilia reclassified as a Sexual Orientation as soon as possible.”
In addition to same-sex marriage exclusion, PA wanted pledges: “I will oppose attempts to add ‘Homosexuality,’ ‘Transsexuality,’ or ‘Pedophilia’ as protected classes or statuses under Michigan’s Anti-Discrimination Law.”
Derke’s fabulous response: “Alas, it seems your letter has reached me far too late. The Homosexual Lobby has already dug their fabulously manicured claws into me, and I am afraid to report that I have been brainwashed into mindless support of the Homosexual Agenda. Would that it were that your erudite survey had reached my desk earlier, ere I succumbed to their influence, my mind might yet be unshackled from the horrible idea that all people deserve equal treatment and dignity.”
Derke continued: “Pro-family is standing by your gay brother for merely being who he is. Pro-family is accepting your cousins, your friends, and homosexual parents across the globe for who they are. It is recognizing that all credible studies that have explored the issue of gay and lesbian parents have shown that they raise well-adjusted children who are just as successful as those raised by straight parents. Pro-family means that you’re not going to rip established families apart because you can’t see through the veil of your own self-defeating prejudices.”
All I can say is: “Derke for Michigan’s 93rd House District Forever!”
Source: eclectablog.com
Keithville, LA – Church Boots Out AA Group over Same-sex Weddings – 9.25
A local Alcoholics Anonymous group will have to find another place to meet, after the church told them they are no longer welcome because they don’t want to be forced to accommodate homosexual weddings.
In a letter signed by the pastor and minister of Westwood Baptist Church in Keithville, Louisiana, the AA group was informed that the church facility would no longer be available to their organization beginning October 1, 2014. The AA group had been holding their weekly meetings at the church for more than five years.
“As I am sure you are aware, God’s church, his written word, and its values and principles have come under a constant and aggressive attack from the homosexual and lesbian community,” the letter begins, before going on to say that “Churches and Christian businesses alike, across our nation, are being forced, by our legal system, to accommodate these groups in the use of their buildings/facilities to perform marriage ceremonies, receptions, etc.” due to a court decision they say was based on the fact that churches and business were accepting and accommodating other public entities, and therefore must also accommodate the homosexual and lesbian community.
Westwood’s Pastor David Venable says in order to stay in line with God’s word, the church had to make a tough and carefully considered decision.
“They have every protection; gay people have no protection; so who is it that should be afraid of being victimized?” questioned People Acting for Change and Equality political director Adrienne Critcher. “They say they are not out to get anyone, but they singled out homosexuals as having some agenda that they are trying to force on the Baptist Church.”
“Even if we have legalized gay marriage throughout the country, no church will be forced to marry gay people if they don’t want to,” Critcher points out.
She says it startles her that a church would turn protection into discrimination.
“Unfortunately, Louisiana has no statewide protections for gay people, so in the state of Louisiana, you can discriminate if you want to,” said Critcher.
And no, that was
not a misprint of the hateful homophobic “Westboro Baptist Church.” This is Westwood, also where God evidently discriminates.
Source: kpho.com
Salt Lake City, UT – Utahns Ready for Same-sex Marriage; Want Supreme Court to Rule – 9.29
A new statewide poll conducted by Benenson Strategy Group for Freedom to Marry finds a plurality of Utahns – 49% to 48% – agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to get a state-issued marriage license. Moreover, 61% believe legalizing marriage for same-sex couples in Utah is inevitable and will happen in the state within the next five years. And, by a large majority (67%), they want the U.S. Supreme Court to settle this question once and for all.
These numbers come as the Court begins its term and meets to consider Utah’s marriage case, Kitchen v. Herbert, along with four others, for the upcoming session.
The findings of the poll, conducted Sept. 21 to 23 of 500 adults over 18 across the state, also show that 94% believe the freedom to marry will not impact their marriage, with 84% saying it won’t impact their family, and 65% saying it won’t adversely impact the state.
Noting that Freedom to Marry has invested resources into Utah over the last several months in a public education campaign, founder and president Evan Wolfson said, “This poll shows that the people of Utah, like Americans all across the country, already support or are ready to live with the freedom to marry. Utahns, like Americans generally, believe the Supreme Court should act now and will rule in favor. Indeed, when the freedom to marry has come to states like Utah, there has been little or no real opposition or concern – even those who are less than keen know it’s coming and doesn’t affect their lives, their families, their marriages, or their community. The ‘dog that didn’t bark’ is further proof that America is ready for the freedom to marry and that it’s time for the Court to bring the country to national resolution.”
Utahns believe that the Court will ultimately rule in favor of marriage equality. And if they do rule in favor of the freedom to marry, most Utahns would be happy or not affected either way.
When the freedom to marry is supported by a plurality in Utah, one of our most conservative states, it means we are well on the way for nationwide marriage equality!
Source: freedomtomarry.org
Olive Branch, MS – Legally Married Mississippi Couple Faces AFA Backlash – 9.26
Jessica and Nick Fulgham of Olive Branch, MS, were married on September 18, 2014, in Madison County after over a year of dating. After becoming husband and wife, they shared their wedding video on Facebook so that their friends and family could share in their joy. Instead of being met with love and well wishes, they found that not all of their family was happy about this union, when Jessica’s cousin, Robby Rikard, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lyman, expressed his outrage over this union claiming “biological fraud” had been committed.
Nick Fulgham, who is a transgender male, has spent the last four years of his life transitioning from female to male. He started his transition in 2010, before having met his wife, and was legally declared a man by the state of Mississippi on July 11, 2014. It was at this time when the couple began planning their wedding, as legally, the two now had the right to marry as one man and one woman under law.
The claims of outrage being displayed by Rikard stem from his clear misinterpretation of law, and (as is often the case when dealing with Mississippi ministers) a lack of basic common sense. He is claiming that the couple who were married last week are, in fact, lesbians who have found a loophole in the Constitution that has allowed them to violate the sanctity of marriage.
He has now brought his claim to the Mississippi-based hate group American Family Association that, of course, has taken this story to the height of logic and ethics. They broadcasted an interview with Rikard, sharing his outrage over “Big Gay’s attempt to undermine the Constitution.” AFA’s all-knowing Bryan Fischer expressed his concern over why organizations such as HRC are not celebrating this victory of finding a way to work around the law.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Rainbow Center plans to host a protest of this church near Gulfport in order to show support to this family and with hopes of educating the public on marriage laws as well as transgender issues with the state of Mississippi.
Thank gawd AFA is once again protecting the “family” – from basic human rights!
Source: dailykos.com
Austin, TX – Same-sex Couples Complain of Hurdles to Get Texas Driver’s Licenses – 9.25
Some Texas gays and lesbians have been denied driver’s licenses because they took a same-sex spouse’s last name and the Department of Public Safety won’t accept out-of-state marriage licenses and other documents showing the change.
Almost the only way same-sex couples can nudge the DPS to issue driver’s licenses in their newly chosen names is to obtain either a Texas court order approving a name change or a new U.S. passport with that name.
Both moves are costly and time-consuming, though, and several gay and lesbian Texans complained this week.
“How many hoops are they going to make me jump through?” said Connie Wilson, who recently moved from California to Houston with her wife and three children, recounting how a DPS supervisor noticed that her married name didn’t match the one on her birth certificate.
Dallas resident Amanda Barbour, who took partner Heather Rodenborg’s last name after they married in June in Massachusetts, said she did enough research to know she couldn’t get a replacement driver’s license from the DPS without first going to court.
DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said the law enforcement agency must adhere to a 2005 state constitutional amendment that bars recognition of same-sex marriage. When verifying applicants’ identities, the DPS can’t accept same-sex marriage certificates from other states, he said.
The agency’s approach underscores how Texas has resisted a growing acceptance of gay marriage elsewhere in the U.S.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the GOP nominee for governor, has moved aggressively to prevent same-sex couples in Dallas and Austin from obtaining divorces in Texas after marrying in Massachusetts. The couples’ appeal is pending before the Texas Supreme Court.
And last year, the Texas Military Forces initially resisted a Pentagon order that state National Guard members’ gay spouses be able to register at five state facilities for federal marriage benefits accorded to heterosexual spouses.
In February, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio struck down Texas’ prohibitions on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. He held his ruling in abeyance so higher-ranking jurists, possibly even the U.S. Supreme Court, could weigh in.
The old saying, “Don’t mess with Texas,” apparently rings true at the DPS too.
Source: dallasnews.com
Local News Briefs
“Castro Cares” Addresses Quality of Life in the Castro and Upper Market
Everyone says they want to do something about homelessness and its consequences; now neighbors in the Castro are turning their concerns into action. “Castro Cares” has launched.
Under the leadership of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, a coalition of neighborhood groups will bring additional, dedicated resources to the Castro/Upper Market from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Police Department, and the Patrol Special Police.
The initiative begins with the placement in the Castro of a Homeless Outreach Team case manager, funded by the health department, to connect those living on the streets with services. When the full initiative rolls out over the coming year, Castro Cares will fund additional dedicated overtime SFPD officers, plus Patrol Special Police Officers and homeless outreach services.
Castro Cares is the result of an effort by a coalition of neighborhood groups, organizations and businesses working with District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who successfully championed for $100,000 per year in City start-up funds for two years. A private fundraising campaign began in October with the goal of raising an additional $235,000 per year.
Frustrated by the lack of progress in resolving quality of life issues in the Castro, the coalition has been meeting biweekly since October 2013. Supervisor Wiener facilitated meetings with the SFPD and the Police Commission. The coalition also met with HOPE Director Bevan Dufty, SF Patrol Special Police, and the Department of Public Health’s Homeless Outreach Team.
“It soon became clear that at this time, given current staffing levels, the police do not have the resources to address the issues to our satisfaction and neither does the Homeless Outreach Team,” said Community Benefit District Executive Director Andrea Aiello. “We realized we can continue to complain or we can try to do something ourselves. We opted for the latter.”
“The overall goal of Castro Cares is to improve the quality of life for those living on the street and for those who live, work, and play in the Castro/Upper Market,” said Alan Beach-Nelson, president, Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association. “When fully funded, the program will provide 44 hours of outreach work to at-risk populations.”
Story by Dennis McMillan
Governor Brown Signs Several Pieces of Vital LGBTQ Civil Rights Legislation
Governor Jerry Brown has signed three pieces of legislation sponsored by Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization in California: AB 2501, authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla; AB 1577, authored by Speaker of the Assembly Toni Atkins; and AB 496, authored by Assemblymember Rich Gordon. Each of these bills will reduce discrimination and advance equality for LGBTQ people in the nation’s largest state.
AB 2501, cosponsored by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, is the first of its kind in the nation. It will prohibit the use of the “panic defense,” a tactic used by criminal defendants charged with murder to attempt to mitigate their crimes by claiming their violent acts were triggered by the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The ‘panic defense’ is a homophobic and transphobic ploy that blames the victims of horrific acts of violence for the crimes committed against them,” said Rick Zbur, EQCA executive director. “It has no place in California’s legal system.”
“The gay panic defense was an unjust means of absolving violent criminal acts,” said Attorney General Harris. “Eliminating this excuse vindicates victims and holds predators accountable.”
The “panic defense” is a disturbing legal tactic that has been used in various cases in California and nationwide, whereby criminal defendants claim that they have been the object of romantic advances by a person of the same sex or a transgender person that they found so offensive and frightening as to induce a violent reaction against the victim.
AB 1577, the Respect After Death Act, cosponsored by the Transgender Law Center, makes sure death certificates for transgender Californians accurately reflect their authentic, lived identity.
“This brings us a significant step closer to making sure that all transgender people are able to live – and die – authentically in accordance with who they really are,” said Transgender Law Center Executive Director Masen Davis.
AB 496 clarifies that existing cultural competency training for health care providers should include discussion of LGBTQ issues – increasing awareness of LGBTQ health issues among health care providers, leading to better care and better outcomes.
Earlier last month, Governor Brown signed AB 1951, modernizing California’s birth certificates to reflect accurately the gender of a child’s parent or parents.
Story by Dennis McMillan
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