New Senate Bill Would Create Special Diplomatic LGBT Envoy, Promote Equality Abroad

A bill introduced to the Senate on Thursday by Massachusetts senator Ed Markey (D, right) aims to create an LGBT envoy to promote equal rights abroad. The bill is backed by over twenty other democrats, and although it faces a difficult approval process, it is an exciting step toward LGBT-related diplomacy, particularly given the recent upswing in anti-gay violence in countries ranging from France to Uganda. The official title of the bill is "The International Human Rights Defense Act."

Buzzfeed reports:

“For the United States to hold true to our commitment to defending the human rights of all people around the world, we must stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for recognition and equality everywhere,” Markey said in a statement to BuzzFeed. “By fostering a coordinated effort across the federal government and relevant agencies, we can meet the enormous challenge before us and work to ensure equality for all people around the globe.” 

In addition to creating the envoy’s office, the bill would direct the State Department to “devise a global strategy” to prevent discrimination and violence against LGBT people and coordinate with LGBT-rights advocates in other countries and in international organizations.

SeaIf the bill were to pass, it would be a firm indication of a shift in American diplomacy, away from the George W. Bush era, when the U.S. blocked prioritization of LGBT rights in the UN. Though President Obama does not have the best track record with the LGBT community, including a continued refusal to sign the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, he could have the chance to create the envoy post without a congressional vote. 

Currently, twelve human rights organizations are endorsing the bill, including the American Jewish World Service and the Council for Global Equality.

Philadelphia Arena Football Team Hosts First Ever LGBT-Awareness Game

This weekend, gay activist and Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal performed the coin toss in the nation’s first pro-football LGBT-awareness game. It was an arena football game between the Philadelphia Soul and New Orleans VooDoo.

NBC Philadelphia paints the scene:

Free tickets were given to residents of the John C. Anderson LGBT-friendly Senior apartments and the Attic LGBT Youth Organization. Leaders of the LGBT community made several appearances, rainbow colors were painted on the arena, and there were even LGBT-themed touchdown celebrations.

“Every time the Soul made a touchdown, a guy came out with a huge rainbow flag and ran around the arena,” Segal said.

For Segal, one of the most memorable moments occurred during and after the singing of the National Anthem.

“The Gay Men’s Chorus did the Star Spangled Banner,” Segal said. “As the members were leaving, the Philly Soul players lined up to thank each and every one of them. To stand there on the field and watch a professional football team thanking members of the gay community was a little overwhelming.”

Segal added that when he first started his gay activism at age 18, being openly gay at a football game could’ve gotten you killed. The Philly Soul won the game 79 to 60.

Are Millennials Leaving Religion Over LGBT Issues?

The American religious landscape is evolving rapidly. During the last decade, the proportion of religiously unaffiliated Americans has more than doubled—21 percent identify as unaffiliated today, compared to eight percent in 2003. Millennials are three times more likely than the oldest generation to identify as religiously unaffiliated (32 percent vs. 10 percent).

The fact that most Millennials who are now religiously unaffiliated were raised in a religious tradition raises important questions about the forces responsible for this recent shift. PRRI’s latest survey finds one reason for high rates of disaffiliation among Millennials is their perception about how religious institutions treat gay and lesbian people. Among Millennials who no longer identify with their childhood religion, nearly one-third say negative teachings about, or treatment of, gay and lesbian people was either a somewhat important (17 percent) or very important (14 percent) factor in their disaffiliation from religion. In contrast, fewer than 1-in-5 Baby Boomers (19 percent) and Silent Generation Americans (17 percent) who have disaffiliated report that this was a somewhat or very important reason for their leaving.

Moreover, the implications of religious institutions’ ideologies about, and treatment of, gay and lesbian people are viewed similarly by Millennials and Americans overall. Most Americans agree that religious groups are alienating young people by being too judgmental about gay and lesbian issues. Nearly 6-in-10 (58 percent) Americans agree that religious groups are alienating young people, while roughly one-third (35 percent) disagree. Millennials remain most likely to believe that religious groups are alienating young people. Seven-in-ten (70 percent) Millennials believe that religious groups are alienating young adults by being too judgmental about gay and lesbian issues. In contrast, only roughly 4-in-10 (43 percent) members of the Silent Generation believe that religious groups are alienating young people, while nearly as many (44 percent) disagree.

14 LGBT Resolutions for 2014

For many successful businesses, organizations, teams or individuals, the end of the year often marks a time for reflection and celebration of successes and also a time to think about changes we want to make in the upcoming year. For the LGBT community, 2013 has undoubtedly been a banner year: there were important legal victories for equality, movie stars, pro-athletes, and everyday people who “came out,” which resulted in an unprecedented amount of mainstream acceptance, discussion, and support of LGBT civil rights. In the last days of the month, 2013 went out with a bang as one Utah judge declared a same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional and hours ago, Good Morning America co-host, Robin Roberts, publicly acknowledges that she has a girlfriend.
We are entering 2014 with great momentum. Nevertheless, we can (and should) strive to improve upon this progress rather than give in to complacency over the next twelve months. Here are 14 Resolutions we, as members of the LGBT community, can make in 2014 (listed in no particular order):
1. Don’t assume we’ve “fixed” LGBT rights now that your state has same-sex marriage
Marriage equality is an incredibly important symbolic, legal, and social victory that has improved the lives of many partners, future spouses, their children, and young people growing up who now know they can get married. In 2013, California, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, joined a total of eighteen states that have legalized same-sex marriage. But marriage recognition becomes complicated when couples cross state lines in states that do not have marriage equality: the jury is out, literally, on whether or not a same-sex union will be recognized as separate or equal compared to an opposite-sex marriage.
Furthermore, legalization of same-sex marriage impacts those of a certain age where marriage is a viable and desired option. For instance, what can be done to help older LGBT adults (single or partnered) who are in assisted living facilities that have discriminatory practices or attitudes toward LGBT residents? What about LGBT youth who are bullied at school or those LGBT youth who may be discriminated against in the foster care system? We need to be proud of our local, state, and national victories for marriage equality, but we need to be aware that this type of legal victory will benefit many households, but not everyone.
2. Discuss issues other than marriage
Since we know marriage equality is not necessarily going to benefit all LGBT people, we need to make sure we are addressing other issues that we face as an LGBT community. Protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace, preventing bullying in schools, addressing youth homelessness, identifying LGBT health disparities, and preventing violence against trans people are very important issues that deserve our time and attention equal to (if not more than) marriage equality. I have the privilege of working for Pennsylvania State Representative Brian Sims (D-182nd district) who was asked to be the co-prime sponsor of the state marriage equality bill introduced shortly after the US Supreme Court struck down DOMA and Prop 8 this past summer. Although the PA marriage equality bill has gained the most media attention compared to other statewide LGBT legislation, Representative Sims has also introduced legislation to ban conversion therapy (the so called “pray the gay away”) practice that has devastating effects on young children who are told by their therapist that they can “become” heterosexual. In addition to conversion therapy still being legal in Pennsylvania, our state still lacks basic non-discrimination protections for LGBT citizens. Without these protections, if you are LGBT, you could be fired, kicked out of your house, or thrown out of a restaurant because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. We need to fight for these legal victories and social change with the same vigor we saw rally for marriage equality in 2013.

The cost of the abbreviation “LGBT”

I think John Aravois makes an interesting point in this article from AmericaBlog. What are you thoughts?

From AmericaBlog:

It’s not a huge secret that I’m not a big fan of the ever-expanding abbreviation LGBT for what used to be the “gay” community.

Once upon a time (the mid-1990s, in fact) we were gay, then “gay & lesbian,” then “gay, lesbian and bisexual,” then “gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans,” then “lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans,” and now, depending who you talk to, we’ve added on the letter Q (having multiple meanings), I (having multiple meanings), and a few As to boot.

Putting aside the argument about who is and isn’t a member of the gay community, and whether “questioning” is even a legitimate category at all (are there questioning Jews? – yes – so perhaps we should rename Judaism “JewsQ”).

But let’s not even get into any of that.  One of my biggest concerns with the abbreviation LGBT, or whatever your preferred alphabet soup, is that fact that’s basically shoved ourselves back into the closet.

How so?

A few years back I noted that a gay group had decided to attend the huge pro-immigration rally in Washington, DC, and the move was rather smart.  It was intended to show support for the Latino community, while at the same time being openly-gay, and hopefully making inroads into Latino support for gay rights?

Only problem?  Their signs didn’t contain the word “gay.” Instead, they said “LGBT.”  And I’m not convinced a lot of people knew what LGBT was a few years back, and I’d be curious how many know today.

What I’ve noticed, with increasing frequency the past few months, is the inning of the word “gay” in articles and press releases about gay, or LGBT, rights.  And the point isn’t simply aesthetic.  I worry about how many people know that the term LGBT means “gay” (ish).  And if they don’t, we just lost our visibility and got inned.

But there’s another problem as well. When the word gay is missing from a story, or release, it means there’s less of a chance that people will think find it via Google, if they’re searching for the word gay, which I usually do when looking for “gay” news.

Case in point: This White House post about the President meeting with non-governmental organization (NGO) advocates in Russia, including members from gay groups.  You won’t find the word gay in the post.  You know what else you won’t find?  The word “trans.”  And I’d argue it’s even more important for the trans community, then the gay community, to get as much visibility as possible as their civil rights movement, their visibility, significantly lags behind that of the gay community’s.

I don’t fault the White House – they’re using the term that our community, or its leaders, told them to use. And I can appreciate the valid arguments of bi and trans people that the word “gay” might not exactly define who they are.  But I still worry about whether this attempt at inclusiveness has excluded us all.

In the end, the times may catch up with the abbreviation.  At some point, everyone may know what the abbreviation LGBT means.  And people may naturally search for “LGBT” when looking for “gay” stories on Google.  Of course, by then, it’s a pretty safe bet we’ll be calling ourselves something else. :)

America's Got Talent: Gay Youth Kicked Out Of Home Wows America!

In the most moving moment for the LGBT community in the history of America's Got Talent, a young gay youth who appeared last night absolutely had America fall in love with him. The young sweet man was kicked out of his home in Tennessee for being gay. His parents kicked him out of his house on his 18th birthday. Be prepared to be inspired, proud and moved with this Susan Boyle moment!

WE ARE TEAM JONATHAN!!!

LGBT Parenting a death sentence with Salvation Army

Senior Salvation Army officials go on record that LGBT parents should be put to death, as the Bible instructs. Major Andrew Craibe, a Salvation Army Media Relations Director, went on public radio hosted by queer journalist Serena Ryan to discuss a recent call by LGBT parents for a boycott of the nonprofit for its anti-gay policies and beliefs.

Ryan questioned Craibe about Salvation Story: Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine , the manual used to train Salvation Army “soldiers” and members. Several chapters refer to the sin of homosexuality, including a section that cites Romans 1:18-32, which includes a admonition that homosexuals “deserved to die”:

Ryan: According to the Salvation Army, [gay parents] deserve death. How do you respond to that, as part of your doctrine?

Craibe: Well, that’s a part of our belief system.

Ryan: So they should die.

Craibe: You know, we have an alignment to the Scriptures, but that’s our belief.

Ryan: You’re proposing in your doctrine that because these parents are gay, that they must die.

Craibe: Well, well, because that is part of our Christian doctrine –

Ryan: But how is that Christian? Shouldn’t it be about love?

Craibe: Well, the love that we would show is about that: consideration for all human beings to come to know salvation…

Ryan Or die…

Craibe: Well, yes.

Defeat of DOMA, More Critical Than Ever, as Key Senate Democrats Signal They Will Abandon LGBT Amendments to Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Today will likely be the day many of us have long known would come. Twenty years of grass roots organizing and exhaustive advocacy has brought us here, and yet it will now fail. The historic opportunity to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with an amendment providing for the unification of LGBT families, is almost certainly gone.

Without an amendment in Committee, there stands zero chance of such an amendment being added next month on the Senate floor. Media reports (Politico, Washington Blade, AP) in the past few days has all but confirmed that at least two leading Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have caved to empty Republican threats to sabotage immigration reform if lesbian and gay Americans are included. These two prominent members of the Senate Judiciary Committee could have stood up to the outrageous Republican scapegoating of lesbian and gay Americans, but they did not. If you have ever felt like calling a U.S. Senator, particularly if you live in New York or California, you should consider making that call now.

Despite hearing from tends of thousands of constituents in recent weeks, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) have not budged. They will refuse to vote for either amendment, and as a result, Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy, will likely not call either of his LGBT amendments (the one based on the Uniting American Families Act, which I helped write 14 years ago, or his historic and unexpected Marriage Equality “DOMA Carve Out” exception) for a vote knowing that the amendment will fail to garner the necessary 10 out of 10 Democratic votes to pass out of Committee.