The Daily Huff: Old News edition

Well, there’s a regular pleathora from the huff. First, we have a city employee calling her friend gay while testing an email. What a classy broad. Offended by that? Yeah. Me too. At least she was “reprimanded quickly”. The employee claimed they meant gay in the old-timey happy way. Sure.

Next on the docket, a youtube video “Rated T For Tolerance”, the most misnamed movie since The Neverending Story. A teenager raps (badly) about how being gay will get you sent to hell, that it’s a choice, and not to believe the media. It breaks my heart to see a fellow Christian so misled. Jesus taught Love. God is LOVE. Why can’t people understand this?

Chris Sprouse, Superman artist, is leaving the company since noted anti-gay author Orson Scott Card is coming on to write a story. I’m a Marvel Girl myself, but c’mon DC. Get with the times. At least they’re not condemming Sprouse for leaving. Granted, they’re not dropping Card either…

Right in my backyard, a lesbian couple’s fight for adoption rights has become a fight for marriage rights. Sadly, my state has had a ban since 2004. This however, could be the turning point. My future brother in law is only not married to his boyfriend because of this ban. It would lift my heart to see it overturned.

A florist is refusing to do her long-time customer’s wedding due to “Her relationship with Jesus.” What hurts is that this wasn’t some random florist. This was a woman the couple had been buying from for years: they considered her a friend. This is the worst kind of bigot: the kind that refuses to see what is right in front of them. Oh, but she’ll take their money, no problem.

Religion gets no better when a gay youth is exorcized by his parents. When will people learn THIS CRAP DOES NOT WORK? It’s the year two thousand and FRIGGAN THIRTEEN! Why not grab some leeches and suck it out? Or is sucking to queer for you?!

To end on a high note, Mexico gets a gold star for declaring anti-GLBT speech not protected speech. As a patriot, I’ll disagree with you, but you still have the right to your speech. As a supporter of peace and love: YAY! Bueno!

Minnesota, #12

12 down!!!

Delaware!

One of the first 13 has become the 11th to legalize gay marriage. Let's keep the love train going!

Rhode Island joins the party!

Rhode Island is the 10th state to legalize Gay Marriage. WOOT! 1/10 of the country!


And I just made myself sad. :( Still, any good news...

The Daily Huff: Government edition

A small town in Ohio is losing its homophobic mayor.  78 year old Mary McAngus submitted her resignation after complaints about calling Officer Kyle Calendine ‘Queer’. She also reportedly said “I don’t like a Queer working for the village [of Pomeroy].” The village Police Chief Mark Proffitt told her that such remarks could open them to a lawsuit.

I don’t know how to feel about this report. On the one hand, a discriminatory leader was removed from power. On the other hand, the removal probably had more to do with money and its potential loss rather than action on behalf of civil rights. There is no apology hinted at for  Office Calendine.   We’ll just have to hope the village he serves doesn’t turn on him for ‘losing their mayor.’

On a much happier note, another step down the long path to civil rights has been taken.  ThePentagon has announced it will extend certain rights to same-sex couples andtheir families serving in the military. According to the Huff, “. The benefits include commissary privileges, access to family support initiatives and joint duty assignments.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is responsible for this.

God bless him.

Said Panetta “It is a matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country.”

YES! YES! YES

This is not the end of the road by any means. Homosexual couples in the military still can’t get burial rights at national cemeteries, on-base housing or certain travel expenses for spouses, due to DOMA and its definition of what makes a spouse. This is part of a bigger struggle. But there’s no shame in the joy of small victories. Every step takes us a little closer to the future.

It is coming. And we will be there to see it.

Daily Show FTW

John Steward just did a big piece on the upcoming DOMA Supreme-Court hearing in March. Me, Bahamute, Grizz, and Langly got to watch as the insane arguments of the republican lawyer were expertly lambasted. Such arguments as:

"Marriage should be limited to unions of a man and a woman because they alone can "produce unplanned and unintended offspring," opponents of gay marriage have told the Supreme Court. By contrast, when same-sex couples decide to have children, "substantial advance planning is required," said Paul D. Clement, a lawyer for House Republicans.

So, if you're infertile, sorry! You're marriage isn't valid either. But if you're thirteen, stupid, sexually active, and have willing parents, congratulations! You're a husband AND a father!

It's so stupid, I want to laugh. And so many people take it seriously, I want to cry.

HOORAY!

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law his hard fought measure to legalize same-sex marriage at 5 p.m. in the State House.

A marriage bill came within a whisker of passage in 2011, but was shelved in the House of Delegates at the last minute when leaders determined they were a few votes shy. Securing those "few votes" this year took up much of the first 45 days of Maryland's General Assembly's legislative session.

CONGRATULATIONS MARYLAND

It's the 2012 Michigan primary today

Neither of the GOP front runners are who I'd want running the country, and not just for their views on gay rights.  This is a lesser of two evils situation if I ever saw one.

With that said, I urge everyone NOT to vote for Santorum.  His views on Gay rights, as well as FEMALE and MINORITY rights are horrifying, small-minded, and hypocritical.

Remember: http://spreadingsantorum.com/


In other news...
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/02/27/birmingham-pub-goer-ben-martin-launches-horrific-attack-on-gay-couple-97319-30412299/

2012 Elections

With the Republicans scrambling to find a candidate, it's important to know about Rick Santorum. (Try googling him.  I'll wait).  I get my information from http://blog.spreadingsantorum.com/.  It has many fine editorials of it's own by one of my favorites, Dan Savage, and links such articles as:

RICK SANTORUM’S ANTI-ABORTION POLITICS WOULD HAVE KILLED HIS OWN WIFE

and

RICK SANTORUM’S TOP 10 MOST OUTRAGEOUS CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS, 

including ANNUL ALL SAME-SEX MARRIAGES,  GAY SOLDIERS ‘CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN CLOSE QUARTERS’, and one that sadly affects me and some close friends personally, WE DON’T NEED FOOD STAMPS BECAUSE OBESITY RATES ARE SO HIGH.

For a bit of a lighter side, take a look at 25 PEOPLE WHO JUST GOOGLED “SANTORUM” FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Delaware's new Civil-Union Law began on New Year's Day.

Yesterday in Wilmington, more than 400 people gave a loud and rousing standing ovation as they witnessed
 Delaware's first Same-Sex Civil Union. Lisa Goodman & Drewry Fennell, partners for 14 years, were joined in union by Rev. Patricia Downing, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church where the Sunday afternoon ceremony took place ... 


Congratulations to Lisa & Drewry.

Bloody outrage

I donate blood.  A lot.  Pretty much as much as I can, every sixty days or so.  Today was one of those days.  I'm O+, the most common blood type.  I'm the only person I know who donates on a regular basis.  One of my friends is interested in donation, but there's a small problem.

He's gay.  In the US, the current guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is to permanently defer any male donor who has had sex with another man, in the period from 1977 to the present day.

He doesn't have any diseases that would disqualify him.  Neither does his boyfriend.  They've been in a committed monogamous relationship for several years now.  The blanket ban still keeps them from donating.  At a time when blood supplies are so low (they've never been too high, to be certain) it no longer makes sense to exclude gay men.  Lesbians are NOT prohibited, by the way, as the questionarire specifies having sex with another man who's had sex with another man.

The UK recently lifted their ban on gay men donating--sort of. The USA needs to follow suit. Granted, we're not the only country with this ban, but since I live here, frankly, I want to get it done here first.  

Some progress has been made. In April 2010, the New York City Council passed a resolution calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to eliminate the ban stating "This ban was based on prejudice, a knee-jerk reaction, and misunderstandings about the HIV/AIDS disease. Given the constant need for blood, it does not make common sense to prohibit donations from an entire population." And on August 19, 2009, the Assembly Judiciary Committee in California passed AJR13, the U.S. Blood Donor Nondiscrimination Resolution, calling upon the FDA to end the MSM blood ban. Lastly, on June 1, 2010, the Washington, DC City Council passed a resolution calling on the FDA to "reverse the lifetime deferment of blood donations by men who have had sex with men since 1977 in favor of a policy that protects the safety and integrity of the blood supply that is based on an up-to-date scientific criteria."

As is sit here, my arm bandaged in bright red, I cannot help but think of all the lives lost because the blood simply wasn't there.  Limiting donations for any reason except medialc ones is an outrage, and a disgrace.All blood donated is tested for HIV, so prohibiting gay men from donation on that basis makes no sense. It's a slap in the face for the gay community, and it costs lives. 

I want to urge people NOT to boycott the Red Cross Blood drives because of this. Lives are at stake.  Instead, donate frequently.  Make a difference from the inside: as a donator, your opinions on the process will be all the more valid.  If donators themselves speak up, write letters, and  sign petitions, as I have done, change CAN be achieved.  

For now, I'm taking it easy and marking on the calendar when I can donate again. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ to see how you can make a difference.

This just in: Michigan House Passes Anti-Bullying Bill In Compromise With Senate 'Matt's Safe School Law'

It's moving on to the senate.

In Michigan, you could be fired for being gay--Help do something about it!

I just received this message from the Equality Michigan Action Network.

If your boss thinks you are gay you could actually lose your job. We know that sounds impossible but in Michigan it's the law. Civil rights laws protect us from many forms of discrimination — based on your race, gender, religion, age, sex, weight or marital status — but not if you are gay or transgender.

What's worse? Just last week, Representative Tom McMillin (R - Rochester Hills) introduced a bill that would outlaw Michigan cities from implementing nondiscrimination policies that are better than the outdated state law, as 15 cities already have.

Please tell Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger that we shouldn't have to change ourselves, he should change the law.

We need as many people as possible to send him this important message.

That’s why a coalition of civil rights organizations and everyday Michiganders are coming together to launch a campaign to change the law. We need to protect all Michigan jobs by ending discrimination, of any kind.

Thanks for stepping up,

Denise Brogan-Kator and the Unity Michigan Coalition

Please, if you live in Michigan, help us to send this important message!

Celebrating the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell!

Found on the Fantastic  It's ok to be Takei  Facebook page.

Staff Sgt. Chris Cano, a Marine recruiter, arrives Tuesday at a recruiting booth at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa on the first day of the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?" With the ban gone, the Marines appear determined to prove that they will be better than the other service branches in recruiting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender service members.

E-mail from the office's of Governor Rick Snyder.

I just got this email in response to a pro gay marriage plea I sent MONTHS ago to Michigan's Governor, Rick Snyder.

Ms. Lax [yep, my real last name!],

Thank you for expressing your views supporting same-sex marriage.  The Governor asked that I respond to you directly on his behalf.

In case you were not aware, more than 58 percent of Michigan residents who voted in the November 2, 2004 election voted in support of Ballot Proposal 04-2.  That proposal constitutionally established that the “union of one man and one woman in marriage” would be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or “similar union for any purpose” in Michigan.

Again, thank you for contacting the Office of Governor Rick Snyder, and if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Janelle A. Arbuckle

Constituent Relations Specialist

Office of the Governor

Constituent Relations Division