Transgender teacher fired from Queens Catholic school

Sign the petition : St. Francis Preparatory High School: Formally Apologize to Mark (Marla) Krolikowski for Sexual Discrimination

From WABC Eyewitness News :

Transgender teacher fired from Queens Catholic school
By : Sarah Wallace, Eyewitness News
Web produced by Cristina Romano, Eyewitness News

QUEENS (WABC) -- Meet Marla Krolikowski. She no longer has any reason to hide. For 32 years, Krolikowski lived a dual life, teaching at St. Francis Prep School in Queens as a man, Mark, who professionally dressed in a suit and tie.

"I valued the job so much that I was willing to internalize everything, because the job met so much to me," said Krolikowski.

Krolikowski says she did start to add more feminine touches over the years, but claims no one seemed to mind. There are plenty of yearbook photos of her like that.

"I noticed it was a bit more feminine, but I mean, I didn't think it was anything to write home about," said former student Christina Guarino, "so it didn't matter, no."

Apparently, a parent did care. Krolikowski says in October of 2011 that school officials brought her in and confronted her.

"They said, 'are you a drag performer, are you a female impersonator?'" Krolikowski said, "they gave me all these different things, so finally I said 'I'm transgendered and I identify as a woman. Then everybody's jaw dropped, and then, I said, 'Oh God, what did I do?'"

Krolikowski said that someone told her "it sounds like you're worse than gay", and it took all her strength not to cry.

Krolikowski claims she was told to tone down her appearance, and did, but was fired anyway.

When September came, she was not going back to school for the first time in 32 years.

In a statement denying the allegations, St. Francis said: "Mr. Krolikowski's employment was terminated for entirely appropriate and professional reasons, and in no way discriminatory."

"All he wanted to do was to be judged by who he is and not what he is, and it's a horror that in this day an age, the school has chosen to judge him by what he is and not who he is," said Krolikowski's attorney, Andrew Kimler.

"My time is running out. I'm 59 years old and I want to live the way I was intended to be," adds Krowlikowski, "which is as a woman."

Krowlikowski has had breast implants, has started hormone treatments, and plans to have more surgery. She says she doesn't want people to look at her as a freak, because she didn't get to do all the things that girls got to do.

Krowikowski says she has been overwhelmed by support from thousands of current and former students who have signed an on-line petition on change.org. She doesn't have long-term plans but does have an immediate goal - to attend Lady Gaga's Born Brave bus tour that is coming to New York later this month.

Sign the petition : St. Francis Preparatory High School: Formally Apologize to Mark (Marla) Krolikowski for Sexual Discrimination

Open E-mail to Emmett Burns Regarding Baltimore Ravens Marriage Equality Advocacy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From: lflores22@gmail.com
Subject: Chris Kluwe Explains Gay Marriage To The Politician Who Is Offended By An NFL Player Supporting It
Date: 8 septembre 2012 08:46:21 UTC-04:00
To: emmett.burns@house.state.md.us
Cc: lflores22@gmail.com

Dear Hon. Delegate Mr. Burns :

Many of my friends are spreading links to a viral news story about you on Facebook : http://deadspin.com/5941348/they-wont-magically-turn-you-into-a-lustful-cockmonster-chris-kluwe-explains-gay-marriage-to-the-politician-who-is-offended-by-an-nfl-player-supporting-it?post=52502026

The language is crude, but I think it was inspired by your shocking attempt to stifle free speech on the fight for marriage equality.

I'm also posting this on my blogs this morning. I hope that there is a way that you can meet with LGBT community leaders. The only way we can put an end to de facto and de jure discrimination is by opening up a dialogue to achieve a greater understanding about the ways that people's lives are diminished by prejudice and bigotry.

If we are all born equal, why should any American put up with government attitudes to make some people "less than" equal to others ?

Louis Flores
1 (646) 400-1168
lflores22@gmail.com

1,138 federal rights denied to LGBT couples because of DOMA de jure discrimination

Letter from US General Accounting Office (GAO) to Sen. Bill Frist (R), the Senate Majority Leader, about the 1,138 marriage rights denied to LGBT committed couples, who cannot be legally married under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The GOA described these as : "1,138 federal statutory provisions classified to the United States Code in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges."

2004-01-23 Defense of Marriage Act-USGAO List of 1138 Marriage Rights-d04353r

Frank Mandelbaum's Dying Torture To Gay Son : Get Married To Woman !

Businessman's will orders gay son to marry woman, or else son will lose $180,000 inheritance. How's that for de factor LGBT discrimination ?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190595/Frank-Mandelbaum-death-Businessmans-orders-gay-son-marry-surrogate-mother-grandchild.html

The late Frank Mandelbaum's dying wish was that his son marry the mother of his grandchild. Only Robert Mandelbaum, 47, a Manhattan Criminal Court Judge, is already married - to a man. Robert Mandelbaum is now fighting to overturn his father's will, arguing that the only 'mother' his two-year-old son knows is his longtime partner Johnathan O'Donnell, 39.

Barney Frank Strategy Visionary Failure

Political Party Polarization Is Now Complete

Reaction to a published essay by Rep. Barney Frank has stirred up criticism about the Washington strategy of LGBT political insiders, who are blocking wider gains in the realm of LGBT equality.

"There is literally no issue in the United States today in which the gulf between the two parties is wider than on the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to legal equality. This is a relatively new fact in American political life," wrote Rep. Frank.

"Only Barney Frank could brag that "Party Polarization Is Now Complete" - because this has been his sole strategy - to link LGBT hope to the DNC. And this is why he opposes Full Equality anytime soon - to keep us feeding at the political trough. But his game has not worked for us. He & the DNC gave us DADT & DOMA on the down side, with only Hate Crimes on the plus side, and this means 17 years (and counting) of bad federal losses, and one small gain to enhance penalties for violent crimes, but not one non-discrimination bill, for which he offers excuse after excuse. If it were not for Frank, we might have a two-party movement, and much broader support. But he fueled this polarization, and like a proud father now announce it is 'Now Complete' as he exits branding his legacy. How sad for all of us," wrote an LGBT civil rights activist on Facebook.

Sarah Palin Visits Chick-fil-A

Sarah Palin visited a Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant in The Woodlands, Texas, in a show of support of bigotry and hate speech. * “Stopped by Chick-fil-A in The Woodlands to support a great business,” the former Alaskan governor and vice-presidential candidate tweeted following an appearance at a rally for Republican Senate primary challenger Ted Cruz outside Houston. Palin urged Cruz’s supporters to visit Chick-fil-A, which has been mired in controversy since its president said the chain supports “the biblical definition of the family unit.” (Politico) * Dan Cathy, the restaurant chain's president, made last week, saying that his company supports "the biblical definition of the family unit" and that he prays "God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about." (HuffPost)

Dallas LGBT Marriage Case Update

BREAKING: Mark "Major" Jiminez and Beau Chandler announce that they have lawyered up on their marriage equality case which started with a July 5th arrest for sitting in the Dallas County Clerk's office after being denied their marriage license. Their case will be defended by Dax Garvin and Kimberly Butler. A state wide and national call to action has been released in solidarity. More details about the call to action will follow.

Source : Tiffani Equality Bishop, via Facebook Status Update

Presidential Debate On LGBT Equality

Meeting LGBT pour l'égalité

Let us have an LGBT Equality Form amongst 2012 U.S. presidential candidates, the way that they had one in France. Let's put forth LGBT equality as the subject of a solely dedicated presidential debate.

After French President Nicholas Sarkozy did nothing to make French LGBT citizens to have equal rights under the law, LGBT activists organised a presidential debate in France. This ''Meeting LGBT pour l'égalité'' took place on March 31.

LGBT activists thought that it was a good idea to put directly before presidential candidates the community's demand for equality. Activists say that voters should be able to select a candidate, who will fight against discrimination and finally deliver equality to all of the country's citizens.

Let's do the same here in the United States : let's organise and invite President Barack Obama and GOP nominee-designate Mitt Ronmey to a presidential debate, so that activists and voters can question these candidates about LGBT civil rights.

Huey Newton Speech On LGBT Equality

This was a speech given August 15, 1970, by Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Here, he addresses the issue of LGBT equality.

During the past few years strong movements have developed among women and among homosexuals seeking their liberation. There has been some uncertainty about how to relate to these movements.

Whatever your personal opinions and your insecurities about homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals and women (and I speak of the homosexuals and women as oppressed groups), we should try to unite with them in a revolutionary fashion. I say ” whatever your insecurities are” because as we very well know, sometimes our first instinct is to want to hit a homosexual in the mouth, and want a woman to be quiet. We want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid that we might be homosexual; and we want to hit the women or shut her up because we are afraid that she might castrate us, or take the nuts that we might not have to start with.

We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for all oppressed people. We must not use the racist attitude that the White racists use against our people because they are Black and poor. Many times the poorest White person is the most racist because he is afraid that he might lose something, or discover something that he does not have. So you’re some kind of a threat to him. This kind of psychology is in operation when we view oppressed people and we are angry with them because of their particular kind of behavior, or their particular kind of deviation from the established norm.

Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are only in the process of establishing it. I do not remember our ever constituting any value that said that a revolutionary must say offensive things towards homosexuals, or that a revolutionary should make sure that women do not speak out about their own particular kind of oppression. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite: we say that we recognize the women’s right to be free. We have not said much about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the most oppresed people in the society.

And what made them homosexual? Perhaps it’s a phenomenon that I don’t understand entirely. Some people say that it is the decadence of capitalism. I don’t know if that is the case; I rather doubt it. But whatever the case is, we know that homosexuality is a fact that exists, and we must understand it in its purest form: that is, a person should have the freedom to use his body in whatever way he wants.

That is not endorsing things in homosexuality that we wouldn’t view as revolutionary. But there is nothing to say that a homosexual cannot also be a revolutionary. And maybe I’m now injecting some of my prejudice by saying that “even a homosexual can be a revolutionary.” Quite the contrary, maybe a homosexual could be the most revolutionary.

When we have revolutionary conferences, rallies, and demonstrations, there should be full participation of the gay liberation movement and the women’s liberation movement. Some groups might be more revolutionary than others. We should not use the actions of a few to say that they are all reactionary or counterrevolutionary, because they are not.

We should deal with the factions just as we deal with any other group or party that claims to be revolutionary. We should try to judge, somehow, whether they are operating in a sincere revolutionary fashion and from a really oppressed situation. (And we will grant that if they are women they are probably oppressed.) If they do things that are unrevolutionary or counterrevolutionary, then criticize that action. If we feel that the group in spirit means to be revolutionary in practice, but they make mistakes in interpretation of the revolutionary philosophy, or they do not understand the dialectics of the social forces in operation, we should criticize that and not criticize them because they are women trying to be free. And the same is true for homosexuals. We should never say a whole movement is dishonest when in fact they are trying to be honest. They are just making honest mistakes. Friends are allowed to make mistakes. The enemy is not allowed to make mistakes because his whole existence is a mistake, and we suffer from it. But the women’s liberation front and gay liberation front are our friends, they are our potential allies, and we need as many allies as possible.

We should be willing to discuss the insecurities that many people have about homosexuality. When I say “insecurities,” I mean the fear that they are some kind of threat to our manhood. I can understand this fear. Because of the long conditioning process which builds insecurity in the American male, homosexuality might produce certain hang-ups in us. I have hang-ups myself about male homosexuality. But on the other hand, I have no hang-up about female homosexuality. And that is a phenomenon in itself. I think it is probably because male homosexuality is a threat to me and female homosexuality is not.

We should be careful about using those terms that might turn our friends off. The terms “faggot” and “punk” should be deleted from our vocabulary, and especially we should not attach names normally designed for homosexuals to men who are enemies of the people, such as Nixon or Mitchell. Homosexuals are not enemies of the people.

We should try to form a working coalition with the gay liberation and women’s liberation groups. We must always handle social forces in the most appropriate manner.

Obama Marriage Equality Reaction

Facebook LGBT Reaction To President Barack Obama's Marriage Equality ''Evolution''

Following is the Facebook ''status update'' posted by LGBT civil rights activist Tiffani Equality Bishop, which deftly addresses the commonly-shared disappointment in President Obama's recently announced support for marriage equality :

Am I appreciative of Obama's partial evolution on marriage equality? YES

Am I also incredibly disgusted that he went to NC on April 24 and took millions of LGBT dollars without even mentioning Amendment 1 once? YES

Am I also incredibly disgusted that the DNC and OFA did not send one email, one volunteer, or even one penny to help defeat Amendment 1 in NC all while taking millions of dollars from our community? YES

Am I frustrated that he still thinks it is a states rights issue and not a human rights issue? YES

Am I frustrated that he still believes only section 3 of DOMA and not all of DOMA should be repealed? YES

So has he really evolved like people say? I see this as a partial "evolution"...he still has some "evolving" to do.

So please excuse me for feeling a little slapped in the face when our POTUS chooses to evolve on marriage (partially anyway) the day after the harshest anti-LGBT marriage amendment passed in NC while he and his administration did absolutely NOTHING to help defeat it...not even a pretty speech. Am I glad he came out, yes. But his timing was disrespectful and severely lacked any tact.

What I have a hard time understanding though, is the reaction from our community. He still hasn't completely evolved, and his partial evolution does not make us any more equal. I have a hard time understanding why people were crying and celebrating and throwing money at him over this. Words may make us feel good for a minute, but at the end of the day we're still unequal and his actions aren't backing up his words.

If he means it, he'll put his money where his mouth is. He'll sign the ENDA Executive Order on his desk, and he'll stop the deportations of same-sex binational partners...and he'll do it BEFORE the election.

If his actions don't back it up, then it really doesn't mean anything. It just means he is pandering to our community, throwing us crumbs, and using us as election tokens.

The integrity of Ms. Bishop's response to President Obama's ''partial evolution'' on marriage equality can be affirmed by reading published editorials, like this one, printed by The Philadelphia Inquirer : ''A huge step but no real action : While Obama's support for same-sex marriage is a landmark, he left the question up to each state.'' Ms. Bishop is a leading LGBT civil rights activist in the United States. She is lives in Texas. This post was reprinted in its entirety from a post made on Facebook.

Gill Action Fund Strategy Conference

The Gill Action Fund has invited leading LGBT political donors and campaign bundlers to design national action plans and fundraising strategies. But, once again, grassroots groups or activists are not invited. Please e-mail Sarah Vaughan (svaughan@gillaction.org) and tell her that we want grassroots groups to be represented at this national strategy conference, and that we want a singular demand for full-federal LGBT equality strategy.

Talk Is Cheap

On LGBT Civil Rights, New Leaders Emerge, But Not Where You Expect Them

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is always claiming that her "potential opponents" in the upcoming #2012 election are always at her heels, and she touts this message in all of her fundraising e-mails. This was her message on December 28, 2011 : "I wish I didn’t have to bother you during the holidays, but I’m up against a critical deadline. My potential opponents will be announcing their plans early next year. That means it’s critical that we show how strong we are and make these challengers think twice about entering the race. My campaign has set a goal of raising $120,000 before our December 31 FEC deadline. We must not fall short."

Meanwhile, she is always claiming that it is her progressive legislative agenda that makes her a target of her "potential opponents." Back on October 25, 2009, Sen. Gillibrand gave an interview at the LGBT Community Center in New York City. In that interview, she said that she would support amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity (see 7:30 at : Interview with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) - Towleroad.com), but Sen. Gillibrand has done nothing to fight for LGBT civil rights from this perspective.

Calling for a federal anti-discrimination law is not entirely new. In 1974, then Representatives Bella Abzug and Edward Koch introduced a bill entitled the Equality Act of 1974, which would have banned discrimination against lesbians, gay men, unmarried persons, and women in the realms of employment, housing, and public accommodation. The Equality Act was never passed upon its first introduction. In subsequent Congressional sessions, attempts were made to reïntroduce and pass LGBT civil rights bills. Even with new sponsorship, those bills did not pass. Almost 40 years later, a new grassroots movement is forming to make a renewed push for full federal equality for LGBT Americans.

And until the New York Congressional delegation finds the courage to do what was attempted almost 40 years ago, we have now a new crop of leaders in Brad Hoylman and Lois Rakoff, who are helping to build a grass-roots movement for full, federal LGBT equality.

2011-11-18 CB2 Manhattan LGBT Civil Rights Resolution

The Manhattan Community Board 2 Resolution is the first such resolution known to be passed by a New York governmental body. Earlier in this year, LGBT civil rights activist Richard Noble approached the City of West Hollywood for a resolution in support of a concept bill known as the American Equality Bill, which is being touted as an omnibus federal bill that would largely end federal discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." In response to Mr. Noble's efforts, the City of West Hollywood adopted a resolution in support of the American Equality Bill.

2011-03-07 City West Hollywood Resolution Agenda (LGBT Civil Rights - American Equality Bill)

And here is another proclamation, which Mr. Noble received from Mayor Jean Quan from Oakland :

Oakland Proclamation for LGBT Civil Rights (American Equality Bill)

Mr. Noble has generated more letters, resolutions, and proclamations in support of a federal omnibus bill to codify LGBT civil rights.

Once the larger LGBT equality movement discovers that it is possible to begin to set a vision for what full, federal LGBT equality looks like, more people will begin to add to the growing grassroots movement -- and will create a mass movement for an omnibus federal civil rights law. And nobody will be accepting of empty rhetoric, such as expressed by Sen. Gillibrand in this 2009 interview wherein she expressed support for LGBT civil rights. Note how Sen. Gillibrand has spent over two years doing nothing about filing a federal bill in Congress, even though almost 40 years ago Bella Abzug and Ed Koch had the courage to file a bill to end federal discrimination.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama, who is still "evolving" on the issue of marriage equality, is setting a cowardly tone for our Democratic Party leaders, because President Obama doesn't want to be a public champion for full, federal LGBT equality, and, in essence, he is hiding in the closet, while his surrogates do the heavy lifting. Politicians, who lack the courage to display bold leadership like that was displayed by Bella Abzug and Ed Koch almost 40 years ago, are not doing the LGBT equality movement any favours.

Lady Gaga Obama Bullying

Lady Gaga Wants to Meet With Obama Over Bullying

From the Associated Press (via The New York Times) :

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lady Gaga wants to meet with President Barack Obama about her concerns over bullying.

Gaga expressed sadness over Twitter Wednesday about the suicide death of a 14-year-old New York boy who had complained in an online video about being bullied over his sexuality.

The pop singer tweeted to her 13.7 million followers: "I am meeting with our President. I will not stop fighting. This must end."

A Democratic official said Gaga plans to attend an Obama fundraiser next week on the West Coast but no private meeting has been scheduled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity and was not authorized to speak publicly about the fundraiser.

In videos, Jamey Rodemeyer described being taunted in his school hallways and receiving hateful messages online before his suicide death Sunday outside his home in Williamsville, N.Y. The video was part of the "It Gets Better Project," which is meant to give hope to gay teens.

In his blog, Rodemeyer referred to himself as gay and made frequent references to suicide and to his idol, Lady Gaga, who often sings about acceptance of gays and lesbians.

Rodemeyer's parents said the boy had been bullied for years but appeared to be doing better since beginning high school a few weeks ago.

Police are investigating whether criminal charges should be filed in the case. New York state doesn't have an anti-bullying law but authorities have said bullies could be charged with harassment or aggravated harassment.

The White House held a conference on bullying prevention in March to discuss bullying, estimating that it affects 13 million students, or about a third of those attending school. Obama said then he hoped to "dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up. It's not."

Oakland LGBT Civil Rights Proclamation

Oakland Proclamation for LGBT Civil Rights (American Equality Bill)

LGBT Activists Protest Against Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Hate Event

Protesters Travel From Across Texas to Picket Hate-Based Event

HOUSTON, TX — On August 6th, Governor Perry spoke at an event inside Reliant Stadium in Houston that he organized with the American Family Association, an organization recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Outside, GetEQUAL protesters from across the Lone Star State joined together and raised their voices against the hatred and bigotry being voiced inside the stadium.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has recently seen a rise in hate crimes against them, both in Texas and across the country. This event is one more example of religion-based bigotry that helps spur such hate crimes and helps send the message that discriminating against one particular group is okay.

“Our Governor invited, and therefore endorsed, groups to preach hate in our state,” said GetEQUAL Texas State Lead Organizer Michael Diviesti. “The American Family Association and the Family Research Council empower the bullies that are driving our youth to suicide and the murderers who kill out of hatred and ignorance.”

For the LGBT community, this was a day to stand up and fight back — not against prayer, but against those using their religion as a justification for the harm they cause to others.

LGBT civil rights activist Iana Di Bona was among the activists, who took part in the protest outside the Reliant Stadium. Read the entire press release issued by GetEQUAL about Texas Governor Rick Perry's hate convention.

Transgender Stabbed to Death Harlem

Transgendered person found fatally stabbed

From WABC Eyewitness News :

HARLEM (WABC) -- A transgendered person was found fatally stabbed, with part of a knife still in the back, in East Harlem Monday afternoon.

Police say the 40-year-old victim was discovered lying face down on a bed inside the East 110th Street apartment just before 4:45 p.m.

The victim sustained multiple stab wounds to the back and had a sheet around the neck.

No arrests were immediately made and the stabbing is under investigation.

Updated ! The Windy City Times posted a news release, which reported that Camila Guzman was the name of the person, who was murdered in her apartment in East Harlem. The news release, issued on behalf of several LGBT organisations, called on ''the media to report this story accurately and responsibly.'' Meanwhile, The New York Post identified the murder victim as Rodrigo Guzman, aged 38, but the newspaper did not report the transgendered name. Also, the newspaper, notorious for how it can be callous towards LGBT issues, described the murder victim as a ''hooker.''

Schneiderman Amicus Brief DOMA

New York state’s attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, filed an amicus brief in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (''DOMA''), the discriminatory law that institutionalises de jure federal discrimination against same-sex marriages.

10-Cv-8435 Windsor v United States Amicus NY State

Instead of waiting out the court case, when are LGBT allies in the United States Senate going to repeal DOMA ?

Connecting Rainbows Charter Document

Connecting Rainbows : Draft Interim Terms of Service

If anybody wants to join Connecting Rainbows, we are having an open and transparent discussion about the group's future, including the drafting of Connecting Rainbows' first charter document. As we grow the social movement for LGBT civil rights, here is your opportunity to join Connecting Rainbows and help shape its/our future.

West Hollywood LGBT Civil Rights Resolution

LGBT civil rights activist Richard Noble approached the City of West Hollywood for a resolution in support of amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the landmark federal law. In response, the City of West Hollywood adopted a resolution in support of such amendment.
2011-03-07 City West Hollywood Resolution Agenda (LGBT Civil Rights - American Equality Bill)

Barack Obama LGBT Protest Sheraton NYC

UPDATE : Videos from #EvolveAlready Demonstration outside President Obama's first ever LGBT campaign fundraiser

When will President Obama's position on marriage equality evolve into a policy of "equality" ?

President Barack Obama is heading to New York City for a big LGBT fundraiser, but has not yet even declared support for one of the most basic human rights -- the freedom to marry. GetEQUAL is organising a protest outside the President's fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Date : Thursday, June 23, 2011
Time : 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where : Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 811 7th Avenue (at 53rd Street), NYC

1996-02-15 Obama Marriage Equality Questionnaire

White House aide lies : 1996 Obama gay marriage questionnaire is a fake, even though Obama signed it.

Members of Connecting Rainbows will be joining members of GetEQUAL and other activists at the fundraiser on Thursday to demand that President Obama change his position back to one of support of marriage equality and that, before he collects a single campaign contribution check from our community, he publicly declare his support for marriage equality.

Will you join us? RSVP at the Facebook Event Page.

President Obama's LGBT fundraiser is coming off the heels of a very public flip-flop on marriage equality. At last week's Netroots Nation blog conference, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told conference participants that President Obama never supported marriage equality.

Some final, wise observations from Pam's House Blend : "The Empire State is on the cusp of passing full marriage equality and the President is parachuting in to pull out cash from the gAyTM this week. It's kind of hard to ignore what is happening in New York, but Team Obama will count on the gayz who like access not to press him on the obvious civil rights matter in the state's legislature."