Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says that she supports extending civil rights to all LGBT Americans, and we have to make sure that Sen. Gillibrand makes good on her support by filing legislation, which would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler Introduces a Bill to Repeal DOMA
On March 16, 2011, Rep. Jerry Nadler held a press conference to announce the re-introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act. The legislation, introduced with Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, David Cicilline, and John Conyers, would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 law that discriminates against lawfully married gay and lesbian couples.
From UK Gay News : LONDON -- August 6, 2011 – Joseph Kaute, the 43-years-old gay Cameroonian who was due to be deported from the UK this morning, is back at Harmondsworth detention centre this evening, thanks to Air France, the airline that was due to fly him from Heathrow back to Yaoundé via Paris. It was the third attempt to deport him. “Air France refused to allow me to board,” Mr. Kaute told UK Gay News by telephone, this evening. He added that he was aware of the eleventh-hour campaign mounted yesterday evening to prevent the deportation, with representations made directly to Air France in both Paris and London. “I would like to thank all those who helped me,” he said. Mr. Kaute arrived in the UK in November last year and claimed asylum, saying that he was gay and that he faced up to five years imprisonment. However, a tribunal in Newport, Wales, refused to accept that he was gay. ...
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.
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.''
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 StateInstead of waiting out the court case, when are LGBT allies in the United States Senate going to repeal DOMA ?
Louis Flores and Suzannah B. Troy : YouTube Video Summary of First Day of Marriage Equality : Manhattan Marriage Bureau to Andrew Cuomo's Office to Gracie Mansion
Members of Connecting Rainbows made a video summary of the rainstorm that befell upon the hate group jointly organised by Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., and the National Organization for Marriage.
Lt. Dan Choi served his country with honor in Iraq as an American infantry officer in the U.S. Army. But in June 2010, Lt. Choi was officially discharged from the Army, after coming out as gay on an episode of the Rachel Maddow Show. Now, months after being discharged for violating the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Department of Defense wants to charge Lt. Choi more than $2,500, to make up the cost of "the unearned portion" of his enlistment bonus.
That's right, the Department of Defense wants Lt. Choi to pay the military back for unfinished service -- service that Lt. Choi was unable to complete because the military kicked him out for being gay.
Sign the Petition : Stand with Lt. Choi, and tell the President and the Department of Defense that charging gay soldiers for being discharged from the military is ruthless and wrong. While "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" might be headed for extinction, it's clear that the policy's negative impact continues to be felt by dedicated American soldiers and veterans.
First Day of Marriage Equality in New York - Connecting Rainbows Video
The Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-LGBT hate group, organised a hate rally outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Manhattan office on Sunday, to protest the first day that same-sex couples can legally marry each other in New York state. Connecting Rainbows organised a counter-protest. Here is video of what it was like outside of the Manhattan marriage bureau -- and then later of the counter-protest.
White House Dodges Position On ''Ex-Gay'' Therapy
From The Washington Blade :
"White House Press Secretary Jay Carney declined comment Monday on questions on President Obama’s position on widely discredited “ex-gay” reparative therapy aimed at changing gay individuals into being straight."
Read the full article : White House Dodges Position On ''Ex-Gay'' Therapy
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.
