Archive for the ‘politics’ Category

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WHAT WE LOVE: MARRIAGE EQUALITY PENDANT

Wear it proud - and donate to an important cause

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 6/13/2012 at 12:28PM | No Comments

We’ve heard of wearing your heart on your sleeve, but thanks to loveandpride, you can also wear it around your neck. Earlier this week, the new Marriage Equality Pendant was introduced at a special event to benefit Marriage Equality USA. Not only does the sleek new jewelry piece express support for same-sex marriage rights – 10 percent ($39 each) benefits the organization, which has been on the forefront of the fight for equal rights for same-sex couples across the country.

The pendant features Marriage Equality USA’s logo engraved on military dog-tag-style pendants made of stainless steel. You can even have the pendant engraved, say, with the initials of you and your loved one for an extra $10.

“loveandpride has a passionate history advocating marriage equality,” says loveandpride’s chief designer and co-founder Udi Behr (we saw him last season on The Real L Word). ”We’re thrilled to help supporters donate to Marriage Equality USA by wearing activist jewelry that symbolizes how it takes two halves to make something whole.”

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IT’S THE RICK AND KAREN SHOW

Santorum and his wife accuse LGBT activists of "backyard bullying"

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/17/2012 at 11:10AM | No Comments

It goes a little something like this:

An anti-gay presidential candidate rallies about how evil LGBT people are in the U.S. today. He talks about how they are ruining family and marriage – and suggests they consider becoming (or at least pretending) to be straight. He even blasts same-sex families, saying that children would be better off being raised by convicts than by gay men or lesbians.

The candidate then, naturally, faces a backlash from the very people he is hating on – and gets his wife to play the victim card, accusing LGBT activists of “bullying” her husband for his views.

And did we mention these folks are the Santorums?

Check it out:

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WILL N.J. PASS GAY MARRIAGE?

It's an uphill battle in the Garden State where civil unions are already legal

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/12/2012 at 10:37AM | No Comments

Illustration by G Philly

A bill is getting ready to be introduced by Democratic lawmakers in neighboring New Jersey that would – if successful – legalize same-sex marriage, giving gay and lesbian couples more rights compared to the civil unions they are currently allowed. But a recent news report says that National Organization of Marriage (NOM), an anti-gay group opposed to same-sex nuptials, is also getting ready to spend big bucks to prevent the law from passing.

The Washington Times reports that NOM could spend as much as $500,000 to pressure lawmakers to vote against the bill. The group tried the same in New York – and lost. But with Gov. Chris Christie saying he would veto gay marriage, the stakes could change in Jersey (New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a tireless advocate for marriage equality).

“The media is reporting that gay marriage is sure to pass through the legislature, but we heard the same false story in 2009 and 2010. The people of New Jersey can and will stop this bill,” vows NOM President Brian Brown.

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WHY IS RICK SANTORUM OBSESSED WITH GAY PEOPLE?

Seven of the dumbest things he's ever said about the LGBT community

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/11/2012 at 9:39AM | 5 Comments

Former PA Senator Rick Santorum has been hanging much of his presidential campaign on bashing LGBT folks. He’s made a lot of hateful comments over the years, but we rounded up the seven dumbest things he’s said about gay people. And this has us wondering why the GOP contender is so darn obsessed with gay people anyway? Does thou protest a little too much?

1. “Even fathers in jail who had abandoned their kids were still better than no father at all to have in their children’s lives.”

2. He argues that gay soldiers would disrupt the military because “they’re in close quarters, they live with people, they obviously shower with people.”

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DOMA: A PERSONAL STORY

They've been together for 22 years. They have kids. But the government won't recognize that. By Lavi Soloway

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/9/2012 at 9:55AM | 4 Comments

Mark and Fred with their kids at the White House (photos courtesy of the author)

When she wakes up next Wednesday, Claire, 8, will have a lot more to consider than the earrings she is wearing to school. Her ears were pierced as a Christmas present: a gift, she told her dad, that she had been waiting for her whole life. The Christmas tree is still up in her home, but the presents under it have all been unwrapped, and emptied, naturally. Her three brothers, John, Jacob, and Joshua, ages six through 11, received a  small arsenal of toys that have been played with and are already causing mayhem. On the surface, everything is as it should be. But John, Claire, Jacob, and Joshua are ordinary kids under extraordinary circumstances.

On January 11th, their two dads will appear before a Philadelphia Immigration Officer for a green card interview to put forward evidence of their 22-year relationship and their marriage. The goal? To be allowed to stay together with their children in this country. For a married gay couple in which one spouse is foreign, the process of applying for permanent resident status is not so straightforward. Frederick Deloizy is a French national, and, as a foreigner who has seen both his work visa and his student visa expire, the time he has left to share with his family may now be limited.

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THE FATE OF PARTNER BENEFITS

Legislators say they'll keep their promise to the LGBT community in Allegheny County

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/6/2012 at 3:39PM | No Comments

As same-sex partner benefits are debated throughout the state, Allegheny County is the latest district looking to implement them. State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), co-chairman of the new LGBT Equality Caucus in the legislature, says Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald intends to keep his promise by implementing same-sex domestic-partner benefits for county employees as early as this year.

“This will send a positive signal to prospective businesses and residents that we value diversity in Allegheny County and will help the county to attract and retain quality employees,” says Frankel. “Allegheny County will join major employers – such as the 59 percent of Fortune 500 companies – that provide domestic-partner benefits to their employees. This is also part of a continuing statewide trend toward greater fairness and equality for our LGBT family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors.”

Late last year, members of the state House and Senate created the LGBT Equality Caucus to advance LGBT rights in the state and bring attention to important issues impacting the community. As we reported, Equality Pennsylvania first presented the idea, which has attracted attention and membership from 26 legislators statewide. It’s the first caucus of its kind dedicated solely to educating legislators on the lives and challenges facing Pennsylvania’s LGBT citizens, as well as being a voice on equality issues within the legislature.

 

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WHEN GLITTERBOMBING BACKFIRES

Sure, the protest tactic gets attention - but is it the right kind?

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/4/2012 at 11:18AM | No Comments

Illustration by G Philly

When Rick Santorum – the oh-so-anti-gay presidential hopeful who came in second in Iowa yesterday – was glitterbombed this week (glitterbomb, v., a new form of protest that is to toss glitter at someone who is opposed to gay rights), a lot of people were laughing. But I’m not so sure they were laughing at the right guy.

To spotlight what an enemy Santorum has and continues to be to the LGBT community is a great idea, especially since he’s vowed to annul same-sex marriages if elected president (a long shot, but his words have momentum). But does the flashy glitterbombing of politicians and celebrities really do anything to advance equal rights? And could it, instead, have the power to alienate potential allies and make a mockery of the serious issues facing LGBT Americans today?

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WHAT DOES IOWA REALLY MEAN?

Romney wins in Iowa but Santorum isn't far behind - and that should have the LGBT community worried

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/4/2012 at 9:55AM | No Comments

Romney takes Iowa, but Santorum isn't far behind (courtesy of Mitt Romney for President)

Mitt Romney may have inched Rick Santorum out of first place in Iowa yesterday, but coming in a close second (with a mere eight-vote difference) should have LGBT folks around the country a little (okay, make that a lot) worried. Because for a candidate who has made a name for himself in this race as the conservative Catholic with a very anti-gay platform, it’s starting to look like being against LGBT rights is a successful recipe for wooing right-wing Republican voters. In Iowa, anyway.

And that’s, well, kinda weird. Especially if you consider how many polls show how far Americans (and Catholics, even) have come in not only embracing the notion of same-sex marriage, but also basic civil rights. But we must consider the way many of these candidates (especially Santorum) have perverted the idea of “family values” to mean only one, very narrow definition of family. For same-sex couples raising children in America, using this as a campaign ploy is not only disingenuous, but also inflammatory. Looking back, we heard much the same rhetoric spewed about civil rights for blacks – and women. And, sure, while history likely won’t be very kind to the candidates who have gone on the record this year to say that LGBT people are somehow lesser citizens, we have a lot of work to do today.

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KEYSTONE PROGRESS SELECTS HEROES

Who are the most progressive politicians in PA?

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 1/3/2012 at 9:01AM | No Comments

LGBT issues are part of the equation, particularly the issue of requiring voter identification at the polls. So are reproductive rights, employment issues and voting rights. That’s how Keystone Progress evaluated legislators throughout the commonwealth. The activist group recently released a list of 20 heroes that have been “progressive” on the key issues (and opposed legislation that would make it harder for LGBT folks across the state). They include:

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A YEAR IN LGBT ISSUES

What we were talking about in 2011

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 12/28/2011 at 10:08AM | No Comments

DADT repealed. Marriage equality in the headlines. Bullying. Transgender awareness. And all of the LGBT issues on the front lines. Not even the presidential debates were spared from tackling some of the most talked-about issues today impacting the gay community. The Williams Institute at UCLA studied some of the most important developments in the last 12 months – highlighting not only the achievements in gay rights this year, but also what we may be able to look forward to in the new year.

“This year, the federal government demonstrated its commitment to collecting and utilizing research to inform policy that impacts the lives of LGBT families, workers, service members and youth,” explains Brad Sears, executive director of the Williams Institute, and assistant dean of the UCLA School of Law. “On every major LGBT policy issue, we’re seeing the power of research in action.”

In 2011, there were a few changes in federal policy – like the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the hopeful repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which eliminates rights for married same-sex couples – even in states where gay marriage is legal.

This year, the Census Bureau and the Department of Health and Human Services also began gathering new data about the lives and experiences of LGBT people around the country. Not only does the research help debunk myths, but it highlights new needs and clarifies how best to draft future policy that is responsive and inclusive of the LGBT community.

“Research has long suggested that the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ would have no negative impact on military readiness,” says Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center. ”Now, our job is to use research to highlight and address remaining issues such as the service of transgender troops.”

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