Demand Rep. Skelton Apologize for Homophobic Remarks

Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) has publicly said he wants to keep the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy for fear that repeal would lead to a national discussion about homosexuality.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that he thought the military should keep its ban on openly gay service members in part because he did not want to open a national discussion about homosexuality. The chairman, Representative Ike Skelton, a conservative Missouri Democrat, said he thought the debate in Congress over the proposed repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy might force families to explain homosexuality to their children. “What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?” Mr. Skelton asked reporters at a news media breakfast. [1]

Join GetEQUAL in demanding an apology by signing this petition.

Urge Springfield to Remove 1976 Anti-Gay Ordinance

The City Council of Springfield Missouri is expected to pass a measure tonight eliminating a 1976 ordinance which makes it illegal for gays and lesbians to solicit same-sex encounters. The law is on the books but has not really been enforced in many years and is viewed as unnecessary and unconstitutional language.

Council member Doug Burlison made a promise to bring this up to a vote after the PrideFest celebration in June and said he "looks forward to getting this action completed". There already is an existing law that prohibits public sex that makes no mention of sexuality or gender.

"This is not a measure approving gay marriage," Burlison said. "We're not giving gay people any additional rights. This is a measure, in my mind, that keeps everyone on a level playing field and keeps social engineering out of local law" (BND).

Please urge the city council members to vote to disband this law.

Contact info for councilmembers can be found here.

Take quick e-action by clicking here to email all of the members directly.

Missouri Senator Uses Gay Marriage as a Scare Tactic

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill said in a statement defending her position against a senate bill to allow gun-owners to carry their weapons to states with similar laws on firearms:

"This is a foot in the door that would require, for example, the laws in Vermont on gay marriage to be enforced in Missouri."

This is an unacceptable comparison designed to be used as a scare tactic with her largely conservative constituents.

Offices of Senator Claire McCaskill:

E-contact form

Washington, D.C.
202.224.6154
202.228.6326 (fax)

Urge Your Senator to Support the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act

Senate bill 109, the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act (MONA) will be coming to the floor for a vote shortly and our voices must be heard. The new law if passed will update the human rights statute to include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, address discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Please take action by filling out PROMO's online form to contact your state senator.

Urge Subway to Re-Instate Fired Former Gay Porn Star

2/15/09: This post has been rehashed in light of Mr. Wild's appearance on the Tyra Banks show further discussing his termination from Subway. Since this time Subway has enacted a non-discrimination policy protecting employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Please urge them to uphold their policy and reinstate this worker as well as issue an apology.

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9/5/08: "22-year-old gay porn star Kurt Wild was fired from his day job at a Subway restaurant outside of St. Louis when a customer recognized him and threatened to boycott the fast food joint if Wild wasn't fired.

Wild says in an email:

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to tell everyone that I was just fired from my work at subway because I have done gay porn. A customer said they wouldn't even eat there at subway anymore because of my past work and said that if I wasn't fired then they would boycott the store. What I say is, if one person can try to ruin me everywhere I work... maybe I should take a stand and boycott their store too if they can't let people's privacy be treated right. I should have the right to work anywhere I can and it isn't right or fair that people can keep me from working simply because of a "gay" issue. If a girl did what we do it would probably be ok.. and if a guy does straight porn.. he is bragged about. When I do gay porn, I feel a bit lynched for the rest of my life. Not right. Thanks for reading.
- Kurt Wild" (BGay.com)

People have the right to make their own choices, and Mr. Wild should not be fired from employment due to sexual orientation and his former career in pornography. Sadly the state of Missouri does not have employment protections for people based on sexual orientation so Subway did not violate any laws.

I urge you to join me in calling on Subway to apologize for firing Mr. Kurt Wild at one of their St. Louis locations and letting them know we will not stand for this type of discrimination.

For specific store contact please type in St. Louis, Missouri.

http://www.subway.com/Applications/CustService/frmCustomerService.aspx

SUBWAY® Restaurants
325 Bic Drive
Milford, CT 06461 USA

Ph:1.800.888.4848

Out Lesbian Ejected from Children & Families Committee Because She is "Offensive"

Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford is an out lesbian in the Missouri State House. Democratic leadership put her name forward and intended to designate her Ranking Member since no other veteran member from the Democratic side of the aisle chose to return this year. However, in mid-January when Jeff Brooks, Speaker Ron Richard's chief of staff, announced which assignments had come through, he told Democratic Caucus staff that Rep. Oxford was being bumped from the Children and Families Committee because "some of our members find her highly offensive."

Ironically, Speaker Richard and Rep. Davis have made an irrefutable case for why the protections called for under MONA are absolutely necessary because no one's job is safe in the state of Missouri if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, even if you are a member of the Missouri legislature.

PROMO is asking us to pledge financial support. For the first $10 you pledge, they will send a THANK YOU CARD in your name to Speaker Richard. For $20, they will send a card to Rep. Davis as well. For $100, they will send each five cards.

Help make a point and advance the Missouri Non Discrimination Act, by donating to PROMO here.

Rep: Jane Cunningham feels "physically ill" Looking at Gender Non-Conforming Students

Representative Jane Cunningham (R) District 86 in Missouri who runs the ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION committee recently made some disturbing comments regarding "The Missouri Safe School Legislation" that her committee will decide on.

The bill is intended to protect students from discrimination based on "actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, intellectual ability, physical appearance, or mental, physical, or sensory disability or disorder."

"Two youth attempted to speak with Representative Jane Cunningham (R-86) regarding Safe Schools Legislation because of her position as chair of the House Education Committee. Upon entering Rep. Cunningham told the youth to leave, as she "couldn't look at [them] anymore," because their appearance "offended" her. Both youth have facial piercings as many students do. The youth thanked Rep. Cunningham for her time and left the office.

Directly following the youths dismissal by Rep. Cunningham, another group of Volunteer Lobbyists met with the Representative and in asking why the last group of students were asked to leave the office, Rep. Cunningham stated:

"I don't see how any human being could look at them for any prolonged period of time without getting physically ill... I thought I would throw-up if I looked at them any longer." (http://www.pamshouseblend.com)

This kind of language from the chairperson of the education committee is disturbing and dangerous. Her role is to protect and educate children of Missouri. Please contact her and tell her to apologize for her comments and swiftly move forward to pass the "Missouri Safe Schools Legislation".

Phone: 573-751-1186
Email:Jane.Cunningham@house.mo.gov

MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue
Room 313
Jefferson City MO 65101