Racist/Homophobic NC State Senator Refuses to Meet Constituents

North Carolina State Senator Jim Forrester (R-Gaston) has a history of anti-gay and anti-POC statements and actions. His first order of business for the past six years has been filing an amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

He has made anti-gay and anti-black remarks such as:

"Slick city lawyers and homosexual lobbies and African American lobbies are running Raleigh"

A local chapter of the LGBT advocacy group Parents and Friends of Lesbians & Gays(PFLAG) wanted to have a face to face meeting with the senator but he is rejecting that invitation.

"I doubt I will go to the meeting, but I appreciate the invitation anyhow," Forrester said. "I don't think it would be a constructive meeting. I think it would just increase animosity toward me, and I don't want that" (Pam's Houseblend).

Demand that Senator Forrester meet with his diverse constituency. He represents LGBT and African American populations and must do the job he was elected to do.

James Forrester
Email: James.Forrester@ncleg.net
District: 41
Counties Represented: Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln

NC Senate
16 W. Jones Street, Room 1129
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808
(919) 715-3050

Tell CW Network Racist and Transphobic Language Have No Place On TV!

High Society Trailer - Real Look. Series Premiere Wednesday, March 10 on the CW network is the subject of controversy. The show is about rich people doing and saying whatever they want. The trailer below shows how racist language like the N word is condoned, and how transphobic insults such as "tranny" are aired.



Please tell the CW Network that racist and transphobic language does not belong on the airwaves and that the women using it must be educated as to why it is wrong.

cwtv.com/feedback/comments

H/T to Planetransgender.

Equality Forward - New Study Released on LGBT People of Color

The Human Rights Campaign has released the newly completed study called Equality Forward, At The Intersection Race, Sexuality, and Gender which examines the lives of LGBT people of color. It is part of a broader initiative to unite gay and straight people of all races and ethnic backgrounds in the quest for equal justice.

Key findings of the report:

• Voices of LGBT POC are not at the forefront of groups fighting to end racial injustice as well as in LGBT equality groups.
• LGBT POC share the same concerns as the rest of the population and have broader issues beyond LGBT specific ones. They are concerned with health care and economic priorities.
• More than 50% of LGBT POC feels as though the Church treats them as outsiders and sinners and feel unwelcome at religious institutions.
• LGBT POC do not feel represented in media, often seeing a lack of LGBT characters altogether, and when present usually white.
• They feel that racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia are issues that must be tackled to prevent violence, discrimination.

HRC encourages feedback and discussion on the topic matter by urging you to share your story.

Open Forum: The Bisexual/Bi-Racial Overlap

Society tends to see things in black or white and often does not see shades of gray. Differences challenge us to open our minds and see that most things and people are not an absolute but simply fall into some shade or variation of whatever attribute we happen to be discussing at the time.

I see an overlap between bisexual and bi-racial people who probably know all too well what it is to not fall into societies neatly arranged categories of self identification. For bi-racial people many struggle with being stuck between two races and cultures. They are plagued by a society forcing them to choose one identity or the other but seldom allowing them to be who they are which is indeed a bit of both. Even if they do self-identify more with one identity, people often look at that person as a wannabe and not truly part of the race and/or culture. This creates a no-win proposition for bi-racial individuals and families.

Bisexual people face a similar struggle. Most bisexuals fall on a continuum of attraction towards men and women, some leaning more to the gay side and others more to the straight side. It creates a struggle for self-identification because if they label themselves straight, they are lying and if discovered will be considered a deviant. If they label themselves gay and then date someone of the opposite sex they are considered a traitor and confused about their sexuality. This creates a dilemma for the bisexual to accurately self-identify as who they are.

Do you see a parallel between bisexuality and bi-racial issues when it comes to identity formation?

What Would MLK Say About LGBT Rights?

Unfortunately, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday we honor today, was assassinated before the gay rights movement became a force on the American stage, so we'll never know for sure what he may have done to further the cause of gay and lesbian rights had he lived. The person who knew him best, his wife, Coretta Scott King, was certain, however, that King's legacy was equality for all. To that end, she dedicated much of her time to LGBT equality issues before her death in 2006.

Mrs. King had many friends in the gay community, and a history of tireless activism. Below are some select quotes from her.

“Like Martin, I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others", she would tell black civil rights leaders angered by gays and lesbians comparing their struggle to their own. She would quote her husband and say, “I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible."

"I appeal to everybody who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbians and gay people."

"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."

Dr. King, his wife, and the great civil rights leaders of the past will continue to inspire us, and we honor their legacy and should all seek to "be the change we wish to see." MLK's dream is not over, the fight for equality for racial minorities continues, we must be mindful that all our struggles are connected and we should unite to defeat oppression whether its against homophobia, queerphobia, racism, sexism, or any form of bigotry directed at individuals.

Parts crossposted from Queerty.