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.

Tell Congress that Nixing DOMA is about Cutting Taxes!

Today is April 15th, tax day in the United States and thousands are rushing and worried making sure they complete their forms on time. Same-sex couples though have more to worry about than the average American family because tax inequity is a financial burden on millions of LGBT families because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Same-sex couples are unable to file joint tax returns and must check off the single category because the federal government does not honor their relationships even for those legally married. This means that LGBT people will not receive inheritance benefits, divorce settlements, medicaid survivor benefits, social security benefits, and pension benefits from their partners.



Contact your congressperson and senators and tell them to support the Respect for Families Act which would repeal DOMA.

Blogswarm to Demand Speaker Pelosi Hold Vote on ENDA

Today thousands of people will put pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to a vote. Dr. Jillian T. Weiss of Bilerico put out the call to action and many LGBT and progressive blogs are participating in this blogswarm.

ENDA (HR 3017) will prohibit job discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The majority of the house and senate support this bill and Obama favors this civil rights legislation being passed. With a democratic majority now is the time to get ENDA on the floor for an up or down vote.

Please call Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 202-225-4965. Ask that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017, move to a vote.

The Top Five Straight Allies in Congress for 2009

Who are the leading advocates for LGBT rights inside the Beltway? Well, common sense would lead you to the three openly gay and lesbian politicians currently serving in the U.S. Congress –- Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Barney Frank, and Rep. Jared Polis. Great or legendary figures, but what happens when you get beyond these three folks?

5. Senator Tom Harkin – Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin did what a handful of Senators did this year –- publicly stated that he regretted his vote on the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Harkin joined Sen. Arlen Specter and Sen. Chris Dodd in denouncing their vote for DOMA. But Harkin had a sense of eloquence in his comments that made his thoughts seem particularly genuine. It also helps that they came right after Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution required the recognition of same-sex marriage in order to ensure equal rights for all of Iowa's residents. Talk about reinforcements. “We all grow as we get older, and we learn things and we become more sensitive to people and people’s lives,” Harkin said. “And the more I’ve looked at that, I’ve grown to think differently about how people — how we should live. And I guess I’m at the point that, you know — I’m to that point of live and let live.” Anyone else see visions of their own parents in that statement?

4. Rep. Earl Blumenauer – Count Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer among the legislators blasting the Defense of Marriage Act. Like Sen. Harkin above, Rep. Blumenauer also issued a blaring statement regretting his original vote for DOMA. (Note: Nothing is quite so blaring as one of Rep. Blumenauer’s bow ties.) But Blumenauer not only said he was regretful – he went so far as to say it was the worst vote he ever cast in his entire political career. And that covers more than 37 years (we’re going all the way back to the times of Richard Nixon). Blumenauer also said that he would lobby his fellow legislators in efforts to overturn DOMA. “I will work to make sure that my colleagues who once, for whatever reason, joined me in supporting [DOMA] take this opportunity to correct their record and eliminate an injustice,” said Blumenauer.

3. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand – Talk about crossing the ocean in support of LGBT rights. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand started this year as kind of a Blue Dog Democrat in the U.S. House, and is ending this year as one of the Senate’s biggest supporters for equal rights. Gillibrand is one of the lead voices in the U.S. Senate for repealing the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and in an interview with the Women’s Rights blog here at change.org, went so far as to say that marriage equality could be the civil rights battle of today’s generation. She even tried to exert some pull with the New York State Senate, encouraging the body to vote for marriage equality legislation earlier this year (sadly, that vote failed). And to top it off? She’s also a supporter of a fully inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which ought to be a legislative goal for every LGBT rights activist in 2010.

2. Rep. Patrick Murphy – As the first Iraq War veteran to serve in the halls of Congress, Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy certainly has the bonafides to talk about military issues. That’s why his voice on ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is so critical. But Rep. Murphy isn’t just a casual proponent of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He’s a downright leader on the issue, making it one of his legislative goals, and touring with the Human Rights Campaign’s “Voices of Honor” tour, calling attention to how eliminating gays and lesbians from the U.S. Armed Forces not only smacks in the face of equality and freedom – the very principles that our military stands for – but also threatens our national security. “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ clearly isn’t working for our military, and it hinders national security and military readiness at a time when America is fighting in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Rep. Murphy said. “My time in Iraq taught me that our military needs and deserves the best and the brightest who are willing to serve -- and that means all Americans, regardless of their orientation.” Anybody have the resume to argue with Rep. Murphy on that? Didn’t think so.

1. (Tie) Rep. Joe Sestak - Another Pennsylvania Congressman, Rep. Joe Sestak has emerged as a fighter for LGBT equality. As Rep. Sestak wrote for change.org earlier this year, one of the fights that keeps him going in politics is the battle to end the only form of institutionalized discrimination still legal in the U.S. – discrimination against LGBT people, as evident by policies like the Defense of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In fact, that’s one of the best things about Rep. Sestak – he draws the connection between both of those bad policies in ways that would make even the hardest heart melt. “How can we demand that the 65,000 of our troops who are estimated to be gay act dishonestly and conceal information from their comrades and commanders? No one who serves in defense of liberty should be forced to live a lie,” writes Rep. Sestak. “I cannot imagine denying equal rights to anyone I served with. How can anyone say, we fought and served together, we depended on one another, we risked our lives for this country, but back home you shouldn’t enjoy the rights that you defended?”

1. (Tie) Rep. Jerrold Nadler – Being the lead voice in the U.S. Congress on dumping the Defense of Marriage Act better be good enough to get you first place! Rep. Nadler, long one of the biggest allies the LGBT population has in Congress, continued his streak of homerun hitting for equal rights. This year it came in the form of introducing the Respect for Marriage Act. It’s a proposed piece of legislation that will dismantle DOMA, billed by many as the most discriminatory law passed by the U.S. in decades. Rep. Nadler’s reason for introducing the Respect for Marriage Act (ROMA, if you will!): he wants to send DOMA “into the history books where it belongs.”

Crossposted via Gay Rights @ Change.org

Tell the Senate to Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) is having a hearing in the House of Representatives now, click here for a live feed of the coverage. ENDA would ensure that employees are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression. The bill would make sure that an employee cannot be fired, refused hiring, or promotion simply based on these attributes.

It is still legal in 29 states to fire someone for their sexual orientation, and in 38 states for gender identity.

The senate has for the first time introduced a fully inclusive ENDA. Please urge your senators to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation.

Demand LGBT Inclusive Health Care Reform

Please sign this petition by the Stonewall Democrats to our party leaders - Speaker Pelosi, DCCC Chair Rep. Van Hollen, Sen. Reid and DSCC Chair Sen. Menendez - demanding comprehensive and LGBT-inclusive health care reform.

Private studies have shown that there exist disparities in health, health care access, and health care outcomes between the general population and LGBT people and families. Employment discrimination and lack of government recognition of same-sex relationships both contribute to these disparities.

The health care reform bill must include LGBT-inclusive policies, and in particular, data collection about the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity and health care access.

Act to Repeal DOMA Now

Legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) may be introduced in the House of Representatives as early as next week. We must ensure that the President, congress, and our senate leaders speak out and co-sponsor a repeal of this discriminatory legislation. DOMA denies same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits, even in states where marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships are legally sanctioned.

The momentum is on our side with the recent slide of victories in favor of equality, the time is now with a more progressive majority in place to eliminate DOMA.

Go to www.repealDOMAnow.org and join in the campaign for equal rights for all families.

New Grassroots HRC Campaign 'No Excuses'

The Human Rights Campaign has begun their 'No Excuses' grassroots campaign to demand equality on a face to face basis with our representatives. Activists will meet with their lawmakers during the summer recess when politicians are at home in their districts.



http://noexcuses.hrc.org/

Schedule your meeting with your representative and get the resources and tools necessary to ensure their vote on behalf of LGBT equality.

Tell Obama to Dump DOMA Now!

DOMA stands for the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex unions. President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to overturn DOMA.

In light of the increasing pressure the administration has felt over the recent Department of Justices defense of this antiquated legislation, the time is now to let Obama know we demand he keep his campaign promises to the LGBT community to repeal DOMA.

The Dump Doma campaign is urging us to pressure the house speaker Nancy Pelosi, majority leader Harry Reid and the rest of congress to act quickly to send the bill to the president for him to sign.

Please fill out the action alert at dumpdoma.org and tell your friends!

Urge Congress to Support the Stonewall Resolution

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is urging us to support The Stonewall Resolution, also known as H.R. 433 which was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, and Jared Polis.

The Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBT bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, was raided by police in late June 1969. The resulting protests were a vivid demonstration by LGBT people of their resolve to publicly resist government harassment and discrimination. These actions, collectively referred to as “Stonewall,” helped inspire unprecedented activism for LGBT rights and fair treatment. For these reasons, Stonewall occupies a rightful place in the history of the LGBT community, and of the nation as a whole.

H.R. 433 pays homage to this history and, appropriately, recognizes both how far we’ve come as a community and the work that remains to be done.

We are urging our supporters to contact their Congressional representatives and asking them to co-sponsor this resolution. Please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. Ask to be connected to your Representative's office.

Matthew Shepard Bill Passes House Now Moves to Senate

The Local Law Enforcement Protection Act H.R. 1913 (Matthew Shepard Bill) has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 249-175. The bill expands the federal hate crimes statute to include actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.

The bill will now move on to the senate, please contact your senators and urge them to vote for passage of the bill.

Congress to Vote on Matthew Shepard Act Tomorrow

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913) AKA "The Matthew Shepard Act" will be up for a vote tomorrow in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would amend the federal hate crimes law to include to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

The right-wing is contacting congress at an alarming rate, calling the bill a "thought crimes bill" and flat out lying that this bill will somehow impede on their free speech rights.

HRC is asking us to take action by contacting our representatives.

Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell your Member’s office:

* Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are on the rise. One out of every six hate crimes is because of the victim’s sexual orientation.

* Hate crimes have more than one victim. They are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and terrorize entire communities.

* The Matthew Shepard Act targets only violent acts – not speech. It does not tell any clergy member what he or she can or can’t preach.

Tell Congress: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

A Message From PFLAG:

Please email your Member of Congress and urge them to support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Lawmakers are now considering The Military Readiness Enhancement Act - a bill that would end the prohibition on service by lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans - and they need to hear from their constituents about why this issue is so important.

By the end of today, two more service members will be dismissed from our armed forces under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

That's right: Two people are fired by our federal government, every day, simply because of who they are, and who they love. Since the law's inception, more than 12,000 men and women - including doctors, linguists, helicopter pilots and others - have been dismissed from the military.

Military families deserve to be treated equally under the law. LGBT Americans deserve an opportunity to serve our country. And our country deserves a fighting force that includes the best and brightest our country has to offer, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, too.

Join PFLAG in calling on Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The time has come to end this discriminatory law and break down the barriers that prevent our loved ones from proudly defending the country we love.

Through this PFLAG Action Alert you can put another dent into this discriminatory law.

Congresswoman Lois Capps Introduces Legislation to Honor Lawrence King

Congresswoman Lois Capps representing California's 23rd district has honored brutally murdered Lawrence King's legacy. She has also introduced legislation to recognize him and a call for an end to violence and harassment of LGBT people.

"Honoring and remembering the life of Lawrence “Larry” King.

Whereas Larry King was a 15-year-old boy from Oxnard, California, who was shot by a fellow student during computer class on February 12, 2008 and died in the hospital two days later;

Whereas the police classified the murder as a hate crime;

Whereas at least 179 vigils have been held in all fifty states in memory of Lawrence King since his death on February 14, 2008;

Whereas a record number of more than 18,000 students from a record number of more than 6,500 middle and high schools registered as participants in the 12th annual National Day of Silence, which was held in memory of Lawrence King, to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment;

Whereas one year after an act of hate in Oxnard, CA, vigils are being organized across the country in memory of Lawrence King, calling for an end to violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in schools;

Whereas more than 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students report being verbally harassed at school by their peers because of their sexual orientation; and more than 66 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students report being physically harassed by their peers because of their sexual orientation; and more than 30 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 20 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students report being physically assaulted by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation; and nearly 15 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination regardless of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring) –

That Congress honors the life and remembers and condemns the murder of Lawrence King;

encourages efforts to address anti-lesbian, -gay, -bisexual and -transgender name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination on school campuses;

encourages trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-lesbian, -gay, -bisexual and -transgender name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination effectively and in a timely manner;

encourages the implementation of age-appropriate, inclusive curricula to help students understand and respect difference within the school community and society as a whole;

encourages each State, city, and local education authority to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination against students, teachers and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression" (Congresswoman Lois Capps).

Please take this opportunity to thank the congresswoman for championing equality.

http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml

Washington, D.C.
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3601
Fax: (202) 225-5632

Tell Congress to Support the Uniting American Families Act of 2009

The Uniting American Families Act of 2009 (UAFA) will be reintroduced this week in congress. Immigration Equality is asking us to contact our representative and urge them to support and be a co-sponsor of the upcoming bill.

1. Find out who your U.S. House Representative is. Go to http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm, enter your address, and you will be provided the name of your U.S. Representative.
2. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative.
3. Tell your representative’s staff:

I am calling to ask Representative ________________ to be an original cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act of 2009. To cosponsor, he/she must contact Rep. Jerrold Nadler who is the lead sponsor.

The U.S. government discriminates against gay and lesbian binational couples by not allowing us to sponsor our foreign-born life partners for immigration. Because of this, we face the terrible choice of separating from the person we love or leaving our country. As Americans, we should not have to choose between family and country. Please ask Rep. _________________ to cosponsor the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 by reaching out to Rep. Nadler before February 12.

Expand the Civil Rights Act to Protect LGBT Rights

Join 'The Power' by signing a petition calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead the 111th Congress expand the Civil Rights Act to declare once and for all that LGBT rights are civil rights and that it will be the public policy of the United States that discrimination based on LGBT status is prohibited.

The petition, copies of which will be sent to Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the President's LGBT Liason, Brian Bond, will be delivered on June 1, 2009, the first day of the 40th annual gay pride month.

Please click here to sign the E-petition.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Comes Out Against Prop 8

Does Your Congress Member Make the Grade?

The Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest organization fighting for LGBT rights, released its Congressional scorecard yesterday (Download PDF here). The scorecard rates members of Congress on their support for issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This is an excellent tool to use during this election year. You can see how the elected official for your area voted on all the LGBT issues that came up during the 110th Congress (Jan. 2007 - Jan. 2009).

Here are some of the successes from this Congressional session:

* For the first time in a Congressional session, the Senate and House both passed hate crimes legislation that provides protection on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
* For the first time, the House introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that includes protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity, with 185 Members of Congress cosponsoring the bill.
* For the first time, the House held a vote on and passed a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), that prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation;
* The House held the first-ever hearing focused solely on workplace discrimination faced by transgender Americans;
* The House held the first hearings since 1993 examining the negative impact of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
* The Senate held the first-ever hearing on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations (DPBO) Act which provides equal family benefits to LGBT federal civilian employees; And with pro-equality leadership in the House and Senate, the discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) was not even scheduled for a vote.
* Also with more fairminded officials being elected, and the work of HRC lobbying and educating Congress we have also seen the number of positive votes improve.

According to HRC we have see the following:

In the 110th Congress, the average score for members of the U.S. Senate increased from 41.7% to 55.4% and for the House of Representatives from 40.5% to 47.9%. The number of Senators scoring 90% or better increased from 11 to 17. The number of Representatives with 90% or better increased from 96 to 128.

The following legislation is what appears on the HRC scorecard:

* The Matthew Shepard Act, H.R. 1592/S. 1105, to allow local law enforcement to access federal resources to investigate or prosecute violent crimes committed because of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity;
* The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R. 3685, to prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation;
* The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R. 2015, co-sponsorship of the inclusive version to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
* The HIV travel and immigration ban, included in the reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), that took the first step toward ending the ban on travel and immigration to the United States by HIV-positive individuals;
* The Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA), H.R. 3326/S. 860, to allow states to provide Medicaid coverage to HIV positive persons;
* The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), H.R. 2221/S. 1328, to provide same-sex partners of U.S. citizens equal immigration access;
* The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA), H.R. 1246, which would repeal the military’s ban on open service by gays and lesbians;
* The Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act (DP Tax), H.R. 1820/S. 1556, to equalize tax treatment for employer-provided health coverage for domestic partners.


To view the HRC scorecard click here.

Crossposted via our friends at Lez Get Real.

Congressman Keith Ellison Joins LGBT Caucus

Straight off of Keith Ellison's Congressional Website:

"The mission of the Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus will work toward extending equal rights, repealing discriminatory laws, the eliminating hate-motivated violence. The Caucus is dedicated to the improved health and well-being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

“I am honored to join this caucus because of my lifelong commitment to fighting all discrimination. I believe when my gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender neighbor suffers from discrimination, then I suffer, and so does our whole community. Every member of our society contributes to the health, wealth and generosity of our community. Only when we recognize, protect, and, celebrate that will we realize all our citizens’ potential,” Ellison concluded."

Please join me in thanking Representative Ellison for joining the LGBT Caucus and for his commitment to advancing the rights of our community.
http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87

Thank Members of the Newly Formed LGBT Caucus!

Congressman Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin have announced the formation of the newly formed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The mission of the LGBT Equality Caucus is to achieve the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

The following are the 52 congressional members of the LGBT caucus. Please take a moment to thank your state representatives for standing up for LGBT equality.

Click here to contact your representatives!

Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Barney Frank (D-MA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Mike Honda (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Howard Berman (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Robert Brady (D-PA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), James Moran (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington, D.C.), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), José Serrano (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Pete Stark (D-CA), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

For more info on the news check out Pride Source