Boycott DNC LGBT Fundraiser

Vice-president Joe Biden will be hosting a DNC LGBT fundraiser next week at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC. An individual plate is 1,000 dollars and up and many people have already pulled out due to the administrations lack of action on LGBT issues, and their anti-gay defense of DOMA and DADT.

Among those who have already pulled out are HRC’s National Field Director Marty Rouse, Empire State Pride Agenda’s Alan Van Capelle, Former top Clinton aide David Mixner, Former top Clinton aide Richard Socarides and Towleroad’s Andy Towle and Corey Johnson (AKA William).

The three openly LGBT members of congress are attending the event and have yet to make any statements against the Department of Justices anti-gay defense of DOMA.

Contact our LGBT representatives and let them know that if they attend this event they are abandoning the LGBT community for their own interests.

Rep. Barney Frank:
2252 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
tel: (202) 225-5931
fax: (202) 225-0182

Rep. Tammy Baldwin
2446 Rayburn Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6942 Fax
(202) 225-2906
Email Form

Rep. Jared Polis
Washington, DC Office
501 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p. 202.225.2161
f. 202.226.7840

Democrats Want More of the Pink Dollar - Some Say NO!

On June 25th there is going to be a Democratic National Committee LGBT Leadership Council fund raising dinner at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC.

It will be featuring Vice President Joe Biden as the guest of honor… the prices run from $30,400 to $1,000 per seat.

A President we can be Proud of?

Easter egg rolls while fun and PR good, they do not really provide us with much in the way of protections… and I think there is some kind of reality disconnect going on here.

Anyone remember Rick Warren at the inauguration? Anyone remember the discharge of Lt Dan Choi? Anyone remember the half-heart press release just hours before the vote on the Mathew Shepard hate crime law? Or the surreptitious write out of our issues from the White House web site? Or National Security Adviser James Jones saying he did not know if DADT would be repelled in our lifetime?

Anyone remember seeing any real leadership from President Obama or the congressional democrats on any of the issues that affect our LGBT community or our daily lives whatsoever?

The Democrats and President Obama must think we do…. Because they are coming to us for money again and don’t seem to get it… what we see is while they like gay dollars and votes, they don’t really like to do much on gay issues.

Lez Get Real is asking everyone in the LGBT community to let the DNC know… “NO WE CAN’T… till they can.”

DNC- 202-863-8000
877-336-7200

IN The Parade - Help Secure an LGBT Contingent for Obama's Inaugural Parade

An openly-gay contingent has never marched in a presidential inaugural parade. IN the Parade is hoping to change that this year with the new Obama-Biden administration.

Marching is an important symbolic act, and the symbolic value of a gay contingent in President-Elect Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Parade will say a lot about our new president’s sincerity and authentic desire to include everyone in his definition of unity.

Our goal is to secure lesbian/gay representation in the Inaugural Parade on January 20th, 2009. If you come IN and join us, we will succeed.

There are 3 steps you can take part in to help ensure LGBT representation at inaugural parade.

Obama-Biden Lay Out Plans for LGBT Community

The President-elect Barack Obama transition team and agenda website change.gov has listed comprehensive plans for the nation, including plans for LGBT rights.

Support for the LGBT Community

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

The Obama-Biden Plan

* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. Barack Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

* Fight Workplace Discrimination: Barack Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. Obama also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

* Expand Adoption Rights: Barack Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Obama will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. Obama also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. He will continue to speak out on this issue as president.

* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Barack Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

The transition team is also taking your opinions on civil rights, and ideas for moving the country forward.

CHANGE is here with Obama/Biden '08

The transition team for Barack Obama's presidency is seeking applicants and going beyond the law of the land to truly embrace inclusive employment non-discrimination.

"The Obama-Biden Transition Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law."

If you want to check out the site or apply to be a part of change check out...
http://www.change.gov/page/s/application

Obama on Supreme Court Appointments & Marriage

Obama on the Supreme Court:

"And so my criteria, for example, would be-- if a Justice tells me that they only believe the strict letter of the Constitution-- that means that they possibly don't mean-- believe in-- a right to privacy that may not be perfectly enumerated in the Constitution but, you know, that I think is there. I mean, the-- the right to marry who you please isn't in the Constitution. But I think all of us assume that if a state-- decided to pass a law saying, "Brian, you can't marry the woman you love," that you'd think that was unconstitutional. Well, where does that come from? I think it comes from a right to privacy-- that may not be listed in the Constitution but is implied by the structure of the Constitution."

Crossposted via Good As You.

Biden & Palin on Same-Sex Partner Benefits

Last night during the vice presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden (D) and Governor Sarah Palin (R) the issue of same-sex partner benefits came up. Biden stated that we must advance civil rights, while not "redefining marriage" and Palin said that she supports only "one man and one woman marriage" but that she is "tolerant" and that a "McCain/Palin administration would not be a roadblock to having things like hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples".

Trans for Obama Day

I had no clue, but glad I didn't miss this. Today is officially "Trans for Obama" day where the trans community and allies are getting together to financially support Barack Obama/Joe Biden for the Presidential ticket.

"While transgender workplace diversity issues are not inherently tied to any political ideology, it is clear that Barack Obama is supportive of transgender workplace rights and that John McCain is not supportive of transgender workplace rights. The transgender community and its allies have a voice and political influence, and today the blogging community is working on exercising these with "Trans for Obama" blog day. We are asking people to donate $5 or more to Barack Obama's campaign for president via a fund set up for transgender people and their allies at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/trans?refcode=therometer

I ask you to donate also to show that the transgender community is alive and well, and that there are many of us out there who are willing to stand up and be counted. It is easy to read this and do nothing, feeling that nothing will make a difference. I know that what I am asking takes courage and willingness to go beyond the feelings of helplessness that have been drummed into us by our national leaders. Please join me in standing up and being counted."

H/T Trans Work Place for the story.

Web Spotlight: Obama PRIDE

Today's web spotlight and shout goes to Obama PRIDE. The sub-section of Barack Obama's website which details his commitment to LGBT Americans. Click the graphic to access this site.

Obama-Biden '08 Pride?

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (IL) has selected Senator Joe Biden (DE) to be his vice-presidential pick.

Let's take a closer look at where Senator Biden stands on LGBT issues.

PRO's:
*Supports repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy that bars gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

"Our allies -- the British, the French, all our major allies -- gays openly serve. I don't know the last time an American soldier said to a backup from a Brit, "Hey, by the way, let me check. Are you gay? Are you straight?" This is ridiculous."

*Supports civil unions between same-sex couples.

"Well, I think it probably is because social mores change. But I don't think the government can dictate the definition of marriage to religious institutions. But government does have an obligation to guarantee that every individual is free of discrimination. And there's a distinction. I think government should not be able to dictate to religions the definition of marriage, but on a civil side, government has the obligation to strip away every vestige of discrimination as to what individuals are able to do in terms of their personal conduct."

*Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.

*In favor of same-sex couples adoption rights.

*Voted YES to add sexual orientation to list of hate crimes.

*Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

CON's
*Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. (Current position on that piece of legislation unknown)

*Not in attendance at historic "Visible Vote '08" LOGO's LGBT Presidential Forum

Senator Joe Biden receives a 78% rating from the Human Rights Campaign indicating a pro-gay rights voting record.

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Fore more info on where the campaign lies on LGBT issues:
Obama's Stance on LGBT Issues

Obama Pride Video Collage