Civil Rights Heads For A Vote, Again...

IUS Civis!

 

With the recent push towards equality defeated at the ballot box in North Carolina, the rights of a minority group are once again heading to the ballot boxes. Up next, Maryland, Maine & Washington.

As the extremists, churches, religious groups & organizations fighting to "defend" traditional marriage have begun ramping up efforts to raise the funds to get out their message of; "The institution of marriage & family is under attack!" We, the LGBT community will once again pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off & begin the process of changing hearts & minds through education.

Typical messages of bigotry, intolerance & lies include:

* Lie: Gay marriage will destroy the foundation of what marriage is.

* Truth: Marriage equality will strengthen families by guaranteeing the recognition of said families as a married couple & therefore entitled to the legal rights/responsibilities/protections, tax breaks, medical decisions, etc. Who could argue having these rights/responsibilities would bring harm? Having legal protections & financial security is something all families want.

* Lie - Gay households are not a good environment to raise children & can make them gay.

* Truth - It has been proven that gay households have just as much love as their heterosexual counterparts. Something I sometimes believe to be more so as our community has long had to endure the struggles & burdens of proving to the rest their desire and ability to raise children.

As divorce rates across the country haven't fallen among the heterosexual community, the sun continues to rise each day in the states of Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, D.C. & Iowa.

So, as the Maggie Gallaghers, Bryan Fishchers, Charles Worleys, Paul Camerons & other anti-LGBT voices of the world ramp up their efforts to spew their messages of lies, intolerance, bigotry & hate in Maryland, Maine & Washington, we the LGBT community will continue the message of equality through tolerance, love & most of all, education.

Love makes a family!

Standing up (OK, sitting down) for our rights!

Evolved...

President Obama (D) Backs Marriage Equality.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thank you Mr. President, for your courage & conviction in standing up & speaking out for equality because, ALL families matter.

Love Makes A Family!

Standing up (OK, sitting down) for our rights!

There Is Hope!

Whether Your LGBT Or Q...

You may have been told you or your "behavior" is wrong, immoral, disgusting or that it's just a phase you are going through. It is not. Because, you are unique & you are beautiful!

You may have heard some of the negative news or stories regarding our community whether from conservative politicians/political candidates, extremist Christians or hate groups but, there is a hope. Hope due to the tireless dedication of those fighting back against the lies, hate & intolerance.

Our community has made positive strides to include marriage equality in 6 U.S. states, the District Of Columbia (not to mention, 3 other states are on the verge of moving forward in the fight for marriage equality) & 14 other locations around the world. The U.S. military's discriminative DADT came to an end, numerous states have enacted various protections & non discriminative laws, LGBT political leaders have come out as have sport figures, actors & other influential figures. More large corporations are recognizing that some of their best employees are LGBT & have begun offering stipends to cover medical insurance tax costs for their employee's spouse/partner, creating zero tolerance policy against hostile workplace discrimination which includes LGBT to backing bills calling for full marriage rights. Extreme anti-LGBT governments like Uganda have world leaders, the U.N. & politicians speaking out against their potential laws against the LGBT community.

 

It is certainly not the end, but, rather the beginning on a long & often frustrating road towards equality.

There's still so much work to do & together, you & I can help make a difference by educating others.

No matter what anyone tells you, always be yourself because, it's "OK to be LGBT."

Standing up (OK, sitting down) for our rights! 

Priorities, Priorities...

GOP's Upside Down Priorities...

At a time when American's are struggling to find work (let alone hold onto one since many have continued to move overseas) or who are in jeopardy of their unemployment benefits running out, worrying about putting food on the table, home foreclosures, health care insurance issues, debt, high taxes, the ongoing war in Afghanistan, illegal immigration, etc, the GOP has put together a list of the most pressing issues to deal with in order to "take America back."

At the top of the list are the following: 

• Health care repeal.
• Destroying families by targeting marriage equality.
• Denying a woman her right to choose.
• Monitoring average Americans who use FOIA.
• The White House.

Priorities, oh' the priorities...

As for last on the list, G-d help us all.

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

Setback.

Until Otherwise, Second Class Citizen You're To Remain.

After a recent victory of the lower court's decision to strike down anti-gay Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, an emergency appeal to stay was filed by the proponents of Prop 8 with the 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals.

Proponents of the discriminative Proposition 8 argument: "Gay marriages would harm the state's interest in promoting responsible procreation."  (Why then, when you file for a marriage license there isn't a section "are you planning, do you want or can you have children?") Shouldn't the state then deny your license application or have your marriage invalidated once they obtain this information at a later time?

Pending an appeal, the stay has been extended indefinitely, invalidating the lower court's decision to allow marriages to resume on August 18th. At this time, it is unknown if and when they would be allowed to continue.

State's interest in promoting responsible procreation???? Does anyone seem to remember the last time the state promoted procreation? Isn't that something decided on by 2 loving adults? Proposition 8 defenders are nothing more than a tyrannical bunch of bigots.

Now, the burden of proof of "harm to heterosexual marriages" lies solely on the proponents of Proposition 8 since neither Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) or Attorney General Jerry Brown (D) are willing to defend it.

May the sounds of wedding bells ring out once again for all citizens in the state of California and in the not to distant future, the rest of America.

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

Death To Gay Couples

Sign Of Extreme Hate

Anti-LGBT organization, National Organization for Marriage has a new message to the masses regarding their views on marriage equality: "death to all gay couples!"

Extremist hate, plain and simple.

Bizarre how someone like Maggie Gallagher, the head of an organization that preaches love and family can condone such hate filled messages.

Maggie, you stand for families? Are you concerned that children of the families you spew your anti-love messages to might see it?

Contact National Organization For Marriage and voice your outrage/anger!

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

NOM's Big Indiana Failure

Drowning Out The Voice Of Hate & Bigotry

Indianapolis, Indiana - As the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage continues it's bigoted filled trek across America, an ever increasing number of counter protesters gather in tow.

Heard over the voice of NOM's president Maggie Gallagher are the loud and clear chants of the rainbow masses, "what do we want? marriage equality, when do we want it, now!"

Wherever the lies, the deception and bigotry of groups like NOM go, remember to stand up & join the ever increasing voices to counter with messages of tolerance, equality and love.

Stand against this kind of bullshit by getting involved, it's your future!

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

New York, The Empire Inequality State

Marriage Equality Bill Fails In Senate Vote

 Albany - The first Senate debate on the future of marriage equality in New York is officially dead.

As I sat there watching the live broadcast from the place that never seems to accomplish much in the way of fiscal responsibility, I felt a slim possibility of it's passage after the passionate pleas of doing the right thing. But, as the "slow vote" began, the no's began overshadowed the yes's. 1 by one, the Republican and "undercover Republican" senators voted it down. The final count - 24/38

The NY hall of shame featuring the dems who voted no on marriage equality: Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) • Darrel Aubertine (D- Cape Vincent) • Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) • Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) • Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) • Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) • George Onorato (D-Queens) • William Stachowski (D-Buffalo).

Looks like we, the "second class" LGBT citizens of this great state will continue to pay taxes, work and struggle but will continue to have limited civil rights that all hetero's take for granted as the homophobe Senators (and those worried about their jobs) have spoken. Shame on all of those who decided the best thing for New York was to vote against equality. Shame on you!

New York deserves better and I hope this hard lesson of our continued second class citizen status will be a wake up call more than ever to become involved in our fight for equality!

Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!

Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!