On October 11, 2009, I marched the streets of Washington D.C. as part of the National Equality March. I didn’t march just for the visibility that over a hundred thousand people would bring to the streets of our Capitol. I also didn’t march for the speakers that would greet us at the Capitol Building. Nor did I march because it was a beautiful day in Washington D.C. (though it was perfect weather). I marched because I believe in full equality.
I marched so that everyone living in this country has the same access to the legal protections that are afforded to others in this country. I marched because I believe that equal rights should be applied to everyone, not just one subset of society. I marched with my friends who are trying to adopt, but have many hurdles in front of them to make a family. I marched with my partner of ten years who doesn’t have the same right to make our family whole, like others in this country. I marched with my straight best friend, who constantly reminds me that our sexuality does not define us, but is just a part of who we are. I marched because, while I don’t support war, I do support a person’s right to choose to fight for their country, regardless of their sexual orientation.
I also marched as a way of showing my pride in the progress that has been made. I marched by the White House, and shouted out for full equality, and knew that someone was listening. I marched with thousands of others who knew that today we were closer than we have ever been to real change happening at a federal level. And I marched to organize.
Today I am energized to bring about change that will provide full equality to every person in this country. We can no longer allow the continuation of the George Orwell version of equality in this country. We can no longer deny a person their right to love the person they do; or their right to raise a family; or their right to their belief system; or their right not to practice a religion; or their right to fight for our country.
This is why I marched. This is why I will continue to march.
Note: In Texas, we are working to keep each other informed of activities, and share ideas with each other through the Equality Across Texas network (www.equalityacrosstexas.com). Details of Congressional District Action Teams can be found at the website, or through our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=174521789383
Yesterday there were three constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage across the country. In Arizona, Florida and California, all propositions were approved by a majority of voters. In probably the first time in history, a group of voters has taken away a right from a group of people. In California, gay marriage was a right that had been enjoyed by over 18,000 gay couples, and that ended when the polls closed and the results were announced.
In California, the people over at No On Prop 8 are still waiting for news on the number of outstanding votes, but at this stage it looks unlikely that the result will be any different.
Amongst all the good news generated by a new President, and larger majorities in both the House and Senate for Democrats, there is this bad news which should not be forgotten.
I read this transcript (courtesy of Andy), and wanted to post it along with the YouTube video that the comment was taken from. One statement that sticks out is this one, “We value you as a person, you as a total person and we want you to feel accepted and respected in your community and you’ll certainly have a president who feels that way.”
Towleroad reported that Community Marketing, Inc. have released a report detailing the results of an online survey of lesbian and gay adults. CMI reported that, “as an incentive, respondents were offered a chance to win one of four airline vouchers valid for a roundtrip flight in North America.” They conclude by stating that, “this survey comprehensively and effectively represents a broad spectrum of LGBT consumers in all parts of the USA.”
I think the survey has some good information in it (I’m still reviewing what is available online), but to say that it is a comprehensive survey of LGBT consumers is a little misleading. First, when you visit their site, we are told that “some of the U.S. respondents are bisexual, transgender or straight, and are not included in these indices, or in the sample key findings below.” We also have to highlight the word “online” which is where this survey took place. This precludes any person from participating in this survey who doesn’t have a computer, or who doesn’t subscribe (or have access) to the publications where this survey was promoted.
If it was a comprehensive survey it would include a random sampling of all the LGBT community. The issue is that this kind of data is not available, so we have to resort to surveys where self-identifying individuals who have the capabilities of responding to a survey actually participate.
Like I said, the data that has been obtained is pretty good, but it is not the type of survey that CMI claim it is to be. Who knew I’d learn something from college
Garcia named to 3rd term as president of Collin County Gay, Lesbian Alliance
Morris Garcia has been named president of the Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance for a third straight year. The election took place at the group’s fourth annual meeting, held June 11, according to a press release. CCGLA also elected Marla Parker as vice president, Dell Mott as secretary and Rosanne Rossetti as treasurer.
While it is great that Morris has been appointed as president, it highlights how many of the current CCGLA board don’t understand the rules that govern CCGLA. Currently (until the board chooses to amend it to suit this latest election), the bylaws state:
Section 5.10. Term Limitations. President and Vice President are limited to two (4) consecutive terms. There shall be no term limitations for Secretary, Treasurer, or other such officers as may be required from time to time. Completion of vacancies shall not constitute a term. After serving (4) consecutive terms, the outgoing President or Vice President may run again for the same office after an absence of one complete year.
This bylaw was recently amended (March 2007), and one assumes it was meant to be adjusted to accommodate Garcia’s intentions on serving as the longest president of CCGLA (an honor formerly held by CCGLA Founder Dawnetta Miller).
It seems that “some gay rights advocates who previously fought for ‘marriage or nothing’ are shifting strategies,” according to a report in the Boston Herald. Of course, the big organizations that claim to represent the interest of the GLBT community aren’t going to be changing their strategy, and so things will get much worse before they start to get better.
The Freedom to Marry group has stated that, “anything short of marriage relegates gays and lesbians to second-class status,” a position that is reflected by the Human Rights Campaign. Sadly, it is this attitude (in my view) that has been responsible for the vast amount of constitutional amendments across the United States that ban gay marriage, or anything that resembles it. It’s the main reason that I’m no longer a member of HRC.
Initial reading of the decision from the New Jersey Supreme Court (Lewis v. Harris [A-68-05]), it appears that the NJ legislature has 180 days to amend the marriage statutes to provide the option for same-sex marriages.
On October 11, 2009, I marched the streets of Washington D.C. as part of the National Equality March. I didn’t march just for the visibility that over a hundred thousand people would bring to the streets of our Capitol. I also didn’t march for the speakers that would greet us at the Capitol Building. Nor did I march because it was a beautiful day in Washington D.C. (though it was perfect weather). I marched because I believe in full equality.
