Posts tagged GLBTQ
Cognitive Dissonance
“Nothing is true, everything is permitted.” - William S. Burroughs
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Breaking: Colorado House committee kills civil unions bill in special session
Disgusting. From Prop 8 Trial Tracker:
By a party-line 5-4 vote, Republican members of the Colorado House of Representatives State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted tonight to kill a civil unions bill during a special legislative session. Although the bill passed three Republican-led committees with bipartisan support and was guaranteed passage in the full House had it been brought up for a vote in the regular session, House Republican leadership ran out the clock on the bill last week, denying a floor vote on it and 37 other bills.
Even though Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, a strong supporter of the legislation, called a special session in part so that the civil unions bill could receive a full vote on the House floor, House Speaker Frank McNulty condemned the bill to almost certain failure in the conservative State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Republicans on the committee who opposed the measure frequently described it today as a “gay marriage bill,” rather than the civil unions legislation that it actually was.
…
Democrats plan to make the Republicans’ obstructionism a center-point of their electoral strategy in the fall. What has taken place in the last two weeks in Colorado is truly appalling: no bill that enjoys majority support should be forced to pass four different committees, and no bill should be sent to a specific committee as a strategy to kill it off. We can only hope that this blatant political gamesmanship has some effect on the chamber’s make-up after the November election.
Colorado Republicans, I am very disappointed.
Voters of Colorado, remember this: These few ultra-conservatives thought it better that the state legislature and the governor bow to their personal beliefs, and that it was better they supersede the majority of Colorado’s citizens, the governor, and their colleagues, because of their own biases.
Remember this in November and vote accordingly.
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Dear Colorado,
This sign was first held by now-Wyo. State Senator Chris Rothfuss in 2009 when state DOMA HJR 17 was up for vote. It was defeated.
It was posted in Cheyenne in 2011 for opposition to state DOMA HB 74. It was defeated.
We’re pretty good at advocating against bigotry in Wyoming. We’ll see you at your special session regarding civil unions. That sign has a blank back, and I’ll take it off the wall.
Cheers,
Meg
(Taken with Instagram)
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Upon the occasion of President Obama’s gay marriage news-making today, the always reasonable Fox Nation essentially put out a call to arms, declaring in an all-caps headline, “OBAMA FLIP FLOPS, DECLARES WAR ON MARRIAGE.”
But so much for brand unity, because Fox News anchor Shep Smith was not shy on-air about his agreement with the president’s stated belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. “The president of the United States, now in the 21st century,” Smith said dryly after airing Obama’s historic announcement. He then asked Fox host Bret Baier, with some attitude, if the Republicans would dare make marriage equality a campaign issue “while sitting very firmly, without much question, on the wrong side of history on it.”
Baier responded soberly, “I don’t know about that, Shep,” pointing to close opinion polls and state referendums banning same-sex unions. Smith went on to note that Obama’s position “makes no legal change for now, which may sound familiar to a couple of generations ago, but that’s where we are.”
I ♥ you, Shep Smith. Truly.
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So North Carolina, what other part of Leviticus would you like to vote on? How about 18:6?
“No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.”
You know, marriage between first cousins IS already legal, versus same-sex marriage, which was already banned by statute.
C’mon, North Carolina. You can do it!
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If you live in North Carolina, follow me, and voted FOR Amendment 1…
…I was going to tell you unfollow is in the upper right-hand corner, so GTFO.
However, you should stick around here. You might eventually learn something about equality and why GLBTQ people are just as good as you.
Cheers,
Meg
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GetEqual’s “We Can’t Wait” campaign in Laramie, Wyo. Members are taking pens to OFA offices to push President Obama to sign non-discrimination. We hope his not-signing is just a simple matter of needing a pen. So we decorated some for delivery. (Taken with Instagram at University of Wyoming, Rainbow Resource Center)
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The ill-conceived, misbegotten, politically-inspired H.R. 3396 [Defense of Marriage Act] should not be enacted into law. And if it is, the President should veto it.
It is not the role of the State to uphold the tenets of any religion nor to base its laws on a particular religious belief. The proper province of the State is legislation, not salvation. The State is not the church and does not accept its orders from God.
America is not a theocracy, and it is not the State’s business if a person marries a member of the same sex. In short, Caesar has no responsibility for souls.
Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers, (D-Omaha) in a prepared statement to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on H.R. 3396, May 16, 1996. H.R. 3396 would later become the Defense of Marriage Act.
Chambers made national headlines when he sued God in 2007 for causing death and destruction. If you want a giggle, read his suit, State Senator Ernie Chambers v. God (2007).
(Source: cognitivedissonance)
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Focus On The Family Pushing ‘License To Discriminate’ Initiative In Colorado
Oh hi there, Focus on the Family! Remember Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)? You know, that one case where Amendment 2 was struck down in Colorado as unconstitutional for discriminating against GLBTQ people?
Well, this is awfully similar. I’ll refresh your memories. Here’s the case.
And since you tighty-righties seem to have the attention span of ferrets in a glitter factory, here’s the Wiki entry and a case brief.
(Source: cognitivedissonance)
A Matter of Pride
When I logged on to Facebook last Wednesday, this post was at the top of my newsfeed:
[Image text: So my daughter, Caitlyn Silver-Sullivan just handed me a paper she wrote for school. The premise is to use one main descriptive word that defines her and use it in a short story. She chose the word “pride”. She explained the many uses for the word and that it means different things to different people. She then stated what it means to her. To her, it means “pride” in her homosexuality, no matter how society may view her for it. It was one of the most powerful essays I have ever read, from any author. This is not news to me. I’ve known for a while. In fact, I think I have always known. And I couldn’t be more proud of my little girl…]
Yes, his nickname is Skully.
Anyhow, I knew I had to read Caitlyn’s essay. Skully is a good pal of mine, and he agreed to ask Caitlyn if she’d be willing to share her essay, and answer a couple of questions. I’ve received questions from younger readers struggling with their identity as a LGBTQ teen. Several of these questions came from people who are Caitlyn’s age or younger. I thought her thoughts and experiences would be valuable to those going through similar struggles.
Well, Caitlyn emailed me back right away, and she’s excited to share it with you all. I’m grateful that she’s willing to let me post her thoughts and stoked to share her point of view.
Meet Caitlin:
Caitlyn Silver-Sullivan is a 16-year-old high school junior from the suburbs of Northern Chicago. She’s also recently come out publicly. Here’s her answers to my questions:
Meg: Why did you choose this topic and how did you feel writing your essay?
Caitlyn: I had a really hard time picking a word to define me at first. I came across many words that were options, but none that I [was] particularly passionate about. However, in order to give us a clearer idea of what we were supposed to write, my teacher, Mr. Wise, allowed the class to pick a sample essay to read. I choose a sample essay that was based on the word Pride, thinking it would be about gay pride. However, this essay was quite different. It defined pride as being proud of your heritage. I then got the idea that I could write a essay about how Pride to me means gay pride since I am very passionate about the subject.
When I was writing my essay, I tried to put as much passion and truth into it as I could. I know what it’s like to be judged and looked down upon just because of the simple fact that I am gay. All up until high school, I was bullied about my manly looks; I was a tomboy at the time and always wore boys’ clothes. In seventh and eighth grade, the bullying got more severe to the point where everybody thought I was gay, and many people didn’t talk to me because of the rumors. During this time, I denied the fact that I was gay, due to the fear of being unaccepted and even more bullied. My freshman year of high school was a little easier, straying from the judgmental eyes from the students at my middle school, and being introduced to a variety of many other students from different schools.
It was my sophomore year that I experienced my first gay relationship. Throughout this time, people throughout the school were finding out about my relationships and I didn’t really feel comfortable with everybody knowing, especially since the majority of people are against gays. During this relationships I experienced the eyes watching me as I was with my significant other in disgust. I also experienced getting screamed at by various amounts of people saying “GAY!” or “LESBIANS!” I then, and still to this day, experience these harsh words. One of my old friends even had the guts to tell me that if I were raised right I wouldn’t be the way I am. In the past, I have also gotten things thrown at me such as waterbottle caps and crumpled up pieces of paper by people that I don’t even know for being gay. I have personally experienced a lot of verbal abuse for others from simply being a lesbian. These are the things that I thought about while writing my essay — the various memories of how I was treated different, but never backed down or changed. I am proud to be gay. And that is what my paper portrays.
Meg: What would you say to other teens your age struggling with being LGBTQ?
Caitlyn: If I were to speak to teens everywhere struggling with being LGBTQ, I would tell them all to hang in there. I know it’s hard and I know it is a struggle every single day. I, as well as many other members of the LGBTQ community, understand what you’re going through, and we are all here for you. Stay proud of who you are, for you cannot change it. Do not be ashamed just because the majority of society looks down upon us. Do not hide the fact that you are gay just because you are afraid of what your parents and peers may think. You have to stand strong and face your battles in front of you with an iron fist. Just know that one day, all the hate, all the bullying, all the abuse, all the judgment will stop. Things will get better. Maybe not today or tomorrow or next week, but things will get easier. Have pride in who you are. And don’t you dare let anybody else tell you any different.
Sorry it’s so long — I’ve never really shared this information and I have a lot to say about it. Anyways, thank you for considering my essay to be published on your website. And also thank you so much for supporting the LGBTQ society. We appreciate it more than you think.
I appreciate Caitlyn sharing her essay. Skully’s right — it IS powerful:
Pride: The Story of Battle
by Caitlyn Silver-Sullivan
Susan runs home from school with her ACT results in her hand whipping back and forth from the wind. Her hair flails side to side as she takes each leap that seems like a thousand years. The sun is shining without a cloud in the sky, assuring her that today is a good day. She’s dying to get home, dying to show her parents how great of a job she did. Excitement pulses through her veins and her heart pounds through her chest as she slowly reaches for the doorknob. Her hands are sweaty; her whole body is dripping and her clothes are seeped with sweat from the run, but she doesn’t care. She masks her hysteria as she walks through the door and makes her way to the living room. She can hear the T.V. that they are so calmly watching; she can smell the chicken in the oven, heating to a delicious golden brown. She walks around the corner and enters the living room with a tranquil look on her face, but inside she can feel the butterflies. She slowly hands her dad and mom the paper and waits anxiously for their reaction. They jump up, happiness filling their eyes as sunshine lights up the room. “We’re so proud of you!” they exclaim; it was just the reaction she was looking for.
When most people are faced with the word “proud” or “pride” they simply think of accomplishing something that is of significance. Your parents are supposed to be proud of you when they watch you receive your high school diploma, you are supposed to be proud of yourself after writing a ten page paper all by yourself, you are supposed to be proud of your friend when they say they have broken up with their abusive boyfriend, you are supposed to have pride in your country, you are supposed to be proud of your ethnicity. Most people see pride in certain occasions and things. But in my opinion, this definition of pride is on a whole different boat than mine.
Susan walks down the streets of Chicago filled with unfamiliar faces holding the hand of her significant other. The noise of the city rings through her ears and the whooshing of cars that speed past almost makes her shake. She looks over her shoulder, love filling her eyes, and sees the most beautiful person in the world. Her name is Jennifer. And yes, they are a lesbian couple. Susan knows that everybody she passes is staring at their interlocked hands with curious expressions on their face. She knows that the civilians behind them are whispering to each other about them just because they are different. And last but not least, Susan knows that as she leans over to kiss Jennifer on the lake side, that disproving eyes will stare her down with their judgmental gleam. Susan knows that more people disapprove of her actions than people who do approve. Yet she continues walking with her head up, hand in hand with Jennifer, and she dares not to let go. She is proud to be gay.
Pride is when you constantly face a battle from society telling you to be someone else, but you don’t back down. You stand proud. You stand strong. If I had to define myself with a word, I would choose proud; I have experienced the millions of eyes looking down on me every single day, but every day I pass these eyes with my head high and a smile on my face, pride gleaming from my skin. They cannot change me. Nobody can change me. To me, that is what pride is. Pride is when I have experienced the brutality and pain from being different but walk with my head held high, pride is when I know I will be judged but do not open my ears, pride is when I absolutely will not let anybody or anything tell me who to be.
Pride is not materialistic. Pride is not a brief occasion of happiness when you accomplish something. Pride is not knowing the answer to a problem nobody else knows. Pride does not go away. Pride does not fade with time. Pride is everlasting. Pride is when you have lived your life with hatred pointed at you nonstop, but you will defend yourself to the death.
____________________________
Marvelous essay from a very brave, very strong 16-year-old who has every right to be proud. I salute her, and salute Skully for being proud of his daughter and doing the right thing as a parent. I’m honored to share this essay with the readers of Cognitive Dissonance.
Bravo, Caitlyn! You’ve got an amazing future ahead of you!
— Meg
(Source: cognitivedissonance)
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Donald Trump Does Something Okay for Once, Reverses Trans Woman’s Disqualification From Pageant
Who knew The Donald had it in him?
Of course, as the article suggests, Trump’s decision probably has less to do with decreased Grinchitude and more to do with the desire to avoid a negative brand image.
But… good job?
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The ad above, launched by opponents of an Anchorage anti-discrimination ordinance, is possibly one of the worst ads of the political cycle thus far. Background from Alaska Dispatch:
Despite broad support from donors and a new poll that favors their position, backers of a proposal to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination in Anchorage remained on the offensive Tuesday, blasting new opposition ads they said could lead to a backlash against the LGBTQ community and their allies.
Prominent supporters of Yes on 5 — One Anchorage joined forces at a press conference and said they want the TV cartoon ads and their “offensive” characters — the most outrageous depicts a burly man in high heels who brings a complaint against a daycare provider for not hiring him — stricken from the airwaves. Click here and here to see some of the other depictions.
“The ads opposing Proposition 5 depict unacceptably offensive and intentionally stigmatizing and distorted cartoons of gay and transgender individuals,” said former Gov. Tony Knowles. “Such dehumanizing stereotypes do not represent the values we share as a community.”
Not going to happen, said Jim Minnery, head of opposition group Protect Your Rights — Vote No on 5. He called the ads effective and said calls for their removal are helping him raise money because people are offended at the effort to squelch free speech.
And then, if Minnery didn’t appear intolerant enough, he explained the ads would remain on-air out of concern. Really:
Jim Minnery said the ad points out that because “transgender” isn’t defined in the ordinance, a scenario like the one portrayed in the commercial could play out under the law.
“I think it’s a shocking flaw in Prop. 5 and shows profound disrespect to voters that the authors didn’t feel it was important to provide a definition of transgender identity,” Minnery said… Since the law doesn’t define transgender, why couldn’t it include a cross-dressing man, Minnery asked.
His group’s concern, he said, is that without a clear definition of transgender, someone who considers himself to be a different gender could require a business to accommodate him.
In addition to the threat to religious freedom he says is posed by the proposed ordinance, it “creates a whole set of legal issues for the municipality.”
See, he’s just a professional concern-troll looking out for your wellbeing! Aren’t you grateful? </sarcasm>.
Actually, Minnery doesn’t care if the message is inaccurate, because the cartoon is meant to grab attention. His justification: “You kind of have to cut to the chase; you have 30 seconds.”
Yeah…
In Secret Documents, Anti-Gay Marriage Group Looked To Divide Gays, Blacks
Who’s shocked? National Organization for Marriage (NOM) sought to continue “fanning hostility” and aimed to “sideswipe Obama” by finding “attractive black Democrats” to challenge “white gay marriage advocates” in elections. More on this:
“The strategic goal of this project is to drive a wedge between gays and blacks—two key Democratic constituencies,” says an internal report on 2008 and 2009 campaigns, in a section titled the “Not A Civil Right Project.”
“Find, equip, energize and connect African American spokespeople for marriage, develop a media campaign around their objections to gay marriage as a civil right; provoke the gay marriage base into responding by denouncing these spokesmen and women as bigots,” advises the document, which is a road map to the successful campaign against same-sex marriage in California.
The document also targets Hispanic voters, whom conservatives have long hoped would join the backlash against gay rights.
“The Latino vote in America is a key swing vote, and will be so even more so in the future, both because of demographic growth and inherent uncertainty: Will the process of assimilation to the dominant Anglo culture lead Hispanics to abandon traditional family values?” the document asks. “We must interrupt this process of assimilation by making support for marriage a key badge of Latino identity - a symbol of resistance to inappropriate assimilation.”
NOM — heartless, homophobic, AND racist!
This is too great to not merit its own individual post. Someone should make a “Hey girl” Rick Santorum tumblr. Why? Because all major news networks agree on one thing: If Rick’s gonna win, he must court the ladies.
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The Vagina Monologues + the premiere of The Wyoming Monologues
The Vagina Monologues are returning to the University of Wyoming on Feb. 24th and 25th at 7 PM at the Education Auditorium. This is marvelous, but there’s something even more fantastic: It will also feature the premiere of The Wyoming Monologues on February 25th at 9 PM.
I’m sharing this for two reasons: It’s awesome, and I HAVE A FEATURED MONOLOGUE! It was one of ten chosen. My monologue, “Going Hungry,” is fifth on the list.
I’m wicked excited and would like to invite my followers to attend. It’s at the University of Wyoming Education Auditorium. You can view a campus map here or a Google map here. The other monologues are incredible. Several deal with GLBTQ issues and body image. I encourage those who can to attend. If you have a question or are attending, email me at meglanker@gmail.com. I’ll post my monologue after the production.
Please, if you can, come attend The Vagina Monologues at 7 PM and The Wyoming Monologues at 10 PM. It’s going to be spectacular. If you can’t, please share. The proceeds from this event will benefit 93.5 KOCA FM in Laramie (a bilingual, community station - and the one that houses my radio show) and Albany County SAFE Project.
Yay! Wyoming Monologues tonight!
He is rigid and a homophobic. He said, ‘I want a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage,’ and they said, ‘Well, what about the people who are already married?’ And he said, ‘Well, they would be nullified.’ I mean what is, what’s human, what’s kind about that? We’re all human beings, we all know or love somebody who’s gay or lesbian so what the hell is that about? To me it’s startling and borders on disgust.
Former US Senator Al Simpson, (R-Wyo.) on Rick Santorum. In 2011, Simpson emailed me this statement on HB 74, a bill to ban recognition of same-sex marriage in Wyoming:
“I can’t imagine anything more inhuman, insensitive and unfair. Wyoming people believe in getting the government out of their lives. We cherish the precious right of privacy, and the precious right to be left alone. Why can’t we extend that to all our other fellow human beings?”
If the GOP adopted that line of thinking nationally, it would be a radical step forward.
Though Simpson voted for the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA] in 1996, he has since supported marriage equality. Good on him for calling out Santorum’s homophobia.
(Source: cognitivedissonance)
