Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Another Update on Pittsburgh Pirates and "It Gets Better Project"

Sue — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:53:16 -0400

We surged past 200 signatures on the petition overnight and now hover around 223.

223 Pirates' fans encouraging the Bucs to take a stance against bullying of LGBTQ youth. This is a great way for you to weigh in and urge our hometown team to stand up for youth right here in our communities. I might say it paves the way for other collaborations down the road.

I went ahead and invited the Diversity Initiatives staff to meet with the Gay & Lesbian Community Center to learn more about what is actually happening on the ground for LGBTQ folks every day, not just on Pride Night at PNC Park. I'm also not sure folks realize that there is a lot of sports enthusiasts in our community.

If the Pirates take this stance against anti-LGBTQ bullying, it will be a grant thing for Pittsburgh to be among the first Major League clubs to "step up to the plate" (ha) and embrace the responsibility of being the City of Champions.

Pennsylvania faces many up-hill challenges for our community and our allies. We still don't have anti-discrimination protections, hate crime protections or protections in our schools. We are struggling to get domestic partner benefits for public employees, unionized or not. We have to fight off another battle over a so-called "marriage protection" amendment. It is a very full plate.

I think we should welcome the Pirates to join us there in whatever capacity they can do it. I wonder if they offer domestic partner benefits?

Please promote the petition. http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-pittsburgh-pirates-to-make-a-video-for-the-it-gets-better-project

Update on Pirates and It Gets Better

Sue — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:34:55 -0400

This little petition story received boosts from the likes of the City Paper and 2 Political Junkies.

From the City Paper:

Judging by the Nutting family's political activity, Kerr's initiative might not seem to have much of a chance. Ogden Nutting, Bob Nutting's father, has contributed nearly $12,000 to conservatives nationwide, like Michele Bachmann and Pat Toomey. Bob Nutting has also donated $1,000 to conservative West Virginia congressman David McKinley.
But team spokesman Jim Trdinich says that participating in the video project is "something we are looking to take part in, [although] the organization is still working on the most effective plan to assist everybody involved."

Yes, this is a bit daunting. I had actually forgotten this tidbit. Hmmm. Still, "something we are looking to take part in" is not an outright "no thank you." I'm not sure what an effective plan might be. The truth is that there are LGBTQ kids sleeping on the streets in Pittsburgh b/c they got booted from their homes, either directly or due to unrelenting pressure about their identities. There are kids being slammed into lockers, stuffed into lockers, kept from their lockers and having their lockers vandalized. The get beaten up, called "fags" and "dykes" and much worse. They are mocked, belittled and persecuted in the way that only other teens can do.

It is not as if a Pirates video will save these kids from future harassment. But it does acknowledge their persecution and remind them that their are adults who are in their corner.

Pittsburgh is very fortunate to have some resources for LGBTQ youth. Dreams of Hope performing group does amazing storytelling about these and other experiences. The Gay & Lesbian Community Center has a thriving Friday night youth might under the leadership of Ben Cook. Persad has an afterschool program. Faith communities embrace queer youth and remind them that they are loved and safe in their youth programming. And street outreach programs try to connect homeless LGBTQ youth with appropriate services. Families Like Ours provides exposure to other LGBTQ families.

Frankly, I'd like to see the Pirates charitable arm funding some of these efforts. I'd like to think the dialogue won't stop at a video.

But, the video might be the entree we need. It is worth a shot. It has gotten us this far. I'm moved that I don't know most of the folks signing the petition. I don't recognize their names. I do appreciate their comments and the fact that the information is apparently making its way around Pittsburgh.

Please, if you haven't done so, sign the petitions. Share the link on FB and Twitter. Be that one name that gets us past 150 signatures and a little closer to 200.

http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-pittsburgh-pirates-to-make-a-video-for-the-it-gets-better-project

sdf

Ask the Pittsburgh Pirates to make a video for the "It Gets Better Project"

Sue — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:36:57 -0400

Are you familiar with the "It Gets Better Project"

Recently, a series of Major League Baseball teams have contributed videos to the project. The first team was the San Francisco Giants followed by the Cubs, Red Sox and the Mariners. According to the project, other teams are considering signing on.

So I contacted the Pirates Diversity Manager whom I've met and began a dialogue about the project. I recruited some other folks to advocate for our community and teamed up with Equality PA (they are also working with the Phillies).

The time has come for fans to weigh in so we set up a Change.org petition, much like folks did in the home cities of the teams listed above. Please take a moment to follow the link and sign on. Include a message in the comments section if you like. But please remember, we are in encouragement mode.

The Pirates hosted their first "Pride Night at PNC Park" in 2004 so there is precedent for them to work with our community. And I would hope they would appreciate that taking a stance against bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity is not exactly a controversial LGBTQ rights stance. It is tremendously important issue and the more allies the project gains, the more we can hope to improve the lives of youth in our community.

Here's the link. Please pass it around. http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-the-pittsburgh-pirates-to-make-a-video-for-the-it-gets-better-project

On The Spot: Local fundraiser to support women and girls in need of feminine hygeine products

Sue — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:15:52 -0400

For 13 years or so, I took pads and tampons for granted. My family had more than its fair share of economic struggles, but my Mom always made sure I had these feminine hygeine products when needed. When I was on my own, it never occured to me that they weren't a necessity. Yes, I'd use coupons or buy generic when necessary, but accessibility was just not an issue.

When I was 25 years old, I was working in social service ministry for an interfaith group of churches in a rural Western Kentucky town. Think no red lights, no restaurants open on Sundays and no social service programs to speak of. No buses, lots of decrepit rental housing and poverty of near two-thirds world dimensions.

Part of my work was to run a small community center, including a thrift store. I had developed a volunteer program to allow local women to help sort the clothing in exchange for credits to purchase what they needed. No one took things for free in this community.

One day, I joined the sorters and noticed they had two piles of "rags" -- so I asked about it, thinking in my 25 year old naive way that they might be for cleaning. There was some unease among the women sorting so I let it drop. Later, a volunteer in her 40s took me aside to explain. She was blunt. Feminine hygeine products were expensive and not covered by food stamps. When faced with spending precious cash, the needs of the children alway took precedence. I got that, but still didn't see where she was going. What did this have to do with cleaning rags? I assured her it was fine with the organization for the women to do what they wanted with anything we couldn't sell.

So she was even more blunt. She explained that she and other local women used literal rags for their periods. They also used rags for toilet paper when things were really tight. I was stunned into silence. Actual rags? Such a thing had never occured to me, even when I was in my feminist-moon-goddess phase of using reusable pads that had been pretty damn expensive and came with a "moon jar" which shows how oblivious I was back then.

I remember staring at her and hearing an almost click on my own emotional maturity as I realized how important my next words would be. I thanked her for explaining it to me and told her that I wanted to help with as much dignity as possible. I asked her to take the lead on this special project since I assumed the other women would feel more comfortable. She agreed. So we began a little pile of menstruation appropriate rags that quietly helped local women.

Then, she apologized to me for exposing me to something uncomfortable as if I was somehow tainted by this glimpse into the real world of rural poverty (and urban poverty I learned later). Admittedly, I was shaken. I kept thinking of how awkward and uncomfortable it would be, as well as messy. I was young enough to feel especially bad for their daughters. I wanted to run out and buy scores of pads, but I knew somehow it was better to go with the plan the women themselves created.

But I was upset. I tried to play cool (I'm sure she saw through me), but it was the sort of systemic eye-opening moment that radically transformed me into a real social worker. How could this happen? What about the rest of the world? What about my high school friends -- did any of them have these experiences? Mind you, I'm an 80's baby which meant much more poverty and financial struggle than neon hair scrunchies and mall rat experiences.

The women who worked with me identified a need and crafted a solution. They weren't embroiled in existential angst because they had bigger issues to face. But I wrestled with this for years. When I returned to Pittsburgh, I learned about similar experiences at food pantries and among women experiencing homelessness. I can say with ease that the initial conversation was a defining moment for me as a social worker and a woman.

I was thrilled when I learned about On The Spot which raises funds to provide feminine hygeine products for high school students in partnership with Planned Parenthood. They have awesomely fun fundraisers featuring homebaked cookies and have done a great job of bringing this conversation into progressive circles.

So, yeah, when I learned about this project, I went right back to that 1996 conversation and still my jaw dropped to think about young girls in the same situation.

The next event is Tuesday, May 24, 2011 from 6-9 PM at Hough's in Greenfield. The event features cookies, 50/50, raffle prizes and much more. Attendees are asked to bring a box of pads (preferred) or tampons along with a financial donation ($5-10).

If you can't attend, you can still help. Donations are accepted at these spots. You can contribute these items to a food pantry drive in your area. You can talk with the Administration at your local middle and high schools to see how prepared they are to help young girls.

And you can help reduce the stigma of asking by making sure the men and boy in your lives can buy a box of tampons without flinching.

On The Spot's website is here. Click to learn more and hope to see you at Hough's on Tuesday.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that inevitably some good hearted person suggests providing reusable supplies for women and girls in these situations. That's a healthy sentiment, but impractical even dangerous when sanitation is an issue. I think those folks should donate those supplies to food pantries so women can choose them if they want them. That's fine. But I do not think we should impose on anyone, especially young women who probably already feel pretty awful about this aspect of their female identity. Allowing them a "typical" teen girl experience in the midst of whatever chaos created the lack of resources is pretty damn important. There's no one right way to experience our menstrual cycles, but we have to recognize that our choices expand as our privileges expand and craft solutions based on the reality of the girls and women we aspire to help.

Good Legislative Stuff Happens in PA, too

Sue — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:37:30 -0400

It is hard to keep up with the good stuff, but I'm sure you want to know about it ....

Anti-Discrimination

HB 300 sponsored by Representative Dan Frankel

SB 910 sponsored by Senator Lawrence Farnese

These bills will expand the Human Relations Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes.

Hate Crimes

HB 1372 sponsored by Representative Josh Shapiro

SB 586 sponsored by Senator Jim Ferlo

These bills will expand hate crime definitions and protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Anti-Bullying

SB 191 sponsored by Senator LeAnne Washington

Sexual Education

HB 416 sponsored by Representative Chelsa Wagner

Civil Unions

HB 708 sponsored by Rep Mark Cohen

Marriage Equality

SB 461 sponsored by Senator Daylin Leach

Dreams of Hope - Summer Qamp

Sue — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:20:49 -0400

Dreams of Hope has a summer camp week that sounds awesome.

Dreams of Hope

Summer Arts QAMP!

August 16 - 20th

Dreams of Hope is hosting an overnight camp from August 16 - 20th for LGBTA youth ages 13-17. The camp will be held at the Emma Kaufmann Camp on Cheat Lake near Morgantown, West Virginia. Please submit your forms by July 1, 2011 to secure your place!

http://www.dreamsofhope.org/camp

In addition to Special Workshops designed specifically for Dreams of Hope on Drumming, Spoken Word, and LGBT and Allies Support and Education, camp will include:

High and Low Ropes Course; Athletics; Instruction and Recreational Swimming; Water Skiing; Canoeing and kayaking; Knee Boarding; Tubing; Arts & Crafts; Hiking; Ceramics; Campfires; Karaoke

Participants will:

Grow their artistic abilities and talents.

Improve their self confidence and self-esteem.

Participate in fun and challenging activities.

Develop friendships with young people from other geographic areas, ethnicity, and socio-economic and racial backgrounds.

Explore issues they face in their schools and neighborhoods, and learn how to combat the obstacles they face.

Have a space where they can relax and be themselves!

Cost is $500 per camper, which includes: Three meals a day plus snacks, all camp activities, round-trip transportation from Pittsburgh to camp and memories that will last a lifetime. Need based scholarships available. Please submit a scholarship form.

FORMS DUE: July 1, 2011 - to secure a place at camp

After July 1, applications will be considered if there is space.

Space is limited to 24 campers, so go on our web site, call, mail, or email to request your registration packet. (Please include your name, address, phone and email.)

Dreams of Hope•www.dreamsofhope.org/camp● info@dreamsofhope.org•(412) 361-2065

Summer Arts QAMP!•P.O. Box 4912•Pittsburgh PA 15206

GLSEN Safe Prom for all

Sue — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:01:32 -0400

GLSEN SAFE PROM FOR ALL

When: Friday, April 29 from 7 pm-11 pm

Where: The University Club

123 University Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412-648-8213

Tickets cost $20. There will be food, drinks, a photographer, and plenty of song and dance. For more info. contact GLSEN Pittsburgh at:

412-361-6996

Email: pittsburgh@chapters.glsen.org

I've seen stories popping up around the county about the inevitable situation of girls wanting to wear tuxes to their proms. In some places (which we never hear about), there's no eyebrows raised. Others go to extreme length to stop the insanity of women wearing pants.

It is good that Pgh simply has a place for all queer kids to not put up with that crap and enjoy the prom experience for a reasonable price. Safe spaces should not be taken for granted and kudo to Pgh GLSEN for continuing to put this event together for Pittsburgh's kids.

GLCC Youth Director chosen for Jefferson Award

Sue — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:34:49 -0400

I caught this very late last night. Great way to end a weekend.

GLCC Youth Director has been named a Finalist for the 2011 Jefferson Awards. His profile will run in the PG on Wednesday.

His name is Ben Cook and I met him in 2003 when I was on the GLCC Board. I distinctly remember being impressed that he gave up his Fridays to support LGBTQ youth.

He's been there on Friday nights for over ten thousand hours. Ten thousand!

I've found Ben to be an articulate, generous man. I've had a little bit of professional contact with him and his demeanor in his work life reflects the same values that take him to the GLCC. We once had a conversation about the experiences of LGBTQ youth who were homeless and he was very quiet when he described the Friday night pizza snack as the only meal someone would eat that day.

We should all be very proud to have a volunteer like Ben. His work is at the heart of the critical role the GLCC plays in the lives of Pittsburgh's LGBTQ comunity.

Dreams of Hope to perform at August Wilson Center

Sue — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:08:55 -0500

If you are seeking something interesting to do on Sunday ...

Dreams of Hope's Performance Troupe presents:
Bully Me - Season Preview
Sunday, Jan 30th, 2011
4:00PM
August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh

Free
Dreams of Hope's Performance Troupe will open its 2010-2011 season
with a preview of 'Bully Me', an original show consisting of spoken
word, movement, drama, percussion, and song exploring bullying and its
horrific impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth.
Dreams of Hope is a creative and performing arts organization for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and supportive youth. Through the
arts, Dreams of Hope develops youth leader who educate audiences
through the creation of new works based on their lives.
www.dreamsofhope.org 412.361.2065

sdf

LGBTQ Youth Suicides: Three Reports in One Day

Sue — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:08:15 -0400

From Garden State Equality (NJ) comes word of a Rutgers freshman who committed suicide after a video of him being sexually intimate with another male was circulated by his roommate. The video was made without his knowledge.

For immediate release

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Statement of Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein, cell (917) 449-8918

All of us at Garden State Equality are in a state of shock over one of the most unconscionable, hate-related deaths of a student in the history of the State of New Jersey. Today we learned that a Rutgers freshman committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate and other students apparently broadcast the freshman - without his knowledge - making out with another man. According to reports, the other students disseminated the video widely by Twitter. The freshman was seemingly so distraught, he leapt to his death.

There are no words sufficient to express our range of feelings today. We are outraged at the perpetrators. We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of a young man who, by all accounts, was brilliant, talented and kind. And we are sickened that anyone in our society, such as the students allegedly responsible for making the surreptitious video, might consider destroying others' lives as a sport. As this case makes its way through the legal system, we can only hope the alleged perpetrators receive the maximum possible sentence.

That the victim's roommate was also a freshman, just months out of high school, demonstrates once again that our high schools are not doing enough to educate their students that harassment, intimidation and bullying of other students is unacceptable in every instance. It is grotesque to think that people such as these alleged perpetrators went onto college without, apparently, ever having been taught basic life lessons of decency - and that they made their way through the educational system before allegedly committing this unconscionable act.

Garden State Equality is currently working on a new anti-school bullying bill that if enacted, would be the nation's strongest such law. It would follow the three anti-bullying laws the state has enacted since 2002, all of which include bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

We have also reached out to the Rutgers University administration and LGBT campus groups. We will keep you apprised of developments.

We are sickened.

With more than 77,000 members, Garden State Equality is New Jersey's largest civil rights organization. Since Garden State Equality's founding in 2004, New Jersey has enacted 211 laws at the state, county and local levels. Garden State Equality is the only statewide advocacy organization in American history to be the subject of an Academy Award-winning® film.

sdf

Meanwhile, a 13 year old boy has died after hanging himself after years of bullying because he was gay.

And in Texas, another 13 year old shot and killed himself because of bullying about his gay identity.

Imagine what the 18 year old Rutgers' student endured prior to college? Or how much bullying his roommate got away with to get to the point of posting video on Twitter?

Thank God for grown men like Dan Savage taking a stand with his It Gets Better project on YouTube. It is a damn shame our educators and elected school board officials can't do the same. Damn shame.

This is the sort of thing that makes me quiver with anger when I think about so-called-allied elected officials dragging their feet to make the world better for gay people. You have the power to send a message that might, just might, get some idiot to rethink their opinion that we deserve to be bullied and you WON'T do it?

You basically suck.

Gay- Friendly College Fair

Sue — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:03:09 -0400

The Post-Gazette reprinted a piece from the New York Times on what amounts to a gay college fair in Greenwich Village.

All this is good news for the young gay applicant. Of course, being gay does not lend an advantage, and the embrace is not universal inside admissions offices, and out. While much of the stigma of homosexuality may have eased over the years, harassment and even violence are still real concerns around campus -- Matthew Shepard, after all, was an undergraduate.

Students are looking for colleges where they will feel comfortable and safe, Mr. Windmeyer says. Also, he says, "straight students who have gay family members want to find a campus that is welcoming," so, for example, two moms can show up for parents weekend without a ripple. "They don't want to pick a college that's not going to be accepting of people they love."

Very interesting read. While not everyone can get to Greenwich Village for a college fair, you can do some internet searching to determine which colleges thought it important enough to attend and follow up.

Possible movement to protect LGBT kids in the Pennsylvania foster care system?

Sue — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:37:11 -0400

We've reported before on legislation introduced by State Representative Phyllis Mundy to create a "Children in Foster Care Act" to identify and protect rights of our most vulnerable children. The significant problem with this legislation is the need to strip protections for LGBT children out to ensure passage.

Representative Phyllis Mundy of Luzerne County says she has introduced her “Children in Foster Care Act” legislation during every session since 2005. But this time, she’s made some adjustments that may make the bill more popular, by omitting a section that would have protected children against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Because many children are in foster care because of their sexual orientation, she says the clause would be relevant in the bill of rights. However, since she’s had trouble passing it with that inclusion, she says she’d “rather pass an imperfect bill than no bill at all.”

I've been in touch with a few co-sponsors and determined that the language protecting LGBTQ foster children could be reintroduced as an amendment. That is an opening we cannot afford to miss, friends. If we don't step up to protect children in our own community, who else can they count on?

The list of cosponsors is here (there are 42). These are friendly folks so simply drop them a line saying thank you for cosponsoring and ask them to remember that LGBTQ kids in foster care need protection, too. Every one of you who reads this blog has some personal story to add ... a memory of your own experiences as an LGBTQ teen or a story from your loved one's life. You just have to ask them to do this. The legislation has bipartisan support so if the legislators from Western PA can head in to a vote with your comments to back up their vote, you can make a difference.

Peter Daley (Washington and Fayette counties) Email him.

Dan Frankel (Allegheny County) Email him.

Patrick Harkins (Erie County) Email him.

Deberah Kula (Westmoreland and Fayette counties) Email her.

Tim Mahoney (Fayette County) Email him.

John Pallone (Armstrong and Westmoreland counties) Email him.

Joe Preston (Allegheny County) Email him.

Chelsa Wagner (Allegheny County) Email her.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month so I'll be following this legislation and the story.

The legislation is current in the Children & Youth Committee.

Stay tuned ...

Philly Inquirer Op/Ed on Boy Scouts

Sue — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:51:26 -0400

This is a refreshing take on why the Boy Scouts discrimination against gay scouts and scout leaders and gay people is problematic for all young men.

The Boy Scouts' policy is contributing to the problem of prejudice against gays. Although the organization officially denies making efforts to discover anyone's sexual orientation - much as the military maintains a "don't ask, don't tell" policy - it also doesn't hesitate to expel outed members. It's ironic that the conservatives running the Boy Scouts, who are typically proponents of limited, unobtrusive government, concern themselves with the innermost lives of their members.

If the Boy Scouts is a private organization, as the Supreme Court has held repeatedly, it has every right to enforce its code of ethics and morality. But if it aspires to be a distinctly American institution embracing a democratic, multicultural society, then it should approach sexual orientation not as a church would, but as an accountable public entity that doesn't allow discrimination. Public schools, after all, play host to the Boy Scouts more than any other type of facility; Mormon and Catholic churches come in second and third.

Part of the Boy Scouts' mission has been to protect and project traditional notions of masculine identity. That may be why many local Scout leaders, as well as the central leadership in Texas, resist even acknowledging the possible presence of homosexuals.

But as the Boy Scouts of America enters its second century, it should recognize that, despite all it has done for the youth of this country, it has more to do. Like the U.S. military, it should understand that embracing a broader definition of masculinity can reinforce a public culture in which misogyny and homophobia are no longer welcome. Discrimination is not a value that we should be teaching our youth.

Written by an Eagle Scout in the Philadelphia Inquirer. This is about far more than publicly subsidized rent. It is about leadership for young men across the nation.

AFA of PA continues to target LGBT children

Sue — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:59:50 -0400

You've undoubtedly heard about Fulton, Mississippi -- Meanest Town in America -- which treated a lesbian student pretty poorly.

Never doubt that Pennsylvania can sink to those depths courtesy of our homegrown hatefest, the American Family Association of Pennsylvania. These are the folks who never miss an opportunity to write a letter to the editor or send an email to their elected official. They are organized, tenacious and out to corrupt our youth.

AFA of PA ACTION ALERT

April 8, 2010

Issues (check corresponding number in ‘Details’ and ‘Action’ Sections)

1.) Will Students Be Silent in Your Child’s School?

2.) Gay Prom in Harrisburg

Details

1.) The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) will again act as the primary organizer for the Gay Day of Silence which will be observed in most schools on April 16^th. This day is supposedly used to highlight the ‘silence’ and discrimination that students who identify as homosexual, bisexual or transgender must endure during the school day. However, the stories out of schools show that it’s Christian students who are being forced to remain silent or be labeled a homophobe or bigot. The majority of parents/taxpayers have no idea this effort to normalize the homosexual lifestyle is taking place in their local school. GLSEN used to post the participating schools on the Day of Silence website, but in recent years they have kept that information top secret! The AFA of PA helped expose Pennsylvania schools which permitted students to remain silent throughout the school day, perhaps this is one reason they no longer make that list public! Also, remember Kevin Jennings, President Obama’s ‘Safe Schools Czar’ was the founder and executive director of GLSEN until August 2008 when he left the organization to work for candidate Obama’s campaign.

2.) Last month I was contacted by a reporter from the Harrisburg Patriot News about an upcoming ‘gay’ prom that was being sponsored by local homosexual activists groups (that’s my description, not the reporter’s). I told her the groups had every right to have such an event, but I believed they were taking advantage of troubled students, that students should not be encouraged to engage in the homosexual lifestyle and the compassionate response to students who are questioning their sexual identity is to warn them of the dangers of engaging in homosexual activity and encourage them to steer clear. I also told her adults should be protecting students not leading them down the wrong path. Click here to read the online version of the story (which doesn’t mention my comments, but apparently they were in the print edition, see below)

Action Steps

1.) The AFA of PA has joined a national coalition asking parents to be part of the Day of Silence Walkout if their child’s school permits students who are participating in the Day of Silence to remain silent during instructional time. Click here to listen to my interview with Laurie Higgins, Director of the Division of School Advocacy for IFI. Go to the Illinois Family Institute’s (an AFA affiliate) Day of Silence Walkout webpage for a list of additional reasons for the Day of Silence Walkout, instructions for parents, and a sample letter to send your school if you decide to keep your child home that day. What NOT to do: Don’t call your school and ask if they are sponsoring, endorsing or supporting the Day of Silence. Their answer will be ‘No’ because technically it is to be student initiated. Click here for specific ways to approach your school. For an idea of PA schools which have participated in the Day of Silence in the past, check out our website here. But remember GLSEN allowed anyone to register any school, so even if the school is on one of the lists the administrators may not have permitted silence during instructional time. Call your school to find out what their plans are this year..

2.) Note the organizations which sponsored the ‘gay’ prom: Allies at Millersville University (note they have 35 members out of a student body of over 7,300) , Common Roads and TransCentral PA . As mentioned above my comments were included in the print edition of the article and apparently were not appreciated by a Lancaster County homosexual activist, click here to read that letter to the editor. Beware that this issue is no longer simply a ‘big city’ issue, but rural Pennsylvania is also being targeted. The only way to counter this homosexual activism is to be vigilant as to what is taking place in your local schools and community and be a voice for Biblical truth and PRAY.

(I don't understand how you are supposed to both call and not call you school about the Day of Silence, but hey ... )

These folks are complete wingnuts, but never make the mistake of underestimating their determination to protect our children from ... us.

sdf

The Meanest Town in America and a Foster Care Bill in Pennsylvania

Sue — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:31:34 -0400

Quite a disturing tale from Mississippi .... you remember Constance McMillen who just wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom. Then came outrage, banishment, the ACLU, court cases, media frenzy ... and a fake prom. Yes, the senior class held a "private prom" and sent Constance, her date and five special needs children to an alternative prom. Basically, they pulled a fast one on her.

What is wrong with people?

Fulton, Mississippi has earned the title of the Meanest Town in America from all sorts of people, including Perez Hilton. From Pam's House Blend

To think that Fulton not only displayed rank homophobia, it raised the bar of evil by sending learning-disabled students to the fake prom, clearly labeling them "others." I challenge any of these "Christians" in Fulton to cite where in the bible Jesus teaches that the physically or mentally challenged deserve to be outcasts.

This social hellhole isn't even worthy of a boycott, since no gay person or ally would want to drive through this evil place to begin with. For Constance, one can only hope for a scholarship to get the hell out of there to attend college in an environment where she can thrive. Leave the evil behind, gain strength, knowledge and, should you want to challenge the hate, return to reclaim your space with others ready to fight homophobia in the darkest of places.
Fulton, Mississippi has earned its stripes as the cruelest town in America, by treating one of its young residents as a pariah for no good reason that the God they claim to worship can imagine. I do hope there is no adultery or fornication going on in Fulton. The bible had a lot to say about that.

There's a lot of LGBT news circulating, including DOJ action on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but somehow this latest twist in a story involving a 18 year old lesbian has caught the attention of people everywhere.

It should. One of the reasons we struggle so hard to win our equal rights -- hate crimes protections, anti-discrimination protections, domestic partner benefits, marriage equality -- is to protect our children. We want queer youth to grow up into a world where they don't worry about their jobs, healthcare and access to swimming pools. We want them to fall in love, get married, have children and grow old together. We want to protect them, nuture them and benefit ourselves from the amazing new world they create.

There are the other kids, too. The ones who went to Bigot Prom 2010. These kids didn't organize a prom on their own. They were led there by adults. I'm betting more than a few of the kids caught up in this bigotry actually grasp the truth behind the situation and I hope they get out of Fulton, Mississippi to see the big world.

Pam has a poll up to see if Constance herself should stay in Fulton. Her "peers" have started an anti-Constance Facebook page.

Sigh. This is one of the reasons I believe LGBT parents in Pittsburgh need to get more involved in advocacy and political. These children matter to all of us, but that's a particular interest group who need to be drawn more actively into advocacy.

On a related note, PA Representative Phyllis Mundy has introduced legislation to protect children in foster care. The bill has been introduced. Again. This time, it does not include sexual orientation as a reason to protect children.

Mundy has introduced legislation in previous sessions in response to testimony she heard from former foster children eight years ago as a member of the Joint State Government Commission's Task Force on Services to Children and Youth. In its report, "Children and Youth Services Delivery System in Pennsylvania," the task force made recommendations to the General Assembly for preventing the abuse and neglect of the state's foster children.

"It is critical that we establish this act to assure that clear and concise information is made available on the basic protections for children in foster care in Pennsylvania," said Joan L. Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "The lives of 31,000 vulnerable children will be positively impacted by this legislation and we support it wholeheartedly."

Mundy noted that the bill is not a reflection on the many wonderful foster families who provide loving care and support to vulnerable, at risk-children. Rather, she remarked that it is an acknowledgment that more can be done to prevent abuses that do occur despite the best intentions.

All good stuff. I worked in the foster care system for three years and there are clearly reasons to take this step. But other news is more disturbing.

But this time, she’s made some adjustments that may make the bill more popular, by omitting a section that would have protected children against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Because many children are in foster care because of their sexual orientation, she says the clause would be relevant in the bill of rights. However, since she’s had trouble passing it with that inclusion, she says she’d “rather pass an imperfect bill than no bill at all.”

I wrote about this before. Constance isn't in foster care and her family is standing behind her. Who is standing behind the LGBT children in foster care? The faith based foster care agencies like Catholic Charities which closed up shop rather than acknowledge gay marriages? Imagine how they treat LGBT kids in their care. Maybe that's not the best example.

Parents, I urge you to get involved. Contact Steel-City Stonewall Democrats or follow them on Twitter @stonewallpgh There's also PFLAG, GLSEN and the GLCC.

According to my contacts at the ACLU, the prom situation has happened in Pittsburgh. It has always been resolved with a letter from the ACLU, at least when someone called the ACLU.

Think of all the kids who would love to take their same sex dates to their proms. Think of how many aren't able to turn to their parents for support (or their foster parents). Or their grandmas or their friends.

You can support these kids (and Constance) by following the links. Sign the petitions. Etc.

The PA House Bill has 42 co-sponsors including Dan Frankel and Chelsa Wagner. In 2008, the earlier version has 24 sponsors.

Maybe a weaker bill is better than nothing, but the bill won't be strengthened if the LGBT community and our allies fail to speak out to protect children here in PA.

Let Representative Mundy know you support including sexual orientation in the legislation.

The other sponsors include: MUNDY, EACHUS, TRUE, BELFANTI, BRADFORD, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CURRY, CUTLER, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DeWEESE, FRANKEL, HARKINS, HICKERNELL, HOUGHTON, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, McILVAINE SMITH, MURPHY, MURT, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, PETRI, PRESTON, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, STABACK, STURLA, WAGNER, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD, and GINGRICH

If your rep is on this list, please drop them a line thanking them and explaining why it is important to reintroduce sexual orientation into the legislation. You can find your legislator here and get the contact information.

This is a good example of seizing a moment to educate and bond. Those relationships can lead to further dialogue on other issues.

There are kids who need you.

sdf

Pennsylvania not interested in protecting gay kids in foster care?

Sue — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:52:30 -0400

Jesus, Mary and Joseph ... this is exactly why we need a strong gay ally at the helm of the Commonwealth.

Representative Phyllis Mundy of Luzerne County says she has introduced her “Children in Foster Care Act” legislation during every session since 2005. But this time, she’s made some adjustments that may make the bill more popular, by omitting a section that would have protected children against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Because many children are in foster care because of their sexual orientation, she says the clause would be relevant in the bill of rights. However, since she’s had trouble passing it with that inclusion, she says she’d “rather pass an imperfect bill than no bill at all.”

They can't pass a bill that protects children from being abused in foster care based on their sexual orientation? I know we are battling mightily to add sexual orientation to non-discrimination laws, hate crimes laws, etc. But this is pretty despicable.

I'd be lying if I said I'm incredulous. Three years in foster care taught me quite a bit, mostly about the wonderful kind people who step forward to parent children in foster care. The best foster parents I knew were able to separate their personal opinions from the requirements to provide care consistent with the regulations. Christian parents kept Jewish and Muslim children connected to their cultures. This was true across boundaries of race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, etc.

That doesn't mean there aren't unscrupulous people who don't fulfill their duty and moral obligation to these children. This issue hasn't been on the radar that I've seen. I'm going to get more information. Clearly, LGBT adults need to do some educating of our legislators on this issue.

This is just a post to raise awareness that this is an issue. The campaigns are sexy, but we can't lost site of issues. I don't know if we can make an impact now or later on this issue, but I hope we can at least make sure we keep it on our radar.

Purse Totin' Tinky Winky Gay - Again?

Sue — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:32:51 -0400

Oh those wacky Polish children's rights watchers .... always a day behind and a dollar short. Remeber back in 1999 when Jerry Falwell deemed Teletubbie Tinky Winky a homo because he carried a purse (TW is the purple one)? Now Ewa Sowinski is on the same bandwagon. Well, she way until apparently someone reminder her of 1999 so she's off again.

"I noticed that he has a purse, but I didn't realize he's a boy. At first I thought that must be a bother for him," Sowinska told the magazine in an interview her office approved before publication. "Later I learned that there could be some hidden homosexual undertones."

Sowinska is a member of the League of Polish Families party, which is militantly anti-gay rights and anti-abortion. The party is a junior member in the coalition government led by Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Spokespeople from Sowinska's office have confirmed that they will not ask psychologists to examine the character.

Kacszynski has famously said, ""It's not in the interests of any society to increase the number of homosexuals, that's obvious."

I have a recurring dream that my father and I are on a long highway and we see a bridge that says "This way to Poland" and another exit that says "This way to France." For some reason, I always want to go to Poland. My father goes to France anyway. For the record, as a lesbian and a woman, I'd much rather go to France. Thank goodness for my Dad.

Pittsburgh Participation in Day of Silence

Sue — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:21:46 -0400

April 18 is the 11th Annual Day of Silence.

The Day of Silence is an annual event held to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools. Students and teachers nationwide will observe the day in silence to echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face everyday. In it's 11th year, the Day of Silence is one of the largest student-led actions in the country.

Pittsburgh's chapter of GLSEN leads the charge on the student-driven effort to educate and empower their fellow students around LGBT bias in America's schools and the school systems.

So what happens? Essentially, participants remain silent that day in solidarity with those who are "silenced" because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or alliance with the LGBT students. According to the national website, more than half a million students have participated over the past ten years.

Why do we need a Day of Silence?GLSEN’s 2005 National School Climate Survey found that 4 out of 5 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. The Day of Silence helps bring us closer to making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.

The Day of Silence is a call to action. Students can use this day, as well as other GLSEN Days of Action, as a means of achieving an “ask.” An ask is a very specific action that calls for a change in school policies, climate, and culture to achieve a larger goal of safe schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Some examples of an ask include: adding sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in your school’s non-discrimination or anti-harassment policy, or training teachers to respond effectively to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment, and name-calling.

Here's a good example of why this day is so important. Christian-opponents have begun organizing "Days of Truth" to spread their message of gay-intolerance in the schools. They believe that the learning environment should not respect or protect the rights of all students to pursue an education without harassment or discrimination. They twist this into a Christianity versus homosexuality situation and have gone to court to force school districts to recognize their free speech and freedom of religion in this context. The schools are backing down because its a fine line.

What's interesting is the Christo arguement that a Day of Silence impedes their free speech. Ironic, no?

Check out the GLSEN website and take a moment on April 18 to contemplate all the ways in which you are silenced.

Local queer youth explore issues of faith through drama troupe

Sue — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:42:57 -0500

The Post-Gazette has a thoughtful piece on Dreams of Hope, a local drama troupe for LGBTQ teens and their allies. Their performance theme this year is "Gay Youth in Good Faith."

"One of the biggest themes is the personal issue of sin, of how something that is so natural and doesn't seem like a bad thing, can be seen as horrible and people reject them for it. That is a big issue that most of them are dealing with," said [founder]Ms. [Susan] Haugh.

One need only read back posts on this blog to verify that the intersection of faith and sexual orientation can be treacherous. It can also be uplifting and magnificent as our own local Reverend Janet Edwards has demonstrated.

The youth themselves have different experiences of faith -- in some cases, acceptance by their faith community while others have been cast out by their very own clergy-parents. What's cool about these young people is that they channel those individual experiences of faith into a constructive dialogue for the larger LGBTQ community.

What a great gift for those of who aren't so much youth any longer. These kids are creatively exploring these intersections of identity that perplex the hell out of most adults, particularly gay people of faith in non-affirming communities.

Kudos to Dreams of Hope for being a few steps ahead of the rest of us, but inviting us along for the journey.

One scene re-creates a bus ride two actors took during which another rider condemned them by reciting Bible verses.
"That really hurt me, because I believe in God," said Renee Ballard, 20, a pastor's daughter from the North Side, who was on the bus.
Ms Ballard said that when she came out as a lesbian, her relatives rejected her, asking how she could still call herself a Christian. But there has since been reconciliation, she said.
"I told them I believe in God and God is in my life no matter what I'm doing. God loves me, no matter what. My sister came and said that she would also love me, no matter what," she said.

Check out Dreams of Hope at their website.

AFA of PA Horrified that School District could partner with GLSEN

Sue — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 09:07:43 -0500

The woman who loves to hate us dykes and faggots is at it again. Diane Gramley, the high priestess of Pennsylvania family values, has snagged herself a story in the Beaver County Times outlining her "concerns" about recent outreach from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to the Ambridge Area School District.

The Ambridge School District caught our attention late last year when School Board member William Scherfel referred to the high school's GSA as a "sex club" and its members as "fags." Scherfel later "apologized" by claiming he didn't remember making the comments while acknowleding that he may have used the word fag since he grew up in that era.

In the meantime, GLSEN has stepped up and offered to work with the school district to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues, a move that could actually improve the learning environment for gay students and possibly assist the school district in avoiding lawsuits.

"We just want to help schools understand, so they can deal appropriately and develop some sensitivity to that particular minority," [Network co-chair Tom]Wyse said.
Ambridge Area High School Principal Alan Fritz has said he'd be receptive to having a professional development workshop for teachers, but it was something he would have to discuss with the superintendent."

Aghast at the thought of tolerance in Darryl Metcalfe country, the AFA of PA is riding to the rescue.

But Gramley said such sensitivity workshops overstep the boundaries of proper public education because she said it pushes acceptance of homosexuality and threatens the First Amendment rights of those who believe homosexuality is a sin.
"Unfortunately, a school board member made a disparaging remark. That was not called for at all, but if the principal accepts an invitation from GLSEN, that's going in the wrong direction," Gramley said.

What direction would that be? Why straight to hell, of course, with a pit stop in San Francisco to pick up some kicky thigh highs and a pink feather boa.

Note Gramley's subtle reference to Christian persecution with the First Amendment argument. That insidious tact seems to work very well if the minds of my colleagues are reflective of general sentiments. They do feel like they are under attack for being Christian, rather than for trying to shove their brand of Christianity down our throats <insert obvious gay joke here>.

It is heartening that Principal Fritz is willing to consider training for the faculty and staff. And Ambridge still has a Gay-Straight Alliance club with the goal of fostering understanding and creating bridges between gay and straight students. However, as recently as mid-December, the GSA founder described an environment of increasing intolerance among the student body especially since Scherbel's comments.

Well, duh. When an elected official sets the bar low, can you be surprised that weak minded adults as well as their spawn scurry underneath it? The ignorance of the common heterosexual is sometimes truly astounding. These desperate little people truly seem to believe that their way of life, their identity will be destoyed if their children even associate with a known homosexual much less have a conversation or <gasp> actual dialogue.

Ambridge - breeding homophobes, one salvation at a time.

A Cool School Chick - Heather Arnet Backed for School Board

Sue — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 09:41:53 -0500

Kudos to the District 2 School Board Coalition for endorsing Heather Arnet to run for the school board seat being vacated by Highland Park resident Patrick Dowd. Arnet, also a Highland Park resident, is the Executive Director of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Correspondents (and the Lesbians) are long-time fans of Arnet for her great work on behalf of women and girls throughout the region, including women and girls in the queer community. As we are city residents, we are especially pleased that Arnet is turning her tremendous talent to the oversight of one of our most important resources - the public schools.

Go Heather!

Beaver County Resident Defends Gay Kids

Sue — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:12:56 -0500

Michelle Manzo of Monaca in Beaver County deserves a nice little shout out from those of us living outside of that hallowed little 'burg for her nice letter to the editor in today's Beaver County Times. Michelle picked up her pen after reading about all the fuss over the Gay-Straight-Alliance at Ambridge High School.

I wavered between anger and amusement at the comment by the parent who was afraid the members would become "militant" and "force" others to join the club. What in the world does this person think this organization represents? They are not al-Qaida terrorists, waiting to snatch your unsuspecting youngster into their dark underworld. They are regular kids, just like yours, who just happen to be struggling, because they are aware they are different from most of their peers, and simply need to be a part of something that gives them support and understanding.

With that, Michelle profoundly reduces things to their most basic components. Kids-Need-Support.

She also rightfully identifies the true problem -- Grownups are afraid of people who are different from them.

Kudos to Michelle for reminding everyone of what's really important.

Ambridge students claim gay harassment

Sue — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:29:37 -0500

Student members of the Gay-Straight-Alliance of Ambridge High School claim they are being harassed according to a story in the Beaver County Times.

AMBRIDGE - The gay issue just won't go away.In fact, Daniel Zak, an Ambridge Area High School senior, told the school board Wednesday night that attitudes have worsened toward gay students and their friends since a new gay and lesbian club was established.

Last month, Adam Smith, an Ambridge senior who founded the Gay-Straight Alliance, spoke publicly, saying that he was offended over some derogatory terms used by board member William Scherfel, who referred to the group as a "sex club" and "the faggots." The board approved the club in October.
Smith explained the club's mission: to promote diversity and confront discrimination and homophobia.
"That was very brave of him, it took a lot of courage, but it's gotten to be worse than it was before," Zak said.
Specifically, Zak said there have been more remarks, jokes, and people pointing and laughing. "Now it's really blown out of proportion. They're getting fingers pointed more than if they hadn't started the club," he said.
An Ambridge parent, who refused to give the board her name, asked about the need for the club, its dress code, potential speakers and field trips.
She also said she worried that club members could become militant and force other students into joining.
Principal Alan Fritz said students in the club will have the same rules and dress code as other students.
Fritz said that he respected the woman's views but that there are gay or lesbian students in the school who unfortunately are "targeted, harassed and picked on."
"It's not a free-for-all down there. I don't see any of these kids pressuring anybody. The majority there are not even homosexual. They are friends of the young man."
Superintendent Kenneth Voss said he attended the initial meeting, which was pretty much "routine." Voss said the students discussed election of officers, fund-raising activities and community service.
"I didn't hear anything about pressuring from GSA," Voss said.
Board member Brian Padgett said perhaps the entire student body should participate in diversity training if they are targeting those who are different from them.

Dress code? From my trips to Beaver County, I'd say the lives of a more than a few breederettes could use a nice dose of a gay dress code.

My favorite line, however, is her fear that the club could become militant and force people to join. Honey, that tactic has been all sewn up by the Christian mini-mes decked out in chastity belts and a swayin for Jesus in front of the school flag pole. I'd take a militant homo any day of the week over a determined "Virgin for Christ."

Maybe the GSA will schedule a field trip to an abortion clinic and then stop by the local gay bar for illicity sexual encounters with smooth chested men from the big city?

School Board Official Refers to GSA members as fags

Sue — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:14:24 -0500

Put Ambridge on the list of places you don't want to raise your children.

School Board member William Scherfel described the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Ambridge Area High School as a "sex club" and then refused to apologize, referring ot the members as fags.

The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has been involved in the dispute, noting concern about the disturbing shift in attitudes toward GSA's across the state.

Good grief ... he called GSA members fags. What the hell is wrong with him? He's elected to a position of trust and authority over students and he blatantly violates every iota of both.

As of Wednesday night, Scherfel allegedly apologized. Here's an excerpt from WPXI's report

Channel 11 News reporter Gordon Loesch spoke with Scherfel. Scherfel said he's not even sure he said the word.

Loesch asked, “You're not even admitting that you said it? You don't know if you said it?”
William Scherfel said, “No, no. It would not be beyond me to use that word. It’s a word I heard growing up. I might have used the word."

Student Adam Smith said, “It wasn't heartfelt at all.”
Loesch asked, “So you don't believe he's really sorry for saying it?”
Smith said, “No, and I'm sure if he had the chance he'd say it again."

Scherfel said he will take full responsibility for his comments.

So he admits he has the capacity to refer to students as fags, but isn't sure that he actually did it. Oh it gets better. Scherfel claims the furor is politically motivated by those who don't appreciate his outspokenness. The school superintendent has opted not to get involved b/c he has no jurisdiction --- apparently he has been robbed of his ability to critique the school board. And the school board itself? Here's their position:

Board president Bernard Logan defended Scherfel, saying no one is perfect, and at least one board member, Kevin Blanarik admitted he heard the remark but didn't think it should have become an issue.

"I didn't appreciate the comment because I don't speak like that, but he didn't say it as if he was trying to be mean," Blanarik said.

Mean? Is Logan out of his friggin' mind? These are students, kids we are talking about and Scherfel is a grown man. Would he be excused for using a racial slur and have it written off as not meant to be mean? How about referring to female students as cunts? Or disabled students as crippleds or gimps? Would that be okay?

It is a great day for Pennsylvania when local politicians sexualize students, use a slur to describe those students, claim they don't remember using it, and get off scott free b/c they weren't trying to be mean.

I'm sure Darryl Metcale is very proud.

Things We Missed

Sue — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:26:55 -0400

I have been brought to my knees by a mighty round of ailment and have barely touched a computer over the past two weeks. Thanks for all the inquiring and encouraging emails. It is nice to be missed. :-)

I'm sure you've caught most of this but I'll do a quick round up of some things that may have slipped beneath your radar.

Mark Foley - Scummy pedophile hiding behind alcoholism, history of abuse and the turmoil of being gay? Boo fucking hoo. On behalf of alcoholics, victims of abuse, homosexuals and all of our families, grow a pair and take responsibility for being a fucking pedophile. As for Hastert and all the rest, are you really surprised at their desperate desire to cover this up and somehow blame the homosexuals --- the Catholics have been doing this same maneuver for years. And its pathetic to consider abolishing the page program to "protect the children." Even the Catholics didn't go that far.

The always eloquent LA Johnson wrote a two-part series for the Post-Gazette about a local woman, Dannylee Mitchell, who is suing her former employer for discrimination. Dannylee is a transgender woman and believes she was dismissed because of her gender identity rather than her work performance. This is an amazing little series, very brave and forthright. I have never met Dannylee, but I admire her courage in sharing so much of her inner life with Post-Gazette readers. Go check it out.

Reverend Janet Edwards published an Op-Ed piece on her struggle with the Presbyterian Church over performing a wedding for two women. She explains why she is pleading innocent. Here's the backstory on our coverage of Janet's situation.

The Lesbian and Gay Film Festival opens this month.

Former Whitehall native James Yearsley now of Tampa wrote in a lovely little anti-gay diatribe to the Post-Gazette that was only printed in the online edition. Don't ask, Don't tell, Mr. Yearsley opines, keeps the military blood supply HIV free. Good to know, Jim.

Contrary to reports from the PA Department of Education, incidents of bullying is significantly high for gay and lesbian students. A report from GLSEN indicates that 80% of respondents had heard homphobic language in school. Only 12% of Pennsylvania schools have Gay Straight Alliances in comparison with 22% of schools nationwide. GSA's are an important tool in addressing homophobic harassment and bullying.

I'm sure there are stories I missed, but they'll resurface soon I am sure. Enjoy this beautiful day!

Philly School District Acknowledges LGBT History Month

Sue — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:11:21 -0400

In another step forward, the Philadelphia School District has added LGBT History Month (October) to the other culturally significant items included in a student calendar which will be sent home with all students (Philly Inquirer)

Noting that October is Gay and Lesbian History Month is an attempt to be inclusive and is no different from recognizing months devoted to the history or heritage of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians, said Cecilia Cummings, a spokeswoman for the district.

"The school district maintains and upholds Policy 102, which is a multiracial, multicultural gender-education policy," she said. "Basically, it's a policy intent on fostering knowledge and respect for people of all races, ethnic groups, social classes, genders, religions, disabilities and sexual orientations."

Some parents are up in arms. Shocker! Nicola Rucker thinks her son shouldn't be learning about this "stuff" until he's old enough to come ask her about it. He's 9 years old. He's old enough to ask. The problem isn't the questions he'll be asking, but the answers she'll be giving. She throws out the tired old arguement that sexual orientation is a preference. So it will be very interesting for her to explain to her 9 year old why Mommy chose to be a breeder instead of a dyke.

Gay Philly Youth Turned Away by Military Recruiters

Sue — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 11:01:26 -0400

Three young gay adults were turned away from a military recruitment office because they are openly gay. The young people were part of a nationwide challenge of the military's 13 year old "don't ask, don't tell" policy. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

The response they got, they said, was a courteous - but definite - no.

"They said we were morally and administratively ineligible for the U.S. military," said Jarrett Lucas, 20, of South Philadelphia, a recent Drexel University engineering student.

"They were very courteous, but they said that if we were truly interested in enlisting we'd have to conceal our sexual identities," Lucas added.

Lucas, joined by Shane Bagwell, 18, a high school graduate from Wyndmoor in Montgomery County, and Marissa Cotroneo, 19, an aspiring psychology major from Scranton, spent about an hour talking with Army recruiters and taking a practice qualifying test before leaving part of an Army of none.

If they were truly interested in serving our country, they would have to lie. After all, its a frequent practice of the Commander in Chief and his loyal ass-kissers.

Of course, the recruiters were just following policy. How is advising a potential recruit to conceal their sexual orientation noble or ethical --- its just about meeting your individual recruitment goals.

From 365gay.com

For the past two years the military has been unable to meet its recruiting goals. Since 1993, the Department of Defense has discharged more than 11,000 service members under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than 800 of those service members were trained in skills deemed ‘mission-critical’ by the Pentagon.

In June the military was forced to apologize when it was revealed that a a Pentagon document listing various "disorders" included the reference to homosexuality decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

A bi-partisan coalition in Congress now supports legislation to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1059), introduced in March 2005 by Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) now has about 120 supporters, including five Republican lawmakers. Meehan’s legislation would repeal the military’s ban and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel to serve openly in the armed forces.

Is the PA Dept of Edu underreporting LGBTQ school violence?

Sue — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 08:01:49 -0400

According to the Post-Gazette, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has released their annual safety report claiming that less than 3% of students were involved in violence in the schools.

The School Safety Report for 2004-05 shows a decline in school violence for the second year in a row and significant decreases in fights, assaults on students, burglaries, racial and ethnic intimidation and incidents involving firearms.

The report also suggests violent incidents have decreased across the board:

It shows incidents involving firearms dropped by 38 percent; burglaries are down by 43 percent; incidents of intimidation fell by 25 percent and other types of harassment declined by 23 percent.

A leading safety organization disputes these findings. National School Safety and Security Services out of Cleveland questions the decrease when school violence is on the rise across the state.

And what about the gay kids? According to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network's National School Climate Survey released in April, four out of five LGBTQ students report incidents of violence.

The Scope of the Problem:

75. 4% of students heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school, and nearly nine out of ten (89.2%) reported hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" - meaning stupid or worthless- frequently or often.
Over a third (37.8%) of students experienced physical harassment at school on the basis of sexual orientation and more than a quarter (26.1%) on the basis of their gender expression. Nearly one-fifth (17.6%) of students had been physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth (11.8%) because of their gender expression.

Now I find it incredibly hard to believe that incidents of violence are decreasing that significantly without a serious statewide intervention plan which I am sure does not exist. Back in the day when I was in school, life was nasty, brutish and short if you were on the wrong end of the pummeling. There were plenty of bullies and even more people egging them on as they spit on, beat up, mauled, assaulted, pushed, shoved, grabbed, pinched, twisted, kicked, restrained and generally violated other kids. School was a survival course in violence avoidance with few instructions and little effective intervention from the faculty.

And let's not forget rising rates of cyber harassment which the school districts have decried but denied reponsibility for if the behavior originates from a non-campus computer.

I think the PA Department of Education is being disengenuous at best.

Philadelphia Boy Scouts May Lose Space b/c of Anti-Gay Stance

Sue — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:57:10 -0400

The Mayor of Philadelphia is giving the regional Boy Scout council two choices.: Either they stop discriminating against gays or they begin paying fair market rent on their city owned headquarters.

The City of Liberty Council is the third largest in the nation, serving 87,000 boys in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties. They have been using a city owned building since 1928, paying only for building upkeep.

The City is playing hard ball because the Scouts refuse to comply with the fair-practices ordinance which forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation among other protected classes.

Cradle of Liberty Council spokesman Jeff Jubelirer had more pointed views.

"With an epidemic of gun violence taking the lives of Philadelphia's children every day," Jubelirer said, "it is ironic the administration chose this time to destroy programming that services 40,000 children in the city."

That's an interesting perspective which completely ignores the fact that the City has tries to negotiate with the Boy Scouts for the past three years. There's no room for negotiation. The Boy Scout organization wants to be free to discriminate against homosexuals while receiving all the governmental funding it can swallow. Never mind the thousands of young men whose lives are impacted by their homo-bigot stance -- the young gay men, the boys with gay parents or siblings or grandparents or other loved ones, the heterosexual scouts who are taught by example to discriminate. Never mind those kids. Or their families. Or their dreams.

There's no room for negotiation. The Boy Scouts won't revise their creed of hate and the City isn't making an exception. Are political nuances at play? Sure. They always are, but that doesn't take away from the larger issue.

Our good friends at the American Family Association of Pennsylvania have chimed right in with their Christian-flavored bigotry:

“The boys involved in the Scouts are caught in a tug-of-war with those who seek to change society through homosexual activism and choose to be blind to the facts of the dangers of this lifestyle,” [AFA Chair Diane] Gramley concluded

Ah, yes, the homosexual activist card. Wouldn't be a hatefest if no one played it!

I find the Boy Scout's stance offensive, moronic and divisive. I don't buy their little snacks or donate to their causes because I think they really hurt boys and young men. I get some grief from my friends about my actions only hurting the boys. I'm sorry but that's an utterly spineless position. The Boy Scouts are *hurting* children, gay and straight. They should lose their funding sources because reason, common decency or genuine concern for all children doesn't seem to play a part in their decision making process.

Round Up - Interesting LGBTQ tidbits from around the country

Sue — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:59:31 -0400

First, the exciting news. John Stamos will play a wedding planner who is gay in the upcoming A&E movie "Wedding Wars" due to air this winter. In the movie, Stamos' character boycotts his brother's wedding b/c his brother's boss and future father in law is a governor who opposes marriage equality. Hilarity ensues as an important point about tolerance and equality is made. Plus, thousands of gay and bisexual men can fantasize about marrying John Stamos. (h/t Good as You)

Another amusing must-view is a video parody GAY put together around Fred Phelps and his merry bunch of phelpsians. Rather than telling us "You are are going to hell" GAY informs us "You are going to HELENA" (another h/t to Good as You). On a related matter, the Phelpsians were fined $5,000 for wasting police protection when they didn't show up for a funeral protest in Michigan. Fred's whacky daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper told the press that the Holy Ghost told them to stay home and they would throw any citations in the trash can.

In an important note, a federal court has ruled that the White County, Georgia School Board must allow a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) to meet. The School Board had previously decided to disallow any extracurricular group, but those groups continued to meet. The ACLU pursued the matter. (h/t PageOneQ). Here's a great quote from one the student plaintiffs:

"This has been the best civics lesson ever," said Kerry Pacer, one of the founders of the student group said in the ACLU statement, "I couldn't believe the school was so unfair to us when all we wanted to do was to try to address the violence and harassment against gay students. I'm relieved that the court is going to make the school let us meet."

You tell 'em, Kerry. Kerry is my mother's name so I'm especially fond of young person Pacer. Good for you for sticking up for your rights.

In the tolerance twist you knew was overdue, homo vacationeers in Provincetown are accused of making slurs against heterosexuals and Jamaicans. Police received numerous complaints that people were being called "breeders." One woman reported being verbally accosted after it came to light she signed an anti-gay marriage petition. She was called a bigot.

She IS a bigot. She chose to sign a petition that discriminates against her neighbors. Should they just accept that quietly? I'm not saying they should target her or act out, but calling her what she is seems acceptable to me. Her priest acknowledges that signing the petition would lead to repercussions, but called this a "dramatic experience" Puh-lease. Try having your brother deny you access to his kids b/c you are queer. That's dramatic. Try losing your job b/c you are gay. That's dramatic. Try having to control your simple desire to hold your partner's hand to avoid being harassed. That's dramatic.

Now the incidents with Jamaican residents is different. They attribute the increased intolerance to the looming debate over immigration and I'd agree that's very likely. Guess what homos? Not all Jamaican's are anti-gay. Don't be fueled by the Ricky/George rhetoric on immigration.

Bigotry is as bigotry does.