Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

The Rally

Sue — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:45:00 -0400

Eh.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/17195/the-politically-informed-attendees-at-glenn-becks-rally

Scary stuff.

Pennsylvania changes gender ID policy

Sue — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:31:00 -0400

This is good news.

Under PennDOT's old policy, to change the gender on their licenses or state ID cards, people had to prove they had sexual reassignment surgery. The new policy that is effective immediately doesn't require proof of surgery. It does allow a change in gender on the licenses if people are living full-time in the new gender and it is verified by a licensed medical or psychological caregiver or social worker "whose practice includes helping people with gender identity issues."

Change. It does happen. Even in Pennsylvania.

I was felled by a twinkie

Sue — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:24:00 -0400

I have a new obsession. It is getting healthy. I've been using the Wii Fit Plus and a website http://www.sparkpeople.com to improve my fitness, nutrition and overall well-being. The results have been great so far.

- no soda/pop since May (with the occasional ginger ale if my stomach is icky)

- I've lost 29 pounds

- I've consistently exercised 3-4 times per week and have graduated to a new Wii program, EA Sports Active that is REALLY HARD

- I have been very good about drinking 8 glasses of water a day

- I have faced down all sorts of temptations and managed pretty well. Except for the twinkie, but I got right back on the horse.

Change is difficult, but so rewarding. Change also means sacrifices of time. Hence, the lack of blogging. Well, that's only partially true. Yes, I have less time, but I have also enjoyed the break. It has been like a mental health release to not be locked into a singular identity for a few months. I admit that I created my own situation and I'm really proud of what we've accomplished, but this blog has taken a hard turn toward all politics, all the time which isn't a real reflection of who I am.

I'm certainly not going to stop blogging, but I am going to blog differently. I guess you'll have to tune in to see what that means.

Now I'm off to read a book and relax before bed. I have to prepare myself to ache tomorrow when today's new workout kicks in. Ouch.

sdf

Parking what?

Sue — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:19:00 -0400

I have no idea what to say about the parking debacle. We were out of town for awhile and I am completely out of the loop except for Peduto's tweets. I'm speculating that I agree more with Bill than I do with Luke, but I have to admit that with Ledcat as a City employee -- I'm concerned about pension stability. So I guess I have some reading to do.

I haven't heard much about local action on LGBT issues. No word on domestic partner benefits. I know that every time I bring up the fact that Onorato hasn't done anything about this I single handedly contribute to the downfall of the Democratic party in Pennsylvania, but still ... gay people deserve health care for their families. No word from the Mayor's Advisory Council, but I'm okay with that because they did help with the Dyke March.

I understand there might be some sort of PrideFest Conference here in 2011. That's good news.

Any thoughts from your end?

PG on Marriage Equality

Sue — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:10:00 -0400

Go read.

Stuff I Missed

Sue — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:50:00 -0400

Rob Rogers has a great cartoon on the recent pro-marriage equality court ruling.

Not up to date on the California ruling? The Trib reprints a nice piece from the Washington Post on the ruling. This could end up at the Supreme Court level, but for now its nice to enjoy a victory. The Trib also agrees with the ruling, at least their editorial board does.

Elsewhere, the National Organization for Marriage has been holding rallies (ahem -- 25 people attending) to support their cause againt marriage equality. Counter protests drawing dozens and sometimes hundreds of pro-equality advocates have been popping up at every site. NOM has responded by labeling the counterprotestors as violent.

NOM is coming to Harrisburg and Equality PA is not planning to counter protest and urging Pennsylvania advocates to avoid that tactic as well.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) kicked off their "One Man, One Woman" tour on July 14th. At each stop where there have been counter protests or attendance by pro-equality supporters, they have disrespected or mocked them and attempted to provoke them into screaming or yelling. Their goal in doing this is to make our side look foolish and hostile. We have also seen that they like to play a numbers game where if we have even a few less attendees than at their event, they will claim that the momentum is moving in their direction. We know from the recent polling numbers and the pathetic turnout their rallies have been recording, that this simply isn't the case.

We are working hard to advance equality and will continue to do so long after they leave town. While we may be upset by their rhetoric, we can't get caught up in retaliation when we need to remain focused on what needs to get done to win! Putting our energy into showing up at their event does not help to move us forward. What will help to advance equality in Pennsylvania is if we use them coming to town as an excuse to mobilize local activists and build our network.

So after NOM finishes their ranting and heads to the next town, we will be out there getting it done! We are holding a terrific event in Harrisburg on August 12, the night before they arrive, around a special showing of the movie "Stonewall Uprising" with a panel on youth activism afterward. We encourage everyone who can, to attend.

Click here for more information!

Not only is this a great movie, but this public conversation will increase our network and identify new volunteers and supporters. Please do what you can...attend, make a donation or just plain follow our activities. But please, ignore NOM when they come to town and don't interact. Attention is exactly what they want, and why should honest people who hold equality close to their hearts be tricked into supporting their sad little charade.

Again, Pam's House Blend for some analysis. What are your thoughts? I personally understand their decision to stay focused on the issues near and dear and, frankly, possible to achieve ... HB 300, for example. Still, Pennsylvania is decidedly lacking in activism. So many shun that identity in favor of the more palatable term advocate. I'm a huge fan of advocacy, but as I've said repeatedly ... we are missing this critical link.

Enough for now.

sdf

Lt. Dan Choi discharged from US Army; Continues to Serve

Sue — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:33:00 -0400

You may have heard by now that Lt. Dan Choi was honorably discharged from the United States Army under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Lt. Choi, fluent in Arabic, was serving as a linguist.

Dan has also been an advocate for the LGBT community. He was in Pittsburgh courtesy of the Delta Foundation in August 2009. Most recently, he has been working with Get Equal to engage in civil disobedience, twice chaining himself to the White House fence while in full uniform. His movement from fundraisers to political activism has been fascinating to watch and certainly parallels the failure of the Obama Administration (and the mighty gays) to repeal DADT.

Even as the political will of the elite weakens, the will of activists like Choi grows.

Still, discharge must have been a deeply painful moment. It is certainly painful for the non-Arabic speaking soldiers who are now at even more of a disadvantage thanks to Obama's systemic policy of intolerance and discrimination.

In a powerful moment, Choi sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who was addressing the NetRoots Nation conference. It contained his West Point ring which he sent as a pledge of his ongoing service to the United States, asking for it to be returned when DADT is repealed.

Courtesy of Pam's House Blend, please read the words of an American patriot.

July 24, 2010

The Honorable Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader:

Dear Harry:

My West Point ring has always symbolized an irrevocable promise: my commitment to serving America and my duty to defend freedom and justice. Today, with my discharge from the army for telling the truth, the ring takes on a new meaning, serving as a symbol for the enduring pain of broken promises.

America was founded on the principles of inalienable rights, equality, and the promise of justice for all. But today, Americans remain segregated from that promise. Fired from our jobs, discriminated in the military, denied equal access to our own integrity and acknowledgement of our families, we cannot conclude that our country has manifested its own promise, over 230 years later.

You have also made personal promises to me that the senate would repeal military discrimination before the end of 2009. Indeed, you sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary Gates, claiming that was the most you could do to save my career. You promised to lead on repeal of discrimination. I believed your promise because you are the most powerful senator in America. Truly, no one can do more. The false hope of your promise has been made real to me today with another letter: the letter terminating my military service.

But I present this ring to you, symbolizing my promise as a fellow citizen: my service continues.

I promise I will hold you accountable to your obligations to lead in the effort to end discrimination, both in the workplace and in the military. My promise is not merely written on a piece of paper or words alone, but in the hearts of every lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender American fired from their jobs because of broken promises from those who purport to be our friends. History will judge us and conclude that the greatest obstacles to justice were not the loud rants of bigots, but the quiet fears of those unwilling to stand firm in the fulfillment of their commitments. I refuse to allow my friends register themselves in history as obstacles to justice.

I commit to you my renewed pledge and continued service. To you and all those “friends” who manipulate, deceive and exploit our community, I will serve as a reminder of the consequences we all pay when allegiance to political careers takes higher priority than allegiance to America’s promise.

Sincerely,

Lt. Dan Choi

US Army, Discharged under DADT

sdf

The Lesbian Movie

Sue — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:16:00 -0400

Last night, Ledcat and I caught the opening of "The Kids Are Allright," the film about the kids of a lesbian couple seeking out their sperm donor. The movie was well made and much more about relationships with this one happening to be lesbian, than a lesbian movie. Annette Benning and Julianne Moore star and how cool to have two high profile actresses take on these roles.

Our experience at the theater was interesting as well. The showing was at the Manor in Squirrel Hill, known for being a bit liberal. 30 minutes before showtime, the line snaked around the building. Surprisingly, the movie was packed PACKED with heterosexual couples, skewing heavily above age 50. I'm sure there were plenty of lesbians sprinkled in the crowd, but I was a little stunned that I didn't recognize a single LGBT face in the crowd. As we left, I could say the same about the line for the next showing.

I sure hope all these allie who turn out for movies that normalize us are turning out politically to advocate for us in real life, too.

Gay Bashing in Pittsburgh - We Need a Liaison

Sue — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:09:00 -0400

You may have heard by now of a recent incident where a local gay man was assaulted while waiting for a bus. The community responded with two rallies and a lot of discussion about interaction between the LGBT community and the police.

This is an age old debate that requires self-examination on both sides and that seems to be a break down point. Many in the LGBT community have had negative experiences with the police and are disengaged b/c there's no trust. To be repeatedly told "call 911" or "file reports" when your personal experiences are traumatic is not getting anywhere. Add in the near constant media reports of negative behavior by the police department when interacting with minority groups and you hit a wall.

On the other hand, if there is no data and no information being fed to the police their hand are tied. People in the general public have unrealistic expectations of 911 and responses to emergencies. If the police aren't there in minutes, the assumption is that they didn't care. So when they do arrive two hours later to investigate, folks are unwilling to cooperate. That's a catch 22 and doesn't help anyone.

How do you get around this?

Progress has been made. This year's Dyke March finally had adequate police protection, but it took five years and a lot of pressure. Tied up in that was a sense of disenchantment by some event organizers that the police truly didn't care if particpants were safe ... the same dynamic. Yet I had conversations with more than one officer at the event that showed they are gay friendly and willing to engage far more than simply guarding their street corner.

There are systemic solutions. The Mayor's LGBT Advisory Committee is one such option, but we have to be realistic about their ability to effect the sort of dialogue necessary to bring about change. Frankly, I've attended a lot of meetings with commanders and even the Chief where we just get lectured about reporting, reporting, reporting and a protective nature toward their team (with regard to community violence). There's been no acknowledgement of systemic homophobia within the police force so I don't hold out a lot of hope. I also think the disconnect I described above is mirrored within our community along socioeconomic/class lines so those who get access to these meetings aren't the ones getting bashed.

City Council is another resource. We need to insist our allies on Council take up this rallying cry. Several years ago, Bill Peduto repeatedly reminded Council that LGBT issues were part of the federal consent decree under which the police force operated for several years (essentially oversight by the Department of Justice). Yet, we rarely see LGBT issues put forth by CPRB or other citizen groups in an organized manner. That would bring us back to the lack of organization in our community and the lack of data due to underreporting.

My recommendation is that we push for an LGBT liaison in the police department. This person would be our point person to discuss concerns and positive outcomes. This officer attends our meetings, large and small, to address the issues being raised -- training, tracking, how 911 works, etc. This officer gets to know us from Gay Inc to the everday queer so s/he can carry our stories and experiences back to the entire Department of Public Safety. This officer is not just chatting with the Mayor's allies, but reaching out to the entire community. Many of us have his/her phone number. You see what I mean? Not a token person assigned to come to one meeting, but an officer who gets invested in our community and diligently works to earn our trust.

It is about a relationship between our community and the institution which leads to a better relationship with the individual officers. That core relationship will generate the reporting necessary to tackle the crimes. It will empower CPRB to tackle the situations where police response is not according to procedure.

We also need a leader to step forward to push for necessary dialogue within the community. Pittsburgh does not have an organized LGBT grassroots presence. We have anarchists and philanthropists. We've lost touch with that piece of our history, a consequence of assimilation.

Just my $.02.

Grocery store for Beechview

Sue — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:46:00 -0400

I don't pay a lot of attention to Beechview even though my neighborhood of Manchester is connected to it through both our State House and State Senate districts. So I didn't even realize they had no grocery store until this little missive from Senator Fontana arrived in my box ...

Fontana Says Beechview Grocery Store Negotiations Underway

Responding to inquiries from community residents, State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today said that negotiations are underway to bring a grocery store to the Beechview neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, but cautioned that any premature discussions on the project could jeopardize a positive outcome of the ongoing talks.

“I am committed to securing a grocery for the neighborhood,” Fontana said. “I just don’t feel that it is productive to speculate or make premature public announcements about any proposals. The community should, most definitely, have an opportunity to weigh in on any plans and I have pledged to make that opportunity available as soon as it can be arranged.”

Senator Fontana has been meeting with a potential grocer and representatives of the Urban Redevelopment Authority since before the Foodland on Broadway Avenue closed at the end of June. He characterized the meetings as positive and productive, but he and the other parties to the discussions are bound by a confidentiality agreement that prevents them from discussing details.

“Growing up in Beechview in the 1950s, there was always a grocery store serving the community,” said Fontana. “Although that has just changed recently, I still believe a new grocer can flourish in Beechview. Recent studies have indicated that a grocery can be successful here and I also believe that the community will support efforts because the residents understand how vital a grocery is to anchor their community.”

Senator Fontana said that a tentative date in early August has been set for a community meeting where residents will have the opportunity to obtain more information and ask questions of the new grocer. That information will be forthcoming as soon as it is available.

I'm sure many of Pgh's neighborhoods are underserved by grocery stores. I should stop complaining about the Northside Giant Eagle, eh?

And I need to get to Beechview sometime soon.

asd

Corbett facts wrong. Shocking!

Sue — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:36:00 -0400

Capitol Ideas debunks Corbett's ridiculous mocking of his working class citizens ....

Kevin Silva, a senior vice president with the Warrell Corporation of Camp Hill, Cumberland County, said the company had been told by one applicant for a machine operator's position that, after factoring in travel costs, that he could make more money while receiving unemployment benefits.

Silva told Capitolwire that he did not know where the applicant lived. The position pays between $11 and $15 an hour, plus benefits.

Silva said the company did hire 50 foreign college students for seasonal work, not full-time positions, as Corbett told the online news service last week.

He lied? This is precisely why we need to continue pushing for LGBT economic issues on a local level as well as statewide --- statewide does not look too promising. I bang my head on the table when a die hard conservative friend tells me Onorato is the man.

sdf

Oh, those witty tea partiers ...

Sue — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:28:00 -0400

From Infinonymous ....

Infinon reports it was papered over the next day.

sdf

Argentina first Latin American nation to approve marriage equality

Sue — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:18:00 -0400

Hurrah for Argentina.

BUENOS AIRES -- Argentina's Senate narrowly approved a law early on Thursday authorizing same-sex marriages, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to allow gay couples to wed.

<snip>

But in a region where the separation of church and state is not always so clear, the law demonstrated a rare but increasing willingness by some Latin American nations to confront the church on fundamental issues, like Chile's legalization of divorce and Brazil's public distribution of contraceptives in recent years.

"There is no question that the law is unusual for a country that is not as secular as Western European democracies," said Javier Corrales, a political science professor at Amherst College. "There's a clear conflict with the church. Very seldom do we see presidents willing to fight the church so strongly on this particular issue in Latin America," even in countries led by left-leaning governments.

Argentina's new law will give gay people the same marital rights as heterosexuals, including adoption and inheritance rights, and reflects the broadening legal recognition of same-sex relationships across Latin America.

Look how far the Catholic school boys in Buenos Aires have come!

sdf

Smart Men are Sexy

Sue — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:13:00 -0400

Just read Slag Heap every day. Not only does it make me nostalgic for the slap heap upon which I played as a child (now known as Century Square in West Mifflin), but it is probably the smartest blog in the region. Well, Chris Briem is pretty damn close but I have to admit he intimidates me.

Just do it.

Township in Montgomery County begins equality process

Sue — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:08:00 -0400

Always good news to see grassroots efforts to push for equality.

Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County is on the path toward establishing protected class status for the LGBT community. You can find out more about this effort through their Facebook Page.

It really is hand to hand combat to win over the hearts and minds of elected officials. That won't happen without our full participation in the struggle for equality. Join the Facebook Page to get yourself educated and be humbled that Pittsburgh has a twenty year start, plus domestic partnership benefits for City employees and a domestic partner registry. Progress can happen with dedication, careful planning and the unrelenting pressure to hold our electeds accountable for the equality they profess to support.

Congrats to the folks in Lower Merion. I'll be watching and hoping for the best.

Pam asks if the DNC will consider LGBT friendliness for convention?

Sue — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:57:00 -0400

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/16716/which-potential-host-city-for-the-2012-dnc-is-the-most-proequality

Should this be a factor? What about in Pennsylvania? Should we ask Jim Burn to take these factors in account?

Vacation, all I ever needed

Sue — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:49:00 -0400

I haven't had a proper vacation since 2002. We've had a few weekend trips, but not a real getaway with sand and sea gulls and she crab bisque. You know, the beach.

Today, three things fell into place and we went for a plan that had been roiling around in our minds for a few months. The room was still available so its done.

It will be interesting to experience another trip as a couple. Sometimes people are cool (Canada), others they are sort of "la la la, I pretend you are sisters" (Cleveland). We celebrate 7 years this Sunday so this is a good way to celebrate.

Plus, she crab bisque.

Outing a Transgender "Dater" Major Misfire by the New York Times

Sue — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:00:00 -0400

Keeping with my theme of today's idiots, I must nominate Randy Cohen - "The Ethicist" for the New York Times, a feature I usually like.

Today, he tackles WHEN to out a transgender date. Not when that person should disclose, but what a shocked date must do in response to learning this information. No handbills, but its okay to talk about it.

Not a word on the tremendously high rates of assault and murder of transgender men and women. No, Cohen just goes for the laugh about TMI on a first date (don't talk about wanting kids), but the necessity to disclose before you disrobe (on the first date?). He takes not an iota of responsibility for what one's friends and colleagues might do once they have this information. Nor does he assume that it is an individual's right to make that disclosure. He just assumes it must be discussed, perhaps to deal with the horror of having dinner with a man who was born female?

Arrrrgggggg. See The Bilerico Project for more.

Pentagon Response to DADT "survey"

Sue — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:32:00 -0400

LezGetReal.com has something up on the Pentagon pushing back on the LGBT community's outcry over the ridiculous survey the Pentagon has mailed to 400,000 members of the military.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said about the stories that have resulted from the leak of the 103-question survey that many “have been inflammatory in the worst case, and misleading in the best.” The survey was suppose to remain confidential, but the distribution of the survey to the 400,000 active duty and reserve military personnel ended up without that being achieved.

Morrell stated that “Outside influence is not helpful to the process.” Of course, given that several groups outside the process have already tried to influence the process by pushing the statements of retired chaplains out in order to try and stop the repeal, and that there was no punishment for a general who decided to issue an op-ed trying to preserve the policy, it is hard to believe that the outside influence was not going to occur anyway.

“We thought it would be breaking the faith with them for us to be proactively sharing the survey because what we are trying to do is preserve the credibility and integrity of the answers that it elicits from the force.”

“The survey is designed to get the attitudes of the force on how to proceed if Congress repeals the so-called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law, and is not a referendum on whether or not the law should be repealed. The answers will inform the working group’s deliberations,” Morrell stated. The LGBT Community has been very leery of the commitment to repealing DADT. Right now, repeal rests on the shoulders of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and President Barack Obama and not Congress since an interim repeal is in the Defense budget for this year.

Morrell misses much of the reason behind the uproar when he states “Pentagon officials worked with a professional and reputable polling firm to produce the survey. Roughly the first third of the 103 questions seeks demographic information. The second third asks about professional and military experience. The third asks how the law’s repeal might affect the individual being surveyed.” Part of the problem is the wording. The more clinical word “homosexual” tends to elicit a more negative reaction than “lesbian or gay” does.

Confidential? No outside influence? No torture took place? Ooops.

Let us remember that no such survey took place when the armed forced were integrated or when women began assuming combat roles. They figured it out without using inflammatory rhetoric to stir up bias, bigotry and fear.

The military really sucks. This is yet another farcical move in the long line of delays and pandering to homophobes who don't want the repeal.

It is really hard to determine what is making my head spin more this morning, Pennsylvana politics or national politics.

Blame the "entitlement"

Sue — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:18:00 -0400

Tom Corbett is a major ass. If this is his view of Pennsylvania's labor force (the "working man"), just IMAGINE what he thinks about people relying on the safety net for survival.

From Capitol Ideas:

According to our podcasting pal, Scott Detrow, of Pennsylvania Public Radio,the two-term attorney general told reporters that "the jobs are there," but that many people are purposely remaining unemployed to to collect benefits.

According to Detrow's report, Corbett said he's heard a similar message from business owners across the state.

“One of the issues, and I hear it repeatedly – one of the individuals said, ‘I can’t get workers. People don’t want to come back to work while they still have unemployment.’ They’re literally telling him, ‘I’ll come back to work when unemployment runs out.’ That’s becoming a problem.”

Corbett added, “The jobs are there. But if we keep extending unemployment, people are just going to sit there ... I’ve literally had construction companies tell me, I can’t get people to come back to work until…they say, 'I’ll come back to work when unemployment runs out.'”

Capitol Ideas has links to soundbytes.

I don't know anyone who wants to be on unemployment. I interview probably 5-10 people per month and receive dozens more resumes from people who want to work. Unfortunately, most of them are not qualified for our jobs, but it is amazing to see the breadth of their backgrounds. Ironically, a LOT of folks are people who were laid off from a human services position and took up a laborer job to feed their families. They want back into their field (and probably want health insurance).

Would you make more from uninsurance than we can pay? In some cases, probably yes -- but I've yet to meet someone who sees it as a good tradeoff if for no other reason than they realize that the job might be gone when they are "ready".

Can you imagine what this man will do to human service funding if has this sort of contempt for Pennsylvania's workers?

sdf

Presbyterians shake it up a bit

Sue — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:03:00 -0400

The evolution of mainstream Protestant churches continues to intrigue and bore me. I love that the dialogue continues, but I'm also of the opinion that its 2010 already ... let's get it resolved so we can fight poverty and war and all that biblically based stuff.

Exercise the mind?

Sue — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:58:00 -0400

I'm a bit slothful. After the holiday, we bought a Wii Fit Plus to make exercise as easy as possible. I used it sporadically, but in May it really caught my attention. I began using it 3 or 4x per week. Then I stopped drinking pop (2 lapses in 8 weeks). Then I filled our office cupboards with healthier snack options.

Now there's swimming - I don't know strokes very well, so I tread water for 45-60 minutes and consider that fine -- and, yesterday, a bike ride.

Whoa. (BTW, the male Wii trainer is much "nicer" than the female).

I attribute my new found attitude to a work based initiative called Step It Up. My employer has dedicated some resources to promoting a healthier lifestyle among employees. We set weekly and monthly goals, added in some fun prizes as part of a monthly drawing for all who particpate and voila! It has captured folks imaginations. One of my coworkers gets off the bus a mile up the road and walks to work. Another is also using the Wii more often. Everyone enjoys the snacks. I bought Gatorade for all my sites and keep seeing the empty bottles (especially this past week).

One colleague won a voucher for a bike rental. Another won a year's subscription to a healthy lifestyle magazine.

The initiative really made me think about role modeling. We talk at length about the need for our residents to lead more active lifestyles so here is an opportunity for us to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak. I also felt compelled to get involved to set an example for my team, both about the healthier lifestyle AND about being part of an organizational wide project. I didn't anticpate I would *like* it.

Our organization also provides us with a $200 yearly health stipend. I bought tennis shoes, sports bras, ankle and wrist weights and something else I can't remember. Other people use it for copays, gym memberships, yoga mats, etc. Someone else uses it for safety boots. We also have access to a weekly chair massage and yoga. Lots of non-traditional benefits that make a big difference.

One downside has been less time for things like blogging. Well, to be fair, that's also due to increased work stuff going on. But I realize that not exercising my mind and my advocacy muscles comes at a price. Sometimes I'm too tired, but finding a balance is important. So I'm going to try to do better, especially during the work week. There's a lot of stuff going on. I hope you are reading Pam's House Blend and Joe My God and Towleroad to stay informed, but I'll make a greater effort on the state, regional and local stuff.

As soon as I finish my Gatorade. Kidding, giving up my AM coffee would be a serious cry for help.

Pentagon survey on DADT panders to fears

Sue — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:25:00 -0400

What a joke. The Pentagon survey sent to nearly half a million members of the military plays right into fears that the troops will be forced to encounter homosexuals in the shower.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10191/1071838-84.stm

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a nonpartisan legal services group providing counsel to troops discharged under the policy, said the survey's design could yield skewed results.

"Surveying the troops is unprecedented; it did not happen in 1948, when President Truman ended segregation, and it did not happen in 1976, when the service academies opened to women," network director Aubrey Sarvis said. "Even when the military placed women on ships at sea, the Pentagon did not turn to a survey on how to bring about that cultural change."
Skewed. Ha. What a waste of our taxpayer monies.

eQuality Giving Targets 2 PA Races

Sue — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:20:00 -0400

EQuality Giving, an LGBTQ equality campaign fund, has included two Pennsylvania candidates among their lists. This project is a viable complement to the ongoing call for LGBTQ persons to stop donating to the party, from the DNC to the ACDC, and focus on the candidates who support equality, rather than a party which is wishy-washy at best.

These candidates are the top priority for funding:

They are pro-equality (support all the Equality Goals)
They are running for federal or statewide office
They are in a competitive race (usually polling within 10 points of the opponent). See the criteria for endorsements.

All of the candidates to fund were personally interviewed by eQualityGiving.

GIVE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN PATRICK MURPHY (D-PA) FOR US HOUSE

Donate to MurphyMurphy campaign website

The outspoken Pennsylvania Congressman (and the first veteran of the Iraq War to serve in Congress) has made the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a hallmark of his career. His passion on the issue has helped to provide cover for the Commander in Chief, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense, all of whom now call for repeal of the blatantly discriminatory policy.

"As the lead sponsor of the House's bill to repeal the deeply flawed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I am fully committed to ensuring equal rights to those in the LGBT community. We must redouble our efforts to repeal discriminatory laws and improve the health and welfare of all, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity."

GIVE TO CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK (D-PA) FOR US SENATE

Letter from Donor | Donate to Sestak | Sestak campaign website

This 3 star retired Navy admiral supports all equality goals and has been an outspoken advocate for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." As a Senator, he would co-sponsor equality legislation, just as he has done in the House.

"My position on the civil rights issues of the LGBT community is born out of my 31 years of service in the US Navy. I went to war with brave servicemen and women, where it was known - because of public surveys -that a certain percentage were gay. How can you come home and say 'you went to war for my country with me, but you don't deserve equal rights?' "

I try to support candidates, but I keep getting invited to $250 events and that's just not doable for this little social worker/blogger. So I make my small contributions and do my best.

Kudos to Sestak and Murphy for being at the top of the list. Note that these are competitve races hence the absense of some of our long time advocates.

sdf

Court ruling on federal DOMA

Sue — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:13:00 -0400

Interesting news from Boston.

In an enormous victory for same-sex marriage, a federal judge in Boston today (Thursday, July 8) ruled, in two separate cases, that a critical part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.

In one challenge brought by the state of Massachusetts, Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that Congress violated the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when it passed DOMA and took from the states decisions concerning which couples can be considered married. In the other, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, he ruled DOMA violates the equal protection principles embodied in the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
In Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Health and Human Services, Tauro considered whether the federal law's definition of marriage -- one man and one woman -- violates state sovereignty by treating some couples with Massachusetts' marriage licenses differently than others. In Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), a gay legal group, asked Tauro to consider whether DOMA violates the right of eight same-sex couples to equal protection of the law. Both cases were argued, separately, in May, and the decision released today is a relatively quick turnaround, given that some judges take almost a year to decide cases.

Fascinating turn of events. First, a victory for State's rights which will please the rightwingers, but the topic isn't very palatable to them. Second, a victory for LGBT families who will now be able to access federal benefits previously denied to legally wed same sex couples. From the NYT.

"The Constitution isn't about political ideology," said Michael Boldin, the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center, a group based in Los Angeles. "It's about liberty, and limiting the government to certain divisive issues -- I applaud what I consider a very rare ruling from the judiciary."

Others, like Steve V. Moon, a software programmer and founder of States-rights.org, a group founded in Utah in 2008, said the judge's decision was both right and wrong.

"It's unconstitutional for the federal government to pass laws superseding state authority -- and the judge did affirm states' rights in this area," he said. "But I personally believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman and support any state passing laws affirming the sanctity of marriage."

Mr. Moon said he feared that what might look like a states' rights victory could backfire. If judges in other states, drawing on Judge Tauro's reasoning, start throwing out marriage definition laws that were passed by residents or legislatures, "that could be detrimental to states' rights."
The Obama Administration is expected to appeal. Of course.

So the state to state battle continues ...

sdf

Surviving the 4th

Sue — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:58:00 -0400

Every year, I dread this holiday. I hate the firecrackerts, the crowds and the bickering.

This year, we were proactive and had a joint family/friend cookout on Saturday evening. We had about 20 people throughout the whole evening which worked out well since we only had 17 chairs. They were obstentiably there to see our newly renovated deck, but I think it my secret recipe jambalaya. We had a table filled with food, including thousands of desserts.

It was one of those gatherings where you mix folks from all parts of your life and see what happens -- some family, work friends, old friends, casual friends, new friends, a few unknown guests and assorted spouses and partners -- stir, and stand back. As usual, it was great. We had several folks who handled the social director role while we tended to the front door and squeezing food into the fridge. We had others who played with the kids. Then the pet people took turns holding a somewhat bewildered chihuahua. Everyone was nice to my Mum.

My favorite moment was playing catch with my niece. We had one of those generic plastic pool balls from Giant Eagle (yes, I am the master of last minute picnic purchases). Like most kids, she tried to catch with flat arms and usually smacked herself in the face with the ball rather than actuall catching it. I showed her how to use her fingers/hands and she was incredibly proud to catch 21 in a row (and count to 21). We high fived so much, my hands were sore. Even the misses were fun! Watching a child master something new is pretty amazing.

The only down side is that I broke the garbage disposal. Eh.

On the 4th, we went swimming (awesome) and then joined Ledcat's family, including said niece, for a cruise on the Gateway Clipper's Duchess. I took medication and drank two beers to cut the edge off the usual level of family closeness and it worked like a charm. The cruise was filled with all sorts of characters, including:

- muumuu wearing, gold eye shadow lady who was literally sharing makeup tips with the young girls at the table next to us. she was awesome. i am buying eye shadow this week.

- a woman wearing satin pants who snuck into line ahead of us and almost earned a beat down from Ledcat. I held her back.

- a man wearing blue snake skin shoes. apparently, he was a member of the military so he got to go to the buffet first.

- a couple who had a few too many and tried to sneak into the captain engine area place. that didn't go over well.  i was hoping for an arrest, handcuff to the railing and arrival of the river police, but they just got a stern talking too by this lady wearing a very handsome "I'm in charge" uniform.

Among the extended family, I am the only one strong enough to lift niece at this point. That earns me big points because she wants to be held as much as her toddler brother. She loved the fireworks, but then got tired so I hauled her all the way back to the car. I pretty much rock the aunt thing on holidays (Can you say "box of stickers" for xmas?). I also got to briefly hold nephew who is very very very particular. I think he was distracted by the fireworks, but there was no crying and he talked to me about wanting to "git" the fireworks. So I count that as a win.

The cruise is nice. Food is decent. Beer selection is horrible. I tried a Miller Lite and frankly, could not remember the last time I drank beer from a can. Especially beer that sucked so I switched back to grown up beer and it was much better. Between modest amount of beer, the late hour and the niece lifting, I was very tired during the 90 minutes it took Ledcat to get us from our parking space at Station Square to the Northside. I did have a moment of sanity where I jumped out of the car, stopped an SUV and helped her back out of the space.  I felt very butch. I was also very proud that we did not argue during the traffic sojourn even as couples around us engaged in various stages of meltdown.

The fireworks were nice. No one batted an eye when we held hands while watching them or when I put my arm around her while we were talking. I doubted anyone cared and that's another example of why it is good to gay in Pittsburgh.

So today it looks like we are meeting a lesbian couple friend for a dip in the Citipools. Another place where no one cares. No one bats an eye when we buy a family membership. The guards know us as the nice ladies who come at night. We talk freely and no one cares. The kids just care that we take up space in the deep end where I like to quietly tread water, but that's because we are middle-aged ladies period and the guards won't let them splash us. I can respect that.

Miller Lite. What was I thinkinig?

Divorce, Etheridge Style

Sue — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:17:00 -0400

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/03/tammy-lynn-michaels-melis_n_634926.html

I get divorce, even a lack of civility and kindness. But how can a millionaire rock star rationally deny that the woman who helped raise her FOUR children, including the two she gave birth to, not to mention helped her through cancer, does not deserve alimony?

I guess marriage brings out the best and worst in LGBT couples, too. Sigh.

You go Tammy Lynn ... don't let her power, wealth and fame intimidate you. If she was a male rock star, the women would be howling in outrage.

ps: I'm not buying that horrid single or the album either.

Update on Children in Foster Care Act

Sue — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:11:00 -0400

This legislation which would give Foster Children some protections was stripped of protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the House version which passed in May.

The legislation sits before the Senate Committee on Aging and Youth

This is one of those under the radar, but very important issues for our community. I worked in foster care and can testfiy that there are plenty of parents who would not be supportive if a child in their care came out or was out when they were placed. That child would end up in a group home setting PDQ and there's also nothing to protect them there.

This is where we need decisive leadership to work with legislators to protect our children. The stripped down version of the bill passed unanimously, which is good for foster children in general, but very telling about the value our elected officials place on some of the most vulnerable kids in our Commonwealth.

Let's all contact Daylin Leach who sits on this Senate Committee to see what we can do to get the language back in or at least learn if its viable. If you tweet, @daylinleach.

This is one of those baby steps we need to take for our children.

Words from President Truman ...

Sue — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:44:00 -0400

From today's Post-Gazette ...

As we look toward the future, we must be sure that what we honor and venerate in these documents is not their words alone, but the ideas of liberty which they express. ...

The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence can live only as long as they are enshrined in our hearts and minds. If they are not so enshrined, they would be no better than mummies in their glass cases, and they could in time become idols whose worship would be a grim mockery of the true faith. Only as these documents are reflected in the thoughts and acts of Americans can they remain symbols of a power that can move the world.

That power is our faith in human liberty. That faith is immortal, but it is not invincible. It has sometimes been abandoned, it has been betrayed, it has been beaten to earth again and again, and although it has never been killed, it has been reduced to impotence for centuries at a time. It is far older than our Republic. The motto on our Liberty Bell, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," is from the book of Leviticus, which is supposed to have been written nearly 1,500 years before Christ. In the 35 centuries since that date, the love of liberty has never died, but liberty itself has been lost again and again.

sdf

So many people believe that Constitutonal principles require a strict adherence to the words themselves, not the absorption of their meaning and a reflection in our everyday lives. This is one reason why I cannot understand that people who believe they have a constitutional right to religious liberty would deny other liberties to other groups. I would stand up for them, but too oft I find myself standing against the encroachment of religous liberty into my personal liberties. At the same time, I see my fellow LGBTQ disparage people who properly exercise their religious liberties.

The problem, as I've said repeatedly, is that this is a false dichotomy. You are free to practice your religion, but not impose it on others. That's the end of the debate. If your religious beliefs proscribe homosexuality, you are fine as long as you don't interfere with the liberty of others. Participation in the public sector requires you play ball with the public rules.

So it is really about changing those rules to allow religious liberty to exceed its Constitutional defined liberty.

Sigh.

Cheers!

Sue — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:23:00 -0400

I imagine a nice glass of lemonade in this glass ...