I received a voice mail message from Montgomery County Commissioner and former Gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel thanking me for my contributions to his campaign. It was a real lift to me.  That's the reason I'll stick with politics and the reason it matters when you thank your elected officials -- it just feels good to be appreciated and valued.

So, thank you Joe.  Thank you for running a race I wanted to support and thank you being gracious enough to call this little blogger.

I used to get up early and try to post something each day before heading out to work, but work has grown more demanding so I'm getting up earlier and heading straight there.  We've been understaffed and there's just a lot filling up my days -- sometime, I can't even read the paper or <gasp> check Facebook or Twitter.

So I am trying to catch up on Saturdays. 

This is my fifth year of blogging so I have to admit that a mental break from LGBT advocacy hasn't been unwelcome.  I've been increasingly aware that Sue the woman has been a little lost in the symbol of Sue, lesbian blogger. I realize I've focused so much on politics that I've lost sight of other equally important issues that matter to me, issues around how people are suffering -- including people who happen to be LGBTQ -- for reasons that have nothing to do with their sexual orientation or gender identity and everything to do with social structures that oppress and discriminate vulnerable people. 

Oh, I'm not quitting.  Work will settle down and I'll get fired up about something.  :-)   I am lining up a great interview, doing some work with CORO around campaign training and just trying to pull out of the soul sucking ventures into things that are more soul sustaining.  I might even go to church.  

For today, however, I must prepare for errands. The joy of the weekend, eh?  :-) 

Just an FYI on how the Pennsylvania House delegation voted on the potential repeal of DADT.  Aye is good, No is not.

I've already discussed the non-surprising NO vote of Critz who has repeatedly told us he is not a liberal.  Another D who voted against the repeal is District 10's Christopher Carney from Northeastern pA. 

I urge you to drop a line to our Western PA allies, thanking them for their support.

Jason Altmire

Kathy Dahlkemper

Mike Doyle

Our parents taught us that a simple thank you is so important for positive relationships. The same holds true for politics. 

sdf

Doylestown, PA is considering an anti-discrimination ordinance, potentially becoming the 17th PA municipality to do so.

The next three Borough Council meetings ? Monday, June 21, Monday, July 19, and Monday, August 16 ? are watershed moments in Doylestown!

Your progressive voices on Council are promoting an ordinance to bar discrimination in our community. Meanwhile, reactionary voices are summoning their troops to fight this. Please contact your Council members to urge their support and come out to these meetings so your voices can be heard or just to show support. Simply stated, we need you!

If you want more information or have questions, contact the lead sponsor, Don Berk at don.berk@comcast.net or 215-340-9355.

The ordinance includes:
1. Assurance that all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry or place of birth, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, age or use of a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or physical disability enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for: a. employment, b. housing, c. use of public accommodation.

2. We need it because while most of the above minorities have these rights, the LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Ally) community does not. We are about making Doylestown an inclusive community.

3. The Life Partner provisions are designed to provide a benefit to couples to whom the state denies a right to marry and to provide a formal status for benefits providers who required such status in order to provide domestic partner benefits. The goal is also to give them a choice to get public recognition of their relationship. Council will consider separating the Life Partner provisions from the non-discrimination protection, so each measure can be considered on its own merits.

Please reach out to Council members to let them know we expect their support on this issue. It wouldn?t hurt to even e-mail those solidly for it, thanking them for their support.

Thank you,
Don Berk

Councilperson, Borough of Doylestown
Lead Sponsor of Doylestown?s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
President, Bucks County Boroughs Association

The legislation has drawn the typical support and opposition from those who espouse the 'though police' argument ... it gets tiresome that people cannot distinguish between their thoughts and their actions. 

Doylestown is in Buck County, a Philly suburb.

You can find out more on how to support this effort on Facebook.