In addition to my posting an open letter to Mayor Luke, here on my blog, I have written to him directly requesting a meeting. I eagerly await a reply, however, the mayor has never accepted a request to meet from me in the past, so I am not sure what will happen. I especially appreciate the focus of this statement on the economic impact of Equality. Civil Marriage is a Civil Right. Equality.
The link is to an interview with a Tea Party spokesperson in South Carolina, and the Tea Party is the epitome of Small Government rhetoric, right? Ms. Martin said that although Mr. Gingrich “is not the perfect candidate,” she believes many Tea Party members have decided to coalesce support around the former Speaker. I think they were definitely sending a message against Mitt Romney. And I think they were saying, ‘Look, we’ve got to have[Read More…]
This is not news at all (link is from 2006) but I thought it was interesting in lieu of the controversy raised by Cynthia Nixon’s comments. Rocker DAVE NAVARRO admits he has experimented sexually with other men, but insists he is not gay. The star, who is married to CARMEN ELECTRA, claims the encounters with members of the same sex actually helped convince him he is straight. Navarro tells the gay publication dot Newsmagazine, “I’ve[Read More…]
Even if we are born this way, how might it change the current LGBT civil rights movement if we each chose to speak out and own our own power (which may be a way to understand Nixon’s comments)?
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer community is a vital block of voters, and more importantly, a meaningful community of constituents whose rights, needs and interests deserve real attention by our elected officials. Local government is perhaps the level of government where an elected official can have the most honest and direct relationship with his or her constituents. I seek to ask Mayor Luke to participate in that open and honest direct relationship. I do not demand he do things my way. I request he be clear, host, and articulate what he is going to do or not do, and why.
I spent Saturday at the Black and White Reunion, Summit Against Racism. While I would not have thought of myself as a racist person, the ways racism is systemic and pervasive as white privilege as well as more explicit racism, is something that has come into my view a number of times recently. It is time for me to better understand what things I can do to combat racism. The Black and White Reunion has[Read More…]
Mayor Ravenstahl, can you explain to Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community if you plan to sign on, and if you do not, please share your reasons for not signing on.
From their website: This year the Black & White Reunion will again be holding its Summit Against Racism in its usual location at East Liberty Presbyterian Church on January 21, 2012, the Saturday following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. This section will hold all the available information about the 14th Annual Summit Against Racism — check back frequently to find out all the particulars on this year’s event. In the near future you[Read More…]
Most often, when the issue of a “bathroom bill” is introduced, most often the response is to point out that equal rights isn’t about bathrooms. However, Autumn Sandeen wonderfully addresses this issue head on, and points out how in other civil rights battles, bathroom rhetoric became a tool to fight against equality. This whole post is worth reading, but here is an excerpt: What hasn’t occurred is a logical argument. 1.) Is bathroom predation of[Read More…]
Rachel is not alone. I totally get her point. For me however, the issue isn’t simply relationship recognition, but rather equal treatment under the law. I’m sure she would agree. “I feel that gay people not being able to get married for generations, forever, meant that we came up with alternative ways of recognizing relationships,” she told THR. “And I worry that if everybody has access to the same institutions that we lose the creativity[Read More…]