Thomas Waters | thomascwaters.com

Allegheny County to extend Domestic Partnership Benefits by one year

This situation was and will always be a case where the timeline to an employer benefits change created hardships for one or more persons. This was never a situation about discrimination. LGBTQ persons are no longer the isolated victims we once were. We can’t trot out the discrimination card at every bump in the road. Gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer, and straight people encounter hardships because employers change benefit packages all the time. Let’s address those issues without trying to make everything be about discrimination.

July 3, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

I support the Transgender Lobby Day.

In the end, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer persons are all persons who are gender non-conforming in one way, shape or form. Any homophobia, discrimination and othering happen because LGBTQ persons choose to risk being visible as the whole persons that we are. Consider how many gays and lesbians have always been out there, and no one cares as long as we stay hidden in the closet. Our “crime” as it were- the thing that prompts our oppressors is our visibility and in that way, we are all alike, no matter how we understand our sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

July 1, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — general

Allegheny County Domestic Partnership Rights- continued coverage.

Sue Kerr continues her coverage on the situation with Allegheny County ceasing to offer domestic partnership benefits. Her recent post is an excellent read. I received some feedback via email from an occasional reader who has some history with the Pitt domestic partnership offerings that I appreciated receiving. I don’t know about the City of Pittsburgh or the Allegheny County offerings, but in the case of the University of Pittsburgh, the domestic partnership status was[Read More…]

June 30, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — general

Today is a depressing day.

On days like today, it is so depressing to be an advocate for change and progress. Why are we pushing for LGBTQ Rights when we are still so far behind when it comes to equality for women, the poor, and racial minorities. Is the success we see for marriage equality because marriage helps support the status quo of white male power, or is change really happening and today’s set back an example of the volatile[Read More…]

June 30, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — general

Pitt’s Domestic Partnership Benefits to Remain Unchanged.

A few days ago, I received via email from Ron Frisch, University of Pittsburgh Associate Vice Chancellor, that there would be no change in the University of Pittsburgh’s domestic partnership benefits.

June 26, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general, Same-Sex Marriage

The Ending of Domestic Partnerships in Allegheny County.

A petition at moveon.org because Allegheny County has announced that they will terminate all same-sex domestic partnerships by the end of July and any employee currently receiving benefits under a DP, will have to get married to maintain those benefits.

June 26, 2014 — 5 comments — Activism, general

LGBTQ Pittsburgh and the process of finding a new police chief.

Tomorrow evening is the first of a series of community forums, sponsored by Mayor Peduto, one in each police zone, where the community is invited to share their ideas about what they feel is important in a new police chief. I wrote briefly about this last week, but want to again encourage everyone to participate. Unlike some cities which have a pronounced gayborhood, we have lesbian, gay, bi, trans*, and queer persons living everywhere within[Read More…]

June 25, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

AFAPA demands Pennsylvania to accept polygamy and outlaw divorce and adoption.

In other words, under the guise of being opposed to 2% of the adult population marrying a same-sex partner, the AFAPA is actually pointing out how flawed heterosexual marriages are, and the possibility of adverse family events that result in them.

June 23, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — American Theocracy: Analyzing the Religious Right, general, Same-Sex Marriage

NOM’s real motives become clearer.

I have written some about the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) but tend to ignore them mostly. However, I was intrigued by their email claiming that this year’s March for Marriage had been a success. What was intriguing for me was the image used as the email header: It isn’t really news to anyone that NOM’s efforts have been religiously based from the beginning, yet, none of their literature or agenda has been so straightforward[Read More…]

June 21, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — general, Same-Sex Marriage

Clinton’s Gay Marriage Interview: The battle is far from over.

To me, this says that some folks are really nervous about the future of Marriage Equality. While some of us are riding high on a wave on continuously positive judicial rulings, many on the national scene are sweating bullets about how we bring this to completion.

June 20, 2014 — Comments are Disabled — Election, general

Articles by: Thomas Waters

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