LGBTQ Rights, Info, News in Pennsylvania – thomascwaters.com

Out Pennsylvania Eagle Scouts Responds to BSA Decision

Boy Scouts of America Ends Controversial Ban on Gay Scouts; Out Pennsylvania Eagle Scouts Respond HARRISBURG– The Boy Scouts of America voted today, May 23, to end their controversial policy banning openly gay scouts from the organization. The new resolution reads, “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” Over 60% of the 1,400 delegates in the National Council’s voted to remove the[Read More…]

May 23, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Equality Pennsylvania Responds to Boy Scouts’ Decision to End Ban on Gay Scouts

The Boy Scouts of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. We should be teaching our leaders the importance of diversity and respect. Maintaining the ban on gay adults sends a dangerous message to young people that gay adults, like their friends’ parents or even their teachers, can’t be trusted. By banning gay parents, the Boy Scouts are giving credence to long-debunked myths and stereotypes that promote fear, misunderstanding, discrimination, and hate.

May 23, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Tuesday is Election Day!

Post contains links to various lists of endorsements. I want to encourage my readers in Pittsburgh to vote for Bill Peduto for Mayor of Pittsburgh. Bill has long been a friend of the LGBTQ community, and a hard working city officials for progressive issues. He is personable, willing to listen and discuss, and passionate about making Pittsburgh a great city. And despite how he is characterized in those swiftboat-like ads, he is a consensus builder and coalition builder.

May 20, 2013 — 1 comment — Activism, general

Ginsberg and the flawed Roe v Wade decision.

In our democracy, there is a sharing of power between three branches of the government and also between the states and the Federal Government. Issue advocates may seek a singular decision from the highest court in the land that “changes everything,” but this is inconsistent with the very foundation of how our democracy works. Progress on an issue must occur at the state level, as well as at the Federal level simultaneously, and within public sentiment and cultural change must accompany legislative and legal victories.

May 20, 2013 — 1 comment — general, LGBT Discrimination: Exploring Laws and Policies

Republicans are the source of two Obama controversies.

The linked text comes from Politics USA, a liberal site, but these claims come from other media sources. It appears that Republicans created the edited emails which are the base evidence for a Benghazi scandal. Republicans also provided what they said was a quote from an email written by State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland. The Republican version quotes Nuland discussing, “The penultimate point is a paragraph talking about all the previous warnings provided by the[Read More…]

May 17, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Boy Scouts and Marriage Equality: an open letter to Mr Stemberger

This letter is in response to an op-ed at the Christian Post. The author, Mr Stemberger, is certainly entitled to his own opinions, but his login and rationale are problematic and need to be questioned. Mr Stemberger, I was really disappointed to read your op-ed about the Boy Scouts and the Supreme Court. While I fully respect your right to hold whatever religious view you wish on the subject of gay people, it is sad[Read More…]

May 17, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Peduto Leads in Latest Pittsburgh Mayoral Primary Poll

In the race for Pittsburgh’s Mayor, Bill Peduto has increased his lead over former Auditor General Jack Wagner from two points on April 22nd to seven points late last week, according to a poll released by Keystone Analytics®.

May 13, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Mark Sanford, The GOP, And The Sanctity Of Marriage

Sanford’s win shows us that the voting public hasn’t changed a whole lot in some places (and more places rather than fewer). If we are going to see a continued path towards fairness, Equality and respect for everyone, we must continue to put candidates forward who are not Republican-lite, and work our butts off pre-election to make sure we get progressives elected.

May 12, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Mother’s Day and LGBTQ people

Today is Mother’s Day, and my Facebook wall is filled with Mother’s Day wishes. My own mother has been dead for many years; she succumbed to lung cancer at a very young age, and I miss her every day. We had a very good relationship when she died, even though we had been through some rocky times over the years. So, I especially thin of her today. But not every LGBTQ person feels similarly. This[Read More…]

May 12, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — general

Kluwe, Football and a New Masculinity

In other words, Chris Kluwe displays a new type of Masculinity. One that recognizes the power of the game and at the same time sees a greater role for the player than simply being the spectators’ hero. The new masculine is not just a role model for the budding masculine, but for all youth, especially those at risk, and the ones who need support, encouragement, and dare, I say it, love and compassion.

May 9, 2013 — 6 comments — general

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