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

Help Thank Starbucks!

I posted yesterday, about NOM’s efforts to boycott Starbucks, and today I received this from MoveOn.org Dear Friend, Starbucks stuck its neck out to publicly support the right of all people to marry, regardless of the gender of their partner. Now it is under attack by the ironically named, ultra-conservative “National Organization for Marriage.”1 Already more than 20,000 NOM members have pledged to boycott Starbucks, and NOM is even threatening to run ads against Starbucks[Read More…]

March 27, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — general

Equality Pennsylvania Announces Slate of Endorsed Candidates for the 2012 Primary

Additionally, Equality Pennsylvania endorsed five openly gay candidates seeking state legislative offices this year. Adrian Shanker, President of Equality Pennsylvania, stated, “In a state that has never seen an openly gay legislator, it is encouraging to see five well-qualified openly LGBT candidates seeking the opportunity to serve, and all in the same year!” The five candidates are: Roy Christ (Dauphin County), Jeff Dahlander (Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming), Chris Dietz (Dauphin), Kelly McEntee (Dauphin), and Brian Sims (Philadelphia County). Pennsylvania has never had an openly gay state legislator.

March 27, 2012 — 1 comment — Activism, Election, general

Some recent publicity.

I posted that I was part of a delegation of community leaders from Pennsylvania who were at the White House last Friday for a policy briefing. I’ll be posting a followup talking about the experience over the next few days. Before leaving Pittsburgh, I had received a template press release from Keystone Profgress, the organization which had facilitated the trip, so I sent it out to the papers and also to the two local public[Read More…]

March 26, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — general

Dump NOM not coffee!

As I see it, you homophobes are pretty loud and viscious, but there aren’t that many of you given how big this country really is. Try as hard as you want, and while you may get more signatures, it won’t be enough to really impact the bottom line at Starbucks (and it really is all about the bottom line). But what you will accomplish, is getting one or more homophobes outta line so I can get my morning coffee just a bit quicker! Sounds like a winner for me!

March 26, 2012 — 1 comment — Activism, general, Same-Sex Marriage

Steel City Stonewall Democrats make endorsements for Election 2012

As for Mr. Gainey, I think he well deserved an endorsement. As much as I have had a great working relationship with Joe Preston, and I like him, it may be time for a change and bring in someone who will really get things moving in Harrisburg. Gainey displays a real passion and energy for leadership, and I believe him as he talks about advocating for the whole of his community, which includes me.

March 25, 2012 — 3 comments — Election, general

Why I love the Affordable Care Act.

On Friday, I was at the White House for a general policy briefing, and it coincided with the 2nd anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Movement of the ACA through Congress was a tumultuous experience for me, as I was a fan of a public option and I cared deeply about getting this bill passed. Wile not perfect, it did pass, and the country is better off for it. The legislation has lowered the[Read More…]

March 25, 2012 — 1 comment — Election, general

Election 2012: will you be ready?

I’ve written a number of posts about the recent PA Voter ID bill which could be viewed as a kick off to the 2012 election season. Certainly for many, the Voter ID bill may make it more difficult to vote, but another ongoing issue occurs every election if registered voters do not know enough about the candidates to make informed decisions in the voting booth. For voters here in Pennsylvania, a few different organizations provide[Read More…]

March 24, 2012 — 1 comment — Election

Pittsburgh LGBT advocate part of PA delegation visiting the White House

150 Pennsylvanians to meet with Administration officials to discuss issues WHAT: White House Community Leaders Briefing WHEN: Friday, March 23, 2012, 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM WHERE: The White House, Washington, DC. (participants will be departing from points across the state) WHO: Keystone Progress leadership, partners and local community leaders,Thomas C Waters (Pittsburgh PA)—Thomas C Waters, has been invited by the White House to participate in a delegation of Pennsylvanians for a Community Leaders Briefing[Read More…]

March 21, 2012 — 1 comment — Activism, general

Mike Gronstal Stands Firm Against Iowa Same-Sex Marriage Foes

The linked story and associated video are worth watching. But what I’d like to do is place this current battle into a larger picture. Here is some Iowa history concerning same-sex marriage. Iowa already had a local Defense of Marriage Act passed by their legislators which was struck down in 2005. and now they want to do it again? It easily passed the GOP run state house, but Mike Gronstal, a Democrat is vowing to[Read More…]

March 20, 2012 — 1 comment — Activism, Election, general, Same-Sex Marriage

What ID’s will allow you access to vote in Pennsylvania?

So what constitutes an acceptable ID? What ID’s will work, and what ID’s will not be enough? The information below makes it clear what ID’s are OK, and anything else is not OK. Additionally, if you do not have an approved ID, what you need to get one is also detailed below. I have highlighted some text in RED to draw additional attention to it. For folks within the LGBTQ community, especially trans persons and those who don’t conform to what is thought of as traditional gender roles, this is where a real problem may occur.

March 16, 2012 — 3 comments — Election, general

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