Always good news to see LGBT legislation moving forward, which is one of the reasons why I appreciate living in California so much. From a joint press release from Equality California and Assemblymember John A. P?rez:
The California State Assembly passed the LGBT Domestic Violence Services Bill along party lines, with all 44 Democrats present voting in favor while all 17 votes against were cast by Republicans. Sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), the bill, AB 1003, will increase and expand services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) survivors of domestic violence."By passing this bill, we are expanding innovative and proven program models already being pioneered by LGBT centers and organizations across the state," said Assemblymember John A. P?rez (D-Los Angeles), the author of the bill. "Now more people will have greater access to the services they need - in a safe, comfortable environment."
Rates of domestic violence in same-sex relationships are equivalent to those in opposite-sex relationships. However, support for LGBT survivors continues to lag far behind those available to non-LGBT couples. "We must do all in our power to ensure that LGBT survivors of domestic violence have access to culturally competent services and resources," Geoff Kors, executive director of EQCA. "EQCA is extremely grateful to Assemblymember P?rez for his leadership on this important issue and thank the California Assembly for helping move us one step closer to making this goal a reality."
The LGBT Domestic Violence Services Bill is designed to correct this inequity by expanding access for LGBT service providers to a state fund within the California Emergency Management Agency, which supports LGBT specific domestic violence programs across the state. The fund, originally established as part of another EQCA sponsored bill in 2006, is subsidized by a $23 fee on domestic partner registrations. The new bill also eliminates the requirement for providers to offer shelter - an impediment to many smaller LGBT organizations that inadvertently keeps several California communities from providing any services for LGBT survivors of domestic violence. The bill previously passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a vote of 5-2.
There's more to treating same sex and same gender couples with parity to opposite sex and opposite gender couples than just with marriage equality. I'm glad that when it comes to domestic violence, this is one way my home state gets this.
The absurdity of the answers Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is forced to deliver in defense of DADT (or rather, the President's "helplessness" to do anything about the continuation of discharges on his watch), is pathetic. Here is today's jackassery, via Kerry Eleveld @ The Advocate:The first questioner Friday lumped President Obama's failure thus far to address the gay ban into a group of other pledges that the president has changed course on, such as his decision this week not to release the photos of detainee abuse. In other words, some in the mainstream press are starting to view the president's inaction on "don't ask, don't tell" as the reversal of a campaign promise. Gibbs avoided answering the DADT piece of that inquiry by responding more directly to the issue of releasing the photos.And here's the exchange from the official transcript, which just landed in my inbox.But the second questioner was more direct.
Q Well, the President says that releasing the detainee photos poses a danger to our troops, but doesn't dismissing otherwise qualified soldiers also pose a danger? Is it a question of degree?The White House is backed up against the wall and cannot give a reasonable, logical defense to continue a policy that is hurting our military effectiveness. He can stop the discharges right now, while Congress moves in its not-so-deliberate speed on the matter.
MR. GIBBS: No, no. What I talked about in terms of "don't ask, don't tell" was the President -- the President, as you know, supports changing that because he strongly believes that it does not serve our national interest. He agrees with former members of the Joint Chiefs in that determination.But unlike photos, the only durable solution to "don't ask, don't tell" is through a legislative process, and the President is working with Congress and members of the Joint Chiefs to ensure that that happens.
Q But couldn't he in the meantime put a moratorium on these discharges until that can be accomplished?
MR. GIBBS: But again, the President has determined that that's not -- that's not the way to seek any sort of ort of lasting or durable solution to the public policy problem that we have.
Q Then how would you respond to the criticism, though, that dismissing a qualified linguist endangers the troops?
MR. GIBBS: I think I would respond by saying that the President has long believed that the policy doesn't serve our national interest.
This is embarrassing for the "fierce advocate", but quite frankly it's irresponsible as commander in chief to act as if he can't do anything right now.
Related:
* Report: Obama can stop the discharge of openly gay and lesbian service members now
* The White House has nowhere to hide from MSM equality questions as Gibbs blows it at presser
* The Obama admin doesn't know how to respond to the marriage equality dominoes
We're all the same people, it's just that we think differently or we were born differently, and these people should be treated the same way as you would treat somebody else.--Ethan, an eight year old organizing a marriage equality rally in Denver, Colorado
Wow.
For the most part, I hate it when youth are used as props in rallies to make the points for adults. But wow, how compelling it is when a pre-teen youth actually steps up of their own volition to take action on a issue the youth cares about.
Public Service News has a piece up, entitled Denver 3rd-Grader Holds Equal Rights Rally at Capitol Saturday. The article describes how an eight year-old named Ethan is taking a stand for marriage equality in his state:
Denver - It's a big project on an even bigger issue, and it was created by one little boy. His name is Ethan, and the Denver third-grader is wading into the equal marriage rights debate.
Ethan wanted to do something after learning one of the children in his neighborhood had two moms who are unable to be married in Colorado. He called local officials, worked on the permits to hold a rally, created a lineup of speakers and hung fliers around around town. Ethan's rally is Saturday at noon on the West steps of the Capitol, and he says the message is simple.
"People should be treated the same and they should have equal marriage rights and equal protection." ...
Take a read of the whole piece, or listen to the audio for the article -- audio where Ethan speaks in his own voice in well reasoned statements on human equality. It's pretty damn powerful.
Ethan gives me lots of hope for America's future generations of citizens; at eight, Ethan apparently already gets the concept that civil rights are human rights.
The resolution condemns a recent hate crime in Seaside (note: article includes images that may be distressing). Two young men, visiting the Oregon coast on vacation from Washington state, were assaulted simply because of their sexual orientation. Thanks to the leadership of Seaside police, the case was immediately classified as a hate crime.
Although Oregon law prohibits hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, it is imperative to stand together as a community and denounce hate crimes whenever and wherever they occund wherever they occur.
It also calls upon Congress and the President to pass the Matthew Shepard Act, which would ban anti-LGBT hate crimes nationwide. Although Oregon is fortunate to have a strong hate crimes law, many states aren't so lucky. The Matthew Shepard Act would make it clear that hate crimes against anyone, anywhere, at any time, are always unacceptable in the United States.
HJM 22 now heads to the House floor for a full vote by all 60 representatives. It will need lots of grassroots support to pass. Help us condemn hate crimes and pass the Matthew Shepard Act. Write your Representative TODAY!
Want more information? Read the full text of HJM 22 here.
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