Civil Rights Icon Julian Bond Discusses Race and LGBT Equality on “In The Life”
February 2, 2010
NAACP Chairman and civil rights icon Julian Bond will be featured on a 15-minute segment of “In The Life Presents: Best of a Conversation With …”, airing on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Bond sits down with Jonathan Capehart, editorial writer for the Washington Post to discuss his successful career tenure with the NAACP and the push for LGBT rights, including marriage equality.
Bond’s persistence to speak in favor of LGBT equality has been criticized by some black activists because of his comparison of anti-gay sentiments to racist overtures that were endured by blacks during the civil rights movement. In 2009, he testified before New Jersey’s Senate Judiciary Committee on marriage equality, stating:
“Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality. And that is what gay marriage represents. It does not matter the rationale – religious, cultural, pseudo-scientific. No people of good will should oppose marriage equality. And they should not think civil unions are a substitute. At best, civil unions are separate but equal. And we all know separate is never equal.”
He continues:
“It’s not that these movements are taking from us because the black movement took from other movements before us.
We took from the labor movement. And I never heard anyone from the labor movement complaining about this. We ought to be proud of this and say, ‘Look what we did. We created a model that other people are following.’”
Bond has traveled around the country to advocate against anti-marriage equality amendments in multiple states. His most notable work with national LGBT organizations includes guest speaking at the Creating Change conference in Dallas and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) gala in Los Angeles. In 2009, Bond and California NAACP Chairwoman Alice Huffman became co-chairs of the LGBT Equality Task Force, which is the result of a combined partnership with the NAACP and the National Black Justice Coalition.
GLAAD continues to applaud this spectacular news program, which highlights pressing issues facing the LGBT community through captivating interviews with pioneers of the LGBT movement. For airtimes on your local PBS affiliate, visit In the Life’s official website. View the trailer below:
About In The Life:
In The Life Media produces media that produces change for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. In an era of sound bite news, inch-deep celebrity profiles and reality shows, our public television series, IN THE LIFE, documents the full range of the gay experience and the issues that impact our lives and our communities through stories on politics and public policy, personal and community health, religion and spirituality, and more. (Source: In The Life)
Related Posts:UPDATE: Castor Semenya to Keep Gold Medal
November 19, 2009
This past August, Castor Semenya ran her 800-meter race in 1:55.45, faster than any other woman in the world this year. Her dramatic win and personal improvement elicited people to question her sex, which eventually led to an investigation. Reports of her gender-verification testing were leaked to the press saying that Semenya is intersex.
Today, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced that they will allow Semenya to keep the gold medal and prize money she won at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. The IAAF also made it clear that her official gender-verification testing results will remain confidential.
In a statement on their website, the South African Sports Ministry said “We have agreed with the IAAF that whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor. As such there will be no public announcement of what the panel of scientists has found. We urge all South Africans and other people to respect this professional ethical and moral way of doing things.”
Now Semenya can be recognized as simply an amazing competitor and running superstar.
Related Posts:“Language Expert” Frank Luntz Uses Anti-Gay Humor on CBS
November 17, 2009
Sunday, Dr. Frank Luntz appeared on NFL Today on CBS to discuss the communication skills of football players and coaches. Luntz is the author of several business books, including Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear. He also owns a company called “The Word Doctors”, which specializes in “message creation and image management”.
NFL Today invited Luntz to the program as a self-professed “language expert”, to determine which players communicated well, and which did not. One player that fell into the “bad” category was Terrell Owens. A short news clip of Owens shows him wearing sunglasses, a hat, and earrings in both ears.
Luntz expressed his disapproval of Owen’s appearance by saying that “millions of young people look to these football players as role models…lose the sunglasses, lose the hat, take it seriously.”
Another commentator asked Luntz what he thought of Owen’s earrings. Luntz’s snarky reply was “that may work in San Francisco.”
In one breath, Luntz speaks of being a good communicator and role model, and in the next, utters a slightly-veiled gay joke. It’s time that Luntz and CBS realize that men of all orientations wear earrings, that the LGBT community does not exist solely in San Francisco, and that the LGBT community can no longer be used as a punchline for tired old jokes.
GLAAD is reaching out to CBS Sports for an apology and to educate them on how words and images matter.
You can view the video here:
Media Paying Attention to LGBT Sport Issues
November 4, 2009
The media is starting to pay close attention to stories surrounding LGBT athletes, fans and coaches. Within the past few days, there have been several reports drawing attention to anti-gay comments made in the sports world.
This is a big change from just a few years ago when, in 2006, Jay Mariotti was called a f***ing f*g by Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Many members of the press heard Guillen’s hateful words, but only one reported on it. Today, reports of homophobic behavior are more visible and abundant and journalists are paying close attention.
France
Louis Nicollin, the president of French soccer team, Montpellier, faces a possible two month suspension after using an anti-gay slur to insult another player. This past weekend, Montpellier lost 2-1 to Auxerre. After his team’s loss, Nicollin used an anti-gay term to describe Auxerre midfielder Benoit Pedretti. He also threatened Pedretti and told him that his athletes would “take care of him” when the teams play each other again early next year.
He has since apologized for the comment, but will still appear in front of the French Football Federation’s ethics commission on Nov. 16.
Denmark
A Danish soccer team, FC Midtjylland, has fired its star goalie, Arek Onyszko, for homophobic remarks published in his new autobiography. The book, F**king Polack, was released yesterday. In a detailed passage, Onyszko wrote “I hate gays, I really do. I think it’s f***ing disgusting to hear them talk to each other as if they are girls. I can’t be in the same room as someone who’s gay. Look at them kissing each other – it’s sickening.” He also likened gays to “vomit” and criticized female sports r
eporters.
Last year, Onyszko was fired from his former soccer team after being convicted of assaulting his ex-wife. He served three months in prison before signing with FC Midtjylland.
The team asked Onyszko to stop writing his memoir and focus on soccer, but the writing continued. FC Midtjylland’s Jens Ørgaard explained “We felt we did the right thing in the summer when we offered Arek Onyszko a new chance after his conviction. He was punished and like everyone else needed help to get back on his feet again. But lately he has abused our trust… despite warnings, he continued to work on the book project.”
Ørgaard had no idea the book was being published, and as a result, has released Onyszko.
Dallas
Outsports.com is reporting that Drew Gooden, a player for the Dallas Mavericks, used an anti-gay slur in referring to two Los Angeles Clippers fans after Saturday night’s game. Clippers fan, Chris Wylde, was sitting courtside with a friend and vocally enjoying the game. Afterwards, the two were souvenir shopping when Gooden walked by, pointed to Wylde and apparently said “there’s that fa**ot.” Next, he pointed to Wylde’s friend and said “there’s that other fa**ot.”
Wylde quickly e-mailed Mavericks’ coach Mark Cuban from his Blackberry to alert him to his player’s poor behavior. Cuban responded within minutes and replied “I appreciate you telling me. I will deal w drew.” On Sunday, Cuban told Outsports.com that he would like to confirm the comment before taking further action.
Kansas City
The Kansas City Chiefs reached a settlement with running back Larry Johnson, with regard to his recent use of several anti-gay slurs. After Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, filed an appeal, the Chiefs cut his suspension in half. As a result, Johnson will be docked one week’s pay, losing $315,000. He will still miss the game against Jacksonville this weekend.
Schaffer commented to the New York Times that “Larry apologized. He learned from it and hopefully other people learned from it. My hope is that people learn that something positive can come out of this and that there are words that should not be used because they demean people.”
Chicago
Along with a rise in the reporting of homophobic language and behavior, the media is also contributing to the positive representation of LGBT stories and people in sports.
In a deal that was finaliz
ed on Oct. 27, the Rickett’s family purchased the Chicago Cubs for $845 million. Laura Ricketts made history as the first openly LGBT Major League Baseball team owner. She also serves on the board of Lambda Legal, a legal organization that works for LGBT civil rights.
Ricketts spoke with The Windy City Times about her coming out experience: “I came out to my family I would say early to mid 30’s. I think for a long time I wasn’t really out to myself growing up in Omaha, Nebraska to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them…they were all immediately supportive… I have been really really fortunate in that regard.”
The Ricketts will now begin their quest to lead the Cubs into a World Series for the first time since 1908.
USA
Finally, in an editorial, former professional hockey player Justin Bourne joined the ranks of Brendan Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita in speaking out for LGBT equality. Bourne voiced his concerns about the treatment of LGBT people to USA Today in his article “It’s Time to End the use of Gay Slurs in Hockey.”
Bourne admits to using anti-gay slurs many times himself during his hockey career. In retrospect, he says that the prevalent anti-gay locker room atmosphere may cause many young, gay, talented players to “h[a]ng up their skates in favor of some lesser talent, strictly to find acceptance and peace of mind.”
Instead, Bourne hopes that soon these young players will have an openly gay, hockey-playing role model. He acknowledges that this player will need to be strong because “the first openly gay NHL star will elicit stereotypical responses but hopefully the 100th is just a guy who will show up in my columns for being ‘a completely overrated, third-line defensive specialist at best.’”
At the end of his article, Bourne is hopeful about positive changes and an LGBT-friendly locker room. “It’s time to acknowledge we’ve been unfair to the gay community, that the culture of our sport can be misogynistic, homophobic and cruel. More important, it’s time to make a stand that we want it to change. “
Hopefully other straight allies join Bourne’s call to arms. It’s a good first step, and the first of many that need to be taken in order to make locker rooms, playing fields and sporting venues a safe environment for LGBT athletes, coaches and fans.
Related Posts:Problematic CNN Segment Explores Homophobia in “Black Men in the Age of Obama”
November 2, 2009
On October 31, CNN with the help of Essence Magazine aired the first installment of its special, Black Men in the Age of Obama. In addition to talking about higher education, leadership and the struggles that black men in America face, the show also attempted to tackle homophobia in the black community. Unfortunately, instead of talking about crucial issues that black gay men and youth face―employment discrimination, hate crimes, bullying and violence to name a few―the segment was peppered with problematic terminology from some of the guests and lacked the much-needed voices of actual gay men. The conversation was also dominated with chatter about the so-called “down-low,” with insinuations that it is the cause of the AIDS epidemic in black America.
After showing a clip of President Obama speaking in favor of LGBT equality at The Human Rights Campaign banquet, Don Lemon, a CNN anchor asked Essence’s Editor-in-Chief Angela-Burt Murray to speak about the down-low and HIV. She alluded that if the community were to create safe spaces for black gay men to come out, then perhaps HIV rates among women can go down:
It’s time for the African-American community to get real. And that homophobia does exist in our community. We’ve embraced it and the silence is killing us. African- American women, the leading cause of death is HIV. So women, 18 to 34 are being killed because we refuse to talk about this issue and accept gay and lesbian people in our community.
While Murray is right that folks need to “get real” and acknowledge that gay and transgender people exist in the black community and should be accepted, her comments about eradicating homophobia as a means to fixing a public health epidemic are troublesome. Especially since dozens of epidemiological and public health studies have found over and over again, that men who have sex with both men and women are not the driving force behind the rising and disproportionate HIV infection rates among black women.
In fact, just a few weeks ago, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings to a new study that once-again debunked this myth. In an interview with NPR, Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention with the CDC said:
It is crucially important to bear in mind that there are a range of risk factors which face black women in the United States today. And the reality is that bisexual black men account for a very, very small proportion of the overall black male population in the United States. Our research suggests that about 2 percent of black men will report being bisexually active.
And, therefore, you need to look at the risk factors which are far more prevalent in the community—having multiple sexual partners with unprotected sex with heterosexual partners, injecting drugs. Those are going to be factors which are far more prevalent in the population and are driving risks.
Ironically, there was no mention of that study or ones that mirror it as a means to counter Burt-Murray’s unsubstantiated comments. There was also no correction made to Farrah Gray, another talking head who claimed that he didn’t know that the down-low was such an issue until he read J.L. King’s book, On The Down Low―an autobiography based on personal experience, not scientific data.
Admittedly, we need to have more public conversations about homophobia in the black community, especially given how prevalent and harmful it is for those who are gay, bisexual and transgender and the struggles that they face when coming out. We also need to have more conversations about the need for black support for LGBT legislation. But in order for these dialogues to be successful and insightful, they need to be grounded less in urban folklore and more in the hard facts. Journalists need to be more responsible and work harder to ensure that the real truth gets told. Because without it, the media is doing way more harm than it is good.
Related Posts:“Training Rules” Screening in Seattle
October 22, 2009
Jennifer Harris on the court
On Saturday, October 24th, GLAAD and the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival brought to you by Three Dollar Bill Cinema are sponsoring a special screening of the film “Training Rules.” The film looks at how anti-LGBT attitudes and actions within women’s collegiate sports destroy the lives and dreams of many gifted athletes.
“Training Rules” chronicles women’s basketball coach, Rene Portland and her 27-year tenure at Pennsylvania State University, as well as several players who suffered under her deeply homophobic reign.
During her time as head coach, Portland had three rules: no drinking, no drugs, and no lesbians. Players were routinely threatened, and sometimes stripped of their college scholarships if they identified as lesbian, were suspected of being a lesbian, or even spoke to a lesbian.
In 2003, Jennifer Harris graduated from high school with the distinction of being the most decorated basketball player in her school’s history. More than 250 universities recruited her. Following her graduation, she accepted an athletic scholarship from PSU and became a Lady Lion. In March 2005, Harris was suddenly kicked off her beloved basketball team on suspicion she was a lesbian.
The following year, after dealing with bouts of depression and thoughts of suicide, Harris teamed up with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and filed charges against PSU and Coach Portland for discrimination based on sexual orientation, racism and gender stereotyping. Soon, six other talented female athletes stepped forward to validate Harris’ discrimination claim. The film ties together the lives of each of these women through the heart-breaking tale of how Portland and her homophobia destroyed their dreams of playing basketball.
The lawsuit lasted nearly two years and was eventually settled; Portland resigned from her position as Head Coach. Despite losing her chance to play in the WNBA, Harris is given the chance to inspire and motivate other colleges and athletes to stand up against discrimination and homophobia.
Immediately following the film, there will be a GLAAD-sponsored panel aimed at discussing homophobia in sports. Moderated by CR Douglas, panelists include film director Dee Morbacher, Karen Bryant, CEO of the Seattle Storm, and GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. Come listen and chat about how homophobia impacts athletes, sports and the spirit of competition.
Additionally, Jarrett Barrios will speak about how GLAAD has been helping with the fight to pass Referendum 71 to ensure the rights of same-sex couples stay intact in Washington State.
Related Posts:Another NFL Player is Stepping up for LGBT Equality
October 7, 2009
Scott Fujita, a linebacker for the currently undefeated New Orleans Saints, spoke candidly in an interview for the Huffington Post about why he is supporting the October 11th National Equality March for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights in Washington DC.
Fujita is not the first NFL player to speak out for the LGBT community. On September 2, 2009, GLAAD wrote that Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, expressed his support for marriage equality. Ayanbadejo predicts that “we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as everyone else.”
Fujita says that he agrees with Ayanbadejo’s prediction, and explained to the Huffington Post that this is a cause he truly believes in, for several reasons.
Fujita was adopted as a child, and recently, he remembers being angered by legislation that was being proposed in Arkansas, which would make it impossible for single parents to adopt. He reasoned that this initiative was also aimed at denying adoption to same-sex couples, thus reducing the number of possible safe, loving homes for children. Fujita is shocked by the idea that “the concern with one’s sexual orientation…outweighs what’s really important, and that’s finding safe homes for children, for our children.”
Also, Fujita was asked if he was concerned that his support for marriage equality would lead to rumors regarding his own sexuality. With confidence, Fujita responded that he has “no concern about that whatsoever. I know who I am.”
Finally, Fujita expresses hope for the future by remaining optimistic about his quieter colleagues: “I know for the most part, guys are a lot more tolerant than they get credit for but they’re not comfortable yet speaking out about it. It’s going to come in time. By in large, it’s an opinion that’s shared by more people than are realized.”
Here’s hoping the courageous efforts of Fujita and Ayanbadejo will soon allow for more players to lend their voices in support of marriage equality.
Related Posts:Sharon J. Lettman Named Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition
October 5, 2009
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and ending racism and homophobia, has appointed Sharon J. Lettman as Executive Director.
“We must bring our families together,” Lettman said. “Gay and transgender people are our children, our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, parents, co-workers and friends. They are a vital part of the black community, and it is time for everyone to recognize the real issues we all face when our brothers and sisters are denied full participation in the life of our community.”
Lettman’s efforts to advance the conversation of race, religion, and sexual orientation have shown remarkable progress through the African American Religious Affairs Program she led at People For the American Way Foundation that addressed Homophobia in the Black Church. In addition, The Gill Foundation highlighted Lettman in its 2008 annual report as a “key ally” for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality movement. She is also on the board of directors for National Stonewall Democrats.
Throughout her career Lettman has been selflessly committed to a vast array of causes to bring about social change. She comes to NBJC after eight years at People For the American Way (PFAW) and People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF). Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President for Leadership Programs and External Affairs at PFAW and PFAWF. Lettman oversaw the organizations’ dynamic leadership programs, including Young People For, Young Elected Officials Network, and African American Religious Affairs, in addition to the organizations’ engagement with supporters and investors, key constituency groups and coalition allies. Lettman’s belief in religious freedom and the separation of church and state gave her the insight to expand the agenda of the African American Religious Affairs programs which countered right wing efforts in African American communities, especially around LGBT equality.
Lettman began her impressive career as the Executive Director of the Florida Student Association (FSA) and then served as the Director of Communications for the Florida Association of Counties (FAC). Subsequently, she built a successful public affairs firm, P&P Communications. Her clients have included the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Education Association (NEA), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and The Schott Foundation for Public Education, among others.
A variety of social justice and civil rights leaders weighed in on Lettman’s appointment to NBJC:
Prominent Civil Rights activist and former chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Mary Frances Berry said, “Having witnessed Lettman’s leadership firsthand while she led key initiatives at PFAW, I am certain she has the ability to unify families and our community and succeed in her goal to establish a common ground around black LGBT issues. Her unwavering commitment to social justice will break barriers at the intersection of race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said, “I am thrilled to welcome Sharon as the new Executive Director of the NBJC. Sharon’s long history working to build bridges between a diverse group of communities will be a skill set that will make our movement stronger. Far too often racism still exists in our society, including in the LGBT community, and if we are going to achieve the equality we strive for- it will be once we all realize that we are brothers and sisters in this struggle. Sharon Lettman is the right person to help all of us realize that we are stronger together than we are divided.”
Founded in 2003, NBJC is America’s only nationwide Black gay civil rights organization and the authoritative source on LGBT issues as they affect Black communities. Lettman resides in the Washington, DC area and recently married a Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, who returned this past July from a tour of duty in Balad, Iraq.
To see the NBJC’s press release announcing Sharon J. Lettman as Executive Director, click here.
Related Posts:Harvey Milk Inducted to CA’s Hall of Fame; Next Stop ‘Milk Day’?
August 27, 2009
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Schriver announced on Tuesday that LGBT rights pioneer Harvey Milk will be inducted into the state’s ‘Hall of Fame’.
The couple noted that each of the 13 inductees “embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history.”
The Milk honor, however, comes amidst a debate surrounding a new state bill that would honor the slain supervisor by deeming May 22 as ‘Milk Day’ in the Golden State. The Associated Press writes that the bill “would designate Milk’s birthday, May 22, as a ‘day of special significance,’ but not an official holiday.” That bill awaits approval from the CA Assembly before reaching the Governor’s desk.
But as The Sacramento Bee reports, it was just last year that Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a nearly identical bill because it would be more appropriate, he believed, to honor Milk on a local level.
The governor’s decision to include Milk in the state’s Hall of Fame, however, may imply that Mr. Schwarzenegger now recognizes Milk as a much more influential figure than he had first thought.
Schwarzenegger spokesman Francisco Castillo clarified in Tuesday’s Sacramento Bee that “The governor does recognize the positive impact that Harvey Milk had globally and nationally.”
Milk’s legacy recently garnered national attention after President Barack Obama honored the LGBT rights stalwart with the Presidential Medal of Freedom – an award bestowed on individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural, or other significant public or private endeavors. The president noted that Milk’s “voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people.”
In any case, the governor’s office said no decisions have been made regarding the new bill. In fact, Schwarzenegger has taken to his twitter page to ask the public’s opinion on Harvey Milk Day.
GLAAD will continue to share the media’s coverage of Harvey Milk Day. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:Incoming GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios Statement on White House Event to Commemorate Stonewall
June 29, 2009
New York, NY, June 29, 2009 – Jarrett Barrios, incoming President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), today joined fellow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates as well as President Obama and Mrs. Obama at a reception to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969 — when patrons at a New York city gay bar fought back against police brutality and harassment and set in motion a wave of activism.
“It was an honor to take part in this important event for the gay and transgender community with fellow advocates and my 17-year old son,” said Jarrett Barrios, incoming President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and former Massachusetts state Senator. “Today’s event, the first time that Stonewall was commemorated by the White House, was a symbol of the fact that the administration recognizes our community at a time when there has been growing frustration about his administration’s seeming reticence to follow through on campaign promises.”
“During his speech today, President Obama said that the road to equality is not only about changing laws, but about changing hearts. Indeed, legal advances are vitally important, but full equality requires us to move our culture – through conversations, living openly in our communities, and through media representations- to a place where gay and transgender Americans are accepted and understood.
“Our community will continue to advocate and will be watching closely to ensure Obama makes good on the promises he discussed today and during the campaign. At the heart of the issues discussed today are everyday Americans who want the same chance as everyone else to earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.”
Related Posts:Sundays of Solidarity
April 29, 2009
Atticus Circle and Soulforce are teaming up for a nationwide action involving LGBT equality advocates visiting faith communities across the United States called Sundays of Solidarity (SOS).
The SOS campaign will start May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, and will end on June 28 – the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City. Advocates for LGBT equality will visit churches, synagogues and other faith communities across the nation for seven straight Sundays in order to start dialogue about LGBT people and issues with members of faith communities across the nation.
SOS participants will be given training and will attend worship services and other faith community meetings wearing T-shirts and buttons proclaiming “Gay? Fine by Me.”
GLAAD will be assisting both organizations with raising awareness of SOS and amplifying the media coverage of their excellent work. GLAAD previously collaborated with Soul Force and Atticus Circle in 2007 and 2008 in media strategy planning for Seven Straight Nights, a series of vigils and awareness-raising events held across the nation to bring LGBT equality supporters together in demonstrations of public support.
Atticus Circle is an Austin-based organization that educates and mobilizes fair-minded straight people to advance equal rights for LGBT people. Soulforce is known for its Equality Ride, during which they travel around the country to challenge anti-gay policies at Christian colleges or visit American Family Outings at mega-churches to share stories about LGBT families.
In order to promote the Sundays of Solidarity event, Jeff Lutes, Executive Director of Soulforce and Rev. Paul Dodd released the following video where they talk about the inspiration behind the campaign.
New White House Website Shows LGBT Rights An Agenda Priority
January 20, 2009
The newly re-launched WhiteHouse.gov, the website of the Obama administration, lists out the administration’s upcoming agenda priorities. Among those priorities are Civil Rights, in which “Support for the LGBT Community” is listed:
Support for the LGBT Community
“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
The priorities listed include: Expand Hate Crimes Statutes, Fight Workplace Discrimination, Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples, Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage, Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell, Expand Adoption Rights, Promote AIDS Prevention, and Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS.
You can click here to see more details on each of the administration’s priorities.
