LGBT Rights: We Have Marriage Equality, But Our Fight Is Far From Over

Nearly five years ago, September 2010, there was a rash of LGBTQ youth suicides as a result of bullying — Tyler Clementi, Billy Lucas, Seth Walsh, Asher Brown, to name a few — and so, every September, as our youth starts back to school, many start back to being bullied again.

And while things have changed for the better since 2010—we’ve seen gays and lesbians being allowed to serve openly in the military, we’ve won marriage equality—we still have a way to go before we are fully accepted, though even I know we’ll never be completely accepted by all.

And that also applies to our youth, who have far less protections than we adults have, and who, may times, suffer far worse fates at the hands of haters than adults; and that’s why LGBTQ students need protection from discrimination and bullying.

Al Franken, the Democratic Senator from Minnesota, delivered a powerful address to his colleagues about anti-LGBT bullying and discrimination, speaking about Seth Walsh, a gay teen, one of those who took their own lives in September 2010:

“By seventh grade, taunts and verbal abuse were a constant part of Seth’s day. Students called him faggot and queer. He was afraid to use the restroom or to be in the boys’ locker room before gym class. [In] September of 2010, Seth hanged himself from a tree in his family’s backyard. He was 13. Seth left a note expressing his love for family and friends but also his anger at the school.”

Franken then introduced an amendment attached to a bill updating No Child Left Behind laws that would provide LGBTQ youth the same legal remedies available to other kids under federal civil rights laws:

“If a black child was referred to by a racial slur at school, would we say kids will be kids? If a Jewish student got beat up because he wore a yarmulke to school, would we wave it off and say boys will be boys? If a shop teacher told a female student she didn’t belong in his class, would we be fine if the school just looked the other way? No, we would not. In fact, there are federal civil rights laws that are specifically designed to stop this kind of conduct.”

And so Senator Franken asked his colleagues to stand up for LGBTQ youth and reduce bullying, by voting for a bill to "end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools."

And our Senate said, resoundingly, “No.”

Nearly every single Republican voted to let LGBTQ youth continue to endure bullying and taunts and harassment simply for being gay, or even being perceived to be gay; only six Republican Senators voted for Senator Franken's amendment.

Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander lead the charge in voting ‘No’ to the amendment because he fears it would bring “costly lawsuits” which just proves that Alexander, and all those other Republicans care more about money that LGBTQ youth.

And so here’s a list of all U.S. Senators who voted ‘No’ and please note that they are all Republicans:

And here are the Senators who voted to protect LGBTQ youth from bullying:

Not voting were U.S. Republican Senators and 2016 presidential candidates Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio. Also not voting was U.S. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, who has been out after undergoing cancer surgery Monday.

If you like, and perhaps you should, find your Senator on this list, and if they voted ‘No’ maybe let them know that you find their actions unconscionable; you find it disgusting that gay lives matter less than money.

And, if you’re lucky enough to have a Senator vote ‘Yes’ let them know you appreciate their efforts and ask them to continue to fight to protect LGBTQ youth.

The march does go on ….

NCRM

Random Musings

Well, it looks like legislation to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee was beaten back by the state Senate when they voted to “refer” the bill — passed by the House — back to a legislative committee over questions of its constitutionality.

Still, while it may be over in Tennessee, these laws, like those pesky Hate-filled RFRAs, are still popping up like pimples on the ass of humanity. On the heels of a quickly withdrawn attempt last year to make the Bible the official state book of Louisiana, a similar bill was introduced earlier this year in Mississippi. And while it went nowhere, state Representative Tom Miles, a Democrat … a Democrat? … says he plans to reintroduce it next session.

Does anyone else see that making a religious text the official book of a state is very clearly a violation of Separation of Church and State and if we can see it, why can’t these elected wingnuts see it?

[photo source]

So, mailman Don Hughes flew his tiny gyrocopter on to the lawn of the U.S. Capitol in what he calls an act of civil disobedience.

I call it “Lucky he wasn’t shot out of the sky.”

Hughes was carrying letters to every member of Congress urging them to address corruption and to pass campaign finance reform; a good idea.

But a bad attempt. Hughes is a wingnut, who calls himself a patriot, though for a few scary seconds the US armed forces thought he was a terrorist and might have shot down the gyrocopter but refrained from doing so because they might have killed or injured innocent people on the ground.

Here’s the queer: Hughes says he’s a patriot and wants campaign finance reform, but all he’ll be remembered for is breaking the law and being a total moron; oh, and for being arrested and facing up to four years in prison on charges of violating national defense airspace and operating an unregistered aircraft.

Asshat.

[photo source]

Who knew Kermit was based on a real frog? A photo of the Hyalinobatrachium dianae, a new species of frog identified in Costa Rica, is going viral because it bears a striking resemblance to a Muppet.

It ain’t easy bein’ green …

[photo source]

Co-worker: Do you think the new guy is gay?

Bob: I think I have really bad Gaydar. I didn't even know I was gay until my husband told me.

Co-worker: You didn't know I was gay?

Bob: Oh honey, we all knew you were gay.

Oh Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan. Did anyone see her performance of one of my personal anthem’s, ‘It’s Raining Men,’ on the David Letterman show.

Chaka f**ked up the lyrics so badly I wanted to kick my TV in; how can you mess up the lyrics to a classic Gay Anthem, and one that used to have me dreaming that it really might happen?

Letterman called the performance ‘delightful,’ I called it a d-i-saster.

[photo source]

So, Olivia Pope has a new F**k Buddy on Scandal, and this one is neither the President nor a covert agent — well, he may be a covert agent, but I’ll spare those who didn’t see last week’s episode a Spoiler Alert.

He's Brian White and, well, let’s just bask in his beauty … sigh.

[photo sources: 1,2,3,4]

Ohio Governor John Kasich is thinking of running for President, but says he’s waiting on a sign from God before he makes his final decision.

Sorry John, the decision’s been made; you’re a loon. As for God’s signal, She’s too busy to talk right now.

Well, it took more than 10 years, several proposals and countless stories from young people who have suffered abuse and bullying, but finally, last week, Montana joined every other state in the nation with an anti-bullying law.

Democratic Governor Steve Bullock signed the Bully Free Montana Act at Jefferson Elementary School in Helena:

"I am pleased that Montana will finally have a bullying-prevention law. All too often, we've heard bullying is just a part of growing up. ... We know that isn't the case. (Students) just don't have to put up with that type of behavior."

I’m glad they did it, but I’m kinda angry at the idea that for the past ten years, while they ‘talked’ about it, countless of young people suffered.

Okay...

Good news: I got tickets to see the fabulous Audra McDonald in Greenville, SC tomorrow night.

Bad news: a week after purchasing the tickets, Carlos found out he had a work event he could not change and so ... the concert was off.

Good news: I found a couple of people interested in buying the tickets for what I paid for them.

Bad news: both deals fell through.

Good news [or Bad news if you're Audra]: Audra McDonald has postponed her concert in Greenville due to illness.

Good news: the tickets I bought will be accepted at the new show.

Bad news; the new show isn't until October.

Good news: who gives a f**k. we're goin'!

PS Here she is performing as Billie Holiday ... a performance for which she won her sixth Tony Award.

Brilliance, thy name is Audra!

Bill Would Take Away Federal Funds From Schools That Allow 'Religious Freedom' Exceptions For Bullies

I have been saying that, while the march toward marriage equality is growing stronger every day — even with places like Alabama needing to be dragged kicking and screaming into it — the next big fight will be against the use of so-called “religious freedom” to discriminate against the LGBT community.

I mean, we’ve seen it with bakers, and florist and dressmakers, who cry foul when asked to serve a customer who is gay, saying the Baby Jeebus doesn’t want them baking or arranging or sewing for The Gays, so, while I hate to sound pessimistic, I think it’ll get worse before it gets better; but, to steal a Dan Savage phrased, it will get better.

In Washington yesterday, Democratic congressmen Jared Polis [Colorado] and Bobby Scott  [Virginia] were joined by Republican — yes, a Republican, and one of the few LGBT friendly one at that — co-sponsor, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [Florida], to introduce the Student Non-Discrimination Act [SNDA] which would protect LGBTQ students in public schools from discrimination based on so-called religious exemption; Senator Al Franken a Democrat from Minnesota introduced the same bill in the U.S. Senate.

If they can garner enough Republican support in this new congress — and we all know how the Republicans love to play the religion card, and how much they loathe the LGBT community — to get it passed, SNDA would establish a federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; public schools could no longer ignore reports of harassment or bullying and failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding for the school. SNDA would also allow victims to sue the school, and school officials, for damages.

"Evidence shows that discrimination against LGBT students deprives them of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underperforming academically, and dropping out. School must be a place where all students feel welcome and safe to thrive." — Representative Bobby Scott

For Representative Polis, an openly gay man, SNDA has long been on his wish list, and now that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has signed on, he hopes she’ll be able to persuade enough Republicans to at least get the

bill out of committee and to the floor for debate. 

"Every single child deserves a quality education that is free from discrimination and prepares them for college and a career. It’s simply unacceptable that in 2015, there are thousands of students who face bullying and harassment every day when they get to school simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity." — Representative Jared Polis

Representative Ros-Lehtinen told reporters she is committed to doing all she can to help pass SNDA:

"No student should face discrimination for any reason, including their sexual orientation or gender identity. If we aspire to a society where prejudices are a relic of the past then we must begin by preaching and living the virtues of tolerance at our educational institutions."

And, if this works out, if the Republicans finally come to the conclusion that allowing people to hide behind their religion as an excuse to bully, harass, tease, taunt, berate and beat any LGBTQ student, and send this bill to the White House, President Obama has indicated he will sign it. 

Here’s hoping the GOP does what’s right — and, yes, I know it’s a long shot — and we start protecting all students in all schools.

via NCRM

Minnesota To Finally Get Anti-Bullying Legislation

Finally, in Minnesota of all places, which has been home to well more than its fair share of LGBTQ youth suicides from bullying, the Democratically-controlled House sent an anti-bullying prevention law to the desk of Governor Mark Dayton for his signature; he signed it into law yesterday.

But it wasn’t all that easy; the passage of the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act took place only after twelve hours of Republican ranting and raging about the bill. It passed, mostly along party lines, by a vote of 69-63, after passing the Senate last week by a 36-31 vote, with all Republicans and three Democrats voting against it.

It’s a simple bill; it simply requires school leaders to develop a comprehensive anti-bullying policy, train staff to prevent bullying and quickly investigate allegations.

Sounds pretty cut-and-dry, no? Well, opponents of the bill — and by opponents I mean Republicans — say it will take local control from school leaders and give special protections to certain students; I think they mean the gay ones, or perhaps the ones just perceived to be gay.

In their twelve-hour tirade against the bill House GOP members said the bill itself was bullying, called it fascist legislation, and compared it to George Orwell’s 1984. Others in the party used that age old argument that having anti-bullying rules in place would mean that schools would start teaching children about sexuality, most probably homosexuality, I guess. But one Republican Representative, Glenn Gruenhagen, took the fear a step further and said this anti-bullying legislation would force schools to expose children to "filthy, perverted information."

AKA The Gays.

And it mattered not that the Democrats, and the bill itself, mention not one single word about any sex education in fact, Jim Davnie, a democrat and chief sponsor of the measure in the House, said the legislation has nothing to do with curriculum about sex, but the Republicans don’t care. They could use that fear of Little Sally learning about the gay birds and bees to win the battle.

Of course, the most controversial part of the bill, and the part that kept the GOP with their Tea Party panties in a snit, is the section that specifies students cannot be bullied for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Uh oh. Republicans say this amounts to special protections, though proponents say it is necessary to ensure the safety of all students; GOP lawmakers also questioned how the law would be implemented and whether it would restrict students' freedom of speech.

You know, free speech in the way a Christian student could be able to tell a student they assumed was gay that they were sinners, they were depraved, they were less than, and they were going to hell, but if a gay student attacked another student’s religious views that would be all kinds of wrong. You know, that GOP free speech that applies only to the religious and no one else.

Here’s something: how about telling students, all students, that bullying, name-calling, pushing, shoving, taunts and teases, jokes, jabs, slurs, anything that could be construed as harassment will no longer be tolerated by anyone, anywhere, anytime, ever in Minnesota schools?

Problem solved, I’d say.

Sidenote: I imagine one Michele Bachmann rolled over in her crypt at the passage of this bill, which is a plus. Oh, no, I’m not saying Bachmann is dead, except from the neck up.

source

Anoka-Hennepin Residents Demand Bryan Lindquist Be Removed From Anti-Bullying Task Force

The Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota is known not so much for its schools, or its teachers or administrators, as it is known for being home to a rash of bullying against LGBTQ youth as well as many suicides of those being taunted for their, real or perceived, differences. 

It's not a pleasant place for LGBTQ youth at all.

Back in October, though, I posted about how a Rolling Stone article about the number of suicides in the lead the Department of Justice to investigate. Afterwards, the DOJ required that the Anoka-Hennepin School District, which had never properly protected its students from harassment, implement a new model policy for supporting LGBTQ students and reducing bullying.

And the district appointed Parents Action League spokesman Bryan Lindquist, who describes homosexuality as a “lifestyle choice” and who promoted ex-gay therapy in the school, as the leader of an anti-bullying task force. [See post HERE]

Yup, a bully will handle bullying.

Bryan Lindquist

Well, not so fast, I guess. This morning a group of Anoka-Hennepin residents submitted a petition to the school board seeking to remove Lindquist from its Anti-Bullying Task Force. The petition, containing some 2400 signatures, claims Bryan Lindquist "uses his personal faith as a weapon and represents the anti-LGBTQ bigotry that is STILL hurting kids in our district."

The Parents Action League [PAL],--one of those oh-so-sweet sounding names that bigots like to call themselves--has criticized the district's work to prevent bullying and harassment. In fact, last January, as the school board worked to settle the lawsuit, Bryan Lindquist and another PAL member presented a list of demands asking that the district commit more resources to "students of faith, moral conviction, ex-homosexuals and ex-transgenders," and demanding ex-gay therapy training for staff. 

More recently, in a letter to the Anoka Union newspaper in support of the amendment to ban same-sex marriage via the state Constitution, Lindquist asserted that children raised by same-sex parents are more likely to be sexually abused at home.

Oh yes, The Gays love the abuse children. Play the Hate Card, Bryan, and then wonder why 2400 people think you have no business on a task force to stop bullying of LGBTQ students.

Tom Heidemann

And while School Board Chairman Tom Heidemann dismissed PAL and Lindquist's demands, as board chair he has the authority to appoint task force members, like Bryan Lindquist. Today, after just two meetings of the task force, whose meetings are closed to the public--apparently so the members in white sheets feel more at home--Heidemann says he's had good reports. He says his idea of culling through 69 task force applications "was to bring together a diverse community, on the basis of protecting all children from bullying and harassment, regardless of the reason. That's something everybody can agree with."

You appoint a man who blames The Gays for everything from pedophilia to global warming and claim that brings diversity to the task force?

Well, Melissa Thompson, parent of a Blaine High School student, isn't buying it; she helped create the online petition at Change.org and has gone to the board in the past to raise concerns that her daughter has been harassed on the basis of religion:

"To imply that Mr. Lindquist lends balance is so disingenuous. His position is very clear, and the effects of that rhetoric are painfully clear in this district. ... This has nothing to do with balance. It has nothing to do with opposing views. It's one thing to have opposing beliefs, but this is about opposing the existence of students."

Some petitioners are hoping the board will lead by example and remove Lindquist from the group, while, of course, PAL President Laurie Thompson says, "The 25 members selected are from a diverse background which was the School Board's intent. Our hope is that everyone on the task force will bring a culmination of ideas to the table that will lend ongoing support to policies and directives that support a safe learning environment for ALL students, not just any one individual or any one group."

But, Laurie, you delusional fool, would you suggest putting a White Supremacist on a task force aimed at preventing bullying of Black students? Is that your idea of diversity?

For his part, Tom Heidemann says he'll listen to the petitioners' concerns, but nothing more: "This isn't going to change. This decision is final. We're going to move on with this committee and let them do their work. ... As far as I'm concerned, we're moving on to looking forward to the recommendations that come out of this process."

They seemed to have learned nothing about bullying whatsoever. How else do you explain having bullies on the task force. And how many more students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District will die before they realize you can't put a bully in charge of fighting bullies?

Tell that to Samantha Johnson, who put a hunting rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger.
Tell it to Justin Aaberg, right, hanged himself in his bedroom.
Tell it to Haylee Fentress and Paige Moravetz who carried out a suicide pact because they were being bullied

Tell it to Lance Lundsten, an openly gay student, who took an overdose and later died in hospital.

Tell it to Thomas John 'TJ' Hayes who committed suicide in 2009

Tell it to Jordan Yenor who also killed himself.

Tell it to Aaron Jurek, who killed himself in 2009, the Anoka-Hennepin's third suicide in three months

Tell it to Nick Lockwood,the district's fourth casualty: a boy who had never publicly identified as gay, but was bullied as such.

Tell it to July Barrick who was also bullied for being perceived as gay, and who'd complained to her mother that classmates had started an "I Hate July Barrick" Facebook page

Tell that to any child who suffers bullying on a day-to-day basis. Tell that to any child who comes home after school after another day of being teased, taunted, harraseed, pushed, kicked, hit because they'r egay, or fat or tall or short or have red haior or an accent or a different religion or not the right shoes or wierd hair or a funny name or ....... 

source

Illinois Steps Up Against Online Bullies

Finally someone is stepping up the fight to combat bullying in schools.
Under a new law in Illinois that went into effect this past Sunday, school students who use their blogs, their Twitter, or their Facebook accounts to harass, threaten or bully other students or teachers will face immediate suspension or expulsion.
They.Ain't.Playing.

Bill Sponsor
Rep. Sidney Mathias

With new information suggesting that incidents of bullying are on the rise in this country, and with reports that suggest that nearly 50% of all students have been the victims of bullying, Illinois legislators stepped it up; perhaps they were on by an incident at Oswego High School six years ago.
It seems an Oswego student posted an online rant against his teachers in 2005, vowing “I’m so angry I could kill.” Administrators and school officials weren't sure what they could do since the threat was made outside school hours, away from school grounds from a private computer.
They were concerned about interfering with the boy’s First Amendment rights and felt unable to suspend or expel the boy, who refused to take down the message until his parents intervened.
Look, I'm all for Free Speech--this blog is me exercising that right--but when your Free Speech starts including words like kill, murder or die, maybe someone needs to step up.
Illinois House minority leader Tom Cross, a Republican, said he’d tried repeatedly to change the law to strengthen school administrators’ hands in similar situations, but added that it’s taken a while for legislators to come to grips with Internet issues. “I don’t think kids are getting any meaner....30 years ago, a bully might have said something in class--now they’ll say it on the Internet.”
I might disagree with Cross here. Kids are meaner, because they don't see any repercussions for their actions; and without repercussions, then the bullying escalates. I was the victim of bullying in school. Names were called. I was pushed. I was called faggot. But one thing I wasn't, ever, was violently attacked in school, or on my way home.
Add to that the use of the internet and, for the bullied, there is no escape. It's a 24/7 taunt.
But this new law in Illinois will law allow school administrators to discipline students who make any online threat that “could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security” of another student or staff member.
Bill sponsor, Illinois Representative Sidney Mathias, a Republican, said. “We’re making it clear to students that this is unacceptable behavior.”
It's about damn time.


via The Chicago Sun-Times

Bullying LGBTQ Kids Is the Christian Thing To Do

There once was a bill to ban bullying of LGBTQ students in Kentucky. It was approved overwhelmingly by a House Committee, but now it has stalled in the House itself. How does this happen? It would seem so simple: protect children from bullies. How does this not just fly through the legislative process?

Well, opponents of the bill, who probably oppose any bill that would have the acronym LGBTQ in it, are saying that religious freedom and free speech.

Wingnut Mike Harmon

One such wingnut, is Representative, and Republican, of course, Mike Harmon, who says that he believes homosexuality is a sin, and that students who share his faith-based belief should not be prohibited from saying as much.

See what he did there? He wants to allow Christian students to bully gay students. Just the Christian ones, though. Heathens would be punished.

And Mike Harmon adds that rules against bullying are already in place in Kentucky public schools, where they are required to implement anti-bullying programs and report bullying to law enforcement. So, he filed an amendment to the new bullying bill that would allow Christian students to condemn other students' sexual preferences as long as that expression of a religious belief does not include physical harm or damaging property.

Oh, so the good Christians can taunt the gay kids, call them every single foul name in the book, and be freely allowed to do so as long as it causes no physical harm? I guess emotional harm doesn't count, because, well, those fags don't really matter, now do they?

Harmon thinks the Christian bullying will start and end with one student saying to another, I think homosexuality is a sin. How naive of him to think that there won't be filthy epithets thrown at LGBTQ students, or does he think it won 't happen because those kids are good Christians. See, to me, if you believe in that sort of thing, that good Christian thing, you would treat others as you would want to be treated.

Mike Harmon's methods are wrong, and won't work, and I hope, if his amendment is approved, and the bill passes, that he is held personally accountable for any physical harm that comes to any LGBTQ student at the hands of some supposed Christian.

You don't tell anyone that bullying is okay if it's only words.

source

I Know How It Feels

The Dignity For All Students Act, a sweeping anti-bullying bill, sponsored by openly gay Daniel O'Donnell, has overwhelmingly passed in New York's state Assembly.

The new act would afford all persons in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, weight, gender, or sex. The bill has been endorsed by Governor Paterson although it has yet to be taken up by the Senate. O'Donnell has called on the state Senate to pass the bill immediately. Only five of O'Donnell's colleagues in the Assembly voted against his bill.

Some folks say this is too much, that bullying is "kid's play," that it's all in good fun. Boys will be boys. Well, as a boy who was bullied in school, I wish there had been some sort of protection when i was a kid. Hell, I would have been happy with a little common sense.

I can remember being in junior high class, and having a teacher ask me a question. I didn't like having the spotlight on me, but I was a shy kid, and shyness breeds manners, so I quietly answered the question; correctly, too, I might add. Then, from the back of the room I distinctly heard someone say Faggot. I heard him; the people around me heard him, because there were giggles. I know the teacher heard him, but he just went on with the lesson as though nothing happened.

I remember being in the locker room changing for gym class, when one of those bullies came up to me. I knew what was coming so I tried to look away, but, of course, that only gives a bully power. He walked right up to me and pushed his face close to mine, and asked, Are you gay?

I stammered and stuttered, knowing however I answered the question would be wrong. No, would get me called a liar. Yes, would probably mean worse. So, I stayed silent, and he asked again.

Are. You. Gay?

I closed my eyes wishing it would all go away and when I opened them again he was even closer. He kept coming closer and then he kissed me, on the mouth. Then he shoved me into a locker and said, I knew it, and ran outside. By the time I got out to the basketball courts he had told everyone that I tried to kiss him.

They say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger; sometimes. Other times it just makes you afraid to walk the halls alone.