Gay Activist Mom Stands with Brad Pitt

GetEQUAL Director, Robin McGehee was not happy to hear that Jane Pitt, Brad Pitt’s mom had published a letter in a Missouri newspaper condemning our LGBT community. This is what Jane Pitt said, “Any Christian who does not vote or writes in a name is casting a vote for Romney’s opponent, Barack Hussein Obama — a man who sat in Jeremiah Wright’s church for years, did not hold a public ceremony to mark the National Day of Prayer, and is a liberal who supports the killing of unborn babies and same sex marriage.” We at OUTTAKE VOICES™ would rather she used gay marriage or same gender couples but we heard her homophobic rant loud & clear. Robin McGehee responded, “I don't have to tell you that rhetoric like Mrs. Pitt's is what gives license to schoolyard bullies, anti-LGBT legislators & even violent gunslingers. And I don't have to tell you that letting this kind of hateful & inflammatory language go unchecked is part of what contributes to people feeling as though our lives are disposable. As a mother of 2 children 9 years old & 6 years old -- I couldn’t help but see Mrs. Pitt's letter as a direct attack against my family & the LGBT community at large. Brad Pitt has been an active supporter of marriage equality & of our community. We were incredibly surprised & disappointed that his own mother would use her public notoriety to support hateful, religion-based bigotry against LGBT people & LGBT families. We need your help in making sure that our voices counter the harm Mrs. Pitt has done to our community.” Help GetEQUAL buy a full-page ad in the Springfield News-Leader, where Jane Pitt’s letter appeared to show Missouri to stop the hate.
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London Gay Pride Cancelled

Though the United Kingdom is flying a rainbow flag at the personal request of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, London’s WorldPride celebration has been cancelled. This is totally messed-up. On the UK national front you have Clegg stating, “it was about time for Whitehall to bring itself up to date by flying the flag in solidarity with the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered) community.” Then you have UK Gay Activist Peter Tatchell lashing out against London Mayor Boris Johnson for not stepping in to save WorldPride stating, “The World Pride organizers have made mistakes & must share some of the blame for the current shambles. However, they are not the sole villains. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, could have rescued Pride but has apparently chosen to not do so. The actions & inactions of the Greater London Authority (GLA) have compounded the problems that Pride now faces.” Of course this is all a financial disaster which could have been resolved. Tatchell says that just last week, corporations like Gaydar & Smirnoff offered more than £60,000 ($90,000) to cover Pride’s funding shortfall but that Mayor Johnson declined the offer, saying it was “too late.” Tatchell also accuses the Greater London Authority of price-gouging Pride organizers, vetting all WorldPride press releases & forcing organizers to pay for everything up front even though festival profits would have bridged the budget gap. Also London’s LGBT GFest, the city’s annual LGBT arts festival, has been cancelled because of funding problems as well. So now London is left with a Gay Pride Protest Walk instead. This is all on the heels of the Olympics that take place at the end of the month. For More Info:pridelondon.org Updates to Come…:)
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Gay Marriage Federal Rights in 2013

Just before the 4th of July holiday began the encouraging news from DC is that the Obama administration has asked the Supreme Court to finally settle the legal fight over the law that denies federal benefits to legally married gay couples. The Justice Department on Tuesday asked the court to hear an appeal in its next term of lower court rulings striking down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act. This is section 3 of DOMA that would then allow legally married gay couples to receive the 1,138 federal rights of marriage. The earliest the justices might decide to hear the case is late September. Arguments probably would take place over the winter & a decision would happen by late June 2013. So this will all be in motion during & through the upcoming presidential election. The administration says it agrees with the lower court rulings which found this part of DOMA unconstitutional but still wants a prompt high court review because unfortunately President Obama has instructed federal agencies to continue to enforce the discriminatory law’s ban on federal benefits for legally married gay couples until there is a final court ruling. So this action is good news & bad news mixed together. To look on the bright side legally married gay couples could have federal rights & benefits equal to heterosexual couples by next summer. Now that definitely would be worth celebrating.
Have a Safe & Fab 4th Holiday!!
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LGBT Fireworks Have Begun

As we’re about to celebrate the July Fourth Holiday the fireworks have already started for our LGBT community. Yes we all knew that Anderson Cooper was gay but his coming out was still significant in achieving our equality. More & more people are becoming openly supportive of marriage equality. In Washington State where gay marriage appears on the November ballot Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer & co-founder Bill Gates have each donated $100,000 to the campaign supporting the state's new gay marriage law. Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, stated, "It's going to make a tremendous difference. It's very important for us to have that broad support from business leaders & companies themselves." Before this donation, Washington United for Marriage had raised nearly $1.5 million for the campaign to fight back attempts to overturn the law. Preserve Marriage Washington has raised more than $130,000 according to the most recent numbers with the Public Disclosure Commission. However the money race is expected to heat up significantly in the coming months. This is no time to become complacent. Maine & Minnesota also have gay marriage on their November ballot. Independence Day is a time to celebrate that all Americans are equal, not just some of the people. So have a Safe & Fabulous Holiday & Get Ready to Rumble…:)
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British Royalty Gender Equality Reform

This is a nice light story to start your week. Under the current honors system in the UK wives of men made sirs or lords becomes ladies. However there isn’t an equivalent for husbands of gay men given titles, such as Sir Elton John's spouse David Furnish. The same dilemma falls on women who become dames. Their spouses also do not get a title. This week Tory MP Oliver Colville will introduce a ten minute rule Bill aimed at bringing equality to the system. The Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill will be launched in the Commons, asking, "that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for husbands & civil partners of those receiving honors to be allowed to use equivalent honorary titles to those available to women. The current system is uneven & rather outdated. If you are made a peer or a knight, your wife automatically gets the title lady, but if you are gay or are a woman & become a dame your partner gets nothing. I just think it’s an anomaly which needs to be put right. In a lot of marriages, the other half ends up playing a very significant role in their career. I think we have got to make sure it's recognized in the same way for men & women, & in civil partnerships. It’s important that there’s equality in these things & I think this is something which needs to be sorted out.” Elton is not the only LGBT Brit this would affect. There’s Mark Bolland, Prince Charles former deputy private secretary, who’s in a civil partnership with Tory peer Lord Black of Brentford. Lord Smith of Finsbury who was one of the first openly gay MPs, will also be affected by the reforms. The former Labor minister is in a civil partnership with Dorian Jabri. Former Labor minister Angela Eagle who’s is in a civil partnership, stated, "I'm not a great fan of the honors system but, if you are going to have one, it ought to confer equal honors on everyone who is awarded one." Updates to Come...:)
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Transgender Equal Rights In Massachusetts

The Transgender Equal Rights Bill has gone into effect in Massachusetts. This means for the first time in the state’s history transgender residents will be included in the state’s civil rights laws. The Commonwealth estimates there are about 33,000 transgender residents in Massachusetts but by protecting them & their families the state becomes safer for all its citizens. This is just the beginning of more legislation that needs to pass but a great beginning. In February 2011, a report found that 76 % of transgender people in Massachusetts have been harassed on the job because of their gender identity, 20 % have lost their job because of their gender identity & 17 % have been denied a promotion because they are transgender. Massachusetts has finally join the ranks of 15 other states, the District of Columbia, & 136 cities & towns around the country in protecting transgender people in the workplace, housing, education, credit & hate crimes. However the bill doesn’t include public accommodation protections. What that means is that the bill doesn’t protect transgender people in public spaces such as subways, hotel lobbies, gas stations, coffee shops & hospitals. So the law creates an imperfect situation where a Starbucks is not permitted to fire its transgender barista because of their sexual orientation but is within its rights to refuse service to a transgender customer. Obviously we have more work to do. Updates to Come…:)
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LULAC Comes Out For Gay Marriage

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) passed a resolution at their 83rd Annual Convention in favor of gay marriage. The resolution supports marriage equality for all Americans, including our LGBT community. This resolution opposes the denial of basic civil rights or acts of discrimination against any American, as is consistent with LULAC's continuing advocacy for civil rights & protections guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. "Today the LULAC National Membership reaffirmed its commitment to equality for all by voting in favor of marriage equality," said Jesse Garcia, LULAC member & co-founder of the organization's first LGBT Council. "LULAC stands with great Latino leaders like Dolores Huerta, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis who believe discrimination of same-gender couples should not be tolerated. This is a historic day for LGBT Latinos everywhere, plus this vote is another bond that reaffirms the partnership between the LGBT & Hispanic communities." LULAC supported Obama's statement in favor of marriage equality for same-gender couples & has several LGBT Councils. LULAC Executive Director, Brent Wilkes stated, "Since its inception, LULAC has fought for the equality of minorities. All individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of origin or sexual orientation, deserve equal rights. Everyone should be granted the freedom to marry their partner be protected under the same laws that are established for heterosexual couples." Updates to Come..:) OUTTAKE VOICES™ NOW ON HUFFINGTON POST...:) Hear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™ SUPPORT OUR QUEST @ OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE...:) View Our Historic Short Trailer on Gay Marriage

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