Transgender Awareness Week

Taking place nationwide from Nov. 12th to the 20th, Transgender Awareness Week aims to educate the public about the transgender community & the issues the community faces. The Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights Coalition marked the start of the annual Transgender Awareness week by calling on the legislature to pass the Equal Access Bill (H. 1589/S. 643), which would protect transgender people from discrimination in places of public accommodation. It culminates in the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day when people around the globe gather for candlelight vigils to memorialize those transgender people who lost their lives to bias-related violence in the past year. This year’s Day of Remembrance will pay tribute to nearly 50 victims. Mason Dunn, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition stated, “Transgender Awareness Week is about increasing the visibility of the transgender community but unfortunately, many transgender people still fear being visible because it puts them at risk for violence, harassment & discrimination. In Massachusetts, 58 percent of respondents in a transgender discrimination survey reported being harassed and mistreated in public places like buses, airports, government agencies & restaurants. The legislature can help make Commonwealth safer & more accepting by passing the Equal Access Bill. All residents of the Commonwealth, including transgender people, need access to public places & services without fear of harassment or being made to leave simply because of who they are.”
For More Info: masstpc.org
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Anti Gay Russia Hosts Pageant

Gabriela Isler a 25-year-old Venezuelan television announcer & flamenco dancer was crowned Miss Universe in Moscow last night. As you know the decision to hold the Miss Universe TV Pageant in Moscow with Russia's new anti gay law banning "homosexual propaganda'' prompted the original co-host & gay icon Andy Cohen to withdraw. He was replaced by NBC’s openly gay announcer Thomas Roberts who hosted the show with ex-Spice Girl Melanie Brown. They dedicated the show to the people affected by the horrific typhoon in the Philippines. Roberts justified his appearance in Russia saying that he hopes to be a positive example to the gay community stating, "I think I'm here to promote that people like me deserve equal rights, because we are no different than anyone else.'' Donald Trump who owns the TV franchise acknowledged concerns about broadcasting from Russia due to the gay rights situation adding, "Certainly as you know it has been an issue & it was not taken very lightly. I talked to a lot of people. As you know, Thomas is gay. He's very proud to be here.'' However Trump who is quite homophobic when asked about marriage equality concluded, “I think I’m evolving, & I think I’m a very fair person, but I have been for traditional marriage...I am for traditional marriage, I am for a marriage between a man & a woman.”
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LGBT Photo Event Day

The Advocate is having its annual “Day in LGBT America” photo event. For the last two years tons of our LGBT community from every corner of America are encouraged to send photos of themselves to share their lives as part of this annual special report. Last year the response was fabulous & this year they’re putting together a big LGBT photo album again for 2013. So get your cameras charged & ready because they want to see what happens in your lives from dawn to late at night all over America this Monday, November 11, 2013. They want to see every aspect of LGBT life, from the mundane to the insane, from the glamorous to the gritty, whether you’re on an adventure or experiencing a quiet moment of solace. You don’t need to be a professional photographer. Just mark your calendar & on November 11th take a self-portrait, or have a friend photograph you or your family or friends doing anything that says something about who you are as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person in the United States. The best photographs taken on that single day in the United States will be featured in a photo essay titled “A Day in LGBT America” on Advocate.com. Think of "A Day in LGBT America" as one way you can help dispel what the religious right tries to sell America about LGBT people & simultaneously your photos will inspire young people with the power of the project's hopeful message.
For More Info: advocate.com
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LGBT Workplace Equality Next

The passage of ENDA (Employment Nondiscrimination Act) in the Senate is a tremendous symbolic victory for our LGBT community however the version of the bill that passed the Senate contains broad religious exemptions. This means that LGBT employees can still be fired from a Catholic organization based on their sexual orientation. Also the bill will now be subjected to homophobic Speaker of the House Boehner who said earlier this week that he believed that ENDA would “increase frivolous litigation.” U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus & member of the Education & the Workforce Committee which has jurisdiction over the bill stated, “I congratulate the Senate for confirming our country’s commitment to respecting the rights & liberties of all Americans, regardless of who they love. The basic principles of ENDA are so fundamental that 80 percent of Americans already believe it is law, & the Senate has moved us one step closer to making that a reality. Speaker Boehner now has a choice—stand behind frivolous excuses & remain on the wrong side of history, or join with the majority of the American people & honor the equality deserved by all Americans.” President Obama has said about our workplace discrimination, “It's offensive. It's wrong. And it needs to stop, because in the United States of America, who you are & who you love should never be a fireable offense." The grassroots org GetEQUAL is calling on President Obama to show leadership on this issue & sign an Executive Order that would make it illegal for any company contracting with the federal government to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This would send a message but as Chad Griffin, President of HRC concludes, “There's a lot left to do in the fight for workplace equality & while we should cherish this historic moment, we can't afford to stop working yet.”
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London Symphony Protest

Valery Gergiev will be conducting the London Symphony Orchestra on Thursday Nov 7th at the Barbican with a performance of Berlioz. There will be a protest outside the main entrance on Silk Street from 6P to 7P. Gay activist Peter Tatchell stated “This protest takes place on the anniversary of the 1917 Russian revolution. Some people argue that Russia needs a new, non-violent democratic revolution. Putin is taking the country backward. As well as escalating repression against the LGBT community, civil liberties & dissidents are also under attack. His regime has incarcerated political prisoners in jails that resemble gulags. Gergiev endorses Putin, despite this shameful repression. That’s why we need to protest.” Gergiev, the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra has been the target of protests in London & New York because of his pro Putin position. Last Thursday as we reported gay rights activist Peter Tatchell interrupted the beginning of an LSO concert at London's Barbican when he took to the stage & told the audience: "Gergiev defends the new homophobic law that persecutes gay Russians." On Wednesday Gergiev released a statement justifying his homophobic position stating, "It is wrong to suggest that I have ever supported anti-gay legislation & in all my work I have upheld equal rights for all people. I am an artist & have for over three decades worked with tens of thousands of people in dozens of countries from all walks of life & many of them are indeed my friends.” However in September Gergiev stated in the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant, "In Russia we do everything we can to protect children from pedophiles. This law is not about homosexuality, it targets pedophilia. But I have too busy a schedule to explore this matter in detail." Updates To Come…:)
For More Info: petertatchellfoundation.org
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Gay Marriage Comes To Illinois

The Illinois House of Representatives affirmed marriage equality as the law of the land by passing Senate Bill 10 with a vote of 61-54. The bill then went to the state Senate for technical changes where it passed by a margin of 32-21 sending the legislation to the governor's desk where Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has pledged to sign the legislation into law. Brian Silva, Marriage Equality USA Executive Director stated, "I am so proud of the work MEUSA & our partners in the Illinois coalition accomplished! The dedication this summer to redoubling efforts, reevaluating strategy & expanding our work has paid off for thousands of LGBT families in the Land of Lincoln.” Tracy Hollister, MEUSA Program Manager added, “Over the last several weeks, the love & commitment of our National Equality Action Team (NEAT), volunteers & partners across the country gave voice to the support for loving & committed couples in Illinois. We join Illinois in celebrating this victory for love, fairness & for all families!” Illinois becomes the 15th state to pass marriage equality joining California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, the District of Columbia, several counties in New Mexico & six Native American tribal jurisdictions which have all legalized marriage licenses for gay & lesbian couples. 

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Senate Moves ENDA Forward

ENDA is moving forward in the Senate. This is the first time the Senate has taken on LGBT employment discrimination in almost 20 years. Currently only 17 states & the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination based on gender identity & sexual orientation while an additional 4 prohibit employment discrimination based only on sexual orientation. According to recent polls more than two-thirds of Americans including 56% of Republicans support a federal law protecting LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace. Additionally non-discrimination policies based on sexual orientation & gender identity are already in effect at a majority of our nation’s largest companies. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI), co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus stated, “When someone in the United States goes to work afraid they could be fired merely because of who they are, we are not living up to our ideals of equality before the law. Today the Senate sent a clear message that in this country you should be judged on the work you do, not on who you love. The Employee Non-Discrimination Act is bipartisan, commonsense legislation that ensures all Americans have the opportunity to thrive & succeed in the workplace, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. I urge the House to follow the lead of the Senate, a majority of Fortune 500 companies & the American people & ensure our workplaces are free from discrimination of any kind.”
Updates To Come…:)
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