The Republican Party Gilded & Framed

As we enter into the next chapter of American history after the minority voted 57 senators to convict former president Donald J. Trump to 43 votes to shamelessly acquit we will now watch & witness a modern day remake of Oscar Wilde’s "The Picture of Dorian Gray". In Wilde’s philosophical novel Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul to ensure that the picture rather than he will age & fade. So let’s place this gold-framed portrait in the attic of moral conscience & watch what happens to people who stand firmly on the wrong side of history. Already the GOP is slowly facing the dilemma that their party has been infiltrated by Trump’s band of followers filled with extremist rightwing, violent, domestic terrorists who carried out the deadly siege on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO stated, “The verdict does not reflect the truth understood by a majority of Americans, that Donald Trump recklessly & maliciously directed his supporters to attack the Capitol & our democracy. The Trump administration will forever be defined by misinformation & violence, tactics the former president weaponized against LGBTQ people & other vulnerable communities before turning them loose on our government on January 6th. Senators voting to acquit are now & for all of history recorded for their cowardice in failing to hold the former president accountable for his lawless, destructive behavior. Let this be a turning point for our country, where we demand a return to shared core values of truth, safety & integrity to protect the least among us, especially from those chosen to lead us.”

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HUD Revives LGBTQ Commitment

While Trump’s second impeachment trial has been going on, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will administer & enforce the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity. The HUD directive begins implementation of the policy set forth in Biden’s Executive Order 13988 on Preventing & Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. Rep David N. Cicilline Equality Caucus Chair stated, “No person should ever lose their home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is un-American. I am pleased that HUD is taking action today to crack down on discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. This is a big step in the right direction, & I thank President Biden for his leadership on this important issue. LGBTQ+ people should be able to live their lives free from the fear of discrimination, regardless of which party controls the White House. That’s why, in the weeks ahead, it is critical that Congress pass the Equality Act to establish permanent federal protections against discrimination in housing, education, employment & other key areas of day-to-day life. I look forward to working with the President & my colleagues to get the job done.” Erin Uritus, CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates concluded, “Unfortunately, housing discrimination is the lived reality for many LGBTQ people in our country & this is especially true for the transgender community. Thankfully, President Biden is bringing the full force of the federal government to bear so that no LGBTQ American will be denied a roof over their head just because of who they are or who they love.”

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AIDS Memorial Black Lives Exhibition

During Black History Month the National AIDS Memorial is honoring Black lives lost to AIDS with a specially curated selection of 56 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The virtual exhibition uses the beauty & power of the Quilt to bring to light stories of the countless men, women & children who have died & the impact AIDS has had on Black Americans. John Cunningham, Executive Director of the National AIDS Memorial stated, “This virtual exhibition shares stories of hope, healing & remembrance to honor Black lives lost to AIDS. Our hope is that it helps raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV & the impact systemic barriers have to positive health outcomes, particularly among the Black community.” Raniyah Copeland, President & CEO, Black AIDS Institute added, “Today, Black Americans face the highest impact of HIV/AIDS compared to all other races and ethnicities. This highlights the need to center Black & LGBTQ people in the fight to end the epidemic. By sharing these powerful stories from the Quilt, we can continue to advocate for Black people living with HIV, defy stigma & create awareness around prevention & treatment options available today that can end HIV in Black communities over the next decade.” Gert McMullin, National AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservator concluded, “We selected Quilt panels for this exhibition that tell some of the many stories of Black Americans who lost their lives to AIDS & whose loved ones honored them by stitching their stories, their memories, their hopes into the Quilt. These stories are of children, women & men who we lost to AIDS & who all are remembered through the Quilt.” The exhibition is free to the public & can be viewed now through March 31, 2021. For More Info...

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Trump Discriminatory Regulation Halted

The Biden Administration has halted the discriminatory U.S. Department of Health & Human Services rule that would have eliminated essential protections preventing service providers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, & other characteristics when providing HHS grant-funded services. Currey Cook, Lambda Legal Senior Counsel & Youth In Out-Of-Home Care Project Director stated, “We are thrilled to see this Administration taking immediate steps to prioritize the safety & wellbeing of the communities that HHS is charged with protecting, particularly when it comes to their ability to access the critical services that HHS funds. If this Trump administration rule were ever to become law, our plaintiffs – youth & alumni in foster care & advocacy organizations dedicated to safety & equity for LGBTQ children & families, LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness & LGBTQ seniors - would be harmed, along with other youth & families who would face potential denial of services & discrimination.” Alphonso David Human Rights Campaign President concluded, “Discrimination should not be allowed in federally-funded programs -- it’s plain & simple. We thank Lambda Legal for their leadership on this lawsuit & commend the Biden administration on taking immediate steps to prioritize the well-being & safety of our communities by halting implementation & undertaking a review of a Trump-era policy that would have endangered access to critical services for LGBTQ people, religious minorities & women.” The Biden-Harris administration agreed to postpone the rule’s effective date stating that the Trump-era policy is under review & agreed to advise the court on its progress. The court order issued postpones the effective date of the rule for 180 days until August 2021.

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Jennifer Dane Leads LGBTQ Military Org

The Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) the nation’s largest LGBTQ military organization has selected Jennifer Dane as their new executive director. Dane is a U.S. Air Force veteran & has served as the organization’s interim executive director since February 2020. Joshua Fontanez, Chair of the MMAA Board of Directors stated, “Over the last several months, Jennifer has stepped up to lead & truly moved this organization forward in our fight to advance fairness & equality for the LGBTQ military & veteran community. Her collaborative leadership style & clear vision for modern military & veteran families are a perfect fit for the vitally important work we have ahead of us.” Jennifer Dane MMAA Executive Director concluded, “I’m honored & humbled to be entrusted with this role at a critical juncture in our movement’s history. We’ve come so far & achieved so much thanks to the selfless advocates who never gave up in their fight to overturn discriminatory policies & ensure today’s modern military families have the support they deserve. With so much left to accomplish, I’m proud to lead this organization forward & double down in our incredibly important work to support & defend the LGBTQ military & veteran community.” Jennifer a Air Force veteran served as an intelligence analyst focusing on geopolitical, terrorism & threat vulnerability issues. The Modern Military Association of America formed through the merger of the American Military Partner Association & OutServe-SLDN creating a united voice for the LBGTQ military & veteran community. They work to make a real difference in the lives of our modern military families through education, advocacy & support. For More Info... 

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Supremes Icon Mary Wilson Dies (Audio)

I was very sad to hear that the legendary singer Mary Wilson had died. I talked to Mary in this exclusive audio interview when she was appearing at the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation’s event “Help Is On The Way 24 Celebrating Music, Legends & Icons” in 2018. Wilson was a founding member & longest member of the legendary singing group The Supremes. Wilson remained with the group following the departures of other original members Florence Ballard in 1967 & Diana Ross in 1970 until the group disbanded in 1977. Since then she released three solo albums, five singles & two best-selling autobiographies, “Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme” & “Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together”. Wilson also used her fame & flair to promote humanitarian efforts to end hunger, raise AIDS awareness & encourage world peace. When I asked what her personal commitment was to LGBTQ civil rights Wilson stated, “I have been involved in this fight against AIDS & HIV for years & now you know obviously it’s become something that we all are aware of. So a lot of my friends are in that community & so I want to be a part because they are my friends, my very dear friends. For me it wasn’t even a no brainer. I do it because it’s part of what I do for the people I love.” We also talked about the civil rights movement in this country & the heartbreak of LGBTQ teen suicide which as a mother & grandmother she addressed beautifully about the importance of strong family values in these difficult times. Rest In Peace Mary Wilson. LISTEN  

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LGBTQ Community Combating COVID

In this country we’re dealing with over 27 million COVID cases & over 463K deaths from this pandemic in the past year. We must make sure that government strategies addressing the COVID pandemic include targeted assistance for our LGBTQ communities to ensure that LGBTQ Americans are not overlooked in the rollout of further COVID relief efforts. A new report from the Center for American Progress highlights the significant challenges & inequities that LGBTQ Americans face when trying to access adequate health care & health insurance & the stigma & discrimination they experience in their physical care & mental health. Caroline Medina, a policy analyst for the LGBTQ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress stated, “The public health & economic crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic are compounding existing disparities experienced by LGBTQ people, particularly among LGBTQ people who are Black & Latino, women & low-income. An equity-centered, comprehensive strategy to address the destructive effects of the pandemic on our public health & health care infrastructure will require ensuring that the needs of LGBTQ communities are integrated throughout the response of all levels of government.” LGBTQ people are at greater risk of suffering severe illness from COVID-19 due to experiencing at higher rates than heterosexual & cisgender people chronic health conditions that compromise their immune systems. Even with vaccines rolling out across the country the short & long-term health implications of the pandemic are far from behind us. The Biden administration as well as state & local governments have a responsibility to create targeted policies for populations most in need including LGBTQ people their families & their communities. 

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