THe Need for Full Federal LGBT Equaility

As you know, same-sex couples can now get married in all 50 states and territories across the United States of America... But get this: the fundamental right to marriage does not protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public spaces. Seriously. HRC has put together a helpful infographic that you can share that outlines the areas where LGBT Americans regularly face discrimination and the risks they face on a daily basis. Here's why we're asking you to share our infographic: Most Americans that live in one of the 31 states lacking LGBT non-discrimination protections have no idea that LGBT people lack explicit federal non-discrimination protections. HRC has launched a campaign for full federal equality — nothing more, nothing less. To get there, we must pass the Equality Act — a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination bill that was introduced in Congress last week. This effort has been heralded as the next major fight for the LGBT community by both the Washington Post and the Huffington Post. Within 24 hours of the introduction of this unprecedented bill, millions of Americans learned about the discrimination LGBT people face and the Equality Act from HRC and through dozens of national news stories. HRC members in every single congressional district across the country sent messages to their legislators. Corporations immediately stepped up, as well — including Apple, Microsoft, and General Mills — and the list continues to grow. We need to keep the momentum going and make sure even more people learn about the Equality Act and the very real discrimination LGBT people encounter every day all across the country. You can keep the drumbeat going with HRC today. Share this infographic to spread the word about how many forms of discrimination LGBT people face in their daily lives. By informing others of just how many forms of discrimination LGBT people continue to face, you will help lay the groundwork for the passage of this crucial bill. It's time for a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination law. It's time for the Equality Act.

© 2015 The Human Rights Campaign. All rights reserved. Human Rights Campaign | www.hrc.org 1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 Phone: 202-628-4160 TTY:202-216-1572 Fax: 202-347-5323

President Obama Signs Executive Order to Provide Workplace Protection to Federal Contractors

In a huge victory for equality, the White House just announced it intends to protect 16 million more Americans from discrimination in the workplace. The President plans to sign an executive order that will provide protections to people working for federal contractors nationwide who could face everyday job discrimination.

The news also provides huge momentum to our efforts to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Please, send a note of thanks to President Obama now.

Join us in thanking President Obama, and ask him to issue a strong executive order right away to provide badly-needed workplace protections to millions of people.

President Obama is taking this bold step thanks to people like you pushing for what's right. The news is the culmination of six years of advocacy by the members and supporters of the Human Rights Campaign. After five million emails, principled advocacy by our allies in the civil rights community and on Capitol Hill and a mountain of compelling evidence, our efforts paid off. We won!

The number of people affected by this historic decision is staggering.

Federal contractors employ more than 20 percent of the American workforce. According to the Williams Institute, an executive order would protect 11 million more American workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and up to 16.5 million more American workers from discrimination based on gender identity.

The executive order will also require companies that have historically turned a blind eye to workplace discrimination to change their policies.

Exxon Mobil Corporation—whose shareholders voted for the 17th time to reject an anti-discrimination policy for its LGBT workers just days ago—will now have to provide non-discrimination protections to its LGBT employees and prospective hires. Year after year, Exxon has held the lowest spot in HRC's Corporate Equality Index, with a score of negative 25 out of a possible 100 points. No other company has ever received a negative score.

Not only will this order protect LGBT workers in companies like these—it will also speed up the pace of change by declaring that our government will only award taxpayer dollars to companies with pro-equality workplace policies.

Of course, this is not the end of the fight for comprehensive workplace protection nationwide. We still need our more than 1.5 million members and supporters to speak out and push for a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the House to make workplace equality the law of the land.

But today is proof that the momentum from ENDA's strong, bipartisan passage in the Senate last fall is unyielding.

Send a letter of thanks to President Obama for once again standing on the right side of history, and encourage him to promptly issue a strong federal contractor executive order.

Together, we are pushing the country we love to treat everyone equally—and today promises great progress.

Thank you for all that you do, and for sticking with us through to the day when workplace equality is a reality for all Americans.

Sincerely,


Chad Griffin
President
Human Rights Campaign

U.S. Dept. of Education: Transgender Students Protected Under Title IX

April 29, 2014 by Paul Guequierre

Today the U.S Department of Education issued guidance clarifying that federal Title IX prohibits discrimination against transgender students.

HRC welcomes the guidance issued by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which says "Title IX's sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity and OCR accepts such complaints for investigation."

The need for protections for transgender students is clear.  Seventy-eight percent of transgender children in grades K-12 reported being harassed in school, 35 percent physically assaulted, and 12 percent sexually assaulted, according to a 2011 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

According to “Growing Up LGBT in America,” HRC Foundation’s groundbreaking survey of more than 10,000 LGBT youth, more than four in 10 (42 percent) gender-expansive youth report "frequently" or "often" being called names involving anti-gay slurs and 40 percent report being excluded by peers “frequently” or "often;" and more than half of gender-expansive youth reported “never participating” in the majority of activities listed in the survey (e.g., sports, church/religious youth groups and service organizations) out of fear of discrimination.

HRC has long urged the Department of Education to make clear that transgender and gender non-conforming students are protected under Title IX.  This clarification from the Department of Education will greatly increase the potential for transgender and gender non-conforming students of all ages to be safe at school, to stay in school, and to succeed academically.

Equality Landslide

From marriage campaigns to reelecting President Obama and other priorities, LGBT Americans were the big winners on election night
 
Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

WASHINGTON – Following the largest-ever mobilization of the nation’s LGBT community, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, is celebrating last night’s landslide victories for equality.

During this election cycle alone, HRC, along with our energized supporters, raised and contributed more than $20 million to reelect President Obama and to advance marriage equality and other electoral. And this historic investment paid off.

From the reelection of the most pro-LGBT President in American history, to the election of the first ever openly gay person to the U.S. Senate, to a record level of LGB representation in Congress, to groundbreaking wins at the ballot box for marriage equality (three states and counting), 2012 was a milestone year with a clear mandate for equality moving forward.

To discuss these victories and their significance moving forward, HRC President Chad Griffin will host a national press call at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  To participate in the call, dial (888) 814-4335 at 12:30 p.m.  Conference ID # 69007501.

HRC President Chad Griffin released the following statement:

“When the history books are written, 2012 will be remembered as the year when LGBT Americans won decisively at the ballot box.  The dreams of millions of fair-minded Americans were realized as discrimination crumbled and equality prevailed.”

A snapshot of last night’s historic victories is detailed below.

Pro-Marriage Equality President Wins Reelection

• President Barack Obama is the most pro LGBT equality President in American history, not least for his wholehearted endorsement of marriage equality. He is the first sitting president to have come out publicly for marriage equality and the first marriage equality president to have been re-elected.  

 

• Despite the dire predictions of anti-LGBT organizations, the President’s pro-equality positions strengthened his candidacy and contributed to his victory.

First Openly Gay Senator

• Voters shattered a glass ceiling last night when Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay person elected to the United States Senate and the first female Senator-elect in the history of the Wisconsin delegation.

 

• Baldwin is no stranger to making history. She was the first non-incumbent openly gay member of the House of Representatives following her election in 1998. And upon Congressman Barney Frank’s retirement at the end of the 112^th Congress, Baldwin will become the longest-serving openly gay member of Congress.

                                                                                      

• Inclusive representation in Baldwin’s House district will continue, as openly gay state representative Mark Pocan was elected to succeed her last night.

Pickup of Fair-Minded and Openly LGB Members of Congress

• This was a landmark year for the election of LGB members of Congress. In addition to Tammy Baldwin’s victory on the Senate side, at least 5 (and as many as 6) openly LGB people will be elected to the House of Representatives. This means that LGB representation in Congress will be at a record high of 6 and potentially 7. This is up from 4 members this Congress.

 

• Among these victorious candidates is California’s Mark Takano, the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress. And Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema would be the first openly bisexual member of Congress, though most major networks have not yet called this race.

 

• LGBT voters are celebrating the victories of our straight allies as well. The United States Senate saw a net gain of four pro-marriage equality Senators—Chris Murphy in Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, Angus King in Maine and Martin Heinrich in New Mexico. And Hawaii’s Mazie Hirono and Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin will continue the pro-marriage equality record of their predecessors.  

Marriage Wins at Ballot Box for First Time

• Voters made history last night by affirming marriage equality in Maine, Maryland and Minnesota

 

• Marriage equality is currently leading in Washington State as well, with additional results expected later today.  

 

• This is the very first time that marriage equality has been approved by popular vote at the ballot box. As a result, one victory for marriage equality would have been historic, three or more is nothing short of a sea change.

 

• In each of these four states, pro-equality advocates outworked our adversaries and dedicated ourselves to changing hearts and minds.

 

• According to the campaign disclosure reports for each of the states, the pro-equality coalitions raised $32.7 million to guarantee these victories, while anti-equality organizations raised $11.3 million, including $1.3 million from the Catholic Church.

 

• HRC has invested $8.4 million during the 2012 election cycle to legislative and electoral marriage efforts, including $5.5 million in these four campaigns.

 

• These victories were made possible because of enthusiastic and diverse faith coalitions, widespread business support from the likes of General Mills, Starbucks, Nike and Reuters and civic organizations of all stripes coming together to stand up for fairness. The President and Mrs. Obama’s steadfast support for marriage equality was a critical lynchpin.

Voters Retain Iowa Justice Who Decided for Marriage

• Fair-minded Iowa voters beat back an attempt led by the National Organization for Marriage to politicize and undermine Iowa’s independent judiciary.

 

• Justice David Wiggins—one of the Iowa Supreme Court justices who took part in a unanimous 2009 decision affirming marriage equality in the state—faced a campaign similar to those which successfully ousted three of his colleagues two years ago.

 

• This attempt was stopped in its tracks, dealing a blow to a dangerous precedent which would undermine independent judiciaries around the country.

LGBT Voters Flex Political Muscle, Break for President

• LGBT voters and fair-minded allies turned out in droves to support President Barack Obama’s re-election. The national exit poll found that lesbian, gay and bisexual voters increased their overall share of the electorate to 5%, and that this group increased its overall support for the President by 7% to a high of 77%. 

The States

• There are important fights still to come, and last night’s election laid the groundwork for our future progress.

 

• We celebrated the election of pro-marriage equality advocate and former New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan to the governor’s mansion in the Granite State. Her victory means attempts to roll back New Hampshire’s popular marriage equality law are dead in their tracks.

 

• And new Democratic majorities in the Colorado and Minnesota state legislatures provide real opportunities to win relationship recognition there in the months to come.

 

To participate in the call, dial (888) 814-4335 at 12:30 p.m.  Conference ID # 69007501.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Federal Report Shows Stark Health Disparities in Lesbian and Bisexual Women

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is including lesbian and bisexual women as a special population in the Women’s Health USA 2011 report for the first time ever. This annual data book identifies priorities, trends, and disparities in women’s health. “Women’s Health USA provides the public with a valuable resource for describing the status of women's health throughout the nation,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “By highlighting critical health issues affecting women, this volume draws attention to age, income and race and ethnic disparities in women’s health.”

The report acknowledges that the unique status and health needs of lesbians and bisexual women are shaped by sexual identity and behavior, as well as traditional factors like age, education, race, and ethnicity. The report suggests that lesbian and bisexual women are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes, including being overweight and obesity, poor mental health, substance abuse, violence, and barriers to accessing health care due to social and economic inequities. For example, lesbians reported receiving an annual gynecological check-up at half the rate of straight women despite reporting the same level of insurance coverage. Lesbians and bisexual women are also twice as likely to report smoking and binge drinking as opposed to their straight counterparts.

As a recent Institute of Medicine Report concluded, more data is needed to adequately identify and address the unique health needs and disparities in the LGBT population as a whole. HRC supports the development of this much needed data. HRC also recognizes that bias on the part of health care providers and fear of discrimination can intensify these health disparities and outcomes. Through HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index, we are working to improve this landscape and empower LGBT individuals to demand equal, quality health care.

Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com
Posted at HRC blog at http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/federal-report-shows-stark-health-disparities-in-lesbian-and-bisexual-women?utm_source=Convio&utm_medium=email&utm_term=News-link-3&utm_campaign=HRCnews-November-2011

Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Introduced in House and Senate

Today, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act. This legislation would provide youth and young adults with comprehensive sex education replacing ineffective abstinence-only programs and also would provide funding for teacher training in sex education. The legislation would make grants available to public or private entities that focus on adolescent health and education or have experience with training sex educators. Grants also would be available to institutions of higher education.

In response to introduction of the Act, HRC President Joe Solmonese stated, “Senator Lautenberg and Representative Lee understand that schools should be providing our nation’s youth with comprehensive, age-appropriate, evidence-based sex education.” He added, “[f]or too long our nation’s youth have been left in the dark without access to accurate information and resources. HRC has long opposed federal funding for abstinence-only programs because they exclude, or even denigrate, LGBT students. This bill ensures that all students, including LGBT students, receive the instruction and information they need to make informed, responsible life decisions.”

The Real Education for Healthy Youth Act would require, rather than merely encourage, inclusiveness of LGBT youth in sex education. It also would prohibit federal funding to programs that are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of LGBT youth. The goals of the legislation include preventing unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, sexual abuse, dating violence, bullying, and harassment. The program also seeks to promote healthy relationships and aims to uphold the rights of youth to accurate information about sexual health. Federal funding would be prohibited for any programs that withhold information about HIV, are medically inaccurate or proven ineffective, promote gender stereotypes, are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of sexually active or LGBT youth, or are inconsistent with ethical imperatives of medicine and public health.

Posted at HRC blog http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/comprehensive-sex-education-bill-introduced-in-house-and-senate?utm_source=Convio&utm_medium=email&utm_term=News-link-5&utm_campaign=HRCnews-November-2011
Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

IRS Formally Agrees with Historic Court Ruling for Transgender Taxpayers

On Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service announced its intent to formally agree, termed a "notice of acquiescence," with an historic 2010 decision of the U.S. Tax Court that overturned IRS policy disallowing tax deductions for medical care related to gender transition. The case, O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner, was brought by our colleagues at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders on behalf of a transgender woman who was denied the ability to utilize a federal income tax deduction for medical care costs because the IRS considered her transition-related care not to be medically necessary. In asserting its position, the IRS had cited 2005 guidance from the IRS's Chief Counsel.

The announcement notes that the IRS now agrees with the Tax Court's conclusion and that the IRS rescinds its contrary 2005 guidance. The announcement follows HRC’s formal request as part of HRC’s recommendations to the Obama administration, the Blueprint for Positive Change -- and actively lobbying the IRS Chief Counsel. The decision to formally agree with the O'Donnabhain decision, makes clear to transgender taxpayers that they are equally able to utilize the medical care deduction for medically necessary care, and helps to ensure that IRS field agents are aware of the law.

We applaud the IRS for taking a step that will help to address the financial burdens many transgender people face in simply trying to obtain appropriate care.

Posted at HRC blog http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/irs-formally-agrees-with-historic-court-ruling-for-transgender-taxpayers?utm_source=Convio&utm_medium=email&utm_term=News-link-6&utm_campaign=HRCnews-November-2011
Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

A Progress Report on Gay Employee Health Benefits: The Cost of Geing Gay

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD
Updated | 10/17/11 with new details in chart posted by HRC. Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

A look at the financial realities of same-sex partnerships.
A growing number of companies are covering the extra costs that same-sex couples pay for domestic partner benefits — and even more companies are thinking about it. So we've decided to keep track of who is doing what in a chart at the bottom of this post.

While many companies offer domestic partnership coverage — an important benefit on its own since same-sex couples' unions are not recognized by the federal government — some pioneering organizations are extending an even more generous policy. They're essentially reimbursing gay employees for the extra taxes they may incur as a result of that coverage, something that married heterosexual people don't have to worry about.

Why is this an issue? Gay and lesbian employees who are lucky enough to work at places that have domestic partner coverage are taxed on the value of those benefits (if the partner is not considered a dependent). A handful of companies cover those extra costs, but not until Google adopted that policy earlier this year did the movement to equalize benefits begin to gain traction. Apple is the latest boldface name to join the effort.
A provision within a draft of the health care overhaul bill would have eliminated the tax, but it was ultimately dropped. The Human Rights Campaign said it continued to work on getting a bill passed, but until that happens — if it ever does — employees or their employers must pay the extra tax. (Many companies will cover the costs only for same-sex partners, since opposite-sex couples have the option to marry.)

"Companies that are doing the right thing are doing so at a cost to themselves, and the simplest way to address this inequity is to have the law changed to support or make it easier for them to have equal benefits," said Daryl Herrschaft, director of the Human Rights Campaign's Workplace Project.

Several readers sent us tips on companies that decided to make the change, and they appear on the list below. We also called several large companies that publicly supported the legislation — as part of a coalition led by the Human Rights Campaign — and asked if they planned to adopt the policy, even in the absence of a law.

The biggest deterrent, of course, is the cost. Many companies support efforts to eliminate the tax altogether, but they're unwilling to cover the costs employees now face.

Roughly speaking, it would cost an employer about $2,000 to $2,500 to reimburse — or "gross up" – an employee who incurred extra taxes of $1,200 to $1,500, according to Joseph S. Adams, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery who specializes in employee benefits. The numbers will vary depending on several factors, including the employee's tax bracket and state of residence. This example assumes a 25 percent federal tax bracket (and includes rough estimates for state, local, and employment taxes for Social Security and Medicare, bringing the total rate to about 40 percent).

National Coming Out Day Support from HRC

Donate your Facebook status for National Coming Out Day!
Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or a straight ally, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBT equality this Coming Out Day!

Use HRC's Coming Out for Equality Facebook app to show your support and spread a message of equality to your friends and family. It's the courage to come out as an active voice for LGBT equality that will result in real political and social change.

New ways to come out for equality will be added each week leading up to October 11.

About the App
Once you add the app, select one of the "Actions to Take" to get started! After completing each action, be sure to claim your equality (EQ) badge and encourage others to get involved by sharing your badge on Facebook, inviting your friends and family to take action and tweeting with the #comingout hashtag.

We can't do this alone, but together we can make a difference. Recruit your friends and family to Come Out for Equality and earn a badge for your efforts.

Learn about Coming Out Day
•History of National Coming Out Day

Living Openly
However you identify, HRC and its Coming Out Project hope these guides help you meet the challenges and opportunities that living openly offers to each of us:

•Find coming out guides and other resources
•Order publications in bulk via the HRC Shop get 20% off

Are You a Straight Ally?
Check out A Straight Guide to LGBT Americans to learn about the emotional spectrum that people typically feel after someone comes out to them and find easy ways to learn more and demonstrate your support for LGBT Americans and equality.

•Download the guide

Save the Date! HRC Columbus Gala

28th Annual HRC

 Columbus Gala Dinner

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Ohio State University, Ohio Union

1736 N. High St

Columbus, OH 43201

Dress: Black Tie Optional

Regular Price $175.00 + Box Office Tickets Service Fee

www.hrccolumbusdinner.com

Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com/ 

Kristen is organizing a table and you are welcome to help support this fantastic organization, celebrate the successes of the past year (DADT repeal!) and have a glamorous night on the town!

There will be entertainment, dancing, food and cocktails and both a live and silent auction. There is something for every taste and budget.

HRC is still accepting donations for the auction items. This is a great opportunity to reach a progressive audience and customers for your business. For more information on Human Rights Campaign (HRC) please check out our Facebook or website. Please contact Kristen at 740/788-0303 (or kframe@mhalc.org) for more information.

We ask that tickets be purchased on Box Office Tickets via www.hrccolumbusdinner.com, but a check is fine. Your check may be sent to Brock Leonti at 63 East Gay Street, Floor 2, Columbus, OH 43215. You'll need to indicate name, phone, e-mail and at which table you wish to be seated. Indicate captain table, Kristen Frame/DU, if you would like to sit with your DU friends.

Here is a great opportunity for a Denison alumni event. Kristen Frame ’89 is reserving a table for Alumni Club friends to attend the fabulous HRC Columbus Gala! This year’s event will be in the beautiful OSU Union Ballroom.

Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations

 This is is an excerpt from Bisexual Invisibility: Impacts and Recommendations, a report by San Fransisco Human Rights Commission. The report is an important resource and the first of it's kind to focus on research, and data about the bisexual community.The report is available at http://www.sf-hrc.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=989

“Maybe it’s about learning to see my dual desires as two magnets that stick instead of two magnets that push each other away.”

I like men. I have spent my whole life in their company. I’ve been married and have had countless

boyfriends. I have been in love with many men and sexually attracted to even more. I get

something from a man that feeds my soul in the most authentic way. I am heterosexual.

I like women. Almost every erotic dream or sexual fantasy I have ever had has been about

women. I’ve had many sexually supercharged lesbian encounters. All of them fleeting, some of

them sneaky, every one of them blazed on my memory in a way that makes my skin tingle to this

day. I am a lesbian.

There’s a more accurate word for what I am though: it’s “bisexual”. But I struggle with this term.

First of all, it contains the word “sexual” which is limiting as it makes it uncomfortable to talk

about with children, for example.

Plus, aren’t there periods of my life when I long for men and can’t imagine being with a woman?

And when I’m longing for women, I can’t imagine being with a man. The two states never coexist.

When I was married, I was happy, as long as I was in a man-longing state; during my

woman-longing states, my marriage felt like a forced sexual nightmare. In the end, the marriage

couldn’t survive. Would a lesbian relationship be any different?

I’m beginning to think that I will never find out. Many lesbians say they “don’t date bisexuals.”

Discrimination? “No, it’s a choice,” they say. Fine. Whatever. Maybe I even see what they mean.

I do come out, though, to people I date and to others. Admitting that I’m bisexual to my

heterosexual friends is embarrassing, though

Like the next thing I’m going to say is, “Do you want to watch me go down on your girlfriend?”

Admitting that I’m bisexual to my gay friends is just as awkward, like admitting that I’m not a “real”

lesbian. As if I had parts missing or am contaminated by the semen that still lingers inside me.

But maybe it’s really more about my own attitude. Maybe it’s about learning to be able to see my

dual desires as two magnets that stick instead of two magnets that push each other away.

I’ve noticed that unless you’re in the habit of walking into rooms with a woman on one arm and a

man on the other, it’s hard for anybody to ever see the whole of you all at once. How do we ever

know who the bisexuals are unless we reach out to each other in a very purposeful way? I have

literally never been invited to do this

―like admitting to a certain brand of sluttiness.―until now. Thank you.– Gina C., 50, female

2011 YOUTH POETRY SCHOLARSHIP

This is a brief posting at keystothecloset.blogspot.com. For important detailed information contact Dare to Care at the address below.

First Prize: $1000; Second Prize: $ 500; Third Prize: $ 250 ELIGIBILITY: All entrants must be residents of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, or Summit counties and aged between 14 and 18 years of age by the date of submission. Immediate family members of The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trangender (LGBT) Center of Greater Cleveland and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Cleveland Steering Committee, Sub-Committees, and their Board of Directors, are ineligible to enter.

THE CONTEST: The Dare to Care Poetry prize honors the lives of youth and young adults who have suffered the effects of hate as a result of their sexual identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The only stipulation for the poem’s con-tent is that it should have a defy hate theme and address the consequences of bigotry, specifically homophobia, and/or transpho-bia and the negativity they engender in our culture, lives, and hearts. Homophobia and transphobia describe the irrational fear of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people that expresses itself in anti-LGBT emotions, thoughts, and actions.

POEM: Poems must be original work and free of plagiarism or copyrighted material. Failure to use original material will result in disqualification. Poems must be titled, previously unpublished, and either typed, (double-spaced, 12 font) in black ink on 8.5 x 11 paper, (or standard Microsoft Word template), or legibly hand written.. Do not use italic or bolded print. Colored ink, colored pa-per, graphics or images will not be accepted. Poems should not exceed 50 lines in length. Poems that are longer than 50 lines will not be included in the competition, so please count the lines carefully.

ENTRY IDENTIFICATION: Please download and print (or copy) the required application form (available after December 1st 2010 – http://cleveland.hrc.org/). The title of your poem, but not your name, should appear in the header at the top of each sub-mission page and on the application form. Mail-in submissions should be sent to: Dare to Care Poetry Competition P.O. Box 451174 Westlake, OH 44145. On-line applications and submissions are available @ http://www.hrc.org/daretocarepoetry/ or by emailing: daretocarepoetry@aol.com.

DEADLINE: The deadline for all entries is midnight April 15th, 2011. The LGBT Center and the HRC Cleveland Steering Com-mittee is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries, whether caused by mail/other delivery systems or human error which may occur in the processing of entries to this contest; or any problems/technical malfunctions of any computer equip-ment or software by either the applicant, The LGBT Center or the HRC Cleveland Steering Committee.

Clergy Call for Equality

This May 22-24, we encourage you to join HRC’s Religion and Faith Program and hundreds of fellow religious leaders from across the country to build the faithful movement for LGBT justice.  Now more than ever we need religious leaders like you to keep equality at the forefront of our nation’s conscience.  Sign up now for the 2011 Clergy Call for Justice and Equality in Washington, DC and  gather with colleagues from Ohio and beyond to organize, learn, worship and bring your witness for justice to Capitol Hill.  Learn more at www.hrc.org/clergycall.

Reposted at keystothecloset.blogspot.com

Clergy Call for Equality

This May 22-24, we encourage you to join HRC’s Religion and Faith Program and hundreds of fellow religious leaders from across the country to build the faithful movement for LGBT justice.  Now more than ever we need religious leaders like you to keep equality at the forefront of our nation’s conscience.  Sign up now for the 2011 Clergy Call for Justice and Equality in Washington, DC and gather with colleagues from Ohio and beyond to organize, learn, worship and bring your witness for justice to Capitol Hill.  Learn more at www.hrc.org/clergycall.

 http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com/

VICTORY

Illinois governor signs civil unions law

by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed his state's new civil unions bill into law on January 31. The law will take effect on June 1. 'Here we are in 2011 on the eve of Abraham Lincoln's 202nd birthday and I think this is very special,' Quinn said at the signing ceremony. 'We believe in civil rights and we believe in civil unions.' Quinn was joined by 20 Illinois political leaders and a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 1,000 supporters in a hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. Among those attending the signing were Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Mike Madigan, Rep. Deborah Mell, Rep. Greg Harris, and Sen. Dave Koehler. The Chicago Gay Men's chorus performed at the ceremony. 'This legislation represents a giant step toward equality,' Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. 'If you enter a civil union, you can now visit your loved one in the hospital to make medical decisions and not be turned away. You can take time off to care for your partner and not lose your job.' According to the State Journal-Register newspaper, supporters of the new law worried that they might not be able to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend the signing ceremony. 'Our biggest problem right now is public response of people who want to be there to witness the ceremony. They feel this is part of history,' Rep. Greg Harris told reporters. The new law, titled the 'Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act,' allows both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to enter into civil unions, giving them some of the same benefits automatically available to married couples, including the right to visit a sick partner in the hospital, disposition of a deceased partner's remains and the right to make decisions about a partner's medical care. According to Illinois LGBT activists, the new law provides more than 650 spousal benefits and protections. The law also allows religious institutions to define marriage as they choose. Illinois law will continue to define marriage as a one man-one woman relationship. Illinois joins 17 states, plus the District of Columbia, in recognizing some form of protection for committed same-sex couples - from limited partnership rights through civil unions to full marriage equality. Human rights activists greeted the new law with enthusiasm. 'Today marks a tremendous step towards equality for all families in Illinois,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese. 'HRC commends Governor Quinn for his commitment to ensuring civil unions became law. Congratulations to Rep. Greg Harris, lead sponsor of the bill, who fought for years to ensure civil unions would become a reality, and thank you to Equality Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois for their tireless efforts on behalf of the LGBT community.' 'This new law reflects the triumph of hope and fairness over distortion and division,' said Jill Metz, president of the ACLU of Illinois Board of Directors. 'Today marks yet another victory in the clear trend line of achieving fairness for families across the country,' said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. Lambda Legal announced a new program to help Illinois families protected by the new law to obtain the full range of benefits they are entitled to. 'We have had a surge of calls to our Legal Help Desk since November when the law passed the legislature,' said Camilla Taylor, senior staff attorney at the Midwest Regional Office of Lambda Legal in Chicago. 'By launching Civil Union Tracker with our partners at Equality Illinois, our goal is to provide a much-needed service to same-sex and different-sex couples in civil unions, and to their children. Many will have questions about what the law means. We also know from experience in other states with civil unions that many families will encounter difficulties in getting respect for their status as legally recognized families after the law goes into effect. Our goal is to help these families navigate Illinois' new legal landscape with as few challenges as possible.' Tell a friend:

HRC Action

Did you know that in 29 states it's legal to fire someone just because they're lesbian, gay, or bisexual? Or that in 38 states, it's legal to fire someone for being transgender?
That's unacceptable -- no one should be at risk of losing their livelihood because of who they are. The good news is Congress is right now considering a bill that would make that kind of discrimination illegal across the country.
The bill's sponsors are calling for our help RIGHT NOW to ensure we have enough votes to pass the bill. We're less than 20 cosponsors away from having the votes locked in.
Click the link below to tell your member of Congress to support this bill today!
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=777