#AllCitiesMatter

What he said -- minus the LOL.

Complete Non-Sense

ENDA: Stuck in a '90s Time Warp

"The fact that ENDA is unlikely to get a vote in the House gives us a chance to make sure the religious exemption comes out of this bill. That may make it harder to get it passed, and it may take a lot longer, but so be it. There are no shortcuts or bargains on civil rights. And quite honestly, when you ask for crumbs from the outset, both your friends and your enemies don't take you very seriously." 

Couldn't agree with Michelangelo Signorile more about this bullshit "religious exemption" crap Rob Portman and other Republicans are inserting into the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Do these senators not understand what the prefix "non" means?) I know a lot of us thought demanding full-marriage rights was crazy when "domestic partnerships" and the like might be easier for the general population to swallow, and look how wrong they were. I say we stand our ground.

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ACLU Response to Senate Moving One Step Closer to Passing ENDA

You know the House is going to totally fuck this up, but at least the Senate did something, voting today to begin debate on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) by a bipartisan vote of 61-30. Here's what the American Civil Liberties Union had to say about this historic day on Capitol Hill:

"Tonight, we are one step closer to finally enshrining in law the basic principle that job applicants and employees should be judged on their professional credentials and the caliber of their work, and not be penalized because of who they are," said Ian Thompson, American Civil Liberties Union legislative representative. "We urge the Senate to pass these long-sought and overdue protections without delay.” A vote on final passage in the Senate is expected later this week.

ENDA Advances in Senate Panel With Bipartisan Support

SDGLN reports:

A Senate panel voted 15-7 today to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that would protect LGBT workers. The bill got bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, aka the HELP Committee.

Now let's hope the full Senate will approve it so we can watch the House shit all over gay people once again.

Florida Employee Fired for Being Transgendered

City commissioners in Largo, Fla., voted Tuesday night to fire its longtime city administrator -- less than a week after it was disclosed the employee is embarking on sex reassignment. For 14 years Steven Stanton -- who now goes by Susan -- was an admired member of the Tampa Bay community's local government. Last week after a local newspaper acting on a tip began asking questions Stanton sat down with the St. Petersburg Times and divulged her status. In an interview at Largo City Hall, which also included Mayor Pat Gerard, Stanton told the paper she has begun receiving hormone therapy and counseling -- a requirement for transitioning. Stanton, who is married and the father of a teenaged son, said she had not intended to go public until later in the year when her son would be out of town and would not be subjected to the publicity. She said that plan changed when the Times began asking questions.

This dismissal is really outrageous and just goes to show that despite all the talk about progress in the area of gender and sexuality issues, things really haven't changed much. I'm reading Dr. Renee Richards' new book, "No Way Renee," right now and Stranton's situation is similar to Richards' in that they were both both fathers of young boys whom they sought to shield from the situation, and were both forced to "come out" by inquiring newspaper reporters. Let's hope Stanton follows Richards' footsteps and doesn't take this dismissal lying down. (365Gay)