It is completely true. My innocent little email was rejected by the Steel City Media cyber guardians. I just wanted to ask Chris Potter a question. Rest assured, Potter was on it once I made the call. And once it became apparent that someone in marketing couldn't email her boyfriend ... well, he was on it a little bit. He does have important columns to write and it has been awhile since he played the white-straight-guy privilege card so I'm gonna assume this was all just a big misunderstanding.
The important thing is that Gary and Beth are gone, right? Right?
OK, onto other topics. Letters to the editor. The PG has been full of 'em -- everyone has something to write about gay marriage. Some of it is good, some of it is crap. Most of it is poorly written, but filled with joie de vivre!
Interesting to me has been the dearth of letters in the Tribune Review. What's up with that? Have the subscribers been so blindsided by Richie's meeting with Hillary Clinton that they've lost track of important gay-bashing goals? I mean how are you supposed to oppress an entire group of citizens if your base isn't stepping up on the letter writing? The next thing, we'll be distributing civil rights to Mexicans, Hondurans and <gasp> people who wear turbans but aren't Islamic. What is this world coming to?
I wrote a letter to the Post-Gazette, but I forgot to send it to myself so I'm not 100% sure what I wrote. I know that I did praise Doug Shields and draw comparisons between Sally Kern and the gay marriage amendment stuff here in PA. I thought it was topical and had a national contexty flair that has yet to come to light in the other "published" letters. Whatever.
Seriously, my letter. It rocked.
Slow day at lesbian central. I didn't cry when I came home which is a first since Mona's demise. I really appreciate when people offer their condolences, but it isn't fun when someone wants to know about the injection experience. I would think my terse one-word answers would be a social cue that I don't want to talk about it. Ledcat brought my tulips from a local flower store here on the Northside. He has a dog and now she wants a small little dog. I draw the line at a dog that could actually squeeze outside of the fence.
See what lesbian marriage creates? Tulips (patronizing local businesses), a clean load of dishes (cleanliness next to Godliness), Chinese take out (more local business and the family of Ming Na -- hottie!), the one repeat of NCIS I missed this year (don't ask and I won't tell), and my secret hope that Ledcat will go ahead and replace the cat vomited sheets while I'm up here doing important blogging work.
Q92.9. I listen. I find the autotron female voice very amusing. As well the lack of gay bashing phone calls being aired. Ah, sweet.
I've been wracking my brains all weekend for an approach to this day. You've read all the facts about the legislation attempting to amend the PA constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. It has the potential to hurt a lot of people, gay and straight alike.
You've read all the arguments from those who want to impose their Christian-interpretation of marriage on the rest of us. And those who believe gay rights are not a civil rights issue (check out today's Post-Gazette for more on that). You've also heard from thoughtful Christian leaders who do affirm individuals who are LGBTQ. There was also civil rights luminary Coretta Scott King's affirmation. We can trump card each other until the end of the day.
What you may not know, particularly if you are heterosexual, is the impact that all of this has on day to day life. All of what? All of the constant negative discussion about the gay community -- of course, there is a connection between the rhetoric that people hear in the pulpit and the way they treat gay people, or teach their children to treat gay people. Love the sinner, hate the sin is not the American way. Treat people poorly who get between you and what you believe is yours is a bit more accurate, particularly when there is a relentless drum beat about their being "one" way and "one" truth in a land of religious freedom.
I live in Pittsburgh, a fairly gay-positive place considering how socially conservative most Catholics can be. Still, there are probably three public places in the entire region where I would be comfortable holding the hand of my partner, Ledcat. We spend entire weeks where we only touch each other inside our home or our vehicle. I'm talking the most simple gestures -- and believe me, I'm very aware of those right now. We lost our beloved pet this week and I've been inconsolable. You know that feeling of grief that sweeps over you unexpectedly ... imagine that the person you love is right next to you, but has to be careful about the things she says or the way she touches you when consoling you about a deep loss.
It is horrible. We have been fortunate to only have experienced a few frightening incidents -- mostly kids and mostly being stupid. But it is still frightening to have anyone try to menace you because they think you are gay. They get that message from their parents, their preachers and their peers -- gay people are fair game. So they use whatever power they have -- intimidation, verbal harassment, even constitutional amendments -- to keep you down. It happens at all levels -- I once had a supervisor send me an email with an embedded photoshopped image that degraded lesbians. He thought it was funny. It might have been funny coming from my friend Bob, but not someone with power and authority over my career.
We have to pick our battles. I fought back against the supervisor because I had protections in place. I walked away from the menacing kids and found a public space because I had no protection from their ignorance other than the brightness of public opinion. I'm fighting back against this amendment because I think we have to draw a line in the sand on this one. Let the bigots stew in their own hatred and fear if they so choose. That's why they have their own churches. But just as they are free to practice their religions, I am free *from* their religions.
Change is on the horizon. Children grow up surrounded by cultural gay images -- television, music, movies, video games, etc. They have gay friends in school and know gay neighbors. This chips away at the mantra of fear emanating from those who seem to have the most to lose if we are granted our due equal rights. OK, so I still don't understand who that is, but I'm trying to allow bigots their due.
I want to hold Ledcat's hand. Ultimately, I want to hold her hand in mine forever. But I'm content to start with holding it at Target.
Just this morning, I read my favorite comic strip, For Better or For Worse, and there is a reference to gay marriage (Michael's friend Lawrence is gay and has a partner, Nicholas). It is a casual reference, but I thought it an auspicious omen for this first ever Pgh Blogging for Equality Day.
For B4E posts from my fellow bloggers, click on the logo at the top and follow the links ...
Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, is an ignorant pea brained jerk. And that's me in a mellow mood. The PG published his letter to the editor (and NOT mine). He makes two points in response to the PG's editorial that the "marriage protection" amendment is unnecessary (and redundant)
First, [t]he PG editors seem unwilling to look beyond Pennsylvania's borders when it comes to understanding the debate over the proposed Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment, SB 1250
Ahem. Mr. Geer. You didn't do your homework on this one. Please consider Ohio where the amendment you propose allows men who batter their partners to avoid conviction of domestic abuse because they aren't married. Or Michigan where a similar amendment deprives state and municipal entities (including colleges) from offering domestic partner benefits, hampering their recruitment efforts. Or Florida, where a proposed amendment, will impact approximately 17,000 children with same-sex parents.
So, yes indeed, let every Pennsylvania voter -- every resident, adult and child alike -- look outside our state to see what havoc this legislative hatred brings into the lives of thousands of people, heterosexuals included. I suppose you could say that those Ohio women shouldn't be shacking up with men outside of marriage. Or that Michigan should send more recruiters to Oral Roberts University anyway. And, shucks, Florida loses children in the child welfare system so often, that what's another 17,000 anyway?
How does any of this protect your marriage? Because none of you have made that clear. You just hide behind the next argument.
Without a Marriage Protection Amendment, Pennsylvania's marriage law is at risk from a legal challenge that could arise at any moment. It's time for lawmakers to let the people decide and pass SB 1250. To the Post-Gazette, it may be bigotry, but to most Pennsylvanians, it's simply fair.
Let the people decide. That worked out well during Reconstruction and the following ... well, forever years. It took the people nearly 140 years to decide that women should vote (maybe someone should remind the Christian Women's Groups of that). If only that pesky Supreme Court would stop interfering, the people could just keep on deciding who deserves civil rights and who doesn't.
Wrong, Geer. The CONSTITUTION decides. Check out the comments from City Council Pres. (and honorary lesbian) Doug Shields in a previous post. The people don't get to decide to create a second-class group of citizens because our very existence offends you. Life isn't fair, Geer. A lot of things offend me --- people who kill animals, parents who abuse their children, the entire system of senior support services in our nation -- but what especially offends me is when religious bigots like you want to impose your moral belief system on the rest of us, especially when you play some sort of quasi-democracy shell game.
You can't cry "freedom of religion" in the name of Constitutional law and then turn around to strike out the parts of that document that you don't like. That's just wrong. There's nothing fair about it.
I just hope some more people decide to call their Senators. You can bet your Bill of Rights that Geer has mobilized a full flotilla of Christians to make those calls. Are we gonna let him get away with this?
Short, but sweet. Have you written your letter to the editor, yet?
Senate Bill 1250, the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment, is in direct violation of my religious beliefs as a Zen Buddhist priest ("Panel OKs Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage," March 19).
I am a strong advocate of marriage and live under a strict ethical code (which predates Christianity). That code of ethics guides my actions toward kindness, compassion and generosity and not toward anger, hatred and bigotry.
Our commonwealth was organized for the benefit of all its citizens. It is time we take down (not put up) the signs saying "No gays allowed."
REV. KYOKI ROBERTS Head Priest Zen Center of Pittsburgh
Well, we lost this round. Our local allies, Jay Costa and Wayne Fontana, voted no, but even with Republican Jane Earll they couldn't prevent the "marriage protection" amendment from being voted out of committee. The legislation heads for the Appropriations Committee and then to the floor of the full Senate.
Here's how the vote went down. Note that Jane Orie went with the bigots, even though she didn't cosponsor the amendment.
yes -- lisa boscola, john gordner, jane orie, jeff piccola, john rafferty, mike stack, barry stout, M.J. white, stewart greenleaf, joe scarnati
no -- patrick browne, jay costa, jane earll, wayne fontana
I have had a really tough day at work so coherent commentary may be out of reach for this lesbian. When I think of the outrage over the Sally Kern hate-spew, I can't help but wonder if each of those people calling for her resignation took the time to weigh in on this particular issue right here in Pittsburgh. Right here.
Cause guess what? Last time around, our Senators played political footsie to have their homo-friendly appeal and keep their traditional Catholic values voters happy. I'm guessing not much has changed. This amendment calls for a ban on civil unions which may have repercussions for heterosexual couples as well as reach far beyond marriage to impact health care decisions and estate decisions and so forth. This apparently is the deal breaker for the Republi-bigots. Strip out the civil union language and they take their toys and go home.
It disgusts me that we have so few people willing to just say "hey its wrong." Instead, we have to play games and engage in the same old, same old. I am so tired of being a political football.
It is back. According to Equality Advocates, the legislation to start the constitutional amendment process roared back to life on Valentine's Day.
Just yesterday, SB 1250, the "Marriage Protection Amendment," was published and referred to the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. There are 17 co-sponsors, the same number as last time. Four Republican Senators who co-sponsored similar legislation last time, are NOT co-sponsoring it this time around. Also, last time around, there were no Democrats as co-sponsors and this time there are two.
This legislation would embed anti-gay marriage protections into the constitution of our Commonwealth by defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Pennsylvania, as you may recall, has existing legislation which does that very thing and there are no attempts on the horizon to challenge that legislation. To my knowledge.
We had a bitter struggle over this in 2006. Many Southwestern Pennsylvania Democrats in the House voted in favor of the amendment. The Senate did some fancy footwork by introducing a watered-down version of the amendment (would not outlaw civil unions), counting on the fact that the Repubs would never go for it and they were right. So everyone walked away claiming they voted for it and against it. It all boils down to the fact that very few of our legislators were willing to publicly stand up against discrimination and homophobia.
Fast forward to 2008. Legislation in the House and the Senate to expand the Human Relations Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender presentation are gaining momentum and co-sponsors. Pittsburgh elects an openly gay City Councilperson. PA Human Relations Commission Chair Steve Glassman, an openly gay man, is reappointed in spite of attempts by the AFA of PA to oppose the appointment. Philadelphia is not allowing tax payers to foot the rent for the openly discriminatory Boy Scouts. Presidential candidates participate in a televised debate sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign.
We have made progress. We cannot afford to let this push us back to the "I voted for it because I was against it" political survival mentality.
Here's the sponsorship breakdown, courtesy of Equality Advocates. I've noted the Western PA folks and the two Democrats. Note that no Democrats supported this legislation last time it was in the Senate. Let's ask ourselves who is making the most contacts in those districts.
Brubaker Musto (D), Gordner, Scarnati, Kasunic (32nd - Fayette, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland counties AND a D), Armstrong, Corman, Eichelberger, Folmer, Regola (39th - Westmoreland Co.) Madigan, Robbins (50th - Mercer and Crawford counties), Piccola, Waugh, Rhoades, Punt and Wonderling
The good news is that four co-sponsors last time around have opted to NOT co-sponsor the legislation this time.Three of those individuals are from Western Pennsylvania. If you live in their districts, call them or email them and affirm that decision, asking them to focus on issues more important to your district than marriage protection overkill. Tell them about the economy and health care and road infrastructure and taxation issues that are having a real impact on your family right now.
The 4th individual is Senator Rafferty from the Berks County region.
So, three Western Pennsylvania Senators have opted not to participate in a fear-driven attempt to scapegoat homosexuals while residents of Pennsylvania struggle with actual problems like the Birmingham Bridge suddenly breaking or the inability of multiple rich people to get a decent grocery store into an urban, predominantly African-American community or the shooting death of two teenagers due to gang violence. Oh hey, how about this one -- the media is filled with analysis on how to help mentally ill people stop killing college students, but once again there's no cost of living allowance in the state budget for mental health providers. Nice. How about fixing that little problem?
Truth be told people, your family is much more likely to drive across a failing bridge and fall to the river below than to suffer a single consequence of my relationship with Ledcat. Hey, we are actually going out to spend money buying a new vacuum cleaner today -- we are putting money into the economy. Isn't that what all good citizens should be doing? Then, of course, we'll come home to modify it as part of our plan to destroy our neighbors' marriages - oh, wait a minute, we live by two single mothers, an unmarried hetero couple, a single man, a widow, a grandma raising three grandkids and a gay couple. Well, there goes that plan.
Here's the final rundown of what you need to know and what you can do about it. The legislation is in the Judiciary Committee. There are several local Senators sitting on that committee. If you live in their districts, please pick up your phone and ask them not to vote this legislation out of Committee (see all reasons above).
Equality Advocates should have a link up by the end of the day Monday so you can just click and email. Be careful when forwarding email alerts because they sometimes contain your personal information --- I discovered that when I clicked a link someone sent me last time and her address popped up in the "auto-fill" box on the webpage.
In summary, please take action in these ways. The links take you to contact information for each Senator.
1. If your Senator co-sponsored the legislation, please contact them and share your displeasure.
2. If your Senator sits on the Judiciary Committee, please contact them and ask them not to vote the legislation out of committee.
3. All others, contact your Senator and ask them to vote against the legislation.
More scripts and talking points will be coming. But I trust that you, homo and hetero alike, can eloquently identity at least three or four other issues that are more immediately pressing for your family (especially the voters!) than defending heterosexual marriage.
Please don't wait for someone else to make the call.
Here's further evidence of the "Pittsburgh is a good place to be queer" mantra that I've oft repeated. In response to the recent media coverage of the rescue of Rebecca Hare, longtime trans advocate Dr. Emilia Lombardi shares her thoughts with the readers of the Post-Gazette. Lombardi praises Pittsburgh's first-responders for their sensitivity to Hare's status as a transwoman.
I wish to thank Chief James Holman and the City of Pittsburgh's Emergency Medical Services, River Rescue Unit. The professionalism and respect they showed Rebecca Hare as they rescued her from the cold river Feb. 7 makes me proud to live in Pittsburgh ("Rescue in River Tunnel a Dangerous Challenge," Feb. 8).
This is a stark contrast to other cities where their treatment of transgender people has been horrendous and may have actually led to further harm. This is another sign of the support the city has toward its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population.
I agree that Holman and his crew should be lauded for exemplary work and, hopefully, Public Safety Director Michael Huss will take note of this when reviewing the performance of other first responders. There's room for improvement, but we need to recognize when things go well.
As noted in this blog, media coverage of the entire rescue was abysmal. Clearly, the major outlets should put in a call to Mr. Potter (and presumably Mr. Scaife) for some guidance on responsibly covering the LGBT community.
However, I was disappointed in the media's reporting of this incident. Their reference to Ms. Hare as a man in initial reports was a blatant form of disrespect to her and to the transgender men and women living in Pittsburgh.
The only reporting agency that showed some respect was the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and for that I do thank them.
On a related note, I like to highlight letters to the editor pertaining to the LGBTQ community as I believe it is important that we stay abreast of the messages being put out by John Q. Public himself. When I first began writing this blog in 2005/2006, I was kept busy nearly every day analyzing letters to the editor from the PG, the Trib, the Beaver County Times, and others related to the attempt to "protect" heterosexual marriage by amending the Pennsylvania commonwealth. That attempt failed, but another battle is on the horizon.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to move from grumbling about an issue to taking action. Our legislators do pay attention to public sentiment and it does make a difference when they get a feel for the sentiments of their constituents. You can have an impact by contacting your legislators and by writing letters to the editor. If your letter isn't published b/c another similar letter is, rejoice that at least two peole cared enough to write in the first place. Then write again on another issue. Don't be discouraged.
More details on the impending amendment push soon.
There's been quite a little exchange going on at the Tribune Review with readers from New York City with Pgh roots defending the homosexuals and folks from Jeannette and Squirrel Hill condeming us.
The latest round features a January 25 letter from New York explaining how anti-gay rhetoric impacts his family:
Growing up Catholic and gay in Greensburg, I can attest to the harm produced by such language. Through 16 years of Catholic education I was demeaned on the playground and from the pulpit.
My heart broke as my parents' priest took a public stand against my marriage and encouraged others to fight against my family. It pressed the old wounds that made me as a boy want to end my life. Gay children listen to this same hurtful message today.
Kris Sanders of Squirrel Hill comes roaring back in full attack mode.
He throws the stones and then bandages himself so as to look like the victim. Indeed, the pro-homosexual lobby uses "hate speech" laws as a means to stifle Christian preachers in many parts of the world.
Clearly, this lobby wants to pressure the Catholic Church into endorsing the morally disordered acts of homosexuality -- such as two men pretending they can live as husband and wife.
I don't know any married gay men who pretend to be husband and wife. That's silly rhetoric designed to drag a little genderbashing into the discussion.
Kris doesn't get that. We aren't pretending to be anything. Well, we pretend to be straight at work and school and church, but that's a matter of survival and self-preservation.
But my point is .... why are gay men from New York City filling the pages of the Tribune Review with this discussion, while the multitudes of local homos remain quiet? Why aren't local folks writing letters? You don't have to live in Greensburg! Pick up a pen. Respond to Kris Sanders pigeonholing your family as a homosexual lobby.
Diane Gramley might be a bit worried about how awesome you guys have been about calling your State Senators to oppose the so-called protection of marriage amendment.
Here's what she shared with me today:
Senator Michael Brubaker is looking for co-sponsors of SB 1250, the Marriage Protection Amendment bill.Click here for a news release we issued earlier today ? marriage is being assaulted to our north, east and south.We WILL be next, if steps are not taken to protect marriage.
Those who oppose this bill and would like to see same-sex marriage legalized are bombarding Senate offices asking them not to co-sponsor the bill.
Do they mean business?Equality Advocates and the ?Value All Families Coalition? are planning a statewide week of action next week to gain support for passing HB 1400 which would add ?sexual orientation and gender identity or expression? to the PA Human Relations Act. I can guarantee opposing SB 1250 will now be part of that statewide week of action.
OK, so she shared it with her entire email distribution list. Having been part of that list for over two years, I sense a shift in tone. Gramley knows that people who might feel a little so-so on gay marriage are likely to be more sympathetic to extending civil protections in employment, housing and so forth to LGBT individuals and families.
So keep up the good work. If you haven't done so, call your Senator and ask s/he to oppose the Marriage Amendment. Ask them about the PA Human Relations Act.
In today's Tribune Review, I found ample evidence of the need for our entire community and our allies to remain vigilant. It is a simple letter to the editor and I'm sure no one is surprised to read a pro-Catholic/anti-gay marriage letter there. Nonetheless, this letter isn't guised as some hysterical screed invoking horrific images of a thunderous God striking down the homo sinners.
In his letter "Gays & the church" (Jan. 16 and PghTrib.com), Anthony Brown of New York City indicates that all gay couples want is tax, health, pension, visitation and death protections that are a part of marriage.
Currently in Pennsylvania there are no limitations on visitation rights and no restrictions on who can benefit in a will. Tax, health and pension benefits are economic in nature. It is interesting that what seems most important to the author is the economic "benefits" he could gain if his relationship were to be legally recognized as being equivalent to marriage.
If people start becoming partners so that they can share economic benefits, Social Security, Medicare and pension plans will become bankrupt. Employer-subsidized health care will cease to exist as people claim to be couples in order to exploit benefits. Rather than become embroiled in the need to determine who is and who is not a legitimate couple, companies will simply not offer spousal benefits to anyone.
Brown referred to spiritual intolerance and said it's "time for the Catholic Church to reach out to its gay and lesbian members, not marginalize them."
While Catholic and most other Christian churches do not support a gay lifestyle, they do not turn away gays and do not condone negative behavior toward those who make that choice.
Christian churches uphold the values that are documented in the Bible, which include compassion for others, and confirm that marriage is a lifelong bond between man and woman, based on love and respect, not based on economic benefits.
I applaud the Diocese of Greensburg in supporting the proposed marriage amendment for Pennsylvania.
Daniel Merkovsky Jeannette
For every such letter published, we must have multiple contacts with our elected officials and the general public. We need people to understand our issues and our lives and our stories.
Contact you senator today. You have to do it before Monday. It will take just a few moments of your time.
Now I'm going to enjoy a few chuckles at the expense of Mr. Merkovsky's oblivion with regard to marriage as an economic pact.
