The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making changes to regulations that benefit LGBT families. HUD administers public housing.
According to today?s announcement, HUD will submit a proposed rule that makes three important changes to federal regulations. First, it includes language that ensures same-sex couples and their children are recognized as families covered by HUD programs, including affordable housing assistance. Second it requires organizations that administer HUD grants to abide by state and local laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Third it prohibits consideration of factors other than creditworthiness, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in the awarding of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. In addition, HUD announced that the Department will conduct the first-ever nationwide survey of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing.
This is really interesting news, particularly as ENDA makes its way through Congress. Housing discrimination typically goes hand in hand with employment as per the Allegheny County non-discrimination ordinance. Embedding this level of protection into federal regulation when sexual orientation and gender identity are not federally protected classes is a very concrete step forward.
Another very interesting angle might be in HUD funded homeless service programs which aren't always on the ball when it comes to delivery of services to our community.
There's more. The Department of Health and Human Services is creating a resource center for LGBT senior citizens.
The LBGT Resource Center will help community-based organizations understand the unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other challenges.
More good news, especially here in Allegheny County which does have an aging population. I've heard anecdotally that this a very underserved segment of the LGBT community so perhaps this might trickle down to local providers.
If you still need to call Jason Altmire about ENDA, these are some good points to bring up.
Throughout the discussion over the library closures, I keep wondering why we have a beautiful new library on the Northside (total of two now) while other communities may have none. Perhaps it was dedicated funding?
I stopped by the new Allegheny branch on Federal Street. It is big. I didn't see many books, but I basically order all my books online and just pick them up. Woods Run (the other Northside library) is a little more cozy and pretty new as well. Plus, there is parking. Either way, we were pretty good. Sure, the War Street folks had to drive or take the bus to Woods Run, but at least we'd have a library.
Maybe someone does need to figure out if all communities are being well served by the closure plan? I don't profess to know, but I'm not the only one asking.
From my home in Regent Square I can walk to four different libraries: Squirrel Hill, 1.7 miles; Edgewood, 1.1 miles; Wilkinsburg, 0.5 mile; Swissvale, 1.5 miles. Except for Edgewood, all are accessible with one bus ride. How can that be fair when there are city neighborhoods that soon will have no library at all?
I'm truly blessed to have the Squirrel Hill branch. It's a palace. But maybe this $4.4-million renovation in 2005 was overkill favoring an elite neighborhood that already had a very decent 32-year-old facility. Where is the accountability?
The City Paper spilled the beans when they reported that the Mayor went far over the line:
"Off the Record" gives local officials rebuttal time as "guest humorists." And according to several witnesses who contacted us after the fact, Ravenstahl used his moment on stage to send a message to ACLU state legal director Vic Walczak, who has sharply criticized the city's handling of G-20 protesters. According to multiple sources, Ravenstahl said something like this: "I heard we're going to face a free-speech lawsuit. Well, I have some free speech for you -- fuck you, Vic Walczak."
The mayor's office denied nothing.
"The mayor was pleased to be a guest humorist. He enjoyed himself," said mayoral spokesperson Joanna Doven. "It raised more than $30,000 for the Food Bank" as well as money for the Pittsburgh Promise, the college scholarship fund championed by Ravenstahl and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, the evening's other guest.
"People leave the event shocked all the time," Doven added. "The event was meant to be humorous. The mayor was making fun of himself, most of the time."
Ah, so nice to know that Ms. Doven is more than just a voicemail that never returns my calls.
Most of the time, eh? <insert evil Beavis and Butthead laugh. Did I spell that correctly?>
What is all this fuss about Off The Record being off the record? It is a fundraiser, for God's sake, not a meeting of some executive decision making group. It is news when the Mayor makes an ass of himself and/or lives right up to the juvenile, frat boy, bar hopping reputation that surrounds his Administration. That is especially true when he is commenting on a front page story like the G-20 and Free Speech. The Mayor has a talented, smart staff who could have come up with a far more sophisticated riff for him (Paul? Yarone?), so I have little doubt that they tapped right into his juvenile ego to take a swipe at the ACLU.
The whole thing went viral, but so what? It isn't like politicians need to be idiots to be funny. They just need to be smart about it.
I did not sleep well yesterday so my critical analysis skills are limited. For some reason, Wanda Sykes was my mail carrier and I had to fire her. She did not take it well.
Does anyone know that Hitler and Stalin were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize also? Our great president is right up their with them. I am sorry but I did not and would not serve in the military with openly outed cross dressers, homosexuals, transgender, meaning a male with a mutilated penis, and or bisexuals. That is my opinion and also that of hundreds of other soldiers I served with. Maybe in today?s feel good, pansy society we live in it is OK but not to the generation of men that I was raised in.
Jeffrey Podsobinski
Salisbury
Feel good, pansy society. You can sort of hum that to "Monday, Monday" if you try.
The Trib covers the attempt to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
The Post-Gazette endorsed Ravenstahl. Yeah, this is a link to the City Paper. Read on. Bram has feedback here. I watched the debate and took a few notes. Why can't KDKA let the female anchors participate in these debates? Ken Rice is everywhere.
The Steeler Nation is rolling into the Northside. Why can't we find a way to tax them to pay for our two libraries? Sigh.
Courtesy of the Film Society, we are offering two free passes to a Festival film. The drawing will be live on the broadcast. To be eligible, you need to follow @sistershoutshow on Twitter. So head over to http:///www.twitter.com/sistershoutshow and sign up! Lots of great films.
Word on the 'net is that this legislation will come to a floor vote in the Pennsylvania House sometime in November.
There are 25 legislators in Pennsylvania who still don't believe/understand that our community experiences discrimination. This seems to be the core issue -- convincing them that the legislation is necessary to protect against a very real form of discrimination. It isn't that they want us to experience it; they just don't understand.
Kula, Deberah (D-52, West Newtown/Westmoreland County)
Pallone, John (D-54, New Kensington/Westmoreland County)
Haluska, Gary (D-73, small towns in CambriaCounty outside Johnstown)
So, the only way to change their hearts? Share your stories. You know what I mean. We need to tell them about the times we couldn't rent an apartment because the landlord didn't want two daddies and a baby living next to his family. When you lost out in a job situation because you don't hide your gay identity. The times someone refused you service because you are a dyke.
Are you a straight ally? Repost this. Call yourself and explain that discrimination is real and hurts your family/friends/community. Share your stories. Tell them about the "fag" jokes at the water cooler or the comments about pansys, lesbos and she-men. We all know it happens. We all hear it and we don't always step up to shut it down.
Step up now. Take five minutes and share your story.
Attached is the slate card information for the upcoming General election, including the Steel City endorsed candidates and a detailed explanation on the importance of the Supreme Court election.
Please download the file, print out and take with you on election day.
Keep in mind that one of these elections was determined by 43 votes in 2005. 43 people read this blog. Be that difference.
My head is spinning and I suspect I might be either ill or just overwhelmed.
Podcamp Pittsburgh 4 wrapped up this afternoon. I learned a lot and met some really nice people. Definitely plan to be there next year. The session on advertising was great, but too short. The session on dressing well for videobroadcasting was very practical. Lots of good stuff. The sponsors donated tote bags to our agency project, but our communication lines got a little kerflewwey at the end and I had to leave for our broadcast. That was disappointing. However, the intention was good and much appreciated. There's just never enough hours to get everything done.
The sessions may be available for the public so I'll point you in that direction.
Plus, hey, I won a Flip Cam which was very cool. So excited!
The National March for Equality is receiving successful reviews, drawing around 150,000 attendees. Some are calling it a rallying call for the nation. Hit the hastag #NEM for details. I'll post more when the stories sort themselves out. Laura attended some of the earlier marches and has great stories.
President Obama addresses the Human Rights Commission dinner on Saturday. His words are compellling, but his timetable is nonexistent. Some appreciate the rhetoric while others bemoan the answer to "when?" The text of his address is here. Frankly, I need to ponder this a bit before I can offer thoughtful critique.
Our guest on Sister Shout was La'Tasha Mayes of New Voices Pittsburgh. She's amazing and gave me a lot of think about in terms of effecting systemic changes. Again, I'm just too tired to do justice to the interview but check out the podcast on http://sistershout.outonline.com for your own take. I need to do some more research and really rethink some of my safe conversations.
The Lambda Bash is coming up on November 21, 2009. If you feel torn over which event to support, this may be your solution because your one evening can support dozens of local groups and projects. The Ball has been shaken up and we are pleased to be the official blog sponsor. We are also pleased to have helped secure a really cool auction item. I think we'll unveil the Flip Cam and get some personal shots that night. Plus, isn't Thanksgiving more bearable with a great party under your belt? A great party that Tom Sokoloski is planning? I mean really ...
Today sucked. Work was exhausting and I ended the day without completing the majority of it. I had to play the boss card which is always lacking in funness. Then I drove 2 hours in the rain on dark roads only to give up and go home so my dinner was a bag of chips.
Tomorrow is Podcamp Pittsburgh. It is the fourth year and I'm planning to learn some stuff. I'm even a VIP sponsor which means I get some cool stuff. Not sure what.
I do know what I'd like to learn ... the whole podcasting thing. We are very fortunate to have launched SisterShout with a great producer (David) who has taught us quite a bit. But there's a lot of refine and I'm excited to meet other local podcasters.
So i'm thinking about Podcasting 101, Grassroots Podcasting (even though SS is clearly commercially backed), Adding Humor to your Podcast, the Anarchists session, and then dinner with Ledcat. Sunday I might do social networking for job seekers because people are constantly asking for help finding jobs (I love my job), podcastin 201, Understanding social media Ads (YES! I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS) and then branding followed by citizen journalism.
Huh. I'm glad I'm having a long weekend next weekend because I think I'll be tired by the end of Sunday. So here's hoping the coffee is strong, the lunches are tasty and I have enough business cards (thanks Crystal and Harry).
Oh, there's a meet and greet at 8 PM with Joe Hoeffel who is running for Governor. You know ... someone who believes in free speech and doesn't mock protestors. 8 PM Omni hotel bar. Everyone welcome which is very gracious of Mr. Hoeffel.
It will be very interesting to see if the gay cards align themselves close to the current Luke/everyone else configuration. I think the Wagner factor might mix things up a bit, but I'm hoping for a Rudiak redux allowing the progressive to emerge unscathed.
The ickiness of the night is magnified by the excessive number of sirens careening through the Northside tonight, the concern that Deus aka Doug is having health issues and me wondering where I put the business cards ...
This weekend boasts National Coming Out Day on Sunday, October 11, 2009.
There's this big march you may have heard about ... this is a great rallying cry in the video above. The march has been contentious as has been much of the "gay agenda" as we grow and groups emerge and differing opinions take leadership roles. It isn't much different than Pittsburgh. As we grow, people grow into different directions. There really are multiple gay agendas which reflect the varying priorities of our community. That seems to be somewhat of a stumbling point in our growth -- finding ways to coordinate leadership, share information and move forward (sorry, Luke).
Still, there are times when we need to come together. Many of the national organizations jumped on board The March. I've love to be in DC for a day; it is where I attended college and just lovely this time of year. But with pets and commitments and so forth, we can't make a day trip work as easil as back in the "jump in the car and let's go" days. So I hope whomever attends has a great time and brings some of the energy back to Pittsburgh.
Equality Advocates are working on a new board. This is just phase one of plans to roll out a new board that is more representative of Pennsylvania's LGBTQ community. I spoke with their Western PA main guy, Jake Kaskey, who assured me that there will be more appointments from our region. We have one already, which is good news. I am kind of sad that we are a region, because there are clear differences between those that live in the City and those who live outside, particularly in outlying counties. Still, hopefully the board members will bring a holistic perspective on the local LGBTQ community. I am especially hopeful that they strive for some socio-economic diversity, even though board members typically skew higher by nature of needing to raise money. Still, an often overlooked group are the working class queers. This is exciting news and let's hope we can build a statewide organization that gives us access as a collective group, even if we have different things to say.
Speaking of gay factions, the President is speaking at the HRC Dinner. Barney Frank says we shouldn't expect anything earthshattering. Pam Spaulding is pretty much in the same frame of mind. There are those who think babysteps are better than nothing and many of them are supporting Ravenstahl and Onorato. There are those who think we need to heave ho the whole status quo and many of them are focused on health care reform (important issues for many of us). Then there are those who fall somewhere in the middle and are trying to balance being strategic about issues/candidates without selling out to the white upper middle class male powers that be. <insert finger wagging from the white upper middle class males who read this and fail to understand why I don't believe they have my best interests at heart>
This is also where people will say the nomination of an openly gay ambassador has anything to do with my life. It is great in the way that casting an openly gay man to play BD Wong on Law and Order SUV (ha ha ha) is great. I'm glad, but it seems sort of like "what took so long?" Come on, Obama. Stop taking credit for things that aren't exactly groundbreaking and do something concrete.
Here's something exceedingly dull from Page One Q. Mary Cheney is pregnant again. Yawn. I doubt a second child is going to help her see past her incredibly privileged life to actually give a freakin damn about the average gay person. Maybe she'll campaign for Dan.
