Majority of respondents flunk test on U.S. lawsBy JOSHUA LYNSEN, Washington Blade May 1, 3:57 PM
Few gay Americans understand their basic rights, according to an analysis released this week.
Based on the responses of 768 gays, lesbians and bisexuals to a national poll given in November, the analysis found that most respondents could not correctly answer four questions regarding their state and federal rights.
“I think ‘ignorant’ is the right word, unfortunately,” said Pat Egan, an assistant professor of politics at New York University who is gay and helped write the analysis.
The poll by City University of New York’s Hunter College asked whether same-sex marriages were legal in the respondent’s state, if the U.S. Constitution bans same-sex marriage, whether gays can serve openly in the U.S. military and if there’s a federal law barring the firing of workers based on their sexual orientation.Egan said only 38 percent of poll respondents answered all four questions correctly.
“On one hand, that doesn’t surprise us,” he said. “On the other, we would have liked to see these numbers a little higher.”According to the analysis, 94 percent of respondents knew whether same-sex marriage was legal in their state, 78 percent knew the U.S. Constitution does not ban same-sex marriage, 82 percent knew they could not serve openly in the military and 59 percent knew there’s no federal law that bars workers from being fired based on their sexual orientation.“So only six in 10 lesbians, gays and bisexuals know there is no national law protecting them from employment discrimination,” he said. “Considering this has been the top priority for advocates in Washington for the past 20 years, that is pretty astounding and disappointing.”
Marty Rouse, national field director for Human Rights Campaign, said he was “discouraged” by the finding and that it demonstrated the need for further education.The findings come despite information that shows gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans are more politically active than the general population.
Egan said 33 percent of the poll’s gay, lesbian and bisexual respondents indicated they were “very interested” in politics, compared to 22 percent in the general population.The poll’s respondents were likelier than people in the general population to have engaged in some kind of political activity during the preceeding year.
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
School board distances self from 'Day of Silence
At a pair of meetings last week, the Riceville Community School Board listened to concerns from members of the community and later voted to separate the school from connection with a Day of Silence, which would have been held on Friday, April 25.
Board members passed a motion, at Tuesday night's special meeting, that said, "The Riceville Community School Board of Education, along with the Riceville Community School District, will not affiliate with the GLSEN Day of Silence. Students may meet by the bell before or after school, outside the school day, as has ben past practice. However, students may participate individually without disrupting the school day."
Board members approved a statement saying that Riceville Community School would not be affiliated with the Day of Silence. What individual students decide to do, though, they have a right to do.The Day of Silence is a student-led day, organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), when students of various ages take vows of silence to bring attention to the bullying experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies.
At Monday's regular school board meeting, board members heard from the students who organized the day. Jessi Hobson and Krissy Ludemann stated that they felt the Day of Silence was about educating young people. "It is not about promoting homosexuality," Hobson said. "We want to promote diversity, and we want to promote understanding."The students added that the event was an optional one, and that they were not trying to force anyone to take part. They also explained that students who choose to participate in the day would choose not to speak in social settings. They would have had to participate in class and could not have used the day as an excuse to get out of class.
Parents at Monday night's meeting expressed disappointment in the school for initially allowing the event. Parents stated that they believed such issues were private and that events like the Day of Silence were detrimental to the school. They felt that parents should have been notified and that the school should cancel the day.
When the Day of Silence was initially brought to school administrators, Superintendent Tom Hamrick and High School Principal Greg Adams discussed the issue and also consulted with Matt Carver of School Administrators of Iowa. Carver's view was that some leeway had to be given to the students. The possibility of holding the Day of Silence had not been brought before school board members prior to Monday's meeting.
Hamrick stated on Monday that any blame for how the Day of Silence was handled should be laid on him. "I don't want any blame on Mr. Adams," he said. "I think we have a great community and great kids here."
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Board members passed a motion, at Tuesday night's special meeting, that said, "The Riceville Community School Board of Education, along with the Riceville Community School District, will not affiliate with the GLSEN Day of Silence. Students may meet by the bell before or after school, outside the school day, as has ben past practice. However, students may participate individually without disrupting the school day."
Board members approved a statement saying that Riceville Community School would not be affiliated with the Day of Silence. What individual students decide to do, though, they have a right to do.The Day of Silence is a student-led day, organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), when students of various ages take vows of silence to bring attention to the bullying experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies.
At Monday's regular school board meeting, board members heard from the students who organized the day. Jessi Hobson and Krissy Ludemann stated that they felt the Day of Silence was about educating young people. "It is not about promoting homosexuality," Hobson said. "We want to promote diversity, and we want to promote understanding."The students added that the event was an optional one, and that they were not trying to force anyone to take part. They also explained that students who choose to participate in the day would choose not to speak in social settings. They would have had to participate in class and could not have used the day as an excuse to get out of class.
Parents at Monday night's meeting expressed disappointment in the school for initially allowing the event. Parents stated that they believed such issues were private and that events like the Day of Silence were detrimental to the school. They felt that parents should have been notified and that the school should cancel the day.
When the Day of Silence was initially brought to school administrators, Superintendent Tom Hamrick and High School Principal Greg Adams discussed the issue and also consulted with Matt Carver of School Administrators of Iowa. Carver's view was that some leeway had to be given to the students. The possibility of holding the Day of Silence had not been brought before school board members prior to Monday's meeting.
Hamrick stated on Monday that any blame for how the Day of Silence was handled should be laid on him. "I don't want any blame on Mr. Adams," he said. "I think we have a great community and great kids here."
Read more:
National PFLAG Blog: This Dad is Proud and Loud!
This is the 4th installment in our series on straight dads talking about their gay sons. Today’s entry is from PFLAG National Vice President Mike Neubecker. Here is Mike’s response to the recent Details Magazine article on fathers and sons. You can also join the conversation about this week’s series over at The Republic of T.
Its hard for me to stop talking about how proud I am of my gay son and his accomplishments and what he offers the world, once I get started. I might have done a little more than flinch when my son came out but I soon found my way to embrace my gay son in every way. One of my favorite songs as he was growing up was the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song, “Teach Your Children Well” and later the verse goes, “Teach Your Parents Well.” That song really fit our family because we taught our son so much about the world and taught him our values. When he came out as gay, my wife and I learned so much more about the world that we never would have if he hadn’t been gay.
He is a successful business owner and now a husband and father of a son and daughter. Its comforting to know that his children will have an easier time being open about their early childhood crushes even if it is toward a kid who is the opposite gender.
Somehow I was misguided and believed that my dedicated skill at parenting would be rewarded with a child ‘product’ that would be the high school jock and dating the prom queen. I learned that rather than metaphorically shaping your child as you would a hunk of clay, the better metaphor is more like nurturing a plant long before it shows its flower with all the nutrients and care they need to grow. I was selfish to expect that my child to be a certain way to please me and gain my embrace. Appreciating your child with all their talents, qualities and goals is what a good parent does while instilling so many values such as commitment, care and respect for others.
While raising my son I don’t confess to being a liberal parent, not that there is anything wrong with it, but the love I have for my son truly opened my mind. If some liberal open minded fathers still shriek at the idea of having a gay son, then it may be due to the dominant culture we live in that they haven’t learned to challenge. I challenge them to open their minds a bit further and challenge the attitudes of our culture that value the straight macho male, while using gay people as joke punch lines. If they need some skills to do this they can visit www.straightforequality.org and begin to learn those skills. And if one day their son comes out as gay, they will be way ahead of the rest in embracing them completely.
PFLAG Blog
Its hard for me to stop talking about how proud I am of my gay son and his accomplishments and what he offers the world, once I get started. I might have done a little more than flinch when my son came out but I soon found my way to embrace my gay son in every way. One of my favorite songs as he was growing up was the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song, “Teach Your Children Well” and later the verse goes, “Teach Your Parents Well.” That song really fit our family because we taught our son so much about the world and taught him our values. When he came out as gay, my wife and I learned so much more about the world that we never would have if he hadn’t been gay.
He is a successful business owner and now a husband and father of a son and daughter. Its comforting to know that his children will have an easier time being open about their early childhood crushes even if it is toward a kid who is the opposite gender.
Somehow I was misguided and believed that my dedicated skill at parenting would be rewarded with a child ‘product’ that would be the high school jock and dating the prom queen. I learned that rather than metaphorically shaping your child as you would a hunk of clay, the better metaphor is more like nurturing a plant long before it shows its flower with all the nutrients and care they need to grow. I was selfish to expect that my child to be a certain way to please me and gain my embrace. Appreciating your child with all their talents, qualities and goals is what a good parent does while instilling so many values such as commitment, care and respect for others.
While raising my son I don’t confess to being a liberal parent, not that there is anything wrong with it, but the love I have for my son truly opened my mind. If some liberal open minded fathers still shriek at the idea of having a gay son, then it may be due to the dominant culture we live in that they haven’t learned to challenge. I challenge them to open their minds a bit further and challenge the attitudes of our culture that value the straight macho male, while using gay people as joke punch lines. If they need some skills to do this they can visit www.straightforequality.org and begin to learn those skills. And if one day their son comes out as gay, they will be way ahead of the rest in embracing them completely.
PFLAG Blog
Wayne Besen: Bishop Gene Robinson Pulls Out Of ‘Ex-Gay’ APA Debate
Sources have told TruthWinsOut.org today that Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson has pulled out of a controversial symposium featuring an infamous “ex-gay” therapist. The May 5 symposium, at the APA’s 2008 convention in Washington, was dealt a major blow with the news of Robinson’s decision. TruthWinsOut.org opposed the panel because it featured Dr. Warren Throckmorton, an unlicensed psychologist who compares “leaving” homosexuality to quitting smoking.
“We are pleased that Bishop Robinson has not lent his credibility to a political right wing platform disguised as a scientific symposium,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The debate over whether homosexuality is a curable metal illness was settled decades ago and is not debatable. This forum is nothing more than an underhanded way for anti-gay activists to make their outdated and intolerant views look respectable.”
“We are pleased that Bishop Robinson has not lent his credibility to a political right wing platform disguised as a scientific symposium,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The debate over whether homosexuality is a curable metal illness was settled decades ago and is not debatable. This forum is nothing more than an underhanded way for anti-gay activists to make their outdated and intolerant views look respectable.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Bilerico Project: Top Chef's Zoi Antonitsas Dishes It Up for TBP
Like most of my classmates at culinary school, I'm addicted to Top Chef. It's fun to see what chefs who are already in the industry are doing. In fact, Top Chef is the predominant item on my Tivo list (along with Project Runway and Family Guy). This season, I have been excited to see so many talented women on the show. Three of them happen to be out lesbians.
Zoi Antonitsas is one of those talented chefs. I was lucky enough to catch Zoi for a few minutes this week and ask her some questions and find out why she thinks a woman's place is in the kitchen.
SERENA: When did you know that you wanted to be a chef?
ZOI: I got my first kitchen job when I was twenty, and at the time it was more of a job than a career move. But after a few months of working in the kitchen, I found it exciting and fun, and I loved it.
S: Why did you decide to try out for Top Chef?
Z: Well, the show is exciting. It appeals to the competitive nature in me. I also found the exposure appealing, because you can't really achieve that on your own.
S: You're not a classically trained chef. So how did it feel to win the knife skills quick fire challenge?
Z: That was the most fulfilling thing about being on the show, because I really respect and admire Daniel Boulud, more than any other guest judge who's been on the show. It was a real honor to cook for him. I was really nervous when I walked into the kitchen and saw him there, especially when I found out it was a knife skills test. I thought, "Oh, God." But I'm really happy and proud that I won. I think education is important. But your skill comes from within.
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Zoi Antonitsas is one of those talented chefs. I was lucky enough to catch Zoi for a few minutes this week and ask her some questions and find out why she thinks a woman's place is in the kitchen.
SERENA: When did you know that you wanted to be a chef?
ZOI: I got my first kitchen job when I was twenty, and at the time it was more of a job than a career move. But after a few months of working in the kitchen, I found it exciting and fun, and I loved it.
S: Why did you decide to try out for Top Chef?
Z: Well, the show is exciting. It appeals to the competitive nature in me. I also found the exposure appealing, because you can't really achieve that on your own.
S: You're not a classically trained chef. So how did it feel to win the knife skills quick fire challenge?
Z: That was the most fulfilling thing about being on the show, because I really respect and admire Daniel Boulud, more than any other guest judge who's been on the show. It was a real honor to cook for him. I was really nervous when I walked into the kitchen and saw him there, especially when I found out it was a knife skills test. I thought, "Oh, God." But I'm really happy and proud that I won. I think education is important. But your skill comes from within.
Read more:
The Washington Blade: Robinson backs out of symposium on ‘ex-gays’
Gay bishop denounces reparative therapy; APA disavows event
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade Apr 30, 12:30 PM
A controversial symposium to address the relationship between religion and homosexuality is causing consternation among some psychiatrists and some gays, who argue that holding such a dialogue will legitimize homophobic views.
Controversy surrounding the event prompted a gay religious figure who was scheduled to speak at the event to cancel.
Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop by the Episcopal Church, had planned to voice his opinion at the forum, but has since pulled out.
Robinson said he canceled his plans to attend because he came to believe that making an appearance at the event would validate the concept that sexual orientation can be changed.
“Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement,” Robinson told the Blade. “It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen … lends credibility to that so-called therapy."
The forum is titled “Homosexuality and Therapy: the Religious Dimension” and is scheduled to take place Monday at the Convention Center in Washington.
Panelists include Warren Throckmorton, a counselor known for helping patients alter homosexual behavior, and Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who was quoted as saying he would support prenatal treatments to convert the expected sexual orientation of unborn children.
Although the event is scheduled at the same time as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting and is taking place in the same city, APA is emphasizing that the forum is not an official event.
Read more:
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade Apr 30, 12:30 PM
A controversial symposium to address the relationship between religion and homosexuality is causing consternation among some psychiatrists and some gays, who argue that holding such a dialogue will legitimize homophobic views.
Controversy surrounding the event prompted a gay religious figure who was scheduled to speak at the event to cancel.
Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop by the Episcopal Church, had planned to voice his opinion at the forum, but has since pulled out.
Robinson said he canceled his plans to attend because he came to believe that making an appearance at the event would validate the concept that sexual orientation can be changed.
“Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement,” Robinson told the Blade. “It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen … lends credibility to that so-called therapy."
The forum is titled “Homosexuality and Therapy: the Religious Dimension” and is scheduled to take place Monday at the Convention Center in Washington.
Panelists include Warren Throckmorton, a counselor known for helping patients alter homosexual behavior, and Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who was quoted as saying he would support prenatal treatments to convert the expected sexual orientation of unborn children.
Although the event is scheduled at the same time as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting and is taking place in the same city, APA is emphasizing that the forum is not an official event.
Read more:
UK Gay News: Gay Civil Unions or Partnerships Not Full Equality, Says Bishop
"I have been puzzled by a strange fact – that a largely conservative, rural small-town diocese such as New Hampshire should have elected a man in an open, monogamous relationship with another man."
The words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is never slow at coming forward in support of equality and acceptance of gay men and women both within the Christian church and in society in general.
These words form the first sentence of a powerful foreword of Bishop Gene Robinson’s new book, In the Eye of the Storm., a reflection on his journey of faith, his life experiences, the concerns that matter most to him as a bishop and the controversy that has rocked the church he loves and to which he is committed.
The book itself is equally powerful as the foreword. The openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire sets out his values – and offers a way forward in the equality battle faced by Christian gay men and women.
Reading the book, one gets an impression of a really pleasant man. This was confirmed at a meeting.
The opening gambit: “What is the correct way to address a bishop of the American Episcopal Church?”
“Gene would do very nicely,” the bishop suggested.
The conversation soon drifted into the subject of marriage – same-sex marriage and the machinations of the all-powerful conservative Religious Right who “thump the pulpit” at every opportunity about what they call ‘the gay agenda’, which includes marriage equality for same sex couples.
They scream about “the sanctity of marriage”, yet not a murmur when a pop star goes to Las Vegas for a weekend, gets married in a civil ceremony and then has it annulled after a couple of days.
Read more:
The words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is never slow at coming forward in support of equality and acceptance of gay men and women both within the Christian church and in society in general.
These words form the first sentence of a powerful foreword of Bishop Gene Robinson’s new book, In the Eye of the Storm., a reflection on his journey of faith, his life experiences, the concerns that matter most to him as a bishop and the controversy that has rocked the church he loves and to which he is committed.
The book itself is equally powerful as the foreword. The openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire sets out his values – and offers a way forward in the equality battle faced by Christian gay men and women.
Reading the book, one gets an impression of a really pleasant man. This was confirmed at a meeting.
The opening gambit: “What is the correct way to address a bishop of the American Episcopal Church?”
“Gene would do very nicely,” the bishop suggested.
The conversation soon drifted into the subject of marriage – same-sex marriage and the machinations of the all-powerful conservative Religious Right who “thump the pulpit” at every opportunity about what they call ‘the gay agenda’, which includes marriage equality for same sex couples.
They scream about “the sanctity of marriage”, yet not a murmur when a pop star goes to Las Vegas for a weekend, gets married in a civil ceremony and then has it annulled after a couple of days.
Read more:
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