Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Vatican & Islamic Council to oppose UN statement on human rights
Action Alert
from International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
from International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Where Does the US Stand on Human Rights?
With over 60 countries now joining in an unprecedented international call for increased attention to human rights atrocities faced by individuals and communities because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, the question is: Why has the United States not joined with allies around the world to condemn these human rights violations?
The joint statement will be delivered to the entire United Nations General Assembly later this week. In addition to calling for greater attention to human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the statement calls upon countries to decriminalize homosexuality. And, just yesterday, we learned that Nicaragua has signed on to the statement- one year after repealing it's sodomy law!
In a new development, IGLHRC has confirmed that the Organization of The Islamic Conference (OIC) is joining with the Vatican to protest the human rights statement.
IGLHRC and the Council for Global Equality once again ask that everyone contact the US State Department asking that the US reject the homophobia promulgated by the OIC and the Vatican, and stand with the 60+ countries calling for a more just world for LGBT people everywhere.
Contact the following:
Letters to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State Brian Hook may be faxed to 1-202-736-4116, or you may go to http://contact-us.state.gov/, and then click on the "email a question/comment" tab and fill out the on-line form.
Phone calls should be made to them at the following numbers: Assistant Secretary of State Brian Hook: 202-647-9600. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: 202-647-6575 (through the Department of State's Public Information Line).
With over 60 countries now joining in an unprecedented international call for increased attention to human rights atrocities faced by individuals and communities because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, the question is: Why has the United States not joined with allies around the world to condemn these human rights violations?
The joint statement will be delivered to the entire United Nations General Assembly later this week. In addition to calling for greater attention to human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the statement calls upon countries to decriminalize homosexuality. And, just yesterday, we learned that Nicaragua has signed on to the statement- one year after repealing it's sodomy law!
In a new development, IGLHRC has confirmed that the Organization of The Islamic Conference (OIC) is joining with the Vatican to protest the human rights statement.
IGLHRC and the Council for Global Equality once again ask that everyone contact the US State Department asking that the US reject the homophobia promulgated by the OIC and the Vatican, and stand with the 60+ countries calling for a more just world for LGBT people everywhere.
Contact the following:
Letters to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State Brian Hook may be faxed to 1-202-736-4116, or you may go to http://contact-us.state.gov/, and then click on the "email a question/comment" tab and fill out the on-line form.
Phone calls should be made to them at the following numbers: Assistant Secretary of State Brian Hook: 202-647-9600. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: 202-647-6575 (through the Department of State's Public Information Line).
NYC Lights Up - December 20th
Saturday Dec 20th: NYC Lights Up!
6:00pm MARCH FROM HERALD SQUARE (34th St./6th Ave.)
6:00pm MARCH FROM HERALD SQUARE (34th St./6th Ave.)
TO TIMES SQUARE (Broadway/42nd St)
7:00-8:00pm RALLY IN TIMES SQUARE
This is part of a nation-wide demonstration for Equality.
7:00-8:00pm RALLY IN TIMES SQUARE
This is part of a nation-wide demonstration for Equality.
We are not done fighting!!!
For more info: www.jointheimpactnyc.wetpaint.com
Friday, December 12, 2008
United Against Hate!
Memorial Vigil in response to the hate crime in Bushwick
against the Sucazhanay Brothers
Sunday December 14th 2008 2PM
Community Park on the corner of Grove and Myrtle Avenue
We will march to the corner where the attack took place
(on the corner of Bushwick and Kossouth place).
L train to Myrtle/ Wyckoff, M train to Knickerbocker Avenue
For more info and endorments contact: Karina Claudio at 917-676-2559 or write karina.claudio@maketheroadny.org
against the Sucazhanay Brothers
Sunday December 14th 2008 2PM
Community Park on the corner of Grove and Myrtle Avenue
We will march to the corner where the attack took place
(on the corner of Bushwick and Kossouth place).
L train to Myrtle/ Wyckoff, M train to Knickerbocker Avenue
For more info and endorments contact: Karina Claudio at 917-676-2559 or write karina.claudio@maketheroadny.org
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Surprise!(?) - NJ Civil Union Commission Favors Marriage
Last night at a packed "Town Hall" meeting in South Orange, Garden State Equality detailed the findings of New Jersey Commission on Civil Unions. It began with an excerpt of the 2007 Academy Awards when the documentary 'Freeheld' won an Oscar to sympathetic and cheers supporters.
It continued with several brief clips from the film showing police Lt. Laurel Hester, who ultimately sucoumed to cancer, crediting the organization with the victory to pension benefits to her partner. The group has to its credit been responsible for the enactment of over 200 laws throughout the state. It then introduced a couple who had seen the failure of civil unions first hand.
One of the two was rushed to the hospital for a life threatening condition. When the other arrived at the hospital to check on her partner's condition, she had to educate the doctor on the nature of the civil union law and about her right to receive information. (The arrogance and ignorance of some in the medical professional is truly astounding at times.)
There were then a few words from J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, chairman of the Civil Union Review Commission, who serves as the state's Director of the NJ Division of Civil Rights.
Finally the nephew of Harvey Milk - Stuart Milk offered some encouraging words and some personal stories about his infamous uncle.
All in all it was a great gathering.
It really isn't a surprise that the civil union law is not meeting expectations. In the absence of action on a federal level, the benefits that the law promises just are not pratically significant. However in terms of equality -- the moral case cannot be overlooked. Members of same sex relationships deserve the same recognition as their heterosexual counterparts pure and simple.
The full report is available at the following address:
http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/downloads/CURC-Final-Report-.pdf
It continued with several brief clips from the film showing police Lt. Laurel Hester, who ultimately sucoumed to cancer, crediting the organization with the victory to pension benefits to her partner. The group has to its credit been responsible for the enactment of over 200 laws throughout the state. It then introduced a couple who had seen the failure of civil unions first hand.
One of the two was rushed to the hospital for a life threatening condition. When the other arrived at the hospital to check on her partner's condition, she had to educate the doctor on the nature of the civil union law and about her right to receive information. (The arrogance and ignorance of some in the medical professional is truly astounding at times.)
There were then a few words from J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, chairman of the Civil Union Review Commission, who serves as the state's Director of the NJ Division of Civil Rights.
Finally the nephew of Harvey Milk - Stuart Milk offered some encouraging words and some personal stories about his infamous uncle.
All in all it was a great gathering.
It really isn't a surprise that the civil union law is not meeting expectations. In the absence of action on a federal level, the benefits that the law promises just are not pratically significant. However in terms of equality -- the moral case cannot be overlooked. Members of same sex relationships deserve the same recognition as their heterosexual counterparts pure and simple.
The full report is available at the following address:
http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/downloads/CURC-Final-Report-.pdf
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Run a CounterAd NOW!
Let HRC & GLADD pay 
Last Friday the Mormon Church took out a full page advertisement in the New York Times criticizing Post-Prop 8 protests held recently throughout the country. In response to the ad, Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation urged supporters to write letters to the New York Times. Activist Peter Staley (POZ/AIDSMEDS.com) correctly faults that response as inadequate. He calls for HRC/GLADD to put its money where its mouth is and stand up for the community.
see details
http://blogs.poz.com/peter/archives/2008/12/hrc_defend_the.html
hattip: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/
Last Friday the Mormon Church took out a full page advertisement in the New York Times criticizing Post-Prop 8 protests held recently throughout the country. In response to the ad, Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation urged supporters to write letters to the New York Times. Activist Peter Staley (POZ/AIDSMEDS.com) correctly faults that response as inadequate. He calls for HRC/GLADD to put its money where its mouth is and stand up for the community.see details
http://blogs.poz.com/peter/archives/2008/12/hrc_defend_the.html
hattip: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 8, 2008
Alleged Hate Crime in Brooklyn
Statement by Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
Re: Alleged Hate Crime in Brooklyn
I was outraged to learn this morning that two men were assaulted at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, and especially horrified to learn that anti-LGBT and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants - raising this event to the level of a hate crime.
My office is in touch with the family of the victims and offers our prayers. We have also been in touch with the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, and thank them for their immediate response and hard work. We are confident that those who committed this crime will be apprehended. Together we are calling on all who might have any information about this crime to come forward immediately to the NYPD.
Those who perpetrated this crime must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This cowardly display of hate against two innocent men only re-enforces the need to continue to inform and educate the public about the destruction that hate can cause.
We all must open our eyes to the hate that exists around us and work together to fight against those that demonize others and allow stereotypes to lead them to acts of unconscionable violence. We are all partners against hate. When we come together, to stand up, every time we witness an act motivated by hate, we will send the message that we will not stand for the destruction that comes along with it.
Members of the City Council, community leaders, clergy, and I will hold a press conference December 8th at 12:30 pm on the steps of City Hall to continue to stand up for the victims and to speak out against this vicious crime and all crimes perpetrated by hate.
Re: Alleged Hate Crime in Brooklyn
I was outraged to learn this morning that two men were assaulted at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, and especially horrified to learn that anti-LGBT and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants - raising this event to the level of a hate crime.
My office is in touch with the family of the victims and offers our prayers. We have also been in touch with the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, and thank them for their immediate response and hard work. We are confident that those who committed this crime will be apprehended. Together we are calling on all who might have any information about this crime to come forward immediately to the NYPD.
Those who perpetrated this crime must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This cowardly display of hate against two innocent men only re-enforces the need to continue to inform and educate the public about the destruction that hate can cause.
We all must open our eyes to the hate that exists around us and work together to fight against those that demonize others and allow stereotypes to lead them to acts of unconscionable violence. We are all partners against hate. When we come together, to stand up, every time we witness an act motivated by hate, we will send the message that we will not stand for the destruction that comes along with it.
Members of the City Council, community leaders, clergy, and I will hold a press conference December 8th at 12:30 pm on the steps of City Hall to continue to stand up for the victims and to speak out against this vicious crime and all crimes perpetrated by hate.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Mormon Church Plays Victim
In today's New York Times, the Mormon church published an ad entitled 'No Mob Veto.'
The continuing assault on the civil rights and liberties of members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community is the true outrage!
The continuing assault on the civil rights and liberties of members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community is the true outrage!
Worthy Post-Prop 8 Commentary
365gay.com columnist John Covino makes the point that "California is NOT the first place where straight voters have taken away gay people’s rights" and continues with excellent commentary in the aftermath of the Prop 8 loss in the Golden State.http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-gay-rights-beyond-california/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)