OLYMPIA – Lawmakers have chosen today – the day that millions across the country celebrate the bonds of affection shared between two people in love – as the day to introduce major legislation that would no longer restrict gays and lesbians from their right to marry.Today is not the first time the issue of marriage equality for gays and lesbians and the Valentine’s Day holiday have crossed paths.

In early February of 1998, in what has proven to be the darkest of Valentine’s for gay and lesbian families in our state, the Legislature enshrined discrimination as the law of the land in Washington by overriding the veto of then-Gov. Gary Locke to approve the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act.”

This Valentine’s Day, Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, and Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said the night is darkest just before the dawn.

“Over the past several years, the Legislature and the public together have been steadily building a bridge to equality for gay and lesbian families,” said Moeller. He noted the passage of civil rights legislation in 2006 protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, and financial transactions, and then three successive years of securing broader and broader domestic partnership rights — which included successfully withstanding a hostile referendum challenge at the ballot in 2009.

“We’ve made tremendous progress since 1998,” Murray said. “Gay and lesbian families in Washington now enjoy the same state spousal rights that their married straight friends enjoy – except for the name ‘marriage’. The recognition that their loving, lifelong commitment is no different from the loving, lifelong commitment of straight couples is the final step to achieving full equality. I believe the Legislature and the public are both ready to take that final step.”

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Read the full post here, on Pam’s House Blend:: Washington state legislators send a Valentine to gay and lesbian families.

From Media Matters, with all the sources not just cited, but embedded or hyperlinked.

After Beck’s Show Aired, Fox News’ Prime Time Demolished His Egypt Theory

February 12, 2011 12:36 am ET by Sean Easter

In the weeks since civil unrest began in Egypt, Glenn Beck has peddled bizarre theories and doomsaying about a coming worldwide caliphate and/or communist revolution that will supposedly begin with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Beck’s narrative became so riddled with holes and distortions, the only way to approach it was to demand more proof. Beck tied Egypt to everything and everyone from Code Pink to Van Jones and the Brazilian constitution. His prop chalkboard implied that Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, is a “dictator we’ve made friends with.” Even conservative media figures criticized Beck. Bill Kristol said Beck was “marginalizing himself” when he “rants about the caliphate taking over the Middle East from Morocco to the Philippines, and lists (invents?) the connections between caliphate-promoters and the American left.” John Fund said on Reliable Sources that Beck spoke in “apocalyptic conspiracy terms about America becoming an Islamic state.”

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I would appreciate it if people who are not in the military, but have friends or family who are, pass on the link.  Questions for LGBT servicemembers are after the jump.  You can respond in the “Comments” section, below, or contact me via e-mail: susanfermanaustin@gmail.com  Please include whether you are currently in the military and where you are from with your replies.

Questions for LGBT Service members, only.

1. If you are a  current servicemember, how do you feel about the repeal of DADT and the waiting period until it goes into effect?
2. What effect has serving under DADT had on you and/or your family?
3. Are you currently in a domestic partnership or civil union, or married to a member of the same sex?  If yes, do you and your partner have any children?

A major victory for women’s rights was won on January 6, 2011, when the Israeli High Court declared that segregation on public transportation is illegal. Relying on court decisions and legislation, Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein expressed surprise that in the year 2011 the court even needed to state the obvious: Women are entitled to sit wherever they choose on public buses.

Reviewing the history of bus transportation, he reminded us that there had never been segregation on public buses, and that the issue of segregated seating was raised only in the past decade by a group of religious extremists. They demanded that women sit in the back of public buses on certain routes that traveled through Haredi neighborhoods. They also demanded that women be dressed in a modest fashion, as determined by their “modesty patrols.”

The Egged bus company complied with these demands and women were directed to the rear of certain buses, while the front was reserved for men. When some women refused to sit in the back, they were subjected to verbal abuse and occasional physical abuse by some male extremists.

A few women were not permitted to board these buses because of their choice of clothing. When best-selling Orthodox writer Naomi Ragen was subjected to severe harassment while riding a bus to her Jerusalem home, she decided to take action. In 2007, she filed a petition to the High Court of justice, claiming that she was being denied the right to sit in the front section of a public bus.

Joined by other female victims of harassment on buses, as well as by the Center for Religious Pluralism, they were hopeful when the court ordered the minister of transportation to set up a commission to study the issue, conduct hearings, and publish its findings. The commission presented its report in late 2009, declaring that segregated buses were illegal.

Recognizing that some religiously observant men (and women) might wish to sit separately on public buses because of concerns for modesty, the court stated that in a pluralistic, multicultural society, everyone should have the right to sit wherever he or she chooses. However, the court made it very clear that women have the right to sit at the front of the bus (or anywhere else on it) without harassment of any sort, whether verbal or physical. Those who interfere with that right would be subject to criminal prosecution.

Justice Rubinstein, an Orthodox Jew, quoted liberally from Jewish law sources in his opinion, noting that respecting human dignity and love of all humankind were basic to Judaism.

Since all of the parties accepted the commission’s conclusions, the court ordered the Transportation Ministry and Egged to implement the report as follows:

1. All previously gender segregated bus lines are to carry signs stating that every passenger is entitled to sit wherever he or she chooses, except for seats designated for the disabled, and that anyone who interferes with that right by harassing a passenger may be subject to criminal prosecution. These signs are to be of a reasonable size and are to be posted at both the front and rear doors.
2. Bus companies must publicize in Haredi daily newspapers that segregated bus routes have been cancelled, and every passenger has the right to sit wherever she or he chooses.
3. Bus drivers are to be trained to implement the Court’s decision that gender segregation is illegal.
4. The Minister of Transportation is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Court’s decision, and must monitor the previously segregated bus routes to ensure that women are not being harassed or threatened.

The Court declared a trial period of one year to determine if the decision to eliminate gender segregated buses was being enforced. Rubinstein stated that if the Transportation Ministry finds that it is unable to protect women who choose to sit in the front of public buses, it should use its authority to close down those routes that continue to force gender segregation. He concluded that the influence of court decisions on human behavior may be limited. He expressed his hope that all parties would behave with tolerance and good will, for the benefit of society.

Women are cautiously optimistic, but unwilling to rely solely on government agencies and commercial bus companies to enforce the court’s decision.  Naomi Ragen and Sharon Shenhav, a women’s rights lawyer, are organizing a nationwide campaign entitled “Freedom Riders,” which will encourage women to ride buses on previously segregated routes, and to report on their experiences.  Shari Eshet, director of NCJW’s Israel Office met with Naomi and Sharon to discuss how to begin coordinating and organizing the campaign, which will include a hotline run by volunteers and a clearing house for the reports of the riders. Meetings are planned with the CEO of the Egged Bus Company and the Minister of Transportation with the hope that they will support and cooperate in enforcing the Court decision to eliminate gender segregation on Israeli buses.

“Signing legislation that allows for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a necessary first step, but it is not sufficient for ensuring equality in the military. We call upon the President to issue an executive order so that sexual orientation and gender identity are not barriers to applying for a job or advancing in your career,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

The explicit anti-discrimination provision that was part of legislation to repeal DADT was dropped from the bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President last December.  An executive order is therefore needed to give service members recourse outside their chain of command if they are experiencing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Every service member deserves equal respect and a safe work environment. President Obama now has an opportunity to demonstrate the same leadership that President Truman did when he issued an executive order to end racial segregation in the military, and issue an executive order that protects all patriots regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The President recognizes that it will take more than just repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to end discrimination against LGBT service members, and we couldn’t agree more,” Sarvis said.

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

Despite the President signing the bill authorizing repeal of DADT, it is still unsafe for service members to come out until 60 days after certification by President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen. Warning to service members:  Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members with questions are urged to contact the SLDN hotline to speak with a staff attorney: 202-328-3244 x100.

Companies Should No Longer Pay Attention to Boycott Threats From Certified Hate Group

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Truth Wins Out condemned the American Family Association (AFA)  today for writing a remarkably bigoted article titled, “Native Americans Morally Disqualified Themselves From the Land.” The AFA is best known for its anti-gay activism and launch of boycotts against companies that it deems too gay-friendly.  The latest op-ed by the organization’s spokesperson, Bryan Fischer, provides yet another reason why corporations should ignore pressure campaigns by the AFA.

“We are appalled by the American Family Association’s reprehensible remarks that distort history and demean Native Americans,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen.  “Responsible companies should no longer give The American Family Association the time of day and their boycott threats should be ignored. This organization has shown itself unfit to be part of the adult conversation and it certainly does not represent the majority of families.”

The American Family Association was recently certified as an official hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Fischer’s latest column provides evidence that this was a wise decision by SPLC.

“In all the discussions about the European settlement of the New World, one feature has been conspicuously absent: the role that the superstition, savagery and sexual immorality of native Americans played in making them morally disqualified from sovereign control of American soil,” Bryan Fischer wrote on the website, “Rightly Concerned” a project of The American Family Association.

“This nauseating rhetoric is usually reserved for LGBT people, but apparently the American Family Association has more than one group it likes to dehumanize,” said Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen. “The true character of the AFA has been revealed and no corporation or politician can pretend that this group has even a shard of credibility. The only reasonable response to AFA threats is to not return their calls and pretend they don’t exist.”

The AFA is a Tupelo, Mississippi-based organization known for launching failed boycotts against companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Home Depot, Wal Mart, Ford Motor Company and McDonald’s. The group once accused Mighty Mouse of snorting cocaine.

Writers for AFA’s website include Chuck Norris, Janet Porter, David Limbaugh and Rev. Ray Pritchard.

Last month, what police have described as a “wolf-pack” of teenagers in Upper Darby, PA, apparently at random, picked out 13 year-old Nadin Khoury as he walked home from school with a friend, kidnapped and mercilessly beat the boy, tried to hang him upside down from a tree. When he fell out, they set on him again.

ACLU: Transgender woman, ejected from Lynnwood store, spurs policy change By VANESSA HO SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF:

After a transgender woman was kicked out of a Ross Dress for Less store while trying on clothes, a civil-rights group said the clothing chain has taken “positive steps” to strengthen its anti-discrimination policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington said the company has clarified to employees that gender discrimination includes discriminating against someone on the basis of gender identity and expression.

The happy ending here is that the store immediately redressed (no pun intended) the issue.  The sad and, frankly, sickening part is the string of abusive, bigoted comments and outright hate speech in the comments section of the Seattle PI post.  The comments I am seeing posted tell me that “liberal” Washington State has a long way to go.  Some of them are so bad, that they make me ashamed to be a Washingtonian today.  Most of us are better than that. The bigots just have louder mouths and a whole series of blogs to direct them where to go write their hate speech.

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I think it is incumbent on all of us who are not bigots to go and post supportive comments, whenever and where ever this kind of bigotry.  We need to speak up, not just to show our support to the victim, and others like her, who are members of one of the smallest and most oppressed minorities in the world, but also to show the politician and other policy makers whose staff read the comments sections of  news sites that we support transgender person’s civil and human rights.  Make no mistake, those who would prevent anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender people keep their eyes on the courts, newspapers and blogs in the the states where anti-discrimination laws are in place, looking for ammunition to use in their fight against  civil rights protections for all Americans.  Transgender people are a tiny minority, one whose rights politicians may think they can safely sacrifice to gain the votes of the ignorant, bigoted and ill-informed; but if enough of us stand beside them and say “enough, we are standing up for what is right and fair,” they will pay attention, because they have to.

“The seat held by Harman is considered safely Democratic, with Harman’s most serious challenges recently coming in Democratic primaries. That dynamic, however, will change in the special election to fill the seat, the date of which will be announced within 14 days after Harman leaves office. Under a new California law, all candidates regardless of party will be put on a single primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters proceeding to the general election. Under this “top two” system, both candidates in the general election could be from the same party.”

 

72-year-old Floyd Babb of Troy, Idaho was killed in a four car, chain reaction collision on Highway 95 south of Potlatch just after 9 a.m. this morning.  This is the second tragic, fatal car crash near Potlatch since November, when a woman was killed in a drunk driving crash and three others very seriously injured.  The first crash, in November,  hit terribly close to home; our neighbor who is a close friend of our family, was with the victims for most of the evening before the crash.