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Dolphin Democrat News
SENATE PASSES THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT
SENATE PASSES THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT!
ONE STEP CLOSER TO ERASING HATE! | "The Matthew Shepard Act sends a bold and unmistakable message that violent crimes committed in the name of hate must end."
- Judy and Dennis Shepard 
Judy and Dennis Shepard
Founders - Matthew Shepard Foundation | Casper, WY - September 27, 2007 - The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds today's passage of the historic Matthew Shepard Act -- inclusive federal hate crimes legislation.
"Today's Senate vote sends a bold and unmistakable message that violent crimes committed in the name of hate must end," said Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew Shepard's parents. "The Matthew Shepard Act is an essential step to erasing hate in America and we are humbled that it bears our son's name. It has been almost nine years since Matthew was taken from us. This bill is a fitting tribute to his memory and to all of those who have lost their lives to hate." "We are especially thankful to Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) for their unwavering leadership in ensuring the passage of this bill," said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. "For far too long this important piece of civil rights legislation has been misconstrued and distorted by its opponents," continued Judy Shepard. "Both Houses of Congress overcame the lies and misinformation claiming the bill would take away our rights to free expression and religious liberty. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today we join with millions of Americans to encourage the White House to follow Congress and ensure that the Matthew Shepard Act becomes law." The legislation is formally entitled, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105). It was offered as a bipartisan amendment by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) to the Department of Defense authorization bill currently before the U.S. Senate. The virtually identical House version of the bill passed overwhelmingly on May 3rd, 2007 with a bipartisan vote of 237 to 180 as an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of hates crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.  | CALL YOUR SENATORS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT | This is a historic time for America! Now that the Matthew Shepard Act has passed through the Senate, it is important for your leaders to be thanked. CALL NOW & THANK YOUR SENATORS
for their support of the Matthew Shepard Act CALL - (202) 224-3121
Ask for your Senators |
Florida Democrats launch drive to defend early primary date
The press conference held by state party chairwoman Karen Thurman and more than a dozen other party leaders and elected officials capped a monthlong, ultimately fruitless negotiation between Florida Democrats, the DNC and the four sanctioned early primary states.
Putting the -T- Back in LGBT
We hear it all the time: "The LGBT Community." We call ourselves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, but too often we don't include all the members of our community when we fight for rights or equality. Some find it increasingly convenient to simply leave out the "T" when asking for support from the American public for the sake of "small steps" to equality. Why do leave out the part of us that needs help the most? The transgender citizens of our community need our help and support. In Broward County, the Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) is being updated to ban discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Right now individuals can legally be fired, denied service in restaurants and other places of public accommodation, prevented from renting or purchasing property, and discriminated against and harassed in virtually every other aspect of their lives simply because their appearance, personal characteristics, or behaviors differ from stereotypes about how men and women are "supposed to act." There has been a small handful of people within our own community that say we need to wait longer to protect our trans brothers and sisters from discrimination. They say this out of ignorance and fear. This handful of people wishing to exclude the transgender community say they fear a "backlash" and repeal effort from the religious right, as happened years ago when sexual orientation was added to the ordinance. What they don't say is that those efforts were fought back then and will likely not happen again. In fact, six Florida municipalities (Gulfport, Key West, Miami Beach, Monroe County, Lake Worth and West Palm Beach) have already added gender identity and expression to their Human Rights Ordinances with no problems or backlash. Also, 103 other state and municipal government protect their transgender citizens by ensuring them equal access to employment, housing and public accommodations. No protections for gay, lesbian and bisexual people have EVER been repealed as a result of a state or local government adding protections based on gender identity or expression. The fact is that we have waited to long and too many have suffered from this continued exclusion. Adding gender identity and expression will protect transgender people who experience tremendous discrimination in the workplace and who all too often are the targets of vicious harassment and violence. In fact, those who most transgress gender norms in our society face disproportionate levels of violence and harassment and need a safe environment. A few weeks ago in Dayton Beach, Florida, a 34 year-old transgender woman was shot in the head and killed for wearing a dress. Sadly, this is all too common. One expert estimates that transgender individuals living in America today have a one in 12 chance of being murdered. This is in contrast to the average person having about a one in 18,000 chance of being murdered. Every day that we don't fight for rights and protections is another day for transpeople to live with those odds. Yet these additions don't only affect the transgender community. They strengthen and affect us all. Adding protections based on gender identity or expression makes all human rights laws stronger because gender oppression and discrimination affects everyone. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and even many heterosexual people challenge gender boundaries and may be the victims of discrimination and violence as a result. In fact, studies of anti-gay discrimination indicate that up to 75% of discrimination is caused by a reaction to gender expression, not actual knowledge that someone is lesbian, gay or bisexual. For example, if a straight man speaks with a high pitch voice and is harassed or attacked for being effeminate, there is no protection for him. Sexual orientation language does not cover this kind of discrimination. Now is the time to step up and truly fight for equality for all of our community. We cannot stand by in fear of backlash while those within our community are harassed and killed. We are at a time when we have never been stronger or more focused on gaining equality and the basic human rights we all deserve. How can we ask members of our own community to go hide back in the closet and wait to be protected? It is our duty to include everyone who seeks equal rights and protection and truly put the "T" back in LGBT. Waymon Hudson, the Homo Politico, is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a non-profit organization focused on helping GLBT individuals who are victims of discrimination and hate. www.fightoutloud.org *Originally published in GaySoFla Magazine (http://www.gaysofla.com)*
Pass ENDA Now
It's an outrage. In 31 states, you can be fired solely because you're gay - if you're transgender, that's 39 states. The radical right is flooding Congress with bigoted misinformation, saying this bill would force businesses to "bow to the demands of homosexuals, cross-dressers, drag queens, transsexuals and she-males." We can't let them win.
Republican prosecutor from Florida caught in child sex sting
A federal prosecutor from Florida was ordered held in custody Monday after he appeared in U.S. District Court in Detroit on a charge that he flew to Detroit intending to have sex with a 5-year-old girl. John David R. Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., an assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida's northern district, is expected to appear again in court for a detention hearing today. A federal prosecutor from Florida was ordered held in custody Monday after he appeared in U.S. District Court in Detroit on a charge that he flew to Detroit intending to have sex with a 5-year-old girl.
John David R. Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., an assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida's northern district, is expected to appear again in court for a detention hearing on Tuesday. He was caught in an Internet child sex sting run by the Macomb County Sheriff's Department and the FBI and arrested Sunday when he flew into Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Pensacola, Fla., according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Detroit.
A sheriff's deputy posed as a mother who was interested in finding someone to have sex with her children, in a sting that has already netted a California paramedic and numerous other alleged pedophiles from around the country.
According to the complaint, Atchison reassured the sheriff's deputy who was posing as the child's mother that he would not hurt the 5-year-old because he goes "slow and easy," and "I've done it plenty."
cross posted at http://changeintallahassee.com/
The HATE Birgade Is Coming To Town
The Hater Votes Presidential Debate: Questions will come from 40 of the top far right wing hate groups in the U.S. including: Paul Weyrich, founder and President of the Free Congress Foundation, Phyllis Schlafly, founder and President of Eagle Forum, Don Wildmon, founder and Chairman of the American Family Association, Judge Roy Moore, with the Foundation for Moral Law, Rick Scarborough, Vision America, and Mat Staver of Liberty Council. Earlier this month, Vision America President Rick Scarborough derided Democratic candidates who attended a forum sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and Logo TV by writing, "What's next? The Cross Dresser Debates? Or perhaps the NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Lovers Association) Debates? Or here's one for the ages -- The Bestiality Debates." Now, Scarborough has revealed that he will take time away from his 70-week electoral " crusade" to join Phyllis Schlafly, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Janet Folger in interrogating at least 7 Republican candidates at the so-called " Values Voter Debate" next month in Florida, leading those of us following the parade of GOP contenders wooing the Religious Right to ask: What's next? It's time for the candidates to be asked whether homosexuality is a sin. It's time for them to declare whether the killing of the unborn is ever right. It's time for them to answer whether their Justice Department would prosecute preaching biblical truths as hate crimes. Earlier this month, Vision America President Rick Scarborough derided Democratic candidates who attended a forum sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and Logo TV by writing, "What's next? The Cross Dresser Debates? Or perhaps the NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Lovers Association) Debates? Or here's one for the ages -- The Bestiality Debates." Now, Scarborough has revealed that he will take time away from his 70-week electoral " crusade" to join Phyllis Schlafly, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Janet Folger in interrogating at least 4 Republican candidates at the so-called " Values Voter Debate" next month in Florida, leading those of us following the parade of GOP contenders wooing the Religious Right to ask: What's next? It's time for the candidates to be asked whether homosexuality is a sin. It's time for them to declare whether the killing of the unborn is ever right. It's time for them to answer whether their Justice Department would prosecute preaching biblical truths as hate crimes. For candidates nervous about appearing before these far-right haters, Scarborough has provided a crib sheet of potential questions he may ask: Do you believe Islam is a religion of peace? Do you believe that homosexuality is a sin? Would you pardon border patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Juan Compean? Do you believe that tax payer's educational money should follow the child? Do you believe the Ten Commandments should be posted on public property? Do you believe a pastor should have the freedom of speech to endorse or oppose a candidate for public office from his pulpit? Will your Justice Department refuse to prosecute any pastor who preaches that homosexuality is a sin and is then accused of a hate crime? Do you believe the court had a right to withhold food and water from Terri Schiavo which resulted in her death by dehydration/starvation?
An Exclusive Community
An eager young person who is looking to get more involved with her community goes to a meeting for a so-called "community involvement group", hoping to find a place to belong. The group, which was started and advertises itself as a broad group that included everyone: gay or straight, from every walk of life, decides that it wants to become an exclusively LGBT group. This is despite the fact that the success it had thus far was based on including everyone and reaching out past the gay community and just its issues. The original purpose was to build bridges to other segments in the greater community and strengthen them all, including LGBT's. Yet, somehow, it was decided that they did not need this support. They decided that they were to be an "exclusive" community and only care about "their" issues. The young person sits back in confusion. The surprises didn't end there, however. The group doesn't just go from including everyone to representing only LGBT's. That wasn't nearly exclusive enough. They begin knocking off more people. First to go, as happens far too often, is the transgender community. Statements are made that their last event was such a success because it "wasn't just the drag queens that showed up." The young person shakes her head in disbelief. The group then cuts out lesbians, stating "it was good to see just a bunch of gay men in khaki's and polo's." But being just a group of well-dressed gay men still wasn't enough. They begin to knock off other minorities, including African-Americans, Hispanics, and others with racist and exclusionary comments. Soon it is clear to the young person seeking to get more involved that this supposed community involvement group was really just a club for upper-class, white gay men. The young person sadly leaves, discouraged by the division and not wanting to be the next person booted from the "exclusive" group. So, where does this attitude come from? We have all been in situations like this. Whether it is a so-called equality group or just sitting around a bar with friends, we hear these exclusionary comments every day within our own community. Why do some in the gay community feel they don't need to include others or fight for everyone's rights? The LGBT community is not the first, nor will we be the last, to seek equal rights and protections under the law. We will never get the rights we deserve if we don't care about anyone else's fight too. Statistically, less than 10% of the population is LGBT. We need the other 90% of people to get behind us and support us to get any real political change. We need our straight allies to stand and fight for us. We can't just thumb our nose at others and go at it alone. As a community, we have to embrace others and their causes so they will embrace ours. Why would there be any racism or classism in our community when it comes to equality or civil rights? We have natural allies with other groups that have been the target of hate, intolerance, and violence if we would just reach out to them. We must show that we are better than the hateful and divisionary tactics used by those against us. A real life example of this ridiculous idea of exclusivity within our own community came to light recently in the form of a one-woman crusade that was dead-set against including transgender rights to the Broward County Human Rights Ordinance. She wanted trans-people to "be patient and wait" for a better time to secure basic human rights like equal housing, public accommodations, and job security. This came from a wealthy, white lesbian who already had protections under the law in Broward County. It's funny, isn't it, how those that already have rights want others to wait for theirs. I find it appalling that people who don't face the same level of discrimination seek to deny the rights of those that truly need their support. Why would we not fight for all parts of our own LGBT community and other minorities? Just because they don't look or act just like us? This isn't just about the rights of wealthy, so-called "main-stream", gays and lesbians. This is about helping everyone in our community, especially those that are underrepresented. How can we say that we want equal rights for ourselves but not protect those among us that our most vulnerable to discrimination and violence, like the transgender community? By excluding those that are different from us, even in our own community, aren't we becoming just like those that we are fighting against? It is time we stopped this self-imposed division amongst ourselves and with those that would be our allies. Some among us are getting greater inclusion everyday from society. Sadly, others are not. That is why we have to strive to be inclusive, to embrace each other and the little things that make us all unique. We will not succeed in our efforts if we pretend we are an "exclusive" community. Those that try to drive others out because they are different aren't being exclusive; they are being bigots, the very thing they claim to be fighting against. We must include, accept, and protect each other. There can be no "velvet rope" in our community's fight for equality. Waymon Hudson is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a national non-profit organization focused on helping LGBT individuals who are victims of discrimination and hate. www.fightoutloud.org *originally printed in GaySoFla Magazine (www.gaysofla.com)* Labels: fightoutloud.org, Politico Homo, Waymon Hudson
Why tolerate tolerance?
We must be tolerant of others. It is something we hear far too often from political leaders. It is an issue that has come into sharp focus as we move into the height of the political season. It is preached at every campaign stop, every debate. More often than not, it is aimed at the LGBT community. Even those within our own community jump on the "tolerance train" and say that our fight is for "tolerance and respect." I disagree. Our fight has not now, nor has it ever been, about the need for others to tolerate us. It is about full acceptance into society as a whole, with full equality and rights under the law.
The word "tolerance" conjures up some very negative connotations and when used in regards to the LGBT community, it carries some very serious and damaging baggage. When you say we need people to tolerate our lives, it suggests that we are vastly different and alien than others, something "out of the norm." By playing into this suggestion, we have already made the efforts against us that much stronger. We must accept and show that our lives, relationships, and families are no different than anyone else's and have just as much value. We have to start pushing that fact out to the forefront. If we happen to love someone of the same gender, does that somehow lessen the love we feel? If we express our gender identity in a way some might not fully understand, does that make it any less true? Of course not. The very word tolerance puts our relationships and lives in a lesser category than others. It seems to suggest that who we are as LGBT citizens is something to be merely "put up with."
The battle for equality is not about simply being tolerated. It is about full acceptance. It is about making ourselves part of society. Our lives are just as valid and meaningful as everyone else's, even if some may have some religious-based or moral objections to it. I realize we can't change everyone's minds and opinions about LGBT people. That is not what I am suggesting. What we can and must change is how the rest of society views those who would use their small-minded views to keep us from full equality and acceptance. By arguing to be tolerated, we have already lost half of that battle. We have played into the hands of the enemy by conceding that being LGBT is something bad, something to be ashamed of. The LGBT community must keep pushing for greater visibility and acceptance of our lives into society. We must fight for full acceptance under the law and not settle for anything less.
I know that asking for acceptance is a much longer road to go down, but it so much more important than simply being tolerated. The argument that we must take small steps and not ask for too much is completely flawed. This notion that we have to fight just for what is easily attainable instead of what we truly want and need is laughable! A good example of this "attainable versus desirable" debate is the fight over civil unions versus full-marriage. Gaining full marriage rights will be a longer and tougher battle than settling for civil unions, but do we really want to accept "separate but equal" status? Full marriage rights may not be immediately "attainable", but by demanding them, we have by default gained momentum for civil unions. Even most republicans now support some form of civil unions. If we just pushed for the easier goals, we would never make any real movement. We cannot settle. By demanding the rights that we deserve, we are drawing a line in the sand and giving society no choice but to catch up to us.
It is time that we really changed our way of thinking as a community. While it may be a hard fight to make society accept us, ultimately it is what we must do to reach our true goals. To be tolerated is nothing more than being looked down upon. We will never get the rights and freedoms we deserve without first demanding acceptance of our lives and relationships. I want full recognition and acceptance of who I am and who I love. I will not tolerate or accept anything less.
Waymon Hudson, the Homo Politico, is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a national non-profit rganization focused on helping GLBT individuals who are faced with discrimination and hate. http://www.fightoutloud.org/
Labels: fightoutloud.org, Politico Homo, Waymon Hudson
Land of Reggae and Homophobia
| | While governments in a number of Latin American countries and elsewhere begin to recognize the legal rights of same-sex partners, Jamaica is bolstering its image as one of the most virulently anti-gay societies in the Western Hemisphere. Between February and July of this year, 98 gay men and lesbians were targeted in 43 different mob attacks, according to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays. Four lesbians were raped, four gay men were murdered, and the houses of two gay men were burned down. On Valentine's Day the police took two hours to reach a Kingston pharmacy where a crowd shouting anti-gay epithets had cornered three men; then the constables allegedly attacked an activist who had tried to help the men, striking him in the abdomen with a rifle butt and slapping him repeatedly in the face. |
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CALL YOUR SENATORS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT
Audio | Democrats announce they are sticking with January primary