The Ryan Thomas Collection

I am angry and I am frustrated. One of these days I will wake up the Wednesday after voting day and not have to worry about this all. I can’t wait for that day; a day when equal rights for gays and lesbians will not be put up for a popular vote because for one, no one will think twice about taking away rights, and two systems will adjust to stop this from happening in the first place. One of the core beliefs of our nation’s finding was the idea that the minority must be protected by the tyranny of the majority. As we fight for LGBT equality, we fight for this principle.

 
We lost Maine’s Prop 1 battle. Yes on Prop 1 won. A revisit of Prop 8 a year later, to the date. This time, anti-equality voters won at a 57% to 43% margin. This gap was slightly larger than Prop 8’s 52-48 vote. This small percentage gap we keep losing by is frustrating, but also gives me a lot of hope. I think this gap will be gone by a mere departure to heaven by the oldest generation. The oldest generation still has this conservative viewpoint on a lot of things in American life. They weren’t teenagers during the sexual liberation of the 60s/70s. They were the ones who built up the conservative 1950s that helped give way to the liberal push in the 60s/70s.

I did some historical math and I see some good things in the near future. Let me give you some hope through historical discourse:
**15th Amendment – Right to vote for all races (women still excluded) – 1870
**19th Amendment – Right to vote for women – 1920
**Civil Rights Act of 1964 – No discrimination based on race, sex or religion, 1964

We have 45-50 years between these civil rights pushes. One leads to the other, but the struggle was always happening before that. Black men got the right to vote, which pushed women to keep their fight for suffrage. These two minorities then pushed together for civil rights equality, which happened 44 years after suffrage. This helped give way to the gay liberation movement with Stonewall in 1969, 40 years ago. Based purely on historical discourse, we are right at the breaking point. You can see this with the signing of the Matthew Shepard Act a couple weeks back, the first major federal gay rights law. Although citizens of states are ripping marriage rights from us, we are gaining some major ground in other facets of daily life and new levels of government not seen in quite some time.

Let this be the history lesson for the day. Get angry, but we must keep faith and hope! Our time is now, but we just have to keep fighting the good fight and remember that we have justice on our side. We did this last year and we will do it this year. We’re on the winning side of history and we must tell ourselves that every day.

Popularity: 1% [?]

My ordinary Wednesday ended with the best feeling of victory, for me, my friends, my family and the country. News that President Obama signed the first major piece of gay rights legislation broke. October 28, 2009, almost a year after the Prop 8 debacle, the Matthew Shepard Act officially became law with the signature of our President and I could not be more elated. Tears of sorrow I shed following Election Day 2008 and the passage Prop 8 are now tears of joy for a real sense of victory and a sense of justice. I kept faith in my vote for President Obama and I truly believe this is just the beginning. Some patience. Some protesting in the streets. Some blind faith in America. Finally, a touch of equal protection under the law has come to fruition.
 

The story of Matthew Shepard and the vicious crimes committed against him always resonated with me. A high school student at the time of his death, I remember the fear it instilled in me. I remember coming to terms with the fact that this could happen to me any day and I remember the paranoia I lived with for so many years. Growing stronger than that fear and that paranoia was quite a journey, and in reality, I am still on this journey. Today, I remember Matthew Shepard and his story. Today, I celebrate that he did not die in vain and I thank him for helping me be a stronger member of the gay community.

A lot of people questioned President Obama’s Nobel Peace prize, but my friend pointed out that today’s act is the reason why he received the award. Providing civil rights to the citizens of his own country works towards equality and justice. If an injustice is a threat to justice everywhere, then today, President Obama has reduced the threat to justice and in turn, brought our quest for peace one step closer. We know and he knows that there is far more work to be done at the federal and state level, but for now we celebrate the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act, the LGBT inclusive hate crimes law. Harvey Milk said that “You gotta give them hope” and with the enactment of this legislation, President Obama has given me an even stronger sense of hope.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I do not have faith in Jesus Christ. I do not have faith in Allah. I put no faith in religion or its deities. I really never have and I am not sure if I ever will. The one thing I have always had an undying faith in is the Constitution of the United States, the fundamental and structural core of this nation’s government. It has been altered and misconstrued. It has been abused, and it has been tested. In the end, the central principles our Founding Fathers incorporated into this living document have survived and proven to provide justice more often than not.

The Constitution has always seemed genius to me, in that, unlike the Bible, it recognizes the need to live, grow and adapt. I have an unaltered faith that the Constitution, and those in power to defend it, will realize the necessity of standing up to social injustice and provide equality to all citizens of this nation. Until this happens, I march. We march. We assemble peaceably to remind the nation of the core principles of this nation, liberty and justice for all. Like Jehovah Witnesses in a suburban neighborhood, we knocked on the White House’s door. We knocked on the Capitol Building’s door. On October 11, 2009, an estimated 200,000 people knocked to say, “Equality across America.”

In September, I got word that an equality march was being planned in Washington, DC to bring attention to gay and lesbian rights, or lack thereof. At that point, my friends and I had marched on San Francisco’s City Hall. We drove to Sacramento to march on our state’s capitol. We decided the time had come to fly to our nation’s capitol to march for what we deserve, our full civil rights. Travel plans were made and off we went to explore the core of our country’s government. Off we went to stand up to social injustice, for ourselves, for those who cannot speak, and for the future.

We did not know what to expect in numbers for the march; the effectiveness of such a march continually ridiculed by many on both sides of the political spectrum. As days neared to the march, news was released that President Obama would speak at the Human Rights Coalition (HRC) event the night before the march. This had to be a sign that the march was going to be something worthy of getting President Obama to speak the night before. In a sense, a victory had been won without anyone actually marching. President Obama speaking at the HRC got the cause of equality in the headlines for the weekend; it got people talking. The conversation fueled once more. It seemed from an outsider’s standpoint that the march we were to embark upon must have helped, even just a tad, in convincing President Obama to speak at this important event. He spoke and it was, more or less, the same rhetoric he used in his campaign, but at least we know he has not forgotten and more importantly, he knows we have not forgotten.

October 11, 2009, National Coming Out Day, our day to march on the nation’s capitol, had arrived. We walked to the gathering point of the march and waited for it to begin. As we waited, we looked up to see a huge rainbow in the sky; an actual rainbow adorning us from above. It had to be a sign that we were doing something special. Thousands of people gathered. We stood waiting for an hour thinking we were held up from marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the White House and to the Capitol. Unsure of the reason for the wait, we maneuvered through the crowd only to find that the turnout had the streets so filled that it took an hour to get all the marchers down the route to allow us to start moving. It was massive. Rainbow flags everywhere. Massive signs calling for equality and justice. People of all colors, all ages, all sexual orientations. It was a colorful and powerful display. 200,000-250,000 people marched in front of the White House and then stood before the Capitol Building. A spectacular site to be seen. Although, the turnout was smaller than that in marches in 2000, 1993 and the late 80s, something was done and someone heard.

Barney Frank, D-MA, said that the National Equality March was “only putting pressure on the grass” and that such peaceful assemblies do little to persuade Congress into making decisions. He said the march was more of an emotional release for those marching. I certainly agree that participating in the National Equality March was an emotional release, a powerful release of all sorts of emotions. I felt empowered, and knew that the same document that gives me the freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble will one day work to give me the equality I so rightfully am due. We had to bring attention to Maine’s Prop 1, the Prop 8 of Maine. Washington state has pending legislation to remove domestic partnership rights from the state. This was not just about pressuring Congress to act, it was about bringing attention to each piece of social injustice happening in our nation.

None of us marching expect Congress to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) or Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) in the next couple weeks. Lady Gaga’s speech at the steps of the Capital Building put it perfectly, “President Obama, I know you are listening. ARE YOU LISTENING?” We marched on Sunday, October 11, 2009 to remind Congress, to remind the President and to remind America that we are not done. We marched on Sunday to get one more person to listen and say, “Enough is enough. These people are right.” This march keeps the conversation alive and in our system, the conversation must be kept alive because one day, one or all of the branches in Washington are going to acknowledge, provide and protect equal civil rights for the LGBT community. Until this day happens, I will put “pressure on the grass” for me and for my country, because as FDR said:

We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.

Below, artists use movement, color and music to spread their ideas at the National Equality March.

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This week, President Obama honored Harvey Milk with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom. Milk’s posthumous award makes him the first openly gay individual to receive the award, which seems befitting and suits his life and story. Harvey told gay and lesbians to live out of the closet with pride, and his Medal of Freedom affirms the power of what he has done for the gay and lesbian civil rights movement.

The White House released the following statement about Harvey Milk:

Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality.

Gay right activists are pleased with the President’s move, and say it was a smart political move, as President Obama has been receiving much criticism for his lack of action in repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and DOMA. Both of these actions must actually begin within Congress, and with Obama pushing his health care agenda first, these two ideals are bound to take the backseat for some time. With 2010 elections up and coming, it seems unlikely that Congressional leaders will touch DADT or DOMA, as the country continues its recession woes and health care reform. Though a small gesture, the gay community must realize that President Obama’s willingness to extend the Medal of Freedom to Harvey Milk shows that he has not forgotten about the community. President Obama needs the nation to focus on health care and economic reforms, and for once is not using gay issues to distract the nation’s attention.

We must also recognize that Governor Schwarzenegger refused to sign California legislation making Harvey Milk’s birthday a Californian “day of significance.” He suggested that Harvey Milk’s memory should be remembered at the local level and suggested that his influence does not reach far enough outside San Francisco to qualify his work worthy of this Californian honor. The California State Legislature passed this resolution, but Schwarzenegger’s veto shows yet another clear signal that he certainly is not as “socially liberal” as he always insisted. Enough about California villains.

Here’s to the legacy of Harvey Milk. Our generation could use the likes of him right about now, and yet we continue to struggle to find one. A well deserved Medal of Freedom is long overdue, but better late than never, to say the least. As gay and lesbian civil rights continue to sway back and forth, Milk’s push for gay and lesbians to live out and open lives continues to be vital in the move to push public opinion in favor of equality.

Popularity: 2% [?]

It has been quite some time since I have updated my blog. The unemployment rate and economic status of the nation has had me working especially hard to ensure the job I have remains the job I have, as jobless rates continue to rise in California. Between all the news of President Obama’s health care reform, American journalists being freed from North Korean jail and Iranian political unrest, a little thing we call equality has slipped under the radar. This time we return back to the state of Maine, where just a few months ago, its state legislature passed a marriage equality law. Thanks to Facebook, Maine’s Prop 1 has been brought to my attention. In the news of the world, it seems that in headline reading, this proposed ballot measure has somewhat slipped under the radar in the past week.

On July 31st, opponents of marriage equality provided 100,000 signatures to Maine’s state government in a bid to put a measure on the next ballot to overturn the state legislatures’ marriage equality law signed in May 2009. Named “Prop 1,” if approved, the measure would return Maine to a “domestic partnership” state. Maine officials have until early September to validate at least 55,087 signatures, but efforts from both sides of marriage equality are beginning.

Opponents of marriage equality have hired the same public relations group that led California’s Prop 8 victory. Yes, this is dejavu. In doing a bit of research on Prop 1, it seems that some citizens supporting marriage equality believe that equality will be upheld and it will simply strengthen the legislature’s own measure and validate equality in the state. Opponents to equality are singing the same ol’ song they sing in every state, “The foundation of our society is marriage between a man and woman.” We all know the story from Prop 8 last year.

It feels like marriage equality has become of a game of Battleship. B12; hit. H5; miss. C8; miss. J2; hit. It is up and down, win and defeat. This makes me wonder if this is why even the general press did not report heavily on this finding. Perhaps it is too early. It may be because I do not live in Maine. Doing a general online search for “Prop 1″ or “Maine Prop 1″ brings up more results about Prop 8 then the new issue in Maine. Someone better hire a SEO specialist!

Time to sink another ship. Maine; Prop1; hit; sunk!

For the record, NO on Prop 1 means you support gay marriage. YES on Prop 1 means you support inequality. Yep, this is Prop 8 all over again. Taking 75% of the time just to make sure people understand what a yes or no vote ACTUALLY means. Let’s hope this time everyone gets it right!

More information can be found at www.MaineFreedomToMarry.com, which has released the video below.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Equality has rung loud and clear in the past seven days or so. The setbacks felt in November 2008 are still very real, but the hope for equality pushed forward as three events nationwide proved that it is only a matter of time before marriage equality transcends across the nation and it has conservative bigots shaking in their boots. Last week, Iowa’s supreme court ruled laws against same sex marriage in their state unconstitutional. This week, Vermont’s legislature passed a marriage equality law granting same sex couples the right to marry. Vermont’s governor threatened and followed through on his veto. In an incredible turn of events, Vermont’s legislature overrode the veto making Vermont the fourth state to have marriage equality. On the heels of this momentous event, the first where the legislature provided marriage equality rather than the courts, D.C.’s council approved a measure that would let the district recognize same sex marriage from other states. This needs congressional approval.

Within just a week’s time, we have witnessed a great offensive against injustice. The religious right is scared and they should be. When you have right and justice on your side, you are bound to prevail. There is a reason why democracy beat fascism in WWII. There is a reason slavery and segregation ended. The rights of the people must always prevail in a free society, whether it be enforced by the Courts, the legislature, the people or the President himself.

Today, the Courage Campaign sent emails to members informing those for equality that the religious zealots of our nation have released a new nationwide television campaign that misconstrues the truth and plays off fear. Fear tactics only work so long before people become smart to them and although this new commercial is a slap in the face, it does prove that those against equality have no substantial argument and thus, must rely on fear.

The National Organization for Marriage launched their “Religious Liberty” television commercial campaign that they report is a $1.5 million campaign. The first commercial is entitled “Gathering Storm.” It is scheduled to play on Californian televisions at least eight times a day. Viewing the commercial, the background looks like a great storm that God himself created in Egypt as Moses attempted to free the Jews from slavery in “The Ten Commandments.” It is a 30-second spot filled with lies, including everything from gay marriage being taught in schools  to religious institutions being wrongfully persecuted by the government for anti-gay preachings. The commercial feels like it is actually demonizing marriage equality, not just working to persuade against it. It proves that the religious right will stop at nothing and they truly have no boundaries. It made Rick Jacobs, Chair of the Courage Campaign, sick and it makes me sick too.

Take a look at the commercial with a waste basket next to you. The Courage Campaign is raising funds to do what they call “turning fear into hope.” The Dolby Family has challenged the Courage Campaign to raise $25,000, which they will match, to be put towards training camps and sessions to build a grassroots army to counter this horrific commercial and future releases by this demeaning and vicious religious organization. For, this certainly is not going to be the only one.  Donate here: http://www.couragecampaign.org/TurnFearIntoHope

Again, be forewarned. What you are about to view below is disturbing and filled with fearful lies:

Fight against it here: http://www.couragecampaign.org/TurnFearIntoHope

Popularity: 51% [?]

Iowa’s state Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling in favor of same sex marriage on Friday, April 3, 2009. This makes Iowa the first state in the Mid-West to move towards equality in the marriage realm. Iowa’s state law banning same sex marriage was unanimously shot down by the court on grounds that it “excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification” and violated the equal protection clause of the state constitution.

Same sex marriage is expected to begin in Iowa on April 24th, making it one of three states that does so. Vermont is on the verge of gaining enough votes to overpower a governor veto, which will make same sex marriage legal in that state. Iowa, surprisingly, has historically been a leader in equality being among initial states to legalize interracial marriage, desegregating schools and providing the right of married women to own property.

California’s legalization of same sex marriage lasted all of six months before a constitutional amendment quickly outlawed it. Iowa will not suffer the same fate, as citizens are unable to quickly amend the constitution. The state legislature must begin the process and due to the timeline within the legislature and elections, the earliest an amendment could come to the ballot would be 2014.

Vermont’s legislative approval of same sex marriage and Iowa’s court ruling all point in the right direction for equality. Even though California approved a ban on same sex marriage through the amendment process, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of equality, as Iowa and Massachusette state courts did. As state supreme courts continually rule in this manner, it really is a matter of time before the case is brought before the Supreme Court and they too will rule for equality. The state by state strategy is seen as more effective in ensuring a federal Supreme Court ruling in favor of same sex marriage, which is the ultimate goal.

Popularity: 48% [?]

The Matthew Shepard Act is scheduled to hit the floor of Congress for a vote in the upcoming month. This vital piece of legislation, if passed and signed by President Obama, would finally include sexual orientation and gender identity under federal hate crime legislation. Currently, inclusion of sexual orientation within hate crime laws is a state by state fixture. The Matthew Shepard Act would bring this to a federal level. President Bush vetoed the first attempt by Congress to pass the bill, but President Obama has promised to sign it into law should it hit his desk.

The Matthew Shepard Act is named after Matthew Shepard, a young gay man whose life was taken in Laramie, Wyoming over ten years ago because he was gay. The two men convicted of the vicious torturing and murder of Shepard could not be prosecuted under federal hate crime laws that, as it stands, only coves crimes committed based on someones religion, race, creed or ethnicity. Crimes prosecuted under hate crime laws carry heavier sentencing and increased resources for investigation. The importance of passing this act goes beyond the actual punishment it would carry for those criminals convicted for acts of violence against a gay individual based on their sexual orientation.

Local resources for prosecuting crime are often limited with prioritization and crimes prosecuted varying state to state, district to district. If a hate crime based on religion takes place in a local district, local authorities can tap into federal investigative resources in bringing about justice. If a hate crime based on sexual orientation is committed without a state hate crime laws including sexual orientation, local authorities can decide not to investigate thoroughly or may not have resources to do so. Victims then are unable to go to the federal level for justice.  Gay individuals who have fallen victim to hate crimes based on their sexual orientation deserve equal justice under the law. It again comes down to equal treatment under the law.

Those who oppose the inclusion of sexual orientation in federal hate crime laws have viciously lied to the public and Congressional members, telling them that such laws would remove people’s religious freedoms and speech because their anti-gay stance would fall under prosecution of hate crime laws. The American Family Association went so far as to broadcast an hour long program on TV attempting to persuade viewers that people of faith would be silenced and pastors would be jailed. These are ridiculous lies that need to be combated. These blatant lies take pure advantage of people’s lack of knowledge in First Amendment law, as well as the details behind hate crime legislation and the Mathew Shepard Act. Hateful speech, both symbolic and spoken, has consistently been protected by the Supreme Court under the First Amendment. There are limitations, such as if that speech is meant to incite immediate physical violence. However, the protections provided to speech are broad, strong and well protected in this country.

The KKK has been freely allowed to speak hatefully against African Americans without being subject to federal hate crime legislation. Individuals whose racist commentary against Muslims following 9/11 were not prosecuted under hate crime legislation. Individuals whose speak against gays will not be prosecuted under the Mathew Shepard Act. Acts of physical violence against a gay person where the evidence shows that the crime was committed solely based on the individual’s orientation fall under this act. The American Family Association has once again shown a pure lack of knowledge in our Constitution, and our laws. The fear based tactics used to fight same sex marriage are being utilized here. The outlook appears to be dim for them, as the Mathew Shepard Act gains more support in Congress.

This is long overdue for the United States. 15% of hate crimes in the nation are reported to be against the LGBT community, and yet, 15% of hate crimes in the nation are refused equal justice under current federal hate crime laws. It is time for equal protection under the law for all citizens of the United States.

Here are some avenues in which you can show your support for equality under hate crime laws:

* Visit http://www.hrc.org/endthelies/ and see who is spreading ridiculous lies about this topic and others affecting the LGBT community.

* Send a letter to your Congressperson through HRC’s Action Center: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/hate_crimes

Popularity: 43% [?]

The fate of California’s Prop 8 lies in the hands of the state Supreme Court as of noon, Thursday, March 5th. After three hours of debate, both sides of the proposition brought to the court their arguments as to whether Prop 8 is an amendment or a revision to the state constitution. The Office of the Attorney General argued that Prop 8 removes inalienable rights without providing strong enough reason that same sex marriage causes such a threat that this right can be removed.

With $18,000 in donations, Equality California, Marriage Equality USA and other gay rights organizations provided a jumbotron in San Francisco’s Civic Center outside the California Supreme Court. Hundreds of people,both proponents and opponents of Prop 8, gathered to demonstrate. The two sides intermixed outside the grounds of the Supreme Court in peaceful demonstrations. Supporters of both sides appeared to be equally represented in the crowd. A Northern Californian church, with a strong immigrant-Eastern European congregation, bussed in proponents of Prop 8, sporting red shirts and immense signs stating “Traditional Marriage” and a check mark.

These vast signs dominated the landscape outside the courthouse, often blocking views of the jumbotron. As I viewed these signs, I thought to myself, “Traditional marriage, check mark? What side are they really on ?” The founders of JointheImpact.com spoke and mentioned how their same-sex marriage is traditional and listed the stereotypical characteristics of a traditional marriage they participate in everyday, i.e. both spouses coming home from work, watching TV, going to bed at 10pm and doing it all again the next day. Traditional marriage is what same-sex couples want for themselves. On a bright side of this dismal issue, proponents of Prop 8 were unable to clearly display their opinion on a billboard sized sign. The sign’s design was not thought through and was easily discounted.

The happenings inside the courtroom seemed rather dim for those of us looking for Prop 8 to be overturned. The justices asked pointed questions and appeared to be skeptical of the idea of revision versus amendment. The idea arose that by striking down Prop 8 because of its removal of the inalienable right to marry, by default the court would be striking down the inalienable right of Californians to change the Constitution. This argument is weakened by the idea that opponents of Prop 8 were not arguing the initiative process, per se, but arguing that in this instance, the state legislature needed to bring about the issue and send it to the voters. I have trouble seeing how striking down Prop 8 threatens the inalienable rights of Californians to continue the initiative process. The initiative process should never be used to take away inalienable rights, and thus, if the process needs to be changed, then this is the perfect time for it happen. This type of precedent needs to be set and there is no better time than now to do so.

The fate of Prop 8 actually looks bright for its proponents after today’s arguments. As disheartening as it is to say so, the justices, overall, did not seem to take well on the idea of amendment versus revision. A glimmer of hope lies in that the justices did seem to support the idea that those same sex marriages signed during the “Summer of Love” should remain valid. In the end, despite the direction the justices decide to take, proponents of Prop 8 and discrimination against same-sex marriage have an expiration date in our society. It will be a dreadfully long wait for those of us who believe in equality, but the dawn of equality is on the horizon. It does not look like it will be within the next ninety days, but I have faith that we will see it in a decade’s time.

The slide show below are pictures from San Francisco’s Civic Center, home of the California Supreme Court and today’s arguments on Prop 8. Since the Prop 8 demonstrations began last November, the images seem to all look fairly similar. Today’s events were the first I’ve seen an even mixture of both sides represented. The peaceful characteristic of these demonstrations is a commendable aspect and one that refreshes my faith in the American system of liberty and justice.

Popularity: 17% [?]

The countdown to California’s Supreme Court hearing the case against Prop 8 is well underway. With not only faith and hope in our hands, but also liberty and justice, March 5th shall bring to Prop 8 what the Ides of March brought to Julius Caesar, death.

Events are planned around the state of California to further our presence in the minds of our fellow Californians, and Americans. Wednesday, March 4th, is being called the “Eve of Justice” with marches and candlelight vigils planned to utilize the media momentum leading up to Thursday. Visit www.eveofjustice.com to find local information.

For television viewing of the oral arguments, visit http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm

Following Thursday’s oral arguments, the court will have 90 days to make a final ruling.

Popularity: 14% [?]