Please Share Your Story With Fair is Fair MT

Jan29 by D Gregory Smith

The Fair is Fair campaign, a project of the ACLU of Montana, is dedicated to increasing public support for domestic partnerships by telling the stories of real couples who have been denied equal protection because their relationships are not legally recognized.

We are looking for same-sex couples who are willing to share their stories about how they have been denied basic protections afforded to other families.

If you are in a committed relationship with a same-sex partner and you have experienced difficulties (tax problems, pension issues, problems related to caring for children or making medical decisions for your family, or any other types of difficulties) because your relationship isn’t legally recognized, please e-mail me at niniab@aclumontana.org.

All communications will be handled as confidential by the ACLU.

Right now, loving, committed same-sex couples and their children still don’t have the protections they need to live their own lives in Montana. The ACLU has brought a lawsuit, Donaldson and Guggenheim v. State of Montana, to win equal protection for same-sex couples. Court cases are important, but to win lasting fairness for gay and lesbian couples we need to convince not just the courts but also the general public that Montanans need domestic partnerships.

Please don’t pass up this opportunity to tell your story and to help Fair is Fair change hearts and minds.

Montana Supreme Court Allows Domestic Partnership Case for Same-Sex Couples To Move Forward (dgsmith.org)
Personal Finance Guide for LGBT | AptusInsurance.com (aptusinsurance.com)
Pride Foundation Scholar Helps Draft Montana Civil Unions Bill (dgsmith.org)
Same-sex Marriage a Boost for Wedding Business (hispanicbusiness.com)
ACLU: Federal court declares ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ unconstitutional (with video of Edie Windsor) (miamiherald.typepad.com)
Prosecutorial Discretion for Same-Sex Couples Affirmed (lawprofessors.typepad.com)

Against Marriage Equality? Gay Men WILL Marry Your Girlfriends

Nov13 by D Gregory Smith

Been coming back to this all day- makes me HOWL.

Had to share:

Click for link to video

Helena: To Discriminate or To Not Discriminate?

Oct5 by D Gregory Smith

An attempt at a discrimination graphic. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Did you know gay, lesbian, bi and transgender Montanans are not protected under state law in the workplace, or in buying and renting a home?

The City of Helena is moving forward with a non-discrimination ordinance that would protect LGBT people who live, work and visit within the city limits.
You can sign the petition with just a couple clicks!

Visit http://www.mhrn.org/helena/ today.

Greer Among Young NW LGBTQ Leaders Invited to The White House (dgsmith.org)
Share Your Story- Montana LGBT Couples Needed (dgsmith.org)
Romney’s Insensitivity To LGBT People: ‘I Didn’t Know You Had Families’ (thinkprogress.org)
LGBT Americans Face Unfair Laws And Stigma (advocate.com)

Off To PFLAG Conference

Sep21 by D Gregory Smith

Today, I’ll be in the great town of Hamilton, MT for the 2012 PFLAG “Big Sky/Big Dreams” Pacific Northwest Regional Conference.

This event is being organized by PFLAG Hamilton/Bitterroot and is being held from September 21-23, 2012, at the Bitterroot River Inn. The conference is an opportunity for PFLAG members to share in education, advocacy and fun. Presentations being offered include those by Dr. Robert Minor: The Fairness Project and Jean Hodges: Chair of Regional Directors, National PFLAG – “Faces and Facets of Transgender Experience.”

Caitlin Copple and I will also be presenting on organizing and the power of creating a solid organizational model on behalf of Pride Foundation.

Hope to see some of you there!

Pacific NW PFLAG Conference Comes to Hamilton, MT (dgsmith.org)
PFLAG Director Discusses Catholic Roots (dgsmith.org)
PFLAG Supports Chick-fil-A (Kinda) (bilerico.com)

Participate! Study about LGB persons In the Workplace

Sep11 by D Gregory Smith

Received today:

My name is Paul Battle, I am a doctoral student at Oakland University working on my dissertation. I am currently compiling research on the work experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. I hope that learning more about the work experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals will help improve work experiences and counseling education.

Participants should be over the age of 18 and currently be employed. To participate in the study please click on this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Workplaceidentity

Study: Phrase ‘That’s So Gay’ Causes Lasting Harm (detroit.cbslocal.com)
Gay Chicago TV Tackles Bisexuality, Biphobia, & Bi Erasure (bilerico.com)
New CE Course on Culturally-Competent Healthcare with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals Added to HealthForumOnline’s Resource Library (prweb.com)

Flathead Valley Gay Community Center Opens

Aug18 by D Gregory Smith

A new community resource center aimed at meeting the needs of the Flathead Valley’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) population opened in June downtown at 17 Second St. E., Ste. 205.

The center is a labor of love for the Flathead Valley Gay Alliance, Inc. (FVGA), a newly reorganized social group that has met for 20-plus years in the area but recently applied for its 501c3 nonprofit status. They are open 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, with many evening events.

“FVGA’s opening of the community resource center has given the local GLBT residents and area visitors a volunteer-staffed one-stop location for information and referral services, as well a meeting location and activities center for organizations that serve the Flathead Valley community,” says Roger Blair, Secretary of the FVGA Board.

Game nights, family movies, and discussion groups for men, women, and transgender people, including support and information services for health needs, are among the center’s offerings. Events are posted at the center’s website and Facebook page.

Founded in 2011, Flathead Valley Gay Alliance, Inc. provides information, resources, and social support to the GLBT community, friends, and family in a safe, confidential, and inclusive environment respectful of all, serving Northwestern Montana. To learn more, visit www.flatheadvalleygayalliance.org or e-mail fvga.info@gmail.com.

Pride Foundation to ‘Make Waves’ on Flathead Lake August 12 (dgsmith.org)

Coming Out

Jul3 by D Gregory Smith

Here’s to Anderson Cooper, who so eloquently came out as a gay man yesterday.

“…I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something – something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.

I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand.

The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

Being who you are is never a reason for shame. It can be, however, a reason for caution. It’s not always safe to be who you are- and everyone gets to make that call for themselves. For all the kids out there who may not yet be fully able to be themselves: Be patient, be gentle with yourselves and quietly gather supportive and loving people around you. Your day will come.

GLAAD Announces ‘Commentator Accountability Project’ To Expose Anti-LGBT Voices

Mar15 by D Gregory Smith

From AmericaBlog:

English: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defama...

Image via Wikipedia

Sick of seeing the homophobes spewing their hate on tv? Most of us are. And, we wonder why so many media outlets are willing to give them face time. GLAAD is launching a project to make sure the media knows exactly who they are dealing with:

The GLAAD Commentator Accountability Project (CAP) aims to put critical information about frequent anti-gay interviewees into the hands of newsrooms, editors, hosts and reporters. Journalists or producers who are on deadline often don’t have the time to dig into the histories of a commentator. Audiences need to be aware that when they’re not talking to the mainstream media, these voices are comparing the LGBT people to Nazi Germany, predicting that equal treatment of LGBT people will lead to the total collapse of society, and even making accusations of satanic influence.

The Commentator Accountability Project is bringing all of these statements to light, while calling attention to the sentiments behind them. We will show that the commentators who are most often asked to opine on issues like marriage equality or non-discrimination protections do not accurately represent the “other side” of those issues. They represent nothing but extreme animus towards the entire LGBT community.

Have you seen these anti-LGBT voices in your local media? Let GLAAD know today.

It’s an excellent idea- and local human rights organizations are encouraged to participate. Any Montana candidates? Send them to me through the comments- I won’t publish them unless you give me permission.

Read the rest here.

New GLAAD Project Holds Anti-Gay News Commentators Accountable for Their Statements (towleroad.com)
GLAAD launches Commentator Accountability Project to ‘expose anti-LGBT rhetoric of so-called ”pundits”’ (miamiherald.typepad.com)

Lesbian Healthcare Study

Jan28 by D Gregory Smith

I like to help students out- especially when it involves greater understanding of our community. Please pass along to others who may qualify.

LESBIAN RESEARCHER SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR STUDY ON LESBIANS’ EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
My name is Melissa St. Pierre and I am a lesbian doctoral student from the University of Windsor (ON, Canada). I am looking for women who are interested in participating in a research study. You can participate if:

You are a lesbian.

You are 16 years or older and live in Canada
OR
You are 18 years or older and live in the United States

Chance to win 1 of 5 $100 cash prizes!

This study has received clearance from the University of Windsor’s Research Ethics Board.

To find out more, go to: http://www.uwindsor.ca/lesbianhealthstudy. Questions? Prefer to fill out a paper survey? Contact me at stpier4@uwindsor.ca or at 519-253-3000 ext. 4703.

Lesbo-Care: A Viable Healthcare Option That Also Fights Terrorism (sweetmotherlover.wordpress.com)
Lesbians And Bi-Sexual Women Show Increased Breast Cancer Risk (medicalnewstoday.com)
Study: Adolescent Children Of Lesbian Parents Are Just As Well-Adjusted As Peers From Opposite-Sex Couples (thinkprogress.org)
New Study Proves Lesbians To Be Better Parents (practikel.com)

“Dead Gay Kids And The Politics Of Hate”

Jan27 by D Gregory Smith

You’ve heard of the “It Gets Better” campaign? Well, according to one Tennessee legislator ,”It Just Gets Worse”.

Christy Diane Farr writes an excellent article about the rhetoric used by the ignorant to allow- and justify- the death of our children. Excerpt:

Image by Rickydavid via Flickr

The next morning, she received a response from Tennessee State Representative John Ragan that sounded as if it had been taken straight from Hitler’s playbook. I am not exaggerating, even a little, and invite you to go here and read for yourself.

I cried as she read me the message. I thought I would throw up. His final point literally took my breath away:

“Examining another statistic, it has been well known for a decade that suicide is attempted much more frequently in the homosexual community than in the heterosexual community (Mathy, Cochran, Olsen, & Mays, 2009). This same source pointed out that, on average, suicide is approximately three times more likely among homosexuals than heterosexuals.

“As a fitting critical thought question, it could be asked if other identifiable groups that engage in behavior of which ‘others may disapprove’ commit suicide at similar rates? In other words, do prostitutes, pedophiles, polygamists, murders, etc., commit suicide at the same, or similar, rates to homosexual behavior practitioners? If similar rates were hypothetically so (not proven to be the case), do these behavior practitioners commit suicide at a higher rate because someone may have disapproved of their behavior or for other reasons? Should society avoid disapproving of pedophilia, prostitution, murder, etc., because practitioners of those behaviors may commit suicide at higher rates?”

The author makes a lot of amazing points- chief among them is that for a lot of of kids, the “It gets better” message isn’t coming through- because teachers and legislators and parents are stifling the message- and countermanding it. But there is a need to stay vigilant, there is a need to speak up- and it’s because of one simple philosophy:

The list of the others–the “they” who are allowing their fear and hatred to erode our National integrity–goes on and on, but the truth is that this radical lesbian-headed household doesn’t even believe in “they.” We teach our children about how everyone is equal, even those who think we are not. We believe that human difference is real, that it’s important, and that diversity, inclusivity, and integrity are what make us strong–as individuals, families, communities, states, counties, and as a planet.

We live by one guiding principle: Be nice or leave.

That means we don’t make life harder for other people (rinse your dishes before they go in the dishwasher and dispose of your waste responsibly). It means do your best so the collective “we” can be at our best. We tread lightly on the planet. We disagree respectfully because we certainly won’t always agree, but we can always do it respectfully and intelligently.

Oh, and we ask for what we need because we understand that it’s codependent and manipulative (prime examples of the “not nice” that can result in being invited to leave) to expect others to know what you need and desire.

Read the rest of this excellent essay here.