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Seems to be exactly where the Religious Right is digging in these days. By Cathy Kristofferson, May 02, 2013. Two legislative initiatives now underway on Capital Hill greatly underscore the fact that it is the Religious Right who is seeking ‘special rights’ not the LGBT community, as we are so often accused. The Comprehensive Immigration … More The Special Rights Battleground of ENDA and Immigration Reform
National Day of Prayer to be headed by pastor who thinks marriage equality is a Satanic ploy… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 30, 2013 President Obama just, just!, held a press conference where he remarked that “the LGBT community deserves full equality, not just partial equality, not just tolerance, but a recognition that they’re fully a … More Oh no not another anti-gay pastor hosted by President Obama
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 29, 2013 Here on this BLOG Thursday, we reported that directly preceding the introduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2013, a press release came out expressing “very grave concerns” about the religious exemption clause contained in the Bill. The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, the National Center for … More Understanding those very grave concerns about ENDA’s religious exemption
Employment protections bill introduced for the 20th time… but will expanded religious exemptions doom ENDA before it’s even reintroduced? By Cathy Kristofferson, April 25, 2013 The 2013 version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will be introduced into Congress today by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in the Senate and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) in the … More The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 will be introduced with problems
And you thought refusal of service ended in 1964 with the Civil Rights Act… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 23, 2013 In Massachusetts one of the legislative campaigns we are working on is the Act Relative to Equal Access in Hospitals, Public Transportation, Nursing Homes, Supermarkets, Retail Establishments, and all other places open to the public. … More NOM’s new “Right to Refuse Service” campaign harkens to pre-Civil Rights days
Apartheid in the Boy Scouts Movement is not the way to evolve By Cathy Kristofferson, April 21, 2013 I keep seeing articles and posts about how great it is that the Boy Scouts are now, once again, considering allowing gay scouts (an idea that was proposed and went down in flames not that long ago) … More Boy Scouts Apartheid is bigotry not evolutionary
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 19, 2013. First things first – we all know the Boston Marathon Bombing is the gays fault. I’m a Massachusetts native and have been waiting for the sky to fall or the apocalypse to occur since 2004; so I guess this is it. And the Phelps girls (courtesy Westboro Baptist Church) … More The Boston Marathon bombers right wing blame game
Is this a tacit call to violence? By Cathy Kristofferson, April 17, 2013 Yesterday was day two of the United Nations International Conference on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A conference at which Ban Ki Moon, its Secretary General, said: “Religion and culture cannot justify discrimination against gays and lesbians“. Also yesterday, Pat Buchanan penned a … More Pat Buchanan calls for new era of civil disobedience in response to UN’s calls for equality
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 15, 2013 “Ladies, gentlemen, and all those in between” is how Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the United Nation’s Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’ conference today in Oslo. Potential for something good, I thought. He spoke not only of grave human rights violations (in general … More Keeping the UN Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference Opening Remarks Lively
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 13, 2013 Very early this morning (7am BST) HIV/Aids activist Paul Kasonkomona was to speak on the Crossfire BlogRadio program about his recent arrest for advocating for gay rights. Due to legal issues surrounding his going on the radio similar to the TV appearance which sparked his arrest, along with death … More Zambia doubles-down with threats to ‘stiffen laws against homosexuality’
20% of the American workforce is ‘dreaming and waiting’ for you, Mr. President… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 10, 2013 Following the Supreme Court hearings on marriage equality, I wrote a piece here on this BLOG titled ‘Marriage is nothing without job protections’. One of the described protections that could be put in place was an executive … More $300 billion in federal contracts granted where no LGBT job protections exist
$11 million, four-year initiative to further LGBT equality worldwide By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Following the United Nations’ historic resolution endorsing LGBT human rights in 2011, President Obama issued a mandate to all agencies involved with foreign aid and development to “enhance their ongoing efforts with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector … More USAID announces LGBT Global Development Partnership
Putin’s proposed ban on homosexual ‘promotion’ just as Scott Lively drew it up… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Update from Amsterdam press conference: When asked today about whether gay rights are violated in Russia, in true bigot form Putin responded with a comparison to pedophilia: “Can you imagine an organization promoting pedophilia in Russia? … More Dutch Pride flags at half mast, thousands set to protest Putin visit
Gay icon, or just a supporter of ‘individual liberty’? By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 The BBC is reporting that The Iron Lady ex-Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher has died. Thatcher, a staunch conservative, supported the decriminalization of homosexuality back in 1967. As PM her government later legalized homosexuality in both Scotland and Northern … More ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher has died
Lively’s new mission is to secure the 1st amendment for religious bigotry By Cathy Kristofferson, April 07, 2013 A year ago last April, some of us, ever vigilant on “Scott Lively Watch” and his rein of hate towards the gay community, were poised to warn those next in his path. So when we noticed that … More Gay-hating Pastor Scott Lively finds new foothold in Oklahoma
Still no employment protections in 29 states for gay, and 34 states for trans, employees… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 3, 2013 The title of this post – Marriage is nothing without job protections – is something a fellow activist said on a conference call last night. It made me think back to being in D.C. … More Marriage is nothing without job protections
as the Human Rights Campaign exhibits their typical lack of inclusivity… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 29, 2013. During the SCOTUS trials the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) convinced many in the Facebook world to change their avatars to red. Following the hearings many activists are seeing a different red now that two incidents – insulting both the … More Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings
Photo impressions from the first day’s activities.. I sure hope NOM comes back tomorrow, they were fun! By Cathy Kristofferson, March 26, 2013 This blog piece should really be titled ‘O-Blog-Dee goes to Washington, too busy to blog…’! Both Melanie and I are here in Washington D.C. trying to keep up with all that’s going … More Photo-blog of the Prop8 the day of the SCOTUS hearings
172 events start in all 50 states, with all eyes on Washington, D.C., as people start record breaking queue outside SCOTUS By Melanie Nathan & Cathy Kristofferson, March 24, 2013. 3/25 UPDATE: over 2500 people have gathered at events ranging from Casper, Wyoming, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Cleveland, Ohio already. And tonight is the big “night … More Historic Marriage Equality events underway across the United States
Civil rights, religious, Republican, military leaders and families to speak at historic event By Cathy Kristofferson, March 23, 2013 Supporters of marriage equality will gather at 8:30am Tuesday morning on the steps of the Supreme Court before the first of two marriage equality hearings. The speakers will include an impressive collection of civil rights activists, … More Headline Speakers Announced for Tuesday, March 26 Marriage Equality Gathering at Supreme Court
Is this our chance at our Constitution’s promise of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? By Cathy Kristofferson, March 22, 2013. Next week on Tuesday March 25th and then Wednesday the 26th the Supreme Court will hear the ‘two marriage cases’ deciding if the gay community will be allowed to enjoy the same rights, … More The many possible outcomes of the SCOTUS DOMA and Prop8 hearings
How long will we have to wait to get our Constitution’s promise of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? By Cathy Kristofferson, March 20, 2013. The United in Marriage: Light the Way to Justice coalition has reached 160+ events in all 50 states and Washington D.C. before and during the Supreme Court oral arguments … More Equality is waiting, History is watching….
An injustice to one… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 18, 2013 Sunday I marched in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Peace Parade, the alternate to what is now called ‘traditional’ St. Patrick’s Day parade. Now that I have had a day to thaw and ruminate on why it is I marched for the 3rd year … More Why march in an alternate St. Patrick’s Day parade?
You MUST come OUT and Rally for Marriage Equality | Let the SCOTUS Justices hear your voice | Join United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice in rallying for equality! By: Cathy Kristofferson and Melanie Nathan On March 26th and 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases, respectively, which are fundamentally … More Rallies Across the United States for Marriage Equality
By Cathy Kristofferson, March 14, 2013. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) specializes in insults. Usually such insults are directed at the gay community – our love, our marriages, our families. But today they struck out against adopted children. And not just children in gay adoptions, but all adoptions! NOM’s chairman, John Eastman, said: “Certainly … More National Organization for Marriage insults all adopted children by calling adoption ‘second best’
The issue comes down to this: there’s a big difference between uncomfortable and unsafe By Cathy Kristofferson, March 13, 2013. Last night at the Medford City Council meeting we witnessed round three of the organized attempt to derail the MA Dept. of Ed’s Gender Identity Policy guidelines at the hands of one city councilor and … More Paid Lobbyist Attempts to Derail MA Dept. of Ed Gender Identity Policy Guidance
She should consider a real 21st Century Commonwealth Magna Carta By Cathy Kristofferson, March 09, 2013. March 10 update: No history will be made. The Queen will not attend the ceremony. The Palace released the following: ‘The Queen will regrettably no longer attend the Commonwealth Observance at Westminster Abbey today as she continues to recover … More If Queen Elizabeth really wants to make history tomorrow…
Transgender students bullied by legislators and hate groups line up to oppose implementation and launch attack on Commissioner By Cathy Kristofferson, March 07, 2013. A couple of weeks ago I saw a post “Massachusetts Takes The Lead On Rights For Transgender Students“. Being a MA native I smiled and perused probably while mumbling “of course … More School policy for Gender Identity draws legislative bullies
Virginia pastor Kenneth Miller receives up to 27 months but is released pending appeal By Cathy Kristofferson, March 04, 2013. The Burlington Free Press is reporting that Virginia pastor Kenneth Miller has been sentenced in the lesbian custody case that led to one mother, Lisa Miller, fleeing the country with the pastor’s help rather than share … More Pastor sentenced to federal prison in Vermont lesbian custody dispute
Boston Globe highlights lies from the man charged with Crimes against Humanity and should result in Judge dismissing motion by Scott Lively for summary judgement By Cathy Kristofferson, February 28, 2013. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a non-profit umbrella organization for LGBT advocacy groups … More Scott Lively’s lies may spell perjury at trial and should result in dismissal of summary judgment motion
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