Human Relations Commission Urges Expanding PA Anti-Discrimination Law, Would Include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression in Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
HARRISBURG, Pa — Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Chairperson Stephen A. Glassman announced today that the commission is strongly urging the legislature to pass House Bill 300, which was introduced Wednesday, and would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability and familial status.
“Ensuring that Pennsylvanians are free from discrimination is crucial, especially in difficult economic times,” Glassman said. “Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education is illegal in Pennsylvania, but lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are currently excluded from these protections.
“House Bill 300 will help guarantee full equality for everyone in this great commonwealth.”
HB 300 has bipartisan support from 79 sponsors in the House of Representatives. The commission has supported passage of similar bills introduced in past legislative sessions.
The bill defines sexual orientation as actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. It defines gender identity or expression to mean actual or perceived gender identity, appearance, behavior, expression or physical characteristics whether or not associated with an individual’s assigned sex at birth.
“Our statistics show that discrimination complaints rise sharply when the economy is in decline,” Glassman said. “As economic stresses increase and people look for someone to blame for their difficulties, frequently the targets are those who are perceived as different because they are minorities. Passing this bill would serve as a timely illustration of our commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens and ensuring equal opportunity for all.”
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/human-relatio…
Artist Known for Gay Subjects ‘Outed’ As Prop. 8 Supporter
An artist known for her gay-themed work has inspired controversy for having made a $1,000 contribution to proponents of California’s Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that put the rights of gay and lesbian families up to popular vote and saw those rights taken away last November by a slim majority at the ballot box.
LoHud.com reported in a Feb. 5 article that Chappaqua, NY artist Maureen Mullarkey, whose paintings have drawn on Pride events and cross-dressing performers as subject material, had made the contribution to the anti-gay side of the ballot initiative, shocking and angering many in the GLBT community.
Said David Juhren of GLBT group LOFT, “There’s something very duplicitous in making money through depiction of the LGBT community through her art [which then is donated to an anti-gay cause],” the article reported.
Added Juhren, who serves as LOFT’s director of communications, “She’s relatively well-known, and that’s why it’s kind of a slap in the face.” See Artist Known for Gay Subjects ’Outed’ As Prop. 8 Supporter
EDGE Boston, MA Illustration: Porp. 8 supporter Maureen Mullarkey’s art draws on gay Pride and drag artists
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/artist-known-…
GLBT Historical Society Celebrates Castro Exhibit Opening
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On December 18th, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open its newest exhibit Passionate Struggle: Dynamics of San Francisco’s GLBT History.
The exhibit, located at the corner of 18th and Castro streets in the heart of the City’s main GLBT district, has been open in preview since the release of the MILK film on November 26th, but will formally open on the 18th. “During our previews, thousands of people have come through,” said the exhibit’s Co-Curator Don Romesburg. “My favorite, though, was when Harvey Milk’s gay nephew, Stuart Milk, thanked us for so respectfully and powerfully displaying elements of his uncle’s life and death. Straight couples, families, long-time Castro residents, queer youth groups, tourists, and politicians have all told me how moving the show has been for them. Passionate Struggle speaks volumes to the importance of the GLBT Historical Society and how relatable our community’s history can be to so many people.”
The opening ceremony will feature private tours of the items on display by the exhibit’s curatorial team, speeches by GLBT Historical Society Staff and a ribbon-cutting by San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who helped the Historical Society secure Washington Mutual’s donation of the space and a major grant from Levi Strauss & Co.
The exhibit features artifacts, documents, images, video and audio that illustrate four key themes in GLBT history — People, Places, Politics and Pleasure. Several artifacts from Harvey Milk, the subject of the film MILK, are also on display.
“We’ve wanted to bring some of the key items from our archives to the Castro for so long,” said Paul Boneberg, Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society. “We’re showcasing our community’s treasures and celebrating the GLBT Historical Society’s vital role at the home for our history.”
About the GLBT Historical Society — The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical Society (GLBTHS) collects, preserves, and interprets the history of GLBT people and the communities that support them. For more information, visit http://www.glbthistory.org/.
(El Cajon, CA: Publishers Export Company, 1965)
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/glbt-historic…
Washington Students Protest Anti-Gay-Marriage Column
Hundreds of University of Washington students gathered on Saturday to protest an anti-gay-marriage column published in the school’s student newspaper on November 25, the Daily reports. The opinion piece, titled, “Gay marriage? Lets stop and think about this,” described homosexuality as “more of an emotional condition” and argued that legalizing gay marriage would lead to a slippery slope of legal polygamy, incest, and bestiality. An illustration featuring a man standing next to a sheep accompanied the piece.
Several student groups, such as the graduate student government, have called for an apology and even for the newspaper’s editorial board’s resignation.
See Washington Students Protest Anti-Gay-Marriage Column
U.S. News & World Report
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/washington-st…
