Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving began as a celebration of a bountiful harvest and has evolved to become a holiday where we spend time with our family, friends and loved ones to reflect upon the many blessings bestowed upon us over the year.

As lesbian civil rights activists, we are thankful:

• First and foremost, that we share our lives together, for our love and strong commitment to one another, to our family and to our community;
• For our children: two daughters, Kylie (and her husband Darren), Katie (and her partner Meghan), son, Colin, parents, Hedy and Dick, and beautiful grandchildren, Jareth and Eowyn;
• For good friends;
• For our good health;
• That we have enough food, warm clothing and a self-made roof over our heads;
• Finally, that we are blessed with an ability to give back to our community via our activism and writing.

We are also grateful for the progress made since last November in the advancement of LGB rights:

• The House of Representatives approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which offers protection from workplace discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexual employees based on sexual orientation;
• An amendment to the Massachusetts constitution banning equal marriage rights was defeated in June, keeping marriage safe in that one and only state where it is available to gays and lesbians – at least until 2012;
• A similar amendment banning marriage equality was also defeated this year in Arizona;
• And lastly, it seems (with the exception of marriage equality), the National Democratic Party has finally embraced the issue of civil rights and legal protections for the LGBTQ community.

And while we appreciate these gains, we must remember that the battle for equality rages on.

The best way to counter the wing-nut's lies and cruel gutter-style tactics is to continue to live out and proud.

The truth about our ordinary and everyday lives is the only antidote for the negative stereotypes used to incite fear and hatred against our families.

Have a great holiday! See you next week!

Still at the ENDA the Line

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), albeit without protections for Transgendered employees.

Although we are deeply disappointed that the approved version of the bill does not include our Transgendered sisters and brothers, we recognize that yesterday's vote was historic.

For more than 20 years, advocates for workplace protections for LGBTQ people have been working tirelessly for this legislation. We often wondered whether we would live to see the day that a majority in either House of Congress would vote to support our right NOT to get fired simply for loving someone.

As the song says, The Times, They Are A-Changing... yet, lest we forget, we are just one-third of the way to the finish line.

Keep in mind that the Senate has yet to vote on ENDA because we are still waiting for Senator Ted Kennedy to introduced it!

And even if the Senate does pass an ENDA bill while Bush is still in office, he has promised a veto.

Still, with all of the hurdles that remain, we feel it is important to recognize this moment as a reflection of how far we've come and how much further we must travel before we become full and complete American Citizens.

Please take a moment to watch this short clip of Representative Barney Frank's emotional plea for his colleagues to vote in favor of ENDA:





We hope you will call Barney Frank and thank him for NOT abandoning the LGBT Community -- even though he has many of the legal rights and protection that remain unavailable to the rest of us.

Representative Frank can be reached at (202) 225-5931 or emailed via a web form on his website.

Not the Be All And ENDAll, But Better Than Nothing

Today -- or at the latest, tomorrow -- the full House of Representatives will vote on whether or not to extend protections from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The bill, known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (ENDA), prohibits employment discrimination against an individual on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees.

Contrary to the lies being spread by anti-equality wing-nuts, the Bill does NOT extend preferential treatment to LGB employees. In other words, there are no "special rights."

And, despite what they are saying otherwise, religious organizations and the US military are free to go on discriminating against us with abandon!

If you ever said to yourself, "I want to make a difference" -- now is your BIG opportunity!

There is a good chance this legislation will pass but first we must overcome the objections raised by the hundreds of thousands of bigoted sheeple who will also -- upon orders from their leaders -- be writing and calling to attempt to defeat this legislation.

ENDA may not be the be all and ENDAll but it is just one more rail on the track to equal rights.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW!

It's so easy, even a caveman can do it!