Organization: DFL SD 63 LGBT Caucus Community Organizing
We are expecting Rep. Thissen to be at the last half hour of the meeting on Tuesday, February 23. Members of the Staff of Outfront Minnesota and Project 515 will also be there.
Candidates for Governor have been invited. John Marty is coming to the meeting on Thursday, February 25th.
All are welcome, even if you are not part of District 63. We are hoping to start this in Senate District 63 and have other districts follow with their own programs.
Grassroots LGBT Issues Advocacy:
Objective Goals:
Hold our elected officials accountable to their campaign promises through consistent reminders and requests for urgent action.
Call on individuals concerned about LGBT issues to contact our elected officials, urging their immediate and decisive action on LGBT issues and initiatives.
Inform candidates seeking our votes that we are anticipating and expecting their full, active support by voting for pro-LGBT initiatives as their campaigns have promised.
Come purchase your favorite pizza and hoagie and join us to discuss wais to become involved in this effort at either of the following meetings.
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Location: Davanni's Pizza and Hoagies
2312 W. 66th Street
Richfield, MN 55423
Date: Thursday, February 25, , 2010
Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Location: Davanni's Pizza and Hoagies
8605 Lyndale Ave S.
Bloomington, MN 55420
We are also going to be at the District Convention. Please Join us.
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: Meet at 8:00am
Location: Richfield Intermediate School
7020 12th Ave S
Richfield, MN 55423
• Hold our elected officials accountable to their campaign promises through consistent reminders and requests for urgent action.
• Call on all individuals concerned about LGBT issues to contact our elected officials, urging their immediate and decisive action on LGBT issues and initiatives.
• Inform candidates seeking our votes that we are anticipating and expecting their full, active support by voting for pro-LGBT initiatives, as their campaigns have promised.
Come, purchase your favorite pizza or hoagie, and join us to discuss ways to become involved in this effort at the following meetings.
We are inviting our District Representatives, Senators and candidates to attend, as well.
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Davanni's Pizza & Hoagies
2312 W 66th Street
Richfield, MN 55423
We are attending the District Convention. Please join us:
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Richfield Intermediate School
7020 12th St. South
Richfield MN 55423
For more information, please contact
Philip Lowe, Jr
Phone: 612-861-1855 (home)
Email: bearbudmn@yahoo.com
I read the whole Newsweek interview and found it interesting because in a fairly short space, it tells a lot about our slob hunter gov and the party he's trying to appeal to. It's not just what he says, but that he thinks that's what he has to say to get nominated, and that's he's probably right. He may be an arrogant perfidious dissembler, but he's one of the smartest arrogant perfidious dissemblers the Republicans have, and he definitely has some political skills. Some Republicans might argue with that last bit given their fortunes in legislative elections with Pawlenty as governor, but he hasn't gotten into office and onto the national stage by accident.
(Congressional hearings are the first step and the first pressure point of changing law! - promoted by Grace Kelly)
ENDA is better known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Did you know that there is no federal law that says that employers cannot discriminate against potential or current employees due to their sexual orientation or gender expression?
Minnesota has a human rights law against discriminating against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) individuals in the work place. Of course in Minnesota in an employer does have an issue, they beat around the bush and find some other reason to not like someone. I am originally from Massachusetts, I moved here in 2001. And when I was talking to someone they explained to me that in Minnesota most discrimination is implied rather than blatant. Part of the Minnesota Nice that we all love.
Nevertheless, the Federal Government is about to take up the issue of an inclusive ENDA. We say inclusive because in the past, the ENDA bill has been given problems by people who have issues with transgendered individuals in bathrooms. Some suggest that some might use ENDA as an excuse for sexual assault in a woman's restroom for example. However, there has not as far as we know a case been presented to suggest that transgendered people are a threat to anyone in a bathroom. Quite the contrary.
However, this week on Wednesday, September 23rd, at about 10:00pm EST there will be a Congressional hearing on ENDA. We would like to see this bill moved forward. However, we need as many Representatives and Senators to get behind this bill. I have no doubt that Keith Ellison and Al Franken will be behind the bill, but we don't know as much about Amy.
I am asking as many people as possible here to consider calling their Congressional members and asking them to support an inclusive ENDA. Please help make discrimination against LGBT individuals in the work place a federal issue.
I had the honor of attending a gathering with President and Michelle Obama at the White House on Monday, June 29, at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, commonly cited as the modern beginning to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equal rights movement, alongside about 250 other LGBT citizens, allies and families. I was especially encouraged to see so many young people there.
This was a unique opportunity to remember those who began fighting for equal rights so many years ago, and honor the work that has been done since that time. It also was an opportunity for members of the LGBT community to speak with President Obama about how much work is yet to be done, and how we would like to work together to ensure equal rights for everyone in our country.
Because it was important for the President to know the thoughts and feelings of those from across the country the about the state of our movement and the pace of change, I brought two letters with me. I personally delivered each to the President's Senior Advisor, David Axelrod.
From Kelly - you would not realize that this fine article is just a work in progress, by just reading, so I am telling you - it is not finished! When this note disappears, the article will be finished.
I've been "Out of the Closet" for over twenty years and that's that second most popular question asked by my heterosexual friends, colleagues and family. "What's up with that Gay Pride thing you guys always have...And is it always in June?!?"
Last night, I watched Stephen Colbert and I was astonished to see how far the GLBT community has grown in the past 40 years.
Colbert had Jim Fouratt as his guest to explain the history behind the "Stonewall Riots".
Fouratt's account recalls only a sliver of all of the pieces that were going on when those police officers raided that sleazy bar in Greenwich Village, but it's enough to kick off the conversation.
Given the current controversy surrounding Obama administration and GLBT rights, former State Senator Steve Kelley feels that it is important to take a stand on LGBT rights. Steve Kelley believes that our society wrongly discriminates against gays, lesbians, transgendered, and bisexual persons. Steve considers it a family matter, as his brother is gay. In this day and age for our society and government to force these persons to struggle and/or have a second-class status, it is up surd.
As Governor, Steve Kelley will:
-Sign a bill into law that allows couples who are otherwise qualified by law to marry, regardless of gender, while also protecting the constitutional rights of religious institutions to make their own determinations as to who can participate in the sacraments and rites of that particular faith
-Lead a dialogue on these issues respecting the concerns of the many Minnesotans who are uncomfortable with using the word "marriage" for same sex relationships
-Support domestic partner benefits to employees that are in relationships, but who do not wish or are unable to marry
-Ensure that educators and school administrators are providing a safe and supportive learning environment free from harassment and bullying, and that all school programs and policies are inclusive
By Ross Dybvig
Steve Kelley for Governor Exploratory Committee
Arguments regarding California's Prop 8 open before the State's Supreme Court tomorrow. The Court has awarded itself to hear the case and dwell on the subject without a ruling until after Memorial Day. There's a lot of speculation swirling around the Justices' ruling in favor of Prop 8 based on the old "liberal v conservative" framework.
Especially in the spotlight will be Justice Kennard, who voted with the majority last year, but who also voted against hearing the petition of the Prop 8 opponents. No one knows whether the latter vote was motivated by a belief that the adoption of Prop 8 was so clearly valid that there was no point in hearing the case or by a belief that the challenge should have been filed first in the lower courts, rather than originally in the state supreme court.
Arguments regarding California's Prop 8 open before the State's Supreme Court tomorrow. The Court has awarded itself to hear the case and dwell on the subject without a ruling until after Memorial Day. There's a lot of speculation swirling around the Justices' ruling in favor of Prop 8 based on the old "liberal v conservative" framework.
