Videos of President Barack Obama's remarks to LGBT leaders and activists at the White House. I was honored to attend.

Comments from my guest, Justin Kerr, are below.

This story gives great background.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This is the entire speech recorded by the White House.



Michael Council makes it on the Rachel Maddow Show!!




From Justin Kerr:

First, let me say that Michelle looked gorgeous. I loved her top and everyone around me commented on her hair. She has a flair for jewelry.

Second, I preface my thoughts with the statement: I do not have any training or advanced knowledge in the practice of law.

I was honestly expecting something different than what actually occurred. We were all shuffled into the East Room, an estimated 300 GLBT citizens and activists, about 30 minutes before the President entered the door. It was hot and cramped, but it was an honour to be in attendance of this historic event.

The crowd was excited to see the President and First Lady; perhaps one or the other. It was slightly shocking to me, considering how much the crowd adored the President (albeit, I think I heard more “We love you Michelle"). I thought the crowd was slightly zealous when the couple entered the door, which was not my expectation considering the recent events.

His speech was, like any Obama speech is, eloquent and heart-felt. People around me went "Mmmhhmmm" quite often when he spoke to our hearts and told us he understood why we are frustrated and how national security is compromised by the inability of our community to serve openly in the military. He told us," It's not for me to tell you to be patient." He acknowledge our frustration...

Yet, my emotional side affords a certain degree of my own frustration with the President’s lack of open and earnest action regarding his campaign promises. Words alone will not solve these issues, we want and need action.

This is where the community needs a little patience and my logical mind takes over.

I want a President that abides by the law and follows the legislative process. Yes, what is happening to the LGBT community is unfair. However, it would be unconstitutional for the President to make a flippant repeal of the laws that have been passed through Congress. Remember when W ignored laws and tapped phone lines for security purposes? Do you also remember when so many of us were upset when this occurred and we were outraged that the President ignored standing law?

We have to uphold our own standards in this situation. It is the power of the President/Executive Branch to uphold the laws of Congress. The President has basically said his pen is ready to sign pro-equality bills, has he not? It is up to our family, our friends, and us to urge our United States representatives to pass the legislation. We cannot be petulant children, stomp our feet (or just blog) and wait for the change. We need to be persistent activists. Our President cannot work with us in a constitutional fashion if we do not do our job.

Other Information:

GUEST LIST

White House LGBT Event June 29, 2009

Administration Officials

John Berry, Director, Office of Personnel Management
Fred Hochberg, Chair, Export-Import Bank
John Easton, Director, Institute of Education Sciences at the Department of Education City and State Officials
Jason Bartlett, Connecticut House of Representatives
Kate Brown, Oregon Secretary of State
David Dibble, Minnesota State Senator
Evan Low, Vice-Mayor, Campbell, CA City Council
Al McAffrey, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Andrew Mcdonald, Connecticut House of Representatives
Robert Meza, Arizona House of Representatives
Christine Quinn, New York City Council
Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Denise Simmons, Mayor of Cambridge, MA
Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona House of Representatives
Patricia Todd, Alabama House of Representatives
Lupe Valdez, Dallas County Sheriff

Other Invited Guests (Invite Only)

Michael Adams, Service and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE)
Mark Agrast, Washington, DC
Madeline Alk, New York, NY
Ron Ansin, Harvard, MA
Judith Appelbaum, Department of Justice
Chip Arndt, Miami Beach, FL
Cornelius Baker, National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition
Tom Barbera, SEIU Lavender Caucus
Andrew Barnett, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL)
Jarrett Barrios, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Vic Basile, Office of Personnel Management
Christopher Bates, Washington, DC
Michael Bauer, Chicago, IL
Terrance Bean, Portland, OR
Jeremy Bernard, National Endowement for the Humanities
Jennifer Besson, Washington, DC
Dana Beyer, Chevy Chase, MD
David Binder, San Francisco, CA
Elizabeth Birch, Washington, DC
Jeremy Bishop, Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)
David Bohnett, Beverly Hills, CA
Marsha Botzer, Quilcene, WA
Raymond Buckley, DNC Vice-Chair
Eliza Byard, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Christopher Caldwell, Los Angeles, CA
Leslie Calman, Mautner Project
Rea Carey, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Charles Carter, New York, NY
Kevin Cathcart, Lambda Legal
Curtis Chin, Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Chrisler, Family Equality Council
Jamie Citron, Department of Health and Human Services
Wes Combs, Washington, DC
Roberta Conroy, Santa Monica, CA
Cheryl Cook, Department of Agriculture
Stampp Corbin, San Diego, CA
Michael Council, Columbus, OH
Wilson Cruz, West Hollywood, CA
Mark Davis, Philadelphia, PA Q
Todd Dickinson, Washington, DC
Daniel Dozier, Washington, DC
Ruby Dunning, Washington, DC
Ingrid Duran, Falls Church, VA
Christopher Dyer, Washington, DC Office of LGBT Affairs
Steven Elmendorf, Washington, DC
Fred Eychaner, Chicago, IL
Eric Fanning, Department of Justice Bishop
Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge United Church of Christ
Earl Fowlkes, International Federation of Black Prides
Rebecca Fox, National Coalition for LGBT Health
R. Brandon Fradd, New York, NY
Daniel Galindo, San Antonio, TX
Adolfo Garay, New York,
N Jesus Garcia, TX LULAC 4871
Joan Garry, Montclair, NJ
Rufus Gifford, Washington, DC
Emily Giske, New York, NY
Mitchell Gold, Hickory, NC
John Gonzalez, Washington, DC
Vernita Gray, Chicago, IL
Chad Griffin, Los Angeles, CA
Patrick Guerriero, Gill Action Hon.
Michael Guest, Former Ambassador
Rebecca Haag, AIDS Action
Steve Hildebrand, Sioux Falls, SD
Gavin Hilgemeier, Federal GLOBE
Leonard Hirsch, Federal GLOBE
Lorilyn Holmes, Federal GLOBE
Clifford Honicker, Knoxville, TN
Conrad Honicker, Knoxville, TN
Gerald Hoose, Stonewall Participant
Ernest Hopkins, Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief
Hon. James Hormel, Former Ambassador
Paul Horning, Atlanta, GA
Brad Hoylman, Village Independent Democrats
Jody Huckaby, Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Kevin Jennings, Department of Education
Jennifer Jones, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Frank Kameny, Washington, DC
Elaine Kaplan, Office of Personnel Management
Paul Kawata, National Minority AIDS Council
Mara Keisling, National Center for Transgender Equity
Kate Kendell, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Jacqueline Kittrell, Knoxville, TN
Harry Knox, Human Rights Campaign
Steven Latasa-Nicks, New York, NY
Andre Leon Talley, White Plains, NY
Richard Llewellyn, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Llewellyn, Los Angeles, CA
Rosemary Llewellyn, Los Angeles, CA
Thomas Lopach, Export-Import Bank
Lin Lougheed, Miami Beach, FL
Claire Lucas, Corona del Mar, CA
Glenn Magpantay, Federation of LGBTQ AAPI Organizations
Mary Beth Maxwell, Department of Labor
Lisbeth MelendezRivera, Unid@s
Shannon Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Chance Mitchell, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Mary Morten, Chicago, IL
Babak Movahedi, Miami Beach, FL
David Munar, National Association of People with AIDS
Kevin Naff, Washington Blade
Justin Nelson, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
J. Alexander Nicholson, Servicemembers United
David Noble, NASA
Matt Nosanchuk, Silver Spring, MD
Robyn Ochs, BiNet USA and Bisexual Resource Center
Derek Orr, DC Office of Disability Rights
C. Dixon Osborn, Washington, DC
Kathleen Padilla, Philadelphia, PA
Pari Parker, Washington, DC
Skip Paul, Beverly Hills, CA
Terry Penrod, Columbus, OH
Troy Perry, Founder Metropolitan Community Churches
Thomas Petrillo, Washington, DC
Frank Pond, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Raben, Raben Group
Gautam Raghavan, Department of Defense
Steven Ralls, Washington, DC
Ellen Ratner, Washington, DC
Miriam Redleaf, Chicago, IL
Catherine Renna, Chicago, IL
Dr. Sylvia Rhue, National Black Justice Coalition
Jeffrey Richardson, Washington, DC
Laura Ricketts, Chicago, IL
Anthony Riley, Prince Georges County, MD
Carmen Robello, New York, NY
Bishop Gene Robinson, Diocese of New Hampshire
Hilary Rosen, Washington, DC
David Rosenauer, New York, NY
Renee Rosenfield, New York, NY
Jane Saks, Chicago, IL
Aubrey Sarvis, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Thomas Schmidt, Stonewall Participant
Marsha Scott, Washington, DC
Evan Shapiro, New York, NY
Jonathan Sheffer, New York, NY
Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard Foundation
Babs Siperstein, Edison, NJ
Melissa Sklarz, National Stonewall Democrats
Mary Snider, Silver Spring, MD
Courtney Snowden, The Raben Group
Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign
Rick Stafford, DNC LGBT Caucus Chair
Eric Stern, UC Berkeley School of Law
Jon Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI
Sally Susman, New York, NY
John Tedstrom, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC)
Kevin Thompson, Seattle, WA
Andrew Tobias, DNC Treasurer
Jeffrey Trammell, Washington, DC
Ted Trimpa, Denver, CO
Gregory Varnum, National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
Alex Wagner, Department of Defense
Paquita Wiggins, Beltsville, MD
Phil Wilson, Black AIDS Institute
Peter Wilson, New York, NY
Robert Witeck, Arlington, VA
Chuck Wolfe, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
Tobias Wolff, Philadelphia, PA

Jim Fouratt discusses the Stonewall riots for the gay rights movement and his frustration with Barack Obama on Colbert Report

Jim Fouratt
The Colbert Report
Excerpt (s.5 : ep.87)|06:00|
View Description:
Jim Fouratt discusses the significance of the Stonewall riots for the gay rights movement and his frustration with Barack Obama.

On the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots: A note from Andy Tobias about the Gay DNC fundraiser--Protesters & Grilled Cheese

A note about disclosure, this email was not sent to me. I received via a listserv but feel it is important that our community see it. I did not attend. If I had the resources, I would have. Maybe sometime soon

Every year we do this dinner there are all kinds of worries.One year, there was the little problem of summer thunderstorms that threatened to keep all our speakers -- Howard Dean, Barney Frank, our Presidential Nominee Himself -- stuck on the tarmac in DC as we contemplated our Waldorf salads in NY.

But somehow, it always works out (the clouds parted), and I am always left
with the same feeling: If only we had had 300 more people there!

Well, it happened again Thursday night.

And before I get into the grilled cheese sandwiches and the designer
underwear, for those interested in the details, here is the
executive summary:

The Vice President of the United States came . . . at the behest of the President of the United States . . . to address the 10th Annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council Dinner and did so with a sincerity and depth of feeling no transcript will convey. In particular, his impromptu remarks when he spotted Frank Kameny and spoke of what an honor it had been to meet him at the White House the week before. He lingered on this, saluting the lifetime of courage this Harvard-trained astronomer had shown -- fired by the government in 1957 simply for being gay -- in fighting for his rights in a way no gay American theretofore had. "An honor," the Vice President kept repeating, of their meeting. "An honor."

We have come a long way since 1957, and since 1965, when Frank Kameny and our late friend Barbara Gittings, and eight others picketed the White House for respect and equality.

Today, we have that respect. And now the White House is working to help us get that equality.

To the protestors outside -- as to every guest inside -- it¹s not coming fast enough. Equality NOW? We deserved equality from the day we were BORN. We are Americans. There is no dispute about that.

But the mechanics even for simple things that require no legislation take a
little time -- which is maddening, not least because time slows down when you are eagerly anticipating something -- and more time still when the votes of 60 senators are required.

Even so, the Vice President reaffirmed the Administration¹s commitment to do everything from lifting the HIV travel ban to passing hate crimes and enda and repealing da/dt and doma.

So that's the executive summary. Now for the protestors and the grilled cheese and so forth.

I had learned from a waiter at the Four Seasons (our spies are everywhere) that Joe Biden has an unnatural, almost eccentric enthusiasm for mini grilled cheese sandwich hors d'oevres. So, having a direct connection to Mandarin Oriental management thru my boyfriend's brother's boyfriend (we are everywhere) . . . and by the power vested in me as Treasurer to commit $20 to a plate of mini grilled cheese sandwiches . . . I started pulling strings.

The mechanics of passing gender identity inclusive ENDA may involve some nuance, but the mechanics of having a plate of mini grilled cheese hors d'oevres in the Holding Room upon the Vice President's arrival --with a nice little note of thanks and welcome . . . well, I don't mean to brag here, but I have a graduate degree.

Long story short (obviously, you could see this coming), there was no way in hell this was going to happen. Turns out, Secret Service would have required a naval officer continuously in the hotel kitchen for 24 hours before to oversee preparation of the grilled cheese.

When I got to tell the Vice President this afterwards, the disappointment in his face was evident, but quickly turned to amused eye rolling.

"Like, anyone's really going to try to poison the VICE president," he smirked.

Meanwhile, as I was trying to arrange for the sandwiches, others were trying to arrange for a protest, to turn up the heat on the Administration with the goal we all share of keeping our issues from getting lost amid higher profile issues like the economy, health care reform, and the rest.

When I learned that SLDN had printed up "265" buttons -- to mark the 265 service members discharged under Don't Ask Don't Tell since Inauguration Day, I called and arranged to get 175 of them for the dinner, which SLDN graciously provided.

On the back, a sticker reads, "Mr. President, work with Congress to repeal this unjust law" -- something he is completely committed to doing -- so as our guests arrived, we asked each of they would join us in wearing the pin, to support the President's call to Congress to repeal DA/DT. Virtually everyone did.

The SLDN protest outside looked great -- a large rainbow banner and ³265² signs carried by 15 or 20 protestors.

Separately, another 15 or 20 not identified with any specific group were shouting "shame" and "boycott the bigots" as guests arrived.

Let me tell you about the bigots at my table. They included marine sergeant Brian Fricke, working with the rest of us to lift the ban (he served in Iraq but chose not to reenlist and live a lie) . . . a straight couple from Wisconsin who double maxed to support us ($60,800)and have a lesbian daughter, two adopted African-American children and two adopted Asian-American children (the husband kept threatening to show us his Andrew Christian Barack Obama briefs) . . . Tina Tchen, White House Director of Public Liaison, who spoke at last month's Task Force Leadership Awards
event . . . and Mitchell Gold and his partner Tim, who had come to give the Vice President a copy of CRISIS. (When he did, the VP looked at it and said, "Oh, we already have it -- my wife is reading it now." Mitchell had given it to Dr. Biden when she keynoted the GLSEN dinner earlier this month. "So now I can read it too," he said.)

So here's how it went:

First, we were wanded by Secret Service (no fair going back to be wanded twice) . . .

. . . then cocktails . . .

. . . then Tom Petrillo -- who has gotten more hateful voice mails and emails in the last month than any fighter for equality ever should (from US, you understand, not from those who OPPOSE us; we do this to OURSELVES) -- called us to order and introduced LGBT Leadership Council co-chairs Laura Ricketts from Chicago and Paul Horning from Atlanta . . .

. . . who welcomed us and noted some of the many notables in the room (a hat tip to Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis, of course ... and to DNC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, who is working allow transnational LGBT couples to stay in the country . . . and to his fellow DNC Vice Chair Ray Buckley, openly gay, who also chairs the NH state party AND the Association of ALL democratic state party chairs AND had so much to do with getting marriage signed into law in New Hampshire) . . .

. . . and then my hero Howard Dean gave us his rousing support via video -- you remember Howard? Who stomped thru Vermont for six months working to get
the citizens of his state to embrace the first-in-the-nation civil unions bill he had signed? Whose "50-State Strategy" is now widely seen as having been responsible for flipping so many state and local districts blue, making much of our recent progress possible? Who helped pass marriage equality in Vermont recently? Whom so many in our community were vilifying for three years as they called on donors to boycott the DNC? (Not for an instant to defend the over-vigorous DOJ brief, but does anyone see a pattern here?). . .

. . . and then I got a chance to say thanks to others, including the (unrelated) "Bean brothers" (Terry, who'd come from Portland, Oregon, and has been fighting for our equality ever since he helped found HRC, and Billy, who had flown up from Miami, the former Detroit Tiger) . . . and straight allies in the room like Krystal Ball , who with her husband Jonathan Dariyanani had given $10,000 to vice chair the dinner (and whom you really should click thru to read about and then support if you want to flip a vote on marriage equality) . . .

. . . and then DNC Chair Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, a civil rights attorney in Richmond for 17 years, told us of the impression it had made on him, so many years ago, to see fellow students at the University of Missouri in 1979 flinging epithets -- and bottles -- at a group of gay students walking across campus, and how he is committed -- right along with the President and his predecessor Howard Dean -- to winning our equality with the least possible delay . . .

. . . and then we ate . . .

. . . and then Tom called us back to order and introduced Barney (with whom Charles and I would love to have you play water volleyball July 11), who had days earlier introduced gender-identity inclusive ENDA for passage and signing, we hope, very soon . . .

. . . and then Barney recognized some others in the room . . .like John Berry, openly gay head of H.R. for the entire civilian federal government, who's working (with his openly gay chief counsel Elaine Kaplan, also with us) to make sure the government does everything it can to treat its employees equally . . . and asked us to remember one number: NINETY PERCENT. Because that's the number of Democrats -- 90% -- that if we don't get with us on any LGBT-related legislation leaves us surprised and disappointed (we usually get more), and that's the number of Republicans -- 90% -- who, if any fewer than that OPPOSE us, leaves us pleasantly surprised(they usually get more) . . .

. . . and then the Vice President noted the progress of the first five months . . . made very clear that our frustration and justified impatience have been heard at the highest levels . . . and reaffirmed that a lot more progress is on the way, with work is going on behind the scenes to make it happen. He ran through the whole litany, on up through repeal of DA/DT --which brought everyone to his or her feet -- and DOMA, which brought everyone to their feet against except one Congressman, who knows how hard it is going to be to get 60 Senator votes and fears the community will expect it faster than it can be delivered.

And thus ended the dinner.

The HIGHLIGHT of the dinner, for me, was watching the exchange between Vice President Biden, up at the podium, and Frank Kameny, at table 9. It was unscripted. It was heartfelt. It was prolonged. It was sincere. And to those of us who remember what the world was like in 1957 and 1965, it was truly moving.

The PURPOSE of the dinner, for all of us, was two-fold: to help fund ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA and related efforts that strengthen the President in moving his agenda, which includes OUR agenda; and to help elect Democrats at all levels of government who overwhelmingly favor our equality, where Republicans overwhelmingly do not.

Huge thanks to all who stepped up and helped -- whether by being outside to with "265" and other respectful signs pushing for our equality or by being inside helping to fund the political infrastructure that helps us win it.

It's early yet. You can still help , and will be welcomed with open arms when you do.

Andy

DNC Gay Fundraiser Nets $1 Million

Click below for the complete article.

clipped from www.advocate.com Click the byline to view more stories by this author. By Kerry Eleveld Attendees of the 10th annual LGBT Leadership Council fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee Thursday in Washington were greeted by protesters carrying signs that read “Gay Uncle Toms” and “265 Discharged Since January 20, 2009.” When Wisconsin reresentative Tammy Baldwin arrived, she chatted with the spirited flock of about 25 and then pivoted to enter the Mandarin Oriental Hotel as cries of “Don’t go in, Tammy!” and “Shame on you!” followed her. Biden thanked people in the room for their hard work and dedication during the election. “More importantly , I want thank you for being a critical -- critical -- voice for keeping the nation focused on the unfinished business of true equality for all of our people; and I know and this administration knows that we have so much more to do,” he said. “I promise you, I promise you, with your help we’ll get there in this administration.”

Gay federal employee, Frank Kameny, 84, finally gets an apology for his firing

clipped from www.smartbrief.com Kameny gets an apology from feds for firing Gay & Lesbian Leadership SmartBrief | 06/26/2009 Pioneering activist Frank Kameny, who in 1957 was fired from his federal civil service job for being gay, has received an official apology from John Berry, the out director of the Office of Personnel Management, on behalf of the U.S. government. "Please accept our apology for the consequences of the previous policy of the United States government," Berry writes in the letter. Washington Blade (06/24) Stonewall, LGBT movement honored by attorney general Friday, June 12, 2009 Berry says he will push for fairness for all federal workers Tuesday, April 7, 2009 Berry's warm Senate reception seen as sign of LGBT progress Friday, April 3, 2009

NPR's All Things Considered: Attorney General Urges Congress On New Hate Crimes Bill

clipped from www.npr.org Politics Holder Urges Congress On New Hate Crimes Bill by Audie Cornish Audio for this story will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET All Things Considered, June 25, 2009 · U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called on senators Thursday to expand federal statutes against hate crimes to include protections for gays, women and people with disabilities. The statures currently provide for federal prosecution and increased penalties for violent crimes motivated by race or religion. The new legislation has been 10 years in the making. More than a decade ago, then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder testified in support of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The bill still carries the name of the 21-year-old gay man brutally murdered in Wyoming in 1998. This time, as attorney general, Holder, speaking to the Senate Judiciary Committee, cited the recent killing of a black security guard at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. The alleged shooter is a white supremacist.

NPR's Morning Edition: Obama Denies Gays 'Gold Standard' Rights

Your thoughts? Does be not care or is he just not moving fast enough to satisfy us?

Click below on www.npr.org to listen.

clipped from www.npr.org Politics Savage: Obama Denies Gays 'Gold Standard' Rights Listen Now add to playlist | download Morning Edition, June 25, 2009 · When President Obama was elected last November, many groups that supported him expected to see some great return on their investment. Among the eager constituencies were gay rights advocates, including columnist Dan Savage. But five months after the inauguration, Savage tells NPR's David Greene that "President Obama should be very angry with candidate Obama." The reason? "Our expectations have not been met," Savage says. "Who raised our expectations? Candidate Obama." Savage says that "the most important marriage rights out there are federal rights — Social Security, survivor benefits, pensions" — all of which are denied same-sex couple survivors under DOMA. Domestic partner rights aren't enough because they aren't always upheld.

Has the Wexner Center Secret Cinema on Tuesday Been Outed?...Is it "Outrage"?

Rumors are flying around town as to the identity of the Wexner Center's Secret Cinema title selection to be shown Tuesday, June 30 at 7pm.

Normally one of institution's most closely-guarded secrets, the film's title is coming into focus through a series of clues leaking out to the public via sites including Facebook and Twitter.

You didn't hear it here but the film is a new documentary that has been causing a stir with content that has outraged many including U.S. Senator Larry Craig but delighted others such as U.S. Representative Barney Frank and activist Larry Kramer. All tickets $3. Visit www.wexarts.org for more leaks and information.

If it' true, more information can be seen here: http://www.outragethemovie.com/

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Introduced in U.S. House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2009
Brad Luna |
Trevor Thomas |
Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in U.S. House

Measure would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed today the bipartisan reintroduction of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would create federal protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The lead sponsors of the measure are Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Michael Castle (R-DE), George Miller (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Conyers (D-MI), Todd Platts (R-PA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Leonard Lance (R-NJ).

“Just like our friends, neighbors and coworkers, LGBT Americans work hard, provide for our families and contribute to our nation’s economy,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We all share the challenges of today's economic downturn, but our community also faces arbitrary discrimination in the workplace, simply because of who we are and who we love. Congress must pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and ensure that all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, get a fair chance to succeed at work.”

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill would reflect the values, shared by the vast majority of Americans, that employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and work ethic.

An estimated 85% of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their equal employment policies, and more than one-third also include gender identity. More than 60 companies have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading U.S. employers that support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. To view a list of the companies, visit: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/06/enda-introduction-tomorrow-corporations-agree-fairness-is-good-business/

“Although more and more businesses in the United States have started addressing workplace fairness for LGBT employees, we still need a federal standard that treats all employees the same way. That’s why Nike is part of the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading companies that support passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,” said Orson Porter, U.S. Director of Government Affairs

“Chubb is unwavering in its support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The principles it fosters are consistent with our corporate principles of treating all employees with fairness and respect,” said Donna Griffin, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, The Chubb Corporation. “ENDA will have a positive impact on our country’s ability to compete on the world stage, by extending legal protection in the majority of states where employees can still be turned down for a job, or fired, simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

ENDA is supported by a broad range of civil rights, religious, civic and professional organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, AFSCME, National Education Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, Anti-Defamation League, Religious Action Center, Unitiarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, American Civil Liberties Union, and many others.

Currently, federal law provides legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability, but not sexual orientation or gender identity. In 30 states across America, it is still legal to fire someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and in 38 states, it is still legal to fire someone for being transgender.

In 2007, the House passed a version of ENDA that protected on the basis of sexual orientation, but not gender identity, on a vote of 235 to 184.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

-30-

REPORT: Ohio schools are unsafe places for LGBT youth

Click on the link for the entire article.

clipped from www.glsen.org Research Shows Alarming Rates of LGBT Student Victimization in Ohio For Immediate Release Media Contact: Anthony Ramos 646-388-6575 aramos@glsen.org Jun 17, 2009 NEW YORK, June 17, 2009 – Ohio schools are unsafe places for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth, according to a research brief released today by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Inside Ohio Schools: The Experiences of LGBT Students, a report based on findings from 244 Ohio students who participated in GLSEN’s 2007 National School Climate Survey, shows that Ohio LGBT students face extreme levels of harassment and assault and skip school at alarming rates because of feeling unsafe. Ohio is one of the 39 states that does not explicitly protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. “Inside Ohio Schools shows how much work needs to be done to make sure LGBT students in Ohio are safe in school,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said

New Short North spot aims for cosmopolitan vibe but affordable noshes

From the Columbus Dispatch

clipped from www.dispatch.com On the level On Restaurants On the level New Short North spot aims for cosmopolitan vibe but affordable noshes Tuesday,  June 23, 2009 3:02 AM By Bill Chronister THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Level Dining Lounge, at 700 N. High St. in the Short North, presents itself on a number of levels. The former R.J. Snapper's has been retooled inside and out to be cosmopolitan, said Brent LaCount of the Design Collective, yet evoking a sense of "old Columbus." The facade has been pared down to the brick to lend permanence to the location, yet the removal of awnings also brightens the space during the day and gives the mezzanine lounge views both into the dining area and onto High Street. And despite the deep contrast of white leather and green fabrics, mixed with dramatic lighting and a high-tech DJ/VJ booth, the seating in the bar, dining room and lounge is comfortable and casual. " />

Central Ohio Real Estate Market Data Released-CRITICAL

This is data for the ENTIRE Central Ohio Area. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, this is critical market information. Send me an email and I can send you data for your neighborhood or your future neighborhood.

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Cooper Stadium Racetrack Back in the News

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com By Walker | June 21, 2009 9:14pm | Filed under Development | Comments Both the Dispatch and the Other Paper ran articles last week on the racetrack redevelopment being proposed at the old Cooper Stadium site. According to developers, it sounds like they’re now aiming for a more mixed-use purpose for the site, which could include BMX, motocross, and snowmobile events. They even stated that there may only be as few as 15 auto racing events per year, keeping the noisy days to a minimum. ROARColumbus doesn’t appear to have issued an update to their website since the coverage last week, but it seems that they’re still opposed to any type of racetrack concept entirely.

Short North valets might be sent off-street

clipped from www.dispatch.com By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH If Columbus officials get their way, valet companies will be forced to park cars on off-street lots by 2011. That should ease congestion along Short North streets and prevent confrontations between valets and visitors vying for on-street parking spots, the city officials say. But some valet companies say such rules will hurt smaller companies that lack easy access to lots in a neighborhood known for its lack of parking. "That's going to be a real problem in that area. They already don't have parking lots available," said Michael Nitenson, who owns Elite Valet Parking. Valet companies and Short North business owners recently met with city officials to discuss proposed changes to valet policies that were last updated in 1991. One of the main changes would be that valet permits would require private parking agreements by 2011, giving valet companies and restaurants time to find private lots, said city public-service spokesman Rick Tilton.

Columbus Dispatch: Patriotic activist. 'Don't ask, don't tell' opponent to lead gay-pride parade

clipped from www.dispatch.com " /> By Amy Saunders The Columbus Dispatch As the parade passed, he stood near some bushes -- a hiding spot in case someone he knew saw him celebrating with thousands of gay people. Rupert Starr had stood up to Nazis during World War II, spending four months as a prisoner of war in Poland, but his participation in a Columbus Pride Festival in the 1990s required more confidence than he could muster. This year, he is the center of attention: the grand marshal of the 1 p.m. parade and keynote speaker at a Sunday brunch for what's considered the largest gay-pride celebration in the Midwest. Not until recently has Starr (known to friends as "Twink") reached such a public comfort level with his decades-old homosexuality. He's 86. Organizers of the festival -- the theme is "Freedom" -- wanted to honor Starr for his activism against the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Until recently, the Upper Arlington resident never discussed his war experience, either.

Columbus Dispatch: Diverse show of pride. Families, churches part of varied crowd celebrating Columbus' gay community

clipped from www.dispatch.com With a marching band, military veterans and a crowd filled with kids and gray-haired senior citizens alike, yesterday's event could have been a typical Fourth of July parade. This year's Columbus Pride Festival parade still attracted men wearing skimpy costumes, but yesterday's event, moved up a week and relocated to start next to the Statehouse, was about much more than that. "It's a big deal for us to be here at the Statehouse," said Russ Goodwin, a retired Navy chief petty officer who spoke in support of the U.S. government repealing the ban on openly gay military personnel. "The last time we had any kind of presence here, a protester ripped down the rainbow flag and burned it," Goodwin said, referring to an incident that marred the 1999 parade. Surveying the crowd shortly before 1 p.m. parade, Goodwin noticed a definite change from when he first marched 12 years ago. "There are more families. Not just gay and lesbian families, but supporter families. That's a huge difference."