HRC’s Call It Out Campaign Calls on Candidates to Disavow Dangerous “Ex-Gay” Therapies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2011

HRC’s Call It Out Campaign Calls on Candidates to Disavow Dangerous “Ex-Gay” Therapies

Petition follows Michele Bachmann’s signature on rabidly anti-LGBT pledge and questions about Marcus Bachmann’s clinic

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is calling on the GOP candidates for President to disavow the dangerous “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapies endorsed by Michele Bachmann and her husband Marcus. Last week Bachmann signed her name to the far-right group the Family Leader’s pledge “The Marriage Vow: A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family” as did Rick Santorum.

The statements with which Bachmann has now aligned herself include the falsehood that being gay is a choice and dangerous to public health. The pledge cites a 1997 study from the International Journal of Epidemiology and presents the data in a way that claims nearly half of gay and bisexual men won’t reach the age of 65. The publication issued a statement years ago saying the data is regularly taken out of context by anti-gay groups.

“Michele Bachmann’s homophobic views are out of step with mainstream America, and it’s time for her fellow GOP presidential contenders to publicly denounce them,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The past few years we’ve seen a surge in support for equality and have made important legislative progress. Bachmann’s support for things like reparative therapy signals just how fringe a candidate she really is.”

Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, has called LGBT Americans “barbarians” who “need to be disciplined.” His clinic, Bachmann and Associates, also reportedly practices conversion therapy – based on the theory that being gay can be cured or prayed away. One activist from the group Truth Wins Out took an undercover camera into the clinic that shows a Bachmann associate claiming a man can change his sexual orientation. This dangerous practice has been strongly denounced by leading medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Learn more about the lies and dangers of reparative therapy at www.hrc.org/reparativetherapy.

HRC’s Call it Out campaign will be tracking the homophobic activities and positions of Bachmann and her husband. As the first in a series of actions, HRC is calling on all other GOP presidential hopefuls to publicly denounce Bachmann’s support for reparative therapy and the dangerous homophobia behind it. Supports can add their voice to HRC’s petition. Learn more at www.hrc.org/callitout.

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.

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Columbus Dispatch: [Ohio] Supreme Court rules for biological mom in lesbian custody dispute

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Supreme Court rules for biological mom in lesbian custody dispute

Read the decision here

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 09:55 AM

Updated: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 02:24 PM

By Darrel Rowland

The Columbus Dispatch

A lesbian who shared parenting duties for her partner's biological daughter does not retain parental rights after the relationship ends, a divided Ohio Supreme Court ruled this morning.

The 4-3 decision upheld rulings of two lower courts.

Hamilton County Juvenile Court declared that although Kelly Mullen of Cincinnati shared the responsibilities of parenting her daughter Lucy with former partner Michele Hobbs while the women lived together, Mullen's actions did not confer on Hobbs a permanent right to shared custody of Lucy after her relationship with Mullen ended. An appeals court agreed.

In his majority opinion, Justice Robert Cupp recognized that Hobbs presented significant evidence to back up her push to obtain partial custody of Lucy, and Mullen provided evidence to

"The (juvenile) court noted that all the documents created by Mullen which purported to give Hobbs some custodial responsibilities not only were revocable, but were, in fact, revoked by Mullen," Cupp wrote.

"Testimony supported Mullen's statement that she did not intend to relinquish sole custody of the child to Hobbs. The juvenile court also stated that although the evidence was unclear whether a shared custody agreement was actually drafted by the parties or presented to Mullen, the evidence did show that Mullen consistently refused to enter into or sign any formal shared custody agreement when presented with the opportunity to do so."

Cupp said a key factor is that ruling is that "although Mullen and Hobbs had shared responsibilities for the child, Mullen had not agreed to permanently cede partial custody."

But he also noted that the lower court was barred from considering "whether Hobbs is a suitable person to be a custodian of the child or whether shared legal custody is in the child's best interests."

Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O'Donnell and Judith Ann Lanzinger agreed with Cupp.

Dissenting were Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor and Justice Yvette McGee Brown. Justice Paul E. Pfeifer issued a separate dissenting opinion.

O'Connor said although the law does not require a written agreement, "It is the preferred method of demonstrating the knowing and intelligent surrender of the parent's fundamental right, in whole or in part, and reinforces to both the parent and the proposed custodian the concomitant rights and responsibilities that are associated with custody of a child."

Pfeifer said, "The law has not caught up to our culture, and this court has failed to craft a rule that addresses reality,"

He said the agreement to sharing parenting was inherent even before Lucy was born.

"Can an agreement that another person is a coparent in every way possibly not include a right to custody? It cannot," Pfeifer said.

"The trial court seems to agree, and thus turns its emphasis on the fact that the documents were revocable. But the question before the court was whether Mullen agreed to share custody of her child with Hobbs, not whether she eventually came to regret that decision. Whether the documents were revocable is a red herring. The true question is when they were revoked.

"Executed before Lucy was born, they were not revoked when Lucy was born, when she was one year old, or even when the couple sought counseling because of difficulties in the relationship. Not until the pair separated after Lucy's second birthday did Mullen revoke the statement, 'I consider Michele Hobbs as my child's co-parent in every way.' Any reliance on what Mullen did after she separated from Hobbs was error."

Pfeifer concluded: "A maternal relationship existed between Hobbs and Lucy. Mullen taught her daughter to call another woman 'Momma' and to love her as a mother. She now wishes she hadn't, and for the majority, that's enough. It shouldn't be."

A gay legal rights group ripped the ruling.

"This decision is a tragedy for the child, above all else," said Christopher Clark, senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal's Midwest regional office in Chicago, in a statement. "The court disregarded the overwhelming evidence that Ms. Mullen agreed to parent Lucy with Ms. Hobbs 'in every way.' Regrettably, the decision severs a parent-child relationship between Lucy and the person she knows to be her mother.

"All Ohio families should be alarmed by this, as a child with a non-biological parent could be taken from their mom or dad in the event of a separation."

drowland@dispatch.com

Columbus Alive Preview: Olde Towne East Tour of Homes

By Jackie Mantey • Photos by Jodi Miller

The story is here

See for yourself:

Begins at Columbus Preparatory School for Girls

1-7 p.m. Sunday, July 10

1390 Bryden Rd., Olde Towne East

oldetowneeast.org

Olde Towne East, the near east side neighborhood between Downtown and Bexley, has been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows since its initial days in the 1800s as the home of Columbus royalty.

That bumpy ride is about to plateau in a state of awesomeness, according to the community's leaders.

"I'm a lifelong resident of this side of town," said Alex Macke, a Realtor and co-chair of the area's Tour of Homes, taking place this weekend. "In the past, it wasn't shining as bright as it could. It had hit rock bottom."

Crime, foreclosure and demolition have plagued the area.

"We're a strong grassroots community," Macke said, "and all of us have a strong will to survive and succeed."

Residents have discouraged alcohol sales in certain parts of the neighborhood, which Macke said lowers crime rates. And businesses like the Angry Baker, Yellow Brick Pizza, Black Creek Bistro and Carabar and art events such as CS Gallery's Hit & Run series have been bringing people east.

Hip young home buyers, especially, have been heading to the area, Macke said. A bare-bones fixer-upper sells for as little as $20,000, and on the high end sit houses for $400,000.

"It's an extremely viable option for downtown living," he said. "They find other neighborhoods are outpriced and they have limited space. Over here it's quite opposite of that."

Dana Pearch and Raymie Smith are two of those young homeowners.

"We wanted to be central but have space for our dogs," Smith said.

"I always thought this was the prettiest neighborhood," Pearch added.

The couple gave us a sneak peek of their house. Walk through it and 15 other stunning spaces on Bryden Road during the Olde Towne East Tour of Homes this weekend.

HRC Statement on Announcement of Senate DOMA Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2011

HRC Statement on Announcement of Senate DOMA Hearing

WASHINGTON – Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, praised Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy’s announcement that the panel would soon hold a hearing on the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA bans the federal government from recognizing legally married same-sex couples and denies loving and committed families equal benefits and equal dignity.

“The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of picking which marriages it likes and which it doesn’t, but that’s exactly what DOMA does,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “With New York soon joining the other five states and DC that treat all couples equally, the federal government needs to level the playing field for all families.”

This is the first time the issue of repealing DOMA will have a hearing in Congress since its enactment nearly 15 years ago. Additionally, under Sen. Feinstein’s leadership this Congress marks the first time a DOMA repeal bill has ever been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

“We thank Sens. Leahy, Feinstein and Gillibrand for their leadership in ending federal marriage discrimination as well as Rep. Nadler for his advocacy in the House,” said Solmonese. “We look forward to continuing to work with them on this upcoming hearing and until all marriages are treated equally in the eyes of the law.”

DOMA prevents any of the over 1,100 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage from being afforded to legally married same-sex couples. These include Social Security survivor benefits, federal employee health benefits for spouses, protections against spouses losing their homes in cases of severe medical emergencies, the right to sponsor a foreign born partner for immigration, the guarantee of family and medical leave and the ability to file joint tax returns, among many others.

“In 1996, DOMA was just hypothetical discrimination because every state excluded same-sex couples from marriage,” said Solmonese. “Today we see it in much more concrete terms – as tangible, heart-wrenching, real-life discrimination.”

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.

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Columbus Dispatch: Get ready for the Scioto Mile (a video preview)

A link to the post is here

The Scioto Mile opens tomorrow evening with a 5:30 ceremony featuring Mayor Michael B. Coleman and other officials.

More exciting to the average person, the new fountain in Bicentennial Park will have its first water and light show at 6 p.m. A series of fun events follows with stuff for kids at 6:15, the Hoo Doo Soul Band and opening of the Milestone 229 restaurant at 7:30 and a 9:45 p.m. evening fountain show.

We'll have full coverage of the new Downtown park in tomorrow's paper. For now, enjoy the video tour (above or in a bigger window at this link), and the stories we ran on Sunday about how the project came to life and its expected impact on Franklinton.

HRC to Rich Swier: Have a Responsible Conversation about Bullying with Ally Hudson Taylor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 5, 2011

HRC to Rich Swier: Have a Responsible Conversation about Bullying with Ally Hudson Taylor

Call for meeting follows Tea Party activist’s dangerous remarks that bullying is “healthy”

WASHINGTON –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is calling on Tea Party activist Rich Swier to sit down with straight supporter and Athlete Ally founder Hudson Taylor to discuss the serious impact of bullying on the nation’s youth. Supporters can tweet Swier asking him to meet with Taylor. The invitation comes following remarks in which Swier called anti-LGBT youth bullying “healthy.” Swier made his comments after the group Gulf Coast Gives, which supports civic enhancement projects in the Gulf region, announced its intention to raise funds to bring Hudson Taylor to Florida for an event.

“Rich Swier has yet to take responsibility for his dangerous remarks,” said HRC’s Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz. “Saying that bullying is peer pressure and healthy sends a deplorable message to those who seek to demean their peers, and to youth suffering from bullying in their daily lives. Hopefully by speaking with Hudson Taylor – who works tirelessly as a straight ally to improve conditions for LGBT Americans – Swier will get a sense of just how misguided his remarks were.”

Taylor originally invited Swier to meet and discuss the issue on July 1. Swier has ignored Taylor’s outreach, but has tweeted blog entries that include “MAN UP! America’s Gay White House,” “MAN UP! The Progressive Gay Agenda: An Analysis,” and “MAN UP! UK terrorists told: pretend to be gay so you don’t get caught.”

"Anti-LGBT bullying affects young people in so many ways and can have a huge impact on their emotional and physical well-being," said Taylor. "I welcome the opportunity to sit down with Swier to discuss with him why bullying is so much more serious than a mere milestone of youth, and to address the dangers in misconstruing anti-LGBT bullying as healthy or normal."

HRC also is calling on its supporters to send a message to Swier that this type of rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible. It’s part of HRC’s Call it Out campaign, which seeks to raise awareness about incidents of homophobia and transphobia as they occur around the country. Send your tweets to Swier and take action at www.hrc.org/callitout.

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.

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Columbus Dispatch: Yankee Trader building sold; plans call for apartments, offices, restaurant

The story is here

Friday, July 1, 2011 10:52 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose

The Columbus Dispatch

The building that housed the Yankee Trader, a fixture for decades in the Short North, has been sold to a local firm that plans to renovate the building as offices, apartments and ground-floor restaurant space.

Westerville-based Triad Architects hopes to move its offices to the site at 463 N. High St. in the fall of 2012. The company also plans to renovate the top three floors of the five-story building into upscale one- and two-bedroom apartments.

"We were looking to move our offices, and really wanted to be part of the Downtown community, where there's a lot going on," said Zach Price, a Triad principal.

Price said the company hopes to be moved into the building around the same time as the new Hilton Columbus Downtown convention hotel on the next block opens, which is expected to be by September 2012.

Price said Triad affiliate Henry Price Investments closed on the purchase from Yankee Trader Inc. on Tuesday. The $900,000 purchase price was a 25 percent discount on the asking price of $1.2 million.

The Yankee Trader store, a longtime purveyor of party goods and novelty items, closed in November.

mrose@dispatch.com