Rachel Maddow covered a story back in February on the following letter from a soldier…
“I’m one of your officers, currently deployed supporting a WIAS tasker and I look forward to my Division meeting up with me here in Afghanistan. My partner of 10 years and I have happily accepted the various assignments the Army has given me this past decade and have weathered my two 12-month-long and one 15-month-long deployments like, I would imagine, nearly every other couple – save for one detail: the partner I leave behind has no support from any official channels.”
For individuals seeking equality in the great state of South Dakota, look no further than Equality South Dakota.
There mission statement: “The mission of Equality South Dakota is to secure and protect the rights and well being of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) South Dakotans and their families through full engagement in the political process. We seek dialogue with elected officials and invite them to use us as a resource in their decision making. In doing so, we give a voice to families that have been silent and fearful.”
Check out their site at www.eqsd.org. They are always looking for people of the Mount Rushmore state and beyond to get involved and take action to further justice for the LGBT community.
In a seaside town in England lies Blackpool. Its home to an internationally well known ballroom dance competition and is known as the Gay Capital of the North (Brighton would be the South). Pubs, Clubs, and cafe’s line the streets and has been quite the haven for the LGBT population for decades. The Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde LGBT Forum plays a very important part in the community of Blackpool.
Find out who they are and how you can get involved. Click ‘more’
“If I had the money, I would move the kids somewhere else, somewhere they would be safe. I wish we could move somewhere for my son, somewhere a transgender teenager would be safe. I worry about him constantly. Everywhere he goes, he goes with me.” This was stated by Juin Baize’s mother during their ordeal with the Itawamba Agricultural High School community.
Not unfamiliar with the press, Itawamba is the same school that cancelled prom because Lesbian Constance McMillan was going to wear a tux and take a female date.
Again, attire and sexuality was an issue with Juin Baize-a transgender student who is a male and consistently wears female clothing. Baize was a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School for only 1/2 a day. Baize was unreasonably suspended, and since then he has moved on from that community due to their intolerance and disrespect.
What is happening? These are high schoolers who are exploring themselves and learning who they are. Its a beautiful gift to see students who are going against the grain in a healthy way. What caused harm, was the narrow-minded environment they live in. People saw something unfamiliar and they freaked out. Its disappointing that the school did not take on a teachable moment for the other students to learn about the real world and variety of individuals that will be upon them in the coming years. To read more CLICK HERE.
Let me tell you about my best friend J and I. When we were randomly selected together for our freshman year of college, who knew what would come of it. J is straight and I was…well not. We had a lot in common and not in common, however we each respected each other and still are best friends to this day. We ended up living together all 4 years. Yes, this is rare, but I cherish our friendship.
When I learn of friends who were under those circumstances, but in the military, there overall goal wasn’t friendship but respect and maintaining the highest code of conduct to earn the respect of their superiors and peers.
Top General James Conway had the following things to say regarding housing when Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban is lifted. Read after the jump…
Today, I went for a stroll on the walk of fame and saw my husband Frank’s boyfriend, Oscar nominated actor Viggo Mortensen in front of the Egyptian Theater. Mortensen was speaking about Dennis Hopper and his achievements as Hopper was beside him awaiting his star. See, when we got married at the Sunset Marquis, Mortensen was staying in the next villa and said best wishes to Frank prior to walking down the aisle. I was on the other side alone. Grrrrr. Lucky.
Sorry for the poor photo quality, I was all the way in back Hopper is on the left and Mortensen is on the right.
Its parents like these is why we are going to be alright…Kelly Ripa made the following quote on what if one of their children were Gay/Lesbian, her quote breathes acceptance and love:
“Mark and I both feel fortunate that we’ve spent our entire adult lives in New York City, where we work, live, and play with some of the best and brightest Gay and Lesbian people in and outside of the industry — people I’m honored to call my friends and family. So we’ve never gone, ‘What would we do?’ To us, our children are a gift, we’re lucky to have them, and they’re born how they’re born, so it wouldn’t even be a discussion in our house.”
The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, stated that today they will begin to ease the prohibitions of homosexuals serving in the military. Going forward, according to CNN, bulleted below is how things will operate.
To us, it seems that homosexuals still cannot serve openly, and there is just no low-ranking ‘tattling’ allowed to ‘out’ homosexual soldiers. The military needs to do a better job at getting this together. There shouldn’t be a high-ranking person investigating a soldier suspect of being Gay/Lesbian. With the beginning process of repealing DADT, all investigations of Gay or Lesbian soldiers should be IRRELEVANT. Again, regardless of sexuality, soldiers should be allowed to serve as who they are openly 100%.
Here’s their process:
The Pentagon will raise the level of the officer authorized to start a fact-finding inquiry or separation proceeding as a result of alleged homosexual conduct to a general or flag officer in the accused service member’s chain of command.
Only a lieutenant colonel, Navy commander or higher ranking officer will be authorized to conduct a fact-finding inquiry.
Only a general or flag officer in an accused service member’s chain of command will be authorized to initiate expulsion proceedings.
The Pentagon will revise what constitutes credible information to begin an inquiry or separation proceeding. For example, Gates, said, the Defense Department will specify that information given by third parties should be given under oath. The use of “overheard statements” and “hearsay” will be discouraged.
The Pentagon will revise what constitutes a “reliable person” upon which an inquiry can be initiated. According to Gates, “special scrutiny” will be given to “third parties who may be motivated to harm a service member.”
Certain categories of confidential information will no longer be used in discharge proceedings, including information provided to lawyers, clergy and psychotherapists. Information provided to a doctor as part of a service member’s medical treatment or to a medical official in the course of a public health inquiry also will not be used in discharge proceedings. Information given for either a security clearance investigation or in the course of seeking professional assistance for domestic or physical abuse also will be excluded.
Rachel Maddow covered a story back in February on the following letter from a soldier…
For individuals seeking equality in the great state of South Dakota, look no further than Equality South Dakota.
In a seaside town in England lies Blackpool. Its home to an internationally well known ballroom dance competition and is known as the Gay Capital of the North (Brighton would be the South). Pubs, Clubs, and cafe’s line the streets and has been quite the haven for the LGBT population for decades. 
“If I had the money, I would move the kids somewhere else, somewhere they would be safe. I wish we could move somewhere for my son, somewhere a transgender teenager would be safe. I worry about him constantly. Everywhere he goes, he goes with me.” This was stated by Juin Baize’s mother during their ordeal with the Itawamba Agricultural High School community.
Let me tell you about my best friend J and I. When we were randomly selected together for our freshman year of college, who knew what would come of it. J is straight and I was…well not. We had a lot in common and not in common, however we each respected each other and still are best friends to this day. We ended up living together all 4 years. Yes, this is rare, but I cherish our friendship.
Hopper is on the left and Mortensen is on the right.
Its parents like these is why we are going to be alright…Kelly Ripa made the following quote on what if one of their children were Gay/Lesbian, her quote breathes acceptance and love:
The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, stated that today they will begin to ease the prohibitions of homosexuals serving in the military. Going forward, according to CNN, bulleted below is how things will operate.
