-Harvey Milk

We know many have seen this video, but its just so wonderful that DADT is history and soldiers can come out today while on duty and there will be no punishments or consequences!

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For those of you who do not know who Harvey Milk is, we understand. Milk departed from this Earth before we were born. We have known of Milk’s history for years due to our own self-teachings of LGBT history. Please watch the following clip.

The first openly Gay politician (Supervisor Harvey Milk of San Francisco,CA) was a superhuman who let the pride flag wave.  Milk, along with Mayor Moscone, were assassinated by former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White in 1978. Milk’s final campaign manager, Anne Kronenberg once wrote the following regarding Milk, “What set Harvey apart from you or me was that he was a visionary. He imagined a righteous world inside his head and then he set about to create it for real, for all of us.”

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1. As we all know the federal government does NOT recognize us as a married couple even though WE ARE and it doesn’t even matter where we live. Even though we are in California (one of the 18,000 legally married couples). We will pay more in taxes and receive fewer benefits than married, opposite-sex couples receive. Only point number 1 and we are already getting heated.
2. In regards to tax preparation. Differences in state and federal filing rules mean that married, same-sex couples must calculate 2 sets of state tax returns. Guess what? That’s more time spent on those returns and, for same-sex couples using an accountant, that’s more of an expense.
3. Tax punch number 3 comes through employer-based health insurance benefits. Unlike coverage for opposite-sex spouses, benefits for legally married, same-sex spouses are taxed as income to the employee.
4. For same-sex couples who have real estate, they can file their real state returns as a married couple! Oh but wait, since federal law prohibits them from filing their federal tax return as a married couple, the forms require tax calculations from state returns completed as if they were single.

Talk about a kick in the teeth!

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Good week, good week people of the U.S.

In regards to advances for LGBT equality, its been quite a week.  Maryland’s senate approves same-sex marriage, DOMA is now NOT defended  and openly Gay man, Jeremy Bernard is now President Obama’s Social Secretary! We must remember to celebrate these things! Our fight does not have to be negative, celebrate these milestones, as we keep moving forward we will get that unending ring of equality.

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An extraordinary woman, teacher, spouse, mother, and astronaut, Christa McAuliffe lost her life on the space shuttle Challenger’s fatal voyage 25 years ago. Lesbian filmmakers made a documentary about McAuliffe not only because of her leadership, but also because she left a major legacy that still teaches all of us today. The filmmakers interviewed one of her students who told of McAuliffe’s intolerance towards bullies and how she made him feel safe.

We remember that day 25 years ago. I was in kindergarten and remember my principal announcing on the PA that the astronauts lost their lives on the Challenger. Even as a adolescent, I understood how much we lost that day when 7 diverse astronauts fearlessly met their fates and left legacies for us to learn.

Ugandan activist, David Kato was beaten to death in his home this past week.  Hundreds of mourners gathered at his funeral wearing t-shirts with an image of his face. Unfortunately, his funeral drew anti-gay protesters who disrespected Kato’s family, friends, and supporters by shouting homophobic rhetoric.

Our hearts are heavy with this loss. Kato died, but his legacy will continue in the fight for Gays and Lesbians who deserve the freedom to love.

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We could all use some holiday hope for the New Year.

Vice-President Joe Biden says Outlook looks good.  In an interview on Good Morning America, Vice President Biden stated

I think there is an inevitability for a national consensus on gay marriage,” Vice President Joe Biden