Tag: LGBT

Posted on

Did Nevada already legally recognize a same-sex marriage?

Click pic to enlarge view

A long-time friend of mine married his terminally ill boyfriend last year.

Since they lived in Las Vegas, they traveled to California for the legal ceremony and license.

Sadly, the husband lost his battle in March of this year.

Adding to the sadness of the loss, my friend had to battle with his deceased husband’s family who never approved of the same-sex marriage.  The family apparently fought to keep the body of the deceased from my friend.

Eventually, in order to have a respectful service and burial, my friend went to court to have a judge rule that he was the “surviving spouse,” and to indicate that on the death certificate issued by the state of Nevada.

As I saw my friend recently and were talking about the sad episode, I began to wonder: was this the first instance of the state of Nevada recognizing  a same-sex marriage?

We’ve seen legal wrangling in Ohio, Indiana and Arizona regarding recognition of same-sex marriages from other states due to terminal illness, etc.  I’m wondering if this has already quietly happened in Nevada?

Nevada does have domestic partnerships that grants “…the same rights, protections, benefits, responsibilities, obligations and duties as…parties to any other civil contract….” But, couples legally married in other states don’t automatically gain this status. Couples married elsewhere must complete and file a notarized Domestic Partnership Declaration form with the Secretary of State’s Office. I asked my friend if they had done this and he said they were in the process of getting that done when his husband suddenly died.

See the death certificate above that lists the deceased as “Male” and the Surviving Spouse as “Michael.”  (I’ve blurred the details for now for privacy’s sake).

Experts – chime in and let me know what you think.

Posted on

Philadelphia: Gay Bashing Suspects To Be Arrested This Week

According to a source close to the current police investigation of the Center City gay bashing incident, arrests should happen this week and “people are going to get locked up.”

As of this morning, police had interviewed 18 possible suspects and witnesses.  One more key person of interest – “the girl in the middle of it all” – will be interviewed today.

The process has been time consuming as police want to make sure they “get it right,” and each interview takes at least four hours:

“We’ve had to schedule with the attorneys for all the different times for them to come in,” the source said. “But Monday morning as soon as the stores opened, we started working through the video and then we started the interviews. We want to make sure whoever threw a punch or whoever was part of this assault will be arrested. What happens with cases like this is that, if you rush it and don’t do a good job, they’ll start throwing out charges later on. These kids all have top-notch attorneys, so if our case isn’t put together on our end, they’re going to pick it apart. But we’ve put together a great case for the DA and we’ll be working in conjunction with the DA to bring the charges.”

“The stories have been pretty consistent so far,” the source said. “It looks like it started by either a bump or words being exchanged, and then punches were thrown. But not everyone in the crowd knew what was going on. People were kind of staggering, and some didn’t seem to realize the extent of the one guy’s injuries.”

“It’s a tragedy for the two guys who were hurt and it’s a tragedy for some of the people in the crowd because the majority weren’t involved,” the source said. “But the guys who were involved are going to pay the price.”

The violent attack has renewed attention on the lack of hate crime laws with respect to crime on LGBT people.

In 2002, the state legislature had added sexual orientation to the hate crime laws, but it was later challenged and repealed on a technicality. State Rep. Brendan Boyle has introduced a bill to amend the current hate crime law to include LGBT citizens.

Posted on

Philadelphia Police Release Video of Suspects in Brutal Hate Crime Attack

This is very important regarding the brutal attack of two men in Philadelphia this past weekend that left sent the victims to the hospital, one of whom had to have his jaw wired shut due to a fractured jaw.

Please watch the video and read this info from the Philadelphia Police Department:

On September 11, 2014, at 10:45 pm, the complainant, a 28 year-old male, along with a friend, a 27 year-old male, were on the 1600 block of Chancellor Street when they were approached by a group of unknown white males and females.

As the group approached the complainants they made disparaging remarks about their sexual orientation. The group then attacked the complainants holding them while other members of the group punched them in the face, head and chest.

During the assault one of the complainants dropped his bag containing his cell phone, wallet and credit cards.

When police approached one of the suspects picked the bag up from the ground. The group then fled and were last seen north on 16th Street towards Walnut Street.

Both complainants were transported to Hahnemann Hospital for multiple injuries. One complainant was treated for fractures and deep lacerations to his face requiring surgery and his jaw wired shut.

Suspect Description: A group of approximately 10-12 white male and females all in their early 20′s “clean cut” and well dressed. One suspect was described as having a husky build, brown hair, wearing a brown shirt and shorts.

If you see these suspects do not approach them, contact 911 immediately.
To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.
All tips will be confidential.

If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, please contact:
Central Detective Division
Det. Domenic #9140
Det. Waring #8101
215-686-3047
DC# 14-09-036141

Posted on

Oral arguments in 9th Circuit Court today for Idaho, Nevada and Hawaii

Today at 1pm Pacific time, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments regarding marriage equality for Idaho, Nevada (my home state), and Hawaii.

You can watch via YouTube below or by going to www.ca9.uscourts.gov and clicking the website’s link, “Live Oral Arguments.”

Idaho will get a full hour (equally split for both sides) for oral arguments.  Nevada will follow with 30 minutes total, and then Hawaii will have 20 minutes to make each side’s case.

If you want to follow the Twitter conversation, look for hashtag #9thCircuit

Posted on

Irish Queers react to news of one gay group allowed to march in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

“We welcome this cracking of the veneer of hate, but so far Irish LGBT groups are still not able to march in our community’s parades. The fight continues.

“This is a deal that was made behind closed doors between parade organizers and one of their last remaining sponsors, NBC. It allows NBC’s gay employees to march, but embarrassingly has not ended the exclusion of Irish LGBT groups. The parade organizers have said, astoundingly, that we “can apply” in years to come.

“To the extent that parade organizers have changed their tune, it’s the result of Irish Queers’ many years of organizing, which led to last year’s refusal to march by Council Speaker Mark-Viverito and others, and Mayor de Blasio, the withdrawal of major corporate sponsors and escalating criticism of uniformed city workers marching in the Parade.

“We welcome this small victory, but our call remains the same — the parade must be open to Irish LGBT groups, not “in subsequent years” but now.” – Irish Queers react to news of NBCUniversal group to be allowed to march in upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.

Posted on

NYC: St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has announced one gay organization – OUT (at) NBCUniversal – to march under it’s own banner in the March 17, 2015 event:

The private New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, in a statement made available to The Associated Press, said Wednesday that OUT(at)NBCUniversal, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender resource group at the company that broadcasts the parade, would be marching up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on March 17 under an identifying banner.

OUT(at)NBCUniversal is described on its website as “the affinity group for LGBT & Straight Ally employees at NBCUniversal.” Parade directors voted unanimously to include the group, the statement said.

In past parades, gays and lesbians were allowed to march as individuals as part of contingents, but not as specifically “LGBT” identifying groups.

Catholic League’s Bill Donohue issued this statement:

“Never in the history of New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade have homosexuals been barred from marching, anymore than pro-life Catholics have, but in both cases they were not permitted to have their own unit. I have been assured that the rules have been formally changed to allow both of these groups, as well as others, to march under their own banner. That being the case, there should be no controversy. One would hope that all the new entries will conduct themselves in a manner that honors St. Patrick, lest another round of controversy emerges.”

From GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis:

“It’s about time. Discrimination has no place on America’s streets, least of all on Fifth Avenue. As an Irish-Catholic American, I look forward to a fully inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade that I can share with my wife and children, just as my own parents shared with me. Until then, parade organizers must be held accountable to ending this ban once and for all.”

Posted on

Gay couple faces ALS together

Jose Cofino (L) and partner Ben Trust (R)

With so much attention being brought to ALS through the many “Ice Bucket Challenges,” Frontiers has profiled Jose Cofino — founder of BeyondALS and how he and his partner Ben are facing ALS together.

ALS has no treatment or cure. And only 20% of ALS cases are traced back through a hereditary link. No one knows what causes the other 80% of cases.

My partner of 16 years, Ben Trust and I figured we would live a long life together. We were both healthy, regulars at the gym, and also loved to hike. We ate the right things and used sunscreen. As with many in the gay community, the way we looked was important. Then, slowly, I began to have cramping in my legs and abs, and twitching in my arms and legs. I thought nothing of it until after two days of hiking and bike riding, I collapsed when I got off my bike.

Several visits to neurologists, including two visits to the Mayo clinic, revealed the truth we were dreading – I was diagnosed with ALS. Ben and I were devastated. In an instant everything changed and little made sense. We didn’t know much about the disease, just as most people prior to the phenomenon of social media ice bucket challenges didn’t. Quickly, we learned it leads to death, on average, in three to five years.

ALS has no real treatment, and no cure. There is not even a definitive test for it. While research has continued and some progress has been made, 75 years after the death of the baseball player that bears its name, Lou Gehrig’s Disease continues to be a killer.

Read the whole essay by Jose at Frontiers.

And head over to BeyondALS – founded by José Cofiño and his partner Ben Trust – which works to raise awareness about ALS and funding for research to find a solution for it.

Posted on

President Obama asks “Are you gay?” Cashier replies “Only when I’m having sex”

Super-cool moment for 32-year-old cashier Daniel Webb in Austin last Thursday.

Working at Franklin Barbecue, Webb and co-workers kept hearing rumors that the President might be stopping by the restaurant.  Now, who really believes stuff like that?

Until – the President of the United States walks in.

Here’s how it went down via Buzzfeed:

“[They] frisked everybody, which was kind of my favorite part,” Webb recalled in an interview with BuzzFeed Saturday night. “Then he just showed up.”

Webb, who is also a comedian and retired musician, wasn’t about to miss his opportunity to say whatever he wanted to a sitting president. So, after he had introduced himself and the president was signing a reportedly $300 bill, he slammed his hand on the counter.

“Equal rights for gay people!” he exclaimed.

Obama reacted without missing a beat. “Are you gay?”

Taken aback by the directness of the question, he said, Webb responded, “Only when I’m having sex!”

The president laughed, then, realizing there was a group of children near the two, said, “Not in front of the kids!”

The two men bumped fists and that was that.

Afterwards, Webb had this to say: “As a comedian, it was cool to have a moment where I was making a sitting president laugh — over something that might be considered inappropriate is a bonus.”

Posted on

Sci-fi film to portray LGBT family

The creators of an upcoming sci-fi film ask the question: “Ever wondered what it might look like if a science fiction film presented LGBT people the way it should be done? Credence will be the first Sci-Fi of its kind to challenge the way gay characters are portrayed in film.”

Synopsis:

Credence tells the story of a family torn apart during the last evacuation on earth after violent storms have made survival impossible.

Hope has been found in the form of new worlds that support human life, however due to limited rocket capacity and life expectancy only children are permitted to evacuate, and even then – only the rich have ended up getting tickets.

Credence follows 2 fathers’ decision to make the ultimate sacrifice to give up all their possessions to ensure the survival of their daughter, and the entire human race.

You can help support the making of Credence at Indiegogo.

Posted on

President Obama surprises LGBT White House reception guests with gender identity executive order

Today, as President and Michelle Obama welcomed notable LGBT media figures to the White House to celebrate Pride Month, the President surprised many during his remarks by announcing a NEW executive order banning discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of not only sexual orientation, but gender identity as well.

See below from White House transcript:

“We’ve still got a little more work to do. I’ve repeatedly called on Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Right now, there are more states that let same-sex couples get married than there are states who prohibit discrimination against their LGBT workers. We have laws that say Americans can’t be fired on the basis of the color of their skin or their religion, or because they have a disability. But every day, millions of Americans go to work worried that they could lose their job -– not because of anything they’ve done — (baby cries) — I know, it’s terrible — (laughter) — but because of who they are. It’s upsetting. It is wrong.

“The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing to do and because many say it helps to retain and attract the best talent. And I agree. So if Congress won’t act, I will. I have directed my staff to prepare an executive order for my signature that prohibits discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. (Applause.)

“And I’ve asked my staff to prepare a second executive order so that federal employees –- who are already protected on the basis of sexual orientation –- will now formally be protected from discrimination based on gender identity as well. (Applause.)

“So we’ve got a lot to be proud of, but obviously we can’t grow complacent. We’ve got to defend the progress that we’ve made. We’ve got to keep on reaching out to LGBT Americans who are vulnerable and alone, and need our support –- whether it’s teenagers in rough situations to seniors who are struggling to find housing and care. (Baby cries.) I know, it’s tough. (Laughter.)”

You can watch his speech in the video below. You may need to move to the 15:00 mark.