LGBTQ news and entertainment
JoeMyGod points out a cool new page on the Human Rights Campaign’s website let’s you type in your zip code and see how your Federal officials score on their support of legislation that impacts the LGBT community.
I’m 2 for 3. Fingers crossed that gets fixed in November.
I think this is truly the definition of hypocrisy.
You know how conservatives have a big problem with marriage equality for gays and lesbians because of their deeply religious beliefs? Get this…
A new Public Policy Polling poll finds that brothels enjoy popular support across all political parties in Nevada, including 66 percent of both Democrats and Republicans.
A March poll found that only 20 percent of Nevada Republicans support same-sex marriage, a juxtaposition that PPP described as “an interesting take on family values.”
Nevada’s brothels have no legal restrictions on sexual orientation, so according to the state’s Republicans, it’s okay if gays and lesbians pay for sex, just so long as they don’t settle down and start families.
(Via ThinkProgress)
Nevada Stonewall Democrats are reporting that Patricia Spearman made history as the first ever openly Gay woman to be elected to the Nevada State Legislature. Pastor Pat is also the second African American woman elected to serve in the Nevada State Legislature. She is the current Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada Vice-Chairwoman.
Her victory in the Democratic primary means that she will serve representing Senate District 1 as there was no Republican entrant in the heavily Democratic district. Pastor Pat scored a landslide victory with votes from Nevadans who were just plain fed up with the Anti-Equality, Anti-Choice, Anti-Environment Senator John Lee.
Small thing I suppose, but what does it say when no one in Nevada contributed to Romney’s SuperPAC last month? Nevada will be an important swing state in the election.
Hmm…
From Metro Weekly: Today, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a federal lawsuit in Nevada seeking equal marriage rights for eight same-sex couples in the state.
According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the lead plaintiffs in the new lawsuit — Beverly Sevcik, 73, and Mary Baranovich, 76, of Carson City, Nevada — have been together for more than 40 years. As the complaint notes, “When Beverly and Mary committed their lives to each other on October 2, 1971 and bought rings to signify their relationship, they were careful not to purchase matching rings for fear of having their relationship discovered.”
The couple, nonetheless, went on to raise three children and have four grandchildren, despite the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000 and 2002 limiting marriage in the state’s constitution to “a male and a female person.”
Same-sex couples have been able to receive many of the same benefits and privileges of marriage but not the status itself, however, since the legislature passed comprehensive domestic partnership benefits over the veto of then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) in 2009.
According to the complaint, “No legitimate, let alone important or compelling, interest exists to exclude same-sex couples from the historic and highly venerated institution of marriage, especially where the State already grants lesbians and gay men access to almost all substantive spousal rights and responsibilities through registered domestic partnership.”
Explaining the claim, Borelli says, “One of the reasons that we’re suing in the state of Nevada is that this is a particular equal protection problem that this case examines. It’s the kind of problem created where a state excludes same-sex couples from marriage deems them fit for all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage through a lesser, second-class status — in this case, domestic partnership. That shows just how irrational that state’s decision is to shut same-sex couples out of marriage.”
Chad Griffin, who began AFER and will take over as president of the Human Rights Campaign responded:
“Every American deserves the same dignity and respect, the same freedom to love, to marry and to build a family, no matter which state they live in,” he said in a statement provided to Metro Weekly. “I am proud that the historic victories in the Perry case helped make possible today’s lawsuit in Nevada. Working together, we will realize this most American of dreams.”
Northern Nevada business consultant and community activist Lauren Scott has filed to run as a Republican candidate for Nevada’s Assembly District 30.
Scott works as a consultant to government and private industry, focusing on business development and renewable energy issues. Lauren is also the executive director of Equality Nevada and is a leading advocate for civil rights issues in Nevada.
Formerly a Democrat, Scott registered as a Republican for the first time last year. She decided that as a Republican she can more effectively work to overcome the gridlock in Carson City.
If elected, Lauren would be the country’s first openly transgender person to serve as a state legislator.
Scott was as an active-duty member of the US Air Force for nearly seven years. She was awarded two Achievement Medals and a Commendation Medal for her service during Operation Desert Storm. She received an honorable discharge in 1994.
Last year Scott worked for the successful passage of the Nevada Assembly’s bill to outlaw discrimination against transgender people.
From DailyKos.com: Republican turnout in the Nevada caucuses fell from 44,324 in 2008 to 32,894 this year—meaning that Sen. John McCain was exciting Republicans more than Mitt Romney and field.
For a party that claims to be fired up about beating President Barack Obama, they sure don’t seem to be reflecting that sentiment at the polls.
In Nevada, GOP voter registration is down, voter turnout is down and party competence is down — it took Republicans two days to count those votes this year, while they were able to do it in one day in 2008 (with more votes to count).
The Nevada GOP is in trouble. They got a respite in 2010 because of national trends, but whether it’s the drop in Latino support (3% less Latinos participated this year vs 2008), or just the drop in general participation, and given demographic trends in the state … I’ll say it now — Nevada will now, or by next election cycle, be as blue as California.
On 11-17-11, Nevada will come together for Nevada’s Big Give to benefit the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.
It’s 24 hours of unprecedented nonprofit giving — and it’s your chance make a real difference, right here in our community.
The Center’s purpose is to support and promote the well-being, positive image, and human rights of our LGBT community in Southern Nevada.
Clark County now offers health insurance coverage for its employees’ same-sex domestic partners.
The County Commission approved the plan Tuesday. Commissioners did not discuss the item, which appeared under the consent agenda.
It’s the first time the county has extended benefits to same-sex partners who have registered with the secretary of state.
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who pushed for the coverage, said the change brings the county into compliance with the state’s domestic partnership laws, which give domestic partners, gay or straight, rights available to married couples. Registered domestic partners are entitled to receive hospital visitation, funeral planning and community rights, among other benefits.
Sen. Harry Reid kicked off the fourth annual clean energy conference today by announcing the inauguration of the first-ever hybrid geothermal and solar plant, combining Nevada’s two most homegrown forms of renewable energy in a single power-generating project.
The plant, which will be situated about 75 miles outside of Reno, will generate an additional 24 megawatts of power and create about 150 installation jobs, according to Enel Green Power North America President Francesco Venturini.
More of this please. Renewable energy that creates jobs and doesn’t harm the environment. Repubs must hate this.