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Equality Michigan posted this on August 18th, 2011. By Emily Dievendorf
Gil Scott-Heron famously reminded the world in 1970 that “the revolution will not be televised.” He was speaking in support of the civil rights movement as it unfolded in front of him. He was speaking of the movement as inevitable, transient and impossible to ignore. The fight for equal rights for African-Americans had reached a breaking point and the dominos were falling in favor of the black community. The victories came in spurts and not without actual physical casualties and the gradual accumulation of scars of exhaustion, resentment and – over time and after constant battle – a certain amount of apathy.
The apathy that thrives in communities that struggle to gain justice is so very understandable. For many attacked communities, African-Americans included, the battle for equal rights is not over. It is nearly impossible, after years of working to survive, to not conclude that even those that once had an ear to the ground aren’t listening anymore.
Since joining Equality Michigan as Director of Policy a year ago, I have been told repeatedly, with equal sympathy, frustration and resignation, that I am bound to accomplish nothing for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Michigan. My role at Equality Michigan, and my passion, is to win equality for all Michigan citizens through law. I’m only too familiar with government’s inefficiencies, ego and cowardice. In Michigan, LGBT citizens have almost none of the most basic rights that their straight counterparts enjoy. Today’s political climate in Lansing is all the more antagonistic toward our community and resistant to forward movement since the November 2010 election. I’m enraged by the domineering of hate in Michigan. I’m emotionally connected to all of its tragedies. But I am also reassured by the spirit of our LGBT family and excited every minute of every day to use any tools I possess to claim the equal opportunity that we should have access to already. I’m also competitive by nature. The worst thing somebody could do for discrimination in Michigan is to tell me that we can’t succeed.
Michigan courts have done everything in their power to make adoption for gay and lesbian couples an [...]
Christine posted this on August 5th, 2011. Sad and scary news to report on some recent hate crimes:
A Christian man was attacked in downtown Grand Rapids A 28-year-old Christian man was assaulted in Detroit by four men. A 50-year-old Christian man was beaten in Warren after being hit by the attacker’s vehicle. Two additional potential violent hate crimes against Christians were reported in July
In all cases, the attackers used the word "Christian" during the attack.
Why haven't you heard of this, you ask?
Because it didn't really happen that way. Here's what really happened:
A gay man was attacked in downtown Grand Rapids A 28-year-old gay man was assaulted in Detroit by four men. A 50-year-old gay man was beaten in Warren after being hit by the attacker’s vehicle. Two additional potential violent hate crimes against gays were reported in July
In all cases, attackers used the word "faggot" during the attack.
Silly reader. If it had really been violence against Christians, we'd have called it terrorism.
h/t Progress Michigan
Christine posted this on July 18th, 2011. And just when you thought the GOP field of Senate hopefuls couldn’t possibly get any goofier, Gary Glenn announced that he is considering a run against Debbie Stabenow. Gary Glenn, you may recall, is the proud gay-basher who runs the proud gay-bashing institution, American Family Association. (barf)
Gary is highly qualified to represent the MI GOP in the US Senate. Consider these accomplishments:
1. Spearheaded the anti-gay amendment Prop 2 in 2004 2. Courageously warned employers about hiring gay people 3. Created a bona-fide hate group. 4. Tried to punish city council members who support anti-discrimination 5. Declared that homosexual behavior should be criminalized.
But his greatest hit of all time has GOT to be this robocall against Toni Sessoms. Sessoms was a candidate for State House last year …
So, Glenn certainly makes an appealing candidate to the modern Michigan GOP.
[shudder]
More info here – http://michiganmessenger.com/50900/gary-glenn-considers-run-for-u-s-senate http://www.rightwingwatch.org/blogs/kyle-mantyla
Christine posted this on June 26th, 2011. I run across a number of things that I’d like to publish but for one reason or another it just doesn’t work out. So I think I’ll start saving these things and offer them up on Sundays, when our progressivesphere is usually a little light on content anyway …
Equality Michigan issued a press release in which Interim Executive Director Denise-Brogan Kator was quoted as such,
While we’re very happy for New Yorkers, we must recognize that Michigan’s lack of policy addressing discrimination, hate crimes and bullying has a devastating impact on many gay and transgender citizens.”
Michigan is seriously over the top on gaybashing. I received an MTA (Michigan Township Association) legislative alert on HB 4578. I’m not well versed in this legislation but this is what caught my eye,
MTA does not believe that this legislation is necessary and feels it is an overreaction to limited situations where a few communities have effectively banned the land application of septage and required septic haulers to travel to a septage receiving facility.
So am I wrong in thinking that this legislation is meant to increase profits for septic haulers? (Really, I’m asking)
This comes from WATP’s News … There’s a clean energy panel discussion coming up this Tuesday. The event is free of charge and open to the public, and our friend Mark Schauer is a member of the panel. I find that green & clean energy is terribly misunderstood. If you have the chance it sounds like an awesome opportunity to learn more about it. “Lady Liberty and Sarah Palin are lit by the same torch.” ~Michelle Bachmann
hehehehehehehehehehehe
Christine posted this on June 25th, 2011. Press release
CONTACT: Michael Gregor Director of Communications michael@equalitymi.org 313.498.3658
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2011
New York becomes sixth state to offer full marriage equality; Michigan remains hostile to gay and lesbian couples
Yesterday, the New York Senate passed a bill that will dramatically change the lives of gays men and lesbians across the state. They will finally be able to marry the person they love. After weeks of debate, New York has finally recognized that gay and lesbian couples are fully deserving of the same opportunities, protections and responsibilities as anyone else who wants to build a life with someone they cherish.
Statement by Denise-Brogan Kator Interim Executive Director, Equality Michigan
“First and foremost, committed gay and lesbian couples living in our nation’s third largest state will finally have the freedom to marry in their home state. Respect and security for their love, commitment, and families is what this victory is really all about. A rare coalition of leaders from all walks of life fought together to make this happen.”
“This win shows that Americans are ready, more than ever, to treat gay and lesbian couples with full equality. Unfortunately, right-wing forces worked hard to deny this opportunity in Michigan. We hope for the day that gay and lesbian couples achieve the freedom to marry in our own state. It will make our state more welcoming and competitive while honoring our commitment to fairness. While we’re very happy for New Yorkers, we must recognize that Michigan’s lack of policy addressing discrimination, hate crimes and bullying has a devastating impact on many gay and transgender citizens.”
Equality Michigan works to achieve full equality and respect for all people in the state of Michigan regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. For more information, visit www.equalitymi.org.
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perfectstormer posted this on June 22nd, 2011. Christine’s been (unwittingly) taunting me via Twitter all day with talk of Dave Agema and his idiotic domestic partner benefits obsession, and I finally got incensed enough to blog. So place your tongue firmly in your cheek and join me…
An open letter to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people employed by the State of Michigan…
As you’re no doubt well aware, the Michigan legislature under the fine leadership of Jase Bolger, Dave Agema and Randy Richardville has once again been knocking on your door asking you to give up your domestic partner benefits if you wish to continue working for the state. They dress it up as if it’s some kind of magic bullet that will magically help the state balance its completely off-kilter whackadoo budget woes, as if your spouse going without health insurance is some kind of supreme sacrifice you’re making for the greater good of keeping the State of Michigan solvent. We all know the real truth, that it’s Gov. Snyder and the Legislature legislating morality, in direct opposition to what Gov. Snyder said he’d do while he was running for governor, but that’s neither here nor there. At this point the sad reality is that it’s probably going to happen. And you know what? Let it happen.
As he campaigned for governor, Rick Snyder promised to run the State of Michigan like a business. Anyone taking a new job in the business world knows that when you look at your potential compensation, you roll in all of the health insurance, life insurance, disability and other benefits you’re getting in order to get a clear and complete picture of your total compensation. The Legislature has decided that a heterosexual employee of the state is entitled to receive, as part of their total compensation, health insurance and other benefits for their spouse. You are not. You are therefore entitled to somewhere in the neighborhood of 95% of the compensation your heterosexual office-mates are entitled to, just because you’re LGBT. Your work is somehow less valuable to the state just because it was done by you, a gay person.
You know what [...]
Christine posted this on June 22nd, 2011. Well here go the Republicans gay bashing again. Yesterday the GOP House passed two bills out of committee that would prohibit the state from offering benefits to domestic partners, and from prohibiting such benefits from being included in collective bargaining agreements. These bills are HB 4770 and HB 4771. You’ll be shocked to hear that the bills are sponsored by … who is it? Who is it? That’s right! Dave “Hetero Man” Agema (pictured).
Agema has a history of focusing on gay people; he recently proposed cutting funding to universities that support equality. Now he’s out to make sure that equality doesn’t become recognized in Michigan. Worse, he’s making sure that inequality is further codified in Michigan, by building an architecture of anti-gay law that is loosely based on the bigoted prop 2 anti marriage equality law passed in 2004. Equality advocates have repeatedly pointed out that the 2004 law does not apply because health benefits to eligible adults is not similar to a marriage union, which is what the 2004 law specifically addresses.
Agema’s gay bashing is totally in line with his party’s stand on equality. It was 4 of his fellow House Republicans who rammed his bill through the committee (the 2 Democrats opposed). Earlier this year Bill Schuette filed a lawsuit against against the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for its decision to grant health benefits to unrelated adults and their dependents who live with some state employees. And just a few weeks ago, 5 of the (then) 7 GOP Presidential hopefuls promised their goofball base that they’d support a Constitutional amendment to oppose equality. And all the while, America keeps on marching up to freedomland ….
Links —
Michigan Messenger story — http://michiganmessenger.com/50114/house-committee-approves-two-radical-anti-gay-bills
House Bill 4770 — http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28t3yqtn45qekj4d555fcv3rbt%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2011-HB-4770
House Bill 4771 — http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28t3yqtn45qekj4d555fcv3rbt%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2011-HB-4771
ht to Equality Michigan at http://www.equalitymi.org/
And please order big gay flash mobs for the following:
Tom McMillin (R), Committee Chair, 45th District Bradford C. Jacobsen (R), Majority Vice-Chair, 46th District Cynthia S. Denby (R), 47th District Amanda Price (R), 89th District
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Getting started in political blogging
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