LGBT History Made in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

alav1On Thursday people around the country celebrated St. Patrick’s Day but in New York City this year’s festivities were extra special for the LGBT community. “This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade — the world’s oldest and largest — also proved to be a historic one, as openly gay and lesbian groups were allowed to march in the parade, ending a quarter-century long ban,” according to NBC. “I never thought I’d see the day when I could march up Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my husband,” said Brendan Fay, chairman of the Lavender and Green Alliance, as the parade began. “When we started in 1991, after getting arrested so many times for protesting the parade, wow, what a moment this is.” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio marched in the parade for the first time this year too. He boycotted the parade for his first two years in office because of the parade’s ban on LGBT advocacy groups. “Today everyone is celebrating together,” de Blasio said. “The city is at peace and unified.”

Mayor of Kokomo Signs LGBT Protection Act

Final Welcome SignKokomo is the latest community in Indiana to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. According to WTHR in Indiana:\

Council members voted 5-4 in favor of an ordinance protecting members of the LGBT community after what has been a contentious debate. Mayor Greg Goodnight signed the ordinance early Tuesday. The overflow crowd tested the capacity of Kokomo’s council chambers. By fire code, only 157 could fit inside. Police estimated 300 to 400 more people had to stand outside and await the final vote on the human rights ordinance. The measure protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens from discrimination. It also bans discrimination based on marital status, age or veteran status.

Despite death threats and harassing emails, council members voted to end LGBT discrimination. “One of our members was basically told ‘you better vote no or else’ and I won’t go into what the ‘or else’ was. But he has filed a police report on that,” said Council President Robert Hayes.”There were things we received in emails that no elected official should have received. When I get emails invoking my dead mother, saying she’d be weeping at my vote, well, you don’t know my mother. She’d say ‘atta boy. Go get ’em and speak your mind,” Hayes said. “I certainly hope we haven’t come to the point where we cannot agree to disagree in a civil manner without intimidation and in some cases outright bigotry.”

Senate Committee Approves First Openly Gay Military Leader

043013-eric-fanningLast Thursday, Eric Fanning was confirmed as the nominee for the Army Secretary by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Fanning was nominated by the White House for the position back in September. Fanning is currently the highest ranking openly gay member of the Department of Defense. While some Republican lawmakers like Pat Roberts are said to block the nomination over plans to close Guantanamo Bay, Fanning certainly has President Obama’s support. “Eric brings many years of proven experience and exceptional leadership to this new role,” Obama said. “I look forward to working with Eric to keep our Army the very best in the world. I am grateful for his commitment to our men and women in uniform, and I am confident he will help lead America’s Soldiers with distinction.”

Monday Meme: Einstein

einstein meme

According to legend, noted physicist Albert Einstein didn’t exactly love birthdays. Yet we can’t help celebrating the man whose words and ideas shaped a generation. Born today in 1879, Einstein’s playful spirit and brilliant thoughts live on, thanks largely in part to the internet. Revel in his legacy today by reading some of his most famous quotes, learning about his childhood or send one of our cards to someone you know who isn’t crazy about birthdays.

60 Major Corporations Endorse Equality Act

apple-logo-2Apple, Amazon, Google, and Coca-Cola are just a few of the huge brands on the Human Rights Campaign’s list of companies in favor of the Equality Act. Released this week, the list includes 60 companies that support the bill which would protect LGBT people from discrimination. Per the HRC’s press release:

Since HRC joined with lawmakers and advocates last July to introduce the Equality Act in Congress, HRC has continued to build support from the business community. Today, the Business Coalition for the Equality Act launches with 60 leading American companies. With operations in all 50 states, headquarters spanning 22 states and a combined $1.9 trillion in revenue, the companies that make up the coalition employ over 4.2 million people in the United States.

“These business leaders are showing true leadership and fighting to end a shameful status quo that leaves LGBT people at risk in a majority of states for being denied services or fired because of who they are or who they love,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We’re proud of all these corporate leaders stepping forward to say that all Americans, including LGBT people, should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living.”

A majority of states — 32 states in total — still lack fully inclusive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people, and there are no explicit federal protections against discrimination. Introduced one month after the historic Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that ushered in nationwide marriage equality, the Equality Act would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people under our existing civil rights laws. The Equality Act provides clear, permanent and equal protections under federal law for all Americans in vital areas of life, like employment, access to public spaces, housing, credit, education, jury service, and federally funded programs.