Born this way Ball tour!!!… Excited?
Yesterday was a huge day for gay rights advocates, as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals voted that California’s Prop 8 is unconstitutional. But this doesn’t mean the war is over.
For one thing, the case will almost certainly be appealed, but it’s not certain whether the Supreme Court will grant review. Even if it does, the vote will very likely be divided and could come down to just one person. Either way, yesterday’s decision is not necessarily final in any way.
For a second thing, the decision in this case was written extremely narrowly. The decision did not say that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was fundamentally unconstitutional; it simply ruled that because Prop 8 overturned a previous ruling that granted a right, taking that right away was unconstitutional. This does not set a precedent for other states in ways we might have liked.
We’ve still got a long way to go, but every single step matters. Yesterday was a big one, and they’ll only get more important from here.
CADY GROVES PRE-ORDER
Cady Groves will release her new EP, This Little Girl, on February 7th. You can pre-order the EP here and check out the tracklisting below.
This week, GLSEN is sponsoring No-Name Calling Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness about bullying in schools and finding constructive solutions to problems among and between kids.
The site linked above has tons of information about what this week means and what you can do to get involved. An especially cool link discusses how to get a NNCW event off the ground at your school, including tips on involving administration and students.
Sometimes it seems like there are a lot of planned days, weeks or even months that demand our attention for a particular cause, and it gets overwhelming (not to mention how you should never name-call). Pay attention to this one anyway. I don’t need to tell you guys that bullying is out of control in a lot of schools in this country, especially against LGBT kids. A week of events like the ones suggested here could truly make a difference in how kids treat each other.
This week, I’m going to speak out against bullying among my peers. What will you do?
Lawmakers in Washington will begin discussing today whether to legalize marriage equality in the state.
Though Gov. Chris Gregoire has famously announced support for the bill recently, that doesn’t mean it’s sure to pass. There are enough votes for it in the House but not quite enough in the Senate, and NOM has already promised to do whatever it takes to strike it down.
Stay tuned for updates on how this plays out, though we probably won’t know anything big for a long time. Get ready!
What do you think? are you against us or with us?
In May, North Carolina will vote on whether or not to limit marriages to opposite-sex couples. Raleigh photographer Curtis Brown has already taken it into his own hands - or rather, his own lens - to show his state why marriage equality is a must.
Much like photographer Adam Bouska’s iconic NOH8 campaign against Proposition 8, the Vote Against Project features people of all kinds posing in shirts declaring their support for marriage equality. The potential NC amendment to be voted on would ban same-sex marriages as well as civil unions.
There aren’t tons of photos up yet, but you can check them out at the site linked above. If you’re in North Carolina, consider stopping in to pose yourself! This is a great example of modern day activism and we need as many people involved as possible.
A clinic in Midvale, Utah will open a transgender- and genderqueer-focused health clinic held monthly.
Practicing physician Dr. Rixt Luikenaar is an OB/GYN with “extensive experience” with trans patients, and she’s opening the clinic up to any and all patients with genders that may or may not fit the standard binary. From Q Salt Lake:
“We are creating a safe space for trans and other queer people to receive the care that they so badly need,” Luikenaar said. “We want to have that place where even just waiting in the room to receive care is friendlier. You’ll be surrounded by love and support instead of having to wait between two pregnant women.”
From hormone treatments and lab work to recommendations to other specialists and therapists, the clinic is perfect for an annual checkup or for more comprehensive care.
“I think that people who identify as transgender or gender-queer often find themselves afraid to visit the doctor for fear of rejection or they just aren’t sure whom to visit and who can best help them without being judged,” she said. “Also, there are other health factors and risks that trans people face that others simply don’t have. I want to help with that.”
Call 801-213-9400 for more information!
go Utah
You know those heartwarming stories you hear about families who stand by their kids even when society wants to shut them out? They’re true. Here’s another one.
Basically, a teenage boy and his pre-teen brother are browsing for video games in a store. Little bro wants a game with a female main character and a purple controller, two choices that Dad was not happy about because they just aren’t manly enough.
After some fighting and a disappointed little bro, big bro steps in, stands up to Dad, and tells his kid brother he’ll buy him whatever game he wants.
I won’t spoil the adorable parts of this, but you should really read it. It’ll take you a minute and it’s cute beyond belief. Follow the author here.
now that’s family!
