National Equality March = Fantastic!

This Sunday, a few of us interns went to the National Equality March, decked out with signs, stickers, buttons, and of course tons of enthusiasm (which we supported with free coffee provided by the Human Rights Campaign.)

The main thing I can really say about the march is: WOW.
Marchers filled the streets all the way from the Capitol Building, around the White House, even all the way to the Human Rights Campaign building, essentially making the city stop to listen to our demands (though one bus tried to push its way through the crowd--we were highly amused).

While waving a rainbow-colored flag and taking pictures of the awesome signs and outfits, I wondered how many tens of thousands of people had come out to support the cause. According to Phil Siegel, a spokeperson for the march, more than 150,000 people showed up! (From the LA Times).

There were a lot of high-powered spokespeople: Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and civil rights advocate; Cynthia Nixon, actress from Sex and the City; Lady Gaga, openly bisexual pop icon; and Dustin Lance Black, writer of the movie "Milk."

We cheered; we hoisted our signs up high; we shouted slogans like "Out of the closets, into the streets!" and "What do we want? Equal Rights! When do we want them? Now!" The mood was optmistic, but also impatient, as one sign said "Do we have equality yet? I'm tired from holding up these signs." Marchers nodded to each other with the recognition of similar goals: the end of DOMA, the elimination of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the introduction of hate crime legislation, and Federal laws allowing gay couples to marry.

I can't wait to go to my next march!

Photo Credit: Jason Pier on Flickr.com

Newsday Tuesday: August 11 Edition

Hello fellow feminists! It's Tuesday again which means in it time for another round up of Newsday Tuesday. Our numbers are dwindling in the office as more and more of my fellow interns head back home. Soon I'll be the only one left if I don't melt from the heat and humidity we are currently experiencing. Talk about a heat wave!

Nonetheless, news still is happening! This week was filled with many sad and happy events. The most recent was unfortunately a sad one. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics and championed the rights of the mentally disabled, died early this morning.

Along with her passing, another sad news story from this past week was the hate crime against women Tuesday night in Pennsylvania. George Sodini shot and killed three women and injured 11 more before killing himself. Sodini entered an aerobics class at a gym in the Pittsburgh area intending to take revenge on women, who he saw as rejecting him as a whole.

Now on to happier news! Judge Sonia Sotomayor was officially sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court on Saturday. This is after her confirmation Thursday from the Senate by a 68-31 vote. She will be the 111th justice, the third woman, and first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court.

Also, a judge in Oakland, California ruled Wednesday that an ordinance prohibiting protesters from approaching women entering abortion clinics is constitutional. The bubble ordinance bars protesters from coming within eight feet of women seeking access to a reproductive health clinic. The plaintiff in the case was Walter Hoye, who claimed that the bubble ordinance was vague and unfairly applied to opponents of abortion.

There were also several important reports released last week. Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, Representative Carolyn Maloney, and her colleagues released a report Thursday stating that more than 1.4 million women are adversely affected by the recession because they are losing their health insurance through their own or their spouse's job loss. In addition, there is an increase in uninsured children due to an increase in unemployment among single mothers.

Along with that, the American Psychological Association (APA) announced Wednesday that psychologists should not advise gay clients that therapy can help them become straight. Of 83 studies of sexual orientation conducted since 1960, no evidence could be found that therapy can change an individual's sexual orientation.

Some other important news in the world of feminism includes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton trip to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to denounce atrocities against women in the war-ravaged country. Clinton is visiting for two days to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault and the use of rape as a weapon of war. Since the war in the Congo began in 1998, tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped.

Also, Fox News commentator Glenn Beck joked about poisoning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's wine on his show last week. Beck's statements came just three days after he decried violence and disrespect in political commentary.

Photo courtesy of keithpr on flikr.com

Verdict in Lateisha Green trial

The decision in the Lateisha Green trial is in and the jury found Dwight DeLee guilty of first-degree murder as a hate crime. As you might have seen earlier in this blog, the Senate recently approved a measure that would include of violence against people on the basis of gender identity as a hate crime.

The trial began earlier this week, and the verdict came in this morning. This trial is one of the few trials where someone has been convicted of the murder of a transperson on the basis of gender identity, and is certainly one of the few times that it has been considered a hate crime.

Hopefully, both this decision and the recently approved Senate measure will start a move towards a society that makes it clear that hate, prejudice, ignorance, and violence are not tolerated.

Photo courtesy of www.flickr/transgenderwarrior

Senate extends hate crime legislation

According to the Huffington Post and other news sites (I had to check just to be sure), the Senate recently approved a measure that expands the current federal hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability! This is great news!

Just earlier this week, I wrote about the Lateisha Green trial. Green was murdered because of gender identity. This legislation makes it easier for the feds to help with state or local authorities are unwilling or slow to act in response to hate crimes.

The passage of this bill will be one of the biggest extensions to the hate crime legislation since the '60's. The FBI recieves thousands of hate crime reports every year, and hopefully this will bring justice to those whose lives are unjustly hurt because of sexual orientation or gender identity. As Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-Ore.) said, "There is no room in our society for these acts of prejudice. Hate crimes fragment and isolate our communities. They tear at our collective spirit."

Photo courtesy of www.flickr/arimoore

Hate Crimes after Stonewall

Yesterday marked the fortieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a series of protests commonly considered to be the beginning of the gay rights movement in the United States. In the early morning of June 28, 1969, police officers raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York. Raids of this nature were typical of the homophobic climate at this time. Protests formed outside the bar as Stonewall patrons and passersby fought back against police brutality. Thirteen protesters were arrested.

The police aggression that sparked the riots at Stonewall was, by all accounts, a type of hate crime. And while this type of violence against the queer community is no longer officially endorsed by federal or state officials, it still exists today. In 2008, nearly 1,500 hate-motivated crimes were committed against queer-identified individuals or organizations. Unfortunately, physical violence is a very real threat for members of the queer community.

Of course, some progress has been made in the realm of civil rights for LGBTQ individuals: same-sex marriage has been legalized in 5 states, many states allow same-sex adoption, and there has been a growth in the representation of queer individuals in the media. But with the threat of physical violence still looming over our heads, it's difficult to be comforted by these achievements.

Why all the hate?

As I sat at my desk at FMF today, it was hard to believe that Mr. Stephen Tyrone Johns was killed in the very same city. Mr. Johns was a security guard at the DC Holocaust Museum, and was murdered yesterday afternoon on the job. The leading suspect was James von Brunn, an admitted anti-Semitic. He has his own website about white supremacy and has written literature about the subject.

After the murder of Dr. George Tiller, I was not expecting to hear about another tragic, extremist act so soon. I can only ask myself--why do hate crimes happen? When do opinions cross the line to violence, and when does violence go far enough to take the life of another person? Mr. Johns was just doing his job: keeping the people in the museum safe.

I just find it shocking that both of these murderous demonstrations took place in such sacred atmospheres: Dr. Tiller was murdered in his church while handing out programs, and Mr. Johns was murdered in a very somber and reverent national landmark (the Holocaust Museum).

I am just awestruck that an innocent person had to die simply because his job was to defend that building. I remember taking a trip with my family to DC when I was very young, and I remember my parents crying at Holocaust Museum--so if I could say anything to Mr. Johns' family, it would be that he had one of the most important jobs a person can have: allowing/defending a timeless experience for anyone who entered such a special and sad place.

It's such a shame that he had to come face-to-face with the hate that the Museum is trying to prevent from ever happening again.

Dr. Carhart fights back

Dr. LeRoy Carhart, a late abortion provider and a colleague of Dr. George Tiller, posted a compelling call to action on the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice website. Carhart has twice brought cases before the Supreme Court, challenging the late abortion laws in Nebraska. The cases are Stenberg v. Carhart (2000) and Gonzales v. Carhart (2007).

Statement of Dr. LeRoy Carhart
Dr. Carhart is a member of the RCRC Board of Directors

With the senseless murder of Dr. George Tiller, we have lost a champion of women’s rights, a talented caring physician, a devoted Christian, a loving husband, a father of four, a grandfather of eight and one of my family’s best friends.

1. I cannot and am not here to speak for “Womens Health Care Services” or “Dr G.R. Tiller, P.A.” These are individual corporate entities that are owned by the Tiller family and their spokesperson is attorney Dan Monnat of Wichita, KS.

I am here to speak for the Doctors: Shelly Sella, Susan Robinson and myself to reassure the women of the United States, and the rest of the world, that those in need of abortion through the advanced stages of pregnancy will continue to be able to receive the same safe, legal care based upon TEAM TILLER’s concept of “Kindness, Courtesy, Justice, Love and Respect” that they so deeply deserve.

We along with the staff of TEAM TILLER are committed to providing the same care we have been providing for the past 4 years. Dr. Tiller believed and has taught each of our team that “Abortion is not a cerebral or a reproductive issue. Abortion is a matter of the heart: for until one understands the heart of a women, nothing else about abortion makes any sense at all.”

2. It is time to condemn those who commit violent acts against abortion providers, and those who support and incite these violent acts, the radical religious right fundamentalist terrorists, as domestic terrorists. It is time to demand that these activities be added to the list of hate crimes, and that the perpetrators be prosecuted for hate crimes.

a. Is it any different to plant white crosses in front of a clinic or a clinic workers residence than it is to place one in the front yard of a minority member?

b. Is it any different to call a clinic worker a “murderer” or to use other slur words than it is to bully a child because he’s different, or to shout racial slurs at an individual because of their race or sexual orientation?

c. Is it any different to invade a house of God and murder a worshiper because of his religious beliefs than it is to drag someone from their home in the middle of the night and murder them by lynching because of the color of their skin?

The threat implied by these acts and the fear they cause is equal to similar hate crimes carried out based on race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Abortion militants deserve the same condemnation and punishment.

To support abortion is a moral choice, to support abortion is a religious choice, to support abortion is a legal choice. To use violent means in order to deny anyone this right goes against the core values that America stands for.

Why do you allow these terrorists that dedicate their lives to deny rights, and that support murder of physicians and medical workers, the right to be identified as “pro-life”. They are certainly not.

3. It is time to chastise and, if necessary, replace local, city and state legislators that openly support hate crimes and terrorists. Every time a member of a government agency, looks the other way when any “illegal” activity is reported, they enable, perhaps even encourage the escalation of, further illegal activity.

There is a difference between “freedom of speech” and bullying and harassment. There is a difference between civil disobedience and terrorism. There is a difference between protesting and forced invasions.

In the past 22 years in Nebraska over 80,000 women have chosen abortion when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Since Roe v Wade over 46 million American women have chosen abortion. Virtually every one comes with one or more supporters of their choice.

It is time for these women to come forward and demand that their elected officials enforce the laws on the books that protect us all from hate crimes, and if these officials don’t openly respect your rights to choose abortion, you have the power to vote them out of office.

Pressing Issues Raised at the Global Women's Rights Awards and What You Can Do About Them!

Each year, the Feminist Majority Foundation honors extraordinary people who have overcome great obstacles, adversity, and threats to their own lives and well-being to expose global women's rights injustices and fight for women's rights worldwide. Last Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of attending the 5th Annual Global Women's Rights Awards.

Amidst the sold out ballroom, the almost rowdy live auction hosted by Jay Leno, and the bustling Ms. Obama poster and Afghan craft sales, I couldn't help but be in awe of the fact that I was mingling with truly incredible, beyond inspirational, groundbreaking, unrelenting feminist honorees.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN's Chief International Correspondent, took a stand when no one else would and exposed the horrendous conditions the Taliban was, and continues to inflict upon women and girls in Afghanistan. Afghan women and girls lack access to the most basic human rights: to leave the home, earn money, visit the doctor, and go to school without facing atrocious cruelties such as acid attacks. The situation for Afghan women and girls is not improving but with the help of brave women like Christiane Amanpour and yourself, we can make sure the international eye is watching the plight of Afghan women and girls. Sign online petitions and help raise money to train an Afghan midwife and reduce maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan.

Dr. Neal Baer (Executive Producer) and Mariska Hargitay (as Detective Olivia Benson) have brought hard-hitting women's issues to primetime television through Law & Order: Special Victims' Unit for over eight seasons. Through bringing the all too real issues of hate crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence and the backlog of rape kits in Los Angeles, among many, to mainstream media, Baer and Hargitay have helped raise awareness, raise outrage, and have helped prompt viewers, activists and lawmakers to fight against these all too prevalent occurrences.

Last but not least, the remarkable and inspriring team behind the film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, was honored. Produced by Abigail Disney and directed by Gini Reticker, Pray the Devil Back to Hell tells the story of Leymah Gbowee and the thousands of other Liberian women who organized peacefully to end a gruesome civil war and elect the first female head of state. The story is one of peaceful activism, grassroots organizing and powerful feminism at its finest. Disney and Reticker, through the production of this film, have helped ensure that the story of how women have shaped a country's history does not go unrecognized or rewritten through a patriarchal lens. Spread the inspirational story of the Liberian women and celebrate women's collective successes by hosting a screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell on your campus.