Equality Ohio Fundraiser

Equality Ohio hosted a little fundraiser at Below Zero this evening, and I had the distinct pleasure of hanging with my dears Erin Upchurch (of Equality Ohio), Cameron Tolle (of Impact Cincinnati), and Rusty Lockett (of Church of our Savior and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center), all pictured above. I did the single most shocking thing you would ever expect from me ... that is, gasp, signed up to be an Equality Ohio member. (Yes, Lynne, it's true.) Thanks to Erin we have a mini update on the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA -- HB176), which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in Ohio.

The Ohio legislature is on recess right now, but we have received assurances that there will be a vote before this session ends. As it stands, we've not had a lot of leadership emerge in the Ohio Senate on the issue, so there is a lot of lobbying to do over there, too. Law in Ohio, though, seems to read that the House can pass a bill this session and then go to the Senate next session, so we don't have to start the process over again. Equality Ohio is asking people to continue to contact their State Representatives throughout the summer to keep the pressure on them until a vote comes up in late September or early October. For information on how to contact your local representative, go here.

Other events of note this weekend:

• COOL SUMMER Coktail Hour-- Brought to you by this blog, WineMeDineMeCincinnati.com, KatesRandomMusings.com, and CincinnatiWomenBloggers.com. It's a fundraiser tomorrow (July 17th) from 7pm-10pm at Below Zero Lounge. Promises to be a great time! (Facebook page)
• Big Hair Bingo -- "Honey, this isn't your grandma's bingo." Gay bingo comes to Cincinnati tomorrow night at 7:30pm at the Ensemble Theatre Company (1127 Vine Street), benefiting STOP AIDS and the theatre. (Facebook Page)

Hope to see you out this weekend folks!

EHEA Update from Equality Ohio

You know, for all my criticism of Equality Ohio, they've been very effective at getting information out about the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) this time around. The EHEA, as you may remember, would make Ohio the 21st possibly the 22nd state to pass employment (and housing) protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (the correction is due to the possibility of passage of a non-discrimination bill based solely on sexual orientation in Delaware).

From the email-er:

The General Assembly Session (which started back in January) was scheduled to end on June 30, 2009. However, because the budget has not been approved, Session is still on-going - for an indeterminate amount of time. As long as the House remains in Session, HB 176 (the Equal Housing and Employment Act) could get a vote at any time. We may have no more than a few hours notice. HB 176 remains on the agenda for a vote by the House, but only budget related items are actually getting attention as of this morning.

This is our best shot, right now, to get the Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB 176) passed. It will only get harder if it doesn't happen in this General Assembly (2009-2010). Opponents of HB 176 are working hard to keep equality out of reach of Ohioans. This CAN NOT be stressed enough.

So what can you do? Until the Session goes on recess or a vote occurs on the House floor this summer, keep your focus on the House Members -

Again, I cannot stress this enough -- email your state representatives to pass HB176.

Act NOW on Equal Housing and Employment Act!

And in the great state of Ohio, we have news coming out from Equality Ohio on the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA): we are currently being out-called by the opposition at a rate of 2-1. That is, for every pro-EHEA phone call our representatives are getting, they are getting two against it.

For a quick reminder, the EHEA seeks to ban discriminatino in the state based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression and is being spearheaded via the website, DoWhatsRightOhio.com (a project of Equality Ohio and Progress Ohio). It's a good thing, our little bill, and it's time for you to call and call now. Or email, or stop in, or send a note, or whatever the hell else you want to do ... so long as you get in touch with your representatives.

I know, you're probably thinking, like I do sometimes, that "Well, what good can my phone call do?" Seriously, they have thousands of people they represent, why would it matter if I called? Truly, they listen. If a representative is on the fence, it is often times the outpouring of phone calls they get that make the difference. A person sits at a desk with a little notepad, takes phone calls, and makes hash marks for every phone call, what they wanted, and, sometimes, more detailed information if they feel like the Rep should call you back. At the end of the day, that data is analyzed and presented to the boss man as a way of letting them know just what their constituencies are thinking.

We have to make sure that all the Representatives in the State of Ohio are contacted. To find yours, go here. And, if you are short on words, sometimes, check out TransOhio's post with a suggested wording for an email. All it takes is a little copying and pasting and you're done for the day. Less than five minutes. I promise.

And remember exactly what you are asking: VOTE YES ON H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act.

HA -- I made that mistake once and told my SC Rep to vote yes on DOMA. "No! I mean! Vote No!" LOL. The guy on the other line was like, "well, which one is it sir? Do you want gays to marry or do you want to protect the sanctity of marriage?" Guess which way my representative was voting. I snapped back: "Listen to my voice: does it sound like I would be against equality?" Dude hung up. Memories.

EHEA and the Obama Memo

I'm almost through! By this time tomorrow, I will be done with my summer semester at school and will have 8 weeks off -- just enough time to complete all my clinical prep for year two at school! WHOO!!! Many thanks to my contributors for making sure the blog is updated in my intermittent involvement this week! You guys are the best!

But I wanted to just post two bits from the queerrevolution that you should know about:

First, the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) made it out of the State Government Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives. The EHEA (HB 176), as you may remember, is the law that will prohibit discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, making Ohio the 21st state in the union to do so (in a related note, I wonder if, with all the marriage talk lately, we will confront a situation in the near future where we have more states with equal marriage than equal protections :-)). According to Equality Ohio's email, it was recommended to a vote by the whole House in a 8-5 vote. The vote breakdown:

• For: Gerberry (D), Lundy (D), Sykes (D), Williams B. (D), Stewart (D), Mallory (D - hell yea Cincinnatian!), Sayre (D), and Hite (the only Republican to vote for it).
• Against: Adams (R), Daniels (R), Grossman (R), Hall (R), and Stebelton (R).

What next? Well, it goes to a floor vote. If it passes there, onto the state Senate, where there are some questions as to whether it can pass but Lynne Bowman, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, says that she is confident that fairness will come to Ohio. Gov. Ted Strickland is likely to sign the bill due to a long history of standing with queer Ohioans.

This is the first time the Ohio legislature has voted for fairness for LGBTQ individuals... ever.

Second, Obama signed the partners memorandum, giving very limited benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees and, by very limited, we mean very limited. In fact, it has sent the world into a small uproar seemingly for two reasons:

• It doesn't go far enough, failing to provide for health, retirement, or pension benefits for same-sex partners and is probably equitable to little financial benefit other than relocation costs. It seems that anything else would be against the law, per the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act.
• It is a memorandum -- not an executive order -- which means that it expires when Obama leaves office.

A fact sheet provided by the White House is available on the Advocate website detailing the benefits covered. It confuses me, the whole hubbub, as everyone is still cursing Obama's name, saying that it's too little too late.

I seriously wonder if homosexuals have forgotten the last 8 years, and we are just so hungry for someone to listen to us, that we are willing to go rabid at the mouth, screaming shouting and cursing our President, for not doing everything right now. You know, through the Bush years, no one would listen to us. I don't remember the HRC -- for once, I'm kinda standing up for them -- getting a personal meeting with Bush II to reassure them that the President was still on their side, unless I missed it? I know, I know. I want more now, too; I think Obama should put an immediate stop on discharges from the military under Don't Ask, Don't Tell pending legal review, and I think the DOJ-DOMA brief was shameful... and I think Obama's ongoing silence on LGBT issues makes him somewhat of a political coward.

But this is the first time any rights were granted to LGBTQ people since, well, since Bill Clinton. And Mr. Clinton, I might remind you, signed DOMA and DADT, so maybe Obama ain't so bad... but I am still rather bored by the ongoing expectation that we, as queers, will pay for politicos campaigns, whilst they are never willing to step up and do anything for queers. Maybe that's the reason nothing has been done? If the carrot is still hanging in front of us, will we still work as hard for the Democrats?

But that's just my thoughts.

EHEA, Queer PR Disaster, and Finals Week

It's finals week for me -- eep! -- but it's going well, except that I suddenly realize I have a paper due like tomorrow. Sigh. On the bright side, I officially rocked out ethics -- I have a 99.65% in the class! I know that will shock many in the world.

To sum up what's going on in the blogosphere: the shit hath hitteth the fan, and I advise you to follow what's going on with the Obama response to the Federal DOMA challenge, as the writing seems to liken marriage equality to incest and pedophilia. It even pissed off Joe "They Have a Plan" Solmonese. And then Harry Reid tells us there is no plan for DADT in the Senate. Coupled with a DNC fundraiser that's turning into a PR disaster for the administration... leading up to the creation of a site called ObamasPlanforGayRights.com. Whoa, dude. I've got to think on all this craziness. And I thought the New York Seante was still insane.

We may have the Matthew Shepard Act make it through the Senate today or tomorrow, but only after it got attached to the back of a Tourism Bill. Meanwhile, Washington DC's Board of Elections has rejected the referendum to overturn the out-of-state marriage recognition law passed last month based either on its contradictory purpose to DC's Human Rights Ordinance or because the main sponsor doesn't actually live in DC. Weird and wild.

Oh -- and it seems the National March for Equality on October 10-11 is on, and the permit has been secured. Of course, we have to know how the new Miss California -- taking over since Carrie Prejean was fired for not fulfilling her obligations -- feels on gay marriage. She doesn't like it, but she says, "I don't think I have the right or anybody has the right to tell somebody who they can or can't love." See? Was that so hard?

And, finally in national news, after we heard that the US Conference of Mayors would be voting on an equality resolution ... the body passed the resolution, supporting everything from Employment Non-Discrimination Act to, yes kids, Marriage Equality! WHOOHOO!! (Click here for a complete list of all Passed Proposals -- this one is Resolution #46) No word on whether Mayor Mallory voted for it.

The main thrust of this post is to give you a heads up on the Equal Housing and Employment Act from Equality Ohio, via email:

Finally, a state legislative body in Ohio is going to vote on a pro-equality issue! Tomorrow will be the first time a vote has ever been take in either the House or Senate on a bill that supports LGBT people and our families, rather than does them harm.

We know after three weeks of testimony, some of it compelling, some of it down right odd, that the committee members have been presented strong reasons to pass House Bill 176. We know we have a number of allies on the committee. We also know we have a number of people who are struggling to decide which way they will vote.

We have been told that those who oppose this bill are currently heating up the committee members' phones, potentially weakening their resolve to vote YES.

WE MUST CONTACT THEM AS WELL TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE YES.

Please take a moment right now to contact our primary targets on the Ohio House of Representatives State Government Committee. We believe these individuals are still considering their vote and could be swayed either way. Please call or email them and urge them to vote yes on HB 176 tomorrow.

Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City): (614) 466-9690 district23@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Cliff Hite (R-Findlay): (614) 466-3819 district76@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. David T. Daniels (R-Greenfield): (614) 466-3506 district86@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Gerald L. Stebelton (R-Lancaster): (614) 466-8100 district05@ohr.state.oh.us


The following 2 committee members are unlikely to vote yes; however, we should never give up hope. Please call or email them and ask them to give thought and consideration to protecting all Ohioans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney): (614) 466-1507 district78@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dave Hall (R-Killbuck): (614) 466-2994 district97@ohr.state.oh.us

And finally, please call or email the following committee members who are either sponsors or have said they will vote yes and thank them for their on-going support for HB 176:

Chairperson Ronald Gerberry (D-Austintown) (614) 466-6107 district59@ohr.state.oh.us

Vice Chairperson Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) (614) 644-5076 district57@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati): (614) 466-1645 district32@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dan Stewart (D-Columbus): (614) 466-1896 district25@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron): (614) 466-3100 district44@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Brian G. Williams (D-Akron): (614) 644-5085 district41@ohr.state.oh.us

DoWhatsRightOhio.com has posted the opponent testimony to the bill -- including a bizarre one from Concerned Women of America that actually argues that the bill creates discrimination. Something about discriminating against people who believe in traditional values? I don't get it either.

See, nothing going on while I'm just being a mild mannered student trying to make it through my summer term.

I promise, starting next week, I'll be back with my over abundance of postings... just make sure you keep your eyes open tomorrow. I will post about the EHEA the minute I hear. I promise.

Oh, and, finally, I have it on good source that a window at the New Spirit MCC on Hamilton Avenue was broken during Pride, possibly during that time when I and so many others were locked into the Serpent. So that rumor is true, but there's no guarantee that the two incidents -- the broken window and the alleged fighting -- are connected. I have an email out, but have heard nothing official yet.

Volunteers Needed All Around!

I have been requested to post needs for Cincinnati Pride volunteers by a variety of organizations, and I have, until now, categorically turned them down. But I changed my mind because I could. So :-P *PHBBBBBBBBT*.

I have volunteered with a variety of organizations during Pride since I started going in 2002, mostly STOP AIDS (I think for obvious reasons). However, the weekend's success is reliant upon literally hundreds of people staffing booths and marching and running around with walkie-talkies who do not get paid for their hard work. It's an insane logistical nightmare that has, in the past, been headed up almost exclusively by one or two people (hell yea, Kathy Laufman!).. and it's mostly thankless. If you are going to Pride and you want to help out, even for a couple hours, here are the seven places that have sent requests (that I know about) for volunteers:

• Councilmember Greg Harris -- One of the most supportive councilmembers in Cincinnati has requested people to march with them in the parade. One of his volunteers says this in an email: "Since Greg stepped into Cincinnati politics he has been an outspoken supporter of fairness, and equal rights for our community. This election we will be losing a supporting voice on Council, thus, it is critical that Vice Mayor Crowley’s voice be continued by Councilmember Greg Harris. Both Vice Mayor Crowley and Councilmember Harris have a history of standing with our community when it is not politically popular—it is imperative that we keep that history alive." Interested people should email spencer at keepgregharris dot com. 
• Equality Cincinnati -- EC seems to be looking primarily for help with their booth staffing, from their Facebook event invite (linked above): "It is that time of year again, Pride is upon us and we need your help at the Pride Festival. Equality Cincinnati will once again be having a both at the festival and we are looking for people to help man the booth during the event... If you can give two hours or more of your time on either day, we would love to have you. It is a great chance to socialize, network and spread the word of what Equality Cincinnati has and wants to do in the Greater Cincinnati Area." If you want to help out, email Dan, dpdrentec at aol dot com.
• Equality Ohio -- EO is actually looking for volunteers for every Ohio Pride, including people to staff booths, march in parades, collect EHEA signatures, sell memberships, etc. All volunteers will receive an Equality Ohio t-shirt.
• HRC-Cincinnnati -- Looking for people to staff the booth, march in the parade, and canvass the crowd to support the Human Rights Campaign. Interested people should contact their local email address, hrccincinnati at gmail dot com.
• IMPACTCincinnati -- The activist network is not, to my knowledge, marching in the parade, however, they do have a booth two days in a row that desperately needs to be manned (or womanned, or trans'd... gr... needs to be covered). I'll be there Saturday afternoon with Juliet, as will Cody! Come say "hi" even if you can't help out! Email IMPACTCincinnati, impactcincinnati at gmail dot com.
• Ohio Democratic Party LGBT Caucus -- Sent out via Facebook (linked), looking to fill shifts at booths, sell memberships, and get petition signatures.
• Squealing with Pride 2009 -- Pride Planning is pretty much over, as far as I understand, though they have huge needs in set up, take down, and just general operations. Trust me, this is the hardest job you'll do, but it can actually be a lot of fun (and you look cool, with a walkie talkie if you're one of the lucky few to snag one). Email the Pride Committee, pride at cincyglbt dot com.

See, now you can't say that you didn't know how to get involved. Lots of opportunities next weekend -- I expect to see you out! 

And in other news...

To round out the super-big gay news day, here are some bits you may have missed on the interweb this afternoon:

• Illinois' civil union bill has died, left floundered and unvoted on as the session ended. It passed the House fairly easily, but the Senate let it sit along with a lot of other bills, including cigarette taxes, medical marijuana, and a helmet law. It can come back next session, however, as they have two sessions to bring it up again.
  
• Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler is seeking a legal opinion about whether that state can acknowledge same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, despite laws defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Former Assistant AG Robert Zarnoch wrote an opinion that it would not be allowed under current law, but stated the issue was far from settled.
  
• Maine's voter drive to repeal the same-sex marriage law there is taking shape. Rev. Bob Emrich has said that 5,000 petitions are being circulated to collect the requisite 55,000 signatures to put a referendum on the ballot to overturn a legislative action.
• After the House in New Hampshire came to a compromise on the seemingly never-ending process that is their marriage equality bill, Gov. Lynch has said that he supports the new language and will vote for it. A vote is expected this week; we may have another state by Friday.
  
• On June 3rd, the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow individuals to sponsor their same-sex partners from a different country for citizenship, is holding its first hearing this Wednesday. The House bill (HB 1024) currently has 102 cosponsors; the Senate bill (S. 424) has 17.
• IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (H. 2517) was introduced into the House by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to give certain benefits to the partners of federal employees on May 20. There are currently 64 co-sponsors, and it has been referred to three different committees for consideration.

And, finally and most important locally, the Equal Housing and Employment Act will hold its second hearing in the Government Committee of the Ohio legislature. Slated to speak: Lynne Bowman (Equality Ohio), Michael Payton (Ohio Civil Rights Commission), Bishop Ough (of the United Methodist Church), Mayor Warren Copeland (Springfield, OH), Jimmie Beall, Jim McCarthy (Miami Valley Fair Housing Coalition), and Ron Templin (on behalf of Cardinal Health, which will be the first time the Cardinal has ever made a political testimony on anything). Testimonies will be up at Do What's Right, Ohio by Thursday morning.

Updates on Ohio Issues

Equality Ohio has put a lot of great alerts out these last few days covering what's been going in the state, and I thought I might go ahead and steal some of the news to keep everyone informed.

First, in Cleveland, thanks to the fierce activism of folks in this state -- House Dems credit the LGBT community for assisting in this decision -- Cleveland City Councilmember Roosevelt Coats will not be getting promoted to the 10th District State House of Representatives seat being exited by Rep. Eugene Miller. Coats, as you may remember, publically opposed Cleveland's Domestic Partner Registry by quoting Bible passages, angering a lot of us (and our friend Bo over at BearsLeft.com who put everyone onto the issue) and leaving us wondering whether he would be a fair-minded representative for all of his constituents... or if he may become another religious idealogue turned represenative. The House Democratic caucus, however, selected Cleveland lawyer Robin Belcher to take over. I do love me some women in politics.

Onto the Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB 176)... the first round of hearings for the sexual orientation and gender protections bill, this time in the State Government Committee in the House, was held yesterday with two primary speakers: sponsors Rep. Stewart and Rep. McGregor. Equality Ohio reports positive feedback and states that they are taking what they learned from the questions and responses to further refine their arguments and address specific concerns for folks.

I got a copy of four testimonies -- Stewart, McGregor, EO Executive Director Lynne Bowman, and Toledo resident Brandi Fasnaugh -- that will be available on Do What's Right, Ohio later today, but I thought I'd give you the most rocking-est part, thanks to Republican sponsor Rep. McGregor:

The Declaration of Independence declared before the world that in this country, ”all Men arecreated equal.‘ In the nearly two hundred and twenty-three years since that document was authored, we as a nation have worked to ensure that all People are treated equally in the eyesof the law. It has not always been an easy task, and often, it has taken government action tohelp to move that process along. The law protects citizens, regardless of race, color, religion,gender, national origin, age, ancestry, or disability from being discriminated again inemployment and housing rights. And, yet, in Ohio, people can lose their jobs or be denied housing, solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

There is no more controversial issue being debated in this nation today that that of the issue ofequal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. However in my view, the debate surrounding this legislation is not an issue of morality. Representative Stewart and I arenot asking you to vote in support of a lifestyle that you may or may not agree with. We standbefore you today to vote in support of fairness and equality. We stand before you today to vote against discrimination.

Some will argue that this legislation is not necessary because homosexuality is a choice, alifestyle that an individual chooses to subscribe to. While opinions and scientific research varyon whether or not homosexuality is a choice that is not what this debate is about. House Bill 176‘s sole intention is to protect basic constitutional rights when it comes to housing,employment and public accommodation, just as we already prevent discrimination of individuals based on religious affiliation.

Holla!!!!

The next round of testimony -- this from proponents -- will be next Wednesday at 2:30pm (Room 17 in the Statehouse) in committee. EO has been asked to keep it down to six people -- sigh -- but, hopefully, that means the next week's (June 10th? I'm losing track of days ... is that the next week or the next next week) testimony from opponents will be kept that short, as well. You'll be sure to hear from me if it isn't. EO is asking people to attend the committees as best they can; you can contact the organization by visiting their website, or through the website Do What's Right Ohio.

Looks like we may be slated to a committee vote -- and from there onto the House floor -- by the end of June. Let's get this shit done, folks, keep contacting your Representatives (and your State Senators, while you're at it... let's prime that pump!).

Equal Housing and Employment Act

StuffQueerPeopleNeedtoKnow by local fabulous Jamie Royce is reporting that the testimony in the House Committee on State Government will be hearing testimony from the two sponsors -- Rep. McGregor (R) and Rep. Stewart (D) -- on Wednesday. From SQPNtK:

Hearings on the Equal Housing and Employment Act in the Ohio House will begin on Wednesday, May 27. Representatives Stewart and McGregor will be the only people testifying on this day. Proponent testimony will begin on Wednesday, June 3 and will likely last for two weeks. As of now there are 40 secured yes votes and 22 possible yes votes, but the bill needs 50 to pass.

As of yet, the information is not confirmed on the website of the bill, and I have not received an email with this information (so I can't confirm it). I'm putting an email into Equality Ohio for the 411. For more information on the current members of the State Government Committee, click here.

Calendar Update!

Time for a big ol'queer calendar update! I promise I'll try to cover all the big stuff for you guys! Please note that all images are from the website or the Facebook page of the event listed.


If you haven't heard about Penny's "private" party at Adonis now, clearly you have not been paying attention. Bitch is working her heels down making sure you join her and all five hundred of her closest friends at Annie's (right up the street from Adonis) this Friday at 10:00pm. It's an open bar from 10p-11p, so it is worth it to get their early. You just have to print off this flyer to get in and par-tay! Check out the event invite.


Meet Milk, Cincinnati's queer and queer-friendly summer underground party scene, debuting at Below Zero on May 27th. I had the chance to speak to the organizer this weekend at the Guerrilla Queer Bar party at Little Bit party, and, aside from being gorgeous, he's a smart guy who's dedicated to good music and great dancing. Word is that he's got some pretty cool shit lined up for all of us to party to; it's all about music, kids. He played a sampling, and it sounds like it will totally be worth it Add Milk: Summer Underground.


PrideLove -- Cincinnati's experiment with queer *gasp* dating -- is coming back, this time to BronZ. Fabulous Della R. (who says that she and I will be BFF's, which I'm totally down with), who owns the business, has a great event lined up: Speeddating! Take five minutes to go on quick dates with men you have never met before, leave perhaps with a husband! Add in some fantastic drink specials, and it sounds like it will be yet another successful event. Check out their event invite for May 30th from 6pm-9pm.


The HRC will be hosting its monthly First Friday event, going out to bars that you normally would not see them out.. making new friends and new connections. Next month, the event takes place at Crazy Fox Saloon in Newport at 8pm. Check out the event invite.


Below Zero Lounge will be hosting the Ohio LGBT Democratic Caucus, kicking off Pride on June 12th at 5pm. Cover is $35 and gets you membership into the caucus. Check out the event invite.


I am so excited to mention this event, as it's being hosted by our friends at the Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky. Tickets are a little expensive -- $50-$150 -- but a portion of that goes to our local GLSEN, and the majority of it goes for fighting for marriage equality in the Bluegrass State. Pop Singer Briant Kent and Gay Comedian (comedienne?) Ryan Hill will be performing. Advance purchase is necessary for attendance, and I hear that they are selling like hot cakes! Check out the event, or the Facebook event, for June 20th at 8pm at Adonis, followed by an after party at Yadda Club.

Please note that Equality Ohio is looking for Pride Volunteers for the entire state, and Squealing with Pride here in Cincinnati is also looking for event volunteers! Pride is next month, kids, can you believe it????

(OH) EHEA Update

The Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB176) -- Ohio's bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression -- begins its tortuous path through state government. I got a heads up from Equality Ohio today that the bill had been referred to State Government subcommittee in the state House.

Currently, the bill has 27 co-sponsors, and, after yesterday's Lobby Day, it seems that we are hopeful for a wide passage and the possibility of more to sign on.

Chris Geidner over at Law Dork, 2.0, who also sits on one of the committees of Equality Ohio (which I did not know, btw, and does no dis-endear him too much to me; he seems like a reasonable guy), is pushing for an addition 6 co-sponsors, bringing the total to 33, or 1/3 of the entire House. He's entitling this 6-for-1/3 Challenge. In short: he's asking us, again, to contact our representatives and asking them to sign on as co-sponsors. Please note that only 2 HamCo representatives are cosponsors, at this point.

Have you, yet?

HB 176 -- Equal Housing and Employment Act

I had some problem following up to my previous post about the introduction of the Equal Housing and Employment Act in Ohio, but I emailed Lynne at Equality Ohio for clarification.

The EHEA was introduced, and it is House Bill number 176:

To amend sections 9.03, 124.93, 125.111, 340.12, 511.03, 717.01, 1501.012, 1751.18, 2927.03, 3113.36, 3301.53, 3304.14, 3304.50, 3313.481, 3314.06, 3332.09, 3721.13, 3905.55, 4111.17, 4112.01, 4112.02, 4112.021, 4112.04, 4112.05, 4112.08, 4117.19, 4735.16, 4735.55, 4757.07, 4758.16, 4765.18, 5104.09, 5107.26, 5111.31, 5119.61, 5123.351, 5126.07, 5515.08, and 5709.832 of the Revised Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

Equality Ohio and many wonderful people are up in Columbus today lobbying our state representatives to support HB176. There are at least three Tweet streams running today talking about their efforts -- Cameron Tolle of IMPACTCincinnati, Chris Geidner of Law Dork, 2.0, and Equality Ohio's Brand-Spanking New Twitter. Follow one or follow all. Cameron's has been very active so far, and he says he's been receiving very positive responses from the two Republican Representatives he's spoken to today.

Couldn't attend today? That's ok! Equality Ohio is asking you to Lobby from home tomorrow (a link will be available as soon as I get to computer that supports Facebook; link here). From the Facebook invite (transcribed from my mobile phone):

Call your legislator today and tell them why equal rights are important to you and your loved ones.

You can look up your representative's phone number by clicking here.

A conversation might sound like this:

"As your constituent and a supporter of Equality Ohio, I urge you to support the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA). In many parts of Ohio, you can still be fired or denied housing just for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Twenty states and almost all Fortune 500 companies already ban this kind of discrimination, putting Ohio at a disadvantage when competing for next generation companies and workers.

No one should have to worry about being fired or losing their home just because of wh they are, so I hope I can count on you to support EHEA."

And once you've called your legislators, be sure to ask you friends, family members and colleagues to take action too. Ohio state legislators need to hear from as many supporters of equality as possible.

Make sure you check back here and tell us that you called in or emailed! On that link above you can check in for all of your elected representatives -- from President to City Council.

I'll post more information as it comes available, as well as information about Lobby Day. I have one person saying they wish to guest blog about the day, and, now doubt, Law Dork 2.0 will have a recap (I swear I've talked about that guy more today than I've ever talked about any other blogger).

Let's make 2009 the year that we pass equal protections in the state of Ohio!

Lobby Day in Columbus!

Today is Equality Ohio's lobby day for the Equal Housing and Employment Act here in Ohio! Our friend over at Law Dork, 2.0, as is a rather unexpected contingency from Cincinnati.

Good luck to all, wish I could be there!

Equal Housing and Employment Act -- Intro'd TOMORROW

I had heard a few rumors about this, and I got confirmation from Equality Ohio today that the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) will be introduced in the state House tomorrow.

Is this the year it will finally pass?

This is the fourth introduction of the bill, having failed to garner any traction in 2003, 2005, or 2007. However, each year, progressively more co-sponsors were added, from a measly 4 in 2003 to a whopping 26 co-sponsors this time around (the Ohio House is 100 people; you can do the math). Representatives Dan Stewart (D-Columbus) and Ross Stewart (R-Springfield) are the main sponsors, with the following individuals co-sponsoring:

Terry Blair (R-38)
Barbara Boyd (D-9)
Edna Brown (D-48)
John Patrick Carney (D-22)
Ted Celeste (D-24)
Kathleen Chandler (D-68)
Mike Foley (D-14)
Nancy Garland (D-20)
Robert F. Hagan (D-60)
Marian Harris (D-19)
Sandra Stabile Harwood (D-65)
Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-26)
Joseph Koziura (D-56)
Tom Letson (D-64)
Clayton R. Luckie (D-39)
Dale Mallory (D-32)
Michael Skindell (D-13)
Vernon Sykes (D-44)
Peter S. Ujvagi (D-47)
Brian G. Williams (D-41)
Sandra Williams (D-11)
Roland Winburn (D-40)
Tyrone Yates (D-33)
Kenny Yuko (D-7)

Do you not see your Representative on there? Or, do you see them and want to thank them for supporting the EHEA? Here's a comprehensive list of the House, or you can search by ZIP code, or by County. Best I can tell, the only two Cincinnati locals co-sponsoring are Mallory and Yates, and the bulk of the sponsorship comes from Franklin (6 co-sponsors) and Cuyahoga (5 co-sponsors) Counties, with two more coming from Montgomery County (Luckie and Winburn). Do What's Right, Ohio also has a great list of supporting organizations and businesses.

What, then, does the EHEA do?

1. Inserts "sexual orientation and gender identity and expression" into current statues; it also separately defines the two, thus not "hiding" gender identity and expression under sexual orientation.


2. Exempts businesses with fewer than 15 employees from requisite protections.


3. Includes a religious exemption that reads:
   
   (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any religious association, corporation, or society that is not organized for private profit, or any institution organized for educational purposes that is operated, supervised or controlled by such a religious association, corporation or society, from doing either of the following:
   (a) Limiting admission to or giving preference to persons of the same religion or denomination;
   (b) In matters related to sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, taking any action with respect to
   education, employment, housing and real property, or use of facilities.
   (2) Division (1) of this section SHALL NOT APPLY to secular business activities in which the religious association, corporation, or society engages if the conduct of those activities is unrelated to the religious and educational purposes for which the association, corporation, or society is organized.

That is all adapted (and, in some places, stolen :-)) from an email I got this afternoon.

Equality Ohio is hosting a lobby day this Wednesday for LGBT constituents. I can't go :-( (though I thought I was going to be able to and live-blog the event -- grr, school), but I strongly encourage you to.

Update on Important Bills

Two bills we are still watching and still waiting on:

• Matthew Shepard Act (S. 909) -- The hate crimes prevention act is still sitting in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The amount of sponsors in the Senate has soared to 39 -- 12 away from complete passage. That is a jump from 34 since we last checked in, and the list now includes newly minted Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York.


• Equal Housing and Employment Act (Ohio) -- No news, really. Equality Ohio is trying to get 25 sponsors in the Ohio House -- that's 1/4 of the total -- before they get it introduced. Word on the street is that the movement is going strongly, and they are cautiously optimistic about the prospects, it seems. (Previous QueerCincinnati.com post)

So, still waiting :-).

I think it says something that even I am getting a little bored talking about marriage. The sole purpose of this post is to talk about something else ... HA! Oh, and to remind people -- including myself -- that there are other equally if not more important than the marriage fight going on in this country. And stuff that will affect us LGBT'ers here in Ohio far sooner than marriage, I think. Good for Maine/etc., but, remember, keep contacting your representatives!!!

Equal Housing and Employment Act is coming back!

The Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) is back here in Ohio. It's time to get this one through, guys and gals. Really. Aren't we tired of being in a state that doesn't even protect LGBTQ folks in very basic areas like, say, employment and housing? It's time to make the change.

From an Equality Ohio e-mail alert:

In the next few days, Representative Dan Stewart (D-Columbus) and Representative Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) will introduce in the Ohio House of Representatives the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) a bill which will make it illegal to discriminate in Ohio in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit based on sexual orientation and gender identity . Now is the time to ask other representatives to do what’s right and lend their name to the bill as well.

Recently your representative received a request from Reps. Stewart and McGregor to join them on the bill as a cosponsor. Will you call Representative Peter Stautberg and personally ask them to do what’s right and cosponsor this important piece of legislation?

Here's what you can do right now:

Call your legislator’s office and after identifying yourself as a constituent and sharing where you live in the district, ask:

Did the legislator receive the sponsorship request for Equal Housing and Employment Act?

Has the legislator decided to join Representatives McGregor and Stewart as a cosponsor of the bill?
- If yes – thank them for their support.
- If no – share your personal story about why it is so important for the legislator to support the bill and then ask again.

They are also asking you to contact Equality Ohio by phone (614-224-0400) or by email (kim@equalityohio.org) when you do get ahold of your representative and tell them what they said. That way, they can hold each person to their word.

Now, EO has a goal this year -- last year they had 18 co-sponsors, and, this year, they want 25 co-sponsors (25% of the House). You know what? With all due respect to Equality Ohio, I have a goal, too...

How about we pass the damn thing?*
And so, here's how you find out who your representatives are, along with their contact information, and make sure you follow new developments here at QueerCincinnati.com (or at the official website -- dowhatsrightohio.com -- but wouldn't you rather just come visit me? :-)), and make sure you contact your representatives!

*I wanted to point out that, yes, I understand we have a greater chance of passing it with the greater number of co-sponsors because then we can count on their votes -- yadda yadda yadda. :-) I'm just being a hellraiser.

Focus on ALL Families

IMPACTCincinnati is pulling out all stops, again. The little organization that could, that arose from the organizers of the November 15th JoinTheImpact protests here in Cincinnati, is taking on Citizens for Community Values -- the vitriolically anti-gay, fundamentalist organization based in Sharonville (just north of Cincinnati). Just how anti-gay you may ask? Of the seven actions listed on the front page of their website, three are anti-LGBT, and three are a strange effort to stop hotels from carrying porn.

In the same vein as groups like Phelp-A-Thon, nearly a dozen local and statewide organizations (including IMPACTCincinnati, Equality Ohio, Planned Parenthood, GLSEN, UC's Out on Campus, etc. etc. etc.) have teamed up to raise money in the shadow of CCV's annual fundraising banquet... which is occurring next Tuesday, April 21st at the Cintas Center on Xavier University's campus!

From the Facebook event (and the Facebook group):

The Xavier Alliance invites the greater Cincinnati and Xavier communities to the University's greenspace for an evening of inclusive, diverse family fun!

On April 21st, Citizens for Community Values (CCV)-- an extreme right-wing organization-- is hosting their annual fundraising banquet in the Cintas Center on Xavier University's Campus. CCV, whose mission is to "reduce destructive behaviors" contrary to their ideals, has channeled millions of dollars into anti-family and anti-equality legislation, including the Defense of Marriage Act in Ohio, Article XII in Cincinnati, Proposition 8 in California, and most recently, an attempt to overturn marital equality in Iowa. Citizens for Community Values is directly affiliated with Focus On The Family, the Evangelist Colorado Springs organization that preaches controversial so-called biblical truths and were big Proposition 8 donors.

In response to such blatant bigotry on our campus, the Alliance has teamed with numerous student and community organizations to produce "Focus on ALL Families"-- an evening of REAL family fun. Bring your friends, family, and children for a night of fun activities-- including face painting, animals from the zoo, cotton candy, balloon animals, and snacks-- all while embracing the assortment of characteristics and qualities that make all families so wonderfully diverse.

While CCV addresses diverse communities with divisive and hateful rhetoric, the Alliance refuses to sink to their level. Instead, the evening will remain positively focused on the ideals of inclusivity, progressiveness, and acceptance.

A ticket for CCV's banquet would cost you nearly $500-- that's $500 that would inevitably be used towards anti-equality and anti-family legislation throughout Ohio and the rest of the country. Instead, HELP SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ON XAVIER'S CAMPUS!! Equality Ohio is leading a national fundraiser, asking people and organizations to donate $5 to show their support for diversity and progressiveness on Xavier's Campus.

https://secure.ga3.org/01/give2eo [QC.com: *see note]

CIRCULATE THIS LINK-- HELP SPREAD THE WORD!! Even if you can't attend the event, please consider donating $5 for the sake of diversity and inclusion!

The Alliance is thankful for the support of various organizations throughout Cincinnati and Ohio in making this event a success, including: IMPACT Cincinnati, Equality Ohio, MUSE, The Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Planned Parenthood, The Gathering, PFLAG, GLSEN, UC's Out on Campus, Gender Bloc, and the Gender Queer Coalition.

Parking is available in the lots nearest the Cintas Center

*Link will take you to an Equality Ohio fundraising page -- and that's ok. Equality Ohio has generously donated their online fundraising capabilities to support this effort, just make sure you type in "Xavier University" in the "dedicated to" field.

I got a chance to chat with Cameron Tolle, lead organizer of the event (as well as leadership roles with IMPACTCincinnati, the Xavier Alliance, and JoinTheImpact), and he said that the event "hope[s] to empower members of the Xavier and Cincinnati communities who believe in more than just CCV's narrow definition of family. As CCV raises money for anti-equality causes next Tuesday, we hope to do our part to support diversity and inclusion."

Now, you all know this queen... I love me some good, saucy activist rhetoric, but there's something I love even more: a carnival. Give me balloon animals and face painting, and I think my life will be quite full -- thank you!

Seriously, though, not a bad idea. Why are the only people who get money on the 21st are people who hate us? If you're a local, consider going... in fact, just go. If you can't, or aren't a local, click the link above (or here) and donate to raise money for progressive and supportive organizations that oppose CCV's narrow ideal of this American life.

Equality Ohio Responds to the Chris Finney Controversy

Hot off the presses. Lynne Bowman, executive director of Equality Ohio, forwarded this to me (and Wolfie) to put out regarding the Cincinnati NAACP's Appointment of archconservative, anti-gay activist Chris Finney as the Chair of Legal Redress:

Equality Ohio is very concerned about the decision of the Cincinnati NAACP Chapter to appoint Chris Finney as chair of Legal Redress. The national NAACP is supportive of full inclusion and protection of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and locally President Smitherman was himself supportive of the repeal of Article XII. It is very odd that an organization with civil rights at its core would appoint a person who has demonstrated opposition to equal protection for all people. While homophobia has an adverse affect on LGBT people in general, it has an even more serious impact on LGBT African-Americans, exacerbating existing issues of under-employment, HIV/AIDS, and access to appropriate healthcare. We hope that in the 17 years since he wrote the charter amendment effectively exiling LGBT people of all colors from full citizenship and protections in Cincinnati , Mr. Finney has learned not just the value of LGBT people but that of all people and families in Cincinnati . We know that leadership of the local LGBT equality organization, Equality Cincinnati, has reached out to Chapter President Smitherman to discuss the current situation and as the state organization, we look forward to learning more about Mr. Finney’s current positions on equality issues related to the need for full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents of Cincinnati.

If you haven't been keeping up, here, check out this post which, I think, gives the most information without you having to jump around a whole lot (and the ensuing controversy). Or check out the original Beacon post.

And, with that, I'm done blogging for the morning. :-)

ZOMG, I think I'm one of those crazy "homosexual activists"

Hmm... I choose hotels by whether or not they have pay-per-view, hardcore pornography.
From the CCV website in regards to the Butler County Children's Services controvery:

What’s best for the children clearly is not the concern of the ACLU and homosexual activists. They accused Fox of violating the “rights” of same-sex couples and single parents. Such lack of concern for the children is true to character for the ACLU and the activists whom they represent.

What I didn't know, but the CCV has more than willingly informed me, was that we have the support of two of the three members of the Butler County Commission who also feel the law is a tad egregious. So, thanks to Commissioner Charles Furmon:

“It’s [this policy's]not proper and, obviously, we don’t agree with it.”

And also thanks to Commissioner Greg Jolivette for their support of LGBT couples.

(Link to their action alert)
--

Also from CCV, apparently the Equal Housing and Employment Act, a law designed to protect LGBT folks in Ohio from discrimination in housing and employment, is about quotas. This is what CCV is telling people about EHEA:

· Employers will be coerced into establishing quotas for those who identify themselves as homosexual, bisexual or transgendered.
· In their hiring practices, churches will be required to prove that they do not discriminate against persons whose lifestyles are contrary to church beliefs.
· Students who believe that homosexual behaviors are contrary to Biblical teaching would be forced to remain silent or risk being criticized, ostracized and penalized.

I actually don't think those are in the law, but thanks for stretching the truth, Burress/et al.

As of right now, I think only the gay bloggers have talked about it, along with an action alert from Equality Ohio. So...

...I'm totally taking credit for being a homosexual activist this morning.

More on Butler County

Can I just make a confession? I'm usually very critical of Equality Ohio and the ilk, but, after my meeting with her, I have to say that I have a mini-lesbian crush on Lynne Bowman. Seriously. 

And so, as my very own moment of standing outside her window with a radio over my head (not in the creepy sort of way, but in the cool 80s romantic comedy way), let me repost her action alert regarding the Butler County Children's Services awfulness going on:

Did you know?

A ballot measure in Arkansas restricting adoption or foster parenting to opposite-sex married couples passed last November.

A bill restricting adoption or foster parenting to opposite-sex married couples recently passed in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

A bill restricting adoption or foster parenting to opposite-sex married couples recently passed in the Kentucky Senate.

Last week, media outlets in Southwest Ohio announced that Butler County Children Services has adopted an official policy which gives preference to "traditional couples" over single people or same-sex couples in the county's foster care and adoption cases.

This is the informal policy in a number of other Ohio counties, but Butler County is the first to make their policy public.

Could other counties follow Butler County's lead? Is it a coincidence that Butler County is the home of Ohio's leading anti-equality organization (Citizens for Community Values)?

Could Ohio be the next state targeted for an adoption and foster parenting ban?

In Ohio it is unlikely such a legislative ban would succeed. However, as we learned in 2004, fighting a ballot initiative would be costly. And regardless of how far we like to think Ohio has come in 5 years, winning on this issue would be a challenge.

You might be asking:

What Can I Do? How Can I Speak Out?

Share your story, whether you are lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual or transgender, about either being an adoptive or foster parent or being the child of adoption or foster parenting. Ohioans need to know that creating unnecessary barriers to placing children is not in the best interest of Ohio's children. Click here to share your story;

Send a letter to the editor to the Cincinnati Enquirer speaking factually about the damage restricting the pool of qualified potential parents does to Ohio's children.

Use their online form to send a letter to the editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Or mail to:
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Letters to the Editor
312 Elm Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Please include your name, address (including community) and day phone;

Send a letter to the Butler County Commissioners, the governing body for Butler County Children Services, speaking factually about the damage restricting the pool of qualified potential parents does to Ohio's children and ask them to reverse their position;

Butler County Commissioners (Donald L. Dixon, Gregory V. Jolivette, Charles R. "Chuck" Furmon)
315 High St., 6th Floor
Hamilton, OH 45011;

Send this email to at least 10 people that you know and ask them to do the same;

Invest in equality in Ohio. These are tough times economically, and every dollar helps;

We are moving forward on pro-equality legislation and need you to make it happen.
Register today for Lobby Day scheduled on May 13, 2009;

Contact us if you want to help us sign up people to support our mission;

Visit your legislator and be sure that as a constituent you are represented.
Anti-equality measures will only end when we can demonstrate that our pro-equality values and vision are shared by the people of Ohio. We are not there yet. There are many hearts and minds to be reached - Reached and changed. Changed by our reality, our humanity, and our truth.

Sincerely,

Lynne Bowman

Additional information about Butler County:

Policies such as the one adopted in Butler County do nothing but create additional barriers to finding loving, safe homes for the children who need them. Leading experts in the field of child welfare including the Child Welfare League of America and the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute agree that the placement of children in foster or adoptive homes should always be made with the child's best interest in mind.

Children's Services Director Michael Fox has said that the Butler County policy's purpose is not to discriminate but to give children the best chance at succeeding. National experts in the field of child welfare overwhelmingly agree that there are no data to support the idea that a parent's sexual orientation has any bearing on the future success of a child.

The reality in Ohio is that many children are currently being raised by same-sex parents. Butler County Children Services is the first children services agency in Ohio to publicly share their policy. If we don't speak up now, other counties will inevitably do the same and this is not in the best interest of Ohio's children. Our pro-equality voices need to be heard.

Just last year, Butler County Children's Services reported that of the more than 350 Butler County children living in foster homes or a similar settings, 70% were placed outside the county. At the time, an active campaign to increase the number of foster parents was undertaken. Now, rather than worry about the best interest of the children they are sworn to care for, Butler County Children's Services is further limiting the pool of foster and adoptive parents by creating an unnecessary policy that wastes precious time and resources.

Ohio's children deserve better than this.

What is to be done, folks? Where do we go from here? And I'm totally taking credit for helping get the word out on this one -- with a huge nod to Jay. Not for any particular reason, but just because I can. :-)