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.