Cleveland: Finalist for Gay Games, 2014

Thanks to UrbanCincy.com for the heads up:

Cleveland is a finalist to host the 2014 Gay Games, along with Washington, DC and Boston. UrbanCincy notes that the event could help pump nearly $60million into the northeastern Ohio economy, bringing in visitors and sportsmen from around the world. The bid was spearheaded by the Cleveland Synergy Foundation, and their full bid book is available online here.

The Gay Games have been around since 1984. Previous host cities have included New York City, Sydney (Australia), San Francisco, Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Chicago. The 2010 Games will occur in Cologne.

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!).

Rep. Roosevelt Coats... maybe

BearsLeft.com is doing a whole series on Christopher Redferm, the Ohio Democratic Party Chairman. In the midst of the bout, an interesting story arose out of Cleveland.

State Representative Eugene Miller recently resigned from the state house. In his place? Cleveland City Council's Democrats (every last council member, btw) want Roosevelt Coats who did not vote for the domestic partner registry in that city and use the Bible as a way of justifying his decision. From Cleveland.com:

At a committee hearing, Coats cited biblical passages that he said denounce homosexuality. "Many of you may disagree," he said.

Hrm. I'm a little divided on this issue. On the one hand, the Democrats in the state are almost universally the only ones co-sponsoring the Equal Housing and Employment Act (excluding Rep. McGregor and one or two others), which means they may be fairly supportive. On the other hand, Rep. Coats does not sound like someone who is exactly "supportive" of LGBTQ rights... or, well, LGBTQ people at all. On the other hand (I have three hands, STFU), it sounds like Coats is a highly respected Cleveland politician.

It is the great rub of politics, innit? Whereas we as LGBTQ people want to demonize people like Rep. Coats because of his anti-gay background, he still is a good Representative, and probably a good person. When I lived in South Carolina, Gov. Sanford was (is) hugely popular because he's a good elected representative, despite his non-history on LGBTQ rights. I want to believe, because I liked Sanford and voted for him, that, if it came up, Sanford would go for what's right and not what's politcally expedient.

...so there's an argument to made that a good representative would be one who sees that anti-gay politics are merely political diversions.

But maybe Councilmember Coats genuinely believes in his words. Which is worse for us, better for him.

Regardless, I think the Democrats should find another person to fill Rep. Miller's seat. This one makes me feel a little dirty. (BearsLeft.com reports that Equality Ohio has forwarded Coats' testimony on the DPR to the Democratic Party ... maybe something will come of it?)

Cleveland's DP Registry Opened Today

On the steps of City Hall, same-sex couples gathered to register as partners in the City of Cleveland, making it the third Ohio municipality to grant the symbolic recognition (after Cleveland Heights and Toledo). News reports indicate that approximately 75 couples registered today.

What a beautiful thing. Check out the video below from Fox8's coverage (if the video doesn't work, click here for it and the news story).


And in a somewhat unexpected endorsement, the Cleveland Plain Dealer (which, I guess, isn't all that conservative... I guess I'm just tainted by the Enquirer :-)) ran an amazing op-ed piece by columnist Regina Brett:

Those who claim the registry is only a symbol get no argument from me.

Yes, it's a symbol. So is a cross. So is a flag. A symbol carries as much power as you give it.

Not one protester showed up, not one person jeered. One man rested his hand gently on his partner's shoulder. Another man wrapped his arm around his lover's waist as a rabbi told the crowd, "It is not enough to love the people who are like us."

We must do more.

Yes, Ms. Brett, we must do more. Though I'm disappointed that we are excited by pittance and small wins, I am overwhelmed by the amazing turnout, the positive coverage, and the supporters who stood up and said, "This is right." As far as symbols go, this is a powerful one. Ohio has one of the most constricting DOMA's in the country -- not even allowing institutions that look like marriage -- so relationship recognition in the state's second largest cities, and the most high profile of the big three ("Cleveland rocks!"), is not only a coup but a powerful statement for change and equality.

It's time to start -- slowly -- welcoming Ohio into the 21st century.

And, as to be expected, the CCV sent out a nasty little call to action opposing the registry. Thanks to Wolfie at Back2Stonewall.com:

“It’s a sad day for any society when elected officials believe they are above the law,” said Miller. “The registry created by the Cleveland City Council is an obvious attempt to do exactly what the constitution says they cannot do, which is to “create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.”

Meh. It's to be expected, and we'll deal with their hatred later.

For now, let's be happy for ourselves and our state. In the last few months that we've seen marriage equality blossom around the country, but it's good to remember that we still have a fight to win here, and that we, too, may win.

Cleveland DP Registry Opens in Two Weeks!

...and the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland wants to register 300 couples the moment it does.


I don't know how many Cleveland readers I have -- guess is not a lot? -- but if you are and you want to register, this is your moment! Imagine 600 people on the steps of Cleveland's City Hall -- all being recognized by their city! It would be a beautiful thing. Incidentally, I think you can register even if you don't live in Cleveland...

And how about Cincinnati getting a DP Registry, you ask? Cincinnati Beacon has the answer. Well, sort of.

New in Gay Marriage

On the one hand, we have a Federal judge saying that DOMA may be illegal...

"The denial of federal benefits to same-sex spouses cannot be justified simply by a distaste for or disapproval of same-sex marriage or a desire to deprive same-sex spouses of benefits available to other spouses in order to discourage them from exercising a legal right afforded them by a state," [Judge Stephen] Reinhardt [of the U.S. 9th Court of Appeals] wrote.

On the other hand, we have a case that can't be brought to suit because of certain employment restrictions. So, no dice.

On the one hand, Gov. Schwarzenegger is finally speaking out and saying that we might be able to under Proposition 8.

On the other hand, gay marriage via legislative action in New York State is looking like something that will not happen until... groan... 2011.

On the one hand, Iowa will hear a same-sex marriage suit that looks likely to pass, Maine has unveiled a legislative bill to pass same-sex marriage, while New Hampshire is looking at two bills -- one to ban civil unions and one to pass gay marriage, Vermont is going to have a bill proposed this week or so, and there are several other states in the civil union/marriage fight this year...

On the other hand, we are not even sure the DP Registry in Cleveland will last the year (though it's gaining support).

Every step gained, another step behind. I'm hoping the gained steps are getting bigger, though.

Ohio Church Protesting Straight Marriage

Well, this is just fabulous...

Clergy at a church are protesting Ohio’s ban on gay marriage by refusing to sign state marriage licenses for heterosexual couples.

The Rev. John Tamilio III, head pastor at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, said the move is a civil-rights protest. Ministers won’t sign the licenses until gay unions are legal in Ohio.

Ohio voters approved a gay marriage ban in 2004.

Heterosexual couples exchanging wedding vows at Pilgrim Congregational will need an additional civil ceremony by a justice of the peace or a judge to make their union legal. The church has about 460 members.

The United Church of Christ, a 1.2 million member denomination headquartered in Cleveland, adopted a resolution supporting gay marriage at a national synod in Atlanta three years ago.

Greg Brekke, a spokesman for the national church, said each of the denomination’s 5,600 congregations is free to choose whether to sign marriage licenses.

The church says at least five other UCC congregations — three in the Minneapolis area, one in Oregon and one in North Carolina — have undertaken similar marriage protests.

In a different denomination, dozens of Unitarian Universalist ministers across the country, including those in Arkansas, California and Massachusetts, also have declined to sign state marriage licenses for the same reason.

That included Rev. William Sinkford, the Boston-based president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, who refused to sign state licenses until May 2004 when Massachusetts legalized gay marriages.

Well, done, fellow UCC'ers! That's awesome, thank you for being such amazing advocates!

On a similar note, this is the second post today about Cleveland. Is that saying something? Hrm. Just because Columbus has two bathhouses does not make it gay central Ohio.

This is especially poignant, as it looks like Cleveland voters will be asked to decide the fate of that cities' new Domestic Partner Registry.

Gr. Seriously, though, someone tell us what to do, and we will support you in the fight for equality.

Ohioan in Rupaul's Drag Races

RuPaul's Drag Races are starting tonight! YEA!!! (Thanks to Joe. My. God. for the video.)

Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com

Well, it seems our local Jessica Dimon didn't get in -- are we really surprised? Meanwhile, we have a Ohioan in the race, so we'll be tracking Cleveland-ite's progress, Akashia.

Here's her bonus video from LOGOOnline:

More Gay & Lesbian Video

Let's watch it, girls, and tell me what you think if you get LOGO.

Cleveland's DP Registry Goes into Effect

YEA! Cleveland anti-gay pastors were unsuccessful at collecting enough signatures to stop Cleveland from enacting their recently passed domestic partner registry. The measure required 11,000 signatures and they only had "a few thousand" today.

A group of local pastors working to repeal Cleveland's domestic partner registry failed to collect enough signatures to trigger a referendum ballot, the Rev. C. Jay Matthews said this afternoon.

The group, led by the Rev. C. Jay Matthews of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, needed to submit about 11,000 signatures by Wednesday to put the issue to a citywide vote.

Matthews said only a few thousand signatures were collected. He blamed the failure on a narrow time frame over the holidays.

"We knew it was going to be tough," he said.

Religious leaders now will focus on a maneuver known as an ordinance by initiative. It requires 5,000 signatures and allows petitioners to submit legislation to repeal the registry. That legislation could be placed before voters if the City Council does not pass it.

Domestic partner registries do little more than a tip of the hat to gay people in relationships. It is the municipal government saying, "Indeed, this is happening." Nothing more, except that it makes insurance companies that offer DP benefits a little bit more comfortable because now there is some documented proof of a relationship.

Apparently, this is so awful to people who don't like gays that they want to stop it. SO AWFUL. Because, you know, we're redefining marriage and all that.

This movement to stop the DP benefit would be like trying to ban dancing because it's immoral and leads to thoughst about sex. Oh wait...

On an unrelated note, my father just lost his job because the company he works for can't support the six people in the office. They had to let half the staff go. Will someone kindly do a referendum against further job losses? No? No? Oh. Sorry. I, for a moment, thought we were talking about things that mattered.

Fight Gearing Up in Cleveland

Over the recently passed DP Benefits. Mainly from pastors it seems. *SIGH*

From the Plain Dealer...

Several local pastors have banded together in an effort to repeal Cleveland's recently passed domestic-partner registry.

A group led by the Rev. C. Jay Matthews of Mount Sinai Baptist Church is circulating two types of petitions, one of which could put a referendum on the controversial issue on a citywide ballot.

At a Tuesday news conference at his church, Matthews cast the registry as a sneaky maneuver by the City Council to circumvent the 2004 constitutional amendment that banned gay-marriage and civil unions in Ohio.

And WKYC.

Are we ready to bring the gay rights fight to Ohio and win, you think?

Cleveland's DP Registry!

From Willow, word is that Cleveland just passed a domestic partner registry!!! From today's GP's Chronicle:

City Council is well on its way to including transgender people in the city’s non-discrimination code and creating Ohio’s third domestic partner registry.

Ordinances to do both were been approved on December 1 by council’s Legislative Committee and will likely be passed by the full council at their December 8 meeting.

Mayor Frank Jackson is expected to sign both the registry and the measure to add gender identity to the city’s equal rights ordinances, said his spokesperson Maureen Harper. The equality ordinances have included “sexual orientation” since 1994.

Sixty-five people squeezed into council’s 44-seat hearing room for the committee session on both measures. Most wore rainbow stickers supporting them.

The committee took up the partner registry first. It is sponsored by 13 of council’s 21 members.

The proposal would allow unmarried couples over the age of 18, same-sex or opposite sex, to register their partnership with the city. It would be open to both residents and non-residents of Cleveland.

The registry confers no rights or benefits. However, registration will allow couples to access benefits offered by insurance companies, employers and health care providers.

There were 29 witnesses speaking for the registry, including clergy, attorneys, activists and Cleveland Heights officials.

Voters approved the Cleveland Heights registry in 2003. The Cleveland proposal, like the Toledo registry created in 2007, are modeled after it.

Committee chair Phyllis Cleveland of Ward 5 opened testimony after accepting an amendment from the city administration to make the registry effective 120 days after passage, rather than 90 days.

Congrats Cleveland! Now, how does this play with DOMA?

OHIO/CINNKY: Dying cities...

Thanks to 'Nati Life for pointing this out a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting it it.

From Forbes.com, America's Fastest Dying Cities:

The turmoil of the mortgage market granted a temporary reprieve from
hearing about the woes of America's Rust Belt. That doesn't mean things are
better. Despite a decade of national prosperity, the former manufacturing
backbone of the U.S. is in rougher shape than ever, still searching for some way
to replace its long-stilled smokestacks.

Where's it worst? Ohio, according to our analysis, which racked up four
of the 10 cities on our list: Youngstown, Canton, Dayton and Cleveland. The
runner-up is Michigan, with two cities--Detroit and Flint--making the
ranking.

Click here to check it out in pictures, and here for the story. Scranton, PA; Charleston, WV; and Springfield, Mass all made the list.

Cincinnati did not make the list, but I imagine -- with so many Ohio cities on the list -- that it was just off the list.

CINCY GAY SCENE: Dayton Gay Pride

My dearest friend in the world is coming up the weekend of June 7th, and, because of poor planning on my part, she will not be coming to Cincinnati's Gay Pride. (Wah-wah.) However, trolling the web for stuff to do that weekend, came across an interesting idea:



Dayton's Gay Pride!!!!

June 7th, Noon (ish -- we're on UGST here) @ Cooper Park

The website only has three events listed:

1) Pride Festival and Parade -- at Cooper Park, celebration begins at noon, with the festival going from the end of the parade to dusk. Takes place at Cooper Park at Third and St. Clair

2) Commitment Ceremony -- per the website:

The Dayton Pride Partnership is sponsoring its second annual same-gender commitment ceremony at the Pride Fest. It will begin shortly after noon on the stage at Courthouse Square. A group of local clergy will perform the ceremony led by the pastor from Eternal Joy MCC, Rev. Mark Pridmore. Rev. Pridmore said: "This symbolic wedding ceremony is one of the ways we hope to stand up and really show our community we must: "Celebrate 2008 - It's About Freedom".

3) Pride Dinner -- Ponitz Center, 444 W 3rd St Dayton, OH 45402 Cost $45.00 per person. Very little information about this event, but I suppose it's known locally pretty well. I will not be at that one, as I don't have the cash.

All events hosted by and all money benefits the Dayton LGBT Center.

Looks like I may be in attendance, kids!!!!!

And, though I may not be attending any of the other ones, here are links and dates for other local gay pride celebrations:

June 7th -- Dayton Gay Pride

June 8th -- Pride of West Virginia (Charleston, WV) -- they have a week and a half of events

June 14th -- Indianapolis Gay Pride

June 15th -- Cincinnati Gay Pride

June 20th (Parade)-June 21st (Fest) -- Kentucky/L'ville/Kentuckiana Gay Pride

June 21st -- Cleveland Gay Pride

June 28th -- Columbus Pride Parade and Festival -- check out the website there are a HOST of hot, hot, hot events starting June 6th

I post these because I know many Cincinnatians make these part of their year.

Image lifted from the Dayton LGBT Center website.