CCV on EHEA

We all know that Citizens for Community Values (CCV) was going to put out stuff against the Equal Housing and Employment Act. On the one hand, CCV is a hate-mongering, viciously anti-LGBTQ (and also anti-porn) fringe conservative group that delights in nothing more than its own continued propagation and the undermining of freedoms. On the other, the EHEA seeks to prohibit discrimination. Hm.

Thanks to James W. of the Ohio Democratic LGBT Caucus, via the Buckeye State Blog, via the Columbus Dispatch, via the CCV website, their action alert is a tasty bit of their usual vitriole:

“Bubbly.” “Caring.” “Everything’s an adventure!” “Loves to learn.”

That’s how everyone had always described 10-year-old Maddie.

And Ellen couldn’t understand why, all of a sudden, her precious first-born had become moody and lifeless. Why day after day she woke up “not feeling like going to school.”

After a conference with Maddie’s teacher, Ellen began to understand. It started in health class, with the required reading of a story about a family with two daddies. When Maddie said that the story made her sad, because God wanted everyone to have a mommy and a daddy, her teacher explained that feelings like that were a form of prejudice, like the way people used to treat slaves. Now all her classmates make fun of her. “Homophobe,” they call her.

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES?

Hardly. Stories similar to these will become commonplace in Ohio if a bill currently under consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives is passed into law.

It has been given the deceptive title, “Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA).” But it has nothing to do with equality.

It is, in fact, about inequality and discrimination – discrimination against employers, property owners and all Ohioans who hold to traditional Judeo-Christian values regarding human sexuality, in order to grant special advantages to a small minority of persons, like Joe, who identify themselves by their “sexual orientation” or “gender identity and expression.”

They even have a picture of sad looking little girl on the website, though they fail to identify whether or not that's Maddie.

Can I just clarify one thing, though? CCV is not Cincinnati based... it's Sharonville based. We all kinda thought that CCV would be quiet, for the most part, because of their involvement in overturning Iowa's marriage law (I have no source, this is just what I heard). 

Today, at the statehouse, the Government subcommittee of the House heard opponent testimony on EHEA; I'll post as soon as an update goes out.

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! 

Massive Community Calendar Update

We are less than two weeks out from Pride, and I realized... I have absolutely nothing on here about Pride events! And then I went searching, and well... I'm keeping my mouth shut.  For the next two weeks, here are some amazing things going on!


Flash Action! Queer folks are heading (back) out to Maineville this evening (6/2 at 9:00pm) to stand in solidarity against hate at Tabby's American Grill, where an alleged hate crime occurred last week! We've gotten some positive response from the bar, and we're looking to stand with them and make this a peaceful queer bomb! Check out the coverage we got at Towleroad!

Milk: Summer Underground returns tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd. Cincinnati's experiment in fabulous music and great dancing had a strong turn out last week -- probably around 80 folks! The organizer said that, from what he's heard, he expects this week to be even bigger! Make sure you check it out and add MILK to your Facebook friends!

And for the biggest, gay party night of all... THIS FRIDAY the 5th! 

• 5:00pm-7:00pm: World's Gayest Office Party, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at Yadda Club
• 8:00pm-10:00pm: HRC First Friday, hosted by the local organizing community, at Crazy Fox Saloon
• 10:00pm: Return of Guerrilla Queer Bar -- and, trust me guys, this sounds like the most fun one of all!!!

As for next weekend, I'm going to just hit them real quick:

• Friday, June 12th, 5:00pm-9:00pm: "Pride in Our Party," hosted by the Ohio Democratic LGBT Caucus, at Below Zero Lounge, with honorable hosts Rep. Steve Driehaus, Ohio AG Richard Cordray, Ohio Treasure Kevin Boyce, County Commissioner Todd Portune, Rep. Connie Pillich, and Rep. Denise Driehaus
• Friday, June 12th, 8:30p: Rainbow Candlelight Vigil across the Purple People Bridge, organizers are planning a mini-march with groups forming at both the north and south ends of the Purple People Bridge and marching to the middle; at the end, the group will march together south towards Kentucky (more information later)
• Saturday, June 13th, 3:00pm-9:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 12:00pm-1:00pm: Pre-Pride Parade Rally at Burnet Woods
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-3:00pm: Pride Parade from Burnet Woods in Clifton to Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-7:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside

There you go folks!

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) Strickland: No to Garrison

At the HRC-Strickland fundraising event this past weekend here in Cincinnati -- where I hear Strickland impressed the crowd with a quick fire unscripted Q&A for the crowd -- the Governor said in no uncertain terms that he would not pick State Rep. Jennifer Garrison for his Lt. Gov. running mate. (The current Lt. Gov., Lee Fisher, is running for the empty Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Voinovich.)

Why is this so interesting? In 2004, Garrison went ran against State Rep. Nancy Hollister (R -- who voted against the state Defense of Marriage Act) by touting her own opposition to same-sex marriage. She's also supported by the NRA and Ohio Right to Life -- making me wonder how is she a Democrat? (Joking. Social issues do not define your political affiliation.)

In short: Strickland is not going to welcome an anti-gay Democrat into the statehouse... even if she is local (Cincinnatian) and popular.

PS This event went out on Facebook to a lot of people going -- $250? No thanks! I am hoping that the Ohio LGBT Democratic Caucus and the Governor have an opportunity for others to speak to Strickland without just precipitous pricetag (though I understand there were a handful at the event who were offered tickets at reduced prices).