Melanie Nathan; August 28 2010 -

If there is a claim to ownership of  the civil rights movement can we please stake our claim?  Today is the anniversary of the ‘I have a Dream Speech’ -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln memorial and it will always be  remembered! Nothing can change what it was about or who it was for and yet in many ways all of us own it.

It belongs to America and American history.

However some say its been hijacked and others say its their domain… “They want to disgrace this day this is our day and we will not give it to them.” Says Sharpton of Beck! and We want to reclaim honor in America says Beck as he trespasses the turf on this day – impeaching the way!

No one group’s struggle can be measured against that of another; yet according to Glenn Beck it can and he is the victim!  Now that slavery is done the “I have a Dream” moment belongs to King Beck?  Or is it Beck the Messiah claiming the Jesus domain?

You may have noticed that LezGetReal has barely given – if any – time to Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck and their Rewriting History Rally.   But now we must, in sharp contrast, give credence to Rev.  Al Sharpton and the crowd of diverse thousands who may seem to have stood in counter to Beck who may have stood in counter to Sharpton – ok – it can be confusing. But if you are queer it ought not be. It ought to be damn clear!

In truth there is only ONE Civil Rights movement – the only one that can ever be – and it must remain all inclusive and as Sharpton noted – it belongs to no ONE group but to everyone.  It belongs to America and it is an ongoing quest – for as long as there is any one group that is the subject of  flagrant discrimination via legislation.

DOMA (The Defense of marriage Act) is the perfect example of  legislated discrimination – as is the Don’t Ask Don’t tell Policy (DADT)

This week I watched Keith Olberman on the subject of Beck and also delighted in 2 Comedy Central pieces, by Jon Steward and Steven Colbert, respectively, on the topic of some omni-power-messianic idea orchestrated by Beck – that he is going to fill the shoes of “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the place of the I have a Dream Speech” and take back a rotten sordid America!  Back from whom – for whom?

Well allow us to inform  Mr. Glenn Beck – the only group without civil rights in this Country are us the Gay Lesbian (LGBTQI) people in the USA.

The rest who acquired such rights under the 1964 Civil Rights Act are now Beck’s victims -  not the other way around as Beck tacitly imposes on the people he incites to hate – to  perpetuate the racism that the Civil Rights Act did not cure – the hate that remains in the hearts of those who listen to  beck, et al!

Beck is no victim- he just cannot not fit that mold.

Now the only overt leadership in this country that recognizes the LGBT plight as a civil rights issue and has had the courage to make the statement – is the African American leadership.  Rev. Al Sharpton said today on CNN that   LGBT equality is a civil rights issue. Julian Bond has stated the point in many speeches including in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for UAFA.

Now while we know racism is at an all time high in this Country, all this “we have a DREAM ownership claims” – is a slap in the face to all good Americans who see it in its totality – in its historic context and as a vortex for unity and the  future of equality for all.

The only dream yet to be attained in this country, (besides the de facto riddance of racism and hate,)   in so far as the LAW (de Jure)  is concerned, is the dream as dreamed by same-sex and LGBT populace; LGBT people and their families,  - to marry, to sponsor for immigration, to adopt, to serve, to work, to be included  and protected fully under the federal  law of the USA – ultimately an amendment to the Civil Rights Act, of 1964 that includes Sexual Orientation and Gender identity.

Thanks for your support to the American Equality Bill – and the Amendment of  the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include Sexual orientation and Gender Identity. The Omnibus for all LGBT Equality legislation.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@provatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

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8/5/10-by Paula Brooks
Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel has apologized to Target employees for the company’s donation to anti-gay PAC MN Forward.

Steinhafel, who wrote employees earlier today said the retailer, was “genuinely sorry” over the way a $150,000 contribution to MN Forward donation played out and added that the company would set up a review process for future political donations.

MN Forward is paying for TV ads supporting Republican Tom Emmer, an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage and other gay-rights initiatives that have come before Minnesota’s lawmakers.

“While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry. The diversity of our team is an important aspect of our unique culture and our success as a company, and we did not mean to disappoint you, our team or our valued guest,” said Steinhafel.

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologizes for funding Tom Emmer ad – Minneapolis / St. Paul News – The Blotter.

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Curve Magazine has recently announced by way of Facebook that without financial assistance from the public, they may not make it to its 21st anniversary issue. As unfortunate as that is, my check won’t be in the mail.

Curve Magazine has prompted an eye roll from me for many years. Every time I come across that magazine, I open it up to see if my ongoing criticism of there not being any women of color in it are still true. Each time I checked, I put the magazine down with another eye roll because true to form, there weren’t. My queer women of color music festival, Serafemme, got a passing mention in 2008 because 7 time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Natalie Stewart performed; however, celebrity has often been Curve’s criteria for women of color getting so much as a passing mention and any qwoc affilitations she had got print by riding her coattail so to speak.

I understand that people by nature gravitate towards anything that shares the same characteristics they do so I don’t have a problem with the fact that Curve is a predominately white magazine. I don’t need for my media to be 100% of color to support it but even in reviewing their website – www.curvemag.com – there are very few of-color mentions on a site with over 50 pages – one article on why African-American women find it difficult to come out, a picture before the forums section of a woman who looks a bit Asian and a picture of the Slits which includes one African American member. I don’t count the two Black Pride event listings because those are user-submitted events that the magazine had nothing to do with promoting.

As someone who is committed to highlighting and protecting bisexual and lesbian-safe spaces, I should be “fighting the good fight” for Curve,I suppose. I should be blogging about their plight and encouraging others to contribute. I guess that would be the thing to do if all that mattered to me was that they were lesbian-oriented but I’m not that superficial. I support anything that is lesbian-oriented and inclusive. Curve is not. In fact, Curve supports my criticism that not enough media that outreaches to the queer of color community and I count Curve as one of the reasons why I felt compelled to start my own magazine last year.

It’s important to note, I’m not happy about Curve’s financial woes. In the grand scheme of things, a lesbian magazine is necessary and needed in order to inform, educate and empower women who have such little media directed to them as it is, I only wish Curve would have realized that that was true for me as a Black woman as well. I will not be making a contribution because Curve didn’t make enough contribution to me or the of-color community as a whole. I wish them well but any help they get will not come from me. Should they pull through and continue with the magazine, I hope they do it with a new mindset – one that highlights every racial spectrum of our gay rainbow. In doing that, they will find an explosion of provocative content, people and events to highlight and they’d find me as one of their biggest supports.

Reprinted on Lez Get Real with permission from Marquita Thomas © 2010.

http://marquitathomas.com/2010/07/curve-magazine-needs-help-but-im-not-lifting-a-finger/

Posted as Guest of:
Lez Get Real
by Melanie Nathan.

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The Boycott is official – American Family Association send a  letter  inciting hate through use of divisive language.

A good reason to show LGBT dollars and appreciation at Home Depot. The AFA is calling for Boycotts of Home Depot or so this e-mail suggests!! Any thoughts?

AFA makes it official: Don’t shop at The Home Depot

July 21, 2010

Dear …………….,

For several years, The Home Depot has given its financial and corporate support to open displays of homosexual activism on main streets in America’s towns. And, it says it will continue to do so!

“At the end of the day here, we’re not going to…forbid our associates to be involved in these pride festivals in any way.” – Stephen Holmes, company spokesman. (Note: The associates participating in these parades were clearly doing so as representatives of the company.)

Rejecting several requests by AFA to remain neutral in the culture war, The Home Depot has chosen to sponsor and participate in numerous gay pride parades and festivals. Most grievous is The Home Depot’s deliberately exposing small children to lascivious displays of sexual conduct by homosexuals and cross-dressers, which are a common occurrence at these events.

The goal of every homosexual organization supported by The Home Depot is to get homosexual marriage legalized. BoycottTheHomeDepot provides just a glimpse of how broad its support for the homosexual movement is. The Home Depot says it is committed to furthering the homosexual agenda.

“The bottom line is, it (remaining neutral) just runs counter to our inclusive culture…and that’s where we stand.” - Stephen Holmes, company spokesman.

See it for yourself. Photos at Boycott The Home Depot.com, taken during recent homosexual events sponsored by The Home Depot, show:

• Children being encouraged to visit gay sex websites.
• Employees using company property to push gay marriage.
• The Home Depot employees riding and marching in homosexual parades.

TAKE ACTION

1. Sign the Boycott Pledge at BoycottTheHomeDepot.com.
2. Call your local store manager. Let him know that you will not be shopping in his store until the company stops supporting the homosexual agenda. You can find his number here. (click “Store Finder”).
3. Print the paper petition and distribute it at Sunday School and church.
4. Extremely important! Post this alert to your facebook page (link above) and encourage others to join the boycott!

It is very important that you forward this alert to your friends and family members.

Sincerely, Tim Wildmon, President American Family Association

Help us Financially Donate Online to AFA One-Time Monthly Text the letters “AFA” to 20222 to give $10 Standard messaging rates may apply. 2011 Holy Land Tour with Tim Wildmon Join Tim and walk where Jesus walked. Tour dates are March 11-19. Direct from Atlanta. twholyland.com

By Melanie Nathan

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According to Out Now CEO Ian Johnson “After ‘coming out’, LGBT people in 2010 are now well advanced in the process of ‘coming in’ – into the mainstream of society in many ways. . .There still exists levels of discrimination and misinformation directed against LGBT people – but this new research reveals a clear trend. Gay consumers switch brands to support companies that support LGBT customers and staff. This is highly significant – and valuable. . .The research shows marketing to gay consumers, and supporting LGBT staff, can add valuable percentage points to total market share – and profits – for companies developing effective, relevant and authentic strategies.”

Consumers who support LGBT supportive businesses account for roughly six percent of all worldwide sales. Out Now Global is an LGBT marketing specialist agency. It currently has research underway in twenty countries in North and South America and Europe.

When it come to immigration reform,  the people who count first on this topic, to my way of thinking, are those who under current law are not treated equally, yet President Obama has seemingly provided the visual for the year long covert alliance-making between the various religious groups and the Administration, some Politicians/ Senators such as  Chuck Schumer,  Congress Flip-Flop Gutierrez, which reflects a myriad of alliances, which in my estimation points to an attack, not only on the LGBT quest for equality, under current immigration law, but also on our factual existence as couples with a right to happily call our American Country, home!

“Normally on the opposite side of political issues backed by the Obama White House, leaders are aligning with the President to support an overhaul that would include some path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here. They are preaching from pulpits, conducting conference calls with pastors and testifying in Washington — as they did last Wednesday,” reports Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times.

Noticeably at the end of the New York Times Piece is a little reference to the BIG caveat

“But Mr. Blackwell  said  although Evangelicals will board the boat for  Comprehensive Immigration reform the whole effort could implode if the final legislation extended family reunification  provisions to same-sex couples where one spouse did not have legal status. For evangelicals, he said, “That would be a deal-breaker.” (hidden in the crevice of a final statement to the entire article.) Translated by Me as follows:  ” WE THE RELIGIOUS – Who proclaim G-d our exclusive ally, will be compassionate to the immigrants as long as they are not gays and lesbians.”

Gay Couples are separated from bi national loved ones, or who are forced  as Americans by Americans into exile!  But who cares- Jerold Nadler does! But who else and if you do Where the heck are you?’

This is for you President Obama- our own LGBT activists have messed us up in the most scary fashion. Why should we bi national  couples become the pawns and tools of people’s mistakes and political careers.

religious leaders – Compassion be damned!  Gay Rights Advocacy Groups – Where are our rights under current law?  Did any of you truly believe that we would be anything but scapegoats or political pawns under comprehensive Immigration reform? Feigned victories by our gay and lesbian organizations, while so many dwell in hell.

Be not surprised – you were all warned. But instead you read the Advocate, Pam, Bilerco , Huffington Post and nod and say thanks and lick each other’s ego’s to the stale scent of lets ask no ” real questions.”

Others –  and you all know who you are have rarely done more than serve as parrot or space for the likes of Immigration Equality’s- (self professed as the Pre-eminent Immigration equality organization) life altering mistake and insincerity.  Pam’s Blend houses Steve Ralls, of Immigration Equality,  and she has never questioned his or IE’s strategy of shooting us in the heart and soul of UAFA as a stand alone, by trying to run after those who we know hate us. That group has spent your money making alliances with those who are stabbing us in the back as we speak!

Now as I continue to make enemies as I speak my heart -

This dearth of sanctified online high profile real estate and the writers that service it spew the strategy of Immigration Equality, without question or even understanding.

Banned from commenting on the truth at Immigration equality BLOG – and failure to silence me on Lezgetreal -  I am upping the ante.

This report from the New York Times endorsed my fear and validates my advice to Immigration Equality one year ago, NCLR since and other groups, NOT to endorse or follow the dangle of ‘Comprehensive Immigration Reform” carrot, but to rather keep the Uniting American Families ACT as a stand-alone Bill with EQUALITY the issues as opposed to jumping in on what was bound to be a huge immigration controversy immigration option for same-sex couples denied immigration parity under the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

But some evangelical leaders said their latest strategy was to push a handful of lame-duck Republicans to join Democrats — probably after the midterms — to pass an immigration bill on the ground that it is morally right.

Although other religious leaders have long favored immigration overhaul — including Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, Jews and Muslims — the evangelicals are crucial because they have the relationships and the pull with Republicans.

“My message to Republican leaders,” said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, the president of the evangelical National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and one of the leaders who engaged his non-Hispanic peers, “is if you’re anti-immigration reform, you’re anti-Latino, and if you’re anti-Latino, you are anti-Christian church in America, and you are anti-evangelical.”

Evangelicals at the grass-roots level are divided on immigration, just as the nation is. But among the leaders, recent interviews suggest that those in favor of an immigration overhaul are far more vocal and more organized than those who oppose it, as long as the queers are out! Of course!

Their presence was a testament, in part, to the work of politically active Hispanic evangelical pastors, who have forged friendships with non-Hispanic pastors in recent years while working in coalitions to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. The Hispanics made a concerted effort to convince their brethren that immigration reform should be a moral and practical priority.  Hispanic storefront churches are popping up in strip malls, and Spanish-speaking congregations are renting space in other churches. Some pastors, like Mr. Hybels, lead churches that include

Congress is unlikely to pass an immigration law this year. Republicans and Democrats who face re-election in November are skittish about the issue, given the broad public support for Arizona’s new law aiming to crack down on illegal immigration. Say the piece – I believe we would be lucky if it were to ever happen.

The Article insulting to say the least – as is every single piece that is written that fails to acknowledge the importance of our LGBT bi-national plight.

More of the NY Times Piece – “These cross-cutting clusters are just splinter groups, so far,” said Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “Support for the Arizona law is so strong within the G.O.P. that it will be difficult for the comprehensive-immigration-reform evangelicals to have much short-term impact.”

The support of evangelical leaders is not yet enough to change the mess of the mass. But they could mobilize a potentially large constituency of religious conservatives, an important part of the Republican base better known for lobbying against abortion and same-sex marriage. They already threaten the party’s near unity on immigration. “

So while they mobilize and align for support, we the LGBT community become the scapegoat, as I predicted in my Article in mid 2009, which I shall reference here again.   Again I cannot scream loud enough we need a movement not three career boost seekers making political moves for an huge politically marginalized  group such as the bi-national gay and lesbian community.

All hope that is there is gone unless we get an , a special visa, repeal of DOMA, UAFA as a stand-alone – or an Amendment to the Civil Rights Act.   But alas I fear these mere benchmarks fail to serve the immediate needs of those living the hellish life of a gay or lesbian bi-national.

So all I can think of is an Executive order –

Dear President Obama:

I am so angry and I cannot express it without a SCREAM such as the one above! I am so tired, so tired. I ask one question of you Mr. President.  How can you continue to condone the separation of LGBT families through inequality under the Immigration and Naturalization Act?

It is one thing that we cannot marry and I know you campaigned against Gay Marriage per se; but Sir,when you told us we deserved equality and we worked crazily for your election, and voted accordingly, was it you intention to keep Americans exiled from their own countries and from their partners, whom they would marry if the could?

Mr. President, Sir – please if all you do is make one executive order for us – let it be simply to allow gays and lesbians who are in permanent partnerships with some form of contractual nexus to be included in the current Immigration and Equality Act.

Please!

Sincerely,

Melanie Nathan and Signed tacitly : 36,000 suffering Americans.

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Melanie Nathan 7-9-10

Drafted by Karen Doering, an attorney who has been involved in some of the most important legal LGBT victories and controversies, the American Equality  Bill takes the approach that piecemeal bills for various areas of discrimination be supported through recognition of our civil rights, first and foremost and may serve to yield an omnibus bill that will in essence get rid of all discriminatory legislation.  This is the first  Publication of the Draft is forthcoming.

It also recognizes that creating separate bills in separate areas breaks the interests of those against discrimination into small, separate pieces that dilutes the strong force of the coalition necessary to pass any bill on the federal level.

This is a critical approach to win Equality. Equality cannot come to fruition without the Benchmark – something specific that carries forth a universal message.  Now that we have the wording and the Goal- we need the BILL.

Who ever says this is “Pie in the Sky or Bold” (Bilerco) – is marginalizing our entitlement and our rights.  To my way of thinking anyone who suggest we keep the backdoor approach as our only approach does not have our absolute interests at heart.  Selfless advocacy means going for the only benchmark that will bring full equality, and if we are going to have a movement then we need to have the movement regardless of how many votes we may or may not get in Congress.  They need to know that we are not fighting for legislation; we are fighting for our lives and to live our lives, happily,  like other Americans, and that means equally.    I for one, have a right to enter through the front door -  and that is why I have touted this plan for all this time.

Special Credit also goes to Todd Fernandez for pushing for this and for being one of the few who listened with open mind and heart.

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/07/the-launch-of-hope-finally-grassroots-find-feet-the-american-equality-bill/

THE AMERICAN EQUALITY BILL
(Draft July 4, 2010)

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO EXISTING LEGISLATION
TO END LEGAL DISCRIMINATION IN AMERICA ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY

A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.

SECTION 1. Amends Title VII the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in employment.

SECTION 2. Amends the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, and 3 U.S.C. 411 (a)(1), to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in employment.

SECTION 3. Amends the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. §2000e-16a et seq., to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in employment.

SECTION 4. Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to clarify the definitions of “parent” and “son or daughter.”

B. HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

SECTION 5. Amends the Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, real estate related transactions, and the provision of brokerage services.

C. DISCRIMINATION IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.

SECTION 6. Amends Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation.

D. DISCRIMINATION IN THE USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.

SECTION 7. Amends §2000b of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for denial of equal use of public facilities.

E. DISCRIMINATION IN ACCESS TO CREDIT.

SECTION 8. Amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited basis for discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction.

F. DISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES.

SECTION 9. Amends Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in federally funded programs or activities and adding an exemption for religious organizations.

G. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SECTION 10. Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act to repeal discriminatory provisions.

THE AMERICAN EQUALITY BILL
(Scope and content only. This is not in filing format.)

SHORT TITLE.
Upon passage, this bill may be cited as the `The American Equality Act of 2010’.

PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to realize the American ideal of equal protection under the law by amending existing civil rights legislation to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

FINDINGS OF LEGISLATIVE FACT.
(This will be an elaborate section that details the discrimination against LGBT people. Content TBD.)

A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.

SECTION. 1. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e, is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in employment, as follows:

a. The following definitions shall be added at the end of §2000e:

(o) The term “sexual orientation” means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.

(p) The term “gender identity” means the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth.

b. Sections 2000e-2(a)-(d), §2000e-2(h), §2000e-2(j), §2000e-2(l), §2000e-2(m), §2000e-3(b), 2000e(g)(2)(A), §2000e-16(a), and §2000e-16(c), are amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” appears to include after the word “sex” the following words:- “sexual orientation, gender identity,”

c. Dress and Grooming Standards. Nothing shall prohibit an employer from requiring an employee, during the employee’s hours at work, to adhere to reasonable dress or grooming standards not prohibited by other provisions of Federal, State, or local law, provided that the employer permits any employee who has undergone gender transition prior to the time of employment, and any employee who has notified the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition after the time of employment, to adhere to the same dress or grooming standards for the gender to which the employee has transitioned or is transitioning.

d. Certain Shared Facilities. Nothing shall be construed to establish an unlawful employment practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen fully unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the employer provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the employee’s gender identity as established with the employer at the time of employment or upon notification to the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.

SECTION 2. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, as amended, 5 U.S.C. §2302; Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16a et seq.; Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.; and Section 411(a) (1) of Title 3 of the United States Code are amended to specify that “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are prohibited bases for discrimination, as follows:

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1)(A) and 5 U.S.C. 2302(d)(1); 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16a and 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b; 2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1); and 3 U.S.C. 411(a)(1) are amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” appear to add after the word “sex” the following words: “sexual orientation, gender identity”

c. 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16a(b) is amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability” appear to add after the word “sex” the following words: “sexual orientation, gender identity”

d. Certain Shared Facilities. Nothing shall be construed to establish an unlawful employment practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen fully unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the employer provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the employee’s gender identity as established with the employer at the time of employment or upon notification to the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.

SECTION 3. The Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. §2000e-16a et seq., is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination, as follows:

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. Section 2000e-16a(b) is here by amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability” occurs by inserting after the word “sex” the following words:- “sexual orientation, gender identity,”

c. Certain Shared Facilities. Nothing shall be construed to establish an unlawful employment practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen fully unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the employer provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the employee’s gender identity as established with the employer at the time of employment or upon notification to the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.

SECTION 4. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §2611, is amended to clarify the following definitions:

(7) Parent. The term “parent” means the biological parent of an employee or an individual who stood in loco parentis to an employee when the employee was a son or daughter. For purposes of this statute, the term “in loco parentis” includes but is not limited to an individual who is a defacto or psychological parent of the child.

(12) Son or daughter. The term “son or daughter” means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, a child registered as a “dependent” or similar classification under the employer’s domestic partnership policy, or a child designated by an employee and his or her domestic partner as a “dependent” or similar classification pursuant to a municipal, state or federal domestic partnership registry, who is—

(A) under 18 years of age; or

(B) 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability.

(13) Spouse – The term “spouse” means a husband or wife, as the case may be. For purposes of this statute, the term “spouse” includes a person designated a domestic partner under the employer’s domestic partnership policy, an employee’s civil union partner, a spouse from a domestic or foreign marriage, and a domestic partner registered pursuant to a municipal, state or federal law.

B. HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

SECTION. 5. The Fair Housing Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq., is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, real-estate related transactions, and the provision of brokerage services.

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. Sections 3604(a)-(b) are amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin” appears by inserting after the word “sex” the following words: “sexual orientation, or gender identity,”

c. Sections 3604(c)-(e), 3605(a), and 3606 are amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin” appears by inserting after the word “sex” the following words: “sexual orientation, or gender identity,”

d. Section 3605(c) is amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status” appears by inserting after the word “sex” the following words:- “sexual orientation, or gender identity,”

C. DISCRIMINATION IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.

SECTION 6. Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000a et seq., is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation.

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. Sections 2000a(a) and 2000a-1 are amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion or national origin” appears by inserting after the word “religion” the following words: “sexual orientation, or gender identity,”

c. Certain Shared Facilities. Nothing shall be construed to establish an unlawful practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen fully unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the proprietor provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the individual’s gender identity as established with the proprietor at the time the relationship first began or upon notification to the proprietor that the individual has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.

D. DISCRIMINATION IN THE USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.

SECTION 7. 42 U.S.C. §2000b, is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for denial of equal use of public facilities as follows:

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. Section 2000b(a) is amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion or national origin” occurs by inserting after the word “religion” the following words:- “sexual orientation, gender identity,”

c. Certain Shared Facilities. Nothing shall be construed to establish an unlawful practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen fully unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the proprietor provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the individual’s gender identity as established with the proprietor at the time of the relationship first began or upon notification to the proprietor that the individual has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.

E. DISCRIMINATION IN ACCESS TO CREDIT.

SECTION 8. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, 15 U.S.C. §1691 et seq., is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction as follows:

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.

b. Section 1691(a)(1) is amended every time the phrase “race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age” occurs by inserting after the word “marital status” the following words:- “sexual orientation, gender identity”.

F. DISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES.

SECTION 9. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000d, is amended to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as prohibited bases for exclusion from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or being subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as follows:

a. The terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are defined as in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e.
b. Section 2000d is amended every time the phrase “race, color, or national origin” occurs by inserting after the word “color” the following words:- “sexual orientation, or gender identity,”

c. The provisions of this section regarding sexual orientation and gender identity shall not apply to any educational institution, as that term is defined in 20 U.S.C. 1681(c), which is controlled by a religious organization if the application of this subsection would not be consistent with the religious tenets of such organization as determined in its sole discretion.

G. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SECTION 10. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq., and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §706, are amended to repeal discriminatory provisions, as follows:

a. 42 U.S.C. §12208 is repealed.

b. 42 U.S.C. §12211(b)(1) is amended to delete the words “transvestism” and “transsexualism” and the phrase “gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments,” from the definition of “Certain conditions” excluded from coverage under the Act.

c. 29 U.S.C. §705(8)(F)(i) is amended to delete the words “transvestism” and “transsexualism” and the phrase “gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments,” from the list excluding from protection an ‘individual with a disability’ for purposes of Section 501, 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

END.

How did this happen read

• The Launch of Hope – Finally Grassroots Find Feet – THE American Equality Bill (lezgetreal.com)
• The Launch of Hope – Finally Grassroots Find Feet – THE American Equality Bill (lezgetreal.com)

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Join Lezgetreal on FaceBook

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simplicity in the name of a movement

What happened to our LGBTQI movement?  Since 1970, post Stonewall, – Good question.  Nothing. We have a quest for gay marriage rights, we have a quest for social security, we have a quest for immigration equality, to serve in the army, to not have crimes committed against us because we are gay, we have a quest for employment equality and the list goes on.

We are denied many rights in many States under State Law

We are denied 1,137 rights on a Federal Level

For almost 40 years we have been rallying around organizations,  while they advance their ownership- of the future of our rights,which has ultimately turned into a cannibalization of our movement.

There is NO MOVEMENT eat has been chomped at and is now in pieces called DADT, ENDA, DOMA – What do we really want?Is it not complete equality – The color of my skin is GAY!

Environment:

• BAD:

We are stuck in a milieu of Republican obstructionists,
an election (midterm) about to happen
a majority in Congress
a President the victim of serious racial attacks and unprecedented disrespect
Catholic Bishops and Evangelicals impacting Congress and the separation of Church and State.

• GOOD:
• Is this any different from USA as usual?
• Well we have one advantage at this time -a majority in Congress.  (ah but the elections! Oh well that lasted a minute!

How does this comport?  The current environment  only precludes piecemeal legislation-and yet we forge on the same path to nowhere.

Our LGBT organizations have formed mostly around specific arenas of our struggle, which has actually wedged us all into compartments in our activism. There has been no Universal message for our movement.  Guess what? That is the tone the USA public has been hearing and so they are accepting the tone we have set.  Our own attitude by way of how we approach our rights- asking for a little at a time – reflects uncertainty and insecurity- it  has done little more than to make us look as if we believe we agree with our marginalization.

The closest endeavor to universal message is “marriage”  and that one is fraught with problems. Why? Because it sets us up for the religious arguments which have been working successfully against us and also for the “leave it to the States” excuse also working against us.

I believe all is not negative and I do not look back along the path of the past and say ‘oops we made a mistake.’  No, we did not; it was our path and it is done and it has gained a lot for us by way of visibility. There is so much more that is acceptable that was not and the marriage road has given us a good measure of legitimacy and won us many friends.

But what I am critical of, is our failure to take stock when we enter crossroads and I believe we are at one right now.

In other words we cannot go forward in the same direction, we must choose a left or right turn and then we can forge a new road. The left turn is = do something completely different and the right turn = do the same thing.

What we have going for us is a Volcano about to erupt and we must harness that energy in a way that will work.  The first little eruption can be noted by GET EQUAL’S push for Choi et al – chaining themselves to the White House fence in the hope of getting attention – because in truth that is all they may have accomplished and yet did not.  It caused more harm and the energy was not favorably harnessed. (see earlier posts)

So back to my point – the larva bubbling under are all of you who have “equality” as a middle name or in the fore of your mind and others of you who are of good conscience and allies.

So now it is time to utilize what is emerging from beneath – let us take the left turn here. The organizations and leadership can join in or they can crawl like tortoise to the finish line taking the right path.

The Left path is the PINK PRINT – it takes us right back to the beginning – what it does is it gives us the cement – the foundation for equality. If we have a Civil Rights Amendment to the ACT of 1964 – where we ask for one thing – not 100 things. Just one thing. If we pool everything we have into this one thing; hence the number  …1… significantly displayed on the PRINT… and ask for what we are entitled to  A CIVIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT to include the word “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” placed neatly next to the words “race and gender,” we would be setting the foundation for the Mansion to come….

After that our right to  equality is solidified and we cannot be denied anything thereafter.   What will fall will be an Omnibus to repeal all discriminatory law. We will not need ENDA and DADT will fall. As for UAFA – we will no longer have the problem as all the DHS will have to do will be to change their forms a little.

So Find me a champion. Find us a Senator and a member of the House.  Who wants to join this PINK PRINT? Who wants to have a one Goal Movement ?  For 40 years we have tried the other way and we are still begging for one piece of miserable legislation that a gay friendly President has yet to support to the point of passage.

What do we have to lose?

Our lives are no one’s priority – we must stop relying on those who do have a lot to lose  – we are gong to have to make sacrifices and do this from the bottom up – so to speak.  The leadership can follow. But please leadership, HRC,  et al, do not tell us to be patient while you fight for one piece at a time.

There IS no such thing as not possible. But it sure is not possible if you don’t not try.

Signing up for the Pink Print! One Goal – Mission Sexual Orientation and Gender ID as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act.

Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, by a 10-1 vote with three abstentions, approved a formal resolution this week “Affirming the Link Between Non-Discrimination Public Policy and Economic Development” at its monthly meeting and has voiced “its strong opposition to recent action by the Attorney General of Virginia Kenneth Cuccinelli to advise Virginia’s colleges and universities to remove protections against discrimination of lesbian and gay persons.”

The resolution adds, “We believe that many new and relocating businesses will choose to avoid Virginia because this posture on discrimination will have a profoundly chilling effect on prospective employees, contractors, vendors and customers.”

With this resolution, the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce became the only Chamber in Virginia to take a stand against Cuccinelli’s action on economic development grounds. The Falls Church Chamber was also the only Chamber in Virginia to take a similar stand, also on economic development grounds, against a Virginia constitutional amendment that barred same sex marriage in 2006.

Indeed, the members of the Falls Church CC may be correct in their assessment, but their resolution may be no more then closing the barn door at this point, as sources tell LGR that the very gay friendly defense-contracting giant, Northrop Grumman, has in all probability scratched Northern Virginia from its list as a location for their new corporate headquarters site after Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell rescinded a standing Executive Order that forbids discrimination against public employees on a number of grounds, including sexual orientation.

McDonnell later half-heartedly backtracked on that decision, but according to our source, you can look for a new Northrop Grumman HQ to be located someplace in Maryland, a state that has decided to recognized same-sex marriages preformed in other jurisdictions as legal, in about a year.

How’s that whole Bobs For Jobs thingy working out for ya Virginia?

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Welcome to WikiMeg – where we can all participate to counter the obscene spending of Meg Whitman  in the name of  her ego and at the expense of our LGBTQI equality.

by Melanie Nathan – Posted on 08 March 2010.  This morning the website “Level the Playing Field 2010″ launched www.WikiMeg.com, the first open source, political research site of its kind – open to all, by all and for all.  At “Level The Playing Field 2010,{ the organizers  are embarking on a bold new experiment in democracy.

“We hope the WikiMeg space will serve as a digital laboratory for free speech. It’s based on the idea that by harnessing the collective brainpower of millions of Californians, we can help level the playing field against Meg Whitman’s $200 million television campaign. ” say the organizers.

I personally have been nauseated by the thought that one person can dedicate and may spend  that much money to a self serving endeavor that in essence will cost us, our LGBT community, much more than money can buy -  our progress.  I am sick at the thought that she will pay that much money to be elected into a position for which, in my opinion,  she is entirely unqualified. What makes matters worse is that she is using the money we spent selling and buying on E-bay – the biz from which she fed.

Further, I am  throwing up - from an LGBT perspective; imagine this billionaire spending her own $200 million dollars so that she can attain the governorship of California, to effectively veto any LGBT necessary legislation and hence our progress in California.  We all know that what happens in California impacts the whole country and for us in the queer community.

Soon California State Senate will hear testimony to promote AJR15, a California Resolution in support of UAFA.  There will be a proposition on ballot to to rid us of Prop 8 – we need our Jerry Brown – not a Meg-a-Million!

Even worse, now vomiting, at the thought of how $200 million dollars could be effectively used by way of a donation to our State – to help the homeless, the hungry, the foreclosed and you know the rest of it.

So as I try to recover from my very explicit and graphic sick episode, I realize we do have hope thanks to LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD 2010. Participating in the experiment looks like a lot of fun.   Lets get our detective and Paparazzi hats on and more importantly the hat bearing “Citizen for true Democracy” and do  our ‘intelligence’ justice.

I implore our readers here at LGR to pass this message along.  This brilliant idea from  Level the Playing Field, and I quote from the site:

“We are asking everyone and anyone with factual information to share – from laid off eBay workers and those frustrated with Whitman’s eBay policies towards sellers to shareholders to regular voters – to help us fully vet Meg Whitman’s job application.

And as the campaign goes forward, we’re asking you to help us track what she says, where she says it and make sure it is correct. And if not, we’ll – well, you actually – will call her on it.

Help shed light on the choices Whitman made and the values she demonstrated over a lifetime in the corporate boardroom. Together we can get to the bottom of what Whitman is hiding by refusing to release her income tax returns as nearly every other gubernatorial candidate has done for the last 30 years.

Of course, free speech and civil discourse go hand in hand. We are asking all those participating in WikiMeg to help set an example for how virtual tools can promote genuine democracy. Please be respectful to others. Be factual and always hyperlink to your source. If you are the source of first-hand information, say who you are and how you know what you know.

Here’s how it works:

All pages on the site are open for public editing and the community of users will also review them. If you have information that you would like to share about Meg Whitman, please feel free to edit the pages where the information is categorized or to post new information.

Each page has its own discussion tab where comments and thoughts can be left in a threaded discussion style forum. Live chat is also available for real time conversations.

The initial categories are eBay Stories, Meg History, Meg Sightings, Meg’s Campaign and Videos.

Thanks for participating in the democratic process. Have fun and good hunting”

Go to – http://www.leveltheplayingfield2010.com/

Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan of Private Courts, Inc;    a Conflict Resolution & Advocacy Firm

nathan@privatecourts.com      @oblogdeeoblogda  www.privatecourts.com
www.visualcv.com/melnathan

Melanie Nathan, is known for her outspoken writing and advocacy for bi-national same-sex couples who suffer discrimination under the current US immigration law. Her widely read column is exclusive to LezGetReal, where she highlights stories of couples in crisis. Click here to See the Bi-National Column: Passage of UAFA

Photo: Meg Whitman and Friend Mitt Romney – a case of Le Cage ….

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,

Maryland Lawmaker and Virginia Advocacy Group Aim to Show Virginia The Price of Homophobia Can Be High

Last week Virginia Gov. Bob McConnell issued an executive order that excluded LGBT residents from state employment protections.

Now a Maryland state senator and gay rights advocates are urging one of the nations largest defense contractors, Northrop Grumman, to reject Virginia as a location for its new corporate headquarters.

In a letter sent late last week  to Northrop Grumman’s CEO, Maryland State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) argued his state’s stand on gay rights better mirrors the company’s own longstanding commitment to gay and lesbian employees.

“Here in Maryland, we value our gay and lesbian citizens as part of a diverse population that makes the state strong,” Madaleno wrote. “Virginia is doing the opposite and letting its LGBT citizens — and those considering whether to move and work there — know that they and their families are unwelcome second-class citizens. And they are counting on corporations like yours not to care.” via washingtonpost.com.

The Virginia gay rights advocacy group, Equality Virginia has also sent Northrop Grumman a letter recommending Maryland.

Northrop Grumman, which plans to relocate their headquarters from Los Angeles to the DC area by 2011, is the fourth largest defense firm in the world and the largest builder of naval vessels. It is also the manufacturer of the B-2 Sheath Bomber as well as other major Air Force projects.

Northrup is currently deciding between Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia as it looks for a new home for its top executives.

The company has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Virginia voters in 2006 amended the state constitution to prohibit gay marriage.Last week Maryland’s Attorney General, Douglas Gansler,issued an opinion that the marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into in other jurisdictions may be recognized by Maryland.

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Image via Wikipedia

By Melanie Nathan 2-101-10.  San Francisco.

Meg Whitman, the pro Prop 8 Republican Gubernatorial wannabe, who landed in CEO butter a mere six months before EBAY went public, is now using those very consumer dollars- and an estimated 150 million of them to pony up an early bid to buy California.

California is the bastion of the same-sex marriage struggle – we have fought so hard here, spent millions of dollars against religious tyrants stomping on our rights -to pursue our happiness, – to have our families lodge safely in equal regard, only to risk being second class citizens in the paid for world of anti-gay marriage proponent Meg Whitman.

Does she scare me?  Yes she does because she wields a dangerous purse; her money is her AK-47.  She rears her head into the last realm of the billionaire ladder – corporate power done!  Political power next!

For those of you who are not in California, the Whitman blitz has started, with ads courting Californians portraying Whitman as the answer to all our financial woes.   But fellow second class citizens – this is no friend to California – this is a power hungry CEO who is bored and desperately seeking the type of relevance that hopefully not even money will ultimately buy.  Mark my words; this woman has the presidency in her glaze; and she will continue to spend, use and abuse until she attains the ultimate crown.

According to ‘Level the Playing Field 2010,’ a coalition of concerned Californians, organized to promote a fair fight in the November elections, and whose mission is to make sure the billionaire Republicans answer the tough questions about how they plan to fix  California found at   http://www.leveltheplayingfield2010.com/about/  :

“Whitman has already spent $30 million and is on pace to spend a record $200 million dollars of her own money to paint you a perfect picture about her on TV.

Yet, she refuses to answer basic questions about her record while as CEO of eBay or working as a Wall Street corporate management consultant. She ducks the press, does almost no public events and rarely – if ever – actually answers questions from the public.  We face tough times and those who would be Governor need to answer the tough questions about how they are going to solve our most challenging problems – not just create picture perfect TV campaigns.”

Pretty picture perfect ads ought not to cut it. Californians want feet to the fire answers with detail and specifics, and fair treatment for all.

So at this critical stage of the game, with stakes so high for LGBTQI community, we cannot underestimate the power of the hundreds of millions to buy our airwaves, and the danger that presents to us in this entire Nation.  We must not repeat mistakes and nor should we be intimidated – keep your eyes, ears  and wallets open to do whatever you can to help ‘level the playing field in 2010.’

Right now, my suggestion is visit the site http://www.leveltheplayingfield2010.com/about/ and show them a few dollars, because the stronger the coffer,  the better the fight!   Wherever you may be, the California elections this year are crucial and are probably the most profound for the LGBT community.  This is the citadel and we must rid it of those who by turning their backs on equality, in truth set us back by decades.

With her bid to be California’s governor, Meg Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, is leaning hard to the right. Her support of a gay marriage ban could doom her campaign.

Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan,
nathan@privatecourts.com.
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com

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  Melanie Nathan Reporting: January 25 , 2010 – by Melanie Nathan. The people in Uganda to cntact and target is the UEPB, a public trade promotion organization which operates under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry in Uganda was established by Parliamentary Statute. The Board

a)Chairman-Private Sector
b) one representative of Uganda Manufacturers Association-Private Sector
c) one representative from Uganda National Chamber of Commerce-Private Sector
d) one representative of Uganda National Farmers’ Association- Private Sector
e/f) two representatives of Exporters Associations- Private Sector
g) one representative of Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry- Public Sector
h) one representative of Ministry of Finance.- Public Sector
i) one representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Public Sector
j) one representative of Ministry of Agriculture- Public Sector
e) one representative of Uganda Investment Authority- Public Sector
f) the Executive Director, Uganda Export Promotion Board – Public Sector

UEPB carries out its mandate “to facilitate the development, diversification, promotion and co-ordination of all export related activities that lead to export growth on a sustainable basis, ” be sure to inform Ugandans  that we will isolate them from the rest of the World if they fail to completely withdraw the Gay Kill Bill. You can see  their government is intricately connected to their trade, and so we must hit where it counts.

    UEPB: Exporters First Stop Center

“While Arabica was introduced at the beginning of the 1900’s, Robusta coffee is indigenous to the country, and has been a part of Ugandan life for centuries. The variety of wild Robustacoffee still growing today in Uganda’s rain forests are thought to be some of the rarest examples of naturally occurring coffee trees anywhere in the world. The coffee trees are inter cropped with traditional food crops and grown in the shade of banana trees and other shade trees. In these self-sustaining conditions, coffee is left to grow naturally, flowering on average twice a year.

Uganda has the unfortunate circumstance of being landlocked, and needing good relations with its neighbors to move its coffee crop to a port city. Transportation bottlenecks can result in containers of full of steaming coffee beans stuck on the back of a truck or a dock somewhere …not good for quality! But in recent years the problems of unstable East African politics and weak infrastructure seem to be improving, judging from the excellent quality coffee coming from the Northern Bugisu region along the Kenya border. Good marks are the Mbale Bugisu Coffee Factory and the Budadiri Coffee Factory -names of the mills where the coffee are prepared. Good Ugandan coffees are both unique among East African coffees and of intense character. Germany has been a strong buyer of Ugandas arabica crop but two years ago the outrageous Java prices resulted in numerous containers appearing in the US as a Java substitute.

Coffees from politically unstable regions, especially East Africa and the 10-year civil war in Uganda, bring up ethical issues. But the plain fact is this: coffee is a cash crop. It is grown by 300,000 small-holder farmers in Uganda. It is 95% of the Ugandan exports and 2,800,000 people rely on it for a living! Most production is Robusta, and the prices they get are low. Arabica farming is more work, but the rewards are greater! Quality in coffee is a way to break pay farmers better. Here you have the opportunity to buy the best of Ugandan coffee… “

 Dear Ugandan Exporter ,  

We treat all Ugandans as one!  Until you work as a community to rid yourselves of the pre-genocide attacks on the LGBT community in your country of 32 Million people, we plan to boycott your trade. we will not do any of the following: 

Attend your buyer seller meets   regardless of where; attend in-bound and out-bound trade missions; participate in contact promotion programmes; support you in participation of Ugandan exporters in relevant local, regional and international trade fairs and exhibitions; utilize your expert industry counselling;  and forget those presentations at international export promotion workshops, seminars and conferences cause we wont be there! and most of all WE WILL NOT BUY YOUR COFFEE -

We at Lezgetreal support the gays and homosexuals and lesbians in Uganda; it is not a crime to be a homosexual or lesbian in our world, but we are not welcome to yours.  (LGBTQI) Your attempts to criminalize homosexualitydefies all understanding, as it is clear that it emanates from nowhere other than biblical teaching of the likes of sickos like Scott Livelly, et al.  If you choose to be a Church State, then make that announcement openly and give people who do not believe in what your State stands for, an opportunity to leave Uganda, before you criminalize them. 

That said, without much ado, we will not tolerate this kind of persecution from any country.  We are going to boycott your country.  You economy has grown and you are improving your poverty. I hope you do not choose to force your Country into poverty yet again.  You must get rid of the hate Gay Bill.  Completely.  Regardless we are starting the boycotts immediately. 

If you enact this law, then many people from foreign countries dare not come to Ugandan, for example what if a political trade envoy is gay?   If he comes to your land, he is a criminal.  Why would any corporation want to support your country.  You are asking to be kicked out of the World economy and we are ready to oblige. So here goes America…. Write to the following Companies and tell them what we plan to do. This will go viral and millions of people will see this as well as the US Congress.

In Solidarity,

So  my dear queer community lets start the ball rolling. The Ugandan people need letters from you – here is a start – be polite please do not put yourself in a bad light and tell them why its not okay to criminalize gays. Tell then your story and about your life.  Lets see if with a nice letter and a big fat boycott if we can change the hearts and minds of Ugandans . remember they have been told we are the devil.

Also another Article written by Melanie Nathan on the impending http://lezgetreal.com/?p=25370  Million Person March In Uganda scheduled for Feb 17th, 2010;

1 . Kawacom (U) Ltd
    m284 Ntinda
    P. O. Box 22623 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 31 260201
    Email: rlugone@ecomtrading.com

2  Olam Uganda Ltd
    7/9/ Mapera Rd Nalukolongo, Kampala
    P.O. Box 23436 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 271440/271418
    Email: niraj@olamnet.com

3. Ibero (U) Ltd
    44/50 7th Street, Kampala
    P.O. Box 23139 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 342621/31 261464
    Email: traffic@ibero.co.ug

4. Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd
    1/2/3 5th Street, Kampala
    P.O.Box 3181 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 344021/251447
    Email: kcl@kyagalanyi.com  

5. Mbale Importers and Exporters Ltd
    27/29 Pamba Rd, Mbale
    P.O Box 264 Mbale, Uganda
    Tel: +256 75 725400
    Email: mbaleimpex@utlonline.co.ug  

6. Pan Afric Impex (U) Ltd
    62 Bombo Rd, Kawempe, Kampala
    P. O. Box 7257 Kampala
    Tel:  + 256 41 567847
    Email: panafricimpex@utlonline.co.ug  

7. Kamapala Domestic store Ltd
    9 3rd Street, Kampala
    P.O. Box 30532 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 235597
    Email: kds@infocom.co.ug

8. Great Lakes Coffee Company Ltd
    M289 Ntinda, Kampala
    P.O.Box 27198 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 286961
    Email: glc@imul.com

9. Ugacof Ltd
    246 Bweyogerere, Kampala  
    P.O Box 7355 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 286290/286288
    Email: fbe@ugacof.com

10. Sitanida Agencies Ltd
      14 william street, Kirumira Towers, Kampala
       P.O. Box 27544 Kampala, Uganda
       Tel: + 256 41 255913  
        Email: sitanida@africaonline.co.ug  

11.Wabulungu Mult-purpose Estates
    508 Bombo Rd, Kawempe, Kampala
    P.O. Box 27544 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 254485

12. MTL Main Traders Ltd
      46 Palisa Rd, Mbale
      P.O. Box 6217 Mbale
      Tel: +256 45 36377/41 256426
      Emal: lawrence.mwaka@mtluganda.com

13. Job Coffee Ltd
     103 3rd Street, Kampala
      P.O. Box 4152 Kampala Uganda
      Tel: + 256 41 255914
      Email: jobcoffee@infocom.co.ug

14. Union Export Services Ltd
      103 3rd Street Kampala
      P.O. Box 7455 Kampala, Uganda
      Tel: + 256 41 258778
      Email: unex@starcom.co.ug

15. Bakwanye Trading Co. Ltd
      13/15 3rd Street, Kasese
      P.O. Box 240 Kasese, Uganda
      Tel: 256 483 44068/44007
        Email: cobwa@yahoo.com

16. Gumutindo Coffee Coop Enterprise Ltd
      46 Palisa Rd, Mbale
      P.O. Box 283 Mbale, Uganda
     Tel: +256 45 34415/772 927942
     Email: mutindo@Infocom.co.ug

17. Simba Cafe East African Ltd
      M466 Ntinda, Kampala
      P.O. Box 26926 Kampala, Uganda
      Tel: +41 285866
      Email: branton@wananchi.com

18. Lakeland Holdings Ltd
      9 3rd Street, Kamapala
      P.O. Box 29129 Kamapala, Uganda
      Tel: 256 41 345120
      Email: lakelandholdingsltd@yahoo.com

By Melanie Nathan, custody2008@gmail.com

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If you are looking for new home phone or mobile service, internet or even DirecTV then AT&T might be an option for you. For residential services, small business or even enterprise solutions you can find what you need at www.att.com. Bundles pricing is available when you sign up for more than one of their services which is a good thing for people like me who use technology to keep in touch with family and friends.

Knowing that AT&T is a member of the NGLCC just sweetens the deal.

If you are in the market for a new telecom package, visit the AT&T website today and see if they have what you are looking for.

If you are in the market for life insurance, you’ll be happy to know there is an insurance company out there who is gay-friendly!

This company is EQUOTE, and they are a life insurance carrier doing things different.

Here is a statement from their website to show you what I mean…

EQUOTE has higher aspirations than to simply serve as a vehicle through which to search for low-cost term life insurance. Instead, EQUOTE has a goal that revolves around completely and thoroughly educating consumers and customers alike so that they may make their own informed decisions regarding life insurance and long term care, rather than being forced to make these decisions without the research and understanding necessary to do so.

…The people behind EQUOTE are heavily family oriented, and believe strongly in the principles behind having good life insurance as a means of keeping your family protected and ensuring their safety for many years to come.

Conveniently, you can order term life insurance right from the eQuote.com website, as there is no medical exam involved.

This means that you don’t have to have somebody come to your house and possibly question your lifestyle. You can also list anyone you like as the beneficiary to your policy without having to explain your relationship to a stranger. EQUOTE offers other products such as long term care packages and annuities as well.

Like I mentioned, this company is gay-friendly; there are EQUOTE employees with relatives within the LGBT community, and the company has this statement on their website:

EQUOTE truly does exist only to serve the individual needs of every single customer, no matter what those needs are or what it takes to meet them.

So, that being said, if you are looking for a new life insurance carrier or have been thinking about getting a life insurance policy, try www.eQuote.com and know that your premiums are going to be gay friendly.

I am thinking about spending my Pink Money here – there’s no medical so it’s a no brainer – I’ll skip the painful blood test thanks!

I will let you know how that goes… stay well!

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her by visiting her page on MySpace.

GayWallet.com is a social network for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queer folks and straight people who are committed to supporting companies and organizations that support the LGBTQ community.

This is a website that offers you a chance to connect with LGBT business owners, discuss issues that affect your gay wallet, and talk with others about where to spend your pink money. GayWallet.com has discussion groups, a member forum, and social networking features such as member profiles, photos and video uploading.

One very important feature of this community is that you can find a list called the Who’s Who which features Fortune 500 companies where you can spend your money as a member of the LGBT community and feel comfortable that it is going to a good place. Each company on the Who’s Who at GayWallet.com includes sexual orientation and gender identification in the company’s equal employment opportunity policy and provides domestic partner health benefits for same-sex couples.

Be sure to visit GayWallet.com and sign up as a member to gain access to their message board and discussion groups. There are groups for each state if you are in the U.S. so be sure to join the group for your state is especially if you have a gay or lesbian owned business.

Wells Fargo has in fact partnered with the NGLCC to bring the LGBT community a special home mortgage program that you can take a look at here.

They can help with home-buying and refinancing your mortgage, or just give you the home mortgage information you have been looking for. NGLCC members receive special member benefits when they establish their mortgage with Wells Fargo, so if you are looking to take that leap into buying a home, or are just looking for a safe place to save your money; consider WF and keep your pink money in the family.

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The 17 Bristol Farms locations are spread throughout Southern California and one is in San Francisco. The store is really high end, so you might not be aware of the chain of stores if you are not in the area of one. The first store happens to have been opened up in Rolling Hills which is about 10 minutes away from my house so I am a big fan of Bristol Farms. My wife and I have a lot of good memories spending time shopping at Bristol Farms while we were dating.

Now that I know they are gay friendly it makes me that much more happy to spend my Pink Money with them!

You’ll find a lot of speciality items… tasty exotic fruits and vegetables, perfectly paired cheeses and wine, upscale beverages and deli foods, and lots of healthy and/or natural items for your grocery basket at Bristol Farms. If you are in Southern California you can find a Bristol Farms location near you on their website at BristolFarms.com.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

The reason I am doing this is for those of us in the LGBT community to become familiar with businesses that support us. For my first Pink Money Post I am bringing you a Whopper! Literally. Burger King is a global fast food chain popular for their flame broiled patties and their promise to ‘Make it YOUR Way’. Burger King is the home of the Whopper, which is a burger fixed with all the trimmings. This fast food chain is also a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce! I suggest if you are out and about and need a quick bite to eat, look out for a Burger King sign!

As a lesbian mom I can appreciate BK, because they always have toys in their kids meals that my kids think are popular.

Aside from their main website, they also have ClubBk.com for the kiddos too, and they promote well-balanced meals along with an active lifestyle for all children. Burger King offers a value menu where you can order value priced items including my favorite, the Whopper Jr. My children used to love to play in the play area at the Burger King here in Carson, but ever since it moved we have been a bit sad. However, knowing that BK is a member of the NGLCC gives me a good reason to seek one out, and hopefully you will too. )

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.