California Man's Ballot Proposal: Death to Gays

In California, anyone can propose a ballot measure by filing the text and paying a fee — but luckily, this one has little chance of going before voters.

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Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/04/california-mans-ballot-proposal-death-gays

Hundreds Convene at Seattle Church to Discuss Hate Crimes

Photo credit: Matt Landers/GSBA

Hundreds of concerned citizens convened for more than two hours on Capitol Hill at the All Pilgrims Church Tuesday evening for the LGBTQ Hate Crimes Public Forum, sponsored largely by Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. The overall mood of the structured debate appeared distressed and yet, at the same time, energized — in part because of the uptick in crime in the neighborhood billed for LGBTQ inclusiveness.

In an interview with The Seattle Lesbian last Wednesday, Sawant said she thought tracing the demographic of attackers was less important than what she characterized as the larger picture: the safety-in-numbers effect of a thriving LGBTQ community being fragmented as some members are driven out by rising rents.

“I don’t know that there’s any opposition to people moving into the district, but what’s hurting the community is people who have been living in the district have been displaced,” she said.

A representative for the King County Prosecutor’s Office told The Seattle Lesbian that in 2014 there were an estimated 126 hate crime events, compared to 110 in 2013.

Jonathan Halsey knows the hate crime scenario all too well. Halsey and his friends were near Cider on Broadway when a man approached and hurled homophobic slurs at the group.

“He basically spit in my face and then came towards me, and that’s when I defended myself,” Halsey told King 5.

Nearby police arrested the offender and charged him with malicious harassment.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who is an openly gay man, told the crowd Tuesday night

I think there is an increase [in crime]. We have been here before. We have seen this right on this very street before in the late 80s and early 90s when I was a young person. And we are seeing it again.

Capitol Hill Community Council told The Seattle Lesbian in a statement

The Capitol Hill Community Council was grateful to listen to the perspectives from the diverse crowd of LGBTQ and allied people in attendance at last night’s LGBTQ Hate Crimes Public Forum. We are optimistic after last night’s conversation and look forward to collaborating with the LGBTQ organizations around Capitol Hill, supporting the efforts to reduce hate crimes and increase public safety, and working to make our community stronger and healthier.

We left knowing that this is merely the beginning in a longer conversation about how to preserve the rich, vibrant history of our city’s gay neighborhood and the work ahead to retain the values, hopes, and needs of our community as we continue to grow at an unprecedented rate.

Public Policy and Communications Manager for the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) Matt Landers told The Seattle Lesbian Wednesday:

We would like to thank Councilmember Sawant for convening this meeting at the request of community members, and to the Mayor for participating. It is clear that there is a lot of frustration that things have not changed, and we hope that the community continues to work constructively with one another to come up with real solutions. GSBA looks forward to being a part of those solutions.

This post originally appeared on The Seattle Lesbian.

www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-toce/hundreds-convene-at-seatt_b_6802222.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

LGBT and LDS Leaders Come Together to Support Non-Discrimination Bill

Today, LGBT and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) leaders in Utah came together to make history in support of a new non-discrimination bill.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/lgbt-and-lds-leaders-come-together-to-support-non-discrimination-bill?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS: 'The Dress', Alabama, Ex-Gay Therapy, Homer Simpson and the Higgs Boson

Sean Mandell

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/news-.html

Suspect Indicted in Beating Death of N.Y. Trans Woman Islan Nettles

Nearly two years after her death, Islan Nettles is one step closer to justice.

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Mitch Kellaway

www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2015/03/04/suspect-indicted-beating-death-ny-trans-woman-islan-nettles

14 Slam Poems That Pack A Serious Feminist Punch
These slam poets are spittin’ some fierce feminism.

Fighting the good feminist fight can become frustrating. Sometimes we need need a pick-me-up to fight another day, and these awesome slam poets give us just that.

From pushing back against pressure about appearance to challenging rape culture and talking honestly about abortion, these poets’ words implore us to keep fighting and to remember the importance of gender equality.

Here are 14 of our favorite feminist spoken word poems that remind us why we’re feminists:

1. “The Period Poem” by Dominique Christina
“Should any fool mishandle the wild geography of your body… then just bleed boo. Give that blood a biblical name.”

2. “Pretty” by Katie Makkai
“This is about the self-mutilating circus we have painted ourselves clowns in. About women who will prowl 30 stories and six malls to find the the right cocktail dress but who haven’t a clue where to find fulfillment or how to wear joy.”

3. “Heels” by Imani Cezanne
“I wear heels because it’s useless to cater to the insecure. You think people won’t notice you? You should shine brighter. You should get more special. You should love yourself enough to not let a woman in heels emasculate you.”

4. “Fantastic Breasts and Where To Find Them” by Brenna Twohy
“It looks like 24/7 live streaming, reminding me that men are going to f*ck me whether I like it or not, that there is one use for my mouth and it is not speaking, that a man is his most powerful when he’s got a woman by the hair.”

5. “Feminist or a Womanist” by Staceyann Chin
“I come in too many flavors for one f*cking spoon.”

6. “What Guys Look For In Girls” by Savannah Brown
“You’re worth so much more than your waistline. You’re worth the beautiful thoughts you think, and the daring dreams you dream, undone and drunk off alcohol of being. But sometimes we forget that.”

7. “Shrinking Woman” by Lily Myers
“Women in my family have been shrinking for decades.”

8. “When” by Carlos Andrés Gómez
“When owning your own body is understood when it comes to me, but still in federal appellate courts for my wife, my two sisters, six aunts, every mother, daughter, woman I have ever met.”

9. “Feminism” by Ashia Ajani, Tolu Obiwole, Abby Friesen-Johnson and Alexis Rain Vigil
“Before I am a woman, I am black. [But] women and color should not have to surrender to each other.”

10. “I Think She Was A She” by Leyla Josephine
“I would’ve supported her right to choose. To choose a life for herself, a path for herself. I would’ve died for that right like she died for mine. I’m sorry, but you came at the wrong time.”

11. “Rape Poem To End All Rape Poems” by Justice Hehir, Kate Thomas, Lindsey Michelle Williams and Lillie Hannon
“We wouldn’t need so many damn rape poems if America had listened the first time.”

12. “10 Honest Thoughts On Being Loved By A Skinny Boy” by Rachel Wiley
“I say, ‘I am fat.’ He says, ‘no, you’re beautiful.’ I wonder why I cannot be both.”

13. “She Said” by Amir Sulaiman
“I know that being a man is more than being male, and I’m focused on doing it right.”

14. “How Not To Make Love To A Fat Girl” by Yesika Salgado
“Sex with someone new is awkward for everyone. Sex with someone new when things about your body often frighten you is nerve-racking.”

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/slam-poems-feminist_n_6792536.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Inclusive Anti-Bullying Bill in Hawaii Moves Forward

Yesterday, HRC the Hawaii House Committee on Judiciary held a hearing on HB 819, a comprehensive anti-bullying and unanimously voted to move the bill forward.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/inclusive-anti-bullying-bill-in-hawaii-moves-forward?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed