NY Celebrates First Marriage Ceremonies!

Equality Pennsylvania wants to, once again, congratulate our colleagues in New York State for their legislative victory in favor of same-sex marriage last month. After a 30 day waiting period, marriage licenses were first issued Sunday. In New York City alone, 1,143 couples got their licenses or were wed at marriage bureaus. Across the state, municipalities welcomed this turning point in the LGBT rights movement with mayors, city council leaders, and judges helping officiate or attending ceremonies.

While certainly a political victory, the ceremonies which took place yesterday also lent a human face to the struggle for LGBT rights, justice, and equality. Children finally saw their parents’ love and their families’ strength legitimatized by their government; parents were able to see their children marry the partners to whom they had remained loyal for decades, and LGBT youth were offered a vision of the future filled with hope and recognition.

Perhaps most heart-warming were the ceremonies recognizing the love and commitment of elderly couples who vowed to cherish each other so long ago. The New York Times highlighted two particular instances of this pure, human joy: “We feel a little more human today, “ [said] Ray Durand … after marrying his partner, Dale Shields, 79, whom he met 42 years ago by a jukebox in a West Village bar.” In fact, the first couple wed by the Manhattan clerk consisted of seventy-six year old Phyllis Sigel and eighty-four year old Connie Kopelov, partners for 23 years. “As Mr. McSweeney declared to the couple, “I now pronounce you married,” Ms. Siegel held Ms. Kopelov's head and kissed her on the left cheek.”

As we continue to work diligently against Representative Metcalfe’s proposed marriage amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution which would not only ban same-sex marriage indefinitely but also nullify existing partnerships, we are rejuvenated by the bliss emanating from New York. We thank our supporters for helping carry us this far and urge all Pennsylvanians to stand up for the right of all human beings to love freely and be recognized in the eyes of the law.

The NYTimes referenced in this post
A slideshow of NY Marriage Ceremonies and recently married couples

D-Town Unity Concert

On July 24th, come out to Siren Records in Doylestown for a night of great music for a great cause! The D-Town Unity Concert will bring a variety of talented area musicians together to raise money for the Rainbow Room, Bucks County's only center for LGBT youth and allies. Admission is $10, and will help support the Rainbow Room's activities. You'll also be supporting Marlene Pray, the founder of the Rainbow Room, in her campaign for Doylestown Borough Council. Marlene is a committed advocate for social justice, and will make sure that the rights of all of Doylestown's citizens are protected. Come say hello to Marlene, meet her campaign team, and enjoy some local bands! The event will run from 5 to 9 PM. For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116128841813260.

Shopping for Equality

The team at Equality PA has been working hard this summer to secure equal rights for Pennsylvania's LGBT citizens. Now it's possible for you to contribute to our efforts simply by doing a little online shopping! Paul Nardone, one of our board members, has partnered with the Places & Pages Book Festival in Scranton to create an exciting new way to support Equality PA. Simply go to www.scranthology.com and use the site to buy anything that you'd normally buy from Amazon.com, be it shoes, gardening supplies, or books. A percentage of every purchase you make will then be donated to Equality PA. We established a fundraising goal of $100,000 to help cover travel and operating costs. Every purchase you make helps bring us a little closer to reaching that goal, and it's so easy to do! Be sure to tell your friends and family about this exciting opportunity to support a great organization while you shop.

Q Fest to Kick Off in Philly Tomorrow

Tomorrow, July 7th, marks the start of the 17th annual Philadelphia Q Fest, a film festival that brings the best new LGBTQ films to the City of Brotherly Love. Q Fest will run through Monday, July 18th, and will feature over 100 feature-length and short films at the Ritz East and Ritz at the Bourse theaters in Center City. Every type of film will be represented at Q Fest, from science fiction ("Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same") to dark comedy ("Mangus!") to romance ("eCupid," "Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together," etc.). Q Fest is distinctively international; the films come from places as diverse as Argentina, Lebanon, and Iceland, in addition to a wide variety of domestic releases. More information about the festival can be found here: http://www.qfest.com/index.cfm Come discover your new favorite movie!

Tell the Steelers to Make an "It Gets Better" video!

We've already asked you to help us persuade our state's baseball teams to jump on the "It Gets Better" bandwagon. Now, we're asking the Pittsburgh Steelers to do the same. The world of sports isn't always so friendly to LGBT youth, so it's important to see athletes taking a stand for equality and respect. The Pittsburgh Steelers can reach a huge audience, and have thousands of fans who could be reached by an "It Gets Better" video. You can ask them to join the campaign by signing the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/pittsburgh-steelers-create-an-it-gets-better-video-and-stand-up-to-homophobia-in-sports.

Same-Sex Couples Under Threat in PA

This week we celebrated an historic moment for marriage rights, as New York became the most recent and largest state to legalize gay marriage. Congratulations to the New York state legislature, for recognizing that everyone deserves the right to marry the person they love. Unfortunately, here in Pennsylvania, a group of state legislators are attempting to keep same-sex couples from obtaining this basic civil right. House Bill 1434, created by Republican Representative Darryl Metcalfe, states that “Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.” The bill, which currently has 37 sponsors, would not only prevent same-sex couples from obtaining civil unions in Pennsylvania, but would also invalidate any preexisting civil unions in the state, even if they are recognized by other states. The passage of this bill would represent a devastating setback to Pennsylvania’s LGBT community. Make sure you speak up against this discriminatory and unjust bill by signing our petition at www.equalitypa.org.

Help Spread the Word About Equality PA!

The team at Equality PA has been working hard to make Pennsylvania a better place for its LGBT residents. But we can’t do it without you! Yesterday marked the launch of our “Ask 10” campaign, which we hope will help us spread our message throughout the state. The success of the “Ask 10” campaign depends on you! So, what can you do to help? Simply “like” our Facebook page, and then invite at least 10 of your Facebook friends to do the same. “Liking” our page will give you access to breaking news, hundreds of photos, and an online community of like-minded LGBTQ folks and allies. It’s a great way to stay updated on the fight for LGBTQ rights. Join us at www.facebook.com/equalitypa.

Attic Youth Center Launches City-Wide Campaign

We here at Equality PA are proud to congratulate the Attic Youth Center on its recent ad campaign targeting anti-gay bullying in the City of Philadelphia. The campaign’s posters can be found on buses and in the subway, advocating “It’s OK to Be You.” Long praised for its afterschool work with LGBT youth, the center aims to provide these young adults with a message of acceptance in the face of societal pressures to sequester one’s sexuality and/or gender identity.
Attic Youth Center Director Carrie Jacobs initiated the program in the face of Seattle-based activist Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better Project.” A collection of YouTube videos filmed by LGBT adults and allies of the movement, the project’s theme of an ideal future is taken by some to mean that the present must be tolerated rather than celebrated. Jacobs and others at the Attic Youth Center amended the project’s goals – choosing to focus on specific elements of the LGBT rights movement’s struggle and framing their posts as “It Gets Better When...” or “It Gets Better If…”. Through this program, the center was able to expand its already developed adult-youth LGBT mentorship program, helping young adults to thrive in the present and envision a more open future simultaneously.
After a horrible string of nationally-publicized LGBT suicides this past fall as well as research which demonstrates a clear relationship between teenage homophobic bullying and later mental and health-related concerns for LGBT individuals, this ad campaign is truly necessary and welcomed. The team at Equality PA looks forward to seeing these posters across Philadelphia and hopes they will provide LGBT youth an added example of the community which supports and advocates for them every day.


More information can be found by Gregory Thomas’s article on the topic.

Bethlehem Takes a Stand Against Discrimination

The City of Bethlehem celebrated a huge victory for civil rights last night. After a hearing that had over 100 speakers, the City became the 21st municipality in Pennsylvania to pass an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The vote by the City Council was unanimous and this ordinance will make it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodations in Bethlehem.
We thank the City Council and the Mayor for their courage and perseverance to pass a strong ordinance that says discrimination is NOT welcome. We are also deeply grateful to the many volunteers and members of the public who attended countless meetings and spoke eloquently about the importance of passing this ordinance. Their words and presence made such a difference. The PA Diversity Network also deserves not only our thanks, but everyone’s, for their tireless leadership in The Lehigh Valley on equality for LGBT folks. We always try to partner with local and regional groups, and we respect and value all that they have done. The ACLU, NAACP, and AARP also played a crucial part in getting this legislation passed.
EQPA was there in all aspects of the process, from helping to build public support to refining language to speaking at meetings. We intend to continue working hard for the passage of local ordinances all over Pennsylvania for as long as it takes to ensure that LGBT citizens are treated equally and fairly EVERYWHERE. More importantly, we will fight for local ordinances because the clear message their passage sends to the Legislature in Harrisburg is that NOW is the time to finally vote on a statewide, LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination law in Pennsylvania. This is a historic time in the fight for LGBT rights in the state, and you can be a part of it! Want to pass a non-discrimination ordinance in your area? E-mail themartin@equalitypa.org
Want to support our valuable work? PLEASE donate today at www.equalitypa.org/donate.html.

Pride Weekend Wrap-Up

This past weekend, three cities in Pennsylvania celebrated Pride in a big way! Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie pulled out all the stops for a seriously memorable weekend. In Philadelphia, PrideFest went off without a hitch. Everyone we spoke to was having a great time, and we were very excited to see such a wide range of people attending. The entertainment was amazing, and the rain held off until just before we left. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table to sign a petition or take a photo! In Pittsburgh, revelers enjoyed the soulful sounds of the inimitable Patti LaBelle during Pride in the Streets on Saturday, followed by Pridefest on Sunday. Thousands of people showed up for a day of dancing, eating, face painting, and fun. We also got to spend some time with the Student Network Across Pennsylvania, Equality Pennsylvania’s youth advocacy branch, which connects student youth LGBT activists from across the state.You can learn more about them at equalitypa.org/snap.html. The new Greensburg branch of PFLAG was also present for the festival. A little bit of rain didn’t stop us from having a blast at the Erie Pride Family Picnic. We all enjoyed the delicious food, much of it brought by community members, and had fun talking to all the families and friends who showed up for the festivities! Of course, Equality PA couldn’t have participated in all the Pride Weekend events without a dedicated team of volunteers and interns. We offer a heartfelt thanks to all of you for all of your help,as well as to SNAP and Greensburg PFLAG. Keep up the amazing work! And don't forget, Pennsylvania has lots more Pride to go around! The next festival is Lancaster Pride, which runs from 12-6PM this Saturday, June 18th.

Tell Our Sports Teams to Make an "It Gets Better" Video!

Last week, we at Equality PA challenged two of our state's biggest sports teams to stand up for LGBT youth by making an "It Gets Better" video. They would be joining the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs, and the Boston Red Sox who have already stepped up to the plate and agreed to make videos. When you have two such great teams in one state, why shouldn’t we make the pitch?
You can help make this happen! Take a minute today to encourage the Boys of Summer to make a video. Tell them this is important and that strong public support like this is crucial to letting LGBT teens know that it gets better.
Since the beginning of this project, tens of thousands of personal videos have been recorded offering hope to vulnerable teens and over 350,000 people have pledged their support to end hate and intolerance. We think it’s time for our baseball heroes to join this effort.
Call the Philadelphia Phillies (215-463-6000) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (412-323-5000 – CHOOSE EXT. 8) and ask them to speak up for LGBT teens and make an “It Gets Better” video!And while you’re at it, write them a message on Facebook or on Twitter, and make a request there too!
The Facebook and Twitter accounts for the Phillies are Facebook.com/phillies and twitter.com/phillies. For the Pirates, use facebook.com/pirates and twitter.com/pirates.

Bethlehem's New Anti-Discrimination Bill Under Attack

On June 7, the city of Bethlehem had a chance to finally pass a bill that would protect the LGBT community from discrimination. But because of vague wording within the bill’s text, the vote to ratify it has been postponed until June 21st. The bill would create a Human Relations Commission in Bethlehem, which would prevent discrimination in housing, public facilities and the workspace. Bethlehem is the largest city in Pennsylvania without an antidiscrimination ordinance; clearly, this legislation is long overdue. The mayor, John Callahan, supports the bill, saying "I think it sends a very clear message to people about Bethlehem that we're inclusive and we put a high value on human rights,” in an interview with WFMZ News. However, although the legislation has strong community support, it is still threatened by two anti-gay groups. The American Family Association and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Allentown have been spreading homophobic propaganda to try and kill the bill, warning of an impending takeover of the city by those favoring the “gay lifestyle.” They are also responsible for the inclusion of an extremely vague “religious exemption,” which would exempt about 50% of the city from following this ordinance. We can’t allow bigotry and misinformation to carry the day in Bethlehem. Please sign the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/urge-bethlehem-pa-to-adopt-a-strong-lgbt-inclusive-non-discrimination-law?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition, urging Bethlehem’s City Council to pass the ordinance after making the “religious exemption” clause more specific. We also need as many people as possible to pack City Hall on June 21st, the next time the bill will be voted on.Hopefully, the city of Bethlehem will take a stand for civil rights for everyone.

William Way LGBT Community Center to Hold Homecoming

On June 11th, the William Way LGBT Community Center is holding its first ever Homecoming extravaganza! If the thought of Homecoming conjures up nightmares of unflattering dresses and awkward dance-floor encounters, never fear. The Way Center’s version promises to be nothing like your high school’s dance, unless you went to the coolest high school ever. Things get rolling at 8 PM in the Center’s 1315 Spruce Street location, with a performance from the radically inclusive gospel choir A Voice for All People. They’ll be followed by the Liberty City Kings, Philadelphia’s renowned queer drag burlesque troupe. Last but certainly not least will be the divine Ladies of Sinful Sundays. The Notorious OMG will be running the show as the Mxtress of Ceremonies. Feel free to wander from room to room, enjoying the delicious summertime food and drinks. And of course, it wouldn’t be Homecoming without a King and Queen! The Center will be crowning two community leaders in a ceremony that is not to be missed. In fact, Equality PA's own Brian Sims has been nominated as part of the evening's Homecoming Court! If this sounds like fun to you (of course it does), you can purchase tickets online at http://www.waygay.org/events/homecoming2011.asp. Tickets run from $75 for VIP, to $35 for general admission, to $20 for “sobers, seniors, students, and starving artists.” It’s the perfect way to celebrate before Philly’s PrideFest the next day, or to cut loose after Saturday’s Dyke March! Bring your friends, or maybe ask that special someone you’ve been crushing on (it is Homecoming, after all).

Pennsylvania Pride

Break out your rainbow flags! The season of Pride is finally upon us. This weekend Pennsylvania will celebrate Pride in not one, not two, but three cities across the state. In Philadelphia, be sure to check out the Philly Dyke March, which starts at 3 pm on Saturday, June 11th at 11th & Pine streets. Attendees will enjoy performances from musicians like singer-songwriter Ami Verrill, LYFE dance, and appearances from the Liberty City Kings and the Radical Faeries, who will be providing water ice to tired marchers. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Philadelphia’s infamous Pride Day parade and festival is this Sunday, June 12th. The party starts at noon, with a parade beginning at 13th and Locust, in the heart of Philly’s gayborhood. The parade will finish at Penn’s Landing, the location of the Pride Festival. This year’s keynote speaker is the actress Aisha Tyler, of “Talk Soup” and “Nip/Tuck”. Admission to the festival is $10, which gets you access to six hours of fabulous entertainment and over 120 vendors.
Pittsburgh will be throwing its own Pridefest bash this week. Pride events started on June 3rd in the Steel City, with a Pride Advocacy Rally on the steps of the City-County building. If you’re in the area on Saturday, make sure not to miss Pride in the Street, Pittsburgh’s largest outdoor street party. This year, the one and only Patti LaBelle will be gracing the festival with her presence. The party continues on Sunday, with the Pride Awareness March, which will start at 10 AM on Boulevard of the Allies, and finish at Liberty Ave and 6th Street, at the entrance to Pridefest. Pittsburgh’s Pridefest promises to once again draw a crowd of thousands; come join the party!
Those of you living in Erie have your own Pride party to look forward to! The Erie Gay New Family Pride Picnic will be held this Saturday, June 11th, from 1 to 6 PM at Presque Isle State Park. You can register before the event online at http://www.eriegaynews.com/pride/register.php, or in person at the picnic. The beautiful setting, near the Waterworks beach, is perfect for playing volleyball (always a popular activity) or any of the other games planned for the day. Got kids? There’s a playground nearby, as well as a variety of children’s activities to take part in. Food will be served from 2 to 4, and you are encouraged to bring a dish to share. You also have the chance to win a fabulous door prize!
Whichever Pride event you attend this weekend, make sure you come say hello to the Equality PA crew! We’ll be hanging out in each city, registering voters and helping you take action for LGBT rights in your community. We’ll have letters to your legislators that you can sign to make sure they hear your voice! We also would love some volunteers to help us staff the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh events. If you’d like to help, please email Allyson Hamm at allyson@equalitypa.org.

Philadelphia Trans Health Conference to be Held This Weekend

The Philadelphia Trans Health Conference is celebrating its 10th year this weekend. This event will bring trans-identified people and allies from all over the country to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for three days of educational workshops, socializing, and support. Workshops will cover everything from hormone therapy to creating a trans-friendly environment in the workspace. The conference is family-friendly; there will be separate workshops for trans youth, as well as a pool party for families with children. All are welcome at this event; there is no registration fee.
The Trans Health Conference has been run by the Mazzoni Center since 2006. The Mazzoni Center provides health care to the Philadelphia LGBTQ community. The Equality Pennsylvania team is proud to support the conference & plan to participate everyday as a vendor. We’ll also be registering people to vote, providing consignment-quality clothes for donations, and doing some political organizing! Come talk to us about opposing an amendment to define marriage as solely between a man and a woman, the recent change to PennDOT’s gender marker policy, and several other ways that you can support the LGBTQ community. Also, one of our former interns will be hosting an all-day legal clinic.
With so many different activities planned, the 10th annual Trans Health Conference truly has something for everyone. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you still have time to register online at www.trans-health.org. We hope to see you there!

Victory in Easton!

The town of Easton, PA celebrated a major gain for same-sex couples on Wednesday night. Now, partners of city employees can enjoy the same benefits awarded to heterosexual couples. The legislation was passed unanimously, with support from both Republican and Democratic City Council members, who greeted the outcome with applause. Equality Pennsylvania's statewide organizer, Allyson Hamm, was also present. This ruling makes Easton one of only five Pennsylvania cities to have such a policy; the others are Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown, and Pittsburgh.

Under this new law, same-sex partners of city employees are granted health and pension benefits, as well as family medical leave and bereavement leave. This provision makes it possible for city employees and their partners to take time off to care for sick loved ones, said Pennsylvania Diversity Network Vice President Adrian Shanker in an interview with The Morning Call.

We at Equality Pennsylvania would like to congratulate the people of Easton for taking this much-needed step in the fight for the rights of same-sex couples. We would also like to commend the Pennsylvania Diversity Network for their work in getting this legislation passed. The bill will be signed into law publicly on June 6th.

Bucks County GLBT Meeting & Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil

On Nov. 4, 2010, people of all ages gathered in Doylestown, PA for an important meeting to discuss GLBTA issues. The main gathering focus was to discuss the introduction & passage of local ordinances that would provide anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation & gender identity & expression.

There were middle schoolers as well as students from high school & college present. There were police officers, nurses, educators, ministers, activists, parents & more represented. Planned Parenthood's Rainbow Room was well represented. GLSEN & PFLAG people were there. Students from Delaware Valley College were also there in significant numbers. Several representatives from different faith organizations were there. There were council members from Hatboro & Doylestown. & of course, Equality PA & HRC were there.

It was a packed house. We barely had time to get through introductions before we headed out for the vigil.

The energy in the room was great. As people talked, it became evident that other glbt interests should be served besides the ordinances.

There will be follow-up meetings of this coalition. Expect many good things to come from this group.

After the meeting, candles & signs were handed out. We walked down the street to a public square & where we read the names of transgender people who had died as a result of violence. Some passers by stopped & read our signs. Some drivers honked & shouted their support. There were no visible negative reactions from the onlookers. Trans- awareness was raised & these trans people will not be forgotten.

California Judge to Decide if Weddings Can Resume Today

Judge Walker, the Chief Justice who ruled the ban on gay marriage be lifted in California last week, is deciding today whether or not gay marriages can resume today. If he does decide they may resume counties, such as Los Angeles, will perform weddings today on a first-come, first-serve basis. The lines as of right now are already forming! The BBC News article about this can be found here!

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for up to date information about Judge Walker's decision!

Mexican Supreme Court Rules That States Must Honor Gay Marriages

On Tuesday the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that gay marriages performed in the country's capital, Mexico City, have to be honored by all Mexican states. The court made it clear that other states did not have to enact or perform gay marriages themselves, but had to honor those that were performed else-ware in the country. Justice Arturo Zaldivar stated, "“What’s going to happen to a same-sex couple” who marry in Mexico City “when they cross the border” to another state? Does this marriage disappear? They go on vacation and they’re no longer married?"

However, the court, in their ruling, left uncertain as to which marital rights would transfer.

The New York Times article on this subject can be found here!

Happy Tuesday!

While perusing the internet today I came across an article on FoxNews.com (Yes, that Fox News. Bear with me...) titled "My Fellow Conservatives, Think Carefully About Your Opposition to Gay Marriage" by Margaret Hoover. It first goes on to summarize the Prop 8 trial, noting that, "Surprisingly, the defense’s two lone witnesses also offered compelling reasons to favor of marriage equality."

Hoover goes on to address the article by a Notre Dame law professor which was posted on FoxNews.com which implied through speculation that Judge Walker's rumored homosexuality caused him to decide the case before even hearing it. She wrote, "We conservatives have a well-founded narrative about judges and the courts. It is true that the federal bench is populated with liberals who view their role not as interpreting the law as it is written, but as policy makers empowered to sculpt social outcomes with which they agree. The irony of this case is that Judge Walker is not a liberal activist judge but one whose career has proven him to be a tempered judge, true to the Reagan-Bush conservative jurisprudence that he was nominated to represent on the bench." She also writes,"Conservatives cannot deny that our Founders intended the judiciary as an equal and independent branch of government purposed to ensure the protection of every citizen’s rights."

Further, Hoover writes that opposing gay marriage could land conservatives on the wrong side of civil rights history yet again, with the consequence of alienating a whole generation of voters (the majority of Americans under 30 support gay marriage). The full article can be found here!