Court: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Will Stay in Place

Shame on the Obama Administration... A federal appeals court ordered the military to temporarily continue its "don't ask, don't tell" policy for openly gay service members Friday in response to a request from the Obama administration. In its three-page ruling, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the ruling was based on new information provided by the federal government, including a declaration from Major General Steven A. Hummer, who is leading the effort to repeal the policy. "In order to provide this court with an opportunity to consider fully the issues presented in the light of these previously undisclosed facts," the court wrote, that it would uphold an earlier order to keep the policy in place. Despite the delay in dismantling the controversial policy, the ruling bars the federal government from investigating, penalizing or discharging anyone pursuant to "don't ask, don't tell." The court of appeals had halted "don't ask, don't tell" July 6 but the Department of Justice filed an emergency motion Thursday saying ending the policy now would pre-empt the orderly process for rolling it back, per a law signed by President Barack Obama in December. The ruling was supported by Servicemembers United, an organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, but the group's executive director Alexander Nicholson voiced frustration over the slow process of dismantling "don't ask, don't tell." "The situation with finally ending this outdated and discriminatory federal policy has become absolutely ridiculous," said Nicholson. Via AP.

VIDEO: Sen. Leno on CA’s Landmark GLBT Inclusive Education Law

California State Senator Mark Leno goes on MSNBC to explain why The FAIR Education Act, signed into law yesterday by Gov. Jerry Brown, is so vital to California students. Video after the jump.

Great Video: After May Gay Bashing in Portland, 4,000 Join Hands

Back on May 22, two men in their early 20's were walking across Portland, Oregon's Hawthorne Bridge holding hands. While Portland is known as one of the most progressive cities in the U.S., as they walked across a group of guys began yelling slurs. As the couple reached the end of the bridge--the men attacked, leaving the two both very injured and bloody. The worst part is that on this beautiful sunny day in Portland while the runners and bikes went on by, no one stopped to help. No one even yelled at the guys to stop. As a community, Portland rose up in solidarity and in about 3 days used Facebook to organize "Hands Across Hawthorne". Little did we all know just how many people would show up to join hands across the very bridge these two men held hands with one another right before they were attacked. We just got this video sent to us and it gave us goosebumps to watch. From such a loving gesture of affection, to a brutal attack--to then over 4,000 Portlanders coming out in the rain to support their fellow citizens. I love my city! Video below.

CA: Senate Passes Bill Strengthening Parental Rights for Non-Biological Parents

The California State Senate passed the Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Act (AB 1349) in a 23-14 vote and now heads to Go. Jerry Brown's desk. Current law fails to sufficiently protect the rights of non-biological parents who have raised a child. The child's biological parents may sign a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity and use this declaration to cut a non-biological parent out of the picture. AB 1349 will clarify that the courts can consider the relationship between the child and his or her biological and non-biological parents when they are asked to rule on who the child's legal parents are. This bill would protect parents in both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Via Equality California:

Today, the California State Senate passed the Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Act (AB 1349) in a 23-14 vote. Authored by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) and sponsored by Equality California and the Association of California Adoption Lawyers (ACAL), the bill would allow the courts to determine who a child’s parents are in cases where there is both a non-biological parent and a man who has signed a voluntary declaration of paternity. “It is critical that state courts take into consideration the established relationship between a parent and child when determining legal parentage,” said Equality California Executive Director Roland Palencia. “This bill would protect families from being broken up by preserving children’s established family relationships, and this includes LGBT families.” This bill will fix a problem caused by a recent case that said that courts cannot recognize a non-biological parent who has raised the child if another man signed a voluntary paternity declaration, even if the man who signed the declaration had no relationship with the child and no intention of raising the child. Because of this case, children with non-biological parents are vulnerable to losing the parent they have always known. For example, when a same-sex or opposite-sex couple uses a sperm donor to conceive a child, if the couple later breaks up and the sperm donor and the biological mother sign a declaration of paternity, the non-biological parent may not be legally recognized as a parent. "Parenting is more than just biology,” said Assemblyman Hill. “It’s about nurturing and a sacred bond between a child and a guardian that should not be severed by external forces.” The Assembly passed AB 1349 in May. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

Time after time, California remains the most progressive on advancing LGBT issues and moving roadblocks to strengthen families and couples. Go Cali!

EXPLAINED: California’s FAIR Education Act

Signed into law today by California Governor Jerry Brown, California's FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful) Education Act aims to fairily and accurately portray the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights movement and the historic contributions of the diverse LGBT community in social science instruction in California schools. SB 48 was authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Side note - there is a great video at the bottom of this post of Senator Leno battling it out against Randy Thomasson of "SaveCalifornia.com" who seems a bit obsessed with the sex lives of gays. So now with The FAIR Education Act being signed into law, there are some questions as to exactly what this law will do. Here are some answers... When will the law be implemented? While the law goes into effect January 2012, due to California's current budget situation, new textbooks won't be printed until roughly 2015. In the meantime, it will be up to the state board of education, teachers and individual school districts across California to choose age appropriate lessons for each grade level. Many school districts in the state already provide supplemental learning materials that meet this requirement and school districts are free to begin instruction prior to the official implementation date. Why is the FAIR Education Act important? While LGBT people have made significant contributions to all aspects of society a range of civil rights movements and the movement for LGBT equality, this information is frequently excluded from social studies instruction--and that exclusion plays a direct role in the bullying and harassment that has led to an ever increasing rate of suicide among our youth. It's been shown that by including fair and accurate history lessons that there are lower rates of bullying and increased student safety as students start letting go of their preconceived stereotypes and start learning the struggle of, and the pivotal role that LGBT Americans have played, throughout history. Just think how far we've come: from a moment in time when statute described homosexuality as being a felony in all 50 states to have consensual relations between two adults, to full marriage equality in a number of states. How did it happen? Who were the individuals that helped make that happen? From pre-Stonewall to today, these are lessons that need to be taught. What exactly will be taught and does the new law dictate lesson plans? No, The FAIR Education Act does not specifically dictate exactly what the curriculum will be. It was left quite open on purpose to let the local school districts decide exactly what goes into the curriculum. What ages will this be taught to? What kinds of things, aside from Harvey Milk, what will be included? This will be included in K-12 in an age appropriate fashion. Curriculum will be decided by the State Board of Education and individual lesson plans will be decided by the local school district and teachers. The law does not specifically dictate exactly what the curriculum would be. Senator Leno's office had this to say about The FAIR Education Act:

Research indicates that students who learn about LGBT people find their school environments more accepting of LGBT youth. Students are also more likely to report that their LGBT peers are treated fairly at school - and that other types of peer-to-peer disrespect also declines - when LGBT people and issues are included in instructional materials. In addition to including the role and contributions of LGBT Americans in educational materials, Senate Bill 48 ensures that the contributions of disabled people are included. The bill also adds sexual orientation to the state's existing anti-discrimination protections that prohibit bias in school activities, instruction and instructional materials.

Equality California's Executive Director Roland Palencia said the following:

We did it! Governor Jerry Brown has just signed the FAIR Education Act (SB 48, Leno) into law. Together we have made certain that students across California will learn about the many contributions of the LGBT civil rights movement. This bill will also create a more welcoming environment for LGBT youth, as their rich history and legacy will be recognized. Time after time, negative stereotypes of LBGT people have been used by our opponents as a weapon to roll back our rights. Today, the inclusion of LGBT people in the school curriculum will help to tell the truth about our place in history and about our contributions.