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The fight for gay rights in the states
• GOP Senator Pro Gay Rights? State Senator Allan Kittleman (R) of Maryland stood up for civil rights in the face of opposition from his party.
On Wednesday, Kittleman threw his support behind the Maryland marriage equality bill after his proposal for a civil unions bill met with little support
from either party. Kittleman’s father was also a state senator and a
civil rights leader.
“I was raised by a gentleman who joined with others in fighting
racial discrimination in the 1950s and 1960s. Watching him fight for
civil rights instilled in me the belief that everyone, regardless of
race, sex, national origin or sexual orientation, is entitled to equal
rights,” Kittleman said.
Kittleman, who belongs to a conservative church, made sure that he
included a statement that he is a strong follower of Jesus Christ and
added that he doesn’t vote based on his faith. Now if more religious
legislators would follow Mr. Kittleman’s lead…you hear that, Utah?
• Except For The Gays. On Wednesday, Utah’s Rep. LaVar Christensen introduced a bill that would require all publically-funded programs,
laws and regulations to exclude the families of same-sex couples.
Written into the language of the bill: “‘marriage and family predate
all governments and are supported by and consistent with the Laws of
Nature and God, the Creator and Supreme Judge of the World, affirmed in
the nation’s founding Declaration of Independence.”
It also says “amilies anchored by both a father and a mother,
fidelity within marriage, and enduring devotion to the covenants and
responsibilities of marriage are the desired norm.”
Yet another politician coming for GLBT people from a legislative angle.
• Speaking Truth To Power. In other state news, Iowa recently passed a resolution sending a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to state voters.
In a public hearing on the measure, 19-year-old Zach Wahls stood up to testify in front of legislators. Wahls is the son of two
mothers and gave an eloquent speech debunking conservative beliefs that
only opposite-sex parents can raise a stable child.
This Eagle Scout and Engineering major said it best, “Actually, I was raised by a gay couple and I’m doing pretty well”. Snap!
• King of All Media Weighs In. Lisa Lampanelli was on The Howard Stern Show and dropped a bunch of F bombs. The kinda F@g bomb that gets GLBT people worked up.
On Wednesday, Stern was asked by a caller if he was O.K. with this
kind of language. He said he regrets when he uses it and he is trying
to keep that particular word out of his repertoire.
“‘I have a tremendous compassion for people who are homosexuals. I
feel that they are bullied and abused in our society. And I’ve put a lot
of thought into this – and they take such shit just because they like
to be with the same sex. It seems so absurd to me. And there so many
people out there who just knock their brains out – the gay people. They
just treat them so poorly. It must be a terrible thing to be exposed to
that kind of hatred and be hated just because of your sexuality,” he
said.
I have to admit that I was surprised by Stern’s statement,
considering that he is often controversial especially regarding his
treatment of women, different races and gay people. Maybe this is a
teaching moment for his audience and a signal that, hopefully for
everyone, we eventually grow up.
• Is The Biggest Loser A Big Loser? Our sister site, AfterEllen.com, has written an article speculating on whether NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” is conspiring to keep their gay and lesbian trainers in the closet.
Last year, Jillian Michaels came out as bisexual in the Ladies Home Journal but has never spoken to LGBT media. AfterEllen contacted NBC to request
interviews with Michaels and “The Biggest Loser’s” newest trainer, Cara Castronuova but was denied.
Castronuova once dated MC God-ess of God-ess and She, stared in the lesbian film “Flick’s Chicks” and was one of GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love.
No one knows if it is “The Biggest Loser” trainer’s decision not to
speak to LGBT press or if it is NBC’s decision. NBC refused to give any
comments about why Michaels and Castronuova were not allowed to speak to
gay press. Something, surely, is afoot.
