Blog O' Queer

YMCA in Lansing Discriminates against Lesbian Couple

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:03:00 +0000

The Lansing YMCA has sent some confusing messages lately, but arrived at a decision: Gay couples are not real couples! What follows below is the story about a woman who was denied a "family" discount at several YMCA's in the Lansing area. Then one of them accepted her, only to deny her later. Talk about a rollercoaster of rejection. More on this to come.

Here it is.

Motor City Pride is Coming!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:03:00 +0000

Motor City Pride is coming. Are you ready.

40,000 of your closest friends and allies will be in downtown Ferndale on Sunday, June 1st. Come have fun and enjoy seeing our communtiy in full strength.

For more details on the entire series of events that weekend, visit www.MotorCityPride.org

Media Coverage of Triangle's Hate Crime Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:26:00 +0000

Triangle Foundation released their 2007 anti-LGBT hate crime report today.

Below is the news media wrap-up.

Detroit Free Press
Progress MI Blog
Lansing State Journal
Mlive.com (AP)
Fox 2 Detroit

Humor: California Marriage as Economic Stimulus

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:01:00 +0000

NPR just ran a very cute and funny (although sprinkled with good intentioned stereotypical humor) piece about California and the economic stimulus of gay marriage. It is by Brian Unger.

Marriage Victory is Key to Ballot Victory

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:41:00 +0000

By winning marriage equality in California today, advocates for equal marriage rights were handed a major tool in their campaign to defeat a constitutional ban this fall.

Now, proponents of the constitutional ban will actually be taking away marriage. This is a huge deal. In 30 days nearly 40,000,000 people in CA and countless others who will visit CA to get married, will have the right to marry. The fight in CA has shifted on a dime. Now "Let Caflifornia Ring" the campaign to defeat the marriage ban, can use entirely new arguments, new stories, and new couples to kill this mean-spirited amendment.

Anyone who has worked on ballot measures knows that the electorate is finicky. Sometimes when they get confused they vote "no" and they certainly respond to fear. Polling suggests that losing civil rights or losing health care benefits are compelling messages. The task now is the do what was done in Massachusetts, protect the gains that have been made. We must be prepared for right wing to shift their messaging to "pivot and blame" and move substantial funds to CA. We all most donate to the campaign there to protect this massive victory.

The fight for marriage equality and basic human dignity was catapulted ahead light years today by this victory. It will inspire columns, documentaries and certainly hundreds of thousands of conversations in the coming days alone about gay families. Other courts will feel more emboldened. Presidential candidates will meander around the issue which is now front and center. The Republican Party (represented by Governor Schwarzenegger) has decided to respect the decision. McCain quotes from 2004 have re-surfaced expressing his opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment.

All hands on deck.

Touching Video for your family and friends

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:15:00 +0000

I was sent this short video, set to a beautiful song by Jewel that really puts personal stories front and center in the LGBT civil rights struggle.

Bad story pulled

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:52:00 +0000

It appears that WNEM pulled the story because it was so biased. Still researching how it made it up.

Horrible Coverage of Day of Silence in MI

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:26:00 +0000

WNEM has run one of the worst stories I have seen in recent years on LGBT issues by using insensitive and inflammatory terms to cover the Day of Silence today.

You can read the story here.

First, the headline is pure AFA propaganda. Then referring to the AFA as a "family values" organization is a flat out lie. Then they referred to gays and lesbians as living an "alternative lifestyle" and referred us as "homosexuals." They also keep referring to DOS as a protest, as if there will demonstrations occurring in schools. The AFA lies in the piece by saying they have contacted tens of thousands of parents in MI. They have no such list in MI. If they mean they are reaching parents through the meda

They also ran no response to Gary Glenn of the AFA. It is completely biased coverage. They basically ran the press release of AFA.

Contact them at:
WNEM TV
55409 Gateway CentreBuilding C, Suite D
Flint, MI 48507
Phone: 810-232-3900
Newsroom: 810-234-5607
or
Email Ian Rubin ian.rubin@wnem.com

McCain Religious Ally Still blames Gays for Katrina

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:43:00 +0000

Cross posting this from Right Wing Watch:

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/04/perfect_timing.html
April 23, 2008
Perfect Timing

As we noted last week, ever since courting John Hagee and receiving his endorsement in February, John McCain hasn’t been quite sure how to handle the controversy that came with it, at times trying to distance himself from Hagee and then turning around and bragging about his close ties with him.

When he was asked about the endorsement by George Stephanopoulos over the weekend, McCain basically summed up his have-it-both-ways position by saying it was probably a mistake to seek it while maintaining that he is glad to have it.

While McCain has gone out of his way to repudiate Hagee’s anti-Catholic statements and views, he’s hasn’t weighed in on Hagee’s other controversial views, such as his belief that New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina because the city “had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.”

McCain was probably hoping that Hagee would stop saying outrageous things like that and that the controversy would eventually go away – but that is not what is happening because, as Think Progress reports, Hagee continues to insist the New Orleans was targeted for destruction by God because a “homosexual rally” was being planned for the following Monday:
[Dennis] Prager followed up by asking [Hagee] if all natural disasters are a result of “the divine hand” and if there is “any natural disaster that is not the result of sin?” Hagee responded by saying “it’s a result of God’s permissible will” and “that there was going to be a massive homosexual rally there the following Monday,” which he said “was sin”
PRAGER: Right, but in the case, did NPR get, is this quote correct though that in the case of New Orleans you do feel it was sin?

HAGEE: In the case of New Orleans, their plan to have that homosexual rally was sin. But it never happened. The rally never happened.
PRAGER: No, I understand.
HAGEE: It was scheduled that Monday.
PRAGER: No, I’m only trying to understand that in the case of New Orleans, you do feel that God’s hand was in it because of a sinful city?
HAGEE: That it was a city that was planning a sinful conduct, yes.
Considering that McCain is scheduled to be in New Orleans tomorrow, this might be a good time to get him on the record again about just how glad he is to have Hagee’s endorsement.

10 Things to Know about John McCain

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:34:00 +0000

MoveOn.org has put out a great bullet point list for McCain's record.

Here it is briefly:

McCain voted against establishing MLK Jr. day as a holiday
Pat Buchanan has said that McCain "will make Cheney look like Ghandi."
The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain the worst member of Congress for children.
McCain is one of the wealthiest members of Congress owning at least 8 homes, yet his solution for the foreclosure crisis is for people to work a second job and skip vacations.
Man of McCains colleagues worry deeply that his temper will get the US in trouble
McCain rails against special interests but his top advisors are all lobbyists.
McCain has coddled the Christian right in his bid for the White House, using Rod Parsley as a spiritual guide (Parsley said America's mission is to destroy Islam) and he sought political support from Jerry Falwell and John Hagee (Hagee said Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for homosexuality)
McCain got a ZERO rating from the League of Conservation Voters last year.

For more on this list visit www.moveon.org. Voters need to engage McCain on these issues and raise awareness about his record. His reputation for being moderate has faded away. I hope Log Cabin Republicans and other fair minded members of the party can convince him that these are losing strategies.

Gary Glenn comes out swinging for bullies

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Gary Glenn, hate group leader who tries to fashion himself as a compassionate Christian, is continuing his support for bullying by 1) bullying legislators into a narrow right wing misinterpretation of Matt's Safe Schools Law and 2) working to defeat legislation that would protect school children from violence. That's right, the American Family Association is committed to killing legislation that would protect all youth from bullying. Why you ask? Because the AFA is so blinded by their animus towards gays, they will hurt anyone in order to hurt gays.

Here is a link to a recent piece by the Livingston Press and Argus about the issue.

Gary Glenn is also lying about the hugely successful Safe Schools Lobby day held on March 26th at the Michigan State Capitol. Over 165 people lobbied their state senators and reinvigorated the legislation. Gary is falsely claiming that there was a dress code. Neither Triangle nor the Michigan Safe Schools Coalition has ever instituted a dress code for lobby days.

Below is the text from a MIRS article that came out today:

The American Family Association of Michigan (AFAM) is crowing that two GOP
senators have yanked their sponsorship of anti-bullying legislation, issuing
joint press releases with Sens. Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) and Valde GARCIA (R-Howell).
HB 4162 and HB 4091 passed the lower chamber last year and have been sitting in the Senate Education Committee ever since, but a Capitol rally last week brought the bills back to the forefront. There's also SB 0107 sponsored by Sen. Glenn ANDERSON (D-Westland), but proponents say they're focused on the House bills.
AFAM blasted a lobby day event put on by the Safe Schools Coalition on Wednesday
pushing "Matt's Safe School Law," named after Matt EPLING, an East Lansing
eighth-grader who took his own life in 2002 after severe hazing incidents.
School districts would have six months to adopt an anti-bullying policy or face
potential future action by the Legislature ("Bullying Bills Primed
For Movement," 3/13/07).
AFAM President Gary GLENN blasts the legislation as promoting the "homosexual agenda" by including gender identity and homosexuality as personal characteristics a person could not be bullied for. But Sean KASOFSKY, policy director for the gay rights group the Triangle Foundation, said the House bills don't have a list of protected groups.
In an e-mailed release Wednesday morning, Glenn accused the Triangle Foundation of instituting a dress code for the lobby day, which attracted more than 100 people, including Michigan State Police Director Peter MUNOZ.
Glenn unleashed response that raised the ire of the Triangle Foundation: "In the sad reality of enabling emotional trauma and delusion that comprises their stock in trade," Glenn said, "it is not a joking matter to wonder if the Triangle Foundation's wardrobe instructions will further traumatize or inhibit the emotionally disturbed men who claim they're really women, who had every serious intent of wearing a dress to the state Capitol and using the women's restrooms while they're there. Is the Triangle Foundation asking 'lobbying day' participants to go back into the closet for mere political expedience?"
Kasofsky retorted: "There's no dress code for our lobby day. We've
had people with Mohawks and people in jeans and T-shirts. It's come as you are.
… This is the politics of distraction. That's why they bring up cross-dressing
and women's restrooms. … The AFAM isn't a pro-family organization. They're a
hate group."
AFAM issued a press release announcing Garcia had dropped his
support for SB 0107 four hours later on Wednesday. A similar release with
Richardville followed on Friday. But the senators stress AFAM didn't bully them
into retracting their support. "The AFAM had concerns, but they didn't pressure
me to change my mind," Garcia said. "They're just now getting involved … I
always had concerns." "That's not the reason I do things," Richardville told
MIRS. Anderson concurred that he didn't believe his colleagues had caved to
AFAM, saying he held them both in "high regard."
Garcia said he became more aware of problems with the bill after he signed on last year. Furthermore, he points out neither have technically withdrawn their names because that can't happen until legislation comes before the Senate. Anderson said Garcia had told him of his decision. He stressed they're "still in the process of working out differences."
Kasofsky said it's moot. The focus is on getting the House bills
passed, which have more updated language than Anderson's bill. He described
Garcia's and Richardville's actions as "disheartening," but felt confident
they'd sign on to the final legislation.
"Gary Glenn is manufacturing dissent where there's not any," he said. Garcia and Richardville said they were concerned about bullying as a problem, but did not want to protect specific classes of people based on sex, race, sexual orientation, etc. It's the same argument used against hate crime legislation — a crime's a crime, so it's no
different to attack someone even if race, for instance, is a motivating factor.
Richardville notes sexual orientation is included, but factors like "physical
size, what part of the city kids live in and what their clothes look like" are
not. He would like to see a more general anti-bullying bill. "Everyone should be
protected," Richardville said, "not just certain classes." Garcia agrees that
"inadvertently, you leave something out, someone out."
Glenn calls the legislation a "Trojan horse." "(It) would have no real effect on bullying but is being backed by homosexual activist groups who hope to use legitimate public
concern about student safety as a ruse to establish — for the first time ever,
anywhere in Michigan law — special 'protected class' status based on homosexual
behavior and cross-dressing," Glenn claims. Richardville said he's not
interested in championing anyone's "agenda."
Anderson said he's received several e-mails from people "who don't believe some people should be protected. I believe all children should. (Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) students should not be in fear." He also said AFAM is using the bill as a fundraiser and to motivate its base. He said it's "fanning bigotry across the state, anxiety across the state. "Unfortunately, we're talking about school kids here,"
Anderson said.
"It's difficult to express how I feel about someone using that to
raise money when not all children are afforded a safe environment to learn."
Richardville said he doesn't doubt that gay students — and those perceived as
gay — face bullying at school. "I don't espouse that lifestyle, but there are
students figuring those things out. I just don't think we should spell things
out (in legislation)," Richardville said. "That's not my agenda item." He
condemns "radical" groups that use hate speech, like the Kansas Westboro Baptist
Church's "God hates fags" campaign. Richardville said he views issues through a
Christian lens in which you "love the sinner, but hate the sin."
Richardville said after talking with Education Chair Wayne KUIPERS
(R-Holland) he believes taking out the specific groups will make it easier to
pass the bill. Anderson said he's willing to compromise and remains optimistic.
"If you try to get everything, you won't get everything," Richardville
said.

Right Wing Leaders Rebuke the Right Wing

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:58:00 +0000

I am a huge fan of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. I read their Church and State zine cover to cover every month.

This month's Church has a very exciting piece about former right-wing evangelicals rebuking the religious right. You will see it here.

"How to Be Gay" Class Still Controversial

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:30:00 +0000

The infamous class at U of M, "How to be Gay" is no longer being taught but it still riles up the conservative wing-nuts. Here is another news item on the issue with quotes from me.

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=culture&sc2=features&sc3=&id=71356

2000 Queers Laughing at ourselves

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:33:00 +0000

One of the reasons I love ComedyFest is that it is one of the rare opporunities our community gets together outside of the bar scene (and don't get me wrong I love our local Detroit clubs). There is no smoke, free parking and nearly 2000 LGBT people just being ourselves.

It is a great opportunity to meet people, socialize and just plain relax. The Michigan Lesbian and Gay ComedyFest is now the largest LGBT comedy event in the nation.

I have gone every year since Triangle Foundation started producing it and believe it is a terrific bargain for your money. For just $30 dollars you get four national LGBT comics.

By the end of the evening, everyone has had a good time seeing old and new friends and just laughing. Too often we take our lives and our movment too seriously. ComedyFest allows us to just have fun and detach from the seriousness of it all.

To check it out or order tix for you and your friends/family go to www.ComedyFest.org

Guerilla Queer Bar featured in Metro Times

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Metro Times featured the Detroit Guerilla Queer Bar. See the story here

I personally think the idea of storming straight bars with a hundred GLBT folks is hilarious and politically powerful. There is no more direct way to show the power of the GLBT dollar while also forceing people to realize that any bar could be a gay bar in the flick of a wrist.

Congrats to Matt Stanton, who I have known for over 12 years and who volunteers at Triangle Foundation.

Larry Craig Publicly Spanked

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:43:00 +0000

Larry Craig has been publicly spanked by the US Senate for bringing shame on the Senate and for using his position to try to get out of trouble.

Read the full post here

I disagree with the committee in their assumption that Craig committed the act he pled to and it is unfortunate that gay offenders get more public humiliation than heterosexuals but at least the Senate is putting down their foot on Craig because he is a hypocrite.

I'm A God Father!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:02:00 +0000

Today my new nephew was baptized and his parents, my brother Jason and his wife Sandy, asked me to be the God Father. Of course I was honored, even though the "God Father" thing for me is less about religion and more about my diablolical plan to be little Anthony's favorite uncle.

I rarely step foot in a church unless someone is getting married, someone has died or some political meeting is happening there. But this time it meant a great deal to me to be asked to be Anthony's God Father. One interesting challenge for me was that I was expected to write a letter to my nephew and read it aloud in the church.

The church was packed, it was St. Johns in Fenton, Michigan. What could I do with this opportunity to address the congregation of the church that pushed me so deep in the closet for so long? Should I use this opportunity to get a subtle jab in to the church about diversity and inclusion? After all, the Michigan Catholic Conference spent over a million dollars in 2004 working to ban marriage equality and opposed our hate crimes legislation in 1998. They had it coming to them.

They tried attacking my family, but here I was back in the church, invited by family, celebrating family. They can put barriers in the way of gay families but they can't but barriers in the way of love and my family loves me no matter what. My brother asked his gay brother to be his son's God Father. How cool!

I decided I would keep my letter secular and no one would notice because it would be sweet, poetic, and whimsical. I pulled it off and was excited, and nervous.

After my remarks, a number family members, parishoners (including the priest) complemented me for the great letter and others were actually crying. I was a hit. :)

My letter to my nephew follows. Enjoy.

Letter to my nephew

Anthony,

You won’t believe what your parents did! They did something truly amazing. In a world where decisions are made in haste, you were part of a plan. In a world distracted by celebrity and gossip, your parents were focused on you. In a world poisoned by lead, pollution and noise your parents decided to create something beautiful.

Anthony, you won’t believe what your father did! He loved your mother so much he wanted to start a family…and he did. He loved your sister so much…he wanted to have you. As a man with many responsibilities, your father prioritized you. In a world where boys call themselves men and these “men” see family as a chore, your father lifted you and your family up as his dream and his pride.

Anthony you won’t believe what your mother did! In a world filled with abandonment your mother was there from the start. She made sure you had a strong principled father that would be there for you always. She became a healer, a sage, a chef, an advocate, a referee, an investor and an architect of your well-being. She became all that she could so you could do the same. In a world where some mothers have given up, your mother has given you all of herself.

Most of all, your parents have promised to be your best friends and biggest fans.
I promise you that I will support you and your parents – no matter what. I pledge to be a mentor, a friend, a helping hand, a sounding board and a source of moral leadership in your life. I promise to love you, listen to you, challenge you and when you parents aren’t around I will spoil you rotten.

Anthony, you won’t believe how excited we are for you. Today a journey begins that hopes to prepare you for all that lies ahead. Being welcomed by your church, by your family and by a global community that hopes to leave this planet better than how they found it. I hope to be with you on this journey for as long as I know you.

Fun GM Style Event Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:58:00 +0000

I recently attended the GM Style event as a kickoff to the North American International Auto Show coming to Detroit. The Style event was amazing and GM spared no expense to throw an amazing party. Plenty of celebs, dignitaries, models, singers, and of course cars.

Dress was "casual chic" but plenty of folks were looking hot at this event. There was an after party for the local and national gay media in town and GLBT reporters at auto magazines. Plenty of fun. Check out the pics here.

My Scar

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:11:00 +0000

Here is my most recent column in Between the Lines.

My Scar

All Politics is Loco: My scarby Sean KosofskyOriginally printed 01/17/2008 (Issue 1602 - Between The Lines News)

I have always prided myself in the fact that I rarely get sick. I have never broken a bone, I don't recall every getting the flu and overall I rarely am under the weather. The body I have is a body I have taken care of and in return I have been rewarded with good health. Granted much of this could be luck or good genes, but either way it is a fact.

Also, during my life I never racked up a lot of scars. The trophies to rough and tumble play, contact supports, construction work and careless handling of household tools are hard to find on me. Until recently.

In 2007 my doctor noticed that a small mole on my chest was turning darker. She decided to take a biopsy which entailed carving out a small chunk of skin from my chest, with something that looked like a cross between a small mellon baller and a metal pen. It was uncomfortable but in just a few days the results came back negative, but my doctor still worried about this pesky mole. So I had to come in a second time for her to scoop out the rest. I was worried about the scar it would leave especially when I removed the bandages and saw the (what looked like a crater-sized) hole.

The scar has healed now and there is a new point of interest on the landscape of my chest. It is a dime-sized pink cluster of tissue that is a daily reminder, each time I look in the mirror after getting out of the shower, that I was one of the lucky ones. I had health insurance.

Many of us that have always had health insurance - decent to good health insurance - know that 90% of the time the only inconvenience is the darn several-dollar co-pay for pharmaceuticals or the doctor's visit. But for those without health insurance, each day is like running an obstacle course of dodging germs, driving slower, not participating in sports or other recreational fun, and being extra careful about what you eat or drink and sometimes doing the same for your partner or children.

In Michigan nearly a million people are uninsured and many more are underinsured. And that number is growing. This is unfathomable to me that in the wealthiest nation in the world we cannot get every American the basic medical attention they need to prevent health or financial-related disaster for them or their family.

There are two ballot measures coming to Michigan this year that will directly impact this. First, this week a campaign was launched to pass universal health care in Michigan. We would be the first state to pass such a broad and progressive proposal. This is most certainly a GLBT Issues especially since so many employers either do not cover domestic partner benefits and because marriage equality keeps us from accessing the benefits that do exist for our partners. Such a ballot measure may also help transgender people with necessary transitioning services. Triangle Foundation is strongly supporting the health care ballot measure and you should too. Polling shows the measure will likely easily pass in Michigan, especially with growing concerns that our economy may leave more people uninsured in 2008.

The next ballot measure you should be wary of is something deceptively called "Right to Work" which I call "Divide and Destroy." This measure could shred labor unions in our state which would dramatically reduce the number of people in Michigan with health insurance, not to mention diminishing the power of organized labor which would lower wages in Michigan. "Right to Work" states have lower standards of living and worse health for its citizens.

In 2008 do your part for the GLBT movement while also helping countless other populations by supporting the universal health care ballot measure. Support our friends in labor and don't let Michigan regress any further like we did under the marriage ban of 2004 and the affirmative action ban in 2006. We must fight for a Michigan that people want to call home. Michigan has its own scars in our state constitution. We can begin to heal those in 2008 if we vote for our community to be protected.

Sean Kosofsky is the Director of Policy for Triangle Foundation, Michigan's leading GLBT civil rights organization.

Disecting the Pledge of Allegiance

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Dissecting the Pledge of Allegiance
by Sean Kosofsky
Originally printed 01/03/2008 (Issue 1601 - Between The Lines News)

All Politics is Loco

This holiday season many of us will be wrapped in the warm thoughts of family, friendship, pretty holiday lights and our most attractive winter outfits. Many of us will drink eggnog, eat too many cookies and lie to children about Santa Claus. It is just what we do.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about cultural customs that we perform or engage in without thought. One of them is the Pledge of Allegiance. Since we were very small many of us were taught the same things about Santa Claus that we were about religion. And we were taught that family was important and patriotism, too. It is time to give more thought to the Pledge of Allegiance. So curl up with your hot cocoa, throw up the sash or eat your figgy pudding but please indulge me in examining our national addiction to obedience.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Word for word, the Pledge of Allegiance is an orgy of patriotic idolatry. First of all, the pledge focuses on the individual, not the family, the community, or the state in which you live. "I pledge" means that each of us as individuals are expected to make a personal commitment and promise to fulfill what we are about to promise. Who is monitoring us? Who is checking to see if we are allegiant? The CIA? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security? Our nosey neighbor? What does it mean to pledge allegiance? Basically we are all on our own and must be constantly on guard to make sure we are dutifully wrapped in the flag.

And why are we pledging allegiance to an object? No really...why? If the goal is to get Americans to be loyal to their country why are we not promising our loyalty to the Capitol Building, the White House or to the U.S. Constitution? Symbolism is important and it runs through much of our culture and many of our religions so I understand what the U.S. Flag is supposed to represent but let's be clear that it does not mean only one thing.

The flag means many things to many people. Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan would have very different ideas about what the flag represents. For some it was westward expansion and for others it was the extermination of Native Americans, and for others it was land. Nowadays people will say it stands for liberty, justice and freedom, but can they explain what they mean. After 9/11 it really bothered me to watch so many Americans slap American flags on their homes or on their cars without the simplest understanding of why. I asked my friend why he put an American flag sticker on his car and he was speechless. Patriotism for patriotisms sake!

"One nation, under God. indivisible" is my favorite part to pick at. We are not one nation. As John Edwards has declared on many occasions, "there are two Americas" - and probably thirty or forty Americas. Native Americans have been raped, murdered, displaced, robbed and lied to by this America. Poor people have been thrown under the bus by this America. Huge corporations own this America. If we were truly living in "one nation" there would be no need to spy on our citizens, and we would all devote our nation's resources to caring for each other and work to eliminate poverty and injustice. But we don't live in that nation. We live in a nation divided. So divided we can't even agree that war is bad and health care is good.

Our U.S. Constitution and the founding fathers were clear that we have a separation of church and state. There is no religious test for President and there shouldn't be a religious test for citizenship. It doesn't matter if you worship a sky god or tree gods, one god or fifty. You can be an American and be Godless. Now that is the American way.

Whenever my friend Tom Zerafa says the Pledge he always waits for the end. "With liberty and justice FOR ALL." He always says the last part louder so everyone can here. He is making a point. This pledge is empty as long as each American saying it is actually pledging liberty and justice for all Americans. If you voted for the marriage ban, or the Affirmative Action ban or for George Bush the second time, you have no right saying the Pledge of Allegiance. You should be saying you're sorry instead.

Sean Kosofsky is the Director of Policy for Triangle Foundation, Michigan's leading civil rights, advocacy and anti-violence organization for LGBT people.

Trans Coverage in the media improving?

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:56:00 +0000

I am a huge fan of Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) and they have a very good analysis of the way the trans issue is being covered nowadays.

Usually FAIR is blasting outlets for glaring omissions and biases but this piece has a little bit of praise and criticism for the current state of trans coverage.

Read it here.

In Michigan we still routinely have to deal with editors running headlines like "transexual charged with prostitution" when they would never run something like "Italian charged with prostitution."

Luckily most press coverage in Michigan has been good but I fear that many reporters avoid the topic due to lack of familiarity and not wanting to mis-step on terminology.

More men OUT Larry Craig

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:25:00 +0000

More men are outing Sen. Larry Craig. Check it out here.

This man's poor family must be squirming. How painful it must be to watch him implode like this.

FBI Stats are mixed bag on Hate Crimes

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:44:00 +0000

I was recently quoted in a number of places criticizing the FBI annual hate crime report. The numbers are grossly inaccurate and most of the media treats them as if they are highly sophisticated, professionally gathered statistics.

You can read more here

The Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990 requires that all local law enforcement agencies report hate crimes. Problem is that only half of all police agencies have a "bias" box on their police report. So immediately 50% of all police are not reporting. The other half have received little to no training on hate crimes, what makes them different and the importance of these statistics. Until these number mean something, like money for survivors or real societal education, the numbers will be flat and empty.

Great Quote from Mark Twain

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:58:00 +0000

I love this quote from Mark Twain about the Jewish community. It reminds me a great deal of the contributions of the GLBT Community.

"...If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it.
The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"
- Mark Twain("Concerning The Jews," Harper's Magazine, 1899, see The Complete Essays of Mark Twain, Doubleday [1963] pg. 249)

Three MI Republicans Vote for ENDA

noreply@blogger.com (Sean Kosofsky) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:55:00 +0000

Yesterday was the historic and controversial vote on ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act). Three Michigan Republican Congresspersons voted YES which was very surprising to me given their past record.
They were: Congressman Joe Knollenberg, Candice Miller, and Thaddeus McCotter.

McCotter and Miller have both been co-sponsors of the Federal Marriage Amendment and Knollenberg used to have a 0% voting record with the Human Rights Campaign.

I am pretty certain that Knollenberg's position on ENDA stems from his current Democratic Challenger Gary Peters, whom many people believe may defeat him next November. Peters is known for being progressive on GLBT issues.