Feds Beef Up LGBT Senior Protections

Via White House press release:

As part of the White House Conference on Aging today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued guidance to better serve and help avoid discrimination to LGBT Americans seeking HUD-assisted or HUD-insured housing. The guidance will help clarify the Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Rule (Equal Access Rule), which was originally published in 2012. The Equal Access Rule ensures that housing across HUD programs is open to all eligible individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, including Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. “Every American deserves to live with dignity, regardless of who they love or who they are,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “HUD is committed to fighting unjust discrimination and to expanding housing opportunity for all.”

And if you screw with LGBT seniors: "HUD may pursue any available remedy, including sanctions, that it determines appropriate to remedy the violation." BOOM.

SAN ANTONIO: Anti-Gay Groups Launch Recall Drive Against City Officials

Almost immediate after San Antonio passed an ordinance that added LGBT residents to employment and housing protections, anti-gay groups have launched a recall drive against Mayor Julian Castro and the members of the city council who voted for the measure. The San Antonio Current reports:

After council members in Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (plus the Mayor) cast ‘yes’ votes to include LGBT groups in the City’s current Non-discrimination ordinances, a strategy to unseat the majority of council began. Martinez says the plan ranges from knocking on doors to showing up wherever council members may be— from public and community meetings to member-hosted events—with the mission to collect signatures. The faction says they’re even planting themselves outside district field offices with the hopes of wrangling in more petitioners. The ordinance opponents need 6,000 signatures from registered voters (valid 180 days from the first signer) to begin the recall process for council members and 75,000 for Castro.

City Councilman Diego Bernal reacts: "If these people want me out of office simply because I want to treat everyone in this city fairly and equally, it says more about them than it does about me."  Organizers of the recall drive were reportedly emboldened by the recall of two pro-gun control Colorado legislators earlier this month. San Antonio's ordinance, which is similar to those in 21 states and dozens of cities nationwide, has been attacked by the Family Research Council and Pat Robertson, who claims that Christians will now be jailed.

RELATED: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has retreated on his vow to sue San Antonio over the ordinance.

San Antonio Wingnuts Angry That Mayor Will Be Grand Marshal Of Gay Pride

San Antonio wingnut radio host Adam McManus is calling on his "army" of listeners to demand that Mayor Julian Castro pull out of his planned appearance as grand marshal of that city's gay pride parade. Castro will be the first San Antonio mayor to do so.

ACTION STEPS FOR ADAM'S ARMY:

1. Call San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro at 210.207.7060 to object politely to his decision to become the first Mayor in San Antonio history to serve as the Grand Marshall of the San Antonio Homosexual Pride Parade on July 4th. You can leave a message after business hours.

2. Send Mayor Julian Castro a polite e-mail objecting to his decision to serve as Grand Marshall in the Homosexual pride Parade on July 4th: mayorjuliancastro@sanantonio.gov

"Homosexual pride parade." Ooh, buuurn. San Antonio activists will appear at a city council meeting tonight at 5pm to support their mayor against this attack. Hey, why don't you send Mayor Castro an email thanking him for supporting San Antonio's LGBT community? Help Texas change.

(Via - By The Bayou)