VIDEO: Trans Activists Storm Stage At Task Force's Creating Change Convention

I reported on this early today and this afternoon the Task Force posted video. The audio cuts in and out early in the clip but returns after few minutes.

DENVER: Mayor Cancels Speech To Task Force After Trans Advocates Storm Stage

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock canceled his planned welcoming address at the Task Force's annual  Creating Change conference last night after a large group of transgender advocates stormed the stage in protest of the recent killing of a Latina teen by Denver police. Michelle Garcia reports at the Advocate:

Task Force deputy executive director Russell Roybal and Creating Change director Sue Hyde welcomed thousands of attendees at this year's conference in Denver Thursday evening, and both showed emotion as they remarked upon the death of queer Latina Jessie Hernandez. Last week, Hernandez was fatally shot by police fire in Denver in a car authorities report was stolen. After Hyde and Roybal introduced the evening's emcee, comedian Kate Clinton, a group of trans activists and allies, led by Bamby Salcedo, stormed the stage with dozens of handmade signs as the chant "Jessie Presente!" filled the ballroom. Shortly after the demonstration, an activist told The Advocate that Creating Change organizers were not told about the action, in case the trans activists would not be allowed into the ballroom of the Sheraton in downtown Denver. Not only did Salcedo demand better accountability on the part of police and the criminal justice system, she also called for LGBTQ organizations to include transgender people on their boards and staffs as decision makers. "If you serve us, you need to include us," Salcedo said to a crowd cheering and raising their fists in solidarity.

After the stage was cleared, Roybal announced that Hancock would not be making his speech. Learn more about the Hernandez shooting at this Feministing post. Follow Creating Change on Twitter at this hashtag.

The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Is Now The National LGBTQ Task Force

Via the Washington Post:

It's a subtle change, but a nod to the group's plans to shift attention to the types of legal and social issues that have arisen as the nation's thinking on gay rights has shifted dramatically in recent years. The decision has been in the works for several months, but is announced two days after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to let stand rulings that allow same-sex marriage in Virginia, Utah, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin. That stunning, unexpected decision means that marriage rights are likely to be extended to other states covered by the federal appeals courts that already have ruled that the bans are unconstitutional: Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In light of growing support and a shift in judicial thinking, "We want to reflect the next era of the LGBTQ movement and our country," Rea Carey, the group's executive director, said in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday. "We need to look beyond marriage, to tear down the other barriers for LGBTQ members to participate in society. There’s a lot of issues that face our lives that marriage simply doesn’t portend to."

RELATED: The group's Miami Recognition Dinner will take place this Saturday at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach where the honorees include transgender former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck.

LGBT Groups React To Oregon Ruling

Oregon United

"The importance of Judge McShane’s decision cannot be overemphasized,” said David Fidanque, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon. “Our federal Constitution does not allow any state – or its voters – to deny same sex couples equal protection under the law simply because of who they are and who they love. This type of discrimination is wrong and it’s also unconstitutional.” "Our clients Deanna Geiger & Janine Nelson and Bob Duehig and Bill Griesar are grateful the Attorney General, Governor, Ms. Woodward and Mr. Walruff carefully considered their position and so clearly articulated Oregon’s position that it values our relationships and commitments to each other and our families," said Lee Ann Easton, an attorney at Dorsay & Easton who, with co-counsel Lake Periguey, filed the Geiger case. "They are very pleased the District Court adopted their position along with the Rummell plaintiffs in his decision. With this advancement of civil rights, gay and lesbian Oregonians are now equal under the law.”

Freedom To Marry

"Today Judge McShane did the right thing for families, affirming that the denial of marriage to committed same-sex couples in Oregon is unconstitutional. In recognition of the strong support for marriage among Oregonians, no one with legal standing, including our state Attorney General, wanted to go down in history as defending discrimination. Across the country, the courts agree: same-sex couples and their families need the protections of marriage, and anti-marriage laws are indefensible. With over 70 marriage cases now making their way through the courts, today's decision in Oregon underscores that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry."

GLAAD

U.S. District Judge Michael McShane stated in his ruling, "Because Oregon’s marriage laws discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, the laws violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." "Love is in the air in Oregon," said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis. "This ruling is going to add stability to LGBT couples and families across the state and continue to advance LGBT equality across the country." Hearings were held on April 23, but here were no defendants in court to defend the marriage ban, because the state's Attorney General refused to defend the amendment, saying the ban serves no rational purpose.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

"We are delighted that Judge Michael McShane has finally brought a decade of uncertainty to a close with his ruling. Thousands of LGBTQ couples will be celebrating today across Oregon and around the nation. We are another step closer to marriage equality everywhere for everyone. This victory would not have been possible without the leadership of Oregon United for Marriage who are: Basic Rights Oregon, Human Rights Campaign, Freedom to Marry, ACLU of OR, ACLU National, SEIU of OR, American Unity Fund, Gill Action, and countless other Task Force Action Fund staff and volunteers."

Human Rights Campaign

“Today’s ruling from Judge McShane affirms what a majority of Oregonians already knew: discrimination has no place in our society, much less the state constitution. The plaintiffs and their tremendous attorneys Lake James Perriguey, Lea Ann Easton, Perkins Coie LLP, the ACLU of Oregon and the ACLU, should be incredibly proud of their historic victory. Thanks to their willingness to fight and the decades of work done by groups like Basic Rights Oregon and countless others, America is now one giant step closer to full equality nationwide.”

National LGBT Groups Threaten To Derail Immigration Bill Over Gay Exclusion

From a press release jointly issued by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, GLAAD, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, United We Dream and Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project:

Our primary goal is to pass a commonsense, compassionate immigration reform bill that puts our nation's undocumented men, women and children on a pathway to citizenship. That pathway would provide at least 267,000 LGBT undocumented people the opportunity to become full participants in our economy and our democracy.

We do not believe that our friends in the evangelical faith community or conservative Republicans would allow the entire immigration reform bill to fail simply because it affords 28,500 same-sex couples equal immigration rights. This take-it-or-leave-it stance with regard to same-sex binational couples is not helpful when we all share the same goal of passing comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship.

We all deserve a chance to live with dignity, to pursue our dreams, and to work for a better future and better quality of life. Our current immigration system is broken. It dehumanizes, scapegoats and vilifies all immigrants, including LGBT immigrants, and their friends and families. Comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform is an urgent priority for our nation and the LGBT community. We stand firmly that the following principles must be included if we are to truly have comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

NOM reacts with the below headline.

Sen. Marco Rubio says that the bill will fail if the proposed gay-inclusive amendment is attached.

“It will virtually guarantee that it won’t pass,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a member of the Gang of Eight negotiating group, told POLITICO in a brief interview. “This issue is a difficult enough issue as it is. I respect everyone’s views on it. But ultimately, if that issue is injected into this bill, the bill will fail and the coalition that helped put it together will fall apart.” As the legislation moves through the Judiciary Committee and on to the Senate floor, many people will make pronouncements about things that must be kept in or kept out of the bill — but few issues worry the Gang of Eight as much as same sex partner rights.

The proposed amendment may be familiar to you as the Uniting American Families Act, which was first introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler in 2000 as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act.  As a stand-alone bill, it has failed in the last seven consecutive Congresses and has never advanced out of its House or Senate committees.

Winter Party 2013: March 6-11

The 20th annual Winter Party hits South Beach in just a few weeks. I was at the very first one and have only missed four or five in the last two decades. Sure, I no longer have the energy (or desire, really) to attend the giant til-the-break-of-dawn megaclub events that Winter Party is rightfully famous for, but I do so love the daytime beach and pool parties - even if I now spend a large amount of the time perched in the shade.  And it's worth noting that despite some of the images such as those seen in the clip below, there are many, many attendees who are my age-and-body peers. (He said tactfully.) The Task Force really does draw quite a diverse crowd and raises a shitload of money for South Florida's LGBT and AIDS charities. Highly recommended. I'll be under an umbrella holding something fruity.

Winter Party: Under One Sun

Yesterday Father Tony and I attended the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Winter Party's Under One Sun pool event at Miami Beach's Surfcomber Hotel. This is the 19th annual Winter Party and I think I've only missed handful since 1993. Hit the play button for lots of happy people raising money for South Florida LGBT and AIDS causes. The Winter Party is volunteer-produced and staffed and 100% of the proceeds stay local. Amazing. Full-screen photos here.

After the pool event we attended a cocktail party for some of the big Task Force donors, then we headed north for the annual official Winter Party satellite event in Fort Lauderdale, which this year was held at Wilton Manor's sprawling bear bar, Bill's Filling Station. Which mean's I've gotten to hear DJ Herbie James for three nights in a row. Crazy fun there and a sound system that really did justice to Herbie's deep trance sound.

Today: the official and main beach event. I'm pre-exhausted!

House & Senate Get DOMA Repeal Bills

The Respect For Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA, was introduced today in both the House and Senate. The Task Force reacts via press release:

“It is shocking that in 21st-century America, legally married same-sex couples are being singled out and selectively denied fundamental rights by their own federal government. This is an outrage. The Respect for Marriage Act does just that — it respects and protects the rights of legally married couples to live free from this government-sanctioned discrimination. Today’s introduction marks an important step toward recognizing our common humanity and ending an egregious injustice against thousands of loving, committed couples who simply want the protections, rights and responsibilities already afforded other married couples. We thank the many House and Senate members who recognize that DOMA has no place on the books and support its full, swift repeal. DOMA has only served to belittle our country’s deeply held values of freedom and fairness. It has only served to hurt families, not help. This must end now.”

Plaintiffs in one of the federal suits to overturn DOMA appeared at a DC press conference this morning.

Nancy Gill and Marcelle Letourneau joined other married same-sex couples at two Capitol Hill press conferences today in support of a bill filed to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act. They were accompanied by GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary L. Boanauto, who is representing them and other Massachusetts couples and widowers in the DOMA Section 3 challenge Gill et al v. OPM. “Marcelle and I have been happily together for 30 years and happily married for five,” said Nancy Gill, a federal postal employee for 23 years. “We’re raising two kids. Unlike my married co-workers, I can’t put Marcelle on my health insurance because of DOMA. Our family should be treated the same as the families of our co-workers, and our children should be just as secure as theirs

While the Respect For Marriage Act has numerous cosponsors in both chambers, the bill is considered to have little chance of success.

Winter Party 2011

Yesterday Father Tony and I were joined by my dear Orlando friend Thomas for the 16th annual Winter Party on South Beach. This (I think) was my 11th time attending and once again the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and their volunteer staff delivered a flawless event. Huge kudos to Task Force head Rea Carey, Winter Party event chair Chad Richter, and their army of smiley helpful volunteers. And we loved the trampoline stunt show.

I was especially pleased (of course) by the high turnout of bears this year and made it point to get some of their photos for those who complained yesterday about the smooth aesthetic of Saturday's pool party. Hit the slideshow at the bottom of this post for photos of many, many hotties of all ages, races, body types, and fur distributions. Full-screen versions here.

SLIDESHOW: Under One Sun

Yesterday Father Tony and I spent the afternoon at the Winter Party Festival's Under One Sun event at Miami Beach's Surfcomber Hotel. As you can see, it was quite the festive mob scene, so I spent much of the party comfortably removed in one of the poolside balcony cabanas. And I still got sunburned.
SLIDESHOW: Many hotties within. Full-screen images here.

NEW YORK CITY: National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Joins Battle Against Walmart

As I've reported here for months, Walmart is engaged in a pitched battle with unions and city leaders in their attempt to bring an outlet to New York City. Today the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force came out against the retail giant.

“With the expansion of Wal-Mart stores comes the expansion of antiquated employment policies,” the Task Force said in a statement, “that provide little to no protections for, and at times even hostility toward, their LGBT employees.” The Task Force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same sex-partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identify. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better. “It may be a local debate for New York City, but Wal-Mart is a largest private employer in country,” said Rea Carey, the executive director of the Task Force. “To have Wal-Mart as a substantial employer there, and an employer that lacks these basic protections, then a lot of people who need work, who seek work, simply won’t feel comfortable.”

Walmart contends that it does treat its gay staffers fairly and points to the existence of its long-running LGBT employees group.

Reactions To SOTU Mention Of DADT

National Stonewall Democrats:

Tonight, National Stonewall Democrats commend President Barack Obama for calling for the end of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. We are concerned that President Obama did not address workplace discrimination during his first State of the Union address to Congress.

Human Rights Campaign:

With the President's leadership, now it is up to Congress to act. We're rolling out a new strategic campaign to do exactly that - put an end to the discriminatory law that's forced thousands of lesbian and gay members of the military to lie about who they are or face losing their jobs. We've spent months designing a plan to pass legislation which repeals DADT. The plan will include organizing veterans across the country, generating media coverage in key markets and building focused campaigns in targeted states that will be critical to securing the final votes in the House and Senate. First step: pushing legislation through the House by building a well-spring of support from representatives, while laying the groundwork for a critical fight in the Senate. Help us capitalize on the President's pledge tonight by asking your representative and senators to move quickly to repeal DADT. Tomorrow morning when Congress returns to work, we want to make sure their inboxes are flooded with emails echoing the President's call to repeal DADT.

Lambda Legal:

We have heard promises before about ending 'Don’t Ask, Don't Tell' and we welcome the President's statement tonight that the time has finally come to fulfill that promise. Very little has changed since Lambda Legal represented Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer 18 years ago after she was discharged for being a lesbian. Changing this discriminatory policy is long overdue. The military is our nation's largest employer and this government sanctioned discrimination must end. We will continue to advocate for the repeal of DADT so that gay and lesbian services members and their families can serve openly and with the same support afforded to other military families.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force:

President Obama tonight vowed this year to work with Congress and the military to finally repeal the reprehensible ban on openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. While we know the State of the Union speech aims to present broad visions, the next time President Obama speaks to or about our community, he must provide a concrete blueprint for his leadership and action moving forward — this includes his willingness to stop the discharges happening on his watch until Congress can fulfill its responsibility to overturn the law. The time for broad statements is over. The time to get down to business is overdue. We wish we had heard him speak of concrete steps tonight.

Equality California:

We appreciate President Obama reiterating his commitment to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but words do not end discrimination – actions do,” said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors. “We call on President Obama to immediately cease discharging openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members and to take a stand for equality in the military. Thousands of LGBT service members have bravely served our nation, and they deserve the same protections as all Americans. We urge President Obama and Congress to act swiftly to overturn this discriminatory policy.

NOTE: All of the above quotes were delivered via press release. Expanded commentary may be found on the organizations' sites.

Reversal: Task Force Endorses National Equality March

UPDATE: The Task Force writes to note that the below is actually their first official statement on the National Equality March and as such should not be considered a reversal of earlier positions.

Reversing the position they gave me in a statement in early June, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has issued an endorsement of the National Equality March.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a leader in building grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political power, endorses the National Equality March, which will be held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10-11. Thousands of people from across the country will march and rally in front of the U.S. Capitol demanding equal protection under the law for LGBT people and their families in all 50 states. At the march, the Task Force will engage new activists, support fair-minded clergy and other people of faith, and mobilize volunteer activists to return home engaged and energized.

"For the past 30 years, LGBT people and our allies have come together in Washington to be inspired, to engage in political action, and to go home geared up to create change. The National Equality March will bring together those of us who have never marched, those who want to renew their passion for action, and those who demand their voices be heard. When we mobilize for LGBT equality, for racial and economic justice, for a transformed society, and to make our love and lives visible, the Task Force is there. The Task Force will be there at the march to support the voices of new activists, LGBT people and our allies who push and push for the end to hatred, discrimination and unjust laws," says National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey.

Back in June, the Task Force said: "National marches can certainly have a community-building impact when energized participants return to their hometowns and get involved, but in an economic downturn — when resources are extremely limited for individuals and organizations, and critical work remains to be done locally — focusing on grassroots organizing at home is all the more critical."

NGLTF On The March On Washington

I've asked some major LGBT rights organizations to issue a statement saying whether they support the proposed March On Washington in 2009. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's executive director Rea Carey responds:

“The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has long held that equality begins at home and that power is built from the ground up. We have seen enormous progress made in towns, cities and states across the country as grassroots activists have focused their energy and talents on creating change in their own backyards.

“Out of the nationwide Equality Begins at Home campaign, organized by the Task Force in the late 1990s, thousands of activists got to the hard work of affecting policies and changing hearts and minds through 350 political actions in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. We saw the incredible potency of tens of thousands of activists getting engaged in their own states — which in turn helped drive the national dialogue about and advancement of LGBT equality. With the tremendous opportunities and challenges that face us in states across the country, we encourage people to get involved in their local communities, meet with their elected officials to educate them about the broad range of issues that are important to LGBT people, and stay engaged with the work of achieving equality.

“Activism takes many forms, from netroots organizing, to people taking to the streets after the November elections, to people talking with their family members and friends about being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — sometimes for the first time in their lives. National marches can certainly have a community-building impact when energized participants return to their hometowns and get involved, but in an economic downturn — when resources are extremely limited for individuals and organizations, and critical work remains to be done locally — focusing on grassroots organizing at home is all the more critical. To make change, to be part of making history, one need go no farther than our own hometowns, our own dinner tables, our own places of worship, our own statehouses.”

That feels like a definite "No" from the Task Force. The HRC's response is here. Response from other major LGBT orgs are in the works and will be posted here as they come in.

New York Governor David Paterson's Video Message To The Task Force

Here's the video that Gov. Paterson sent to last night's New York Leadership Awards.

I think he's fantastic.