LGBT Fast Friday News 9/14/12

Sep14

Fast Friday is a weekly feature in which I provide links to news items and other resources of interest to the LGBT community.

Let’s go VIRAL!! I posted the following pic of Herb and the DOMA issue on my Facebook page yesterday … then thought perhaps it’s time to make our voices heard loud and strong on this issue. I challenge every one of you to hit the SHARE button and post it on every FB and Google+ and Pintrest page you can! (And any other pages for that matter). Stand up for what’s right. DOMA is discriminatory, hurtful and damaging. Are you up for the challenge???? Also, FB users should reposition the pic so your readers can see the last line …

Giuliani Disavows Former Aide Over Homophobic Mailer [Advocate]

Gov. Romney Didn’t Know Gay People Had Families [Advocate]

An Ally’s Guide to Issues Facing LGBT Americans [M.A.P.]

The First “Approve Referendum 74″ TV Ad Airs Statewide in Washington [Washington United for Marriage]

Marriage Fact Check [Washington united for Marriage]

UPDATE 2:00 p.m. The following posts were added on my Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law blog Facebook page today:

USA: Gay and transgender discrimination in the public sector [PSI]

One Big Event – Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective Gala

LGBT Equality Is an Economic Issue [The Bilerico Project]

Senators introduce bill to ban same-sex marriages on military bases [SD LGBT Weekly]

Extremist Christian Group Publishes Hateful, Anti-Gay Pamphlet…for Kids [HRC]

Dems call on Thompson to fire senior adviser who gay-baited Tammy Baldwin [Wisconsin Gazette]

Brendon Ayanbadejo says 70 percent of NFL players support gay marriage. Here are 27 of them [NBC Sports]

D.C. Office of Human Rights Unveils Groundbreaking Transgender Ad Campaign [HRC]

Churches Need Protection From Gay Marriage ‘Coercion’, Says Eric Pickles [Huffington Post]

Mark Grisanti, New York State Senator, Targeted In Anti-Gay Marriage Attack Ad [Huffington Post]

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Disclaimer: The information, comments and links posted on the blog do not constitute legal advice. I will not respond to any specific legal questions in the comments section of this blog. Read my entire disclaimer.

Lambda Legal Asks Court to Uphold Ruling in Favor of Transgender Woman Who Was Fired

Dec2

Lamba Legal is doing what it does best: fighting for the rights of LGBT citizens who have been wrongly discriminated against in this country. The team is now in court urging the Eleventh Circuit to uphold a ruling in favor of a transgender woman who was fired by the Georgia Legislature.

I don’t know about you, folks, but to have a government entity commit such blatant discrimination is shocking. (It’s a lot like DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, isn’t it?)

The case went to court in 2008. Lambda Legal argued that being fired for gender identity violated the State Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. In 2010, the court ruled in favor of the woman, Vandy Beth Glenn, saying that being fired for not confirming to a gender stereotype was unconstitutional. However, it rejected the equal protection issue. The ruling was appealed.

Read the press release here.

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Google Increases Health Benefits for Transgender Employees

Nov23

I came across a post on the GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) website announcing that effective immediately, Google will increase health care benefits for its transgender employees. Google has always been supportive of its LGBT employees and this latest move is to be commended.

Read the entire post here.

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Follow Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law blog on Facebook for all blog posts from this blog as well as additional stories and links of interest to the LGBT community. Be sure to LIKE our page.

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Follow the Law Offices of Irene C. Olszewski, LLC on Facebook. Be sure to LIKE our page.

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Visit us on Google+ and be sure to join our circle.

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1st Circuit Finds Transgender Inmate Entitled to Hormone Therapy

Jun7

On May 20th, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit affirmed a federal district court ruling ordering Massachusetts officials to provide hormone therapy and gender-appropriate clothing for a transgender detainee at the state’s Treatment Center for Sexually Dangerous Persons.

The Plaintiff in the action, born David Megarry, is now named Sandy Battista. After serving most of a 20-year sentence for the rape of a child, robbery and kidnapping, Battista was involuntarily committed to the Treatment Center for Sexually Dangerous Persons. The length of that commitment is undetermined and release hinges upon Battista being able to prove she is safe to rejoin the civilian population.

Battista sought treatment from prison officials for her gender identity disorder as early as 1996 but her requests were met with skepticism and resistance. Other psychiatric professionals did validate her disorder and recommended hormone therapy, which was not provided to her due to safety concerns. Battista is housed at an all-male facility and is sexually active.

Battista filed several lawsuits and ultimately attempted to castrate herself with a razor blade. It has been determined by the court that withholding medically necessary hormone therapy and gender-appropriate clothing is a constitutional violation.

Read the entire court opinion for Battista v. Clark here.

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Connecticut Judiciary Votes in Favor of HB 6599

Apr6

I’m pleased to report that the Connecticut Judiciary Committee voted 27-14 last night to pass HB 6599: An Act Concerning Discrimination. I’m even happier to report that it did so without including the discriminatory amendments that opponents were seeking.

“Those who cynically deride this civil rights legislation as a ‘bathroom bill’ ignore the great difficulties endured at school, in the workplace, and in the everyday lives of honest, hardworking transgender people,” Sen. Eric Coleman, D-Hartford, said in a statement. “Equal protection under the law should never have been denied to these citizens. This bill’s provisions will produce a great improvement in the lives of many people.”

The bill is now headed to the floor of the House. Governor Dan Malloy is a supporter of the legislation.

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Presidential Proclamation: June is National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

Jun6

June is well under way and as I write this, Connecticut Pride 2010 has already taken place in Hartford’s Bushnell Park.

For those of you who missed it, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation on May 28th declaring June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.” The President signed a similar proclamation in 2009.

Happy Pride, everyone!

U.S. Census Wants Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Citizens to Respond

Apr8

The U.S. Census is strongly encouraging lesbians and gays to complete the 2010 census. That encouragement has taken on the form of videos released by the U.S. Census: