Showing posts with label lgbt equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lgbt equality. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

New Group Forms for Equality in Venango County

A new group dedicated to achieving equal rights for all in Venango County has formed, establishing a presence on Facebook on August 7, 2013.

Calling itself Equality in Venango County, the group is a non-profit organization that fights for equality and the right to say "I do" in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

It also aims to end discrimination against LGBT youth, students, and adults, with a particular focus on Venango County's working class.

We wish Equality in Venango County strength and success in these important efforts!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Dear Diane Gramley of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania: 'Define Me'



Singer and songwriter Ryan Amador just released his new video, "Define Me," featuring Jo Lampert.

The powerful video shows Amador and Lampert stripping down to their underwear to reveal gay slurs and negative stereotypes written across their bodies.

Directed by Tom Gustafson, the video ends with the two vocalists washing away the words and sharing a supportive smile. Gustafon is an award-winning director who helmed "Were The World Mine" and "Mariachi Gringo" and who served as location casting director for films like "Pirates of the Caribbean II and III" and "The Dark Knight."

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the track will be donated to organizations actively involved with supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.

Check out the video above.

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Gospel According to Hypocrisy

by Domenick Scudera, Professor of Theater and Chair of the Theater and Dance department, Ursinus College, for The Huffington Post:


And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him,

And maketh no mistake, these single male followers were not homosexuals,

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,


"Blessed are the negative in spirit: for they shall find fault with just about everyone and everything.

"Blessed are they who judge others: for they are entitled and superior.

"Blessed are the intolerant: for they most rightfully deny the humanity of others.

"Blessed are the ignorant: for they shall equate homosexuality with pedophilia and shall promote other equally specious arguments.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall tell everyone else what to do with their lives.

"Ye are the light of the world and ye shall shine brightly over all those who do not live by your code or standards.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law. I want you to do that. Change all the laws of the land through ballot measures so that people will only live the way that ye think is right.

"Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman or an intern lustfully shall make sure that any activity is well hidden and not documented:

"Be warned that the wide web of the world, and liberal news media, will exploit your personal deviant behavior against you.

"It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever shall divorce his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry a divorced woman committeth adultery.

"And I also say unto you, That you may ignore this last piece of advice if it is not convenient for you. Marry and divorceth whomsoever you wish, as many times as you wish, and do not worry about it. Just make sure that the homosexuals do not ruineth everything by taking husbands.

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy:

"And I say unto you, That sounds pretty good. Some of those enemies are horrible. Blessed are you who curseth them whenever you can. Do evil unto them who hate you.

"For if ye love them which love you, you may be perceived as homosexual. Make not this mistake.

"Salute your brethren only. Why do something for others?

"Be ye therefore perfect. And everyone else is not.

"Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Masturbation must be denied.

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

"No, I take that back. Ignore that last one. Pray and preach as loudly as you can. Let everyone see and hear you. I realizeth now that hypocrisy is a good way to be respected and still allow you to do whatever you want.

"Use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:

"Unless your words are 'talking points.' Repeat these as often as you can, so that ye may drill your opinions into the minds of the masses.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in righteous politicians and causes.

"For wherever your treasure is, there will lieth your political power.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged [LOL!]

"Enter ye in at the strait gate. Strait meaning straight.

"Therefore whosoever interpreteth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."


And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

For he did not seem very Christian.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Polls Find Support For Pennsylvania Anti-Discrimination Bill - Even In Venango County

Measure Introduced To State Legislature, Awaiting Committee Review

by Jeremy Johnson for The Derrick:

A bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity has been introduced to the Pennsylvania Legislature and is currently awaiting committee review.


Based on February polling which shows strong support for a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state, House Bill 300 was reintroduced to the state government committee in March, and supporters of the bill hope to see it go to the General Assembly for vote soon.

The bill — proposed by Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd, Allegheny County) — would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955, which currently prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, national origin, disability or handicap.

“It’s not even that the laws are outdated — it’s that there is no protection for the gay community at all,” said Pennsylvania Equality executive director Ted Martin. “In 70 percent of the state, it’s still perfectly legal to fire someone, to throw someone out of their apartment or to deny someone a hotel room because they’re gay. Most people believe that everyone deserves a fair break and this flies in the face of that, of the basic equalities that most Americans value so much.”

“It’s time for Pennsylvania to catch up to the 21 states and the District of Columbia that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation,” Frankel said in a press release at the end of April. “We should be a leader, not a follower, on this issue.”


Polling conducted in February for Equality Pennsylvania by Susquehanna Polling and Research shows overwhelming, two-to-one support for anti-discrimination legislature in the state.

According to poll numbers, about 69 percent of Pennsylvanians are in favor of legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, with 24 percent opposed and 6 percent undecided.

It is the third such survey conducted since 2003, with the results remaining relatively the same each time, according to Equality Pennsylvania.

“Because this is the third poll showing support, we certainly hope the Legislature will pay attention to the fact that people think this is important and that this is something that should be acted upon,” Martin said. “We hope Legislature will take this up and follow what the population is telling them.”

According to a map posted on the Equality Pennsylvania website (www.equalitypa.org), support in Venango County, which is included in a 35-county section labeled “northwest and west central Pennsylvania,” is at about 64 percent in favor of the bill, with 28 percent opposed. The highest areas of support are in the northeastern part of the state and in Philadelphia, where support is nearly 75 percent in both areas.

Frankel said, aside from being a “common sense” issue and “the right thing to do,” non-discrimination is also an issue of economics.

“In addition to making state law more fair and just, this would make Pennsylvania more economically competitive,” Frankel said. “We are surrounded on three of four sides by states that ban anti-gay discrimination (Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and New York). They have a competitive advantage over Pennsylvania when it comes to attracting and retaining businesses and residents.”

Frankel said anti-gay protection can be passed at the local government level but, so far, only about 30 percent of municipalities have done so.

According to Frankel’s press secretary Ben Turner, many Pennsylvanians are not even aware that anti-discrimination laws have not been put in place.



“I don’t think people are really aware of the facts,” Turner said. “Some people aren’t even aware that it’s not illegal (to discriminate based on sexual orientation). A lot of people thought that was already the case.”

According to the Equality Pennsylvania website, non-discrimination legislation — which had a record 79 co-sponsors at the end of 2010 — made it out of committee to the House in 2009 but died before the end of the legislative session.

Martin hopes the third time is a charm.

“It’s really time for Legislature to step forward,” Martin said. “With two-to-one support throughout the state, there’s no room for legislators to say, ‘My people don’t support this.’ So I think it’s their turn to step up and do something.”

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Believe Out Loud: A Million Christians for LGBT Equality



Join the movement.
A Million Christians for LGBT Equality video
Lesbian. Gay. Bisexual. Transgender. Simply believing that LGBT individuals ought to be welcomed into our church communities is not enough. The time has come to break the silence. Believe Out Loud. Express your compassion by welcoming and supporting the gay and lesbian members of our communities. Join us, and raise Christian voices around LGBT issues.

Believing that LGBT persons should be welcomed in the church isn't enough. We need to Believe Out Loud. Visit www.BelieveOutLoud.com for resources on how YOU can BELIEVE OUT LOUD.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Butler PFLAG Serves As A Model of Organizing for Change in Western Pennsylvania

Interview of Butler PFLAG's Joe Tomlinson by Nayck Feliz of the Pennsylvania Prevention Project:



Butler PFLAG is committed to engaging our community around issues which are important to GLBTQI/A Butler County Pennsylvanians, to support one another as we learn to live openly and freely, and to educate those who wish to understand our work and the lives of sexual/gender minority Butler County citizens.

At present, we are working to provide "Safe Schools" training for the staff and faculty of the Butler Area School District. We are also integrally involved with the "Community Safe School Project" of Persad Center in Pittsburgh.

All are welcome to join in our meetings and to become part of our work.