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Archive for July, 2011|Monthly archive page

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History Equality: California passes legislation requiring gay history to be taught in schools

In In Brief, News on July 26, 2011 at 9:03 pm

On July 13, 2011, California law makers passed a bill that will require public schools to teach LGBT history, making California the first state to do so.

According to Senator Mark Leno (D) told NPR’d Robert Siegel that  California’ education code required “that the role and contributions of African, Asian, Mexican, Native, European Americans, women and other traditionally overlooked communities be included in our school curriculum.”

The curriculum will not be designed to “out” historical figures, but about addressing civil rights and making sure information is not censored or overlooked.

Leno cited a case to Siegel that happened in 2008 at E.O. Green School in California when 14-year-old Brandon McInerney shot 15-year-old Lawrence “Larry” Fobes King because he was “too girly”. McInerney was charged with premeditated murder with enhancements of use of a firearm and a hate crime.

By teaching both heterosexual and LGBT students, tolerance and understanding may be new lessons learned in the classroom.

Leno said that education codes require the teaching of Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American man who fought valiantly for everyone’s civil rights and was assassinated for his efforts. Therefore Harvey Milk should be taught because he fought for all civil rights and was also assassinated.

“We’re currently teaching one, we’re censoring the other,” Leno said.

Local districts will be able to decide how the curriculum is implemented, and so far a grade level has not been determined to start the education.

Leno, who wrote the bill, said explained that new textbooks will not be released for the next few years, but the law will go into effect in January.

To the Polls

In Opinion and Editorials, To the Polls on July 24, 2011 at 11:32 pm

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Stepping out into the light: Meghan Fiore

In Advice, Entertainment and Sports on July 17, 2011 at 8:22 am

Utica College Center Meghan Fiore

Full name: Meghan Fiore

Age: 20
Height: 6’0″
Sport: Basketball
Position: Center
School and Division: Utica College, Division 3
Hometown: Epping, New Hampshire
Pet Peeve: Mean people (Strong believer in being nice, and pretty laid back)
Favorite Pizza Topping(s): Hamburger and/or bacon
Favorite color: Green

Any LGBT organizations you support (i.e. HRC, NOH8Campaign, etc.)

I am not a part of any organizations but I support them all. I follow many groups on Facebook and Twitter, and follow all the news about the organizations

How old were you when you came out?

17 or 18

Were you scared to come out?

Yes, because I grew up in a small town where everyone knew me. I was afraid of the great life I was living to be turned upside down and losing people close to me.

Who was the first person you came out to?

My best friend Alicia Safran :)

How did you start the conversation?

It was said during an argument because our friendship had been rocky because I was spending a lot of time with my girlfriend and not my friends, I guess, and it angered them. Once I told her, she was very supportive and understanding and apologized for being angry towards me and my actions.

What’s a piece of important advice you would give a teenager who wants to come out?

Sometimes talking to your closest friend(s) is the best way. I kept my secret from my best friend and it hurt our friendship, but once I told her, things were all good again. Finding that close friend(s), or a person you completely trust, is really the key in my eyes. However, in the end, I always say it comes down to those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind. If they are your true friends and will have your back no matter what, then they will be there for you. If they decide to not be friends then they themselves aren’t being true to you or themselves; it may hurt and may be hard to go through, no doubt, but in the long run, it will be better for you.

In Brief: Republican Presidential Candidate rejects anti-gay pledge

In In Brief, News on July 15, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Although Iowa started recognizing and performing same-sex marriage in 2009, a conservative Christian group is pushing an anti-gay pledge and former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney is the first Republican presidential candidate to reject it.

The pledge written by The Family Leader, an organization based in Iowa, is a 14-point pledge, “which calls on the candidates to denounce same-sex marriage rights, pornography, same-sex military accommodations and forms of Islamic law” according to the Associated Press.

Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum both signed the pledge before portions regarding slavery were removed.

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New York Sixth State to Pass Same-Sex Marriage, However Same-Sex Divorce Hot Topic

In News on July 11, 2011 at 8:52 pm

By Cristina Picozzi Executive Editor

Winning the Battle

After putting off the bill that would bring marriage equality to New York state for a week, the New York Senate decided to bring it to the floor for a vote. The Marriage Equality Act passed 33-29 making New York the sixth and largest state to allow same-sex marriage.  Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill just before midnight; however, couples cannot rush to the altar until July 24.

This is said to be a huge victory for the LGBT community in hopes that other states will follow suit. However, the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996 still prevents same-sex couple from receiving over 1,100 federal rights that heterosexual couples are awarded.

Counter-legislation of DOMA, the Respect for Marriage Act or RMA, was filed in March with the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

The bill passed the Assembly June 15 with a vote of 80-63; this was the third time that the legislation passed the Assembly, previous times in 2007 and 2009.

The War Isn’t Won Yet

Although this brings much excitement to wedding planners and local businesses that part-take in different aspects of a wedding, it is also grabbing the attention of divorce lawyers.

Divorce was also hard for heterosexual couples at one some point in history, but today it is not as hard;  Same-sex divorce will be the same way.

However, since most states do not recognize same-sex marriage, they will also not recognize same-sex divorce. This is a bump in the road that will make things difficult. Below is an image from a New York Times New Analysis by John Schwartz, which explains the obstacles of same-sex divorce.

From NY Times News Analysis: "When Same-Sex Marriages End"

CDC Statistics Show Divorce Rate Lower in States with Same-Sex

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a 10-year trend from 1999 to 2009 for marriage and divorce in all states. However, 2009 data was only available for 44 states. Five of the 10 states plus Washington DC, with the lowest divorce rate perform same-sex marriages. However, in 2009 only two states, Connecticut and Massachusetts, performed same-sex marriage for the full year, and were joined later in the year by Iowa and Vermont. A higher marriage rate also means a possibility for a higher divorce rate, which is another consideration that needs to be looked at when analyzing the statistics.

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