American University law professor Nancy Polikoff, a nationally recognized expert on LGBT related family law, has issued an alert to lesbian couples in D.C. — getting married isn’t the best way to guarantee your rights as parents of children conceived through artificial insemination.
Polikoff said the enactment of D.C.’s same-sex marriage law last year has overshadowed another sweeping law the city enacted in 2009 that provides same-sex couples with all of the parental rights that heterosexual couples have through a legal status separate from marriage.
Among other things, the law “confers the status of legal parent on both lesbian mothers who plan a child using donor insemination,” Polikoff said in a blog posting at the time the law was passed. She said the law gives full parental rights to the partner of the couple who doesn’t give birth to the child as long as both partners sign an official Consent to Parent form.
Polikoff said that lesbian couples who marry in D.C. and other states also are given equal parental rights to a child conceived through artificial insemination. But she said that the parental right of the partner who doesn’t bear the child could be disputed or rejected by other states that don’t recognize same-sex marriage.
A signed Consent to Parent form linked to the city’s sweeping parentage law provides much stronger legal protection of the parental rights of a lesbian couple in other states, said Polikoff.
Yet many lesbian couples apparently are unaware of this form, which the city requires all hospitals to make available to female same-sex partners at the time one of the partners gives birth, Polikoff said. She noted that the form also clears the way for the names of both partners to appear on the birth certificate.
“We have to educate lesbians giving birth in D.C. about this form,” Polikoff told the Blade. “It has nothing to do with marriage. The couple doesn’t need to be married. Plus getting your name on the birth certificate because of signing this form will be more protection in other states than getting on the birth certificate through marriage,” she said.
-WashingtonBlade.com
Thursday, August 11, 2011
White House Honors AIDS Activist Simmons And Tenner.
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Two leaders of AIDS advocacy organizations in D.C. were honored last month by the White House as “Champions of Change” through a program that recognizes Americans who help the country meet challenges of the 21st century.
The White House selected Ron Simmons, executive director of Us Helping Us, and Adam Tenner, executive director of Metro Teen AIDS, in June for the category of “Champions of Change: Fighting AIDS.”
A White House statement announcing their selection says that under Simmons’ leadership, Us Helping Us grew into one of the nation’s largest black AIDS organizations. The group provides services for HIV-infected black gay men, women, transgender persons and youth. The statement notes that since 1992 Simmons raised more than $22 million to fund the programs and services of Us Helping Us.
The White House statement says Tenner, who has headed Metro Teen AIDS since 2001, has worked in a variety of HIV prevention and adolescent health promotion capacities for more than 20 years. It says he initiated D.C.’s first HIV prevention programs for young gay men as well as programs that make sure young people with HIV receive needed services.
-WashingtonBlade.com
Two leaders of AIDS advocacy organizations in D.C. were honored last month by the White House as “Champions of Change” through a program that recognizes Americans who help the country meet challenges of the 21st century.
The White House selected Ron Simmons, executive director of Us Helping Us, and Adam Tenner, executive director of Metro Teen AIDS, in June for the category of “Champions of Change: Fighting AIDS.”
A White House statement announcing their selection says that under Simmons’ leadership, Us Helping Us grew into one of the nation’s largest black AIDS organizations. The group provides services for HIV-infected black gay men, women, transgender persons and youth. The statement notes that since 1992 Simmons raised more than $22 million to fund the programs and services of Us Helping Us.
The White House statement says Tenner, who has headed Metro Teen AIDS since 2001, has worked in a variety of HIV prevention and adolescent health promotion capacities for more than 20 years. It says he initiated D.C.’s first HIV prevention programs for young gay men as well as programs that make sure young people with HIV receive needed services.
-WashingtonBlade.com
President Obama Raises Money For LGBT Causes.
While the gay blogosphere continues to see complaints about President Barack Obama, 12 well-heeled campaign donors associated with LGBT causes raised at least $2.35 million for the president’s reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee in the second quarter of 2011, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, DC research group.
“Frankly it’s bit early to tell what any of these things mean,” said Michael Cole-Schwartz, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay lobby, which has endorsed Obama’s reelection in 2012.
Ten of the 12 donors raised at least $2.2 million through bundling, the process by which one person collects cash from other individuals and delivers those checks as a single package. Bundlers can have an inordinate influence on a candidate or officeholder. Three of the gay Obama bundlers raised $50,000, while the remaining nine raised amounts from $100,000 to $500,000.
Some of the bundlers, such as Jeff Soref, Andrew Tobias, and Kevin Jennings, have long supported gay community causes and the Democratic Party. Jennings served in the Obama administration in the US Department of Education for two years, and both Soref and Tobias have been active with the DNC.
Only two of the 12 bundled for the Obama campaign in 2008.
“I think that the administration was very slow to get started on gay issues,” said Soref. “I think there was a lot of disappointment, a lot of frustration. Suddenly about nine months ago things changed… There has been a steady drumbeat on our issues, and I think it’s in the right direction. I think it deserves our support.”
Among all donors to Obama, the Center reported that 47 percent of his second quarter campaign cash came from those contributing $200 or less. The Center cited Obama campaign reports that noted “200,000 individuals who did not donate to Obama in 2008 have donated to his re-election efforts.”
Nearly 60 percent of the 244 individual bundlers for his re-election efforts, which includes the 12 gay bundlers, did not raise funds for his campaign in 2008.
“The president has delivered a tremendous amount of progress for the LGBT community,” Cole-Schwartz said, citing the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and the administration declining to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal lawsuits. “You’re certainly going to see the community rallying behind him. It is reflected and it’s going to be reflected in the monetary contributions the community makes to the campaign.”
- GayCityNews.com
“Frankly it’s bit early to tell what any of these things mean,” said Michael Cole-Schwartz, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay lobby, which has endorsed Obama’s reelection in 2012.
Ten of the 12 donors raised at least $2.2 million through bundling, the process by which one person collects cash from other individuals and delivers those checks as a single package. Bundlers can have an inordinate influence on a candidate or officeholder. Three of the gay Obama bundlers raised $50,000, while the remaining nine raised amounts from $100,000 to $500,000.
Some of the bundlers, such as Jeff Soref, Andrew Tobias, and Kevin Jennings, have long supported gay community causes and the Democratic Party. Jennings served in the Obama administration in the US Department of Education for two years, and both Soref and Tobias have been active with the DNC.
Only two of the 12 bundled for the Obama campaign in 2008.
“I think that the administration was very slow to get started on gay issues,” said Soref. “I think there was a lot of disappointment, a lot of frustration. Suddenly about nine months ago things changed… There has been a steady drumbeat on our issues, and I think it’s in the right direction. I think it deserves our support.”
Among all donors to Obama, the Center reported that 47 percent of his second quarter campaign cash came from those contributing $200 or less. The Center cited Obama campaign reports that noted “200,000 individuals who did not donate to Obama in 2008 have donated to his re-election efforts.”
Nearly 60 percent of the 244 individual bundlers for his re-election efforts, which includes the 12 gay bundlers, did not raise funds for his campaign in 2008.
“The president has delivered a tremendous amount of progress for the LGBT community,” Cole-Schwartz said, citing the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and the administration declining to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal lawsuits. “You’re certainly going to see the community rallying behind him. It is reflected and it’s going to be reflected in the monetary contributions the community makes to the campaign.”
- GayCityNews.com
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wanda Sykes, Julian Bond Speak at NAACP, LGBT Forum
Wanda Sykes, an out lesbian comedienne and Julian Bond, an openly gay former NAACP chairman, both spoke at the LGBT forum about gay rights. They made the case that LGBT rights are civil rights! For more information about this forum and to read a full article please see: http://newsone.com/nation/ggaynor/naacp-lgbt-forum/
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Growing Leadership Film
Check out this video put out by the HOPE foundation, highlighting the leaders of organizations that work with the great community to make it a more welcoming place. This film focuses on those leaders that work so hard to increase acceptance and understanding for LGBT persons of color. It is one of a series that will be made. We hope you enjoy it!
http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/lgbt711.aspx
http://www.modeldmedia.com/
Monday, July 18, 2011
Unhealthy Eating Increases as Black Unemployment Rises
African-American unemployment is at 16.2% compared to overall Americans unemployment sitting at 9.2%. As unemployment rises, so do trips to fast food establishments due to their cheap offerings and ease of access. The quality of food is less, but so is the price and time it takes to get the food. With people trying to make ends meet by working multiple part time jobs or hunting for jobs, this makes unhealthy eating a sometimes necessary option. The foods at fast-food 
places are cheaper and more convenient but at the price of having more calories that fill you up less.
In a twist of irony, hunger is spreading with soup kitchens and food pantries are seeing a record increase in demand as the recession continues. One non-profit out of New York City reported over a 100,000 person increase in 3 years in people served. This unprecedented call for help reminds us to give thanks for what we have.
places are cheaper and more convenient but at the price of having more calories that fill you up less.In a twist of irony, hunger is spreading with soup kitchens and food pantries are seeing a record increase in demand as the recession continues. One non-profit out of New York City reported over a 100,000 person increase in 3 years in people served. This unprecedented call for help reminds us to give thanks for what we have.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Focus on: Simone Bell
Simone Bell is an elected representative in the Georgia state House of Representatives. She is the first African-American lesbian lawmaker and has advocated for LGBTQ rights and health care throughout her political career. She was recently selected to speak at the San Diego Women's Pride Brunch. Please see her website for more information about this inspirational representative!: http://www.simonebell.com/index.cfm
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