COLAGE News Blog

Submit to Just For Us Jan 29 09

Just For Us
Call for Submissions
Deadline for Submission- March 9th, 2009

Focus on Change

JFU is the only publication dedicated to the words, thoughts, opinions, and experiences of people with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parent/s - and we want to hear from YOU!

In this moment in time, our entire country is poised on the edge of our seats as we usher in a new President and, we hope, a new era of justice and equality. The idea that change is possible and that hope is eternal were powerful themes during last fall's election. Given this historical moment, Just For Us is turning its eye onto the theme of change- How do we make it? What do we want to see? And how do we know when its made?

We are looking for articles, poetry, interviews, art, photos and more from youth and adults who have one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parent/s. The following are just a few topics that you could address:

* Your hopes and aspirations for the new President and administration;
* Experiences you have had with making change in your community or the world;
* How have things changed politically or socially for people with LGBTQ parents during your lifetime?
* What is your personal vision for change in the world? What change do you want to see in the world?
* How has/did your life change from an experience of having LGBTQ parents?
* Who are your personal social-change heroes and what have your learned from them?
* What are the obstacles to making change?

Submissions may take several formats - share your personal stories, essays, interviews, poems, (two-dimensional) artwork, and ideas. We will work with you to make sure your story is told in your own words, the way you want it - you, the contributor, have final approval of your piece before it goes to print. You can submit a finished piece or let us interview you - it's up to you. Please limit your pieces to 500 words or less.

Let us know ASAP if you would like to work on a piece for Just for Us. The deadline for submissions is March 9th, 2009. Please send all questions, comments and submissions to jfu@colage.org. We can't wait to hear from you!

COLAGE Files Friend of the Court Brief in CA Jan 28 09

Last week, COLAGE and Our Family Coalition filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the California Supreme Court in Strauss v. Horton, the case seeking to invalidate Proposition 8.

A coalition of LGBT legal advocacy groups filed the case, asking the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8. The case argues that a simple majority of voters cannot legally approve a measure that radically changes the principle of equality guaranteed in the California Constitution-the same principle of equality that the Court relied on in the Marriage Cases when it recognized that all people have the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation. Proposition 8 would corrupt this equality guarantee by taking away a fundamental right from a minority group that is supposed to receive the highest level of protection under the law.

The Supreme Court also asked the parties in the case to answer the question of whether Proposition 8, if held to be valid, is retroactive and whether the marriages of the more than 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June and November are valid. COLAGE and Our Family Coalition filed a brief specifically arguing that Proposition 8 is not retroactive, and that the rights of the couples who married and their families must be protected.

The California Supreme Court has not yet set a date for when it will hear oral arguments in the case. For more information, contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director.

COLAGE Reflects on the Inauguration Jan 28 09

From small gatherings to large community celebrations across the country, COLAGE members were awed to witness history yesterday as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. He is the first African American and the first community organizer to hold the highest elected office in our nation. COLAGE joins with millions around the globe in celebration of this magnificent moment and hopes that the new administration truly portends a new era of growing commitment to equity and justice for all people.

We know that the path ahead is a difficult one. As President Obama articulated in his inaugural speech, the United States faces huge challenges. Yet, COLAGE remains optimistic about this moment's incredible potential for social change. We are committed to building a vibrant, diverse, politically powerful movement of children, youth and adults with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. Barack Obama's inauguration itself is a potent testament to the true power of grassroots mobilization and movement building.

We invite all of our members and allies to reflect on this historic day and take responsibility for our collective future. Do you feel a change in your country, state, community, school, family, self? How will you continue to be involved in working for racial, economic, social, environmental justice? What will you do to bring about peace and healing?

Again, we congratulate President Obama and his administration in this exciting moment and recommit ourselves to working with them in the days, months, and years ahead.

Iowa Action Alert- Let My Parents Marry Jan 21 09

COLAGE is pleased to be a cosponsor of these events. If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who lives in Iowa who would like to be involved with the effort to win marriage equality, please contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director at Meredith@colage.org. Help us spread the word so we can train and support COLAGE activist to speak out in Iowa!

Lambda Legal - the nation's oldest and largest legal organization committed to achieving full equality for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and people with HIV - announces two educational events related to its landmark Varnum v. Brien marriage equality case currently being decided by the Iowa Supreme Court. The events will be held in Des Moines and Iowa City and will showcase the voices of the Iowa families, particularly the voices of children being raised by same-sex couples who deserve to have their families treated fairly.

Let My Parents Marry
Iowa City
When: Wednesday, February 18th @ 6:30pm
Where: Coralville Public Library - Meeting Room A (1401 5th St in Coralville)

Des Moines
When: Thursday, February 19th @ 6:30pm
Where: Des Moines Public Library - Meeting Room 1 (1000 Grande Ave in Des Moines)

In preparation for these events, Lambda Legal is looking for same-sex couples who want to marry and who are raising children to stand up with other families and be strong voices for marriage equality in Iowa. Coming together as a community of families for marriage equality will be instrumental in winning and keeping marriage equality in our state. If you are interested in learning how you can share your family’s story and joining a network of families for marriage equality, we hope that you will contact us at mfender@lambdalegal.org or 515.288.4019 (ext. 202). Please also consider passing this message along to others you think may be interested.

If you plan to attend the events, please RSVP to mfender@lambdalegal.org to receive information regarding any changes or event updates.

Maine Introduces Marriage Equality Bill Jan 13 09

On January 13, 2009, a coalition of groups in Maine announced a bill that would provide civil marriage equality for same-sex couples. In order to prevail, the bill must pass the State Legislature in the spring of 2009.

The bill, titled "An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom," is sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Hancock). Damon recently sponsored an amendment to extend to domestic partners the protections currently provided in Maine's Family Medical Leave law.

COLAGE applauds our colleagues in Maine for their leadership in introducing this bill that would grant rights and justice for LGBTQ families. To learn more about the bill and how you can get involved, click here.

New Report: Prop 8 Hurt My Familiy Jan 12 09

COLAGE is pleased to announce a new report created by our colleagues at Marriage Equality USA.

"From our community forums hosted across California and our on-line survey, over 1,200 people shared specific instances of the harms they experienced as a result of these anti-gay initiative campaigns," stated Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. “In our second report summarizing grassroots input, Prop 8 Hurt My Family -Ask Me How, we share a cross-section of these personal stories to illustrate how Prop 8 hurt real people, frightened children of same-sex couples, promoted bullying in schools, caused straight allies to experience homophobia, tore apart families and destroyed neighborhoods."

A copy of this report can be found online here and also includes a list of counseling and community resources to provide additional support to those harmed by Prop 8’s campaign.

COLAGE is especially interested in the many stories included in the report that are from children of LGBTQ parents and their families. They highlight the true impacts- both in terms of the loss of rights and the psychological effects- of Prop 8 on COLAGErs.

Despite all these harms, same-sex couples, their children and other supporters have made it clear that we will continue to fight for the same dignity, respect and security that only marriage provides. The report concludes with stories that describe why the California Supreme Court needs to overturn Prop 8.

To learn more visit Marriage Equality USA's website.

Congress Swears In Today- Let them hear from our community Jan 6 09

Today, Jan. 6, members of Congress raise their right hand and swear to uphold the Constitution as they begin the new legislative session. COLAGE encourages our members and allies to let them hear from you- make sure they know about the importance of an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as other issues you care about.

In D.C., make their phones ring!

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and have it connect you to your representative (based on your zip code). Then say: "I am a constituent and I would like you to please tell Representative _______ that I strongly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would ban discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

Then, call back and leave messages with your two senators too!

At home, set up a visit!

Request an in-person meeting for you and other community members with your two senators and your representative (or their staffs) in their home district offices. You can call the district offices to request these meetings but they often want you to fax a meeting request. To find contact info for district offices, go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

Report Back

Let us know how your meeting went. Go to http://www.unitedenda.org and fill out the Lobby Report Form to tell us whether your Representative and Senators expressed support.

To learn more ways how you can engage your elected officials to make change, contact COLAGE and join our Speak OUT Program.