COLAGE News Blog

Meet in the Middle; Letter Writing Campaign- Take Action! Mar 31 09

Join with COLAGE and other LGBTQ and progressive groups to raise visibility of our community the weekend after the California Supreme Court Decision on Proposition 8 is handed down. Those who live on the West Coast are encouraged to MEET IN THE MIDDLE- http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com/

Even if you live elsewhere in the world, one of the Meet in the Middle Visibility projects is to collect postcards and letters from LGBTQ families to send to the Obama family. Write a short and simple message introducing your family and talking about why equality for COLAGErs, LGBTQ families and individuals is needed. Include drawings or photos of your family and encouragement for President and Michelle Obama to take a stand against homophobia and transphobia during their time in office.

The lead organizer of Meet in the Middle, a lesbian mother, was thrown out as President of her son's Parent Teacher Organization because of her unwillingness to be silent about the hateful rhetoric of the "Yes on 8" campaign. Let's vow to stand with her, her child and her family, as well as the families that suffer in many similar ways. Use this as an opportunity to give a voice to your family, offer your experiences, have your kids send messages and help us request that Barack and/or Michelle, as parents, speak out against the hate-speech and ballot-bashing that happens, too often, across this great nation.

Mail your letters/postcards/etc by April 25th, 2009 to:
Paulie Milagros Schreck... MITM
COLAGE
1550 Bryant Street, Suite 830
San Francisco, CA 94103

If you have questions, call Paulie at 415-861-5437 or email paulie@colage.org.

Action Alert: Tennessee In Vitro Bans Mar 30 09

COLAGE is appalled to learn that as early as this week, the Tennessee House and Senate are likely to take action on two very bad bills: House Bill 2159 and Senate Bill 2136. These bills seek to ban all unmarried people from using in vitro fertilization. Single women and LGBT couples are being targeted with these bills.

Last Week, Rep. Joey Hensley (R) chose not to present his bill banning anyone but straight married couples from using embryo donation as a way to have a child. He rescheduled the bill for this week. Meantime, Sen. Diane Black (R) has placed the companion bill on notice to be heard this week in committee.

How Does the Bill Impact You?

The bill would allow only straight, married couples to "adopt" an embryo for transfer to the "adoptive" birth mother. This can get pretty complex and personal given the number of reasons why one chooses in vitro as a way to have a child. Passage of this legislation would mean that single women and gay and lesbian couples would be banned from using in vitro. The bill is obviously an attack on families such as COLAGE families and is founded on homophobia and sexist ideas that LGBTQ and single parent homes don’t need equal access to family formation.

Our colleagues at the Tennessee Equality Project are organizing a quick response to HB 2159 and SB 2136 this week. Go here now to learn how you can join efforts to defeat the bill.

If the Embryo Ban Bill passes, the cost to the State would be around $56,000.00. This may not sound like much, but it is a whole lot in a year when budget cuts are the norm.

If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who lives in Tennessee, and you might like to speak out against these bills, contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director by email or 415-861-5437 x102.

Please forward this email to all of your contacts in Tennessee. Thanks!

Don't Ask Don't Tell Action Alert Mar 30 09

Our voices can make a difference. The day Rep. Ellen Tauscher introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283) -- a bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- 121 representatives signed up as co-sponsors.

As COLAGErs we know that this issue has the potential of affecting our parent/s but it also can impact our entire family. Youth whose parents are in the military are affected by the silence and fear required by DADT. Because of this, COLAGE encourages you to write your representative and tell them about how DADT hurts our families - we want them to know why protecting our families from something potentially hurtful and unfair is vital for ensuring equality for all families!

We are calling on to you help keep up the momentum for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act by writing to your legislator now and asking him or her to become a co-sponsor? You can do this by clicking here.

For every additional co-sponsor we can secure for this bill, we'll make its chances of passage that much stronger! And we'll be a significant step closer to ending the 15-year reign of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which has led to the discharge of nearly 13,000 service members also impacting their families to date -- including 11 more just this past January.

Thank you for helping to make a difference. With your great support, it'll soon be possible for all qualified Americans to serve openly in the military regardless of their sexual orientation. If you are a youth or adult who have/had a parent in the military and might like to join COLAGE's efforts to raise awareness on how DADT impacts youth and families, please email Paulie Milagros Schreck.

Maine Action Alert- Support Marriage Equality Mar 30 09

Tell Your Legislators to Support Marriage Equality

The hearing on Sen. Damon's bill, LD 1020, which would end discrimination in marriage for same-sex couples in Maine, is scheduled for April 24. Help COLAGE and our colleagues at Equality Maine make an impact in Augusta by sharing your story.

Tell your legislators that Mainers want to end discrimination by extending the protections of marriage to same-sex couples. Please send a letter to your state representative and senator right now and help educate your elected officials how marriage inequality impacts COLAGErs and our families. Click here to take action now.

If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who is living in Maine and would be interesting in speaking OUT about this issue, please contact COLAGE.

New Study Shows that Kids of Same-Sex Couples More Likely to be from Low-Income Families Mar 20 09

Study Shows Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Americans More Likely to Be Poor Than Heterosexuals

New data undermines popular myth of gay and lesbian affluence

The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law today released a first-of-its-kind report that shows lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans are as likely, and in some cases more likely, to be poor than their heterosexual counterparts. Because the U.S. Census Bureau does not explicitly ask questions about sexual orientation, LGB adults and families have been invisible in poverty statistics. This first analysis of the poor and low-income lesbian, gay and bisexual population synthesizes data from three major sources: the 2000 Census, the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Surveys. "The report highlights a significant segment of the poor and low-income population that has largely been ignored," said M.V. Lee Badgett, research director at The Williams Institute and an author of the study. "The data clearly undermine the persistent myth that the gay community is monolithically affluent. As a group, quite the contrary is true."

Though poverty is on the rise among all Americans, the authors of the study -- entitled Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community -- suggest that unique social and political aspects of LGB life play a role in contributing to higher rates of poverty in this community, including vulnerability to employment discrimination, inability to marry and higher numbers of uninsured. "Lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans are often susceptible to economic hardship," said Randy Albelda, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. "Given that many gay people have little recourse against employment discrimination and are shut out of institutions that promote economic security, it's really no surprise that we're seeing such high rates of poverty among this group," concluded Albelda. The study's key findings include:

After comparing families with similar characteristics, gay and lesbian couple families are significantly more likely to be poor than are heterosexual married couple families;
-- In general, lesbian couples have much higher poverty rates than either different-sex couples or gay male couples;
-- African-Americans in same-sex couples have poverty rates that are significantly higher than black people in different-sex married couples;
-- People in same-sex couples who live in rural areas have poverty rates that are twice as high as same-sex couples who live in large metropolitan areas;
-- Employment discrimination, lack of access to marriage, and a greater likelihood of being uninsured exacerbate poverty among LGB people.
-- One in five children being raised by same-sex couples in the United States lives in poverty.

Because no representative data exist for transgender people, the report does not analyze poverty in that community. Previous Williams Institute studies, however, found that large proportions of transgender people report very low incomes, which suggest that poverty is also a major concern for transgender people. The report was released this morning at an informational briefing in the U.S. Capitol for members of Congress, their staff and media. For the full report, visit here. The Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law & Public Policy advances law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates its work through a variety of education programs and media to judges, legislators, lawyers, other policy makers and the public.

To learn more about issues of economic justice and how it impacts COLAGErs and our families, read Just For Us, Issue 20.1 which you can download here.

COLAGE Mourns the Passing of Natasha Richardson Mar 19 09

COLAGE mourns, along with the world, the passing of a member of the COLAGE community, Natasha Richardson, whose father was bisexual film director Tony Richardson. A stage and screen performer, her career highlights included the film "Patty Hearst" and a Tony-winning performance in a stage revival of "Cabaret." Natasha died Wednesday at age 45 after suffering a head injury during a beginners' ski lesson.

A stage and screen performer, Natasha was the daughter of award-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and bisexual film director Tony Richardson. She also had a bisexual grandfather (Sir Michael Redgrave). Natasha lost her father, director Tony Richardson, to AIDS in 1991. Since her father's death, she has taken a hands-on role in AIDS work, including organizing the American Foundation for AIDS Research's hugely successful auction of Oscar dresses last year. Married to fellow actor Liam Neesom, Natasha is a mother of two sons. In the 2000 film, Blow Dry, Natasha portrayed a lesbian mother trying to resolve her relationship with her young adult son and former husband.

"When I was about 10 or 11 I said to my mother, "Is my papa gay?" She said yes, and I remember being very upset by that. I'm not sure quite why. There's the social stigma when you're in school... and I guess at the time you think your parents are gods. I guess, because of the world I've been brought up in, I just don't categorize people. I don't think, oh, that's a bisexual person, that's a gay person, that's a straight person." - Natasha Richardson

Our thoughts are with all the members of Natasha's family during this tragic loss.

Support Safe Schools in MN Mar 17 09

Tell the Senate Education Committee to Ensure Safe Schools!

On Wednesday, March 18th, the Senate Education Committee will vote on a bill to address harassment and bullying in Minnesota schools. The "Safe Schools for All Bill" will strengthen existing bullying and harassment laws with express protections for children of LGBTQ parents.Please support the efforts of our friends at Rainbow Families and Outfront MN in passing this bill.

Here is what you can do to ensure that the Safe Schools for All Bill is sent to the Governor's desk:

Contact members of the Senate Education Committee. Tell them to vote in favor of the bill. You can write them and let them know that you support the "Safe Schools for All Bill" (SF 971/HF 1198) because all students should feel safe to learn in school.

Sample Email

Dear _______, I am writing to ask you to support the "Safe Schools for All Bill" (SF971/HF1198). Schools are already working hard to provide a safe environment for learning, but, unfortunately, students still face bullying and harassment. This bill will strengthen existing bullying and harassment laws and make sure that all of Minnesota's students are able to learn in a supportive environment. {Feel free to use this space to include a personal story about how you are impacted by homophobia, transphobia or bullying in MN}. Please lend your support to this important piece of legislation.Thanks for all of your work.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Please send your letter right now, and share this action alert with other contacts you have in Minnesota.

Florida Action Alert: Repeal the Adoption Ban Mar 13 09

Last night, Representative Mary Brandenburg's legislation - HB 413 - to repeal the bigoted, discriminatory 32 year old ban on adoption by gay Floridians was assigned to four committees. The bill currently is in the Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee.

The first step in moving this important legislation forward is for a hearing to be held in the Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee -- and for the bill to be approved by that committee.

COLAGE and our allied organizations are asking you to contact the Committee Chair, Rep. Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers), and ask him to set a hearing on HB 413 as soon as possible. We also hope that you will ask him to support this important legislation as a co-sponsor. His phone number in Tallahassee is 850-488-1541. Please note that Rep. Nick Thompson was the Sponsor of HB 669 in 2008 known as the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up For All Students Act.

The other Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee members are:
Rep. Mike Weinstein (R) - District 19 - Jacksonville - Phone 850-488-1304(Vice Chair)
Rep. Audrey Gibson (D) - District 15 - Jacksonville - Phone 850- 488-7417
Rep. Michael Scionti (D) - District 58 - Tampa - Phone 850-488-9460 (Ranking Democrat)
Rep. Kevin Ambler (R) - District 47 - Tampa - Phone 850- 488-0275
Rep. Kelli Stargel (R) - District 64 - Lakeland - Phone 850- 488-2270
Rep. Eric Eisnaugle (R) - District 40 - Orlando - Phone 850- 488-9770
Rep. Dorothy Hukill (R) - District 28 - Port Orange - Phone 850- 488-6653
Rep. Adam Fetterman (D) - District 81 - Port St. Lucie - Phone 850- 488-8749
Rep. Tom Grady (R) - District 76 - Naples - Phone 850- 488-4487

Please contact all Representatives that you know or that are in your area. Ask them to please contact Rep. Nick Thompson and ask for a hearing as soon as possible. In addition, please ask them to support the bill by becoming a co-sponsor

Find contact info on Representatives by going to this website.

If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who lives in Florida, and you might want to help with advocacy to pass this bill, please contact COLAGE.

New Hampshire Action Alert Mar 12 09

Today, Thursday, March 12th, the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on marriage will hold meetings on bills that deal with marriage equality and LGBT equality. Please take action today to help advance this legislation.

HB436
Granting marriage equality to gays and lesbians.

Please Take Action and send a letter to the Judiciary Committee right now.
# Tell the committee that you want to end discrimination and the segregation of gay/lesbian families by passing HB 436 and marriage equality.
# Excluding gay/lesbian couples from marriage or segregating them with separate institutions, like civil unions -- marks them and their children as less worthy than other citizens.
# Children of LGBTQ parents are harmed when their families do not receive equal respect and rights.
# HB436l upholds freedom of religion. This bill is about civil marriage, and leaves decisions about religious ceremonies to faith leaders.

HB415
This bill defines gender identity and expression and adds it to the list of classes of people protected from discrimination.
# Discrimination is always wrong.
# No one should be fired from their job or targeted for a "Hate Crime" due to their gender identity or expression.
# 13 States and Washington DC already have transgender inclusive laws.
# Youth and adults with transgender and gender variant parents deserve the protection that comes with having parents who are protected from discrimination.

Please Take Action and send a letter to the Judiciary Committee right now.

If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who lives in New Hampshire, and you might like to help advance these important pieces of legislation, contact COLAGE today!

New COLAGE Chapter Forming in Cincinnati, OH Mar 10 09

Do you have one or more LGBTQ parents? Would you like to help build local community in Cincinnati for youth and adults with LGBTQ parents and their families?

COLAGE has arrived in Cincinnati! The national support and advocacy group for youth with LGBTQ parents has started a chapter here in Cincinnati. This is a great opportunity for youth to meet others with families like their own, develop leadership and confidence and have fun!

Help us build COLAGE Cincinnati! We are looking for youth, adults and parents from the LGBTQ community who would like to help us start a chapter of COLAGE. COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth and adults with LGBTQ parents. We build community and work for social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education and advocacy.

This initial Cincinnati group is looking to gain enough support to have two different age groups be able to participate. There will be an 8-12 year old group and a 13-18 year old group. In order to make COLAGE Cincinnati a success this is what we need from you:

Three things you can do to support COLAGE Cincinnati right now:

1. Tell LGBTQ families in the Cincinnati area of the desire to form two groups. We need parents and youth who are supportive and can help organize meetings and outings for the youth. Now is the time to get involved and make the group their own.

2. Email us to get future announcements about COLAGE Cincinnati and to request brochures you can post at places you visit (school, church, work, etc).

3. Forward this email! Especially to anyone you know who works in a local high school and/or is involved with a GSA (gay/straight alliance). Add it to your group posts on Facebook, my space etc and put a catch title to all LGBTQ parents you know.

4. Are you willing to work at the COLAGE booth at Cincinnati Gay Pride 2009?

If you are interested in helping us kick off COLAGE Cincinnati, please contact
Tracey DuEst
COLAGE Cincinnati Director
cincy@colage.org
513-678-6809

COLAGE Profiled in Pulse Magazine Mar 10 09

The March 9th issue of Pulse Magazine includes this article: COLAGE Your World
Resources for Kids (and Adults) with LGBTQ parents

COLAGE Reports Back from the Prop 8 Oral Arguments in CA Mar 5 09

Oral arguments before the California Supreme Court on the challenge to Prop 8 ended just a few hours ago. Many COLAGE staff and members were able to attend from Jack Ryder our Development Manager who arrived before sunrise in order to bear witness from inside the courtroom to others who watched from San Francisco Civic Center Plaza.

Last night, our community came together in San Francisco and across California for Eve of Justice events. In San Francisco, Paulie Milagros Schreck, COLAGE Community Organizing Intern, and Samuel Bersten, an 11 year old COLAGEr spoke on behalf of our movement to a crowd of thousands. Samuel told the crowd, "My moms deserve love just like everyone else...and I wouldn't choose to have straight parents even if I could." Click here for a video of Samuel's speech.

In San Francisco today, we stood vigil with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures standing against Proposition 8 which used the state ballot process to attack the equal rights of same-sex couples and families. We met Carissia Keeling, pictured here, a student at the University of California – Santa Cruz who came to support the freedom of her two gay fathers to marry. Hundreds stood together, learning about the judicial process and defending the equal rights of all citizens. This movement must continue to grow and fight injustice in all of its forms.

COLAGE celebrates the brilliant efforts of lead counsel Shannon Minter of NCLR, along with Raymond Marshall, Michael Maroko and Therese Stewart from the San Francisco City Attorney’s office, and all the individuals and organizations who helped prepare the case. The team did an incredible job arguing that if the initiative process is used to take a fundamental right away from a persecuted minority, it creates an unjust and dangerous precedent for California and the country. We also appreciate Christopher Krueger and the Attorney General’s office who also support the repeal of Prop 8.

Within 90 days at the maximum, the court will issue its decision. Regardless of how the court rules, we urge all members and allies of the COLAGE movement to speak out about the importance of legal protections for our families, to advocate for justice and equality and to organize for the rights of all children, youth and families. Thank you for your ongoing support of the COLAGE movement. Together we will prevail.

To learn more about today’s oral arguments visit the following websites and articles:

The NCLR Blog

Beliefs collide outside same-sex marriage hearing; an article which includes an interview with Jack Ryder, COLAGE Development Manager

Kids Feel the Impact of Prop 8

California Court Case on Prop 8 Begins Tomorrow Mar 4 09

Tomorrow, March 5th, COLAGE will anxiously be watching as the seven justices of the Supreme Court of California will convene in San Francisco for a three-hour hearing to decide the fate of Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage in California after the Court found in May that denying marriage to gays and lesbians amounted to a denial of a "fundamental right."

NCLR, the ACLU and Lambda Legal petitioned the Supreme Court following November's election, to invalidate the law, arguing voters can't take away what they say is an essential right. That constitutes a revision, not an amendment, to the state's constitution. COLAGE was proud to be represented in the case via an amicus brief arguing that the 17,000 marriages that took place in California between June and November should not be impacted by Proposition 8 no matter that outcome of the case.

No matter where you live, you can tune in to watch the Court proceedings online beginning at 8 am PST on March 5th, 2009. To learn more about the case, visit the great news center of our friends at the National Center for Lesbian Rights who are lead counsel on the case.

Tonight, on the eve of the court case, COLAGE joins the community for a rally and candlelight vigil in San Francisco. The event begins at 5 pm at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro. COLAGE youth Samuel Berston and COLAGE Community Organizing Intern Paulie Milagros Schreck will be two of the featured speakers. Details are available here. Other events throughout the state are listed here.

Action Alert: Civil Unions Bill in IL Mar 3 09

Call for Action - Illinois Civil Union Bill Hearing Scheduled

HB2234 - the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act - will be called for a hearing before the Youth and Family Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives at 9 am on Thursday, March 5 in Room 122B of the State Capitol in Springfield.

The civil union bill provides same-sex couples recognition and protections under Illinois law.
If the bill passes the committee, it moves on to the full House for a vote.

You can help in getting this piece of legislation passed. Please do either or both of the following things:

1. Contact the members of the Youth and Family Committee immediately and urge them to vote yes in committee. Members are:
Rep. Greg Harris
Rep. LaShawn Ford
Rep. Al Riley
Rep. William Burns
Rep. Michael McAuliffe
Rep. Mike Fortner
Rep. Dave Winter

For contact information on the committee members, please go to: House Youth and Family Committee.

2. Come to the hearing at the Capitol in Springfield on Thursday, March 5. The hearing will be held at: 9 a.m. Thursday, March 5, 2009
State Capitol Building
Room 122B
Springfield, Illinois
If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who may be able to attend to testify, please contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director, ASAP.

Synopsis of the Bill:
The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act defines "civil union" as a legal relationship between 2 persons, of either the same or opposite sex, established in accordance with the Act. Provides that a party to a civil union shall be entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses. Prohibits certain civil unions. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall prescribe forms for an application, license, and certificate for a civil union. Contains provisions regarding: application for a civil union license; certification of a civil union; and duties of the county clerk and Department of Public Health. Provides for dissolution and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Provides that a marriage between persons of the same sex, a civil union, or a substantially similar legal relationship other than common law marriage, legally entered into in another jurisdiction, shall be recognized in Illinois as a civil union.

For information on HB2234, or to contact the sponsoring legislators, thanking them for their commitment to EQUALITY in the State of Illinois, go to: 96th General Assembly, Status HB2234.

COLAGE applauds Equality Illinois for all of their leadership on this bill.