The ACLU reports today that Constance McMillan’s school has agreed to pay damages and to implement a ban on anti-gay discrimination.

Constance McMillan is the lesbian Mississippi High School Student who was told to go to a decoy prom while the rest of her class had a prom somewhere else.

The ACLU blog reports:

As set forth in documents filed in court today, school officials agreed to implement a policy banning discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the first policy to do so at a public school in the state of Mississippi. The school also agreed to pay McMillen $35,000 in damages and pay for McMillen’s attorneys’ fees.

Read the full article here

Joe Sestak, who bested five term incumbent Arlen Spector in the PA Democratic Senate primary by a convincing margin voiced his support for The Power’s call to Amend the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT status in a response to a question from Jeff Hall, co-founder of The Power.

Hall asked the question to which Sestak affirmed his support  in a LiveBlog conversation hosted by Pam’s House Blend.  The exchange is below

Jeff Hall:  Rep Sestak, thanks for taking questions here on PHB tonight. From your political, legislative and legal perspective, what would our biggest barriers be to Amending the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT status?

Joe Sestak:  Jeff Hall, courage…amongst Democrats. Again, I cannot fathom why this should be an issue. I watched the military work its way, for example, through race, then women in combat positions. Why isn’t it equality for LGBT. I feel strongly this is a civil rights issue and should, therefore, be encapsulated. The biggest obstacle is courage. Again, that’s the reason I’m running. I don’t think there is enough political courage.

Join Joe Sestak in supporting the call to amend the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT status by signing The Power’s Petition here.

By Jeffrey B. Hall

Since 1983, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City has served as a safe place for countless LGBT meetings and events that have shaped our community and our movement as we know it today.  This afternoon we got word of a disturbing incident that occurred at The Center.  The fact that no one was physically hurt does not diminish the fact that this was intended to be an act of violence and intimidation against the LGBT community.

The following is a statement from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center Executive Director, Glennda Testone:

Hello Center Supporters,

I am writing to tell you about a disturbing incident that happened at the Center. This morning our building staff arrived and discovered a burned rainbow flag hanging on one of the poster display cases outside our building. We called the NYPD, and they immediately dispatched detectives from the hate crimes unit and our local precinct. We also contacted the Anti-Violence Project, and the crime is currently under investigation.

We at the Center strive everyday to be a safe space for our community and a beacon of inclusion and hope for the entire city. It is sad that these incidents still happen in this day and age, but rest assured we will do everything in our power to make sure our community is safe. We have contacted our elected officials and are working closely with them to raise awareness in our community and to unite together against this hate-fueled action.

Most importantly, we will not stand for anyone who thinks they can come to the Center and try to intimidate us. Hate and intolerance against LGBT New Yorkers will not be accepted, and we as a community must stand strong and together in the face of these hateful incidents. We are asking anyone who has additional information about this crime to contact the police directly at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Thank you all for your continued support.

For more information and photos please visit our website.

Sincerely,
Glennda Testone

UPDATE:

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer said, “This hate crime perpetrated against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center is a cowardly attempt at intimidation, and it will not be tolerated. The burning of a rainbow flag – a proud symbol of the LGBT movement – should be taken as seriously as if the American flag had been desecrated. I urge anyone with information about this despicable act to contact the NYPD at 1-800-577-TIPS.”

“I was appalled to learn of the recent hate crime at the LGBT Center,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “Burning a rainbow flag and placing it in front of the Center’s entrance is a cowardly act clearly intended to intimidate members of the LGBT community. As a proud cosponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law last fall, I deeply believe that there is no place in our society for such hateful treatment of human beings, especially not for their sexual orientation or gender identity. I commend the NYPD for its swift response to this incident and for appropriately treating it as a hate crime.”

Sign The Petition to include LGBT status in the Civil Rights Act here

Immigration Equality, a national organization that works to end discrimination in U.S. immigration law, to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive people, and to help obtain asylum for those persecuted in their home country based on their sexual orientation, transgender identity or HIV-status has joined The Power’s effort to build a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to fighting for equality in a comprehensive fashion. Executive Director Rachel Tiven offered these words of support:

“Immigration Equality is proud to support the The Power Online. We know that, in order to win full equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, we must rally our supporters to speak out and work – at the local, state and national level – to end discrimination. The Power Online is bringing together a diverse coalition of supporters to urge our elected leaders to support a comprehensive approach to equality. Together, we can ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law.”

Through education, outreach, advocacy, and the maintenance of a nationwide network of resources, Immigration Equality provides information and support to advocates, attorneys, politicians and those who are threatened by persecution or the discriminatory impact of the law.

Today, the New York Anti-Violence Project endorsed The Power’s coalition building efforts to expand the Civil Rights Act and all the nation’s civil rights laws to include LGBT people.  New York Anti-Violence Project Executive Director Sharon Stapel issued the following statement:

The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) stands in coalition with The Power Online (www.ThePowerOnline.org) and with all people working to end violence to demand full civil rights and equal protection under the laws of the United States—and freedom from violence for all people. On a daily basis, AVP sees the horrific acts of bias-motivated violence against the LGBT communities. Legalized discrimination is one tool that has been employed to harm our communities and we must begin to dismantle this discrimination in our efforts to secure our safety. We cannot be free from violence without first being recognized as equal and full citizens. Expanding the Civil Rights Act to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected people is a critical step to ending the discrimination and violence that our communities face each day.

The New York City Anti-Violence Project, www.avp.org, works to end hate violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) communities through counseling, advocacy, organizing and public education. AVP was founded in 1980 in reaction to neighborhood incidents of anti-LGBT violence and the failure of the criminal legal system to respond. Today, AVP provides free and confidential assistance to thousands of LGBTQH people each year from all five boroughs of New York City through our 24- hour, Spanish/English bilingual hotline, 212.714.1141, and trains hundreds of organizations law enforcement, health care professionals, school-based staff, and social service agency personnel on violence issues impacting our communities. AVP coordinates the New York State LGBTQ Domestic Violence Network and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (www.ncavp.org). AVP advocates to change public attitudes that encourage and condone hate-motivated violence and to promote public policies designed to deter such violence.

To join with the Anti-Violence Project in supporting this legislative agenda and sending a message to Congress that the only equality is full equality, sign The Power’s petition at www.ThePowerOnline.org.

On Thursday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will chair a hearing entitled “Protecting the American Dream: A Look into the Fair Housing Act.”  The hearing will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010, in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2141, Washington, D.C. Witnesses will speak to recent reports and court settlements on housing discrimination and will address discrimination experienced by certain populations, including the LGBT and disability communities.

Thursday’s hearing will be the first hearing in a series of hearings on the Fair Housing Act and will allow Members to consider whether changes to the law or enhanced enforcement are necessary to ensure fair housing for all Americans.  Expansion of the Fair Housing Act to include LGBT people would be only the second effort (after ENDA) of this congress to include LGBT people in the nation’s civil rights laws.

TAKE ACTION:

1.  Tell your stories:  The Power is collecting stories of discrimination to deliver to Congressman Nadler for subsequent hearings.  If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing on the basis of LGBT status or relationship, please send your stories to FHAStories@ThePowerOnline.org.  Send a written story, or, if your are able to, record your story as a video, upload it to YouTube, and send us the link.

2.  Join the Facebook event and invite all your friends to join by clicking here or going to http://tinyurl.com/LGBTFHA.  The event has all these directions and more.

3.  Sign the petition: You can also show your support for amending the Fair Housing Act and the nations other civil rights laws, and help organize for their passage in your own congressional district by signing the petition at www.ThePowerOnline.org.

4.  Tweet about this action and this issue using the hashtag #LGBTFHA

BACKGROUND

In June, 2009, at a press conference organized by The Power to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots during which we officially launched a petition expand the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT people, Congressman Nadler announced his intention to direct his office to review the nation’s civil rights laws to include LGBT people.  Those laws include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title IX, and the Fair Housing Act.  These hearings mark the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise.

ABOUT THE FAIR HOUSING ACT

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was enacted primarily in response to widespread racial discrimination in housing sales and rentals around the country.  Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Act prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing on the basis of race, color, religion and national origin.  In 1974, it was amended to include sex and, in 1988, to include disability and familial status.

Fight Back New York PAC, the political action committee formed to defeat New York State senators who voted against marriage equality and to replace them with pro-equality senators this November is giving us a preview of what they’ll be doing.

They just sent out three mailings against Hiram Monserratte who is running to regain the Queens senate seat from which he was recently expelled. They have also launched a new website just for Hiram – http://www.truthaboutmonserrate.com/.  Please post this site on Facebook and Twitter to make sure it gets maximum exposure.

Monseratte was expelled for hitting his girlfriend with a broken bottle.  The Queens Democrat had courted gay support when he originally ran for the Senate, but turned on us, voting against marriage last December.  Jose Peralta is running for the empty seat.  Peralta is pro-equality.  To make a donation to Fight Back New York PAC visit www.FightBackPAC.com.

You can download these images of the mailings, include them in emails, or post them to social networks.

Fight Back NY mailer 1 Fight Back NY mailer 2 Fight Back NY Mailer 3

Harold Ford, Jr. has announced that he is not running for United States Senate to replace Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.  This is a great victory for LGBT activists who stood up to Ford last Wednesday at New York’s LGBT Community Services Center and confronted him with his record of lying to the LGBT community at a meeting of the Stonewall Democratic Club.  This was the last public appearance for Ford before issuing his decision.  Though he claims he could have won, we can’t help but think that the press coverage of the event played a major role in his decision.

During his appearance last Wednesday, he accused his former constitutents of lying when they said his office promised he would not vote for the Federal Marriage Amendment, rudely insisting that he was always going to vote for it. He was left speechless when asked if he agreed with the Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas (he didn’t know what it was). Here’s a small sampling of the coverage.

NY1: http://www.ny1.com/5-manhattan-news-content/top_stories/114258/crowd-heckles-ford-jr–on-gay-marriage-stance

GQ: http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/02/harold-ford-jr-gets-stonewalled.html

Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/2/25/840526/-Harold-Fords-ignorance-on-Lawrence-v.-Texas

The Advocate:  http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/02/24/Harold_Ford_Faces_His_Critics/

Ford was supposed to announce his run for Senate on Sunday, but he postponed the decision claiming it had something to do with Governor Patterson’s woes. We think maybe it had to do with the fact that he got branded a liar in word and image just before his announcement and he wants to get some distance from last Wednesday.

Congratulations to the activists who spoke out and made their voices heard.

For the first time ever, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is conducting a study of discrimination against LGBT people and families in the housing rental and sales market.  Raphael W. Bostic, Assistant Secretary of HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, will be co-hosting a stakeholder meeting with the Mayor’s Office and NYC Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn as well as with Councilmembers Rosie Mendez, Danny Dromm, and Jimmy Van Bramer.   The purpose of the field hearing will be to discuss the nature of the proposed study and receive remarks from interested groups and individuals

If you live in NYC and have ever experienced discrimination in housing because of the LGBT status of yourself or someone in your family, please try to attend.

The meeting is from 1-4 p.m. at the New York LGBT Center, Room 301, which is at 208 West 13^th Street (btwn 7^th/8^th Ave)

This hearing is important because it could be the prelude to amending the Fair Housing Act to include LGBT people.   Could this be the first piece of civil rights legislation to cover LGBT people?  That’s unclear.  It could be if we show up and tell our stories.  And that would be a great step forward indeed.

The Power has been advocating for amending the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT people (sign the petition at www.ThePowerOnline.org), and Congressman Jerold Nadler has issued a statement that he is working on legislation to include LGBT people in all federal civil rights laws.  One important part of  our country’s civil rights laws is the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing.

If you know anyone who has a story to tell, please share this invitation with them.