Gay Politics

White House salutes LGBT officials on Harvey Milk Day

2013-05-23T00:00:26Z

White House officials including Valerie Jarrett, a top adviser to President Obama, today spoke at an event honoring “Harvey Milk Champions of Change,” a group of 10 openly LGBT elected and appointed officials who were nominated for the honor by the American public.

Deputy Assistant to the President David Agnew opened the event by introducing the out officials to a crowd of more than 100 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Stuart Milk, the nephew of the late civil rights hero Harvey Milk, gave a keynote speech in which he congratulated the honorees and spoke about his uncle’s dream that LGBT people would one day serve in elected office everywhere.

“The last time I was at the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in my uncle’s honor, the president leaned in and asked me, ‘Do you think Harvey would have ever seen this coming?’ And I said, ‘Yes, sir. He always believed we would get here,’” Milk said.

The two-hour celebration of the contributions of LGBT officials included two panels moderated by White House staffers Gautam Raghavan and Kellyn Blossom.

The 2013 Harvey Milk Champions of Change are:

Simone Bell – Georgia State Representative, Atlanta, GA
Angie Buhl O’Donnell – South Dakota State Senator, Sioux Falls, SD
Karen Clark – Minnesota State Representative, South Minneapolis, MN
Michael A. Gin – Mayor of Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, CA
Kim Coco Iwamoto – Hawaii State Civil Rights Commissioner, Honolulu, HI
John Laird – California Secretary of Natural Resources, Santa Cruz, CA
Ricardo Lara – California State Senator, Long Beach, CA
Kim Painter – Johnson Country Recorder, Iowa City, IA
Chris Seelbach – Cincinnati City Council Member, Cincinnati, OH
Pat Steadman – Colorado State Senator, Denver, CO

Pictured: Georgia state Rep. Simone Bell; Calif. Sec. of Natural Resources John Laird; Calif. state Sen. Ricardo Lara; Colo. state Sen. Pat Steadman; Gautum Raghavan of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Gay candidates win in L.A. elections

2013-05-22T14:01:56Z

Ron Galperin has become the first openly gay candidate to win a citywide race in Los Angeles, the second largest city in America. Galperin defeated Dennis Zine in the race for city controller, an office currently held by Wendy Greuel, who lost a bid to become L.A.’s mayor to City Councilman Eric Garcetti. Galperin is an attorney, business owner, community leader – and a recognized expert on L.A. municipal government and finance.

Replacing Garcetti on the Council will be openly gay candidate Mitch O’Farrell. ”I’m full of love for the City Council District that I used to work with and it looks like on July 1 I am going to get to work with them again,” O’Farrell told supporters. O’Farrell will represent District 13, which has a significant LGBT population, as he becomes the fourth-ever openly LGBT member of the Council and its second sitting member.

“We could not be happier for Ron Galperin and Mitch O’Farrell. They are committed public servants with deep experience in municipal issues, and they will both be strong voices for LGBT Angelenos,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, which backed the candidates.

White House to honor 10 LGBT officials on Harvey Milk Day

2013-05-22T15:46:56Z

The White House has released a list of 10 openly LGBT public officials it will honor Wednesday as “Harvey Milk Champions of Change.” The event falls on Harvey Milk Day, which commemorates the civil rights leader’s birthday. (Watch LIVE here at 3:00 pm EDT.)

“These are LGBT leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to both equality and public service,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund and Institute. ”They are citizen legislators, executives and appointees who serve honestly, openly and proudly. We congratulate and salute each of them for this high honor.”

The 2013 Harvey Milk Champions of Change are:

Simone Bell – Georgia State Representative, Atlanta, GA
Angie Buhl O’Donnell – South Dakota State Senator, Sioux Falls, SD
Karen Clark – Minnesota State Representative, South Minneapolis, MN
Michael A. Gin – Mayor of Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, CA
Kim Coco Iwamoto – Hawaii State Civil Rights Commissioner, Honolulu, HI
John Laird – California Secretary of Natural Resources, Santa Cruz, CA
Ricardo Lara – California State Senator, Long Beach, CA
Kim Painter – Johnson Country Recorder, Iowa City, IA
Chris Seelbach – Cincinnati City Council Member, Cincinnati, OH
Pat Steadman – Colorado State Senator, Denver, CO

World recognizes day against homophobia, transphobia

2013-05-17T16:04:40Z

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, an opportunity for government leaders, activists and allies to speak out against intolerance and discrimination against LGBT people everywhere. The annual event marks the anniversary of the day the World Health Organization decategorized homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The United Nations human rights office released this video highlighting its commitment to LGBT around the world. ”The United Nations has one simple message to the millions of LGBT people around the world: you are not alone,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, also released a video. ”At the United Nations the United States is standing up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and fighting to ensure their voices are heard and protected,” Rice said.

“We stand with our brothers and sisters who are LGBT, no matter where they are, and with allies around the globe who agree that human rights and LGBT rights are the same,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund and Institute.

Marriage equality passes in Minnesota!

2013-05-13T21:18:57Z

Washington, D.C. — Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, issued the following statement today regarding the passage of legislation in Minnesota giving same-sex couples the freedom to marry:

“This is a dream come true for same-sex couples across Minnesota, and for the state’s gay and lesbian lawmakers who’ve worked so hard for this victory. Their leadership has been powerful and inspirational, and they deserve our thanks for standing up for fairness, for equality and for all LGBT Minnesotans.”

The Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to growing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elected officials at all levels of government. For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.

Same-sex couples in Minnesota won the right to marry today after the state Senate today gave final passage to a marriage equality bill. Gov. Mark Dayton has vowed to sign it.

Sen. Scott Dibble, who is openly gay, led the effort in the Senate, and openly lesbian Rep. Karen Clark was lead sponsor in the House. ”Today we have the power, the awesome, humbling power to make dreams come true,” Dibble said moments before the vote, his voice trembling.

“This is a dream come true for same-sex couples across Minnesota, and for the state’s gay and lesbian lawmakers who’ve worked so hard for this victory,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. ”Their leadership has been powerful and inspirational, and they deserve our thanks for standing up for fairness, for equality and for all LGBT Minnesotans.”

Photo: Beaumont Enterprise

Bill to ease trans name changes passes in Calif. Assembly

2013-05-10T16:50:34Z

Transgender Californians could soon find it easier to change their legal names. The State Assembly this week passed a bill introduced by openly lesbian Majority Leader Toni Atkins (pictured) that would make the process easier, less expensive and more private, according to San Diego Politico.

“Transgender people are entitled to have their official documents and their legal name reflect their true identity without a burdensome and expensive process that endangers their personal safety,” said Atkins. Currently those seeking name changes must get approval from a court and have the name change application published in a newspaper, which could expose transgender individuals to discrimination or harassment.

“Having identity documents that accurately reflect who you are is vital in so many areas of every day life – from applying for a job to exercising our rights at the ballot box,” said Masen Davis, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “Many of us wouldn’t think twice when asked to show our ID, but this is a very serious issue for transgender people.”

The legislation now heads to the California Senate.

Minnesota House approves marriage equality bill

2013-05-09T20:05:07Z

The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed a bill legalizing marriage for same-sex couples, and the legislation is expected to be taken up by the state Senate in the next few days.

“This is a historic day for Minnesota,” said Karen Clark, the openly lesbian sponsor of the bill. ”In Minnesota we don’t turn our back on family… Freedom means freedom for everyone.”

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, congratulated Clark and her colleagues. ”We’re incredibly proud that out lawmakers like Representative Clark are leading the fight to win more freedom for LGBT Americans. She stood up and asked her colleagues to see her as their equal, and that’s an incredibly powerful request,” Wolfe said.

Sen. Scott Dibble, an openly gay Democrat, will lead efforts to pass the bill in the state Senate.

Photo: Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota legislature could pass marriage bill by Sunday

2013-05-08T15:48:38Z

Hot on the heels of marriage equality victories in Rhode Island and Delaware, state lawmakers in Minnesota are also moving this week to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, according to the Minneapolis StarTribune.

Marriage legislation introduced by openly lesbian state Rep. Karen Clark will get a vote on the House floor this Thursday. In the Senate, where openly gay state Sen. Scott Dibble is the lead sponsor, the bill could be voted on sometime this weekend.

Officials with Minnesotans United for All Families, the advocacy group working to pass the legislation, say they’re still having conversations with wavering legislators, but so far no Republicans have indicated they will vote “yes,” according to the Pioneer-Press.

The push to allow same-sex couples to marry in Minnesota comes just a few months after voters rejected an effort to add a ban on marriage equality to the state constitution.

State senator comes out as Delaware OKs marriage bill

2013-05-07T21:07:08Z

Same-sex couples in Delaware won the right to marry today after the state Senate voted in favor of marriage equality legislation. During the debate, state Sen. Karen Peterson came out as a lesbian and challenged her colleagues, saying, “If my happiness somehow demeans or diminishes your marriage, you need to work on your marriage.”

The measure, already passed in the state House, now heads to Gov. Jack Markell, who has vowed to sign it.

“We congratulate Senator Peterson for telling her colleagues what marriage equality means to her and her partner, and for standing up for freedom and fairness for everyone in Delaware,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund.

Delaware becomes the 11th state to change its laws to allow same-sex marriages, which are also legal in the District of Columbia.

Illinois GOP chair quits after marriage equality tussle

2013-05-07T16:01:31Z

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today resigned his post in part, he said, because his personal support for marriage equality cost him the support of social conservatives in the party. The move comes as some in the GOP are resisting efforts to broaden the party’s appeal and tone down anti-gay rhetoric.

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk is one of two Senate Republicans to announce their support of marriage rights for same-sex couples. ”I agree with him, we need to get on the right side of history,” said Brady. ”It’s about addition and not subtraction, and if we come off as mean-spirited or angry or too dogmatic, then we don’t attract people to the party,” Brady told the Chicago Tribune.

State GOP operatives upset with Brady’s vocal support for a pending marriage equality bill have tried for weeks to remove him, finally settling on a transition plan that made clear Brady was no longer welcome.