Noel Freeman and Andy Neill Endorse Melissa Noriega

Earlier this Spring the Houston GLBT political Caucus faced a tough decision. Three impressive candidates sought our endorsement, as they began their campaigns for Houston City Council. In the end, we got behind Melissa Noriega, because she demonstrated extremely strong viability and a commitment to GLBT equality. She now enters the run-off campaign with a wide lead over her rival, and I'm happy to report that, in the last week, both Noel Freeman and Andy Neill, the two other candidates who originally screened with us, have formally endorsed Noriega.

Noel Freeman made his announcement in a press release, May 14th.

Former Houston City Council candidate Noel Freeman has officially endorsed Melissa Noriega for the June 16 runoff for the Council seat vacated by Shelley Sekula-Gibbs last November. Noriega received the most votes in Saturday‚s special election.

Freeman, a moderate Republican, endorsed Noriega due to her ability to provide stronger influence in Austin on behalf of Houstonians and a personal relationship that has grown during the campaign. "While Melissa and I may disagree ideologically on several issues, we agree on a number of issues that are very important to me, and her relationships with state legislators of both parties will serve Houstonians well," Freeman said. "We have also had the chance to get to know each other better over the course of the campaign, and I believe she is the candidate who really has Houston‚s best interests at heart."

By endorsing Noriega, Freeman seeks to reinforce the need for a stronger non-partisan environment on Houston's City Council. "I wish we could truly embrace the non-partisan nature of Council that was intended when our City Charter was written." he said. "After all, political affiliation doesn't determine whether or not your trash gets picked up or if your house is going to flood when it rains."

Andy Neill posted his endorsement on his website on May 16th.

As a registered Independent and a candidate for City Council during the current Special Election cycle, I have been granted a truly unique vantage point from which to assess fellow competitors and their messages of change for the City of Houston. It’s from that perspective that I feel compelled to endorse candidate Melissa Noreiga for the vacant At-Large position 3 seat in the upcoming runoff.

Melissa Noriega has earned my admiration and respect with her compassion, sincerity, and firm grasp of the complex issues that affect our citizens on a daily basis.

encourage everyone to do their homework on the issues that affect them and their families and make their own choice. I however have made mine and I am proud to support Melissa Noriega over the coming weeks.

I look to forward to watching both Noel Freeman and Andy Neill, as they continue to enrich our city with there service. If either decide to run run for office again -- and I hope they do -- I deeply wish that they seek our caucus' endorsement again. Their ideas were compelling and exciting, and our city is lucky to have such exceptional young leaders. I'm sure Melissa is deeply honored to have their support.

A New Report Details the Costs of Discrimination

In March The Williams Institute, a think tank that examines sexual orientation and public policy, released a new study that details the costs of denying gay, lesbian, and bisexual parents the right to adopt and provide foster care.

Here are some of the most noteworthy conclusions:

• Currently in Texas, there are over 3,500 adopted children in LGB families. Texas ranks fourth in the nation for LGB adoptions.
• If the Texas Legislature banned GLB foster care, considering the costs of new foster parent recruitment /training and the additional costs of institutional and congregate care facilities, Texas would have to spend an estimated $2,500,00 dollars a year to make up for these valuable, lost LGB parents.
  
• In the United Sates, an estimated 14,100 foster children are living with LGB parents. These children make up approximately three percent of all foster children in the U.S.
• A national ban on GLB foster care would cost the government from $87 to $130 billion dollars each year.
• Nationally, an estimated 2 million LGB people are interested in adopting. Over 50 percent of gay men and 41 percent of lesbians want to have a child.
  
• Same-sex couples raising adopted children are older, more educated, and have more economic resources than other adoptive parents.
  

The complete report is fascinating. Its presentation is admirably objective, and its methodology appears very sound. This type of study is so important, as it helps us destroy stereotypes of LGB. In addition to all the new numbers this report has produced, I was surprised to learn that a number of other influential professional organizations and institutions, including the American Medical Association, The American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers, have made public findings that encourage GLB adoption and foster care.

Check out the William's Institute.

Victory Fund Candidates

The Victory Fund trains and endorses GLBT people seeking public office. This spring they’ve endorsed four candidates in Texas. There are so many excellent, out and proud, GLBT candidates these days. It's really amazing how much progress we've made. There's even a possibility that both Dallas and Houston will have openly homosexual mayors in just as few years. amazing!

Here's how the Victory Fund describes their candidates:

Elena Guajardo

Candidate for City Council, San Antonio

Elena Guajardo, the first openly LGBT person to be elected in San Antonio, is seeking reelection for her second and final term. Elena Guajardo made history in 2004 when she won a seat on the San Antonio City Council, becoming the first openly LGBT person to be elected there.

Joseph Hernandez

Candidate for City Council, District 3, Dallas

With a record of extensive community involvement, Joseph Hernandez is running to replace Ed Oakley, now running for mayor, on the Dallas City Council. When elected, Joseph will become the second consecutive LGBT candidate to represent the 3rd District.

Chris Moss

Candidate for City Council, Frisco

Chris Moss is running as a first-time candidate for the Frisco City Council. If elected he will make history by becoming the first openly LGBT elected official in the city. Chris is currently an openly LGBT appointed official serving on the Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission.

Ed Oakley

Candidate for Mayor, Dallas

If elected, Ed Oakley will become the first openly LGBT mayor of one of the ten biggest cities in America. Ed is currently serving in his third term on the Dallas City Council. As one of the few mayoral candidates representing the southern sector of Dallas, Ed has the advantage of a connection to this constituency, which has become extremely important in delivering elections to Democrats over the last few years. He has already been endorsed by several local leaders, including fellow Councilman Bill Blaydes, a Republican. Moreover, the Dallas area has been very good to openly LGBT candidates in recent elections. They now have an openly LGBT County Sheriff, Lupe, an openly LGBT District Clerk, Gary Fitzsimmons, and openly LBGT County Judge, Jim Foster.

Go Vote!

GLBTube #4

This week's crop-o-clips are all home grown, right here in Texas.

1. Does Dallas have an openly gay mayoral candidate? Does the Dallas Voice produce news videos on YouTube? I think this clip will answer those questions and more.



2. Just last month, Houston’s own Bayou City Boy’s Club threw their infamous, annual Jungle Party to raise money for charity. Watch this clip, and maybe you'll see a neighbor or friend among the Twinky tarzans and the hip-shaking homos. Oh man! is that a Jungle Jack I see?! This segment was produced by HereTV - the people that bring you Dante's Cove and The Liar. Damn... I knew Jack was famous, but I had no idea!




3. A study in contrasts: This clip from KLRU's show Special Session profiles two freshman legislators, Houston State Senator Dan Patrick and Corpus Christi State Rep. Juan Garcia. After so many shameless publicity stunts, Patrick, an embarrassment to all Houstonians, surely needs no introduction. Juan Garcia, on the other hand, is someone our community should be watching. Some of you may remember Garcia's nail-bitingly close victory over Gene Seaman last fall. He's an ambitious Democrat, who's done alright by the GLBT this session. Maybe we can push him to take the lead on some things next time. I love how hard working and humble Garcia looks when profiled next to Patrick.

Elect Noriega: The Knockout Punch to Tom Delay

Cross posted at Burnt Orange Report

The May 12^th special election to fill the Houston City Council seat vacated by Shelley Sekula-Gibbs has received very little press coverage, and everyone agrees that Election Day promises low voter turnout. Coming off all the exciting victories of 2006, this race seems to be flying under the radar, but electing Melissa Noriega should be important to progressive voters everywhere. It’s certainly important to Houston’s GLBT community, as we have the opportunity to replace an adversary on council with a friend, but, beyond that, it seems to me that electing Noriega would deliver one more knockout punch to the regressive, corrupt politics of Tom Delay.

As Election Day approaches, I get more and more excited about Melissa Noriega. Earlier this spring, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus enthusiastically endorsed Melissa, because she articulated a sincere commitment to GLBT equality and demonstrated incredibly strong viability. It was clear then that Melissa was certainly going to make a very strong run, and today, our early impressions of Noriega are being fulfilled in impressive ways. Just check out her F.E.C. filings. The Noriega campaign is doing a great job, out raising all other the other candidates by a large margin. If she wins, all Houstonians can count on her to be a principled, reasonable, and effective leader, but I think her victory has a broader, historic significance. The whole sordid tale of corruption, indictments, resignations, law suits, write-ins, and “Gibbs Gaffes” ends with the election of Melissa Noriega.

Let’s review the squalid saga that led up to this election:

§ January 3, 2006: Jack Abramoff, long time associate of Tom Delay, pleads guilty to fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy charges.

§ March 7, 2006: Tom Delay wins a contested district 22 primary election by the smallest margin of his career.

§ March 31, 2006: Tony Rudy, Tom Delay’s former deputy chief of staff, pleads guilty to corruption charges connected to the Abramoff scandal.

§ April 3^rd, 2006: Tom Delay announces that he will, in fact, not seek reelection, in the wake of Rudy’s guilty plea. Delay also announces that he will resign from the United States House of Representatives effective June 9, 2006

§ August 3, 2006: a three member panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the decision of a district judge stating that Delay’s name must stay on the November ballot. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia rejected a request for the Supreme Court to hear the case before the November election, effectively ending Delay’s hopes of removing his name from the ballot.

§ August 17, 2006: Houston City Council Member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs becomes the officially endorsed Republican write-in candidate to face Democrat Nick Lampson in the race for House District 22.

§ November 7^th, 2006: Nick Lampson wins the election to represent district 22. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs wins a special election to serve the remainder of Tom Delay’s term, forcing her to resign her Houston City Council seat.

§ November 15, 2007: Just eight days after winning election, after rumors of intense contention, seven Gibbs’ staff members resigned in mass walkout. One staffer conceded that after working with Gibbs for just over a week she “was not a boss we wanted to work for.”

§ January 31, 2007: With a strong contingent of progressive leaders standing behind her, Melissa Noriega kicks off her campaign to replace Gibbs on Houston City Council.

Even though this race has received very little attention, electing Melissa Noriega is so important. Her victory will send a strong message, rejecting the corrupt politics of Tom Delay.

Her victory is not assured, though. Send her some money. Volunteer with the GLBT Caucus. We’re block-walking, rallying, and phone banking all the way to election day. Let’s knock them out.

Guest Post: Melissa Noriega Campaign Thanks the GLBT Caucus!

Cross posted at Burnt Orange Report

Hi,

This is the Melissa Noriega Campaign. It’s time to vote! Early voting in the May 12^th special election to fill the unexpired term of Shelley Sekula-Gibbs for Houston City Council At-Large, Position 3 begins today, April 30^th, and continues through Tuesday, May 8^th. Election Day is Saturday, May 12^th.

And, it’s time to thank the Houston GLBT Caucus for all of your work knocking on doors, making phone calls, putting out yard signs and getting out the word about Melissa. This City Council seat is important. The person who wins has the opportunity to be a part of ensuring our city has a vibrant future. Melissa Noriega is the candidate who will pull diverse groups together around common ground, to make our neighborhoods safer, our environment healthier and our government more effective.

This election is not a done deal. While Melissa has received many important endorsements, including the Caucus, the Houston Chronicle, police, fire, Labor, elected officials and other business and community members, it’s now up to the voters to go to the polls and make their voices heard.

This is expected to be a very low turnout election. It’s important that everyone stay focused and work from now to election day to get out the vote, whether it’s by making phone calls to voters, emailing everyone you know to encourage them to vote for Melissa or talking to your friends and co-workers about the election. Early voting is important, as the number of polling locations for Election Day has been reduced. An interactive early voting map, with locations and schedules, can be found at www.melissanoriega.com.

If you haven’t had a chance to meet Melissa, you can do that this week at Wednesday’s Caucus meeting.

Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 PM

GLBT Political Caucus Wine Reception and General Meeting

Havens Center
1827 W Alabama St, Houston, TX
713-528-6665

Thank you again, for your endorsement and - Let’s Get Out the Vote for Melissa!

The Melissa Noriega Campaign

ENDA to be introduced today

Press release from Barney Frank's Office:

Washington, DC--Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), along with representatives from the religious, corporate and advocacy community, will hold a press conference to announce the reintroduction of the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) on Tuesday, April 24 at 1:00 p.m. Every year, qualified hard-working Americans are denied job opportunities because of who they are. Countless others live in fear of losing their jobs. In 33 states, it is legal to fire someone who is otherwise qualified simply because of his or her sexual orientation; the same is true in 42 states based on gender identity. The proposed legislation will extend important federal employment protections to gay men and lesbians and will prohibit employment discrimination based on gender identity.

GLBTube #3

This and that….

1. I found this video really inspiring and encouraging. Religious leaders rally with HRC in support of the “Matthew Shepherd Act” and ENDA in Washington D.C. This clip's about thirty-five minutes long.



2. This is a recent episode from an amazing video-blog, “Transgender in New York.” Erin has been chronicling her life and transition in short video clips for just over five months. She talks about having her name changed, work and money issues, shopping, her voice, her family, and her Morman upbringing, and everything else with wit and grace and humility. I think this is such an excellent example of someone from our community reaching OUT. It’s so important for our community to find ways to be honest and upfront about our lives. Erin's made a lot of friends on YouTube. It’s amazing. Check out some of the fascinating response videos Erin has received.




3. This very well produced clip has been floating around the Texas, political blogosphere, so I thought I’d promote it here as well. Kuff and BOR have more details about this appalling attempt at voter suppression.



4. Man! San Francisco politics are really different… This is S.F. mayor Gavin Newsom talking about same-sex marriage live on The Woody Show.



What do you think of these clips? How could the Caucus use YouTube? I’d love to hear some of your ideas.

"The Art of the Possible:" Gay Marriage in New York

The New York Times has the complete story:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer will introduce a bill in the coming weeks to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, his spokeswoman said Friday, a move that would propel New York to the forefront of one of the most contentious issues in politics.

Spitzer acknowledges the up hill battle GLBT advocates will face once this legislation is introduced, but marriage equality was an issue that he championed throughout his thoroughly covered '06 election campaign. It seems that Elliot Spitzer's a bold leader, who keeps his word. I imagine he also remembers exactly who helped win last November.

"I am focusing now on politics as the art of the possible."

This is just terrific. This is why we work to win elections. Even when equality seems so unreachable, progress can be accelerated by excellent leaders, like Governor Spitzer. I'm really curious to see how a certain junior Senator from New York reacts to this development.

Support for Gay Adoption Surging

cross posted at Burnt Orange Report.

For the past twenty-six years, Rice University sociology professor Stephen Klineberg has been recording the opinions of Houstonians on a wide variety fascinating socio-economic issues in his report, The Houston Area Survey. Some new numbers from the most recent report are coming out, and it's amazing how dynamic and diverse our city is. Since the survey was founded, the views of our city population have changed in dramatic ways. Most significantly for our community, support for gay adoption is surging. In the last decade, public opinion has shifted in a positive direction by over ten percent. Even as views on other issues, such as the death penalty and immigration, fluctuate up and down from year to year, the trend towards majority support of gay families seems amazingly consistent.

Unfortunately, supporters are still in the minority, but these statistical movements are extremely consequential. At this moment in Texas, adoption is one of our most tenuous rights. Each new session of the state legislature brings renewed fear that adoption and foster parenting will be limited to heterosexual couples. Even today, as the 80th legislature holds it hearings and floor debates, it's a very scary possibility, but as public opinion shifts in our favor, close-minded, right-wing legislators have less leverage on these controversial issues. Of course, for GLBT foster parents and hopeful adopters, tolerance couldn't come too soon.

How can we cultivate greater public acceptance? We must be more outspoken in our activism. We must make ourselves increasingly relevant in the political world.

We're already making a significant impact, both locally and nationally. Just last week, presidential candidate John Edwards announced, with a great deal of fanfare on his website, a long list of significant LGBT endorsers. Admittedly, Edwards' announcement received little press coverage, but it's clear that Edwards is actively seeking LGBT support, because he knows it can make huge difference on election day. Similarly, just yesterday in the U.S. Senate, Senator Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Smith (R-OR) introduced the "Matthew Shepherd Act." (This is the federal hate crimes legislation I detailed in a previous post). When leaders, like Kennedy, Smith and Edwards, work on our behalf, knowing that it will benefit their reelection efforts, we receive invaluable public exposure. When we have the opportunity to share our issues, present our families, and highlight our common humanity, public opinion shifts in exponential measure.

It seems to me that we're right at the tipping point, and the Caucus has an incredible opportunity to accelerate progress. We are the political voice for our community, and leaders are starting to listen, because they know how consequential our support can be on election day. Join the caucus, and speak OUT.

GLBTube #2

This week I tried to find recently posted videos that are excellent examples of grassroots marketing and outreach for the GLBT community. Tracy Gary’s presentation at last night’s general meeting emphasized the need for our community to be upfront and honest about our issues. I think that all of these examples illustrate how effective personal appeals can be.

1.) The Victory fund is getting into youtube. I really, really liked this video. It’s a very intimate look at an openly gay politician, Iowa State Senator Matt McCoy. The interviews with his parents are so poignant. I think this clip is an excellent example of what effective outreach can look like.



2.) New Jersey holds first lesbian and gay wedding expo! This is very cool, as it demonstrates exactly what some researchers have been talking about. Marriage equality is very good for the economy. Even the car salesman is excited about marrying gay and lesbian folks.



3.) This is another good example of an activist group using youtube. The Community Clinic is working hard to get good healthcare for transgender people in Los Angles.



If you want to get involved in progressing equality right here in Houston. Join the Caucus. It takes a lot of money to win elections, but the cost of defeat is much, much higher. Help us raise money!

General Meeting This Wednsday, April 4th

Tracy Gary, philanthropist and non-profit expert

The Houston GLBT Political Caucus (HGLBTPC) is pleased to announce that Tracy Gary, philanthropist and nonprofit expert, will speak at the Wednesday, April 4, 2007 meeting. A fundraising reception at 6:30 is scheduled before the April 4 meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The monthly HGLBTPC meeting is held at the Havens Center, 1827 W. Alabama St.

Tracy Gary has been transforming communities all her life. She moved to Houston for love (to be with Tori Williams) and is a philanthropic and legacy advisor as well as a nonprofit entrepreneur. She is working in Houston on Inspired Legacies, her 18th nonprofit start up. Tracy began working on GLBTQ issues in the 1970's working out of San Francisco as co-producer of the documentary, Word is Out: Stories of 28 Gay Men and Lesbians, and as a community and donor activist. She has played a key roll in launching or supporting what is now called Funders for Gay and Lesbian Issues, The Horizon's Foundation, The Outgiving Funders conference, and many of the over 200 social change and women's funds that now exist. She was a key partner in the Briggs Initiative win back in the 1970's in the “No CA” campaign and now offers her advice to HERA and the Caucus on key strategies for future wins for our community in Houston.

“Tracy is a nonprofit guru whose expertise in community development and donor activism guarantees real change in our society. I think our political community will learn a great deal from her, and I invite everyone to join us for a stimulating discussion with Tracy on Wednesday, April 4,” said Jenifer Pool, President of the HGLBTPC.

The Caucus will hold a wine reception, where donations will be accepted, and an informal gathering starting at 6:30 pm, just before the meeting. The HGLBTPC meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The monthly meeting is held at Havens Center, 1827 W. Alabama St. Visitors are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting to learn more about the HGLBTPC.

Thank You, Jack Valinski, for Twenty-five Years of Pissing People Off!

HERA benefit honoring Jack Valinski:

• When: 6:30-9:30 p.m. today

• Where: South Beach, 810 Pacific, Houston

• Cost: $25 for individual tickets; $100 for sponsorships

Tonight we're paying tribute to one of Houston's most effective and loved community activists, Jack Valinski. He's been dedicated to progressing GLBT rights in Houston for over twenty five years, and I can't think of a better way for HERA to honor such a persistent, progressive prodder than a roast. Come see Ray Hill, the Honorable Annise Parker, the Honorable Sue Lovell and others rake Jack across the coals. We all love you Jack!

Visit HERA to purchase tickets to tonight's event, and don't forget to join the Jack Pack!

The Chronicle ran an excellent profile of Jack in yesterday's paper.

Valinski says there's a lot of work to be done. He's not ready to step aside, but still wonders who will take up the battle in the next generation.

"We are always trying to get the next generation involved," Valinski said. "It's a difficult thing because a lot of them don't see what we saw."

We all owe Jack a huge debt of gratitude. He's is an inspiration, and we should all answer Jack's call. Join the Caucus. Support HERA. Buy at ticket to tonight's event, and show your appreciation by making your own personal comitment to progressing GLBT equality.

GLBTube

This is this the inaugural post of a new series here on The Caucus blog. Everybody loves YouTube, so, starting today, I'm going to post a few relevant videos right here on the blog. If you've stumbled on an awesome GLBT clip somewhere, email me (thecaucusblog@gmail.com) and I'll include it in the next installment. Please use the comment section to discuss these video clips.

1.) New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson at the annual HRC black tie dinner in Los Angles.



2.) This is a really excellent documentary about marriage equality. It chronicles one town's heroic defiance of President Bush. It was produced by the cool people at Dark Star Entertainment.



3.) This is one of the short films from 10couples, an ACLU project to help advocate for marriage equality. I thought this pair's story was particularly moving, but all of the films are really compelling.



Keep checking The Caucus Blog for updates in this series.

PAY OFF!

Freshman Representative Ellen Cohen has signed on as a joint author, along with Jessica Farrar and Rafael Anchia, to Garnet Coleman's HB 2527, the "Dignity for All Students Act." All of our hard work has certainly paid off, and district 134 can be proud to finally have true representation in the Texas state house.

Also, State Representative Roberto Alonzo's HB 247 will be the first GLBT bill debated in hearing at the 80th Texas legislature. Alonzo's bill would add gender identity and sexual orientation to the list of catagories that are currently protected from discrimination under Texas law.

We should all contact these great leaders and share our deep appreciation for their work.

Roberto Alonzo: 512-463-0408
Rafael Anchia: 512-463-0746
Ellen Cohen: 512-463-0389
Garnet Coleman: 512-463-0524
Jessica Farrar: 512-463-0620

Garnet Coleman Wants Dignity for All Texas Students

H.B. 2527, the Dignity for All Students Act, prohibits discrimination or harassment against students

(Austin, TX)—Representative Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) announced today he has filed the Dignity for All Students Act to prohibit discrimination or harassment against students in and employees of Texas public schools. According to the Gay and Lesbian Student Education Network (GLSEN), the average GPA for LGBT students who were frequently physically harassed was half a grade lower than that of LGBT students experiencing less harassment (2.6 versus 3.1).

"Every Texas student has the right to a public education. No child should ever have worry about getting on a school bus or walking down a hallway because of fear of harassment or discrimination," said Representative Coleman. "When students are discriminated against in school and the school does nothing about it, we are failing them in a very fundamental way. The Dignity for All Students Act will help set a tone in Texas that no type of discrimination will be tolerated in this state."

H.B. 2527 prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or national origin. Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination based on association with a person, and protects both the parents of students and whistleblowers who may report incidents of discrimination or harassment.

"If school officials turn a blind eye to anti-gay harassment while they take steps to deal with other kinds of harassment, they can be liable for violating the federal constitutional rights of the students affected," said Randall Ellis board member of the Texas ACLU. "H.B. 2527 directs Texas schools to take preventive steps by establishing a policy that includes LGBT youth that will help stem harassment before it becomes a problem."

The legislation also provides for data reporting on incidents of harassment in public schools as well as requiring school districts to undergo training on how to respond to and prevent harassment and discrimination at school.

"Knowing what kind of discrimination may be going on in our schools will bring us a lot closer to figuring out how to stop it," said Representative Coleman.

H.B. 2527 has been referred to the House Committee on Public Education. Advocates for this legislation are hopeful that Chairman Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) will grant the bill a hearing and allow students to testify to the need of ending discrimination in Texas schools.

The New Congress Makes Unprecedented Progess for LGBT

As we start organizing our field campaign for Melissa Noriega's council race, I thought it might be nice to look at some of the great legislation that is expected from the new congress. Pro-GLBT legislation has stagnated for many years, but with last fall's Democratic election surge, it seems that unprecedented progress is finally being made. I guess the work of grassroots organization's, like ours, really pays off.

Last week Congressional Quarterly reviewed some of the pro GLBT bills that will be introduced during this session. Here are some of the highlights:

• Michigan's John Conyers Jr., chairman of the house judiciary committee, will be introducing a bill federalizing gay hate crimes against GLBT. The bill will also provide law enforcement agencies with resources that will help them deal with the special nature of these crimes. Senator Edward Kennedy is expected to carry the bill in the Senate.
  
• A bipartisan team, including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Christopher Shays of Connecticut, and Deborah Pryce of Ohio, is preparing a much anticipated employment non-discrimination act. Senator Kennedy is expected to carry this bill as well.
  
• Congressman Jim McDermott is expected to introduce legislation that would permit employees and companies to make pretax payments toward a same-sex domestic partner’s medical costs.
  
• Congressman Marty Meehan of Massachusetts will reintroduce his much reported Military Readiness Enhancement Act. This legislation would repeal the "don't ask don't tell" policy, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. Military.
  

None of these ideas are new. In fact, our community has been looking forward to the passage of this kind of legislation for many years. Some of these bills have been introduced and reintroduced in multiple sessions, but this year they have a good chance of passing. Even anti-gay, conservative groups are on defense when it comes to these bills. It seems that the 2006 election will have a significant, positive impact on our community, so congratulations to everyone that has been working so hard for this day.

There's progress in the Texas house as well. Just last week, 2 Republicans and forty-six Democrats, including our own recently elected Ellen Cohen and Boris Miles, joined Garnet Coleman's efforts to remove discriminatory language from Texas's "Romeo and Juliet" law. An unusual amount of Pro LGBT legislation has been filed in the Texas legislature this session. I've already reported on some of these bills, but you can track all of them over at Equality Texas.

Speaking of Lawrence v. Texas...

cross posted at Burnt Orange Report

Yesterday I reported on Patricia M. Logue's appointment as a judge. Logue was one of the lead attorneys in the Lawrence v. Texas case. Her victory has been extremely important to our community. In many ways, the Lawrence verdict has changed the trajectory of our fight for equality. I think it's amazing that all that progress can be traced right back here to Texas. That's one reason why the Houston GLBT Political Caucus is so adamant that our own Houston Pride parade be celebrated in June, the month the ruling was handed down.

It was such an important moment, but did you know that Texas's sodomy law is still on the books? Of course, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision has rendered it completely unenforceable, but the Republican leadership in our legislature has let the law stand, simply out of spite and hatred for our community. Thankfully, State Representative Garnet Coleman has filed a bill to finally repeal Texas's hollow, hateful sodomy law.

HB1326:

[(2) state that homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle and is a criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal Code].

[(8) emphasis, provided in a factual manner and from a public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal Code].

Congratulations, Patricia Logue! Your service to our community will never be forgotten. And thank you, Representative Coleman, for continually fighting for us in the Texas House.

Lawrence v. Texas Attorney Becomes a Judge

Patricia M. Logue will be sworn in as an associate judge of the circuit court of Cook County, Ill. on April 11, 2007.

The Advocate Online has all the details:

The director of Lambda Legal's Constitutional Litigation department was named an associate judge of the circuit court of Cook County, Ill.

Logue's 14-year tenure at Lambda Legal began with the opening of its Midwestern regional office in Chicago in 1993 as managing attorney, according to a written statement. She has also served on the national level as interim legal director and senior counsel. She also sat on the group's board of directors for five years.

Logue's past cases include serving as one of the lead attorneys in Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down all remaining sodomy laws in the United States.

The Houston GLBT Political Caucus Endorses Melissa Noriega

cross posted at Burnt Orange Report

This post was revised on March 15, 2007. If you have a question about the changed content, please contact us at thecaucusblog@gmail.com.

Tonight, during our March general meeting, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus voted to endorse Melissa Noriega in her run for city council.

With an openly gay candidate, Noel Freeman, running, the decision to endorse Noriega was not an easy one, but the caucus has not compromised its commitment to advancing equality for GLBT people in Houston. After some thorough discussion, there was clear consensus on two things:

First, we can all be very proud of Noel Freeman. His courage is inspiring, and the GLBT community applauds him for running as an openly gay man.

Second, the caucus must be unrelenting in its pursuit of equal rights for GLBT. Of course we want more GLBT elected officials, but, even more than that, we want equal rights as soon as possible. The Caucus is certain that, out of all the candidates, Melissa Noriega will be our most effective advocate. She is a proven leader with broad support. She has demonstrated a deep, personal understanding of GLBT issues, and she is more than prepared to run a victorious campaign. Noriega's screening was exemplary. She far outshined every other contender, including Freeman. We are proud to support her, as proud as we've ever been.

The Houston GLBT Political Caucus enthusiastically looks forward to Melissa Noriega's tenure on city council, and we will be working diligently on her behalf right through May 12th, election day.

Garnet Coleman on the First GLBT Vote of the Session

With all the excitement of the endorsment meeting, I neglected to get this important message from Garnet Coleman up on the blog. Sign up to receive Representative Coleman's GLBT e-mail alerts here.

Dear Friend, Equal protection under the law is one of the most fundamental aspects of our system of government. All persons should be entitled to the same treatment before the law, regardless of who they are. But unfortunately, under current law Texas law, GLBT teens can receive stricter sentences than heterosexual teens (for the same crime). I filed an amendment yesterday (the first GLBT-related vote of the session) to correct that injustice, and while I was not successful, you can be sure I will continue work on this issue throughout the session. Background on Texas' "Romeo and Juliet" law Yesterday the House debated amendments to H.B. 8 (often known as "Jessica's Law"), which changed in part Texas' statute dealing with statutory rape. The law is strict and provides for up to twenty years in prison for engaging in "sexual conduct" with a child under seventeen years of age. But it also provides for an affirmative defense for cases in which the offender was within three years of age of the victim - these are cases where an eighteen year old high school senior might be dating a sixteen year old sophmore. You may have heard of this referred to as the "Romeo and Juliet" law, but Texas is unique in that it only applies when the two persons are of the opposite sex. In other words, Texas law treats heterosexual teen relationships like regular high school romance, but treats GLBT teen relationships like criminal pedophilia. This section of the law isn't just some piece of obscure legal jargon - it has real effect. Until recently, Kansas had a law just like Texas; in 2000, Matthew Limon, an eighteen year old Kansas teen, was sentenced to seventeen years in prison for having sex with another male just shy of his fifteenth birthday. That sentence was thirteen times more severe than a heterosexual teen would have received for the same crime; not only that, Limon was required to register as a sex-offender after being released from prison. Ultimately, his conviction was vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the law which excludes GLBT teens from the "Romeo and Juliet" clause as a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. My amendment Since the Kansas law was overturned, Texas is the only state to create different penalties for GLBT "Romeo and Juliet" teen relationships. That's why yesterday I filed an amendment to strike that discriminatory language from the law. Unfortunately, the amendment was killed on a vote of 100-46. But you can be sure that I will continue to work for the principle of equal protection under the law throughout the session on this and other GLBT related issues. If you have any questions or concerns, please reply to this e-mail or call our capitol office at 512-463-0524; I would love to hear from you. I also hope you'll forward this e-mail to a friend, and if you've received this e-mail as a forward, click here to sign up for our e-mail alerts. Sincerely, Garnet

Endorsement: The Tough Decision We’ve Been Waiting For

cross posted at Burnt Orange Report

This post was revised on March 15, 2007. If you have a question about the changed content, please contact us at thecaucusblog@gmail.com.

Endorsement Meeting: Special Election for City Council, At-large Position 3

Tonight, 6:30 PM

3400 Montrose, Suite 207

The screening committee has completed its interviews, and tonight the Houston GLBT Political Caucus will officially endorse a candidate in the race for the at-large, position 3 city council seat, vacated by Shelly Sekula-Gibbs. An openly gay men, Noel Freeman, is seeking the caucus’s support. Melissa Noriega and Andy Neill also screened with the caucus. Everyone on the screening committee agrees that the caucus has a very difficult decision to make, but this is a difficult decision we’re happy to have; it’s one we’ve been waiting for.

Our organization has been committed to recruiting openly GLBT candidates for a long time, so we can’t help but be extremely proud of Noel Freeman. He has distinguished himself by being courageously honest within discriminatory cultures. Noel Freeman was the first openly gay member of Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets.

Though we are extremely excited about Noel Freeman's candidacy, it should not be assumed that the caucus will endorse him, simply because he is homosexual. As an interim state legislator, civic activist and educator, Melissa Noriega has proven herself to be an extremely effective leader. During her interview, Noriega was passionate about building coalitions. She’s obviously eager to learn about GLBT issues, and, in many ways, She's uniquely qualified to help our community reach out to the greater population of Houston.

We certainly face a difficult decision. We have a historic opportunity, not just because we have a homosexual seeking our endorsement. Our city is at the threshold of significant progress, and every city election has the potential to bring us closer to equal citizenship.

The GLBT political caucus is not a mere fan club for elected officials. We don’t vainly seek election victories. We are compelled to by specific policy goals. We are driven by the prospect of equality. Of course we want more GLBT elected officials, but, even more than that, we want nondiscrimination mandated by our government. We want marriage equality, with recognition and security for our loving families. We want equal rights, and the Caucus will endorse and work for the candidate that can best accelerate the realization of these goals.

Tonight we will hear from all three candidates, and we will review their respective merits. I will post the Caucus’s decision immediately following the meeting.

New Jersey Sends Belated Valentines in the Form of Civil Unions

As is being reported by the New Jersey Star Ledger, couples across New Jersey have been enthusiastically racing to court houses to gain legal recognition of their loving partnerships, but even while joyfully pledging their lifelong commitments to each other, most of these couples still aren't satisfied, as the New Jersey law still doesn't recognize them as married. One couple, waiting in line for their ceremony, articulated the bitter sweet quality of this historic moment:

“We just want to show our support to anyone else (registering),” said Lee Rosenfield, who plans to file an application with his partner, Jack Fastag, in neighboring West Amwell tomorrow and have a ceremony at home on Sunday. Smaller than the couple’s traditional Jewish wedding in 2004, the gathering will mark an important legal step but not full equality, the two men said.

“In my opinion, it’s still an expression of homophobia to call it anything but marriage,” said Rosenfield, who is chairing Garden State Equality’s “Crossing the Delaware to Progress” walk across the bridge from New Hope, Pa., to Lambertville tomorrow. “We’re hoping for about 100 people to walk with us to say, ‘This is a good first step, but we’re not there yet.’’

I think the clip above really emphasizes this point. Just listen to the awkward language used during the civil ceremony. Even on this happy day in New Jersey, we're not there yet. In the eyes of the government, our love isn't equal to heterosexual love.

Garnet Coleman and Jessica Farrar Stand Up for the GLBT Community

By introducing an important bill amending the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act to include transgender Texans, yesterday, State Representative Garnet Coleman lived up to his reputation as a bold leader. Garnet Coleman is certainly one our best allies in the state legislature. Achieving GLBT equality is obviously one of his top priorities. He’s even designated one of his four email alerts exclusively to GLBT issues. Sign up here to stay connected.

Coleman is not alone though. Houston is lucky to have several great state representatives advocated for us on the floor of the Texas house. Jessica Farrar has already filed three bills aiming to end discrimination of GLBT.

Farrar’s House Bill 305 will protect GLBT students from discrimination at school:

A public educational institution or employee of a public educational institution may not discriminate against a student enrolled in the institution on account of the ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, disability, religion, or national origin of the student or the student's parent.

Jessica Farrar has also filed a bill to secure employment non-discrimination for GLBT.

Of course, the GLBT Political Caucus is extremely grateful for excellent leaders like Garnet Coleman and Jessica Farrar, but, as political activists, we should also proudly claim credit for these audacious steps forward. It is not likely that any of these bills will pass, but when we work to elect progressive candidates we accelerate the pace of justice for our community. On the May 12 special election, we have an opportunity to claim another friendly seat on the Houston City Council. Please participate in our endorsement meeting on March 7th, 7:00 PM at the community center.

Discussing Pride

John from By the Bayou had a really great question about the caucus's Pride statement, and I thought it would be a good idea to move our discussion out here to the front page. If you have an opinion about the statement, we'd love to get a healthy discussion going. (p.s. John has a great Chronicle blog as well).

John asked:

Wouldn't a parade in September be a great opportunity to encourage people to vote?

Members of the caucus expressed several reservations about moving Pride to September. Removing historic significance from the celebration was by far the primary concern. Some members noted that a bigger, flashier Pride, with high profile pop-stars and big corporate floats, leaves very little space for recognizing the important sacrifices of GLBT 's seeking equality. June represents Stonewall and the Lawrence decision, and these two milestones together generally represent our community's poignant sacrifices for equality over time. The Caucus is committed to commemorating these events, and we feel that moving Pride to September diminishes their importance.

Now to your question. Here's what people said about the consequences of the date change on caucus operations. Some might say that a fall celebration's close proximity to the November election makes politics a more pertinent topic for people attending Pride, but a number of Caucus members, who have a lot of experience motivating voters, found several liabilities of a September celebration that outweighed this presumed benefit. Most importantly, by September caucus members are block-walking and phone-banking every weekend, contacting the GLBT voters we've identified throughout the summer, including voters identified during the June Pride festivities. Block-walking and phone-banking are proven to be the most effective methods of voter mobilization, using an event, like Pride, is less effective. Of course, if Pride's date is changed, we'll be there working, but this will prevent us from doing more effective work. Furthermore, as it is now, the caucus uses the June festival to identify and register GLBT voters. A September celebration is dangerously close to the voter registration deadline, which would further complicate the work of the caucus. Some members also fear that a more corporate, less neighborhood centered celebration would prevent us from reaching out to as many voters as we do now.

What We’re Proud Of: The Caucus Opinion on Changing Pride

Tonight, during our monthly general meeting, the GLBT political Caucus unanimously voted to adopt the following statement regarding the proposed relocation and date change of Houston’s Pride parade and festival:

With the hope that much of the GLBT community will address this issue as well as continue the discussion of the future of the Pride Parade, the Caucus would like to state for the record the following:

June is the historic date of Stonewall, since 1969 one of the most significant moments in the GLBT civil rights movement;

June of 2003 was also when the Lawrence and Garner vs. Texas case was announced, making that month particularly important to Houston;

Montrose is the historic heart of the Houston GLBT community and deserves that recognition;

Finally, for the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, a parade in September is directly in the middle of the political calendar and would be in direct competition with the demands on the caucus during that time of the year.

GLBT and the DNC

A number of interesting GLBT news items emerged from this past weekend’s annual, winter meeting of the Democratic National Committee. Most importantly, it appears that party Chairman Howard Dean, the DNC, and most of the Democratic presidential candidates recognize the importance of publicly supporting GLBT equality. As our community begins to scrutinize the commitment of each presidential candidate, GLBT party activists are working to increase our communities influence on the upcoming primary season.

More specifically, as has been reported by the "Washington Blade," in a speech given to the DNC's GLBT caucus on Saturday, Howard Dean expressed deep gratitude for gay activism during the 2006 election cycle.

Dean’s expected appearance today before a meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Gay & Lesbian Americans Caucus comes after national exit polling data show that about 80 percent of voters identifying themselves as gay or lesbian voted for Democratic candidates in races for the U.S. House and Senate...

...Gay Democratic leaders have predicted the election results would have a dramatic impact on gays by releasing gay-supportive bills that Republicans had bottled up in committee for the past 12 years.

Last year, some GLBT democrats criticized Dean for supposedly abandoning our constituency with the implementation of the now famous "fifty state strategy," which focused on making gains in rural, traditionally republican states, but after reading this article, I'm beginning to think that the goal of mobilizing rural democrats and the goal of mobilizing GLBT democrats are not mutually exclusive.

Also during the DNC meeting, each Democratic presidential candidate presented a stump speech, formally introducing themselves to the party. As far as can see, only New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson directly mentioned GLBT issues in his speech. (Click on the quote to watch Richardson's full speech).

In New Mexico, our fight for equality extends to sexual orientation. For the first time in state history we have a hate crimes law. We’ve extended civil rights protections to include sexual orientation. And we’re providing state health insurance for domestic partnerships.

Although Richardson was the only candidate to mention GLBT issues in his speech, the Washington Blade reports that gay politicos, who met each candidate during the meeting, were most impressed with two of the top tier contenders, John Edwards and Barack Obama:

Democratic National Committee GLBT Caucus Chair Rick Stafford and other politicos said Edwards and Obama have quickly outshined a crowded field of other White House hopefuls because they’re prepared to sincerely discuss gay issues.

Stafford said such genuineness is a key quality that many other candidates — including top Democratic contender Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) — have yet to demonstrate.

“When Obama and Edwards talk about our issues,” he said, “I think there’s a sense that they speak from their hearts and they’re willing to show that they’re not there yet, where I’m not sure that kind of speaking from the heart comes from Hillary.”

Culminating his DNC appearance, Edwards, during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," demonstrated the sort of sincerity described by Stafford. In this excerpt, Edwards talks about reconciling his faith background with same-sex marriage. (This clip opens with a brief discussion of the Yucca Mountain hazardous waste depository).

It should be noted that none of the major democratic candidates, including Al Gore and Wes Clark, have publicly supported same-sex marriage.

Finally, gay party activists are working to get more GLBT delegates to the 2008 national convention.

Minnesota activist Rick Stafford, the chair of the DNC gay caucus, said caucus members have joined forces with the gay group National Stonewall Democrats to encourage party leaders to help elect more gays as delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Stafford said DNC officials have promised to facilitate gay Democrats’ plans to work with leaders of state parties — including those in traditionally conservative “red” states — to include gays in their delegate selection plans. In a proposal that could become controversial in some states, Stafford said the gay caucus is calling on all state parties to set as a voluntary “goal” a contingent of gay delegates to the 2008 convention that come to at least 6 percent to 7 percent of the total number of delegates.

General Meeting This Wednsday, Feburary 7

The Houston GLBT Political Caucus (HGLBTPC) monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2007. The speaker for the evening is Paul E. Scott, Executive Directory for Equality Texas. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Houston GLBT Community Center located at 3400 Montrose, Suite 207.

Paul E. Scott joined Equality Texas as executive director in March 2006. He previously served as executive director of the Resource Center of Dallas, the third largest LGBT Community Center in the country. Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Georgia. After practicing civil litigation for nine years, he changed careers and focused on HIV nonprofit work in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he became executive director of Chattanooga CARES HIV Care Center. His passion for LGBT advocacy arose from discriminatory employment and judicial practices in Tennessee.

H.I.V. Testing in Texas Prisons

On Thursday Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled that Texas prisons are allowed to conduct mandatory H.I.V. tests on convicts. He did this upon the urging of Houston State Senator Rodney Ellis.

You can read about it here.

According to prison system statistics, more than 38,700 Texas convicts were tested for HIV last year. Of those, 372 were diagnosed as HIV-positive, according to the statistics.

Texas' prison system holds about 154,000 convicts.

Of those, 2,627 were HIV-positive in July, official statistics show.

Molly Ivins: A Great Friend to GLBT

With the passing of Molly Ivins, the GLBT community has lost a true friend. For those of us who work in Texas politics, her departure is particularly hard to take, as her wit and keen intelligence always inspired and encouraged us. Even when facing disappointments, she helped us laugh. She was certainly one of the most persuasive, progressive advocates we've ever known.

So, to help us duly appreciate Molly Ivins, I've collected a few of her classic columns on GLBT issues.

Here's a great excerpt from a Column she wrote in 1993 for "The Progressive." It details State Representative Warren Chisum's -- our newly appointed appropriations committee chair-- and FORMER! representative Talmadge Heflin's outrageous campaign to keep Texas's anti-sodomy law in the books. (Aren't you glad we worked to get Hubert Vo elected).

So the Housies were afraid everyone would think they were perverts if they didn't vote for it, and they did. Chisum then shook hands with his ally, Talmadge Heflin of Houston, in celebration of this double triumph, and the Speaker had to send the Sergeant -at-arms over to reprimand them both.

Because under Chisum's own amendments, it's illegal for a prick to touch an asshole in this state.

Here's how Molly celebrated the much belated repeal of that same law by the U.S. supreme court in 2003. I always enjoy how Molly confidently and deftly refutes hate mongers like Antonin Scalia.

The constitution of the United States was designed to protect the rights of minorities against the majority. The law is supposed to apply equally to all, and under the Texas statute it did not; it was specifically discriminatory...

Justice Scalia's intemperate outburst -- he said the Court has signed on to "the so-called homosexual agenda" -- brings up the question: What the heck is the homosexual agenda? I hear people on the right talk about it all the time, but as I far as I know, gay groups have not signed on to any master plan or series of proposals. Has anybody seen one? There are a lot of gay Republicans: I should think all the gays would have a hard time agreeing on an agenda. I suspect the "homosexual agenda" is like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Most recently, we may thank Molly Ivins for fighting vigorously against prop. 2 in 2005. With this column, Molly Ivins immortalized the poignant and powerful words of Houston's own Senfronia Thompson.

Even through debilitating cancer, Molly Ivins tirelessly fought the good fight, and she fought with infectious humor and exemplary literary craftsmanship. Let's show our appreciation and honor her memory, with diligent work towards progressive causes and unrelenting good humor in the face of adversity.