Bill to Bar LGBT Adoption Discrimination to be Introduced Tuesday

I find it increasingly frustrating that the Democratic party has decided to throw its support to LGBT equality now that they are no longer in a position to actually accomplish any of our goals. With the 2012 elections looming on the horizon, they realize just how much they need us.

The LGBT community has long been a political hot potato to be tossed around and used by right wing homophobes to motivate their base, often claiming we were a threat to children to strike a chill in the hearts of backward thinking, uneducated conservatives.

Now the Democrats are doing the same to motivate their liberal base, but this time, we're being portrayed as the heroes. There are thousands of children all over this country in need of loving, permanent homes. Many states bar LGBT people from adopting or fostering those children. A new piece of legislation scheduled to be introduced Tuesday would ban federal funding to those states.

Something about this just doesn't sit right with me. With the current political divisions in Washington, this bill has no chance of making it to the president's desk and its sponsors are well aware of that fact. Is it ever okay to use children as political tools, even when our side may benefit in the long run, or is this just another example of a carefully calculated political strategy?

Via The Washington Blade:

Steve Majors, a spokesperson for Family Equality Council, confirmed in a statement to the Washington Blade that Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) would on Tuesday introduce the bill, which is known as the Every Child Deserves a Family Act.

“The bill will drop on Tuesday in the House,” Majors said. “[Stark] wanted to do so in conjunction with National Foster Care Awareness Month.”

As it was previously written, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act would restrict federal funds for states if they have laws or practices that discriminate in adoption on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The 111th Congress was the first time the legislation had been introduced in the House.

Many states have recently undertaken action to restrict adoption by LGBT people. In Arizona, for example, Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signed legislation earlier this month that would give primary consideration for adoptive placement to opposite-sex married couples.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has said she’d introduce companion legislation in the Senate. Majors said he received confirmation from her office that she’ll introduce her version of the bill in June. Gillibrand’s introduction would mark the first time the legislation has been introduced in the upper chamber of Congress.

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Related articles

• Of LGBT Adoption Rights, 'Disordered Gays', And Federally Funded Discrimination (lezgetreal.com)
• Illinois Senator Tries To Sneak Through an Anti-Gay Adoption Amendment (news.change.org)
• Foster Care's Web Of Policies, Problems And Promise Keeps Kids In Waiting (huffingtonpost.com)

Don't Get Rolled Again! Boycott 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll

The White House has announced plans for this year's annual Easter Egg Roll. The theme this year, chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama,  is "Ready, Set, Go!"

Last year the White House made a point of inviting LGBT families to participate and is doing the same this year. Last year the move was seen as a sign of hope for many of us who believed in the message of change.

The past year has been a huge disappointment for many of us who had such high hopes for this president after so many decades of having our needs ignored, our trust betrayed and our humanity diminished by past presidents. LGBT people supported president Obama and the democrats like never before in the '08 elections and have been rewarded with a smattering of crumbs judiciously scattered at well-chosen, photo-op moments. The sycophantic folks of Gay, Inc., who claim to represent our interests in DC, scramble to their black tie events, posing like best buds with politicians who don't even know their names.

Tickets to the Easter Egg Roll are distributed by a lottery system. Results will be announced on Thursday, March 4th. Not surprisingly, supply of tickets have been given to, you guessed it, Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The White house is encouraging the groups to invite their members. Last year over 100 gay and lesbian families took part in the event.

This year, we should send a message to the president that we will not be cast as bit players in his latest public relations production. We will not play the roll of token homosexual and smile for the cameras while the President stalls and plays games with our rights. We'll either stay home or take to the streets to demand less posturing and more action from our "fierce advocate". A lot of parents will say it's a great opportunity for their kids to go to the White House. It's a moment their kids will never forget. But it's a much better opportunity to teach your kids an important life lesson about standing up for what is right.

Don't get rolled again this Easter. Boycott the White House Easter Egg Roll!