All Blog Posts
What a Difference It Makes
What a difference it makes to have supporters of LGBT equality call and write their legislators. Today, a New Hampshire House Judiciary Subcommittee voted to recommend that two LGBT equality bills “ought to pass” out of the committee.
Feeling - and Fighting - Federal Discrimination Here at GLAD
Every year, I sign up for GLAD’s Flexible Spending Account, which allows me to put aside some pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses – mine and my family’s – that aren’t covered by health insurance. My husband’s eyeglasses, co-pays, prescriptions and all-important Tums – it adds up. I really appreciate the benefit. But every time I sign up, I feel a little queasy, because right next to my office sits my colleague, attorney Nima Eshghi. Nima doesn’t even sign up for the FSA to use for her spouse, Kate. That’s because FSAs are federally regulated, and the federal government doesn’t recognize Nima’s marriage – as it does mine.
What About New Hampshire?
“What about New Hampshire?” Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, posed to an audience of over 25 people from the transgender and allied community in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire region last Thursday night. The gathering was one of two community meetings that I helped organized, along with Gerri Cannon, President of the PFLAG NH Chapter, in order to build support for House Bill 415, which would add anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals in New Hampshire.
In Support of True Freedom for all in New Hampshire
“Live free or die” took on new meaning during public hearings on a marriage equality and a transgender non-discrimination bill by the NH House Judiciary Committee on February 5.
Tell 3: A Step We Can All Take for Equality
We know it takes more than simply coming out to win equality. What changes people’s hearts and minds and gets them to support equality is having had personal, close relationships with LGBT people. Relationships where – through conversations – straight people learn what it’s like to be LGBT. Pledge to tell 3 people what it’s like for you or your loved one at www.tell-three.org/.
Working the State House to Prevent Further Budget Cuts
“You bought it. You own it. You work it!” Representative Gloria Fox exclaimed, referring to our tax dollars that support the Massachusetts State House - and legislators’ salaries - at the podium in the House’s main hall on a recent January morning. Her chant marked the beginning of AIDS Lobby Day, and reminded all of us of our right as constituents to walk the halls, find our legislator, tell our story, share information, and to not leave until our legislators explained what they would commit to doing to prevent further cuts in the budgets that support programs focused on treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS.
The Way Life Should Be
Meet Sara Jane Elliot and Rita Clifford, Steve Ryan and Jim Bishop and Angela Blier and Melissa Rheaume. Three Maine couples who love each other and want to get married.
Where were you?
I was living in Vienna, Austria five years ago when I heard that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had ruled to end marriage discrimination in my home state.
Election 2008: Hope, Change and Work Ahead for LGBT Community
Today is an extraordinary day for all Americans. For LGBT Americans, it’s a day when we embrace hope and change – and also re-charge for the work and challenges ahead.
Pioneering Social Work Dean Took on Anti-Gay Foster Care Policy
Diana Waldfogel was the dean of Simmons School of Social Work and President of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in the 1980’s. When the Dukakis administration put into place a discriminatory anti-gay foster care policy, NASW Executive Director Carol Brill took on both Health and Human Services Secretary Phil Johnston - who likes to describe himself as a social worker - and Governor Dukakis - whom NASW and the social work community had helped to get into office through our work at the community level.