Blog Posts for New Hampshire
DOMA Damages Same-Sex Families and Their Children
(Excerpted from the ABA Family Advocate)
As Justice Ginsburg famously noted in 1996, the history of our constitution is the history of extending constitutional protections to those who were once ignored or excluded from American society. [United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996)]. That journey to citizenship is well under way for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans as well.
Someone Stood Up
Sitting in the packed committee room, listening to the animated testimony from both sides of the effort to repeal the New Hampshire marriage equality law passed last June, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions. While the ignorance expressed was infuriating at times, it was inspiring to hear from the many gay couples who demonstrated immense courage by speaking publicly about their lives, in front of their legislators and neighbors. They reminded everyone that they live normal lives as couples and families; feeding the dogs and cats in the morning, making the coffee, getting the kids ready for school, and paying taxes. After the passage of the marriage equality bill, they felt that their relationships were truly validated, and finally given the “same pride, recognition and legal status” as those of straight couples.
Inclusive ENDA: Passage is Essential
The first Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) bill that would create a federal law prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was introduced into Congress fifteen years ago. Fifteen years feels like a very long time given the progress that has been made generally on LGBT social issues and understanding during that same time span.
Boston Pride 2009
What a beautiful day for Boston Pride 2009! We had a great group of marchers: staff, board, current and former plaintiffs, supporters and volunteers, and several first-time marchers.
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.
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.