Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) & Marriage Equality -> Restores “Hope of Love” To Children In Early Childhood

It is not about me.  Like Galileo, all I have is a little piece of truth about the facts of growing up gay. Marriage Equality will not become a reality until people learn that its most vital purpose is that it restores the “hope of love” to children in early childhood – essential to their development and well-being for life. Without Marriage Equality we teach children how to hate love and how to be mean and indifferent to people as adults. With all due respect, without Marriage Equality we would teach them in much the same way as has been shown by Benedict XVI and the hierarchy, especially in their lack of care and protection of children for decades. by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz

Benedict XVI Desperate Attempt To Distract Public From Condemning Galileo As Heretic Insisting, “Sun Revolves Around Earth” & Wrongly Condemning LGBT

I suggested earlier this year 2009, several times that Benedict XVI hold a Global Conference on Human Sexuality at the Vatican to deal more lovingly with tangible life forms that we know exist, LGBTQI children and adults, their families and friends, because

Kids Are Being Hurt !!!

You can never out run truth. Truth will always track you down wherever you try to hide and expose your folly. MSK

Benedict XVI modus operandi appears to be every time he causes some harm against LGBT children and adults, whether overtly or covertly, he then creates some major public distraction to divert his and public attention from the truth about his harmful activities. This tacit is called "divide and conquer."

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children.

Kids are being hurt!!!

Op-ed: Vatican Bans

Gays, But E.T. Is OK?

by A. Latham Staples

San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

Fri, 11/13/2009

Two nights ago my husband and I heard of the Vatican’s attempt to seek out extraterrestrials. This made me laugh at first, but then I became a bit angry – with all of the issues plaguing society, this is of utmost concern for the Roman Catholic Church? The Pontifical Academy convened the meeting to seek out an answer to the age old question as to whether or not we are alone in this universe. According to the Catholic News Service 30 high-level scientists from across the world met at the Vatican Observatory Nov. 6-10 to consider the possibility of alien life. Photo Nasa

Then just yesterday I learned the State of the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country incorporating 110 acres in the middle of Rome (and the global headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church) has banned gays and lesbians from visiting. And just how are the Papal Swiss Guards who keep watch over the Vatican to know you are gay? Is Hitler to rise up and tattoo a pink triangle on every LGBT individual, the symbol epitomizing homosexuality as created by the Third Reich during World War II?

Millions of tourists visit the Vatican annually, taking in its sprawling gardens, vast museums, glorious architecture, and of course religious services. It seems as if the Vatican must have lost sight of the fact that Michelangelo and Bernini, two of history’s most prominent artists, (who are reputed to have been gay) helped make the Vatican what it is today. Michelangelo painted the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in 1508, including the centermost portion of the ceiling with its iconic image of the hand of God giving life to Adam; and he designed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, which currently stands as the world’s tallest dome. Bernini designed the famed colonnade-framed St. Peter’s Square. Photo Nasa

When asked about the Vatican policy on gay and lesbian tourists, Bishop Janusz Kaleta of Holy See, the Apostolic Administrator of Atyrau, a city in Kazakhstan, said that “the mere presence of homosexuals constitutes a desecration of the holy site. I consider if someone is homosexual, it is a provocation and an abuse of this place... It is offensive to our buildings and our religion.”

I must confess that I attended a Catholic middle school, then Baylor University, the world’s largest Baptist university, yet I’m a Methodist. I’ve studied the teachings of Christ and the Bible for decades, and though a devout Christian, I’ve become increasingly incensed with what many call the fundamentalists for their intolerant and bigoted views. Read complete article - by A. Latham Staples - San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

Related Links:

Are gay tourists welcomed in the Vatican? - BY LINDA HOHNHOLZ, ETN

MARRIAGE EQUALITY Same As “Galileo Condemned As Heretic By The Vatican” Both Misinterpretations Of The Bible

Threats, Silence, Harm and Disposal of Catholic Personnel Supportive of LGBT Adults and Children - Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Directives To Hierarchy

The Catholic Church's red herring – by Nancy Polikoff - BEYOND (STRAIGHT AND GAY) MARRIAGE

The Catholic Church's red herring #2 – by Nancy Polikoff - BEYOND (STRAIGHT AND GAY) MARRIAGE

The Vatican thirst for power divides Christianity and damages Catholicism – Hans Kung - guardian.co.uk

Impending rules on gay priests create Catholic divide – by Charles Honey – The Grand Rapids Press – October 8, 2005 * Benedict XVI -> SILENCING TRUTH

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children.

Kids are being hurt!!!

Lawmakers defy church pressure on DC gay marriage - By The Associated Press – 365gay.com

(Washington) The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is threatening to stop providing social services, including management of city homeless shelters, unless lawmakers change a proposal to legalize same-sex marriages.

So far, most city council members have refused to do that.

Catholic Charities has city contracts to provide services to about 68,000 people. The marriage bill would not require churches to perform same-sex weddings, but because Catholic Charities uses city money, the archdiocese fears it would have to offer employee benefits and adoptions to married same-sex couples. Photos

The marriage legislation is expected to pass next month and has the mayor’s support.

Jane G. Belford, the chancellor of the Washington archdiocese, wrote Councilman Phil Mendelson on Wednesday asking for an exemption to protect the church’s religious freedoms. The church wants to be exempt from any measure that would require it to extend benefits to same-sex couples or allow gays and lesbians to adopt children.

Council member Tommy Wells said it would be dangerous to let the Catholic church start writing D.C. laws, a sentiment expressed by Mendelson and other members.

“Allowing individual exemptions opens the door for anyone to discriminate based on assertions of religious principle,” Mendelson said.

Let’s not forget that during the civil rights era, many claimed separation of the races was ordained by God.

Read complete article - The Associated Press – 365gay.com

Related links:

The Catholic Church's red herring – by Nancy Polikoff - BEYOND (STRAIGHT AND GAY) MARRIAGE

The Catholic Church's red herring #2 – by Nancy Polikoff - BEYOND (STRAIGHT AND GAY) MARRIAGE

The Vatican thirst for power divides Christianity and damages Catholicism – Hans Kung - guardian.co.uk

Threats, Silence, Harm and Disposal of Catholic Personnel Supportive of LGBT Adults and Children - Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Directives To Hierarchy

Impending rules on gay priests create Catholic divide – by Charles Honey – The Grand Rapids Press – October 8, 2005 * Benedict XVI -> SILENCING TRUTH

Downfall of Benedict XVI and His Hierarchy Using the Lives of Those Most In Need As Threats In Power Struggle - NOT BASED ON TRUTH & LOVE

Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum

By Tim Craig and Michelle Boorstein – The Washington Post

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Same-sex marriage bill, as written, called a threat to social service contracts

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care. Photo

Under the bill, headed for a D.C. Council vote next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians.

Fearful that they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city.

"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, [Director of Communications] spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."

Several D.C. Council members said the Catholic Church is trying to erode the city's long-standing laws protecting gay men and lesbians from discrimination.

The clash escalates the dispute over the same-sex marriage proposal between the council and the archdiocese, which has generally stayed out of city politics… Read complete article - Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum - By Tim Craig and Michelle Boorstein – The Washington Post

Related links:

The Vatican thirst for power divides Christianity and damages Catholicism – Hans Kung - guardian.co.uk

Threats, Silence, Harm and Disposal of Catholic Personnel Supportive of LGBT Adults and Children - Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Directives To Hierarchy

Impending rules on gay priests create Catholic divide – by Charles Honey – The Grand Rapids Press – October 8, 2005 * Benedict XVI -> SILENCING TRUTH

BREAKING: Committee to hold vote on ENDA - Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Human Rights Campaign

November 12, 2009 2:58PM


by Trevor Thomas

The Human Rights Campaign can now confirm the House Education and Labor Committee will vote on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. on legislation to end the widespread practice of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote was noticed moments ago.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017), introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), would prohibit employment discrimination, preferential treatment, and retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by employers with 15 or more employees.

Currently, it is legal to discriminate in the workplace based on sexual orientation in 29 states and to discriminate based on gender identity in 38 states. You can view a map of the states online:

http://www.hrc.org/documents/Employment_Laws_and_Policies.pdf

Earlier today the Human Rights Campaign announced that as Congressional action looms on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), it is extending the grassroots “No Excuses” campaign to increase constituent contact with Congress and awareness of the comprehensive website: www.PassENDANow.org. Read complete article - Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Human Rights Campaign

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is making its way through Congress, and the Task Force Action Fund has been working behind the scenes pushing for ENDA for years. The Task Force submitted testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's hearing on ENDA, on the heels of testimony submitted to the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor Sept. 23, 2009.

This latest testimony pointed to findings from the forthcoming, groundbreaking study on transgender discrimination in the U.S. Data from this large-scale, first-of-its-kind survey show that discrimination in employment against transgender people is a nearly universal experience: 97 percent of the respondents reported being mistreated or harassed at work, and nearly half (47 percent) said they had lost their jobs, were denied a promotion, or denied a job as a direct result of being transgender. The Task Force is partnering with the National Center for Transgender Equality on the survey.

Executive Director Rea Carey had this to say Nov. 5:

"We are on the heels of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act being signed into law. Without understating the importance of this monumental victory, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community needs ENDA, and we need it now. The path that too often ends in victimization begins with bias and discrimination in the workplace. ENDA must be a top priority as we press forward in the movement for equality.” Read the full statement here. Read complete article - Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in U.S. House - Human Rights Campaign

6/24/2009

Measure would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed today the bipartisan reintroduction of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would create federal protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The lead sponsors of the measure are Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Michael Castle (R-DE), George Miller (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Conyers (D-MI), Todd Platts (R-PA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Leonard Lance (R-NJ).

“Just like our friends, neighbors and coworkers, LGBT Americans work hard, provide for our families and contribute to our nation’s economy,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We all share the challenges of today's economic downturn, but our community also faces arbitrary discrimination in the workplace, simply because of who we are and who we love. Congress must pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and ensure that all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, get a fair chance to succeed at work.”

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill would reflect the values, shared by the vast majority of Americans, that employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and work ethic.

An estimated 85% of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their equal employment policies, and more than one-third also include gender identity. More than 60 companies have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading U.S. employers that support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

To view a list of the companies, visit: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/06/enda-introduction-tomorrow-corporations-agree-fairness-is-good-business/

“Although more and more businesses in the United States have started addressing workplace fairness for LGBT employees, we still need a federal standard that treats all employees the same way. That’s why Nike is part of the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading companies that support passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,” said Orson Porter, U.S. Director of Government Affairs… Read complete article - Human Rights Campaign