February 2008

Hate At Its Worst

            Last week after the passing of talented young actor Heath Ledger; I, like many fans, went scouring the internet for articles in relation to both his life and his tragic death.  However, one article I came across was completely shocking and devastating.  In the midst of all of the horrible rumors and speculation that were flying around shamelessly on the World Wide Web, I found the most disgusting news of all. “Reverend” Fred Phelps and his hatemonging followers from Westboro Baptist Church were planning to picket any memorial services for Ledger only for the mere fact that he portrayed a homosexual in the critically acclaimed Brokeback Mountain. What kind of church is this that they protest a young man’s funeral for the sheer fact that he did his job, which happened to be playing a gay cowboy? Ledger was merely an actor playing a role and was not in real life a homosexual.

            Not that it would matter if he had been. This “Reverend” has been traveling the countryside picketing the services of many other openly gay citizens in this country. Not to mention American soldiers who have courageously fought in the war in Iraq and selflessly given their lives to the protection of our freedom—the very freedom that allows bigots like him to legally stage these protests and preserve the 1st Amendment that allows them to manage their hate-spewing website, godhatesfags.com. Yes that’s right; the name of their website is godhatesfags.

             After visiting their website I came to find out that they have a “picket calendar of events.” A list of every service or event they plan on protesting “for the defense of family values.” What kinds of values teach a child (or any person) to hate so ostensibly?  Since they and the hurtful words they spread and preach are protected by law, I feel helpless in knowing that justice will never be served to these people. Maybe if one of their congregation members ever passes, I will be outside of their funeral protesting and screaming “I hate zealots and bigots” and they would be as angry as I am and feel as violated as I do. But I doubt that would ever happen, people like the “Reverend” tend to be sociopaths and have no regard of anyone’s feelings—otherwise he would be a better Christian and would spread love, not hate.

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Call For Action

To all of the Pennsylvania residents: big things are happening in our state with LGBT issues and while we may not have a vote in it, that does not mean we do not have a voice. As a PA resident and a proud lesbian, I urge you to exercise that voice and email your representatives on behalf of the following matters:
 Friends of the LGBT Community are working hard to amend our state’s laws in making it possible for us to protect our freedom, our rights and our safety.  Currently the “issue du jour” if you will is the state’s non-discrimination law. Our goal is to amend it to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. This is critical for our Community!  Right now the Pennsylvania State Senate and House are debating legislation in regards to the issue of discrimination in the employment, housing and public sectors.
 So please, I urge you to contact your representatives and tell them to support Senate Bill 761 and House Bill 1400. The appropriate email addresses can be found using the link below.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm
*I know that emailing elected officials can be daunting and overwhelming. So please take advantage of this pre-written letter provided by the Human Rights Campaign. Just copy and paste using your own name and hit send. (Now you have no excuse not to do it.)*
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
Please help pass anti-discrimination legislation bills SB 761 and HB 1400. These bills will amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination against GLBT Pennsylvanians in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Legislation like this, that protects the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians is very important to me.
Many Pennsylvanians share my belief that hard working and law-abiding citizens should be free from discrimination at work. In Pennsylvania, however, it is still legal to fire someone simply for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Pennsylvania needs this important legislation.  Discrimination of any kind is a detriment to our Commonwealth. Please support this legislation that protects the civil rights of gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination. 
Thank you.
[ Your name ]
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Sapphic Sundays at Firehouse

To all of my lady readers in the Pittsburgh area, or to those ever considering a visit, you should really check out screenings of the new season of Showtime’s The L Word at the Firehouse Lounge in the Strip District. They offer a really relaxed and safe atmosphere every Sunday night and an average 30+ lesbians attendance.

The doors open at 7:30 and at 8:00 they show the previous week’s episode followed by a new episode at 9:00. Intimate love seats are available for the couples that opt for a private more romantic setting and giant red velvet day beds can accommodate a large group of friends. Also offered is a creative cocktail menu inspired by the characters themselves. If you’re feeling frisky, you can order a Shane shooter, which just like Shane’s sexual flavors, changes every Sunday. Then there’s the fun and reliable Alice Tea (aka Long Island Iced Tea), the traditional mar-Tina (cosmopolitan), and for a crowd who likes to share—Jenny Juice (wine flights).

 The show itself is a pleasure to watch in any situation; but I must admit there is something quite invigorating about watching it with a crowd. To laugh, cry and pump your fists screaming, “Yeah!” (like when Shane jumped in the ring during the Lesbian Turkish Oil Wrestling) in unison is refreshing and enjoyable. To share such camaraderie over a television show is quite stimulating. I hope to see some of you there!

Equal Opportunity in the Workplace
 For the last few weeks I have been job hunting all over Pittsburgh. A very scary concept for a fresh graduate as many of you may know. However, for me it’s even scarier being a lesbian seeking employment where I will be able to be myself 100 percent. Granted, being a lesbian isn’t who I am, but it is what I am, and I know there is a difference. Being gay doesn’t make me a less qualified candidate for any position, but it does raise some concerns. Will I be treated fairly if I’m out? Will I be able to be open and honest about who I am and who I’m dating? Will I have to hide anything about my personal life? Will I be able to bring my partner to work related social functions and be comfortable? These are all questions I’ve been asking myself while searching for employment.
 During this search I did notice a few differences about prospective opportunities. In the ads or announcements for open positions, a lot of places provided a disclaimer: “does not discriminate against race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” However, in some of these job descriptions I noticed they were lower salary positions. So here is my dilemma: Do I take a pay cut because I know I will be able to be myself and treated equally and fairly at these places of employment? Should I sacrifice a higher salary in exchange for comfort or security? The answer is: I don’t know right now. Being a fresh graduate with obnoxious and frightening student loan debt and high cost living expenses in a big city, I need all the income I can get. But, will I truly be happy having to possibly stifle myself or avoid any questions about my personal life?
Hopefully, just because some places provide disclaimers and others do not does not mean ipso facto that they are allowed to discriminate against sexual orientation. The only redeeming factor is that in fact, Pittsburgh is one of only three cities in PA where there is a law against such discrimination. This could come at an advantage for people like me in the workplace, although an employer is not legally entitled to provide an excuse to a potential employee about why they would choose not to hire you. A catch 22 if you will. So all I can do is cross my fingers and hope for a job that will both pay an appropriate salary and let me be myself. Because, even though I’m desperate for money I don’t think I’m willing to set aside my principles and my pride.