Senate Bill 238 Passes in West Virginia State Senate
Senate Bill 238 has passed the state senate. With a vote of 23 in favor and 10 against this bill will now move to the West Virginia House of Delegates.
We expect this bill to be a hot button issue for those opposed to true equality in West Virginia.
Take action now! We need each of you to make a phone call, email, or postal mail contact with each of your Delegates.
To find your delegates visit the West Virginia Legislature web page at:
At the lower right side of the screen you can type in your zip code to determine who your elected officials are.
If you need to know your zip+4 code you can find it at the United States Postal service website at:
http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
Let’s stay positive, and move West Virginia forward on the path to equality.
Volleyball tournament on 6/6/09
Rainbow Pride is currently seeking venues for a volleyball tournament to take place during pride. The event will be Saturday Morning, June 6,2009.
We are hoping you can tell us where we should have the event.
Currently we are looking at the following locations:
1. Davis Park in Downtown Charleston
2. Coonskin Park- Charleston
3. Shawnee Park- Charleston
We originally wanted to hold the event at Magic Island, but it is booked for a wedding.
If you can email your preference to rainbowpridewva@yahoo.com we would appreciate it. We are also willing to consider venues that are not listed above. If you have a better location let us know.
Thanks!
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Hello,
With pride season just around the corner I would like to announce
some meetings.
1. There is a pageant subcommittee meeting tomorrow at 6:30PM.
2. The following regular meetings have been scheduled.
2/10/2009 at 6 PM
2/24/2009 at 6 PM
3/10/2009 at 6 PM
3/24/09 at 6 PM
4/7/09 at 6 PM
4/14/09 at 6 PM
3. The following board meetings have been scheduled:
2/15/09 at 2:30 PM
3/1/09 at 2:30 PM
3/29/09 at 2:30 PM
4/26/09 at 2:30PM
All meetings are held in our office at 501 Elizabeth Street Room 11
Charleston, WV 25311.
If you have questions on how to get to the office please call (304)
345-9938 or email us at rainbowpridewva@yahoo.com
With the recent bad weather, meeting times may change. Please consult
the yahoo group, pridewv.org or the voicemail line for up to date
meeting information.
Thanks,
Charlie Rouse
Update: Bishop Robinson’s Speech To Air Tomorrow At Inaugural
As you may already know, Bishop Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, delivered an eloquent prayer at yesterdays Inauguration Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. However, it was broadcast by no one so those at home did not get to see it. This is especially of import to LGBT citizens due to Rick Warren’s role in tomorrow’s ceremony as Robinson would provide contrast to Warren’s view of homosexuality. In what seems like an immense screwup on the part of the Presidental Inauguration Committee, the Obama campaign appears to be making an effort to make things right.
The Episcopal Cafe is reporting that before tomorrow’s inauguration, Bishop Robinson’s speech will be aired on the Mall to the crowd as part of the official Inaugural event. Also, his prayer will also be included in ALL future re-broadcasts of the event on HBO.
Also, he will be sitting with the Obamas tomorrow during the Inaugural Parade.
Here at the Cafe, we’ve been told that Bishop Robinson will also be attending the service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square tomorrow morning, and will be sitting with the President and his family at the parade. If all goes to plan, he will be on the Daily Show TOMORROW night (not tonight, s we had reported).
Here is Bishop Robinson’s interview with Andrew Mitchell on MSNBC today.
Openly Gay Bishop Delivers Inaugural Prayer
Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, made the opening prayer to kick off the Inauguration ceremonies. Turns out in what appears to be a comedy of errors (as in, no one knows why), Robinson’s prayer wasn’t broadcast…anywhere. In fact, his prayer started 10 minutes before the official start time of 2:30pm. There were also reports that who were physically at the event couldn’t even hear him. While many Espiscopalians anxiously awaited one of their own make a historical call for unity, none were able to actually see it. Which made the entire event bittersweet for not only Episcopalians but for LGBT citizens as well who were excited about the balance that Robinson offered against Rick Warren’s role tomorrow.
Alas, Christianity Today skillfully recorded the video from Robinson’s speech, of whom we are incredibly gracious.
Bishop Robinson had this to say on his blog just before the speech.
Deadline Change – 2009 Power of One Nominations Open
UPDATE - Submission Deadline Changed to January 25th, 2009
January, 6 2009
Dear friends of Pride,
Every year Rainbow Pride of West Virginia takes the time to recognize
and award a person who has created positive change or supported the
needs and issues of the GLBT community.
Past winners have been political advocates, gay youth, and even local
politicians.
Perhaps you know of someone that should be recognized for their
efforts to improve, motivate, or support the needs of our community?
If you do, then we invite you to nominate them for this award.
Any member or ally of the community may nominate someone to receive
the award. There are two ways to be nominated. You may mail it to us
via the US Postal Service or deliver it in person at our regularly
scheduled meeting on January 25, 2009 at 2:30 PM.
Although not required, it is recommended that you include a brief
narrative (500 words or less) of why you feel the person you are
nominating deserves to be the 2009 Power of One Award recipient. A
copy of your unaltered, nomination will be mailed to our Dues Paying
members who will then vote to select the winner.
Nominations must be received in our mailbox no later than January
13th. If you are mailing in your nomination from outside Kanawha
County we recommend that you mail it in no later than Friday, January
9, 2009. This will allow time for the mail to process your letter.
Please Mail your ballot to:
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
Attn: Power of One Nomination
Post Office Box 2624
Charleston, WV 25326
The Pride office is located at 501 Elizabeth Street in Charleston. If
you need directions to our office you may call (304)345-9938 and
someone will return your call and provide directions to you.
Voting and Annoucements will be announced at a future date
Thank you for your support of the community, and we look forward to
your nomination!
Sincerely,
Charlie Rouse,
President
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
Deadline Change – 2009 Parade Grand Marshall Nominations
UPDATE - Submission Deadline Changed to January 25th, 2009
January, 6 2009
Dear friends of Pride,
We are planning on bringing you a fun filled and exciting parade this year. But we need you to help us pick the person who will kick it all off!
The Grand Marshal of the 2009 Pride Parade and Festival will be selected this January. We hope you will chose to nominate someone who inspires a sense of pride in each of us.
Past winners have been political advocates, gay youth, and even local politicians.
Perhaps you know of someone that should be recognized with this award? If you do, then we invite you to nominate them for this award.
Any member or ally of the community may nominate someone to receive the award. There are two ways to be nominated. You may mail it to us via the US Postal Service or deliver it in person at our regularly scheduled meeting on January 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM.
Although not required, it is recommended that you include a brief narrative (500 words or less) of why you feel the person you are nominating should be the 2009 Parade Grand Marshal. A copy of your unaltered, nomination will be mailed to our Dues Paying members who will then vote to select the winner.
Nominations must be received in our mailbox no later than January 13th. If you are mailing in your nomination from outside Kanawha County we recommend that you mail it in no later than Friday, January 9, 2009. This will allow time for the mail to process your letter. Please Mail your ballot to:
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
Attn: Grand Marshal Nomination
Post Office Box 2624
Charleston, WV 25326
The Pride office is located at 501 Elizabeth Street in Charleston. If you need directions to our office you may call (304)345-9938 and someone will return your call and provide directions to you.
Once the nominations are collected, Rainbow Pride of West Virginia Volunteers and staff will prepare and mail the ballots to the dues paying members
Voting and Announcements will be announced at a future date
Thank you for your support of the community, and we look forward to your nomination!
Sincerely,
Charlie Rouse,
President
Rainbow Pride of West Virginia
Obama Appoints Openly Gay Man to Head Export Import Bank
The Human Rights Campaign reports that Obama has selected Fred Hochberg, an openly gay man, to head the Export-Import Bank.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.
Hochberg, who served as head of the Small Business Administration in the Clinton Administration, will succeed James H. Lambright as chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank.
HRC President Joe Solmonese released the following statement.
The chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States is an important position in President-elect Obama’s economic team. Fred is one of the most highly qualified and experienced public servants in our community and the fact that President-elect Obama has tapped him for such an important economic position speaks well for the LGBT community.
Bush signs Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008
As we anxiously await the inauguration of a more LGBT friendly President, our current president appears to have come through for our community…albeit after eight years of hate-mongering.
The HRC reports that Bush signed the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, which protects gay partners who inherit retirement benfits by correcting the Pension Protection Act of 2006. ”PPA made it possible for employers to allow any nonspouse beneficiary of an employee’s retirement plan—including an employee’s same-sex partner—to roll inherited retirement benefits directly to an individual retirement account (IRA) and avoid immediate taxation.
WRERA requires that all employers provide this rollover opportunity to nonspouse beneficiaries.”
“This is progress toward eliminating the more than 1,000 inequities that our families face under federal law,” continued Solmonese. “U.S. employers should make the rollover provision available as quickly as possible—before the 2010 deadline—and LGBT workers should ensure their partners and children are designated as beneficiaries.”
Baby Steps.
Opinion – We Can Disagree Without Being Disagreeable
As I am sure many of us are now aware, Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, will deliver a prayer at Obama’s inauguration. This has understandably angered many in the LGBT community due to his role in garnering support for Proposition 8 in California.
Melissa Etheridge, who is performing at the Inauguration, had this to say about meeting Rick Warren.
For the very first time, there will be a group representing the interests of LGBT Americans participating in the Inaugural Parade.
The Inauguration will also involve Reverend Joseph Lowery, who will be delivering the official benediction at the Inauguration. Reverend Lowery is a giant of the civil rights movement who boasts a proudly progressive record on LGBT issues. He has been a leader in the struggle for civil rights for all Americans, gay or straight.
I went through a few mental states regarding this decision. First, I felt betrayed. How could a man that I worked so hard for even consider Warren for this task. Then, I started going back to speeches that Obama made…particularly ones that included calls for unity.Suddenly, it clicked for me. His entire campaign revolved around getting your hands dirty, leaving comfort zones and working hard for what you believe in and the end result WILL lead to justice.
Looking back now, it rings more true for me than ever. During the campaign, canvassing door to door (which is difficult for me), showing up for parades, rallies, phone banking. All things I would have never considered doing had I not been surrounded by such a richly diverse group of volunteers; white, black, rich, poor, men, women, gay, striaght. I had never seen so many walks of life coming together for a common goal, let alone in Charleston, West Virginia.
In six months of volunteering, I met at least a couple of Obama supporters who made comments about gay people, not realizing they were sweating in the August heat right next to one or that there were at least 3 to 4 others in that group working just as hard as they were. That day, they got an education that our cause is just and we’re willing to work for it; that we deserve respect because we work just as hard as they do, in all aspects of life.
Over the course of six months, we DID change minds. People who were evangelicals did come around to the fact that we at the very least deserve respect even if they did disagree with us. For me, was the beauty of the Obama election campaign. I was consistently forced to respect other opinions because we were all in it together.
I realize this all may sound corny and you may think I’m sitting around with bongos around a campfire but it’s true. This is the United States of America. We are a melting pot and its what I love most about this country.
Absolutism does no one any good… we’ve had that for eight years. What drew me, and keeps me, so close to Obama is the prospect that shades of grey are more important than the individual battles. By coming together in some fashion..the end result will always lead to justice.