Announcing the Lavender Vanguard Parade Band
We’re attempting to gauge if there would be any interest in forming a band to march in the Pride parade. We know that *plenty* of us participated in band in high school and college … a few of us may even still have our chops! And we think it’s about time that the Mountain State has it’s own “community” band.
Naturally, we do realize that there probably isn’t enough time to get this organized by June — we’re really shooting for the 2010 parade — but if we hear from enough people over the course of the next month or so, who knows? We could probably make a decent go of it with as few as 10 to 12 horns and a just a couple of drummers. If you can twirl a baton or spin a flag, we need you, too!
Membership will be open to all ages, genders, orientations, and levels of talent. Additional details will be forthcoming as soon as we see what kind of response we’re getting.
If you’d be interested in participating, or if you know someone else who might, please email Daniel at LavenderVanguard@rocketmail.com
SB238 Update- Gazette Online Chat With Del. Webster (D) Kanawha
Hello,
At 9:30 this morning Delegate Carrie Webster held a interactive chat session on the Charleston Gazette. Below are questions posed to her and her responses. These are verbatim as they were posted to the Gazette.
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9:37 |
[Comment From Charlie] |
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9:39 |
Delegate Carrie Webster: I am lead sponsor on House side and I do think it is imp issue – non discrimination policies and laws are business friendly. To me, its a very important piece of legislation and I will push vigorously for its passage. |
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9:40 |
[Comment From Amanda]
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On a more humorous note, Delegate Webster did take up the issue of the Barbie ban at the legislature
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10:07 |
[Comment From Derek] |
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10:10 |
Delegate Carrie Webster: I agree with you about other products that should be banned. However, I will point out, respectfully, that legislators, like citizens, are entitled to exercise their free speech, and in this instance, a legislator merely put a bill in that would ban something (i.e. Barbie). Truth be told, it probably took only 10 to 15 minutes to prepare that bill for introduction. No one ever planned to run it and it was the media that saw it and brought it to the public. If you look up bills that have been introduced, your jaw will drop. One requires a parenting class and certificate before one can get married, and that is mild compared to others. I regret the negative depiction but sexy sells these days.. |
Delegate Webster is the Chair of the Judiciary committee in the House of Delegates. She also represents district 31. Many consider district 31 to be the largest population center for GLBT West Virginians.
Meeting announcement
Mark your calendars! The next meeting of Rainbow Pride is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, at 6:00 PM. As Pride season approaches, we need everyone who can possibly come to the meetings to participate. Meetings are held in the Community Office in the basement of Asbury UMC, located at 501 Elizabeth St. in Charleston.
Senate Bill 238 Out of Judiciary Committee
Yesterday afternoon Senate Bill 238 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Regrettably, protections for our Transgender brothers and sisters were removed from this bill. The bill originally defined the Transgender community in this bill as “Gender Identity-Actual or Perceived.”
Senate regulations require SB238 to be read on the Senate floor on three consecutive days before a vote. Therefore, the vote should take place sometime Thursday.
We encourage you to call your elected official in the Senate and encourage the passage of any bill that moves the GLBT community forward in West Virginia. You can find a list of Senators at http://www.legis.state.wv.us.
What’s next? Once this bill is passed by the Senate it then moves to the House of Delegates and it will be assigned to a committee. We assume that it will move to the Judiciary committee. Please take the initiative to contact your legislators in the House as well.
Thank you for being a part of the community and taking the courage to come forward and help.
Are You Tired?
“You don’t need that promotion. You’re gay, and you don’t have kids.”
“I can’t rent to lesbians. Your lifestyle sickens me.”
“I’m sorry; I don’t serve faggots in my restaurant.”
Ever hear any of these things at work, in a restaurant, or when trying to find a place to live?
I bet at some time many of you may have heard a something similar to the above. For those of you who haven’t maybe these things sound extreme. Maybe they sound far fetched, but they have happened at some time to a member of our community.
Some of us are brave enough to live openly as a member of the GLBT community, and some of us are so petrified of losing everything they have worked so hard to obtain during the coming out process.
Either way you are tired. Tired of having to prove yourself to your coworkers or tired of having to hide a very important piece of your identity as a human being.
When you are out you fight to earn your place in the working world. People at times will label you as being “out there” or too flamboyant. You work harder in order to be liked, and respected.
When you are in the closet you are emotionally battered and so afraid that your work product will be overshadowed by what you do in your free time and in the privacy of your own home.
How can you build a life to be proud of when all you get the chance to do is fight or hide?
This year West Virginia State Senate Bill 238 and West Virginia House of Delegates Bill 2925 help get you the relief you need.
If these bills pass and make it to Governor Manchin’s desk you will be able to enjoy a workplace where your sexual orientation can not and will not be a issue.
If you aren’t too tired please try to contact your legislators and tell them how you want to contribute to a better West Virginia.
If you can’t call for fear of being outted please consider donations to one of the various organizations that support our issues. All of the GLBT friendly not for profit organizations can use your financial donations to help make equality a reality.
West Virginia Open for Business… Open for All! TAKE TWO
West Virginia. Open for Business… Open for All!!
West Virginia Open for Business… Open for All!!
What happened ?
On the second day of the 2009 Legislative session five brave West Virginia legislators introduced Senate Bill 238.
Senators Brooks McCabe (D-Kanawha,) Dan Foster(D-Kanawha,) Eric Wells (D-Kanawha)Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall,)Herb Snyder (D – Jefferson,) all have signed on as sponsors of this legislation.
What this bill means for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community?
This bill will amend existing legislation to include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to existing employment and non discrimination laws.
We expect this bill to move quickly through the Senate and move to the House of Delegates. From that point it may move to the Judiciary or Rules Committees.
You can view a copy of the proposed legislation online at:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb238%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=238
As a GLBT West Virginian or as a supporter of GLBT civil rights in West Virginia; what can I do now?
1. Contact the Senators listed above and thank them for taking the lead on advancing fairness in employment, housing and public accommodation in West Virginia for GLBT West Virginians.
2. Contact your legislators and tell them you support this bill.
You can find your legislators at the homepage for the West Virginia Legislature at: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/
3. Once you contact a legislator email us so we can track the number of people signing up to support this bill.
Email us at rainbowpridewva@yahoo.com. You can also email the West Virginia Foundation for Equality at WVFE@yahoo.com
Let us know who you spoke to, and what they said. One of the common things that we hear is that nobody from outside of Kanawha County contacts their elected officials on our issues. We need to keep track of the various regions where contacts come from so we can deliver a statewide and community response.
What are the next steps?
We will keep the community notified as to the status of the bill and keep you aware of any public hearings on this issue. Part of getting this legislation through is educating elected officials about our issues, but we need your help. If you would like to get involved in community planning in your area please let us know by emailing us.
Thanks,
Charlie Rouse
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
Milk Opens in West Virginia!
“Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Harvey Milk’s career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco’s growing gay community, and organizes gays’ purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city’s conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milk’s relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to bar gays and their supporters from public school jobs. ” from IMDB
Milk opens Friday Jan. 30, 2009 in Charleston, WV at Marquee Southridge!
Marquee Cinemas South Charlestonwww.marqueecinemas.com
331 Southridge Blvd |
“The moral arc of justice is long, but it bends towards justice.”
“The moral arc of justice is long, but it bends towards justice”
Martin Luther King Jr. A man whose name always conjures in my mind a grand figure with great ambition. Goals that seem nearly unreachable with the terribly damaging world around us.
I wasn’t around then so I only have history books and personal recounts of my father to gather as much as I can about this man but his call for equality is universal..that justice will prevail..that the moral arc is long but it DOES bend towards justice. that we might not get there in our lifetimes, but we WILL get there.
What an inspirational man. Thank you Dr. King.