2012 EQUALITY AWARD RECIPIENT

Mary Griggs
Deputy Political Director Forum For Equality
Chair, LGBT Community Center of New Orleans

Join HRC to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Louisiana HRC Dinner

presented by DiamondJacks Casino!

Featuring:

Comedienne Joan Rivers
CNN HLN Host Jane Velez-Mitchell
and
Multi-Platinum Recording Artist CeCe Peniston

$200.00 GENERAL TICKETS
$85.00 FEDERAL CLUB MEMBERS
$125.00 STUDENTS (e-mail hrcnola@gmail.com)

PURCHASE TICKETS

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The EEOC decision: On December 9, 2011, Complainant filed an appeal concerning her equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. For the following reasons, the Commission finds that the Complainant’s complaint of discrimination based on gender identity, change of sex, and/or transgender status is cognizable under Title VII and remands the complaint to the Agency for further processing.

For the full decision click here.

For more information on the impact of this decision click here.

Watch the videos of from the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee Hearing on SB 217:

• Leslie Ellison, Board President of Milestones SABIS Charter School in New Orleans
• Randy Trahan, LSU Law Professor
• Senator Ed Murray

Opposition to SB 217:

• Shreveport Times
• Lafayette Advertiser
• Pooyie: Couillion
• Baton Rouge Advocate
• New Orleans Gambit: Clancy DuBos
• New Orleans Times Picayune
• Is barring gay kids from school the godly way?: James Gill
• A.G. Crowe bill supported by some Christian groups could make charter schools less open: Jarvis DeBerry
• Revising history on contracting bill: Stephanie Grace
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• Urban League of Greater New Orleans

Senate Bill 217 states that companies and contractors can be awarded public contracts so long as they have anti-discrimination policies that include race, religion, national ancestry, age, sex, or disability. But then continues to restrict any expansion on the enumerated categories in any non-discrimination clause in public contracts. So cities and parishes could not require contractors to have any protections for the LGBT community and beyond even if the Mayor and/or City Council voted and supported such a measure!

Forum For Equality Political Action Committee has issued a triple endorsement in the New Orleans City Council-at-Large Race. The endorsement issued at the February 27 membership meeting is split by Councilwoman Stacy Head, Representative Austin Badon, and former-Senator Cynthia Willard-Lewis.

“We view the current race for New Orleans Council-at-Large as a true sign of the political success of the Forum For Equality in New Orleans. The top three candidates for this office are longtime friends of the Forum For Equality and have been endorsed in past races by Forum for Equality PAC”, said PAC Chair Randy Evans.

Austin Badon has been a reliable vote in the Legislature for the Forum and handled the Safe Schools Bill for the Forum for Equality in the 2011 Legislative Session. Cynthia Willard-Lewis has also been a reliable vote for the Forum at the Legislature and at City Hall. Stacy Head has repeatedly and publicly voiced support for equality issues important to Forum’s members.

Additionally, all three interviewed with the Forum PAC and all were graded very good on issues important to the Forum for Equality. “We sincerely believe that the LGBT community and the entire City would be well served by any of these outstanding public servants,” said SarahJane Brady, managing director of Forum for Equality.

This year’s session of the Louisiana Legislature commences on March 12 and adjourns on June 4.  Forum For Equality has three important legislative bills we’re working hard to pass this session and we need your support!  Please read over the information below and familiarize yourself with these issues.

1) LA Bullying Prevention Act

House Bill 407 by Rep. Patricia Smith is entitled the Bullying Prevention Act of 2012 and will strengthen our state’s current bullying laws and prohibit the harassment, intimidation and bullying of students in public elementary and secondary schools.  Forum For Equality is honored to be part of the larger Stop Bullying Louisiana Coalition that has worked together for months to advocate for these important changes to current law.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their counterparts face verbal and physical bullying on a daily basis just for being who they are or for demonstrating their own gender identity or gender expression.  Louisiana law does not currently enumerate or detail a standard anti-bullying policy to which schools must adhere. This process is currently left to that of the individual schools or local school boards. The lack of compulsory policies allows for students to be victimized and targeted unfairly within our school systems.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the House Education Committee that you support HB 407 -  the Bullying Prevention Act of 2012!

Here is the School Bullying Prevention Act of 2012 for your review/use.

2) Second Parent Adoption Bill

Forum For Equality is working hard with the National Association of Social Workers (Louisiana chapter) to help pass a Second-parent adoption bill, House Bill _____ by Rep. Jared Brossett.  This bill is in the process of being filed and would recognize two parents as legal guardians to a child or children originally adopted by a single person. Currently, Louisiana law does not permit a child to be adopted by a couple that is not married, no matter how long they have lived together. This is true of heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. This is a policy that is inconsistent with the generally accepted concept that a second legally recognized parent can benefit a child’s welfare. Allowing an unmarried parent to have his/her committed partner co-adopt the child is commonly known as second parent or fictive step-parent adoption.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee that you support HB 1081 -  the Fictive Step-Parent Bill!

Here is the Fictive Step-Parent for your review/use.

3) State Employment Non-discrimination Protections Bill

Senate Bill 100 by Sen. Ed Murray is our Employment Non-Discrimination bill and applies to state government employees.  This bill will expand the enumerated policy of protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression.  Employment in the state is at-will, meaning an employer can hire and fire an employee for any reason not protected by federal and state laws, making it all that more important to cover LGBT employees of state government.

There are only a few places in the state that have passed local inclusive nondiscrimination policies including the City of Shreveport, Lafayette and New Orleans. In general, though, there is very little recourse for the vast majority of LGBT state employees who are unfairly denied employment or lose their jobs because of discrimination. All residents should be treated fairly and equally by the laws of our state.  A similar bill has been filed by Rep. Helena Moreno on the Forum’s behalf as HB 691.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee that you support SB 100 – State Employment Non-Discrimination Protections Bill!

Here is the State Employment Non-Discrimination Protections Bill for your review/use. 

Modern Family Estate Planning – Considerations for Same Sex Couples

Thursday, March 15th
6:00 to 8:00PM
Cathedral Studio
527 Julia Street, NOLA

The first quarter of the year is when most of us generally assess our lives and resolve to do what we can to do improve our health, focus on our family more, and possibly attend to matters of personal business.  If you don’t make or keep another resolution this year, resolve come spend 2 hours to learn what you can do to protect you and your partner in regard to your estate planning.

NO/AIDS Task Force, in collaboration with Forum for Equality, will be hosting a free seminar on Same-Sex Couples Estate Planning.  Did you know that more than 70% of people die without a will?  Then it gets really complicated, under the best of circumstances, for those you have left behind.  While a handful of states recognize same sex marriage and spousal rights, the majority do not, making it critical for same-sex couples to implement valid plans for their loved ones.

Anyone is welcome to come, but seating is limited and reservations are required.  We hope you will join us for this important informational event!

What, where, when:

• Thursday, March 15^th, 6 to 8 pm at Cathedral Studio, 527 Julia Street (map)
• Speakers include Joshua Holmes & Glenn Reams
• For more information or to reserve a seat, call 504-821-2601, x203 or email cherylg@noaidstf.org
• No Charge, reservations required, limited seating
• Light refreshments will be served

As a follow-up to the LGBT listening sessions HHS recently held across the country,  today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a summary update – “Better Health and Well-Being: Making Improvements for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Americans.”

The document summarizes specific actions that HHS has taken through 2011, at the direction of President Obama and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, to promote equal treatment of LGBT Americans, provide enhanced resources for LGBT health issues, and develop better information regarding LGBT health needs.  The update also summarizes how the Affordable Care Act is improving access to health coverage for LGBT Americans.

The update can be found online here.  (A link to the PDF is here.)

We encourage you to share this update with your networks.

Best,

AJ Pearlman
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201

Twist Twelfth Night Away

Come dressed in your best Mardi Gras and/or 1950′s costume and twist the night away to the beats of the NOLA Treblemakers!

Start 2012 off with the right beat!
FFELA’s Annual Twelfth Night Masquerade is a great New Year’s resolution for equality by joining or renewing your membership with Forum For Equality.

Complimentary Drinks, Hors d’oeuvres and King Cake!

When: Friday January 6,  2012 from 7:00 to 11:00PM

Where: Harrah’s Hotel – Vieux Carré Ballroom

228 Poydras Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Ticket Prices:

Ticket and Annual Membership: $50

Non-member ticket: $30

Member ticket: $20

Equality Club Member: Complimentary Ticket

Purchase tickets online here or at the door!

Many Thanks to our Sponsor

Some of you may have already heard about the tragedy in Lake Charles, where 15 year-old Hannah Pauley died by suicide on October 25th. She reportedly took her own life because of intense bullying she was experiencing at school. We currently do not know the nature of the bullying that she experienced, and will pass on information to you as it becomes available.

Her father, Len Pauley, stated: “Honestly I don’t believe I would want any child to be charged with anything…If those kids can just step up to the plate and admit that they were wrong, make a positive out of this–then absolutely not–because they have to live with this for the rest of their lives now.”  Our sincerest and heartfelt condolences are with the Pauley family and their friends as they mourn the death of such a fine young person. Please keep Hannah in your heart and send your thoughts, prayers and sympathies to her family and friends.

You can help to lessen the frequency and effects of bullying. If you know a young person, a daughter or son, niece or nephew, godchild or sibling, that you can talk with about bullying, please do so. Take the time out of your day to speak with them about school, their friends, teachers, sports, Facebook, music, or something else that will engage them in a conversation. Ask them if they are okay, hurting or scared about anything. We can make a difference in individual lives by communicating and validating their concerns and problems.

Stopping bullying from happening and appropriately responding to it when it happens is critical to the academic success and overall safety of our students. It is up to all of us — the students, the teachers, the administrators, concerned citizens, the school board and our state legislators — to do all we can to promote the health, safety and overall well-being of our young people. We must create school climates that welcomes, accepts and supports all people for who they.

If you or someone you know needs help, help is available. There are national suicide prevention lines like the Trevor Project at (866)-488-7386. Families can get support in becoming more accepting through local PFLAG chapters. Currently, there are Louisiana chapters in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette. There are also locally made videos on It Gets Better where young people can see that they are not alone and that supportive adults are out there.

Forum For Equality along with a diverse group of organizations and associations, state legislators, school board members, community leaders and educators support comprehensive safe school policies to help prevent tragedies such as young Hannah Pauley. If you or your family is having a problem with bullying at your school and needs help, please do not hesitate to contact me at 504.569.9156 or sarahjane.brady@forumforequality.com.

Sincerely,

SarahJane
Managing Director, Forum For Equality