Secretary of State Clinton's Pride Message

I still have much love for Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton despite the contention 2008 Democratic presidential primary.   She's made it clear she's a supporter of the rainbow community, but I still have my doubts that if she were in the Oval Office right now the trans community would be seeing the explosive progress federally we have seen under the Obama Administration.

Then again, based on the fact that surgery is no longer a requirement to get a gender code change on a US passport, maybe President Clinton might have been as trans friendly as President Obama has undeniably proven he has been.  Anyway, stepping off the electronic soapbox and back to the post.

Here's her taped pride message for the rainbow community

2012 Esteem Awards Winners And Finalists

I was surprised and pleased to find out last year I was one of the 2011 winners for the Chicago-based Esteem Awards.   While I was unable to accept it in person, I did send my acceptance speech for it.

Yesterday the 2012 Esteem Awards winners were announced.by PrideIndex.com.

  “PrideIndex.com is pleased to announce Towleroad.com, writers Stanley Bennett Clay and Kimberley McLeod, Bella English of The Boston Globe, and Cathy J. Cohen has been named to receive this year’s Esteem Award, said Philip Esteem of PrideIndex.com. “These organizations and individuals serve as fine role models for the entire community,” he continued.

The Esteem Awards honors local and national organizations and individuals for their continued efforts in supporting the African-American and LGBT community in the areas of entertainment, media, civil rights, business and art.

The 2012 Esteem Award honorees will be recognized at a special cocktail reception on Saturday, June 30, at Sidetrack, 3349 North Halsted, from 2:00PM – 4:00PM in Chicago. The event is free.

Following is a list of the Esteem Awards finalists:

Chicago

Outstanding Service, Male: Charles Nelson, MSM Project Director, South Side Help Center

Outstanding Service, Female: Cathy J. Cohen

Outstanding Service, Transgender: June LaTrobe, Trans* Community Liaison, Center on Halsted and Vice Chair & Public Policy Director, Illinois Gender Advocates

Outstanding Service, Youth: KOKUMO KINETIC, CEO/Founder KOKUMOMEDIA

Outstanding Social Services/CBO: Affinity Community Services

Outstanding Newspaper Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: “Queer Bronzeville: African American LGBT’s on Chicago’s South Side, 1900-1985” Windy City Times by Tristan Cabello

Outstanding Magazine Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: “The Day Cole & Parker Came Into Our Lives,”Grab Magazine by Erik Sosa-Kibby

Institutional Award: The Transformative Justice Law Project

Artistic Expression: Black Ensemble Theater for Black Playwright’s Initiative (BPI)

Special Recognition Award: Bill Greaves, long time advocate for Chicago's LGBT community

National

Outstanding Service, Male: Patrick Kelly, Activist & Clinical Research Interviewer, Emory Hope Clinic Vaccine Center (Atlanta)

Outstanding Service, Female: Michelle E. Brown, longtime Civil & LGBT Rights Advocate (Detroit)

Outstanding Service, Transgender: Janet Mock, Writer & Trans Advocate

Outstanding Service, Youth: Amir Dixon, Board Member, Hispanic Black Gay Coalition & Co-Host BrotherHood TV (Boston)

Outstanding Social Services/CBO: The Ruth Ellis Center for LGBT Runaways (Detroit)

Outstanding Newspaper Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: "Led By The Child Who Simply Knew," By Bella English, The Boston Globe, Dec 11, 2011

Outstanding Magazine Reporter/Columnist or Feature Article: "Taking A Lead On Faith: Four Black Pastors At The Forefront of LGBT Equality," Ebony.com By Kimberley McLeod

Institutional Award: Southern Poverty Law Center (Montgomery, AL)

Outstanding Website: theGrio.com

Outstanding Blog: Towleroad.com

Outstanding Podcaster or Web series: Clay Cane Live WWRL 1600 AM Equality Pride Radio

Artistic Expression: Stanley Bennett Clay, Actor, Author and Playwright

Special Recognition: The State Of Black Gay America (SBGA) Summit (Atlanta)

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Since 2007 PrideIndex.com Esteem Awards has honored local and national organizations and individuals for their continued efforts in supporting the African-American and LGBT communities in the areas of entertainment, media, civil rights, business and art.

More information about the Esteem Awards can be found at www.TheEsteemawards.com. PrideIndex.com is an online entertainment guide to events, bars and parties for the African-American and LGBT communities. It features profiles of activist, authors, club promoters, filmmakers, performance artist, conferences, support groups, and health & wellness resources.

White House Hosting TBLG Conferences Across US

In case there were any doubts among  trans and SGL people in our ranks that the Obama Administration is the most rainbow community friendly one in US history, the White House announced yesterday that it was embarking on a series of  conferences across the country from February to June 2012.

The stated purpose according to a press release is so that the public can “hear directly” from the administration on efforts “to ensure health, well-being, security, justice, and equality for LGBT Americans.”.

The first according to a Washington Blade report  is slated for Philadelphia on February 16 in conjunction with the White House LGBT Conference on Health being held there. 

The events are a collaboration between the White House Office of Public Engagement and other offices and agencies and will cover topics such as housing and homelessness, safe schools and communities as well as HIV/AIDS prevention   

The White House will make more details public about the TBLG conferences as this evolves and other conference locations and dates are confirmed.

'Sista P' Would Appoint Qualified Jamaican Rainbow Peeps To Her Cabinet

In the post I wrote discussing the landslide December 29 election of Portia Simpson Miller and her PNP party back into power after four years as the Official Opposition,  I asked the question what the election would mean for the island's TBLG community.

I may have a hint of what might be on the horizon courtesy of Rod 2.0  and this video from a December 20 campaign debate between herself and then PM Andrew Holness..

A question was asked by a journalist in reference to the infamous 2008 "Gays would never serve in his cabinet " statement by former PM Bruce Golding if either candidate would appoint a gay person to their cabinet..

Evansville, IN Unanimously Passes Inclusive Ordinance

When I lived in the Louisville area had the pleasure of making the drive on I-64 west a few years ago to Evansville for a friend's wedding.   Evansville is also the hometown of actor Avery Books and actress Michael Michele Williams

I was happy to hear that Evansville, Indiana to the increasingly long list of jurisdictions that are passing trans inclusive human rights laws.  On November 28 the Evansville City Council on a unanimous 8-0 vote passed their Human Rights Ordinance that includes housing and employment protection based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Evansville City Council added the words age, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation to the Evansville Human Relations Civil Rights Ordinance and by doing so added legal protections to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in public and private employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and education..

This was a huge win for the Evansville's rainbow community and add this city to the long list of municipalities that value their TBLG citizens to do so.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice's Statement on LGBT Human Rights Memorandum

Today, President Obama directed all agencies to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons abroad. At the United Nations, we have strongly supported efforts to codify and enshrine the promise of equality for the LGBT community, and the President’s action adds yet more force to our urgent fight.

Since taking office in 2009, the Obama Administration has worked tirelessly within the UN system to advance the human rights of the world’s LGBT persons. Early on, we signed the UN General Assembly’s Statement on Sexual Orientation on Gender Identity. We joined the LGBT Core Groups in Geneva and New York. We won NGO consultative status for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

We championed the first UN resolution dedicated to advancing the basic and fundamental rights of LGBT persons. Last December, on Human Rights Day, we pledged to restore language including LGBT individuals in a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings. Within two weeks, we did so.

There is far more work to do before our LGBT friends, neighbors, parents and children live in a world free of discrimination. Through steadfast defense of our universal values, persistent engagement with international partners, and the full force of U.S. efforts under the law, we will get there. I look forward to continuing our work and proudly carrying out the President’s directive.