Reasonably Logical

If you’ve read the news today - particularly the gay news - you may have discovered that Amazon has “chosen” to remove all gay & lesbian items from their best seller lists. Now, usually I’d be the first to complain about something like this, but I’m also a programmer. As such, the possibility that it might actually be a bug as Amazon claims isn’t that hard to believe. Writing a new algorithm - which they’ve clearly done - always brings with it the risk of mistakes and bugs. I’m not saying that that is what has happened, but you know? I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Now, if they haven’t fixed the issue in a week or two, that’s when I’m going to get upset.

Dear Friends:

As the movement to protect New York City’s LGBTQI homeless youth continues to gain momentum, there are three more ways you can help protect the futures of thousands of LGBTQI homeless youth:

- Sign the international petition to Save New York City LGBTQI Youth Shelters! The petition has gained support from allies from 26 countries and 27 states who have called on DYCD to reverse its inhumane decision to cut funding for LGBTQI youth shelters. Invite friends, family, and co-workers to sign with you in order to tell legislators that LGBTQI youth are worth our best efforts, both locally and globally.

-Join our Facebook Cause Page. Creating and sustaining community is central to sending the unified message that the futures of homeless LGBTQI youth matter. By joining the Cause, we can tell friends and policymakers that an attack on LGBTQI youth is a threat to us all.

-Make a donation to help sustain youth services at Sylvia’s Place. Amid funding deliberations, we continue to serve over 60 youth a day, 365 days a year. Help us ensure that our youth are receiving the medical care, food, shelter and assistance that they need to help move them towards self-sufficiency, and away from jail or worse. Despite the threats from DYCD, we will continue to remain a haven and a source of stability for the youth we serve.

As always, your support is integral to ensuring that New York City does not cut costs at the expense of vulnerable youth. Please take a moment to tell legislators across the City and around the world that homeless LGBTQI youth deserve our best efforts.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Senior Pastor
MCCNY

William Moran-Berberena, Executive Director
MCCNY Charities

Lucky Michaels, Director
MCCNY Homeless Youth Services

Frances Wood, Administrator
MCCNY Charities

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According to the Associated Press, Vermont became the first state to legislatively enact same-sex marriage today. Impressively, the state legislature overrode a veto by the governor. Now that is what I call a solid base of support.

Vermont is the fourth state with same-sex marriage. (Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Iowa are the other three.) From the look of it, the District of Columbia might be next. The DC Council today passed a bill which would recognize same sex marriages performed in other states. However, because of DC’s unique legal position, Congress could still scuttle this. Other states in the running include New York, New Jersey, & Hawaii.

On a related note, it looks like the Iowa Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage from last week is safe from legislative challenge.

Just read my email and discovered that the Iowa Supreme court has upheld a lower court ruling which legalizes same-sex marriage. Even better, the decision has wording which is about as good as could be expected. Honestly, I’m a tad disappointed that Illinois wasn’t first*, but I’m still going to celebrate tonight!

Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman
Des Moines Register, April 3, 2009
A very fairly balanced article on the decision and reactions from either side.

Lambda Legal’s Response

NGLTF’s Response

* What can I say, I’m still an Illinoisan at heart. Four years there corrupted me.

Today, Love Makes a Family - the organization that has been instrumental in obtaining same-sex marriage in Connecticut - announced that it would be closing its doors. Their letter to members stated that the organization will be closing its doors on December 31, 2009.

Having accomplished our core mission, Love Makes a Family has begun preparations to cease operations on December 31, 2009, allowing our staff, board and community of supporters to focus their energies on the myriad of community issues still facing our state and country.

We are absolutely confident that marriage equality is here to stay in Connecticut. We would never close our doors if we felt otherwise.

I have to say that I will be sorry to see the organization close. I had hoped that they would transition into a broader LGBT family organization and work on behalf of LGBT families in our state. I do however respect their reasons for discontinuing the organization. Anne, Matt, Ganon and everyone else, thank you for your years of effort. Your efforts have been much appreciated. I look forward to working with you all in future endeavors.