Not Going Any Damn Where!

Tags

Elections, Louisiana, Mary Griggs, Rant

As results started to come in last night indicating that Donald Trump was on his way to becoming the next president of the United States, the Canadian immigration website crashed.

So many searches…so many, in fact, that the iconic photograph from the fall of Saigon came to mind.

I understand where those folks are coming from – the frustration at seeing that bloviating orange nightmare winning precinct after precinct churned my stomach. It was very personal and emotional to me because I live in New Orleans, an island of blue afloat in the sea of red which is the great state of Louisiana.

I have been told more times than I can count that I should just move. Some are from friends who live in more welcoming places – places where I couldn’t be fired from my job for being a lesbian or kicked out of a restaurant for public displays of affection with my girlfriend or evicted from my home because the landlord has a moral objection to someone being gender non-conforming.

Some of those who say it are just plain mean – these are the people who snarl out that I should like it or leave it.

The hell I will! Not only is this my home, they need me here.

And we need you here, too!

We need you to stay and do the work to keep this country moving forward. We need ALL of you to help make it better.

As Margaret Mead so eloquently said:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

If not you and me, then who?

Here in Louisiana 779,535 votes went for Hillary Clinton. Those voters are my natural allies. The task I choose to accept is to join up with those hundreds of thousands of other people who are also fighting for tomorrow.

I’m a progressive, lesbian, feminist, Democrat living in New Orleans. And I am not alone.

Dastardly Deeds from the AG

Tags

LGBT Equality, Louisiana, Mary Griggs, Politics, Transgender

From the late Middle Ages comes a great word – dastard. Probably a combination of dazed, dotard and bastard; it means a dishonorable or despicable man.

There is a reason Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s picture appears next to the definition.

First, let me give a little background.

I worked for the election of John Bel Edwards to be governor of Louisiana. There were many reasons for my support of his candidacy but most notably, it was his commitment to issuing an executive order to protect LGBTQ state employees from discrimination and harassment that compelled me to canvass and make calls.

After he won the election, I was part of the coalition that came together to craft the language of the order. The Forum for Equality, along with Equality Louisiana and the Louisiana Trans Advocates helped negotiate an inclusive executive order.

We succeeded and on April 13, Governor John Bel Edwards signed the order ( JBE 2016-11) with most of the advocates there in his office.

I’m standing next to Governor Edwards in the wrinkled blue shirt

While Louisiana has twice before had executive orders (the first signed by Gov Edwards in February 17, 1992 – EWE 92-7 and, the second by Gov Blanco on December 4 2004 – KBB 04-54) which added sexual orientation protection, this is the first one to include gender identity. It was a first for Louisiana and first in the South!

Attorney General Jeff Landry immediately began to undermine the order. In May, he issued an opinion that the order could not be enforced legally. All of the organizations involved in getting the original executive order plus several more responded quickly with a statement: “Landry’s Opinion is based on obsolete caselaw and outdated scientific information, and demonstrates that he is out of touch with current interpretations and understanding. Landry’s political posturing cannot be allowed to harm victims of discrimination merely to advance his own mean-spirited political agenda.”

Also in May, he issued an opinion against the Department of Education and Department of Justice’s Title IX Guidance on Transgender Students, declaring the “Obama transgender mandate is unlawful federal overreach.”

In mid-August (not so coincidently right in the middle of a massive natural disaster and truly terrible flooding, when everyone else in the state was focused on recovery), he began refusing to approve contracts that contain the language of the executive order. There are at least 37 state government contracts for legal work which have been blocked.

It should be noted that the Louisiana Bar Association, an organization for attorneys, encourages the adoption of non-discrimination policies in law firms protecting both sexual orientation and gender identity. On the issue of the AG’s role, it has stated that the attorney general is only supposed to review state legal contracts with private attorneys to make sure the lawyers are qualified to do the work. Further, they say the law doesn’t give his office oversight over language such as the LGBT nondiscrimination clause.

This week, AG Landry filed a lawsuit against the executive order. He claims “Executive Overreach” and is asking a judge to prohibit enforcement of the order. One of his claims is that “enforcement of the order, affording protection from ‘discrimination’ based upon ‘gender identity,’ undermines this State’s anti-discrimination laws and hundreds of other laws in that it creates a protected class which is premised solely upon subjective and arbitrary factors unlike other recognized and legislatively established protected classes.”

Seriously? An order protecting people from discrimination undermines other people from protection of anti-discrimination laws? I call bullshit.

Instead of doing the job he was elected to do, Landry is dastardly carrying the banner for the extremists in their opposition to equal rights for LGBTQ people.

The office of the Attorney General is supposed to protect the people and resources of the state of Louisiana. Instead, it has become a partisan hack’s playground where he picks and chooses who he will protect.

Landry does not believe that gender identity should be a legally protected class. This despite the fact that the EEOC has held that discrimination against an individual because that person is transgender (also known as gender identity discrimination) is discrimination because of sex and therefore is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

He fears what he doesn’t understand and is attempting legal maneuvers to classify transgender people as second class citizens. He can’t be allowed to negate the right to equal treatment under the law for all Louisianians, including transgender people.

Transgender Americans deserve equal dignity and respect at work, in receiving an education, or when seeking respectful and appropriate healthcare. Transgender people make valuable contributions to society and, like everyone else, they should be treated fairly in all areas of life.

This lawsuit illustrates how vital it is to ensure that transgender protections are permanently codified into state law. Protection from discrimination is too foundational and important a value to leave to the discretion of the Attorney General.

Governor Edwards released a statement and said, “Discrimination, of any kind, is not a Louisiana value, and I will do everything in my power, including enforcing this order, to foster a productive and welcoming work environment in Louisiana’s state government.”

Thank you, Governor!

You can join the fight to protect LGBTQ people in Louisiana from discrimination by becoming a member of the Forum for Equality at this link here. I’m proud to be a member as they continue the fight for fairness, equality and equal treatment under the law. I encourage you to get involved, too.

They’re trying to wash us away

Tags

Louisiana

The Aaron Neville performance of the Randy Newman song, Louisiana 1927, keeps playing in my mind:

Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re trying to wash us away
They’re trying to wash us away
Oh Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re trying to wash us away
They’re trying to wash us away

That song is about the great Mississippi River flood of 1927 that left 700,000 homeless in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Here are some statistics from the August 10-13 flooding that is currently devastating much of Southern Louisiana:

Over 30,000 people had to be rescued. Eight people are dead, a unknown number are still missing and 10,000 people are in shelters (Update – 11 dead)

More than 40,000 homes were damaged including 90% of the homes in Denham Springs and 75% of the home in Livingston parish which are considered damaged or destroyed

34,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity

Interstate I-12 was closed for 40 miles in both directions between Baton Rouge and Covington. I-10 was closed for 20 miles between Baton Rouge and Gonzales.

Much of area remains underwater.

20 parishes have been declared a major disaster by the federal government

Acadia
Ascension
Avoyelles
East Baton Rouge
East Feliciana
Evangeline
Iberia
Iberville
Jefferson Davis
Lafayette
Livingston
Pointe Coupee
St. Helena
St. Landry
St. Martin
St. Tammany
Tangipahoa
Vermilion
Washington
West Feliciana

It may seem like we’re whining about being ignored by the national media. Trust me, that attention really will help the Louisiana congressional delegation in getting needed assistance from the federal government during the long recovery process ahead.

Thanks to all who have contacted me to check in and make sure that I’m okay. New Orleans escaped the flooding and while we got pretty wet from the rain, we aren’t underwater like the rest of the area.

It is our turn to help all those who stepped up to help us after the levee breaks following Hurricane Katrina.

 

Here are some resources:

Resources For flood Victims:

Shelter information for Affected Parishes

The Louisiana governor’s office can be reached at (225) 342-7015. The Gov Office webpage on disaster relief can be found here.

FEMA Claims Handbook

If you are are in a parish currently included in the federal disaster declaration, you can register with FEMA at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. If your parish is not yet included in the federal declaration, you must register by calling 1-800-621-3362.

For those who want to help:

Read this first: When Disaster Relief Brings Anything But Relief

New Orleans Moms blog on how to help

Info on preparing and shipping a cleaning bucket.

Dirty Coast is updating its famous Soul is Waterproof t-shirt, with proceeds to go to the Second Harvest Food Bank

Acknowledging all the help and support locals provided to their neighbors, $15 from each sale of the Cajun Navy t-shirt will go to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Louisiana Flood Relief fund.

Hope this helps.

We are #OneLouisiana

 

 

JBE Moves Louisiana Forward

Tags

LGBT Equality, Louisiana

Today was a historic day in Louisiana. Our newly elected Democratic governor signed an inclusive Executive Order providing employment protections for state employees and employees of state contractors to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He also rescinded former Governor Bobby Jindal’s executive order extending the provisions included in Mike Johnson’s Marriage and Conscience Act after it failed to pass out of committee last year.

These are things we’ve been working hard on for a while and I was so pleased to be able to watch him sign it.

Here are the major LGBT organizations standing shoulder to shoulder with the governor – Equality Louisiana, Forum for Equality, Louisiana Trans Advocates and PACE.

Here is the press release from the Governor’s office. Here is a copy of the Executive Order.

Here is the Forum for Equality eblast.

Please take a moment to thank Governor John Bel Edwards for signing this inclusive Executive Order. Follow this link for an action page to send your letter.

What a win!

Tags

Elections, Louisiana, Voting

It was a hard election season that saw a sitting, United States Republican Senator try every dirty trick in the book (lying in tv ads and debates, spying on private citizens, pandering to the basest of racist fears) only to lose to his Democratic challenger. Close to $18 million dollars were spent on campaign ads for the governor’s race, much of it from outside PACs

The opposition even tried to use my “pro homosexual blog” as proof that Edwards “plans to pursue policies granting special rights to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.” There were articles in the Baptist Messenger, the Hayride and Gene Mills, the President of the Louisiana Family Forum, even took out a half page ad in newspapers across the state:

Too bad he didn’t realize that the section he bolded just highlights what a fair and equality minded candidate John Bel Edwards is.

As John Bel Edwards posed on Facebook:

We won because of you. Thank you for voting to put Louisiana first.

You believed in our campaign to bring honor and integrity back to the state of Louisiana.

My campaign slogan has been “put Louisiana first” from the start, and that is exactly what I plan to do for the next four years. To me, that has always meant bringing our people together, regardless of party, to celebrate the things that make our state strong and solve our greatest problems.

I promise you tonight that I will always do what is best for all Louisianians — for our children, our veterans, our senior citizens. I believe Louisiana is worth fighting for. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead our state.

Louisiana’s future doesn’t belong to a political party — it belongs to all of us. I will work every day to make you proud of your vote and of your state.

Thanks to everyone to who stepped up or even stepped across the party line to vote in this election. Raise your glass in celebration of Louisiana’s spirit, strength, and future.

We can’t rest on this victory, though. There is a presidential election next year. And, as David Vitter has already said he will not be seeking reelection, we must continue to work here in Louisiana to elect progressive minded candidates.

Laissez le bon candidats gagner!

Vitter Family Values

Tags

Louisiana, Politics, Voting

David Vitter’s new campaign video is all about how he failed his family but found forgiveness. In it, he and his family are sitting around a table as he talks of accepting responsibility and earning redemption. Not only is this video getting quite a bit of air time but at a recent Women’s Roundtable, his wife Wendy presented the video.

Let that sink for a moment – Wendy Vitter is traveling around the state to show a campaign commercial of her husband acknowledging that he cheated on her.

I won’t speculate on the dynamics of their marriage. But seeing naked political ambition eclipsing personal humiliation just boggles the mind.

I don’t really care that David Vitter had affairs, although I’m bothered by the fact he paid for sex. Soliciting is a crime in Louisiana which carries a $500 fine and up to six months in jail. We should definitely expect our elected representatives not to break the laws they swear to uphold.

For me, however, the real issue is that he committed serial adultery while espousing family values and preaching morality to the rest of us.

He positions himself as a great protector of marriage (and as a gatekeeper to exclude lesbians and gays from the institution) by being a chief sponsor on several efforts to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. “I don’t believe there’s any issue that’s more important than this one,” he said once the amendment was brought to the floor. He has also compared marriage equality to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Seriously? There is not a single issue more important than amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Not a single one?

Not Louisiana’s unbalanced budget? Not the catastrophic loss of wetlands or the need for coastal restoration? Not the the dismal state of education? Not our crumbling infrastructure? Not the fact that Louisiana ranks last on nearly every quality of life survey until you get to the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and we take the lead?

Even if you are able to set aside for a moment legitimate differences on substantial policy matters, it behooves us all to be concerned that David Vitter has spent his entire career voting against the rights and liberties of the very same women he’s been screwing.

Furthermore, Vitter has proven, time and again, that he is corrupt to the core. I sincerely hope the voters of this state realize that if his marriage vows mean nothing to him, his oath of office will mean even less.

The choice is clear – vote for John Bel Edwards for Louisiana!

Here are the endorsements for governor and others in the November 21st runoff:

• Independent Women’s Organization Endorsements
• Forum for Equality PAC Endorsements

Please Geaux Vote!

 

Vitter in His Own Words

Tags

Louisiana, Politics, Voting

Through his constituent letters and public comments, time and again, David Vitter shows he is a hypocrite who doesn’t support many issues of importance to the people of this state.

Here are a few examples:

In 1998, David Vitter was a state representative, a practicing attorney and adjunct professor. He weighed in on the President Bill Clinton impeachment issue in a point of view letter to the Times-Picayune newspaper. “One would hope that these two factors would coincide — that when an officeholder commits serious offenses, the negative reaction of the citizenry would make it impossible for him to govern effectively.” (This is around the same time he was soliciting prostitutes in Louisiana. See American Zombie for more on that story).

David Vitter got his start in Congress after replacing Rep. Robert Livingston, who resigned after his numerous affairs were disclosed. At the time, Vitter argued that an extramarital affair was grounds for resignation: “I think Livingston’s stepping down makes a very powerful argument that Clinton should resign as well and move beyond this mess.”

When David Vitter ran for a seat in the Senate in 2004, he made passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment a centerpiece of his campaign: “We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts’s values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage.”

On June 6, 2006 and less than a year after Katrina and Rita made landfall, he says, “I don’t believe there’s any issue that’s more important than this one.” Was he talking about rebuilding Louisiana? NO! He was defending the decision by Republican leaders to bring a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage to the Senate floor.

In 2007 (the same year he confessed to his “serious sin” after his phone number appeared on the list of a Washington escort service), he inserted an earmark into the federal budget to provide $100,000 to the Louisiana Family Forum for the purpose of combating the teaching of evolution and global warming in public schools. “This program helps supplement and support educators and school systems that would like to offer all of the explanations in the study of controversial science topics such as global warming and the life sciences,” he said.

2008 Vitter was one of the ten sponsors of the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, which would have banned same-sex marriage. Vitter co-sponsored State Marriage Defense Act in 2014 which would reverse the gains same-sex couples made after the Defense of Marriage Act was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2013.

He was also a cosponsor of the First Amendment Defense Act in 2015, which would stop the federal government from denying a tax benefit, contract, or license based on views of the individual or organization that marriage is limited to a union between a man and a woman. Vitter said, “I’m committed to fully protecting religious liberty.” The legislation was introduced June 17, nine days before the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

Vitter voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009 because he thought it was a sop to plaintiff’s lawyers. “Quite frankly it’s a trial lawyer bonanza,” Vitter said.

In 2010, Senator David Vitter appeared on a right wing radio station and mocked MSNBC host Rachel Maddow:

MALE HOST: That’d be cool. Well you know, with Rachel Maddow they had that picture of her…

FEMALE HOST: Looking like a woman.

MALE HOST: Yeah it was really bizarre.

VITTER: [LAUGHS]: Must have been a long time ago.

ALL THREE: [HEAVY LAUGHTER]

When talking about his continuing the employment of a man convicted of DUI’s and pleading guilty after battering his girlfriend, David Vitter said Brent Furer was actually assigned to “abortion” issues, not “women’s issues.”

In 2013, I received a letter from him after I contacted him about supporting ENDA. The letter said, “While I strictly oppose discrimination in all forms, I do not believe that expanding federal civil rights protections to include lifestyle-based conduct is a prudent course of action.”

There are many, many more examples out there. Check out On The Issues or even do a simple Google search to find many, many more statements he made which are out of touch with the majority of Louisianians. See for yourself when you watch the next debate between John Bel Edwards and David Vitter from Louisiana Public Broadcasting on Tuesday, November 10 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

It is vital that you vote to ensure that he does not become the next governor of Louisiana. Early voting runs through Saturday, November 14 from 8:30am to 6pm. There is no early voting on Veterans Day, November 11. Election Day is November 21st. More election info can be found here.

Here are endorsements from groups I support:

• Independent Women’s Organization Endorsements
• Forum for Equality PAC Endorsements

But, whatever you decide, please do not vote for David Vitter.

Voting FOR Louisiana’s Next Governor

Tags

Louisiana, Politics, Voting

I don’t like David Vitter. It is a dislike borne from seeing how he conducts himself and what his politics have resulted in for our state and nation, time and time again. That said: I won’t be voting against him on November 21st.

Instead, I will be voting FOR John Bel Edwards.

I won’t have to hold my nose to vote for him, either. Representative Edwards has integrity. Something few politicians have and even fewer are willing to put out a video on:

Not only that – he can win this thing. Look at this graphic from the LA Secretary of State/Advocate newspaper:

He received the most votes in nearly every region of the state and he can win on November 21st.

John Bel Edwards is squarely in the mainstream of Louisiana and he could use our help to fight against the lies and fear mongering of his opponent.

Here is what we can do:

Volunteer for his campaign. We must have better turnout and we need to get some of those voters who supported the other candidates to cross party lines, as well as improve the turnout here in New Orleans.

Talk to your friends and family across the state about why John Bel Edwards is good (or here) for Louisiana and why it is important to get out and vote.

Donate to his campaign. The other guy has a very deep war chest and a SuperPAC airing terrible, horrible no good commercials across the state. John Bel Edwards needs funds to keep his positive message for Louisiana out there.

Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook and like and retweet/share the posts that resonate with you – I bet they will resonate with others, too.

Finally, commit to vote yourself. Early voting is November 7-14 and the general election is Saturday, November 21st.

Geaux Vote!

No Such Thing As Not Voting

Tags

Elections, LGBT Equality, Louisiana, Rant, Voting, Women's Rights

If there is anyone who still does not believe there is a war on women or who doesn’t understand the animus the LGBTQ community is facing, please read the candidate questionnaire of the Louisiana Family Forum (and check out those candidates who submitted answers).

Balancing the state budget, higher education, job creation, coastal restoration — none of these matter to those yahoos and their ilk.

The questions they are asking candidates for the October 24th election illustrate just how focused they are in taking away women’s reproductive choices and limiting the equal rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. They do have other hateful agenda items, too but women, queers and gender non-conformists are their main targets.

Want a sample?

Candidates could support or oppose or offer an explanation. Here is question 1:

Question 2:

Question 3:

Question 4:

Question 7:

Gambling, gun control, immigration, repealing the Affordable Care Act, pledging not to raise taxes, attacking Common Core, bankrupting TOPS and removing references to God and the Ten Commandments from public property make up the other 10 remaining questions. Click above to read the rest.

There is not a single item which will make Louisiana a more fair and equitable place to live. Nothing to improve the standard of living of Louisiana’s hungry, thirsty, sick or naked (Mathew 25:36-37) which you might expect from an organization whose mission is “to persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence.” They aren’t too welcoming of the stranger either – see question 6.

It is vitally important that we not let them have the last word on election day. We can make a difference in the business as usual, modus operandi in Louisiana if we vote and we make sure we get as many other people to the polls as well.

Polls open on Saturday, October 24th at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote. Here is the link for election information from the LA Secretary of State.

If you want more information on the candidates, check out the following:

• Independent Women’s Organization Endorsements
• Forum for Equality PAC Endorsements
• Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) guide to the 2015 constitutional amendments
• The League of Women Voters information on statewide candidates and constitutional amendments

Please #GeauxVote!

The title of this post comes from a quote from David Foster Wallace:

By all means stay home if you want, but don’t bullshit yourself that you’re not voting. In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard’s vote.

 

Fighting the Stupids

Tags

Elections, Louisiana, Politics

This is a very critical time for our state and the upcoming election matters.

When Bobby Jindal took office in 2008, the Louisiana unemployment rate was at 4%. It is now 6% and that is above the national average and the 3rd highest in the nation.

During his time as governor, Bobby Jindal hired cronies for exorbitant salaries, signed expensive contractors to replace state employees, gave tax cuts to corporations while cutting higher education and left the state for more than 165 days in 2014 while running for President without ever notifying the Lieutenant Governor. He refused to expand Medicaid and has closed hospitals. He has resisted efforts to hold companies responsible for the environmental damage they caused (Deep Water Horizon/BP, Coastal Wetlands Lawsuit, Bayou Corne sinkhole, etc). His abstinence only education stance (and fights against Planned Parenthood), is a contributing factor for Louisiana leading the nation in the rates of cases of gonorrhea and syphilis. Louisiana also ranks third in the rates of Chlamydia cases and 4th highest in AIDS cases.

It goes without saying that his fighting against marriage equality has cost the state but did you know the cost to taxpayers is over $370,000? How about the costs for his attempt to close all the clinics providing abortions ($750,000) or against Planned Parenthood (who served 2,100 well-woman exams, 1,200 pap smears, and 11,000 STI tests, and it administered long-lasting contraceptives 4,100 times, to 5,200 patients last year).

What do we have to show for it? We are almost at a $2 billion dollar budget deficit and with a midyear $50 million budget shortfall.

Can we afford to continue Jindal’s destructive legacy and bad policies? That’s exactly what we’d get if we elect David Vitter (Jindal on steroids), Jay Dardenne (Jindal lite) or Scott Angelle (Jindal incarnate). (hat tip JBE)

I beg my fellow Louisianians not to elect Vitter. GumboPAC‘s slogan Anyone But Vitter is a rallying call we should all heed.

David Vitter broke the law and castigated President Clinton for his infidelity while being guilty of adultery himself. He claims to be a family values/marriage protecting candidate, albeit his values come with a string of prostitutes. He has been labeled the most corrupt member of Congress, 3 times running (and for a Louisiana politician that is saying a lot!). He is supremely hated by his colleagues and Bitter Vitter has a lot of anger issues, especially toward women. He, along with Scott Angelle, even support legislation to block the removal of Confederate statues. (Sinkhole Scotty has his issues, too – he quit DNR after his failure of oversight contributed to a horrible sinkhole that has displaced more than 350 people and consumed more than 32 acres.) Here is a further breakdown of Vitter on the issues.

I’m for John Bel Edwards because of his record in fighting for the people of Louisiana.

In his own words:

I have been serving in the Legislature as a State Representative for the last eight years and have a reputation as an honest, open-minded policy maker who values stakeholder input and opposes Unconstitutional legislation no matter what interest groups are supporting it.

During my time in the legislature I have supported Comprehensive Anti-Bullying Legislation. I led questioning in the Civil Law Committee that exposed Mike Johnsons so-called religious freedom bill as a Trojan Horse plagued with constitutional issues. I filed legislation that would have required insurers to accept Ryan White funds. Both before and after I became a candidate for Governor I met with LGBT groups around the state. I will continue to keep an open dialogue with the LGBT community as governor.

As Governor I will sign an executive order which prevents discrimination in against LGBT people.

In addition to his fighting for the LGBT community, he has worked to expand health care access for all by introducing bills and voting for Medicaid expansion. He also supports raising the minimum wage and equal pay for equal work.

Go visit his website at www.johnbelforlouisiana.com to learn more.

I work with a couple of organizations who, after candidate forums, survey’s, interviews and member discussion have made the following endorsements:

• Independent Women’s Organization Endorsements
• Forum for Equality PAC Endorsements

For more information on the candidates and amendments:

• Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) has released their guide to the 2015 constitutional amendments.
• Additionally, here is the League of Women Voters information on statewide candidates and constitutional amendments.

Vote like your life depends on it!

Early voting is from October 10 through 17 (except Sunday and holidays) from 8:30 am to 6 pm for the October 24th primary election. Election info here.

******

The title of this blog post comes from both Bobby Jindal talking about the GOP needing to stop being the stupid party but also from Maple Street Books (the shop’s popular slogan “Fight the Stupids” was printed on countless bumper stickers and t-shirts), which is unfortunately closing at the end of this year.

This Counts As A Victory

Tags

Faith, LGBT Equality, Louisiana

Nike of Samothrace by Peter Max

Since the beginning of the Louisiana legislative session in April, I’ve been working in a coalition to defeat the badly named “Marriage and Conscience Act.”

House Bill 707 was a brazen attempt to insert religious beliefs and moral objections into Louisiana law in such a way as to enshrine discrimination against same-sex couples.

House Bill 707 consumed the efforts of Louisiana’s LGBTQ community (Forum For Equality, HRC LA, EQLA), progressive organizations (Louisiana Progress, ACLU LA) as well as many in the business (GNO Inc, DOW, IBM, EA Sports, etc), tourism (NOCVB) and faith communities. In fact, Forum for Equality ended up voluntarily deferring our own anti-discrimination bill (HB 612 – Louisiana Non-discrimination Act) and Equality Louisiana did the same for their ENDA bill (HB 632) in order to focus more fully on defeating Mike Johnson’s bill.

Yesterday, after a grueling four hours of testimony — and let me tell me that having to listen to one of the bill’s proponents compare the work of equality advocates to rape is not something I recommend for the faint of heart — the LA House Civil Law and Procedure Chair, Neil Abramson, after a lecture to the freshman representative about introducing this bill during a fiscal session, used a procedural move to return the bill to the calendar. With bi-partisan support, the motion passed 10-2. As there are only three weeks left in the session, that essentially killed the bill.

Let me tell you why this is a victory – Governor Bobby Jindal had made this bill one of his three legislative priorities for the year and had called each of the committee members into his office to bully them into supporting the bill. Additionally, the leader of the Louisiana Family Forum, Gene Mills, expended an enormous amount of political capital on passing this bill ahead of the June Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. The LA Family Forum is an off-shoot of the hate group Family Research Council and anytime we can deal a blow to their mean-spirited operations, we rejoice.

In the late afternoon, in an act reeking of desperation, Bobby Jindal issued an Executive Order implementing the main points of the failed bill. This from a man who once derided President Obama’s issuing of an Executive Order by saying: “Granting amnesty by executive order is wrong…If the President wants to make the case that the law should be changed, he should go make the case to Congress and our people. This is an arrogant, cynical political move by the President, and it’s why so many Americans no longer trust this President to solve the problems we face.”

This Executive Order is a slap in the face to the fair minded citizens of Louisiana AND to all of the elected legislators as well. There are also a number of problems with it, legally. Not only is it likely that he has exceeded his legal authority by writing such a broad order but, by elevating one religious belief about marriage over others, he has probably also violated the establishment clause. Under Louisiana statute, Executive Orders expire about six months after a new governor is sworn in (i.e. the order shall terminate sixty days following adjournment sine die of the regular session of the legislature after the issuing governor leaves office), so there is a limit to the damage this EO can do, even should it survive an almost certain legal challenge.

I want to thank all our allies and supporters who worked tirelessly during this fight. I really appreciate all who came to the capital on Tuesday to testify and otherwise show their opposition to the bill. I’m very grateful to the legislators who had agreed to vote the measure down and all who did vote to send it to the dustbin of history.

If anyone would like to send a thank you to the committee members who voted against moving this bill forward, please follow this link. Anyone wishing to contact  Bobby Jindal’s office and register your displeasure, the phone number is below:  I’m going to close with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall.

So, raise a glass with me and let us toast to always.

Bobby Jindal’s Doublethink

Tags

Faith, LGBT Equality, Louisiana, Marriage Equality

George Orwell originated of the concept of doublethink in his novel 1984. Here is one of the earliest descriptions in the book:

His mind slid away into the labyrinthine world of doublethink. To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it…

It is mind blowing how relevant the novel remains to this day. It is unfortunate how common holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously is for today’s politicians. In fact, it seems to be a speciality of Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal.

From his opinion piece that was published yesterday in the New York Times:

As the fight for religious liberty moves to Louisiana, I have a clear message for any corporation that contemplates bullying our state: Save your breath.

In Jindal-land, “big business and the radical left” who believe the Bill of Rights and US Constitution apply to LGBTQ people are bullies for trying to win equal rights and fair treatment while those who clamor for the right to discriminate against LGBTQ people are brave soldiers in the front lines of a war defending religious liberty.

(hat tip to David Badash who posted his article as I was still rereading 1984 to find the right passage and to HRC who took a red pen to the editorial)

If his using religious freedom to describe religious tyranny wasn’t bad enough, his double speak about “tolerance” on Meet the Press or on Washington Watch or in his opening remarks to the 2015 Louisiana legislative session make my head hurt. On the one hand, he says discrimination is wrong and is against his faith. On the other, he defends those who want to subject others to discrimination just because of who they love.

The so-called “Marriage and Conscience Act” that Jindal wants to pass, provides that even where there is an existing legal obligation, the state cannot take any adverse action against anyone “on the basis that such person acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction about the institution of marriage.” Representative Johnson’s proposed amendment changes that line to “on the basis that such person acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman.”

Let me lay down some truth about the bill:

• Anyone (business or individual) would be able to discriminate against another person so long as those actions are based on religious beliefs and moral convictions about marriage.
• It overrides professional licensing standards.
• Anyone may assert an actual or threatened violation of their rights under the bill either to initiate a lawsuit or to defend against a lawsuit against the state.
• It can’t be used to require the state, any official, or any state court to recognize marriages of same-sex couples.
• It would allow lawsuits by employees against their employers for the employees’ own bigotry against LGBTQ folks and contrary to the employers’ own policies.
• It would protect tax statuses of groups that only support marriage between a man and a woman.
• It could be used to over-rule local anti-discrimination laws like those in New Orleans and Shreveport

The whole of the text makes it clear the state can take no action against a person if they act in accordance with their beliefs on marriage – no matter how discriminatory their actions may be. It would be left for individuals to initiate a private cause of action against someone discriminating against them. However, because there is no state law prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people in Louisiana, the chance any such lawsuit would be successful is minuscule.

People of faith have a right to their beliefs. However, if they choose to do business in the public square, they should not be allowed to use their faith to deny services to those whose beliefs on marriage are not aligned with theirs any more than they should be allowed to deny services based on race, color, sex, national origin, etc.

“Any law that encourages people to use religion to hurt other people is a bad law,” said Marjorie Esman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana.

I couldn’t have said it any clearer myself.

I am the Chair of Forum for Equality Louisiana and we are working very hard to defeat this bad bill and to advocate for our own bill – the Louisiana Non-discrimination Act (Text of the bill can be found here: HB 612). Please consider supporting our work with a donation or membership. Click HERE to invest in equality!

Thank you!

Studying for a test you already knew the answers to

Tags

Louisiana, Marriage Equality

The Williams Institute has released its latest study. From their executive summary on the Economic Boost of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in Louisiana:

If marriage is extended to same-sex couples in Louisiana, the state would see an economic boost as same-sex couples plan their weddings and their out-of-state guests purchase goods and services in the state. This study estimates the impact of wedding spending on the state’s economy and on state and local sales tax revenue.

• We predict that 4,038 in-state same-sex couples would choose to marry in the three years following the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples in Louisiana.
• The total spending on wedding arrangements and tourism by resident same-sex couples and their guests would add an estimated $28.3 million to the state and local economy of Louisiana over the course of three years, with an $18.1 million boost in the first year alone.
• This economic boost would add $2.5 million in sales tax revenue to state and local coffers.
• Spending related to same-sex couples’ wedding ceremonies and celebrations would generate 97 to 290 full- and part-time jobs in the state

Since that money will benefit our entire economy and not just the same-sex couples and their families who will have their loving relationship recognized, I’m not sure what else those in opposition need to hear.

No one is forcing any religion to recognize the marriage, although many religious do celebrate them – including the Presbyterians! The extremists who would hijack our nation’s Congress with another attempt to enshrine discrimination in the US constitution are out of step with America and on the wrong side of history.

It basically comes down to a really simple choice: If you are opposed marriage equality, do not get gay married! Leave the rest of us the hell alone!

 

Walking North on a Southbound Train

Tags

Louisiana, Marriage Equality, Mary Griggs

On Monday, the US Supreme Court refused to hear any of the pending appeals of same-sex marriage decisions.

Of course, I’m happy but I also feel a little like we’re walking north on a southbound train. I can’t help but wonder if these steps forward can get us where we want to go when there is so much more to do.

The LGBTQ movement needs to focus on more than marriage. We need to nurture our homeless queer youth, better support our transgender brothers and sisters, protect our queer elders and empower queer people of color. Our people need to feel safe in their homes and should not fear losing their jobs or their kids because of their identity or orientation. We need to know that our communities wont suffer from disparate economic impacts nor lack access to health care because of prejudice or bias.

In short, marriage isn’t now and won’t ever be the answer to everything.

But it’s not nothing, either.

The impact of the SCOTUS decision is massive. The appeals were from same-sex marriage cases out of Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The US Supreme Court has effectively legalized marriage equality in those five states, which are part of the 4th, 7th, and 10th circuits. It also ended bans in six others – Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming (which had been on hold pending review).

This historical moment holds particular personal relevance to me. I grew up around the South as an army brat – we made homes in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. I choose to move back South as an adult and now make my home in Louisiana.

All in all, I love it. I feel more at home here than I ever felt on either the East or West coasts. While there is much for me to love, the systematic hostility to queer folks makes my heart ache. The South makes it hard to be ANYTHING but straight. Far too many of the pink sheep of the family are still not welcome to live our lives authentically in the place of our birth.

Yet, the news today that 30 states will soon have marriage equality gives me hope. I hope there will be more queer kids who love places like Louisiana AND who won’t feel like they need to run away from home to be who they are.

There is more work to do but, tonight, we can celebrate all the possibilities  in the Supremes decision to allow more marriage equality for more people.

Here in Louisiana, we can also celebrate that the fight for marriage equality now has a new fighter. Lambda Legal has joined Forum for Equality Louisiana and the law firm, Stone Pigman, in bringing our appeal to the 5th Circuit.

So, raise a glass to love, y’all. We have a train to catch tomorrow!

Eight Years Later

Tags

Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana, Mary Griggs

I evacuated from New Orleans around 10 p.m. on August 27, 2005. On that Monday, while the storm was making landfall along Pearl River, I stood watching the waves from Wolf Bay crash against the pine trees in my parent’s backyard. I was almost two hundred miles from the epicenter of the storm and there were still tropical force winds and storm surge.

I had only taken supplies for three days and I fully expected to be back in the City that Care Forgot by the end of the week. It was not that easy and it wasn’t until a month later that my neighborhood was finally cleared for re-entry.

I was stoked at my first view of my home. The only hurricane damage was from my neighbor’s tree falling on my roof. It took out a chimney and tore through some shingles but, with a blue tarp, I could have been back in my home in no time. The real damage, however, came from the broken levees.

The water didn’t rise all that high in my neighborhood, as you can see with my Dad and his measuring tape, pointing at the high water mark. With my house on three-foot risers, I only had a couple of feet of water in the house. The problem was the water had no where to go. As you can see from the discoloration on the fence, because those flood waters didn’t recede for days what was wood collapsed, what was metal rusted, and what was left was covered in mold.

I kept it together as we entered the house, although I gagged into my mask at the smell. The colorful mold already stretched ten feet high and there were maggots on the outside of my refrigerator, warning me of what to expect inside.

As I entered my library, I lost it. The bookcases that hadn’t melted from the water (most were from IKEA and made with MDF), had the bottom shelf of books expand as they absorbed the water to crack the case and cause the upper shelves to fall.

The loss of the books broke my heart in ways I can’t explain to folks whose lives don’t revolve around books. I spent over ten years working in bookstores but I had been a lifelong reader and collector of books before my first day of work at Border Book Shop in Rockville, Maryland.

They were my friends, most read and reread and as comfortable to me as an old shoe. I marked my travels and the passage of time by my books. I remembered places I had visited by the bookstores I went to see. I knew where each book had come from and I could tell you what had been going on in my life when I first read them.

Those books might only have been a small part of my losses and paled in comparison to what others had lost but I still keenly feel their absence even today.

It is eight years later and we’ve come a long way as a people and a city. There are still major issues and you can check out the Katrina Pain Index for a detailed look at some of them.

Even with all her problems, I still love this town and the resiliency of her people. I am also very grateful for the people who supported me through the storm and the aftermath. I wouldn’t have made it without my friends, my family and those strangers who opened their hearts and their arms to me.

With their help, I’ve rebuilt my life and my home. I did have some repair work when Hurricane Isaac hit last year but those four days without electricity were more inconvenience than calamity, especially when it got too dark to read.

What we need to remember on this anniversary is that, while the Gulf Coast is vulnerable to weather events, much of the problems from Katrina were from levees and canal walls in and around the city failing well below their design capacity. We should not allow history be rewritten to ignore the role of the Army Corp of Engineers in the catastrophic flooding or the incompetent Federal response in the aftermath (as is happening at the George Bush Museum).

It was the dark days of World War II when Winston Churchill said, “Death and sorrow will be the companions of our journey; hardship our garment; constancy and valor our only shield. We must be united, we must be undaunted.”

What was true then, has been true these past eight years.