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Senator Haugen Announces Stance on Marriage Equality
Planning for the Future
Same-sex couples in Skagit County wait with excitement for the possibility of marriage. More...
Skagit Valley Herald Saturday, January 28, 2012
Governor Gregoire News Conference held on Wednesday January 4th 2012, 11:00AM
Governor Chris Gregoire addresses the issue of marriage equality during a news conference held in Olympia. (Flash video)
New Executive Director of the Pride Foundation
She values our work in rural communities and that means all of you! (Flash video)
Why Marriage | Why Now
Washington United for Marriage website -- People from all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples, share the same values of love, commitment and family - and a majority of Washingtonians support these couples getting married and building their families. As we face the current economic challenges, no family should be confronted with additional burdens to care for their loved ones. Especially during this time of hardship, we should be doing everything we can to make all Washington families stronger.
Fairness For All Families Via Same-Sex Marriage For Washington
Seattle Times --For five years Washington state has worked to make domestic partnerships equal to marriage in the eyes of the law. The logical next step is legalizing same-sex marriage for those committed couples and their families. More...
Court Orders Immediate Halt To Gay Military Ban
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A federal appeals court ordered the U.S. government on Wednesday to immediately cease enforcing the ban on openly gay members of the military, a move that could speed the end of the 17-year-old rule. More...
UN Backs Gay Rights For First Time Ever
The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries. More...
Obama Extends Protections To Gay Couples Under Medicaid
The Obama administration is set on Friday to issue policy guidance to states expanding their ability to offer same-sex couples the same protections afforded to straight couples when they receive long-term care under Medicaid, the Washington Blade has learned exclusively. More...
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recommended Actions to Improve the Health and Well-Being of LGBT Communities
Here is a summary of the efforts taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as recommendations for future action:
http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/
about/lgbthealth.html
Press release about NYC adopting mandatory LGBT training
HHC Will Adopt Mandatory Cultural Competence Training for Staff to Improve the Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender New Yorkers. More...
Presbyterians Clear Way For Gay Clergy
After decades of debate, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ... struck down a barrier to ordaining gays, ratifying a proposal that removes the celibacy requirement for unmarried clergy, in the latest mainline Protestant move toward accepting gay relationships. More...
Defense of Gay Marriage by Minnesota Lawmaker
Representative Steve Simon said, "I'm Jewish. Eating pork or shellfish is not allowed in my tradition, but I would never ask the government to impose that on our fellow citizens.We have to be careful about trying to enshrine our beliefs, however religiously valid you may believe them to be, in the Minnesota Constitution."
He then referenced a clergy member who testified to the committee that sexuality was a gift from God. "I think that's true [...] and I would ask everyone on this committee [...] if that's true, if it's even possibly true, what does that do to the moral force of your argument?"
"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" he asked to applause.
Here are his comments in full. The video is well worth the time!
Gay Teens Bullied to the Point of Suicide
It's a shocking trend. Isn't it time for all of us to encourage compassion and respect, no matter how we feel about homosexuality? This Ladies Home Journal article does a good job of discussing LGBT bullying and the importance of family acceptance and parent advocacy.
http://www.lhj.com/relationships/family/
raising-kids/gay-teens-bullied-to-suicide/
Seattle Storm/Pride Tickets For Games in May, June, July and August
Over The Rainbow Festival Article: Skagit Valley Herald
MOUNT VERNON — Sarah Stitch wishes that when she attended high school, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues were talked about in her health class.
The 21-year-old Marysville resident said she didn’t really have anyone to talk to when she realized she wasn’t like her heterosexual classmates. It didn’t feel safe to come out of the closet until she was 18, she said.
“I got dragged into a Gay/Straight Alliance meeting, and that changed my life,” Stitch said.
Stitch was one of about 150 people attending the Over the Rainbow Festival at Mount Vernon High School.
Pride Foundation News:
Back to School
When Ian Feis encountered anti-LGBT sentiments at his high school he could have ignored it. But instead, he and a group of students and teachers got active and started a GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) at Mount Vernon High School. Now, three years later, Ian is a Pride Foundation scholar and getting ready to start his second year at Lewis & Clark College. And the Mount Vernon GSA is strong and active.
Does your, or your kid's, school have an active GSA? If not, check out Pride Foundation grantee GLSEN's Jump Start Guide for GSA's to find out how to start or re-invigorate your GSA.
And for Ian, and all the Pride Foundation current and prospective scholars, we know you are already thinking about how you are going to fund your education. Pride Foundation's scholarship application will be available at PrideFoundation.org in October.
Experts agree on ex-gay "therapy": "Mental
health professionals should not tell patients
that they can change their sexual orientation"
From the American Psychological Association
An unnecessary campaign against gay
partners: Seattle Times editorial
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/
editorialsopinion/
2009203965_editb11gay.html
Domestic partnerships are marriage,
apply the word: Seattle Times editorial
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/
editorialsopinion/
2009077225_edita19banns.html
Secretary Of Education Arne Duncan
Notes Observance Of Day Of Silence
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/04/
secretary-of-education-arne-duncan.html
Gay Marriage's Earned Victory -
New York Post
"Gathering Storm" Attack ad against gay
marriage posted on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=4AzLrn5JVIo&feature=related
Response to "Gathering Storm" ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0GNgRV64S-M&feature=related
Parents, Familes and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: Skagit County Chapter
Statement of Mission and Goals