OHIO SUPREME COURT ALLOWS CUSTODY DECISION TO STAND IN LAMBDA LEGAL CASE REPRESENTING LESBIAN MOTHER OIA Newswire
'The Court has expressly shut down arguments that Ohio's antigay amendment impacts parenting and child custody relationships, rights, and responsibilities'
(Columbus, OH, January 5, 2009) --The Supreme Court of Ohio last week let stand an appeals court ruling affirming the enforceability of a court-approved child custody agreement in a case involving lesbian mothers.
"The Court has expressly shut down arguments that Ohio's antigay amendment impacts parenting and child custody relationships, rights, and responsibilities,"said Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago. "The Court correctly declined an invitation to treat gay and lesbian Ohio parents differently from other families, and to deprive the children of these families of the protections and support other children receive."
Lambda Legal represents Therese Leach in her fight to uphold a court-approved joint custody agreement signed by both her and her former partner, Denise Fairchild, in 2001. After their son was born in 1996, both women parented him. In order to ensure that Therese had a protected legal relationship with the child, the two women signed a joint custody agreement. Such agreements were approved by the Ohio Supreme Court in the 2001 In re Bonfield case in which Lambda Legal participated.
The Supreme Court decision comes after Fairchild argued, at a trial court, and the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Tenth District, that Ohio's antigay constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman invalidated the court approved custody agreement she originally sought with Leach. All three courts brushed aside Fairchild's arguments, ruling that court-approved custody agreements cannot be ignored or unilaterally undone by one of the parents. In July 2008, Fairchild asked the Ohio Supreme Court to hear her case, and Lambda Legal urged the Court to refuse. Today's order from the high court is the final word on the matter.
The case is In re J.D.F.
Camilla Taylor, Senior Attorney in Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional office in Chicago is lead counsel on the appeal. She is joined by co-counsel LeeAnn Massucci of Massucci & Kline LLC and Thomas Schmidt of Gahanna, Ohio. [1/5/09]
SARAH WATERS’ AFFINITY COMES TO THE SILVER SCREEN HARTFORD, CT: 12/30/08: Fans of Tipping the Velvet (2002) and Fingersmith (2005) won't want to miss the remarkable new book-to-screen adaptation of acclaimed writer Sarah Waters' latest novel Affinity, set in turn of the century London. The film is scheduled to appear on the silver screen at the beautiful Cinestudio Theater on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit non-profit organizations Out Film CT and Cinestudio.
The screening of the film Affinity is part of the recently announced Out Film CT Series, an initiative to increase the number of LGBT films shown in Connecticut. Out Film CT director Shane Engstrom states, "We're extremely happy to present Affinity as the first in our new LGBT film series. Hartford audiences have always loved film adaptations of Sarah Waters' novels, with Tipping the Velvet winning the Audience Award at the 16th Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival." > Full Story. [1/5/09]
PFLAG/PROVIDENCE MEETS IN NEW YEAR "Don't Grow Up Invisible" will be the theme when Youth Pride, Inc. makes a presentation at the Wednesday, January 7 meeting of the Greater Providence Chapter of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays. All are welcome, and there is no charge. > Full Story. [12/30/08]
HARRISBURG CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LIFE PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCE Last night the Harrisburg City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance to create a Life Partnership Registry, allowing unmarried, committed couples to affirm and recognize their relationships with the city. By a vote of 7 to 0, the Harrisburg City Council has taken an important step to streamline the process for domestic partners to obtain healthcare and other benefits afforded to married couples > Full Story. [12/23/08]
LETTER TO PRES-ELECT OBAMA ON CHOICE OF REV. RICK WARREN TO DELIVER INVOCATION AT 56TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION WASHINGTON – Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, sent the following letter to President-elect Obama on the selection of anti-gay reverend, Rick Warren, to deliver the invocation at the 56th Presidential Inauguration set to take place on the West Front of the United States Capitol on January 20th. > Full Story. [12/18/08]
OUT FILM CT – CALL FOR ENTRIES HARTFORD, CT: 12/16/08: Out Film CT is pleased to announce that the 22nd annual Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will take place May 22 – 30, 2009. Filmmakers are invited to submit feature films, documentaries and short films of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The deadline for film submissions is March 1, 2009. > Full Story. [12/18/08]
PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL APPROVES DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRY WASHINGTON –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group, praised the Phoenix, Arizona City Council and mayor for voting today to enact a domestic partner registry for city residents. The registry will permit unmarried couples to register as domestic partners and receive hospital visitation rights. The registry, which will become effective February 9, 2009, will be available to both same-sex and different-sex couples. > Full Story. [12/18/08]
CHRISTIANS ANGRY ABOUT GAY PRINCESS DIANA BIBLE December 3, 2008, Alamogordo, NM -- When "Horror In The Wind" Writer/Producer/ Director Max Mitchell announced Revision Studios will publish a new translation of the Bible in which God says gay is better than straight, Christians got angry. > Full Story. [12/4/08]
GAYS, LESBIANS, TRANSGENDER, THEIR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS UNITE – LARGE SCALE NATIONAL PROTEST PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 15 Over the last week, tens of thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)community and their Supporters have taken to the streets of California to show their outrage with the outcome of California Proposition 8. Prop 8 provides for a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage rights; Similar amendments and propositions were passed in Arizona and Florida. The outcome of these propositions has angered the national gay community and their supporters. Many feel as if they are now second-class citizens, but, according to the No on 8Campaign, the fight is not over. The final statement released by the No on 8 Campaign stated,"Victory was not ours today. But the struggle for Equality is not over." > Full Story. [11/14/08]
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PRESIDENT URGES SUPPORTERS TO WAGE A STRATEGIC AND PEACEFUL BATTLE AGAINST PROPOSITION 8 THIS WEEKEND WASHINGTON- In advance of protests against California's Proposition 8 to be held in cities across the nation this weekend, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, has released the following statement calling for renewed commitment to coalition-building between all oppressed groups. HRC is the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization. Solmonese's statement, which also urges respect and civil behavior during the Join the Impact rallies, was sent to HRC's 750,000 members and supporters. Good afternoon, > Full Story. [11/14/08]
Be part of the next Civil Rights Movement - Be part of history - Join the National Protest / March for Equality on November 15th!
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a "community organizer"! Go to the website and post if you are willing to volunteer to help get out the word in your city. We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
This is not a California issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the website www.jointheimpact.com.]
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SATURDAY NOV 15TH -
10:30AM WEST COAST
11:30AM MOUNTIAN TIME ZONE
12:30PM CENTRAL TIME ZONE
1:30PM EAST COAST
PRINT OUT THE SIGNS - TAKE THEM TO THE PROTEST
Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family
I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still, Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pundits and bloggers alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge swell of support for equality elsewhere. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what? There is truth in each argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from mobilizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in 1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street, to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage, and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in ways this country had never seen before! And what happened? The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQUAL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends, families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
LOS ANGELES (AP) - On the first Sunday after a gay marriage ban passed in California, activists rallied in defiance, including hundreds of protesters outside an Orange County megachurch whose pastor brought Barack Obama and John McCain together last summer for a "faith forum." > Full Story. [11/11/08]
LOS ANGELES (AP) - On the first Sunday after a gay marriage ban passed in California, activists rallied in defiance, including hundreds of protesters outside an Orange County megachurch whose pastor brought Barack Obama and John McCain together last summer for a "faith forum." > Full Story. [11/11/08]
BLOOMINGTON RECEIVES #1 RANKING FROM ADVOCATE.COM Bloomington, Ind. – Recently ranked number one on a list of gay and lesbian friendly small town getaways compiled jointly by Advocate.com and OutTraveler.com, Bloomington offers travelers of all kinds a great option for an affordable getaway anytime, but may be especially attractive during the current economic slowdown. Other destinations on the top five list included Ashville, NC, Eureka Springs AR, Portland, ME, and Ann Arbor, MI. The article touting Bloomington's attractiveness specifically mentioned affordability as one of the attributes considered in the top five rankings: > Full Story. [11/10/08]
2ND ANNUAL GLBT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT NOVEMBER 15 WASHINGTON – The DC Economic Partnership announced today that Dr. Alice Rivlin of the Brooking Institute will deliver the "state of the DC GLBT Economy" keynote address at the Second Annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Economic Development Summit, being held in the District of Columbia on November 15, 2008, from 9:30am-4:00pm at The Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle, NW). The goal of the summit will be to ensure that GLBT business leaders and entrepreneurs continue to play an important role in leading the economic and creative development of the city. > Full Story. [11/7/08]
