Morning Sweep – Kirsten Gillibrand Edition

Starting before Gov. Paterson’s Friday noontime announcement and continuing through the weekend, major local and national news outlets have been quoting the Pride Agenda in their stories about New York’s new U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and her positions on LGBT issues, including marriage equality. Here are some of the highlights of that coverage. (We’ll update you on other LGBT news in a later post):

The New York Times and TIME magazine both wrote on Gillibrand’s record.

The New York Times’ editorial on Gillibrand also mentioned that she has “she has bravely endorsed gay marriage.”

The Gannett news story reports that gay rights groups are pleased with Paterson’s pick, and quotes Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle: "After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples." The story ran in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the Ithaca Journal.

Newsday, The Daily News,and NY1 also wrote on Gillibrand’s support for gay issues.

Gay City News wrote on Gillibrand’s evolving views on LGBT issues.

Google News’ “Comments by People in the News” features a note by Van Capelle on Gillibrand’s evolution: “Wherever she might have been a few years ago isn’t really important to the Pride Agenda. It’s where she is now, and she’s clearly going to be a strong advocate for LGBT people in New York and everywhere.”

Salon writes that Gillibrand’s pro-same sex marriage stance puts her “to the left of Schumer and Clinton, alongside Paterson and his predecessor Eliot Spitzer.”

The Pride Agenda’s statements on Gillibrand were picked up by several politics blogs and bloggers, including The Politicker, Liz Benjamin, The Huffington Post, Andrew Sullivan, and Politico.

LGBT blogs also covered the Gillibrand pick: Towleroad, Joe.My.God, and Good As You.

Morning Sweep

The prayers at Obama’s inauguration are being considered as inclusive as possible – not just to the LGBT community, which felt slighted by the Rick Warren pick, but also to “nonbelievers,” different religious denominations, and people of color.

The Daily News reports that LGBT activists are ready to move on past the Rick Warren choice.

There weren’t too many protesters at the inauguration – especially if you disregard the Westboro Baptist Church’s anti-gay rhetoric, which just about anyone in their right mind has the good sense to do.

The L.A. Times urges Obama to “drop the semantics” and come out in full support of marriage euqality.

Some U.S. troops aren’t thrilled about Obama’s pledge to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The New York Post writes on a lesbian couple that has been chosen through a contest to have their commitment ceremony at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day with 13 other (straight) couples.

Grassroots groups in CA are already mobilizing to collect the necessary signatures to put a Prop. 8 repeal on the next ballot.

Morning Sweep (PM Edition)

Barack Obama is the 44^th President, and his new civil rights agenda on the White House website demonstrates his commitment to LGBT rights.

The JTA Jewish news service writes on Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, recipient of a Pride Agenda Star Award in recognition of the synagogue's leadership in working for marriage equality.

On Sunday, The NYC South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association partnered with other organizations to hold Rock for Rights, a benefit concert at the Lincoln Center. The concert was organized by Engendered, an annual human rights festival that “explore(s) the complex realities of gender and sexuality in modern South Asia, especially at the intersection of ritual and religion.”

Newsday profiles a gay family headed to the inauguration.

Good As You has the video of Bishop Gene Robinson’s moving inauguration prayer, which was mysteriously omitted from the HBO broadcast of the events.

The Obama transition team has posted a video of a meeting that took place in December between LGBT leaders and members of the transition team. The video shows only four minutes of the more than two-hour meeting, including parts where LGBT leaders highlighted policy concerns about federal legislation, the upcoming U.S. Census, and HIV/AIDS policy.

A new GLSEN study has found that sexual orientation and gender expression are the most common reasons LGBT students of color report feeling unsafe in school.

This lovely Forbes opinion piece deals a swift backhanded compliment to the Obama family by lauding its “model of proper parenting and spirituality for the next generation” – which according to the columnist, includes alienating “feminist, gay-rights and ultra-secularist activists.” Oh, and for good measure, he throws in a semi-racist comparison to “The Cosby Show”…

Queerty laments the homophobic Red Cross policy that still prohibits gays from donating blood.

Buffalo News previews "Prayers for Bobby," a Lifetime movie premiering this Saturday that takes a harrowing look at the need for acceptance for gay youth. The Trevor Project, a nationwide suicide prevention helpline for LGBT and questioning youth, has an excellent toolkit for the movie and suggests hosting a viewing party for your friends and family.

Morning Sweep (PM Edition)

The Louisiana attorney general has asked a federal court judge to reconsider his ruling that a boy’s two fathers' names be added to his birth certificate. The boy, born in Shreveport, was adopted by a gay couple from New York.

The openly gay mayor of Nyack, John Shields, has announced he will not seek re-election.

Forty bar and legal organizations have submitted a brief to the California Supreme Court expressing their opposition to Prop. 8.

A Washington Post columnist argues against California attorney general Jerry Brown’s Supreme Court brief against Prop. 8.

The Vatican reports that Roman Catholic seminaries have been successful in curbing “homosexual behavior” among candidates for the priesthood. Guess none of those candidates come from Chelsea…

New ID cards available in San Francisco may provide a more friendly option for transgender residents because they don’t list the recipient’s gender.

Mary Frances Berry, former chairwoman of the Commission on Civil Rights, opines in the New York Times that a serious overhaul of the Commission is necessary, and that addressing LGBT rights should be its “first order of business.”

A NYT television columnist reflects on the unrealistic yet sometimes empowering Showtime series, “The L Word,” as it begins its final season.

Morning Sweep

A local paper writes on how New York’s Finger Lakes Community College now grants health benefits to the spouses of same-sex employees.

Obama has appointed John Berry, openly-gay director of the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park and former Assistant Interior Secretary under the Clinton administration, as director of the Office of Personnel Management. Berry is the highest-ranking openly-gay presidential appointment in history.

A Chicago newspaper has unearthed a 1996 questionnaire showing that Obama may be in support of same-sex marriage, even though he currently says he’s opposed.

A coalition of very influential labor unions in California has submitted an amicus brief in support of the case before the State Supreme Court seeking to overturn Prop 8. We at the Pride Agenda know a little something about engaging organized labor in the LGBT rights movement.

A Maine lawmaker has introduced a same-sex marriage bill, but it will likely face rigorous opposition.

David Mixner guest-blogs on Bilerico about the need to reevaluate and possibly rewrite national civil rights legislation.

Al Sharpton has eloquently voiced his opposition to churches being involved in anti-gay advocacy:
“It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being delegated into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners. There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people’s bedrooms and claim that God sent you.”

Stan Lee, former head of Marvel Comics and creator of characters such as Spider Man, The Hulk and X-Men, is unveiling a gay superhero.

Morning Sweep

A new study by Freedom to Marry confirms that legislators who vote in favor of marriage equality do not damage their chances of being reelected in any way.

When asked if Obama plans to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, gave the most direct confirmation to date: “You don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much, but it's 'yes.'”

Some gay rights activists are finding encouragement in Obama’s choice of Rev. Gene Robinson to open his inaugural festivities on Sunday.

The media has confirmed that Obama will name Fred Hochberg as the head of the Import-Export Bank.

A Huffington Post columnist looks at the status of civil rights for both gay and Black Americans.

The number of hate groups (including anti-gay organizations) are on the rise, and some experts say the trend is directly related to the failing economy.

Help the Pride Agenda Defy Inequality Tonight!

Have any plans for tonight? We suggest DEFYING INEQUALITY, an evening of benefit cabaret performances at the Gershwin Theatre in NYC (222 W. 51 Street) featuring cast members from WICKED as well as special guest performers. The show – held simultaneously in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Louisville – promotes equality and civil rights, and proceeds will benefit the Empire State Pride Agenda in addition to Equality California, Garden State Equality and Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force. Each of the DEFYING INEQUALITY events will feature different musical performances that support WICKED's theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions.

Tickets to DEFYING INEQUALITY are only $25 for Advance Regular Admission (which includes one free drink), or $30 at the door. Or opt for the VIP treatment for $100, which includes 2 free drinks, access to VIP Area, a signed WICKED poster, and a WICKED gift bag. Call 866-811-4111 or click here to get your tickets now.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. We hope to see you there!