Good News for the LGBTQ Community

I must say that as I look for good news items, they're getting easier and easier to find. I think good news is expanding. Now I've stumbled upon multiple small items that are good news for the LGBTQ community, so I'm going to group them together so I get more ground covered. I may have to do this with multiple recurring topics.

In the first item, Latin America is becoming more gay-friendly not only for residents, but for travelers too. For more on this, click on the link below.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4713&page=1

Although it sparked considerable controversy, George Mason University elected a drag queen for the homecoming queen. I'm sure it rocked some people's world, but I think it's great that a crack is growing in the wall of prejudice against people with alternative lifestyles. Good for you, GMU for raising people's eyebrows and their consciousness.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021901780.html

They said "no" in Indiana to the Marriage Discrimination Act. The state Senate Republican Caucus voted not even to consider Senate Joint Resolution 15 (SJR-15) – the Marriage Discrimination Amendment – during the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

http://indianaequality.typepad.com/indiana_equality_blog/2009/02/marriage-discrimination-amendment-given-fifth-no-in-a-row.html

A summary of some of the gains on a state-by-state level is found the below link. I've included an excerpt from the Human Rights Campaign newsletter to make it easier to learn a lot quickly. You may link to that article below from which this excerpt derives.

"While we experienced devastating losses this fall in Arizona, California and Florida when hateful measures seeking to restrict LGBT relationships won at the ballot box, we are seeing signs of change throughout the country.

* In Indiana this week, the state Senate Republican Caucus voted not to consider a resolution that would have amended the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
* A few weeks ago, Wyoming’s House of Representatives voted against a similar proposed amendment to its constitution.
* New England continues to be a beacon for marriage equality and there’s considerable movement on that front in Vermont and Maine.
* In New York, HRC is working hard with local allies, members and supporters on behalf of marriage equality legislation.
* A recent poll in New Jersey shows voter support for marriage equality is growing.
* Hawaii’s House of Representatives recently approved legislation that would permit gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil unions.
* In New Mexico, a State Senate committee advanced the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act, which allows gay, lesbian and straight couples to enter into domestic partnerships.
* And in Washington State, there’s an effort to improve the existing relationship recognition law.

Five years ago, bigotry and ignorance were prime motivators here in Washington and nationwide. Today, we have powerful allies in our nation’s capital and across America."


http://www.hrcbackstory.org/

Editor of AGNADL