Help us honor those individuals by attending the Fargo-Moorhead community Transgender Day of Remembrance. The event will be held Friday, November 20th, 2009, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 121 9th St S, Fargo, ND [map]

October 11 Marks a Global Opportunity to Come Out and Be Heard

Some individuals use this day as an opportunity to speak to family and friends for the first time. Others, who have already “come out” to their families and communities, use this as a time to speak about their experiences and empower others to do the same. The event is celebrated on October 11 in all fifty US states as well as in several other countries, and is recognized on the following day, October 12, in the United Kingdom.

What Does it Mean to “Come Out”?

A pretty popular and well-understood phrase in the United States, “coming out,” is the act of revealing one’s sexual identity or orientation to others. But, the act of “coming out” is different for everyone. Some individuals find it to be a lengthy and traumatic process while others do not. National Coming Out Day was founded as a way to celebrate each of these stories and to celebrate the individuals who tell them.

Join us for local Fargo – Moorhead National Coming Out Day Events planned for October 11th – 12th, 2009.

• October 11 – NDSU National Coming Out Day Cook-Out, 4 -6 pm, NDSU Equity & Diversity Center.  Sponsored by Equity and Diversity Center/Safe Zone and Pride Network.
• October 11 – National Coming Out Day Vigil, 6:30 pm, Fargo Dome East Parking lot. (Walk along University to NDSU Memorial Union East Patio)
• October 11 – United Spirits / Interfaith Service, 8:00 pm, Century Theatre, NDSU Memorial Union
• October 12 – Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, Fargo Theatre, 7:00 pm.

National Coming Out Day is an opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and allies to celebrate each other and continue to break down barriers that keep people from being able to fully participate in their communities.

Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or not, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBT equality this National Coming Out Day.

The Pride Collective & Community Center and the Human Rights Campaign’s Coming Out Project hope these guides and videos help you meet the challenges and opportunities that living openly offers to each of us.

A Resource Guide to Coming Out
A Straight Guide to GLBT Americans
Coming Out as Transgender
Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans
Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset

Watch HRC’s Conversations From the Heart videos and pledge to have conversations from the heart with your friends and family for equality. A simple conversation can change the lives of people you care about.

GLBT History Month is endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations. In 2006, Equality Forum assumed responsibility for GLBT History Month.

The GLBT community is the only community worldwide that does not learn its history at home, in public schools or in religious institutions. GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community and makes the civil rights statement of our extraordinary national and international contributions.

For each day in October a new GLBT Icon will be highlighted. Click the video below to watch today’s icon video. For a complete bio of all icons please click [here]. (2.5 mb)

The F-M Area Coming Out Day Awards are a way to recognize individuals and organizations in the greater Fargo‐Moorhead and Red River Valley area that have made an impact in the greater community. The Pride Collective & Community Center wants to make sure that individuals and organizations are recognized and appreciated for the work they do to make their community a better place for all people. Please take the time to recognize the impact that is being made. A committee comprised of one Board member and other volunteers will make the final selection(s) for each category.

Awards will be handed out at the free community-wide event, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later on Monday, October 12, 2009 at the Fargo Theatre. All nominees will be notified and encouraged to attend to be recognized.

For details on how to nominate someone or an organization, please download the Award Nominations document. [Click Here] 153kb

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., decided his Senate Armed Services Committee or one of its subcommittees would hold the hearing after requests from Gillibrand, the Democrat from New York who has been pushing for the policy’s repeal.

Gillibrand said the “important hearing” would demonstrate that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women.”

Gillibrand previously had been considering offering an amendment to a defense spending bill that would have blocked the discharge of gay service members under the policy for 18 months. Gillibrand dropped that push when it appeared she would not be able to get the 60 votes the proposal would have needed for adoption and after securing the commitment from Levin.

Gay-rights leaders expressed high hopes that Senate hearings could bring reluctant legislators around. According to a recent Gallup poll, 69 percent Americans think gays should be allowed to serve.

No matter the outcome of Gillibrand’s hearings, the chances of DADT’s repeal look stronger in the House, where Iraq war veteran Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) is taking the lead on a repeal bill called the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Gay-rights lobbyists say he’s getting close to the 218 votes needed to pass the bill.

Both President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders have publicly expressed their desire to undo the law, but progress on the issue has been slow so far this year.

Several gay rights groups have publicly complained about the White House dragging out the process, and Iraq war vet Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., said last month he’ll push ahead on overturning it with or without the president’s help.

This publication is provided by Lambda Legal, and covers topics such as:

• LOOK OUT: Stand Up for Your Right to Be Safe.  How to make sure your school is a safe space for all students
• START OUT: So You Wanna Start a GSA. How to form a gay-straight alliance at your school
• HELP OUT: Are You an Ally? How to be an ally to LGBTQ youth
• ACT OUT: Take Action at Your School. How to make real changes for LGBTQ students at your school
• WORK OUT: How to Negotiate With Adults. How to work with teachers and officials on LGBTQ rights
• FIND OUT: Protection Against Discrimination and Harassment: The Law Is on Your Side. How to defend your legal rights
• SPEAK OUT: Your Speech Rights. How to make sure your voice is heard
• STEP OUT: Your Prom. How to have a safe, inclusive, unforgettable prom
• SEEK OUT: National Resources. How to contact other organizations working for LGBTQ youth

Remember, You have the right to be who you are!

Out, Safe & Respected – Your rights at school. (2.84 MB Download)

 ”We’re taking this action today because, first, we believe that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) directly interferes with Massachusetts’ long-standing sovereign authority to define and regulate the marital status of its residents,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said Wednesday afternoon. The 1996 law denies federal recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

“They are entitled to equal treatment under the laws regardless of whether they are gay or straight,” Coakley said at a news conference to discuss the lawsuit. “Massachusetts has a single category of married persons, and we view all married persons equally and identically,” she said. “DOMA divides that category into two distinct and unequal classes of marriage.”

Before the law was passed, Coakley said, the federal government recognized that defining marital status was the “exclusive prerogative of the states.” Now, because of the U.S. law’s definition of marriage, same-sex couples are denied access to benefits given to heterosexual married couples, including federal income tax credits, employment benefits, retirement benefits, health insurance coverage and Social Security payments, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also argues that the federal law requires the state to violate the constitutional rights of its citizens by treating married heterosexual couples and married same-sex couples differently when determining eligibility for Medicaid benefits and when determining whether the spouse of a veteran can be buried in a Massachusetts veterans’ cemetery.

“In enacting DOMA, Congress overstepped its authority, undermined states’ efforts to recognize marriages between same-sex couples, and codified an animus towards gay and lesbian people,” the state wrote in the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in federal court. [Copy of Lawsuit]

Besides Massachusetts, five other states—Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Iowa—have legalized gay marriage. Gay marriage opponents in Maine said Wednesday that they had collected enough signatures to put the state’s pending law on the November ballot for a possible override.

The Justice Department had not seen the lawsuit and cannot respond until it has a chance to review it, spokesman Charles Miller said.

The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted when it appeared Hawaii would soon legalize same-sex marriages and opponents worried that other states would be forced to recognize them.

President Barack Obama has pledged to work to repeal the law, although gay rights activists criticized the administration last month after Justice Department lawyers defended it in a court brief. White House aides said they were doing their jobs to support a law that is on the books.

This is the second lawsuit filed in Massachusetts challenging the law.