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SHeSaid

compiled by Howard Israel

"Gay seniors confront unique challenges: they're twice as likely as straights to live alone, and 10 times less likely to have a caretaker should they fall ill. Older gay men are at high risk for HIV, and many suffer the psychological effects of losing friends to the AIDS crisis. Many face discrimination in medical and social services, and on top of it all, they're less likely to have health insurance: one survey, by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law, at UCLA, estimates that gay seniors are half as likely to have coverage as their straight counterparts."
– From a Newsweek web exclusive article titled, "Invisible And Overlooked," about the unique needs and challenges of lesbian and gay senior citizens http://www.Newsweek.com, Sept. 18.

"For many of us now and for most of us in the future, being gay or lesbian is not something that we are going to hide… . Instead of reacting to this hyper-energized coming out moment, our heterosexual counterparts will need to respond to openly gay and lesbian people in a wide variety of circumstances – at home, at work, and in the communities. These interactions in which gay and lesbian people do not hide their sexual orientation and in which there is no heightened moment of disclosure, heterosexual people and gay and lesbian people will be much more human and authentic than in previously constituted 'coming out' moments."
– Julie Enszer, in a guest column titled "Honey, Don't Forget To Educate The Straight People," http://www.EDGEProvidence.com, Sept. 20.

"Poll after poll shows that the public overwhelmingly supports ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' but press reports and public statements have left many to believe that there is an easy fix to the problem. Yet ending the ban requires more than one stroke of a pen, one wish of a president or one order to commanders in the field. Senator Obama has said repeatedly that his intention is to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' But he also understands there are no easy fixes, and that it will take more than one committed president to bring about its end. His remarks reflect that he gets it: He must have a Congressional vote, and should have a responsible plan that involves military leaders, in order to end the ban."
– Steve Ralls, in an opinion column titled "What the Media Missed in a Plan for Repeal", about the complicated procedure to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Huffington Post, Sept. 19.

"I knew all along that the 25 years of experience I gained defending our country didn't disappear when I transitioned, so it was hard to understand why I was being turned down for a job doing what I do best just because I'm transgender. It is tremendously gratifying to have your faith in this country, and what is fundamentally right and fair, be reaffirmed."
– Diane Schroer, in a press release, http://www.ACLU.org, Sept. 19. Schroer, a Special Forces veteran and the plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Library of Congress, was denied a job after announcing her intention to transition from male to female. In a groundbreaking decision, a Federal judge ruled that discriminating against someone for changing genders is sex discrimination under federal law.

"This is a case about passion. When Zapata smiled at him, this was a highly provoking act, and it would cause someone to have an aggressive reaction."
– Annette Kundelius, attorney for Allen Andrade, who is accused of the bias-motivated murder of 18-year-old Justin Zapata, who went by the name Angie, http://www.DenverPost.com, Sept. 19. Kundelius told a judge that Andrade "snapped" when he learned the woman he had oral sex with the night before was biologically a man.

"Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8."
– Brad Pitt, in a statement with his $100,000 donation to fight Proposition 8, the initiative on California's ballot in November that would eliminate same-sex couples' right to marry, LA Times, Sept. 18.

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Topics: Opinions
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