Gay retirement homes fall on hard times

From the New York Times, Hard Times in Gay Retirement Communities:

Many are growing older without the support of children or extended family members. Gay and lesbian seniors are twice as likely to live alone, according to SAGE. A 2010 report by the group also found that nursing homes often failed to protect gay men and lesbians from hostile treatment by staff or other patients. In a study released in April by the National Senior Citizens Law Center, many older gay men and lesbians and their family members reported instances of mistreatment at long-term care centers. The study also noted that social service providers said it was unsafe for residents to be openly gay at such facilities.

Momentum builds in waves

Zach Quinto, perhaps best known as Spock in the reboot of Star Trek, spoke out last week and acknowledged being gay:

“This decision was made with a tremendous amount of thought and introspection — in my own time, on my own terms and with my own words. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the scores of men and women who have preceded me to this action — both within the industry and in more intimate personal journeys throughout the world. Momentum builds in waves — and I am so grateful to be riding this wave of equality with more openness and integrity than I was ever able to embrace before making this declaration.”

The Alliance School

This Milwaukee school has become a safe haven for LGBTQ youth — very inspiring!  The article refers to the Larry King murder in perhaps too simplistic a way, but I like what the Alliance School is doing.

“To critics who argue that schools like Alliance are indoctrinating students with the gay agenda, Eliza responded, “This is about letting students go to school and be safe.”

The Alliance School

 

 

 

New York Fire Departments first trans firefighter

I write firefighter stories (sometimes) and trans stories (sometimes) but never a trans firefighter. Here’s real life being better than fiction – a third generation New York firefighter who transitioned m-to-f.  Here’s to Brooke and wishing her the best in a very tough environment.

New York City transgender firefighter

Faces of Ask and Tell

Here’s a great little slideshow of military members who are now free to come out of the closet.  Faces of Americans serving their country who don’t have to hide their orientation – very nice.

http://www.slate.com/slideshow/politics/gay-service-members-come-out-of-the-closet/#slide_2

 

Congrats to Lt. Ross

Congratulations to Lt. Gary Ross and his partner of 11 years, Dan Swezy, on their impending nuptials.  They will be getting married tonight, just after midnight, on the day the military officially changes its policies about gay and lesbian service members.

The military still has a ways to go – gay and lesbian partners of military members will not have full benefits the way heterosexual partners do – but this is a huge leap forward, and long overdue.

 

 

Suquamish tribe approves same sex marriages

The Suquamish tribe in Washington state has approved same sex marriages:

“This spring, a young woman stood up at the tribe’s annual meeting on its reservation here on Puget Sound and asked it to formally approve same-sex marriage. The response from the 300 or so people present was an enthusiastic “yes” in a voice vote. There was no audible dissent. Then, after another, smaller meeting (still no opposition) and a little work by the tribal attorney, the tribal council voted unanimously this month to approve same-sex marriage. No court fights. No ballot measures. No billionaires behind the scenes.”

At least one other tribe has approved it as well, according to the article written by William Yardley in the NY Times.  Many other tribes do not make their laws public.