Project 1138 Web Site Launched

Equality Forum, a national and international gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights organization, has launched a Project 1138 Web site, (www.Project1138.com) along with Facebook (www.facebook.com/Project1138) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/Project1138) pages to create awareness about the 1138 benefits denied GLBT couples.

There are 1138 federal rights, benefits and privileges provided to married opposite sex couples that are denied to same-sex couples – even in states where same-sex marriage is legal.

These include tax and military benefits, employment rights, family protections and access to federal benefits and services.

“Our nation treats same-sex couples as second-class citizens,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum. “As the Black civil rights movement demonstrated, separate is not equal.”

Corporal Dennis Engelhard, a Missouri Highway Patrolman, lived with his male partner Kelly Gossip for nearly 15 years. In 2009, Engelhard was killed in a highway accident in the line of duty. His partner is not entitled to death benefits provided to the families of fallen law enforcement officers.

Carmen Machado and her partner Anisia, a New Jersey couple, have been together for over 30 years. Anisia has no health insurance. Carmen can’t claim her as a spouse, and as a consequence, Anisia is not covered under Carmen’s health insurance.

In New York, John Langan and Conrad Spicehandler were together for 15 years when Spicehandler was killed in a work-related car accident. Because they could not marry, Langan has not received any benefits entitled to a “surviving legal spouse.”

Visit Project1138.com to share your comments, personal stories, and why all Americans deserve equal rights.

Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights summit.

Equality Forum 2010

Each spring, Equality Forum presents its Global GLBT Summit. This year’s event will take place April 26-May 2 in Philadelphia. The annual Equality Forum comprises seven days of substantive programs, parties and special events — including an international focus; the International Equality Dinner at the National Constitution Center; an annual art exhibit; SundayOUT!, Pennsylvania’s largest annual GLBT street festival; and more — in collaboration with regional, national and international organizations.

More at: Mile High Gay Guy!

Parents of Gays & Lesbians Demonstrate at Bill Signing

Courtesy of Equality Forum:

Parents of gays and lesbians, teachers and activists carrying photos of hate crime murder victims including Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard will demonstrate in front of the White House on Wednesday, October 28 from noon to 2 p.m. prior to the President signing the Matthew Shepard Amendment. The amendment adds gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disabilities to the federal hate crimes act.

The demonstration is organized by Equality Forum, a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus.

According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, there were 29 hate crime murders of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) Americans among the 2,424 GLBT hate crimes in 2008. Since 1998, when Matthew Shepard was murdered, there have been over 16,000 hate crime victims, on average, about 1,450 GLBT hate crimes per year.

“Homophobia has fueled carnage since Matthew Shepard’s murder 11 years ago,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “The Matthew Shepard Amendment is the beginning not the end in recognizing, addressing and eliminating homophobia in our schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and culture.”

“We applaud those in Congress and President Obama who support the Matthew Shepard Amendment,” stated Susan Wheeler of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the mother of James Wheeler. “My son took his life after being repeatedly harassed in high school. He was surrounded in the locker room and urinated on. Jim never recovered from that humiliation.”

“We demonstrate as a reminder of the over 16,000 hate crime victims since Matthew’s brutal murder,” stated Michael and Barbara Klinman of Havertown, Pennsylvania, who are parents of a gay son. “These crimes are intended to intimidate the GLBT community and their ferocity impacts the soul of America.”

“As we carry the photos of murder victims of GLBT hate crimes, we stand-in for those whose lives have been silenced,” stated Carol Watchler, GLSEN Central New Jersey Co-Chair. “We demonstrate because we are concerned about the safety of youth. We want to ensure that gay and lesbian children are not hate crime statistics and can live without fear of homophobic violence.”

Equality Forum produced “Jim in Bold,” an award-winning documentary film about the impact of homophobia on GLBTQ youth. The annual Equality Forum includes the James Wheeler National Youth Panel. Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, has been featured at the annual Equality Forum.

October is GLBT History Month!

Brought to you by: Equality Forum -

In the 1990’s, teachers and community organizations determined that a month should be designated for GLBT history. They chose October because public schools are in session and traditions, such as National Coming Out Day, occur then.

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.

Celebrate Our Heritage

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.

About Equality Forum

Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual international GLBT civil rights forum. For more information, visit www.equalityforum.com and GLBTHistoryMonth.com!

Check out the video below, and make sure you come back every day as the video will change and bring you 31 GLBT icon for all 31 days of October!

GLBT History Is American History

“GLBT History Month sends an important message to our nation’s teachers, school boards, community leaders, and youth about the vital importance of recognizing and exploring the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history.”

George Chauncey
History Department
Yale University

Equality Forum Launches GLBT History Month Site

According to Equality Forum:

“For a community deprived of its history, GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community, and recognizes our extraordinary national and international contributions,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum

GLBT History Month was conceived in the mid-1990’s by educators and embraced by major GLBT organizations.  In 2006, Equality Forum took responsibility for this communal project and solicits Icon nominations from state, national and international executive directors and other community leaders. The criteria are GLBT persons living or deceased, who have distinguished themselves in their field of endeavor, are a national hero or have made a significant contribution to GLBT civil rights.

With this, the Equality Forum has launched the 2009 GLBT History Month website, which list all the current nominees. You can also nominate someone!

Make sure you check out Equality Forum by clicking here, and the 2009 GLBT History Month site by clicking here.

For more information, contact:

Chip Alfred, Communications Director
(215) 732-3378, ext. 116
chip@equalityforum.com

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