Maryland's next general election is well more than a year away, but LGBT groups and their allies are already raising money for candidates committed to advancing LGBT equality.
In an email blast to supporters earlier this week, Equality Maryland's political action committee (PAC) announced a a Saturday, Aug. 24, fundraiser at the home of a lesbian couple in Anne Arundel County.
''Last year, 96 Maryland state legislators voted for the Civil Marriage Protection Act,'' the email reads. ''For some of these legislators, this 'yes' vote did not come easy. Some spent days, weeks or even months contemplating this vote. Some voted 'yes' despite heavy pressure from lobbyists and constituents to vote 'no.' Moreover, many of them continued the fight and helped us in all kinds of ways when we took the issue to the voters.''
Tim Williams, chair of the Equality Maryland PAC, told Metro Weekly in a Friday interview that today's event is the first of several fundraisers that Equality Maryland PAC plans to hold, continuing into next year. He said the PAC's chief legislative priority during this election cycle is backing incumbents who supported 2012's marriage-equality law and the gender-identity nondiscrimination bill that was killed in committee in March.
While Equality Maryland PAC has yet to endorse candidates for next year's races, Williams said the group's primary concern is protecting those running for re-election.
''We are focused on helping those who helped us,'' Williams said. ''Our first priority is defending people who supported the marriage-equality law and who have indicated they will support the transgender-rights bill.''
Williams noted that some legislators may be at risk not necessarily because of their votes for marriage equality, but for backing a number of other measures such as the repeal of the death penalty, new taxes or gun control.
''The thing I want people to understand is we cannot take the support of the governor or the General Assembly for granted,'' Williams said, noting that retirements and open slots for statewide offices mean there will be plenty of turnover in the House of Delegates and state Senate. ''We want to make sure we have a pro-LGBT Legislature and governor in Maryland after the 2014 elections.''
...moreMembers of the D.C.-area LGBT community announced Friday they plan to picket outside of a concert by the Mexican rock band Molotov due to the group's anti-gay lyrics, which are alleged to have inspired violent attacks against LGBT people.
The LGBT-rights organization Equality Maryland, service organization Casa Ruby, and the Latino GLBT History Project announced they will be picketing to educate fans and to protest the use of certain anti-gay phrases.
Molotov
(Photo by via Wikipedia)
At issue is one of the group's songs, ''Puto,'' which contains the lyrics Amo maton, matarile al maricon! Y que quiere ese hijo de puta? Quiere llorar! Quiere llorar! in its refrain. Roughly translated, the lyrics say: ''Love the killer, kill the faggot, and what does this son of a bitch want? He wants to cry! He wants to cry!''
The song also uses other crude language. But the phrase Matarile al maricon was allegedly yelled during an attack on a 19-year-old gay male in Chile. The victim, Esteban Navarro, was attacked by a group of six people in June wielding a machete, knives and iron bars, causing injuries requiring his leg to be amputated, as reported by Terra.
''We appreciate that Molotov released a statement saying 'No one should be a target of violence because they are LGBT,''' Equality Maryland and its partners said in Friday's announcement, citing a statement posted on Molotov's website. ''They also said they would refrain from using this hurtful phrase during their U.S. tour. However, they should stop using this word in any country and should encourage their fans not to use it.''
''Our music gives voice to the people who aren't in a position to do so for themselves and often times we sing about things that some governments don't want you to see or hear,'' the band's statement reads, in part. ''It was never meant to disrespect the gay community.''
The picketers hope to encourage concert attendees to sign a petition urging Molotov to stop using the phrase in the band's music and to discourage fans from using it as well.
The protesters will be meeting in front of The Fillmore entertainment complex, at 8656 Colesville Road, in Silver Spring, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26.
...moreQueer Nation is asking the Coca Cola Company to stop sponsoring hate with a protest planned for August 28 in Times Square.
A monument dedicated to homosexuals who were persecuted by the Nazis during the Holocaust will soon be erected in central Tel Aviv.
The iconic Star Trek actor will be honored for his work on behalf of the LGBT community by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
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