From President Barack Obama:

This morning, I signed into law a bill that represents the most sweeping reforms of Wall Street since the Great Depression, and the toughest consumer financial protections this nation has ever seen. I know that I am able to do so only because the tens of thousands of volunteers who make up the backbone of this movement overcame the most potent attack ads and the most powerful lobbying the special interests could put forward.

Our special-interest opponents and their Republican allies have now set their sights on the elections in November as their best chance to overturn the historic progress we’ve made together.

Organizing for America counts entirely on supporters like you to fight back — no special interests, no corporate PACs. To keep making change and to defend the change we have already won, we need you — and at least 14 other people in your area — to contribute so we have the resources necessary going into the election.
Please donate $5 today and help Organizing for America lay the groundwork for the fights ahead.

Because of Wall Street reform, we will ensure that Americans applying for a credit card, a mortgage, or a student loan will never again be asked to sign their name under pages of confusing fine print. We will crack down on abusive lending practices and make sure that lenders don’t cheat the system — and create a new watchdog to enforce these consumer protections.

And we will put an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts, giving us the ability to wind down any large financial institution if it should ever fail. The passage of Wall Street reform is at the forefront of the change we seek, and it will provide a foundation for a stronger and safer economy.

It is a foundation built upon the progress of the Recovery Act, which has turned 22 months of job losses into six consecutive months of private-sector job growth. And it is a foundation reinforced by the historic health reform we passed this spring, which is already giving new benefits to more than 100 million Americans, ushering another 1 million Americans into coverage by next year. But today’s victory is not where our fight ends.

Organizing for America and I will move forward in the months ahead on the tough fights we have yet to finish — even if cynics say we should wait until after the fall elections. This movement has never catered to the conventional wisdom of Washington. And we have fought to ensure that our progress is never held hostage by our politics.
You and I did not build this movement to win one election. We did not come together to pass one single piece of legislation. We are fighting for nothing less than a new foundation for our country — and that work is not complete. As we face the challenges ahead, I am relying on you to stand with me.

Please donate $5 or more today:  https://donate.barackobama.com/WallStreetReformed

Thank you for helping us get here,

President Barack Obama

Using funds from Cook County, The Chicago Community Trust awarded $225,000 in community outreach grants to 10 nonprofit organizations committed to spread the word face-to-face and door-to-door about  the Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program. The Mediation Program provides free housing counseling and legal services to Cook County homeowners and families in foreclosure. The program is aimed at helping homeowners resolve their mortgage cases in the most timely and respectful manner possible. The Trust’s role is part of its commitment to address the foreclosures crisis in the Chicago region, and is being developed in close coordination with the Court and its partners, as well as with Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (RHOPI) partners, including Woodstock Institute, Housing Action Illinois, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. For more information on RHOPI, visit www.regionalhopi.org

“A key element of any successful program is its outreach strategy. When it comes to promoting participation, the way you communicate the benefits of a program and engage people is almost as important as the quality of the services provided. This is especially true when families must deal with a process as intimidating and complex as a foreclosure case,” said Roberto Requejo, program officer at The Chicago Community Trust.  “Trusted community-based nonprofits can be the best messengers to communicate to families that they are not alone: experts are available free of charge (attorneys, counselors, mediators) and can help them stay in their homes.”

We are excited about the Circuit Court of Cook County’s plan for community outreach,” said Rabbi Joshua Salter, Associate Rabbi of Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago Lawn. “Our temple, which is a member institution of the Southwest Organizing Project, recognizes the need for institutions and residents to connect to those who are struggling in our neighborhoods. This innovative outreach effort will train residents in our community who are troubled by the rising number of families in foreclosure on their blocks to reach out to their neighbors face-to-face and help them get to the assistance they need to stay in their homes.”

The Chicago Community Trust has been retained to award and monitor 10 six-month grants to nonprofits providing face-to-face or door-to-door outreach to Cook County borrowers. The work of the grantees is part of a larger overall outreach campaign coordinated by the Court.

“Homeowners facing foreclosure in Cook County now have a court-sponsored program that can help them navigate the court and the housing counseling process.  Action Now will continue to reach out to homeowners that may be unaware of the new mediation process and quickly connect them to the program.  Our goal is to increase the number of foreclosure victims that attend court and become actively involved in the process of resolving their foreclosure situation.  Now that Cook County Courts have a program to help homeowners, our job is to make sure that members of our community are fully informed about their options and take advantage of the resources now available,” said Michelle Young, president of Action Now.

The foreclosure crisis continues to have a profound effect on individuals, families and communities. In Cook County, more than 145,000 filings for foreclosures occurred between 2006 and 2009. Many homeowners would be able to avert foreclosure and remain in their homes if they sought help. However, currently, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of homeowners in foreclosure show up at court when required, and in the hardest hit areas of Cook County, about the same percentage have used the services of a housing counselor certified by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Specific information on facts, trends and responses related to our current foreclosure crisis can be found at the Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (RHOPI) Web site, co-sponsored by the Trust and available at: www.regionalhopi.org

During the convenings of the Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (RHOPI), housing experts and practitioners throughout our region agreed upon the need to establish effective outreach strategies to reach out to troubled borrowers . The RHOPI Action Plan established as a priority the development of “early, effective and efficient regional outreach to households experiencing or at risk of experiencing foreclosure.” A variety of initiatives currently reach out to Cook County borrowers at risk of foreclosure or in foreclosure proceedings, from large events where borrowers are assisted in submitting applications for loan modification, to door-to-door initiatives where community-based organizations inform neighbors about their options.

About The Chicago Community Trust For 95 years, The Chicago Community Trust, our region’s community foundation, has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago. In 2009, the Trust, together with its donors, granted more than $100 million to nonprofit organizations.  From strengthening schools to assisting local art programs, from building health centers to helping lives affected by violence, the Trust continues to enhance our region. To learn more, please visit the Trust online at www.cct.org.

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To our readers, I got this letter from GLAAD President Mr. Jarrett Barrios, and I would like you to read it.

Dear Friend of GLAAD,

We’re writing today to thank you for speaking out about NBC Today Show’s “Modern Wedding Contest.” This afternoon after GLAAD met with NBC executives and shared our community’s concerns, the network agreed to open the contest to same-sex couples.

The announcement comes a week after GLAAD learned that the contest had excluded gay and lesbian people. Good As You blog first alerted us to the problem after discovering the contest’s application included only “bride” and “groom” as options for applicants to choose.

After we called the network with concerns, NBC argued that it was excluding same-sex couples because “the couple must be able to be legally married in New York, which is where the wedding will take place.”

GLAAD questioned the validity of that argument since New York State legally recognizes same-sex marriages licensed in other states. Same-sex couples can now legally obtain marriage licenses in Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Washington D.C. NBC mistakenly equated the marriage license with the wedding celebration. Same-sex weddings are entirely legal in New York State.

Our Call to Action prompted thousands of you to write to NBC and urge the network to give our community the same opportunity to share our stories of love and commitment and allow us the chance to participate in the contest.

This afternoon NBC and the Today Show did just that.  Following a meeting between GLAAD and NBC executives, NBC announced that after listening to community concerns it will open the contest to same-sex couples and extend the submission deadline until Monday, July 12. Couples now have until then to apply.  Finalists will be announced later this year and the wedding takes place live on the Today Show this October.

We’re thrilled that Today Show’s ‘Modern Wedding Contest’ now recognizes what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded – a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay. NBC heard the thousands of viewers who contacted them and they have moved to make their contest a truly modern wedding where any couple can share their story. NBC is living up to its own high standard of fairness and for this, we applaud them.  We encourage qualified same-sex couples to submit their applications before Monday, July 12 and we look forward to next year when same-sex couples will have the ability to apply to the contest from the beginning.

Thanks to the thousands of people who sent emails to the Today Show, blogged about it, and shared the Call to Action on Twitter and Facebook.  We could not have done it without you!

Lastly, we encourage you to support GLAAD today with a donation, so we can continue launching successful campaigns that amplify the voice of our community.

Jarrett Barrios, GLAAD President

The Governor’s veto is a sad setback in the ongoing fight for equality.

On the other hand, last night Republican Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii broke a promise of 2002 and dismissed the will of Hawaiian citizens as she vetoed HB 444, which would have allowed both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions with all the rights enjoyed by married couples.

Michael Sargeant, Executive Director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Lingle’s veto of the civil union bill: ”We at the DLCC are disappointed in Governor Lingle for ignoring the will of Hawaiian citizens as expressed by the Hawaii legislature’s passage of this landmark legislation. Governor Lingle also broke her campaign promise not to veto a civil union bill if passed by the state legislature. She has denied Hawaii the opportunity to become the latest example of states leading the way on equality.”

Democratic legislators did their part and voted their conscience on “that legislation,” after a marathon 18 hours of earnest debate. But their work was undone by the Governor’s broken promise.

And in breaking her promise, Governor Lingle denied hundreds of thousands of her own citizens a right she probably takes for granted.

One day, America will look back on the struggle for equal rights and wonder why it was so difficult. Governor Lingle will be one of the reasons.

Today we all should praise the decision of Judge Joseph Tauro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management and Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, declaring the denial of federal rights and benefits to lawfully married Massachusetts couples under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional. Judge Tauro, who was nominated to the bench by President Richard Nixon, held in Gill that DOMA violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws, concluding that “indeed, Congress undertook this classification for the one purpose that lies entirely outside of legislative bounds, to disadvantage a group of which it disapproves. And such a classification, the Constitution clearly will not permit.” These decisions are likely to be appealed by the Department of Justice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

“Today’s decision is a confirmation of what every lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender American knows to be a basic truth – we, and our families, are equal,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “This is an important step forward, but there is a long path ahead before we see this discriminatory law consigned to the dustbin of history. We thank our friends at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, their courageous plaintiffs and Attorney General Coakley for standing up on behalf of married same-sex couples across the country and for their continued commitment to equality as these cases move forward. Judge Tauro’s decisions make clear that there is no constitutional justification for DOMA, despite the Department of Justice’s contentions in defending the statute. While we expect the Department to continue to defend DOMA on appeal, we urge the Obama administration to push Congress to repeal a law that we know, and Judge Tauro recognized, serves no purpose but to denigrate our families.”

“Today’s decision is an important step forward for marriage for same-sex couples. There are thousands of same-sex couples lawfully married in the five states and Washington , DC that currently allow them the freedom to marry. Today’s ruling recognizes that the federal government has literally no justification for refusing to respect those marriages. To finish the job, Congress should pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which is pending in Congress and would completely repeal DOMA. We applaud this decision and congratulate GLAD and the Massachusetts attorney general for their work in bringing the cases.” said James Esseks, Director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project:

In March 2009, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed Gill v. OPM on behalf of eight married couples and three surviving spouses from Massachusetts who have been denied federal rights and benefits available to spouses, but denied to them because DOMA, a federal law adopted in 1996, defines marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman. In July 2009, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed its own suit challenging the federal government’s requirement that in operating federally-funded programs, including Medicaid and the administration of veterans’ cemeteries, the state must treat some of its married citizens differently than others. There over 1,000 rights, benefits and responsibilities tied to marriage under federal law, including Social Security survivors’ benefits, family and medical leave, equal compensation as federal employees, and immigration rights, among others.

Last Sunday on Gay Pride Illinois became the ninth state to enact an enumerated anti-bullying bill that explicitly protects LGBT students from bullying. At a Chicago-area elementary school, Governor Pat Quinn signed the states’ recently passed anti-bullying bill that specifically mentions a list of protected characteristics that includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The bill passed both chambers overwhelmingly.

New York, which passed a similar law last week, will become the 10^th state to enact such a law when Governor David Paterson signs the bill.

“At long last, schools across the State will be uniformly required to take steps to protect vulnerable kids from bullying and violence,” – said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.  “Students who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are particularly vulnerable to bullying.  And the attempted suicide rate among LGBT students, which is as much as three times higher than the general average, presents alarming evidence for just how urgently we need this law.”

“GLSEN applauds Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for signing an anti-bullying law that truly will protect all students from bullying,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “Research shows that enumerated anti-bullying laws provide the greatest protection for students, and GLSEN thanks the Illinois legislature and Illinois safe schools advocates for ensuring that a strong anti-bullying bill is now the law of the land in Illinois.”

The national report School Climate in America found that students from schools with policies like the ones passed in Illinois and New York are more likely to feel very safe at school (54% vs. 36%) compared to students at schools without such policies.

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Last Tuesday, June 22, I was invited to attend the Major’s Gay Pride Reception at the Cultural Center here in Chicago, where many members of our community showed up (as they usually do every year) to celebrate PRIDE month. The biggest surprise that evening was Daily’s announcement that Israel is, for the first time ever, marching at The Chicago Gay Pride Parade on Sunday June 27. I just stopped breathing; I just couldn’t believe the news. With tears in my eyes and mixed emotions, I was happy to hear the good news. As an Israeli-born and raised man, 35 years ago I made one of the biggest decision of my life–to leave the “Milk and Honey” homeland and to move to America, the land of “Gay freedom.” At least that’s what I though those days. Well, 35 years passed by and I’m still waiting for that “gay freedom” to happen…

The next day, while reading my emails, I came across one from Renie, the press officer at the Israeli Consulate to the Midwest. Her message confirmed the news I heard the night before: Israel is joining the parade and Pride Fest. Israel is “Out & Proud”

I moved to the USA because I thought America was more advanced than my home country of Israel. But, oh boy, was I wrong. Israel today is one of the world’s most progressive countries in terms of equality for sexual minorities. In recent years, Israel has produced more progressive legislation and court decisions regarding sexual orientation and GLBT rights than many Western countries. Israel has an active gay community, and it is by far the most tolerant Middle Eastern country towards homosexuals.

Israel is recognized as a world leader in LGBT rights. Israeli law gives equal rights to gay couples in the areas of social security and inheritance, and recognizes gay marriages performed in countries where marriages are legal as valid ones. Since 1993, the Israeli Army has banned all forms of discrimination against soldiers and officers on the basis of their sexual orientation. The first openly gay member of the Israeli Parliament was elected in 2002.

All I can say today is I was wrong. What I can say is keep your eyes and ears open and learn from my old land, the land of “milk and honey,” from Israel the country of gold.

Happy Pride!

by David Cohen

Two-dad families – a transition to parenthood

With father’s day approching, I have decide to share this story with you. The Rockway Institute conducted the first study ever to examine the experiences of gay male partners who became fathers via surrogacy. What they found will not come as a surprise to most of us. The study shows that gay parents are more likely than heterosexual fathers to scale back their careers in order to care for their children.  But the surprising part is, these fathers report that their self-esteem and their closeness to their extended families increases after becoming parents.

“Our findings reinforce the growing research evidence that the sexual orientation of the parents makes little difference in parenting.  Gay couples are making major accommodations in their lives just like their heterosexual counterparts who become parents,” said Robert-Jay Green, PhD., executive director of the Rockway Institute.

One of the notable findings was that having a child significantly improved the gay fathers’ self esteem. Nearly all (95 percent) said having a child “makes me feel good about myself” and that their self- esteem had improved after becoming a parent. The new fathers took less care of themselves by sleeping and exercising less and devoting less time to hobbies, leisure activities and involvement in personal causes. Although their reported spirituality had not changed significantly, more of the new parents (an increase from 25 to 38 percent) reported they were attending religious services since adding a child to their family.

The researchers learn that the new fathers “felt extremely positive and proud about being parents… The narratives of the gay fathers in this study underscore how being a parent contributed to greater meaning in their lives… They derived pleasure and pride in taking care of their children, while they also received increasing validation from their families and their communities.”

To learn more about the institute philosophy and how it promote scientific and professional expertise to counter antigay prejudice and improve public policies affecting the LGBT community, visit www.rockwayinstitute.org

I just got an email from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and I wanted to share it with PINK readers”“Last night the US Department of State announced new guidelines for issuing passports to transgender people. Beginning today, applicants for a gender marker change on their passports will need to submit certification from a physician that they have received ‘appropriate clinical treatment’ for gender transition. Most importantly, gender reassignment surgery is not required under the new policy.“The new rules will also apply to changing a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for US citizens who were born outside of the United States.  CRBA’s are the equivalent of a birth certificate.“For years, NCTE (The National Center for Transgender Equality) has been advocating with the State Department to change their rules about gender markers on passports and CRBA’s.  Previously they had required proof of irreversible sex reassignment surgery before the gender marker could be changed, although there were exceptions for temporary, provisional passports to allow someone to travel for surgery.“NCTE and other advocates have stressed with the State Department that this policy unnecessarily called attention to transgender travelers whose appearance and gender marker were at odds. In some destinations, this had the potential to create an extremely dangerous situation when a traveler is outed as transgender in an unwelcoming environment or in the presence of prejudiced security personnel.“Fortunately, the new rules represent a significant advance in providing safe, humane and dignified treatment of transgender people.  There are details in the guidelines about what information a physician must provide and we will communicate those to you as soon as possible. However, the State Department notes that applicants will not need to supply any additional medical documentation and that there is no SRS requirement.“’We want to extend our thanks to the Obama Administration, and particularly to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, for understanding the need for this change and then responding to make travel safer for transgender people,’ commented Mara Keisling, Executive Director of NCTE.  ‘This shows how changes in government policy directly impact people’s lives, in this case, for the better.’ “In the next few days, NCTE will be issuing a definitive resource that fully explains the new guidelines and outlines the ways in which transgender people can make changes to their passports and CRBAs.“Many people—from elected officials to LGBT advocates—have worked for years to change these policies and deserve credit and thanks. Particularly important work was done by Rep. Barney Frank as well as Rep. Steve Israel in the House of Representatives; Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA), which represents LGBT employees and their families working in foreign affairs offices for the US government; all of our allied LGBT organizations who have been committed to this work, including the Center for Global Equality, The Task Force, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign; and those working on medical policies, including the American Medical Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).”

I just came back from Key Wet where I stayed at the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa. Just few steps from the famous Duval street, the resort is offering a luxurious vacation experience “par excel-lance”.

During Gay Pride, the Hyatt is offering a special deal to LGBT guests - The Pride Welcome Package which offers the best rates on the island, along with a welcome amenity valued up to $25, daily full American breakfast for two, 4 p.m. late checkout and personalized service from a GLBT focused concierge.

To take advantage of this special offer and enjoy posh accommodations for as low as $300 a night you need to mention the code LGBT10, by visiting www.keywest.hyatt.com, or calling 1-800-233-1234. This offer is good through December 30, 2010.

Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa featuring 118 guest-rooms, each with a private balcony boasting stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico.  A centrally-located swimming pool and the eclectic Blue Mojito Pool Bar and Grill provide the perfect ambiance for enjoying a cocktail or delicious lunch. When it’s time for total relaxation, the 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt gym is one option.  A visit to Jala Spa is the second option and it is a must. Treatments are ranging from deep tissue massage  to a Cuban Coffee Body Glow. There is no doubt in my mind, you will rejuvenate your body and soul.  For a true taste of the Keys, treat yourself to dinner at SHOR American Seafood Grill which features fresh seafood caught daily from the Gulf of Mexico.

Conveniently located the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa is within walking distance of the world-famous Duval Street and Key West’s top restaurants and attractions. My my favorite restaurant is nine one five on Duval Street. Owner Stuart Kemp and his lovely wife make sure you will have one of the best dining experiences in Key West. The food is authentic, simple and fresh. Many of the ingredients are imported from  Europe and the restaurant has a great wine list at reasonable prices.

After dinner walk toward Petronia Street, the core of the gay nightlife in Key West. The legendary 801 Bourbon Street and 801 Duval bars at the corner of  Duval and Petronia have been a part of the Key West landscape for over 30 years. In the Cabaret you will find nightly shows headlined by such famed performers as Sushi, Kylie, RV Beaumont, and many more. Don’t miss Aqua Nightclub, one of Key West’s largest gay dance club. It is the home for many life entertainment that include nightly drag shows, Karaoke, Dueling Bartenders, Go-Go dancers and much more. A visit to the Island House is a must where clothing is optional. This is the biggest gay resort in Key West and recently was named “The best gay men’s resort in the world” by OUT Traveler Magazine.  For more information visit www.gaykeywestfl.com.

Key West draws many visitors from all over the world who come here to experience many of the water activities. parasailing. With gentle dry take offs and landings, you will find parasailing to be an exhilarating way to experience one of  Key West water adventures. From above you will enjoy breathtaking views of the emerald blue waters, and amazing panoramic sights of the southern part of the city that can only be seen from the air. With a friendly staff, the Fury Boats hold 12 passengers, they are safe, comfortable and reasonably priced. You can book any of the water  adventures at the gift store at the Hyatt.

For more information or for reservations, visit keywest.hyatt.com or call 1-800-55-HYATT.