Victory of Love in the US. Historic rulings "mark the biggest advance in civil liberties for gay people in a generation"

I am so happy and full of emotions. This is truly a historic day, and not only for the US. This is a victory of human rights. This is a victory of love.

Country by country. Regime by regime. Sooner or later. This is going to happen. Get over it.

And... congrats, gay Armenians in California!! You can now officially marry your loved ones.
***

The Guardian: "A landmark supreme court ruling struck down a controversial federal law that discriminated against gay couples in the US, delivering a stunning victory on Wednesday to campaigners who fought for years to overturn it.

The court also dismissed a separate appeal against same-sex marriage laws in California, restoring the right to gay marriage in the largest US state and nearly doubling the number of Americans living in states where gay marriage would be legal.

Together, the two rulings mark the biggest advance in civil liberties for gay people in a generation, and come amid growing political and international recognition that same-sex couples deserve equal legal treatment."

As Ben Affleck tweeted: "Goodbye #DOMA #Prop8. Hello #equality."

And the hero of the day is of course Edith Windsor.

BBC: "The legal challenge to Doma was brought by New York resident Edith Windsor, 83. She was handed a tax bill of $363,000 (£236,000) when she inherited the estate of her spouse Thea Speyer - a levy she would not have had to pay if she had been married to a man."

President Obama called Edie Windsor—the plaintiff in the #DOMA case—from AF1 to congratulate her on today's ruling (White House twitter)

*picture - via The New Yorker: How Edith Windsor learned she won

The New Yorker: Everyone at the apartment of Roberta Kaplan, the lawyer who argued Edith Windsor’s successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, exploded in screams and sobs when the ruling came down. Kaplan called her mother and said, “Total victory, Mom: it couldn’t be better.” Windsor said, “I wanna go to Stonewall right now!” Then she called a friend and said, “Please get married right away!” 

Update: Just after 11 A.M., the President called. Kaplan picked up the phone and gave it to Windsor. “Hello, who am I talking to?” Windsor said. “Oh, Barack Obama? I wanted to thank you. I think your coming out for us made such a difference throughout the country.”
***

Here is how Google celebrated today's historic ruling. Any search involving "gay", "lesbian", "bisexual", "transgender", "LGBT" - turned Google search rainbow.

Today in history: Barack Obama highlights gay rights in an inaugural address

Obama made history today as the first President of the United States to highlight gay rights in an inaugural address:

"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."

Barack Obama, 21 January 2013 (*source)


Respects, Mr. President !!

Armenia and Georgia, among 85 countries, signed major UN gay rights statement

Following historic UN statement in 2008 - History in making: 66 countries, including Armenia, signed a joint UN statement against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - Armenia consistently endorsed major international statements on gay rights and against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [for other examples - see here]

As reported by international media and gay rights groups world-wide, yet another important step forward was achieved on Tuesday 22 March when 85 countries endorsed a Joint Statement delivered at the UN Human Rights Council. This statement was put forward and intensively lobbied world-wide by US president Obama’s administration.

As in the past, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia did not endorse the statement. I will put #fail here.

The full text of the statement delivered at the Human Rights Council on 22 March 2011 by the representative of Colombia on behalf of 85 countries is provided below (source). Within the comments section of this post you may also read some immediate reactions of prominent gay rights groups.

ILGA-Europe reports that 43 European countries, including Armenia and Georgia, signed the statement. Only 6 countries from the European region did not sign up: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkey, Vatican.

Now what we need more is to move from the ‘paper’ to real-life implementation of the principles outlined in this statement. Only then I will call this a breakthrough, for real.
***
Joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation & gender identity

Delivered by Colombia on behalf of: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,  Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Uruguay,  Vanautu and Venezuela

1.       We recall the previous joint statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, presented at the Human Rights Council in 2006;

2.       We express concern at continued evidence in every region of acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity brought to the Council’s attention by Special Procedures since that time, including killings, rape, torture and criminal sanctions;

3.       We recall the joint statement in the General Assembly on December 18, 2008 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, supported by States from all five regional groups, and encourage States to consider joining the statement;

4.       We commend the attention paid to these issues by international human rights mechanisms including relevant Special Procedures and treaty bodies and welcome continued attention to human rights issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity within the context of the Universal Periodic Review. As the United Nations Secretary General reminded us in his address to this Council at its Special Sitting of 25 January 2011, the Universal Declaration guarantees all human beings their basic rights without exception, and when individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the international community has an obligation to respond;

5.       We welcome the positive developments on these issues in every region in recent years, such as the resolutions on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity adopted by consensus in each of the past three years by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, the initiative of the Asia-Pacific Forum on National Human Rights Institutions to integrate these issues within the work of national human rights institutions in the region, the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the increasing attention being paid to these issues by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, and the many positive legislative and policy initiatives adopted by States at the national level in diverse regions;

6.       We note that the Human Rights Council must also play its part in accordance with its mandate to “promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination of any kind, and in a fair and equal manner” (GA 60/251, OP 2);

7.       We acknowledge that these are sensitive issues for many, including in our own societies. We affirm the importance of respectful dialogue, and trust that there is common ground in our shared recognition that no-one should face stigmatisation, violence or abuse on any ground.  In dealing with sensitive issues, the Council must be guided by the principles of universality and non-discrimination;

8.       We encourage the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to address human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to explore opportunities for outreach and constructive dialogue to enhance understanding and awareness of these issues within a human rights framework;

9.       We recognise our broader responsibility to end human rights violations against all those who are marginalised and take this opportunity to renew our commitment to addressing discrimination in all its forms;

10.  We call on States to take steps to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, encourage Special Procedures, treaty bodies and other stakeholders to continue to integrate these issues within their relevant mandates, and urge the Council to address these important human rights issues.

Profile of president Obama’s Armenian classmate Mark Momjian - highly respected lawyer, champion of LGBT civil rights

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator published a profile of well known Armenian American lawyer Mark Albert Momjian who is a highly regarded authority in the field of family law and was involved in a number of high-profile cases.

To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that he was prominently involved in a legal defence of LGBT civil rights in the US too.

I do not know the full details of those LGBT related cases, but the outline of activities and distinctions looks impressive, indeed.

He is also involved in Armenian community affairs and visited Armenia with his wife and two sons.

Among his distinctions:
Recipient of the 2005 Pro Bono Service Award by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, presented for significant efforts to achieve equality by the LGBT community of Pennsylvania.

Recipient of the 2004 Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award, presented by the Philadelphia Bar Association Committee on the Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men, in recognition of extraordinary contributions in promoting civil rights.

Honored as the 2002 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, given in recognition of dedicated efforts in defending the civil rights of the LGBT community.

Among his community activities:
First Chair, Rainbow Endowment, a nonprofit corporation distributing funds generated by the Rainbow Card, an affinity credit card promoted by tennis legend, Martina Navratilova and supporting projects of national scope in the areas of HIV-AIDS prevention and women’s health care.

Co-Chair, Armenian Church Earthquake Fund, which raised more than one-half million dollars to aid homeless survivors of the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
***
Below is a brief extract from the article published on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator:

[...] After graduating from Columbia College (where he was a classmate of President Barack Obama) and the Columbia University School of Law, Mark Momjian worked for more than 25 years with his father, primarily in the large Philadelphia law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis, before starting a specialized family law firm named Momjian Anderer this year. Momjian has written more than 50 articles on family law topics for many legal journals, and he also co-authored with his father the reference work Pennsylvania Family Law Annotated (Thomson/West), now in its ninth edition. [...]

He handled an important case involving civil rights for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT) community in 2002 before the Pennsylvania Superior Court (an intermediate appellate). Momjian explained, “This was the first case in the US that imputed a child support obligation on a former domestic partner. The biological parent successfully sued her former partner for child support, even though the former partner had never adopted the child.”

Momjian is particularly interested in the intersection between family law and biotechnology — different methods of reproduction, gestational surrogacy, DNA distribution and frozen embryos. With modern technology, family law is a rapidly changing field. Momjian lectures nationally on these and other issues of family law, and teaches at area law schools in Philadelphia. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Drexel University’s College of Medicine, teaching mental health law.

His public service work focuses on problems facing non-traditional families, as well as victims of abuse and domestic violence. He is a member of the board of directors of both the Homeless Advocacy Project and Philadelphia VIP (an organization working for equal justice for the poor). [...]

*picture - via The Armenian Mirror-Spectator

Almost like in Armenia (ancient or contemporary), some would say ;)

Hilarious episode of Saturday Night Live, with Gerard Butler.



*thanks to George for the link.

Georgia: new issue of Me magazine focuses on global LGBT movement

New, 10th issue of Georgian LGBT "Me" magazine (published by Inclusive Foundation) is out now. It focuses on “history and reality of global LGBT movement”, in particular reflecting recent developments in the US with Obama’s inauguration and the release of Milk film. It also contains news and commentary on local developments in Georgia, including a review of the HIV/AIDS situation in Georgia with updated trends.

According to the Georgian Centre for Infectious Pathologies, AIDS and Clinical Immunology, there are 1,825 cases of HIV infection in Georgia as of 12 December 2008. Of this number, 1,372 are men and 453 are women. Most infected people are between the ages of 29 and 35 years. A total of 402 people have died of AIDS in Georgia. 487 patients are currently undergoing treatment. The following is the distribution of likely transmission ways among HIV/AIDS cases registered in Georgia, as determined through patient interviews: 59.5 per cent are injecting drug users (have shared unsterilized needles with other users); 33.4 per cent were infected through heterosexual contact; 2.7 per cent contracted the virus through homosexual contact (men having sex with men); 2.4 per cent were infected by their mother (either in uterus or from breastfeeding); 0.6 per cent contracted HIV through blood infusions; 1.4 per cent - cause of infection undetermined.

As Georgia aspires closer ties with the EU, the magazine features interviews with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency director Morten Kjaerum.

ME: It is a very difficult time for Georgia right now and this is discussed a lot on the European level. We feel that social phobias are becoming more severe in this situation. Do you think that external threats can be an excuse for undermining the rights of social minorities? When a country is at war, is it time for a break in defending the rights of LGBT people?
Thomas Hammarberg: In fact, in a situation of crisis with the security of a nation and in an economic crisis, it is even more important to continue watching the treatment of minorities and those who traditionally tend to be discriminated against. Because in the crisis situation there is a risk that certain groups of society will be scapegoated. So I would say the opposite – it is important to remain on watch both on the national level as well as by international agencies to ensure that scapegoating or discrimination does not take place. Security concerns and economic crisis is not a justification for discrimination.

You may download current issue of the magazine by clicking here. Previous issues of the magazine are accessible at the following link.

Sources: US to sign UN gay rights statement

UPDATE: It's official!

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the declaration's French sponsors that the administration wants to be added as a supporter. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only western government that refused to sign on.

The move was made after an interagency review of the Bush administration's position on the nonbinding document, which was signed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries, the officials said. [Unzipped: Gay Armenia - endorsed by Armenia too]

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified of the decision. They said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," said one official.

"As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," the official said.

The official added that the United States was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries."

"In the words of the United States Supreme Court, the right to be free from criminalization on the basis of sexual orientation 'has been accepted as an integral part of human freedom'," the official said.

Gay rights and other groups had criticized the Bush administration when it refused to sign the declaration when it was presented at the United Nations on Dec. 19. U.S. officials said then that the U.S. opposed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but that parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review.

According to negotiators, the Bush team had concerns that those parts could commit the federal government on matters that fall under state jurisdiction. In some states, landlords and private employers are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level, gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military.

It was not immediately clear on Tuesday how the Obama administration had come to a different conclusion.

When it was voted on in December, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the declaration — which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with anti-gay discrimination.

But 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality — and in several, homosexual acts can be punished by execution. More than 50 nations, including members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, opposed the declaration.

Some Islamic countries said at the time that protecting sexual orientation could lead to "the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and incest. The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican.

Obama and the Pope on dancers' naked bodies

ITN: US President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict have appeared in a dance show at the Acropolis in Greece - painted on the naked bodies of the performers.

It is the work of a Swiss artist who goes by the name of Dave, who said he chose the Pope and Mr Obama because they provoke conversation.

The work was inspired by fusionism which is an art form that combines abstract painting and choreographed performances.

It is part of an art marathon. The plan is that one artist will be sent to a different country every year for the next 42 years to exhibit their work and create discussion on how art can make the world a better place.

But it has not been easy for Dave. He said it took several days to create and plan the performance particularly the choreography, to make sure the picture fitted together properly. There was also a fair bit of re-touching when his art work got smudged.

Dave said: "This is really hard. Then it's the performance you have to plan and the painting... So I start at 8am and I'm still here."

President Obama greets gay and lesbian marchers at Inauguration Parade

''The Lesbian and Gay Band Association. They are a national music organization who has concert and marching bands from cities across America, that makes up a network of Lesbian and Gay bands. Their participation marks the first time that an openly-gay and lesbian group has been invited to march in an Inaugural Parade.''

WTTG Fox5 news anchor Brian Boulter announcing on air the appearance of the LGBA in front of President Barack Obama at the viewing stand near the White House. Unfortunately, the parade started late and crowds had almost completely disappeared for the parade after waiting up to half a day in below-freezing temperatures. The LGBA appearance came 2/3 of the way into the program, and Barack and Michelle Obama can be seen waving warmly to the GLBT participants. The band reportedly had 177 people representing 17 states, and played John Philip Sousa's "The Washington Post March."

*source: Metro Weekly / Last Word

Obama's gay rights agenda

The (new) White House website, President Barack Obama

Civil Rights agenda

Support for the LGBT Community

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

"Commemorative edition" of... Obama dildos

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Scout Tufankjian – Obama’s Armenian photographer

For details - see Unzipped

Obama and McCain condoms

Be protected... now with 'political' condoms ;)

Madonna: it's time US says "I do" to gay marriage

AFP — Pop star Madonna said it was a shame the United States could put a black man in the White House but not allow same-sex marriage, rocking on her world tour with guests Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.

Voters approved a proposal in Tuesday's presidential elections which amended the California's constitution to say that only marriages between men and women are recognized in the state.

The decision came only six months after California's Supreme Court overturned a previous ban on same-sex marriage, paving the way for thousands of gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot in the state.

"If we can elect an African-American as president, we can support gay marriage!," Madonna shouted to 20,000 fans at Dodger Stadium late Thursday, referring to president-elect Barack Obama. "Defeat Prop 8! We will not give up!."

*photo - via AFP

Michelle Obama: "That Dress? Everyone Has an Opinion"

Yes, this was a 'hot' topic of discussion the day after. In Armenian circles too. I must say, most times I quite liked Michelle Obama's style of dressing, but I would agree that in this particular case it was a fashion lapse. Still, she is not afraid of taking risks. It's not boring, for sure.

Via The New York Times:

Some of the most heated conversations on the morning after election night centered on Michelle Obama’s dress. The first lady-elect took to the stage at Grant Park in Chicago on Tuesday night wearing a red-and-black sheath by Narciso Rodriguez. A sleeveless, scoop-neck adaptation of a more revealing design for spring that Mr. Rodriguez showed on a runway in New York in September, it sparked instant debate among viewers, with some calling it an eye-catching statement and others, an eyesore.

“I voted for Obama, but I didn’t vote for that dress,” said Jessica Bettencourt, a homemaker and mother of three in Mequon, Wisc., who shared a widely held view that Mrs. Obama had exhibited a rare lapse in taste. [...]

Based on her many public appearances of the past two years, Mrs. Obama’s tastes run from J. Crew to adventurous American labels. She frequently accessorizes with ultra-wide belts and theatrical brooches. Certainly, her style is a departure from the starchy attire that first ladies historically favored.

At the least, it promises four lively years of fashion-watching at the White House.


*source of photo

Inspirational: "I am American"

They proved that impossible is possible in America. They proved that ‘American dream’ exists. With all its shortcomings, this was a huge democratic exercise.

Over the last decade, and especially last years, US reputation fell down below the lowest possible denominator. It became a bad tone to say "I am American". No longer. At least for now, for me it sounds more like a compliment. Now they may proudly say: "I am American".

I knew that November is going to be a special month for me. It indeed turned out to be very special for personal/professional reasons. It's now very special for the 4th November too, double, triple special. It feels great, inspirational.

Expectations are so high of him that chances to get disappointed are very high too. Beginning of new era, or so I hope.

SJP for Obama

Sarah Jessica Parker of my favourite TV show Sex and The City joined volunteers at the Obama NY HQ to make calls to undecided voters, reports The Huffington Post (photo).

(disturbing!) Kiss of The Day

October cover of The Progressive magazine.

This is one of the most disturbing – even if made up – ‘kisses of the day’. Really.

*source of photo: Queerty

Vote Obama

Armenians for Obama'08

http://www.armeniansforobama.com

Barack Obama hits Paris Fashion Week

*via Towleroad

"Barack Obama also made an appearance at the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac 2009 ready-to-wear show in Paris, in the form of a sparkling canary yellow dress, complete with "Yes" glove. In the spirit of fairness, the model also wore a "No" glove on the other hand."