Not Every New Idea is a Good One

When I first saw the new PFLAG logo, I thought the person showing it to me was committing a prank. Sadly, he wasn’t. I admit that I don’t know how the decision was reached at PFLAG National to change the existing logo(left) to the new one (right); who designed this thing; how much did it cost the organization to commission the new design; and how and why PFLAG officials believe this was a good idea. All I know is that it was a ridiculous decision and an example of how to screw up branding. Moreover, all chapters must use the new edition in their communications and websites.

A logo has been essential for companies, universities, sports teams and organizations of all stripes to create a brand identity and for customers to recognize it immediately. An overwhelming majority if these entities have maintained their logos for years and in many cases, decades as they understood the critical marketing imperative of having the company readily identified with their logo.

Logos appear on official communications, signs, advertising and various types of merchandise. Rarely do these entities tinker with them. If they do, it is usually subtle and just a few minor tweaks at that. They know all too well that maintaining a consistent logo works. It surely has worked well with companies like Coca-Cola, Walmart, Delta Airlines, NBC, Kellogg’s, Colgate, NY Mets, Royal Caribbean, Ford, University of Miami, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Red Wings and thousands of others.

LGBTQ organizations benefit from their logos as well. The Human Rights Campaign’s popular yellow equal sign on a blue field can be seen on thousands of cars’ bumpers, businesses windows, t-shirts, caps and mugs. Whatever your opinion is of HRC, you must admit they know a thing or two about branding.

But PFLAG seemed to have ignored the basics of marketing and decided to dispense with the cheerful, colorful, distinctive logo on the left in favor of the new one that screams…meh.

If I had drawn this new logo in my 7^th grade art class, my teacher not only would have given me a low grade but she would have also scolded me for a lack of effort and imagination. Simply put, it is visually unappealing and simply boring.

The change does not appear to be necessary.

I am not trying to dump on PFLAG. I love the organization with its hundreds of chapters nationwide and believe it is one of the most effective organizations in the LGBTQ rights movement. For over 50 years and through its volunteers PFLAG has succeeded in keeping countless number of families together and literally saved lives in the wake of hostility and discrimination.

I have been a volunteer in multiple chapters for a better part of 20 years and have written a slew of positive articles in the LGBTQ and mainstream press touting PFLAG’s invaluable work.

Their brand and reputation have always been wonderful, and even in today’s difficult times for LGBTQ organizations, it should capitalize on that brand.

I’m pretty sure it’s too late to restore the previous logo, but hopefully decision-makers at PFLAG National will see the light nonetheless. 

Thanksgiving Turkeys to Carve Up

Thanksgiving offers a great opportunity to reflect on our blessings and bring those not as fortunate into forefront of our thoughts.  To be sure, from a personal standpoint I feel I’m blessed.  Regarding the accomplishments within our LGBT community to which I’ve dedicated a good portion my life, there have been blessings aplenty, which make me feel proud and fulfilled.

I’m proud that Baltimore achieved a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Metropolitan Equality Index that reflects myriad achievements on various levels to help bring our community to at least on par with the rest of the citizenry.  I am also elated that my state was wise enough to allow same-sex couples like ours to marry and finally be able to receive the benefits that marriage affords.  I am also happy that the state ended discrimination against my transgender friends this year by asserting that all of our citizens should not be subject to discrimination.

Thus, with the rainbow flags flying high and proud, this Thanksgiving brought into focus other areas of concern that afflict our communities. I don’t want to sound dour but there is a set of realities or turkeys that should also noted.

Around the same time HRC’s pat-on-the-back to Baltimore came out, GLSEN presented some disturbing news that indicates we’re not making sufficient progress in Maryland’s high schools when it comes to bullying and related issues.  In the report GLSEN’s survey revealed a staggering high percentage of secondary school students in Maryland who have heard taunts, name-calling and/or experienced various forms of bullying that are LGBT-oriented. 

Just as disappointing is the fact that only 14 percent attended a school with a comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policy. We have been led to believe the state has such policies in place and perhaps the students aren’t aware of them.  But with so many of the students reporting such incidents you have to wonder. 

Recently, I represented PFLAG-Howard County at a county parks and recreation teen opportunities fair and heard mixed results from the students.  One student said that her gay friend at her high school is doing fine with being openly gay and has not experienced any problems with respect to bullying.  Yet, another student from the same high school, if you can believe it, mentioned her gay friend has been hospitalized due to the stress he received from being bullied by other students.

Clearly, anti-bullying policies must be tightened and enforced, and students, faculty and staff alike must be educated on these policies.  While it is true that today’s youth are increasingly supportive of equal rights for LGBT people, there is still evidence that it is not universal and bullying of all forms need to be eradicated.  No longer should a report emanating from GLSEN state that Maryland schools are unsafe for LGBT students.

Too many teens have taken their lives as a last resort because of kids who have the need to raise their own self-esteem at the expense of others.  According to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to ending suicide by LGBTQ youth, suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24.  LGB youth are four times more likely (and questioning youth three times) to attempt suicide than their straight peers.  And about 25 percent of young transgender individuals have attempted suicide.

Another turkey that needs carving is the rate of homelessness among LGBTQ youth.  As the frigid, cold winter dawns upon us, it is imperative to acknowledge that homeless LGBTQ youth are sleeping outside in boxes or on grates just to survive. 

The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that 20 percent of homeless youth are LGBT.  (Some organizations’ estimates are even higher, even up to 40 percent.)

While homeless youth typically experience severe family conflict as the primary reason for their homelessness, LGBT youth are twice as likely to experience sexual abuse before the age of 12.  LGBT youth, once homeless, are at higher risk for victimization, mental health problems, and unsafe sexual practices. Over 58 percent of LGBT homeless youth have been sexually victimized compared to 33.4 percent of heterosexual homeless youth. LGBT youth are roughly 7.4 times more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than heterosexual homeless youth. 

"LGBT organizations must seriously direct their efforts to preventing homelessness among LGBTQ youth and dealing with those who are." 

To the issue of suicide, homeless youth who are LGBT commit suicide at higher rates (62 percent) than heterosexual homeless youth (29 percent).  Transgender youth are even far more vulnerable.

These statistics are as chilling as the weather and illustrates that parents and families who continue to reject their children based on sexual orientation and gender identity either throw their kids out on the streets or make their environment so inhospitable that the kids need to run away.

Foster care is not a solution at this point because of the discrimination homeless LGBT youth experience, and these situations promote a homophobic atmosphere leading many youth to run away believing they are safer on the streets.  

LGBT organizations must seriously direct their efforts to preventing homelessness among LGBTQ youth and dealing with those who are.  It’s not as sexy a cause as marriage equality where tons of money had been raised.  But this crisis needs to be met if those organization still aspire to remain relevant.

This little reminder only scratches the surface.  We still need to face the epidemic of HIV/AIDS as folks are mistakenly assuming that unsafe sex practices are OK now.  They aren’t.

We have a developing crisis in the rapid growth in the aging population whereby seniors are experiencing discrimination in assisted living and nursing care facilities.  The discrimination among those entities are driving LGBT seniors back into the closet and preventing their partner’s access to them.

There are other such turkeys that need carving providing more food for thought to chew on, but this list should fill you up for now.

Evolution Complete!

May 9, 2012 became an historic day for equal rights in America. For the first time, a U.S. President has unequivocally and publically given his support for the legalization of same-sex marriage.  While this statement may be symbolic and does not carry the full force of Federal law, its significance cannot be overstated.

 In an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC News, President Obama acknowledged he had believed civil unions would have been sufficient, but now he decided to take it to a new level.

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” the president said.

Most observers speculated that Vice President Joe Biden's comments on Meet the Press three days earlier pushed the president in making this move now.  On that broadcast Mr. Biden said that he was perfectly “comfortable” with gay people being married.

“I am vice president of the United States of America,” Biden replied to a question posed by David Gregory. “The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction—beyond that.”

For his part, the president indicated that his announcement was going to take place in the near future.  “I had already made a decision that we were going to take this position before the election and before the convention,” Mr. Obama said on ABC the next day. “He probably got out a little bit over his skis, but out of a generosity of spirit. … Would I have preferred to have done this in my own way, on my own terms without there being a lot of notice to everybody, sure.”

This occurred a day after voters in North Carolina—a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election—resoundingly voted by a 22-point margin to forever ban marriage for same-sex couples and as well as civil unions.

As portions of the broadcast were released by ABC, within minutes leaders of LGBT organizations and elected officials commended the president for this statement that many viewed as courageous, overdue and in some quarters, even risky.

“Today, President Obama affirmed that for a people of many different faiths—a people who are committed to the principle of religious freedom—the way forward is always to be found through greater respect for the equal rights and human dignity of all,” said Governor Martin O'Malley, who on March 1 signed into law a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage in Maryland. “In Maryland, we agree.”

Chad Griffin, the incoming president of the Human Rights Campaign released the following statement: “If you are one of those who care about this issue, you will not forget where you were when you saw the president deliver those remarks.  Regardless of how old you are, it’s the first time you have ever seen a president of the United States look into a camera and say that a gay person should be treated equally under the law. The message that that sends, to a young gay or transgendered person struggling to come out, is life changing.”

Carrie Evans, the executive director for Equality Maryland said, “The President came out in support of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Although this statement does not undo the results of [the] vote in North Carolina, it does provide us with hope—the hope that people’s hearts and minds can evolve on this issue. And though this evolution may not always be on the timetable we would devise, we must embrace this historic declaration by President Obama.

In 1996, Obama indicated support in a questionnaire, then reversed course in his 2004 Senate race, and in 2008, he argued for civil unions.  In February 2011, President Obama instructed the Justice Department to no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, the legal prohibition on federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

But to the frustration of marriage equality activists, Mr. Obama maintained that his position on marriage equality is “evolving.”  With the president’s historic public statement on May 9, the evolution is complete.

Welcome Aboard!

NAACP-Baltimore Joins MME coalition but there are concerns.

By Steve Charing

The email message from Marylanders for Marriage Equality (MME) that announced on September 9 the addition of the Baltimore branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to the coalition was welcome and positive. My gut reaction is that there is now a focus on MME’s steering committee to work directly with the African-American community to help pass a marriage equality bill in 2012.

“The NAACP’s long history of working for equality and fairness for all will be instrumental in harnessing the supportive voices in the African-American community and throughout Maryland,” said Sultan Shakir, Campaign Manager for MME in the statement.

Tessa Hill-Alston, president of the Baltimore branch was quoted as saying, “We believe gay and lesbian couples have the same values as everyone else. They want to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love and build a loving, stable family. So it is only right that committed gay and lesbian couples be given the opportunity to marry as everyone else. We look forward to working with the coalition and lawmakers to pass a marriage equality bill that protects religious freedoms.”

The NAACP joins Senator Rich Madaleno, Delegate Luke Clippinger, Equality Maryland, Progressive Maryland, 1199 SEIU, ACLU-MD, Human Rights Campaign, and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as steering committee members for MME.

The news was received favorably by progressives all over. Blogger Michael Hulshof-Schmidt (TheSolipsisticMe) of the Daily Kos wrote: “Hill-Alston is the tonic for the hypocrisy and bigotry I witness from gays who are racist and misogynists, or blacks who are homophobic, or women who are anti-women and homophobic. I simply don’t understand how anyone that is or has been marginalized can’t feel an obligation to then stand up for others who are marginalized. I am hopeful and will look forward to other NAACP chapters stepping up to the plate and continuing to show great courage and leadership for civil rights for all.”

Yet religious African-Americans have resisted, if not rejected, the clarion calls by eminent civil rights leaders, such as Julian Bond, Rep. John Lewis, the late Coretta Scott King and many others as well as iconic institutions, such as the NAACP, who have argued for marriage equality. Those African-Americans who oppose such legislation use their religious convictions and/or their refusal to recognize marriage equality as a civil rights struggle as justification.

Even in a liberal city like Baltimore, mayoral candidates Frank M. Conaway and Otis Rolley and victorious District 12 Councilman Carl Stokes—all African-Americans—expressed opposition to same-sex marriage in a Gay Life survey. Other African-American candidates did so as well.

But it must be pointed out that while there is significant resistance to marriage equality among blacks, more recent polls indicate a modest increase in support. When the data surrounding the passage of Proposition 8 in California were ultimately analyzed, the initial finding of 70 percent support for the ballot initiative among African-Americans based on exit polling turned out to be overstated.

Further studies, however, indicate that in actuality 58 percent of California’s black population voted to prohibit same-sex marriage—a clear majority to be sure, but not an overwhelming one.

Many gays and lesbians were quick to blame blacks for the Prop. 8 debacle, but other factors, such as political ideology, religiosity and age played more of a role than race.

For marriage equality to pass the Maryland legislature in 2012 and to successfully defend it in a likely referendum, advocates will certainly need increased backing from African-Americans. With 30 percent of Maryland’s population being black—among the highest proportion of any state—the education process needs to be sweeping and intense. Clearly, the NAACP, with help from others, could provide such an effort.

That is why I enthusiastically welcomed the MME announcement. But upon visiting the Baltimore branch’s website , I was surprised by the fact that Tessa Hill-Alston’s name did not appear as president. She had been elected last November—fully 10 months ago—yet former president Marvin L. “Doc” Cheatham’s president’s message is still displayed. And when doing a search for Tessa Hill-Alston, “no results were found.”

Obviously the website is in need of updating. Perhaps there are insufficient resources to make the technical changes. But if an organization is to exude confidence and credibility, this should be a priority in the Internet age.

Moreover, I attempted to reach Ms. Hill-Alston to ascertain how the branch will reach out to the African-American community to help sell marriage equality. She did not return the phone message I left with the receptionist.

I also emailed Kevin Nix, the media spokesperson for MME who released the announcement, requesting him to share details of the role the Baltimore branch of the NAACP will play in the coalition’s effort. I also wanted to know if the other NAACP branches in the state, particularly Prince George’s County, will be called upon. At press time, I had not heard back.

My hope is that the reluctance to discuss specifics with the media and, by extension, the community is more of a strategic calculation (and not a good one since the General Assembly is a mere four months away) rather than an absence of information, which is more discomforting because of the closeness of the session. What we don’t want is “window dressing”—organizations who sit on a board and who can help check the proverbial boxes but otherwise have no active function.

The members of MME’s coalition, including the NAACP, could be vital to secure passage of the marriage equality bill and stave off a referendum attempt if utilized properly. The community needs to hear more about those plans but right now, nobody is talking.

www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com.

Equality Maryland at the Crossroads

April had not been a kind month for Equality Maryland, the state’s largest LGBT rights organization. The two signature legislative issues managed by Equality Maryland—marriage equality and gender identity protections—did not succeed in the 2011 General Assembly although the environment was ripe for passage for at least one.

Following each defeat (the bills were actually recommitted to committee instead of an up-and-down vote being taken in the second chamber) finger-pointing ran amok. Strategies and leadership were called into question, especially after the Civil Marriage Protection Act failed to advance in the House of Delegates although it sailed through the Senate.

Outside organizations (national partners, such as Human Rights Campaign, Gill Action and Freedom to Marry) were accused by many in the community of pushing the ultimate decision to recommit the bills, and Equality Maryland was blamed for allowing these organizations to maintain that degree of influence in what had been deemed by many as a local matter.

As to the gender identity bill, the trans-community was divided over the removal of “public accommodations” from the legislation to overcome a potential obstacle in the vote. The fury on both sides was intense and became personal. Many who were upset that the public accommodations component was stripped from the bill worked to defeat it. Although Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk, the sponsor of the bill, had made that strategic decision, Equality Maryland drew much of the ire as they backed the delegate.

The controversial firing of the organization’s executive director Morgan Meneses-Sheets also in April by the Equality Maryland Board did not help repair the public relations stain that had begun to envelop the organization. This was amplified by the resignation by Matt Thorn, the newly appointed Director of Development (fundraising), in protest.

The Board’s clumsy denial that Meneses-Sheets was actually fired was not productive as she had stated that it was not her decision to leave. There needed to be clarity and consistency in what had transpired, not contradiction.

And the appearance of a “gag order” to prevent Meneses-Sheets from talking to the media also fosters suspicion. When an organization reaches out to a community and asks for donations and volunteers, there should be transparency and accountability. Shunning the media or keeping things secretive only serves to erode confidence.

Many assumed that the firing of Menses-Sheets resulted from the failure to enact one or both of these critical bills. People even drew the sports analogy that when a team fails to deliver, the ownership usually axes the coach or manager. So it didn’t come as a major surprise that this action was taken.

However, according to a credible source familiar with Equality Maryland who spoke to Baltimore OUTloud on the condition of anonymity, the decision to terminate Meneses-Sheets was made as early as January. Even if these bills had passed, the Board was still going to dismiss Meneses-Sheets following the 90-day General Assembly.

There had been pressure placed on the Board by a number of lawmakers to remove her. It was a “communications” problem that, in part, led to the decision. Legislators believed she was too public by disclosing sensitive strategy while the Board was upset that she did not consult with them before she took a variety of actions or made statements.

This same source indicated that the role of the national partners during the last legislative session was troubling. “HRC and Gill Action seemed to play off each other. HRC saw this as a fundraising opportunity and each organization wanted to claim credit had there been a victory.”

Equality Maryland’s use of national partners has been questioned given that many believe that only local advocates would be more effective. The collaboration with these organizations gave the appearance that they were actually running the show. That perception further weakened Equality Maryland’s standing with some parts of the community.

Moreover, there is speculation that a new advocacy group will emerge to lead the marriage fight and a different organization will step forward to advance gender identity protections.

As April was mercifully coming to a close, Equality Maryland stood at the crossroads between becoming an effective state-based force in advancing LGBT rights or being perceived as irrelevant.

Only a week following the departure of Morgan Meneses-Sheets, the Board announced the selection of Lynne Bowman, a founder of Equality Ohio, to serve as the Interim Executive Director. She also served as the Director of Programs and Services for the Equality Federation, the national association of state-based LGBT organizations and possesses over two decades of experience in holding myriad leadership positions.

From all that can be gathered by reading posts on blogs, this is a very popular choice. I had the opportunity to speak with Lynne Bowman on the phone, and she impressed me as determined, and knowledgeable.

Her first order of business is to “stabilize” the organization from within and repair the public relations mishaps that beset the organization particularly over the course of the past month. Bowman’s guiding hand will be required to reassure a skeptical LGBT community.

This is crucial for the survival of Equality Maryland. Unless confidence is restored, much needed fundraising would not be accomplished and its impact on legislation would be reduced.

I still maintain that Equality Maryland has the infrastructure in place and the necessary contacts to overcome the disappointments of 2011. With Lynne Bowman at the helm, at least for the next four months, and if the LGBT community and allies get behind the organization, the ship can be righted. This is imperative because as of now, Equality Maryland is at the crossroads.

www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com

The Lazy Days of Summer Were Anything But

In 1963 the immortal Nat King Cole sang of "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer." You know, the days of "soda and pretzels and beer." It was a simpler, more idyllic time then. We were in the midst of Camelot. Life was so different then; it is unimaginable. No cell phones, much less smart phones, iPods, Internet, or cable TV were around. The Cold War was still cold although a little skirmish in Southeast Asia was beginning to fester. Stonewall was still 6 years away.

We assume the summer months, the dog days of summer —when school is out, people take their annual vacations, the heat suffocates—are a time when things just decelerate or come to a stop. Yet, the 99 or so days between Memorial Day and Labor Day always seem to be the fastest moving portion of any year's calendar.

As we head to the Labor Day weekend, we can reflect back to the summer of 2010 and characterize how blazing it really has been. Sure, the heat was record-breaking. Everything slows down to a crawl. Dogs are chasing cats while both are walking.

From the BP Oil Spill to the carnage on the streets of Baltimore, this summer has had enough events to fill a highlight—or lowlight—reel. Tempers have been flaring. We witnessed the mosque at Ground Zero controversy, Conservatives begrudging the First Family's taking a vacation, jobs still hemorrhaging, American Idol judges fleeing. And that's before the hotly-contested political season really starts to boil.

For the LGBT community, the summer started off in usual fashion. We experienced a fun-filled Pride weekend that overcame the oppressive heat and humidity. Most folks seemed to be in a good mood as the lgbt community came together for this annual event. Successful Pride celebrations also took place in D.C., Harrisburg, PA and Edgewater, MD throughout the summer.

The dog days took over on cue. As temperatures soared, many flocked to the beach—Rehomo Beach as some call it. Hopefully, they had been enjoying the latest edition of Baltimore OUTloud while sipping a brew or eye-balling those lotioned-up bodies lying under the rainbow umbrellas at Poodle Beach. House parties, dinner parties, block parties, white parties—summer is our time.

Our local lgbt candidates for elected office have braved the heat, humidity and thunderstorms to knock on doors, meet and greet potential voters in a quest to serve their districts. Certainly the lazy days of summer don't apply to them.

But it still seemed like a typical summer around here.

Then the controversy over Target and Best Buy's donations to a group representing Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer hit the fan. The group Emmer is associating with is not only anti-gay but very anti-gay.

“When lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers … used to think about Target and Best Buy, we saw two shining examples of corporations that respected the equality and dignity of every American,” the Human Rights Campaign stated in an open letter to the companies. “Now, Americans are questioning their loyalty to your brands with word of significant contributions to the political action committee MN Forward that hopes to install one of the most strident opponents of equality in the Minnesota Governor’s mansion,” HRC added.

They as well as other organizations such as MoveOn.org called for a boycott. Imagine lgbt people boycotting Target (also dubbed Tar-Gay) and Best Buy? That's akin to children boycotting ice cream. This is the summer of 2010 so the unexpected can be expected.

Then a ray of sunlight broke through the hazy skies of summer when federal judge Vaughn Walker struck down the nefarious Proposition 8 as unconstitutional in California. Although same-sex marriages in the Golden State are on hold at least until December thanks to a stay issued by the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals, the decision was monumental.

Another piece of good news about the lower court's ruling is that it exposed the incredibly weak secular arguments against marriage equality put forth by opponents. Two pathetic witnesses argued for Prop. 8. On the other hand, we had Theodore Olson and David Boies—polar opposites on the political spectrum—presenting an iron-clad case for marriage equality. The decision was a slam dunk.

Failing to muster any kind of legitimate substantive counter-attack concerning the ruling, religious conservative groups reverted to a comfortable place for them: the lowest level. They simply attacked Judge Walker not only for the decision itself but the fact he is gay. By being gay, they concluded he is biased by wanting Prop. 8 nullified. He would not be impartial and should have recused himself from the case.

What they chose not to acknowledge, however, is that a straight judge may also be biased, and therefore, would be prone to uphold the referendum. Ah, those pesky little points! Hopefully, the same compelling arguments against the constitutionality of depriving same-sex couples the right to marry will be eloquently presented to the Supreme Court, which seems inevitable.

As kids begin to buy school supplies or older ones pack up for college, we know that summertime will be transforming rather quickly into fall. While the thermometers may record lower readings, we expect the temperature to rise dramatically during the climax of the 2010 election campaigns—nationally and locally.

Summer of 2010 will soon be in our rear view mirror, but it certainly was not equated with the lazy days of summer of years past nostalgically depicted in song.

www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com.