A LGBTQA community Resource for the Carolinas
The White House has opened its first gender-neutral restroom in what is seen as a symbolic step by President Obama to protect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the workplace.
PRESS RELEASE
Contacts: Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality, 828.242.6672 (c), jasmine@southernequality.org; Emily Hecht-McGowan, Interim Executive Director, Family Equality Council, ehecht@familyequality.org
Breaking: Mississippi Same-Sex Adoption Ban Struck Down in Federal Court
Same-Sex Couples Have Right to Adopt in Mississippi
Jackson, Miss. (March 31, 2016) – On Thursday night, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III struck down Mississippi’s ban on adoption by same-sex adoption. His ruling in Campaign for Southern Equality v. Mississippi Department of Human Services et al. means that same-sex couples in Mississippi now have a right to adopt. In his ruling, Judge Jordan III explicitly stated that the Mississippi law banning adoption by gay couples “violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.”
Mississippi was the last state in the country to have a statutory ban on same-sex adoption.
“We are obviously thrilled with today’s ruling, but our clients are beyond ecstatic. And that is exactly as it should be. Two sets of our clients have waited many (almost 9 and 16) years to become legal parents to the children they have loved and cared for since birth. We hope that it should finally be clear that discrimination against gay people simply because they are gay violates the Constitution in all 50 states, including Mississippi,” says Roberta Kaplan, lead attorney in the case.
Judge Jordan’s ruling is available at: http://www.southernequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Judge-Jordan-III-opinion-in-Campaign-for-Southern-Equality-v.-Mississippi-Department-of-Human-Services-et-al.pdf
This case was originally filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of four same-sex couples: Kari Lunsford and Tinora Sweeten-Lunsford, who are seeking to adopt a child; Brittany Rowell and Jessica Harbuck, also seeking to adopt; Donna Phillips and Janet Smith, parents to a young daughter; and Kathryn Garner and Susan Hrostowski, who have a 15-year-old son. Two organizations — the Campaign for Southern Equality and Family Equality Council — joined the case as plaintiffs representing LGBT families across Mississippi.
Lead counsel for the plaintiffs is Roberta Kaplan of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Plaintiffs are also represented by Mississippi attorney Robert McDuff and Sibyl Byrd of McDuff & Byrd, based in Jackson, Mississippi and Meghann Burke of Brazil and Burke, P.A. based in Asheville, NC. This legal team filed the federal case that struck down Mississippi’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples in 2014. Campaign for S. Equal. v. Bryant, 64 F. Supp. 3d 906 (S.D. Miss. 2014).
“We are so overwhelmed with joy. Our son just turned 16 on Easter Sunday and is going to get his driver’s license tomorrow . . . For us, the feeling and the way we have operated as a family have never been impacted by this law. But to have this ruling and to be able to start the adoption proceedings tomorrow means everything to me. There is no greater joy on this planet than to have him as my son and for the world to understand, appreciate and affirm that he is my son. It means everything,” says plaintiff Susan Hrostowski.
According to data from the 2010 Census, 29 percent of the 3,484 same-sex couples currently
living in Mississippi are raising children under the age of 18 in their homes. As of 2014, 996 same-sex couple households in Mississippi were raising 1,401 children, according to the Williams Institute at the U.C.L.A. School of Law. Beyond this, there are currently approximately 100 children in Mississippi who are in foster care and legally available for adoption, but who have not been matched with parents who can adopt them.
“LGBT families live in every town across Mississippi and can finally have the rights and protections that every family should. This ruling is a critical step forward in the journey toward full equality in every sphere of life for LGBT people in Mississippi,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, which has been advocating for LGBT equality across Mississippi since 2012.
“Today’s decision by the Court is a victory for our plaintiff couples and is a giant step forward in achieving full legal and lived equality for all families living in Mississippi.” Emily Hecht-McGowan, Interim Executive Director, Family Equality Council.
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Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Campaign for Southern Equality is a non-profit organization that empowers LGBT individuals and families across the South and advocates for full legal equality for all.
Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in this country today and their six million children of all ages. For over 30 years, we have raised our children and raised our voices toward fairness for all families. http://www.familyequality.org
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Sarver, Campaign for Southern Equality, 773.960.2857 (c), aaron@southernequality.org
Statement on passage of anti-LGBT bill HB2 by NCGA
Asheville, N.C. (March 23, 2016) – Today the North Carolina General Assembly passed HB2, which eliminates LGBT anti-discrimination protections passed by the Charlotte city council and prevents other municipalities from passing similar measures protecting the LGBT community.
“As a transgender North Carolinian and a person of faith, I believe discrimination is not a Christian value. Jesus never turned anyone away who sought his company. Under what Christian virtue shall we turn people away seeking access to the bathroom, housing, or hospital care? I urge our elected officials to make North Carolina a state where we are firmly committed to ensuring all God’s children are truly welcome here,” says Alex McNeill, Executive Director of More Light Presbyterians.
“Transgender youth and adults live in every town across North Carolina and we are committed to ensuring they are treated with equality, dignity and respect. We especially want to speak to transgender youth today, who are hearing terrible messages from our elected officials in Raleigh
What is true is this: you’re beautiful, you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, you are not alone, and if you need support, there are people here to help,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality and a UCC minister.
“We condemn HB2, which is based on bias against the transgender community and a distorted and cynical misinformation campaign. North Carolina is better than this. As for next steps – they are already in motion. Our legal team is closely reviewing this bill. When a bill with such overreach is pushed through the legislature, it has rarely been appropriately vetted,” continued Beach-Ferrara.
The Campaign for Southern Equality is working with LGBT rights organizations including More Light Presbyterians, Tranzmission and Equality NC to promote full equality in public accommodations in Asheville and to elevate the voices and leadership of transgender community members. Many local businesses, faith communities and non-profits are already taking part in our initiative to install All-Gender restroom signs – a simple change that provides dignity and respect for our Transgender community.
“There is a strong, diverse LGBT community in Asheville and we are part of every community. We are seeing more and more local business take proactive steps to be inclusive and welcoming, such as having all-gender restrooms,” says Ivy Hill, LGBT Rights Toolkit Coordinator of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
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Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Campaign for Southern Equality is a non-profit organization that advocates for the full equality of LGBT individuals and families across the South.
http://www.southernequality.org
More Light Presbyterians is a national organization that works for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.
Wednesday December 16, 2015 3:30 pm
Rev. Dr. Wendy Ella May made it official Wednesday, she is running for the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. May filed for office at the Johnston County Board of Elections Office in Smithfield.
Dr. May is the first open LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) candidate to run for elected office in Johnston County. May will challenge one-term incumbent Commissioner Ted Godwin of Selma for the District 2 seat.
Wendy-Ella-May-Filing-2May, a farmer, who lives in the Micro community, said “The number of issues facing our County daunts us all.” Among the issues May is concerned with include providing more assistance to Veterans, women’s rights, equality, public education, support the middle class, immigration, healthcare and the environment.
May also signed a pledge not to enter into any negative campaigning. “In past elections I have been subjected to negative attacks and false claims about my character, my values and my ability… I believe mudslinging and dirty politics distracts from important discussions about issues and public policy… I intend to run my campaign as I always have – positive, upbeat and respectful of the voters and my opponent.”
May has a long history of public service as a volunteer on local, county, state and national organizations.
A disabled US Army veteran and a member of the Disabled American Veterans, May is the retired founding priest of the Bradley Beach Community Church in New Jersey, founding director of M.E.N.D. 4 Male Survivors of Military Sexual Assault, and the retired President of the US New Methodist Episcopal Orthodox Religious Order and Churches.
May has also founded the MEND I AM Program and the Transformation Veterans Retreat Center in Selma. She is a member of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina, Democratic Women of North Carolina, and Democratic Women of Johnston County. WTSB Photo
Rev. Dr. Wendy Ella May made it official Wednesday, she is running for the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. May filed for office at the Johnston County Board of Elections Office in Smithfield.
Dr. May is the first open LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) candidate to run for elected office in Johnston County. May will challenge one-term incumbent Commissioner Ted Godwin of Selma for the District 2 seat.
Wendy-Ella-May-Filing-2May, a farmer, who lives in the Micro community, said “The number of issues facing our County daunts us all.” Among the issues May is concerned with include providing more assistance to Veterans, women’s rights, equality, public education, support the middle class, immigration, healthcare and the environment.
May also signed a pledge not to enter into any negative campaigning. “In past elections I have been subjected to negative attacks and false claims about my character, my values and my ability… I believe mudslinging and dirty politics distracts from important discussions about issues and public policy… I intend to run my campaign as I always have – positive, upbeat and respectful of the voters and my opponent.”
May has a long history of public service as a volunteer on local, county, state and national organizations.
A disabled US Army veteran and a member of the Disabled American Veterans, May is the retired founding priest of the Bradley Beach Community Church in New Jersey, founding director of M.E.N.D. 4 Male Survivors of Military Sexual Assault, and the retired President of the US New Methodist Episcopal Orthodox Religious Order and Churches.
May has also founded the MEND I AM Program and the Transformation Veterans Retreat Center in Selma. She is a member of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina, Democratic Women of North Carolina, and Democratic Women of Johnston County. WTSB Photo