From the hard working people at the South Carolina Equality Coalition we hear the following:
“Just minutes ago, the Columbia City Council voted unanimously to pass ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing and public accommodations. South Carolina Equality proposed these ordinances in January and the ordinances passed with little opposition. Please see the attached press release.
We have passed one of the most comprehensive local ordinances in the United States, in one of the most conservative states in the country. These ordinances represent the most significant advance in GLBT rights in SC, in the history of our state.
When we work together, when we’re focused, when we’re strong– there is no limit to what we can accomplish. We have re-launched South Carolina Equality in the last three months, and look at what we’ve been able to do, together. With your help, South Carolina Equality will take these ordinances to other cities in the state and continue to work at a local level.
South Carolina Equality worked closely with the SC Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement and the Harriet Hancock Center, coordinating activity and building support. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of Council Members Daniel Rickenmann and Tameika Isaac Devine and Mayor Bob Coble.
South Carolina’s Capital City is the first municipality in the state to pass comprehensive human rights ordinances in housing and public accommodations including sexual orientation and gender identity. Columbia joins two other cities in the Deep South that have passed comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinances - New Orleans and Atlanta.”
A Florida man is hitting the road with a traveling memorial recognizing victims of hate crimes.
A lesser-known woman supporting the memorial is Elke Kennedy, whose son Sean, 20, (pictured) in May 2007 took a fatal punch to the face in Greenville, S.C.
”I get up each day knowing that this is what I need to do for the rest of my life,” said Kennedy, 46, of South Carolina, now an activist lobbying for a national hate-crimes law.
”I did not want any mother to have to go through this again,” she said.
“I told Deputy Chief Berkow that I had experienced discrimination at Wilshire and that I could provide names,” Feldmeier states in court papers. “I was crying as I sat in his office and described the work environment at Wilshire.”
Berkow appeared uninterested, according to Feldmeier.”He said that sexual orientation discrimination isn’t an issue in today’s LAPD,” Feldmeier states.
Still, Berkow promised to investigate, according to Feldmeier, but did not keep his promise.”I believe that LAPD sat on my complaints of discrimination and harassment and failed to conduct a reasonable, thorough investigation,” she states.
Berkow, now the chief of police in Savannah, Ga., is the subject of an internal LAPD probe alleging he traded sex with other female officers in exchange for personal favors and promotions.
A few reminders from the friendly folks at the Alliance For Full Acceptance:
Congratulations to the Students at Trident Tech who have established a Gay-Straight Alliance. Change happens!
AFFA March 13 Meeting
“How to come out to your doctor–and why you should!” will be on Thursday March 13th at the Charleston Renaissance Hotel, 68 Wentworth Street in Charleston. (New day–Thursday.)
Get ready for a great panel of health professionals ready to answer your questions.
We begin at 5:45 with an open bar and hors d’oeuvres at 5:45 PM.
AFFA Events
March 7 & 8 - AFFA Board and Leadership Strategic Planning session for 2008/2009.
Thursday March 13 AFFA Meeting: Medical Professionals Panel–”How to come out to your Doctor–and why you should”
Monday March 17: AFFA presentation at Charleston School of Law. This is St. Patrick’s Day
Friday March 28: Jen Foster (Texas native, award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist writes from the heart and performs from the soul) at The Chart, 1078 E. Montague Ave. Unit D North Charleston SC 29405. Show time is 8 pm. Tickets $10 at the door supports AFFA!
Sunday April 6 AFFA Oyster Roast at Bowen’s Island 4-7 pm. Tickets $25.
The Chart is a new bar in North Charleston. Here’s the description from their MySpace:
The Chart, located at 1078 E. Montegue Ave in Park Circle, across the street from Evo and behind Park Circle Coffee n’ More! The Chart will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 4pm to 1am (or longer). Serving both a tapas menu as well as a traditional “bar menu,” we hope to add to the growing community of Park Circle. We are not downtown, but will capture both community and style with our ambiance and menu! All are encouraged and “family” is always welcome! Directions: from 526 take North Rhett. Right onto North Rhett from ramp (towards the circle). Take the 2nd E Montegue. You will pass N.Charleston High School on your right and will come up on Evo (on the right) and Park Circle Coffee n’ More (on the left). Take a left at Chateau and The Chart is on the left. For more information give us a call at 843-225-9949.
Tomorrow, Saturday February 16th at 7 pm AFFA will co-host a special guest with Charleston’s Unitarian Church Welcoming Congregations Committee: Kevin Jennings, the founder and director of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), and author of Mama’s Boy, Preacher’s Son: A Memoir of Growing Up, Coming Out and Changing America’s Schools.
Kevin has spent much of his adult life fighting for LGBT school age youth-and LGBT teachers. As he writes in his book, “I loved learning. School, on the other hand, was a problem.” With the heart of an activist, Kevin set out to change the world. GLSEN has done that for thousands of LGBT kids across the country.
Meet Kevin and hear excerpts from his book at the Spoleto Center, 14 George Street in Charleston.
