My post today is a reflection on the victories for the queer community this year. This is the only looking back I'll do for this year. When it gets closer to the end of the year, I'll post a wish list for next year (That is going to be REALLY fun!). On this wonderful thanksgiving, as I snuggle back into my home in NYC with my mom and brother, I want to thank people who have made a difference in the lives of GLBT people...
... Thank you Gael Garcia Bernal (Mexican Actor, "Y Tu Mama Tambien", "Motorcycle Diaries") for voicing your support for Mexico City's new Same-Sex Civil Unions Law.
... Thank you Israeli Supreme Court for ruling that Israel should recognize Same-Sex marriages performed abroad (all marriages in Israel besides Orthodox Jewish marriages are performed abroad).
... Thank you Ohio Butler County Judge for dismissing a challange against Miami University's Domestic Partner Benefits Policy.
... Thank you Segolene Royal, French Socialist Candidate for President who came out in support of same sex marriage. She's leading in the polls, future president of France?
... Thank you South African Legislature for legalizing Same-Sex Marriage.
... Thank you South Australian Government for launching a Domestic Partner Registry, thus adding more momentum in Australia for equal queer rights in Australia.
... Thank You to the 67 newly elected or re-elected LGBT politicans all across the nation.
... Thank You to China's First College Gay Support Club which paved the latest steps in queer equality in the country with the largest queer population.
... Thank You Rev. Thomas Edward Breidenthal and all those who elected this pro-gay bishop for Southern Ohio.
... Thank You Illinois, California and Washington State for passing trans-inclusive anti-discrimination bills.
... Thank You Queer Russian activist Nicolas Alexeyev for helping to lead Moscow’s first ever queer pride march, even in the face of death threats and intense institutional opposition.
... Thank You to the 48 U.S. Senators who voted against putting the Anti-Gay Federal Marriage Amendment Act to vote in our nation’s congress.
... Thank You to the Czech Republic and Slovenia for passing Civil Unions.
... Thank You Berlin’s recently re-elected Queer mayor Klaus Wowereit for just being fabulous.
... Thank You href="http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24361">to the people of Arizona who shot down the anti-gay marriage amendment in that state, making history as the first state to reject a gay marriage ban.
... Thank You to the people of Arizona who shot down the anti-gay marriage amendment in that state, making history as the first state to reject a gay marriage ban.
... Thank You to the 3 dissenting New Jersey Supreme Court Justicies who ruled that New Jersey will not be equal until it grants MARRIAGE to same-sex couples who choose to marry.
... And finally Thank You to all of the grassroots activists who made possible these wonderful victories. We all may not agree on every issue, have the same tactics, or even speak the same language or live in the same country, but our efforts combined have given us these 2006 victories and countless others. You all are people that I am forever thankful for.
Author's Note: My name is Kevin Ballie, a student at American University (AU). I happen to work at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (GLBTA) Resource Center at AU. My area of activism centers particularly around GLBT activism. My goal is to write diaries on DailyKos as a regular update concerning issues facing the GLBT community. I sincerely hope to gain a readership base of committed GLBT activists and our supporters. Such a base will only enhance DailyKos and provoke greater thought. Just as a note, I may use terms like gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender (GLBT) or queer (a substitute for GLBT).