Derrick Martin, the Cochran, Ga., teen who is planning to take his boyfriend to the high school prom later this month, has been kicked out of his home by his parents.
Legislation can be like a train: It runs on a track, makes certain stops along the way, and is often attached to other trains. But in Congress, the train doesn’t run on time.
Last September, gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would likely get a House committee vote in September and a floor vote that fall. Didn’t happen.
FULTON, Miss. — The media whirlwind continues for Constance McMillen, the Mississippi student whose desire to take her girlfriend to the high school prom led to the cancellation of the event and a lawsuit from the ACLU against the school district.
McMillen’s media appearances have included “The Wanda Sykes Show,” the CBS Early Show, MSNBC and “The Joy Behar Show,” according to the Facebook page “Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to the Prom!” set up by the ACLU. At press time, the page had almost 290,000 fans.
In a year where a growing budget shortfall casts a long shadow across every conversation at the Georgia Capitol, one bill aimed at protecting Georgia students faces an uncertain future in the House.
State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) made a last-minute floor maneuver March 11 to save a bill that would expand the definition of bullying while requiring schools to develop strict guidelines tailored to curb bullying in elementary through high schools.
An activist with Lambda Legal, the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative and numerous other organizations, Simone Bell was familiar with rallying outside of the State Capitol, chanting and urging legislators inside the building to listen to their concerns.
“It’s really interesting being on the other side of the table,” said Bell (D-Atlanta), who took her seat as the state representative for District 58 in January after winning a special election and runoff last November and December.