Center Blog

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out/ Last month Center Kids/Center Families hosted their annual Men Having Babies program. A panel of fathers, gestational carriers, lawyers, doctors and surrogacy providers presented information to wannabe parents with a special focus on how to reduce costs. You can listen to an audio podcast of the entire panel. Go to gaycenter.org/out for the link. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. To see more episodes go to gaycenter.org/out. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to http://www.gaycenter.org/support

From http://www.gaycenter.org/families Center Kids/Center Families hosted their annual Men Having Babies program. A panel of parents, gestational carriers, lawyers, doctors and surrogacy providers presented information to wannabe parents with a special focus on how to reduce costs. While this podcast is long, the podcast editor, Stefano Biaggioni, was engaged by the content throughout the entire program. The lawyer, Melissa Brisman, is really able to allay the fears that come up for future parents in the surrogacy process. The gestational carrier, Leah, explains why a woman would want to carry another person’s baby. And the parents give fascinating insight on their personal journeys in surrogacy and parenting.

From: http://www.gaycenter.org/out/ Hosted by Emanuel Xavier, the Center’s half-hour TV show opens with journalist Bill Goldstein in conversation with Robert Woodworth about the evolution of the Center from the’80s until today. Participants in the Center Kids’ Men Having Babies program share insights on low cost surrogacy options. Principals from the big four accounting firms talk about being out in corporate America. See highlights from a benefit staged reading of the Lisbon Traviata and moments from the Braking the Cycle closing ceremony. Out at the Center is a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. To see more episodes go to gaycenter.org/out. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to http://www.gaycenter.org/support

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Here are some highlights from the first Outmusic open mic night. This monthly series offers LGBT performers the opportunity to show their work to the community. Check out the website for more information and to register online. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. To see more episodes go to gaycenter.org/out. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to http://www.gaycenter.org/support

We all sat grim faced in team meeting yesterday, contemplating the impact of a financial crisis that Suze Orman has likened to a patient in the ICU. We talked about the growing number of people who are living in their cars (see the documentary “Half-homeless”:http://www.californiaconnected.org/tv/archives/420) as mortgage foreclosures continue to force people out of their homes all across the country.

This conversation led me to think about how this impending depression (although many would argue that a financial crisis is nothing new for many of us) is going to affect our community, the LGBT community. A friend told me of the growing concern of unemployment among workers in North Carolina (http://www.eegl.org/), one of few states that does not offer protection from employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. With a steady climb in unemployment (up 1.4 percentage points in the past year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) it is understandable that those most vulnerable, the underprotected, would be concerned. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is still working hard to see the ENDA is passed, and that it is inclusive of all of the members of our community. It is now, more than ever, urgent that LGBT employees, across the nation, receive the same protections as all other employees. I would encourage you to get involved (http://www.thetaskforce.org/enda07/tools/action_steps.pdf).

Among the dismal laundry list of facts and fears we shared yesterday one of my co-workers offered an encouraging aspect to this chaos, a shining, however small, beacon of light. If the predictions are right, and we find ourselves in dire straights, we are ALL going to have to move beyond the individualism that has come to characterise the purported “freedom” afforded to certain citizens of this country. The aspiration of “self-determination” which has become so intricately connected to financial gain is a pursuit very few of us really are ever afforded. It may come to a point where, if we hope to collectively survive, we are all going to have to know what it is to reach out to each other. We are all going to have to learn about asking for, and offering help. We just might see the development of community that pushes us all outside of our comfort zones, that requires us to understand the impact we can and do have on the lives of others. Its reaching and granolaish I know, but its the silver lining that I for one am going to have to cling to.

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality based in Washington DC, came to New York to speak about the recent activity of this advocacy organization. In this excerpt from the evening Mara touches on the issues of representation in dealing with the press and healthcare. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. To see more episodes go to gaycenter.org/out. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to http://www.gaycenter.org/support

From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Out Professionals hosted the panel “Homerun or Strikeout: 25 years of gay and lesbian sports.” A large and illustrious panel of athletes and sportswriters spoke about the current situation of being out in both professional and academic sports in the context of how far we’ve come in 25 years. To find out more about Out Professionals go to:http://www.outprofessionals.org/ This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. To see more episodes go to gaycenter.org/out. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to http://www.gaycenter.org/support

Paul is asking about LGBT representation in the NYS Assembly and Senate, regardless of party affiliation — how to do this and whether or not it can be sufficient to make changes in government and the state overall.  Mr. Squadron, as I understand it, responded that party affiliation does matter (i.e., a cohesive Democratic majority is needed to make the change necessary to improve the financial situation, marriage equality, etc.) and Mr. Chromczak responded that visible LGBT representation matters more, because, for example, issues like marriage equality have been misrepresented as a partisan issue (i.e., Democrats for and Republicans against).

Audience members are asking about SUNY tuition rates and candidates’ positions on unrestricted rights to abortion and expansion of the prison system.  Mr. Squadron responded that he supports a woman’s right to choose, which means all women should have full access to services, and supports expanding education, job preparedness, etc., rather than prison system expansion.  Mr. Chromczak responded that closing prisons will take jobs and that selling drugs, but not addiction, merits imprisonment.  With respect to abortion, he responded that women need real options also for carrying pregnancies to term and giving children up for adoption, and his personal position is pro-life.  Another audience member asked about candidates’ positions on homelessness, mental health, senior citizens and people with disabilities.  Mr. Squadron responded that effectively addressing all these issues requires an active government with resources dedicated to them.  Mr. Chromczak responded that he would prioritize mental health issues if he were elected.

Tonight’s forum closes with Assembly Member and Incumbent Deborah Glick (D, District 66).  Assembly Member Glick opened with comments on the issues and history in the U.S. on access to reproductive health and choice for women, criminalization of drug use that disproportionately targets poor people and/or people of color, the increased investment in NYS in the prison system and a corresponding decreased investment in higher education, and her support for expanding energy research and sustainable options, supporting LGBT youth and a progressive income tax structure.

An audience member asked Assembly Member Glick about her position on increased penalties for hate crimes; her response was that she believes that intent does matter when it comes to hate crimes and that it’s not about just the individual, but terrorizing a whole community.  The follow up question was that, if the criminal justice system disproportionately targets people of color and poor people, why won’t enhancing penalties for hate crimes reinforce this trend?  Another audience member asked about including LGBT people in NYS demographic data collection to determine the needs and document whether or not existing services are really addressing the needs we are currently trying to meet.   Assembly Member Glick responded that she thinks we’re moving in that direction.

Ater a quick wrap-up, we are now preparing to watch the presidential debate — come join us if you can!

With all the (understandable) attention being paid to the race for the White House, the various races for the U.S. Senate are being widely overlooked. That’s particularly the case in the entire Mid-Atlantic region, where only two Senate seats are being contested — especially since in both cases the incumbents are strong favorites to win (Frank Lautenberg in New Jersey and Joe Biden of Delaware, who is simultaneously running for Vice President).

Yet the stakes are particularly high in the Senate because at present, neither of the two major parties has a clear majority. Unlike in the House of Representatives, where Democrats predominate, both the Republicans and the Democrats presently hold 49 Senate seats. The balance of power is controlled by two independent Senators: Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. These independent Senators currently throw their support to the Democrats, giving them a slim 51-49 vote majority. However, Lieberman has endorsed Republican presidential candidate John McCain and could decide to caucus with the Republicans in the Senate at any time. In the case of such a 50-50 split in the Senate, Vice President Dick Cheney would cast the tie-breaking vote.

The November 4 election, however, seems likely to shift this precarious balance. Unlike the House of Representatives, in which all 435 members stand for election every two years, Senators have six-year terms with one-third of the seats being up for election every two years. In 2008, there are the usual 33 seats up plus two more to replace temporary Senators appointed by the Governors of Wyoming (after a death) and Mississippi (after a retirement) for a total of 35 Senate races.

Even before factoring in political considerations, the Republicans have the heavier burden this year because they have to “defend” 21 elected seats plus the two appointed seats for a total of 23 seats. Only 12 seats are among those currently held by Democrats. A further burden for the Republicans is that five of their incumbent Senators are retiring (Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Virginia) versus zero retirements for the Democrats. At present, the seats in Virginia, Colorado and possibly New Mexico seem likely to switch to Democratic control. A challenge by a right-wing independent candidate in usually conservative Idaho also has that race slightly unsettled, pointing to a net loss of 2, 3, or 4 seats for the Republicans.

Among incumbents running for re-election, Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is currently on trial for corruption charges, and is slightly behind in polls (although the presence of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on the GOP national ticket may help Stevens). Five other Republican incumbents are now statistically tied with or trailing their Democratic challengers, including Norm Coleman of Minnesota, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Gordon Smith of Oregon, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. The sole Democratic incumbent facing a serious challenge, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, now has a double-digit lead. In total, this suggests that Republicans could potentially lose between 2 and 6 additional seats they currently hold.

A further potential complication is that either two or three incumbent Senators will be leaving their seats for the White House: Barack Obama of Illinois and Joe Biden of Delaware, or John McCain of Arizona. All three states have Democratic governors and would be highly likely to appoint other Democrats to those seats; thus a McCain victory would deprive the Republicans of another seat. (It is widely assumed that if McCain wins, Lieberman would leave the Senate for a post as a Cabinet Secretary. However, Connecticut has a Republican governor so that net loss of one seat could be made up that way, or by a switch in party affiliation by Lieberman).

So what does this all amount to? The best case scenario for the Republicans seems to be the loss of 4-6 Senate seats. The worst case for Republicans – if Democrats nationwide are buoyed by a strong showing by Obama-Biden, could be 9 or even 10 seats. That could bring them over the “magic number” needed to end a “filibuster” – a procedural delaying maneuver that requires 60 votes to overcome. This is an extremely long shot in 2008, but could be more within reach in 2010.

The House seems certain to stay under Democratic control, perhaps with an increased majority of about 10-12 seats (for a total of about 250 of 435 seats, or 56%). With Obama running steadily, if narrowly, ahead in most polls, there is the distinct possibility that in 2009 the U.S. will experience “unified party control” by the Democrats in both house of Congress and the Presidency — for the first time since 1995 and for only the second time since 1969.

By Raymond A. Smith, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political Science
Columbia University and New York University

© Raymond A. Smith, 2008