Equally Speaking
The following is a transcript of HRC’s morning news webcast "Equally Speaking." To view the current videos visit the main Equally Speaking page.
Good morning and thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking – your morning dose of GLBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Thursday, October 11th. I’m Heidi Williams.
And I’m Sultan Shakir. First up, happy coming out day!
Today, GLBT people and our allies around the world celebrate National Coming Out Day. The occasion was first celebrated to continue the legacy of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Equality and today’s event marks the twentieth anniversary of the march. Whether you’ve been out for twenty years or twenty minutes, take a minute today to tell people why you support GLBT equality.
Yesterday, HRC announced a partnership with Bravo’s Out Zone TV to help amplify the voices of GLBT people and our allies. HRC is sponsoring a YouTube video project asking people what inspires them to live openly and honestly. Go to Out Zone TV dot com slash coming out to see videos from Tim Gunn as well as stars of Project Runway, Queer Eye, Top Chef, Flipping Out and Workout answer that question. Then go to http://hrc.org/comingout to learn how to create your own video.
One last bit of coming out news, GLAAD released a new PSA yesterday starring Grey’s Anatomy actor T.R. Knight encouraging straight people to become allies in the fight for GLBT equality. You can view the ad at http://glaad.org/ally.
HRC is continuing to put pressure on Congress to advance an inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and we need your help. Go to Pass ENDA Now dot org and click on “spread the word” to participate in the “ten in ten” campaign to encourage others to contact their members of Congress.
Howard Bayless has become the first openly gay man elected to public office in Alabama with a win in a special election this week for a seat on the Birmingham Board of Education, Bayless is a former board chair of Equality Alabama and the current co-chair of the Equality Federation. He follows in the footsteps of State Representative Patricia Todd, who in a historic election last year, became the first-ever openly gay or lesbian candidate elected to any office in the state.
Finally, advice columnist Dear Abby spoke out this week for GLBT equality. In an interview with the Associated Press she supported marriage equality and talked about her reply to a woman concerned about showing photos of a transgender sibling to her children. Abby’s advice? Silence is the enemy and you should answer the kids’ questions honestly.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Have a happy Coming Out Day and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.