Report card for Uruguay: A+

About a couple weeks ago, CNN reported that Uruguay just became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. And for that, they get an A+.

Senator Margarita Percovich stated that it was an easy decision. She says that it wasn’t really about the parents who were adopting the children, it was really just about the children. When asked about the bill, she stated, "It is a right for the boys and the girls, not a right for the adults. It streamlines the adoption process and does not discriminate."

Daniel Alonso, a resident of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, says that the new bill helps LGBT members feel like they are part of society.

Last year, lawmakers in Uruguay also, “approved a measure allowing children aged 12 or older to change their names, a measure aimed at transgender or transsexual youths. Uruguay also authorized same-sex civil unions last year, setting the stage for the current adoption law.” 

Josie Romero, a young child, teaches us to never give up

The story of Josie Romero, who was featured on “Sex, Lies, and Gender,” on Nat Geo TV last week, teaches us the power of acceptance and perseverance against all odds. You see, Josie hadn’t been known as such for her whole life. Prior to a few years ago, this adorable little girl went by the name of Joey. Josie is an 8-year-old transgender.

Her parents, both in a military and traditional family, did struggle with accepting their son’s desire to wear dresses, be referred to as a female and play with dolls. However, after a couple years of only allowing Josie to act out on her desires at home, they realized that they were impeding on her happiness.  Her father, an Air Force Lieutenant, had the hardest time accepting the changes, but as he states, only because he felt like he had lost a son. Both parents did an incredible thing by allowing Josie to be who she truly is; allowing her to go to school on base as herself, despite the turmoil it caused with parents and students, and even having her birth certificate changed to acknowledge that her name is Josie and she is female.

While the story of her family’s acceptance is extremely powerful, Josie’s own story is something that we can really learn from. Her mother states that she was constantly harassed and verbally and physically abused by her classmates only for being who she was. Josie was deeply hurt by the way she was treated, but refused to change the way she lived her life. At 8-years-old, Josie recognized the importance of persevering and trying again and again.

When working in coalitions, it’s easy to get downtrodden due to the bullies' comments. They’re saying mean things about you and what you feel passionate about. They don’t have much respect for you. They might even try to push you down. But, Josie serves as a precedent for how we too should act. Despite the naysayers, we need to keep moving forward, being who we are, spreading our message and being happy. And if we keep doing that, we really will be able to unite and conquer.

Report Card for GLADD: A

GLADD takes its name to heart.

The issues they are fighting for are incredibly serious, and when it’s called for, they always utilize that tone. But, they also know how to have fun—which, if you’ve been in the good graces of our community, you’re well aware that we get an A in social studies :)

And for their hard work and sense of humor, they get an A, as well.

Check out their blog and you’ll see that topics range from media favorites that are a part of the LGBTQ community and news about hate crimes. It’s important to have this sense of balance because it’s more attractive to others. No matter what the issue is, no one wants to work with someone that is somber all of the time. They want to work with someone that takes what they do seriously, but at the same time can dish about Ariel and Maria, the two bisexuals on Miami Social, and (the ever fabulous and adorable) Stephen on Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.

So, all in all, if you want to Unite and Conquer, you need to be GLADD.

Still taking strides towards equality

Although the administration's brief defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act is not what I had hoped for, I understand that the Department of Justice has to do it's constitutional duty in this case. However, I do commend the administration for taking the initiative to discuss the expansion of partner benefits for government employees, especially amidst all of the national problems--which proves that this is an important issue to the administration. In due time, it will come, we're working together to figure out how to ensure rights for gay people in America, while balancing the global fiscal crisis and massive health care reform.

As Representative Barney Frank stated, "Now that I have read the brief, I believe that the administration made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric. There are some cases where I wish they had been more explicit in disavowing their view that certain arguments were correct, and to make it clear that they were talking not about their own views of these issues, but rather what was appropriate in a constitutional case with a rational basis standard -- which is the one that now prevails in the federal courts, although I think it should be upgraded."

I completely agree with Representative Frank. I believe that, while this issue is one that demands change, the administration is obligated to uphold and defend the law when it has been enacted by appropriate processes and I know that the administration will enact laws protecting LGBT people from hate crimes and discrimination, as they have promised.