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A look ahead to 2008
from page I
(ENDA) will continue to be a focal point for
the LGBT community. Transgender protec
tions are still excluded from the bill and
more Capitol Hill wrangling over the legisla
tion is likely to occur. Rumor has it that US.
Rep. Barney Frank and other Democratic
leaders will continue to push the trans-less
version. ENDA must pass the Senate and be
signed by the president to become law.
Although the former may happen, don’t bet
too much on the latter happening until a
Democrat takes office in 2009.
Hate Crimes
In 2007, both the House and the Senate
passed hate crimes legislation. In late
November, however, the Senate dropped its
version from the defense reauthorization
bill, effectively killing the issue for the year.
The likelihood of Bush signing any form of
hate crimes legislation is infinitesimal, but at
least the LGBT community might finally see
the bill through Congress and onto the presi
dent’s desk.
Safe Schools
In May 2007, the N.C. House of
Representatives passed the first LGBT-inclu-
sive bill to ever make it through either cham
ber of the N.C. General Assembly. The bill,
the School Violence Prevention Act, con
tained enumerated categories for protection,
including specific safeguards on the basis of
sexual orientation and gender-
identity/expression. Once the measure was
sent to the Senate, the categories were
stripped out. House leaders have promised a
confer-
South Carolina
Equality Coalition
bill early this year. They say they’ll do all they
can to get the enumerated categories —
including the LGBT protections — put back
in the bill. The legislation’s chief sponsor.
Rep. Rick Glazier, said he’d never agree to a
bill that didn’t include the specific protec
tions. By the end of 2008, North Carolina just
might have statewide school safety, anti-bul-
lying and non-discrimination regulations for
our LGBT youth.
Religious Right
While the national wingnut groups will
work to shroud their hate and bigotry in pseu
do-political terms (“special rights,” First
Amendment protections, etc.), the anti-queer.
on-the-streets radicals of the Carolinas will
give us more fire-and-brimstone preaching
and protesting. Expect groups like Operation
Save America (OSA) and Coahtion of
Conscience (CoC) to be evangelizing outside
the Human Rights Campaign Carolmas Gala
in February, organizing more “forums” for
“dialogue” (read: bashing), protesting at Pride
events around the Carolmas and anywhere
else that we gather to be ourselves.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’
The mihtary gay ban signed by President
Chnton in 1993 faced more criticism in 2007
than it has received since its inception. Gay
servicemembers outed themselves; others
were outed, booted and then spoke out; for
mer and retired generals and other military
leaders stood up for DADT’s repeal; and, all
Democratic presidential candidates promised
to scrap the policy. Expect 2008 to be no dif
ferent. On the campaign trail, in the halls of
Congress and in our neighborhood diners and
hangout spots, DADT is going to be debated
again and again. With each passing month
and with each additional mihtary leader who
publicly denounces tbe policy, the result
becomes more obvious. DADT wih be
repealed — if not in 2008, then sometime
soon thereafter.
Community Organizing
Equality North
Carolina and the South
Carolina Equality
Coalition have a lot of
ground to cover in 2008.
Equality NC is becoming
a political powerhouse
with their smart strategies and abili
ty to forge aUiances with legislative
leaders in Raleigh. SCEC recently hired a new
executive director, C. Ray Drew, with the
national organizing experience to move
South Carolina forward on issues like hate.
crimes legislation and non-discrimination.
Utilizing Drew’s extensive lobbying and lead
ership experience and taking cues from what
has worked in places like North Carolina,
SCEC is poised to make real gains in
Columbia. The advocacy of Elke Kennedy
and her Sean’s Last Wish foundation should
also prove to be significant. The Carolina’s
LGBT community is well-positioned for
advancement (even if in small steps)
throughout 2008 and in years to come. I
EQUALITY
NORTH CAROLINA
16 JANUARY 12.2008 • Q-NOTES