Lambda Legal, an organization dedicated to achieving full civil rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, scored a victory yesterday when Maryland's highest court ruled in favor of throwing out a referendum petition by Citizens for Responsible Government, a group hoping to block an act addressing discrimination against transgender individuals that was passed by unanimous vote in Montgomery County last year. Lambda, along with Equality Maryland and others, fought the referendum when it was revealed that the Montgomery County Board of Election allegedly over-counted the signatures.

Dan Furmansky, Executive Director of Equality Maryland, said in a statement: "This long overdue, crucial law is all about assuring that unchecked bias is not allowed to inhibit our neighbors' abilities to make a living or rent a home, and as a Montgomery County resident, I breathe a sigh of relief that this campaign to roll back anti-discrimination protections is now over."

The Arkansas Family Council's "Gold Standard"

The Associated Press reported today that Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels certified a proposal that would place a measure prohibiting unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children on the state's November ballot. "We need to publicly affirm the gold standard of rearing children whenever we can. The state standard should be as close to that gold standard of married mom and dad homes as possible," Arkansas Family Council President Jerry Cox said. The organization's campaign is a response to a 2006 Arkansas Supreme Court decision that ruled against a state law preventing gays and lesbians from becoming foster parents. Though the new measure doesn't specifically address same-sex couples, it's clearly aimed at gays and lesbians as Arkansas currently prohibits gay marriage and does not recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.

The proposal is not only another blow to civil rights but to the 6,500 children currently in Arkansas's foster care system. The state's Department of Human Services is currently investigating the deaths of four separate children living in foster care in Arkansas, including at least two involving allegations of physical abuse (DHS's child abuse investigation division is understaffed and behind on addressing complaints). According to Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, 1,000 children have grown to become adults in the last five years in the state without ever being placed in a permanent home; children who outgrow the foster care system are statistically more likely to become homeless or engage in criminal activity.

It seems that the "gold standard" of child rearing should be to actually rear them, without the fear of abuse or neglect—something Cox and his group seem determined to undercut in the name of preserving their so-called sacred traditions.

Last week it was revealed that Manhunt co-founder and presumptive bear Jonathan Crutchley donated the legal maximum of $2,300 to Republican Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. According to an article in Towleroad, Manhunt's board has forced Crutchley to step down in the wake of the backlash and calls for a boycott by Manhunt members. Though Crutchley has "stepped down," he'll likely still benefit financially from the company he helped start, so next time you renew your membership to the gay networking sex site, think about where that money is going. Sadly, neither McCain nor Democratic rival Barack Obama supports gay marriage, but last week during a faith forum hosted by Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, McCain said he would support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman if states are forced by federal judges to acknowledge other states' marriages. Obama supports civil unions. Separate but equal, but at least equal—for now.

Forget about a black president or a female president. A new nationwide poll from Zogby International reveals that 65% of likely voters would support an openly gay president if they agreed with him (or her) on key issues. A slightly higher percentage would support an openly gay vice president (we're curious about the 2% of that group who wouldn't support a gay commander in chief), while two-thirds would support an out-and-proud gay senator or presidential cabinet member. There are 415 flag-waving gay elected officials in the United States today, including five at the federal level. Most recently, congressional candidate Jared Polis won the Colorado Democratic primary; if he wins the general election this fall he will become the first non-incumbent, openly gay man ever elected to Congress. Most striking about Zogby's new poll: Participants 18-24 in age were most open to a gay presidential candidate, with the percentage decreasing with each subsequent age group—except those 25-34, for which the percentage curiously drops below 50%.

We have to question the taste level of anyone who picks a place called Beefalo Bob's (and whose mascot is a cow dressed up in a cowboy hat) to cater his or her wedding reception, but it turns out that the Baltimore, Maryland company might be even more judgmental than we are!

Laura and Leah, friends of Big Queer who were set up on a blind date by Leah's sister after Laura answered a furniture ad in the local paper three years ago, hired Beefalo Bob's to cater their reception in September. The company allegedly told the couple that they were fine with serving a same-sex "commitment ceremony" but refused to cater the event if Laura and Leah pursued a legal marriage in California. Their reason? According to Laura, Beefalo Bob's doesn't want to participate in any "politically-charged" or "unlawful" practices. Funny, we thought the role of a caterer was to bring the food, serve it and keep their mouths shut, and the last thing Laura and Leah want to do is politicize such an important personal moment in their lives. The pair withdrew their contract and got their deposit back.

Get your tranny-fierceness on at Dr. Jillian T. Weiss's new Diversity Seminar "Transgender Issues in the Workplace." Weiss says: "This one-day seminar is for human resources professionals, lawyers, and transgender individuals to address transgender issues in the workplace. This issue is at the leading edge of workplace diversity, with transgender discrimination prohibited in more than 20 states and over 100 cities." The event takes place on Friday, November 14, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in New York City. Weiss has a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Law, Policy & Society and is currently Associate Professor of Law and Society at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She also uses the word "best" at the end of her emails. For more information, head on over to Weiss's blog.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama has responded to an open letter (view the PDF) sent to both presidential candidates by the Family Equality Council regarding John McCain’s statement to The New York Times that he does not "believe in gay adoption." (Side note: Is that like not believing in Santa?) In his letter, Obama acknowledges the needs and desires of families of all stripes and, of course, outlines his plan to strengthen American families—by doubling spending on after-school programs for children, expanding the Medical Leave Act and encouraging flexible work schedules for parents—but he doesn't really address issues facing LGBT families specifically until the final paragraph. Obama pledges to stand up for all American families and we should demand that the next president, whoever he is, keep that promise.

Contact Obama here.
Contact John McCain here.