LZ Granderson: The Myth of The Gay Agenda

“…I have taught myself to sew, cook, fix plumbing, build furniture – I can even pat myself on the back when necessary…. There’s nothing I need from anyone except for love and respect. And anyone who can’t give me those two things has no place in my life.”

– Arnold from “Torch Song Trilogy.”

Visit Bing or Yahoo. Google or Duck Duck Go.

(Don’t worry, we’ll wait.)

Now: search for the words “Gay Agenda.”

(We’ll be right here, so be sure to come back. Better yet, open up another window or tab. There you go.)

Here’s what you’ll find: you’ll discover and learn more about us here at GayAgenda.com (please do that!).

You’ll also see many, many other “interesting” finds. Most notably, you’ll encounter a lot of people who have coined the hateful term and idea of the “gay agenda,” words we happily reclaim.

Among the search results you’ll find will be CNN reporter-journalist LZ Granderson’s world renowned, fact-filled, heartwarming and humorous TED Talk, “The Myth of the Gay Agenda.”

Remember that “Gay Agenda” search engine quest from before? LZ really, really went there too—in fact, he went into some extended search action…!

The results he found included a wealth of hate-monger speech and ignorance-laden articles and updates about the “dangerous gay lifestyle,” and the “dangerous gay agenda.”

On thumbing through result after result of anti-gay propaganda, Granderson reflects: “If I’m gay and I’m doing something that’s going to destroy civilization, I need to figure out what this stuff is. And, I need to stop doing it right now!” [The audience laughs.]

“I took a look at my life—a hard look at my life,” he goes on, “And I saw some things very disturbing. And I want to begin sharing these ‘evil’ things that I’ve been doing with you, starting with my mornings.

[The audience continues laughing along with LZ.] He continues the in-joke: “I drink coffee. Not only do I drink coffee. I know other people who drink coffee.”

Granderson directs us to the first slide of a PowerPoint presentation with the laughable title, “The Super Duper Evil Gay Lifestyle,” emblazoned with the rainbow flag.

He walks us through his happily partnered life and the daily goings on of being a busy parent. He then goes on to masterfully, ironically illustrate his points. “Run for your heterosexual lives, people!” Granderson humorously “threatens” during the conference, dismantling the hateful rhetoric that anti-gay bigots just so happen to throw around.

At the end of the day, LZ Granderson’s presentation fights for, in his own words, “Love and respect….trying to find your place in the world.” It seems so simple—the real “agenda” has to do with those who seek to complicate it. To destroy rights that have already been granted, and to prevent acquisition of others.

Finding and enjoying “love and respect:” in essence, this is everyone’s “agenda.” Granderson brilliantly brings these and other heartening ideas to the fore.

When he talks about love, his family, adoption and marriage equality, your eyes will get misty, your lips will quiver, you’ll be reminded of your own humanity. His talk is quite lovely and forever relevant.

LZ Granderson, who writes a weekly column for CNN.com, was named journalist of the year by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. He is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com. He spoke at TEDx Grand Rapids in May 2012. TED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “Ideas worth spreading” which it makes available through talks posted on its website. (http://www.tedxhappyvalley.com/lz-granderson-the-myth-of-the-gay-agenda/)

You can tweet your reactions and support to LZ  @Locs_n_Laughs.

Click here to watch the video—with choreographed light saber moves and all the belly laughs you can stand included. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CstD6O95L-o)

So what did you think of LZ Granderson’s TED Talk ?

Transphobic Tragicomedy: Paris Lees Chats With Jonathan Ross

Are Transphobic Jokes Ever Funny? On Paris Lees’ Trans-Empowerment Chat

Have you seen the YouTube dialogue between Paris Lees and Jonathan Ross?

Have a look and check it out: it comes highly-recommended.

In the video created for META,  Lees calmly and compassionately extends a hand to Ross in regard to prior insensitive remarks he’d made about transgendered individuals. First, he’d made a “lady boy airline” joke, then he mishandled social media responses with yet another quip he thought was funny. (When a fellow tweeter called him out on Twitter, he’d answered, “Lighten up. Sir. Madam. Whatever,” prior to making a quick knee-jerk apology.)

As we walk through Lees’ and Ross’ shared and very public video chat, we do see Ross searching for understanding about as he finds ways to personalize what being trans* means. (Example: citing the fact that his daughter is gay – it’s closer to but somewhat wide of the mark).

Paris Lees talks him through the proper way to communicate with and about LGBTQ folks, and trans* folks in particular, from a place of agency, and from her own knowledge and lived experience. All the while, he’s allowed the space to, essentially, brain dump as he moves toward fully embodied accountability.

The fact that the conversation has to do with comedic comments and Ross’ impressions about them provides a teaching moment that could have easily become inflamed, but Lees’ focus in her advocacy work has to do with centeredness, harmony and education. She’s been quoted in the press as being desirous to advocate for others in encouraging ways, making activism relationship-focused, easy as ‘having a chat and a bit of tea,’ and more accessible than accusatory (paraphrased).

While Lees’ viewpoint doesn’t provide others any wiggle room or space for excuses, it puts people at ease who could become unwitting allies and widen the platform for advocacy work simply by correcting themselves in public.

Kudos to Paris and to Jonathan as well—not only for having this conversation, but for sharing it in a public medium.

By video’s end, one does get the feeling that Ross has left the conversation changed—or that, at least, he’ll do double-check before he pens and delivers his next barbs.

To find out more about UK trans* resources or Paris Lees’ advocacy and creative work (additionally, she’s the editor of META magazine), please visit the links below.

Paris Lees’ Trans Empowerment Recommendations

Paris Lees’ Advocacy Site, All About Trans

META Magazine

Paris Lees at YouTube

Trans Media Watch

The Gender Trust

Trans Media Action

TransLondon

To discover and learn more about trans culture in the UK, please visit Paris Lees’ official homepage – Note: website resources in this article were also sourced from Paris Lees’ official homepage – ParisLees.com.

When’s the last time you heard a transphobic joke, and what was it? How did you react?

Employment Non-Discrimination Act Passes U.S. Senate Committee


Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Passes Bill, 15 to 7

What is ENDA?

In thirty-three states that don’t have legislation prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, it is perfectly legal to fire a LGBT employee solely due to their sexual orientation and gender identity, characteristics completely irrelevant to job performance. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would finally put in place uniform and comprehensive protections for the LGBT workforce in all fifty states.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) submitted to the Committee letters from over one hundred businesses and over 140 religious organizations endorsing ENDA.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is legislation that would provide protections in the workplace for LGBT employees.  According to the Williams Institute at UCLA Law, it is estimated that the number of LGBT employees are as follows: seven million in the private sector; one million state and local employees, and 200,000 employees of the federal government. Thirty percent of state and local LGBT employees live in California and New York.

Who is Exempt From ENDA

The current version of the bill #S815 prohibits private employers with more than fifteen employees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Exempt from the legislation are non-profit membership-only clubs, except labor unions, and religious organizations.

Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois is the co-sponsor of the bill along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Senator Harkin is the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  

How the Bipartisan Vote Split:

Only Republicans at the hearing were Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Kirk (R-Il.).  Every Democrat except Casey (Pa) and Hagan (D-NC) were at the ENDA hearing. The Republicans who voted no were  Lamar Alexander, Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Rand Paul (Ky), Pat Roberts (Kansas) and Tim Scott (S.C.)  Republican Senators Orrin Hatch, Mark Kirk, and Lisa Murowski voted yes to the passage of ENDA.

History of ENDA

The full Senate may take up the bill in the fall of 2013.  Enda hasn’t had a vote on the House or Senate Floor since November 2007, when it passed the House by 235-184.  It has been introduced in every session of Congress except one since 1994.  Representative Jared Polis, Democrat of  Colorado introduced the bill in the House and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Or) introduced it in the Senate.

Comments About the Vote on July 10, 2013

Senator Harkin:  “This is a great day, not only for the Committee, but also for America.  It is time, long, past time to prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Senator Mark Kirk: “ The bill is necessary so gay Americans won’t have that potential cloud of discrimination over them.”

The White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: “We look forward to the full Senate’s consideration of ENDA, and continue to urge the House to move forward on this bill that upholds America’s core values of fairness and equality.”

Senator Orrin Hatch:” I voted for it because it prohibits discrimination that should not occur in the workplace.”

President Obama wants to sign the legislation and is urging quick passage of ENDA.