Anyone else ecstatic that it's Friday?
I'm in such a joyous mood. Not only because it's the end of the week, but also because of some important milestones achieved this week in the LGBT community, both here in Ohio and around the U.S. Among the highlights:
- Legislation has recently been passed in Ohio that allows domestic partners the right to make a decision regarding organ donation in the event their partner passes. The loss of a loved one is tragic, but the loss of an opportunity to save another human being is even more tragic. Kudos to the Ohio House for updating the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act to give us the opportunity to pay it forward.
- Remember when I gave a shout out to Kathy Greenlee for being appointed as the Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Aging(AoA)? Get this– she's already making some huge differences for LGBT seniors. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plansto establish the nation's first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for the aging LGBT community. What does that mean, you type? It means that the new Resource Center for LGBT Elders will provide information, assistance, and resources for both LGBT organizations and mainstream aging services providers to create culturally sensitive services for this community. Let's face it–we are getting older (according to HHS, there are between 1.5 and 4 million of us out there age 60 and older). Hurrah to AoA for establishing this. But it's just the first step. Getting the word out there, and getting the right organizations to accept the challenge, will be a huge undertaking. My advice– work with the LGBT community to establish the center. Talk to us about the services we need. Ask us about the organizations we feel could run this center. Let us help you tailor the grant process so the right people get the funding to offer the right services. And, make this Resource Center an incredible online tool with the capacity for social networking. Often, the service that we need the most is a forum to share with each other. Take it to that level. But, let's all agree that we heart Kathy!
- When the Obama administration wasn't engaging with Fox News (so not going there…), it announced that U.S. Housing and Urban Development commissioned the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the renting and sale of housing. You can read more about it here, but what it essentially means (thank you Secretary Donovan) is that "a qualified individual and family will not be denied housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity." Awesome news! To know that we have this protection will help millions of LGBT individuals find their dream home. Now, if only the economy were corrected so we could afford it…
If you ask me, kind of a fantastic week to be gay. Will next week be the same, who knows? But at least this week, I know that my life donation choices will be honored, I know where to go when I get older for aging services, and there's no place like my own home– that I own. What do you think about these developments?
And now for some quick Friday musings:
- Still loving "Modern Family." Especially this week where the boyfriend bonded with his in-law over football.
- Kelly and Rosie splitting? Really? It's like Charles and Diana, all over again. Stay strong, ladies.
- Chuck Bass kissed a boy, and he liked it…
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What an informative blog, the news from the Ohio House is promising. Now the marriage ban needs to be repealed.
BTW, love “Modern Family.” Great show, great cast. Did you happen to catch Shelly Long a few weeks ago?