So it gets a little hot but the temperature is right

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Most people probably heard how New York got hit by a big heat wave last week. It seems to be cooling down a bit now, but there were a few days where it was almost unbearable.

Harlem Hydrant. This shot was more interesting a moment earlier, before the kids playing in the hydrant ran off.

Usually, our office is colder than is comfortable. Something about servers and computer equipment, but it’s a little odd dressing in the lightest clothes possible for the commute to and from work, but packing a hoodie in my bag to make it through the day.

Speaking of the office, it’s been a very interesting summer to work in the LGBT equality movement. While Lambda isn’t involved in every LGBT case out there, we obviously pay very close attention to what is going on. There have been a lot of high profile cases like Doe v. Reed (the state can disclose the names of people who sign anti-queer ballot petitions) and Christian Legal Society v. Martinez (school can deny funding to anti-queer groups that discriminate against people who don’t share the same values and beliefs) at the Supreme Court, building precedent that the Constitution protects the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Lower level cases like the twin cases out of Massachusetts overturning part of DOMA (Gill v. Office of Personnel Management and Massachusetts v. US Dept of Health and Human Services) and the pending decision in California about the constitutionality of Prop 8 (Perry v. Schwarzenegger). There are also less high-profile, but equally significant, developments like a ruling that you cannot fire a person based on gender identity simply because you anticipate that other people might have a moral objection (Glenn v. Brumby). Additionally, things have happened like the Obama administration’s directive to hospital that receive federal funding to establish policies that respect LGBT patients and their families. I hear that federal housing authorities may soon adopt a new, broader definition of family, which will help poor and low-income queer people who rely on government assistance for basic housing to access the system legally (under the current system, problems can sometimes come up like only members of a family may live together in government-funded housing, excluding same-sex relationships not recognized by state or local law from the ability to live together legally and receive assistance).

Sure, not all the news has been positive. Civil Unions were vetoed in Hawaii. The military study of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is a joke. The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld their ban on same-sex marriage. Still, when you take a step back, the overall trend is very inspiring right now.

Anyway, I don’t know what my point is, except that I’m sometimes amazed at how many moving pieces there are to this movement: from teenagers wearing pro-gay t-shirts at school to LGBT seniors trying to find long-term assisted living.

There’s not much else going on this week in my life. Had five days off last weekend after Pride and the Kagan confirmation hearings, finished the last day of my summer class, spent most of the week skipping the social scene and trying to stay cool. To that end, it’s been catch-up week on movies I missed because of Law School. I saw Kick-Ass (somewhere in the world there is a Hollywood producer who actually says “you know who would be perfect for this movie? Nic Cage” — we should find this man and beat him senseless.) and Iron Man 2 (good enough to watch again) and Shrek: Forever After (meh) and The Fantastic Mr. Fox (cute) and How to Train Your Dragon (really cute) Youth in Revolt (likable but forgettable) and some other stuff.

Filed under: personal, queer rights by Jere Keys

12 Responses to “So it gets a little hot but the temperature is right”

Enrico, on July 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm Said:

I hate the heat! I’ve spent all my free time lying naked/broken on the floor beneath a fan!!

I showed support by putting up that blue sign with the two yellow lines in my cubical!

Jere Keys Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:14 am
You don’t want to get me started on HRC (the organization represented by that logo).
Justin, on July 10th, 2010 at 5:56 pm Said:

I dunno about you, Enrico, but I prefer Natalie Imbruglio’s lyrics “I’m cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor”.

The heat *has* been unbearable. Not quite as hot here in Boston as in NYC but just horrible.

It was hot but relatively dry this morning but then we got hit by a thunderstorm and now it’s about 20 degrees cooler but about a billion times more humid. Turned the AC’s off for about 5 minutes. They’re back on now

It was great seeing you again during the pride parade, Jere — what a funny coincidence that your group was directly in front of ours!

Jere Keys Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:15 am
It was great seeing you, too, although those photos you took of me have inspired me to never, ever eat again. That and the shirtless boys a few more space behind us in the parade.
john, on July 10th, 2010 at 6:07 pm Said:

My perfect kind of weather is 40˚ so this past week has really sucked.

I agree, it is an exciting time. My hope is that the people in the positions to make the decisions in these cases follow their conscience and make the right decisions.

The strange thing for me is that I have been very lucky to work in organizations that have show tremendous support to members of the LGBT community in their employ. The support isn’t the strange part, the strange part is that this makes me feel somewhat sheltered from the discrimination that is still present.

Jere Keys Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Private industry is lightyears ahead of public law. In large part because private corporations have long since learned that happy cows make better cheese. Unfortunately, that means the people still most affected by discrimination are those already vulnerable because they tend to be outside large corporations – especially the young, the elderly, the poor, and certain communities of color.
Tam, on July 10th, 2010 at 7:22 pm Said:

It was 40˚ here John. Oh wait. 40 FARENHEIT, not celcius. sorry. We had records too, it was ugly and nasty. It’s still not “normal” but at least we’re not melting anymore.

I sometimes feel like I live in a bubble up here and I truly forget things I take for granted like the gays in the military (they were recruiting at the Toronto Pride parade), equal treatment under the law, hate crime legislation that includes against gay bashing, and to right to get married, and divorced and adopt kids. To me they are just so basic, not above and beyond the norm that when I see a list like you post it makes me realize that it’s not the norm for everyone which is really very sad. I’m not saying Canada’s perfect, we have homophobic idiots and gay bashers and biggots, but when you run into one, hopefully there is a legal framework to support you in pursuing action.

Glad you are having an interesting summer.

Jere Keys Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Well, we’re starting to develop that legal framework, and we’re closer than we’ve been in decades. I honestly think if people weren’t so afraid of the gay marriage, we’d have long since established sweeping nondiscrimination principles in other areas.
Polt, on July 10th, 2010 at 10:21 pm Said:

I despise the heat. I want to find the inventor of air conditioning and have his babies.

Tam: If Canada ain’t perfect, it comes damn close. Well Toronoto, anyways.

HUGS…
Michelle M., on July 11th, 2010 at 1:03 am Said:

Nicolas Cage. Eww.

I’m glad some progress is being made. Maybe someday we’ll grow up to be Canada.
Alan, on July 11th, 2010 at 11:00 am Said:

Kill the heat!
josh, on July 11th, 2010 at 2:10 pm Said:

I like when it’s hot, hot, hot, so I can do what I want to do! Although, my inspiration often runs dry (that’s what’s goin’ on)!

That’s a lot of movies! Michael Cera annoyz me now…he plays the same character in all his moviez!