All Entries in the "Opinion" Category
Ask Lambda Legal Immigration Reform is an LGBT Issue
By: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal/Special to TRT– Q: Why are LGBT groups working on immigration issues and what does the recent debate about Comprehensive Immigration Reform have to do with the rights of LGBT individuals and families? A. We often hear that our immigration system is broken. But too few people understand how this terribly broken system [...]
Being Who You Are and Finding that Elusive Peace with Your True Self
By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist– Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to express female. However, I don’t know how I felt before my memories began. When we are very young it doesn’t really matter because we don’t know anything about gender. Oh sure, your parents may dress you in a frilly dress or pants [...]
Mensaje al Alcalde Menino: ¡Gracias! Usted es Uno de Nuestros más Grandes Aliados
Por: Wilfred Labiosa*/Columnista de TRT– Acabo de escuchar las palabras del Alcalde de Boston, Thomas Menino, de que no va a correr por otro término. ¡Qué tristeza increíble! Yo tuve la oportunidad de trabajar para la Ciudad de Boston unos años atrás y para este increíble hombre y político. También tuve la oportunidad de trabajar [...]
Faith, Family, and God: Will the New Pope Bring Change Because of His Humility?
By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist– Before you go any further take a Valium, enjoy a cocktail, or get your Tagamet ready. Your blood pressure may spike. Pope Francis I, the newly enthroned leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, does not support marriage equality and LGBTQ adoption of children. Yet his humility and training as a Jesuit, [...]
Ask a Transwoman: Etiquette & Power of Names – Handling the Uncomfortable
By: Lorelei Erisis*/TRT Columnist– Hi Lorelei, I had this happen to me in Boston last week. I had a woman who I hadn’t seen in over 20 years come up to me and say, in a very loud tone and in a very public place, my former legal name. In response I politely and calmly [...]
Pregúntale a Lambda Legal: La Reforma Migratoria es un Asunto LGBT
Por: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Abogado/Especial para TRT– P. ¿Por qué trabajan los grupos LGBT en asuntos de inmigración y qué tiene que ver el reciente debate de la reforma migratoria con los derechos de personas y familias LGBT? R. Nosotros a menudo escuchamos que nuestro sistema de inmigración está roto. Pero pocas personas comprenden cómo este sistema [...]
Creep of the Week: American Family Association’s Sandy Rios
By: D’Anne Witkowski/Special to TRT– If there’s one thing kids in America hear too often it’s how totally cool and fantastic homosexuality is. Once upon a time there was a lot of anti-gay hate in schools: kids would call other kids “fag” and teachers would just look the other way, same-sex couples weren’t allowed to [...]
Thinking Out Loud: Other People’s Politics & We Just Have To Deal With It
By: Abby Dees*/Special to TRT– Having friends who don’t share your political views is very inconvenient. It requires you to think in terms of individuals, rather than lump everyone you disagree with into a tidy group that is (pick one:) stupid, greedy, evil, brainwashed or out to get you. It means you have to get [...]
Op-ed: Obama, Clinton, & Gay Marriage: Why We Need More Than Rhetoric
By: Keegan O’Brien*/Special to TRT– Last week, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a video officially announcing her support for same-sex marriage, shortly after her husband and former President Bill Clinton did as well, and just months after Obama. The same week several prominent GOP figures also announced their support for marriage equality. This [...]
Creep of the Week: Queen Elizabeth II
By: D’Anne Witkowski*/Special to TRT– Queen Elizabeth II has no direct impact on my life. I’m not one of her “subjects,” nor do I follow the obsessive tabloid coverage of what the Royal Family does in their day-to-day lives (granted, I can’t help but hear “news” that someone named Kate is having a baby and [...]
Transgender Woman Files Gender Discrimination Lawsuit in Federal Court
BOSTON, Mass.–On Wednesday February 20, 2013 attorneys for historical transgender personality and Civil Rights activist Erica Kay filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in the United States 11th Circuit Federal Court, Florida Northern District, in Panama City, Florida. Named as Defendants in the lawsuit are: The City of Panama City, Florida; City of Parker, Florida; Michael Rozier and [...]
Transgender Parent & Friendly Picture Books for Young Children
By: Elizabeth Rowell, Special to TRT— Picture books about many different kinds of families are readily available for young children including families with a mom and a dad, one parent, two moms and two dads, as well as a few with parents who have disabilities or illnesses. Young children enjoy and feel validated when they [...]
Op-ed: St. Paddy’s Day Parade: “Queers Need Not Apply”
By: Keegan O’Brien*/Special to TRT – On St.Patrick’s Day, Sunday March 17, 2013, the Allied War Veterans Groups once again prohibited any Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) or peace organizations from participating in Boston’s annual St.Patrick’s Day parade. In 2011, Veterans for Peace was denied the right to march by parade organizers. So, they [...]
Bigotry Lines the Streets of South Boston on St. Patty’s Day
By: Nicole Lashomb*/Editor-in-Chief– Today, I had the privilege of lining up in my first St. Patrick’s Peace Parade, which started one mile behind the traditional parade since we are regularly banned from participating in the “traditional” yearly festivities. Yes, banned, as were all LGBTA groups and veterans. After having decorated our SUV with The Rainbow [...]
Experiencia en la Parada de San Patricio: Discrimen en las Calles del Sur de Boston
Por: Gricel M. Ocasio*/Publicadora de TRT– Tanta ha sido la polémica de la parada de San Patricio en Boston que pensamos que era lo correcto y justo el participar como parte de nuestro apoyo y presencia como dueñas del periódico The Rainbow Times. Luego de haber tenido una odisea con el tráfico en Boston para [...]
