Harlem Pride is a 3-year-old not-for-profit organization co-founded by Carmen Neely and Lawrence Rodriguez. Founded initially as a house party in Harlem to celebrate PRIDE, the pair expanded their idea to incorporate their friends, neighbors and community members, which became, Harlem Pride making it the first ever official PRIDE celebration in Harlem.  The organization now has a full board of directors and 501c3 tax exempt status.

 As we start Black History Month, GLAAD sat down with Carmen Neely, President of Harlem PRIDE to highlight their work in Harlem and across the city.

Mari Haywood: What is your mission for the Harlem Community PRIDE center?

Carmen Neely: The planned community pride center will act as a hub and a resource center for Upper Manhattan’s SGL/LGBT community members and organizations.  It will provide space for meetings and activities, as well as conference rooms and office space for SGL/LGBT organizations. This center would celebrate the illustrious history of Harlem; provide educational, social and cultural programming for all members of our community, office space for local organizations, safe space for our youth, and a comfort zone for our elders.  

MH: What events are being planned or have taken place to bring awareness about the planned community center?

CN: On January 12th, we held a Town Hall meeting to introduce our new programs, activities and events, which included the petition for a community pride center.  An initial article about the center was published on ELIXHER.com. Later, a GLAAD blog was published on January 16th, and on January 29th an article ran in the Daily News highlighting Harlem Pride and the planned community center. In the near future we will begin a capital campaign to start raising funds and continue speaking with community members, local businesses and organizations, as well as local elected officials to gain further support.  We hope to have the center up and running by 2015.

MH: Harlem is so rich in culture specifically with the African-American community, how will you ensure that members of the community know the center is open to all races with Harlem's community becoming more diverse in its population?

CN: We want everyone to know that Harlem Pride is not just for African-Americans; it is for anyone who resides in Harlem, from river to river, and from 110th Street to 155th Street and beyond.  We are inclusive of the wonderful diversity that exists in Harlem and are open to all.

MH: Until the opening of the community center, how can someone become invovled with Harlem PRIDE?

CN: Anyone who is interested in participating with Harlem Pride can visit our website at www.HarlemPride.org email us at info@harlemPRIDE.org, or call us at 347.846.0362 for more information.

MH: Are there any events Harlem PRIDE will be sponsoring or a part of for black history month?

CN: Yes, we will be hosting a Harlem Pride Night at Billie’s Black Restaurant and Bar on Tuesday, February 19th from 5:30PM to 8:30PM.  This event will be both social and educational, as we honor SGL/LGBT figures from the Harlem Renaissance to the present.

MH: PRIDE events typically are viewed as celebrations with attendance being high to mainly parties and evening events, What other events does Harlem PRIDE host that brings more of an educational and informational perspective to PRIDE?

CN: Harlem Pride is an annual event held during the last weekend of June that consists of a VIP Launch Party Cocktail Reception on Friday.  Saturday is our Harlem PRIDE Day celebration in the park, and Sunday is Family Day.  Our first two family day events were held at Harlem Lanes Bowling Alley.  Last year and this year, we will march in the NYC PRIDE March on Sunday for Family Day.  First and foremost, Harlem Pride is a family event.  You can bring your 2 year old child or your 80 year old grandparent to all of our Pride events except, of course, our VIP Launch Party Cocktail Reception which is a fundraiser. From year to year we’ve added events throughout the week and in the future, we plan to make Harlem Pride a weeklong celebration. 

MH: Being a Transgender person of color the struggle we face is very personal to me, what programs does Harlem PRIDE have that are specific to Transgender people of color? 

CN: 2013 is the first year that Harlem Pride has scheduled year-round programming. We are currently working on a community forum that would discuss Transgender issues and have reached out to several community organizations to help us plan it.  We have tentatively scheduled that community forum for November 2013.

MH: Since the start of Harlem Pride, what are some monumental moments you can recall that have shown you that creating this organization was the right decision?

CN: The greatest monumental moment for me is when we realized what Harlem Pride meant to the community at our very first Harlem Pride in 2010.  There were several of our elders who were crying.  When asked why they were crying, their response was that for as long as they’d lived in Harlem, they never thought they’d see a Pride celebration out in the open in Harlem. It was then that I knew we had to work to make Harlem Pride a solid member of the Harlem community.

A second monumental moment is seeing all the support we received when some local churches were reportedly against our being in Marcus Garvey Park in 2011.  We had letters of support from Riverside Church, GMAD, and several elected officials; including Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Christine Quinn, Senator Tom Duane, Assemblyman Keith Wright, and Assemblyman Herman Ferrell. We were provided with increased police protection and we had a wonderful record number turnout.

The most recent monumental moment, is having decided to spearhead the effort to bring a community pride center to Harlem.  

 MH: In 5 years, where would you like to see Harlem Pride?

CN: In five years Harlem Pride would like to have an entire week of Pride activities, increase its year round programs and activities, expand its volunteer and membership base, create a scholarship program and of course, open the community pride center.

For more information on Harlem Pride and Carmen Neely, visit HarlemPride.org.

Evon "Yung LT" Young, the 22-year-old transgender male rapper who has been missing since New Year's Day, is the alleged victim of a gruesome murder, according to Milwaukee authorities.

Recently, police arrested five suspects accused of killing Young, one of whom is known to be a friend of the late rapper. The suspects have all been charged by the Milwaukee District Attorney's office with first-degree intentional homicide. Although Young's body has not yet been recovered, several items of evidence were collected, including DNA, burned clothing, blood and a chain which was allegedly used to choke Young during the attack.

The media coverage of Young's case has been problematic, with many reporters referring to Young by the name and gender he was assigned at birth. By doing this, journalists misrepresent who Young was, and bring unnecessary anguish to the family and loved ones who are mourning his loss. While some outlets have corrected these issues in their stories, many more remain that continue to use the name and gender ascribed to Young by police reports, rather than that with which he lived publicly. FORGE, a local transgender advoacy group, is continuing to call for accurate and respectful coverage of Young. It is crucial that media outlets respect the identities of transgender people in their coverage, especially in stories where transgender people have already been victimized by violent crime. 

GLAAD will continue to closely monitor this story. 

This weekend check out the 55th Annual Grammy Awards! Plus all new episodes of Malibu Country, Spartacus: War of the Damned, Say Yes to the Dress, Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, Revenge, Downton Abbey and Shameless.

What to Watch: Friday, February 8

8:30pm: Malibu Country, ABC (30 min) NEW

Afraid of losing her record deal, Reba agrees to team up with Superstar "bad girl" singer Shauna, who insists on getting to know Reba better by moving into her home. However, Reba soon discovers that Shauna is a having a bad influence on her kids. Meanwhile, Lillie Mae moves into Kim's house for a few days after deciding to housesit for her, and soon begins to think that Reba doesn't miss her.

9:00pm: Spartacus: War of the Damned, Starz (1 hr) NEW

Spartacus debates making a deal with a band of pillagers to guarantee that his people who remain fed and supplied. Also, Crassus's son Tiberius makes a critical decision.

9:00pm: Say Yes to the Dress, TLC (30 mins) NEW

A bride-to-be who has lost her hair to chemo searches for a wedding dress that she will feel beautiful in and another woman with 6-month-old quadruplets looks for a dress for her destination wedding.

9:30pm: Say Yes to the Dress, TLC (30 mins) NEW

Three brides search for their wedding dresses and run into problems stemming from body concerns.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and Sonny.

What to Watch: Saturday, February 9

9:00pm: Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, WE Tv (30 mins) NEW

Cyndi is the Grand Marshal of New York Pride.

9:30pm: Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, WE Tv (30 mins) NEW

David and Declyn conspire to surprise Cyndi for her birthday, but will her nosey tendencies spoil her own birthday surprise?

What to Watch: Sunday, February 10

8:00pm: 55th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS (3 hrs) NEW

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be hosted by L.L. Cool J, as the biggest names in music are honored for their talents and accomplishments. GLAAD Media Award nominee Frank Ocean and The Ally Coalition founders Fun. lead with 6 nominations each, other nominees include Ellen DeGeneres, Rachel Maddow, Janis Ian and more. Check out the full list here and watch Ocean perform "Thinkin About You" on Saturday Night Live below.

9:00pm: Revenge, ABC (1 hr) NEW

9:00pm: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, PBS (2 hrs) NEW

As "Downton Abbey" continues, Robert wants to put together a competitive team for the annual cricket match against the town.

9:00pm: Shameless, Showtime (1 hr) NEW

Jimmy's parents get divorced and he learns that his father is involved with a man. Meanwhile, Carl makes new friends at camp, Frank agrees to be Jody's sex coach and Fiona attempts to rally her co-workers against their boss when she realizes he is molesting his staff. Check out a sneak peek below.

____________________________________________________

About TV Gayed

Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com.

Recently the You Can Play Project, an advocacy organization that works to end homophobia in sports, announced the addition of new advisory board members that will help to further the organizations scope and increase their outreach capabilities. The GLAAD Amplifier Award-winning You Can Play Project seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete’s skills, work ethic and competitive spirit. The three new members consist of former NFL players Wade Davis and Esera Tuaolo, and ESPN.com writer and Baseball Prospectus Co-founder Christina Kahrl.

Wade Davis is a former NFL player who is now a staff member for the Hetrick-Martin Institute where he works closely with LGBT youth.  Esera Tuaolo is a former nose tackle who played for many teams in the NFL throughout the 90s.  Patrick Burke, founder of the You Can Play Project, stated that he is excited about the addition of both NFL players as, "Wade brings truly unique and irreplaceable insight and perspective to our board… (while) Esera brings a fantastic athletic background, exceptional work as an LGBT advocate and a deep understanding of faith issues". Wade Davis stated that, "I've always believed the vast majority of athletes are against discrimination and prejudice of all kinds and You Can Play is providing athletes with a platform to prove that. As an ex-professional player, I empathize and understand the attitude and mindset of athletes and as a youth advocate, I also understand how sports can influence lives and impact positive life choices.” 

Esera Tuaolo detailed that “Bridging the divide between sports and faith is critically important. (and) As a former NFL player, I poured my heart and soul into the game and did my best to help make the league what it is today, and I’m very excited to help my fellow gay NFL brothers."

Christina Kahrl is the Co-founder of Baseball Prospectus, which is an organization that publishes a sabermetric analysis of baseball. Kahrl is a transgender sportswriter and vocal civil rights advocate for the transgender community. She is also a member of the Baseball Writers Association of 

America and is currently writing and editing pieces for ESPN.com. Burke said, “From day one of our launch I have been actively seeking a transgender member of the sports community who can guide our work and outreach towards a community too often ignored. Christina’s brilliance in the baseball world, her openness and honesty when discussing her transition, and her tireless advocacy on behalf of transgender youth makes her an exceptional fit for this role. Christina’s leadership will ensure that You Can Play truly provides outreach to every member of the LGBT athletic community.” Kahrl herself said that, "Working within national coverage of Major League Baseball and as a member of the BBWAA, my hope would be to help make it easier for baseball's first out player to come out" among helping bridge gaps the LGBT community and sports.

All three new additions to the You Can Play Project advisory board have extensive experience with LGBT issues and the world of sports. Their presence within and contribution to the organization should serve to greatly aid in the efforts of the organization. With their help the hope is that one day LGBT athletes will be able to play their respective sport within an inclusive and hate-free environment.

It was reported earlier this week that a top Vatican official voiced support for gay and lesbian couples. Yesterday, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, backtracked from that statement, and blamed the media for "derailing" his words.

On February 4, Archbishop Paglia suggested that countries could find "private law solutions" to help offer protections for unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian couples. However, Archbishop Paglia was sure to strongly voice his opposition to marriage equality. Currently, marriage equality efforts are underway in several states in the United States, as well as national efforts in England and France. Roman Catholic bishops are opposing all of these efforts.

Archbishop Paglia also condemned discrimination, including countries with laws that criminalize LGBT people. He said that gay people “have the same dignity as all of God’s children.”

“In the world there are 20 or 25 countries where homosexuality is a crime,” he said. “I would like the church to fight against all this.”

In reality, 87 countries criminalize LGBT people.

Still, his comments were widely reported, giving hope to the millions of LGBT people and Catholics who already strongly support LGBT people around the world. Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry commented on the evolution, saying:

"Despite the continued intransigence on marriage equality, I think it is important to note that the archbishop’s comments represent a giant step forward in terms of Vatican recognition of same-gender couples."

However, after seeing the reporting and interpretation of his statement, Archbishop Paglia backtracked, stating that the reporting of his statement was much more than a misunderstanding. He went further to say that they were deliberately "derailed". Religion News Service reported his "clarification":

For the archbishop, recognizing that “norms that protect individual rights” can find their place in “existing (legal) systems” is “completely different” from approving same-sex marriage.   

The move to backtrack disappointed several Roman Catholic LGBT advocates. Religion News Service quoted Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of Dignity USA. While calling Archbishop Paglia's backtracking "disheartening", Duddy-Burke reminded us all that everyday Catholics have the ability to work for protections for LGBT people. Indeed, in the last election, Washington, Maryland, and Maine all granted marriage equality by public referendum, while Minnesota defeated a constitutional amendment that would limit marriage protections. In all these instances, Catholics voted on the side of marriage equality.

Statements and retractions like these have continued to demonstrate how the Roman Catholic hierarchy is out of step with regular, everyday Catholics who support LGBT equality, including marriage equality. GLAAD will continue to highlight Catholics who are working for LGBT equality, both in the church and within the wider society. 

Each week The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.

1)Fourplay is a quartet of stories taking place in four different cities in which gay and straight characters' lives are "changed by unusual sexual encounters." The short Fourplay: Tampa premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in the Shorts Competition. Fourplay opens today in limited theaters, find one near you here.

2) Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC's Sherlock) is in serious talks to play the role of gay English mathematician Alan Turing in the new film The Imitation Game about Turing's accomplishments as a World War II code breaker and his subsequent prosecution for being gay in the 1950s. Codebreaker, a recent docu-drama about Turing's life, is nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Documentary category.

3) The 40^th Annual Annie Awards took place this past weekend, honoring the best in animation. The GLAAD Media Award-nominated film ParaNormanpicked up awards for Character Animation in a Feature Production and Character Design in an Animated Feature Production.

4) Michael Riley, president of ABC Family, announced this week the pick-up of the hour-long drama The Fosters from executive producer Jennifer Lopez and creators Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige (Queer As Folk) about "a multi-ethnic family mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms." The Fosters will begin airing on ABC Family this summer.

5)Vogue contributing editor and former America's Next Top Model judge André Leon Talley has signed a deal with Electus to develop a late-night talk show. Talley describes the idea as "a forum where unique stories will be told and inspirations shared."

6) CBS just added some star power to one of its inclusive fall TV pilots.  Jacki Weaver will join the cast of The McCarthys, a Boston-set comedy about a sports-fanatic family.  Weaver will play Marjorie, the mother, who enjoys spending time with her gay son while her husband and children are off to practice.  The son, however, does not want to spend time with the family, which in this Irish-Catholic clan is his biggest sin.

7) Rock bands Tegan and Sara and fun. this week announced their "Most Nights" summer tour running from early July through early September. Tickets officially go on sale next weekend, but are now available on presale through Ticketmaster with the code "SOMENIGHTS".  The boys from fun. will also be hosting The Ally Coalition's Equality Village at each date along the tour.

8) Alan Cumming will be returning to Broadway this spring with his one-man show MacBeth, restaged from his 2012 Lincoln Center Festival performance where he portrayed each character himself. The show is directed by John Tiffany who is currently working on a staging of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie starring out actors Zachary Quinto and Cherry Jones.

9) Ian McKellen received an honorary degree of Doctors of Letters from the University of Ulster this past Sunday and he focused his acceptance speech on LGBT equality. "Thanks to every gay person in public and non-public life who has come out […] the world is a better place," he said.

10)Kevin Keller#7, which hit stores this Wednesday, features Kevin's first love interest in high school. Last January's Life with Archie #16 picked up a few years down the road and saw Kevin following in his father's footsteps and joining the military where he met Dr. Clay Walker and their eventual wedding in Riverdale.

11) An Abominable Crime is a new documentary about the anti-LGBT environment in Jamaica, and the project is looking for funding help to cover finishing and festival costs. An Abominable Crime follows two LGBT advocates in the country: Simone Edwards, who survived being shot after neighbors learned she is a lesbian and now lives in hiding with her daughter, and Maurice Tomlinson, a lawyer and human rights advocate who left Jamaica after receiving death threats when a Jamaican newspaper reported his marriage to a Canadian man. Learn more at the An Abominable Crime Kickstarter page and watch the trailer below.

Jeanne Manford, the late founder of PFLAG, will be honored posthumously with the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal at a White House ceremony on February 15. Jeanne founded PFLAG, an organization for parents, family, friends and straight allies of LGBT people, in 1973, a year after she joined her openly gay son, Morty, to march in what is now New York City's Pride Parade.

From its early days distributing educational literature to organizations around the country, PFLAG expanded to become a national non-profit organization with hundreds of affiliates. After witnessing decades of parents like herself growing to embrace their LGBT children, Jeanne passed away at age 92 in January.

The Presidential Citizens Medal recognizes Americans who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens." Fellow hero of the LGBT movement Janice Langbehn, who spoke at the 2011 GLAAD Media Awards, also received this prestigious honor for her work to ensure all Americans are treated equally when visiting loved ones in the hospital.

Jeanne's daughter, Suzanne Manford Swan, spoke about the Presidential Citizens Medal, saying, “I was able to share the news of this honor with my mom before she left us and I only wish the President could have seen the amazing smile that spread across her face. My family is deeply touched by this honor and to represent the PFLAG family values of love and acceptance.”

The CBS sitcom Mike & Molly went over the line last night with an offensive scene predicated on the hateful notion that transgender people are inherently disgusting. After constituents and trans community leaders spoke out against the joke last night, GLAAD discussed the issue with CBS directly, with additional follow up planned.

The offensive scene came within the first few minutes of the February 11 episode entitled "The Princess and the Troll."  In the scene, the show's main character Mike is talking with his police partner and best friend Carl about Carl's checkered romantic past of picking up downtrodden women off the street:

Carl: It's been a long time since I've trolled for bus pass ass.  

Mike: (Laughing) Not since the shemale incident of '08.  You spent the whole night crying and gargling!

Carl: Learned a lot of lessons that night.

The use of the derogatory term "shemale" is offensive in and of itself, but Mike goes on to categorize what happened as a traumatic experience which left Carl disgusted and weeping with regret.  The joke relies on the assumption that transgender people (and the thought of being with one) are revolting, and invites the audience to laugh right along.  And last night that audience was 10.4 million people.

Humor like this is unfortunately much more than "just a joke."  When a minority group is repeatedly made the object of ridicule, the majority finds it much harder to see them as fellow human beings deserving of dignity and respect, which can have direct real-life consequences.  In addition to being hurtful and dehumanizing, it's sentiments like the ones driving these jokes that fuel the disproportionately high levels of discrimination and violence faced by transgender women.

What's worse, in this instance, it's the show's main character that is making the jokes.  Rather than coming from a secondary character the audience already recognizes as ignorant and bigoted (such as Joyce's boyfriend Vince), in this case it's Mike himself.  He is the character the audience is expected to identify with and root for, which gives the anti-transgender sentiment he expresses an added layer of validity.

A 2011 study from the National Center for Transgender Equality found that transgender people faced twice the rates of unemployment and four times the rate of homeless compared to the general population, with 47% saying coming out as transgender cost them a job or promotion.  In schools, 78% transgender and gender-nonconforming kids reported being harassed, with 35% also reported having been physically assaulted.  57% of respondents reported significant family rejection, and a staggering 41% said they had at once point attempted suicide.  The national average is 1.6%.

As their repeated failing grades in GLAAD's Network Responsibility Index demonstrate, CBS has long struggled to include fair and accurate depictions of the LGBT community and have ranked last among the broadcast networks for four years in a row.  Transgender representation on the network is easily their worst area, as transgender people are typically mentioned only as off-screen punchlines, as was the case here. In the rare instances that they actually are allowed to appear, it's often as victims or killers on police procedurals, like a recent episode of CSI which depicted a transgender drug mule who graphically kills herself in a fit of insanity.  In fact, GLAAD's 2012 survey of transgender representation on television over the last decade found that CSI was one of the worst repeat offenders.

Ironically, this comes just as Mike & Molly star Melissa McCarthy's personal appearance was attacked by a film critic, who among other things referred to her as a "hippo" in a film review.  McCarthy's legions of fans rightly came to her defense and decried Reed's insults as cheap shots.  Her show's writers might want to consider how hurtful and damaging their own words can be the next time they think about targeting transgender people to get a laugh.

This morning, GLAAD spoke with CBS's Vice President of Diversity & Communications who is discussing the issues directly with the show.  CBS has also committed to meeting with GLAAD staff to discuss the offensive scene, as well as a number of other incidents on CBS comedies and dramas in the past year that increasingly add up to a disturbing trend.  GLAAD is calling on CBS to put an end to anti-trans content for the sake of a laugh and to treat trans issues with greater sensitivity.

Viewers who wish to report additional defamatory content they witness can do by sharing the information here. 

Tonight catch the season premiere of Southland, the season finale of Happily Divorced and all new episodes of Modern Family, Suburgatory and Chicago Fire.

What to Watch: Wednesday, February 13

9:00pm: Modern Family, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Cam and Mitch throw a Valentine's Day Lonely Hearts Party and find themselves trying to piece together what happened the morning after. Meanwhile, Claire and Phil's alter egos land them in the hospital and Gloria and Jay try to keep their romance alive.

9:30pm: Suburgatory, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Ryan and Tessa have their first Valentine's Day together, Sheila's mother's visit causes tension between the Shays and Dallas has a bad reaction to her latest cosmetic procedure.

10:00pm: Chicago Fire, NBC (1 hr) NEW

Dawson goes behind Antonio's back and puts herself in danger to help solve his investigation. Meanwhile, Casey struggles to build a relationship with his mother and Severide visits an important person from his past. Watch a sneak peek below.

10:00pm: Southland, TNT (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE

John is at odds with his new trainee, a military veteran from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Lydia struggles to balance motherhood and work, Ben does a deal with a shady group of cops and Sammy gets caught up in a custody battle.

10:30pm: Happily Divorced, TV Land (30 mins) SEASON FINALE

Fran makes a surprise trip to London to visit her fiance Elliott, but she may be the one who is surprised. Watch a sneak peek below.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and Sonny.

____________________________________________________

About TV Gayed

Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com.

Today, Athlete Ally, in congruence with the NBA, announced the joining of Kenneth Faried to the organization. Kenneth Faried is currently the starting power forward for the Denver Nuggets. After a record breaking college career at Morehead State University in Kentucky, Faried was picked in the first round of the NBA draft and experienced a standout rookie year which earned him the nickname 'manimal' and saw him finish 3rd in the rookie of the year voting.

Faried initially gained LGBT attention in college when it he began speaking about the fact that he  had grown up for much of his life with two mothers. Kenneth Faried again grabbed media attention this year when he spoke out after the passing of a bill by Colorado's state senate committee which legalized civil unions in the state. The basketball star then discussed how he did not like the fact that his relationship with a woman could be called a marriage but same sex couples were required to label their legally binding union something different.

Athlete Ally adds:

The announcement comes as an extension of Athlete Ally’s ongoing relationship with the NBA. In August, the organization worked in partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to deliver a pioneering LGBT awareness training to the 2012 NBA rookies, which included Faried. Along with today’s news of Faried’s alignment with Athlete Ally, we are pleased to announce plans to continue and expand that training program in 2013.

This references the ally trainings provided by GLAAD and Athlete Ally to the 2011-12 and 2012-13 rookie classes within the NBA. The video presentation discussed what it means for an athlete to be an ally to the LGBT community in the context of sports, the importance of being an ally, and how professional athletes can go about being allies. Faried is an exceptional example of how an athlete can use his or her platform to advocate for LGBT equality. NBA superstar Kobe Bryant recently displayed another way to send that message when he spoke out against the use of the word "gay" as an insult.

Today's announcement from Athlete Ally and the NBA discusses the continuation and commitment by the NBA to work with GLAAD and Athlete Ally to promote an inclusive and open environment for the LGBT community within the NBA.

On Monday, Oregon United for Marriage Equality announced that it has submitted the "Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative" to the Oregon Secretary of State's office, with the hope of getting it on the ballot in 2014. 2012 represented the first time marriage equality was passed by popular vote, in Maine, Maryland and Washington.  Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini said, "we are inviting our partners and supporters to take this next step with us: To sign the sponsorship petition, and commit to uniting Oregon in support of the freedom to marry for all Oregonians." On Valentine's Day, volunteers will be out all over the state of Oregon trying to get the necessary signatures for the first sponsorship.

As the support begins to rally, so too will the opposition. It is the responsibility of the media, not just LGBT advocates, to clarify and correct falsehoods or half-truths put forward by anti-gay activists. Journalists cannot allow these groups to mislead the public on marriage equality's effect on education, religious institutions or family.

When marriage equality was on the ballot in Maine and Washington, anti-gay activists aired ads produced by Frank Schubert that claimed to examine the negative impact that the passage of similar laws had on individuals' in other states, such as Massachusetts and Vermont. Equality Matters debunked each claim, and journalists like Bill Nemitz in Maine, and papers like the Seattle Times in Washington directly addressed and criticized the ads. Journalists in Oregon will need to step forward and ensure that people hear the absolute truth. Journalists cannot just present both sides as fair and equal representations of the truth, they must corroborate what they quote.

This is a guest post written by  2012 GLAAD National People of Color Media Institute graduate Daniel Villarreal and is part of our month-long celebration of LGBT and ally African-Americans. Follow Daniel's work on Twitter at @hispanicpanic79.

By Daniel Villarreal

When it comes to black queer writers, one anticipates the names James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry and (more recently) Bayard Rustin. But this Black History Month I decided to commemorate a few black authors whose names I've heard less often, but whose contributions nonetheless challenged our understanding of race, sexuality and American life in significant ways.

Audre Lorde

In her second book of poetry — a 1973 volume called Cables to Rage — Caribbean-American writer Audre Lorde published a poem called "Martha" in which she expressed her love for a female partner.

At the time, Lorde had begun a romantic involvement with psychology professor Frances Clayton, even though Lorde was still married to the father of her two children, Edwin Rollins. But perhaps this one instance of conflicting loves and identities typifies Lorde's work.

Were she still alive today, The Reverend Dr. Anna Pauline Murray — or Pauli, as she preferred to be called — would likely identify as trans.

During her teenage years, Murray — who self-identified with feminine pronouns — wore short hair, preferred pants and often passed for a boy. And though early into her young adulthood she had a bad run dating "extremely feminine and heterosexual" women who later rejected her, she imagined a monogamous married life where she could live as a man. She even sought hormone treatments in her 30's so she could correct the gender imbalance she felt within.

In many ways, gender played an integral role in Murray's development as an advocate for social justice and human rights. 

When she applied to attend Columbia University, the school rejected her because they didn't admit women. When she later graduated at the top of her class as the only female student at Howard University law school, Harvard University refused to award her the Julius Rosenwald Fellowship to continue her graduate work at their institution because she was female.

Her mother's position as a national officer and leading organizer of the Southern Negro Congress fostered Davis' interest in social reform through communist ideals — particularly when it came to issues of racial justice.

For Davis, the black civil rights movement would never achieve true equality for all African-Americans if it focused on American civil rights without reforming the much deeper economic and social inequalities created by capitalism.

During her time acting as a philosophy professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) she became an active member of the Communist Party USA, an associate of the Black Panther Party and a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War, racism, sexism, the prison industrial complex, and an advocate for gay rights.

Though she is best known as a prison reformer — especially as a founding member of the national prison abolition organization Critical Resistance — she has also written seven political books on feminism, race and incarceration and was an active voice in the Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011.

The group of Sullivan High School parents, teachers, and students lobbying for a straight-only prom have couched their anti-LGBT position in religious language, stating "We want to make the public see that we love the homosexuals, but we don't think it's right nor should it be accepted."

Special education teacher Diana Medley, who has been vocal about the group's desire for a prom that would ban LGBT students, believes that LGBT people have no purpose in life. When questioned, she said that "a gay person isn't going to come up and make some change unless it's to realize that it was a choice and they're choosing God."

Many religious leaders, however, have rejected the group's claims that LGBT people are "wrong" and that they should have a straight-only prom. Marianne Duddy-Burke of the Catholic organization, DignityUSA, states:

How tragic that a tiny group is attempting to make an Indiana high school prom a time of division, instead of the unified celebration it should be for a graduating class. No matter how students identify, they should be free to attend prom with the person of their choice. The administration and vast majority of students are apparently working to reinforce the message that “All are Welcome,” and to reassure LGBT students that they are valued members of the community. As Catholics, we support their efforts, and hope that all of the seniors in Sullivan, Indiana have a safe and fun experience at this event.

Andrew Marin, whose Marin Foundation seeks to "build bridges between the LGBT community and the Church," states:

The best thing for those who claim the name of Jesus in Sullivan, IN can do is to model for these students what it means to actually live into the tenants of their faith by staying in the tension, focusing on Jesus' love, within the ever-present theological, social or poetical differences. All this situation is currently doing is teaching the world that Christians believe it is ok to run away when they don't like something. That is the exact opposite of how Jesus lived, and what he taught his followers to do.

About 20% of Indiana's population identifies as Roman Catholic. Significant numbers also identify as Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran.

TAKE ACTION

Join GLSEN in sending messages of support to LGBT students at Sullivan High School and their allies. Visit their web site, Prom is for Everyone, to send yoru message to the Sullivan High School students. GLSEN's Executive Director Eliza Byard, started the way by thanking Sullivan High School's administrators for "standing up for what is right and making the Sullivan High prom safe, respectful, and inclusive." Please join her in offering your support. 

This essay originally appeared on the Huffington Post. It was written by Todd Clayton, the Religion, Faith, and Values Media Intern at GLAAD. It is a part of GLAAD's ongoing series of essays for Black History Month.

I'd never even heard the name James Baldwin until my first semester at Union Theological Seminary. As a white, middle-class American, I was the product of a predominantly white, middle-class education that didn't assign The Fire Next Time and Giovanni's Room, two of Baldwin's masterpieces, alongside 1984 and The Scarlet Letter. It wasn't until I moved to New York and took a class on Baldwin's life and writings that I was transformed by the black, same-gender-loving, 20th-century author's honesty and candor.

Baldwin grew up on New York's Fifth Avenue -- not the Fifth Avenue of Saks and the Social Register but the Fifth Avenue of 1930s Harlem, where black Americans like Ellison's invisible man were kept at a safe, 60-block distance from fearful, prejudiced whites. The child preacher turned writer experienced racism and homophobia firsthand and possessed an unflinching eye for the injustices of American life. Unlike many authors I have read before, Baldwin was filled with love, courage and an unrelenting imagination. It was precisely because of his abiding care for his country that Baldwin retained the right to critique her so harshly. He had faith that the United States could be better, not only for him but for all people.

I couldn't help but be captivated by his audacity. He quickly became a sage for me and left behind a signet of courage on my conscience. "[Y]ou have to decide who you are," he said in 1961, "and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you."

As a white gay man committed to advocacy, I was naturally drawn to Baldwin and eager to hear what he had to say about LGBTQ equality in America. What I discovered, though, was not at all what I was expecting. Baldwin, more than anyone else, taught me that although I am gay, I am white, and that being white always involves persistent privilege that must be recognized and accounted for. Baldwin explains that white LGBTQ men and women feel slighted precisely because they know that had they been straight, they would have been heirs to incomparable privilege. In a 1984 interview with Richard Goldstein, then the editor of the Village Voice, Baldwin said, "I think white gay people feel cheated because they were born, in principle, in a society in which they were supposed to be safe. The anomaly of their sexuality puts them in danger, unexpectedly." He went on to say:

Their reaction seems to me in direct proportion to their sense of feeling cheated of the advantages which accrue to white people in a white society. There's an element, it has always seemed to me, of bewilderment and complaint. Now that may sound very harsh, but the gay world as such is no more prepared to accept black people than anywhere else in society.

Baldwin was not the only queer author to express this reality. Audre Lorde, a black lesbian feminist writer and a contemporary of Baldwin's, says the same thing in her 1982 autobiography Zami: "[W]hen I, a Black woman, saw no reflection in any of the faces [in the lesbian clubs of New York] week after week, I knew perfectly well that being an outsider in the Bagatelle had everything to do with being Black." Calling herself a sister-outsider in the gay community, Lorde reflects on the racist gay culture of 1970s and '80s New York. "Non-conventional people can be dangerous," she says, "even in the gay community."

Mainstream gay culture privileges the white narrative, and it does so at the expense of its own legitimacy. As Baldwin understands and so eloquently states, the fight against homophobia and racism are undoubtedly entwined through their shared struggle for human dignity. However, conflating the two does discernible harm, both to those persons of color who are repeatedly forgotten in progressive social movements, and to white LGBTQ persons who tarnish their own humanity by forgetting the humanity of others.

As we celebrate Black History Month this February, and as we await the Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality, we must remember that the struggle to restore dignity to people is not finished. The work to ensure that all people have access to fair and equitable employment, health care and proper medical attention and aren't targets for violence by the police or their fellow community members must continue even after gays and lesbians are granted the right to marry the persons they love. This is not a new civil rights movement as some have said but a different one.

Baldwin's legacy teaches me, as a white person and an LGBTQ activist, that gay will never be the new black, and that the fight for racial equality is far from over.

On Monday, February 11, transgender fashion designer, actress and former America's Next Top Model star Isis King debuted her much-anticipated collection titled, "The Goldest winter Ever," at a runway show in New York. The show featured former ANTM stars Camille McDonald, Naima Mora, Brittany Browe, Keenyah Hill & Sheena Saki, all of whom came to support Isis by modeling her collection. Those attending included fashion editors, bloggers,  Erica Mena of the VH1 reality television show Love & Hip Hop, Kelly Linton of Oxygen's Brooklyn 11223, Angelina Pivarnick of MTV's Jersey Shore, and Tanyka Renee of MTV's Lingerie Football League. All photos are by Champion Eye Media. 

Isis studied fashion design at the Arts Institute of Philadelphia before going on to become the first transgender woman to star in America's Next Top Model. She was honored in Out Magazine's Out 100 list of 2012, and recently starred in the independent film Hello Forever, which was shot in the Philippines. Isis was also the first transgender model to be featured by American Apparel in the company's ad campaign for LGBT pride.

You can find out more about Isis King's work and see her designs at www.kingisis.com.

The Catholics stole the media show this week. When news broke on Monday that Pope Benedict XVI will retire at the end of the month, writers from across the country began speculating about what the change might mean for LGBT Catholics. The announcement came alongside Vatican-issued retreat from their hopeful statement last week about support for lesbian and gay couples. At the same time, the much less famous principal of a Catholic High School in Ohio was fired for posting a blog supporting gay marriage. Catholic Bishops continue to be conflicted over issues of LGBT inclusion and immigration.

Read more about the Catholic principal fired for his views on marriage equality.

Aside from the Papal surprise, the biggest religious curveball this week was the apology given by two granddaughters of Westboro Baptist Church's founder Fred Phelps. The women talked about the guilt they felt for supporting an organization for so long that hurt people so deeply. They left the church in November of 2012.

Read our religion director's thoughts on the Papal resignation and its implications for LGBT people.

There's a considerable amount of clergy support for the upcoming marriage equality vote in Illinois, which always makes us smile. A Liberty University graduate shared about his experience as a gay orthodox Christian on the Huffington Post, and a man spoke with Chicago Pride about what it's like being an old, gay Jew (his words, I promise).

Read about the Vatican's major LGBT-support flip-flop.

Atheist

• Why is a Queer Atheist Spending All His Time on Interfaith Activism?
  • Buzzfeed, February 13, 2013

Boy Scouts

• Deferred Boy Scout decision forces churches to make choice of their own
  • Houston Chronicle, February 6, 2013
• BSA Gay Okay?—Delay.
  • Religion Dispatches, February 7, 2013
• Delayed equality for Boy Scouts
  • The Washington Post, February 8, 2013

Catholic

• Catholic Bishops Conflicted Over Gays, Immigration
  • Associated Press, February 6, 2013
• Bishops Cite Flawed 'Gay Parenting' Study in Prop. 8 Brief
  • Religion Dispatches, February 6, 2013
• Vatican Backtracks on support for gay couples
  • The Washington Post, February 7, 2013
• PHOTOS: Equality Activists Protest Cardinal George Outside Chicago Cathedral
  • Queerty, February 11, 2013
• Pope Benedict XVI Resigning February 28
  • Towleroad, February 11, 2013
• LGBT Communities of Faith Respond to News of Pope Benedict's Retirement
  • Queerty, February 11, 2013
• Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation
  • Box Turtle Bulletin, February 11, 2013
• Updated: Hopeful Gay Catholic Groups Respond to Pope Benedict Resignation
  • The New Civil Rights Movement, February 11, 2013
• Gay Catholics: Opportunity in Pope's resignation
  • Wisconsin Gazette, February 11, 2013
• Ohio Catholic High School Principal Fired For Blog Post Supporting Gay Marriage
  • Towleroad, February 11, 2013
• Analysis: A pro-gay Catholic Church leader? Don't get your Popes up
  • Pink News, February 11, 2013
• Pope Benedict is Leaving, But the Homo Hatred Will Live On
  • Queerty, February 12, 2013
• With Pope Resignation, Gay Rights Advocates Hope for Change
  • The Huffington Post, February 12, 2013
• Polish Movie About Gay Catholic Priest Stirring Controversy
  • The Christian Post, February 12, 2013

Christian

• Are radical Christians finally ceding on gay marriage?
  • Salon, February 10, 2013
• (Not) Belonging: A Gay Christian Who Refuses to Take Sides
  • The Huffington Post, February 10, 2013
• Speaking Up against Ex-Gay Kent Paris at Summit Christian Church 
  • Canyonwalker Connections, February 13, 2013

Episcopal

• National Cathedral's Gay Marriage Stance Sparks Calls for Defunding
  • The Huffington Post, February 12, 2013

Evangelical

• Anti-gay evangelical group receives funding from the Canadian government
  • Pink News, February 11, 2013
• Canadian Government Pulls Funding from Evangelical Group with Anti-Gay Message
  • Queerty, February 11, 2013

Jewish

• You're Right: I'm Gay, Jewish, & Old
  • Chicago Pride, February 6, 2013
• LGBT Jewish group celebrates Purim
  • The Washington Blade, February 6, 2013
• 'The Sexuality of Spectrum' – is it good for the Jews?
  • The Times of Israel, February 11, 2013

Marriage Equality

• Large Number of Clergy Voice Support for Marriage Equality in Illinois
  • Lez Get Real, February 6, 2013

Muslim

• The Muslims Who Love The Gays
  • Box Turtle Bulletin, February 11, 2013

Presbyterian

• Minister Once Defrocked For Marrying Gay Couples Joins Lake Street Church
  • Evanston Patch, February 7, 2013

Politics

• Gay Controversies Tempered as National Prayer Breakfast Returns
  • Time, February 6, 2013
• Granddaughters of Westboro Baptist Church founder quit church, apologize for 'hurt'
  • The Washington Post, February 7, 2013
• Two of Fred Phelps' Granddaughters Leave Westboro Church of Hate
  • Religion Dispatches, February 7, 2013

Unitarian Universalist

• Beyond the Gender Binary—A Day without Pronouns
  • Standing on the Side of Love, February 4, 2013
• Gay Atlanta men reach out to hate crime victims
  • Project Q Atlanta, February 5, 2013
• One local congregation's unique stand on same-sex marriage
  • Santa Fe Reporter, February 5, 2013
• Marriage Equality leader to be installed as social justice minister at First Unitarian Church
  • Providence Journal, February 7, 2013

United Church of Christ

• Texas UCC celebrates Freedom to Marry Week with LGBT commitment ceremony
  • UCC News, February 8, 2013
• Indiana's delay on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage met with optimism by UCC LGBT advocates
  • UCC News, February 8, 2013

The Huffington Post published a new interview with Laverne Cox who plays a trans woman in the GLAAD Media Award-nominated film Musical Chairs, and who received a GLAAD Media Award in 2009 for her participation in the VH1 reality show I Want to Work for Diddy. In the interview, Laverne discusses that series and the response she got from trans women of color who had never seen themselves represented in entertainment other than being depicted as sex workers.  She also talks about the lack of transgender roles in Hollywood, and her upcoming film and television projects.

Laverne Cox is an actress and producer who first rose to fame on I Want to Work for Diddy, and went on to produce and star in a show of her very own, TRANSform Me, making her the first black transgender woman to do so. TRANSform Me was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Reality Program category.

She has worked with GLAAD on many projects and most recently participated in the "I AM: Trans People Speak" campaign. She also appeared on a CineGLAAD panel at the Sundance Film Festival, where she discussed trans representations in film.

As an trans advocate, Laverne stood behind Chaz Bono during his appearance on Dancing with the Stars, appearing on The Insider, along with other prominent transgender advocates, to talk about the significance of having a transgender person appearing on one of America's most beloved reality programs.

Laverne Cox is keeping busy in 2013. She will be starring in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black and the independent film The Exhibitionists, which is set for release on DVD on April 23^rd.

Thirty years ago it was practically unheard of for a major African American publication and an African American trans woman to work together. That is unless you're JET Magazine and Ajita Wilson.  Wilson, a transgender woman who completed her transition in the mid 1970s, was an actress with an international cult following for her work in foreign films.

She would later become a JET Beauty of the Week, appearing in the magazine's 1981 August 20^th issue. Her status as a transgender woman was not acknowledged until after her death in 1987.

(h/t Monica Roberts at TransGriot ) 

As people across the nation celebrate love and relationships this Valentine's Day, they can also appreciate the growing number of LGBT couples appearing on their favorite TV shows. Last year, GLAAD found that broadcast television had the highest percentage of LGBT characters ever in history. Below is a list of ten LGBT couples on television that are worth rooting for this Valentine's Day!

Will and Sonny - Days of Our Lives
Will and Sonny recently began a relationship on Days of Our Lives, sharing their first kiss in a November 2012 episode. Currently, their relationship has been complicated by news from Will's ex-girlfriend Gabi that she is pregnant. You can follow Will and Sonny's relationship by tuning into Days of Our Lives on NBC.

Adam and Becky - Degrassi
Degrassi is returning for a new season this Friday, and viewers expect to see more of Adam and Becky, who began dating last season. Adam, who is transgender, and Becky broke up briefly, but got back together just before the last season ended. You can tune in to TeenNick to catch the new episodes.

Bryan and David - The New Normal
Bryan and David are a gay couple trying to have a baby through surrogacy. In the most recent episode of The New Normal, Bryan and David address how they will form a close bond with their child without nursing. You can tune into NBC to see more of Bryan and David on The New Normal.

Callie and Arizona - Grey's Anatomy
Callie and Arizona are a married couple on Grey's Anatomy. In the show's most recent episodes, the couple is coping with Arizona's recovery from a deadly plane crash that left her injured. You can follow Callie and Arizona's storyline in upcoming episodes on ABC.

Cam and Mitchell - Modern Family
On Modern Family, Cam and Mitchell are a gay couple raising their daughter, Lily. In the show's recent Valentine's Day special, Cam and Mitchell throw a Lonely Hearts party for singles, but end up the next morning with an unexpected house guest. Follow Cam and Mitchell's storyline on ABC's Modern Family. 

Emily and Paige - Pretty Little Liars
Emily and Paige are currently dating on Pretty Little Liars. Most recently, Paige was accused by the other Liars of being "A," but Emily defended her, and eventually it became apparent that Paige was framed. You can see more of Emily and Paige in Pretty Little Liars on ABC Family.

Fiona and Imogen - Degrassi
Fiona and Imogen began dating in season 11 of Degrassi. In the latest episode, Fiona and Imogen went to Las Vegas to support Bianca and Drew as they eloped. Tune into TeenNick for the season premiere of Degrassi on Friday to follow Fiona and Imogen.

Kurt and Blaine - Glee
Kurt and Blaine were dating since season 2 of Glee, but have since broken up and are trying to be friends. Though it's clear the two still have feelings for one another, Kurt asked out another guy in a recent episode further complicating the situation. Meanwhile, Santana and Brittany are another former couple who are still working out how to be friends. The next episode of Glee premieres tonight, and you can tune in on Fox for more on Kurt, Blaine, Brittany and Santana. 

Tara and Pam - True Blood
At the end of season 5, Tara was part of a mission to rescue Pam, and the two shared a kiss, suggesting a romance to come in the next season. Season 6 of True Blood is expected to air this summer on HBO. 

Tom and Sam - Smash
Tom and Sam began dating in season 1 of Smash. While their storyline has not surfaced yet in season 2, viewers are expecting to see more of the couple. Check out the next episode of Smash airing February 19 on NBC to watch for further developments between Sam and Tom.

On Monday, the DOMA Project and the DeVote Project released a new video featuring the story of Karin and Judy. The self-proclaimed "Golden Girls" have been together for almost a decade and are one of about 35,000 bi-national same-sex couples in the United States. Karin is a UK citizen, born in Germany during World War II, and Judy was born in San Jose, California. After meeting online in 2005, the two were civilly united in 2007, and married, in Vermont, in 2011. This Valentine's Day, on the fifth anniversary of their civil union, Lavi Soloway, co-founder of The DOMA project, and Brynn Gelbard, founder of the DeVote Campaign, have written an op-ed about them for The Advocate.

The piece highlights two incredibly trying experiences the two women have had, due to the fact that Judy cannot get a green card for Karin the way opposite-sex spouses can. The first came in 2008, when they returned from a trip overseas. Karin says she was stopped by immigration officials, kept in a room for many hours without being given water or a phone call, and told that she was coming into the country too much and would have to leave. "I felt like somebody was taking my life away," Karin said. They released Karin but it made the two women aware that if Karin left the country again, it was likely she would never be able to return. Four years later, in August of 2012, Karin's son got married in Scotland. The two women, known at the wedding as Mum 1 and Mom 2, could only attend via iPad.

The two women did apply for a green card and got farther than most same-sex couples do; they got an interview. At the end of the interview, they were told that, though their marriage was clearly genuine, DOMA prevented their application from being approved. Their case is being held for review until the Supreme Court or Congress make a ruling on DOMA.

These women highlight what is at stake as far as DOMA and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) are concerned. The UAFA would give permanent resident status to permanent partners of US residents, and it would also protect the children of those permanent partners. The UAFA was re-introduced to the senate on Wednesday by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Earlier this month, it was reintroduced to the House of Representatives. If DOMA is declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court this year, it is likely that same-sex bi-national couples in the US will start to see improvements in the way their cases are handled under federal immigration laws.  Had the UAFA been approved or DOMA been struck down early last year, Karin and Judy could have been sitting in their chairs at their son's wedding, rather than just attending as faces on a screen.