Our New Paint Job in our House

We (Mina and I) changed the color in our living room, kitchen, and hallway from salmon to yellow. Two walls have a textured yellow with red highlights. The yellow or golden color opened up the rooms as compared to the old "brightish" salmon color which we liked for years. We like folk art so that is what you see around the rooms. It was time for a change.

Sharon Raphael

I Am Worried About Obama and Our Gay Agenda

I am hoping Obama's economic stimulus package is passed, the sooner the better. I think he is moving in the right direction when it comes to the economy, My only criticism is that I wish Obama was not reaching out to the Republicans and Fundamentalist Christian leaders so avidly. He reminds me of Clinton who always seemed to want everyone to love him all at the same time which is impossible when one is making hard decisions with the public in mind.

When it comes to our Gay agenda, more equal rights for LGBT folks, the end to the defense of marriage act, Gays in the military and the end of Don't Ask, don't Tell, I am worried. A friend told me that he doesn't think much will happen under Obama regarding LGBT rights at least not in a big way because Obama has made no high level appointments nor does he have high level advisers who are LGBT. I keep thinking maybe there is someone we could cultivate or who we already have but I can't think anyone who is really out besides Barney Frank, the Congressman from Massachusetts.. Unfortunately for us Barney Frank's interests seem to be focused on the financial arena these days not Gay Rights and I am not sure Barney Frank would be the best spokesperson for our cause.

Our best hope seems to reside in the courts and at this moment I am looking at the State Supreme Court of California to see what they do about the insidious anti Gay Marriage bill known as Proposition 8 which was passed because 2% more of the voting public in California who went to the polls for whatever reason voted against Gay Marriage in spite of fact some pollsters say if they voted today, the vote would go the other way. We can hope Obama makes some Supreme Court appointments that go our way but there again it seems his job will be just replacing aging or ailing Democratic or liberal to moderate leaning top court judges.

Obama talks a good game about LGBT issues. When criticized for the Rick Warren episode, Obama's defense was to say he was
a staunch supporter of LGBT equality but the words lately ring hollow. We need so much change and I don't see it even just beginning for us. I know Obama's number one priority is the economy but LGBT citizens pay taxes and work and many hire people from all walks of life and across all job types. Why not enlist the help of the vibrant Gay community when it comes to stimulating the economy.

I know one thing, when we were getting married in California , all 36,000 of us we spent a lot of money buying all kinds of items and commodities to enhance our marriages. We are the artists, the make up people in Hollywood, the truck driver on the road, the manufacturer and creators of all kinds of businesses that count in America, clothing, perfume, makeup, furniture, food, restaurants and everything else under the sun we can think of. We are creative and have perpetual energy if only given the chance. Why not channel many LGBT folks into Obama's stimulus package. Yes, why not indeed. We are ready and willing. Let's go. We are the change you can count on.

Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
r

Obama: A Breath of Fresh Air In an Otherwise Gloomy Place

It didn't hit me until Obama was sworn in, Bush was gone, and the new administration got going with all kinds of new appointments and news conferences that I realized how much a gloomy fog has lifted. Obama certainly is a breath of fresh, a burst of clean ocean current in what is otherwise a gloomy cloudy horizon. I think we were all sagging under the Bushies backward looking leadership where everything good and decent seemed stilted and placed on a stinking shelf i.e. economic reform with teeth that can really help all of us, moving toward a green planet, keeping civil rights alive, making appointments at least with people in them who are not dinosaurs who will impede progress, will stop the torture, and keep the flames of equal rights for equal work going-witness the Letbetter bill, albeit that came out of Congress and Pelosi. appointing George Mitchell as an envoy to the MIddle East was a stroke of genius. Hope Mitchell can make things work for all our sakes. He has a great track record. Another first at least in a long time is that Obama mentioned the word unbelievers in a speech that included all forms of religious persuasion which really riled up Born Agains, some from the Afarican American community who said non believers should be considered less than not equal to as Obama had implied. Hail to the Chief on that remark which I think I heard him utter a second time. Amazing.

The job situtation is just terrible but at least it isn't a bad job situation with the Bushies and Cheneys around. Obama did slip up with the inaugural invitation to Rev. Rick Warren but I forgive him as it appears he wants to move in the right direction when it comes to Gay Rights. We all keep thinking it will happen soon, the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Some more federal protections for Lesbian and Gay folks and thankfully it seems the Obama administration will figure out a way to get rid of the Defense of Marriage Act that says there is now way the feds will ever approve our Gay Marriages in the States that now allow them. Obama is against that policy and he can remove it. He already removed the ban on offering contraception/condoms to medical clients in health care settings in Africa who are being treated for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Things are looking up. I can breathe again. We all can.

P.S. I was saddened to hear Obama compromised to the Republicans on the economic stimulus package. Heard he gave away the part on contraception and the Republicans voted against the package anyway. The Stimulus package was passed in the House by the Democrats. Now it has to go to the Senate. I do like the fact that Obama included the National Endowments for the Arts in his economic package. I hope he doesn't compromise on that aspect too as art teachers and artists and performers need to eat and pay their bills too.

Counter

Obama's Gay Rights Agenda (Catholic News Agency)

Obama administration reveals plans to advance gay agenda
Comments: 56
January 16, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama

Washington DC, Nov 23, 2008 / 07:48 pm (CNA).- Citing what they call America’s “promise of equality,” the Obama administration plans to push for homosexual rights by including protections of sexual orientation, “gender identity” and “gender expression” as civil rights. His office proposes expanding hate crimes statues and the adoption rights of homosexuals while supporting full civil unions for “LGBT couples” to give them “legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.”

The proposals are announced under the Civil Rights section of their agenda presented at Change.gov, the web site of the Obama campaign’s self-described “Office of the President-elect.”

A section titled “Support for the LGBT Community” outlines the agenda for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered activists and quotes remarks Obama made on June 1, 2007.

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do,” Obama said, referring to riots which followed a police raid on a New York City gay bar.

“Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

According to the web site, President-elect Obama and vice-president-elect Joe Biden will support expand crimes legislation such as the Matthew Shepard Act. They also back the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which they claim will “prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.”

“While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy,” the web site states, referring to similar legislation sponsored by Obama in the Illinois state legislature.

Regarding civil unions and same-sex marriage, the site says “Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.”

Advocating the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, the agenda plans to “enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.”

The site also references Obama’s Senate vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which, in the site’s words, “would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.”

On the subject of adoption rights, the Change.gov web site states: “Barack Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.”

The Obama agenda further advocates the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell” policy barring open homosexuals from serving in the military.

Its AIDS prevention policies also pledge to enact a “comprehensive” national strategy including contraceptive sex education and “combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception.”

proposal lines of authority for oac

Proposal of Description of Lines of Authority for The Older Adult
Center Since Transfer from College of Health and Human
Services To The Sociology Dept. under College of Natural and
Behavioral Sciences.

Dean of College of Natural Behavioral Sciences
           (Charles Hohm)
         I
         I
Chair of Department of Sociology
           (Clare Weber)
I
         Secretary of Sociology
           (Jennifer Agatep)
       I
holds backup key to OAC
I
Faculty Director of the Older Adult Center
          (Sharon Raphael) 6 hrs per week**
         Supervises Student Director & Supprt Coordinator;
           trouble shoots/ problem solving
        I
Student Director
                   (Ritwik Nath M.A. Gero) 20 hrs. per week
                   approves/directs interns/volunteers
                 head of operation of office
I
I
       / \                                        
Interns                    I  Volunteers
                I
          
Support Coordinator 15 hrs. per week
( Wanda Wyatt MFT student)
           assists Student Director
           helps with operation of office
           assists with interns/volunteers
           reports to Student Director & Faculty Director

  

The Older Adult Center has been transferred from The College of Health and Human Services under Gerontology (Health Sciences) to The College of Natural and Behavioral Science under Sociology.

The mission of the Older Adult Center is to provide a welcoming environment for older * students, faculty, and staff on campus, to process the fee waiver which provides low cost fees to adults age 60 or over, and to help interns from social service oriented and related professions gain expertise working with and for older adults in an educational setting, and when appropriate to develop “ethically directed” research projects which enhance the purpose and goals of The Older Adult Center and The Sociology Dept.

The Older Adult Center is run by a Student Director under the auspices of a Faculty Director. There is also at present a Student Support Coordinator who reports both to the Student Director and the Faculty Director. The Chair of Sociology is the administrative last line authority of the unit under which the Older Adult Center operates. If there are problems, the Student Director and/or Support Coordinator report it to the Faculty Director. If the Faculty Director has a problem, she/he will report to the Chair of Sociology who report to the Dean of The College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. Since 1981, there have been very few complaints brought to the attention of a Dean or Chair or to the Faculty Adviser for that matter. In the past, the faculty person directly in charge of the OAC was described as the Faculty Adviser.

I have changed the name to Faculty Director as the term adviser is ambiguous and puts the faculty person in a less than relationship in comparison to the new term Faculty Director. However, it should be understood at this time, that the Faculty Director has no units off to carry out the duties of the position which involve trouble shooting and problem solving and generally mentoring the Student Director and Support Coordinator in her or his work running and helping in the running of the Older Adult Center.

*the term “older” should be self defined but as matter of practice 45 and older is has been used in terms of average minimum age of people who participate in the Center. This does not mean younger adults are excluded especially if they are at the Centerto provide services or to receive information about older adults they require. In general,older adults (over 50) are given priority in terms of use of computers or attention fromstaff when there is a line up or competition for service at the OAC.

**hours of the Faculty Director 2 hrs. on campus per week /4 hrs.or plus on
phone ore-mail or in my office or in meetings with Student Directors.

http://www.thankyoujonstewart.com/

Sharon Raphael says go to http://www.thankyoujonstewart.com/ if you want to send a message to stop the horrific bombing and killings going on in Gaza.