topics

Cleo Manago is despised by some in the LGBTQ community, who refer to him as "homo demagogue," contrarian, separatist and anti-white, among other epithets.

But to a nationwide community of same-gender loving, bisexual, transgender and progressive heterosexual African-American men, Manago is the MAN! They see him as a visionary focused on advocating for and healing a group of men who continue to be maligned and marginalized – brothers.

Perhaps Gov. Scott Walker's rich out-of-state donors should read the local news before writing those millions of dollars worth of checks to his recall campaign. If it's political favors they're after, Walker could have a hard time delivering them from a prison cell.

According to recent indictments from the ongoing John Doe probe of Walker's days as Milwaukee County executive, the evidence is getting closer to his door. Within 20 feet, in fact. 

Apologists for Gov. Scott Walker are struggling to downplay the historic filing of more than one million signatures seeking his recall.

Walker's supporters contend the number is inconsequential. They say Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett received more than a million votes in 2010 but still lost the gubernatorial race to Walker. They maintain that the recall election will be an ordinary race and that Walker will win again.

As we dive into another supercharged political year, at least one outcome is guaranteed: a tsunami of corporate and special-interest cash will flood the political arena.

The obscene spending – and the resulting cronyism – that sullies our political process is a bipartisan problem. President Barack Obama spent $740.6 million in his 2008 presidential race, eclipsing the combined $646.7 million spent by George W. Bush and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004. Although Obama broke new ground in successfully soliciting small individual donors, he ultimately relied heavily on megadonor bundlers, whom he handsomely rewarded.

Before Black History Month slips away, and in keeping with my resolution to take a break from new media and "read more about it" as the old library promo urged, here's a short intro to two of my favorite African American gay and lesbian writers — James Baldwin and Audre Lorde.

Baldwin and Lorde were both born in Harlem, he in 1924, she in 1934. They were raised there and came of age as the civil rights movement for African Americans re-emerged during the war years and gained momentum in the 1950s. Both became activists, distinguished writers and social critics, tackling issues of race, gender and sexuality. Both of them left us too early due to cancer, Baldwin in 1987, Lorde in 1992.

Thirty years ago, on Feb. 25, 1982, Republican Gov. Lee Dreyfus signed the first statewide bill in the United States to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations.

We Badgers take pride in being the "first gay rights state." The saga of how we won passage of the civil rights measure and how our GOP governor did not hesitate to sign it is an important and happy history lesson.

No. 1: Unless you have been in a buried time capsule for the last 15 years, you know the Republicans will vote at all levels for candidates who, if elected, will work to harm the LGBT community. That is a no-brainer.

If you care for members of the LGBT community and/or equality of treatment for all American citizens, you must support Democratic candidates. Even if the Democrat is not friendly, he or she must vote with the party in organizational votes. It is a must do.

Transgender people have never seen a year like 2011 -- nearly every month brought news of a major advance. 

It began with a clarification that any physician can certify a passport applicant who had appropriate treatment for a gender transition. All that is now needed for a transgender person to obtain a passport is the correct name and gender.

The Defense of Marriage Act dictates that there can be no federal consideration for domestic partners in legal areas involving taxes and estates. At the same time, state laws vary widely. Some states allow same-sex marriage, some offer civil unions, some provide domestic partnership rights and many have no provisions at all. As a result, there's a growing need — and demand — for specialized expertise in financial planning for the LGBT community.

The myriad and complexity of planning issues for domestic partners led Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) to ask the College for Financial Planning to create courses for a new "Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor" designation. In November 2010, the college began offering the nation's only professional designation specifically geared toward the LGBT community. 

As men and women of conscience, our legislators must support Wisconsin's Senate Bill 345, the Child Victims' Act. The bill is currently in the Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations Committee, where it was referred after its first reading on Dec. 21, 2011. So far it has not been scheduled for a public hearing.

The bill eliminates the statute of limitations on pursuing civil damages against child sex-abuse perpetrators. Current Wisconsin law requires victims to take action no later than age 35. This bill would remove the age limit.

At a recent rally for Gov. Scott Walker, former Gov. Tommy Thompson bellowed, "We are going to take our state back!"

Um, would that be the state with the Republican governor and executive branch filled with right-wing appointees? The state with Republican majorities in both houses of the Legislature? The state with the Supreme Court with a growing number of ethically compromised, corporate-funded conservatives?

We begin the new year hoping for good health and a change of priorities after an unprecedented attack on women's health care access in 2011.

We are in the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression. While Wisconsin citizens are doing their best to weather decreased wages, lost jobs and health insurance fee hikes and coverage reductions, state legislative leaders have instead focused on advancing their personal social agendas.