Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - (Page 6) ‘Yes We Can’ continued from page 5 It also is advocating that Obama rescind the Global Gag Rule, which banned American-funded family planning groups based overseas from providing abortion-related services. “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.” — Barack Obama LGBT rights Twenty-three subject areas are listed on Barack Obama’s transition website (www. change.gov). LGBT issues weren’t one of them. That said, the president-elect outlines his agenda on many important LGBT issues in the Civil Rights section of the site. Under the heading “Support for the LGBT Community,” the site begins with a June 1, 2007 quote from the former Illinois senator. “While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do,” Obama said. “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 his website (www.change.gov/ agenda/civil_rights_agenda/), Obama hopes to achieve these goals: • Expand hate crime statutes • Fight workplace discrimination • Support full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples • Oppose a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage • Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ • Expand adoption rights • Promote AIDS prevention • Empower women to prevent HIV/AIDS. In assessing the plan, the gay magazine The Advocate called Obama’s goals “the boldest and clearest of any president-elect to date.” However, don’t expect quick progress on the agenda. With the economy in tatters, the early weeks of an Obama administration will likely be focused on creating jobs and preventing the current recession from getting worse. Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute told Politico, “Gay people are just as affected by the economy as straight people. I don’t think anyone is going to expect him on Day One to start working on equal rights issues.” Which is why Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, is taking the long view in fighting to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ the controversial policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. Sarvis sees several positive trends. Recent polls show strong support for repealing the policy, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has spoken out against it and other countries, including the U.K., allow gays to serve. “I think this can get done in the next Congress,” he says. Another argument Sarvis plans to use is the need to recruit and retain talent in an all-volunteer Armed Forces. “The military is competing against IBM, Verizon and Google in the job market,” all of whom have LGBT-friendly workplace policies, Sarvis says. “The Department of Defense can’t be different if it wants to compete for the best.” Despite his optimism about ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Sarvis believes the economy will be first on Washington’s agenda. “It’s not going to happen in the first 100 or 200 days,” he says. — Todd Melby Contemporary Sexuality seeks new Editor-in-Chief A fter almost three years, Contemporary Sexuality’s wonderful editor-in-chief, Annette Owens, is stepping down. The Board of Directors of AASECT is seeking a new editor-in-chief to begin July 1, 2009. The editor-in-chief works closely with authors, the senior writer, and editorial committee to produce our outstanding monthly newsletter. In consultation with the Communications Chair, the editor-in-chief is responsible for the final content of Contemporary Sexuality. An outstanding candidate will have an advanced degree, at least three years of publications experience and five years in the sexuality field, and 10 – 15 hours of volunteer time a month to devote to the position. Interested candidates should send a cover letter detailing interest in the position and a resume to Debra Haffner, Board Communications Chair, at debrahaffner@ yahoo.com by March 15, 2009. 6 Contemporary Sexuality www.aasect.org | January 2009 Vol. 43, No. 1 http://www.change.gov http://www.change.gov http://www.change.gov/agenda/civil_rights_agenda/ http://www.change.gov/agenda/civil_rights_agenda/ http://www.aasect.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contents Member Profile Quick Hits: Sex in the News News of Members News from AASECT's Board of Directors Educational Opportunities Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Contents (Page 1) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 3) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 4) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 5) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 6) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Quick Hits: Sex in the News (Page 7) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Quick Hits: Sex in the News (Page 8) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - News of Members (Page 9) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - News from AASECT's Board of Directors (Page 10) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Educational Opportunities (Page 11) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Educational Opportunities (Page 12)
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