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Furthermore, if you choose not
to use Facebook, please know that all information and events will be
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Greetings!
Please complete this short survey today, if possible, regarding your participation in affinity groups, for the Department of State's Office of Civil Rights. Click Here to complete the survey.
Also, we are looking for a venue to hold a GLIFAA Halloween reception. Please contact Public Affairs Director Ashton Giese (ashtonkg@gmail.com) if you have any ideas.
Thanks!
-The GLIFAA Board
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Williams Institute Policy Circle at the DC's UCLA Law Center
This panel will address the summer's historic developments
regarding same-sex marriage, including the extension of marriage to all
same-sex couples in California and to
out-of-state couples in Massachusetts.
The panel will provide an overview of the legal implications of these
developments, including demographics on who's marrying, why, and what
benefits are and are not incidental with marriage.
UC Washington Center
1608 Rhode Island Ave NW
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Limited Seating - RSVP to Matt Strieker 310-206-0725 or strieker@law.ucla.edu
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GLIFAA All-Members Meeting
Join us for food and drinks again at the Thai Place! The group will meet upstairs at this local Foggy Bottom Restaurant at 6pm. We will have drinks and socialize until the meeting begins promptly at 6:30, so please arrive before then.
The Thai Place
2134 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm
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Important News for MOH
DOS Provides language training and emergency medical visitation
STATE WILL FUND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR "MEDICAL AGENTS"
For the first time ever, same-sex partners can qualify for paid travel - but under limited circumstances
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU:
If an employee is serving at a post that has been designated as
unaccompanied, AND that employee is med-evaced AND the employee is
med-evaced for a life-threatening illness or life-altering injury AND the presence of
a family member or "medical agent" (a term which can include a same-sex
partner) is deemed to be "medically necessary," then (and only then)
will the State Department pay for the family member or "medical agent"
to travel to be with the employee. The employee must execute a
"Medical Power of Attorney," which is a document that we recommend all
our members have. For full details, see STATE 87420, the ALDAC sent
with the title "ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW UNACCOMPANIED POST EMERGENCY
VISITATION TRAVEL (EVT)."
WHAT IT DOES NOT MEAN FOR YOU:
- If an employee is serving in Ouagadougou but his/her partner stayed behind in Washington
in order to keep working, he/she would not be able to come to the
medevac location because Ouagadougou is not designated as an
"unaccompanied post." The fact that State never pays for same-sex
partners to accompany employees overseas would not be considered
relevant for purposes of this rule.
- If an employee is injured by an explosive device in Iraq
and med-evaced to a third country but the injury was deemed to be not
"life-threatening," the partner would not qualify for visitation.
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If an employee's partner is injured or ill anywhere in the world,
whether his life is in danger or not, the State Department still will
not provide any medical assistance to that non-employee partner.
GLIFAA's POSITION ON THIS:
GLIFAA appreciates Director General Thomas' and the Department's recognition of the great sacrifices being made by our members serving at
unaccompanied posts, despite the limitations of the new policy. Today's Foreign Service
is proudly serving in dangerous locations around the world, and we hope
that our families and loved ones will one day take comfort in knowing that if a
medical crisis strikes, the Department will provide evacuation for all.
FSI EXPANDS TRAINING OFFERINGS FOR MOHs
In addition to Security Training, which State began providing in February, Members of Household now can take some language courses and pre-deployment workshops.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR MOHs RIGHT NOW:
FSI's distance learning and
FAST language courses are now open to Members of Household on a
space-available basis (EFMs who study at FSI are also admitted on a
space-available basis). See STATE 87186 for more information. The cable states that MOHs can take the
"Iraq Predeployment Workshop" and "any equivalent courses" but does not
list what those equivalent courses are. We therefore encourage our
members to be creative and proactive in defining "equivalent courses"
as broadly as possible. If you encounter resistance from FSI in
registering for one of these courses please contact us at glifaa@yahoo.com.
GLIFAA's POSITION ON THIS DEVELOPMENT:
GLIFAA welcomes this
improvement and considers it an important step removing inequalities that separate gay and lesbian families from straight families. GLIFAA thanks Director General Thomas for pressing for these changes. However, if the security of post
is improved by having partners who can speak the local language, what
security need dictates that straight partners should be given
full-length language training while gay and lesbian partners are given
only the FAST course? GLIFAA continues to call for re-defining the term "Eligible Family Member"
- this is the only way to ensure equality for all employees.
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Sign up for A Committee!
Get involved in resolving LGBT rights in the foreign affairs agencies!
Which Committee would you like to be on?
Want to assist new employees develop their careers? Help us with mentoring.
Professional Development Committee
Contact Michelle Schohn SchohnJM@state.gov
Want to get involved with reaching out to members (both here at
abroad)? Help us find GLBT members of the foreign affairs community
that we have not yet assisted?
Membership Committee
Contact Kerri Hannan HannanKS@state.gov
Have ideas for social events or want to plan this year's Holiday (Pink) Party - or next year's PRIDE?
Social Committee
Contact Ashton Giese at ashtonkg@gmail.com
Interested in reaching out to other GLBT organizations and assisting with policy direction? Get on our policy team!
Policy Committee
Contact Ajit Joshi at ajoshi@usaid.gov
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National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association (NLGJA) Reports on Stories of GLIFAA members!
Will Gay Couples be counted?
GLIFAA member Ken Seifert and his partner featured in this viral You Tube video.
Click here to go to the video on You Tube
Liberty and Justice for All?
GLIFAA President Michelle Schohn and her partner as well as Ambassador Michael Guest are featured discussing the lack of benefits for Members of Household.
Click here to go to the video on You Tube
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Transgender 101
Out and Equal Conference Call
August 28, 2008On
28 August Ajit Joshi listened to the Out and Equal Conference Call
entitled "Transgender Inclusion: What needs to be done now!" with Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for
Transgender Equality and Kristina Wertz, Legal Director Transgender
Law Center.
Transgender
101 was presented. Below are the key points the speakers made:
Kristina
Wertz, Legal Director
Transgender Law Center
- Gender identity is our internal, deeply felt
sense of being male, female, other, or in between.
- Gender expression is the
outward manifestation of our gender identity. E.g. speaker said that
her gender identity is female and her gender expression is male. She
describes herself as a butch identified lesbian.
- Transsexual is someone who has
transitioned from one gender to another
- Gender non-conforming is
someone who has not transitioned from one gender to another but has chosen
a different gender expression than that assigned at birth.
- How to be respectful of
transgender people:
- It is inappropriate to ask
private questions of transgender colleagues. Each person needs to
be out in the way s/he feels comfortable as a transgender person.
- Non transgender people can be supportive
allies. A good ally in the workplace can help to identify the
correct pronouns.
- Don't assume that transgender
people know everything about transgender issues. Avoid tokenizing
them (gender identity isn't the only thing that is important about that
person.
- Someone's gender cannot be
assumed.
- An ally can put up a rainbow
sticker by his/her cube or office to show that it is a safe space and/or
that s/he is an ally. An ally can educate people.
- Steps to transitioning the
workplace: non-discrimination policies that include gender identity and
expression - practical issues like respecting the person's choice of
pronoun. Other items like name change, payroll and tax related
documents name change. Restroom usage - ensure that transgender
employees have access to the restroom that applies to their gender
identity. Dress
codes need to accommodate how a transgender person would
want to dress - transgender man and non transgender man both need to be
able to have dress code
policy applied to them in the same way.
- American Medical Association opposes discrimination in
health plans regarding transgender issues.
- Further information: Kristina@transgenderlawcenter.org. 415 865
0135 is her direct line if anyone has questions on
transition issues and being inclusive of transgender people in the
workplace.
- Course available "transitioning
the bar" for those who are in law school or are lawyers wanting to be
educated on transgender legal issues.
Mara
Keisling, Executive Director,
National Center for Transgender Equality
- Federal Aviation Administration implemented rules regarding transgender
pilots such that these pilots cannot fly now.
- Air Force does not allow
anyone, including trans people, to amend names on discharge papers.
Problem is for trans people who have served and want to apply for
jobs where being a veteran has benefits in employment.
- State Department has a surgery
requirement for an appropriate gender market on their passport.
NTCE notes that is a problem for people under 18; gender
construction asking for father's name and mother's name is problem on passport applications
of someone has two same sex parents, a parent that has transitioned, one
or no parents.
- One year non renewable
temporary passport is available for someone who is going to have surgery.
- Naming/gender can be different
for social security
cards, birth
certificates, passports, and other forms of identification.
- Further clarification, from tax
code necessary, for a man and woman married who are now in a same sex
relationship as one person has transitioned. NCTE is trying to seek
clarification on legal tax issues to ensure that the marriage is still
valid under the tax code.
- Need for Genetic Information
Non Discrimination Act (GINA) so people are not discriminated against a
prospective future
health care need that could be trans related.
- Employment Non Discrimination
Act (ENDA) was derailed in fall 2007. In 2009, a trans-inclusive
ENDA may have greater teeth.
- ID cards don't have hair color
and weight but still have gender. Issue is that it is not well
understood that gender can change like hair color and weight.
- New resource co-written by NGLTF called "Opening Doors"
These are the slides that accompanied the presentations
October
23 is the
next Out and Equal
Town call.
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A New Global Network: Be a GLIFAA Post Representative
FSOs as well as MOHs Welcome to Participate!
"Hi, I'm being transferred to Kerblekistan - are there any GLIFAA members there who could give me info about post?"
We know our members are everywhere, but for too long we haven't had
a way to effectively get information from the field. Our new network
of GLIFAA Post Representatives will fill that void. Even if you are
the only GLIFAA member at post, we hope you'll volunteer. You'll be
called upon everytime we get an email asking for info at post, you'll
join a special listserve for Post Reps worldwide to share best
practices, and you'll serve as a channel for communication to and from
Washington.
The basic time commitment will be extremely minimal (~1 hour/month)
but those interested in doing more certainly can. Help your post's
Human Rights person learn more about conditions for LGBT persons in
your country of assignment, network with Human Rights advocacy groups
stateside or in your country of assignment, help us with our advocacy
work in Washington - whatever interests you.
Make our network truly global - make sure your post volunteers a representative.
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GLIFAA's Advocacy Campaign Wants Your Story Heard!
We're gearing up for a big year - a new President will be coming in, a
new Secretary - and a new Congress! The time to prepare is now.
GLIFAA is drafting a series of advocacy materials on issues that affect
our members, and nothing is more powerful than a first-hand story. How
are you being hurt by the Department's policies? How is your family
being hurt by the Defense of Marriage Act? Please write your stories
(between 1 paragraph and 1 page) and send them to glifaa@yahoo.com. We'll use them as best we can to get our message across. To get you inspired, here are two stories from other members:
"I was in the Army and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
until March 2005. I joined the Foreign Service in October 2005, and
soon after shipped out to India with my partner Ales. I'm due to
return to Washington for eight months of language training, and the
cost of plane tickets aside, I'm worried that Ales won't even be
allowed to enter the country for the full eight months, because he can
only qualify for an ordinary tourist visa. All I ask is for us to
enter my country together - the same country I fought for in Iraq and
the same country I still love and serve today."
- Vice-Consul Ralan Hill, currently serving in Kolkata, India
"When
my partner landed in Chicago, Immigration grilled him for two hours.
They accused him of being illegal, overstaying, you name it. They
found my business card in his luggage and demanded an explanation - as
if it was inappropriate for him to have it. He patiently explained the
situation numerous times, and was eventually released - but with
permission to stay for only three months. Incidentally, two of my
colleagues from Sao Paulo met their [opposite-sex] spouses after JP and
I met. They both are now U.S. citizens traveling on Diplomatic
passports."
- Foreign Service Officer Keith Gilges, currently serving in Washington, DC
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FSO or MOH Blogging?!
Michelle Schohn is looking for FSOs and/or MOHs with blogs about their experiences abroad!
The MOH Network has been having a lively discussion on Yahoo-Groups and the Board encorages MOHs to participate! Email moderator Emil.Stalis@tufts.edu if you cannot access the homepage of the network Please provide identifying information (employee of which
organization, or MOH of which employee who is at which organization) so that
you can be verified prior to being part of the group.
For those of
wanting to "institutionalize" your experiences, here is one great
example: lifeafterjerusalem.blogspot.com.
Michelle Schohn is
looking to create links from her blog to any of the blogs of other FSOs
and/or MOHs, in particular who have stories about MOH issues. If you
have a blog and are willing to let Michelle put a link to your blog on her
blog, please email her.
And if you're still not convinced,
Michelle, a Public Diplomacy professional, says "I think blogs are a good
way to let people know what life is like in the FS, whether as an employee,
spouse/partner (same or opposite sex) or family member. And for those of us
with MOH or partner issues, it is an excellent way to get the word out on what
we deal with!" "The MOH Network" is a discussion group for all individuals who fall into the classification of Members of Household as defined in 3 FAM 4180 and their partners/sponsors. A MOH is anyone accompanying a Foreign Service Officer to post. This includes parents, partners, (opposite sex, same sex), and children over age 21. In other words-anyone who is not mentioned on an officer's orders. The MOH Network is a venue for MOHs to seek out resources and information. It is also a place for individuals to share strategies, vent frustration and most important - find support.
Employees are requested to please share this
information with their family members.
Sign up: MOH_Network-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Contact:
Member_of_Household@yahoo.com |
| Did you serve in Iraq or Afghanistan??
GLIFAA would like to compile a list of GLBT members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Even if you feel that you do not want to provide your name, please let us know so you can be counted. This type of information will help show our leadership the committment that gay members have to our work - as well as show a real need to provide equal treatment. Please email glifaa@yahoo.com
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