LA Discriminating
Amendment is THROWN OUT
Dick Cheney misrepresents the MA, SJC Decision on national television... Nice job DICK

Friends,

I'll have more on those top headlines below.  On a more personal note, this was a pretty big week for me at work.  I officially came out to my company fulfilling my commitment to the IBM GLBT community.  I have received an amazing amount of support from everyone, even those who I know have background that would lead them to object.  The following email has actually resulted in "Thank you" notes form IBM executives. 

I've been struggling over the past few months on an action item that was highly recommended by executives at an lBM leadership forum that I attended this past spring.  As Operations Team Lead, I am required to demonstrate IBM leadership skills/competencies.
 
The IBM leadership competency that I was directed to focus on was "trust".   A person can not effectively lead a team if there is even a hint of mistrust or deception at work, or... even in personal life.  This is the area in which I have been struggling.  I am social person within our team up until a point, where in my own way, I have been beginning to create a level of  deception.  

So I've chosen an email format to try to make as low-key of clarification as possible to the people that I have worked closely with over the past few years.  The Leadership Conference that I attended was for IBM managers in the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) community.  My matter of deception is that I have been referring to my same-gender partner of 10 years as merely a "roommate."   This may have lead to an unspoken level of tension or mistrust to those within the team with suspicions on my personal life.  For that I sincerely apologize. This team has always been very warm, and friendly to everyone;  I should have felt comfortable with the truth, but have had my own issues to deal with in terms of communication.

So there you have it, YIKES!.. in writing!  :-)....  Please, this email was meant to clear the air and not cause any level of tension at work with those who have personal discomfort with the topic.  It was not intended to force any 1:1 discussion whatsoever. This is not a day-to-day topic discussed at work anyway.  I also wanted to prepare for a happy, personal announcement that Avi will make about my relationship on our next IBM diversity training session :-)

I will be sending a special email of thanks to our manager for his encouragement and support leading to this communication.  I want to continue this standard of IBM leadership that he has demonstrated to me.  If any of you ever need to talk about  diversity-related topics, I will always make myself available.  It is important to this corporation that no one has to deal with the additional pressures of suppressing of who they are at work.

Jerry

Notable items this week:

Massachusetts decision discussed in debate, mischaracterized by Cheney
He got it all wrong on national television 
BOSTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney mischaracterized Massachusetts' landmark gay marriage decision when he was asked about his position on the proposed federal ban on gay marriage during Tuesday's match-up between the presidential running mates. 

Cheney said that the state's high court ordered the state Legislature "to modify their constitution to allow gay marriage," a comment that could make the Supreme Judicial Court seem even more activist than it has been accused of being. 

Full Story 

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Louisiana Judge Throws Out Amendment Banning Gay Marriage
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state judge Tuesday threw out a Louisiana constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, less than three weeks after it was overwhelmingly approved by the voters.

District Judge William Morvant said the amendment was flawed as drawn up by the Legislature because it had more than one purpose: banning not only gay marriage but also civil unions.

Full Story 
  

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Ohio Gay Marriage Supporters Gain Powerful Ally.
Columbus, Ohio) The American Association of Retired People has announced its opposition to a proposed amendment to the Ohio state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.

Voters will decide the gay marriage issue in November.

The AARP which has some 35 million members nationwide said that if the amendment is accepted it "will have unfair and injurious consequences for many older adults."

Full Story 

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