THIS SUCKS: You may have heard this story because it’s one of the most heartbreaking ones out there — only moments after boarding an R-Family Cruise in 2007, Janice Langbehn’s partner of 18 years, Lisa Pond, suffered an aneurysm and was sent to the Jackson Memorial Hospital, where the hospital refused to allow Langbehn or their children access to Pond, despite Power of Attourney papers faxed immediately from Washington (their home). Lisa Pond died about 18 hours after being admitted.
Some selections from Langbehn’s 2007 speech to the Family Equality Council:
A social worker appeared to inform me that I was — and I quote — “in an anti-gay city and state.” He explained that this meant I would not be allowed to see Lisa or make decisions about her care ...
“For five hours, Lisa lay at Ryder Trauma Center moving toward brain death and yet no one was there to hold her hand and talk to her and tell her how much she was loved.”
The Southern District of Florida’s court has thrown out Lambda Legal’s case against the discriminating hospital filed in June 2008 on behalf of Langbehn, the Estate of Lisa Pond and their three children. “The court’s decision paints a tragically stark picture of how vulnerable same-sex couples and their families really are during times of crisis. We hope that because of Janice’s courage to seek justice for her family in this case that more people better understand the costs of antigay discrimination.” You can read Janice’s take at Justice Denied, Justice Delayed. (@towelroad)
PEACE: If Gavin Creel wants to go to the National Equality March, the entire cast of Hair will go to the National Equality March! The artistic director of the Public Theater was concerned that canceling a matinee wouldn’t go over well with producers, but to his surprise they were totally up for it — it’s an inspiring story, much like the musical itself. (@nytimes)
Sidenote: Autostraddle is going! Riese, Alex, Brooke, Internicaine Katrina, Intern Lily, Intern X, Intern Emily, Intern Hot Laura and Intern Elizabeth are DEFO going. Really you should go! It’s gonna be fun!
ETA: Intern Tirna = ALSO GOING.
ETA #2: Intern Lola = ALSO IS COMING.
“We are really counting on New York to get on the buses and trains and come down. We need New York. This isn’t Lollapalooza or a circuit party.” (Cleve Jones)
GENDER: “Know what’s a truly responsible use of advertising? Capitalizing on a gender scandal to promote your strip club. South Africa’s Teazers threw up this ad, playing off track star Caster Semenya’s forced gender testing.” (@queerty)
NICE LEADERSHIP: The new president of the U.N. General Assembly believes homosexuality is unacceptable Under the Bush administration, the United States had initially refused to support the resolution [to condemn human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity], but the Obama administration reversed that position, announcing full support for the measure in May. (@go magazine)
HATE CRIMES: The gay Marine whose billboard was vandalized speaks out: “A spokeswoman for the board says, “It’s banned because the story is based on gay life… There are a lot of sex scenes. It’s contrary to our culture.” (@san fransisco chronicle)
