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I wanted to share this letter from my Representative here in Las Vegas Nevada.  It is in response to a letter I wrote to him regarding the Republicans in Congress protecting DOMA.  You will note that his excuse is that marriage was not outlined in the constitution.  And apparently it is now the Republicans job to do so.  You will also note that he isn’t exactly keeping up with the times.  He says he is doing what the people want, well according the the latest polls concerning same sex marriage 67% of the people are for it not against it.  This is the problem with the Republican party, they are all old and thank goodness dieing off.  Their ideas are prehistoric and really have no place in government.  But of course, that is just my opinion.  If you don’t believe me take a look at the response I received and you will see that he is making excuses for upholding his Christian values and not what is right for government which is the pursuit of happiness, and liberty for all.  I don’t want your religious beliefs in my life nor should it be pushed on me or any of his constitute.  Just treat us all as equals and don’t discriminate against me because your think your religion tells you to.  When it comes to religion you can’t just pick and choose what you are going to believe or not.  I am pretty much sure that it is the whole package or nothing at all.  When it comes to discriminating against me, I prefer nothing at all.  I believe in God, and I have a strong connection with God.  God does not discriminate, nor does he tell anyone else to do so.  The Constitution tells us not to discriminate until DOMA.  I only hope the Supreme Court will see that it is not necessary to define marriage nor is it constitutional to discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation.  Anyway have a good read and make certain to read between the lines!

January 18, 2013

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting me to shareyour opposition to the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group provisions included in House Resolution 5, the House of Representatives Rules package for the 113th Congress. I understand your concerns, and appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this important issue.

As you may know, H. Res. 5 establishes the rules of order for the House of Representatives for the duration of 113th Congress. These include the rules concerning floor debate procedures, committee activity, and rules regarding other congressionally-established offices and committees, such as the Committee on Ethics. Among the many provisions in this resolution was language to authorize the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to continue its work from the 112th Congress to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA; P.L. 104-199).

 

As you may know, the Obama Administration and Attorney General Eric Holder recently statedtheir belief that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and as a result,will not defend the law against a legal challenge. DOMAwas originally signed into law byPresident Clinton and defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. The decision by this Administration to abandon the law oversteps presidential authority. The separation of powers clearly outlined by our Constitution gives only the Supreme Court the power to interpret the law – not the President. Additionally, as the institution of marriage is not a right defined in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, the issue of marriage falls to the people of the states to decide, and the people of Nevada amended the state constitution to provide that definition.  Unless the Supreme Court decides that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, it is the responsibility of the Administration to uphold the law of the land.

 

While I agree with President Obama when he says that marriage is a matter best left to individual states, his decision to not defend the law and the voice of the people is disappointing. Speaker of the House John Boehner has asked that the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group meet to determine how to uphold its duty and protect the will of the states, and I support theseefforts. Please know that I understand your concerns and will follow this matter closely as it moves forward.

 

Again,I appreciate your thoughts and it is an honor to serve you in Congress. Your suggestions are always welcome, and if ever I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

 
          Sincerely,           DR. JOE HECK           Member of Congress

The Gay Population Explosion

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Currently in the United States of America, according to the last Census, there are 315,155,461 people in America.  It is estimated that 10% are part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, (LGBT) community.  That too is based on the last Census.  But that doesn’t account for the LGBT community that is still in the closet.  Due to such things as, discrimination at work, discrimination in their family, and a myriad of other reasons.  For the sake of this article we are going to estimate that an additional 5% exist.  That makes the entire LGBT community approximately 42,773,319 give or take a few.

The World population is 7,059,399,606 and the LGBT community being 15% is approximately 1,058,909,940 give or take a few.  These are staggering numbers.  Just to give you an idea we are talking about 3 times the population of the United States of America.

Homosexuality occurs in every species of animals.  So this is not some kind of mistake or a genetic defect.  Weather you believe in God or not it is simple to see that homosexuality is meant to be.

When President Obama ran for his second term, he said that we should be able to marry whomever we love regardless of sexual orientation.  That pretty much secured him the LGBT vote across the Nation.  That is a pretty large number and it is said that the “Gay Vote” pushed his campaign over the edge.  President Obama has issued a memorandum instructing the Federal Government not to enforce “The Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA).  Yet this year in the opening of Congress that was the first thing listed.  The Republicans have already set aside 2 million taxpayer dollars to defend DOMA in the Supreme Court.

So far, President Obama has done nothing in securing the recognition and rights of LGBT marriages and the community.  He does have “larger fish to fry” with the National Debt Ceiling, Gun Control, putting together his new Administration, and so on and so forth but if Congress has the time to deal with DOMA, while dealing with the same issues as the President, then the President needs to make time to deal with DOMA and keep his open promise to the LGBT community and recognize our marriages at the Federal level and our Civil Rights.

But getting the LGBT community, as you call it, together is the equivalent of making miracles happen.  We are scattered throughout the United States and getting this so called community to work together is close to impossible.  The LGBT community has to come together as a community to make this happen.  We have to flood Washington with letters, phone calls, and emails, stating our wishes.  We have to make the President and our Representatives work for us, not against us.  There is an old saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”.  We must become that “squeaky wheel”!

There is a study that has been done that shows, if LGBT marriages were recognized by the Federal Government it would bring in an additional 1.3% revenue in taxes.  Not to mention the States that have already made LGBT marriages legal are making money hand over fist.  The fees for “obtaining a marriage license” and the additional monies introduced into their economy.  The average wedding is approximately $19,000.00 according to Bride Magazine.  Now do you really think that the LGBT is not going to have an actual wedding, reception, buy the suits or dresses, hire the caterers, buy a cake, send out invitations, and all the other wonderful things that go along with getting married?  New York alone is estimated to having an additional $350 million added to the economy last year based on LGBT weddings alone.  That is creating a large number of jobs and a great opportunity for small business to grow into large corporations.  What does this mean to the Federal Government?  More Money, More Money, More Money!

Sometimes seeing the “big picture” is very difficult for the Federal Government.  They are only looking at the small picture and not seeing that LGBT Civil Rights will bring in a much larger Tax Base Revenue.

So all I ask it that you take the time to write, call, or email your Representative and the President.  Hold them accountable for your Civil Rights.  You can find the links for them in the links section on this website to the right.

It is time to become a community.  It is time to become a force that is not simply going to lie down and let the Government walk all over us as they have done for many decades.  It is time for us to use the tools provided and pave the way for our youth to have the life that we wish we would have had.  Don’t just complain to your friends, DO SOMETHING!!!

Contacting your Representatives

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I wanted to take the chance to write this so everyone is clear what to say and what not to say when contacting your Representatives or even the President himself.

You should remain polite and give them the respect they deserve by their post.  You may not have any respect for the person but respect the post or position they hold.

You should not communicate any kind of threat what-so-ever!  This is an important one.  If you do communicate a threat it could be illegal or if nothing else you will go on the FBI watch list.  Keep in mind that the FBI keeps track of those that contact and communicate a threat.  I have never communicated a threat but I am sure that my FBI file is about 5 inches thick.  I had a “Top Secret” clearance in the U.S. Navy plus I write my representatives and the President on a regular basis.  By “regular”, I mean weekly.  They know me now by first name I am sure.

Always write what you are going to say down first before sending.  You need to check the tone of the communication before sending it.  I always start by writing what I want to convey in Microsoft Word.  Check the tone of the message.  Ensure that my thoughts are concise and clear.  Keeping it brief and to the point.  Remember if your email is long and drags on without making much sense, they will probably never see it or hear about it.  If you keep your message, clear, concise, brief, and correct tone, you have a greater chance that they will receive it or at least hear about it.

When writing try to stay with the core message.  You don’t want to go off on some kind of tangent for paragraphs at a time.  You need to check the message that you are getting you point across and you are staying with the problem at hand.

Remember to write them often.  I know this sounds kind of crazy but it isn’t.  There are a lot of things going on in America and they are there to support you or Represent you.  There are going to be times that you feel they are not representing the view point that you have and that is time to write.  Look at it this way, if no one ever writes them then the lobbyist are the only thing they have to go by.  Lobbyist make a great deal of money for something that the constituents could convey themselves.  And they are making large amounts of money to do nothing more than convey a point or advocate for big business.  Writing to your representatives and the President are the only way to advocate for yourself.  Letting them know what is on your mind.

I am sure that a large number of you have never written a letter to your Representative or the President.  And if you want to sit back and just complain to your friends about the job they are doing, then you are getting what you voted for.  I will explain this with a short story.

When I was in the U.S. Navy I had a friend that was with a different woman every night.  I asked him how he did it and this was the incredible knowledge he imparted on me.  He said “when a white guy see a fine looking girl he tells his buddies and nothing more.  But when a black guy sees a fine looking girl they go up to her and tell her so and that is why he had so many women”.  I was hesitant to believe it but then I tried it and sure enough soon the woman was on my arm so to speak.  Now I don’t want anyone to think that is a racist remark and I know that not all black men do this, but that was his take on things.

If you want your point heard then you have to tell the right person.  The right person in not your drinking buddy, or friend.  The right person is the one that can do something about it.  Your Representative and/or the President of the United States of America.

In parting, save all communications you have made with your Representative or the President.  You always want to keep a copy just in case.  I have a file with a few hundred copies of letters that I have sent over the years, which I am certain that I will have a few hundred more to come.  So take the time to let your views be know to your Representative or the President himself.  It doesn’t take long and you can find where to send them on the links portion of this website.

I hope this is helpful and hope that you will take the time to make your voice heard!

President Obama

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During his campaign for re-election, President Obama made it a point to say that people, no matter what sex, should be free to marry whom they choose.  Now that he is in office, the Republican Congress has passed a resolution to protect and support DOMA.  They have authorized millions of taxpayers dollars, at a time we are supposed to be cutting spending, to support the defense of DOMA and it’s constitutionality before the Supreme Court.  So that brings to mind the famous question for President Obama.  “What have you done for me lately?”.  He has taken no steps to stop the discrimination against same sex married couples in or involved with the Military.  He has taken no steps to stop the defense of DOMA, nor has he allocated the same amount of taxpayer monies to defend the unconstitutionality of DOMA before the Supreme Court.

In fact, President Obama has done nothing at all to ensure that you can marry whomever you love no matter what sex.  He has the ability to write “Executive Orders” to provide the necessary monies to match what the Republicans have set aside for the defense of DOMA before the Supreme Court in January.  He is the President of the United States of America and the Commander in Chief of the most powerful military in the world.  He is the representative of the greatest Super Power in the world.  Yet, we are taking the back seat while other countries drive and show the world there is nothing wrong with same sex marriage.

We, the LGBT community, have been treated like second class citizens in America for perhaps hundreds of years.  We should not have other countries leading the way for LGBT rights.  We, America the Worlds Largest Superpower, should be leading the way and setting the example for the rest of the world.

Currently, there are 7 Countries that allow same sex marriage.  The Netherlands legal April 1st 2001, Belgium legal January 1st 2003, Spain legal June 30th 2005, Canada legal July 20th 2005, South Africa legal November 30th 2006, Norway legal January 1st 2009, and Sweden legal May 1st 2009.  The countries did not lose their sense of family nor family values.  There are Haters out there with radio shows that I won’t name but they are saying that it is harmful for a child to have 2 Mothers, for instance.  I know currently in the United States a large number of Children are being raised by single parents, yet they seem to turn out alright.  I know that if you have 2 parents, no matter what the sex, you are getting a large amount of love.  And isn’t that what family is all about, LOVE?  I was raised by my Mother alone and I had and still have all the love in the world.  They say it takes a village to raise a child.  I would think that two parents would be able to give a child more love and attention than one parent.  I also think that it doesn’t matter if it is two women.  I was raised by my Mother, my Aunts, my Grandmother, my Great Grandmother, and my Great Great Grandmother all women and I turned out alright.  If anything I turned out better than most, because I was taught values which most children of opposite sex marriages are missing these days.

It is time that we, the LGBT society, stop riding in the back of the bus and drinking from separate fountains.  It is time that we bond together and work (I do mean hard work) toward being free to love whomever we want and to come out of the darkness and into the light.  I would now like to challenge President Obama to put his Presidency where his mouth was only a few short months ago.  Begin the work to show the world the way.  Step up and take the lime light to start the work necessary to make this and other Second Class Citizens equal to all!

If you would like to do your part, then please take a moment to write your Congressional Representative, Senatorial Representative, and President Obama himself.  Let them know how you feel, what you feel, and that we should be treated as equals.  End Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and stop the unconstitutional inequality that reigns in our great Nation.

Congress Needs to Know

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Within the past month Congressional Republicans passed legislation to defend DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).  They call this BRAG (Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group) and it currently has 2 million dollars to defend the constitutionality of DOMA.  Actually, the amount for the upcoming hearing before the Supreme Court is going to cost taxpayers $1.7 million, but the BRAG has the authority to utilize further funding to continue to defend DOMA if necessary.

During a time that the Republicans are complaining about reigning spending in you would think they would not want to spend taxpayers monies on things that are unconstitutional and discriminatory.  Now I realize that a few million dollars doesn’t seem like much to the Republicans.  Especially when it is being used to uphold their Christian Values, which have no place in Government.  “Separation between Church and State” ring a bell for anyone.  When you are elected into office you have to set aside your personal beliefs and work for ALL not just the ones that believe as you do.  I am not saying that you cannot be a Christian and be in office.  I am saying the Constitution comes first and any personal beliefs come second.  If you cannot perform that task perhaps you shouldn’t be in this particular line of work.

What is even more insulting is that President Obama ran on a platform of change.  Change in the way people in love could marry no matter what sex.  Yet he has shown no sign of matching funds for defending the unconstitutionality of DOMA.  He has not done anything that would indicate that he is going to make the changes he promised during his campaign.  So he got approximate 10% or higher of the vote with hot talk and no action.

It is time to set the record straight (no pun intended).  You can contact all your Federal Government Representatives at the link below and let them know that you are being taxed and not represented.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/mail/?alertid=61046526&type=ML&MC_targets=

It is very important to keep in touch with your representatives in Government and let them know what is on your mind.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Don’t take this lying down.  Just sitting down and hoping that DOMA will be repealed is not enough you have to act.

What’s Fair is Fair!!

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Congressional Republicans have set aside $2 million dollars of Taxpayers Money to defend DOMA.  Doesn’t it make sense that if they are there to represent everyone they should set aside an equal amount of money to defend the Civil Rights of their constitutes?  If you believe in Equal Rights and that Congress should represent everyone then please sign this petition to help them see the error in their ways!

http://wh.gov/Q7G0

I would like to thank you all in advance for the help.  You should not be using Taxpayer money that would be better put to use to defend discrimination.  You should be defending Equal Rights for ALL!

Barney Frank

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We are about to lose a great Congressman!  He has been a champion for LGBT rights while still maintaining the constitutional rights of others.  Take a look at one of his last outgoing interviews:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/20/barney-frank-retirement-prostitution-antonin-scalia_n_2338055.html  While you are there I highly recommend you add it to your regular reading list!  Thank you Huffington Post!

The New Velvet Mafia

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This site is in no way connected to any organization that promotes evil, chaos, profiteering, killing, or the defamation of anyone’s character.

We are however designed to give people of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community and those that support the LGBT community a place to go and get information concerning civil rights.  We have links to government sites, so you can contact your Representatives including the President of the United States.  We invite you to suggest sites that would be of use to promote the advancement of LGBT civil rights.  We will also be giving you updates about discrimination and what you can do about it.

It is time that we group together and stop taking the back seat.  We cannot function as individuals solely.  We must work together for the advancement of LGBT rights not just for our generation but for all those generations to come.  It is time to stop the bullying of our juniors and promote a safe environment.

We will do this through peaceful organization and working with other agencies including the government.  We DO NOT promote violence of any kind.

There are too many in the LGBT community that are only concerned with their life and that is why we are having a hard time mobilizing.  Sure they will contribute money and think they have done their part.  We must work together to take a stand and be counted not just for ourselves but for every single child that is being or has been bullied for being a member of the LGBT community.

I hope this site will be informative, helpful, and able to pull together what most describe as the LGBT community.  Through the use of this site I hope to help the LGBT community polarize toward civil rights and self-help.  We have LGBT members that live in the middle of nowhere.  They should not have to endure prejudice, nor injustice.  We cannot have any more youths beaten to death because of the way they were created and not a “choice” they make.

Science has proven that there is a difference in LGBT genes or at least the way they are organized.  They still haven’t discovered the “Gay Gene” but they have all the scientific proof necessary to prove it is not a choice we make, but who we are inside.

I further want it to be known that we have no intention to discriminate against anyone’s religious rights.  As a matter of fact, we encourage you to find your higher power, whatever that may be.  Sometimes praying to your higher power helps, it is a form of meditation.  I know that it may seem at times that there is no higher power because of the things that have happened to you or are happening to you.  But don’t lose faith, we are working toward change.  If you don’t believe in a higher power that is fine as well.  Sometimes you have to believe that your power comes from within.  That too is true; we all have the power within to make change happen.

I can only hope that everyone that reads this site will not do so for the intent of starting a hate campaign.  Sometimes it is hard not to hate someone because of their point of view.  Most of the time hate is because of ignorance.  But everyone is entitled to their point of view.  It is however important to show our Representatives that we have an opinion of equality for all.

The LGBT Civil Rights Movement has been the fastest in history.  That is saying a lot, except that there are a lot of different groups out there being discriminated against and have been fighting for civil right for literally centuries.  Women want to be paid and treated as equals to men.  They have been seeking equal rights since ancient Greece and the Roman Empire and still haven’t gotten the rights they deserve.  They actually train the men that are going to be above them at work.  Bypassed for promotion just because they are a different sex.

The LGBT community is a different sex as well.  We think differently, act differently, and are not the same as our counterparts.  If the whole world were the same things would get pretty boring.  If being gay were a choice, how many people would choose such a thing?  To be bullied, discriminated against, and not able to marry who you love.  Does that sound like something anyone would sign up for?  Of course not!  That is why we have to work together to change not only the rules governing us, but the minds of the public.  They need to see that your average gay couples are just as normal as heterosexual couples are, have the same needs, and want the same rights and protections.

We are not looking for something special; we are looking for the same protections as any other minority.  We want to be treated as equals.  We want respect, which is something that is earned not just given.  And most of all we want to be acknowledged as part of society.

There are actually lawmakers in Washington D.C. that think Homosexuals are pedophiles.  They think that we are perverts and that by giving us equal rights and protections would be the degradation of society as a whole.  Of course, these lawmakers are past it.  They should have retired some time ago and made way for people that think out of their narrow minded box.  Other society have recognized LGBT rights, legalized marriage, and given protections to the LGBT community and their society hasn’t gone down the tubes.  As a matter of fact, they are thriving.  The legalization of gay marriage in New York alone is going to add over 800 million dollars to the economy this year.

Where the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is concerned.  By defining marriage between one man and one woman they have not protected marriage.  If they want to protect marriage then look at the statistics.  76% of marriages end in divorce.  Why then didn’t they make divorce illegal?  Or perhaps, make it so costly that people would go to the counselor.  For instance, the government takes half of whatever the couple has and then lets them split the remainder.  That would protect marriage.  This is just a case where their religious beliefs got into the way of government and that has to end.  If you cannot separate Church and State then you have no business being in office.

I would like to invite you to join our organization and buckle up; it is going to be a bumpy ride.  But rest assured we will get there with your help.  Take action whenever possible.  Let your Representative know how you feel and what you would like, that is what they are there for.  We are a minority; just like any other minority and the only way to make progress is contacting our Representatives and changing public opinion.

Lastly, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this post.  I hope that you will keep returning to our site and take steps necessary to make change happen!