October 2016
Challenge
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The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey!
CHALLENGE
The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 42, Issue 8, October 2016
Gleanings Queer News from across the nation and around the world Former Neptune Mayor and Committeeman Randy Bishop (D) has resigned from the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) Board of Directors. Bishop notified Herb Herbst, President of JSAC, that he was resigning due to the handling of the QSpot LGBT Community Center's lease renewal. QSpot was recently told that their lease would not be renewed by the JSAC when it expires at the end of the year. Bishop, the only openly gay member of the JSAC board, said Herbst failed to follow through on items requested at a meeting Bishop moderated with JSAC and its attorney and that he had not been notified, or invited, to any JSAC board meetings where QSpot’s lease renewal was voted on. The board of directors of JSAC, a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization, is tasked by law with a primary role in the administration of the organization, including oversight of the organization's operations. The QSpot LGBT Center had a public meeting to discuss with the LGBT community what QSpot might be able to do to stop the eviction. Bishop's resignation and his claim that he was not included in the decision to evict QSpot seems to indicate some solid evidence of an antigay slant within the JSAC organization. (OutInJersey.net)
person in the Department of Defense as well as within the entire federal government. (NBCnews.com)
The New York State Court of Appeals ruled that nonbiological, nonadoptive parents can seek custody or visitation rights, expanding the definition of what it means to be a parent. New York’s highest court overturned a 1991 decision that defined a parent as a biological or adoptive relative, noting that relationship and family structures have changed dramatically in the 25 years since that ruling was handed down. Non-biological, nonadoptive parents, the ruling reads, can seek custody if “a partner shows by clear and convincing evidence that the parties agreed to conceive a child and to raise the child together.” The case marks a major victory for people, including many in same-sex relationships, who have elected to raise children they are not biologically related to. “In light of more recently delineated legal principles, the definition of ‘parent’ established by this Court 25 years ago...has become unworkable when applied to increasingly varied familial relationships,” wrote Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. The ruling came in response to two cases involving lesbian couples who had had a child together before At a ceremony at the Navy Memorial, openly transgender splitting up. The non-biological mothers in both cases were Navy Lieutenant Blake Dremann was promoted to the denied visitation rights, as they had no legal standing to rank of Lieutenant Colonel, becoming the first known claim parenthood under the 1991 ruling. Now, people in openly transgender service member promoted since the similar situations will be able to seek visitation or custody. repeal of the military ban on Whether they are granted Inside Challenge transgender troops. "I those rights will still be couldn't have asked for decided on a case-by-case Challenge Information .......................... page 2 better people, a better basis. (NBCNewYork.com) GAAMC Events for October .................. page 2 place, or a better person to President’s Letter .................................... page 3 swear me in. I wouldn't have North Carolina Governor Pat GAAMC Excursions ............................... page 4 changed a thing," Dremann McCrory (R) gave up on Bulletin Board ........................................ page 4 said. Dremann was appealing to the federal promoted by Deputy government to reinforce his Homelessness: An Ignored Assistant Secretary of controversial HB2 law, which Community Issue ................................. page 4 Defense for Operational limits bathroom rights of So Long, Farewell…? ............................ page 4 Energy Amanda Simpson, who trans citizens and has Q-munity Calendar for October ............. page 5 in 2010 became the first become exceedingly Introducing Jill Powell........................... page 7 transgender woman unpopular with many North appointee ever in the U.S. In Memoriam: Michael Cohen .............. page 7 Carolina citizens and government, and today is the lawmakers. McCrory wrote GAAMC Board Minutes......................... page 8 highest ranking transgender (continued on page 3) GAAMC Information ............................. page 9