Kalamazoo tries to thwart Michigan's ban on domestic partner benefits by offering employee benefits to "Other Qualified Adults"

Disagrees with Varnell

The most unfortunate part of Paul Varnell's opinion piece ("A few dissenting notes," CFP, June 27) is that he shuts out and slams individuals—transgender and bisexual people—who have been crucial to our liberation.

However, it is true, as he indicates, that 100 years ago, some "fairies" (the term used then) were thought to be women trapped in male bodies. Allegedly more butch men, who also liked having sex with men, disdained them and declared no connection to them. Of course, later the Nazis made no such distinctions.

It just so happened that three years before Stonewall, drag queens and transgender people at Compton's Cafeteria in San Francisco fought police and triumphed over harassment. And in 1967 bisexual Bob Martin took on Columbia University in New York and successfully established the Student Homophile League, the first student gay rights organization. He continued to fight aggressively for LGBT rights. In the book "Gay Power" author David Eisenbach states that if our liberation movement has a single founder, it's Bob Martin.

During the Stonewall riots, some of the most prominent and brave resisters were, once again, transgender people (pioneers like Marsha P. "Pay it no mind" Johnson and Sylvia Rivera), transvestites, street kids and bisexuals. They were people who were—and, unfortunately, still are—disparaged and rejected both by society at large and by certain gays.

"LGBT" is a mouthful to say. But each letter stands for people who are equally legitimate and vital members of our community. We have yet to achieve equality in a country marred by indiscriminate homophobia. We'll be more successful more quickly in confronting it if we stay united against the hatred and bigotry we commonly face. We can do this by enjoying one another's uniqueness and appreciating each other for the valuable role we can all play in achieving freedom.

Rich Wilson

Chicago

Call Lipinski about ENDA

As Gay Pride Month comes to a close, the speeches are a mere whisper in the past, the rainbow streamers and confetti are swept from the streets of cities across America and life resumes as normal. However, ENDA looms over the horizon as a reminder that we still have very far to go.

Introduced at the end of April, the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has a great chance at passage this session and Illinois is pivotal to its success. It's time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to the business of improving our country by working to ensure that all workers are treated with fairness and equality.

ENDA addresses discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

While a majority of America's largest businesses have developed policies acknowledging that a person's sexual orientation or gender identity has nothing to do with his or her job performance, there are still too many places where it is legal to treat workers unfairly.

It's time for all the citizens in the Land of Lincoln to once again stand at the forefront of making history. We must insist that our Congressmen and Congresswomen vote to ensure that all employers implement equal workplace protections and policies for their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees.

In 33 states across America, it is still legal to fire someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and in 42 states, it is still legal to fire someone for being transgender. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would end this workplace discrimination and Illinois can help make this happen.

Congressman Dan Lipinski holds a pivotal vote. If you live in his district he needs to hear from you. The vote may happen as early as next week. Contact him and urge him to vote yes on ENDA—House Bill 2015. Phone his Chicago office at (312) 886-0481 or send him an email at www.passendanow.org.

Mel Ferrand

HRC Chicago

Impeach Bush and Cheney

The President has acted and with superb timeliness: commutation for his loyal and lying friend, Scooter Libby, while Congress is away from the cameras on the July 4th recess. Libby lied to protect the president for his false arguments justifying the preemptive invasion of Iraq. Now it's the president's turn. Since the president is not above the law, we the people must unfortunately request that Congress, specifically the House of Representatives, impeach the president, George W. Bush, and the vice president, Richard Cheney, to ascertain whether or not their many decisions regarding the U.S. led war in Iraq, overseas renditions, torture policies, surveillance plans, etc., are indeed within the Constitution, which they swore to uphold in their oaths to office.

Without presuming innocence or guilt, we the people demand a full accounting, a non-partisan investigation into these many activities and policies to determine whether and if they can withstand the force of law. Let the chips fall. Mr. Libby had his day in court and was judged guilty. Now, Mr. President and Mr. Vice President, your turn has come. May justice prevail for you and for our beleaguered country.

The Rev. Martin Deppe

Chicago