National Progress on LGBT Rights

America is experiencing a burst of progress on LGBT rights:

• The United States finally signed the U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide, 
  
• voters in Gainseville Florida beat back a repeal attempt of the city's LGBT non-discrimination policy, 
  
• the Vermont Senate and the New Hampshire House each passed a same-sex marriage bill, 
  
• a banned Gay-Straight Alliance club was reinstated by court order, 
  
• an out lesbian attorney was appointed general counsel for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (the director is a gay man) 
  
• and another lesbian attorney (who is legally married to her wife and is an ordained Episcopal priest) was appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. 
  

This is just the beginning. For a full round-up of current efforts to improve the lives of LGBT Americans, see Keori's list on Pam's House Blend.

Here are a few national LGBT events and resources that crossed my screen recently:

• 40 Years of Pride - June 28, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, internationaly recognized as the beginning of the modern gay rights movement.
  
• Faces of Us - Send a picture to this LGBT photo project so they can add Alaska to the list of participating states.
  
• Day of Silence - The National Day of Silence, celebrated this year on April 17, brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. 
  
• Think before you speak - Don't say "that's so gay."
  
• Welcoming Our Trans Family and Friends - PFLAG's most recent trans resource.
  
• Day of Decision on Prop 8 - Day of Decision actions, held the evening of the California Supreme Court Prop 8 decision.