Queer Music Club

Travel Guides

Shop

In Life

5 Easy Ways To Fight For LGBTQ Rights

This past November ushered in a Rainbow Wave of LGBTQ representatives into the halls of Congress. Itā€™s easy to get complacent with these types of wins, but itā€™s important to keep momentum. Iā€™ve always been politically active and the current political climate has spurred me to be even more persistent with my actions. Websites like 5 Calls and Resistbot are hugely important for improving the process of speaking up and being active. Even when I feel overwhelmed by the dayā€™s news, itā€™s a relief to turn to these resources and have manageable tasks and avenues to participate. Celebrate this MLK Day by supporting the fight for LGBTQ rights and equality. Here are 5 things you can do to support our community.

Oppose Human Rights Opponent Neomi Rao For DC Circuit Judge

Donald Trumpā€™s judicial nominee for the the DC Circuit has a history of writing inflammatory op-eds in college where she called LGBTQ issues a passing trend. Rao has no judicial experience, so her op-eds and legal writings form the basis of her qualifications. Sheā€™s also criticized advancements in LGBTQ rights like the decriminalization of gay sex and striking down of the Defense of Marriage Act. The DC Circuit is considered the 2nd most important court behind the Supreme Court.

Contact your representatives to oppose her nomination.

Oppose Anti-LGBTQ Howard Nielson Jr. For Federal Judgeship

Another judicial nominee, Howard Nielsen Jr, has a long history of bigotry. During the lawsuits over Californiaā€™s Prop 8, Nielsen argued that Judge Walker (who ruled the proposition was unconstitutional) was incapable of ruling fairly because heā€™s gay. Nielson also argued against marriage equality in the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges where he argued that gay couples couldnā€™t raise children in stable and enduring family units.

Contact your representatives to oppose his nomination.

Oppose Anti-civil Rights Attorney Eric Murphy For The 6th Circuit

And yet another judicial nominee, Eric Murphy, has an anti-LGBTQ record from his time as the State Solicitor for Ohio. He also argued against marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges.

In Gloucester County School Board v. G.G, Murphy argued for discrimination against transgender students by not allowing them to use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity.

Contact your representatives to oppose his nomination.

Equality Act

With Democrats in control of the House, Nancy Pelosi has said she would give the Equality Act high priority. This legislation would define sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics in existing federal civil rights legislation. This would protect the LGBTQ from discrimination when it comes to housing, public accomodations, and and employment.

Contact your representatives to support the Equality Act.

Find legislation in your state

Aside from these federal issues, there are numerous laws making their way through state houses. Oklahoma has 10 bills related to LGBTQ discrimination. Search for issues in your state and contact your state representative.

In Entertainment/ Queer Music Club

Queer Music Club: ā€œHomotopiaā€ by Sam Vance-Law

Who: Sam Vance-Law

Album: Homotopia

Whatā€™s it like: A queer dreamscape that mixes indie rock with operatic ballads.

Standouts: Wanted To, Letā€™s Get Married, I Think We Should Take It Fast

Lyrics for your Instagram captions:

Please do not ask
Why I asked him to dance
I still cannot explain
But I think that it was just
Cause I wanted to

Wanted To

Yeah I saw you in the club
And I knew that I loved you

Letā€™s Get Married

All the straight boys want him
And all the pretty girls wanna look just like him
Cause heā€™s fine

Prettyboy

Where youā€™re most likely to hear it: Your hipster hook-upā€™s Spotify playlists, a Berlin coffee haus

Why you should listen to it: The album features beautiful vignettes of queer lives that are often ignored by mainstream pop and have yet to be commercialized for mass audiences. Settling into relationships, coming out in middle age, relationships with inappropriate age gaps are all explored to the soundtrack of swooning orchestral arrangements and lo-fi indie rock.

In Food & Drink

Just the Tips: Cheer Up Charlies

My absolute favorite bar in Austin is Cheer Up Charlies. In the summer of 2010, a date introduced me to the bar at its original east side location. I instantly fell in love and spent so many nights drinking, dancing, and making memories with friends there. Itā€™s new location on Red River is iconic with a natural rock wall that borders its outdoor space. Cheer Ups does a great job of supporting local music acts and is a great space to find basically any creative performance youā€™re looking for.

Ambiance: Casual, Dive bar

Crowd: Hipster, Queer, Indie music fans

Good For: Group hangouts, happy hour, nightcap

Standouts: Arloā€™s ā€“ the Vegan food truck, Golden Ticket cocktail, bottles of champagne, the giant pink tent