Local woman fights for gay rights
Written by Allison Wingate | | news@toledofreepress.comToledo resident Brandi Fasnaugh said the fight for equality goes beyond this month.
June marks national Gay and Lesbian Pride month, a celebration of the impact gay lesbian and transgender persons have had on the world.
Brandi Fasnaugh
Fasnaugh said she tries not to let ignorant people faze her, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s openly ridiculed.
One recent encounter with discrimination was in a bathroom in Columbus.
She was lobbying on behalf of Equality Ohio, an advocate group for gay and lesbian rights when a trip to the restroom led to a disheartening conversation.
“When I walked into the restroom, I could hear two women talking to each other between the stalls about someone who had been in the bathroom when they walked in earlier,” Fasnaugh said.
They commented on that woman’s “masculine appearance” and how it made them uncomfortable. One of the women looked right at Fasnaugh as they continued the conversation and stated that women like her should use the men’s restroom.
Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Fasnaugh initially decided to internalize her pain. But when a colleague noticed something was wrong, she was encouraged to speak out.
“My shock and upset then turned into frustration, as well as a renewed sense of why the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHE) is such a fundamental component for the everyday life of all citizens regardless of sexual orientation,” Fasnaugh said.
“One can be denied access to housing, employment and even public accommodations based simply on who they love and what they look like,” Fasnaugh said.
Kim Welter, program manager for Education & Outreach for Equality Ohio, said what happened to Fasnaugh is a prime example of how some people think it is acceptable to behave that way.
“Most of us figure what’s right and wrong, for the most part, by what’s legal and illegal,” Welter said. “By passing the EHE Act, that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to that list of conditions upon which you cannot discriminate.” That’s kind of the start, and if people knew that these things were illegal, I think they’d think twice before they behaved that way,” Welter said.
Brandi:
I know that you are a delightful young woman who is giving of your time to volunteer for the community. I am sorry that you encountered that situation. Next time tell them to use the ignorant people bathroom.
This comment was posted on June 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pmThis story is just more run-of-the-mill liberal claptrap. It belongs in the Toledo Blade.
People are tired of being told what they should believe by the 1% of the population that are homosexuals. Anyone who disagrees with militant homosexuals like Brandi Fasnaugh is told they hate, are a homophobe, blah blah blah. Sorry, the dusty old talking points just don’t work anymore.
The voters of California, Ohio, and every other state in the union where the voters were allowed to speak on the issue of gay marriage have spoken. We’ve heard quite enough from the gay rights chorus. It’s now time for the 99% of the rest of us to start pushing back.
This comment was posted on June 13th, 2009 at 11:15 pmBrandi,
This comment was posted on June 14th, 2009 at 1:00 amYou are such a sweet and kind girl. It is sad to me that people feel they have to label you. To say things that make you feel anything but proud of yourself. I wish everyone had the opportunity to see what a wonderful woman you are. I know I am personally proud of the positive job you are doing for our community. You make life better for everyone you touch. I feel blessed to know that I was the one who had the privilege of raising you. I am proud of you. Keep up the good work your doing. We need you to help make this life equal for everyone. Someday comments like the one directed at you in Columbus will be a thing of the past.
With Love,
Your Mother
Robin: the labels usually come from your side.
Let me list a few for you: “homophobe”, “hate-monger”, “gay-basher”, anti-this, anti-that. I’m sure the official mouthpiece for the homosexual community, Perez Hilton, could recite them all. I guess super-liberal California is really just one big population of bigots for soundly rejecting gay marriage, huh?
Emily was correct: Brandi is a militant homosexual. She wants special rights, not equal rights. Americans have been very tolerant on this issue. Travel to Iran or any other Islamic country and I’m sure you’d notice the difference.
This comment was posted on June 14th, 2009 at 1:44 pmYou look really good. I am sorry to hear that happened to you. I miss you in life. Take care of yourself. I hope you have not forgotten me. I could never forget you.
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pmI think Emily was one of those two women in that Columbus restroom!
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 2:48 pmyour heart is a muscle the size of your fist. keep loving. keep fighting.
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 3:40 pmIf “militantly homosexual” is defined by one’s desire to never sit silent while others are oppressed, please put me on that bandwagon.
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 3:54 pmBrandi, honey you do what you got to do, but you seem young and have to understand that neither side is innocent. Everyone heard about Miss California, even though she was respectful and diplomatic, but nobody reported Perez calling her a “stupid b*tch” after the show. People voted against gay marriage, the supreme court tried to overturn it, and people didn’t like that. All of a sudden, it turned into a hate issue via the media instead of the “power of the supreme court” issue it really was. I’m sorry, but you do represent a minority, so don’t get upset when you don’t get your way or people don’t agree or understand it. And ceraintly don’t expect the government to do something unconstitutional for the sake of political correctness, that would hurt everyone. And please don’t get the impression that every time there seems to be an “injustice”, it’s only because you are gay. Most people really don’t care, and there could be any number of reasons someone was denied a job, house, etc. I’ve been denied both multiple times and I’m staight as an arrow. I applaud you for standing up for what you believe in, don’t ever lose that vigor, but please don’t become what you’re fighting against, which is intolerance for different lifestyles. God bless.
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 7:14 pmEmily- Seriously? Just one percent of the population homosexual? Get your head out of your arse. Or better yet, leave it there and spare the world your pathetic lack of empathy and insight.
and Tom- You are, in fact, a militant homophobe. Please join Emily in placing your head up your arse.
Brandi Fasnaugh is NOT a militant anything. She is a compassionate young woman who respects the basic human rights of all people, whether they be hetero, homo or otherwise. It’s called equality. . . and we’re all entitled to it.
This comment was posted on June 15th, 2009 at 10:46 pmOh Great ! Another militant homosexual who cannot handle FREE SPEECH !!Too bad this person doesn’t live in Iran. There, her free speech is absolutely non-existent !Yes indeed, life in AmeriKa, is tough now with B.O., and the Demonrats turning it into Toledo, Detroit ,etc.Maybe, this person could get a new CZAR-ist position to further her anarchist madness.
This comment was posted on June 16th, 2009 at 10:54 amawe… poor baby did your feelings get hurt. Tough poo that is life. Try being young, white, and male. The one people CANT hire or give anything close to better treatment because they are scared of getting sued by the likes of you!! because your feelings got hurt….Grow up the world is a tough place to live it. its not the feel good world that you liberal parents brought you up in.
This comment was posted on June 16th, 2009 at 4:48 pmAnyone who knows Brandi even just a little knows that she is neither militant nor an anarchist as some of these posts contest. She is a compassionate woman who dedicates her life to empowering others and teaching them how to empower themselves. How sad it is to think that anyone would want to quiet that.
This comment was posted on June 16th, 2009 at 5:57 pmTom,
Can you name one single “special right” that gay-rights activists are asking for?
And do you REALLY think “hey, gays have it good here compared to Iran” is a real argument? I mean, come on.
And Emily, you can try “pushing back” if you want, but polls taken over the course of several years clearly show public acceptance of marriage equality growing over time. People like you might have been in the majority before, and you might even hold a slim majority now, but the percentage of people who share your bigoted viewpoint is shrinking rapidly.
This comment was posted on June 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pmI’ve had uncomfortable restroom experiences here in Toledo. At one dance club, A bouncer pulled me out of the restroom by my arm. He was a large guy, and I am a small girl. You can imagine, it hurt.
I’ve also walked into a restroom where girls have stared at me and then whispered while still staring at me.
I don’t understand why our culture is like this. Not all androgynous looking women are lesbians. To add to that, the restroom is not the place that lesbians go to find a date. The restroom is where lesbians go to; you’ve guessed it, use the restroom. In women’s facilities the places you are exposed are all private anyways, so there should not be an uncomfortability factor to begin with. Unless of course, washing your hands leaves you feeling exposed?
Emily, I do not know where you get your percentages, because they are way off. You think 1% of the population is LGBT?
If you are not a prejudice, hateful person, then the EHE would not even affect you. You should do a little research.
You said it is time for people like you to “push back”. People like you have been pushing all along. They tie young men to fences and beat them to death, they shoot their classmates, they picket funerals, they deny baptisms, they fire good workers, they isolate people, they tell LGBT to “act normal” but deny them the ability to marry and live a normal life.
Tom, you listed three words sometimes used to describe people who are prejudice or hateful towards LGBT people. Those people do things to invoke those titles. A person who is LGBT gets negative labels for just living their life. The list of negative names used for LGBT is much longer and used more often.
Changes need to be made to create full equality. The EHE, marriage equality and other legislation can help to balance the inequalities that LGBT have been facing. I can not even adopt my own son in Ohio. That is horrifying to me.
This comment was posted on June 16th, 2009 at 8:27 pmI proud to say that i personally know Brandi and to know her is to love her. She is truly an amazing,giving,caring,strong individual, and a role model to MANY! It is SO sad that in 2009 people in this world are so quick to judge a person by there apperance. The times they are changing!!Some need to open there minds and get used to it. The GTL community is only growing and with people like Brandi taking a stand, I am CERTAINLY CONVINCED that people will soon see that EVERYONE should be treated EQUAL! Thank you Brandi for your strength and pride! I am SO proud of you and truly blessed to be your friend!!lotsa love kiddo, sue
This comment was posted on June 18th, 2009 at 10:19 amJust read the comments by the intolerant militant homosexuals and their enablers on this page. It’s truly sad. They spew hate against the 99% of the rest of us and then tell us we’re the hatemongers. Typical tactics of the militant homosexuals.
Emily, thank you for speaking the truth to these pathetic heterophobes. We will start pushing back these militant hordes very, very soon!
This comment was posted on June 19th, 2009 at 7:48 pmKeep up the good fight, Emily!
I’m with you and so are the vast majority of Americans.
This comment was posted on June 22nd, 2009 at 4:22 pmbrandi, i am extremely honored to know you, i only wish more people could have the heart and dedication you do the world would be so much better, everytime i see you, you have a smile on your face, you always seem to light up the room. i am so sorry that the world is full of jack-offs but your a gorgeous women inside and out and should never allow anyone to bring you down, there just angry bc your not afraid to stand up for what u belieave in and thats the freedom of love….go do your thing babygirl and prove to the world its OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT….I AM PROUD HEY HEY IM GAY…and if someone doesnt like it come find me….
This comment was posted on June 28th, 2009 at 1:08 pm