The national advocacy group released a report Wednesday detailing ways that politicians and platforms can support LGBT families and the children within them.
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Friday, August 31, 2012
Click Click Expose Gay Podcast Network - Weekly Update - January 13
Hey Podcast Fans...another week...another round of podcast shows from Click Click Expose CELEBRATING OUR 5TH YEAR OF PODCASTING FOR THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY. What is the Click Click Expose Gay Podcast Network? We are a network of different podcast shows either produced by Click Click Expose (Gay Entertainment Media) or distributed by our official content producers and supporters. Our goal is to bring you a wide variety of LGBT podcast shows designed to enrich, entertain and enlighten the gay and lesbian community AND our website has undergone a major re-design (again)- check it out: Click Click Expose and let us know what you think. It's easier now to listen to your favorite shows, watch videos, read news, etc.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY:
Subscribe via RSS Feed HERE!
THIS WEEK'S SYNOPSIS: 1. Gay News Week In Review - "Week Ending 1/13/2011" 2. Strange Dreamz with Kevin J. Thornton - "Episode #6" 3. This Show Is So Gay - "Harry Knox & Caleb Laieski" 4. Pageant Soup Podcast Show - "Pageantry from the CEO Perspective" 5. House Music Show - DJ Carlos Dali - "Be Yourself Music Show"
LISTEN:
Gay News Week In Review w/e 01/13/2011 (Podcast)
Strange Dreamz with Kevin J. Thornton - Episode #6 (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - Activist Harry Knox (Podcast)
Pageant Soup Podcast Show - Episode #55(Podcast)
DJ Carlos Dali - Be Yourself Radio Show (Podcast)
read more
SUBSCRIBE TODAY:
Subscribe via RSS Feed HERE!
THIS WEEK'S SYNOPSIS: 1. Gay News Week In Review - "Week Ending 1/13/2011" 2. Strange Dreamz with Kevin J. Thornton - "Episode #6" 3. This Show Is So Gay - "Harry Knox & Caleb Laieski" 4. Pageant Soup Podcast Show - "Pageantry from the CEO Perspective" 5. House Music Show - DJ Carlos Dali - "Be Yourself Music Show"
LISTEN:
Gay News Week In Review w/e 01/13/2011 (Podcast)
Strange Dreamz with Kevin J. Thornton - Episode #6 (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - Activist Harry Knox (Podcast)
Pageant Soup Podcast Show - Episode #55(Podcast)
DJ Carlos Dali - Be Yourself Radio Show (Podcast)
read more
ADOPT ME! Dulce is sweet as she sounds!
Dulce is approximately 1 year old and weighs 7 pounds. She has been spayed.
Sweet, gentle Dulce is still adapting to her new circumstances, and is a little shy. She stayed in her cage, but did enjoy being stroked on her head and back.
Dulce means sweet, and this cat lives up to her name. Will you take Dulce home?
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Sweet, gentle Dulce is still adapting to her new circumstances, and is a little shy. She stayed in her cage, but did enjoy being stroked on her head and back.
Dulce means sweet, and this cat lives up to her name. Will you take Dulce home?
read more
(70) What the Hell is Going On?
Miley Cyrus, Tammy & Melissa Lesbalimony, Opinions and what do they really mean?, The Definition of a Lesbian conclusion via Twitter, The Real L Word, Julianne Moore in Kids Are Alright is gonna learn right here and right now that Lesbians are not bisexual. Somebody has to tell us what in the gay hell is [...]
Stereotyping seen in Chick-fil-A uproar
Stereotyping seen in Chick-fil-A uproar
Associated Press
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Published 8:28 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2012
When President Obama said same-sex couples should have the right to marry, it was national news for a few days before the presidential campaign and the country went back to business as usual.
Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, with supporters flooding the chain's franchises around the country, was countered with "kiss-ins" by same-sex couples at assorted locations Friday, long after Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's initial comments to a religious publication touched off the clash.
Coursing throughout the conversations on social media, in letters to the editor and in long lines to buy chicken sandwiches is the sense among proud Southerners that the outcry over Cathy's comments smacks of regional stereotyping.
Associated Press
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Published 8:28 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2012
When President Obama said same-sex couples should have the right to marry, it was national news for a few days before the presidential campaign and the country went back to business as usual.
Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, with supporters flooding the chain's franchises around the country, was countered with "kiss-ins" by same-sex couples at assorted locations Friday, long after Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's initial comments to a religious publication touched off the clash.
Coursing throughout the conversations on social media, in letters to the editor and in long lines to buy chicken sandwiches is the sense among proud Southerners that the outcry over Cathy's comments smacks of regional stereotyping.
Horoscope: July 19-25, 2012
Horoscope: Heavenly Round-Up: You're standing at the crossroads. The choices look bleak: certain destruction that way, unending burdens this way. Have you considered an alternative? Can you head out cross-country? Can you head back the way you came? Can you find a means of lifting yourself above the either/or perspective to grasp a different potential? Now more than ever, you need to act outside the box. And as you create a fresh understanding of your situation and its limitations, you may also be surprised by your many new options. Aries: The intensity and unexpectedness of the event were what initially threw you. Now you're dealing with the deeper implications, and they seem to be unfolding at an ever increasing rate. You wanted choices, now you have them. This is a fertile time to recreate. Unwind. Taurus: It's not just you, the situation is getting more complicated for everyone involved, and many who are only peripheral. The good news is all those in it are potential allies. Use your charm and networking skills to enlist the aid of the capable and stalwart. Choose carefully. ... (more)
We Can Help Richanne...
I got this message on my facebook wall today from reader Jennifer van Meenen-Cody...if you know of any business, medical facility or philanthropist who might be able to provide immediate help, get in touch with Jennifer on facebook by CLICKING HERE or email me at interludemagazine@yahoo.com and let us know!! "Arlan, I need your help. I have a very good friend living in New Hampshire. She is legally married to her wife Laura and they have a 5 month old daughter. A week before they found out Richanne Petrigno was pregnant, they found out she has a brain tumor. She cannot work because of the tumor, so she doesn't have insurance. Laura has insurance, but her insurance won't cover her wife, because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage. She can't get state help because she is married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. Richanne's brain tumor is growing and getting very bad. She is afraid to pick up the baby. She can't cook or drive because she gets dizzy. I am sure that her story is not unique, but this is her life and I cannot imagine losing her because of money and greed. Can you help us get her story out there? Right now, she can't even go to her doctor because she can't afford the visit, even though her symptoms are getting worse. You can find out more about her here: http://health.discovery.com/videos/secretly-pregnant-dying-young.htmlIf anyone can get a story out, it's you. Please help in any way you can."
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Zayn Malik Shirtless Again
Yet another photo of Zayn Malik Shirtless. People keep asking me for them...
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
We Can Help Richanne...
I got this message on my facebook wall today from reader Jennifer van Meenen-Cody...if you know of any business, medical facility or philanthropist who might be able to provide immediate help, get in touch with Jennifer on facebook by CLICKING HERE or email me at interludemagazine@yahoo.com and let us know!! "Arlan, I need your help. I have a very good friend living in New Hampshire. She is legally married to her wife Laura and they have a 5 month old daughter. A week before they found out Richanne Petrigno was pregnant, they found out she has a brain tumor. She cannot work because of the tumor, so she doesn't have insurance. Laura has insurance, but her insurance won't cover her wife, because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage. She can't get state help because she is married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. Richanne's brain tumor is growing and getting very bad. She is afraid to pick up the baby. She can't cook or drive because she gets dizzy. I am sure that her story is not unique, but this is her life and I cannot imagine losing her because of money and greed. Can you help us get her story out there? Right now, she can't even go to her doctor because she can't afford the visit, even though her symptoms are getting worse. You can find out more about her here: http://health.discovery.com/videos/secretly-pregnant-dying-young.htmlIf anyone can get a story out, it's you. Please help in any way you can."
Psychiatric assn. supports transition health care
In a move that could have a far-reaching impact on transgender healthcare, the American Psychiatric Association APA has come out with a series of transgender-positive positions.
UIC, U. of C. among most LGBT-friendly schools
Campus Pride has released its list of the top 25 LGBT-friendly colleges and universities, according to a press release.
(13) Lez-Bionic Birdy Friends and Cheezy Sound Board Fun
Sandi creates her own special automated message for The Lesbian Mafia, Motherly Love, Messages From Birds, Cheap Shots At The Lezzie’s On TV, Fem Sergeants “Wanna Have Some Fun,” Laughing and Seeing Visions, And Good Vibrations, All Make For A Typical ADD Show.
Montana GOP policy: Make homosexuality illegal
HELENA, Mont. (AP) – At a time when gays have been gaining victories across the country, the Republican Party in Montana still wants to make homosexuality illegal.
The party adopted an official platform in June that keeps a long-held position in support of making homosexual acts illegal, a policy adopted after the Montana Supreme Court struck down such laws in 1997.
The fact that it’s still the official party policy more than 12 years later, despite a tidal shift in public attitudes since then and the party’s own pledge of support for individual freedoms, has exasperated some GOP members.
“I looked at that and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” state Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, said last week. “…
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The party adopted an official platform in June that keeps a long-held position in support of making homosexual acts illegal, a policy adopted after the Montana Supreme Court struck down such laws in 1997.
The fact that it’s still the official party policy more than 12 years later, despite a tidal shift in public attitudes since then and the party’s own pledge of support for individual freedoms, has exasperated some GOP members.
“I looked at that and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” state Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, said last week. “…
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
(9) Interview w/ Lea Delaria and More Nonsensical Babblings
Interview with Lea Delaria and some more nonsensical babblings ..
Wikileaks: Uganda Caved On Kill The Gays Bill Quickly
Recently, Wikileaks published a bunch of cables from the US State Department which resulted in me wondering why did they bother.
Business Spotlight: Casa Del Encanto Interiors
145 W. Washington Street
San Diego, CA 92103
619-295-7400
www.casadelencanto.net
Casa Del Encanto Interiors is a full service Interior Design firm as well as a retail showroom for gifts, accessories, furnishings, dried floral arrangements, lighting, antiques, candles, tabletop and countless other things.
The business was started in 1985 in Encanto Park, Phoenix, Arizona by Luis Corona. Luis, originally born in Mexico, was the son of a gifted mother that had a passion for nature and beauty. Luis arrived in San Diego in the late 60’s and had moved to Phoenix in 1982 to pursue his career in interiors. He landed a position with an interior design firm and floral shop in Scottsdale, AZ. Then, just 3 years later he founded Casa Del Encanto. Over th…
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San Diego, CA 92103
619-295-7400
www.casadelencanto.net
Casa Del Encanto Interiors is a full service Interior Design firm as well as a retail showroom for gifts, accessories, furnishings, dried floral arrangements, lighting, antiques, candles, tabletop and countless other things.
The business was started in 1985 in Encanto Park, Phoenix, Arizona by Luis Corona. Luis, originally born in Mexico, was the son of a gifted mother that had a passion for nature and beauty. Luis arrived in San Diego in the late 60’s and had moved to Phoenix in 1982 to pursue his career in interiors. He landed a position with an interior design firm and floral shop in Scottsdale, AZ. Then, just 3 years later he founded Casa Del Encanto. Over th…
Read More
Gay Republicans cite party progress on LGBT rights:
Heads of three Florida chapters of the National Log Cabin Republicans staged an event on Sunday to welcome participants of th -More-
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
City Council discusses medical marijuana dispensaries
Medical marijuana dispensaries were debated Monday by the San Diego City Council, which voted 6-1 to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance regulating dispensaries and making them legal with a list of qualifications and conditions.
But this isn’t a quick fix. City staff estimated that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith will return to the Council with an ordinance in mid-January, 2011.
It will be a different Council then, as Councilmember Donna Frye is termed out of office and Council President Ben Hueso is running for State Assembly.
Third District Councilmember Todd Gloria authored the motion which was seconded by Hueso. Carl DeMaio voted no and Marti Emerald was absent. Voting in favor were Sherri Lightner, Tony Young, Kevin Faulconer, Frye, Glor…
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But this isn’t a quick fix. City staff estimated that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith will return to the Council with an ordinance in mid-January, 2011.
It will be a different Council then, as Councilmember Donna Frye is termed out of office and Council President Ben Hueso is running for State Assembly.
Third District Councilmember Todd Gloria authored the motion which was seconded by Hueso. Carl DeMaio voted no and Marti Emerald was absent. Voting in favor were Sherri Lightner, Tony Young, Kevin Faulconer, Frye, Glor…
Read More
Horoscope: June 28-July 4, 2012
Horoscope: Heavenly Round-Up: Feeling all hung up and conflicted? Not able to settle in to those horns on the dilemma? You may feel more enervated than chilled out, but you could get there from here. For one thing, the conflict is both external and transient. For another thing, it's largely composed of a common semantic misunderstanding. Pull your fingers out of your ears and you'll hear what I'm saying a little more clearly. You should dance on Friday, and clean as you go through the weekend. Wear gold for fortune. Aries: If you look over your shoulder everywhere you go, you're going to tumble down the very rabbit hole you'd been hoping to avoid, Alice! Now is the time to cut through the noise of your habits and preconceptions. Give meditation a chance. You might like the still, small voice. Taurus: Once upon a time, you were plagued with impossible tasks and worse deadlines. Nowadays, you continue to act as though you're still under that sentence. Close your eyes. Count to 10. Promise yourself you'll look with a fresh perspective at everything around you. Ask twice. ... (more)
Baltimore Sun Says Antigay Forces Lying to Maryland Public
The Baltimore Sun's editorial board excoriated antigay leaders in Maryland who are "resorting to the same playbook of false attacks they have used to great effect in other states.
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Artist Spotlight George Stavrinos
In the 1970s, master draughtsman Stavrinos made fashion illustration fashionable again. And then there are the beautifully rendered men.
In the 1970s, master draughtsman Stavrinos made fashion illustration fashionable again. And then there are the beautifully rendered men.
stavrinos_dimichx400.jpg
In the 1970s, master draughtsman Stavrinos made fashion illustration fashionable again. And then there are the beautifully rendered men.
stavrinos_dimichx400.jpg
Does the party ever stop?
An interview with Nick Lewis, bartender at various San Diego bars
Nick Lewis is a bartender for several Lesbian nights that are hosted across San Diego. Nick is from Boston and if you ever order a drink from her you will know right away because her charming Boston accent is a dead give away. Nick is a fan of Softball and Ice Hockey and her favorite team is North Eastern University. Along with working the wild San Diego nightlife, Nick is a huge fan of comfy clothes, movies or a good book. Nick has given us the opportunity to ask her a few questions about herself and her job.
GLT: What is your favorite part of the night at Bourbon Street?
NL: Well I think it’s only fair I give all my bars some credit LOL. Rich’s: every time the girls get on the bar. Brass Rail: every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month I love beca…
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Nick Lewis is a bartender for several Lesbian nights that are hosted across San Diego. Nick is from Boston and if you ever order a drink from her you will know right away because her charming Boston accent is a dead give away. Nick is a fan of Softball and Ice Hockey and her favorite team is North Eastern University. Along with working the wild San Diego nightlife, Nick is a huge fan of comfy clothes, movies or a good book. Nick has given us the opportunity to ask her a few questions about herself and her job.
GLT: What is your favorite part of the night at Bourbon Street?
NL: Well I think it’s only fair I give all my bars some credit LOL. Rich’s: every time the girls get on the bar. Brass Rail: every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month I love beca…
Read More
Food for Thought
You’re kidding; there IS a pill for THAT?
As the government sets to begin reviews of new diet drugs, American obesity rates are nudging upwards in 28 states over the past year, a new report shows. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that 68% of Americans are considered over weight or obese.
According to Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, “Back in 1991, not that long ago, not a single state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. More than two-thirds of states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent,”
There’s been a dramatic change in a relatively short period.
“Obesity is one of the biggest public health crises in the country,” Levi added. “Rising rates of obesity over past decades is one of the major fa…
Read More
As the government sets to begin reviews of new diet drugs, American obesity rates are nudging upwards in 28 states over the past year, a new report shows. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that 68% of Americans are considered over weight or obese.
According to Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, “Back in 1991, not that long ago, not a single state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. More than two-thirds of states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent,”
There’s been a dramatic change in a relatively short period.
“Obesity is one of the biggest public health crises in the country,” Levi added. “Rising rates of obesity over past decades is one of the major fa…
Read More
Monday, August 27, 2012
What are some cool queer events in Paris?
What are some lesbian/queer events, gallery exhibitions, movies, bars, etc. to see in Paris? From 17-20 October, I'll be in Paris for the first time by myself, and I want to take advantage of the days by seeing or going to places that are lesbian/queer friendly/oriented. I've checked major sites like tetue.com and paris-gay.com for bars and events, but since I don't know the Paris gay scene at all, I was hoping there are some MeFites who could help me. I'm staying in the Marais, so my location is ideal. Cheaper things are always better, but if it's something that is unique to the city, cost isn't a mitigating issue.
A few Spots are Available on the Ski Bums Feb. 2013 Trip to Niseko, Japan
I received a note today from the team behind Ski Bums, the continuously growing LGBT skiing and snowboarding club, that the Japan ski trip they've organized for February 21 through March 2 is fairly near selling out, but there are some openings. Mid-winter of 2013 may sound like a long way off, but this is an opportunity you'll want to act on quickly if you're keen on going - here are all the details about the trip, with information on registering. Included on this adventure is a full week of skiing and boarding in Niseko, what's been hailed as the St. Moritz of Japan, a resort that receives more than 600 powdery inches of snow per season. The trip also includes a few days at the beginning of exploring Tokyo....Read Full Post
ADOPT ME! Take Jiffy home!
Jiffy is a red and black Beagle/Pug mix, weighing 29.8 pounds. He is 4 years and 3 months old, and has been spayed.
Why I'd make a great companion
Jiffy is ready for you. Will you take him home?
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Why I'd make a great companion
Jiffy is ready for you. Will you take him home?
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Montreal Pride 2012
Photos from one of greatest Canada's gay capitals.
montrealPride2012x120.jpg
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montrealPride2012x120.jpg
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Victory in ACLU of Hawaii Lawsuit: Judge Grants ACLU Motion to Allow Plaintiffs to Marry Immediately
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
HONOLULU – A federal district court judge ruled in favor of the ACLU of Hawaii’s clients today, ordering the State of Hawaii to allow them to marry their fiancés. In a 29-page order, Judge Susan Oki Mollway granted the Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, ordering that the State stop interfering with the Plaintiffs’ fundamental right to marry. Today’s order follows a separate order, issued on July 19, in which Judge Mollway rejected both motions filed by the State of Hawaii to have the case dismissed on procedural grounds.
Judge Mollway’s order said: “Plaintiffs are suffering irreparable harm by being continuously denied their right to marry. The Supreme Court has stated that marriage is an expression of emotional support and public commitment, that marriage carries spiritual significance, and that marriage is often a precondition to the receipt of government benefits, property rights, and other less tangible benefits. . . . Every day that Plaintiffs are unable to marry they are denied these benefits.” Order Granting Motion for Preliminary Injunction at 25-26.
ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Daniel Gluck said: “We are delighted that our clients can finally marry their fiancés. This ruling, however, is just beginning: the ACLU is fighting a long-term pattern of unconstitutional denials of prisoners’ marriages based on subjective reasons well outside the authority of government. This pattern is so deeply rooted in the DPS culture that official, top-down DPS policy changes, threats of lawsuits, and a crystal-clear ruling from the United States Supreme Court could not stop it from continuing. Sadly, it took this lawsuit to force DPS to follow the law regarding treatment of inmate marriage requests, and we want to make sure that DPS changes its policies – not just for our clients, but for any individual who seeks to marry now and in the future.”
The lawsuit, filed May 15, 2012, charged officials of DPS with unlawful discrimination in deciding who has the right to marry. The Plaintiffs are two women who submitted multiple marriage applications over several years and were banned from being able to wed their fiancés, both of whom are incarcerated at the Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona. The practice of denying prisoners the right to marry was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78 (1987). Particularly where prisoners wish to marry individuals outside of prison, the Court explained, the State has virtually no interest whatsoever: “where the inmate wishes to marry a civilian, the decision to marry (apart from the logistics of the wedding ceremony) is a completely private one.” Id. at 98. The State repeatedly ignored this constitutional directive from the Supreme Court and routinely told couples that they could not marry.
The ACLU is aware that couples other than the two named plaintiffs have been prohibited from marrying; those individuals are encouraged to contact the ACLU of Hawaii. All communications with the office are confidential, and the ACLU of Hawaii does not charge clients for its legal services.
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
HONOLULU – A federal district court judge ruled in favor of the ACLU of Hawaii’s clients today, ordering the State of Hawaii to allow them to marry their fiancés. In a 29-page order, Judge Susan Oki Mollway granted the Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, ordering that the State stop interfering with the Plaintiffs’ fundamental right to marry. Today’s order follows a separate order, issued on July 19, in which Judge Mollway rejected both motions filed by the State of Hawaii to have the case dismissed on procedural grounds.
Judge Mollway’s order said: “Plaintiffs are suffering irreparable harm by being continuously denied their right to marry. The Supreme Court has stated that marriage is an expression of emotional support and public commitment, that marriage carries spiritual significance, and that marriage is often a precondition to the receipt of government benefits, property rights, and other less tangible benefits. . . . Every day that Plaintiffs are unable to marry they are denied these benefits.” Order Granting Motion for Preliminary Injunction at 25-26.
ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Daniel Gluck said: “We are delighted that our clients can finally marry their fiancés. This ruling, however, is just beginning: the ACLU is fighting a long-term pattern of unconstitutional denials of prisoners’ marriages based on subjective reasons well outside the authority of government. This pattern is so deeply rooted in the DPS culture that official, top-down DPS policy changes, threats of lawsuits, and a crystal-clear ruling from the United States Supreme Court could not stop it from continuing. Sadly, it took this lawsuit to force DPS to follow the law regarding treatment of inmate marriage requests, and we want to make sure that DPS changes its policies – not just for our clients, but for any individual who seeks to marry now and in the future.”
The lawsuit, filed May 15, 2012, charged officials of DPS with unlawful discrimination in deciding who has the right to marry. The Plaintiffs are two women who submitted multiple marriage applications over several years and were banned from being able to wed their fiancés, both of whom are incarcerated at the Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona. The practice of denying prisoners the right to marry was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78 (1987). Particularly where prisoners wish to marry individuals outside of prison, the Court explained, the State has virtually no interest whatsoever: “where the inmate wishes to marry a civilian, the decision to marry (apart from the logistics of the wedding ceremony) is a completely private one.” Id. at 98. The State repeatedly ignored this constitutional directive from the Supreme Court and routinely told couples that they could not marry.
The ACLU is aware that couples other than the two named plaintiffs have been prohibited from marrying; those individuals are encouraged to contact the ACLU of Hawaii. All communications with the office are confidential, and the ACLU of Hawaii does not charge clients for its legal services.
ALCC celebrates 25 years with 'J-Pop'
Continuing its tradition of globally influenced annual events, the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago ALCC hosted "Planet J-Pop" at Sidetrack Aug. 15. The event had a Japanese theme, down to the ticket levels e.g., Tokyo Superstar and Karaoke Krooner. In addition, there were games, prizes and a silent auction with more than 150 items. Photos courtesy of ALCC
(44) (Part 2) Interview w/Melissa Ferrick & Prop H8 Protest Recap
Prop H8 Protest Observational Observations,, Part 2 of the Melissa Ferrick Interview! We talk File Sharing, Touring, Sobriety, Porn Names and More. To Catch Melissa Live Check Out Her Tour Schedule … http://www.myspace.com/melissaferrick The Lesbian Mafia is syndicated every Tuesday @6pm EST On: RadioDentata.com! & Daily @12pm EST On ReapSowRadio.com NEW! LISTEN TO THE LESBIAN [...]
(47) Lesbonanza
Sandi talks to Nikki and Lale about Electro-Shocks, L Word Spoiler (not so much), Thrillaaah Micheal Jackson, Lady CaCa, The Lesbian Mafia Stimulus Package: 350 -1 millions, Revolution and more … NEW! The Lesbian Mafia is now syndicated on www.NoSaintsMedia.com & Tuesdays @6pm EST On: www.RadioDentata.com! & Daily @12pm EST On www.ReapSowRadio.com Come and give [...]
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Lesbian News - 23 Aug 2012
B.C. mayor signs Pride declaration after refusing years agoNYU should sever ties with Chick-fil-AOh Y?all, Geraldo, Oh Dear God Help Us, It?s GeraldoSupport For Gay AFL PlayersAside from the ridiculous plot, lesbian novel not a bad readPoll: LEGAL or ILLEGAL for gay and lesbian couples to get married?Jealous Maltese lesbian stabs girlfriend over infidelityStop deadly homophobiaMexican singer took secrets to her grave
WATCH Attorney General Says LGBT Lawyers Have Common Cause With Obama Administration
Attorney General Eric Holder, addressing the LGBT Bar Association, said attendees have a solemn responsibility to keep up the fight for equality.
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Neil Armstrong Takes Next Step ? Dies at age 82
Neil Armstrong, US astronaut, and the first human to walk on the Moon, has died.� Armstrong was commander of Apollo 11, which landed on the Moon July 20, 1969. Armstrong had heart surgery two weeks ago, and died from complications … Continue reading →
Spotlight: Don't Rain on My Parade
Expect to hear plenty of iconic song favorites popularized by the likes of gay icons who really don't need last names like Judy, Liza, Barbra and more when Dominic's Big Gay Cabaret Presents Don't Rain on My Parade at Stage 773. In addition to the singularly named title host and performer, also expect to enjoy the talents of accompanist Matthew Ellenwood with special guests Mark Byrne, Bart Goldberg, Stewart Roi and Lewis Warrick. Dominic's Big Gay Cabaret Presents Don't Rain on My Parade plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $10; call 773-327-5252 or visit www.stage773.org for more information. Photo courtesy of Dominic and Stage 773.
Federal Court Victory for Ocala Gay-Straight Alliance
After objections by school officials and filing of ACLU lawsuit, judge signs order ensuring club for LGBT students and allies can meet at Vanguard High
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
OCALA – A federal judge today signed a consent decree and order that compels Marion County Superintendent Jim Yancey to comply with federal law and allow the Vanguard Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), a student organization at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, to form and operate on campus. The consent settlement reached by the parties now has the force of law and resolves a months-long battle by members of the GSA along with the ACLU of Florida to allow the organization to form, meet, and be recognized at Vanguard High School. The consent decree and order was signed today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.
“We are very happy about today’s victory,” stated Vanguard GSA president Dylan Lee, one of the plaintiffs in the case, identified in the lawsuit as “D.L.” as required for minors by court rules . “Now that it’s official, we’re excited for the GSA to start working to create a safer and more welcoming environment at our school when classes start again next week.”
In March 2012, after applying for official student club status, members of the Vanguard GSA were told by Vanguard High Principal Milford Lankford that he was “uncomfortable” with a GSA on “his campus.” Despite providing information from the U.S. Department of Education demonstrating the role GSA’s can play in “promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning environments,” Lankford did not change his decision to prohibit the Vanguard GSA from being recognized as a school club.
The members of the Vanguard GSA appealed to Superintendent Jim Yancey. On May 15, 2012, Superintendent Yancey informed the GSA Plaintiffs through his lawyer that he “decline[d] to permit the Alliance to be formed at Vanguard High School at this time.” Vanguard GSA president Lee and vice president Kirk then contacted and worked with the ACLU of Florida to ensure their constitutionally-protected right to form the organization was respected by school administrators. The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit on May 24, stating that the school district’s unlawful refusal to let the group form violated the federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“While it was a long fight to make it happen, I’m glad that we’ll start the school year with the GSA being treated just the same as any other student club,” said Vanguard GSA vice-president Sarah Kirk, identified in the lawsuit as S.K. “We had 45 students sign the petition to say they wanted a GSA at our school, and now the organization to start making Vanguard High a safer place.”
“Although we’re certainly grateful to have secured this victory for our clients without extensive litigation, it is unfortunate that the school board was motivated more by the prospect of paying attorney fees than complying with the constitution and federal law or providing student safety, stated ACLU of Florida staff attorney Benjamin Stevenson. “The good news is that the student’s right to have their organization treated like all other student clubs will finally be respected by administrators. Unfortunately, the grudging way in which the school board accepted the decree reflects the very misunderstandings about LGBT students that make GSAs so necessary.”
Following the filing of the lawsuit, the school board held a vote on whether or not to accept a consent decree, initially voting against the consent decree. When one School Board member brought up the ACLU’s history of legal successes in defending students’ rights to form GSAs and the legal costs of violating students’ rights in these cases, a re-vote was taken in which the Board accepted the decree with an addendum stating that the Board still opposed the formation of the group.
GSAs are student organizations made up of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and straight allies who advocate for an end to bullying, harassment and discrimination against LGBT students and others. A 2009 survey by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education network found that “84.6% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 40.1% reported being physically harassed and 18.8% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.”
In 2008, the ACLU of Florida won a similar case on behalf of a GSA in Okeechobee, Florida. The judge ruled that schools must provide for the well-being of gay students and cannot discriminate against the GSA. The Okeechobee County School Board paid $326,000 in attorneys’ fees in that case. In 2009, the ACLU of Florida also reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the School Board of Nassau County, in which a judge ordered the district to allow a GSA at Yulee High School to hold meetings.
A copy of the signed consent decree is available here:
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/2012-08-14-ACLUVanguardGSAOrder.pdf
A copy of the complaint filed against the school district on May 25th is available here:
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/2012-05-ACLUVanguardGSAComplaint.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
OCALA – A federal judge today signed a consent decree and order that compels Marion County Superintendent Jim Yancey to comply with federal law and allow the Vanguard Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), a student organization at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, to form and operate on campus. The consent settlement reached by the parties now has the force of law and resolves a months-long battle by members of the GSA along with the ACLU of Florida to allow the organization to form, meet, and be recognized at Vanguard High School. The consent decree and order was signed today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.
“We are very happy about today’s victory,” stated Vanguard GSA president Dylan Lee, one of the plaintiffs in the case, identified in the lawsuit as “D.L.” as required for minors by court rules . “Now that it’s official, we’re excited for the GSA to start working to create a safer and more welcoming environment at our school when classes start again next week.”
In March 2012, after applying for official student club status, members of the Vanguard GSA were told by Vanguard High Principal Milford Lankford that he was “uncomfortable” with a GSA on “his campus.” Despite providing information from the U.S. Department of Education demonstrating the role GSA’s can play in “promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning environments,” Lankford did not change his decision to prohibit the Vanguard GSA from being recognized as a school club.
The members of the Vanguard GSA appealed to Superintendent Jim Yancey. On May 15, 2012, Superintendent Yancey informed the GSA Plaintiffs through his lawyer that he “decline[d] to permit the Alliance to be formed at Vanguard High School at this time.” Vanguard GSA president Lee and vice president Kirk then contacted and worked with the ACLU of Florida to ensure their constitutionally-protected right to form the organization was respected by school administrators. The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit on May 24, stating that the school district’s unlawful refusal to let the group form violated the federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“While it was a long fight to make it happen, I’m glad that we’ll start the school year with the GSA being treated just the same as any other student club,” said Vanguard GSA vice-president Sarah Kirk, identified in the lawsuit as S.K. “We had 45 students sign the petition to say they wanted a GSA at our school, and now the organization to start making Vanguard High a safer place.”
“Although we’re certainly grateful to have secured this victory for our clients without extensive litigation, it is unfortunate that the school board was motivated more by the prospect of paying attorney fees than complying with the constitution and federal law or providing student safety, stated ACLU of Florida staff attorney Benjamin Stevenson. “The good news is that the student’s right to have their organization treated like all other student clubs will finally be respected by administrators. Unfortunately, the grudging way in which the school board accepted the decree reflects the very misunderstandings about LGBT students that make GSAs so necessary.”
Following the filing of the lawsuit, the school board held a vote on whether or not to accept a consent decree, initially voting against the consent decree. When one School Board member brought up the ACLU’s history of legal successes in defending students’ rights to form GSAs and the legal costs of violating students’ rights in these cases, a re-vote was taken in which the Board accepted the decree with an addendum stating that the Board still opposed the formation of the group.
GSAs are student organizations made up of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and straight allies who advocate for an end to bullying, harassment and discrimination against LGBT students and others. A 2009 survey by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education network found that “84.6% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 40.1% reported being physically harassed and 18.8% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.”
In 2008, the ACLU of Florida won a similar case on behalf of a GSA in Okeechobee, Florida. The judge ruled that schools must provide for the well-being of gay students and cannot discriminate against the GSA. The Okeechobee County School Board paid $326,000 in attorneys’ fees in that case. In 2009, the ACLU of Florida also reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the School Board of Nassau County, in which a judge ordered the district to allow a GSA at Yulee High School to hold meetings.
A copy of the signed consent decree is available here:
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/2012-08-14-ACLUVanguardGSAOrder.pdf
A copy of the complaint filed against the school district on May 25th is available here:
http://www.aclufl.org/pdfs/2012-05-ACLUVanguardGSAComplaint.pdf
Dining, Drinks & Desserts
The “ZIO’S EXPERIENCE” with 4 lovely lesbians
Greetings everyone, hope your week is going well. What a week in our busy world! The Senate did not pass DADT. The Republicans decided to start running on platforms which the Democrats created and former President Bill Clinton had some great words of advice for President Obama. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
This week my guests were 4 lovely lesbians, Christina our Editor, her partner Alice and their friends Joergie and Neally.
We selected ZIO’S Italian Restaurant on El Cajon Blvd in North Park. When I arrived, owner Darren James greeted me with his warm embrace and handshake. We have chatted several times on Facebook and this was our actual first time meeting in person.
My ladies had not yet arrived so I asked Darren to give me a tour of…
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Greetings everyone, hope your week is going well. What a week in our busy world! The Senate did not pass DADT. The Republicans decided to start running on platforms which the Democrats created and former President Bill Clinton had some great words of advice for President Obama. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
This week my guests were 4 lovely lesbians, Christina our Editor, her partner Alice and their friends Joergie and Neally.
We selected ZIO’S Italian Restaurant on El Cajon Blvd in North Park. When I arrived, owner Darren James greeted me with his warm embrace and handshake. We have chatted several times on Facebook and this was our actual first time meeting in person.
My ladies had not yet arrived so I asked Darren to give me a tour of…
Read More
Gay pride march banned in Serbia
(Belgrade, Serbia) �Serbian authorities have banned a gay pride march and an anti-gay protest planned in the nation’s capital this weekend to avoid violence. When two similar events occurred side by side in Serbia’s capital last year, about 100 people were injured, cars were burned and shops were looted in clashes between police and the [...]
Saturday, August 25, 2012
All charges dropped in Equality 9 case involving Prop 8 protest
SAN DIEGO ? All charges against the ?Equality 9? have been dropped and the case against them has been dismissed, said Zakiya Khabir, a member of the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (SAME).
The Equality have been tangled in a legal battle since Aug. 2010 and all charges were dropped today.
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The Equality have been tangled in a legal battle since Aug. 2010 and all charges were dropped today.
read more
Aussie Reality Star Arrested After Anti-Gay Attack
Australian reality "star" Daniel Folkes was charged after he and two of his pals allegedly verbally abused a man while Folkes urinated on him, the Sydney Morning Herald reports: A cast member of the reality TV show The Shire has been charged following an alleged homophobic attack in Surry Hills on Thursday night that also involved two other cast ... (more)
(45) Asexual Lesbian
Ordering bibles, Religious blobs, Chat w/Lale re: Rehab, Gays, Marriage, Relationships, Sex, an Asexual phase
Got Plans Tomorrow Night?
If so, cancel them and go see one amazing singer/songwriter: Christine Havrilla. She's not only a great friend, but we also recently collaborated on an original song for the short film Patty and I are doing. The song is called Hightail and you can buy it HERE.Havrilla will be at Mississippi Pizza's Atlantis Lounge tomorrow night from 6-8pm with special guests The Ragged Word.
Culhane: One last salvo against the misuse of religion
We can't allow religion to interfere with civic responsibilities.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Montreal Pride 2012
Photos from one of greatest Canada's gay capitals.
montrealPride2012x120.jpg
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montrealPride2012x120.jpg
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Don?t hurt my pussy?
Cat, that is. What would you do if your partner was being mean to your or her animals? Would you report her? Would you deal with it? Would you call her out on it? How would you handle the situation? Do you think, if someone could hurt an animal that they are capable of hurting [...]
The Secret Sex Lives Of Sea Slugs...
...Is complicated, sounds painful and is completely fascinating.
From New Scientist:
A species of sea slug known as Siphopteron quadrispinosum is a simultaneous hermaphrodite: each animal has male and female sexual organs, and it can use both at once. An animal acting as a male first uses a syringe-like organ to stab its partner and inject prostate fluid into its body. The "male" then inserts its penis into the partner's genital opening; the penis has spines that anchor it in place, but harm the other slug. Because mating is so traumatic for the "female", the slugs prefer to act male, and often resist mating altogether. But curiously, they still mate as females much more often than is necessary simply to ensure that their eggs are fertilised...
Compared to that, we humans have it pretty easy.
From New Scientist:
A species of sea slug known as Siphopteron quadrispinosum is a simultaneous hermaphrodite: each animal has male and female sexual organs, and it can use both at once. An animal acting as a male first uses a syringe-like organ to stab its partner and inject prostate fluid into its body. The "male" then inserts its penis into the partner's genital opening; the penis has spines that anchor it in place, but harm the other slug. Because mating is so traumatic for the "female", the slugs prefer to act male, and often resist mating altogether. But curiously, they still mate as females much more often than is necessary simply to ensure that their eggs are fertilised...
Compared to that, we humans have it pretty easy.
BREAKING: Joe Solmonese to leave HRC in December; official announcement on Tuesday
This is a Pam's House Blend exclusive.
Yes, it's the end of an era. The Blend has learned, from a trusted source in a position to know the details, that Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization in the country, will announce his departure next Tuesday. Solmonese will reportedly step down from the organization in December of this year.
His departure also signals, according to our source, the beginning of a larger staff shake-up in the HRC. The Blend can also report that a replacement executive director has been identified -- it will be someone who is not currently on the HRC's staff, but is currently a paid consultant that has worked with the civil rights group for some time.
During his tenure, the Human Rights Campaign has become a bedrock institution that has played a role in successes -- a hate crimes law passed, the legislative repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- the extent of its leadership and success also depends on your point of view and knowledge of the back stories related to the hard work to make these gains happen.
We can review and critique the effectiveness of Solmonese's tenure in the growth of the organization and political savvy in working with the Hill all day long, but it's time to think about the job his successor has in front of him/her.
With the perception of the HRC leadership as the province of wealthy white gay men living in gay-friendly environs, there are several questions HRC -- including its board -- will face:
What will this mean for bisexual and trans community members? The L and G in LGBT have had much more visibility not only in its leadership composition, but in prioritization of political priorities. Some of this is a result of political expediency, but no doubt influenced by the composition of its leadership, board and donor base. This leads to...
Will more bisexual and trans staff be added with the staff shake-up? Unknown. Until Joe's successor announces for lack of a better word, "battle plan" we won't know if this means putting people who know bi and trans issues best in positions of influence.
With DADT at bay, and DOMA on the ropes in court, will HRC put additional to attend to matters of equity in the trans community and speak openly about them? The new executive director will have to address this head on, particularly since Joe Solmonese was seen by many in the trans community as a political obstacle at the minimum, or an outright man not to be trusted. Representing HRC, Solmonese last spoke in public on transgender issues to a trans-specific public audience at the 2007 Southern Comfort conference. He was adamently 100% in support of a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but later changed his position on the 2007/2008 version of the legislation -- effectively leaving trans rights behind.
Will this shift signal a change to include more people of color in positions of influence? Like bi and trans issues, a stronger HRC will come from actually honoring the influence that a socio-economically diverse leadership team brings to the table. Will a change at the top move the organization in this direction?
What kind of relationship will the HRC build with the LGBT media (including bloggers) and grassroots activists (like GetEqual) under new leadership? To be kind, there has been a tense and guarded relationship with activists and new media that work outside of the comfort zone of the HRC. The fact that these entities cannot be "controlled" or managed like a press release is old news - it's how the game of politics works now; any person who succeeds Joe Solmonese has to grasp this reality and find out how to work nimbly with not only the Hill and the White House, but to engage with these entities.
They are not going away, in fact their existence moved the civil rights ball forward on DADT when traditional means of Beltway negotiation and hand shakes in closed door meetings dissolved into political inertia. That this influence is publicly ignored, but privately fretted about (yes Virginia, we have eyes and ears everywhere), should be a signal that precious wasted energy worrying about allies that use different tactics should be spent on how a powerful institution with access like HRC can leverage those differences without appearing to "sell out" or be in battle when the end goals are actually in alignment.So now the commentary is left to readers - how does this prospective news affect your view of the potential of the Human Rights Campaign to rework its reputation within the elements of the LGBT community that have questioned its strategy and decisions regarding legislative focus and its image to the larger public? Is there any positive/negative fallout from this organizational shift?
Discuss. More to come as additional details emerge.
***
UPDATE: Chris Geidner at MetroWeekly has filled in a few more details that conflict with our source's account, and identified the consultant.
Although Spaulding reported that "a replacement executive director has been identified," four sources familiar with the situation describe that portion of the report as inaccurate -- with one saying the process is just beginning and will not be rapid.
...Spaulding refers to the person she reported was identified as Solmonese's replacement as "a paid consultant" who has worked with the organization. Metro Weekly has identified that consultant as Cathy Woolard, who most recently served on the senior leadership team at CARE, which describes itself as "a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty" and is based in Atlanta.
Although the sources say that no permanent replacement has been selected, none of the four sources were willing to say what, if any, role Woolard would play in the transition efforts at HRC.
Ellen DeGeneres Sat Here
I was at a garage sale this weekend and came across these chairs. I thought they would be good for my deck. The guy was selling them for $7 each. Way too much. I offered $10 for all four. He countered with $15 and I accepted.As I was getting ready to load the chairs into my car, he told me Ellen DeGeneres sat in one of them. He said he used to work as a waiter at the Heathman, a high-end hotel in Portland. Ellen and Ann Heche were having drinks on the patio and invited him to come back when his shift was over and have a drink. He said Ellen was very nice.I was glad to hear that, but I told him he could keep the Ann Heche chair.
Vancouver Queers :: Will You Be at Davie + Howe?
Vancouver is a-talking about what's coming to Davie & Howe in October and it's all the buzz.... Much speculation has been going around about what would be going into the prime intersection in gay-town. While I was glad to hear it's not going to be a Starbuck's or a BlockBuster or yet another Safeway, I couldn't get the skinny on what was coming to the location exactly. I'm super intrigued, though, as I like the way "whatever-it-is" is flirting with the gay community.What I Did Find OutIt's going to be a new Canadian brand and that they are launching in Vancouver before going national. Hmm.... a brand of what? We also heard from a very reliable source that this new yet to be named Canadian brand is going to definitely support the LGBT community. Even though it's quite coy, I'm very curious--curious enough to join the online bandwagon! You should, too.I'll keep my ear to the ground and let you know what I can uncover between now and Oct. I'm excited to see so many cute faces out and about and online! Join me in the fun.
Horoscope: June 28-July 4, 2012
Horoscope: Heavenly Round-Up: Feeling all hung up and conflicted? Not able to settle in to those horns on the dilemma? You may feel more enervated than chilled out, but you could get there from here. For one thing, the conflict is both external and transient. For another thing, it's largely composed of a common semantic misunderstanding. Pull your fingers out of your ears and you'll hear what I'm saying a little more clearly. You should dance on Friday, and clean as you go through the weekend. Wear gold for fortune. Aries: If you look over your shoulder everywhere you go, you're going to tumble down the very rabbit hole you'd been hoping to avoid, Alice! Now is the time to cut through the noise of your habits and preconceptions. Give meditation a chance. You might like the still, small voice. Taurus: Once upon a time, you were plagued with impossible tasks and worse deadlines. Nowadays, you continue to act as though you're still under that sentence. Close your eyes. Count to 10. Promise yourself you'll look with a fresh perspective at everything around you. Ask twice. ... (more)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Bullying…an evil epidemic in our midst
In the last two months there has been a public outcry over the number of GLBT youth who have committed suicide. It is not only brought the issue back into focus for our community but for the world. With celebrities speaking out on the issue and vigils being held across the country we collectively must do all we can to ensure that not only GLBT youth but all youth are not bullied and brought to feeling so hopeless that they feel the only way out is to take their own lives.
Statistically nine out of ten GLBT youth say they have been bullied and GLBT youth are four times more likely to take their own lives than heterosexual youth according to the Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey. In a study led by Dr. Caitlin Ryan and conducted as part of the Family Acceptance…
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Statistically nine out of ten GLBT youth say they have been bullied and GLBT youth are four times more likely to take their own lives than heterosexual youth according to the Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey. In a study led by Dr. Caitlin Ryan and conducted as part of the Family Acceptance…
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Real Estate News
Lorie Zapf follow up
Last Friday, our community got some good news from the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) which decided to suspend its endorsement of Lorie Zapf for City Council. Zapf failed to disclose a number of crippling personal details including her open gay-hatred and her operation of a short sale scam with husband Eric. Zapf is now forced to remove the Realtor thumbs-up from all campaign material and won’t have access to the organization’s PAC funds. Thanks to all who took a moment to contact SDAR, both as Realtors and as clients. Your direct involvement helped immensely. Professional credit is owed to SD City Beat’s Dave Maass and Realtor Pat Flannery from blogofsandiego.com.
Before we uncork the Prosecco in victory, let me offer a more dir…
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Last Friday, our community got some good news from the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) which decided to suspend its endorsement of Lorie Zapf for City Council. Zapf failed to disclose a number of crippling personal details including her open gay-hatred and her operation of a short sale scam with husband Eric. Zapf is now forced to remove the Realtor thumbs-up from all campaign material and won’t have access to the organization’s PAC funds. Thanks to all who took a moment to contact SDAR, both as Realtors and as clients. Your direct involvement helped immensely. Professional credit is owed to SD City Beat’s Dave Maass and Realtor Pat Flannery from blogofsandiego.com.
Before we uncork the Prosecco in victory, let me offer a more dir…
Read More
Census: 131,729 gay couples report they’re married
(Washington) Increasingly visible, the number of gay Americans telling the U.S. census they're living with same-sex partners nearly doubled in the past decade, to about 650,000 couples. And more than 130,000 recorded partners as husband or wife.
Census figures released Tuesday provide a rare snapshot of married and unmarried same-sex couples in the U.S. based on the government count conducted last year, when gay marriage was legal in five states and the District of Columbia. It comes at a time when public opposition to gay marriage is easing and advocacy groups are seeking a state-by-state push for broader legal rights.
Some 131,729 same-sex couples checked "husband" or "wife" boxes on their decennial census forms, the first time people could do so, after gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts starting in 2004.
That 2010 tally of married gay couples is higher than the actual number of legal marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships in the U.S. Even after New York legalized gay marriage in June, a Census Bureau consultant, Gary Gates of UCLA, put the actual number of legally recognized gay partnerships at 100,000.
"There's no dispute the same-sex population increases from 2000 and 2010," said Martin O'Connell, chief of the fertility and family statistics branch at the Census Bureau. In cases of couples who reported they were living in a marriage relationship, "they basically responded that way because that is truly how they felt they were living."
The total of 646,464 gay couples in the U.S. was a downward revision of the Census Bureau's count of 901,997 released last month. The bureau said Tuesday it had to make the adjustment after determining that coding errors resulted in an exaggerated count for the initial number.
Still, researchers believe the new estimate could be as much as 15 percent lower than the actual number of gay couples in the U.S. because of social stigma, discrimination or other concerns about confidentiality. In a small number of cases, younger gay couples also may not have been counted in the census if they were "doubling up" in a home where neither was the head of household.
Based on revisions made to the 2000 census figure as well, the number of same-sex couples nationwide rose 80 percent from an adjusted 2000 figure of 358,390. Previously, the Census Bureau had reported there were 594,391 same-sex couples in the U.S. in 2000.
Nationwide, about 51 percent of the couples last year were female. Nearly one in five of the same-sex couples was raising children at home - widely distributed among those who reported being in marriage relationships and those who were not.
Broken down by state, the highest rates of increase in gay couples - both married and unmarried - were in lesser-populated states such as West Virginia, Montana, the Dakotas, Oklahoma and Kentucky, each rising at least 150 percent from 2000. In contrast, the larger, more traditional gay places including the District of Columbia, California and New York, posted the smallest percentage increases - 60 percent or less.
Gay rights groups say the latest census numbers are an important step in increasing visibility and helping to dispel notions that they live primarily in big cities on the two coasts. Still, because the census forms do not ask about sexual orientation, some activists have complained that single gays - as opposed to those with live-in spouses and partners - have no means of gaining collective representation through the census.
"Every step is a step forward in acknowledging that, yes, we do exist," said Lois Farnham, of Burlington, Vt., who recorded a civil union with Holly Puterbaugh the first day they were allowed in 2000 and then legally married her in 2009.
Farnham, 67, said she expected the census numbers would underestimate the number of people in such relationships, noting that many same-sex couples keep quiet about their married status. "They can't share that with a lot of people for family or job security reasons. It's still an issue and people are still being discriminated against," she said.
Puterbaugh, 65, said many couples live as if they're married without making it formal. "You have to remember that there are many straight couples who have chosen not to marry for whatever reason that may be," she said.
Brian Moulton, chief legislative counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, described the latest census numbers as a "tremendous increase," demonstrating a culture shift and sending a signal to local officials and governments that gays and lesbians exist and deserve rights and benefits.
"A lot of couples who are reporting they are same-sex are in places where it's been legally and culturally more challenging for our community," he said. "That's not a reflection of couples suddenly popping out of nowhere - the culture is changing in those places to a degree people feel comfortable coming out on the census form."
The new same-sex data come as battlegrounds lie ahead over gay rights. Voters in North Carolina and Minnesota will be deciding next year on the fate of constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, while the Maryland Legislature is expected to consider a bill that would legalize it.
An August poll by The Associated Press and the National Constitutional Center found a narrow majority of Americans support legal recognition of same-sex marriage - 53 percent to 44 percent opposed. That is largely unchanged from last year but a shift from 2009, when a slim majority opposed government recognition of gay marriage.
In 2000, citing the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the Bush administration directed the Census Bureau to re-code same-sex couples who identified themselves as married to be counted as unmarried partners. Pressed by gay-rights groups in 2009, the Obama administration reversed that policy, allowing the bureau to count same-sex couples as married.
Last week, the U.S. military passed a historic milestone with the repeal of its "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly.
The census figures were welcomed by many gay people.
"It makes me feel like I am part of this country," said Al Koski, 69, a retired Social Security claims representative from Bourne, Mass., who married his partner Jim Fitzgerald in 2007 after they were together for more than 30 years. "I don't have to be in the background anymore. I am glad people are coming out of the closet and are not afraid to check that box."
Koski said he is hopeful that the census count will help in the push to legalize gay marriage in other states.
"Every time I see something happening, like `don't ask, don't tell' falling by the wayside, every time something happens, it's another little domino falling," he said.
The highest share of households with reported same-sex couples - both married and unmarried - was in Washington, D.C., at nearly 2 percent. Washington was followed by Vermont, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Delaware, New Mexico and Washington state. On the other end of the scale, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming had the smallest shares, each with less than one-third of 1 percent.
Census figures released Tuesday provide a rare snapshot of married and unmarried same-sex couples in the U.S. based on the government count conducted last year, when gay marriage was legal in five states and the District of Columbia. It comes at a time when public opposition to gay marriage is easing and advocacy groups are seeking a state-by-state push for broader legal rights.
Some 131,729 same-sex couples checked "husband" or "wife" boxes on their decennial census forms, the first time people could do so, after gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts starting in 2004.
That 2010 tally of married gay couples is higher than the actual number of legal marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships in the U.S. Even after New York legalized gay marriage in June, a Census Bureau consultant, Gary Gates of UCLA, put the actual number of legally recognized gay partnerships at 100,000.
"There's no dispute the same-sex population increases from 2000 and 2010," said Martin O'Connell, chief of the fertility and family statistics branch at the Census Bureau. In cases of couples who reported they were living in a marriage relationship, "they basically responded that way because that is truly how they felt they were living."
The total of 646,464 gay couples in the U.S. was a downward revision of the Census Bureau's count of 901,997 released last month. The bureau said Tuesday it had to make the adjustment after determining that coding errors resulted in an exaggerated count for the initial number.
Still, researchers believe the new estimate could be as much as 15 percent lower than the actual number of gay couples in the U.S. because of social stigma, discrimination or other concerns about confidentiality. In a small number of cases, younger gay couples also may not have been counted in the census if they were "doubling up" in a home where neither was the head of household.
Based on revisions made to the 2000 census figure as well, the number of same-sex couples nationwide rose 80 percent from an adjusted 2000 figure of 358,390. Previously, the Census Bureau had reported there were 594,391 same-sex couples in the U.S. in 2000.
Nationwide, about 51 percent of the couples last year were female. Nearly one in five of the same-sex couples was raising children at home - widely distributed among those who reported being in marriage relationships and those who were not.
Broken down by state, the highest rates of increase in gay couples - both married and unmarried - were in lesser-populated states such as West Virginia, Montana, the Dakotas, Oklahoma and Kentucky, each rising at least 150 percent from 2000. In contrast, the larger, more traditional gay places including the District of Columbia, California and New York, posted the smallest percentage increases - 60 percent or less.
Gay rights groups say the latest census numbers are an important step in increasing visibility and helping to dispel notions that they live primarily in big cities on the two coasts. Still, because the census forms do not ask about sexual orientation, some activists have complained that single gays - as opposed to those with live-in spouses and partners - have no means of gaining collective representation through the census.
"Every step is a step forward in acknowledging that, yes, we do exist," said Lois Farnham, of Burlington, Vt., who recorded a civil union with Holly Puterbaugh the first day they were allowed in 2000 and then legally married her in 2009.
Farnham, 67, said she expected the census numbers would underestimate the number of people in such relationships, noting that many same-sex couples keep quiet about their married status. "They can't share that with a lot of people for family or job security reasons. It's still an issue and people are still being discriminated against," she said.
Puterbaugh, 65, said many couples live as if they're married without making it formal. "You have to remember that there are many straight couples who have chosen not to marry for whatever reason that may be," she said.
Brian Moulton, chief legislative counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, described the latest census numbers as a "tremendous increase," demonstrating a culture shift and sending a signal to local officials and governments that gays and lesbians exist and deserve rights and benefits.
"A lot of couples who are reporting they are same-sex are in places where it's been legally and culturally more challenging for our community," he said. "That's not a reflection of couples suddenly popping out of nowhere - the culture is changing in those places to a degree people feel comfortable coming out on the census form."
The new same-sex data come as battlegrounds lie ahead over gay rights. Voters in North Carolina and Minnesota will be deciding next year on the fate of constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, while the Maryland Legislature is expected to consider a bill that would legalize it.
An August poll by The Associated Press and the National Constitutional Center found a narrow majority of Americans support legal recognition of same-sex marriage - 53 percent to 44 percent opposed. That is largely unchanged from last year but a shift from 2009, when a slim majority opposed government recognition of gay marriage.
In 2000, citing the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the Bush administration directed the Census Bureau to re-code same-sex couples who identified themselves as married to be counted as unmarried partners. Pressed by gay-rights groups in 2009, the Obama administration reversed that policy, allowing the bureau to count same-sex couples as married.
Last week, the U.S. military passed a historic milestone with the repeal of its "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly.
The census figures were welcomed by many gay people.
"It makes me feel like I am part of this country," said Al Koski, 69, a retired Social Security claims representative from Bourne, Mass., who married his partner Jim Fitzgerald in 2007 after they were together for more than 30 years. "I don't have to be in the background anymore. I am glad people are coming out of the closet and are not afraid to check that box."
Koski said he is hopeful that the census count will help in the push to legalize gay marriage in other states.
"Every time I see something happening, like `don't ask, don't tell' falling by the wayside, every time something happens, it's another little domino falling," he said.
The highest share of households with reported same-sex couples - both married and unmarried - was in Washington, D.C., at nearly 2 percent. Washington was followed by Vermont, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Delaware, New Mexico and Washington state. On the other end of the scale, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming had the smallest shares, each with less than one-third of 1 percent.
Tired of Being Single While My Friends are All in Love
When you're single, it can be hard to be around a lot of couples. Sometimes seeing them all together and happy just makes you realize how much you want a relationship of your own. It can be hard to stay positive and optimistic. What can you do if all your friends are in couples and you're the only single one? ...Read Full Post
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
In the Pit
Look out…. for BEARQUAKE 2010
Get ready for BearQuake 2010! I don’t know if that means they’ll be shaking, rocking or rolling but the Southern California Bear Club Alliance wants to welcome all their hirsute brothers, their chasers and maybe a few sisters to San Diego for “Cirque De L’Ours” on the weekend of October 14-17. This means you have approximately three weeks to grow your beard, chest and back hair so you too can be “without the trappings”. Bear events are still some of my favorites because of the names they come up with (bears can insert the word “bear” anyplace and have a jolly good time) and more importantly because there is food, everywhere!
“Cirque De L’Ours” is hosted by Bears San Diego and Bears L…
Read More
Get ready for BearQuake 2010! I don’t know if that means they’ll be shaking, rocking or rolling but the Southern California Bear Club Alliance wants to welcome all their hirsute brothers, their chasers and maybe a few sisters to San Diego for “Cirque De L’Ours” on the weekend of October 14-17. This means you have approximately three weeks to grow your beard, chest and back hair so you too can be “without the trappings”. Bear events are still some of my favorites because of the names they come up with (bears can insert the word “bear” anyplace and have a jolly good time) and more importantly because there is food, everywhere!
“Cirque De L’Ours” is hosted by Bears San Diego and Bears L…
Read More
Cops: Lesbian Fakes Attack In Which She Carved Anti-Gay Slurs Into Skin
A former University of Nebraska women's basketball star faked an attack in which she allegedly carved anti-gay slurs into her skin because she felt it would spark change, police said Tuesday.
(64) Love & Rage (Mini)
She’s not a f’cking “WRITER”! Blasphemers. Soy. Quack therapists, pills and doctors… oh, and don’t listen if you’re hypersensitive about these issues and can’t deal with anyone having a different opinion and/or life experience than yours. This isn’t NPR, byatches.
(56) Painkiller
Wisdom Teeth, Percodan, 7 day junkie, Addiction, Politician/Banker thug class and Argentina, Mute MSM report on nothing that mattters as usual, Myspace is up and running, thankfully, http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=211975370&blogId=488907509 The Lesbian Mafia is a federally registered tradmark. Music: Painkiller – Steve Bug (feat. Miss Kittin) Space Cowboy – Eve St. Jones Behind – Flanders
Peter Thiel Makes $400 Million From Original Facebook Investment
PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel has reportedly sold 20.6 million Class A Facebook shares, earning him approximately $400 million on his original $500,000 investment.
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Peter Thiel Makes $400 Million From Original Facebook Investment
PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel has reportedly sold 20.6 million Class A Facebook shares, earning him approximately $400 million on his original $500,000 investment.
read more
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A Lesbian Proposal On Ice
As her partner popped the question, the bride-to-be didn't seem too 'shaken,' but any viewer watching this will certainly feel 'stirred.'
On March 17, 2012, Canadian couple Alicia and Christina got engaged on center ice of a Maple Leafs - Ottawa Senators game.
Congratulations, gals!
read more
On March 17, 2012, Canadian couple Alicia and Christina got engaged on center ice of a Maple Leafs - Ottawa Senators game.
Congratulations, gals!
read more
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Paul Ryan's Parasites: Between his Catholicism and disavowal of Objectivism, Ryan occupies a right-wing middle ground
Opinion: The 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged is a grandiosity in service of an ideology, rather like the Mormon temple in Silver Spring that inspired jokesters to paint ''Surrender Dorothy'' on a nearby pedestrian bridge. Author Ayn Rand's ideology is Objectivism, which makes a virtue of selfishness. William F. Buckley said he had to flog himself to read it. What drew my interest was its influence on Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Ryan used to give copies of the novel to his interns for Christmas, which is odd considering Rand's atheism. Now he disavows her influence, despite evidence like a 2009 campaign video in which he says, ''Ayn Rand, more than anyone else, did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism.'' Ryan enjoys far more affection from Republicans than Mitt Romney. Given his ascendancy, and the straight zeroes on his congressional scorecards from the Human Rights Campaign other than one 2007 vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, it behooves us to examine Ryan's ideological source material. ... (more)
NOM Rabbi Yehuda Levin says God unleashed the 5.9 quake because of TEH GAY
Guess who was first out of the box to blame gays/same-sex marriage on the earthquake? Not Pat Robertson; he was my first pick. No, this one actually is a better, bigger batsh*t piece of work.
NOM BFF NYC Rabbi Yehuda Levin erupted with this gem...
"One of the reasons that God brings earthquakes to the world is because of the transgression of homosexuality. The Talmud states, 'You have shaken your male member in a place where it doesn't belong. I too, will shake the earth.'"
(59) Show Me Love DJ
Fantasies of the Sarah, Chat with Nikki re: Pimping Miss Universe, Anti-Relationship Relationship talk, Kim Kardashian’s curves, Jessica Simpson’s diet and more! http://www.thelesbianmafia.com Twitter www.twitter.com/thelesbianmafia Facebook search and add us! Myspace www.myspace.com/thelesbianmafiacast Lesbian Mafia Apparel: http://thelesbianmafia.spreadshirt.com LISTEN TO THE LESBIAN MAFIA ON YOUR PHONE! 651-925-1610 Leave a message on Voice Mail – 206-984-4093
Does a leopard change its spots???
Lorie Zapf is not the first to claim that she has seen the errors of her homophobic ways. Political gain is a powerful motivator and a closer look at many candidates these days reveals a plethora of changed views and opinions.
Until recently only a few had much to say about Zapf and as someone who is running for a council seat together with a council member looking to run for mayor it seemed a good fit that DeMaio and Zapf join forces in the race for the GLBT and conservative vote.
Jonathan Hale, life partner of Carl Demaio and owner of Hale Media, Inc. producers of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN.com) and San Diego Pix Magazine (sdpix.com), recently ran an interview profiling Lorie Zapf. Ironically this interview never did include an apology to …
Read More
Until recently only a few had much to say about Zapf and as someone who is running for a council seat together with a council member looking to run for mayor it seemed a good fit that DeMaio and Zapf join forces in the race for the GLBT and conservative vote.
Jonathan Hale, life partner of Carl Demaio and owner of Hale Media, Inc. producers of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN.com) and San Diego Pix Magazine (sdpix.com), recently ran an interview profiling Lorie Zapf. Ironically this interview never did include an apology to …
Read More
Chick Fil A VS Google, Microsoft, StarBucks, Viacom, ebay....
From Lamda Legal:The furor is about much more than just a chicken sandwich.When Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy declared his opposition to marriage for same-sex couples, reaction was swift. Some LGBT groups called for a boycott, the Jim Henson Company pulled out of a merchandising deal, and politicians in Boston and Chicago said their cities would not tolerate such discrimination. But the backlash points to a bigger shift in the national conversation about the freedom to marry. We have been saying for some time now that the tide is no longer turning?it?s already turned.A few weeks ago, more than three dozen companies signed on to a brief in support of Lambda Legal?s challenge to DOMA, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act?Microsoft, Google, Viacom, Starbucks, Xerox, CBS, eBay, the Gap and other corporations much larger than a fast-food chain. All of them agree on one thing: Discrimination is bad for business.Last week, Jen Cast, a former Lambda Legal board member and one of Amazon.com?s first employees, emailed the company?s founder, Jeff Bezos, asking for his support in the fight for marriage equality in Washington State. Lambda Legal and the Northwest Women?s Law Centersued in 2004 for the freedom to marry in the Evergreen State, but we did not prevail in court. In February of this year, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a marriage equality bill into law, but opponents collected enough signatures for a referendum in November.Jen is now finance co-chair of Washington United for Marriage. She asked Bezos for $100,000 or $200,000 to help defeat the antigay initiative. Instead, she got this email from Bezos and his wife: ?Jen, this is right for so many reasons. We?re in for $2.5 million. Jeff & MacKenzie.?It is right, and not just for business leaders. Some 132 members of Congress signed on to a brief in support of Lambda Legal?s DOMA challenge. So did labor unions, bar associations, religious groups, health care professional organizations, legal scholars and historians?a groundswell of support from nearly all walks of life. The Justice Department has concluded that DOMA is unconstitutional, and has asked the Supreme Court to hear our case. And President Obama has announced his opposition to DOMA and his support of marriage for same-sex couples.Lambda Legal has had an agenda for nearly 40 years?equality for LGBT people and people living with HIV. People like Dan Cathy are increasingly finding themselves on the wrong side of history. DOMA is on its last legs. The day will come when same-sex couples and their families can enjoy full equality under the law. More and more, that day is looking inevitable?sooner rather than later.
Book party Aug. 22
Oeishik Moitra-Goel Chowdhury will release his first collection of prose, poetry and photography—Tribute to Sam Steward—Wed., Aug. 22, at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark St., at 6:30 p.m.
Flexible, customizable, free, gay-friendly, Windows-compatible genealogy software?
Flexible, customizable, free, gay-friendly, Windows-compatible genealogy software? I just noticed that the software I'm using appears to allow only man-woman marriages. (There may be an option I've missed, but that's what it looks like for now.) So I want to know what my options are for gay-friendly genealogy software. Preferably, I would like it to be flexible enough to allow you to define any sort of relationship between people (friends, work colleagues, school buddies, neighbors, sexual partners, kindred spirits, ride the same bus, etc.) and then let you generate classic family trees or other sorts of reports.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Does a leopard change its spots???
Lorie Zapf is not the first to claim that she has seen the errors of her homophobic ways. Political gain is a powerful motivator and a closer look at many candidates these days reveals a plethora of changed views and opinions.
Until recently only a few had much to say about Zapf and as someone who is running for a council seat together with a council member looking to run for mayor it seemed a good fit that DeMaio and Zapf join forces in the race for the GLBT and conservative vote.
Jonathan Hale, life partner of Carl Demaio and owner of Hale Media, Inc. producers of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN.com) and San Diego Pix Magazine (sdpix.com), recently ran an interview profiling Lorie Zapf. Ironically this interview never did include an apology to …
Read More
Until recently only a few had much to say about Zapf and as someone who is running for a council seat together with a council member looking to run for mayor it seemed a good fit that DeMaio and Zapf join forces in the race for the GLBT and conservative vote.
Jonathan Hale, life partner of Carl Demaio and owner of Hale Media, Inc. producers of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN.com) and San Diego Pix Magazine (sdpix.com), recently ran an interview profiling Lorie Zapf. Ironically this interview never did include an apology to …
Read More
The Pope Books Take That for the Next Vatican Show
After this weeks Royal Variety Performance (the one where Duchess Camilla was attacked with a stick when caught up in the London riots), the Pope has booked Take That. The show included hundreds of near naked male dancers.
Naked from the back
The five Take That members sang on top of a raised platform while the remainder of the stage was covered in male dancers wearing nothing but flesh-coloured jockstraps.
As the song continued the men re-enacted the five poses on the front of the band?s new album, Progress.
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Naked from the back
The five Take That members sang on top of a raised platform while the remainder of the stage was covered in male dancers wearing nothing but flesh-coloured jockstraps.
As the song continued the men re-enacted the five poses on the front of the band?s new album, Progress.
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
FRC Shooting Suspect May Have Had Plans for Second Conservative Shooting
The man who shot a Family Research Council security guard last Wednesday may have planned to open fire on another Christian conservative organization.
read more
read more
Video: Rick Perry Said Bush Defended Us From Freedom
More of the wit and wisdumb from the leader of the 2012 GOP Clown Car race...
Yes, this is the best that the GOP can offer the country. What a sad state of affairs.
Pretty Airplanes
Jes from Dayton Ohio recently contacted me to tell me about an art project she completed. She was invited by the city to cover this model F16 jet with art. Since she is a mosaic artist, this is what she came up with. Jess said:I covered the Jet with stained glass because glass is the most beautiful media in the world ;)I wanted to show a larger range of color and knew that a rainbow would be perfect. The plane is meant to be beautiful more than anything else. I wanted people to want to know what she is all about. A beautiful sculpture that says I'm proud to be gay and in the military. I hope this Rainbow F16 serves as a reminder that we need to defeat the BAN on gay men and women serving our country. Equality is beautiful.Jes's plane will be on display in a bank in Dayton, Ohio. Thanks for sharing Jes!
Paul Ryan's Parasites: Between his Catholicism and disavowal of Objectivism, Ryan occupies a right-wing middle ground
Opinion:
The 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged is a grandiosity in service of an ideology, rather like the Mormon temple in Silver Spring that inspired jokesters to paint ''Surrender Dorothy'' on a nearby pedestrian bridge. Author Ayn Rand's ideology is Objectivism, which makes a virtue of selfishness. William F. Buckley said he had to flog himself to read it. What drew my interest was its influence on Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.
Ryan used to give copies of the novel to his interns for Christmas, which is odd considering Rand's atheism. Now he disavows her influence, despite evidence like a 2009 campaign video in which he says, ''Ayn Rand, more than anyone else, did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism.''
Ryan enjoys far more affection from Republicans than Mitt Romney. Given his ascendancy, and the straight zeroes on his congressional scorecards from the Human Rights Campaign other than one 2007 vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, it behooves us to examine Ryan's ideological source material.
Atlas Shrugged tells the story of the creators and innovators who make human life worthwhile being hindered by soul-crushing collectivist government even as human parasites suck the value out of their enterprises. A man named Galt leads the creative class in a strike. Along the way we encounter conspiracy, treachery, a super weapon and heroic lovemaking.
Some of the male characters share a strong emotional bond, though there is no indication it is sexual. The late gay libertarian Paul Varnell noted that Rand supported decriminalizing homosexuality despite her personal disapproval.
Ryan sees soul-crushing collectivist government in Barack Obama's economic policies. Touting laissez-faire capitalism, Ryan ignores the government interventions that rescued our financial and automobile industries, and decries what he calls socialist tyranny. He would privatize Social Security, voucherize Medicare and use tax policy to accelerate upward redistribution of income.
The GOP policy of privatizing profit while socializing risk is not Rand's philosophy. The conniving mediocrities who serve as her villains are best exemplified by the Republicans' chief backers, who buy political influence to block new technology, thwart competition and disempower voters. Rand summoned us to reason for ourselves and ''reach for what is best within us.'' Today's GOP reaches for advantage by inflaming know-nothings.
Rand's blind spot was her scorn for altruism, which she associated with totalitarian socialism. Her exalted individualism saw nothing benign in collective effort. Rather than receive charity, the downtrodden were to be inspired by the example of her ennobled entrepreneurs. But the plot of Atlas Shrugged showed Rand's awareness that capitalists too were capable of malign collectives. Thus, 50 years after Buckley condemned the John Birch Society, the plutocrats' exploitation of nativist and homophobic voters has unleashed what even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) calls ''the crazies.''
In contrast with the predatory One Percent stands the idea of the Talented Tenth, raised by W.E.B. Du Bois in 1903 in The Souls of Black Folk. In addition to the industrial education urged by Booker T. Washington, Du Bois called for higher education to cultivate teachers and leaders who would lift the black community's sights. The collective effort he championed helped pave the way for the rise of the black middle class.
Randian fables of radical individualism notwithstanding, American capitalists receive all manner of taxpayer-funded help. Ryan serves their unquenchable thirst while seeking to dismantle the social safety net, despite the teachings of his own Catholic Church and despite the Constitution specifying promotion of the general welfare among its stated purposes.
Our president does not deserve calumny for pointing out businesses' reliance on public infrastructure. Nor do those of us who have struggled for our birthright of equality need lectures on self-reliance from influence peddlers and defenders of privilege.
Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@starpower.net. ...more
The 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged is a grandiosity in service of an ideology, rather like the Mormon temple in Silver Spring that inspired jokesters to paint ''Surrender Dorothy'' on a nearby pedestrian bridge. Author Ayn Rand's ideology is Objectivism, which makes a virtue of selfishness. William F. Buckley said he had to flog himself to read it. What drew my interest was its influence on Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.
Ryan used to give copies of the novel to his interns for Christmas, which is odd considering Rand's atheism. Now he disavows her influence, despite evidence like a 2009 campaign video in which he says, ''Ayn Rand, more than anyone else, did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism.''
Ryan enjoys far more affection from Republicans than Mitt Romney. Given his ascendancy, and the straight zeroes on his congressional scorecards from the Human Rights Campaign other than one 2007 vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, it behooves us to examine Ryan's ideological source material.
Atlas Shrugged tells the story of the creators and innovators who make human life worthwhile being hindered by soul-crushing collectivist government even as human parasites suck the value out of their enterprises. A man named Galt leads the creative class in a strike. Along the way we encounter conspiracy, treachery, a super weapon and heroic lovemaking.
Some of the male characters share a strong emotional bond, though there is no indication it is sexual. The late gay libertarian Paul Varnell noted that Rand supported decriminalizing homosexuality despite her personal disapproval.
Ryan sees soul-crushing collectivist government in Barack Obama's economic policies. Touting laissez-faire capitalism, Ryan ignores the government interventions that rescued our financial and automobile industries, and decries what he calls socialist tyranny. He would privatize Social Security, voucherize Medicare and use tax policy to accelerate upward redistribution of income.
The GOP policy of privatizing profit while socializing risk is not Rand's philosophy. The conniving mediocrities who serve as her villains are best exemplified by the Republicans' chief backers, who buy political influence to block new technology, thwart competition and disempower voters. Rand summoned us to reason for ourselves and ''reach for what is best within us.'' Today's GOP reaches for advantage by inflaming know-nothings.
Rand's blind spot was her scorn for altruism, which she associated with totalitarian socialism. Her exalted individualism saw nothing benign in collective effort. Rather than receive charity, the downtrodden were to be inspired by the example of her ennobled entrepreneurs. But the plot of Atlas Shrugged showed Rand's awareness that capitalists too were capable of malign collectives. Thus, 50 years after Buckley condemned the John Birch Society, the plutocrats' exploitation of nativist and homophobic voters has unleashed what even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) calls ''the crazies.''
In contrast with the predatory One Percent stands the idea of the Talented Tenth, raised by W.E.B. Du Bois in 1903 in The Souls of Black Folk. In addition to the industrial education urged by Booker T. Washington, Du Bois called for higher education to cultivate teachers and leaders who would lift the black community's sights. The collective effort he championed helped pave the way for the rise of the black middle class.
Randian fables of radical individualism notwithstanding, American capitalists receive all manner of taxpayer-funded help. Ryan serves their unquenchable thirst while seeking to dismantle the social safety net, despite the teachings of his own Catholic Church and despite the Constitution specifying promotion of the general welfare among its stated purposes.
Our president does not deserve calumny for pointing out businesses' reliance on public infrastructure. Nor do those of us who have struggled for our birthright of equality need lectures on self-reliance from influence peddlers and defenders of privilege.
Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@starpower.net. ...more
Lesbian News - 04 Aug 2012
Obama Nominates Out Lesbian for Federal JudgeshipDOMA Ruled Unconstitutional in Connecticut Case Pedersen v. OPMStill more about the gay parenting studyApparently it's ok to be homophobic - WTVR.comPetition Asking Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy to 'Meet with Our Family'She mother to baby girl after finding perfect match on the free sperm donor site she founded
Sunday, August 19, 2012
I?m not a playa, I just crush a lot: a guide to dating multiple people at once
A lesbian guide on how to date multiple people at once without drama
Timothy Ray Brown
Timothy Ray Brown, the so-called "Berlin patient," is the first and so far only person cured of AIDS. He developed leukemia and had to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, which first destroyed his immune system, then gave him a new one.
GLAAD finds fewer gay characters on network TV
(New York) The number of gay and bisexual characters on scripted broadcast network TV has dipped slightly this season to 19 out of nearly 650 roles, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
The 16th annual "Where We Are on TV" report released Wednesday by GLAAD found that 2.9 percent of actors appearing regularly on prime-time network drama and comedy series in the 2011-12 season will portray gay, lesbian or bisexual characters.
That's down from 3 percent in the 2009-10 season and 3.9 percent last season, when there were 23 out of a total of nearly 600 roles.
The 2008-09 season saw an increased representation of 2.6 percent.
Only five of the 19 gay and lesbian characters this season are nonwhite, GLAAD found.
Using information provided by ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, the group reviewed 91 scripted series announced to air this season.
Among broadcast series with gay and bisexual characters, GLAAD cited CBS' "The Good Wife," the CW's "Ringer" and NBC's "The Playboy Club." Comedies include ABC's "Modern Family" and Fox's "Glee."
Fox leads the networks in gay representation, with eight regular characters out of a total of 117.
The number of gay and bisexual characters on cable networks has also fallen slightly, from 35 last season to 29 in the upcoming season.
As it did last year, HBO has the greatest number of gay and bisexual characters, with 11 regular and recurring characters. Showtime is close behind with 10.
The HBO drama "True Blood" remains among the most inclusive series on television, featuring six characters, tied with the Showtime series "Shameless," the group found.
Some of TV's most popular shows "weave story lines about gay and lesbian characters into the fabric of the show," said GLAAD acting President Mike Thompson. "Americans expect to see the diversity of our country represented in their favorite programs, and that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
The 16th annual "Where We Are on TV" report released Wednesday by GLAAD found that 2.9 percent of actors appearing regularly on prime-time network drama and comedy series in the 2011-12 season will portray gay, lesbian or bisexual characters.
That's down from 3 percent in the 2009-10 season and 3.9 percent last season, when there were 23 out of a total of nearly 600 roles.
The 2008-09 season saw an increased representation of 2.6 percent.
Only five of the 19 gay and lesbian characters this season are nonwhite, GLAAD found.
Using information provided by ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW, the group reviewed 91 scripted series announced to air this season.
Among broadcast series with gay and bisexual characters, GLAAD cited CBS' "The Good Wife," the CW's "Ringer" and NBC's "The Playboy Club." Comedies include ABC's "Modern Family" and Fox's "Glee."
Fox leads the networks in gay representation, with eight regular characters out of a total of 117.
The number of gay and bisexual characters on cable networks has also fallen slightly, from 35 last season to 29 in the upcoming season.
As it did last year, HBO has the greatest number of gay and bisexual characters, with 11 regular and recurring characters. Showtime is close behind with 10.
The HBO drama "True Blood" remains among the most inclusive series on television, featuring six characters, tied with the Showtime series "Shameless," the group found.
Some of TV's most popular shows "weave story lines about gay and lesbian characters into the fabric of the show," said GLAAD acting President Mike Thompson. "Americans expect to see the diversity of our country represented in their favorite programs, and that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
ADOPT ME! Cherry is sweet!
Cherry is a one-year old brown/black Terrier mix. She has been spayed.
Why I'd make a great companion
Cherry wants to be your new best friend. Will you take Cherry home?
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Why I'd make a great companion
Cherry wants to be your new best friend. Will you take Cherry home?
read more
Antigone
Playwright: adapted by Jack Bourgeois from the play by Sophocles. At: Cold Basement Dramatics at
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Gay CinderFella with Idol's Todrick Hall
It's Time! Legalize Love! is the theme for this summer!
Following the viral success of "Beauty and the Beat," Todrick Hall -- self-proclaimed
"Broadway performer, 'American Idol' finalist, Singer, Dancer,
'Glee'-wannabe and YouTuber" -- has just released another musical Disney
Parody, "CinderFella."
Hall brings "Cinderella" up to date, mixing iconic Disney tunes with
pop songs like Katy Perry's "Firework" and Chris Brown's "Turn Up The
Music," and features celebrities, such as Janice Dickinson, Shangela and
Willam from "Rupaul's Drag Race," Lance Bass and Daniel Franzese, in
classic fairy tale roles.
Best of all, the pro-gay music video breaks the unshakably straight
Disney tradition: Jasmine hits the dance floor with Alice, and Prince
Charming has a happily-ever-after with CinderFella. As Hall writes,
"This story speaks volumes and I think that love is as classic as this
fairy tale. It's time for us to legalize love in all shapes and colors."
Lots of stars make cameos! Janice Dickinson, Willam Belli, Shangela, Glozell, Kimberly Cole, uber sexy Steven Dehler, Sam Garfield, Tyler Brockington, sexy Aubrey O'Day, and Lance Bass as Prince charming!!
Todrick says, "I wanted to tell this famous fairy tale in a new and innovative way, combining familiar top 40's songs with classic Disney melodies. This story speaks volumes and I think that love is as classic as this fairy tale. It's time for us to legalize love in all shapes and colors.
Please support this movement by posting this on your social media sites. "
Special Thanks to:
Camarillo Ranch
Valentino's Costume Shop
Enchanted Carriages
James Alsop
DanceOn
@colinhduffy, www.colinhduffy.com, colinhduffy.tumblr.com, www.dastolidigital.com
WATCH THE VIDEO AND SHARE IT!!
(its a bummer, the video is a little dark at times - could have been better lit. But it's very fun!!)
Following the viral success of "Beauty and the Beat," Todrick Hall -- self-proclaimed
"Broadway performer, 'American Idol' finalist, Singer, Dancer,
'Glee'-wannabe and YouTuber" -- has just released another musical Disney
Parody, "CinderFella."
Hall brings "Cinderella" up to date, mixing iconic Disney tunes with
pop songs like Katy Perry's "Firework" and Chris Brown's "Turn Up The
Music," and features celebrities, such as Janice Dickinson, Shangela and
Willam from "Rupaul's Drag Race," Lance Bass and Daniel Franzese, in
classic fairy tale roles.
Best of all, the pro-gay music video breaks the unshakably straight
Disney tradition: Jasmine hits the dance floor with Alice, and Prince
Charming has a happily-ever-after with CinderFella. As Hall writes,
"This story speaks volumes and I think that love is as classic as this
fairy tale. It's time for us to legalize love in all shapes and colors."
Lots of stars make cameos! Janice Dickinson, Willam Belli, Shangela, Glozell, Kimberly Cole, uber sexy Steven Dehler, Sam Garfield, Tyler Brockington, sexy Aubrey O'Day, and Lance Bass as Prince charming!!
Todrick says, "I wanted to tell this famous fairy tale in a new and innovative way, combining familiar top 40's songs with classic Disney melodies. This story speaks volumes and I think that love is as classic as this fairy tale. It's time for us to legalize love in all shapes and colors.
Please support this movement by posting this on your social media sites. "
Special Thanks to:
Camarillo Ranch
Valentino's Costume Shop
Enchanted Carriages
James Alsop
DanceOn
@colinhduffy, www.colinhduffy.com, colinhduffy.tumblr.com, www.dastolidigital.com
WATCH THE VIDEO AND SHARE IT!!
(its a bummer, the video is a little dark at times - could have been better lit. But it's very fun!!)
Lesbian News - 01 Aug 2012
Lesbian couple confesses to torture, murder of college studentVietnam considers same sex marriageLesbian kiss at Olympic opening ceremony sparks praise, furyStudies don't support Protect Marriage Maine's claim that heterosexuals make better parentsWhy Sally Ride's sexuality really mattersFlorida lieutenant governor apologies for lesbian slurActivists hope gay marriage debate will stir Japan
Toni Atkins bill to protect public lands sent to Gov. Jerry Brown
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill authored by San Diego Assemblymember Toni Atkins to protect public lands from illegal use and save the state thousands of dollars in enforcement and legal costs was sent to the Governor today by the state legislature.
AB 2082 enables the State Lands Commission to levy fines against squatters if they do not fix a violation after receiving official notification and a 30-day grace period. Currently, the state must pursue expensive and time consuming court litigation to address unauthorized uses of these state lands.
?Public lands are important natural resources that must be protected from those who would illegally use them for their own private purposes.?
read more
AB 2082 enables the State Lands Commission to levy fines against squatters if they do not fix a violation after receiving official notification and a 30-day grace period. Currently, the state must pursue expensive and time consuming court litigation to address unauthorized uses of these state lands.
?Public lands are important natural resources that must be protected from those who would illegally use them for their own private purposes.?
read more
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