PHOTO OF THE DAY: Romney and Ryan suck face!
BY SAM GREISMAN
A look back at today's top stories
WINGNUTTERY AND FALLEN IDOLS
Former SNL castmember and all around total wackjob Victoria Jackson has made a name for herself by spouting hateful and uneducated nonsense. She attended the DNC earlier this month and today posted a video of a "debate" she had with a gay rights activist (and he's cute too!) on the street. It's more like a "disaster".
As we have all learned, Chick-fil-A is run by an anti-gay wingnut and one employee of 9 years has had enough of the company's hatred.
A former gay porn star is headed to jail. Marc Anthony Donais, AKA Ryan Idol, will be spending 12 years in prison after being convicted of the attempted murder of his girlfriend.
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MARRIAGE EQUALITY
With the LGBT communitywaiting on word from the Supreme Court regarding if they will review DOMA and Prop 8 cases, our legal expert Ari Waldman tells us what we can expect.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Christina Aguilera leaves a trail of men in her wake in her new video for "Your Body".
If the lack of protection for gay couples when it comes to deportation worries you then there is a new documentary in the works that you should keep an eye on. The filmmaker needs donations too!
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FUN VIDEOS
Kathy Griffin made an appearance at the iHeartRadio festival and took the opportunity to grope Ryan Lochte. Well who wouldn't? Speaking of grope-able guys, Zac Efron visited Sesame Street this week. He taught Elmo all about being really cute. No, not really.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
University of Virginia Students Fight For More Tolerant Song
Students from the University of Virginia are calling for an end to the student-led tradition of inserting the word "not" before the word "gay" in its traditional fight song.
read more
read more
Chicago team softball champs; squads fall in flag football
The Chicago Double Headers defeated the Chicago Shady Ladies 16-6 to win the championship in the 5th-annual Felicia Melton-Smyth Memorial Softball Tournament C-Division, played Sept. 21-23, in Madison, Wis.
Campaign launched for LGBT webisode "West Hollywood 90069"
West Hollywood, California, September 17, 2012 -- Richard Morgan Productions announced today the launch of the LGBT webisode drama "West Hollywood 90069" on the crowd funding platform Indiegogo.com.
Show Me Love
Please help me find some lesbian films that have a happy romantic ending. I'm basically looking for the lesbian equivalent of a romantic comedy, except I don't even care if it's a comedy or not, just so long as it has a happy ending. I'm tired of movies where the protagonists break up at the end, or one of them falls for a man, or their relationship is still ambiguous, or one of them dies. It's possible that I've just had lousy luck with the genre, and I'm really hoping that's the case. So what I want are movies about two women who fall in love, and at the end they are unambiguously in a relationship and happy together. That's it. Any genre is fine, and the romance doesn't have to be the main point of the movie as long as it's central. Anime and television shows are fine too, though it would be nice to find some movies like this.
Serving in silence….
While many Americans are unable to find immediate work in this current economy and as we as a country try to rebuild after billions spent on a never ending war, you would think our government would need all the help it could get. Not apparently from GLBT service members though, all living under the threat of joining the countless other Americans who are unemployed.
Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
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Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
Read More
CRU event Sept. 30
The Chicago Rowing Union CRU will hold a meet-and-greet Sunday, Sept. 30, at Sidecar Bar, 6920 N. Glenwood Ave., 3-6 p.m.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
The OXD Mirror: New Music for 9.25.12
BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / RU BHATT
The OXD Mirror is a weekly music column brought to you by the boys of OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD), a New York City based movement created by three music lovers, Ru Bhatt, Josh Appelbaum, and Tadeu Magalh�es, who want to share their love for disco, house and dance music with the world.
Midnight Magic & Tommie Sunshine - 'I Found Love'
Hailing from New York, Midnight Magic is a nine person ensemble that describes themselves as ?the secret love children of Donna Summer and George Clinton,? and masterfully combine funk, disco, electro and soul in an effort to make the listener and rhythm become one. After hearing the Jacques Renault remix of their 2010 hit, 'Beam Me Up,' Brooklyn-based legend Tommie Sunshine was amazed that a modern band could create something so classic and pure. Feeling inspired, Sunshine used social media to seek them out, resulting in this collaboration. This timeless song combines 70?s disco, early 80?s Chicago House and the piano-driven dance music of New York in the 90?s, into a multi-layered track that is topped with the brilliant soulful vocals of chanteuse Tiffany Roth.
Escort - 'Starlight (RAC Remix)'
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<p>
Escort is yet another New York-based band that has taken it upon themselves to revitalize disco for a new era. Although their debut single, 'Starlight' was released way back in 2006, RAC (Remix Artist Collective) has revived the song for the band's upcoming Escort Remixed, out on October 16th. Portugal-based Andr� Allen Anjos, founder of RAC, supplements Escort's 17 piece orchestra with an italodisco bassline that will keep your feet tapping as you enjoy Adeline Michele's delightful vocals.
Erika Spring - 'Happy At Your Gate (Aeroplane Remix)'
Amongst other productions, Aeroplane (Vito De Luca) gained tremendous amounts of buzz with his collaboration with Brooklyn-Based Au Revoir Simone on his classic rework for for Friendly Fires' 'Paris'. Considered a leader in the nu-disco and Balearica scene, the Italian-Belgian producer's records demonstrate a passion for soulful disco and early ?80s electronica. Erika Spring is the solo project of Au Revoir Simone's keyboardist/singer, Erika Forster. Though new Aeroplane mixes are rather rare these days (he tends to focus on his own productions), his decision to remix Erika's new single, 'Happy At Your Gate,' should come as no surprise given their previous collaborations. The result is a cosmic disco track with takes advantage of Forster's sultry, tempered vocals to create an immense floor-filling tune. If you're in New York and interested in hearing Aeroplane live, be sure to Occupy the Disco with us next Friday, October 5th. More details can be found on our site.
MORE TRACKS AFTER THE JUMP...
St. Lucia - 'September'
We first discovered the Brooklyn-via-South Africa act St. Lucia when they opened for Monarchy last year (which coincidentally was the night OXD was founded), and instantly recognized they will be a force to be reckoned with on the electro-pop scene. 'September' is the first single off their new album which is due early next year. This expansive track slowly builds with deep synths creating an epic, atmospheric feel that crescendos until the vocals finally kick in at the two-and-a-half minute mark. The song pulses with energy that transports you to a cosmic realm that is clearly influenced by executive producer James Iha. I highly recommend the Alex Metric Remix, which highlights lead singer Jean-Philip Grobler's beautiful vocals.
Duke Dumont - 'Giver'
Hot off the heels of his epic Santigold remix, UK Producer Duke Dumont has is back with 'The Giver', a vocal house anthem that captures the euphoria of feeling good on the dancefloor. While the lyrics are simple, the soulful vocals and deep Chicago House sound combine to create a massive, irresistible track. 'The Giver' is on Dumont's second EP titled, For Club Play Only Vol. 2, out now.
'Beyonc� - I Was Here (StrictLove's Beach House Remix)'
Beyonc� is a diva that needs no introduction, but what you may not know is thanks to a slew of various producers, such as Maurice Joshua and Red Top, there are quite a few Beyonc� singles that have been turned into disco and house tracks. 'I Was Here,' is Bey's latest, released on World Humanitarian Day. With this rework, The Australian dance-electronic act StrictLove has added soulful guitars and churning deep synths, creating a melodic house anthem that is best appreciated on the dancefloor.
This week's post was written and curated by Ru Bhatt. Check out more of his music picks on his podcast, The Ru-Mix.
For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.
The OXD Mirror is a weekly music column brought to you by the boys of OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD), a New York City based movement created by three music lovers, Ru Bhatt, Josh Appelbaum, and Tadeu Magalh�es, who want to share their love for disco, house and dance music with the world.
Midnight Magic & Tommie Sunshine - 'I Found Love'
Hailing from New York, Midnight Magic is a nine person ensemble that describes themselves as ?the secret love children of Donna Summer and George Clinton,? and masterfully combine funk, disco, electro and soul in an effort to make the listener and rhythm become one. After hearing the Jacques Renault remix of their 2010 hit, 'Beam Me Up,' Brooklyn-based legend Tommie Sunshine was amazed that a modern band could create something so classic and pure. Feeling inspired, Sunshine used social media to seek them out, resulting in this collaboration. This timeless song combines 70?s disco, early 80?s Chicago House and the piano-driven dance music of New York in the 90?s, into a multi-layered track that is topped with the brilliant soulful vocals of chanteuse Tiffany Roth.
Escort - 'Starlight (RAC Remix)'
</p>
<p>
Escort is yet another New York-based band that has taken it upon themselves to revitalize disco for a new era. Although their debut single, 'Starlight' was released way back in 2006, RAC (Remix Artist Collective) has revived the song for the band's upcoming Escort Remixed, out on October 16th. Portugal-based Andr� Allen Anjos, founder of RAC, supplements Escort's 17 piece orchestra with an italodisco bassline that will keep your feet tapping as you enjoy Adeline Michele's delightful vocals.
Erika Spring - 'Happy At Your Gate (Aeroplane Remix)'
Amongst other productions, Aeroplane (Vito De Luca) gained tremendous amounts of buzz with his collaboration with Brooklyn-Based Au Revoir Simone on his classic rework for for Friendly Fires' 'Paris'. Considered a leader in the nu-disco and Balearica scene, the Italian-Belgian producer's records demonstrate a passion for soulful disco and early ?80s electronica. Erika Spring is the solo project of Au Revoir Simone's keyboardist/singer, Erika Forster. Though new Aeroplane mixes are rather rare these days (he tends to focus on his own productions), his decision to remix Erika's new single, 'Happy At Your Gate,' should come as no surprise given their previous collaborations. The result is a cosmic disco track with takes advantage of Forster's sultry, tempered vocals to create an immense floor-filling tune. If you're in New York and interested in hearing Aeroplane live, be sure to Occupy the Disco with us next Friday, October 5th. More details can be found on our site.
MORE TRACKS AFTER THE JUMP...
St. Lucia - 'September'
We first discovered the Brooklyn-via-South Africa act St. Lucia when they opened for Monarchy last year (which coincidentally was the night OXD was founded), and instantly recognized they will be a force to be reckoned with on the electro-pop scene. 'September' is the first single off their new album which is due early next year. This expansive track slowly builds with deep synths creating an epic, atmospheric feel that crescendos until the vocals finally kick in at the two-and-a-half minute mark. The song pulses with energy that transports you to a cosmic realm that is clearly influenced by executive producer James Iha. I highly recommend the Alex Metric Remix, which highlights lead singer Jean-Philip Grobler's beautiful vocals.
Duke Dumont - 'Giver'
Hot off the heels of his epic Santigold remix, UK Producer Duke Dumont has is back with 'The Giver', a vocal house anthem that captures the euphoria of feeling good on the dancefloor. While the lyrics are simple, the soulful vocals and deep Chicago House sound combine to create a massive, irresistible track. 'The Giver' is on Dumont's second EP titled, For Club Play Only Vol. 2, out now.
'Beyonc� - I Was Here (StrictLove's Beach House Remix)'
Beyonc� is a diva that needs no introduction, but what you may not know is thanks to a slew of various producers, such as Maurice Joshua and Red Top, there are quite a few Beyonc� singles that have been turned into disco and house tracks. 'I Was Here,' is Bey's latest, released on World Humanitarian Day. With this rework, The Australian dance-electronic act StrictLove has added soulful guitars and churning deep synths, creating a melodic house anthem that is best appreciated on the dancefloor.
This week's post was written and curated by Ru Bhatt. Check out more of his music picks on his podcast, The Ru-Mix.
For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.
(50)-Shows & 2 Years / Let?s Get Serious
Show #50 starts with an awful PC Love Song, Sleepy after posting show 49 it turns into a more reflective monologue about the past two years; Then come YOUR voicemail’s of well wishes! Please PLEASE forgive us if your call did not make the show. Listened to all of them and every single one was [...]
World News Briefs
UK finds that only 1.5% of population is GLB
The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics has produced data suggesting that only 1.5 percent of UK adults are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
As part of a yearly data collection effort, ONS questioned 247,623 people about their sexual identity. In the case of face-to-face interviews, respondents were shown a card that said “heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, other” and told to read out a number beside the word that “best describes how you think of yourself.” In telephone interviews, respondents were read the four categories and told to “please say ‘yes’ when you hear the option that best describes how you think of yourself.”
ONS then applied t…
Read More
The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics has produced data suggesting that only 1.5 percent of UK adults are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
As part of a yearly data collection effort, ONS questioned 247,623 people about their sexual identity. In the case of face-to-face interviews, respondents were shown a card that said “heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, other” and told to read out a number beside the word that “best describes how you think of yourself.” In telephone interviews, respondents were read the four categories and told to “please say ‘yes’ when you hear the option that best describes how you think of yourself.”
ONS then applied t…
Read More
GlobalGayz.com Produces new Profiles of GLBT Attitudes in the Caribbean
Activist and writer Richard Ammon, the man behind the fascinating and invaluable website GlobalGayz.com, possesses an astounding knowledge about world-wide attitudes toward - and legal rights concerning - lesbians and gays. On his site he's explored not just obvious tourist destinations but also a number of socially conservative nations that relatively few Westerners visit - East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, and North Korea, for example....Read Full Post
Bette Midler and Barry Manilow Back to the Bathhouse
Bette Midler and Barry Manilow go back to
their roots in bawdy tribute comedy
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
August 1 & 15 at Laurie Beechman Theatre
Bette Midler tribute artist Donna Maxon revisits the glorious 70's
with her new cabaret show BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE co-written by Maxon and director Michael Schiralli. Maxon stars as the Divine Miss M, performing a hilariously bawdy act of tunes, monologues, and jokes.
The show co-stars musical director Fonda
Feingold as Barry Manilow, and the duo proudly pays homage to the
partnership that Midler and Manilow began at New York?s Continental
Baths in 1970.
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
runs Wednesdays, August 1 and 15
at 7:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside West Bank Cafe (407 West 42 Street at 9th Avenue).
Tickets are $20. A full dinner menu and a full bar are available; there is a $15 per person food/drink
minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com
their roots in bawdy tribute comedy
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
August 1 & 15 at Laurie Beechman Theatre
Bette Midler tribute artist Donna Maxon revisits the glorious 70's
with her new cabaret show BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE co-written by Maxon and director Michael Schiralli. Maxon stars as the Divine Miss M, performing a hilariously bawdy act of tunes, monologues, and jokes.
The show co-stars musical director Fonda
Feingold as Barry Manilow, and the duo proudly pays homage to the
partnership that Midler and Manilow began at New York?s Continental
Baths in 1970.
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
runs Wednesdays, August 1 and 15
at 7:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside West Bank Cafe (407 West 42 Street at 9th Avenue).
Tickets are $20. A full dinner menu and a full bar are available; there is a $15 per person food/drink
minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com
Caravan Parks For Sale UK
I was up in North Wales at the weekend and came across a great caravan park for sale. This could be the life. Throw in all the clubbing in Vauxhall and head for the Welsh countryside. Now I am looking for caravan parks for sale in the UK. Then I am outta here!
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Hurricane Isaac Curfew Lifted, New Orleans Southern Decadence is on
After marching across Florida and causing a bit of mayhem in the Tampa Bay region during the Republican National Convention, Hurricane Isaac dumped buckets of rain on New Orleans, threatening ...Read Full Post
Friday, September 28, 2012
Vermont Gay Pride and Northern Decadence Join Forces for Sept. 22 Festival
Burlington's festive Vermont Gay Pride celebration, which had been held in previous years in late July, has moved to a new time this year: Saturday, September 22. The event, which ...Read Full Post
The Dinah 2011: Day 3
They're here, they're queer, and you might just react with fear. Videos of 10,000 lesbians in the desert.
The MetroWeekly & LGBT Weekly Follow-Ups To The HRC Story
Clarification/Correction: Chris Geidner wrote "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."
Beyond connecting a name to the unidentified paid consultant from the initial PHB piece, Chris Geidner indicated no conclusions as to what her role in the transition would be, assuming that Woolard would even have a role.
After the story broke at Pam's House Blend on Friday, August 26, 2011 -- as well as roughly simultaneously on the front page of Pam's House Blend's future host website Firedoglake -- MetroWeekly has released a follow-up piece.
Chris Geidner of MetroWeekly independently confirmed that the HRC's executive director, Joe Solmonese, is indeed leaving his position. What MetroWeekly is also reporting is that the consultant that we at PHB reported that the HRC is going to tap as the new executive director is going to instead be an interim director. And, MetroWeekly names the names of that would likely be that interim director:
From the MetroWeekly article HRC's Solmonese to Step Down, Sources Say No Replacement Has Been Selected:
...[Joe Solmonese's] most recent contract expires in March 2012, and an informed source tells Metro Weekly that "a full candidate selection process will take place" to find his successor.
A second source familiar with the situation said that a board conference call that originally was scheduled for Aug. 29 was rescheduled on the evening of Aug. 26 to take place later today, Aug. 27. The change was made after Spaulding published her report, which stated that an announcement about his departure was to be made public on Aug. 30.
...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...
The publication I write the Trans Progressive column for, the LGBT Weekly, also has a story up this morning as well by LGBT Weekly publisher Stampp Corbin, entitled HRC President to Step Down:
...Solmonese's tenure has had significant high points, most recently the passage of hates crime legislation and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. However, he has also had to deal with significant criticism for his handling of the Employment Non-discrimination Act. While Solmonese had promised he would support the inclusion of gender identity to protect the transgender community, at the last minute Congressman Barney Frank and Solmonese tried to pass legislation that did not include transgender protections. It created a firestorm within the LGBT community.
Sources also suggest that the press release date was moved up to accommodate the questions that will be asked of Solmonese when he addresses the HRC Cleveland Dinner this evening. Many current and former members of the HRC Board of Directors were caught off guard by the leak to Pam's House Blend, which suggests that Solmonese's decision to step down is a surprise.
Given Solmonese's salary level, it is unlikely that he will be joining the Obama administration as many have suggested on blogs, as well as Facebook.
I'm not sure if Stampp Corbin is interested in the job, but given his experience in HRC leadership in the past I would hope the HRC would consider him for the executive directorship.
So there you have the latest, as reported by Metro Weekly and the LGBT Weekly. As for the significant staff shake-up that PHB also reported as being in the works at the HRC, neither Metro Weekly and the LGBT Weekly mentioned anything about that aspect of the original PHB story.
Frankly, the staff aspect of the HRC story that PHB broke on Friday, August 26th is what I'm most interested in having independently verified or debunked -- what the staff looks like after the change in leadership is going to say a lot about how the HRC plans to move forward after this change of leadership.
Horoscope
ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Sex doesn’t solve all the problems in a relationship, but now it offers an interesting perspective on whatever the real problems are. Any secrets, resentments, unfulfilled wishes? Share yours and invite your partner to open up!
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Your partner and colleagues are obstructing whatever you want to do. Or is that really it? Be responsible for your own accomplishments. While your partner’s feedback won’t make you happy, it will help you find answers.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Trying too hard to promote your own plans can provoke problems with colleagues. If you’re sensing hidden agendas, it may be due to your own pushiness. Have a good talk. Listen between the lines, but…
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TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Your partner and colleagues are obstructing whatever you want to do. Or is that really it? Be responsible for your own accomplishments. While your partner’s feedback won’t make you happy, it will help you find answers.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Trying too hard to promote your own plans can provoke problems with colleagues. If you’re sensing hidden agendas, it may be due to your own pushiness. Have a good talk. Listen between the lines, but…
Read More
Lesbian News - 28 Sep 2012
A Mid-Career Retrospective' Is Gender-Variant Photographer's First U.S. ExhibitionGuild hosts Charlotte Lesbian & Gay FundStuck in the middle? Bisexuals get their day in BerkeleyLesbian judicial nominee pledges fairness on the benchLesbian couple in Oregon says venue canceled their wedding because they were gay
Clergyman says he?s paid by anti-gay group
Black religious leaders held dueling press conferences last week to express support for and condemnation of marriage rights f -More-
Thursday, September 27, 2012
We must straighten our backs…
We trusted that following conservative and STRAIGHT (for those Prop 8 supporters) Justice Phillips’ September 9th decision that “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was unconstitutional on two counts, the Senate would vote to uphold the integrity of our Nation by voting for the repeal of this pathetic law. The House had done so in June, along with the Senate Armed Services Committee. Now, backed by an unconstitutionality ruling, certainly the Senate would end the ban once and for all.
Fail.
Instead, on September 21st Sen. John McCain (R-Az.), a POW and a former hero to many of us veterans, single handedly obstructed justice with a filibuster. Sadly, the Senate could not muster 60 Senators willing to vote to override him.
No more than two…
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Fail.
Instead, on September 21st Sen. John McCain (R-Az.), a POW and a former hero to many of us veterans, single handedly obstructed justice with a filibuster. Sadly, the Senate could not muster 60 Senators willing to vote to override him.
No more than two…
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Dad Teaches Tot About Great Big World with Toy Train's Trip to Space: VIDEO
I've had this video for a few days but haven't had a chance to post it. Ron Fugelseth wins a 'Dad of the Year' award imho:
On Aug 24th 2012 we sent my son's favorite train "Stanley" to space in a weather balloon with a HD camera and an old cell phone for GPS. He was recovered 27 miles away in a corn field and we got some great footage of the trip. This video documents the journey from liftoff to landing. My 4 year old and Stanley are inseparable like Calvin and Hobbes. He's been attached to him since he was two, and they play, sleep and do everything together. I animated Stanley's face with After Effects and Photoshop to bring him to life how I imagine my son sees him.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
On Aug 24th 2012 we sent my son's favorite train "Stanley" to space in a weather balloon with a HD camera and an old cell phone for GPS. He was recovered 27 miles away in a corn field and we got some great footage of the trip. This video documents the journey from liftoff to landing. My 4 year old and Stanley are inseparable like Calvin and Hobbes. He's been attached to him since he was two, and they play, sleep and do everything together. I animated Stanley's face with After Effects and Photoshop to bring him to life how I imagine my son sees him.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Gender Rights Maryland: Transgender Community Stands with ALL Women
Gender Rights Maryland posted an opinion piece in Baltimore OUTloud today in response to fears expressed by radical feminists and the radical religious-right "that gender identity civil rights laws (like the ones in Baltimore City and Montgomery County) will harm or jeopardize women's sex-segregated spaces and lead to assaults on non-trans (cisgender) women in these spaces."
Beginning with a reminder that two core concepts in feminism are self-definition and inclusion, GRMD identifies the key weakness in the opposition's fear-based argument:To date, fifteen other states and over a hundred other major jurisdictions in the U.S., covering 43% of the country's population, are covered under comprehensive laws that protect transgender individuals. Almost all of these jurisdictions utilize the language previously presented in the Maryland Gender Identity bill that we hope to pass in this next session of the legislature. These protections do not put non-trans women at risk.
The gender identity laws, of which I've spoken above, have been in effect since 1975. There has not been a single incident of a trans woman assaulting a non-trans woman in a sex-segregated space. Nor has there been a single incident of a man assaulting a woman in such a space claiming in court he had the right to do so because he's transgender. This has not happened in those jurisdictions covered by gender identity laws, nor has it happened in localities without such laws.
The opposition refuses to address facts like those presented above by GRMD because the facts clearly show the opposition's reasoning to be unsound. This leaves the opposition with only one bargaining tool: irrational fear. "Irrational fears," states GRMD, "cannot and should not define our conversation about gender identity civil rights legislation. The transgender community is not a threat to non-trans women. Quite the contrary, the transgender community stands arm-in-arm with the women's community to make inclusivity and self-definition more acceptable."
I would suggest that the willingness of the opposition to ignore the facts and fall back on irrational fears in order to hinder passage of gender identity civil rights legislation only demonstrates the dire need for that legislation. Transgender women need to be legally protected from the irrational fears of others.
There's more to the piece than I can do justice to here. Click on over and read the whole thing here.
Related:
* No Matter Who Expresses The Sentiments, Antitrans Sentiments Are Antitrans Sentiments
* Cathy Brennan & Elizabeth Hungerford take their anti-trans activism to the UN
* Taking the conversation where critics aren't allowed to follow
Pioneer Days: Rainbow History Project names new group of Community Pioneers
News:
The Rainbow History Project, a local organization formed in 2000 to preserve and promote the history and culture of the D.C. area's LGBT community, earlier this month announced RHP's 2012 ''Community Pioneers,'' who will be honored at an Oct. 4 reception.
''These tenacious and creative individuals are being recognized for their instrumental roles creating and sustaining the DC LGBT community's most important institutions,'' RHP offered in a statement announcing the reception, the third such event celebrating the pioneers, whom RHP has been naming since 2007. ''The event provides an opportunity for the community to say thank you.''
Nine new pioneers are expected to attend the upcoming reception. They are:
Colevia Carter, an activist, musician and poet. Carter's written words have appeared in publications such BlackLight and Lesbian Culture, while her activism found its voice in groups such as the Lesbian Feminist Network and the Langston Hughes-Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, which she helped found. Carter also served as the first out lesbian commissioner on the D.C. Human Rights Commission.
Keith Clark, an entrepreneur who now lives in Florida, started the Universal Gear clothing store. His involvement in the community is, however, much deeper than apparel. Clark was a co-founder of One in Ten, giving D.C. its annual LGBT Film Festival. One in Ten also took the reins of the annual Capital Pride festival from some years in the 1990s.
Paulette Goodman is a cross-cultural inspiration, not only having survived the Holocaust as a Jewish girl living under the Nazis in occupied Paris, but later, with a lesbian daughter, helping to found the metro-D.C. chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). From 1988 to 1992, Goodman served as PFLAG's national president.
José Gutierrez, as a young Mexican immigrant living in Atlanta and working HIV/AIDS education, first came to Washington in 1993 for the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. By 1994, D.C. was home, and Gutierrez became a strong member of his new community, founding the city's Latino GLBT History Project, among a variety of other involvements.
Susan Hester, transformed the pain of losing her partner, Mary-Helen Mautner, into honoring Mautner's wish that she create an organization to help other lesbians facing life-threatening illness. Hester turned that wish into the Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization, based here in Washington.
Len Hirsch came to D.C. in 1985 to be with his partner, Kristian Fauchald, whom he married in 2008. As a Washingtonian, it's no surprise Hirsch ended up working for the federal government. He went far beyond the call of duty, however, organizing the first meeting of LGBT federal employees, with became Federal GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Employees of the Federal Government). Today he serves as the group's president.
Robert Miailovich, a San Francisco native, moved to D.C. for work in 1975, where he learned of Dignity/Washington, an LGBT-affirming organization for Catholics and other Christians. Beyond the local chapter, Miailovich eventually became president of Dignity/USA, while also finding time for other local organizations, such as the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry and D.C.'s Different Drummers.
Bob Summersgill has been long entrenched in D.C. politics, both as an officer and member of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA), helping to craft and secure laws securing greater equality for LGBT Washingtonians. Today he's also an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commission member.
Jessica Xavier, a native Washingtonian, founded the D.C. chapter of Transgender Nation in 1995, as well as led protests in the wake of the 1995 death of Tyra Hunter, a transgender woman refused care by emergency personnel following a car accident. Xavier also helped secure gender-identity protections in Maryland.
One of the pioneers not expected at the Oct. 4 reception is Robert Alfandre, who will be out of the country. His contributions, however, remain in Washington wherever he may go. Having amassed substantial wealth as a homebuilder in Maryland, Alfandre shared his good fortune in some of D.C.'s darkest days, raising millions of dollars for Whitman-Walker Clinic (now Whitman-Walker Health).
RHP will also be honoring four others, posthumously, at the reception. They are James Mercer of Black and White Men Together (BWMT), whose fight against discriminatory carding policies at nightlife venues became the Alcoholic Beverage Antidiscrimination Act; Larry Uhrig, elected pastor of D.C. Metropolitan Community Church in 1977, played an important role in the church eventually securing a permanent home; Stefan Wade, who helped build the foundations that enabled the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) to grow from humble 1984 beginnings to the thriving organization it is today; and Cade Ware, whose activism went from the streets to schools, from police entrapment to ''Someone In Your Life Is Gay'' public service announcements.
These names will be added to a list of individuals who have built the local LGBT community, a list of nearly 70 names, says Chuck Goldfarb, RHP board chair. It's recognition that not only honors those named, he says, but that helps the community define itself.
''I want to make sure there's information out there about how things got started. There are things to learn from, how people provided different leadership skills to new organizations,'' Goldfarb says. ''If we're not out there defining our community and history, there's always a danger of someone else defining it for us.''
The Community Pioneers Reception is Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW. Admission is free, donations welcome. For more information about the reception, the Rainbow History Project or the Community Pioneers, visit rainbowhistory.org. ...more
The Rainbow History Project, a local organization formed in 2000 to preserve and promote the history and culture of the D.C. area's LGBT community, earlier this month announced RHP's 2012 ''Community Pioneers,'' who will be honored at an Oct. 4 reception.
''These tenacious and creative individuals are being recognized for their instrumental roles creating and sustaining the DC LGBT community's most important institutions,'' RHP offered in a statement announcing the reception, the third such event celebrating the pioneers, whom RHP has been naming since 2007. ''The event provides an opportunity for the community to say thank you.''
Nine new pioneers are expected to attend the upcoming reception. They are:
Colevia Carter, an activist, musician and poet. Carter's written words have appeared in publications such BlackLight and Lesbian Culture, while her activism found its voice in groups such as the Lesbian Feminist Network and the Langston Hughes-Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, which she helped found. Carter also served as the first out lesbian commissioner on the D.C. Human Rights Commission.
Keith Clark, an entrepreneur who now lives in Florida, started the Universal Gear clothing store. His involvement in the community is, however, much deeper than apparel. Clark was a co-founder of One in Ten, giving D.C. its annual LGBT Film Festival. One in Ten also took the reins of the annual Capital Pride festival from some years in the 1990s.
Paulette Goodman is a cross-cultural inspiration, not only having survived the Holocaust as a Jewish girl living under the Nazis in occupied Paris, but later, with a lesbian daughter, helping to found the metro-D.C. chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). From 1988 to 1992, Goodman served as PFLAG's national president.
José Gutierrez, as a young Mexican immigrant living in Atlanta and working HIV/AIDS education, first came to Washington in 1993 for the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. By 1994, D.C. was home, and Gutierrez became a strong member of his new community, founding the city's Latino GLBT History Project, among a variety of other involvements.
Susan Hester, transformed the pain of losing her partner, Mary-Helen Mautner, into honoring Mautner's wish that she create an organization to help other lesbians facing life-threatening illness. Hester turned that wish into the Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization, based here in Washington.
Len Hirsch came to D.C. in 1985 to be with his partner, Kristian Fauchald, whom he married in 2008. As a Washingtonian, it's no surprise Hirsch ended up working for the federal government. He went far beyond the call of duty, however, organizing the first meeting of LGBT federal employees, with became Federal GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Employees of the Federal Government). Today he serves as the group's president.
Robert Miailovich, a San Francisco native, moved to D.C. for work in 1975, where he learned of Dignity/Washington, an LGBT-affirming organization for Catholics and other Christians. Beyond the local chapter, Miailovich eventually became president of Dignity/USA, while also finding time for other local organizations, such as the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry and D.C.'s Different Drummers.
Bob Summersgill has been long entrenched in D.C. politics, both as an officer and member of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA), helping to craft and secure laws securing greater equality for LGBT Washingtonians. Today he's also an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commission member.
Jessica Xavier, a native Washingtonian, founded the D.C. chapter of Transgender Nation in 1995, as well as led protests in the wake of the 1995 death of Tyra Hunter, a transgender woman refused care by emergency personnel following a car accident. Xavier also helped secure gender-identity protections in Maryland.
One of the pioneers not expected at the Oct. 4 reception is Robert Alfandre, who will be out of the country. His contributions, however, remain in Washington wherever he may go. Having amassed substantial wealth as a homebuilder in Maryland, Alfandre shared his good fortune in some of D.C.'s darkest days, raising millions of dollars for Whitman-Walker Clinic (now Whitman-Walker Health).
RHP will also be honoring four others, posthumously, at the reception. They are James Mercer of Black and White Men Together (BWMT), whose fight against discriminatory carding policies at nightlife venues became the Alcoholic Beverage Antidiscrimination Act; Larry Uhrig, elected pastor of D.C. Metropolitan Community Church in 1977, played an important role in the church eventually securing a permanent home; Stefan Wade, who helped build the foundations that enabled the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) to grow from humble 1984 beginnings to the thriving organization it is today; and Cade Ware, whose activism went from the streets to schools, from police entrapment to ''Someone In Your Life Is Gay'' public service announcements.
These names will be added to a list of individuals who have built the local LGBT community, a list of nearly 70 names, says Chuck Goldfarb, RHP board chair. It's recognition that not only honors those named, he says, but that helps the community define itself.
''I want to make sure there's information out there about how things got started. There are things to learn from, how people provided different leadership skills to new organizations,'' Goldfarb says. ''If we're not out there defining our community and history, there's always a danger of someone else defining it for us.''
The Community Pioneers Reception is Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW. Admission is free, donations welcome. For more information about the reception, the Rainbow History Project or the Community Pioneers, visit rainbowhistory.org. ...more
THEATER REVIEW: The Old Globe's stunning ?Allegiance ? A New American Musical? | VIDEOS
How much loyalty would you feel to your country after it summarily declared you an ?enemy alien,? took your house and business and moved you to a distant ?relocation camp??
?Allegiance ? A New American Musical? plays through Oct. 21 at the Old Globe Theatre, and explores that question as well as larger concepts like self-determination, betrayal, patriotism and family in the context of the evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans in camps after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
?Allegiance? tells a horrifying story in a most human and utterly engaging way. See the world premiere now at The Old Globe.
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?Allegiance ? A New American Musical? plays through Oct. 21 at the Old Globe Theatre, and explores that question as well as larger concepts like self-determination, betrayal, patriotism and family in the context of the evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans in camps after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
?Allegiance? tells a horrifying story in a most human and utterly engaging way. See the world premiere now at The Old Globe.
read more
Reality Bites
How a fledging cable network sidestepped the rules of America's most powerful medium and became the gay community's most visible advocate.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Reimagining a Chick-fil-A Twitter Trend With an LGBT Flair
Comedians and @Gaysayer followers share their #CFAMoments.
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Conversations with Nicole
In past columns in the last few years I have written about the issue of Bullying in our schools many times…I hope and pray that now all Americans….especially our community has awoken to this crisis. In one of my past columns I wrote that if “only1/4” of the energy, money, time that has been spent on Marriage Equality and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was focused on GLBT suicides and bullying this issue would have gotten further…we must make our GLBT youth/students who are coming out every day at younger ages our community’s No. 1 PRIORITY!
Take a stand against School Bullying: October 17
San Diegans will be coming together on Sunday, October 17 to take a united stand against all bullying…this …
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Take a stand against School Bullying: October 17
San Diegans will be coming together on Sunday, October 17 to take a united stand against all bullying…this …
Read More
jamiemurnane: @stereogum just re-tweeted this, so i just...
jamiemurnane:
@stereogum just re-tweeted this, so i just unfollowed stereogum. stay classy, buddies!
@stereogum just re-tweeted this, so i just unfollowed stereogum. stay classy, buddies!
Serving in silence….
While many Americans are unable to find immediate work in this current economy and as we as a country try to rebuild after billions spent on a never ending war, you would think our government would need all the help it could get. Not apparently from GLBT service members though, all living under the threat of joining the countless other Americans who are unemployed.
Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
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Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
Read More
World News Briefs
Gays to march in Serbia
Gays will march in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 10 for the first time since 2001, when marchers in the first pride parade were beaten by nationalists, skinheads and soccer fans. Dozens of marchers and police officers were injured.
A planned pride march last year was canceled under pressure from police and the government, who said they couldn’t protect the marchers from thousands of anti-gays who planned to attack the event.
Opponents of last year’s aborted march had covered walls in the city center with graffiti that said, “We will get you,” “Death to faggots” and “Blood will flow,” and had spoken openly to reporters about the planned assault.
Following the parade’s cancellation, …
Read More
Gays will march in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 10 for the first time since 2001, when marchers in the first pride parade were beaten by nationalists, skinheads and soccer fans. Dozens of marchers and police officers were injured.
A planned pride march last year was canceled under pressure from police and the government, who said they couldn’t protect the marchers from thousands of anti-gays who planned to attack the event.
Opponents of last year’s aborted march had covered walls in the city center with graffiti that said, “We will get you,” “Death to faggots” and “Blood will flow,” and had spoken openly to reporters about the planned assault.
Following the parade’s cancellation, …
Read More
Romney and Ryan: How Low Can They Go?: It's not just LGBT issues that should have you voting against the Republican ticket, it's their chronic inability to tell the truth
Opinion: It's a reflexive statement that has effectively passed into cliché, but when gay Republicans say that gay people aren't ''single-issue'' voters they have a point, well illustrated by the fact that a quarter of LGBT voters sided with John McCain in 2008. Some in our community prioritize or think about issues in a way that makes them more comfortable with the GOP than with Democrats. Fair enough in a free country. But the unstated point of the cliché is that LGBT people who vote Democratic are monolithically single-issue — or, worse in the minds of many conservatives, far-left liberals simply ticking off items on a menu provided by Move On and Daily Kos. Unsurprising and pretty much the language both ends of the political spectrum use to define their opponents. That's not a prelude to a false-equivalence column where I find ways to go on about how the right and left wings are equally craven. We can leave that for CNN and The Washington Post. It's just the frame I have for my own already declared support for President Obama, which, despite how much I write about gay things — it is my job, after all — isn't completely contingent on the president's LGBT record. ... (more)
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
SNL = Saturday Night's Lesbian?
Congratulations to Kate Mckinnon for being the first openly gay human to be on SNL :) Thank you to my pizza pie Sarah for letting me know!MSN had this to say: "Saturday Night Live" has increased their collection of XX chromosomes by adding Upright Citizen's Brigade sketchtress Kate McKinnon to the show. McKinnon, formerly of LOGO's "Big Gay Sketch Show," becomes the fourth female in the current cast and will make her Studio 8H debut on the April 7, Sofia Vergara-hosted episode. McKinnon has done several UCB solo shows and has cast herself in delightfully demented roles. McKinnon also becomes SNL's first openly lesbian cast member, one who outed herself at a church-sponsored theatre camp. "I was speaking in front of 250 people and thought 'Wouldn't it be wacky if I came out during this speech,'" she told OutImpact. "It was scary but it was fun."She sounds fun. Now if only they could get a black woman on the show, we'd be good!
WATCH Darren Criss Neil Patrick Jane Lynch on Why They Vote
Everyone has a special reason to register to vote, even celebs such as Darren Criss, Miley Cyrus, Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Stonestreet, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
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(52) Three Legged Lesbians
Donation thank you’s; Multi-Tasking; Stupid Americans; Oxymorons; LoHans Solo 2.0; Odd Couples … and more! Reproduced and renamed song *You’re a Stupid Cunt* by Kiko Lombardi of: http://www.visitronix.com Music bed provided by DJ Toni Teresi http://www.myspace.com/nypstar
Justices may take up same-sex marriage cases
The divisive issue of same-sex marriage was expected to be discussed privately by the Supreme Court Monday, and the justices could soon announce if they will hear a constitutional challenge to a federal law denying financial benefits to gay and lesbian couples.
"Nhojj -- MUSIC and the word" Out Now as YouTube Documentary Short
(06-13-12) -- Taken from the landmark Jan. 7, 2012 Brooklyn Museum "Out & Proud" First Saturday concert, the documentary short "Nhojj - MUSIC and the word" is an inspirational journey into the award-winning Caribbean artist Nhojj -- the man, his music and message. It celebrates humanity, and redefines the issue of gay sexuality.
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.
Video of the day: Bloomberg Spanish
NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg held a presser a few minutes ago, and it was broadcast on major media. It was unremarkable at the outset, noting it's too late to evacuate at this point, to take precautions using candles, etc.
But then he decided to offer up a summary in Spanish. I want to give him props for trying, but it was so heinous that I burst out laughing. And I don't even speak Spanish. I can't imagine what that sounded like to native Spanish speakers.
This is one for the ages; it's at least nice to laugh during what's a pretty tough time to laugh with Irene barreling up the Northeast corridor.
Thanks @robrcb.
Monday, September 24, 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 …
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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
Sen. Bennet introduces the LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2012
[New York, NY] Today Senator Michael Bennet D-CO introduced the LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2012, which would increase federal supports to millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender LGBT older people through the Older Americans Act OAA, the country's largest vehicle for funding and delivering services to older people in the US. The OAA is currently up for reauthorization and includes no mention of LGBT older adults.
Rupert Everett is Against Gay Families
I used to really like Rupert Everett...before his facelift. Since his facelift, perhaps they pulled his skin too tight? I think it is affecting his brain. He says the dumbest things and now, has turned me against him. His a bitter queen who really should keep his internal homophobic remarks to himself.
You may remember, a few years back he told aspiring actors to STAY IN THE CLOSET.
Rupert Everett has been openly gay since he came out 20 years ago, but he doesn't recommend that route for other actors.
"It's not that advisable to be honest. It's not very easy," he told UK's Guardian. "And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out."
NOW the actor has come under fire after he made a shocking attack on gay fathers.
The
53-year-old gay actor - who played a gay father opposite Madonna in
2000 film The Next Best Thing - has given a controversial interview to
the Sunday Times Magazine, sparking a backlash from gay rights
campaigners.
Rupert said: "I can't think of anything worse than
being brought up by two gay dads. Some people might not agree with that.
Fine! That's just my opinion."
"I'm not speaking on behalf of the gay community. In fact, I don't
feel like I'm part of any 'community'. The only community I belong to is
humanity and we've got too many children on the planet, so it's good
not to have more."
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay
rights group Stonewall, said: "Rupert should get out a little bit more
to see the facts for himself.
"There is absolutely no evidence
that the kids of gay parents suffer in the way they are being brought up
or in how they develop."
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/rupert-everett-blasts-gay-dads-16211975.html#ixzz26jV7fEUB
You may remember, a few years back he told aspiring actors to STAY IN THE CLOSET.
Rupert Everett has been openly gay since he came out 20 years ago, but he doesn't recommend that route for other actors.
"It's not that advisable to be honest. It's not very easy," he told UK's Guardian. "And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out."
NOW the actor has come under fire after he made a shocking attack on gay fathers.
The
53-year-old gay actor - who played a gay father opposite Madonna in
2000 film The Next Best Thing - has given a controversial interview to
the Sunday Times Magazine, sparking a backlash from gay rights
campaigners.
Rupert said: "I can't think of anything worse than
being brought up by two gay dads. Some people might not agree with that.
Fine! That's just my opinion."
"I'm not speaking on behalf of the gay community. In fact, I don't
feel like I'm part of any 'community'. The only community I belong to is
humanity and we've got too many children on the planet, so it's good
not to have more."
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay
rights group Stonewall, said: "Rupert should get out a little bit more
to see the facts for himself.
"There is absolutely no evidence
that the kids of gay parents suffer in the way they are being brought up
or in how they develop."
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/rupert-everett-blasts-gay-dads-16211975.html#ixzz26jV7fEUB
Friday Abs
Just some gratuitous flesh in diesel underwear for Friday.
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Gay newsView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Community News
County wide show of equality for San Diego LGBT Pride’s Equality Torch Relay on October 10
Participants of San Diego LGBT Pride’s second annual Equality Torch Relay will simultaneously deliver the message of LGBT equality to all corners of San Diego County, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, October 10. Team leaders and participants will carry banners and symbolic torches past dozens of landmarks and government buildings along routes that include San Diego city districts 1 through 8, as well as municipalities in East County, North County and South Bay.
The event culminates with a closing ceremony sponsored by VONS, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., the same day, in The Center’s auditorium, 3909 Centre St. It will feature live entertainment, free refres…
Read More
Participants of San Diego LGBT Pride’s second annual Equality Torch Relay will simultaneously deliver the message of LGBT equality to all corners of San Diego County, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, October 10. Team leaders and participants will carry banners and symbolic torches past dozens of landmarks and government buildings along routes that include San Diego city districts 1 through 8, as well as municipalities in East County, North County and South Bay.
The event culminates with a closing ceremony sponsored by VONS, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., the same day, in The Center’s auditorium, 3909 Centre St. It will feature live entertainment, free refres…
Read More
Paris Hilton Apologizes Finds Gay People Inspiring
Socialite Paris Hilton has issued an apology for calling gay men "disgusting" and saying that "most of them probably have AIDS" and now calls them "the strongest and most inspiring people" she knows.
read more
read more
Party Time: GOP needs to accept the present if it's going to be a party for the future
Opinion: During the past long weekend – thanks to organized labor – I had a chance to spend about 48 hours in Florida visiting with my mother and meeting her new cat. Those were the highlights. The lowlight was that the phone kept ringing. ''Oh, it's another political call,'' Dora would say curtly after checking the caller ID. I don't know what tipped her off, or if she was correct in that she would never pick up these suspicious calls, but I'm not surprised by them. Dora is a hot demographic. She's a retired, registered voter in a swing state. Possibly even more curious to the pollsters, she's been registered in Florida as both a Democrat and a Republican. At the moment, she's a registered Republican. It's a leftover from 2010, when she jumped ship so she could vote for Charlie Crist in the GOP Senate primary in hopes of fending off the eventual Marco Rubio win. ... (more)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
(55-A) O Solo Mio mj, perez, pride
Be sure to tune in to part B. of this show which is right under this one Late posting this so it’s a bit dated. Haven’t had time for an official gay pride show, hope this solo bit will do. Part A. RIP MJ or maybe not; Perez: Is language an excuse for violence? Does [...]
Happy New Year's and Marry New Queers
My peops! I have had a little tradition of writing to you on New Year's Eve for the last few years and I wanted to keep it going today. As I write this, I'm in my new home in Houston after having lived in Los Angeles for the last 4 years and San Diego 3 years before that. It's also the first day of my new exciting gig--one that I hope will be the first of MANY like this--and a few hours away from being able to hang out with my mom again like I've been able to do the last few weeks.2011 started off SO poorly for me, and then got worse...and worse still. There were definitely some lovely little highlights and I won't complain since I'm still here to talk about it! But what I'm trying to say is that...it got better! :) This, after all, is the year of IT GETS BETTER. We've heard it all year. I've said it to myself and to you guys all year. And now, today, I can say that its happening right before my eyes. I know that a lot of you reading this right now are not feeling well, or are down about something, or may even be downright depressed. I've heard from you all year...and I know there are several others I haven't heard from but are feeling this way. I want you to know that I am here, all of my readers are here, and we're not going anywhere. I need you to stay with us. We lost too many beautiful people to suicide this year (and years past). It's an epidemic. And if I can help stop it from happening (oh man...this is going to sound trite, but I mean it with all of my heart!) to just ONE PERSON, then that would be the proudest moment of my life. It doesn't matter if I ever find out about it or not...if somehow something I can say to you or do or not say or not do will help just one person not go down that path this year, then that makes me the happiest/luckiest girl on earth.And for those of you who are NOT struggling that deeply...who are having a great time in life and who plan to make 2012 YOUR year, I can not WAIT to see it all unfold! Please keep me updated and let me know how awesome things are going for you. Even if you and I have never met before, you mean more to me than I could possibly explain in 365 posts...and I wish wonderful things for you. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I will say I have a new life's resolution to touch and positively affect as many lives as I can. It may just be by making someone smile with a video of a couple of outta control rouge boobs, or as life-altering as helping you find the love of your life, or some bit of advice or helping you connect with the person who can help you with something...or ya know, just that boob thing. But whatever it is, I hope to leave the world a better place than I found it, one day at a time, one person at a time. And...since it looks like I could probably break into 'We Are the World' at ANY moment now, I'm just gonna throw it over to my tried and true:I also wanted to take a moment to speak to anyone who is struggling with their identity. Not going to make this long, cause life is short. ...and that's my point: life is short. We're only here for a short time, and you've got to LIVE. I think my new wife Jessie J says it best:And I'll leave you with this. Let's support this film this year!! It's long overdue:Thank you for 5.5 years...here's to MORE!-Arlan
(63) Stop the Insanity! w/Susan Powter
Out Three-time New York Times best-selling author and creator of the ?Stop the Insanity!? movement, Susan Powter, like you’ve never heard her before. We talk Wellness, Radical Feminism, Lesbian Culture, her new book The Politics of Stupid and more … http://susanpowteronline.com ____________________________ PS. The Trevor Project crisis and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender [...]
New Podcast: This Week In Gay
Just wanted to make you aware (if you weren't already) of our new podcast 'This Week in Gay'. We invite all fellow LGBT podcasters to join us each Sunday night talking about the Gay News of the week.
www.ThisWeekInGay.com
Come Join us and feel free to spread the good news!
www.ThisWeekInGay.com
Come Join us and feel free to spread the good news!
French Bi's...
Here's what I know: I don't know a word of French, but when I learn, I will use this movie as a study aid. And I don't care HOW many times I have to watch it--10...50...hundreds of times--by golly, I WILL learn French! Zut alors!
Lesbian couple wondering what to be for Halloween!
Lesbian couple wondering what to be for Halloween! So, my girlfriend and I are looking for something unique or original to be for Halloween. Last year we were Catwoman and Batwoman... it was a last minute costume and not overly original. This year, I'd like to find a fantastic couple costume where people will hopefully know what we are.
Some of my ideas so far:
- two members of the Peaches baseball team (from the movie "A League of their Own").
- Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune from the Sailor Moon series. They were lesbian characters (it was censored in North America). The only problem is, I doubt most people know they were lesbians.
- Xena and Gabrielle (it's often been rumoured that they were lesbians).
As for our physiques... she's short, very fit and muscular, dykey style and not very feminine. She has short dark hair. She doesn't like to wear make up or anything like that... but if I want her to, she will let me cover her in makeup and put her in dresses for Halloween. Myself, I'm short, thin(with curves), long blonde hair and very feminine. I love high fashion and like to be glamorous. Often described as a lipstick lesbian (a lesbian that adopts a feminine appearance and typically looks straight).
If you have any interesting ideas, I'd love to hear them! She also doesn't mind being 'the boy' in the costume (ie. if I were Tinkerbell she wouldn't mind being PeterPan).
Some of my ideas so far:
- two members of the Peaches baseball team (from the movie "A League of their Own").
- Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune from the Sailor Moon series. They were lesbian characters (it was censored in North America). The only problem is, I doubt most people know they were lesbians.
- Xena and Gabrielle (it's often been rumoured that they were lesbians).
As for our physiques... she's short, very fit and muscular, dykey style and not very feminine. She has short dark hair. She doesn't like to wear make up or anything like that... but if I want her to, she will let me cover her in makeup and put her in dresses for Halloween. Myself, I'm short, thin(with curves), long blonde hair and very feminine. I love high fashion and like to be glamorous. Often described as a lipstick lesbian (a lesbian that adopts a feminine appearance and typically looks straight).
If you have any interesting ideas, I'd love to hear them! She also doesn't mind being 'the boy' in the costume (ie. if I were Tinkerbell she wouldn't mind being PeterPan).
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Bette Midler and Barry Manilow Back to the Bathhouse
Bette Midler and Barry Manilow go back to
their roots in bawdy tribute comedy
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
August 1 & 15 at Laurie Beechman Theatre
Bette Midler tribute artist Donna Maxon revisits the glorious 70's
with her new cabaret show BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE co-written by Maxon and director Michael Schiralli. Maxon stars as the Divine Miss M, performing a hilariously bawdy act of tunes, monologues, and jokes.
The show co-stars musical director Fonda
Feingold as Barry Manilow, and the duo proudly pays homage to the
partnership that Midler and Manilow began at New York?s Continental
Baths in 1970.
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
runs Wednesdays, August 1 and 15
at 7:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside West Bank Cafe (407 West 42 Street at 9th Avenue).
Tickets are $20. A full dinner menu and a full bar are available; there is a $15 per person food/drink
minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com
their roots in bawdy tribute comedy
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
August 1 & 15 at Laurie Beechman Theatre
Bette Midler tribute artist Donna Maxon revisits the glorious 70's
with her new cabaret show BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE co-written by Maxon and director Michael Schiralli. Maxon stars as the Divine Miss M, performing a hilariously bawdy act of tunes, monologues, and jokes.
The show co-stars musical director Fonda
Feingold as Barry Manilow, and the duo proudly pays homage to the
partnership that Midler and Manilow began at New York?s Continental
Baths in 1970.
BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE
runs Wednesdays, August 1 and 15
at 7:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside West Bank Cafe (407 West 42 Street at 9th Avenue).
Tickets are $20. A full dinner menu and a full bar are available; there is a $15 per person food/drink
minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com
New York City Gay Black Pride Aug. 15
NYC Black Pride celebrates 15 years of
community awareness. This year?s pride season will kick-off on Wednesday, August 15th with a five day celebration that includes ?The Black Pride Heritage Awards which
will honor Tony Award winner Hinton Battle, highly acclaimed Director and Producer
of Paris Is Burning, Jennie Livingston and Senator Eric Adams, among others.
In celebration of this incredible milestone, we have expanded our committee of
health organizations, local business and community leaders to also include youth
organizers and media companies. Lee Soulja, the executive director of NYC Black
Pride says, ?We are striving to be a better, more united community organization and
present a quality program of cultural events. We want to not only lead by example
to our youth but also empower our youth to take control of their lives and future.?
Lee Soulja continues, ?Let?s be the change we seek!?
NYC Black Pride will begin on Wednesday August 15, 2012 and run through Sunday
August 19, 2012 (Nycblackpride.com) or (Facebook) .
Here is a complete listing of the 15th Annual agenda;
Wednesday August 15th 2012
7:00pm ? 10:00pm GMAD Presents
THE BLACK PRIDE HERITAGE AWARDS
The Schomburg Center .. 515 Lenox Avenue (135th Street)
Thursday August 16th 2012
3:30pm ? 5:00pm SAGE Presents ?A Salute to Our Seniors?
SAGE Center .. 305 7th Avenue (btwn 27th & 28th Street)
Friday August 17th 2012 6:00pm ? 10:00pm
Harlem United Presents THE BLACK PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL
Helen Mills Theater .. 137 W. 26th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Avenues)
Saturday August 18th 2012 3:00pm ? 8:00pm
The Big Brothers Network Presents THE XXL RECEPTION
Hurley?s .. 232 W. 48th Street (btwn Broadway & 8th Avenue)
7:00pm ? 4:00am GMHC Presents THE LATEX BALL
Roseland Ballroom .. 239 W. 52nd Street (Broadway & 8th Avenue)
Sunday August 19th 2012 1:00pm ? 3:00pm CHURCH SERVICES
Rivers at Rehoboth .. 310 W. 139th Street (Frederick Douglas Blvd & Edgecombe)
12:00pm ? 4:00pm HARLEM SUNDAY BRUNCH
Billie?s Black Restaurant .. 271 W. 119th Street (btwn St. Nicholas & Frederick Douglas Blvd)
3:00pm ? 8:00pm UNITED: The Black Pride Pier Dance
South Street Seaport .. 89 South Street (Fulton Street)
community awareness. This year?s pride season will kick-off on Wednesday, August 15th with a five day celebration that includes ?The Black Pride Heritage Awards which
will honor Tony Award winner Hinton Battle, highly acclaimed Director and Producer
of Paris Is Burning, Jennie Livingston and Senator Eric Adams, among others.
In celebration of this incredible milestone, we have expanded our committee of
health organizations, local business and community leaders to also include youth
organizers and media companies. Lee Soulja, the executive director of NYC Black
Pride says, ?We are striving to be a better, more united community organization and
present a quality program of cultural events. We want to not only lead by example
to our youth but also empower our youth to take control of their lives and future.?
Lee Soulja continues, ?Let?s be the change we seek!?
NYC Black Pride will begin on Wednesday August 15, 2012 and run through Sunday
August 19, 2012 (Nycblackpride.com) or (Facebook) .
Here is a complete listing of the 15th Annual agenda;
Wednesday August 15th 2012
7:00pm ? 10:00pm GMAD Presents
THE BLACK PRIDE HERITAGE AWARDS
The Schomburg Center .. 515 Lenox Avenue (135th Street)
Thursday August 16th 2012
3:30pm ? 5:00pm SAGE Presents ?A Salute to Our Seniors?
SAGE Center .. 305 7th Avenue (btwn 27th & 28th Street)
Friday August 17th 2012 6:00pm ? 10:00pm
Harlem United Presents THE BLACK PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL
Helen Mills Theater .. 137 W. 26th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Avenues)
Saturday August 18th 2012 3:00pm ? 8:00pm
The Big Brothers Network Presents THE XXL RECEPTION
Hurley?s .. 232 W. 48th Street (btwn Broadway & 8th Avenue)
7:00pm ? 4:00am GMHC Presents THE LATEX BALL
Roseland Ballroom .. 239 W. 52nd Street (Broadway & 8th Avenue)
Sunday August 19th 2012 1:00pm ? 3:00pm CHURCH SERVICES
Rivers at Rehoboth .. 310 W. 139th Street (Frederick Douglas Blvd & Edgecombe)
12:00pm ? 4:00pm HARLEM SUNDAY BRUNCH
Billie?s Black Restaurant .. 271 W. 119th Street (btwn St. Nicholas & Frederick Douglas Blvd)
3:00pm ? 8:00pm UNITED: The Black Pride Pier Dance
South Street Seaport .. 89 South Street (Fulton Street)
dOCUMENTA (13)
dOCUMENTA (13) is an international exhibition, which takes place every five years for 100 days in Kassel (Germany), and runs til September 16, 2012. The last version of documenta drew over 750,000 visitors from all over the world, and similar attendance is expected for 2012. www.documenta.de This number of visitors will put the emphasis on [...]
Send Michael Cavnaugh to World AIDS Conference in Washington D.C
HIVHero.org, formerly GayLifeNYC.org, is the Web site for HIV Experience Resources Organization (HERO), a non-profit organization operating in New York State.For several years, New Yorker Michael Cavnaugh has given of himself tirelessly to help this cause. "Please
help me get to the World AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. I plan on
producing a series of videos from the conference to share with all
HIV/AIDS organizations free of charge. Even $5 would help. Please go to the link and donate to my campaign and help us help others."HIV HERO .org
help me get to the World AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. I plan on
producing a series of videos from the conference to share with all
HIV/AIDS organizations free of charge. Even $5 would help. Please go to the link and donate to my campaign and help us help others."HIV HERO .org
Ru Paul Presents ALL STARS season Oct 22
Get More: Watch RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Full Episodes, Logo TV
HOLD ONTO YOUR WIGS LADIES! Ru Paul will be serving up the BEST of the BEST next month, as the unleashes the ALL STARS!
HOLD ONTO YOUR WIGS LADIES! Ru Paul will be serving up the BEST of the BEST next month, as the unleashes the ALL STARS!
Chick-fil-a has a revelation from Jeebus himself!
Chick-fil-A agrees to stop funding antigay groups, Chicago alderman says
This Week In Gay
Joey from Cocktails and Creampuffs and David from That Blue Jeans Guy are back to help Anthony investigate and inform the weekly LGBT News. And Boy-Oh-Boy do we go head-to-head at some points! How does the gang feel about Pakistan? Is India?s health minister calling homosexuality a ?western disease?? LGBT Education Bill passes in California, but the House Reaffirms DOMA, why?
read more
read more
Friday, September 21, 2012
Get on your knees and pray that this happens
Jezebel: Holler for a dollar! RuPaul wants to do a duet with Honey Boo Boo Child “because she understands what drag is.”
Review: K?s Choice Echo Mountain tour in Eindhoven
K’s Choice were supposed to play at the Effenaar shortly before Christmas 2010.
But I heard their American record company planned a US promo tour, which took precedent to their European one, so part of their European tour got postponed to a later date. I was informed the Eindhoven date was set for March 2nd, 2011. That was fine with me until I found out Serena Ryder and Melissa Etheridge were going to play Halifax Metro Centre the exact same day. Well, poop!
K’s Choice kicked off the Eindhoven concert with Favorite Adventure, a song they wrote for bass player Eric Grossman’s wedding. It was clear that this audience showed up to see K’s Choice - even though they gave opening act Arid, fellow Belgians, a shot. I have heard of them, and the one song I recognized off their set list was Too Late Tonight (which they played early on, but judging from the response from the audience, it might have been better if they played it towards the end of their set).
Singer Sarah announced at the start that this show consisted of two parts: an acoustic set and a full on “rock and roll” set. It’s very much like their latest album Echo Mountain of which the first disc contains up-tempo songs, and the second one consists of the slower songs and ballads. I was glad they decided to turn that around for the show and start off with the acoustic set first to get everybody warmed up and ready to rock out later.
The acoustic set lasted about half an hour (it seemed shorter), after which the band took a quick break, allowing their roadies to ready the stage for a regular rock concert.
I was pleasantly surprised when the band also played Virgin State Of Mind: Buffy fans may recognize this song from an episode in which K’s Choice had a cameo. They, of course, played their biggest hit - worldwide - Not An Addict as well.
I had a great time people watching: it almost felt like Pride. The audience consisted of people of all ages (anything from teenagers to your mom and dad), straight couples, lots of queer women. I eavesdropped on a conversation happening behind me where a straight guy introduced his lesbian friend to K’s Choice. (He, too, appreciated Sarah Bettens’s singing voice.)
K’s Choice came back for two encores. The first one was kicked off by Gert performing Shadowman, a song which (in a past tour) he had paired up with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. It’s a slightly haunting song, and in total contrast to the rest of the show, but a good indicator the show is coming to an end. Both encores consisted of songs that are slower and have a more intimate feel to them.
<!--pagebreak-->
If I remember correctly, they ended the show with God In My Bed. People in the audience either hummed along, or were silently listening. And I was reminded of the fact there once was a time where smoking at venues and public spaces was still allowed: moments like these lent themselves to fish out one’s lighters and sway along to the music. Not anymore. People didn’t even take out their cell phones do to something similar.
Sarah thanked the audience for coming out (no pun intended), and said that playing at a sold out venue on their first date back in the Netherlands was wonderful. I had a great evening.
In case you’re interested, I found a slide show of band pictures taken at the Eindhoven show here.
But I heard their American record company planned a US promo tour, which took precedent to their European one, so part of their European tour got postponed to a later date. I was informed the Eindhoven date was set for March 2nd, 2011. That was fine with me until I found out Serena Ryder and Melissa Etheridge were going to play Halifax Metro Centre the exact same day. Well, poop!
K’s Choice kicked off the Eindhoven concert with Favorite Adventure, a song they wrote for bass player Eric Grossman’s wedding. It was clear that this audience showed up to see K’s Choice - even though they gave opening act Arid, fellow Belgians, a shot. I have heard of them, and the one song I recognized off their set list was Too Late Tonight (which they played early on, but judging from the response from the audience, it might have been better if they played it towards the end of their set).
Singer Sarah announced at the start that this show consisted of two parts: an acoustic set and a full on “rock and roll” set. It’s very much like their latest album Echo Mountain of which the first disc contains up-tempo songs, and the second one consists of the slower songs and ballads. I was glad they decided to turn that around for the show and start off with the acoustic set first to get everybody warmed up and ready to rock out later.
The acoustic set lasted about half an hour (it seemed shorter), after which the band took a quick break, allowing their roadies to ready the stage for a regular rock concert.
I was pleasantly surprised when the band also played Virgin State Of Mind: Buffy fans may recognize this song from an episode in which K’s Choice had a cameo. They, of course, played their biggest hit - worldwide - Not An Addict as well.
I had a great time people watching: it almost felt like Pride. The audience consisted of people of all ages (anything from teenagers to your mom and dad), straight couples, lots of queer women. I eavesdropped on a conversation happening behind me where a straight guy introduced his lesbian friend to K’s Choice. (He, too, appreciated Sarah Bettens’s singing voice.)
K’s Choice came back for two encores. The first one was kicked off by Gert performing Shadowman, a song which (in a past tour) he had paired up with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. It’s a slightly haunting song, and in total contrast to the rest of the show, but a good indicator the show is coming to an end. Both encores consisted of songs that are slower and have a more intimate feel to them.
<!--pagebreak-->
If I remember correctly, they ended the show with God In My Bed. People in the audience either hummed along, or were silently listening. And I was reminded of the fact there once was a time where smoking at venues and public spaces was still allowed: moments like these lent themselves to fish out one’s lighters and sway along to the music. Not anymore. People didn’t even take out their cell phones do to something similar.
Sarah thanked the audience for coming out (no pun intended), and said that playing at a sold out venue on their first date back in the Netherlands was wonderful. I had a great evening.
In case you’re interested, I found a slide show of band pictures taken at the Eindhoven show here.
(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.
Gay candidates for Congress draw interest, hope
PROVIDENCE (AP) – Laure Rondeau, an 82-year-old Catholic, supports Providence Mayor David Cicilline for Congress because he wants to get the troops out of Afghanistan and says Washington is losing sight of what’s happening to regular people.
The sexual orientation of the openly gay mayor doesn’t figure into her decision.
“That doesn’t bother me at all,” Rondeau says. “He’s been a good mayor of Providence, and I think he’d do well in Congress.”
Just three of the 535 members of Congress are openly gay, but two candidates hope to inch that number up to five this year: Cicilline, who is running to succeed fellow Democrat Patrick Kennedy, and Democrat Steve Pougnet, who’s trying to knock Republi…
Read More
The sexual orientation of the openly gay mayor doesn’t figure into her decision.
“That doesn’t bother me at all,” Rondeau says. “He’s been a good mayor of Providence, and I think he’d do well in Congress.”
Just three of the 535 members of Congress are openly gay, but two candidates hope to inch that number up to five this year: Cicilline, who is running to succeed fellow Democrat Patrick Kennedy, and Democrat Steve Pougnet, who’s trying to knock Republi…
Read More
Stuff Lesbians Like Part 124: Reply-All-colism
What really makes a lesbian more excited than a paparazzo in room full of Kardashians is when she receives a mass email announcing a night on the town or a house party. This is not because she will get to drink cocktails with her friends and thirty other people she barely knows but pretends to be best friends with. It means that she will be able to solidify her position in the entourage by announcing her presence and expressing her thoughts to a built-in audience by pressing ?reply all.?
Click Click Expose Gay Podcast Network - Weekly Update June 17, 2011
Hey Podcast Fans...another week...another round of podcast shows from Click Click Expose (Gay Entertainment Media) 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. Check out the new redesigned Click Click Expose Website - Click Click Expose and let us know what you think. It's easier now to listen to Click Click Expose Radio, hear your favorite podcast shows, watch the hottest videos, read the latest news, and so much more.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY:
Subscribe via RSS Feed HERE!
THIS WEEK'S SYNOPSIS: 1. Gay News Week In Review - "Week Ending 6/17/2011" 2. This Show Is So Gay - "Rainbow Rewind: Singer Jennifer Knapp" 3. This Show Is So Gay - "AIDS Life Cycle 10" 4. House Music Show - DJ Carlos Dali - "Run The Tribal Techie Trip Mix"
LISTEN:
Gay News Week In Review w/e 06/17/2011 (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - Singer Jennifer Knapp (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - AIDS Life Cycle 10 (Podcast)
DJ Carlos Dali - Run the Tribal Techie Trip Mix - Episode 80 (Podcast)
read more
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THIS WEEK'S SYNOPSIS: 1. Gay News Week In Review - "Week Ending 6/17/2011" 2. This Show Is So Gay - "Rainbow Rewind: Singer Jennifer Knapp" 3. This Show Is So Gay - "AIDS Life Cycle 10" 4. House Music Show - DJ Carlos Dali - "Run The Tribal Techie Trip Mix"
LISTEN:
Gay News Week In Review w/e 06/17/2011 (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - Singer Jennifer Knapp (Podcast)
This Show Is So Gay - AIDS Life Cycle 10 (Podcast)
DJ Carlos Dali - Run the Tribal Techie Trip Mix - Episode 80 (Podcast)
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4 Hour Body
This is a must for all gym boys out there.
I have started the 4 Hour Body diet (yeh) - follow my progress here The Four Hour Body - Paul ThompsonView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
I have started the 4 Hour Body diet (yeh) - follow my progress here The Four Hour Body - Paul ThompsonView Australian Queer News on the web at Gay News Blog
Gay Pets and Big Discount
Hello Readers, I have missed you so much. I’ve been spending time on my new website I started a blog there but I have a dilemma since that is my professional website and I’m not sure how outspoken I ought … Continue reading →
Thursday, September 20, 2012
(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.
Follow through
How do I sleep with a woman? If I am a late 20's woman who has never done so before. So....... I think I might be interested in women, but I'm not really sure. I'm not looking for a long-term relationship or anything but I'm also not really into the club scene. Craigslist is not appealing on many levels. There must be other websites or something? I'm an introvert, quiet, not-great-at-dating-or-meeting-people blahblahblah, type etc.
Other relevant details: Currently in Toronto. Friends with many gay/queer people and am totally comfortable with people *thinking* I am into women (although they generally do not)... my problem is, I guess, follow through.
Other relevant details: Currently in Toronto. Friends with many gay/queer people and am totally comfortable with people *thinking* I am into women (although they generally do not)... my problem is, I guess, follow through.
Lesbian News - 19 Sep 2012
Target's Lesbian-Inclusive Bridal Registry AdTown of Vincent considers register of gay unionsLesbian couple plead guilty to war of words that led to McDonald's 'beatdown'Guidelines tell parents what to look out for in their childrenand'Guidelines For Gay And Lesbian Symptoms' By Malaysia Edu Ministry Spark OutrageNew Dignity Law Protects Gay and Lesbian Students, but How Will It Be Enforced?Reel Pride: Gay, lesbian film festival coming to Central Valley
Serving in silence….
While many Americans are unable to find immediate work in this current economy and as we as a country try to rebuild after billions spent on a never ending war, you would think our government would need all the help it could get. Not apparently from GLBT service members though, all living under the threat of joining the countless other Americans who are unemployed.
Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
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Those who defend our freedoms on foreign borders do not ask very much in return from us. They feel the need to serve their country even when their country refuses to support them. They fight alone most of the time hidden away from themselves and others they rely on, hoping no one suspects that they are GLBT. It goes without saying that to live two different lives under the best of circumstances i…
Read More
Portia DeGeneres
Speaking of Ellen, Portia has petitioned the court to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres. Apparently, it's her 2nd anniversary gift to El. How sweet is that? People magazine reports that it won't go into affect until the courts will hold a hearing in Sept. Love it.You can read more about it here.
Questions about slain ambassador's orientation
A report cites a source in saying that Chris Stevens, the slain ambassador to Libya, was gay, according to On Top Magazine.
Friend-of-the-Court Briefs to Be Filed in Support of DOMA Challenge
New York City, Three States, Members of Congress, NAACP-LDF and Other Groups to File Briefs in Support of Edie Windsor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
NEW YORK – More than fifteen parties – including New York City, three states, members of Congress, civil rights groups and religious organizations – plan to file briefs today in support of Edith “Edie” Windsor’s constitutional challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
After the death of her spouse Thea Spyer, Windsor was forced to pay more than $360,000 in estate taxes that she would not have had to pay had she been married to a man instead of a woman. Windsor sued the federal government for failing to recognize her marriage. She is represented by attorneys from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; the American Civil Liberties Union; the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Stanford Law School Supreme Court Litigation Clinic.
In June, a federal district judge in New York ruled in Windsor’s favor that section three of DOMA does “not pass constitutional muster.” Today’s briefs were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which will hear arguments in the case on Sept. 27.
“The number and scope of the parties supporting Edie’s case illustrate the breadth of the harms that DOMA inflicts on married same-sex couples,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. “It is time for the courts to bring an end to this discriminatory law once and for all.”
Some of the groups filing in support of Windsor include:
Local governments including the city of New York; and the states of New York, Connecticut and Vermont;
145 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, spearheaded by House Judiciary Committee members Jerrold Nadler and John Conyers, Jr., along with Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, David N. Cicilline and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny H. Hoyer and James E. Clyburn;
The Partnership for New York City, a group of CEOs from New York City’s leading businesses;
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund;
Bar associations, labor unions and civil rights, religious, cultural and LGBT organizations;
Social workers and national mental health and medical organizations;
Professors of U.S. history, family law, and family and child welfare law
“These amicus briefs show both the widespread support for Edie’s case and the lack of any basis for the constitutionality of DOMA,” said Roberta Kaplan, a partner at Paul, Weiss. “Edie just turned 83, and her health is tenuous. After decades with her late spouse and years of struggle for equal rights, she deserves to see justice within her lifetime.”
“New York is home to more married same-sex couples than any other state,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “It only makes sense that our state and local governments would join the dozens of other groups supporting this case. No committed family should be relegated to second-class status.”
Windsor recently petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to hear her case as well. The Court has yet to announce whether it will hear this case or any other challenge to DOMA.
A full list of parties filing briefs can be found here:
www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/windsor-vs-us-list-amici
For more information on this case, please visit www.aclu.org/edie
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
NEW YORK – More than fifteen parties – including New York City, three states, members of Congress, civil rights groups and religious organizations – plan to file briefs today in support of Edith “Edie” Windsor’s constitutional challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
After the death of her spouse Thea Spyer, Windsor was forced to pay more than $360,000 in estate taxes that she would not have had to pay had she been married to a man instead of a woman. Windsor sued the federal government for failing to recognize her marriage. She is represented by attorneys from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; the American Civil Liberties Union; the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Stanford Law School Supreme Court Litigation Clinic.
In June, a federal district judge in New York ruled in Windsor’s favor that section three of DOMA does “not pass constitutional muster.” Today’s briefs were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which will hear arguments in the case on Sept. 27.
“The number and scope of the parties supporting Edie’s case illustrate the breadth of the harms that DOMA inflicts on married same-sex couples,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. “It is time for the courts to bring an end to this discriminatory law once and for all.”
Some of the groups filing in support of Windsor include:
Local governments including the city of New York; and the states of New York, Connecticut and Vermont;
145 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, spearheaded by House Judiciary Committee members Jerrold Nadler and John Conyers, Jr., along with Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, David N. Cicilline and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny H. Hoyer and James E. Clyburn;
The Partnership for New York City, a group of CEOs from New York City’s leading businesses;
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund;
Bar associations, labor unions and civil rights, religious, cultural and LGBT organizations;
Social workers and national mental health and medical organizations;
Professors of U.S. history, family law, and family and child welfare law
“These amicus briefs show both the widespread support for Edie’s case and the lack of any basis for the constitutionality of DOMA,” said Roberta Kaplan, a partner at Paul, Weiss. “Edie just turned 83, and her health is tenuous. After decades with her late spouse and years of struggle for equal rights, she deserves to see justice within her lifetime.”
“New York is home to more married same-sex couples than any other state,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “It only makes sense that our state and local governments would join the dozens of other groups supporting this case. No committed family should be relegated to second-class status.”
Windsor recently petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to hear her case as well. The Court has yet to announce whether it will hear this case or any other challenge to DOMA.
A full list of parties filing briefs can be found here:
www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/windsor-vs-us-list-amici
For more information on this case, please visit www.aclu.org/edie
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
(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.
(40) London Calling. Shoot Your TV!
She Calls to Say She Has Sense, Friends from www.DubiousInent.com Send Over a Fun Hello, Zeitgeists Addendum released 10/02/08 http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912&hl=en, Compulsive Sunflower Seed Overeater, Negative Television Hysteria, CNN Journalist Jill Abrams book The Myth, The Muse, The Meshuga http://www.myspace.com/jillabrams, Rachel from London discusses London Police, Heather Mills etc .
(60) Just A Couplea Hos
Feminism, Bailout disgust, Chat with Kaye about straight on straight sexual harrassment, the women’s movement, the black power movement, gay life in Jamaica from a straight native’s perspective, Buju Banton, Rap, MacKenzie Philips, ect., ect. Check out Lizzy the Lezzy’s site and fun new book: http://www.lizzythelezzy.com
(72) Master of Intellectassy
Solo Rant. Lots of yelling. Warning: If you are in love with 0bama DO NOT listen to this show and start whining. Just continue shunning us, we love that. Maybe it was the guy who shot the TV at Bristol Palin over Dancing with the Stars who Twittered TLM last night. He tried to school [...]
Confusion Over City Charter Leads Council to Delay Nondiscrimination Ordinance
The Memphis City Council voted 7-5 to add an amendment protecting city workers on the basis of sexual orientation to a proposal that updated the city's nondiscrimination policy to include age, disability, and national origin.
Lesbian News - 13 Sep 2012
Homophobia in Schools Report Finds It's Getting BetterGay wedding expo coming to Stamford this weekendLesbian Rep. Barbara Jordan Delivered Dem Keynote in 1976Gays, lesbians comprise record-high 8 percent of delegates at Democratic conventionGay and lesbian caucus hits record numbers at Democratic convention, stresses action
Straight Ally Beefcake
Ben Cohen shared this cover image late last week to thank people for supporting his calendar preview video.
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