Category Archives: Bullying
Christian Linda Robertson Regrets Conversion Therapy
Saying goodbye … Linda Robertson kisses the cheek of her eldest son, Ryan, days before he died of a drug overdose.
DEVOUT Christian Linda Robertson says her son came out to her at 12-years-old but that she forced him into ‘conversion therapy’. Now she is traveling the US to ensure more kids don’t die like hers did.
Rob and Linda Robertson of Washington State were told by their son Ryan, then aged 12, that he was gay.
“It’s just the way I am and it’s something I know,” Mrs Robertson recalls him saying. “You are not a lesbian and you know that. It is the same thing.”
While initially understanding, the Robertsons forced Ryan into weekly reparative therapy meetings with their pastor during his teenage years.
“Basically, we told our son that he had to choose between Jesus and his sexuality,” Mrs Robertson said.
Regrets … Linda and Rob Robertson want to stop other parents going through what they did. Read the full article and see video HERE.
Linda also writes on Huffington Post
Linda’s passion and prayer is that Ryan’s life and death will matter –- and that the mistakes she made, as a conservative evangelical mom with a young gay son, will serve to help someone else learn to really love their children.
Waymon Hudson Activist – Fight OUT Loud
Early on the morning of May 1, 2007, around 1 am, my partner and I were returning home to Fort Lauderdale from vacation in Chicago. Our flight was delayed, so we were the last group of passengers (around 20 or so) at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
While waiting for our luggage in the baggage claim area, we heard these words come over the PA system loud and clear:
“A man that lies with a man as with a woman should be put to death.”
A few minutes later, the same Biblical recording played over the loud speaker again. We were understandably shocked and frightened.
We looked around for a security guard, airport employee, or TSA agent, but we were unable to find anyone because it was so late and everything was closed. We quickly gathered our bags and went to our car, nervous to be alone in a dark parking garage after hearing what we assumed was a death threat against us.
The next morning, we called the airport to report the incident. The airport manager seemed disinterested in the threat and simply said “sorry for the inconvenience.” After the tepid response from the manager, we contacted our county commissioner, as well as a local news station. We also contacted various web sites and blogs about our experience, including Pam’s House Blend and Towleroad (who were amazing in their support!) to try and get some help.
A few nights later, we received a call from the police saying that they were able to locate the person who made the announcement and that he confessed. The man was Jethro Monestine, a skycap for Superior Aircraft Services, who worked in the baggage claim area. After seeing the intense media coverage, a co-worker turned him in, fearing they too would be in trouble. Monestine said that he downloaded the recording onto his cell phone and played it over the intercom as a “prank”. He also claimed not be directing it at us, saying he was “bored between flights and just wanted to have some fun”. He was eventually fired, but no charges were filed against him for what can only be seen as making a death threat over the PA at a major US airport.
The intense media coverage, as well as the religious aspect of the recording, led to a large amount of negative feedback and hate-mail being directed towards us. Adding to this backlash was some skewed and sensationalistic reporting of our story, which included headlines that focused on the “bible verse” aspect of this incident, not the threat (one such example: “Prankster fired for playing bible verse that offended gays”). This opened us up for attack from a number of conservative groups, blogs, and radio shows. Websites and open forums began to fill with personal attacks directed at us. Every anti-gay slur, threat of damnation and condemnation of us that you could imagine appeared. Our motives, names, and even our appearance were viciously attacked.
This whole event really woke us up to the amount of hate that people are still capable of directing towards the GLBT community. We received numerous stories from people around the country telling us their own horror stories of discrimination and not being taken seriously. As with our own story, a lot of smaller incidents of discrimination and hate seemed to fall through the cracks, leaving many people to fend for themselves. Having gone through such an eye-opening experience, and finding that there were really very few resources available to LGBT individuals who needed immediate help in situations like ours, we decided to fight back. This inspired us to form a national non-profit organization called Fight OUT Loud.
While the experience of the airport and the ensuing backlash may have been difficult, it was probably one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. It changed my life, got me involved, and started an amazing organization that is helping people across the country.
“Fight OUT Loud has a strong online presence and will continues to help people by being where they are- through Twitter, Facebook and other online platforms.” explains Waymon.
“We’re filling the gap for people who don’t know where to go with their issues. We have strong ties with existing organizations and help connect people to the resources and support they need. Most of our work is very individual- we are here to make sure no LGBT issue falls through the cracks. Whether it be doing the research about local ordinances to help in an individual case of discrimination or helping educate the community about a larger LGBT issue, we really work to make sure no one, no matter where they are or what they are going through, feels alone when faced with bias, discrimination, or violence. Most of our work and projects are extremely targeted and individual.”
JOIN their mailing and action list to stay in the loop.
One gay man- lots of opinions… Journalist, Activist, Blogger, Politico, TV host, & all around political trouble-maker.
Follow Waymon on TWITTER
Waymon on Huffington Post
Waymon on Bilerico Project
Upstairs Lounge Gay Mass Murder
Colin Farrell Pleads with Irish People
Actor Colin Farrell speaks out in Sunday World:
I think I found out my brother wasn’t grovelling in heterosexual mud like most boys our age when I was around 12. I remember feeling surprised. Intrigued. Curious. Not bi-curious before you start getting ideas.
I was curious because it was different from anything I’d known or heard of and yet it didn’t seem unnatural to me. I had no reference for the existence of homosexuality. I had seen, by that age, no gay couples together. I just knew my brother liked men and, I repeat, it didn’t seem unnatural to me. My brother Eamon didn’t choose to be gay. Yes, he chose to wear eyeliner to school and that probably wasn’t the most pragmatic response to the daily torture he experienced at the hands of school bullies.
But he was always proud of who he was. Proud and defiant and, of course, provocative. Even when others were casting him out with fists and ridicule and the laughter of pure loathsome derision, he maintained an integrity and dignity that flew in the face of the cruelty that befell him.
I don’t know where those bullies are now, the ones who beat him regularly. Maybe some of them have found peace and would rather forget their own part of a painful past. Maybe they’re sitting on bar stools and talking about “birds and faggots” and why one’s the cure and the other the disease.
But I do know where my brother is. He’s at home in Dublin living in peace and love with his husband of some years, Steven. They are about the healthiest and happiest couple I know. They had to travel a little farther than down the aisle to make their vows, though, to Canada, where their marriage was celebrated.
That’s why this is personal to me. The fact that my brother had to leave Ireland to have his dream of being married become real is insane. INSANE.
It’s time to right the scales of justice here. To sign up and register to vote next year so that each individual’s voice can be heard
How often do we get to make history in our lives? Not just personal history. Familial. Social. Communal. Global. The world will be watching. We will lead by example. Let’s lead toward light.
Straight Pride and Gay Pride
Gay Pride parades were created as an answer to oppression and unequal rights. I’ve heard people say “you don’t see Straight Pride parades”…and that’s because straight people don’t need them.
No one’s calling straight slurs out of car windows or getting up in churches and telling them their unions are unholy and their very lives are condemning them to hell.
PRIDE PARADES -As long as we’re legally and socially held back, they are absolutely necessary. They don’t say “I’m special” so much as they say, “we exist.”
In Huffington Post – Shane Jordan explores Straight Pride….Pride is a deliberate attempt to equalize a society. Pride is a statement, an attitude and a decision. You see, we have been questioned and accused, abused and diminished for the entirety of history. We have been told that we are deficient and defective. It’s assumed by much of the population that we are either mentally ill or dealing with residual emotional baggage brought on by childhood tragedy. It’s assumed that our misguidance or rebellion can be fixed through therapy and that, perhaps, we will eventually abandon our lifestyle and become heterosexual. READ MORE HERE
Good Samariton Got 3 Arrested in Gay Bashing
How many times do you sit by the sidelines and do nothing but gripe about crimes?
Sometimes, we have the power within our means to actually do something AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING! And Not stand by and wait for the police!
Twitter user @FanSince09, played an instrumental role in identifying the suspects in the September 11 gay bashing in Center City, Philadelphia. Had he not jumped in a helped solve the crime, this case may very be still in limbo.
He appeared on The View and local news to share why (and how) he decided to put his social media skills to work and help solve a crime.
Now the 3 perpetrators await trial. Thanks to @FanSince09!!
The preliminary hearing date was set for December 16th, at which point the case will be brought before a municipal court judge to determine if there was probable cause to arrest the suspects. Attorney for Kevin Harrigan, Josh Scarpello, tells me, “we won’t decide the truth of the matter in that first hearing. It is a probable-cause hearing to establish if the case should go to trial.”
Scarpello confirms that all three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/g-philly/2014/09/30/preliminary-trial-set-gay-bashing-suspects/#GWxzaBYo1j8gwtCH.99
National Coming Out Day Celebration
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY!
I love being gay! If it was a choice – I would choose it AGAIN!
Be proud! Stand Up! Be Who You Are! Be counted and Come out!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE and guess what? IT’S OK TO BE GAY!
It is one the the best decisions you will ever make in your life.
WATCH these 2 inspirational videos.
ONE BY HRC celebrating National Coming Out Day!
ONE FEATURING MARTHA WASH Coming Out With Pride
What is like Growing up Transgender
For most of you reading this – you know what is like to grow up gay.
But transgender – most of us do not understand that. What it is like. How do they feel.
Maybe you think you are trans and reading this. Many people felt transgender 20 years ago, but didn’t know what it really was; how to react or even who to turn to.
Now, thanks to social media and sharing, transgender is really coming out of the closet.
In a brand new Aussie -made video, five transgender young people are asked: “What’s it like to be you?”
The results are compelling. Each speak openly about their awesome times along with their challenges, and how they’ve gotten through them.
The In My Shoes video is an initiative of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project at The Gender Centre.
“We hope that this film will serve as a resource for the wider community to better understand the issues facing young transgender and gender diverse people,” says the Gender Centre.
“We also hope that it encourages transgender and gender diverse people of all ages to come forward and access support if they need it.
“Thank you to these extraordinary young people for sharing their stories and to the incredible co-directors Monique Schafter and Mat Govoni.”
Take a look at the In My Shoes video .
OWN IT by Tabatha Coffey
Fans know Tabatha Coffey as the celebrity hairstylist who’s tough, talented, and always ready to take over.
But while promoting her new book, “Own It: Be the Boss of Your Life — at Home and in the Workplace,” the 44-year-old star of Bravo’s “Tabatha Takes Over” shed some light on how her unconventional childhood drove her to become the strong, successful businesswoman she is today.
Raised mostly by her single mother, Coffey spent much of her free time at her family’s strip club where she quickly learned the power of hair and beauty. “I was at the club all the time,” she told Yahoo. “I would sit back and take a good look at how [the models] got their makeup, costumes, and wigs on and they put me to work. Even as a little kid, I just saw the transformation it did to them.”
READ MORE HERE
I personally loved her swag and attitude event before she came out (publically)! Now I have even more respect for this out and proud lesbian woman who is strong and empowering. She gives a GREAT INTERVIEW HERE with Lesbian Life.
IN HER NEW BOOK, Own It!: Be the Boss of Your Life–at Home and in the WorkplaceTabatha is back to share her secrets of business success . . .
With her characteristic savvy expertise and no-nonsense advice, the perfectly coiffed celebrity hairstylist, Tabatha Coffey, returns with her second book, teaching readers that the secret of success is taking charge—of your priorities, your future, and your life. Fans of her hit show, Tabatha Takes Over, value Tabatha’s sound approach to overhauling failing businesses, and now, in Own It!, she takes to the page to reach out to anyone with a dream: whether you’re just beginning, revamping your career, or starting your own enterprise.
Sharing her blunt but rock-solid wisdom, Tabatha provides tips for every aspect of business—from entrepreneurship, to customer service, to management—as well as on the home front, to help women seeking to balance their family lives with their careers. Filled with stories about real people who have faced challenging transitions, in addition to anecdotes from Tabatha’s own experiences, this book reveals, through her unflinching honesty, Tabatha’s commitment to the dreams and goals of her readers, and her never-say-never attitude when it comes to bringing them to life.
Success is the result when you Own It! in all aspects of your life, and Tabatha breaks it down step-by-step as your straight-shooting personal coach to show you how it’s done.
BUY THE BOOK!
Own It!: Be the Boss of Your Life–at Home and in the Workplace
The REAL Fred Phelps…..Not My Fathers Son
CHILD ABUSE AND BRAIN WASHING. That’s the REAL PHELPS. May he NOT Rest in Peace that #**#@^%$%$#!!!
The story of Nate Phelps, son of Reverend Fred Phelps – how he overcame abuse and learned to love those whom he was taught to hate.
“Not My Father’s Son” will chronicle Nate’s story from the years of physical, emotional and mental abuse he suffered at the hands of his father from a young age through his journey toward healing to his subsequent and current fight for justice and equality for all people.
A kickstarter campaign was started to tell Nate’s story of how he escaped the claws of his evil and demented father.
Nate Phelps.com
Show Me Your Pride by Coco Peru!
On her quest to save the world, Miss Coco Peru unleashes “Show Me Your Pride”, a dance anthem brought to colorful life by the legendary entertainer that the press has called “a heavenly hoot” and “a dragster with real talent and heart”!
WATCH
LIVE LOUD, PROUD AND FREE OF SHAME!
Janet Porter Warns Families about Gay Days @ Disney
ANTI GAY NEWS…..Janet Porter, a well known WINGNUT! who in the past has warned that homosexuality is more dangerous to your health than smoking, is urging families to leave Disney World out of any vacation plans next week because of the HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA– fearing that children may be exposed to “public displays of perversion, cross dressing men and pedophiles” at the park’s upcoming ‘Gay Days’.
LISTEN TO HER HERE!
The Florida Family Association hate group is also planning on flying its annual Gay Day ‘Warning’ banner across the park next week, which they do every year and increasingly just seems like free publicity for the inclusive, celebratory event! LOL
DOUCHEBAGS of the Day- Kimberly and Beck Radio Show NY
WOW – how do these people get these jobs??
98.9 ‘Breakfast Buzz’ morning radio hosts
Kimberly and Beck
are douche bags of the week!
They took the opportunity to unleash a torrent of mockery upon trans people during a sarcastic 12-minute segment in which they cackled about genitalia and insulted a caller who dialed in to tell them how offensive they were.
Some of the choice quotes (although you really must listen to the audio, AFTER THE JUMP…)
“Transgender or gender nonconforming. What the hell does that mean? Like you’re not a woman or a man??
“The dude can look like a lady and the city is going to pay for it!” (cue “Dude Looks Like a Lady” music)
“Does that mean then if women want a boob job they’ll pay for a boob job because that’s only right.”
“The services that will be paid for under the new coverage – gender reassignment surgery, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, because you’re probably a NUTJOB to begin with!”
“It’s a slippery slope. Then if some woman can go to a doctor and it’d be proven that she’s got mental issues because her rack’s not big enough then you know what? she deserves a boob job, Right Kimberly? Or she deserves liposuction.”
LISTEN HERE
Call or write the station and urge them to be FIRED.
These people are paid to spread misinformation and are bullying!
Sue Munn
VP/General Manager
smunn@entercom.com
Bob Barnett
Ops Manager
bbarnett@entercom.com
Mike Danger
Program Director
danger@entercom.com
Mike Johnson
Director of Sales
mjjohnson@entercom.com
Buzz Numbers
Business Line 585-423-2900
Studio Line 585-222-BUZZ
Studio Text 52545
Address
98.9 The Buzz
High Falls Studios
70 Commerical Street
Rochester, NY 14614
“Right, IF YOU CAN PROVE YOU’RE A NUT, I guess.”
Beverly Hills Hotel and Bel Air Hotel Boycott Strengthens
Hollywood
Reporters
annual breakfast, which most recently honored Oprah Winfrey, will move after 20 years at the historic location in the wake of “despicable decisions by the Sultan of Brunei.”
The Hollywood Reporter has notified the Beverly Hills Hotel that it will not hold its annual Women in Entertainment breakfast there because of the hotel’s ties to the Sultan of Brunei, who has instituted a severe new penal code based on Sharia law that calls for death by stoning for homosexuals and adulterers.
“The recent despicable decisions by the Sultan of Brunei make it impossible for us to consider moving forward in any way with any hotel that is part of the Dorchester Collection,” said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, which publishes The Hollywood Reporter. “We have huge respect for the local staff and management of the Beverly Hills Hotel and would like to thank them for two decades of partnership. We hope one day to be able to work together again.”
What began as a grassroots movement two weeks ago when designers Brian Atwood and Peter Som and Los Angeles boutique owner Cameron Silver asked their Instagram and Twitter followers to boycott the Dorchester Collection of hotels, to which the Beverly Hills Hotel belongs, has quickly gathered momentum, with prominent organizations dropping plans to hold dinners and fundraisers at the landmark hotel on Sunset Boulevard.
The Dorchester Collection is owned by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah through the Brunei Investment Agency. Last week, Brunei became the first East Asian country to adopt sharia law,
which calls for flogging, dismemberment and death by stoning for crimes such as rape, adultery and sodomy.
Conchita Wurst Shakes up EuroVision
Thomas “Tom” Neuwirth (born 6 November 1988), better known as his drag persona Conchita Wurst, is an Austrian singer. In the role of Conchita Wurst, he will represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen Denmark this week.
“For me the most special and honoring thing is that Austria shows tolerance and acceptance and I’m so happy to be this statement. I’m allowed to be the voice of their beliefs during this time and this really makes me very proud. We, and not at least myself, want to stand for a society without hate and discrimination. And if I’m honest, I think everyone of the contestants should stand for the same, cause we are joining a very open minded project, so they should be open minded too.
For me as a musician it’s like the biggest thing so far. I really want to reach a good place in the ranking for my country, and for myself, I want to be proud of my performance. Cause I’m my worst critic. Besides that, I really hope that I get the chance to change some minds all around Europe. I want to show them that you can look whatever you want and that everybody must have the right to live their life however they want it, if nobody gets hurt.”
Read More about Tom / Conchita
Do I Sound Gay?
It’s a question many gay men have asked of themselves at some point. And it raises all sorts of fascinating questions about the origins of sexual orientation. Is sounding your sibilants a little excessively in the genes or from the environment?
Is the gay voice a function of learning from others and creating your own community, or is to something embedded in our nature? Why is there such a wide spectrum of gay voices – from gruff masculinity to elaborate femminess? A documentary exploring this is almost done and just launched a kickstarter campaign to finish it.
You can help here.
Michael Egan Sues Bryan Singer – Date Rape with a Minor
Former child model who accused X-Men director of sexual assault ‘was also drugged and raped by a businessman after Siegfried and Roy show’
- Michael Egan has filed a lawsuit against director Bryan Singer, saying he abused him when he was 17 years old in Hawaii and California
- Singer’s lawyer has said records show he was in Toronto at the time
- Egan said he was abused by Singer and others involved in a Hollywood sex ring starting when he was 15
- Now a 2003 affidavit has emerged in which a victim believed to be Egan details the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of 2 businessmen
Gay News from Oregon – Students Make GAY IS NOT OK shirts
Students wearing anti-gay T-shirts to class disrupted Oregon City High School’s celebration of unity Friday.
Friday was National Day of Silence. It’s where students take some form of silence to call attention to the bullying of the LGBT community in schools.
Two students told KATU News that if the school is supporting Day of Silence, then they have the right to speak out against it.
They wore T-shirts to school that said, “Gay Is Not Ok” and “Gay Day Is Not OK,” which is a reference to Day of Silence. They sought out a KATU reporter to be interviewed.
Why were the shirts allowed???
Hero Cop is Really Child Molester
Actor writer Jesse Archer blogged today about a new book, Pee-Shy.
In his poignant memoir, Pee Shy, Frank Spinelli writes about an important topic so many are reluctant to talk about. He was abused by his boy scout leader as a child and what was unresolved back then he daringly confronts thirty years later and ultimately finds justice.
After confessing the abuse he suffered as an 11 year old at the hands of a boy scout leader, who was also a cop, his parents did not prosecute but let it go and pretended it never happened. Later in life, he discovered his abuser, Bill Fox, had talked a suicidal teen boy from a ledge and then adopted him and wrote a book about it, portraying himself as a hero-cop. When he discovered that Fox had also taken in fifteen other young boys, Spinelli knew he had to take action and he becomes a one-man predator catcher.
The book is a slow burner, carefully setting the stage to show how a Catholic Italian family from Staten Island became convinced that the boy scouts would make a macho man out of their son, while ignoring all the troubling signs of a storm brewing.
Jesse interviews Frank HERE.
GEENA ROCERO IS FIRST TRANSGENDER SPEAKER AT “TED” CONFERENCE
To coincide with the celebration of International Day of Transgender Visibility, activist and model Geena Rocero today launched her new a global awareness campaign, Gender Proud, which calls attention to the fact that there are only 8 countries where transgender individuals are able to change their gender marker without having to first undergo surgery. In addition, her recent TED talk, which garnered an immediate standing ovation and praise, goes live on the TED site at 11am EST.
‘I want people to realize that while gender identity is core to our being, sometimes our gender assignment doesn’t match. There should be space to self-identify,’ says Geena.
In the months ahead, Gender Proud will work alongside the ground-breaking LGBT justice organization AllOut to target countries where gender marker legislation is at a ‘tipping point’.
As it launches, Gender Proud has initiated a petition on Change.org (www.change.org/genderproud) that seeks to bring awareness to the issue at a broader level; simultaneously, an IndieGogo campaign will raise money for a national speaking tour by Rocero about the organization and the need for all transgender people to self-identify with the fewest possible barriers. The campaign will feature donation perks including a limited edition t-shirt designed by world-renown street artist Seizer One, and limited edition prints from award-winning Russian visual artist Uldus.
Geena’s talk marked the first time that TED has tackled transgender rights issues on the main stage.
“Every year we work to bring inspiring ideas and speakers from a wide range of backgrounds to the TED stage,” said Kelly Stoetzel, Director of TED Content. “This year, we were thrilled to have Geena join us. Her courageous story stands to help people everywhere think about gender in a new and nuanced way.”
I Am Divine – The Most Outrageous Drag Queen That Ever Lived
Before RuPaul, there was Divine.
She wasn’t much of a singer, but she certainly was a larger than life diva. From LA to NY, EVERYONE knew who Divine was!
Behind the famous drag queen persona was a man many of us know little about. Divine was born Harris Glenn Milstead in Baltimore, Maryland. In the late 70’s and early 80’s DIVINE became known as the most outrageous drag queen on Earth!
This new documentary is a MUST SEE – no matter if you remember her – or are a millennial, you need to be educated!
I Am Divine is the widely acclaimed new documentary from prolific filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz (whose other gay documentary film portraits include Jack Wrangler, Vito Russo and an upcoming Tab Hunter project). I Am Divine brings to life the spectacular personality and amazing career of Divine through colorful interviews and archival footage from classics like Female Trouble, Polyester, Hairspray and Pink Flamingos (yes, including the dog-poop-eating scene!).
I Am Divine shows Glenn from his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally recognized drag superstar through his collaboration with filmmaker John Waters.
Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine was the ultimate outsider turned underground royalty. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture. I Am Divine is a definitive biographical portrait that charts the legendary icon’s emotional complexities and rise to infamy.
It is so sad, Glenn/Divine was really reaching mass popularity and stardom, right at the time he died. He passed away in L.A. of an enlarged heart at the age of 42, just three weeks after the hit 1988 film Hairspray, costarring Ricki Lake and Sonny Bono hit theaters. It truly proved Divine as rounded actor – but sadly, that was the end of the road. Gone too soon.
The critics say-
“Divine gets her own well-deserved spotlight.” — Peter Debruge, Variety
“An enjoyably naughty trip through Divine’s career.” — John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter
“Captures the exuberant spirit of a time in which difference brought together like minds and changed attitudes.” — Mark James, Film School Rejects
“Just as garish, splashy, and loud as Divine himself.” — Drew Taylor, indieWire’s The Playlist
“A breathtaking and touching portrait of two people inside the same body.” — Joshua Brunstig, CriterionCast
WINNER:
Special Award – Overall Achievement – Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Spirit Award Winner – Documentary – Cinetopia International Film Festival
Audience Award – Best Documentary – FilmOut San Diego
Lifetime Achievement Award for Divine – FilmOut San Diego
Best Documentary Film – Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
Audience Award Winner – Best Documentary – Outtakes New Zealand
Audience Award – Best Feature Film – Out East Queer Film Festival
Audience Award – Cinema Q Denver
Festival Favorite – Cinema Diverse, Palm Springs
Best Documentary Feature – Arizona Underground Film Festival
Audience Award – Favorite Documentary – Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Best LGBT Film – Key West Film Festival
Audience Award: Best Documentary – Madrid International LGBT Film Festival
STREAM IT or BUY IT TODAY! It’s a fantastic chance to relive the days of Divine!
Brendan Eich – New Ceo for Mozilla
After nearly a year of searching,(really? one year?) the Mozilla Foundation announced the hiring of longtime CTO Brendan Eich as its new CEO. The internal hire looks like Mozilla opted for a technological leader to head up the front office as opposed to a business school expert.
But much of the public reaction to his promotion skipped past that “can a coder run a company” question, focusing squarely on another financial issue. In 2008, Eich donated $1,000 in support of California’s Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that sought to ban gay marriage in the state. So shortly after the announcement of Eich’s hiring, the reaction came swiftly. In particular, developers came forward with a mix of boycotts and reluctant acceptance.
App developer Rarebit ignited the conversation by announcing that it pulled its apps from the Firefox Marketplace. In a statement, Rarebit CEO Hampton Catlin recalled the story of his own gay marriage experience in California, which allowed him to marry Rarebit co-founder Michael Catlin. Catlin called Eich out for both his Prop 8 donation and his choice not to apologize.
“We morally cannot support a foundation that would not only leave someone with hateful views in power but will give them a promotion and put them in charge of the entire organization,” he wrote.
Mozilla Education Lead Christie Koehler offered an internal perspective. She repeatedly expressed disappointment with the news of Eich’s Prop 8 donation but also insisted that she saw no reason for Mozilla’s principles of “openness, innovation, and opportunity” to change because of Eich’s new role. After expressing empathy for Mozilla’s search for the right internal hire, she praised the company’s LGBT-friendly benefits packages, its internal guidelines for participation, and its board of directors. Koehler asked anybody who shared her mixed sentiments to join her efforts in cementing Mozilla’s policies toward openness and inclusion. SEE MORE HERE.
Firefox of course released a statement demonstrating their diversity.
But in this age of transparency companies should be looking for skeletons in everyones closet.
Some may argue, it was only $1000. What if he donated $1000 to the KKK? Are gay haters any less?
