Category Archives: Guest Author
I Love Being Gay
Just in time for Pride, professional gay YOUTUBER Davey Wavey has shared a new video in which he talks to other YouTubers about why they love being gay.
“Being gay is being us, being true to who we are,” said OliviaHas2Moms. Lateef Thynative added, “I love the fact that we have our own culture.” These YouTube stars cover a lot of territory, from having our own language, to being celebrated for who you are, to having the freedom to express yourself and dress however you want, and much more. RyannMinajj said of the impact being gay has had on him,”Not being accepted by everyone has made me accepting of everyone.”
Watch
CUDDLE, love, touch, acceptance and connection
We all want love, acceptance and connection with other people. We’re social beings, and this connection with others is part of our emotional, physical and spiritual DNA.
Touch plays an important role in building these connections, increasing scientific evidence clearly shows a connection that lack of touch can lead to depression, anxiety and a myriad of heath issues, and an inability to connect with others. We will be exploring the healing power of Non Sexual, Consensual Touch in detail in upcoming posts.
Most of us don’t get enough touch in our lives.
We’re touch-deprived, and most of us don’t even know it consciously. All we know is that there’s loneliness and stress and a deep sense of missing out. We feel this because there’s a biochemical yearning for something that is missing in our lives. And there is something missing: touch and the connection with others that it fosters.
“That’s why we started Cuddlist,” says Adam Lippin, Co-founder and CEO of CUDDLIST. “Safe, non-sexual, consensual touch fills a need that’s badly neglected in our society. Cuddling relaxes us and reduces stress at the very least, and on the deeper level it nourishes our soul and helps us get in touch with our higher self. Much like yoga and meditation, non-sexual touch is healing and transformative.”
Cuddlist brings together those who need touch (and that would be just about all of us!) with Certified, professional cuddlers who are experienced, safe, well-versed in cuddling techniques and follow a code of conduct that set the conditions for a great session.
While any two people can cuddle, of course, what sets Cuddlist apart is that we are creating the marketplace for transformative cuddling, and we bring the professionalism and best practices that make it work; Cuddlist training is overseen by my co-founder, Madelon Guinazzo, and she both has years of experience as a full-time Cuddlist and knowledge of what works in practice.
While Cuddlist is something special, and fills an important gap in our world, I also want to share what it means to me personally.
I’ve been a yoga and meditation practitioner for more than 20 years. Yoga has been an animating principle in my life that has seen me through college, drug addiction, the corporate world in New York, loss and death, and the birth of my son and my relationship with my amazing spouse. I’m also a touchy-feely “hugger,” and when I go to shake someone’s hand I’m keenly aware how restricted touch is in our society.
Most would agree that touch is therapeutic, and the rush of oxytocin we produce when we cuddle is great, but in my experience cuddling also can be something deeper.
American Buddhist Jack Kornfield, in his book, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path, talks about how the simple act of being present can be a deeply spiritual practice. I think cuddling, if non-sexual and approached without expected outcomes in mind, can help us be present and raise our spiritual awareness.
So while I’m a “hugger,” and I immediately see the value that cuddling can play as a corrective in our society, I also think it contains a deeply spiritual component.
Indian civil rights leader Mohandas Gandhi said we must be the change we want to see in the world, and I want to play my part by encouraging non-sexual touch and the emergence of what might be called cuddle yoga.
“Touch is important, and we don’t get enough of it. I want to change that, and that’s why I, along with my Co-Founder, started Cuddlist. Will you join us?”
Find out more at CUDDLIST. Learn more; FIND a CUDDLIST and/or become a CUDDLIST!
GAY NEWS – SNERVOUS Tyler Oakley
Young gay YouTube sensation TYLER OAKLEY has dropped his first trailer for his documentary, SNERVOUS.
They are over a dozen super popular gay vloggers changing the world and how young people react towards gay people. MILLIONS of young people tune in to these vloggers daily! The YouTube medium has offered vloggers the opportunity to touch millions and millions of people from around the world.
“After eight years of sharing snippets of his life online, see the intimate truth of Tyler Oakley’s relationship with family, followers and fame on his sold out international tour.”
PREORDER MY MOVIE, SNERVOUS: http://bit.ly/SnervousiTunes
Snervous (documentary): http://snervous.com
Binge (book): http://tyleroakleybook.com
Psychobabble (podcast): http://itunes.com/psychobabble
Find Tyler:
Book: http://tyleroakleybook.com
Snapchat: snaptyleroakley
Videos: http://youtube.com/tyleroakley
Bonus Videos: http://youtube.com/extratyler
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tyleroakley
Tumblr: http://tyleroakley.tumblr.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/thetyleroakley
T-Shirts: http://districtlines.com/tyleroakley
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tyleroakley
Gay Day of the Dead Art
Gay Day of the Dead: the art of José Antonio Madrazo
By Sebastián Sáenz
@sebastiaenz
History, traditions and folk culture have inspired artists for centuries in order to show the world their unique perspective. Human beings have developed a special need to express feelings, thoughts and facts though all kinds of materials such as clay, marble, wood, oil, installations, words and even their own body, but José Antonio Madrazo is a particular case. His original proposal shows one of the most popular Mexican celebrations with an unexpected twist: an LGBT version of The Day of the Dead.
Most of us are tired of bringing back home after any trip the same souvenirs: the cheap post card, the t-shirt that will lose all colors after the second wash, and the tacky fridge magnet. That is why José Antonio, located in the breathtakingly beautiful and LGBT friendly San Miguel de Allende (one of the most popular little towns of Mexico), got inspired by this important date in order to celebrate diverse love with his art crafts. The career of this artist started in the early 90s, he has worked with different forms of design, and his current proposal projects his identity, sensitivity, creative voice, humor and Mexican Culture, such as the Day of the Dead.
Mexico’s Day of the Dead is a very ancient tradition that mixes Pre-Colonial, Colonial and folk elements of the Mexican culture. The day of the Dead is an annual celebration to remember the life of the loved ones that are no longer with us. Mexicans build altars with flowers, candles, photographs and objects attached to the person that passed away. They also have hot chocolate, candy skulls and Bread of Dead, a sweet pastry with bone-shaped bread sticks on top. Some people dress as Catrinas, the quintessential character of this party: the grim reaper represented as a feminine skelleton, dressed in a colorful gown with flowers and even a huge hat with bright feathers. Some Mexicans even actually go to graveyards and spend the night of November 1st and 2nd in a huge celebration with music, food and laughter; their on way to make fun of Death, and to enjoy life.
No wonder why José Antonio, along with his team of artisans, have been so inspired. All of his pieces are one of a kind, manicured and can be custom made in order to satisfy every customer’s wishes. He mixes clay figurines with traditional crafting techniques, metal, vintage photographs, images of papers, magazines and board games, and even historic heroes and religious icons. Some of his contemporary, funny, pretty and affordable pieces can even portray same sex figures and jokes.
The world usually relates Mexico to lucha libre, Taco Bell, telenovelas and, in worst cases, Dora the Explorer. Of course these are stereotypes, and even though some of them are based on actual facts, it is well known that a whole country cannot be associated with just a few generalizations. Mexico is a country that offers so much more than what the world sees on news or in a five star resort in Cancun. It is rich in gastronomy, history, infrastructure, technology, science, academia, natural resources, art and cultural and social progress. Maybe its biggest artist is Frida Kahlo, however, there are obviously new artists such as José Antonio, with innovative, interesting, intricate and beautiful work that the world has to know and appreciate.
Michael Snell and Derrick Sorles, partners for 16 years, started collecting Day of Dead art in 2013. They found one of Jose Antiono’s gay themed nichos in 2014 and contacted him about making even more gay themed nichos exclusively for them and began importing them to the US. Gay Day of the Dead Art. Now with the passage of marriage equality growing at leaps and bounds, they hope to serve a whole new market of LGBT collectors.
Translation –
La mayor parte de nosotros estamos hartos de regresar a casa de cualquier viaje con los mismos souvenirs: la tarjeta postal barata, la playera que perderá sus colores después de lavarla dos veces y el imán de mal gusto para el refrigerador. Es por eso que José Antonio, ubicado en el maravillosamente bello y LGBT amigable San Miguel de Allende (uno de los pueblitos más populares de México), se inspiró en esta importante fecha para celebrar el amor diverso en sus artesanías. La carrera de este artista comenzó a principios de los 90s, ha trabajado con diferentes formas de diseño, y su propuesta actual refleja su identidad, sensibilidad, voz creativa, humor y cultura mexicana; como en el caso del Día de Muertos.
Esta fiesta anual es una antigua tradición que mezcla elementos prehispánicos, coloniales y folclóricos de la cultura mexicana. El día de muertos ayuda a recordar a la gente amada que ya no se encuentra presente. Los mexicanos crean altares con flores, velas, fotografías y objetos que los difuntos apreciaban. También toman chocolate caliente, calaveras de dulce y Pan de Muerto, pan dulce cubierto con palos de pan que semejan huesos. Algunas personas se visten como Catrinas, el personaje de esta celebración por excelencia: representa a la muerte como un esqueleto femenino, ataviado con un colorido vestido con flores e incluso un gran sombrero con brillantes plumas. Algunos mexicanos incluso visitan cementerios y pasan las noches del 1 y 2 de noviembre en una gran verbena con música, comida y risas; su manera única de burlarse de la muerte y de disfrutar la vida.
Es evidente por qué José Antonio, junto con su equipo de artesanos, se han inspirado tanto. Todas sus piezas son únicas, delicadamente construidas, y pueden personalizarse para satisfacer cada deseo de sus clientes. Combina figuras de arcilla y metal con técnicas artesanales típicas, viejas fotografías, imágenes de periódicos, revistas y juegos de mesa, y hasta personajes históricos e íconos religiosos. Y claro, algunas de sus piezas contemporáneas, divertidas, bonitas y accesibles pueden mostrar figuras del mismo sexo y chistes.
Fifty Ways to Eat Cock
For the cook in your life!
Curious about cock?
You’re not the only one. Once revered for his virility and strength, the rooster has taken a back seat to the hen in more recent years. With healthy chicken recipes like Risotto Cock Balls and Cock-o’s, 50 Ways to Eat Cock is a fun and inventive chicken cookbook that takes a revealing look at the folklore, history, culinary culture and nutritional benefits of this well-endowed ingredient.
With tongue-in-cheek descriptions, these playful cock recipes are bulging with everything from the quintessential to the quick-and-easy to the downright quirky. You’ll learn how to tame this tough bird meat into succulent and finger-licking gourmet meals.
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
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
Jeza Belle’s Pink Panty Dropper cocktail
Internationally known New York City drag queen, actress, comedienne, columnist, and cocktail connoisseur Jeza Belle will make her publishing debut on October 7, with The Harlot’s Guide To Classy Cocktails.
Part drink recipe book, part he-larious drunken memoir, the coffee table book contains Jeza’s own classy (The Dietrich) and, uh, not-so-classy (MAI Cock is TAI-ed Back) cocktail recipes along with the favorite drinks and messy memories of some of the world’s most famous drag queens, among them, Sherry Vine, Latrice Royale, Barbie Breakout and Rupaul’s Drag Race contestant,Yara Sofia. (See the full list of twisted queens here.)
PINK PANTY DROPPER RECIPE HERE!
Other queens featured include a #1 Billboard artist, reality show winners and contestants, social media sensations, rising pop stars, and a bevy of other bevvy lovers from over a dozen countries on six continents.
New York’s own Lady Bunny wrote the book’s hilarious introduction.
The Harlot’s Guide to Classy Cocktails will be available on October 7 in hardcover and eBook (iBook, Kindle, Nook) formats. Much more to come from Jeza Belle in anticipation of the books’ debut, including a trailer video, website, and a weekly reveal of each of the featured queens starting in August.Meanwhile, check out Jeza’s YouTube channel where you’ll find her zany comedic/sci-fi web series, “Jeza and the Belles” and clips of her live at various NYC clubs, such as Caroline’s Comedy Club and The Duplex.
You can find her celebrity interview column for Starpulse here.
www.iamjezabelle.com
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
Meet Robert Kingett – Our new guest author who talks about being Blind, Gay and Dating!
Do you ever stop and think about those who are less fortunate than us? Those who have a harder life than us? Those who may face challenges? Do you ever give gratitude and thanks for the life you are living?
RobertKingett.com
CNNMoney – Many same-sex couples eligible for big tax refunds
Married same-sex couples who paid extra tax because
the federal government didn’t recognize their marriage are now eligible
to get some of that money back.
The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defined marriage as between a
man and a woman, which meant married same-sex couples had to file their
taxes individually. But the Supreme
Court’s summer ruling overturned that law. Now these couples are
not only able to file as married going forward, but they have the option
of amending their tax returns for the past three years if it would
benefit them.
For some couples, doing this will reduce their overall tax liability
and result in big refunds, which is typically the case when there is a
large disparity in incomes (for example, when one spouse doesn’t
work).They can also claim any tax paid on health
insurance benefits extended from one spouse to another through an
employer-sponsored plan.
Refunds will vary widely by couple, and could be as high as tens of thousands of dollars.
Janet and Janet Emery-Black, from Nampa, Idaho, are anticipating retroactive refunds totaling $30,000. Another couple,
Adele and Jennifer Hoppe-House, from Los Angeles, expect to get back $13,000.
Read FULL ARTICLE HERE
Can Gay Porn Turn a Straight Man Pro Gay?
Can watching porn turn
straight men pro gay?
Texas, made headlines for publishing a controversial study (which many found
flawed) that claimed children of gay parents were worse off than children of
straight parents, is back in the spotlight for a new bizarre claim: He says
that straight men who watch porn are more likely back same-sex marriage.
Witherspoon Institute, an organization that’s linked to the National
Organization for Marriage, by saying that porn “undermines the concept that in
the act of sexual intercourse, we share our body and whole self … permanently
and exclusively.On the contrary, it reinforces the idea that people can share
their bodies but not their inmost selves, and that they can do so temporarily
and (definitely) not exclusively without harm.”
sex has nothing to do with marriage, and this leads to straight men accepting
gay marriage. “Of the men who view pornographic material ’every day or
almost every day,’” Regnerus writes, “54 percent ’strongly agreed’
that gay and lesbian marriage should be legal, compared with around 13 percent
of those whose porn-use patterns were either monthly or less often than
that.”
impacts women. In fact, he claims that “women typically aren’t as into
porn as men are, and yet women in general tend to support same-sex marriage
more readily than do men. A recent Gallup poll noted that 56 percent of women
favor it, while only 42 percent of men do. No, this theory is not about
women.”
Regnerus’ anti-gay parenting study, in which he said that children of same-sex
parents were worse off than children from straight parents.
that he violated ethical standards when researching the study, called “New
Family Structures Study,” and officials from the University of Texas,
where Regnerus teaches, launched an investigation. The result concluded the
professor did not violate ethical standards nor break any rules.
mostly raised by straight parents: 175 individuals said they had mothers who
once had a same-sex relationship and 73 said their fathers were involved with
someone of the same sex. The results claim that children from these parents are
more likely to end up on welfare, be unemployed, and attend therapy as adults
when compared to children from straight couples.
GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign and Family Equality Council, calling the paper
flawed, misleading, and scientifically unsound.
study was flawed but still supported his findings. He told Focus on the
Family’s Citizen Magazine that he would be more careful about the language he
used in his findings in the future.
“I said ’lesbian mothers’ and ’gay fathers,’ when in
fact, I don’t know about their sexual orientation; I do know about their
same-sex relationship behavior.” he said. “But as far as the findings
themselves, I stand behind them.”
Young Avengers Teen Super Heroes
Mainstream comics’
By Shaun Knittel
Best Gay News Magazine Staff Writer
Marvel Comics has announced a renewed focus on its Avengers
comics. The company is set to release a spin-off about a team of teenage
superheroes called, Young Avengers.
Queerty reports, “Joining Kid Loki, Miss America and Marvel
Boy are Wiccan and Hulkling, one of mainstream comics’ most prominent (and
cutest) gay couples.
Wiccan and Hulking were actually a part of an earlier Young
Avengers title created by gay screenwriter Allan Heinberg) that was sadly
canceled some time back.”
Writer Kieron Gillen says, they will be the “core romantic
couple of Young Avengers.”
“Wiccan will make a big mistake,” warns Gillen, “that
threatens his relationship with the shape shifting Hulkling.”
“Do they have Grindr in the Marvel Universe?” asks Queerty.
“Fundamentally, ‘Young Avengers’ used to be about being
sixteen,” said Gillen, who also gave a brief summary of how the character
grew up in the original series. “I wanted to do something different.
Instead of being a book about being 16, it’s a book about being 18. It’s about
approaching the world on your own terms.” Gillen stated he plans to
explore the superhero convention from top to bottom. “Most of the books
that have ‘Avengers’ in the title is about the ideal. It’s about super heroism
and living as one of Earth’s Mightiest Mortals. … It’s a book about optimism
and how optimism tends to get crushed.”
Gillen characterized the book as “very natural,”
saying, “There’s nothing that is less cool than desperately grasping to be
cool.”
He wants to focus on the full range of teenage problems
through a superhero lens.
Seattle Begins to Issue Marriage Licenses
Seattle Issues First Same Sex Marriages Licenses After Nov.
Election
by Shaun Knittel
Big Gay News Magazine Staff Writer
On December 5, Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) and Secretary
of State Sam Reed certified Referendum 74, the marriage equality bill that
makes same-sex marriage legal in the state .
“This is a very important and historic day in the great
state of Washington. For many years now, we’ve said, ‘One more step. One more
step.’ This is our last step,” Gregoire said. “To the couples that
are here today that will finally be treated with the equality they’ve deserved
for many years, congratulations to each of you.”
On midnight, December 6, King County Executive Dow
Constantine signed the first same-sex marriage license in Washington State for
Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen at the King County Recorder’s Office in
Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 a.m. to begin issuing marriage
licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose
to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election…
Dozens of gay and lesbian couples attained their marriage
licenses. King County, the state’s
biggest county, opened the doors to its auditor’s office shortly after
midnight.
King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “People who have
been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to
wait one minute longer.”
In Seattle, the mood was festive.
Volunteers distributed everything from roses and coffee to
fruit. Champagne was poured. Different groups of men and women serenaded the
waiting line, one to the tune of “Going to the Chapel.”
According to the Associated Press, “Hundreds of people,”
(many of whom had waited all night and had lined up hours earlier” shaik
snaking around the downtown Seattle building on a chilly December night.
“We knew it was going to happen, but it’s still
surreal,” said Amanda Dollente, who along with her partner, Kelly
Middleton, began standing in line at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Among those getting marriage licenses was Dan Savage, who
said, “It’s been a long fight but it ain’t over. We still have to fight (the
Defense of Marriage Act) and there’s 41 other states were same-sex couples
aren’t allowed to marry.”
Savage plans to marry his partner on Sunday in a ceremony at
City Hall.
same-sex marriages can’t be performed in the state until Sunday. Several
members of the clergy have volunteered to perform marriages at three locations,
on Sunday. They are also planning to perform weddings later in the week,
particularly on Wednesday, which carries the notable date of 12-12-12
Washington will be the seventh state to recognize same-sex
marriages. Maine will follow on Dec. 29 and Maryland on Jan. 1 as the result of
votes in those states on similar ballot measures. The other six states (by
order of adoption) are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire
and New York. Washington, D.C. also allows gays and lesbians to marry.
Gay Villains in the News
The Rise of the Gay Villain
And I say, “Good riddance.”
“Today’s gay villains are so stereotypically masculine that we might not know they were gay if they didn’t say so themselves,” said Tim Molloy at Reuters. “They are gay because they like the same sex – not because of their pets.”
Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune
LGBT Advocates Push Obama for Executive Order on Discrimination
for Executive Order on
Discrimination
the approval of same-sex marriage in several states on Election Day, plan to
push President
Obama to go big on their agenda in his second term. According to thehill.com, the gay groups plan to prod the
president to sign an executive order that would ban discrimination by federal
contractors against gay and transgendered people.
signs the order it could encourage Capitol Hill to pass broader legislation
that would extend a similar ban to employers.
White House shelved the executive order earlier this year, but it remains a top
priority for gay-rights supporters want to see movement from the president
soon.
it sooner instead of later,” Allison Herwitt , legislative director for
the Human Rights Campaign, said, “I do think
it helps pave the way for a fully inclusive [Employment Non-Discrimination
Act]. … It is the way that the government puts its imprimatur on what’s
important and makes a difference in people’s lives. The president would be
saying it’s important not to discriminate.”
Non-Discrimination Act would extend federal protections against
discrimination in the workplace to gay and transgendered people. Lobbyists
working on the bill admit it has a tough road to passage with Republicans still
in control of the House.
gay-rights advocates for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and for endorsing
same-sex marriage. Further, his administration has said expressed support for
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the past. An executive order could move
much faster, though, because it would only require a stroke of the president’s
pen.
Read the full story at thehill.com.
Obama Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Initiatives in 3 States
Obama Officially Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Initiatives in
Three States
state ballot initiatives to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state,
Maryland and Maine.
states urging voters to approve the marriage equality measures on their
respective November 6 ballots came five months after Obama became the first
U.S. president to express support for the right of same-sex couples to wed.
ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone
fairly and equally, with dignity and respect,” according to a statement in
Seattle by Paul Bell, press secretary for Obama’s campaign in Washington and
Oregon. “Washington’s same-sex marriage law would treat all Washington couples
equally, and that is why the President supports a vote to approve Referendum
74.”
support of similar initiatives on the November 6 ballot in Maine and Maryland.
extended marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples, all brought about by court
rulings and legislative action.
would pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as exclusively a union
between a man and a woman.
Ernest Kohl is Topping the Charts Again
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Ernest Kohl made his name in Dance Music, carrying
the torch of late ’70s Disco, and embracing the Hi-NRG sounds of the
early ’80s when he recorded his first records. Thirty years later, he
not only keeps that spirit alive in his music, he also preserves the
memories of the movers and shakers he’s encountered along the way. This
is the first part of our recent conversations. Kelly Wayne Hughes]
“It’s
more flattering to be voted on by the fans. Unlike a certain industry
publication where you can pay for chart position through a promoter. Get
your record into the top 30, you pay. Then get it in the top 10, pay
even more. The labels pay. And it’ll go higher and higher. And they pay
thousands to these promoters. It’s outrageous. The only true charts
there are the sales charts.”
with his three decades in the recording industry. And accepts the low
points as the price for the highs.
“I love musical theatre. I did
my first show at age seven. I auditioned at the Imperial Theatre. And
the next thing you know I’m in South Pacific playing little Jerome with Howard Keel and Jane Powell, singing ‘Dites-moi, pourquoi…’ Then Annie Get Your Gun. Then Camelot. Then Mame playing young Patrick. A national tour of Godspell. Music Man. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. I played one of Joseph’s evil brothers. My best friend, Christian,” says Kohl with a smile, “would call that typecasting.”
Lady Gaga Slams Pope Benedict as France Prepares to Legalize Gay Marriage
Lady Gaga disses the Pope
Gay Star News reports that Lady Gaga’s final remarks are believed to also reflect the criticism of French LGBT rights advocates who stated that lack of fertility assistance in the proposed same-sex marriage bill of France, falls short of full equality.
“And to all the gay people here [in France]. May you can live and love each other until the end of time. And I hope you will have the human right to breed in an entirely equal manner,” she said.
Belgrade Serbia Gay Pride is Canceled
Party leader
says gay parade
“will be canceled”
Source: Novi magazine
BELGRADE — United Serbia (JS) leader and MP Dragan
“Palma” Marković has said that the Belgrade Pride Parade, planned for
October 6, would not be held this year either.
It will be canceled, Marković told Belgrade-based Prva TV, “for security reasons.”
Belgrade Pride’s organizers recently announced that the parade would represent just one segment of a week-long event.
It is planned to take place from September 30 until October 6, and see
the LGBT community promote its rights in a series of events.
But Marković wondered “what the organizers planned to do for a week”.
Last year, the gay parade was not held in Belgrade after Interior
Minister banned the gathering three days before it was to take place,
along with all other gatherings planned for that weekend.
Zac Efron is Flattered By His Gay Fans
By Shaun Knittel
Best Gay News Staff Writer
It’s not just millions of women around the world that love Zac Efron – and nobody knows that better
than Efron himself. Only, the 24-year-old actor who came to prominence in the Disney Channel’s High
School Musical, and stars in the upcoming southern thriller The Paperboy from director Lee Daniels, told the gay glossy The Advocate he doesn’t mind the attention at all.
“It’s very flattering,” he said, acknowledging his gay fan base in his first interview with an LGBT
publication.
“After High School Musical and Hairspray, I’ve always felt embraced by the gay community,” he continued. “And I feel incredibly grateful.”
“I think the gay audience related to my character Troy,” Efron said, referring to the character he played in the 2006 High School Musical film. “Because it really was a story of embracing who you are, no matter how different you might be, and not being afraid to show it. That’s a universal theme for everyone, but it specifically resonated with the gay community, and I felt very proud of that.”
Efron told The Advocate, “This is actually a very special interview for me. I’m extremely aware of the support I’ve gotten from you guys over the years and it’s amazing that it’s taken this long to sit down and actually discuss it, but please know that it hasn’t gone unappreciated. I’m so excited to be talking to you.”
In the interview, Efron recalls his time as a young musical theater kid and how being gay was never taboo in his social circles. “Being gay was just another way you can be. I never really had time to think about it or have any preconceived notions. I don’t judge anyone and I never have.”
“I might’ve been less aware of it back then,” he adds, “but without question I had gay role models.”
He says he would never take a role just for the sake of playing gay but is always looking for a role that’s challenging, different, and entails some risk, “so there’s no doubt in my mind that one of those characters will be gay at some point in the future.”
Efron, who identifies as straight, has had his sexual orientation questioned but maintains that he is not the least bit bothered by the rumors. “I don’t like to live in fear about things like rumors and backlash to begin with – that’s the way I was raised – but I just can’t see what’s so wrong about being gay.”
Efron even came out in support of same-sex marriage, telling The Advocate, “It’s an issue that affects so many people in my life – a lot of my close friends and some of the most influential people around me. I just want them all to be happy. It would make me so happy to see them able to live their lives and do what they want to do.”
