Category Archives: Politics
Boycott HRC for Honoring Goldman Sachs
As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights
Campaign represents a force of more than one million members and
supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality.
HRC is NOT a non profit – and in recent years, I believe, their dinners are all about who throws them the most money. For lobbying. Allegedly.
Now, with this announcement of HRC honoring Goldman Sachs, this publisher, WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT HRC.
Queer/LGBTIQA2Z Occupy Wall Street, a caucus of the NYC based Occupy
Wall Street movement, announced today that it will protest a Human
Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala honoring Goldman Sachs on Saturday February
4, 2012 at the Waldorf Astoria.
In contrast to the $650 a plate Gala, the Queer/LGBTIQA2Z Caucus will
host a “Guerrilla Potluck” on the sidewalk outside of the prestigious
hotel at 50th Street & Park Avenue from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Queer Caucus: 1. Condemns HRC for honoring Goldman Sachs, 2.
Calls upon HRC to adopt a strategy of Full Equality by 2014, and 3.
Demands that HRC create a transparent process that includes the
grassroots.
1. The Queer Caucus condemns HRC’s decision to honor Goldman Sachs in a
time of financial collapse caused by their own unethical business practices
and greed, and deplores the use of our cause and suffering for
corporate public relations. HRC honoring Goldman Sachs at this time
reveals all one needs to know about the corporate LGBT lobby, and its
disconnect from the 99% and the LGBT people it purports to represent.
2. The Queer Caucus calls upon HRC to embrace the grassroots demand for
Full Federal Equality by 2014 – the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil
Rights Act.
After 60 years of struggle, there is still not a single federal
non-discrimination law protecting LGBT Americans from discrimination.
More incredibly, HRC, the corporate entity that controls our strategy,
is not even seeking equal protection for our community.
To address this, the Queer Caucus calls on HRC to take The Pledge for
Full LGBT Equality to seek and secure full non-discrimination
protections based on sexual orientation and gender identify for all
people.
The right to be protected from discrimination secures a core liberty
interest. And it is the duty of government to protect LGBT Americans
from the harm caused by discrimination as a matter of public welfare,
law and conscience, as it has for decades for all other oppressed
groups.
As HRC restrains the demand for equality, discrimination takes its
insidious toll on LGBT Americans who suffer vast psychological harm
rejected by their families and society, driven to suicide at 5 times the
heterosexual norm by tormenting, minority stress afflictions, and lost
hope.
A whopping 40% of homeless youth identity as LGBT, 66% of Transgender
people have been fired or not hired for a job, 60% of our youth are
taunted and feel unsafe at school, and LGBT people are 6x more likely to
have multiple mental stress disorders due to societal discrimination.
“Homo/transphobia in America is a public health and economic emergency
for our community” said Michael Tikile, an occupier and Duke University
graduate. “We are not safe in school, work or housing. How are we
supposed to live, pursue happiness or achieve economic equality?”
3. The Queer Caucus also demand that HRC open the process with transparency and grassroots inclusion.
Currently, HRC operates under a closed, hierarchical system, controlled
by a financial elite, insulated from grassroots input. Likewise, in
Congress, Democrat House members Barney Frank, Jared Polis and Tammy
Baldwin, keep the grassroots out of the conversation, protecting the DNC
strategy from movement agitation and impact.
With this structure in place, queer occupiers know that only a handful
of privileged voices are setting the national queer agenda and strategy,
defining what “LGBT equality” means and who our friends are.
For example, HRC’s key sponsors includes a long list of big businesses
that contributed to recent economic and environmental distress,
including Citi Bank, Bank of America, Chevron, BP, Shell, Morgan
Stanley, MetLife, Deloitte, Lexus, Prudential, and Ernst & Young. This is BS. HRC should not be taking corporate blood money.
“With all of these companies, you’d expect the power to be on our side!
But instead, our community is simply a tool and pawn in the political
system” said Tanya Walker, an original occupier and tireless transgender
activist.
Simply put, the Queer Caucus demands equal non-discrimination
protections under the 1964 Civil Rights Act because equality is the only
true antidote to LGBT abuse – like it has proven to be for race, sex,
national origin, religion, age and disability – long protected from
discrimination by law.
“Equality and non-discrimination are universal values that define basic
human dignity” said Todd (Tif) Fernandez, a human rights lawyer and
grassroots activist. “It is our civic duty as Americans to protect and
respect the LGBT community immediately.”
Please Take the Pledge for Full LGBT Equality (by 2014) (http://bit.ly/the2014pledge).
Join the Guerrilla Potluck (http://on.fb.me/
Join Queer/LGBTIQA2Z OWS Caucus organizing, Sundays at 1pm, 60 Wall Street or on FB http://on.fb.me/QueerOWS.
BestGayNewYork.com
70 Mayors say YES to Freedom to Marry!
70 MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY JOIN IN SUPPORT FOR THE FREEDOM TO MARRY!
“In affirmation of the critical role that cities and their mayors have
played in advancing civil rights and equal treatment for all Americans,
we are proud to be chairs of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Mayors for
the Freedom to Marry is a broad-based and nonpartisan group of mayors
who believe that all people should be able to share in the love and
commitment of marriage. “
Started by
| Michael Bloomberg | Thomas M. Menino | Annise Parker | Jerry Sanders | Antonio Villaraigosa |
| Mayor of New York City | Mayor of Boston | Mayor of Houston | Mayor of San Diego | Mayor of Los Angeles |
The list is growing every week and is now up to 70!
How cool is that?!
| Michael Bloomberg – New York, NY (Chair) | Thomas Menino – Boston, MA (Chair) |
| Annise Parker – Houston, Texas (Chair) | Jerry Sanders – San Diego, CA (Chair) |
| Antonio Villaraigosa – Los Angeles, CA (Chair) | Samuel Adams – Portland, OR |
| Tom Barrett – Milwaukee, WI | Tom Bates – Berkeley, CA |
| William Bell – Durham, NC | David Berger – Lima, OH |
| Stacey Patch Bernot – Carbondale, CO | Richard Bloom – Santa Monica, CA |
| Cory Booker – Newark, NJ | Bruce Botelho – Juneau, AK |
| Ardell Brede – Rochester, MN | Carl Brewer – Wichita, KS |
| Christopher Cabaldon – W. Sacramento, CA | Tony Calderone – Forest Park, IL |
| John Callahan – Bethlehem, PA | Stephen Cassidy – San Leandro, CA |
| Julian Castro – San Antonio, TX | Craig Cates – Key West, FL |
| Mark Chilton – Carrboro, NC | Joshua Cohen – Annapolis, MD |
| Chris Coleman – St. Paul, MN | Michael Coleman – Columbus, OH |
| Dennis Coombs – Longmont, CO | Joy Cooper – Hallandale Beach, FL |
| Frank Cownie – Des Moines, IA | Karl Dean – Nashville, TN |
| John DeStefano – New Haven, CT | John Duran – West Hollywood, CA |
| Paul Dyster – Niagara Falls, NY | Jennifer Eckstrom – S. Tucson, AZ |
| Rahm Emanuel – Chicago, IL | Jo Emerson – White Bear Lake, MN |
| Bill Finch – Bridgeport, CT | Larry Forester – Sigal Hill, CA |
| Peter Fosselman – Kensington, MD | Bob Foster – Long Beach, CA |
| Laura Friedman – Glendale, CA | Ava Frisinger – Issaquah, WA |
| Debora Fudge – Windsor, CA | David Glass – Petaluma, CA |
| Marie Gilmore – Alameda, CA | Mike Gin – Redondo Beach, CA |
| Vincent Gray – Washington, D.C. | Michael Hancock – Denver, CO |
| George Heartwell – Grand Rapids, MI | John Hieftje – Ann Arbor, MI |
| Bobby Hopewell – Kalamazoo, MI | Sylvester James, Jr. – Kansas City, MO |
| Edward Kelly – Cleveland Heights, OH | Mark Kleinschmidt – Chapel Hill, NC |
| Joe Krovoza – Davis, CA | Mark Kruzan – Bloomington, IN |
| Don Lane – Santa Cruz, CA | Timothy Leavitt – Vancouver, WA |
| Edwin Lee – San Francisco, CA | Lee Leffingwell – Austin, TX |
| Craig Lowe – Gainesville, FL | David Lublin – Town of Chevy Chase, MD |
| Karen Majewski – Hamtramck, MI | Jan Marx – San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Mike McGinn – Seattle, WA | Alex Morse – Holyoke, MA |
| Lori Moseley – Miramar, FL | Jeri Muoio – West Palm Beach, FL |
| David Narkewicz – Northampton, MA | Don Ness – Duluth, MN |
| Michael Nutter – Philadelphia, PA | Mel Nieuwenhuis – Delavan, WI |
| Frank Ortis – Pembroke Pines, FL | Kitty Piercy – Eugene, OR |
| Steve Pougnet – Palm Springs, CA | John Preece – Delbarton, WV |
| Jean Quan – Oakland, CA | Stephanie Rawlings-Blake – Baltimore, MD |
| Thomas Richards – Rochester, NY | Douglas Richardson – Lakewood, WA |
| Clarissa Rowe – Arlington, MA | Matthew Ryan – Binghamton, NY |
| RT Rybak – Minneapolis, MN | Robert Sabonjian – Waukegan, IL |
| Helene Schneider – Santa Barbara, CA | Ann Schwab – Chico, CA |
| Pedro Segarra – Hartford, CT | Eric Senter – Franklinton, NC |
| Jeffrey Slavin – Town of Somerset, MD | Francis G. Slay – St. Louis, MO |
| Paul Soglin – Madison, WI | Joe Sinnott – Erie, PA |
| Greg Stanton – Phoenix, AZ | Marilyn Strickland – Tacoma, WA |
| Angel Taveras – Providence, RI | Nick Tell – Manhattan Beach, CA |
| Elizabeth Tisdahl – Evanston, IL | Setti Warren – Newton, MA |
| Bruce Williams – Takoma Park, MD | Dana Williams – Park City Park, UT |
Bye June Unveils “Shades Of Purple” Music Video on Gay Rights
“Today
we get to present to you Shades of Purple, a video with a story of
having the freedom to love whom ever one chooses despite gender,
religion or sexual orientation.” – Bye June
Bye June has announced the premiere of their eagerly awaited new
music video, “Shades of Purple.” The track from their album “My Life is
an Independent Film” is available now at all leading digital retailers.
“ Shades of Purple” will debut Saturday, January 7th at 4 pm EST on
YouTube.com.
“Shades of Purple” is the first pop music video to employ the ancient
art of shadowgraphy, or hand shadows. Bye June teamed with
world-renowned shadowgrapher Mr. Sati Achath; Resulting in an innovative
melding of state-of-the-art video technology and old world
shadowgraphy, which created a unique and outstanding medium.
In addition, Bye June’s social message about civil rights in general
and same sex marriage in particular is the premise of the video’s story.
“We asked our fans to choose a track for a music video, and they voted
online for this song. I am very pleased, since this song has deep
meaning and an important social message. Also, we were fortunate to have
Mr. Achath on our team, he truly brought the characters to life,” says
Gil Kline, Bye June’s vocalist. “Shadowgraphy is a very old art-form,
and I am very excited to bring this art-form to a whole new generation. I
fell in love with this project for the music, message and medium.” says
Sati Achath.
WATCH THE VIDEO AND LIKE IT!!
Bye June. http://www.byejune.com
Bye June is a socially conscious band originally from the Washington
DC area. They released their first CD “My Life Is An Independent Film”
in August 2011.
Bye June is: Gil Kline: guitars, vocals, composition and lyrics *Gunner Sledgeski: drums * Daniel McGreal: Bass.
Special Thanks to the master shadowgrapher, Sati Achath. Satiachath.net/
Sati Achath is a world-renowned shadowgrapher. His shadowgraphy has
been featured on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, CNN, ABC, CBS,
and many other television channels in the U.S. and abroad. He was also a
quarter-finalist in NBC’s 2008 America’s Got Talent contest.
GOP candidates are asked GAY QUESTIONS
Diane Sawyer asked the BIG GAY QUESTION last night!
GAY COUPLES ONLY LIVE IN CERTAIN STATES! WTF?
GAY COUPLES DON’T NEED TO CALL IT MARRIAGE –
These are just some of their stupid responses! You know, the election of 2008 brought a lot of voters of out the woodwork and really heated things up. And this next election, is going to be on fire! Especially with the Occupy Wall Street movement.
People are FED UP! And the Republicans are anti gay and pro- church. That’s going to be a huge problem.
Maybe the end of the world WILL happen in December – if a Republican gets in.
WATCH THE VIDEO CLIP.
STOP Russia From Silencing Gay People
WE just added our voice to this urgent appeal, standing for human rights
in Russia and all over the world.
Medvedev and Putin’s party is pushing a
law to vote this week that would make any mention of lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender issues illegal.
The bill, being introduced as early as this Wednesday, would criminalize
any book, article or speech about sexual identity and gender
orientation, labeling it “homosexual propaganda”.
This is outrageous,
and now is the time for key world leaders to speak up, we need every
voice.
Will you take a minute to add yours?
It only takes a minute!
allout.org/russia_silenced
Hillary Clinton Names Ellen Degeneres HIV AIDS Special Envoy
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has named talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres as the U.S. government’s Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness. The announcement came Tuesday (Nov. 8) at the National Institute of Health during Clinton’s address about AIDS and the HIV virus.
Clinton says of DeGeneres, “[Ellen] is going to bring not only her sharp wit and her big heart, but her impressive TV audience and more than 8 million followers on Twitter, to raise awareness and support for this effort. I know we can look forward to many contributions from Ellen and her loyal fans across the globe.”
“I’m honored to have been chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton as Special Envoy for Global AIDS awareness. The fight against
AIDS is something that has always been close to my heart. And I’m happy
that I can use my platform to educate people and spread hope. Now, if
you’ll excuse me, I have to go look up what “envoy” means,” said talk
show host Ellen DeGeneres.
*Envoy – a diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in dignity after an ambassador, commonly called minister.
aka – an accredited messenger or representative.
.
GOP Rick Santorum Wants DADT to Come Back
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), to whom the question was addressed, responded that he would reinstate “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the federal policy that prohibited LGBT individuals from serving openly in the military. And when pressed on the matter after the debate ended, the Pennsylvania Republican argued that repeal of the policy had been harmful for those gay soldiers as well.
Why are all of these right wing
Republicans so Homophobic???
2012 is going to be a scary race.
The most provocative moment from Thursday night’s Republican presidential primary debate came when a few members of the crowd booed an openly gay soldier Stepehen Hill, for asking whether he would have to hide his sexuality under a future, Republican administration.
19,000 Ask APPLE To REMOVE Store From “CHRISTIAN VALUES NETWORK”
Microsoft dropped online store from CVN.org following Change.org petition; Macy’s, Delta, BBC, and Wells Fargo quickly followed Microsoft
Pressure is mounting on Apple to remove their online store from the “Christian Values Network” (CVN.org), after several other companies remove their stores this week, including Macy’s, Delta Airlines, BBC America, and Wells Fargo.
CVN is used as a fundraising tool by several anti-gay, anti-women organizations like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council.
More than 19,000 people have signed Western Washington University student Ben Crowther’s Change.org petition asking Apple to remove their online store.
Crowther is no stranger to anti-gay bullying. It started in high school when he and his boyfriend were only the second gay couple to come out to their classmates. “The harassment got so bad I had to go the principal,” Crowther told Change.org.
In college, Crowther’s dorm room door was regularly vandalized with anti-gay slurs. “I no longer live in the dorms because the bullying was so bad,” he said.
“I applaud Macy’s and other corporations for stepping up and removing their stores from CVN,” said Crowther. “I don’t think Apple realizes how problematic it is that they are supporting organizations like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council by keeping their iTunes store on CVN.”
Ben is optimistic about the support his petition is receiving. “I’m really encouraged by how many people have signed my petition on Change.org. I hope this is just an oversight on Apple’s part, and that my petition will bring this issue to Apple’s attention.”
This week Macy’s joined a growing list of companies backing away from CVN.
When asked why Macy’s removed their store from CVN.org, a Macy’s spokesperson told Change.org, “Macy’s serves a diverse society. As such, we are deeply committed to a philosophy of inclusion in the way we operate our business and support our communities,” Macy’s said. “We welcome all customers into our stores.”
Last Thursday, the Wells Fargo and Delta Airlines online stores were removed from CVN. Prior to removing their store, Wells Fargo was offering up to $300 to the religious charity of the shopper’s choice, money that could be donated to “Focus on the Family” or the Family Research Council. Delta offered $3.00 per ticket.
Jessica Beavers, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo told Change.org that “occasionally team members may act on their own to place ads on various sites that do not meet Wells Fargo’s brand and marketing standards. We requested the removal of this ad because it was not compliant with Wells Fargo’s brand and marketing standers.”
Moscow police Collude with Neo-Nazis against Gays
Daniel Choi, a U.S. Iraq war veteran and gay-rights campaigner, was among the 34 people arrested in Moscow on May 28 as activists attempted to march in a rally banned by the city government.
Attempts since 2006 to hold the event have consistently been met with official bullying, arrests, and clashes with police and right-wing counterprotesters.
“We witnessed a high level of fraternisation and collusion between neo-Nazis and the Moscow police. I saw neo-Nazis leave and re-enter police buses parked on Tverskaya Street by City Hall,” reports British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was part of the Moscow Gay Pride protest group on Saturday 28 May 2011.
“Russian TV presenter on channel ‘TV-Centre’, Olga Bakushinskaya, blogged that she also saw right-wing extremists at City Hall sitting in police buses and liaising openly with the riot police, the Omon.
“Either the police were actively facilitating the right-wing extremists with transport to the protest or many of the neo-Nazis were actually plainclothes police officers. They did to us what their uniformed colleagues dared not do in front of the world’s media: give many of us a good beating.
“By banning Moscow Gay Pride, Russia has defied a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that it must be allowed to proceed. Some of us now plan to press the Council of Europe to suspend Russia’s right to vote in the Council’s parliamentary assembly. Russia must not be permitted to defy the European Court with impunity.
“Prior to the staging of Moscow Gay Pride, the ban was condemned by the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General, Thorbjorn Jagland, and its Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg.
This past October, the European Court of Human Rights fined Russia for banning gay parades in the capital.
LADY BUNNY Talks Politics with Feast of Fun Podcast
If you are a reader of this site (and our sister site, BestGayNewYork) you’ll know we ADORE Lady Bunny! Besides being the hardest working drag queen in the business, she is also a great writer who does guest author spots everywhere, including Huffington Post.
she is very well read and has wonderful views and opinions, and Lady Bunny gives a great conversational interview on Feast of Fun!
It’s a wonderful hour of views and conversation!
Husbands Josh Vandiver and Henry Velandia Making History
Even though they are legally married, the latter might face deportation in the next few months due to the Defense of Marriage Act which does not allow sponsorship for residency when it comes to gay and lesbian couples.
Josh and Henry are making history by being the first couple to appeal after President Obama deemed DoMA unconstitutional. More than two activist, they’re just two men in love asking for a little help in staying united in this country and founding a family.
Read their interview at Daily BR!NK
March 28th, 5pm, Just in! Immigration Equality, the national experts on immigration rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, hailed an announcement today from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the agency will allow Americans with spouses from abroad to apply for green cards while courts weigh constitutional challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. 🙂
WIKILEAKS Bradley Manning Faces 22 Charges and Death Penalty
What was this guy thinking?
Bradley Manning, the prime suspect in the leaking of the Afghan war files, raged against his US Army employers and “society at large” on his Facebook page in the days before he allegedly downloaded thousands of secret memos. Then published them.
After a long investigation, U.S. officials have now filed 22 charges against Manning, accused of downloading thousands of classified documents released by Wikleaks .
NBC News reports: The charges filed Wednesday include 16 specifications of wrongfully obtaining classified material for the purpose of posting it on the Internet, knowing that the information would be accessed by the enemy. Other charges include the illegal transmission of defense information and fraud.
While conviction on the charge of “aiding the enemy” could result in the death penalty, military prosecutors recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison if convicted on that charge alone. But the presiding military judge would have the authority to dismiss the prosecution’s recommendation and impose the death penalty.
Officials have not been able to connect Manning with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Manning’s previous charges included “illegally downloading and transferring defense information to an ‘unauthorized source.'”
In recent months there has been concern for Manning’s health and the “needless brutality” of his solitary confinement, and accusations of torture.
Fred Phelps Anti-gay church’s rights are Upheld in Court
But True.
Fred Phelps and his nut house wins in court. The Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional rights of free speech and privacy.
The justices, by an 8-1 vote, said Wednesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars. The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and — as it did here — inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.
At issue was a delicate test between the privacy rights of grieving families and the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message. Several states have attempted to impose specific limits on when and where the church members can protest.
The church, led by pastor Fred Phelps, believes God is punishing the United States for “the sin of homosexuality” through events including soldiers’ deaths. Members have traveled the country shouting at grieving families at funerals and displaying such signs as “Thank God for dead soldiers,” “God blew up the troops” and “AIDS cures fags.”
More from CNN
Gay Republican FRED KARGER for President
for a gay republican President?
I doubt it!
Meet Fred Karger, 61. He’s exploring the possibility of running for president of the United States.
He is doing this as an openly gay Republican who’s never held elective office, using money he amassed as a conservative consultant who helped torpedo Michael Dukakis with the Willie Horton ads in 1988 and worked for the tobacco industry to stave off smoking bans in California in the ’90s.
He wants young gay people to see him run for president. He’d be the first-ever openly gay presidential candidate for a major party if he formally declares. He can see himself as the moderate voice in a debate crowded with hard-liners.
This is not a stunt, Fred insists .
Is Cindy Jacobs a Frustrated Heterosexual?
No. It’s just Cindy Jacobs.
A Right Wing nut case that has people convinced her prayers have shut down sexual portions of Craigslist . She believes she can cast out homosexual spirits, addictions and perversions .
NOW, she says the birds falling from the sky and all the fish that have died, are God’s response to the repeal of DADT .
Anderson Cooper actually mocked the prophet on CNN! The sad thing is, people actually listen to this woman!
Lady Bunny Speaks Out in Huffington Post – DON’T ASK, DON’T GO!
The always FABULOUS LADY BUNNY
speaks out today on Huffington Post!
I sure hope that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed. Gays deserve equal rights across the board. Case closed.
That said, why on earth would anyone want to enlist right now?
The two unpopular wars we’re fighting barely even came up in the midterm elections. Except with gays — for some reason we’re eager to join in the fight. Dan Choi, the poster boy for repeal, recently equated the bullying that the legislature engages in by keeping DADT in place with the bullying that’s caused a rash of teen suicides that shocked the gay community. OK, so I guess all gays agree that bullying is a bad thing. And that no one should do it, right? As the most hawkish nation, the US is the biggest and meanest bully in the world! Yet Choi and others want participate in its actions abroad? It’s not logical. Either bullying is wrong or it isn’t. While the schoolyard bullies harass people verbally the Pentagon flies soldiers to occupy foreign countries for indefinite killing sprees. Oh, but we call that Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Now if gays just want any job in a crummy economy and can stand bloodshed and withstand post-traumatic stress disorder, then the military’s a fine choice.
There can be no honor from serving in a shameful war. Anyone attempting to enlist now is condoning the horrors of of it. If fairness and equality is really the concern of gay people, then we can’t sign up to use force to impose our misguided will as we’ve been doing in Iraq for almost a decade. As people who’ve been bullied ourselves, we of all people must value compassion.
Dan Choi has claimed that “War is a force that gives us meaning.” Anyone who needs to obtain their meaning from something as depraved as preemptive attacks against innocent countries is at odds with any civil rights movement I can conceive of.
Last night on Rachel Maddow, discharged Lt. Colonel. Victor Fehrenbach described his service by saying “It’s my life.” Too bad that he can’t live his “life” without causing someone else’s death. Of course gays deserve civil rights. But Iraqis deserve them just as much as we do.
READ THE ENTIRE LADY BUNNY DON’T ASK, DON’T GO !
Lady Bunny actress, deejay, singer/ songwriter, comedienne, ho LADY BUNNY and MySpace.
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Best Gay News
Will the acceptance of homosexuality in this society be the downfall of America?
OMG!
THIS IS SO CRAZY!
“Will the acceptance of homosexuality in this society be the downfall of America?”
Yes, that was a question actually posed to viewers by a Texas-based NBC affiliate TV station, both on the air and online. But it didn’t end there. The station then went on to broadcast responses from viewers — some of the most vitriolic attacks on LGBT people that you will ever hear on a network affiliate!!
The video is shocking.
But the lack of response from NBC Universal — KETK’s parent network — is even more shocking. That’s why we need you to watch the video now and then sign our petition to NBC Universal executives Jeff Zucker and Steve Burke asking them to end NBC’s affiliate relationship with KETK immediately!
FCKH8 Straight Talk About Gay Marriage – In Your Face!
Everyone is very familiar with Adam Bouska and his NOH8 campaign …now comes FCKH8!
The FCKH8.com video and website were created by non-profit media campaigner Luke Montgomery, who hopes to one day get married (That’s him above sportin’ the beard.) Back when he was a teen, Luke was the headline-making gay activist who had legally changed his name to “Luke Sissyfag .” Crazy, huh?
This new campaign for marriage equality is causing quite a bit of commotion! The campaign is selling T-shirts and stuff with the various phrases, and the campaign pledges to donate $5 from each T-shirt sale to leading organizations fighting for marriage equality.
The beneficiaries include the American Foundation for Equal Rights, Equality California , Courage Campaign, and Lambda Legal. So far it looks like the campaign is working. According to their Twitter Page , the site sold over 500 shirts ($2,500 donation) within the first 24 hours! They are up to $70,000 for the first week!
Buy a cool t-shirt for just $13 or buttons for $2!
And support this cause!
Like them and share them on Facebook and spread the video around!
An overview of Luke’s work can be seen at: GoodIdeasforGoodCauses.com
Best Gay News
UPDATE – October 27th -“STR8 Talk on Gay Marriage” Viral Video Gets Over 2.8 Million Views, Sells Over 30,000 T-Shirts & Raises $150,000 to Fight for Marriage Equality!!
The Videos producer Luke Montgomery hopes to raise at least $250,000 from T-shirt sales to directly aid the mainstream gay legal groups he calls “the kids brave enough to stand up to the Prop 8 ballot box bullies.” Organizers report that orders have poured in from across the globe with supporters buying T-shirts from countries including Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Malaysia, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador and Thailand.
Even President Obama Says It Get’s Better!
I don’t think there has ever
been a bigger LGBT movement!
When Dan Savage launched IT GETS BETTER a few weeks ago, I am sure he never dreamed President Obama would participate! High profile celebs from around the world have stepped up! (Except George Bush. Oh yeah, and Chelsea Handler!)
But it’s kind of funny – is it all just lip service? As Towleroad points out, “President Obama, as long as the actions of your administration continue to tell LGBT people that they are less than equal citizens, that they do not deserve to marry the person that they love, that they do not deserve to serve openly in the U.S. military, that they can still be fired from jobs because of who they are, how can you promise these kids that “it gets better?”
Thank you for recording this message. Please follow up your words with actions. Set the example you say is so important.”
Watch the President Obama Video .
DAN SAVAGE responds on CNN! “Here you have the President of the United States saying that you didn’t choose it — to be gay — and you will get through this…that said, the President of the United States has the power to do more than assure LGBT kids that it will get better; the President of the United States has the power to make it better for LGBT adults and children.”
Watch Dans Response .
For the hearing impaired, here is the text –
Video for the “It Gets Better” Project
Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of several young people who were bullied and taunted for being gay, and who ultimately took their own lives. As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen in this country.
We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage—that it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe forall of our kids. And to every young person out there you need to know that if you’re in trouble, there are caring adults who can help.
I don’t know what it’s like to be picked on for being gay. But I do know what it’s like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don’t belong. It’s tough. And for a lot of kids, the sense of being alone or apart—I know can just wear on you. And when you’re teased or bullied, it can seem like somehow you brought it on yourself—for being different, or for not fitting in with everybody else.
But what I want to say is this. You are not alone. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied. And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are. And so, if you ever feel like because of bullying, because of what people are saying, that you’re getting down on yourself, you’ve got to make sure to reach out to people you trust. Whether it’s your parents, teachers, folks that you know care about you just the way you are. You’ve got to reach out to them, don’t feel like you’re in this by yourself.
The other thing you need to know is, things will get better. And more than that, with time you’re going to see that your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength. You’ll look back on the struggles you’ve faced with compassion and wisdom. And that’s not just going to serve you, but it will help you get involved and make this country a better place.
It will mean that you’ll be more likely to help fight discrimination—not just against LGBT Americans, but discrimination in all its forms. It means you’ll be more likely to understand personally and deeply why it’s so important that as adults we set an example in our own lives and that we treat everybody with respect. That we are able to see the world through other people’s eyes and stand in their shoes—that we never lose sight of what binds us together.
As a nation we’re founded on the belief that all of us are equal and each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness; to make the most of our talents; to speak our minds; to not fit in; most of all, to be true to ourselves. That’s the freedom that enriches all of us. That’s what America is all about.
And every day, it gets better.
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DADT is BACK IN EFFECT…AGAIN!
This is getting SO RIDICULOUS!
It’s as bad as the Prop 8 nightmare.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a judge’s halt to the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian service members.
The decision comes just one day after Army recruiters prepared to process out LGBT applicants.
The court advised the group that filed the intital lawsuit, the Log Cabin Republicans, to file response arguments by Monday. The group says the ruling is disappointing but a minor setback.
Cynthia Smith, a spokesperson for the Pentagon told reporters the stay is “appropriate.” Though it’s still unclear whether or not openly gay and lesbian recruits will be turned away.
Lieutenant Dan Choi was one of the service members who attempted to re-enlist. Choi, a West Point-educated Iraq War vet, was discharged for violating the military’s anti-homosexuality policy.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ attempt to carefully ease the military beyond “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is collapsing in a shambles, as a verdict on the constitutionality of the ban on military gays seesaws uncertainly through the federal courts. A previous attempt in Congress to repeal the law ended, in effect, in a hung jury. Meantime the military, which prides itself on strict rules and tight discipline, is awash in confusion .
As things stand, the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military is still in place. Sort of. At least until Monday. Or maybe Thursday afternoon, when the Pentagon may issue new guidelines. WHAT A MESS!
Principal Jennifer Chauby is Combating Anti-Gay Slurs at Her School
WHAT A MESS!
Thank God and Al Gore for the Internet! 30 years ago, stuff like this would happen, and it went unnoticed. These days, news can spread like wildfire.
Case in point – a school in the Cleveland area of Ohio. North High School in Eastlake, Ohio is attracting some attention after a student and YouTube user posted a video of high school students engaged in a group chant at a football game between North and its rival, Willoughby South High .
Student Heather Ike recorded the fans chanting “powder blue faggots” at the opposing team. Willoughby’s team color is light blue.
“It is completely unacceptable and we will look at the video and see if we can identify students and they could be suspended,” says Willoughby-Eastlake Superintendent Keith Miller.
He says that the principal at North High School did hear the chanting and intervened but that is not on the tape.
Students told Channel 3 News today that these types of chants have been going on for years, and that South High School uses it’s own anti-gay slurs against North.
“This is not okay and we will address it, ” said Miller.
Asks Heather Ike, the former student who posted the video to YouTube: “What are the teachers teaching our children at Wiloughby-Eastlake Schools? With the combined efforts of Mentor High School’s gay-suicide track record, all of Cleveland’s Eastern city school districts need to be educated about bullying and hate crimes against gays and lesbians!”
WATCH THE VIDEO CLIP
We spoke with the principal of North High this morning. Jennifer Chauby. She has been at the school about 3 years.
“When I first arrived at this school, there was a sporting event, and something similar to this happened. I was appalled! And we immediately addressed the students and said this was not acceptable and educated them as to why.” explained Chauby. “We even started a gay/straight alliance group here at the school. Now two years later, for some reason, this slur has reared it’s ugly head again, and we will not tolerate it. “
“We have again, addressed the students and have said, THIS MUST STOP. We have speakers come in, in the coming months, who will also speak on the topic. We have had a bullying program in place and all our staff is sensitive to the needs of all students and I think we are very pro-active. It’s unfortunate this happened. But we are taking to steps to educate the students.”
How do we educate the young? At school? At home? How do we teach love. Acceptance. Compassion. Tolerance. And not hate?
That is the big question.
HATE and HURT, must STOP!
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