2015Place.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:55:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

FULL FRONTAL: This Transformers hottie gets way too comfortable in this old photoshoot (nine years old to be exact). You bet we have the NSFW versions inside!

LATIN FEVER: These sexy se and ntilde;oritas know a thing or two about making dance pop gems, but will they be able to spread their message in another language or will their efforts get lost in translation? Listen to both of their new Spanish singles here!

It’s going to be a busy week so here’s a snapshot of a few things to keep on your radar: Tuesday: The District of Columbia will begin recognizing marriages of same-sex couples performed in other jurisdictions when the law officially goes into effect Tuesday.Â A recent Board of Elections decision backed up by a subsequent court decision [...]

This post contributed by HRC Foundation Family Project Deputy Director Tom Sullivan. True story. David, a friend of mine was on vacation in the Caribbean with his husband, Rob, a few years back. They were traveling from Massachusetts, which at the time was the only state that afforded marriage equality to same-sex couples. They had made a [...]

In this blog series, HRC attorneys discuss news and break down legal theories relevant to a U.S. Supreme Court nomination and the recent retirement of Justice David Souter. The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution establishes that no State shall âdeny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.âÂ This is [...]

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter Rumer Willis is slated to play gay for The CW. The former couple's oldest daughter will play Gia, a punky lesbian at the school newspaper for one episode of 90210, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lesbian activist Bonnie Tinker died in a bike accident on the Virginia Tech campus Thursday, police have confirmed. She was 61.

A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended when the General Assembly voted to update the state's marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. "It feels so good. It really does...

Canadian Gay News Headlines (T13T-4)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:54:00 +0000

Xtra.ca videographer Michael Pihach was at the annual Pride Toronto Gala, an event recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the queer community. Check out his video report below, and if you missed them, check out our

In the wake of a troubling economy and a changing media landscape, a major New York City gay and lesbian newspaper has ceased operations. The New York Blade, one of New York's largest free gay and lesbian newspapers, has laid off its edito...

Saskatchewan gay activists have slammed the provincial government's plans to allow marriage commissioners to refuse to marry same-sex couples. The conservative Saskatchewan Party government announced Jul 3 that they will submit two pieces o...

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:53:00 +0000

WORKING MODEL — The dream of Real World survivor Scott Herman to make a career out of modeling seems to be going … well! His latest shoot for Undergear reveals he's still looking every bit the part of a muscled superhero. BONUS: Check out behind-the-scenes footage of Herman's shoot on Page 8. CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | [...]

Maybe when the Ft. Worth Police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission teamed up to to crack down on bars "overserving customers," they really didn't mean to reenact Stonewall exactly 40 years later to the day. Because that would've been theater! But what they certainly didn't expect was this: A young man ending up in [...]

Anti-"let reporters earn a decent wage for their work" columnist Andrew Sullivan gets paid to write about the president. Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Andrew Sullivan, Journalism, Media

Stonewall discussion topic: the new police auditor Â Fresno Stonewall Democratâs regular monthly meeting is this coming Wed. July 8th at Carrowâs restaurant located on the east side of Blackstone Ave. just north of Ashlan Ave. Â Â Dinner and social hour begins at 6 p.m. and the meeting calls to order at 7 p.m. Â The guest speaker is Fresno [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

Michael Jackson is dead. The King of Pop or just as recently called, the Tragic Prince is gone from this earth, passed away with the as yet unexplained stop of his hea his heart. We have been bombarded with the news, detailing his last hour to reviewing his career and tabloid headlines. Scenes have been replayed from [...]

So I'm browsing the overnight and early morning comments in the Blend this morning and a fellow Blender wakes it up by saying he's going to some diner or another, presumably in North Carolina. In spite of the modest portions of BBQ that I ate yesterday, I developed a sudden craving for some biscuits and gravy.

Since it's an absolutely wonderful day weather wise in Chicago, I decided to walk to Dixie Kitchen. As you may or may not know, there was a recently unearthed episode of the local Chicago PBS show Check, Please that featured state Senator Barack Obama recommending the Dixie Kitchen as his favorite resturant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c6qzxXgV2o

The Hyde Park Dixie Kitchen is now closed but the Evanston Dixie Kitchen is still open and rather busy, from the looks of it this morning. I walked there, Sunday New York Times in tow.

I had a great Cajun biscuits and gravy with coffee as I alternated between reading the Magazine cover story on the California Governor's race and lusting after a guy sitting with a (presumably) straight couple two tables over.

I also love to travel and to try out different places to eat. In light of that, I have a few questions;

1) What is your favorite local resturant? What is your favorite dish at your favorite local resturant (my favorite dish at Dixie Kitchen is the pecan trout

2) Have you cut back on eating out during the recession? And if so, how much.

And of course anything else on food (your cooking skills or, in my case, lack thereof. yeah, teh ghey gods forgot that portion of my ghey genes).

I am home alone this weekend. Nick is out of town and we haven't been in Connecticut long enough to make many friends. So I've had time to reflect on the past 8 months, since the election, which have been rather chaotic. My emotions have been like the lines on a heart monitor; shooting from extreme highs to extreme lows and then back again. But deep in my own thoughts tonight, while walking past one of our windows, I noticed the moon over the Hartford skyline and it inspired me to write this diary.

First some background. Nick and I met about 7 years ago and were engaged four months later. Living in a suburb of Los Angeles at the time, we found we were no longer intrigued by the Southern California lifestyle and wanted to move to some place with a slower pace, less traffic and more trees. No state had achieved marriage equality at that point so marriage laws did not factor into our plans.

Within a few months we were settled into a new home in Smithfield, North Carolina (not far from Pam and Kate's home). We quickly began to fall in love with North Carolina. Not just its natural beauty, but also with its people. Expecting to be confronted with more homophobia than we had in California, we were braced for the worst. But to our surprise, it was almost (repeat almost) like being back in California. We had found a new neighborhood with a mostly progressive set of neighbors who had settled in there for similar reasons. We grew our little network of friends and neighbors; some gay, the vast majority straight; to well over a hundred.

They all expressed nothing but support and affirmation for us a couple. Nick was unofficially anointed as "The Mayor of Forest Oaks" and later became the Home Owners Association President. We started a neighborhood newsletter, hosted numerous meet and greets, held neighborhood parties, theatre nights, poker nights and more. We raised money for local charities, visited each other in the hospital, and even went on trips to Las Vegas together. It was, for us, the perfect little community. We loved it there and we loved our neighbors and friends.

We designed and built a new home in the same neighborhood. Our dream home. No expense was spared, everything was custom and we put our hearts and souls into it because we were certain we would live there until we retired. As an interior designer, and knowing this home was long term, I went all out on the interior. We had created a beautiful home. We loved it and we loved our community.

At the time, neither of us were actively involved with the LGBT civil rights movement, with of course the exception of an annual contribution to HRC and the obligatory blue and gold equality bumper stickers (you know the ones). We weren't well-versed on LGBT topics either. We didn't know about ENDA, UAFA or the Matthew Shepherd Act. The extent of our LGBT civil rights knowledge was DOMA and DADT and we for the most part assumed those would come with time and through the work of others.

But then something changed.
One evening, sitting on the back porch and taking in the news on CNN, I sat in horror as I watched George W. Bush, the President of the United States and leader of the free world, stand before the country and pronounce that marriage needed to be protected by writing discrimination, marginalization, segregation and oppression into the Constitution of the United States for the first time in its history. It was then that I began to realize how ignorant I was of politics and of our country.

I had been living in a bubble of idealism which had been spoon fed to me by my public school education. All those ideas about the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights,Rights, the freeing of the slaves, woman's suffrage, the heroism of US soldiers liberating the Jewish people from the horrors of the Nazi holocaust, and the Civil Rights Act. I was taught to be proud of my country and I was proud. But that night was when I realized that I had only been taught half of the truth - the pretty half all tied up in a bow like a present under the tree on Christmas morning.

They never told me about the dark half.

Although I didn't immediately become actively involved in politics, my mind was maturing, my eyes were opening and I was learning. It wasn't until the 2008 election that I became heavily invested in the outcome. I began the year teetering between Clinton and Edwards and settling firmly behind Clinton.

But then I read a passage from Barack Obama's book, Dreams from my Father, that completely and radically changed my opinion of this unknown candidate. That passage reads, ". . . the underlying struggle - between worlds of plenty and worlds of want; between the modern and the ancient; between those who embrace our teeming, colliding, irksome diversity, while still insisting on a set of values that binds us together, and those who would seek, under whatever flag or slogan or sacred text, a certainty and simplification that justifies cruelty toward those not like us - is the struggle set forth. . ." These words had an impact on me - a deep and resonating impact.

I promptly moved into Obama's column and for the first time in my otherwise politically uninvolved life jumped full bore into the campaign. I volunteered to work on his campaign, made phone calls, posted on blogs, talked to friends, neighbors, family, and convinced others to register to vote and actually vote. And I followed the news, main stream and internet, like my life depended on it.

Then on the night of November 4th, when MSNBC announced Obama as the projected winner, I was filled with an overwhelming and overpowering joy. And relief. Not so much because my guy had won, but because the party that had eroded the Constitution, that had raped the US Commission on Civil Rights and the Department of Justice, that had oppressed all those who were not of their kind were finally and fully no longer in power. We were as a country headed in a new and better direction - a promising new course.

But as you all know, that joy turned out to be so fleetingly brief. As the election results came in, we learned that California's Proposition 8 had passed. It was a shock - a devastating shock. The big prize of California that most of us expected to win had slipped through our fingers like a precious wedding ring falls into an eviscerating garbage disposal. And what about our friends back in California who had wed over the past months - what would happen to their marriages? I was, quite literally, consumed in a state of near uncontrollable rage and grief for what would be several weeks.

Knowing that I needed to do something to channel my rage I googled "prop 8 protest" and learned about Join the Impact. That's when I met Will Elliott (it was Will that told me about Pam and Pam's House Blend) and Tom Greene, two of the thousands of unsung heros of our movement. We organized the November 15th Join the Impact Protest for Raleigh.

We started out hoping to get two or three hundred people to show up. But on November 15th, in the rain, over 1,400 people marched through the streets of downtown Raleigh around the Capitol and to the Governor's Mansion- a milestone for LGBT history in conservative North Carolina. Someone even raised the Rainbow flag on the Governor's Mansion flagpole. But while the protest was therapeutic, other events were adding to my anguish.

A very close and dear friend when listening to my rants about marriage equality and religious persecution told me I shouldn't take the actions of religion so personally. I verbally attacked her, we didn't speak for nearly a month a nd although she came to our wedding two weeks ago, I don't think I'll ever feel the closeness we once had. I still love her dearly, she is a good person, but our relationship was damaged. Other friends seemed so nonchalant and unconcerned. All of this led to my increasing frustration. Some were completely unaware of how what they were saying was hurting me even more. Like the very good friend who said she was, "all for equal rights and equal benefits but felt that marriage was a religious institution and should not be open to same-sex couples." She might as well have slapped me - it wouldn't have hurt as bad.

Of all of our friends, only two showed any real understanding toward what I was going through. One of them, Betty, was from liberal New York and the other, Connie, was half of an interracial couple. Each of them from their own unique experiences understood and offered a compassionate shoulder. I will never forget the day Connie and I sat on the front steps and cried together arm in arm carm connecting through our mutual experiences with discrimination.

Nick, recognizing how much I was struggling to get a grasp on my emotions and how much distance had been created between our friends and me, suggested we move to Connecticut or Massachusetts and get married. It did not take long to decide to leave our dream home, our neighborhood, and our friends behind and move to a state where not only could we get married, but also have our marriage recognized by our state and local governments; to a place where we would no longer have to humbly ask for our dignity and respect.

After placing the "for sale" sign in the front yard, everyone wanted to know why we were moving. Telling them why, for marriage equality, actually solidified my decision to move. Barely a third of our friends and neighbors expressed congratulations for our upcoming marriage. Most said things like, "Oh" or "Well we are sorry to see you go," never realizing that they were quietly revealing their hidden bigotry for the first time. It's that look on a person's face when their eyes dilate momentarily and they look like a deer in the headlights for about two seconds while their brain goes into overdrive trying to figure out how not to reveal their intolerance and disapproval. They can all happily vote away your rights in a private booth, but few have the courage to tell you that to your face.

On the drive to New England, I became almost giddy with a sense of liberation. I reflected on how slaves from centuries past had made similar, albeit extremely more difficult and dangerous, journeys on the Underground Railroad. At times it seemed as if weight was literally being lifted from my heart and soul. But I also still wondered if we were making the right decision. Would New England be any different?

It did not take long to get my answer. What I have found here are monuments to Abraham Lincoln and Harriett Beecher Stowe, and to Union soldiers who fought and died for the idea of liberty for all; a stark contrast to the Southern monuments of those who fought to uphold their ideas of slavery, privilege, superiority and segregation. I've found Rainbow flags in church windows; again a stark contrast to the chilling language emanating from the Baptist churches of the South. I've also found a Rainbow flag hanging beside the state flag of Connecticut inside Hartford's City Hall with a large banner proclaiming welcome to all. I've found politicians who are seemingly light years ahead of their Southern counterparts on equality. I've found marriage equality blooming in surrounding states. And I've also found a state that has every LGBT equality issue proscribed into law (except the T in ENDA but we're working on that - hopefully next year); but once again a very stark contrast to North Carolina where we had not a single one.

But most important, is what I have not found. I have not found a single person who didn't eagerly congratulate us on our wedding. Even perfect strangers on the street smile brighe brightly and say, "Good for you! Congratulations!" The healing has started.

Nick and I are married now and I love him dearly. We left behind a lot in North Carolina. I miss the home we built together; I miss the community we helped to establish in our old neighborhood; and I miss our friends so much. But I would not trade my marriage nor my dignity to get it all back.

So as I take in the view from my window, I have a deep and uplifting appreciation for what I see - equality.

Link to our wedding day: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/...

As Chrysler, GM and the Obama admin and the courts work out the terms of the bankruptcies, there are lots of issues to resolve. One of the matters that has generated the ire of state attorneys general is the assertion that if a consumer owns a Chrysler or GM-manufactured car built prior to the bankruptcy, you would be S-O-L if the car is a lemon or dangerous based on a manufacturing defect. GM partially capitulated once people cried foul; Chrysler slipped under the radar.

Under GM's original bankruptcy plan, the auto maker planned to leave such liabilities behind after selling its "good" assets to a new GM owned by the government. That meant future car-accident victims who believe that faulty manufacturing by the old GM caused their injuries would be unable to sue the new GM. Instead, they would have been treated as unsecured creditors, fighting over the remains of GM's old bankruptcy estate.
...GM maintained in court papers that it wasn't legally required to take on the claims, saying federal pre-emption meant the bankruptcy code overrode state laws governing the rights of car-accident victims to sue the new GM. It also noted that Chrysler Group LLC, which recently emerged from bankruptcy in a deal with Fiat SpA, wouldn't be responsible for such claims, after a bankruptcy judge dismissed objections to its plan.
GM said it ultimately agreed to take on future product-liability claims "to alleviate certain concerns that have been raised on behalf of consumers."
Car-accident victims with pending lawsuits, those who won damages against GM before it filed for bankruptcy and those who get in accidents while the auto maker is under bankruptcy protection will still be unable to bring claims against the new GM. They would remain with other unsecured creditors making claims against the old GM. Those victims are likely to recover little or nothing.
Attorneys general were expected to "keep pressing" for the new GM to take on those liabilities ahead of Tuesday's court hearing, a person involved in the discussions said. But the person said GM and the government were unlikely to capitulate further.

Why is the consumer always the entity that institutionally gets the shaft? A car is the second most expensive purchase a consumer makes in their lifetime; that they select a company to do business with in good faith that the products it sells should work properly and be safe is not an incidental matter. What does all of this mean? Mike Spector at the WSJ:

Q: If the new GM is operating a similar business to the old GM, does the law require the new GM to remain liable for tort claims?<ims?
A: GM's legal team anticipated this point of law. In its asset-sale proposal, GM said that "neither [the new GM] nor any of its affiliates or stockholders shall be deemed to...be a mere continuation or substantial continuation of Sellers or the enterprise(s) of Sellers...." Translation: New GM is a fresh company, not a mere continuation of the old GM.
Of course, from practical standpoint, the new GM is just that: a slimmed down version of the auto maker that the Obama administration believes will be more viable. The attorneys general said certain case law requires buyers who operate similarly to the old bankrupt company to remain liable for defects in vehicles from "the same product line."
Q: Does freeing the new GM of product-liability claims for vehicles sold before its bankruptcy exit violate constitutional due process rights of people who haven't yet been in car accidents?
A: This is the question that vexed the government, and led GM to take on future claims. Many bankruptcy experts point out that so-called 363 sales are designed to be made "free and clear" of many liabilities, in part to attract buyers. If a buyer had to take on product liability, for instance, the price would be lower and not maximize recovery for creditors.
Judge Richard Posner, of the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, rejected that argument in a 1994 case called Zernand-Bernal Group v. Cox, arguing that "free and clear" sales harmed the rights of future claimants.

So with Chrysler's slate wiped clean will anyone out there drop $$$ on that company for a new ride?

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

OREGON LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - SALEM, OR) The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The [...]

Monday’s news updates includes news stories that happend on the weekend — both posted over the weekend and just breaking online today. Some of the stories are updates on news we’ve been following last week. Fort Worth Incident: - The NY Times has finally written about the Fort Worth incident: A Raid at a Club in Texas [...]

Video report coverage of last week’s Delhi High Court verdict on gay rights. We The People: The Delhi High Court verdict on gay rights is historic. The court essentially said that if the sex is consensual between two gay adults, it can not be criminal. NDTV discusses if this will be the beginning of the end [...]

This week’s featured music video is from The Gossip’s new album ‘Music For Men’; its also from the single: ‘Heavy Cross’. The video: Heavy Cross More of Beth Ditto & The Gossip: - The Official Gossip Site - The Gossip on MySpace

GayTalkRadio - August Provost - Marion Barry - JUL 06 2009

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:14:00 +0000

7/06/2009 - 9:00 AM PST - NOON EST - EVERY DAY -

GayTalkRadio Independent Internet Radio now streams 23 hours a day, every day, in HD Stereo.

Our daily live segment starts at 9 AM PST - NOON EST.

Live text chat, news and music; all with a LGBTQIA slant!

Attend our live show at 9 AM PST - NOON EST every day by visiting www.GayTalkRadio.org

Feel free to call our voicemail system anytime at (360) 283-5052 or send me email tom@GayTalkRadio.org.

Join us daily (9 AM PST-NOON EST) for some laughs along with your news.

Hear todays show (click here).

We are on a mission to start a new dedicated LGBTQIA Channel/Station.

To help us organize, join us at GayTalkRadio.ning.com

Please visit our Independent Internet Radio Station site often at www.GayTalkRadio.org

All the best to you and yours.

-tom

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:59:00 +0000

MORNING GOODS — Twenty-three-year-old Rob Trinh is … wrester? football player? raver? It's hard to tell from this mish-mash of kneepads, face paint, and visor, but whatever it's supposed to create … it's working. (Photos: Don Pollard, Norm Yip, Peter Taylor, Hollis Photography, Houman Behroozy, Nina von Seydlitz-Hurzback, Gabe Toth, Maloney Aguirre, Eugene Lin) CONTINUED Â» Permalink [...]

"A measured way." That's the latest advice given to President Obama about moving on Don't Ask Don't Tell, and it comes from a very big mouth: Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, aka Obama's most senior military adviser. But this isn't just a top military official telling the president to [...]

Reading this ode to Ted Haggard is almost as riveting as, well, reading Ted Haggard chronicle his own weight loss ups and downs: From 187 pounds to 186 to 183 on July 4th and then back up to 186 thanks to all those hamburgers and potato salad. He's the new Oprah. Preach. Permalink | 1 comment [...]

Okay so back on July 15, 2003 I was at Universal Studios Hollywood on a family vacation. I was with my husband Miguel & his family: mom, 3 sisters & his godson (His older brother who was a huge MJ fan & his 4 kids opted to stay home, but heard all about it by [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Legal eagle Jonathan Turley has an interesting blog that's worth adding to your RSS reader. He follows some of the wackiest cases on it that he doesn't get to discuss when he serves as a legal talking head on the MSM. This partcular case is par for the course -- "McBleach: Man Accuses McDonald’s of Slipping Him an Intentionally Tainted Burger."

In Washington state, Joe Jackson, 65, ordered a burger at the Golden Arches and what he received in that wrapper was the usual hockey puck beef patty with a dash of seasoning -- bleach.

Jackson says that the employee was miffed at his returning his first burger. He says that he began to feel a reaction in his mouth upon his first bite that became an intense burning sensation. He says that he woke up the next morning with blisters on the inside of his mouth and over his tongue — causing him to go to the emergency room.

Jackson says that when he went to the McDonald’s to complain the next day, another worker showed him a bucket of bleach and said that his burger was laced.

His description would amount to a serious crime, but there is no mention of a criminal charge which is curious.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, Jonathan links up to another story that makes Jackson's bleach burger sound like a gourmet feast.

In Omaha, Nebraska, a police officer and his family won $40,000 in a lawsuit against a KFC/Taco Bell restaurant after it served them food tainted with the saliva and urine of one of the employees. Officer Keith Andrew and his two sons were sickene d by the tainted food and, for some bizarre reason, the lawyers for the restaurant thought that this would be a good case to fight in court. Now, “thinking outside the bun” will have a lasting and different meaning for Taco Bell and “finger lickin’ good” for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

One of my cousins worked at Burger King when he was a teen, and he would tell hair-raising tales about what goes on behind the scenes at fast food chains. Well, I guess most people wouldn't be surprised, eh? My favorite one was from 2007 - a Taco Bell/KFC overrun with rats in the West Village in NYC. On the left is a news report, on the right, a parody newscast from FastFoodNews.

Our divine "moral compass" and declarant of "civil war" on same-sex marriage was arrested and charged last night in DC for stalking a woman in Anacostia Park.

According to the Washington Post:

At about 8:45 p.m., a woman traveling near the intersection Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive flagged down a U.S. Park Police officer to report that a man in a vehicle nearby was stalking her, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman. That man, Schlosser said, was [Marion] Barry.
The officer interviewed the woman and Barry, then arrested Barry and took him to the Park Police's Anacostia Station, Schlosser said. There a detective interviewed Barry again, and police charged him with a misdemeanor count of stalking. Barry was released and ordered to appear in court, likely sometime later this week, Schlosser said.
Barry, a former D.C. mayor, has had a series of brushes with the law during a long career in politics and civic activism. He is currently on probation for tax offenses.

How much are you willing to bet the religious fanatics won't be circulating a referendum petition to remove the morally&nb corrupt and divorced 4 times Barry from office? Oh the hypocrisy keeps growing, and it's only been a week since "sanctity of marriage" Sanford f**ked around on his wife. Now if only we could catch Rick Warren smoking crack with a prostitute.

UPDATE: When asked by reporters what he was doing in the park with the woman, Barry replied, "The bitch set me up!" LOL!

(update hat tip to RainbowPhoenix)

A major paper has pick up on this story, and capture the outrage over the Stonewall weekend police raid at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Texas. In "A Raid at a Club in Texas Leaves a Man in the Hospital and Gay Advocates Angry," James McKinley, Jr. of the NYT captures the major issues at play and added a few more details about the event.

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

Angry allies and members of the LGBT community there have created a new organization, Fairness Fort Worth, to track the investigations and inquiries regarding the raid and plans a benefit concert to help those injured.

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:54:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

FULL FRONTAL: This Transformers hottie gets way too comfortable in this old photoshoot (nine years old to be exact). You bet we have the NSFW versions inside!

The Human Rights Campaign has launched a national action campaign encouraging the public to submit comments on why the draconian ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants should be lifted.Â Our action alert follows: It’s one of the ugliest remnants of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS â" hurtful, obsolete, and wrong. A decades-old policy BANS nearly every foreign [...]

Next week the Human Rights Campaign will launch a nationalÂ tour to encourage repeal of the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in conjunction with Servicemembers United.Â The kick off event will be a National Press Club Newsmakers press conference this coming Wednesday, July 8th at 10 a.m. in the Zenger Room, 13th floor, National Press [...]

Yesterday the mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy was notified via a recorded message that the man responsible for her son&er son’s death was being released from prison immediately – a week earlier than expected.Â It’s the latest heart wrenching development in a story devoid of justice for Sean and his family.Â Stephen Andrew Moller [...]

Trawling hard for support in unrewarding times, Labour has made a determined pitch to gay and lesbian voters in the run-up to today's Gay Pride march in London. Gordon Brown's poetic comment on Thursday that "you can't legislate love" was part of an insistent government message that Labour has stood up for gay people through the years, while the Conservatives cannot be trusted with equality. ...

Over half a million people packed the streets of London yesterday to mark the annual Pride event. As sun shone down, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) and their supporters marched from Baker Street to Trafalgar Square in one of the most diverse and colourful events of the year.

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Spree: Some retail proprietors don't care much for the lingering, "I'm just looking," sort of patron. Not so with Erin Mara and Henriette Fourcade, owners of Homebody, "outfitters for contemporary living." Rather, they'd like you to think of their shop -- offering a dizzying range of items, from greeting cards to Gus* furniture -- as something much more inviting. "It's like an interestingresting gallery/living room," says Mara. "I've never liked high-end stores full of pretension. We're trying to create a relaxing environment." They're also trying to help the community with events such as an upcoming fundraiser for One In Ten, this Saturday, June 27, featuring musician Laura Tsaggaris. Stop by for some tunes, exotic teas, a table or nearly anything else you can think of to feather your nest, at 715 Eighth St. SE. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Call the shop at 202-544-8445, send e-mail to contactus@homebodydc.com, or visit online at www.homebodydc.com.
Cuffs and Stuff
Why stop with your home when you can primp yourself, too? Try the rustic cuff for $54.95 for a bit of butch, paired with the distressed leather belt with wooden buckle for $74.95. The locally made cufflinks are $120, bracelet with moonstone amethyst for $89.50, or knitted sterling bracelet for $60. And a bit of billiard ball never looked so good, hanging here from a sterling necklace for $140.
Boogie Woogie Bookends
Nothing says reliability and determination like Rosie the Riveter. Let Rosie prove that's she's got what it takes to secure your titles for the duration with these stone-resin beauties inspired by America's WWII factory home front. The set sells for $39.95. ...more

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP)
A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention cut ties with because it didn't adhere to the denomination's stance on homosexuals has been told they aren't welcome to participate in a Kentucky Baptist mission program.

The Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir, made up of high-schoolers, was informed Monday that it was "uninvited" to participate in the University of the Cumberlands' Mountain Outreach program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The Southern Baptist Convention voted during its national meeting in Louisville last week to sever ties with Broadway Baptist C ...

From Washington Blade staff reports
Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June 2008 for the death of Sean Kennedy, was released from prison early after serving one year, according to a press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

Witnesses testified at Moller's trial that he uat he used anti-gay slurs when beating Kennedy outside a Greenville, S.C., bar in May 2007.

“This adds insult to injury. To release a man just one-year after his sentencing in this heinous crime and to inform the victim's mother through an automated recording is despicable,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Sean Kennedy was vio ...

From Washington Blade staff reports
The CEO of Window Media and Unite Media has resigned from his position after eight years with the company to pursue another position in the finance industry.

David Unger announced his resignation Wednesday to employees. The Window Media portfolio includes the Washington Blade.

In a statement, Unger said he's leaving “for an excellent opportunity in New York” and that his departure “will have no effect” on the Blade or other Window Media publications.

“I will be around to help if needed and I wish everyone the best,” he said.

Unger's resignation leaves Mike Kitchens, chief ...

Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, an LGBT-focused business advisory group based in San Francisco, has scored a major get for its annual summit this fall: John Berry, the openly gay director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today picked Ronald E. Albers for a judgeship on the San Francisco County Superior Court.

Theresa Sparks, the transgender woman who has served two terms as president of the city’s police commission, has ruled out running for a third term. When she first won the coveted seat by one vote back in 2007, Sparks became the first transgender person to head a city oversight panel. But her ascension led to [...]

In a shocking announcement on Friday, Alaska Gov. and former vice-presidential ential candidate Sarah Palin announced she is resigning from office.

In Oakland Park, Florida at least... The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has been working to get local governments to support an act to eliminate "don't ask, don't tell." The Oakland Park City Commission passed the Military Readiness Enhancement Act unanimously.

The Westboro Baptist Church clearly knows no boundaries.

Admiral Mike Mullen said Sunday he has advised Obama on repeal of the military's ban on open gay service

Openly gay veteran Anthony Woods is hoping to fill Ellen Tauscher's empty Congressional seat in California

It's time to review the military's ban on open gay service, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell said on Sunday

Oh, wait, he is: Time to review policy on gaysin U.S. military: Powell American attitudes have changed and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays serving in the U.S. military should be reviewed, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Colin Powell said on Sunday. … “The policy and the law that came about in 1993, I think, [...]

We’ve been aware that Perez Hilton got his lip bloodied after calling Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am a “faggot,” then launched an online catfight, and threatened a lawsuit… If you want all the gory details, the L.A. Times offers a mercifully short recap. We haven’t blogged about the incident until now because 1) we waste as [...]

UPDATE: Yes, indeedy, the charge is stalking: D.C. Council member Marion Barry was arrested last night and charged with stalking a woman after the woman reported that Barry was “bothering her” as the two traveled in separate vehicles in Anacostia Park, police said this morning. At about 8:45 p.m., a woman traveling near the intersection Good Hope [...]

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:59:00 +0000

THE SHOT — Remember the homophobic (and racist) tees being sold to certain Chicago sports fans? And here we thought their sale was just limited to the wild west of the world wide web. And then reader Reid spotted this T-shirt vendor outside Wrigley Field on Sunday for the Cubs-Brewers matchup. Notes Reid: "Whatever company [...]

You're not going to get any "I'm sorrys" out of the California Supreme Court's chief justice over May's 6-1 ruling upholding Prop 8. Ronald George, who by joining the majority upset untold thousands, insists he was just doing his job: interpreting the law, no matter his personal views. "I'm not seeking out any legacy," says [...]

Okay so back on July 15, 2003 I was at Universal Studios Hollywood on a family vacation. I was with my husband Miguel & his family: mom, 3 sisters & his godson (His older brother ther who was a huge MJ fan & his 4 kids opted to stay home, but heard all about it by [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

In Washington state, Joe Jackson, 65, ordered a burger at the Golden Arches and what he received in that wrapper was the usual hockey puck beef patty with a dash of seasoning -- bleach.

Jackson says that the employee was miffed at his returning his first burger. He says that he began to feel a reaction in his mouth upon his first bite that became an intense burning sensation. He says that he woke up the next morning with blisters on the inside of his mouth and over his tongue — causing him to go to the emergency room.

Jackson says that when he went to the McDonald’s to complain the next day, another worker showed him a bucket of bleach and said that his burger was laced.

His description would amount to a serious crime, but there is no mention of a criminal charge which is curious.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, Jonathan links up to another story that makes Jackson's bleach burger sound like a gourmet feast.

In Omaha, Nebraska, a police officer and his family won $40,000 in a lawsuit against a KFC/Taco Bell restaurant after it served them food tainted with the saliva and urine of one of the employees. Officer Keith Andrew and his two sons were sickened by the tainte tainted food and, for some bizarre reason, the lawyers for the restaurant thought that this would be a good case to fight in court. Now, “thinking outside the bun” will have a lasting and different meaning for Taco Bell and “finger lickin’ good” for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Our divine "moral compass" and declarant of "civil war" on same-sex marriage was arrested and charged last night in DC for stalking a woman in Anacostia Park.

According to the Washington Post:

At about 8:45 p.m., a woman traveling near the intersection Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive flagged down a U.S. Park Police officer to report that a man in a vehicle nearby was stalking her, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman. That man, Schlosser said, was [Marion] Barry.
The officer interviewed the woman and Barry, then arrested Barry and took him to the Park Police's Anacostia Station, Schlosser said. There a detective interviewed Barry again, and police charged him with a misdemeanor count of stalking. Barry was released and ordered to appear in court, likely sometime later this week, Schlosser said.
Barry, a former D.C. mayor, has had a series of brushes with the law during a long career in politics and civic activism. He is currently on probation for tax offenses.

How much are you willing to bet the religious fanatics won't be circulating a referendum petition to remove the morally corrupt and divond divorced 4 times Barry from office? Oh the hypocrisy keeps growing, and it's only been a week since "sanctity of marriage" Sanford f**ked around on his wife. Now if only we could catch Rick Warren smoking crack with a prostitute.

UPDATE: When asked by reporters what he was doing in the park with the woman, Barry replied, "The bitch set me up!" LOL!

(update hat tip to RainbowPhoenix)

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equalitOver 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

OREGON LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - S OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - SALEM, OR) The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The [...]

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Ismmittee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

Friday: New news we haven’t covered some of which is just breaking today, and updates on stories we’ve been following this week: Bullies: In Ireland: Most gay pupils bullied in school says youth service. Celebs: - Neil Patrick Harris is in negotiations to host this year’s Emmy Awards! - Margaret Cho’s “Beautiful” Trailer (”Beautiful” Premieres July 3rd on SHOWTIME [...]

Since yesterday’s big news out of India on the gay sex ruling I’ve come across so many great blog posts and news stories on it that I decided I need to do a post dedicated to just this one topic. The Story: The High Court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual intercourse between [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:54:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

FULL FRONTAL: This Transformers hottie gets way too comfortable in this old photoshoot (nine years old to be exact). You bet we have the NSFW versions inside!

Yesterday the mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy was notified via a recorded message that the man respon responsible for her son’s death was being released from prison immediately – a week earlier than expected.Â It’s the latest heart wrenching development in a story devoid of justice for Sean and his family.Â Stephen Andrew Moller [...]

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:59:00 +0000

Did the bitch set him up? Washington D.C. City Councilman Marion Barry, who's devoted the last few weeks to rallying against the city's recognition of same-sex marriage from other jurisdictions, just added to his controversy hash marks. Barry was arrested last night on stalking allegations, made by a woman who says the former mayor was [...]

Information must be free, yes? Then here's your regularly updated list of which U.S. Senators and House Representatives support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — and those who don't. Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Congress, Discrimination, ENDA, legislation, Politics, Senate

GRATUITOUS SKIN — There's a good chance this is what your July 4th resembled this year. Not seen in the shot, of course, are the two hamburgers, three hot dogs, and half dozen empty beers you've managed to down while celebrating Independence Day. At Queerty HQ, we're setting off our own version of firecrackers. Stand [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Our divine "moral compass" and declarant of "civil war" on same-sex marriage was arrested and charged last night in DC for stalking a woman in Anacostia Park.

According to the Washington Post:

At about 8:45 p.m., a woman traveling near the intersection Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive flagged down a U.S. Park Police officer to report that a man in a vehicle nearby was stalking her, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman. That man, Schlosser said, was [Marion] Barry.
The officer interviewed the woman and Barry, then arrested Barry and took him to the Park Police's Anacostia Station, Schlosser said. There a detective interviewed Barry again, and police charged him with a misdemeanor count of stalking. Barry was released and ordered to appear in court, likely sometime later this week, Schlosser said.
Barry, a former D.C. mayor, has had a series of brushes with the law during a long career in politics and civic activism. He is currently on probation for tax offenses.

How much are you willing to bet the religious fanatics won't be circulating a referendum petition to remove the morally corrupt and divorced 4 times Barry from office? Oh the hypocrisy keeps growing, and it's only been a week since "sanctity of marriage" Sanford f**ked around on his wife. Now if only we could catch Rick Warren smoking crack with a prostitute.

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready foATA[ 18e LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:54:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

FULL FRONTAL: This Transformers hottie gets way too comfortable in this old photoshoot (nine years old to be exact). You bet we have the NSFW versions inside!

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:54:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

OVERDOSE?: The spotlight is now on Michael Jackson's doctors as speculation surfaces that irresponsible drug prescriptions might have led to the icon's death. The Drug Enforcement Administration steps in, so things must be getting serious...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:59:00 +0000

Information must be free, yes? Then here's your regularly updated list of which U.S. Senators and House Representatives support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — and those who don't. Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Congress, Discrimination, ENDA, legislation, Politics, Senate

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 52 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

Some days are better than others, I guess. From The Leaf Chronicle:

A disagreement at the local Social Security office Wednesday ended with one of the people dropping her pants.
According to a Clarksville Police report, a customer became angry when she and a office clerk got into an argument about the customer's gender.
The suspect then allegedly dropped her pants to prove she was a female, according to the report by CPD Officer Nathan Vanatta.

Well. As we're having this "reboot" week that includes a lot of lively discussion on sex, gender, transgender, transsexual, and privileges of all sorts, the last line of the article goes to the suspect reality of living trans:

According to the report, the suspect was born a man and had gender reassignment surgery and is now a woman.

Worthy of note, I guess, is that the article mentions an argument between both the customer and the clerk, and metions the customer was "angry." Not only was the customer sex and gender suspect, but now she's a criminal suspect as well.

...With her story being of interest for her local press.

~~~~~
Further Reading:
Alas A Blog: The [Cissexual] Privilege Checklist (Especially check out the first two items on the list these relate to this story)

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 1ON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

OREGON LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNES UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - SALEM, OR) The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The [...]

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: LaBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GayTalkRadio - Weekly News Review - JUL 05 2009

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:44:00 +0000

7/05/2009 - 9:00 AM PST - NOON EST - EVERY DAY -

GayTalkRadio Independent Internet Radio now streams 23 hours a day, every day, in HD Stereo.

Our daily live segment starts at 9 AM PST - NOON EST.

Live text chat, news and music; all with a LGBTQIA slant!

Attend our live show at 9 AM PST - NOON EST every day by visiting www.GayTalkRadio.org

Feel free to call our voicemail system anytime at (360) 283-5052 or send me email tom@GayTalkRadio.org.

Join us daily (9 AM PST-NOON EST) for some laughs along with your news.

Hear todays show (click here).

We are on a mission to start a new dedicated LGBTQIA Channel/Station.

To help us organize, join us at GayTalkRadio.ning.com

Please visit our Independent Internet Radio Station site often at www.GayTalkRadio.org

All the best to you and yours.

-tom

International Gay News Headlines (T25T-3)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:22:00 +0000

While just over a million people turned out in London for gay pride, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester called on gay people to "repent and be changed" saying the Church of England must not be "rolled over by culture." Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called on the Bishop to "repent his homophobia."

The prime minister's wife Sarah Brown today made history by marching in London's Pride parade.

Just a day after a heated row over homophobia between Labour and the Conservatives, almost one million people gathered in London to celebrate gay Pride.

(Russia) Gay and Lesbian Film Festival “Bok o Bok” which was supposed to take place in Saint Petersburg from today and last until Sunday finally did not open after Fire Department Inspectors closed the place due to problems with fire security. In a phone interview to Project GayRussia.Ru, Organiser of the festival Irina Sergeeva said that the clubs “The Place” and “Sochi” where the screenings of the films were supposed to take place, were closed due to fire security reasons.

New York Daily News

Credit: Wilson/AP
New York Daily News
Dancers performs during the opening ceremony for the 44th Karlovay Vary International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. A man celebrates gay ...

and more »

UN chief: Talks in Myanmar fail
Philadelphia Inquirer
The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined thousands of revelers yesterday in London's annual gay-pride march. Sarah Brown held a red, white, ...

and more »

ABC News

(No) progress on gay rights: What's Obama waiting for?
Philadelphia Daily News
... International & the Michael D. Palm Center 2006 study). One in four US troops who served in Afghanistan or Iraq knows a member of their unit who is gay. ...
Gay-rights advocate complain over President Obama's handling of ...New York Daily News
40 years after Stonewall, still a long way to goOnline Journal
Obama recognizes LGBT Pride and Stonewall 40th AnniversaryThe Daily Voice
Daily Kos -The Moderate Voice -MiamiHerald.com
all 677 news articles »

New York Daily News

From the International Herald Tribune
New York Times
There was a huge gathering of Americans, and the toilettes of the many women present gave the banqueting hall a particularly bright and gay appearance. ...

and more »

Gay veteran's military dismissal puts spotlight on California ...
Kansas City Star
On Monday, Garamendi, a former state legislator and state insurance commissioner, won the endorsement of the 700000-member Service Employees International ...

and more »

REGINA â" The Saskatchewan government wants the province’s highest court to weigh in on proposed legislation that would allow marriage commissioners to not perform same-sex marriages if it is contrary to their religious beliefs. Justice Minister Don Morgan said Friday that the government is referring legislative options to the Court of Appeal for its opinion on [...]

GORDON Brown and David Cameron were last night locked in a bizarre and bitter battle for the GAY vote. The PM and Conservative leader are desperate to win over the UK’s three million pink voters. Two Cabinet ministers sprang into action to accuse the Tories of being anti-gay after new figures showed a [...]

The Human Rights Campaign, the nationâs largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a statement today in the death of Seaman August Provost, 29, at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. According to local media reports, the Navy and Marine Corps confirmed that a sailor’s body was found on the base [...]

The capital will host this year's UniQ Conference next weekend, along with a Burlesque Ball on Saturday night, and an '80's themed party to celebrate 23 years since Homosexual Law Reform.

The host of the Naval & Family pub's new quiz night says it'll be "a good old-fashioned Pub Quiz, but with a K' Road twist!"

A rugby team captain is on trial in the Timaru District Court after a male complainant says he was sexually assaulted by him.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:54:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:59:00 +0000

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

GRATUITOUS SKIN — If you can excuse the gaudy Christian Audigier clothing, Zach Burns' self-portraits are incredibly sexy. Self-indulgent, yes, but incredibly sexy. (See page 7 if you need convincing.) CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: gratuitous skin, Models, Photos, risque, Zach Burns

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

Some days are better than others, I guess. From The Leaf Chronicle& lt;/a>:

A disagreement at the local Social Security office Wednesday ended with one of the people dropping her pants.
According to a Clarksville Police report, a customer became angry when she and a office clerk got into an argument about the customer's gender.
The suspect then allegedly dropped her pants to prove she was a female, according to the report by CPD Officer Nathan Vanatta.

According to the report, the suspect was born a man and had gender reassignment surgery and is now a woman.

Worthy of note, I guess, is that the article mentions an argument between both the customer and the clerk, and metions the customer was "angr"angry." Not only was the customer sex and gender suspect, but now she's a criminal suspect as well.

...With her story being of interest for her local press.

~~~~~
Further Reading:
Alas A Blog: The [Cissexual] Privilege Checklist (Especially check out the first two items on the list these relate to this story)

How are we supposed to get anything done with health care reform with ridiculous attitudes like this? (Think Progress):

During a townhall in Waukon, IA Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked by a constituent of his: "Why is your insurance so much cheaper than my insurance and so better than my insurance?" When Grassley struggled to explain the details of his own health care plan, the elderly man followed up, "Okay, so how come I can't have the same thing you have?" Grassley said, "You can. Just go work for the federal government."

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishme[Press 1d 21 http://www.basicrights.org/?p=727 8 18 168 OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

LGBT News Headlines (T26T-5)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:54:00 +0000

New York Times

On the Rainbow Lounge incident: Gay club raid inexcusable
Dallas Morning News
"Gay panic" is no excuse for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents' actions. I was profoundly saddened to read of the brutal gay-bashing at the ...
A Raid at a Club in Texas Leaves a Man in the Hospital and Gay ...New York Times
Rainbow Lounge incident puts Fort Worth at forefront of struggle ...Fort Worth Star Telegram
Mayor Calls For Federal Review Of Gay Bar RaidOn Top Magazine
Dallas Morning News -Dallas Morning News -Dallas Morning News
all 625 news articles »

Daily Mail

Gay row 'may cause Church split'
BBC News
The fellowship was set up at a conference of conservative Anglican bishops and leaders in Jerusalem in the wake of the ordination of an openly gay bishop in ...
'Repent!' Rochester tells gays as Synod starts. 'No, you repent ...Telegraph.co.uk
Bishop urges homosexuals to change and repentInTheNews.co.uk
Senior Church of England Bishop says gays must "repent and be changed"PinkNews.co.uk
The Press Association
all 207 news articles »

Seattle Post Intelligencer

British PM's wife joins 1000s at gay pride parade
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) â" The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march. Sarah Brown held a red, ...
Gay community split over 'depoliticised' London Prideguardian.co.uk
In pictures: Pride party politicsBBC News
Brown's wife takes part in gay prideAFP
Independent -On Top Magazine -Wikinews
all 328 news articles »

The Anti-LGBT Moments of the Sarah Palin Tornado
Tips-Q GLBT News
Sarah Palin's announcement yesterday that "I'm a celebrity, get me off this oil field," have sent a handful of shockwaves through the political chattering ...

and more »

ABC News

Obama urges lesbian, gay patience overturning 'unjust laws' (text)
Los Angeles Times
And that's important, and I'm glad that so many LGBT families could join us today. (Applause.) For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws ...
Local, national LGBT leaders mark Stonewall at White HousePhiladelphia Gay News
Why It's Time For LGBT Democrats To Get Over Their Battered Wife ...Huffington Post
POTUS to LGBT: "Welcome to Your White House"ABC News
Minnesota Independent -Catholic News Agency -Atlantic Online -Right Pundits
all 677 news articles »

Retreat offering new LGBT treatment option
Brattleboro Reformer
The clients who choose to enter the new LGBT program will receive the same psychiatric care that is offered throughout the rest of the Retreat. ...

and more »

GLBT group holds gay pride parade in MB
WPDE
AP Video By Graeme Moore Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach ...
'Gay' column shows how far we still have to goThe Free Lance-Star
Gay community holds Pride event in Myrtle BeachWPDE

all 3 news articles »

National Education Conference focuses on GLBT students of color
Gay and Lesbian Times
The conference took special interest in GLBT students and their teachers, along with GLBT minorities of color and women. âFor educators, the challenges are ...
Location key to information disseminationGay and Lesbian Times

all 2 news articles »

Embracing the Homosexual Agenda
Daily Kos
I think promotion of knowledge of GLBT diversity is an excellent subject in schools, should be on the Agenda. Well, I have to visualize strongly the concept ...

and more »

Here are some pictures from our San Francisco chapter's participation in this year's Pride celebration! In addition Prayers for Bobby Executive Producer Daniel Sladek and star Ryan Kelley were on hand to show their PFLAG pride...

PFLAG Mother and Son Ask President and First Lady to Speak Out for Families and LGBT People to Create Safer Communities

A PFLAG mother and son asked President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and their families at the White House today.

[Pictured left to right: Carmen Robello of PFLAG's Families of Color network, her son, Louie, and PFLAG National's Jody M. Huckaby]

"A supportive environment makes a world of difference, and we are hopeful the President and First Lady will take the initiative in making our country a safer place for all of our family members," said Carmen Robello, a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

She is a member of PFLAG's Families of Color and Allies of New York City and Newark, New Jersey chapters, both dedicated to providing support for families across diverse communities.

Robello and her son Louie, were invited to a special reception at the White House to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the event identified as the starting point for the LGBT equality movement in the U.S.

"We were incredibly honored to meet with the President and First Lady, and tell them our story, and how anti-LGBT violence and harassment create problems not just for LGBT people, but for their families and communities," said Robello. "My son and I asked the President and First Lady to speak out and become more visible in denouncing anti-LGBT discrimination."

Louie Robello experienced anti-LGBT harassment in his high school years. He later founded his high school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and went on to be elected his class president.

This month PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET) President Kim Pearson is featured in Diversity Rules magazine for her critical work with transgender youth. She is also Executive Director and Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA).

Pearson explains to Diversity Rules, "Create schools and communities that respect and celebrate that people are different. Speak up when someone says 'thatâs so gay' or 'what a sissy' or 'boys donât do that.' Make room for difference. Value individuality and learn about that which you do not currently understand. Have an honest and compassionate conversation with a transgender adult, child or parentâ¦walk a mile in their shoes... The only way the ârulesâ of society change is for individuals to step up and say something. When we stop accepting the status quo and start living the change we wish to see in the world, that is when true change will happen, in my humble opinion."

Click here to read the complete interview with Kim Pearson, and click here to visit PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET)

Taken from a satirical column posted on thediscust.com: South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford released another statement today, this time blaming her husbandâs affair on the declining moral values in America. Jenny Sanford (right) and SC GOP chair Karen Floyd are both outspoken opponents of gay marriage. âOf course Iâm not saying that Mark is gay,â Sanford [...]

SHAMING THE DEVIL Collected Short Stories By G. Winston James Reviewed By Stanley Bennett Clay Poet G. Winston James makes a remarkable fiction debut with SHAMING THE DEVIL, a collection of short stories that examine black, predominantly homoerotic experiences with beauty, passion and a boldness that renders it both transcendental and deeply personal. One need not be gay or [...]

From the Village Voice: Assemblyman Micah Kellner, one of the officials to whom state senator Tom Duane reached out when Joe Holladay got gay-bashed on the Upper East Side last week, has told WCBS that there have been other incidents in the neighborhood recently that are disturbingly similar — “Three of which are currently being considered [...]

Visit www.2015Place.com Interested in news headlines for your site?
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GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:39:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:59:00 +0000

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Matt Comer at QNotes has a great piece on openly gay candidates running for office in my state, as well as a look back at some of the trailblazers in the past. This year North Carolina has three out gay candidates who will be on the ballot -- Mark Kleinschmidt, who's running to serve as the mayor of Chapel Hill, Lee Sartain is making a bid for a seat on the Raleigh City Council, and Owen Sutkowski has his eye on the Charlotte City Council. Taking a look back at the timeline of progress of openly gay North Carolinians running for office is interesting:

Bob Hoy and Lightning Brown: In 1981, Hoy lost his bid for a seat on the Raleigh City Council, while Lightning Brown narrowly lost in a race for Chapel Hill Town Council.

Joseph Herzenberg: Way back in 1987, North Carolina elected its state’s first openly gay elected official -- Joe Herzenberg. He won his race for Chapel Hill Town Council. Lightning Brown's partner, Joe was a co-founder of Equality Carolina Political Action Committee.

Robert Sheets: Ran and lost his bids for a seat on the Charlotte City Council in 1987 and 1989; in his first bid played coy in the press about his orientation that reflected the times:

Q-Notes reported, “He said that asked whether he is gay, he will reply, ‘Would you ask such a damaging question of all candidates?’”

Mike Nelson: Elected to Carrboro Board of Alderman in 1993, then elected mayor of Carrboro in 1995 before running a successful campaign for Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Sen. Julia Boseman: NC's first out LGBT member of the NC General Assembly was elected to the Senate in 2004.

This seThis session, Boseman has taken on the responsibility of being the leading proponent of the School Violence Prevention Act, opening her to personal criticism from radical, right-wing colleagues.

In a House committee hearing on the bill on June 16, Republican Minority Leader Skip Stam of Wake County said same-sex parents were “more dangerous that second-hand smoke.” He said protecting gay students would lead to the protection of pedophilia and gay marriage. All this in front of Boseman and her six-year-old son, who were both attending the committee hearing.

Elic Senter: Won his bid to become mayor of Franklinton in 2007; this is the first elective office ever held by Senter.

Additional notables cited in Matt's piece:

Other current openly gay or lesbian elected officials include:
• Ernest Fleming: Warren County Board of Commissioners, first elected 2006.
• Janet Pepin, Boone City Council
• Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro Board of Aldermen
• Jennifer Knox, Wake County District Court
• Nancy Caviness, Duck, N.C., Town Council

Other historic candidacies include:
• Lesbian Sue Henry’s 1995 independent, write-in campaign for Charlotte mayor.
• Openly gay Jim Neal’s 2008 bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He was defeated by then-N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan who went on to defeat then-incumbent Elizabeth Dole.
• Wade Boyles’ 2008 Democratic challenge to incumbent N.C. Rep. Dale Folwell in western Forsyth County. Folwell, a Republican, carried 60 percent of the vote.
• Libertarian Chris Cole’s several unsuccessful runs for the Charlotte City Council, N.C. Senate and House and U.S. Senate.

As we fight for equality here, look at what our brothers and sisters face in Uganda.

A stringent Bill against homosexuality is in the offing, the state minister for ethics and integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has said.
Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre yesterday, Buturo said the country was besieged by homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, human sacrifice, drug abuse, embezzlement and witchcraft to the extent that it was "dangerously becoming a permissive society."
He noted that once the Bill is passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality or advocate for it. He also stated that it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to their cause, once the Bill becomes law.

Update from Autumn: For those of you who think this post is a comment from me that says "F*** it, it doesn't matter if I identified the right first person" of "First actual perceived-by-me weaponizing of the term cis, cisgender, or cissexual" ... that is literally not what I meant. I likely did get it wrong -- it was the first weaponizing of the term that I remembered specifically as the weaponizing of the term, as opposed the probable first actual perceived-by-me weaponizing of the term cis, cisgender, or cissexual. I should have wrote it that way initially, but the way it was presented editorially left it open to wide interpretation. This was not a news story or reporting, but my personal commentary.

In addition, I'm saying that if you think I got the "first" aspect of this wrong, that's probably correct as well. If the point of the continued commentary is to achieve resolution of this editorial or semantic lack of clarity, I'm presenting it here. To those who want me to specifically admit I got the timeline wrong -- I didn't scan the comments looking for the first instance of what I remembered the initial perceived-weaponized-as-weapon comment, it in all likelihood wasn't the first one; that's obviously a mistake. If the purpose of continuing this discussion is to ensure there are clear public winners and losers regarding this entire time-draining endeavor, then this is the "win" you're looking for. The bottom line is that this is the correction, the statement of fact to answer the questions you've expressed. It's not clear that many of you will accept it no matter how it's phrased or presented, but I wanted it to be clear that this needed to editorially be put to bed.

There is a new meme of commentary out there now that I wrongly misstated the timeline of who threw the first snowball(s) in the current cisgender and cissexual discussion.

In the big picture, does it matter who threw the first snowball? Is the argument that no one threw any snowballs? Or, is argument that there were snowballs thrown and I misstated who threw the first snowball? Or, is the argument that I threw the first snowball, and no one else has thrown any snowballs?

Would we all agree that snowballs have been thrown? Does it really matter that much who threw the first snowball or snowballs? Do we need to know who threw the first snowball(s) in this ongoing snowball fight? Or, is the real question WHY is the snowball fight continuing unabated?

And while this fight has been going on and seems to have escalated to pitchforks and torches being passed out at the snowball forts, in the grand scheme of things...

• is the upcoming Latisha Green Hate Crime Murder Trial receiving our attention?
• is the hate expressed at the young, trans woman Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder being forgotten?
• is our community focused on passing the Matthew Sheppard Act -- the federal hate crime legislation?
• is our community making calls to ensure the passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?
• have we highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't going to appeal the Diane Schroer trans federal government discrimination case decision?
• is our community taking notice that an apparent hate crime murder of an apparently gay sailor is being called "not a hate crime" by the United States Navy?

I don't care to rehash how and why the snowball fight began at The Blend and the blogosphere in the first place, or who and when the first snowballs were thrown. But now, o now, of course, the snowball fight has taken on a life of its own -- I don't think anything I do at this point will affect an end to the snowball fight. Nothing. What this snowball fight has done is leave me asking bigger picture questions. In the grand scheme of things: What is important to our community? -- What is the bottom line for our community? -- What are the priorities for our community?

Note from Pam: Just so people know, Kynn decided to engage in sock puppetry (as "Caoimhe") and got herself banned again. If you're banned, you're certainly not welcome to come back and pretend to be someone else advocating for the banned person. Take a look.

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡DELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:39:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Feature Story:
Crowd of Pride partiers at Charles and Eager Streets in Baltimore ''We need more love in the world,'' Amber shouted from Baltimore Pride's main stage last Saturday evening, June 20, using her headliner status to inject a bit of passionate politics with pointed barbs for Proposition 8 and support for the protestors in Iran.
It was a well-received injection, as pride celebrants felt both the love and the beautiful weather at the 34th Annual Baltimore Pride -- although the latter was never guaranteed.
''We dodged a bullet with the weather,'' says Craig Wiley, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore, the organization presenting Baltimore Pride. Forecasted thunderstorms and heavy downpours never materialized Saturday night. Instead, there was a slight breeze and a largely clear-blue sky. ...more

Gauge:
Frank Kameny in the 2009 Capital Pride Parade Fifty-two years after being fired from the federal government for being gay, Frank Kameny has now being honored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for his accomplishments as a gay-rights pioneer.
''I would not have been able to accomplish what I have in my career without all of Frank's work,'' said OPM Director John Berry, the highest-ranking openly gay appointee in the Obama administration, at the June 24 ceremony. Berry's agency is the successor to the U.S. Civil Service Commission, the agency whose policy against gays in the federal government resulted in Kameny's termination.
Berry presented Kameny with a letter officially apologizing for the firing. ...more

Gauge: Two years after the Virginia DMV sent a letter of apology to a Virginia resident for demanding he return his ''poofter'' license plate, 41-year-old Sidney Antommarchi of Herndon, Va., is reaping the benefits of what he calls an ''open-minded'' DMV.
Sitting on the back of his Toyota Corolla, framed by a rainbow sticker and an HRC decal, is his new ''boy4boy'' license plate, just a few months old.
''My last plate was 'hotboyz,''' says Antommarchi, ''but I got that with my ex-partner, and it was time for a change.'' ...more

From Washington Blade staff reports
Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June 2008 for the death of Sean Kennedy, was released from prison early after serving one year, according to a press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

Witnesses testified at Moller's t rial that he used anti-gay slurs when beating Kennedy outside a Greenville, S.C., bar in May 2007.

“This adds insult to injury. To release a man just one-year after his sentencing in this heinous crime and to inform the victim's mother through an automated recording is despicable,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Sean Kennedy was vio ...

From Washington Blade staff reports
The CEO of Window Media and Unite Media has resigned from his position after eight years with the company to pursue another position in the finance industry.

David Unger announced his resignation Wednesday to employees. The Window Media portfolio includes the Washington Blade.

In a statement, Unger said he's leaving “for an excellent opportunity in New York” and that his departure “will have no effect” on the Blade or other Window Media publications.

“I will be around to help if needed and I wish everyone the best,” he said.

Unger's resignation leaves Mike Kitchens, chief ...

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today picked Ronald E. Albers for a judgeship on the San Francisco County Superior Court.

In a shocking announcement on Friday, Alaska Gov. and former vice-presidential ential candidate Sarah Palin announced she is resigning from office.

The Westboro Baptist Church clearly knows no boundaries.

Some gay AAA members say there's no real problem. Stock photo The American Automobile Association (AAA) division that serves members and residents in Florida, Georgia, Middle and West Tennessee, and...

Karma, a posh downtown straight bar, held its first 'gay night' on Wednesday, June 24.

by Laurie Holloway Contributor Experts at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt recommend that families attend professional fireworks displays instead of buying their own to shoot at home. However, if parents choose to buy fireworks...

Texas church choir 'uninvited' by Ky. university Ties severed with Broadway Baptist Church over views on homosexuality WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP) | Jul. 2 at 4:04 PM Jul. 2 at 4:04 PM A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

Sean Kennedy's killer released from prison Stephen Moller served one year for murder of gay man From Washington Blade staff reports | Jul. 2 at 12:44 PM Jul. 2 at 12:44 PM Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June 2008 for the death of Sean...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

Gay media mogul resigns from Window Media Unger to pursue finance position From Washington Blade staff reports | Jul. 2 at 11:20 AM Jul. 2 at 11:20 AM The CEO of Window Media and Unite Media has resigned from his position after eight years with...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

A million people are expected at London Gay Pride, where an emphasis on fun over politics is being criticized

With Franken, Senate Democrats get 60 votes _ on paper _ and a lot more pressure

The gay minister who survived a challenge by religious conservatives will take his post Friday

I finally got around to watching Sarah Palin’s entire resignation speech — described universally as “disjointed” and “rambling,” and rightly so — but what had my lovely wife and me in stitches was the background noise. First, there was the kid (”Why doesn’t somebody shut that squalling brat up?” I asked, adding: “And then maybe [...]

But that’s still a darned big “-gate” — you betcha! Per The Inquisitr: Multiple sources have been digging around in the wake of Sarah Palinâs cryptic resignation speech Friday and theyâve found that when Palin was Mayor of her home town of Wasilla, AK in 2002, she was influental in the construction of the Wasilla Sports [...]

Man, oh man, is The Great Deceiver ever feeling the pressure from his betrayed liberal base — and he doesn’t like it one bit. And neither do the libs hornswoggled into voting for him: Obama Urges Groups to Stop Attacks President Obama, strategizing yesterday with congressional leaders about health-care reform, complained that liberal advocacy groups ought to [...]

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:59:00 +0000

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

As we fight for equality here, look at what our brothers and sisters face in Uganda.

A stringent Bill against homosexuality is in the offing, the state minister for ethics and integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has said.
Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre yesterday, Buturo said the country was besieged by homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, human sacrifice, drug abuse, embezzlement and witchcraft to the extent that it was "dangerously becoming a permissive society."
He noted that once the Bill is passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality or advocate for it. He also stated that it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to their cause, once the Bill becomes law.

In addition, I'm saying that if you think I got the "first" aspect of this wrong, that's probably correct as well. If the point of the continued commentary is to achieve resolution of this editorial or semantic lack of clarity, I'm presenting it here. To t hose who want me to specifically admit I got the timeline wrong -- I didn't scan the comments looking for the first instance of what I remembered the initial perceived-weaponized-as-weapon comment, it in all likelihood wasn't the first one; that's obviously a mistake. If the purpose of continuing this discussion is to ensure there are clear public winners and losers regarding this entire time-draining endeavor, then this is the "win" you're looking for. The bottom line is that this is the correction, the statement of fact to answer the questions you've expressed. It's not clear that many of you will accept it no matter how it's phrased or presented, but I wanted it to be clear that this needed to editorially be put to bed.

There is a new meme of commentary out there now that I wrongly misstated the timeline of who threw the first snowball(s) in the current cisgender and cissexual discussion.

In the big picture, does it matter who threw the first snowbalowball? Is the argument that no one threw any snowballs? Or, is argument that there were snowballs thrown and I misstated who threw the first snowball? Or, is the argument that I threw the first snowball, and no one else has thrown any snowballs?

And while this fight has been going on and seems to have escalated to pitchforks and torches being passed out at the snowball forts, in the grand scheme of things...

• is the upcoming Latisha Green Hate Crime Murder Trial receiving our attention?
• is the hate expressed at the young, trans woman Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder being forgotten?
• is our community focused on passing the Matthew Sheppard Act -- the federal hate crime legislation?
• is our community making calls to ensure the passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?
• have we highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't going to appeal the Diane Schroer trans federal government discrimination case decision?
• is our community taking notice that an apparent hate crime murder of an apparently gay sailor is being called "not a hate crime" by the United States Navy?

I don't care to rehash how and why the snowball fight began at The Blend and the blogosphere in the first place, or who and when the first snowballs were thrown. But now, of course, the snowball fight has taken on a life of its own -- I don't think anything I do at this point will affect an end to the snowball fight. Nothing. What this snowball fight has done is leave me asking bigger picture questions. In the grand scheme of things: What is important to our community? -- What is the bottom line for our community? -- What are the priorities for our community?

Click here to sign up to meet with your US Senators and Representatives in August in your local district to press the case for HR 3017, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Did you click on the link just now and sign up? Why not? That unreasoning ning reason that just jumped into your head - you know, the thing along the lines of "You expect meeee to....no thanks, I can't, someone else will do it, I'm just browsing, leave me alone" - that one?

We can have ENDA -- if we get smart and we get targeted.

Or not.

Why ENDA?

There are a dozen different items on our LGBT agenda. But only ENDA has an excellent chance of becoming US law this year, if the grassroots gets smart and gets targeted. The House is almost there, with 200 Representatives having taken a public position in favor, and 60 more likely yeses out there, bringing us well over the 218 needed for passage. The Senate is going to be more of a firefight because of the larger and more split constituencies that they represent, but there are probably (I emphasize probably) more than the 60 needed to preclude a filibuster. ENDA is also the greatest good for the most people, for it will have a direct impact on a larger segment of the LGBT community than any of the issues on our plate. Most of us work, and far fewer are hate crime victims, serve in the military or want to get married.

The right to discriminate against us is the right to keep us unemployed and underemployed and marginalize both our economic and personal lives. Furthermore, the House is very, very close to a clear and public majority on ENDA, and the Senate now has the power to shut down any filibuster after the seating of Senator Franken, with probably enough votes to do it.

We could have ENDA. We should have it. We would have it, if we take effective actions. But this may all be "coulda shoulda woulda" at the end of 2009.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

The Grinch That Stole ENDA

There is a very persistent enemy, an enemy that threatens to deny us even the limited job fairness bill that is ENDA, and that is our reluctance to come together as a community to tell our Representatives and Senators with a clear voice: WE WANT THIS LAW.

Instead, we have a dozen different calls to action on different issues going around, people marching in a dozen different directions with their fists in the air and their brains firmly in the off position, and there is even a contingent that is opposing ENDA on the shortsighted ground that we don't want anything if we don't get everything right now - which is the legislative equivalent of a hissy fit. The small LGBT populations in the states where ENDA is most iffy and most in need of public contact with legislators are being split in a dozen different directions. Am I against petitions and marches and calling President Obama to task? Am I against free speech?

Yes, if it takes the form of crazy speech. I'm against anything that is going to fractionalize our community into a dozen different pieces, all speeding away from each other like the Big Bang. All heat and no light. I want ENDA and I'm not afraid to say so.

Desperately needed is an LGBT community signing up to meet with their Representatives and Senators on ENDA during the August recess when legislators control their own calendars, instead of the insane marching drumbeat that happens when Congress is in session.

Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Representatives and Senators don't vote based on how mad you are or how long your petition, or how big your Facebook group or march is.

They vote based on how many people in their districts tats take the time and effort to explain their positions. There are too many things drowning out our voices otherwise - health care and immigration and taxes and whatnot. That is a pain in the butt, but that is reality. That is why lobbyists make so much money.

A meeting is so much more powerful than an email or a phone call. Emails and phone calls get marked down as numbers on a list, if they get marked down at all. They help, but much less than meetings.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Face-to-Face Meetings Will Get Us ENDA

Face to face meetings are what really make the difference for an undecided legislator. Think about yourself, and take some issue that you don't know a whole lot about, but are being asked to vote on.

Let's take as an example the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2009. Pretty exciting, eh? It establishes a cleanup fund for reclamation of old mines by subjecting production of minerals from any mining claim to royalties and fees. Is it a good idea? Do we need this? Is this addressing a major problem or is it some legislator paying back a debt to a constituent on an issue no one else cares about? Is it going to drive marginal businesses under?

I don't know, I don't really care, and you probably don't either.

Which of these scenarios are most likely to get you to support the bill?

1) Your aide tells you some emails came in supporting the bill.

2) Your receptionist says you got some phone calls supporting the bill.

3) You meet with three constituents who vote in your district, nice people all of them, and they tell you how mine-damaged land is a major problem for them, and why this Act is needed to improve the quality of their lives. Each of them tells a story about what it's like living with these abandoned mines and why it's bad.

I don't know about you, but I'd go with number 3.

Now, number 3 doesn't happen all that often.

Why? Because, in fact, most people are too busy with their lives to stop and take the effort to set up a meeting and go and pitch their legislators. It's also a bit frightening. What will I say? How will they react? Will I be rejected? So a meeting of legislators with ordinary constituents happens once in a blue moon. Oh, the corporate constituents and the lobbying groups and the nonprofits are in there every day. But an ordinary person who experiences discrimination?

Rarely.

That's got to change.

The Facebook campaign for "Inclusive ENDA" (with over 2700 members, by the way, but who's counting?) is providing a service that allows those interested in passage of the bill to sign up for meetings scheduled with their U.S. Senators and Representatives in their local districts in August.

August is a time when no legislative session is scheduled, and legislators are in their home districts. They are not controlled by a tight meeting schedule. They have time to listen. And that time is now.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Why Are You Exempt?

Did you click and sign up?

Hmmm. This meeting signup site has been in place for a month and we have advertised it tirelessly. Do you know how many people visited the site?,About a 1000. Do you know how many signed up for meetings? About 50.

Do you see a disconnect here?

We are too busy with too many things. We have calls for petitions, and we have calls for marches, and we have rhetoric and bloggers' tough talk out the wazoo about DOMA briefs and DOJ and President Obama and a lot of things that, frankly, don't amount to a hill of beans.

I, for one, don't want to hear about petitions and I don't want to hear about marches and I certainly don't want to hear about whether President Obama is with us or against us - none of these will matter one whit when the ENDA vote comes down this fall.

President Obama can't do this for us. Barney Frank can't do this for us. Joe Solmonese can't do this for us.

The only thing that will matter is how many of your legislators say "aye" when their name is called.

If you want them to meet you on ENDA, you have got to meet them.

Forget signing some internet petition that's going to line the legislative bird cage, and marches that will fill newspapers with angry words and pictures but not produce a single legislative vote.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Or Bye-Bye ENDA.

cross-posted from Bilerico.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:38:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:38:00 +0000

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.