2015Place.com

LGBT News Headlines (T26T-5)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:55:00 +0000

guardian.co.uk

Why we love or hate Sacha Baron Cohen's gay fashionista character ...
New York Daily News
For a gay fashionista with a strange accent, Bruno sure knows how to push people's buttons. But whether you love or hate him, chances are your feelings ...
'Borat' star Cohen rolls the dice in controversial gay charadeBoston Herald
"BrÃ¼no" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intoleranceSeattle Times
'Bruno' reviewBaltimore Sun
IFC -Telegraph.co.uk -Los Angeles Times
all 700 news articles »

Washington Post

State Suit Challenges US Defense of Marriage Act
New York Times
Massachusetts was also the first state, in 2003, to grant gay couples the right to marry; five other states â" Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire and ...
Mass. is 1st to fight US marriage lawBoston Globe
Massachusetts Sues US Government Over Gay MarriageChattahBox
National BriefingLos Angeles Times
Philadelphia Inquirer -Atlanta Journal Constitution -College News
all 898 news articles »

Queerty

Gay legal groups want in on Calif court case
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) â" Three gay-friendly legal groups have asked to be part of a federal lawsuit challenging California's same-sex marriage ban â" a request ...
REBUFFED: Gay Groups Now Want In on Prop 8 Lawsuit. Too BadQueerty
LGBT Community Groups Seek to Intervene in Federal Challenge to ...eNews Park Forest
Pushback from Olson-Boies as LGBT Groups File to InterveneTowleroad
The Associated Press
all 211 news articles »

Queerty

LGBT Community Groups Seek to Intervene in Federal Challenge to ...
eNews Park Forest
He called instead for a trial to resolve a number of critically important factual questions about LGBT people and constitutional rights, including questions ...
Pushback from Olson-Boies as LGBT Groups File to InterveneTowleroad
Gay legal groups want in on Calif court caseThe Associated Press
REBUFFED: Gay Groups Now Want In on Prop 8 Lawsuit. Too BadQueerty
The Associated Press
all 211 news articles »

San Francisco Bay Times

LGBT groups hit the stage to commemorate Stonewall Riots
77 Square
Three of Madison's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) arts groups -- the theater company Stage Q, Perfect Harmony Men's Chorus and Proud Theater, ...
Lessons Learned From the NYC Gay Pride ParadePolitics Daily

all 6 news articles »

On Top Magazine

Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow
Examiner.com
Philly QFest celebrates its 15 th year of showcasing LGBT-oriented films from around the world. According to its organizers, QFest is the largest LGBT film ...
Outfest facing new hurdlesHollywood Reporter
Outfest leans lesbianVariety
'La Mission' opens LA's gay and lesbian OutFest film festivalLos Angeles Times
Cherry Hill Courier Post -Los Angeles Times -Examiner.com
all 17 news articles »

Dupont's GLBT discussion group
Metro Weekly
The early meetings attracted so many GLBT people, in fact, the gatherers would wrap around the block. In the '80s, when I was just learning how to take my ...

Meet the Rights 5 - five laws that protect Colorado's GLBT community
Examiner.com
... for Colorado's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) population) has launched a $100000 marketing campaign to raise awareness about the laws. ...

On Top Magazine

Your bisexual cheat sheet for navigating the movies at Outfest
Examiner.com
Outfest, the oldest continuous film festival in Los Angeles, and one of the most well-known GLBT festivals in the world, has 182 movies being shown and ...
Annual Philly film festival evolves into QFestPhiladelphia Inquirer

all 17 news articles »

PFLAG National, on behalf of its more than 200,000 members and supporters nationwide, provided written testimony to the U.S. Congress today in two separate hearings on providing safe schools for all children and providing more equal benefits for the same-sex partners of federal employees.

For the hearing entitled Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG National submitted the following testimony in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2009 (HR 2262):

âPhysical appearance, sexual orientation (actual or perceived), and gender expression are the most common reasons for bullying and harassment in our nationâs schools. As a minority population in schools across the country, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth commonly experience high rates of discrimination and harassment, yet are often not protected under school policy. And even though most parents favor teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, most sexuality education programs do not cover this topic and abstinence-only-until-marriage programs merely further negative sentiment toward these students. As a result, LGBT youth are more vulnerable to a variety of harmful behaviors, including skipping school and attempting suicide, than their heterosexual peers."

For the hearing entitled The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, Huckaby, on behalf of PFLAG National wrote the following in support of the bill of the same name bill (H.R. 2517) which would be a step in equalizing the benefits of same-sex partners of federal employees to put them closer to par with their straight married colleagues:

"Although the federal government - the nationâs largest civilian employer - offers attractive family benefits to employees with different-sex spouses, it does not offer the same benefits to lesbian, gay and bisexual workers with same-sex partners. As a result, these employees do not receive equal pay for their equal contributions. By offering full benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees, this bill will bring employment practices in the federal government in line with those of Americaâs largest and most successful corporationsâ¦ By offering domestic partnership benefits, the federal government would not only improve the quality of its workforce, but also demonstrate its commitment to fairness and equality for all Americans."

This guy has it nailed.Â I hope people wake up!

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced earlier this week that he has named Brent Adams, an openly gay and HIV positive man, as the state’s Acting Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The appointment makes Adams the stateâs first openly HIV-positive cabinet member. Adams stated: âTime and time again, Governor Quinn has demonstrated his commitment to progressive [...]

Marcia Brady, Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady in teh 1970’s TV series, “The Brady Bunch” says her lesbian love affair with sister Jan, played by Eve Plumb, never really happened. Rumors followed that Eve (Jan Brady) was not happy about the accusation and is now refusing to appear at a reunion show on Oprah [...]

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Canadian Gay News Headlines (T13T-4)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:23:00 +0000

In June, the Commons saw a game of brinksmanship that almost brought Canadians to the polls. And while an agreement between Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff to spend the summer studying ways to reform the Employment Insurance system, pretty much eve...

GayTalkRadio - Helen Doody our Hero - JUL 09 2009

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:09:00 +0000

7/09/2009 - 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

You can now call in to our live show by dialing 360-512-3060.

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

Helen Doody, our Hero and Mother of the Year

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:04:00 +0000

When Declan Doody wrote to Irish justice minister Dermot Ahern about the inequality of civil partnerships, he was dismayed to receive no response.

However, when he posted a copy of the letter on his Facebook account, his mother Helen was spurred into action to write her own.

Recalling his fear of bullies at school and her temporary shock when he came out, she wrote:
"Your Civil Partnership Bill is not good enough for my family, and hundreds, thousands of other families in this country."

Writing on queerid.com, Declan revealed he burst into tears when he read the letter she sent, which asked Ahern to "revise this bill so everyone can be equal". The letter is fast becoming a hit on the internet.

Below is the letter in full.

Dear Mr Ahern,

My name is Helen Doody, you have already received and failed to reply to a letter that my own son Declan sent to you a week or so ago. So like any good and decent parent I am now trying to get you to listen to and protect my child – it is the very least that any mother would do for her own children.

I read Declan’s email and everything he said to you in the e-mail was true. He had a very tough time growing up in Abbeyfeale, I can still picture him crying in the mornings before he went to school because he was afraid of the people who were going to be waiting for him – bullies who would beat the living daylight out of him, people who crushed the very spirit within him. I tried numerous times to help him,
I spoke to teachers, to the parents but the problem got a quick-fix but a weeks later it just continued on.

Declan was always a very shy and quiet boy but as the bullying continued he became more and more invisible. His Dad and I spent nights talking about him, wondering would he go to school in the morning, would he come home that evening with a ripped jumper or would his school copies be destroyed, we tried so hard to get him the help he needed but as the bullying continued, he started to shut his family out.

All of this began to change however the day Declan came out to me. I am not going to
pretend that I handled it like a saint, it is a shock to the system, you don’t think
about your child being gay, you just assume they are straight and when Declan told me I didn’t know what to do. I thought I had done something wrong, I thought it was my fault, I really thought that this was it for my son, when people started to find out that he was gay his entire world would turn into a living hell but it didn’t.

Over the coming weeks he began to change, I finally started to see him smile again and there was something different about his heart too. I saw my son reach a very dark and lonely place at the age of 16 but even at his lowest my son, had the courage and strength to come out and say he was gay.

He went to college with a new look on life, he finally seemed to be enjoying himself and it was only then I realised that there was nothing wrong with Declan. If my son was happy, if he was no longer worried about what other people thought about him then I knew that there was nothing wrong with being gay.

For many years he had kept a secret from meand his family because he thought we would reject him, like so many people had done to him before and now at the age of 23he has graduated with a degree, a higher diploma and a masters. He has become the fine young man that his father and I are so very proud to be able to call our son.

When I heard on the news that gay people would now finally be able to register the relationships like any married couple I finally thought things had changed and I suppose many other people around the country like me thought the same. However I have now realised that what you plan on doing is nothing short of telling
the gay community that they are still not equal.

You will not tell my sons that they are not equal to their brothers, friends and the rest of society. Your Civil Partnership Bill is not good enough for my family, and hundreds, thousands of other families in this country.

I might not be the smartest person in this country but even I can tell you that this bill is all but worthless and will only further the opinion that gay people are not the same as everyone else.

I have been there for all my sons when they have had their hearts broken by girlfriends and boyfriends. I helped them pick out gifts on Valentines day and shopped around for a Tux for the Debs. I have met boyfriends and girlfriends, I have liked some and been frosty to others. I have thought about each and every single of them getting married to someone that they love and who will love them back as much as
I do.

I have six sons Mr Ahern, six very beautiful boys who became six very beautiful and
upstanding young men!

Two of my boys are gay. Four are straight. Two are firemen. Two love playing video games. One loves to cook. Three of them love cars. Five of them have had their tonsils out.

All of them are my sons.

You have the power to change this country so do the right thing and change this country for the better, wake up and realise that there is still time to clean up this mess and give gay couples the same rights as straight couples.

I am asking on behalf of my gay children, their gay friends, my gay friends, my family, I am asking you as a member of this country, as a taxpayer but most of all I am asking you as a mother, to help my children and revise this Bill so everyone in this country can be equal.

Yours truly,

Helen Doody

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:24:00 +0000

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Antonio is a man of many talents, and he'll reveal them all if he thinks you will appreciate them. What do you think? Is he hot?

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Juan is from Argentina, and doesn't mind the 'Latin lover' tag at all. But is he hot? Decide for yourself!

MAN-ON-MAN MAGIC? A UK paper seems to imply a male star of the Harry Potter franchise prefers men to women, while the wand wizard himself, Daniel Radcliffe, says he is interested in older woman, as well as birds his own age...

After appearing at our press conference earlier in the day, Rep. Patrick Murphy spoke to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC last night about his leadership on repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.Â Learn more about HRC’s “Voices of Honor” tour.

Ed. Note: This post by Wesley Combs is part of a regular column from HRCâs Business Council spotlighting LGBT workplace news. As the Director of Diverse Segment Marketing at American Airlines and a proud member of HRCâs Business Council, Betty Young had a first-hand chance today to find out how much it means to her to [...]

Today the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a federal challenge to Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act (âDOMAâ) as applied to Massachusetts citizens who are legally married (read HRCâs press release). The Attorney Generalâs complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al alleges that DOMA violates the United States Constitution [...]

Are Gay & lesbian Couples Who Married Outside of State Still Legally Married in California?

Massachusetts sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed since the state became the nation's first to legalize same-sex marriage.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach introduced legislation to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. He announced on Good Day Philadelphia that he has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon in order to increase support for the bill.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:20:00 +0000

SOUNDBITES — "The genius of this complaint is that it takes a conservative argument - that liberal states should not be permitted to impose their tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality on the rest of the country - and turns it around to benefit a state that really pioneered gay rights in the U.S. Even a [...]

When Ted Olson and David Boies decided to take their clients' same-sex marriage argument to federal court in San Francisco, they got the stink eye from many a civil liberties rights group, who feared the lawsuit could do more damage than good if it wound up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. But now [...]

Does anyone else have a giant bromance crush with Pennsylvania's U.S. Rep Patrick Murphy? And not just because he users terms like "quarterbacking" to describe what's going on with the effort to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell? CONTINUED Â» Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Barack Obama, DADT, Military, Patrick Murphy, Video

This from the GSA Network…. Right now, those who oppose honoring LGBT civil rights leaders are flooding the Governor’s office with calls to stop Harvey Milk Day from becoming reality. They are opposing SB 572 (authored by Senator Mark Leno), a bill that would designate May 22 as an official state day to commemorate Milk’s birthday [...]

Â This is the only 18 and over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

After the treatment the kids attending Creative Steps Day Camp received from The Valley Swim Club, a private school has welcomed the children to swim in its pool. (NBC):

[T]he staff at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool.
"We had to help," said Girard College director of Admissions Tamara Leclair. "Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience."
The school already serves 500 campers of its own, but felt they could squeeze in 65 more - especially since the pool is vacant on the day the Creative Steps had originally planned to swim at Valley Swim Club.
"I'm so excited," camp director Alethea Wright exclaimed. There are still a few logistical nuisances -- like insurance -- the organizations have to work out, but it seems the campers will not stay dry for long.
And to sweeten the deal, the owners of Gumdrops & Sprinkles treated the kids to a free day of candy and ice cream making.

To think that The Valley Swim Club took the $1900 from Creative Steps Day Camp yet were so appalled when they actually deigned to show and they were -- gasp -- Negroes -- that they gave the money back indicates they didn't think the money wasn't green enough to accept the "contamination" of the pool. I can't think of more publicly inhumane behavior toward children in recent memory. It's such a stain on his state that Arlen Specter is looking into this social (and PR) catastrophe.

I have a couple of questions, though. Let's say that the state, and Specter talk to the club's owners and the PR nightmare continues for The Valley Swim Club. The club has a couple of choices, and none are good (not that I feel sorry for these bigots). Lift their racist ban on POC, or claim right of assembly as a pris a private club (that cannot possibly fly if they take money from non-members to access the facility -- that's public accommodation). So then they have to clean up their public relations mess by admitting minorities.

Do you think that members of the club will cancel their memberships in droves over this? I could see this happening because they were so casual in expressing their bigotry out in the open; certainly they will rebel against any notion that they have to socialize with human beings they see as "pickaninnies," right

Take a look at some of the comments found at the article below the fold.
From the comments of the article:

So nice to see everyone playing the race card once again. Unfortunately those that claim to condemn it only further it's existence by bringing it up EVERY CHANCE THEY GET. The private club is just that, and despite the poor choice of wording used by the club representative, the fact is, it remains a private club. I wonder what the camp will do next..........hmmmm........perhaps take the kids to lunch at Le Bec Fin, then when they act up and are thrown out, everyone will be screaming racism once again. Seems both sides are to blame in this one, the camp for thinking they can take 65 rowdy children to a private club, and the club itself for booking the camp in the first place. And why weren't these kids taken to a PUBLIC pool to begin with? No one has provided an answer to that one yet either. I know for a fact not ALL the pools were shutdown by everyone's favorite mayor.
good for them. go somewhere else. and it is especially nice of Vince to leave out the safety issues regarding why they were told not to come back. The Valley Club does not have enough lifeguards to watch this many kids, who are NOT good swimmers, so the first concern was their safety...not their color. But God forbid you tell a black person they can't do something because then you MUST be racist. Maybe you are too ignorant to see past you own color and realize that there just might be a reason other than your color that this was done. And Vince, maybe ask the club if anyone else was turned away. Oh, 3 others camps were turned away....because they were too big for the club to safely watch. Maybe if your mayor hadn't run the city into the ground and closed YOUR pools you wouldn't need to come to ours.
should have just closed the pool for the day and let these animals have at it. Wait, they might have to close the pool for two days to clean up after them.
this has nothing to do with racism...has to do with certain people not being repsctful to others...the black as a whole is not bad...but some of these younger kids of no respect for anything...and i think the owner just did not want problems...if the black community wants us to respect them they have to start to respect others...it can not just be a one way deal
People are missing the big picture here! The fact is that inner city people (yea, I mean "you people") do not take care of their surroundings! Ever walk or drive through North Philly?? It's a rats nest! Trash, broken glass, drug debris, used condoms ect. all over the streets.. Do you want people who have NO self worth in your private swim club? It has nothing to do with color.. It has to do with 65 kids from the same place that I just spoke of! It's about class and it starts with the adults.. They raise their children to grow up and be statistic.
your an idiot...you never seen a bunch of blacks hanging out together ....they are trouble...if they want us to accept them as equal...that have to stop acting like thugs and start to respect other people...when they do that then maybe people will see them as equal...but idiots like you keep makeing ecuses for them and things will never change
Rick, even with these "all black" schemes, what is the percen percentage of black men in institutions of higher learning? The fact is that on an individual level, white men may feel discriminated against, but in an overall level, white people still come out tops. All black colleges were created because blacks couldn't get into the white colleges. Not because black people wanted to keep whites out.

Now, I don't know anything about Philly, but I used to live in one of those NY neighborhoods that always got a bad rap as an urban ghetto -- Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Not every block was a hell-hole of urban crime, not every black man was a thug, convict or wino. What was and is true is that minorities are victimized by crime more often in their own neighborhoods than any white resident in a tony suburb. Bed-Stuy was always full of working middle class people of color and they always took pride in their neighborhood, but the lower middle class and those just getting by (or not at all) were part of the scene as well. I'm sick of the urban stereotypes tossed around. Does the neighborhood below, my old stomping grounds, look like a rat's nest? Bullsh*t.

Related:
More at this DKos diary, Valley Swim Club: Day Two.

As you read this, I assume the hubby and I are smashed into an airplane with a crying child and some sassy flight attendants hurling towards Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What brings us to the land of cheese, you may ask?

A wedding.

We're not just attending. Anthony is performing the ceremony for our friends, a great straight couple who used to live in our city in Florida. Yet as we were packing and getting ready for some midwest marital fun, something rather odd hit me:

Anthony can legally officiate other people's weddings, but our marriage isn't legal in our own state (or the states he has married other couples in).

For some odd reason, the government recognizes my husband as able to legally bind others together, with all the rights and benefits that entails, yet he doesn't have the capacity to decide for himself who he should marry or be with. And in the few places we are viewed as married after our California nuptials, we still are cut off from the federal benefits of civil marriage. In our own home statme state, we are legal strangers, yet he can perform other's weddings.

What's wrong with this picture?

I personally think that you should be able to have whoever you choose perform your ceremony- whether it be religious figure, friends, family, or the cruise ship captain- just as I think you should be able to marry whom you choose. Others keep harping about the "sanctity" of marriage, yet for twenty bucks online you can get "ordained" and bestow the "sacred sacrament" of marriage on others.

It all just seems hypocritical and backwards.

It has nothing to do with actually performing the ceremonies. He happily married my sister and her husband and is now doing the same for our friends, but the obvious inequality of it all is staggering.

It seems the government and "traditional marriage" advocates (ugh) want to have their wedding cake and eat it too. Marriage is so holy and historic that you can do it in a drive-thru in Vegas or perform one after a quick online certificate, yet LGBT folks can't even get in on the party.

So we'll be happily celebrating our friends' wedding. I'm sure I'll cry, eat too much cake, and dance the macarena with the best of them. I'll just be doing it with someone the government doesn't recognize as my husband- the very man who has signed the paper allowing others to legally get married.

Pass the champagne...

The lack of appropriate social, professional and medical specialized services for people who start their path to transition is not news, so it's always good to point out groups and organizations that are flourishing and serving the trans community well. Tranz-Central Coast, located in San Luis Obispo, California, started out as a peer support group 13 years ago, but it has broadened its mission to help create a network of therapists, doctors, as well as provide outreach to educate the public.

The group highlights its new mission Saturday with "An Afternoon of Awareness," a free event aimed at promoting public discussion about transgender and transsexual issues. Part of Central Coast Pride, it's co-sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast. "We're really trying to reach out to the community and educate the community," longtime member Doug Heumann said.
For transgender people, making the transition from one sex to the other can be expensive, stressful and emotionally draining. They risk alienating their families and losing their spouses and closest friends. Jobs are also at stake. "We want to be there to make this process as easy on them as we can," [Atascadero resident Kari] Graton said. "We want them to know that there are some people out there with compassion in their hearts."

One of the critical parts of outreach is reaching out to work with businesses that don't have experience addressing an employee who makes the decision to go public with their employer about transitioning. Graton recounted the experience with her supervisors.

<>"It was like the 'cone of silence' went down and everything got scrambled," she said, referring to the TV show "Get Smart." "They didn't know what to do."
One official wanted Graton to keep her transgender identity secret until she left work to undergo surgery. Another suggested simply firing people who had a problem with Graton's transition from male to female.
"I said, 'Wait, I work with 200 people and I know them quite well,' " recalled Graton, an engineering technician for the county Department of Public Works and Transportation. "I don't want anybody to get fired. I'm not the only one transitioning here."

And that scenario plays itself out all around the country; in response Tranz-Central Coast created a PowerPoint education presentation for employers, along with resources like information pamphlets to share with local businesses.

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 [...]

Thursday’s news includes a number of court cases of interest, a new story out of Texas and a DADT story. Court Cases: - Latest From India: Supreme Court issues notice to Union Government to reply on gay sex verdict - Update from NZ: Jury finds banjo killer guilty of manslaughter - Gay legal groups want in on Calif court [...]

I’m not exactly a fan of the Conservative Party of Canada however, I have to admit that I’m feeling a little sorry for The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) right now. It must really suck working for a PM that would begrudge a paltry $397,500 to Pride Toronto, a festival [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:24:00 +0000

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Antonio is a man of many talents, and he'll reveal them all if he thinks you will appreciate them. What do you think? Is he hot?

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Juan is from Argentina, and doesn't mind the 'Latin lover' tag at all. But is he hot? Decide for yourself!

Ed. Note: This post by Wesley Combs is part of a regular column from HRCâs Business Council spotlighting LGBT workplace news. American Airline’s Carolyn Wright As the Director of Diverse Segment Marketing at American Airlines and a proud member of HRCâs Business Council, Betty Young had a first-hand chance today to find out how much it means [...]

(Jul 9, 2009) -- The director of one of Canada's premier gay and lesbian festivals sprang to the defence of the Conservative government yesterday, saying she has received even more stable support since the Tories took power.

Massachusetts sued the US government to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:20:00 +0000

MORNING GOODS — Thirty-year-old Scranton native Jason Sarcinelli may be a budding fashion model, but he's also a complete goofball. Witness his dressing in drag and other, uh, "costumes" he wears when not in front of a (professional's) camera. CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: jason sarcinelli, Models, Morning Goods, Photos, [...]

When we invited Queerty readers to become Kathy Griffin's Gay for a Day, we had no idea we'd receive more than 1,100 entries! Offered to chance to fly to Sin City, interview Kathy on the red carpet of her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussuads Las Vegas, and then catch her show was, apparently, a [...]

THE SHOT — For the first time, all three of Michael Jackson's children — Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II ("Blanket"), 7, are seen together, unmasked. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Michael Jackson, the shot

This from the GSA Network…. Right now, those who oppose honoring LGBT civil rights leaders are flooding the Governor’s office with with calls to stop Harvey Milk Day from becoming reality. They are opposing SB 572 (authored by Senator Mark Leno), a bill that would designate May 22 as an official state day to commemorate Milk’s birthday [...]

Â This is the only 18 and oveand over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

As a non-praciticing Episcopalian, it's interesting and distressing to see the machinations over LGBT participation in the church, and how open and welcoming its stance is as more of its flock come out of the closet. On Wednesday, the General Convention opens in Anaheim, CA (July 8-17) and the discussion of human sexuality is on the agenda.

Deputies and bishops are being asked to reconsider the 2006 convention's stand that the church "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
The statement was widely acknowledged as applying to gay candidates and was titled Resolution B033.

This article goes into quite a bit of arcane detail about what is being considered during the convention, but one matter stands out -- how the church will respond to same-sex civil marriages in the states where it is legal.

The Windsor Report also called for a moratorium on "public rites," but some Episcopalians say that the context of the issue has changed. In 2005, civil partnerships and same-gender marriages became legal in England and Canada, respectively.
In the United States, the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire allow same-gender marriages or are due to by Jan. 1.
The convention will consider a resolution (B012) to give bishops in those states leeway in performing such marriages. Sponsored by Maine Bishop Steve Lane, the resolution asks convention to extend "generous discretion ... to clergy in the exercise of their pastoral ministry" to adapt the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage and Blessing of a Civil Marriage rites in the Book of Common Prayer for use with same-gender couples.
Such adaptation would have to take place under the discretion of the bishop and they would give the House of Bishops annual written reports on their experience each March and to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music for its report to the 77th General Convention.
...Previous efforts to have the General Convention ask for the development of authorized liturgies for blessing same-gender unions have failed, but the 2003 meeting allowg allowed dioceses the option of allowing such rites. A few months before that convention, the communion's provincial leaders or primates had said that "it is necessary to maintain a breadth of private response to situations of individual pastoral care."
The Anaheim meeting again will face requests for an official churchwide rite. A typical trajectory for the approval of such a rite could run at least six years, including trial use followed by committee and convention approvals.

In a recent column, columnist Dan Savage took aim at a comparison I have often made (just this week, in fact) about the similarities and differences in the fight for gay civil rights and the end of the drug war. I've always said it is an inexact comparison, but helpful for making strategy and understanding the political climate.

(Savage Love) I am a high-functioning regular heroin user (not quite an addict), and I feel constantly compelled to hide my drug use. I feel that there are similarities between being a drug user and having an alternate sexual orientation in the sense that both users and gays are constantly confronting judgmental opposition from an ill-informed and puritanical American public. I wonder whether you have any thoughts on this matter. Do you believe that drug users are deserving of the same kind of empowerment and liberation as gays, or do you view drug use as a "disease" that needs to be "cured" the same way that the Carrie Prejeans of the world believe gays need to be "cured"?
I realize that one significant difference between heroin use and sexual tastes is that heroin use is illegal, but of course gay relationships were illegal until relatively recently. Am I just rationalizing? Or could drug use be the next civil-rights frontier?
-Dude Requests Understanding Gay Sensibility
Uh... gee.
I don't believe that all drug use is abuse, and I believe that recreational drugs can be used responsibly. And I believe a person should be able to use a drug regularly without being labeled-by himself, by others, by court order-an "addict." I also wish that more people were open about their drug use-but, in the hypocritical fashion of most Americans, only when we're talking about drugs that I like and have used myself, e.g., caffeine, sugar, pot, and my boyfriend's pheromones.
Recreational heroin? Heroin seems kind of extreme, DRUGS, as recreational drugs go. I've known a few people who've self-medicated with heroin and functioned well enough to get by-just-and I think that all drugs should be legal, your drug of choice included. We need to end the war on drugs, a failure and a waste of money and lives. And the quickest way to end it is for successful drug users-people like you, me, Michael Phelps, and the president of the United States of America-to be open about our past, present, and future drug use. But I don't think "drug user" is an identity that's really comparable to sexual orientation. Using drugs is something you do, DRUGS, it's not something you are.
Look at itk at it this way: If you stopped doing drugs today, DRUGS, you'd no longer be a drug user. If I stopped inhaling my boyfriend's pheromones-and cock-today, DRUGS, I'd still be a big homo. Because gay is like Cats ("now and forever"), while heroin is like Twitter (fun at first, sure, but you'll regret it one day). See the difference?
But, yeah, the freedom to use drugs can certainly be viewed as a civil-rights issue: It's about the right to control what you do with your own body, and that argument resonates with others advanced by gay-rights advocates and advocates of reproductive choice. But different drugs carry different risks-risks of harm, risks of overdose, risks of death-and, legal or not, heroin is a highly dangerous drug. It's a drug that's made more dangerous by its prohibition, sure, but it's dangerous even when it's pure. But I think you have a right to use it, if you want to use it, and that you should have access to safe, medical-grade heroin and clean needles. But I don't think you should use it, not when there are other, better, safer drugs available.
Like my boyfriend's pheromones.

Savage makes good points, many I've made before, but his post led me to thinking about this comparison in a broader context.
So I wrote Dan an email, and asked if he would come on my show to interview about this topic. I also took the liberty of writing to Dan in his own linguistically blunt manner.

Mr. Savage, I loved your column's response to the heroin user who asked about the parallels between gay civil rights and use of drugs. I write for Pam's House Blend, a popular LGBT blog (though I'm hetero) and have made the civil rights comparison many times.
But I disagree slightly with this comparison of yours:
If you stopped doing drugs today, DRUGS, you'd no longer be a drug user. If I stopped inhaling my boyfriend's pheromones-and cock-today, DRUGS, I'd still be a big homo.

I get your point - that sexuality is innate and taking drugs is a choice. However, I think that is only valid in a narrow view. Think of it more broadly: the urge to alter consciousness and the urge to fuck are both innate. I may smoke pot, DRUGS may shoot smack, others may bungee jump, ski, or skydive to get their adrenaline high; I may fuck women, you may inhale cock, others may beat off in an apple pie.
But when I stop smoking pot (ha! rarely!) I have not stopped being a high-seeking human. You're looking at the act of taking drugs like homophobes look at the act of sucking cock, confusing the physical act (a choice) with the desire (innate). I would contend that the abstinent pot smoker is still a "stoner", in that the desire to alter consciousness in that manner still exists. It's like how the alcoholics in AA never say they're "cured"
It's not a perfect analogy, granted. But I just don't think the act of taking drugs alone defines the people who take drugs.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. Everybody wants to get off - sexually and mentally - but society has criminalized or rendered taboo some of the choices on the menu. I'd say that the shared goal of both movements is to allow people to pursue that sexual or mental high in any way they see fit so long as they do no harm to others.

I'm innately a pothead. I've done alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, LSD, mushrooms, Ecstasy, cocaine, and meth all to one degree or another, and they were all fun in their own way (and somewhat destructive in others), but when I use cannabis, I feel normal (with an "a"). When I discovered it, it was like an "aha!" moment. For the first time I felt whole and like my brain finally wasn't sabotaging me with depression, anxiety, constant internal criticism, self-loathing, and disjointesjointed thoughts.

It's still not a perfect analogy, I know. But like the homobigots who say, "Well, you gays have all the marriage rights everyone else does, so long as you marry a woman," I feel bombarded with "Well, you potheads can get as high as you like, so long as you drink beer."

* Note: understand that my use of terms like "pothead" and "stoner" are much like some African-Americans' use of a certain six-letter perjorative - I can call myself that, we can call each other that, but you damn sure better not call us that!

Welcome to post-racial America, where people have their heads in the sand about the state of race relations in this country because a black man was elected POTUS.

The staff at the Valley Swim Club in NE Philly must have stepped into the DeLorean and took a spin back into the days of segregation, as 60 kids were turned away from the pool there and apparently the people at the Swim Club didn't mind their inner bigot surface for all to see. (NBC Philly):

"I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor.

The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

"When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool," Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

..."There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

Excuse me, what year is this? Am I watching a rerun of a scene in Far From Heaven (2002)? There was a scene in the Todd Haynes film, set in the 1950s, where a black boy, the son of service worker at a Miami hotel, dares to step into the hotel pool. His father rushes and pulls him out, but it's too late -- the white people in the pool race to get out of the "contaminated" water. Apparently that's the kind of "change they can believe in" at The Valley Swim Club.
Contact information for the club is here. This is so outrageous that I'm almost unable to type.
I don't see anything on the membership app asking about race, so when do they determine you can't join -- when you show up? Check out the club's rules of operations below the fold.
I don't see anything here about no Negroes.
The Valley Club
2009 Rules of Operation
(7) Only one person allowed on the diving board at a time.
(8) No glass of any kind is allowed on the club grounds.
(9) Floating devices not secured to the swimmer are prohibited except at specific times.
(10) Swimming under the diving board is strictly forbidden.
(11) The pool apron must be kept free of blankets, towels, clothing, chairs, strollers, etc...
(12) The baby pool and nearby play area are for children under 7 years of age.
(13) Baby swim diapers must be worn in the baby pool.
(14) Children not toilet trained may not use the large pool.
(15) No guard is on duty for the baby pool. Parents are responsible.
(16) Smoking, eating, drinking, and gum chewing is not permitted on the pool apron or in the pool. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.
(17) Each member is responsible for keeping the grounds clean.
(18) Please do not attempt to intimidate the pool employees in the performance of their duties.
(19) Pool managers and lifeguards are responsible for enforcing the above rules and regulations.
GENERAL
(1) Types of Membership: FULL-SEASON=entitles members to access club every day we are open. WEEKENDS=entitles members to access club on Fri, Saturdays,& Sundays WEEKDAYS=entitles members to access club Mondays thru Thursdays
ALL WELCOME ON HOLIDAYS!
(2) Membership cards must be presented upon request to obtain entrance to the club. Please be prepared to show a driver's license with your membership card.
(3) Pets are not permitted on club grounds
(4) Persons under the influence of intoxicants will be denied admission to the club.
(5) Possession and/or the use of alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. The club is not responsible for the loss or damage to personal property.
(6) Any member (or guest) deliberately destroying or damaging pool property will be subject to financial reimbursement for the damages and disciplinary action in violating the by-laws.
(7) Loading and unloading of vehicles will be permitted at the upper level, but all members and guest vehicles must be returned to the paved parking lot located at the club entrance.
(8) Picnic tables must not be placed anywhere other than the picnic area, nor may they be reserved. A limited number of picnic tables may be reserved by the Club Manager for pre-registered member parties during the week.
(9) Cooking must be confined to the areas designated for this purpose.
(10) Tables on the patio next to the snack bar are to be used only for eating food purchased at the snack bar.
(11) Water Volleyball Schedule
Saturdays/Sundays
2:00 to 2:30 pm and 4:00 to 4:30 pm
(12) Adult Lap Swim Schedule
Everyday
11:30 am to 12:30 pm; 2:30 to 2:50 pm; 4:30 to 4:50 pm; 5:30 to 6:00 pm
(13) The shallow end of the pool will remain open to the full m full membership during these lap swims.
POOL HOURS
(1) The gate to the pool will be open from 11:30 am until 8:30 pm, weather permitting.
(2) If there is inclement weather forecast for the day, please call the club answering machine to find out if the club is open or not.
(3) During Our Swim Lessons (Mondays thru Thursdays), the shallow end of the pool will open at 12:30 pm to accommodate swim lessons.
These rules are for the benefit of all club members and must be obeyed at all times. Members are responsible for their children and guests, in compliance with club rules. It is the responsibility of each member to inform guest of pool rules. Infractions may result in temporary loss of club privileges or loss of membership. Please help by respecting and obeying the rules. Situations arising that are not specifically covered by the established rules will be resolved by the manager or the Board of Directors at anytime.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
(1) All members use the club facilities at their own risk.
(2) Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied at all times by an adult member (17 years or older).
(3) All children under the age of 13 must pass a swimming test to be permitted in the deep end without an adult.
(4) Use of the pool will be refused to anyone wearing bandages or having skin abrasions, colds, coughs, inflamed eyes, skin infections, etc...
(5) All bathers must shower before entering the pool.
(6) Running is not permitted on the pool apron.
GUEST REGULATIONS
(1) All guests must be accompanied by the sponsoring member upon entering the club grounds. Members must remain with their guests. You may not bring guests into the club and leave the grounds.
(2)The club strongly urges the use of pre-paid guest cards. These cards may be purchased pre-season with dues. They may also be purchased through the pool manager.
(3) Guest Rates:
Adults $10.00
Children (under 17) $5.00
Guest Rates After 6:00 pm
Adults $5.00 Children (under 17) $2.00
(4) We invite you to have your family birthday or other parties at our club (including summer company picnic). Our Party Rate for 2009 Members will be $7 per person. For non-members it is $10 per person. For parties, our grounds are open to members and non-members, alike. Parties must pre-register with the pool manager to reserve enough tables/space.
Join Our Swim and Dive Teams: TheValleyClub.com
More at J&J Politics. Here's a great video:

Bonnie Tinker: Rest in Peace

Oregon advocate Bonnie Tinker was killed in a tragic bike accident last Thursday while attending a conference in Virginia. Tinker has been a dedicated activist in Oregonâs progressive community for decades. She championed equality as founder and director of Love Makes a Family, peace through her work with Seriously P.O.âed Grannies, and justice as a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Her energy, commitment, and vision of a more just and peaceful world will be missed. Visit Love Makes a Family for links to remembrances and information about memorial services. ]]>="http://www.basicrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gentle-tinker-300x200.jpg" alt="gentle-tinker-300Ã200.jpg" /> Oregon advocate Bonnie Tinker was killed in a tragic bike accident last Thursday while attending a conference in Virginia. Tinker has been a dedicated activist in Oregonâs progressive community for decades. She championed equality as founder and director of Love Makes a Family, peace through her work with Seriously P.O.âed Grannies, and justice as a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Her energy, commitment, and vision of a more just and peaceful world will be missed. Visit Love Makes a Family for links to remembrances and information about memorial services.

Oregon Restaurants Take Action for Gay Rights (06/09)

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 (06/09)

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 [...]

Visit 2015Place.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:24:00 +0000

Massachusetts Seeks to Force Federal Taxpayers to Subsidize Same-Sex 'Marriage'

People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish Line

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Antonio Biaggi

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Antonio is a man of many talents, and he'll reveal them all if he thinks you will appreciate them. What do you think? Is he hot?

Juan Blas

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Juan is from Argentina, and doesn't mind the 'Latin lover' tag at all. But is he hot? Decide for yourself!

Is A 'Harry Potter' Star Gay?

MAN-ON-MAN MAGIC? A UK paper seems to imply a male star of the Harry Potter franchise prefers men to women, while the wand wizard himself, Daniel Radcliffe, says he is interested in older woman, as well as birds his own age...

American Airlines Presses Business Case for Equal Fed. Employee Benefits

Ed. Note: This post by Wesley Combs is part of a regular column from HRCâs Business Council spotlighting LGBT workplace news. American Airline’s Carolyn Wright As the Director of Diverse Segment Marketing at American Airlines and a proud member of HRCâs Business Council, Betty Young had a first-hand chance today to find out how much it means [...]

Mass. AG Challenges Federal DOMA

Today the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a federal challenge to Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act (âDOMAâ) as applied to Massachusetts citizens who are legally married (read HRCâs press release). The Attorney Generalâs complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al alleges that DOMA violates the United States Constitution [...]

The Push is on for DADT Repeal

Ed. Note: This post is from Jarrod Chlapowski, a U.S. Army veteran who recently joined the Human Rights Campaign to consult on ending the militaryâs Donât Ask, Donât Tell policy. Having been trained as a Korean linguist and cryptologic voice interceptor, he served in Korea, supporting the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion on more than 300 [...]

Massachusetts sues U.S. over gay marriage rights (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Massachusetts sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed since the state became the nation's first to legalize same-sex marriage.

Gay festival 'treated fairly' (Kitchener - Waterloo Record)

(Jul 9, 2009) -- The director of one of Canada's premier gay and lesbian festivals sprang to the defence of the Conservative government yesterday, saying she has received even more stable support since the Tories took power.

Massachusetts sues US over gay marriage rights (TVNZ)

Massachusetts sued the US government to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed

Visit 2015Place.com

Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:16:00 +0000

New campaign to overturn 'Don't Ask'

By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade
Gay rights activists this week kicked off a national tour to build public support for repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” as a new lawmaker officially took the lead in sponsoring legislation that would end the ban on service by openly LGBT people in the U.S. military.

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), a second-term congressman and Iraq war veteran, this week took the lead on the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, H.R. 1283, now that its former sponsor, Ellen Tauscher, has left Congress for a position in the State Department.

In addition to repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the bill would establish a non-d ...

Carl Walker-Hoover's mother testifies before House subcommittees

From Washington Blade staff reports
Sirdeaner Walker, the mother of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover, who committed suicide in April after enduring persistent anti-gay bullying at school, testified today in front of the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Familes and Communities in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, according to a press release from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act is federal legislation that would require that schools adopt comprehensive anti-bullying policies.

“Carl liked football and basketball and playing video games with his ...

Mass. sues feds over definition of marriage

BOSTON (AP)
Massachusetts is suing the federal government over a law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
State Attorney General Martha Coakley filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Boston. I ...

Partner Benefits Sent Seeâs Packing?

Regional retailer See's Candies left one of its San Francisco locations after city officials deemed it noncompliant in its domestic-partnership access for gay and lesbian employees.

Mass. Files Suit Against DOMA

Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley filed suit Wednesday against the federal government over the Defense of Marriage Act.

55K Signatures Against Maine Marriage

A group attempting to overtur n Maine's legalization of same-sex marriage said Wednesday that it has collected the signatures necessary to get the issue on the ballot for the November election.

Saving Green: Ten eco-friendly tips for saving money

O&AN's Gary Gaston offers ten tips on saving money and the planet.

Going for the gay gold

Nashville couple to compete in World Outgames in Denmark this month. Forget summer vacation. One Nashville couple will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, this month to participate in the 2009 World Outgames.

The long layover

Making the best of time between jobs. With Tennessee's unemployment rate hovering around 11 percent, employment analyst Evan Woodson offers tips on how to bounce back from a pink slip.

Saving Green: Ten eco-friendly tips for saving money

O&AN's Gary Gaston offers ten tips on saving money and the planet.

Photo Gallery: Karma holds first 'gay night'

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

Going for the gay gold

Nashville couple to compete in World Outgames in Denmark this month. Forget summer vacation. One Nashville couple will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, this month to participate in the 2009 World Outgames.

Mass. Lawsuit Challenges Federal Gay Marriage Ban

Massachusetts has filed a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Gay Kiss Nixed By Restaurant Guards, Police

A late night taco fix turned into discrimination when a group of gay men were asked to leave a restaurant for kissing

Obama At Odds Over Faith And Gay Rights

President Obama has said he 'wrestles' to reconcile his religious faith and gay rights

Visit 2015Place.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:24:00 +0000

Massachusetts Seeks to Force Federal Taxpayers to Subsidize Same-Sex 'Marriage'

People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish Line

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Juan Blas

HOT GUY OF THE DAY: Juan is from Argentina, and doesn't mind the 'Latin lover' tag at all. But is he hot? Decide for yourself!

Is A 'Harry Potter' Star Gay?

MAN-ON-MAN MAGIC? A UK paper seems to imply a male star of the Harry Potter franchise prefers men to women, while the wand wizard himself, Daniel Radcliffe, says he is interested in older woman, as well as birds his own age...

Michael Jackson Laid to Rest Without His Brain

JACKSON BURIED WITHOUT BRAIN: MJ was laid to rest yesterday without his brain, because doctors did not have sufficient time to determine cause of death...

American Airlines Presses Business Case for Equal Fed. Employee Benefits

Ed. Note: This post by Wesley Combs is part of a regular column from HRCâs Business Council spotlighting LGBT workplace news. American Airline’s Carolyn Wright As the Director of Diverse Segment Marketing at American Airlines and a proud member of HRCâs Business Council, Betty Young had a first-hand chance today to find out how much it means [...]

Mass. AG Challenges Federal DOMA

Today the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a federal challenge to Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act (âDOMAâ) as applied to Massachusetts citizens who are legally married (read HRCâs press release). The Attorney Generalâs complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al alleges that DOMA violates the United States Constitution [...]

The Push is on for DADT Repeal

Ed. Note: This post is from Jarrod Chlapowski, a U.S. Army veteran who recently joined the Human Rights Campaign to consult on ending the militaryâs Donât Ask, Donât Tell policy. Having been trained as a Korean linguist and cryptologic voice interceptor, he served in Korea, supporting the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion on more than 300 [...]

Iowa becomes a gay wedding destination (USA Today)

Since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in April, Iowans have been adjusting to their state's new status as a wedding destination for gay and lesbian couples.

Massachusetts sues U.S. over gay marriage rights (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Massachusetts sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed since the state became the nation's first to legalize same-sex marriage.

Massachusetts sues US over gay marriage rights (TVNZ)

Massachusetts sued the US government to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed

Visit 2015Place.com

Canadian Gay News Headlines (T13T-4)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:23:00 +0000

Victoria Pride draws thousands

More than 15,000 attended Victoria's Pride Parade this past weekend. Xtra.ca videographer Rob Easton was there to check out the event, watch his video report below:

Victoria Pride draws thousands

More than 15,000 attended Victoria's Pride Parade this past weekend. Xtra.ca videographer Rob Easton was there to check out the event, watch his video report below: Visit 2015Place.com

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The Grand Unveiling of the World's Most Famous Hidden Children

THE SHOT — For the first time, all three of Michael Jackson's children — Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II ("Blanket"), 7, are seen together, unmasked. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Michael Jackson, the shot

55,087 Signatures Threaten to Delete Maine's Marriage Equality

In a great move for companies Montblanc and Dunder Mifflin, opponents to the passage of Maine's same-sex marriage law have gathered the necessary 55,087 signatures required to put a repeal up for a statewide vote. The marriage equality bill, signed in May by Gov. John Baldacci, has not yet gone into effect; that is to [...]

Is the Argument to Repeal DADT Stronger When Straight Soldiers Make It?

Here's a novel idea: While the Dan Chois of the world can run around America insisting openly gay soldiers are good for the country, how about some openly straight soldiers running around America insisting, uh, the same thing? Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: DADT, Military, Video

Itâs that time again to hit the dance floor and dance all night When? and Where? Wednesday Night 10pm @ Starline!!

Â This is the only 18 and over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

David Guetta: **** Me Iâm Famous

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

Dolores Park: A San Francisco Treat

Dolores Park inÂ San Francisco, CA has to be one of the most relaxing places I enjoy traveling toÂ every timeÂ I travel to that city.Â Â Remember thoseÂ good o’ childhood memories with your family andÂ friends atÂ a local park, BBQing,Â running around and playing on the swing set?Â Well, this is no different becauseÂ instead of running you’re laying out, and instead [...]

Dan Savage addresses the gay rights / drug rights comparison

In a recent column, columnist Dan Savage took aim at a comparison I have often made (just this week, in fact) about the similarities and differences in the fight for gay civil rights and the end of the drug war. I've always said it is an inexact comparison, but helpful for making strategy and understanding the political climate.
(Savage Love) I am a high-functioning regular heroin user (not quite an addict), and I feel constantly compelled to hide my drug use. I feel that there are similarities between being a drug user and having an alternate sexual orientation in the sense that both users and gays are constantly confronting judgmental opposition from an ill-informed and puritanical American public. I wonder whether you have any thoughts on this matter. Do you believe that drug users are deserving of the same kind of empowerment and liberation as gays, or do you view drug use as a "disease" that needs to be "cured" the same way that the Carrie Prejeans of the world believe gays need to be "cured"?
I realize that one significant difference between heroin use and sexual tastes is that heroin use is illegal, but of course gay relationships were illegal until relatively recently. Am I just rationalizing? Or could drug use be the next civil-rights frontier?
-Dude Requests Understanding Gay Sensibility
Uh... gee.
I don't believe that all drug use is abuse, and I believe that recreational drugs can be used responsibly. And I believe a person should be able to use a drug regularly without being labeled-by himself, by others, by court order-an "addict." I also wish that more people were open about their drug use-but, in the hypocritical fashion of most Americans, only when we're talking about drugs that I like and have used myself, e.g., caffeine, sugar, pot, and my boyfriend's pheromones.
Recreational heroin? Heroin seems kind of extreme, DRUGS, as recreational drugs go. I've known a few people who've self-medicated with heroin and functioned well enough to get by-just-and I think that all drugs should be legal, your drug of choice included. We need to end the war on drugs, a failure and a waste of money and lives. And the quickest way to end it is for successful drug users-people like you, me, Michael Phelps, and the president of the United States of America-to be open about our past, present, and future drug use. But I don't think "drug user" is an identity that's really comparable to sexual orientation. Using drugs is something you do, DRUGS, it's not something you are.
Look at it this way: If you stopped doing drugs today, DRUGS, you'd no longer be a drug user. If I stopped inhaling my boyfriend's pheromones-and cock-today, DRUGS, I'd still be a big homo. Because gay is like Cats ("now and forever"), while heroin is like Twitter (fun at first, sure, but you'll regret it one day). See the difference?
But, yeah, the freedom to use drugs can certainly be viewed as a civil-rights issue: It's about the right to control what you do with your own body, and that argument resonates with others advanced by gay-rights advocates and advocates of reproductive choice. But different drugs carry different rist risks-risks of harm, risks of overdose, risks of death-and, legal or not, heroin is a highly dangerous drug. It's a drug that's made more dangerous by its prohibition, sure, but it's dangerous even when it's pure. But I think you have a right to use it, if you want to use it, and that you should have access to safe, medical-grade heroin and clean needles. But I don't think you should use it, not when there are other, better, safer drugs available.
Like my boyfriend's pheromones.

Savage makes good points, many I've made before, but his post led me to thinking about this comparison in a broader context.
So I wrote Dan an email, and asked if he would come on my show to interview about this topic. I also took the liberty of writing to Dan in his own linguistically blunt manner.
Mr. Savage, I loved your column's response to the heroin user who asked about the parallels between gay civil rights and use of drugs. I write for Pam's House Blend, a popular LGBT blog (though I'm hetero) and have made the civil rights comparison many times.
But I disagree slightly with this comparison of yours:
If you stopped doing drugs today, DRUGS, you'd no longer be a drug user. If I stopped inhaling my boyfriend's pheromones-and cock-today, DRUGS, I'd still be a big homo.

I get your point - that sexuality is innate and taking drugs is a choice. However, I think that is only valid in a narrow view. Think of it more broadly: the urge to alter consciousness and the urge to fuck are both innate. I may smoke pot, DRUGS may shoot smack, others may bungee jump, ski, or skydive to get their adrenaline high; I may fuck women, you may inhale cock, others may beat off in an apple pie.
But when I stop smoking pot (ha! rarely!) I have not stopped being a high-seeking human. You're looking at the act of taking drugs like homophobes look at the act of sucking cock, confusing the physical act (a choice) with the desire (innate). I would contend that the abstinent pot smoker is still a "stoner", in that the desire to alter consciousness in that manner still exists. It's like how the alcoholics in AA never say they're "cured"
It's not a perfect analogy, granted. But I just don't think the act of taking drugs alone defines the people who take drugs.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. Everybody wants to get off - sexually and mentally - but society has criminalized or rendered taboo some of the choices on the menu. I'd say that the shared goal of both movements is to allow people to pursue that sexual or mental high in any way they see fit so long as they do no harm to others.
I'm innately a pothead. I've done alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, LSD, mushrooms, Ecstasy, cocaine, and meth all to onl to one degree or another, and they were all fun in their own way (and somewhat destructive in others), but when I use cannabis, I feel normal (with an "a"). When I discovered it, it was like an "aha!" moment. For the first time I felt whole and like my brain finally wasn't sabotaging me with depression, anxiety, constant internal criticism, self-loathing, and disjointed thoughts.
It's still not a perfect analogy, I know. But like the homobigots who say, "Well, you gays have all the marriage rights everyone else does, so long as you marry a woman," I feel bombarded with "Well, you potheads can get as high as you like, so long as you drink beer."
* Note: understand that my use of terms like "pothead" and "stoner" are much like some African-Americans' use of a certain six-letter perjorative - I can call myself that, we can call each other that, but you damn sure better not call us that!

Black kids booted from Philly club's 'whites-only' pool

Welcome to post-racial America, where people have their heads in the sand about the state of race relations in this country because a black man was elected POTUS.
The staff at the Valley Swim Club in NE Philly must have stepped into the DeLorean and took a spin back into the days of segregation, as 60 kids were turned away from the pool there and apparently the people at the Swim Club didn't mind their inner bigot surface for all to see. (NBC Philly):

"I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor.

The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

"When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool," Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

..."There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.
Excuse me, what year is this? Am I watching a rerun of a scene i n Far From Heaven (2002)? There was a scene in the Todd Haynes film, set in the 1950s, where a black boy, the son of service worker at a Miami hotel, dares to step into the hotel pool. His father rushes and pulls him out, but it's too late -- the white people in the pool race to get out of the "contaminated" water. Apparently that's the kind of "change they can believe in" at The Valley Swim Club.
Contact information for the club is here. This is so outrageous that I'm almost unable to type.
I don't see anything on the membership app asking about race, so when do they determine you can't join -- when you show up? Check out the club's rules of operations below the fold.
I t; I don't see anything here about no Negroes.
The Valley Club
2009 Rules of Operation
(7) Only one person allowed on the diving board at a time.
(8) No glass of any kind is allowed on the club grounds.
(9) Floating devices not secured to the swimmer are prohibited except at specific times.
(10) Swimming under the diving board is strictly forbidden.
(11) The pool apron must be kept free of blankets, towels, clothing, chairs, strollers, etc...
(12) The baby pool and nearby play area are for children under 7 years of age.
(13) Baby swim diapers must be worn in the baby pool.
(14) Children not toilet trained may not use the large pool.
(15) No guard is on duty for the baby pool. Parents are responsible.
(16) Smoking, eating, drinking, and gum chewing is not permitted on the pool apron or in the pool. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.
(17) Each member is responsible for keeping the grounds clean.
(18) Please do not attempt to intimidate the pool employees in the performance of their duties.
(19) Pool managers and lifeguards are responsible for enforcing the above rules and regulations.
GENERAL
(1) Types of Membership: FULL-SEASON=entitles members to access club every day we are open. WEEKENDS=entitles members to access club on Fri, Saturdays,& Sundays WEEKDAYS=entitles members to access club Mondays thru Thursdays
ALL WELCOME ON HOLIDAYS!
(2) Membership cards must be presented upon request to obtain entrance to the club. Please be prepared to show a driver's license with your membership card.
(3) Pets are not permitted on club grounds
(4) Persons under the influence of intoxicants will be denied admission to the club.
(5) Possession and/or the use of alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. The club is not responsible for the loss or damage to personal property.
(6) Any member (or guest) deliberately destroying or damaging pool property will be subject to financial reimbursement for the damages and disciplinary action in violating the by-laws.
(7) Loading and unloading of vehicles will be permitted at the upper level, but all members and guest vehicles must be returned to the paved parking lot located at the club entrance.
(8) Picnic tables must not be placed anywhere other than the picnic area, nor may they be reserved. A limited number of picnic tables may be reserved by the Club Manager for pre-registered member parties during the week.
(9) Cooking must be confined to the areas designated for this purpose.
(10) Tables on the patio next to the snack bar are to be used only d only for eating food purchased at the snack bar.
(11) Water Volleyball Schedule
Saturdays/Sundays
2:00 to 2:30 pm and 4:00 to 4:30 pm
(12) Adult Lap Swim Schedule
Everyday
11:30 am to 12:30 pm; 2:30 to 2:50 pm; 4:30 to 4:50 pm; 5:30 to 6:00 pm
(13) The shallow end of the pool will remain open to the full membership during these lap swims.
POOL HOURS
(1) The gate to the pool will be open from 11:30 am until 8:30 pm, weather permitting.
(2) If there is inclement weather forecast for the day, please call the club answering machine to find out if the club is open or not.
(3) During Our Swim Lessons (Mondays thru Thursdays), the shallow end of the pool will open at 12:30 pm to accommodate swim lessons.
These rules are for the benefit of all club members and must be obeyed at all times. Members are responsible for their children and guests, in compliance with club rules. It is the responsibility of each member to inform guest of pool rules. Infractions may result in temporary loss of club privileges or loss of membership. Please help by respecting and obeying the rules. Situations arising that are not specifically covered by the established rules will be resolved by the manager or the Board of Directors at anytime.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
(1) All members use the club facilities at their own risk.
(2) Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied at all times by an adult member (17 years or older).
(3) All children under the age of 13 must pass a swimming test to be permitted in the deep end without an adult.
(4) Use of the pool will be refused to anyone wearing bandages or having skin abrasions, colds, coughs, inflamed eyes, skin infections, etc...
(5) All bathers must shower before entering the pool.
(6) Running is not permitted on the pool apron.
GUEST REGULATIONS
(1) All guests must be accompanied by the sponsoring member upon entering the club grounds. Members must remain with their guests. You may not bring guests into the club and leave the grounds.
(2)The club strongly urges the use of pre-paid guest cards. These cards may be purchased pre-season with dues. They may also be purchased through the pool manager.
(3) Guest Rates:
Adults $10.00
Children (under 17) $5.00
Guest Rates After 6:00 pm
Adults $5.00 Children (under 17) $2.00
(4) We invite you to have your family birthday or other parties at our club (including summer company picnic). Our Party Rate for 2009 Members will be $7 per person. For non-members it is $10 per person. For parties, our grounds are open to members and non-members, alike. Parties must pre-register with the pool manager to reserve enough tables/space.
Join Our Swim and Dive Teams: TheValleyClub.com
More at J&J Politics. Here's a great video:

Sheila Jackson-Lee to call for Congressional investigation into the murder of sailor August Provost

Thank god this case is gaining traction. After that ludicrous Time magazine article, "Gays in the Military: Does a Sailor's Murder Signal Deeper Problems?, that blamed the victim by saying Provost's murder is a sign that the military "isn't ready" for repeal of DADT, House member Sheila Jackson-Lee wants to get to the bottom of what may be a hate crime based on Provost's sexual orientation. (Rod 2.0):
The announcement by Jackson-Lee -- who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign -- comes at the same time other members of the Congress are pressing for action. Sources tell Rod 2.0 the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and the Black Leadership Forum are making a joint statement demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too. Filner wants also wants DoD and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime.

Bonnie Tinker: Rest in Peace

Oregon Restaurants Take Action for Gay Rights (06/09)

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 Transgende Oregon Legislature Unanimous in Support of Federal Hate Crimes Protections For Gay and Transgender Americans (06/09)

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 [...]

Weird Wednesday Vid: Busy Drag Queen

The heat is getting to me and turning my brain weird…Thus I think its high time once again for a Weird and Wacky Wednesday video. Here’s one featuring Raye Sunshine as the Busy Drag Queen: Busy Drag Queen 2 Related Link: – More weird videos at Funny or Die

Wednesday’s Headlines

Wednesday’s headlines include stories we’ve been following and a couple of new stories too. News Updates: - Fort Worth Incident: Star-Telegram Editorial: It’s vital to complete and publicize Fort Worth police and TABC investigations into the Rainbow Lounge incident Emma Ruby-Sachs: Fort Worth Gay Bar Raid No Accident Immigration/Asylum Update: California: Without federal appeal, asylum for gay Filipino professor becomes [...]

Blaire Wedding Project

Samantha Lavin and Lori Brener present: The Blaire Wedding Project Blaire Wedding Project, (a spoof of the indie film sensation Blair Witch Project) recently won The People’s Choice award in a marriage equality video contest. Blaire Wedding was written and directed by Samantha Lavin, who works as an assistant director for the hit show Scrubs, [...]

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GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Massachusetts Seeks to Force Federal Taxpayers to Subsidize Same-Sex 'Marriage'

People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish Line

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Is A 'Harry Potter' Star Gay?

MAN-ON-MAN MAGIC? A UK paper seems to imply a male star of the Harry Potter franchise prefers men to women, while the wand wizard himself, Daniel Radcliffe, says he is interested in older woman, as well as birds his own age...

Michael Jackson Laid to Rest Without His Brain

JACKSON BURIED WITHOUT BRAIN: MJ was laid to rest yesterday without his brain, because doctors did not have sufficient time to determine cause of death...

The Phantom of the Opera Never Dies

SECOND ACT: Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals who will star in the much-hyped sequel to the Broadway smash, The Phantom of the Opera...

American Airlines Presses Business Case for Equal Fed. Employee Benefits

Ed. Note: This post by Wesley Combs is part of a regular column from HRCâs Business Council spotlighting LGBT workplace news. American Airline’s Carolyn Wright As the Director of Diverse Segment Marketing at American Airlines and a proud member of HRCâs Business Council, Betty Young had a first-hand chance today to find out how much it means [...]

Mass. AG Challenges Federal DOMA

Today the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a federal challenge to Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act (âDOMAâ) as applied to Massachusetts citizens who are legally married (read HRCâs press release). The Attorney Generalâs complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al alleges that DOMA violates the United States Constitution [...]

The Push is on for DADT Repeal

Ed. Note: This post is from Jarrod Chlapowski, a U.S. Army veteran who recently joined the Human Rights Campaign to consult on ending the militaryâs Donât Ask, Donât Tell policy. Having been trained as a Korean linguist and cryptologic voice interceptor, he served in Korea, supporting the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion on more than 300 [...]

Massachusetts sues U.S. over gay marriage rights (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Massachusetts sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed since the state became the nation's first to legalize same-sex marriage.

Before 'Bruno': A brief history of gay characters in movies and TV (New York Daily News)

Bruno, the flamboyant Sasha Baron Cohen character who will stride boldly into America's multiplexes on July 10, still won't have a lot of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered company when he gets there.

US govt sued over gay rights (Straits Times)

BOSTON - MASSACHUSSETS sued the US government on Wednesday to seek federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed since the state became the nation's first to legalize same-sex marriage. The state is challenging the constitutionality of the federal 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, saying it denies 'essential rights and protections' to married gay couples.

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Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:05:00 +0000

The Grand Unveiling of the World's Most Famous Hidden Children

THE SHOT — For the first time, all three of Michael Jackson's children — Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II ("Blanket"), 7, are seen together, unmasked. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Michael Jackson, the shot

55,087 Signatures Threaten to Delete Maine's Marriage Equality

In a great move for companies Montblanc and Dunder Mifflin, opponents to the passage of Maine's same-sex marriage law have gathered the necessary 55,087 signatures required to put a repeal up for a statewide vote. The marriage equality bill, signed in May by Gov. John Baldacci, has not yet gone into effect; that is to [...]

Is the Argument to Repeal DADT Stronger When Straight Soldiers Make It?

Here's a novel idea: While the Dan Chois of the world can run around America insisting openly gay soldiers are good for the country, how about some openly straight soldiers running around America insisting, uh, the same thing? Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: DADT, Military, Video

It’s that time again to hit the dance floor and dance all night When? and Where? Wednesday Night 10pm @ Starline!!

Â This is the only 18 and over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

David Guetta: **** Me I’m Famous

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

Dolores Park: A San Francisco Treat

Dolores Park inÂ San Francisco, CA has to be one of the most relaxing places I enjoy traveling toÂ every timeÂ I travel to that city.Â Â Remember thoseÂ good o’ childhood memories with your family andÂ friends atÂ a local park, BBQing,Â running around and playing on the swing set?Â Well, this is no different becauseÂ instead of running you’re laying out, and instead [...]

Sheila Jackson-Lee to call for Congressional investigation into the murder of sailor August Provost

Thank god this case is gaining traction. After that ludicrous Time magazine article, "Gays in the Military: Does a Sailor's Murder Signal Deeper Problems?, that blamed the victim by saying Provost's murder is a sign that the military "isn't ready" for repeal of DADT, House member Sheila Jackson-Lee wants to get to the bottom of what may be a hate crime based on Provost's sexual orientation. (Rod 2.0):
The announcement by Jackson-Lee -- who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign -- comes at the same time other members of the Congress are pressing for action. Sources tell Rod 2.0 the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP, and the Black Leadership Forum are making a joint statement demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too. Filner wants also wants DoD and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime.

Transgender Rights in Massachusetts - Show your support on July 14

Update: Anyone feeling lazy about acting in support of this bill, a reminder of how dedicated the opposition is rests below the fold.
Your help is needed now to pass transgender non-discrimination legislation in Massachusetts. &nbmp;nbsp;Our friends at GLAD explain how you can help.
Next Tuesday, July 14, "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes" (H. 1728/S. 1687) will be heard by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill will explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression.
Please join us at the State House next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. as we stand together with parents, employees, victims of violence and allies in the passing of this bill and the right for all Massachusetts citizens to work, go to school and live without fear. If you have not already done so, contact your legislators today and share your own story about why you support this bill.
A large show of support at the hearing on Tuesday will demonstrate to legislators that Massachusetts is ready to join the twelve other U.S. states, including Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont, that protect all citizens equally under the law.

This is why we need all hands on deck to support the bill. The hate brigade is not going to play nice. They never have, they never will.
This is it: Hearing on HB 1728 next Tuesday
Weeks and months of lobbying, strategy and grassroots action have led up to the hearing next Tuesday before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The "bathroom bill" fight has been played out on the airwaves and in the halls of the Statehouse. Passage of HB 1728 is the top priority of the radical homosexual lobby in this state, and they have poured their resources into lobbyists and phone banks.
With 104 legislators having signed on as co-sponsors of the "bathroom bill," killing this dangerous legislation in committee is critical. Efforts were successful last year due to a huge grassroots uprising spurned on by MFI and our coalition partners, emailing, calling and writing to the Judiciary Committee members.
That may not be enough this year. We need you at the hearing in Boston next Tuesday, July 14. Our opponents will turn out in large numbers as they always do, but we must be there in equal numbers. The hearing begins at 1:00 pm in the Gardner Auditorium. If you want to testify, it is strongly recommended that you get there early to get your name on the list, as this is how they will call people.
Please RSVP to attend either by replying to this email or sending an email to xxxx@haters.org. This is a fight that we can win, but not without your help. If you are able to help keep our hard-hitting radio ads on the air, please CLICK HERE to donate today.
As always, pleas, please visit www.nobathroombill.com for more information and to send emails to the members of the Judiciary Committee.

Carl Walker-Hoover's mom testifies before Congress for federal Safe Schools Improvement Act

It's good to see action on this. It was a long, brutal, but successful battle to get anti-bullying legislation passed in North Carolina; creating safe spaces to learn in school should not be a political football.
No one knows this more than Sirdeaner Walker, who is in the public eye for the most horrific reasons -- losing a child to suicide after bullying in school was badly handled by school administrators. Eleven-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover's precious life ended with an electrical cord tied to his neck, his body swinging from a support beam in the stairwell of his home, with Mrs. Walker discovering his lifeless body.
Sirdeaner Walker has taken action in her grief -- she testified before House Subcommittees in favor of a federal Safe Schools Improvement Act. (GLSEN):

Carl, who attended New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Mass., took his own life April 6 after enduring constant bullying at school, including being called "gay" and "faggot" even though he did not identify as gay.
"Carl liked football and basketball and playing video games with his little brother," Walker testified. "He loved the Lord and he loved his family. What could make a child his age despair so much that he would take his own life? That question haunts me to this day, and I will probably never know the answer.
"School bullying is a national crisis, and we need a national solution to deal with it. That is why I am here today. Teachers, administrators and other school personnel need additional support and clear guidance about how to ensure that all kids feel safe in school. Congress can make sure they have that guidance and support by making anti-bullying policies mandatory in all of our nation's schools."
The Safe Schools Improvement Act wo Act would require schools that receive Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding to implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories often targeted by bullies, including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and others. It also requires states to include bullying and harassment data in their state-wide needs assessments reporting.
The bill is sponsored by Calif. Rep. Linda S?nchez, who is joined by lead cosponsors Fla. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and N.Y. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy among the 60 bipartisan cosponsors.
"Students cannot learn and teachers cannot teach in environments that aren't safe," Rep. McCarthy said at the hearing. "Schools should be sanctuaries for our children to learn and get the tools they need to succeed in life, not places where children have to worry about physical or emotional violence."
More below the fold.

Nearly two-thirds of middle and high school students (65%) said they had been bullied in school in the past year, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 report from GLSEN and Harris Interactive based on survey results from 3,450 secondary school students from across the United States.
"GLSEN thanks the subcommittees for taking the time to listen to an esteemed panel of students, parents and youth advocates who are leading the effort to find solutions to the endemic problem of bullying in America's schools," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "We also would like to thank Sirdeaner Walker for her courage in telling her story so that other families may not have to endure the unthinkable tragedy of losing a child due in part to bullying.
"We urge Congress to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act. As a nation, we must begin to address school bullying as the public health risk that it is. A federal anti-bullying policy is an important step toward making sure that all students are safe in school."
Added Walker: "The most important thing I've learned is that bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up. It can be prevented. And there isn't a moment to lose."
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund submitted testimony in favor of the legislation. Executive Director Rea Carey:
"Schools should be places of safety, not fear. Yet, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and young adults, children and young adults who are perceived by peers to be LGBT, and the children of LGBT parents all remain at high risk of aggressive bullying and harassment. Sadly, the nation has recently witnessed many youth suicides that were caused by aggressive and unremitting school bullying targeted at a student's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This year, for example, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old in Massachusetts committed suicide because he faced daily and severe anti-gay bullying. As such examples demonstrate, unsafe schools can have profoundly destructive consequences.
"Bullying and harassment motivated by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are national problems deserving of federal legislative attention. The Task Force Action Fund welcomes federal measures to increase school safety that are cognizant of the specific prejudices faced by LGBT students and families. As one such measure, we ask Congress to pass H.R. 2262, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez. The Safe Schools Improvement Act would help schools deal with bullying and harassment that target a student's actual or perceived identity or associations with persons or groups on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. It would send a strong and clear message that schools have a duty to actively protect all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

Bonnie Tinker: Rest in Peace

Oregon Restaurants Take Action for Gay Rights (06/09)

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 Ameri Legislature Unanimous in Support of Federal Hate Crimes Protections For Gay and Transgender Americans (06/09)

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 [...]

Weird Wednesday Vid: Busy Drag Queen

The heat is getting to me and turning my brain weird…Thus I think its high time once again for a Weird and Wacky Wednesday video. Here’s one featuring Raye Sunshine as the Busy Drag Queen: Busy Drag Queen 2 Related Link: – More weird videos at Funny or Die

Tuesdayâs Headline News

Tuesday’s headlines include some more religious controversy, some marriage news, updates on murder trials, and a bit of politics. Crime & Court Cases: - In New Zealand an update: Jury retires for night in banjo murder trial - In the U.S. (Brooklyn teen homophobe case) an update: Life Term in Gay Slay Gay Marriage: - Gay Marriages Now Recognized in [...]

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International Gay News Headlines (T25T-3)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Mother of gay son berates Irish minister over civil partnerships

When Declan Doody wrote to Irish justice minister Dermot Ahern about the inequality of civil partnerships, he was dismayed to receive no response. However, when he posted a copy of the letter on his Facebook, his mother Helen was spurred into action to write her own.

Polish Law and Justice Party confirms they're still homophobic despite joining forces with the Tories in Europe

A Polish Law and Justice Party (PiS) MEP has refuted statements made by former Tory leader William Hague that the party has changed its views on gay rights.

Gay actor John Barrowman says bishop who said gays must change should "stop talking rubbish"

Dr Who actor John Barrowman has responded to comments made by Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, who called on gay people to "repent and be changed".

Local: A Lotus By Any Other Name

Two prominent queer venues are battling over the naming rights of Melbourneâs weekly Asian pride night, Lotus.

Local: Sydney Star Observer Turns 30

This week Sydney Star Observer turned 30, celebrating their 'pearl jubilee'. The Star will celebrate another major milestone later this year with the publication of the 1,000th issue on December 9.

Videos: Royksopp And Robyn - The Girl And The Robot

Track Two on the new Royksopp album is this Robyn collaboration 'The Girl And The Robot'.

'Bruno' a hit Down Under - Hollywood Reporter

BBC News
'Bruno' a hit Down Under
Hollywood Reporter
Sacha Baron Cohen's R-rated comedy about a fictional gay fashionista from Austria already has Australia in a tizzy. ...
Film review: BrÃ¼nowww.thisissurreytoday.co.uk
REVIEW: BRUNOIslington Gazette
UPDATED: Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno" adds Dallas residents to list ...Examiner.com
Gay NZ -Irish Independent -Arab Times
all 373 news articles »

Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow - Examiner.com

Examiner.com
Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow
Examiner.com
Philadelphia QFest, formerly known as the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian film festival, will run from July 9-20. Philly QFest celebrates its 15 th ...

and more »

Gay men claim discrimination by security company, EPPD - KVIA

Gay men claim discrimination by security company, EPPD
KVIA
All American International Security stands by their two security guards. General manager Ramon Galindo did not want to give an on-camera interview but said ...

and more »

'Bruno' a hit Down Under - Hollywood Reporter

BBC News
'Bruno' a hit Down Under
Hollywood Reporter
Sacha Baron Cohen's R-rated comedy about a fictional gay fashionista from Austria already has Australia in a tizzy. ...
Film review: BrÃ¼nowww.thisissurreytoday.co.uk
REVIEW: BRUNOIslington Gazette
UPDATED: Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno" adds Dallas residents to list ...Examiner.com
Gay NZ -Irish Independent -Arab Times
all 373 news articles »

Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow - Examiner.com

Examiner.com
Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow
Examiner.com
Philadelphia QFest, formerly known as the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian film festival, will run from July 9-20. Philly QFest celebrates its 15 th ...

and more »

Gay men claim discrimination by security company, EPPD - KVIA

Gay men claim discrimination by security company, EPPD
KVIA
All American International Security stands by their two security guards. General manager Ramon Galindo did not want to give an on-camera interview but said ...

and more »

Auckland City: No money for gay groups

Auckland City Council has given out over $262K in its Community Group Assistance Fund for 2009, but all four applications from LGBT community groups have been declined.

Cartier Trust grateful for Drag Bingo cash

Last month's glamourous Black Tie Drag Bingo night at Auckland's Hopetoun Alpha venue raised $7,032 for the Cartier Bereavement Charitable Trust - and the Trustees are "thrilled to bits" with the response to the new event.

Ambach jury asks judge about intent

The jury in the trial of Ferdinand Ambach has retired for the night after asking for guidance on intoxication and intent.

Visit 2015Place.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:11:00 +0000

People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish Line

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Legal Memo Outlines Pentagon Options On Gay Ban

Michael Jackson Laid to Rest Without His Brain

JACKSON BURIED WITHOUT BRAIN: MJ was laid to rest yesterday without his brain, because doctors did not have sufficient time to determine cause of death...

The Advocate Profiles Perez Hilton

HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM? The controversial celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was heralded for criticizing Miss California Carrie Prejean, then ignited a firestorm when he published compromising photos of screenwriter and LGBT crusader Dustin Lance Black. So what does Perez have to say for himself?

Three's Company Star Gets DUI

DON and rsquo;T TELL MR. FURLEY! Former Three and rsquo;s Company star Joyce DeWitt landed in hot water over the holiday weekend with a D.U.I...

Mass. AG Challenges Federal DOMA

Today the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a federal challenge to Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act (âDOMAâ) as applied to Massachusetts citizens who are legally married (read HRCâs press release). The Attorney Generalâs complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al alleges that DOMA violates the United States Constitution [...]

The Push is on for DADT Repeal

Ed. Note: This post is from Jarrod Chlapowski, a U.S. Army veteran who recently joined the Human Rights Campaign to consult on ending the militaryâs Donât Ask, Donât Tell policy. Having been trained as a Korean linguist and cryptologic voice interceptor, he served in Korea, supporting the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion on more than 300 [...]

House Holds Hearing on Federal Employee Equal Benefits Bill

TodayÂ the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia will hold a legislative hearing to examine H.R. 2517, the âDomestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act of 2009,â introduced by Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.Â The bill would provide domestic partners of federal employees equal benefits — a policy of treating every [...]

Massachusetts sues U.S. over gay marriage rights (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Massachusetts' attorney general filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the U.S. government that seeks federal marriage benefits for about 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have legally wed in Massachusetts.

Before 'Bruno': A brief history of gay characters in movies and TV (New York Daily News)

Bruno, the flamboyant Sasha Baron Cohen character who will stride boldly into America's multiplexes on July 10, still won't have a lot of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered company when he gets there.

Gay Marriage Recognized in Nation's Capital (Law.com)

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, same-sex couples married in jurisdictions outside D.C. had their unions recognized by the District, and work is underway to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married in Washington as well.

Visit 2015Place.com

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:04:00 +0000

'If Obama plays politics to stay in power and never moves on our rights, that is no different from a politician that runs as an opponent of us'

"I'm sorry, but there comes a point where there is no longer any difference in trying to play politics and actually being opposed to us. If Obama, plays politics to stay in power and so to keep that power never ever moves on our rights, that is no different from a politician that runs for [...]

Does Writing Your Congressman Actually Work? Yes, Sort Of

In case you ever thought writing, calling, or emailing your representatives was a waste of time, take it from Steve Hildebrand, Barack Obama's openly gay deputy national campaign director: CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Politics, Steve Hildebrand

PHOTOS: Why So Duer?

GRATUITOUS SKIN — There's a reason why Tom Duer finds himself competing in fitness competitions: because he is ridiculously fit. But we'll take "regular clothes" over "modeling bikini" every time. (See what we mean on Page 11.) CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: gratuitous skin, Models, Photos, risque, tom duer

It’s that time again to hit the dance floor and dance all night When? and Where? Wednesday Night 10pm @ Starline!!

Â This is the only 18 and over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

David Guetta: **** Me I’m Famous

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

Dolores Park: A San Francisco Treat

Dolores Park inÂ San Francisco, CA has to be one of the most relaxing places I enjoy traveling toÂ every timeÂ I travel to that city.Â Â Remember thoseÂ good o’ childhood memories with your family andÂ friends atÂ a local park, BBQing,Â running around and playing on the swing set?Â Well, this is no different becauseÂ instead of running you’re laying out, and instead [...]

Massachusetts sues feds over DOMA

Hoo boy, so now what is our fierce advocate going to say/do as the federal lawsuits over marriage equality pile up at the door? Calling Robert Gibbs for comment...(AP):

The federal Defense of Marriage Act interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define and regulate marriage as it sees fit, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said. The 1996 law denies federal recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, argues the act "constitutes an overreaching and discriminatory federal law." It says the approximately 16,000 same-sex couples who have married in Massachusetts since the state began performing gay marriages in 2004 are being unfairly denied federal benefits given to heterosexual couples.
...The lawsuit also argues that the federal law requires the state to violate the constitutional rights of its citizens by treating married heterosexual couples and married same-sex couples differently when determining eligibility for Medicaid benefits and when determining whether the spouse of a veteran can be buried in a Massachusetts veterans' cemetery.
"In enacting DOMA, Congress overstepped its authority, undermined states' efforts to recognize marriages between same-sex couples, and codified an animus towards gay and lesbian people," the lawsuit states.
This lawsuit is the second from the Bay State to slap one on the feds. In March, Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders filed a suit challenging the portion of DOMA that denies same-sex married couples' access to federal benefits.
Reaction...
HRC:
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, today commends the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Attorney General Martha Coakley for filing a federal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"), which denies thousands of married same-sex couples in Massachusetts access to over 1,000 federal protections, benefits and obligations. This lawsuit, which names the United States and the Secretaries and Departments of Veterans affairs and Health and Human Services as defendants, marks the first time that a state has challenged the federal government's discriminatory treatment of its LGBT citizens.
The complaint in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services et al points out that discrimination against same-sex married couples bears no nexus to the purposes of federal programs like Medicaid.
"The Commonwealth has presented the court with the stark facts of discrimination that should finally spell the end of DOMA," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Excluding our families from equal protections never had anything to do with promoting a legitimate interest, and has everything to do with discrimination."
"DOMA was wrong, discriminatory and mean-spirited when it was enacted in 1996, and today it stands between thousands of married couples and the equal protections they deserve," Solmonese said. "We applaud the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for stepping forward on behalf of these families and saying,ying, in essence, 'enough is enough.' Now it is time for the federal government to take affirmative steps to challenge and repeal this discriminatory law that causes real harm to loving, married couples and their children."

One Downside of Being Known as "VACATIONLAND"...

UPDATE: Portland Press Herald just now (2:15pm EDT) reporting that "Stand For Marriage Maine" now claims to have the 55,000 signatures they need to force a November referendum..
From PRNewswire:

PORTLAND, Me., July 8 PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Looking to overturn a bill signed by Governor John Baldacci in May approving same sex marriage, Stand For Marriage Maine announced today that they have collected more than the 55,087 signatures needed to place a People's Veto on the November ballot and are collecting additional signatures as insurance to meet the deadline to qualify the measure for the 2009 statewide election.
"In just four weeks, we've gathered more than 55,000 signatures from Mainers who believe they, not the legislature and governor, should have the final say on the definition of marriage," said Marc Mutty, Chairman of the coalition. "There has been an extraordinary outpouring of support from voters across the state. This response gives us momentum that will lift us over the first hurdle of putting the issue before the people and, ultimately, carry us to victory in November."
All signatures must be certified by the Secretary of State for validity. Once certified, the issue is cleared to appear on the November 2009 ballot.

Here we go, folks...
Click HERE to donate to MaineFreedomToMarry!!!
==============================================
.. is the damned "out-of-staters".
Most visitors to our state are considered by the natives to be "folks from a way"- they are nice, are attracted to and come here to enjoy Maine as it is, with no desire whatsoever to change her or any of us.
Apparently NOM doesn't know, understand or give a rat's ass about Maine's state motto of DIRIGO- "I Lead", or that our highways are festooned with signs like this.

Check out this recent and desperate email (h/t Orion45):

Stand for Marriage Maine!
July 8, 2009
Dear Orion45,
This spring, [out-of-touch politicians in Maine pushed a same-sex marriage bill through the legislaturehttp://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/10828/breakbreaking-maine-gov-baldacci-will-announce-decision-on-signing-marriage-equality-bill -- ignoring the will of their constituents.
Fortunately, under the Maine Constitution, legislators can't pull a stunt like that and get away with it. With a "people's veto," the people of Maine can have the final say on any bill passed by the legislature.
And that people's veto effort is well underway on the same-sex marriage bill. With your help, the people of Maine will have the chance to vote up or down on the same-sex marriage bill this November.
Stand for Marriage Maine!
Leading the charge is Stand for Marriage Maine, a coalition of grassroots activists and pro-family groups (including NOM) formed to allow Maine voters to restore the definition of marriage under Maine law.
Visit StandforMarriageMaine.com for the latest campaign updates and to see how you can join the effort to save marriage in Maine.
Your help is needed as we take our pro-marriage message to every corner of the state. Right now, we're in the signature-gathering phase of the campaign, and with your help we'll far exceed the 55,000 signatures needed to put the same-sex marriage issue on the November ballot.
But time is short. Here's what I need you to do today:
1) Visit StandforMarriageMaine.com, and consider how you can help protect marriage in Maine! Join the Facebook group, or follow Maine4Marriage on Twitter!
2) Make an online donation at StandforMarriageMaine.com to make sure we have the resources needed for collecting tens of thousands of signatures in a short window of time. Your donation of $20, $35, or $50 or more will help ensure success!
3) Forward this message to everyone you know that lives in Maine! We're reaching out to voters all across the state, and we need your help to spread the word! Do it right now!
God bless,
Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
bbrown@nationformarriage.org
?2009 National Organization for Marriage.

Hey, NOM- vacation OVER. Pack it up and head back to Jersey.
"Y'all FORGET where we live now, ya hear??
UGH.
Now, a request to the Blenders... let's show NOM and the rest of their gang that "TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY".
Twitter, Facebook, and SHARE this. Let's do this thing...
One state at a time, like so many dominoes- let's not give back hard-fought for ground.
Click HERE to donate to MaineFreedomToMarry!!!
Many thanks, e veryone.

HRC, Servicemembers United kick off National DADT repeal tour today

UPDATE: Here is video of the presser today from HRC -- on the left, Rep. Patrick Murphy (transcript) and Eric Alva (transcript).

If you live in Philadelphia, Trenton, NJ, Virginia Beach, VA, Phoenix, Kansas City, MO, or Orlando and Tampa in the Sunshine State, you'll be able to catch the "Voices of Honor: A Generation Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" tour as it hits the road. Sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, the tour is in partnership with Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their straight allies.
It kicks off with an announcement event today at the National Press Club.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), announced today the launch of "Voices of Honor: A Generation Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" The national tour highlights the discriminatory law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk. To learn more online, visit: www.hrc.org/VoicesOfHonor.
"This tour focuses on the voices and stories of the qualified, patriotic gay and lesbian service members who are forced out of the U.S. Armed Services simply because of who they are," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Poll after poll continues to show the vast majority of Americans, including the majority of active members of the Armed Services, support the right of gay and lesbian service members to serve openly and honestly. We must repeal this discriminatory policy and ensure that our military can recruit and retain the best and the brightest troops regardless of their sexual orientation."
More below the fold.

"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is an antiquated holdover from a previous era," said Alex Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "The men and women in the modern military, both gay, lesbian, and straight, are professionals. Servicemembers United and HRC are going on the road with the 'Voices of Honor' tour to show the American public who gay service members really are, and that our fellow troops simply do not care about sexual orientation anymore."
"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' clearly isn't working for our military, and it hurts national security and military readiness at a time when America is fighting in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," said U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA). "My time in Iraq taught me that our military needs the best and the brightest who are willing to serve- and that means all Americans, regardless of their orientation. Discharging brave and talented service members from our armed forces is contrary to the values that our military figary fights for and that our nation holds dear."
"Voices of Honor" features a diverse group of gay, lesbian, and straight veterans who have served under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The tour includes former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first U.S. soldier wounded in the Iraq war; Jarrod Chlapowski, a former U.S. Army Korean linguist who opted to not re-enlist because of DADT and is currently a public policy advocate at the Human Rights Campaign; Alex Nicholson, a U.S. Army veteran fluent in Arabic discharged under DADT and current executive director of Servicemembers United; Army Staff Sgt. Genevieve Chase, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Executive Director of American Women Veterans; and others standing united and speaking out for the repeal of this discriminatory policy that continues to harm our nation's security. For veteran profiles, visit: http://www.hrc.org/sites/voice...
Interestingly, Joint Chiefs head Admiral Mullen is also at the National Press Club today for a separate event.
"Voices of Honor: A Generation Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" National Tour:
Philadelphia, PA;
Trenton, NJ;
Virginia Beach, VA;
Phoenix, AZ;
Kansas City, MO;
Orlando, FL;
Tampa, FL;
*Additional cities and dates expected to be announced soon.

Bonnie Tinker: Rest in Peace

1d 21 http://www.basicrights.org/?p=728 8 18 36a Oregon advocate Bonnie Tinker was killed in a tragic bike accident last Thursday while attending a conference in Virginia. Tinker has been a dedicated activist in Oregonâs progressive community for decades. She championed equality as founder and director of Love Makes a Family, peace through her work with Seriously P.O.âed Grannies, and justice as a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Her energy, commitment, and vision of a more just and peaceful world will be missed. Visit Love Makes a Family for links to remembrances and information about memorial services.

35Oregon Restaurants Take Action for Gay Rights (06/09)

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 [...]

Wednesdayâs Headlines

Wednesday’s headlines include stories we’ve been following and a couple of new stories too. News Updates: - Fort Worth Incident: Star-Telegram Editorial: It’s vital to complete and publicize Fort Worth police and TABC investigations into the Rainbow Lounge incident Emma Ruby-Sachs: Fort Worth Gay Bar Raid No Accident Immigration/Asylum Update: California: Without federal appeal, asylum for gay Filipino professor becomes [...]

Blaire Wedding Project

Samantha Lavin and Lori Brener present: The Blaire Wedding Project Blaire Wedding Project, (a spoof of the indie film sensation Blair Witch Project) recently won The People’s Choice award in a marriage equality video contest. Blaire Wedding was written and directed by Samantha Lavin, who works as an assistant director for the hit show Scrubs, [...]

Mondayâs News Updates

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 [...]

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GayTalkRadio -Charlie Howard-August Provost-Michael Jackson- JUL 08 2009

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:58:00 +0000
7/08/2009 - 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

You can now call in to our live show by dialing 360-512-3060.

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
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LGBT News Headlines (T26T-5)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:55:00 +0000

KATU
DC recognizes gay marriages
Philadelphia Inquirer
Under the law, gay and lesbian couples wed in other jurisdictions have the same benefits and rights as other married people under DC law. ...
In gay-marriage battle, DC shapes up as next big prizeChristian Science Monitor
Mass. sues feds over definition of marriageThe Associated Press
Mass. challenges federal Defense of Marriage ActBoston Globe
Washington Post -The Associated Press -The Associated Press
all 543 news articles »

Telegraph.co.uk
Et tu, BrÃ¼no?
Los Angeles Times
Actually, to be more specific, he's an idiotic, shallow gay Austrian fashionista. And if "BrÃ¼no" is a little more troubling for the source of its humor ...
Review: 'Bruno' plays like 'Borat's' less funny brotherSan Jose Mercury News
Knight at the Movies: BrunoWindy City Times
Sacha Baron Cohen tells David Letterman how to find a terroristEntertainment Weekly
Metro Spirit -Cincinnati CityBeat -MovieMaker Magazine
all 319 news articles »

NECN
Gay marriage foes reach signature goal in Maine
Boston Herald
By AP PORTLAND, Maine - Gay marriage foes in Maine say they've collected enough signatures to stop the new law from going into effect and to force a ...
Gay Marriage Opponents: Enough Signatures For ReferendumWCSH-TV
People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish LinePR Newswire (press release)

all 146 news articles »

Cherry Hill Courier Post
Philly LGBT Film Festival kicks off tomorrow
Examiner.com
Philly QFest celebrates its 15 th year of showcasing LGBT-oriented films from around the world. According to its organizers, QFest is the largest LGBT film ...
OUTFEST 2009 - The 27th Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - July 9-19, 2009Examiner.com

all 9 news articles »

KATU
NEA calls for LGBT rights
365Gay.com
The NEA also committed itself to supporting the enactment of LGBT equality at local, state and federal levels. âNEA does not believe that a single term must ...
Task Force Action Fund Applauds DC for Honoring and Recognizing ...Common Dreams (press release)
Washington DC Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages TodayDaily Kos
Same-sex Marriage inquirySydney Star Observer
AfterEllen.com -FindLaw -AHN
all 543 news articles »

Pride walk raises awareness of homeless LGBT youth
Salt Lake Tribune
AP Two Utah women have embarked on a cross country walk to raise awareness of homeless youth who are gay, lesbian or transgender. ...
Utah Pride Center hosts LGBT homeless youth eventLocalNews8.com

all 7 news articles »

Beyond gay & lesbian Annual Philly film festival evolves into QFest
Philadelphia Inquirer
"People complained that it was the 'gay and lesbian' film festival instead of the GLBT film festival," said Raymond Murray, citing the acronym that includes ...

and more »

Forth Worth resident breaks his silence about Rainbow Lounge raid
365Gay.com
Now it WILL be the RAINBOW LOUNGE that will catalyze the GLBT people. I hope that you will feel better Chad. It sounds like the Police force figured they ...

and more »

Civil rights cuts discussed at Community Social
Minnesota Spokesman Recorder
The room was filled with community members representing the diverse age, ethnic, religious and racial groups present in the Twin Cities, as well as the GLBT ...

Courtesy of GLSEN: Sirdeaner Walker, the mother of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover, who died by suicide after enduring constant bullying at school, testified today in front of the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities on Wednesday in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act â" federal legislation to require [...]

A recently developed ad has been rejected by NBC and ABC affiliates in the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. The ad, a new TV spot from the Marijuana Policy Project Foundation, offers a solution to help end California’s state budget crisis. Even though the above mentioned broadcasters have refused to air the [...]

There is an article in the Denver Post about a new add campaign being launched by the LGBT Community Center of Colorado with the help from Denver marketing firm, Peak Creative Media. They have spent $100,000 on the campaign whit the goal of building public awareness of 5 state laws designed to prevent discrimination and [...]

Visit www.2015Place.com Interested in news headlines for your site?
Contact for more info.

Visit 2015Place.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:13:00 +0000

People's Veto to Overturn Gay Marriage Nears Finish Line

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Legal Memo Outlines Pentagon Options On Gay Ban

The Advocate Profiles Perez Hilton

HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM? The controversial celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was heralded for criticizing Miss California Carrie Prejean, then ignited a firestorm when he published compromising photos of screenwriter and LGBT crusader Dustin Lance Black. So what does Perez have to say for himself?

Three's Company Star Gets DUI

DON and rsquo;T TELL MR. FURLEY! Former Three and rsquo;s Company star Joyce DeWitt landed in hot water over the holiday weekend with a D.U.I...

Brooke Shields Remembers Michael Jackson

FAMOUS FROM A YOUNG AGE: Brooke Shields remembers The King of Pop in the upcoming commemorative issue of Rolling Stone...

DADT Repeal Tour Launched Today

The Human Rights Campaign in partnership with Servicemembers United along withU.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), announced today the launch of âVoices of Honor: A Generation Under âDonât Ask, Donât Tell.ââ The national tour highlights the discriminatory law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk.Â Rep. Murphy,Â himself a veteran [...]

Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying

This morning at 10 a.m. the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities will hold a joint hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and harassment. Studies show students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate when learning environments are [...]

NEA Resolutions Support LGBT Equality

Meeting in San Diego this past week, the National Education Association — the nation’s largest professional employee organization, with 3.2 million members who work at every level of education — voted on two resolutions that support the cause of LGBT equality.Â The first opposed any discrimination against same-sex couples.Â Furthermore, they endorsed a federal law [...]

Gay Marriage Recognized in Nation's Capital (Law.com)

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, same-sex couples married in jurisdictions outside D.C. had their unions recognized by the District, and work is underway to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married in Washington as well.

Gay activist's stolen ashes returned (Chicago Tribune)

The Sun-Times reports: A statue containing the ashes of a gay activist has been recovered after it had been stolen from an Uptown memorial garden last month. Over the weekend, the Bird Girl sculpture was found outside the Howard Brown Health Center, which last year created the garden to honor lesbian health advocates Mary York and Lisa Tonna, who died last year. Get the full story: suntimes.com

Lesbian attacks on the up (iafrica.com)

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project is concerned about an increase in homophobic attacks.

Visit 2015Place.com

Canadian Gay News Headlines (T13T-4)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Happy Birthday's Nathan Ings is bustin' out

When I first met Nathan Ings, he was applying for a high school co-op position at the Third Wall Theatre Company. Dressed in a stylish waistcoat, he was hopelessly eager and adorably nervous. You can imagine my surprise when I realized that, as of late,...

Reflections of lifelong activist Kevin Hatt

"I don't feel more special than anyone else." It's one of the first things Kevin Hatt says, reclining carefully in his lawn chair in the balcony sunlight. He cradles a cup of coffee in one hand, gesturing delicately with the other...

Tourism minister punished for funding Pride Toronto, suggests Tory MP

Minister of State for Tourism Diane Ablonczy is no longer responsible for a key tourism stimulus program, and a Tory MP suggests it is because she signed off on funding for Pride Toronto. Conservative MP Brad Trost told the rightwing websit...

Visit 2015Place.com

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:06:00 +0000

WATCH: 2009's Definitive Collection of People Not Here to Make Friends

Rich Juzwiak — the hil-ar cutie behind FourFour, VH1's blog, and Jezebel.com's "get high and give advice" segments — is the best watcher of reality television in America. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Entertainment, Reality TV, rich juzwiak

Internet Cannot Decide if Oprah, Daniel Radcliffe + Nick Jonas Are Gay

If information wants to be free, surely the Internet knows all information? Like, which celebrities are homosexual. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Celebs, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Bloomberg, nick jonas, Oprah, Wentworth Miller

Madea Actor Terrell Carter Outed â¦ By His Ex-Boyfriend

An actor in some of the highest grossing black film series — produced by a man many suspect is gay — is outed as gay. Horror! CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Celebs, oUTING, Terrell Carter, Tyler Perry

It’s that time again to hit the dance floor and dance all night When? and Where? Wednesday Night 10pm @ Starline!!

Â This is the only 18 and over over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

David Guetta: **** Me I’m Famous

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

Dolores Park: A San Francisco Treat

Dolores Park inÂ San Francisco, CA has to be one of the most relaxing places I enjoy traveling toÂ every timeÂ I travel to that city.Â Â Remember thoseÂ good o’ childhood memories with your family andÂ friends atÂ a local park, BBQing,Â running around and playnd playing on the swing set?Â Well, this is no different becauseÂ instead of running you’re laying out, and instead [...]

Something tells me I'm the last one who's seen this:

If so, whatever.
Dedicated to Nanci Wudel, Michele Baer, Sterling Baer, Carol Soelberg, Glade Soelberg, DeeDee Abaroa, Steve Abaroa and the entire LDS cast of "Gathering Storm" ...
Enjoy!

Oy, another birthday...46

UPDATE: My column for The Durham News is up, and it's a related piece about the changes in my hometown that I've witnessed over my 46 years.

There's nothing particularly special about turning 46, unfortunately. Another mark on the calendar. You folks out there who turned 50 =nudge= know how to handle the real milestones... :)
To the right is an embarrassing array of photos from my childhood to the present. I spared myself the agony of including junior high photos; all of those should have been incinerated. I couldn't find any with embarrassing 80s attire, or 70s unnatural fiber, stick-to-your-thighs-in-the-summer polyester wear, but trust me, the photos exist somewhere.
I still have trauma from a from the "miracle of polyester"...I remember wearing 100% thick and nasty hot poly powder blue gauchos, similar to the ones on the left. Purchase date around 1977. I wore those crappers for two seasons -- with brown boots with the thick stacked heels. Have gauchos gone so out of fashion that they are back in as nostalgia togs?
I share a birthday with...
My uncle Charles in Bed-Stuy...
Marty Feldman born on July 8, 1933
Jeffrey Tambor born on July 8, 1944
Anjelica Huston born on July 8, 1951
Kevin Bacon born on July 8, 1958
Toby Keith born on July 8, 1961
Joan Osborne born on July 8, 1962
Lee Tergesen born on July 8, 1965
Billy Crudup born on July 8, 1968
Michael Weatherly born on July 8, 1968
Beck Hansen born on July 8, 1970
Nelson A. Rockefeller born on July 8, 1908
John D. Dingell born on July 8, 1926
Phil Gramm born on July 8, 1942
Some events in history on July 8...
1994 Space shuttle STS-65 (Columbia 17), launches
1988 Stevie Wonder announces he will run for mayor of Detroit in 1992
1982 Billy Martin records his 1,000th career win as a manager
1975 President Ford announced he'll seek Republican nomination for president
1973 New York Mets are 12 games back in NL, and go on to win pennant
1969 U.S. troop withdrawal begins in Vietnam
1950 General Douglas MacArthur named commander-in-chief, United Nations forces in Korea
1923 Harding becomes 1st sitting president to visit Alaska (Metlakahtla)
1889 Wall Street Journal begins publishing
1876 White terrorists attack Black Republicans in Hamburg, South Carolina, killing 5
1870 Governor Holden of North Carolina declares Casswell County in a state of insurrection
1693 New York City authorizes 1st police uniforms in American colonies
951 Paris is founded
Also, the infamous Roswell incident was covered in the July 8, 1947 edition of the Roswell Daily Record.
Anyway, 46 sounds like smack-in-the-middle age, but this is the first year that it hit me that I'm on the back half of the life timeline and that it's OK. I'm thankful for every year, for the healthy days that I do have, and for the people in my life who make it worthwhile on the not-so-healthy days when my body feels like a broken-down Yugo (oh wait, weren't they always broken down?). :)

No day off for me. It's just another crazy workday in the real world. Posting on the blog will be lighter on my part, though.
Many thanks to those who sent the nice (and early!) birthday wishes on Facebook!

Surprising: Focus on the Family Spins NH Governor Approval Rating To Their Favor

An t;An article on CitizenLink.org (a Focus on the Family website) attempts to scare politicians into believing they can't get re-elected if they support mariage equality. Here's a snippet:
After signing "gay" marriage into law in June, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is watching his approval ratings fall.
Historically, Lynch, a Democrat, has enjoyed high public approval, but for the first time since October 2005, his favorability has fallen below 70 percent. Only 63 percent of New Hampshire adults now approve of his performance.
Among Republicans, his numbers have dropped dramatically from 62 percent to only 48 percent since April.
Considering the new poll reflects a near two-thirds majority approval here's how I will spin it:
New Hampshire voters overwhelmingly approve of Gov Lynch's support for marriage equality and the rejection of those tired old religious arguments for "traditional" marriage.
IT'S A CLEAR MANDATE - EQUALITY WINS!!

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GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:12:00 +0000

European Left Threatens World Congress of Families V

Legal Memo Outlines Pentagon Options On Gay Ban

Queercents: Teaching Money Management to the Twelve and Under Set

The Advocate Profiles Perez Hilton

HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM? The controversial celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was heralded for criticizing Miss California Carrie Prejean, then ignited a firestorm when he published compromising photos of screenwriter and LGBT crusader Dustin Lance Black. So what does Perez have to say for himself?

Three's Company Star Gets DUI

DON and rsquo;T TELL MR. FURLEY! Former Three and rsquo;s Company star Joyce DeWitt landed in hot water over the holiday weekend with a D.U.I...

Brooke Shields Remembers Michael Jackson

FAMOUS FROM A YOUNG AGE: Brooke Shields remembers The King of Pop in the upcoming commemorative issue of Rolling Stone...

NEA Resolutions Support LGBT Equality

Meeting in San Diego this past week, the National Education Association — the nation’s largest professional employee organization, with 3.2 million members who work at every level of education — voted on two resolutions that support the cause of LGBT equality.Â The first opposed any discrimination against same-sex couples.Â Furthermore, they endorsed a federal law [...]

MD Governor on Marriage Recognition

Today we saw marriage recognition in DCÂ and according to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, we could see similar action soon in Maryland.Â As we’ve reported Marylandâs Attorney General is consideringÂ whether out-of-state marriages between same-sex couples can be recognized in the state.Â Yesterday on WTOP Radio, Gov. O’Malley said: “I think that it’s very difficult to deny equal [...]

A Somber Anniversary: Barry Winchellâs Murder

This weekend marked the 10th anniversary of the murder of Pfc. Barry Winchell, a 22 year old soldier who was killed by a comrade with a baseball bat as he lay asleep in his bed.Â Winchell was in a relationship with Calpernia Addams –Â a transgender woman — and once this came to light, he was [...]

Gay activist's stolen ashes returned (Chicago Tribune)

The Sun-Times reports: A statue containing the ashes of a gay activist has been recovered after it had been stolen from an Uptown memorial garden last month. Over the weekend, the Bird Girl sculpture was found outside the Howard Brown Health Center, which last year created the garden to honor lesbian health advocates Mary York and Lisa Tonna, who died last year. Get the full story: suntimes.com

Lesbian attacks on the up (iafrica.com)

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project is concerned about an increase in homophobic attacks.

Rumer Willis Plays Gay for 90210 (The Advocate via Yahoo! News)

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.

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Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Tom@2015Place.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:05:00 +0000

PHOTOS: Kevin Will Tri Anything

MORNING GOODS — Twenty-one-year-old Swede Kevin Triguero is more impressive for: a) being trilingual; or b) pulling off this tri-color speedo? CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Kevin Triguero, Models, Morning Goods, Photos, risque

Daughter to Father: Michael Jackson was the Best Daddy

The most touching moment of Michael Jackson's tribute came in the last few seconds of the broadcast, when his daughter Paris-Michael effectively silenced any criticism of the King of Pop. The remarks that made us laugh, however, came from Brooke Shields and Smokey Robinson. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Brooke Shields, Michael [...]

Why We're In Love With Sarah Palin

Forgive us, but we're in love with Sarah Palin. Not the politician, not the pundit, and certainly not the person. But the spectacle. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, Politics, Sarah Palin

It’s that time again to hit the dance floor and dance all night When? and Where? Wednesday Night 10pm @ Starline!!

Â This is the only 18 and over gay party in the Central Valley, soÂ come and let Dj Binx spin the musicÂ and make you shake your booty. Cover charge…$5 for 18+ or $3 for 21+, and $3 dollar Vodka Cran all night!!!!!!!!!Â SEE YOU ALL THERE

David Guetta: **** Me I’m Famous

If you know electronic music, you know the name David Guetta. David Guetta currently has one of the hottest tracks in the world called “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland.Â Â Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Francisco Pride in San Francisco, CA.Â Â I, along with my friends, did the normal pride events like the [...]

Dolores Park: A San Francisco Treat

Dolores Park inÂ San Francisco, CA has to be one of the most relaxing places I enjoy traveling toÂ every timeÂ I travel to that city.Â Â Remember thoseÂ good o’ childhood memories with your family andÂ friends atÂ a local park, BBQing,Â running around and playing on the swing set?Â Well, this is no different becauseÂ instead of running you’re laying out, and instead [...]

Should I Have Even Asked?

In the course of a conversation this afternoon with a neighbor, I learned that another person in our complex had told her rather forcefully that this gay marriage business was ridiculous, that marriage was for procreation and therefore only for straight people (I'm paraphrasing). My neighbor said she was so taken aback by surprise at this revelation, that she didn't respond.
When asked if the anti-equality neighbor was someone I knew, my neighbor told me yes, but was clearly afraid I'd ask her who it was. So I said never mind, I don't want to know. But once I got home, I decided that actually yeah, I did want to know.
So I called up my neighbor and said that she was completely free to not tell me if it made her uncomfortable, but after some thought I realized that I'd prefer to know who I was dealing with here in the complex. After assurances that I wouldn't let the anti-equality neighbor know that I knew anything, I was told who it was. As it turns out, it is someone who has been a good steward of the complex, someone who has been a friendly neighbor to me, knows my wife, treats us with the same politeness as anyone else.
So now I know, and I'm glad to not be looking over my shoulder at the people I live cheek by jowl with and wonder which one it is. But the reason I'm asking "should I have asked" is now that I do know, I'm a little sad and depressed to think that this otherwise nice person has been harboring this judgment against me, but never let on (is that a character strength or flaw in her?). I know from a rational perspective that in a community of almost 100 people even in a progressive-ish city there were bound to be some 'phobes, so I shouldn't be surprised. But even though I've removed the potential surprise factor of not knowing her identity, I now have to live with knowing that this specific "nice to my face" person thinks I'm polluting her air.
I think that for me the answer to my own question is "yes". If faced with the same situation again, I'd probably ask again, because I'm a curious cat, and knowledge is power. But I have to remember there is a price to this knowledge. What do you think?

More Female Vets Now Becoming Homeless... Oh, Look- Sarah Palin's Wearing Waders!

This is a big problem, so why isn't it getting more national attention and discussion?
Gah...

The number of female service members who have become homeless after leaving the military has jumped dramatically in recent years, according to new government estimates, presenting the Veterans Administration with a challenge as e as it struggles to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
As more women serve in combat zones, the share of female veterans who end up homeless, while still relatively small at an estimated 6,500, has nearly doubled over the last decade, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
For younger veterans, it is even more pronounced: One out of every 10 homeless vets under the age of 45 is now a woman, the statistics show.
And unlike their male counterparts, many have the added burden of being single parents.
Overall, female veterans are now between two and four times more likely to end up homeless than their civilian counterparts, according to the VA, most as a result of the same factors that contribute to homelessness among male veterans: mental trauma related to their military service and difficulty transitioning into the civilian economy.
But while veterans' services have been successfully reaching out to male veterans through shelters and intervention programs, women are more likely to fall through the cracks.
The trend has alarmed top lawmakers and veterans groups, who fear that the federal government - which is already straining to care for new veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries, and other physical ailments - is ill-prepared to deal with the special needs of female veterans who find themselves on the street.

Wow- this is terrible news.... glad this isn't old news or had been reported before or anything.
What- it was? When?
Try November 2008..
And July 2007..
More below the fold.

Of the 1.8 million female military veterans, Dogen was among the 7,000 to 8,000 who are homeless, as estimated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is among the few who have benefited from new housing specifically for female veterans, an initiative homeless advocates say falls far short of what is needed.
The homeless female veteran is a relatively new phenomenon because only recently have so many women - more than 190,000 in Iraq and Afghanistan alone - been serving in the military, said Todd DePastino, a historian at Waynesburg University who wrote a book on the history of homelessness.
The number of homeless female veterans have gone up - from 3 percent of all homeless veterans a decade ago to 5 percent, the VA says.
"It's a national embarrassment," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

It's that and worse, imo. And what's confusing is that the most recent story claims there are 6500 homeless female veterans, the November 2008 story relates 7000-8000, and the July 2007 article estimates over 8000.
This shows a downward trend in the reported numbers, yet the percentages keep CLIMBING in the stories. Apparently the VA really doesn't have a grasp on the real numbers of women involved...
How can supposed news media, like CNN, ABC or FoxNews, be blind to this issue?
I'm guessing because it's been alot more fun and interesting to follow the recently dubbed " Iquitarod"- a nasty little ~~train~~ sled wreck, if ever there were one.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has gone fishing -- literally -- since her shocking announcement that she is resigning.
But the polarizing Palin resurfaced today on the morning news shows, wearing her waders but not taking the bait to make her political future clear.
Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee last year and in the conversation for 2012, told CNN that "all options are on the table" for her future and said she wants to stay involved in national public life.
"We have so many people who offer advice, but I'm going to continue to be, whether some of 'em like it or not, pretty darn independent, and not get wrapped up into a strong political machine that hasn't been extremely successful in some ways," she said on Fox News Channel. "I want to work, right now, for people who are going to work in office or out of office for the right things. Those principles that built up America, those who are inspired by the values of America, and will not deride or apologize for the values we hold as Americans. I'm gonna work for those people."
But she also told ABC's "Good Morning America" that she recognizes that her resignation -- disclosed in a rambling speech in the news dead zone of the Friday of July Fourth weekend -- might have damaged her prospects. "You know, politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it," she said.

Good gravy, even Andrea Mitchell was there for "Salmon Fishing With Sarah"...
I did like Anchorage Daily News' take on this quote; the ad running along side this story. Kid you not:

"Don't Wait Until It's Too Late!"
Palin also told CNN that "I am not a quitter; I'm a fighter. Go figure...
Related: The Sarah Palin Files

SC GOP censures rather than calls for Gov. Sanford to resign - 'it's a time for healing'

Talk about an abdication of responsibility -- the South Carolina GOP just gave a wrist slap to a man who left his post and went AWOL without telling anyone in government where he was going or turning the reins over to the Lieuteieutenant Gov. Let's set aside the matter of the "little Sanford" controlling Mark Sanford's judgment to go chase some tail, there would be a whole lot more than healing going on if the Palmetto State was hit with a natural disaster or some other sort of emergency while the governor was getting his pole attended to by his Argentinian mistress. Do you have any doubt that if this was a Dem governor that the state GOP would be calling for the man's head?
South Carolina Republicans have voted to censure the state's governor Mark Sanford over a sex scandal rather than calling for his resignation, easing pressure on their beleaguered colleague to quit.
The party issued the censure late on Monday to admonish Sanford over his affair with an Argentine woman and said he had "breached the public trust" and demonstrated "repeated failures" but stopped short of recommending further action.
...The chairwoman of the South Carolina Republicans called for an end to the three-week scandal that began when Sanford disappeared for several days. Aides said he was hiking in the Appalachian but it later emerged he had gone to visit his lover in Argentina.
"Now is the time for healing," said chairwoman Karen Floyd.
Astounding hypocrisy.
Related:
* PHB posts on Sanford

Bonnie Tinker: Rest in Peace

Oregon advocate Bonnie Tinker was killed in a tragic bike accident last Thursday while attending a conference in Virginia. Tinker has been a dedicated activist in Oregonâs progressive community for decades. She championed equality as founder and director of Love Makes a Family, peace through her work with Seriously P.O.âed Grannies, and justice as a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Her energy, commitment, and vision of a more just and peaceful world will be missed. Visit Love Makes a Family for links to remembrances and information about memorial services.

Oregon Restaurants Take Action for Gay Rights (06/09)

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 (06/09)

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 [...]

Blaire Wedding Project

Samantha Lavin and Lori Brener present: The Blaire Wedding Project Blaire Wedding Project, (a spoof of the indie film sensation Blair Witch Project) recently won The People’s Choice award in a marriage equality video contest. Blaire Wedding was written and directed by Samantha Lavin, who works as an assistant director for the hit show Scrubs, [...]

Tuesday’s Headline News

Tuesday’s headlines include some more religious controversy, some marriage news, updates on murder trials, and a bit of politics. Crime & Court Cases: - In New Zealand an update: Jury retires for night in banjo murder trial - In the U.S. (Brooklyn teen homophobe case) an update: Life Term in Gay Slay Gay Marriage: - Gay Marriages Now Recognized in [...]

Monday’s News Updates

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 [...]

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