Atticus Circle

Anne Wynne Featured on Fox News

thomas — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:16:37 +0000

The Unlikeliest Gay Rights Leader in Texas

thomas — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:49:11 +0000

Writer and consultant Jason Stanford interviews Anne Wynne on the Huffington Post recently. An excerpt from the interview:

"I think I just came into this world noticing how people treated each other," she said. "We knew what bussing was long before anyone else did, because the grandson of our maid walked to the corner every morning and got on a bus to go to school in South Dallas, while I walked two blocks to our neighborhood school."

Petition Against MPAA 'Bully' Rating Gets 400,000 Signatures

ruth — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:00:04 +0000

According to USA Today, high school student Katy Butler was so incensed by the MPAA's decision that she began a petition to get the movie a PG-13 rating. Her petition immediately took off and has received over 400,000 signatures. Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and recent Oscar-winner Meryl Streep are just a couple of the celebrities who have opposed the rating, and talk show host Ellen Degeneres advocated a lower rating during a discussion on her show. The host told viewers, "Last month I got to see a new documentary that's coming out called Bully.

METHODISTS IN OKLAHOMA CALL FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

ruth — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:32:47 +0000

A group of United Methodists in Oklahoma “are signing a statement in support of marriage equality ahead of an April global policy conference of the church, which prohibits gay marriage.” So far, 62 clergy and 203 members have endorsed the call for “full equality and inclusion to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the life of the Church.” The statement reads: “We joyfully affirm that we will offer the grace of God, and our blessings, to any prepared couple in our ministry context desiring Christian marriage.

Former Iowa Perry Campaign Chair Endorses Marriage Equality

ruth — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:17:07 +0000

Kathy Potts, former Iowa campaign chair for Rick Perry's presidential bid, has published an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette giving full endorsement of marriage equality. . .

I love how candidates crisscross the state and make a point to engage with voters. I love that voters can sit down with candidates and ask them the questions that we the voters — not the media — want to present.

Atticus Circle's Second Awards Luncheon

ruth — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:39:03 +0000

Thanks to all of you who joined us yesterday at the Four Seasons for the second Annual Atticus Circle Awards Luncheon. It was a perfect “Leap Year” day to recognize some exceptional people who have shown extraordinary courage in their support of LGBT equality.

Ex-TCU football star Vincent Pryor to accept award for courageously coming out to teammates in 1994

ruth — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:37:57 +0000

Vincent Pryor will be in Austin on Wednesday, Feb. 29, to accept the Atticus Circle Award for his courage to come out to his football team his senior year at Texas Christian University in 1994.

Atticus Circle, a group that educates and rallies straight people to advocate for LGBT equality, selected Pryor for the award because “he showed an extraordinary amount of courage to come out as a gay athlete,” Executive Director Ruth Gardner-Loew said.

Vigil held in Montgomery for victims of hate crimes

ruth — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:43:59 +0000

The keynote speaker was Sam Wolfe, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center where his primary responsibility includes leading their LGBT Rights Project.

Mr. Wolfe gave a chilling recap of the murder of Billy Jack Gaither, describing in detail how his killers cut his throat, tormented him, and beat him senseless before throwing his body “like a bag of trash” onto burning tires. He praised those who were present, and others who fight for acceptance in this state, and reminded those in attendance that “silence helps the oppressors.”

New Jersey's Democratic-controlled state Senate approved same-sex marriage bill

ruth — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:24:34 +0000

New Jersey's Democratic-controlled state Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill on Monday but New Jersey was unlikely to become the eighth state in the country to approve gay marriage as Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto it.

The state Assembly was expected to approve the measure on Thursday and send it to Christie, one of the country's leading Republicans and a possible vice-presidential candidate.

Chief of Goldman Sachs speaks out for same-sex marriage

ruth — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:27:39 +0000

Lloyd C. Blankfein, the chief of Goldman Sachs who has become a lightning rod for Wall Street critics, might seem an unlikely advocate for same-sex marriage. But his credentials — a public figure in a conservative industry — could make him a powerful voice for that cause.