Jive in the [415] Gay LGBT | News Analysis Political Commentary

Gay Florida Teen Facing Prison Sentence Because She Fell In Love

2013-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

When Dan Savage started the “It Gets Better Project,” targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth, I had some reservations about it. I thought about some of the gay people that I know and have known, who took a more circuitous route in life, where it took quite awhile before life got better.

They’re a small minority, and I concluded that positive and uplifting messages directed at LGBTQ kids, even if they might be sugar coated, was a good thing, and far outweighed the alternative. For many LGBTQ kids, the “It Gets Better Project” provides the only gay positive messages and information that adolescent kids hear, and they need to hear those messages. And for most gay people, life does gets better with time.

As I was watching a television news story last night about the Florida teenager charged with being a lesbian sex offender, I wondered how we could instill hope in her. How can we tell Kaitlyn Hunt, 18, of Sebastian, Florida, who fell in love with a teammate on the Sebastian River High School women’s basketball team, and was charged with 2 felonies as a result, that “it gets better” with time?

Because of her lesbian relationship, Kaitlyn was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery when she turned 18, and expelled from the high school where she was a cheerleader, basketball player, and voted “Miss School Spirit.” She’s facing a possible 15 year prison term, and would have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life, if she’s found guilty of the allegations.

When I think of the challenges that young LGBT kids face, I think of how important it is to have adults who love and support them, in their corner.

Kaitlyn’s parents have been rallying the troops, and have been exemplary in standing with their daughter, and have become LGBT activists in their own right. It’s the other adults in Kaitlyn’s life that let her down. From her basketball coach, to her teachers and school administrators, the county State Attorney’s Office, and the parents of her girlfriend, have all responded to this innocent young love with bigotry and anti-gay discrimination.

In a “Free Kate” Facebook page, it says “The law is designed to protect our children, but the law does not serve its purpose when it is applied to consensual behavior between peers." I couldn’t agree more.

According to a petition on change.org (that I signed), Steven Hunt - Kaitlyn’s father - claims that the parents of her daughter’s girlfriend went to the police because they objected to their daughter’s homosexuality.

Older high school students date younger students all the time, and it’s not viewed as criminal behavior that should be punished with a lengthy prison term. This is outrageous, and pure discrimination, since the law is being applied to a lesbian high school student, with no evidence that any other student that’s gay or straight, has been charged with the same offense. Kaitlyn has been singled out, and that's wrong.

According to the Huffington Post, the hacktivist group Anonymous have announced their support for Kaitlyn, and they have launched Operation Justice4Kaitlyn, and have targeted the high school and the Indian River County State Attorney’s Office.

Anonymous announced:

"While in the course of performing your duties we feel that you've lost perspective. Tsk, tsk. The truth is, Kaitlyn Hunt is a bright young girl who was involved in a consensual, same-sex relationship while both she and her partner were minors.

"She has a big future ahead of her and there are people, thousands of people in fact, that have no intention of allowing you to ruin it with your rotten selective enforcement.

"Intolerance has been the curse of this country since its inception. Frankly, we're sick of it. Specifically, we're sick of paying the salaries of people like you.

"There are quite a few organizations in this country that would prefer that our elected officials not hire bigots that hunt down and file erroneous charges against young women because of their sexual orientation. The fact is, the puritanism you practice doesn't have a place in this world any longer."

I say bravo to Anonymous - I agree with everything they wrote. If this case involved a football player dating a younger cheerleader, there would be no charges, and no arrests, and no criminal case.

The Florida law was written to protect children from pedophile predators, and Kaitlyn isn’t a pedophile or a predator. She’s a lesbian teenager who fell in love with her teammate. It’s that simple, and she’s facing a possible 15 year prison sentence because of it.

This can only be characterized for what it is, and that’s abject discrimination, and that’s outrageous.

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Heroic Trans Teen Takes School To Task For Bullying And Discrimination

2013-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Issak Wolfe, an 18 year old senior at Red Lion Area Sr. High School, in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, is graduating from high school on June 7th, 2013. Issak made a simple request to his school. He asked that when the names are read at the graduation ceremony, that the person reading the names read “Issak Wolfe.” That’s the name that his classmates and teachers call him, and that’s the name he wanted said aloud on the public address system.

The school district takes issue with the fact that Issak is transgender, and identifies as male. Issak didn’t ask that the school change the legal name on his diploma, he asked that they acknowledge his graduation by reciting Issak Wolfe at the ceremony.

Issak was required to go to the local school board with his request. He presented a petition to the board with 2,000 signatures, and the meeting was packed with Issak’s supporters.

Erik Ortiz at the New York Daily News writes:

“Reading my male name at graduation wouldn’t hurt anyone, but they know that reading my female name only serves to hurt me more,” said Wolfe, who was born a female named Sierra Stambaugh but has identified as a male for more than two years. “Obviously, it’s more important to them to push around an 18-year-old than it is to make the school a safe space for its students.”

Wolfe and his mother, April Billet-Barclay, pointed out that Wolfe is not asking to have his diploma altered with his male name — though he is in the process of legally changing it — but only to be announced by his chosen male name at graduation.

Whatever happens, Wolfe said, he’s at least proud that he took a stand.

“I stood up for other students in the future, and that’s what counts,” he said.

Public schools have a duty to create the optimum space for all students to feel safe. It’s patently unfair and discriminatory for the school to require a public hearing to publicly discuss a private matter. The public hearing serves no purpose but to humiliate Issak, and that’s outrageous.

Issak’s request is so benign, and there’s no rational reason to deny his request, other than to humiliate, discriminate, and embarrass him. As far as I’m concerned, that’s outrageous and completely unacceptable.

I’ve written an email to the Superintendent of the Red Lion Area School District, Dr. Scott A. Deisley, the Supervisor of Pupil Personnel, Mrs. Mary Smith, and Mark Shue the principal, in support of Issak. If you click on their names, you can email them too.

Issak is so brave and courageous for taking a public stand, and I applaud him for that. He stood up for himself, and other transgender students, across the country, and that’s nothing short of heroic.

Hang in there Issak - you're a hero to scores of people across the country - and I salute your bravery and courage. Bravo Issak!

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TV Talk: Joan Rivers New Show "In Bed With Joan" Is Must See TV

2013-05-22T23:54:00.002-07:00

Joan Rivers, the gay Icon and comedy legend, is starring in a new talk show called “In Bed With Joan.” Each week Joan interviews a celebrity guest from the comfort of her well appointed full-size bed, in her daughter Melissa’s Malibu home.

In my humble opinion, Joan Rivers is an American treasure. She’s been working as an actress and comedian for over 50 years, and she’ll be celebrating her 80th birthday on June 8th, 2013.

How many 80 year old women work as hard as Joan Rivers? None! Joan travels the world with her stand-up act, hosts “Fashion Police” on E!, stars in “Joan & Melissa - Joan Knows Best?” on We tv, and designs and produces Joan Rivers Classic Collection, her jewelry line, for QVC.

[To read the entire review, see the photos, and learn how you can subscribe to the show, click read more on the lower right.]

“In Bed With Joan” is being distributed online, and can be viewed at the “In Bed With Joan” website, or on Youtube via the show’s channel (where you can subscribe), or you can subscribe to each episode via Apple’s iTunes.

Joan said “I’m so excited about my internet talk show because I can say anything I want, and I can ask any question I want. This is the first time I’ve ever had that --- there’s no network, there is no censor. It’s my show and I can do what I want on it.” When Joan was asked why the internet, she said “On television you can say fuck, but on the internet you can do it!”

I’ve watched the first 9 episodes, and you should seek this show out if you like to laugh. Joan opens each episode with her celebrity guest hiding in her bedroom closet, and in her loving nod to the gay community, she says “Let’s see who is in the closet this week!”

Her first guest was a personal favorite, the inimitable Sarah Silverman. Subsequent guests include Nick Kroll, a gorgeous and mature Kelly Osbourne, Belinda Carlisle, Adam Pally, the great Margaret Cho, Anthony Jeselnik, the amazing RuPaul Charles, Ed Weeks, Gary Busey, Kate Flannery, and Tichina Arnold.

Watching Joan interview her guests will remind anyone who watched either her daytime or late night talk shows, that she’s a terrific host and interviewer.

I’m biased about promoting all things gay, so I particularly enjoyed Joan’s interviews with Sarah Silverman (an LGBT ally), Kelly Osbourne (an LGBT ally), Margaret Cho (unabashedly bisexual), and RuPaul Charles (actor/singer/writer/comic/legendary drag queen).

We know that Joan isn’t fond of aging, but we have to wish her an early happy 80th birthday!

Check the show out for yourself, and subscribe to the show via one of the methods I described above.

Who was your favorite guest? Let me know in the comments below.

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The Watercooler: 3 Gay LGBT News Stories You Need To Know

2013-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Gay activists from GetEqual interrupted the speech of Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) at the Hillsborough County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner in Tampa, Florida on Saturday. The activists screamed “All families matter” and “Include our families in immigration reform!” The Florida Republican has vowed to scuttle any bill that includes a provision for gay married binational couples.

An arrest was made in the senseless murder of Mark Carson, in New York’s West Village, on Friday night. Elliot Morales, 33, was arraigned on Sunday, and was charged with second degree murder as a hate crime. The accused killer taunted the victim and his friend with anti-gay slurs, prior to pointing a gun at the victim. The New York Police Department has reported a sharp rise in anti-gay incidents this year.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), gay marriage bans and anti-gay laws have a negative effect on the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Stress-related disorders dropped in states that enacted marriage equality legislation.

NPR reporter Shankar Vedantam writes:

“Mark Hatzenbuehler, a psychologist at Columbia University who studies the health effects of social policies, analyzed the data gathered before and after the bans to determine how the mental health of people who identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual had changed in those states.”

"Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals who lived in the states that banned same sex marriage experienced a significant increase in psychiatric disorders," Hatzenbuehler says.

"There was a 37 percent increase in mood disorders," he says, "a 42 percent increase in alcohol-use disorders, and — I think really strikingly — a 248 percent increase in generalized anxiety disorders."

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Republicans Behaving Badly Imperil The Party’s Future

2013-05-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Amid great fanfare on March 18th, 2013, Reince Priebus, the chairman of the the Republican National Committee released their multi-million dollar research study entitled “Growth and Opportunity Project” to “grow the party and improve Republican campaigns.”

While the report looked back at the failed 2012 Romney Ryan presidential campaign, the primary focus was on the future. The study recommended that Republicans “modernize the Party, and learn once again how to appeal to more people, including those who share some but not all of our conservative principles.”

The study emphasized that the overwhelming public perception that “Republicans don’t care,” was problematic for the party. The report said that the GOP should be there when people need them, so they can quickly get back on their feet. They also said “We should be driven by reform, eliminating, and fixing what is broken, while making sure the government’s safety net is a trampoline, not a trap.”

The research study also addressed social issues, and found that the GOP must be more inclusive and welcoming. The study stated that if the Republican party failed to adapt to our changing times, that women and young voters will continue to reject the party, and imperil their future.

So how is the GOP doing?

Just three and a half weeks after this report was published, the Republican National Committee (RNC) met in Los Angeles, California for their spring meeting. The RNC passed resolutions urging the Supreme Court “to uphold the sanctity of marriage,” and reaffirmed the party platform that defines marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

I guess their commitment to being a political party that’s more welcoming and inclusive, has been put on hold.

Over the last month, Republicans in the US Senate have managed to scuttle expanded background checks for gun purchases, which is overwhelmingly supported by the American people.

They boycotted the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, to avoid voting on the President Obama’s nominee to head the EPA. They did this after demanding that nominee Gina McCarthy answer over 1,100 written questions about the EPA, which is unprecedented, with 650 questions from Senator David Vitter (R-LA) alone.

Republicans on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee postponed a vote twice on the President’s nominee for Labor Secretary, and then invoked a rarely used procedural rule to delay consideration again. Thomas Perez, the current chief of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, was the Secretary of Labor for the state of Maryland. In his current role at the Justice Department, he’s known for his aggressive stance enforcing voting rights, investigating police abuse and brutality, and promoting fair lending practices.

As The Washington Post notes, Democrats are fans of Thomas Perez because he champions the little guys, and Republicans dislike him exactly for that reason.

At a Senate hearing last week, Republicans affected indignation — and strained credulity — by insisting that Mr. Perez had failed to stick up for a federal contracting program designed mainly to benefit minority and low-income workers. It was novel to hear GOP lawmakers posing as champions of the disadvantaged, but their protests were nothing but a pretext.

Republican members of Congress have been attempting to pin a “scandal” on President Obama, because a couple of rogue staffers in a regional Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office in Cincinnati, Ohio, gave extra scrutiny to conservative tea party applications seeking tax-exempt status. Every political organization that bills itself as a political “social welfare” group, worthy of tax-exempt status, should receive extra scrutiny. Give me a break!

Too many political action committees have been classified as a 501(c)4 tax-exempt social welfare group, when they’re just a front for political action committees. Republicans can cry foul - while the American people should demand that all groups receive the same extra scrutiny.

And the Republican old men in the US Senate continue to make hay with the Benghazi mess, after slashing funding for embassy security around the world, instead of tending to the business of the Senate, which includes getting people back to work.

The coup de grace was the fact that the Republicans in the US House of Representatives voted to repeal Obamacare for the 37th time last week. The GOP has no alternative proposals to replace Obamacare - they just want to get rid of it - despite the fact that it reduces future budget deficits, while extending health insurance coverage to millions.

Amid all of this chaos created by Republicans - we're supposed to believe they care?

Will the bipartisan immigration bill get anywhere in this toxic climate? Excluding gay binational couples from the immigration bill will be more evidence that the millions of dollars spent on the Growth and Opportunity Project study was like flushing the money down the toilet. Then again, Republicans in Congress have been flushing taxpayers money down the toilet for years, starting with the Iraq war.

Republicans have been acting to reinforce that they don’t care, they aren’t welcoming and inclusive, and if they were in charge there’d be no growth and no opportunities for anyone.

It’s the same Grumpy Old Party of old white men, and I see no evidence that Republicans will stop behaving badly in the near future. They’ll certainly pay for their transgressions in public opinion polls, and at the ballot box. Since they keep failing to adapt to our changing times, gay voters, women, the youth vote, Hispanics and people of color, will continue to reject the Republican party.....now and into the future.

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Millions Of U.S. Children Afflicted With Untreated Mental Health Disorders

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

In a new study entitled “Mental Health Surveillance Among Children” which was published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they examined federal data and research related to the mental health of our nation’s youth from 2005 to 2011. The report estimates that up to 1 in 5 American kids experience a mental health challenge each year, while only 21% of those afflicted receive treatment.

The study found that millions of kids live with major depressive disorders, ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, Tourette’s syndrome, and many other mental health maladies. The CDC reports that this study “is an important step to better understand childhood mental disorders and help children reach their full potential in life.”

Ruth Perou, PhD of the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities stated “ Children of all ethnic backgrounds, races, genders and ages, in every area of the United States live with a mental disorder. We need surveys and data systems that provide the necessary mental health information to improve children’s health and wellbeing at home and in school. This will help children reach their full potential while reducing societal costs.”

In The Washington Post, Tony Pugh writes:

Childhood mental disorders that alter the way children learn, behave and cope with their emotions affect 13 percent to 20 percent of youths under age 18, the CDC said Thursday. They also cost families and society at large an estimated $247 billion a year in treatment, special education, juvenile justice and decreased productivity, it stated.

Although the prevalence, early onset and effect on society make childhood mental problems a major public health issue, only 21 percent of affected children get treatment because of a shortage of pediatric sub-specialists and child and adolescent psychiatrists, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

“Our current healthcare system does not meet the needs of these children,” Martin J. Drell, the group’s president, said last week in a statement about the problem.

Making matters worse, fewer medical students are opting for careers in children’s mental health, while the current crop of professionals is aging out of the workforce. The dearth of providers means troubled youngsters in underserved rural and urban areas are less likely to get timely care.

“Children with serious medical conditions should not have where they live determine what kind of health care services they receive,” said Thomas K. McInerny, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It breaks my heart to learn that there are millions of kids across this country who face mental health challenges, with little to no help in understanding the challenges, or receiving the proper treatment and advice to cope with the adversity. Every mental health disorder is treatable, and some can be cured.

We have to equip our children with the tools to succeed in the future, and tending to their mental health needs is integral to ensuring their overall success in life. Hopefully a study like this will have an effect on our nation’s psyche, and it will force change.

The future of our country and our planet lies in the hands of our children. I feel strongly that it’s our responsibility as adults, to love our children unconditionally, and do everything in our power to ensure that we provide a solid education to every kid, with the best healthcare we can possibly provide. A good education and access to healthcare, isn’t a privilege. It’s a right, particularly for our children.

I hope that one day our nation’s laws will comport with the moral values I feel so strongly about. I’ve always believed that it is our responsibility to make the world a better place, so that we leave an enduring legacy for the generations that follow. Making a commitment to the mental health needs of our children would be a great place to start.

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Jive Five: The 5 Most Popular Blog Posts of April 2013

2013-05-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

The 5 most popular blog posts in April were actually the 7 most popular blog posts in April 2013, and they’re blog posts that I’m really proud of. I wrote about the history of gay marriage and the legal challenges that preceded the historic US Supreme Court oral arguments in March, and that was the most viewed blog post in April.

If you haven’t seen the performance of the one minute poem that indicts Rep. Michele Bachmann for her extremist views, it’s worth watching. The other popular blog posts were related to gay marriage, the lesbian Prime Minister of Iceland, Barbara Walters, Project Runway, Bill Clinton, and Fox News.

1. Historical And Legal Analysis: The Evolution Of Gay Marriage

2. Must See Video: 1 Minute Poem Destroys Michele Bachmann

3. The Watercooler: 4 Gay LGBT News Stories You Need To Know

4. USC Student Duped Barbara Walters And “The View”

5. TV Talk: Project Runway Is Still Gay Gay Gay!

6. Bill Clinton Is The Most Anti-Gay President We’ve Ever Had

7. Fox News Calls Anti-Gay Hate Groups “Christian Ministries”

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Celebrate Yourself - Today Is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

2013-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

“The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is a celebration of achievements and a reminder to all that human rights are universal and apply to everyone, including LGBT people,” Graeme Reid, LGBT Rights director at Human Rights Watch, said.

If you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender --- celebrate yourself --- today and every day.

Stand tall and be proud --- fight homophobia and transphobia!

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The Anti-Gay American Center for Law and Justice Cited For Exporting Hate

2013-05-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights program at Human Rights Watch, named their 2013 candidates to their Hall of Shame, for a disgraceful disregard of basic human and civil rights.

Graeme Reid, the LGBT Rights director at Human Rights Watch, said “Since our last ‘Hall of Shame’ there have been significant strides in many parts of the world toward equality for LGBT people, including in Uruguay, New Zealand, and France. The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is a day to celebrate these achievements and to challenge discriminatory practices against LGBT people.”

The 2013 Human Rights Watch “Hall of Shame” inductees were selected for endangering the lives and dignity of LGBT people in 2013. They strongly contributed to a homophobic and transphobic environment during the past year.

1. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) exports hatred, homophobia and transphobia to the continent of Africa.

The American Center for Law and Justice, for attempting to export homophobia to Africa. Founded in 1990 by the Baptist Minister and televangelist Pat Robertson, and headed by Jay Sekulow, its chief counsel, the ACLJ strongly opposes LGBT equality and reproductive rights in the United States and across the globe. It works through offshoot organizations such as the East African Centre for Law and Justice (EACLJ) in Kenya, the African Centre for Law and Justice (ACLJ) in Zimbabwe, and the Brazilian Center for Law and Justice (BCLJ) in Brazil. The EACLJ unsuccessfully lobbied against Kenya’s progressive new constitution in 2010 solely on the basis that the constitution’s anti-discrimination clause could eventually be used to advance LGBT equality and that it allows for abortion when the mother’s health is at stake.

2. Yahya Jammeh, President of Gambia, for hateful homophobic rhetoric, and his support of anti-gay legislation.

Yahya Jammeh, the president of Gambia, for his homophobic vitriol and promotion of anti-gay laws. At the opening of the Gambian Parliament in Banjul in March, Jammeh gave a stark warning to LGBT people in Gambia: “If you are convicted of homosexuality in this country, there will be no mercy for offenders.” Claiming that homosexuality is “anti-God, anti-human, and anti-civilization,” Jammeh issued a threat to all gay people in Gambia: “Homosexuals are not welcome in the Gambia. If we catch you, you will regret why you are born.” Jammeh's homophobia has been persistent. In 2008 he promised “stricter laws than Iran” regarding homosexuality and to “cut off the head” of any LGBT person found in Gambia. In 2012, 20 people were charged with committing “unnatural offenses,” but were acquitted because of lack of evidence. Because Gambia is the host country of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, its laws pose a threat to LGBT rights defenders throughout Africa who regularly conduct advocacy in Banjul.

3. Vadym Kolesnichenko, a member of parliament in Ukraine, for introducing anti-gay legislation that codifies discrimination against Ukrainian lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents.

Vadym Kolesnichenko, a member of the Ukraine parliament, for initiating one of two draft laws currently before parliament that would discriminate against LGBT people and infringe on their fundamental rights to free expression. The first bill would prohibit the dissemination of positive information about homosexuality, including through such activities as rallies, parades, demonstrations, discussions, or special courses. The second bill provides for similar prohibitions on the publication and distribution of written or recorded products that present homosexuality in a positive light. Violators of the laws would face up to six and five years in prison, respectively.

4. Svoboda, a Ukrainian political party, published a party platform that advocates the arrest and imprisonment of anyone who speaks or writes about gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people or issues, in a positive way.

The Ukrainian political party Svoboda, which holds 12 percent of seats in parliament, for including a pledge to “introduce criminal responsibility for propaganda of drug use and sexual perversions” as part of its party platform. The party repeatedly speaks out against LGBT people’s rights and has announced its support for homophobic bills. On May 14 Iryna Farion, a Svoboda member of parliament, told media, referring to LGBT people: “They should be cured. I do not make comments about sick people. I don’t understand what you are asking me about. They need to be cured.” In July and December 2012, Svoboda party members were involved in attacking a peaceful protest against homophobic laws.

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Anti-Gay Bullying Tied to Teen Depression, Suicide

2013-05-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Suicidal thoughts more likely for kids victimized over sexual orientation, research finds.

By Randy Dotinga

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Students targeted because they're believed to be gay -- as many as one in seven young teens -- are much more likely than others to be suicidal and depressed, a new survey finds.

More than 10 percent of eighth-grade boys and girls reported that they're victimized because of perceived sexual orientation, according to a large survey of students in Washington state.

"It has a profound impact on their quality of life and the way they think of themselves," said Donald Patrick, a professor of health services at the University of Washington in Seattle. "Those in eighth grade are in a particularly vulnerable position."

These children "feel alone in life, that they don't feel as good as other people and their self-esteem is highly affected," Patrick said.

The survey results, published online May 16 in the American Journal of Public Health, don't offer insight into whether bullying contributes to depression and suicidal thoughts in its victims. It's possible that kids with existing mental illnesses may be more likely to be bullied and perceived as gay.

Nor does the research establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between bullying and suicidal thoughts. But Patrick said "it's clear that there's an association, and I wouldn't be so worried about the causation." Prior research has also suggested that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children are more likely to be suicidal and hurt themselves.

A string of teen suicides in 2010 -- including the death of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi -- put the issue in the public eye. Syndicated columnist Dan Savage launched a campaign called "It Gets Better" to give hope to gay teens that their lives will improve. Participants have included numerous celebrities and politicians, including President Barack Obama.

Based on the new findings, bully-prevention programs must address kids picked on because of their sexual orientation, the study authors said.

The study is based on a 2010 survey of nearly 28,000 students in grades eight, 10 and 12. Among boys, 14 percent of eighth-graders, 11 percent of 10th-graders and 9 percent of 12th-graders reported being bullied within the previous month because they were thought to be gay. The numbers were 11 percent, 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively, for girls.

The survey defined bullying based on sexual orientation as being "bullied, harassed or intimidated at school" because they were thought to be gay or bisexual. It defined other types of bullying as when one or more students "say or do nasty or unpleasant things" to another person or tease someone "repeatedly in a way he or she finds offensive." In most cases, more students reported being bullied for other reasons.

Compared to kids bullied for other reasons or not bullied at all, those targeted because they were perceived to be gay were much more likely to have considered suicide in the past year, to have been depressed in the past year and to say they don't feel good about themselves.

For example, 26 percent of male 12th-graders targeted for being perceived as gay said they had been suicidal within the past year, compared to 8 percent of those not bullied. The rate also was more than three times greater for female seniors.

Brian Mustanski, an associate professor in the department of medical social sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, said the survey has some strengths but fails to ask whether those bullied are actually gay and not just perceived to be.

"Because of this, it is a major underestimate of the rate of bullying among gay youth," he said.

Mustanski agreed with Patrick that teachers and school leaders need to promote comfortable and safe environments. "While family and peer support have important positive effects for gay youth and reduce feelings of suicide and depression, you cannot 'support away' these toxic effects of bullying," he said.

"Schools and communities need to put in place policies and practices that make schools and neighborhoods safe for all kids," he said.

More information

The Trevor Project offers a confidential suicide hotline for gay teens and those questioning their sexuality.

SOURCES: Donald Patrick, Ph.D., MSPH, professor, health services, University of Washington, Seattle; Brian Mustanski, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.; May 16, 2013,American Journal of Public Health

Last Updated: May 16, 2013

Health News Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Minnesota Is The 12th State To Say “I DO" To Gay Marriage

2013-05-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

I’m thrilled for Minnesota, and happy for the great people of the state, as well as my friends and family.

I spent a lot of time when I was a kid, during the hot summers - in the “land of 10,000 lakes” - better known as the state of Minnesota. My maternal grandparents were born and raised in the north star state, and we had lots of fun visiting relatives in Edina, and Minneapolis, before we’d make the trek to the southwestern corner of the state, to a bustling suburb of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

I would describe Pipestone, Minnesota as a small prairie town. It’s also the county seat of Pipestone County, with a reported population of 4,317 people in the 2010 census. It’s not a bustling suburb of Sioux Falls, though that’s the largest city in close proximity to the town. My grandparents were born and raised in Pipestone, and I loved visiting our extended family during those long hot summers.

Because of my family connection to the state, and my many fond memories, I’ve paid close attention to politics in Minnesota. Gay rights have been a thorny issue in the state for years, and before the state Republican party imploded in Minnesota, they had blocked any real progress for many years.

Rep. Michele ‘Bozo’ Bachmann owes her political career to her anti-gay crusades as a Minnesota state Senator. Before she became famous for trying to make out with President George W. Bush on the House floor, she was widely known in Minnesota for her contretemps with another bush. During a rally for gay rights at the state capitol, she was caught spying on the assembled crowd, while she was ducking behind a bush.

When I learned that the Minnesota state Senate passed their gay marriage legislation yesterday, I was beyond thrilled and was brought to tears. Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) and many of his DFL colleagues in the House and Senate, have worked tirelessly to pass this bill. John Helmberger, chairman of Minnesota for Marriage, and his staff and volunteers worked their tails off to defeat the anti-gay ballot measure in last November’s election, and rallied the troops to lobby the public and state politicians on behalf of the legislation, over the past seven months.

In the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reporters Baird Helgeson and Jim Ragsdale described the frenzied crowd in the state capitol.

Amid roaring chants from supporters and tears from opponents, the state Senate took a historic, final step Monday to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

The 37-30 vote came after a failed, last-ditch attempt by opponents to scuttle the measure.

“I’m going to be a married man in Minnesota!” DFL Sen. Scott Dibble, the Senate’s only openly gay member, proclaimed to supporters after emerging from the chamber.

One Republican, Sen. Branden Petersen, joined a majority of DFL legislators to make Minnesota the 12th state to legalize gay marriage. Three DFLers voted against the measure.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, pleaded with colleagues to vote the bill down: “Don’t vote what you know is morally wrong,” said Hall, a former CEO of Midwest Chaplains. “May God help us."

Minnesota becomes the first Midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage by legislative vote, and the latest victory for those working to extend marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples across the nation. Monday’s action technically repeals a state statute that had prohibited such unions.

In the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reporter Megan Boldt described a similar scene in the state capitol, and the jubilation of the assembled crowd.

With deafening cheers ringing throughout the Capitol corridors, the Minnesota Senate approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage Monday, May 13, positioning the state to become the 12th to put marriage equality into law.

It passed on a 37-30 vote, with one Republican crossing party lines to vote "yes" and three Democrats voting "no."

Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill Tuesday, and gay couples could begin marrying Aug. 1.

"Sometimes the simplest bills are the most powerful in affecting peoples' lives for the better," said bill sponsor Sen. Scott Dibble, a Minneapolis DFLer who previously married Richard Leyva in California.

"With just a few words, we have the ability to bring loving families across the entire state of Minnesota into the full sunshine of equality and freedom that they've been denied for so long."

Gay marriage supporters far outnumbered opponents Monday at the Capitol. Decked in orange and blue, they chanted, "We've got your back," as lawmakers left the Senate chamber.

St. Paul already has planned a celebration for Tuesday, with Dayton's 5 p.m. bill signing on the Capitol steps and a "Love is Law" ou

tdoor concert afterward at Ecolab Plaza downtown.

I’m thrilled for Minnesota, and happy for the great people of the state, as well as my friends and family living there. They are the 12th state in the nation to embrace marriage equality, and the 3rd state in 3 weeks to do so.

I wish that I could have watched Rep. Michele ‘Bozo’ Bachmann (R-MN) weep when she heard the news. She’ll probably blame this marriage loss on Satan. Right - that’s a plausible explanation!

Bachmann’s hatred for all things gay, motivated so many of us to make a commitment to take up arms and work to defeat the anti-gay campaign that she, and so many others like her, have fueled for so many years.

Every time we speak authentically and truthfully, and cite facts instead of innuendo, we’re counteracting the lies and misinformation that these anti-gay hucksters try to sell to anyone who will listen.

‘Bozo’ Bachmann wouldn’t know the truth if it was staring her in the face, and the truth of the matter is that at 5:00pm today when Governor Mark Dayton signs the bill, gay marriage will be legal in the state of Minnesota.

The Bachmann Brigade and her ilk lost the battles in Rhode Island and Delaware and Minnesota, and they lost the war a long time ago. The only thing standing in the way of full marriage equality in all fifty states is destiny.

As the Late Late Show’s Craig Ferguson likes to say, “it’s a great day for America!”

A great day indeed.

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TV Talk: Rupaul’s Drag Race Declares “It’s Monsoon Season”

2013-05-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

Why Jerick Hoffer’s “Jinkx Monsoon” is destined to be a star!

When season 1 of Rupaul’s Drag Race premiered on the fledgling “gay” network Logo in February 2009, there were 9 drag queens and a $25,000 prize for the winner. Season 5 of Rupaul’s Drag Race debuted in January 2013, with 14 drag queens, which is the largest cast to date, and a $100,000 cash prize for the winner.

Before Rupaul’s Drag Race existed, Rupaul Charles was arguably the most famous and successful drag performer in the country. His dance anthem Supermodel (You Better Work) reached # 2 on the Billboard Dance Charts, and he’s had a successful career through the years as an actor, model, female impersonator, writer, and recording artist. Because of his success, and high profile in the gay community, hosting his own television show was a natural progression.

In the United States, female impersonators haven’t found success in front of mainstream audiences, and Rupaul’s Drag Race is the first television show starring drag queens with crossover appeal. While the LGBT community largely embraces our drag queens, there’s a vocal minority who feel that drag queens are the black sheep in the family.

I love Rupaul’s Drag Race, and wish that it was on CBS each week. With the rapidly changing mood of the country, it isn’t far fetched to believe that we’ll see a great female impersonator regularly on network television, in the near future.

In the UK, they’ve had camp actors and comedians, and great drag queens, in films and on television for decades. The late great camp comic actor Kenneth Williams, and Frankie Howerd, were revered by British audiences, and I can’t think of any American actors who would be their equivalent.

Graham Norton has been hosting his popular chat show on BBC One since 2010, which is the flagship television station in the UK. Graham’s wikipedia entry describes him as being known “for his camp demeanour, innuendo-laden dialogue and flamboyant presentation style.”

Alan Carr is one of the most talented and funny comedians on the planet, and is more flamboyant than anyone on television, and his show Alan Carr Chatty Man on Channel Four, is in it’s tenth season.

I was lucky enough to work with the legendary Barry Humphries, better known as his alter-ego Dame Edna Everage, in a musical in London’s west end. He’s been a fixture on British television since the 1960’s. The most popular drag queen in all of Britain is Lily Savage. She hosted quiz shows, and had her own television shows and specials, for a long time. Paul O’Grady came to fame playing Lily Savage, and when he got tired of putting on wigs and heels, he announced that she’d "seen the light, taken the veil and packed herself off to a convent in France."

Are straight men in the UK more comfortable in their skin than their American counterparts? I don’t think so. I often think that it’s the suits who make decisions at American television networks, and their inner discomfort with campy drag queens, that keeps them off network television, consigned to the shadows. It’s pure homophobia, because I can’t think of one plausible reason to explain why Rupaul’s Drag Race is on Logo, when there’s so much sub-standard fare (crap!) on network television.

The last episode of Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 5 aired last week. It was almost anticlimactic, because anyone I spoke to that watched the show agreed, Jinkx Monsoon (Jerick Hoffer) was the winner. I was glad that Rupaul agreed too, and Jinkx Monsoon was crowned “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”

The three finalists were Alaska (Justin Andrew Honard), Jinkx, and Roxxxy Andrews (Michael Feliciano).

Alaska was a worthy competitor, and very talented and funny. I’m sure that Alaska will find much success. Roxxxy was a bully, who resented that she was outclassed by two more talented performers. She complained about going on social networks because people hurt her feelings. She’s the oldest of the three, and failed to take responsibility for her bad behavior and bullying. Is it any wonder that the public hasn’t embraced her?

Jinkx Monsoon was the most talented all around performer on Rupaul’s Drag Race by a long shot, and there’s no question in my mind that she has crossover appeal, and will find success with mainstream audiences. She can act and she can sing, and she has extensive acting experience in the theater. Her comedic skills and her comic instinct set her apart, and it’s those skills that will be the key to achieving mainstream success.

Jinkx/Jerick said his “goal as a drag queen is to be known as an artist, not just a female impersonator. I want to use the attention I'm given to change some minds about some things.”

There’s no question that Jerick is an artist. If any drag queen is going to have mainstream success, it’s going to be Jerick Hoffer as Jinkx Monsoon, and she’s going to do it with comedy. She makes people laugh, and that’s why she’s a winner.

Bravo Jinkx Monsoon!

Rupaul’s Drag Race airs on LOGOTV and VH1 each week. Check your local listings for the time in your area.

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Happy Mother's Day

2013-05-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day!

A mother’s love is unconditional, instinctual and forever

As youth fades, skin droops, and the tides of life ebb and fall

A mother’s love outlasts them all.

Happy Mother’s Day

With Love,

Jive in the [415]

In this Human Rights Campaign (HRC) advert entitled “HRC Celebrates Moms”, Sally Field, Jennifer Tyrell, Marie Osmond, transgender activist Jazz, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, discuss equality. HRC notes that “In the past year, LGBT and ally moms have changed hearts and minds in favor of equality - simply by sharing their story.” What’s yours?

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Jive Five: We Answer Your 5 Burning Gay Questions

2013-05-09T05:15:00.000-07:00

Today we answer 5 burning questions related to gay marriage, equal protection under the law for the LGBT community in Texas, the implications of the immigration reform proposals in Congress on gay married couples, when will Hollywood’s biggest gay closet case fling open that door, and how does being gay effect the performance of an athlete.

Q: Is gay marriage coming to Minnesota?

A: The Minnesota state House of Representatives has scheduled a floor vote today on a bill to legalize gay marriage. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Speaker of the House Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) thinks that he has the 68 votes necessary to pass the legislation.

If the House votes in favor, Minnesota will be one step closer to marriage equality.

2.

Q: Are Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans entitled to equality?

A: The Austin American-Statesman reports that five LGBT activists were arrested in Austin, Texas, yesterday - while protesting that the Texas state legislature has failed to act on legislation that would extend employment protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents of the lone star state. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) introduced Senate Bill 237, which would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Michael Diviesti, a spokesman for GetEQUAL TX said:

“Over 400,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans go to work knowing that their jobs are not protected and that they can be fired simply for who they are or who they love with no legal recourse. This does not make for a safe and healthy working environment.”

Equality remains a dream for the LGBT community in Texas.

3.

Q: Will binational LGBT couples be left out of the immigration reform bill?

A: During an interview with Politico, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) expressed his reservations about the proposed immigration reform bill. In it’s current form, the measure excludes legally wed gay binational couples from receiving the rights afforded to opposite sex married couples, and Senate Republicans have said that including gay partners or spouses will derail the bill.

Politico’s Lois Romano reports that Senator Leahy feels strongly that the Senate consider the bill’s impact on the LGBT community.

“On this particular issue, you know, at some point we’re going to have to face it, and we have to decide when is the best time to face it,” Leahy told POLITICO in a wide-ranging interview. “You can’t go into a state like mine or — it will be now 11 or 12 states and the District of Columbia — where same-sex marriage is legal, and say to this couple, ‘OK, we can help you with the immigration matter.’ Turn to another couple equally legally married and say, ‘Oh, we have to discriminate against you.’”

“I’m not going to speculate about where we’re going to be. Let us see what happens. … I want a bill, a comprehensive bill, on the president’s desk. … And I want to find a way that couples who are married legally, when one is not an American citizen, they can have the same rights as all other couples married legally.”
It’s too early to tell whether LGBT binational married couples will be covered by the immigration reform proposals in Congress. Call your member of Congress to make your voice heard!

4.

Q: Will Hollywood’s biggest gay closet case ever ‘come out’?

A: The brilliant actress and comic Margaret Cho, a San Francisco native, discussed the closeted actor John Travolta in her stand-up act. Margaret is one of the most highly visible bisexual activists in Hollywood, and made the 1997 film Face/Off with Travolta.

"John Travolta is so gay!"

"I’m going to get in trouble but I’ll just tell you," she continued. "He’s not just gay. He doesn’t just like men. He is like Oscar Wilde gay, like Lord Byron gay. That kind of crazy, incredibly flamboyant gay."

"I feel bad for him, because I know he would be much happier if he could just come out," she says, "But he can’t."

"He was so pampered and so taken care of, it was the closest I have ever been to being in the presence of a king," before adding, "Or a queen, actually."
It’s almost too stressful to imagine the pressure that Travolta’s had to endure over the years. His “church” doesn’t accept homosexuality, and Hollywood wants their leading men to be straight. It’s pretty sad.

5.

Q: Does a gay athlete’s sexuality have an impact on their ability to play?

A: A former University of Richmond gay football player has ‘come out’ in the wake of the NBA’s Jason Collins pronouncement. Kevin Grayson revealed his sexuality in an interview with WTVR, a Richmond, Virginia television station.

Writing for The Advocate, Jase Peeples writes [bold emphasis my own]:

“Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you can’t be the athlete you want to be. Doesn’t mean you can’t be a star. Doesn’t mean you can’t go out there and go just as hard as anybody else, if not harder,” Grayson said.

Grayson speaks from experience. During his career, he achieved a long list of accolades. He was already a decorated high school football player when he began playing for the University of Richmond, but as a wide receiver for the Spiders, Grayson helped his college team win the national title in 2008 and remains second on the list of all-time receivers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.

However, Grayson says he never considered coming out before because he didn’t want to become a distraction for his teammates and preferred to keep his focus on his sport. “If you are an athlete, you want to be an athlete. You want to be known for what you’ve done on the basketball court, football field, tennis court, whatever. You don’t want to be that person who it’s always ‘the “gay” athlete,’” explains Grayson. “You don’t want to be the focus in that way. Not to say that it’s a negative, but when you have people just asking questions about your sexuality and how teammates are taking it, it takes away from the importance of the preseason.”

However, today Grayson feels differently and hopes by coming out more people will realize an athlete’s sexuality has no impact on his ability to play. “Why can’t I be an athlete? Why can’t I be a star player?” asks Grayson. “Why can’t I be the guy making plays that helps my team win, and still on the flip side, be a gay male?”
I agree that an athlete will be judged on how they play, and their contributions to the team. At the end of the day, that’s what a successful team is all about.

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Update: The State Of Gay Marriage In 10 States

2013-05-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Delaware for becoming the 11th state to legalize gay marriage!

1. Colorado

Civil Unions Effective May 1, 2013

2. Rhode Island

Gay marriages effective August 1, 2013

3. Delaware

Gay marriages effective July 1, 2013

4. Illinois

Their gay marriage legislation passed in the state Senate in February 2013. It isn’t clear whether there are enough votes in the state House of Representatives to pass.

5. Minnesota

Their gay marriage legislation has passed in the relevant committees in the House and Senate, and now move to the full House and Senate for consideration. A bill authorizing civil unions has also been introduced.

6. Nevada

The state Senate passed a resolution to begin the long process of reversing the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

7. New Jersey

The state legislature passed marriage equality legislation last year, which Governor Chris Christie vetoed. Governor Christie wants gay marriage to be placed on the ballot in a referendum for New Jersey voters to decide. Recent polls indicate that a ballot measure would pass.

8. Oregon

Oregon voters banned gay marriage in 2004, and there is a movement to reverse the ban with a ballot initiative in 2014.

9. Pennsylvania

State Representative Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) introduced House Bill 1178 which would authorize civil unions. "Civil unions represent the middle-of-the-road compromise position between constitutionally banning and permitting gay marriages and have been embraced by both advocates for LGBT rights and a growing number of conservatives," Cohen said.

10. Texas

With just 3 weeks left in the state of Texas’ legislative session, the marriage equality legislation appears dead in the water.

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Will Delaware Say "I Do" Support Gay Marriage? Yes! They Did!

2013-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: The Delaware State Senate passed HB 75 by a vote of 12 - 9, which legalizes gay marriage. They are the 11th state to embrace marriage equality. BRAVO Delaware!

Dover, Delaware --- Reuters is reporting that the Delaware state Senate has scheduled a vote on their gay marriage legislation for today, May 7th, 2013.

Delaware’s House of Representatives passed HB 75, the marriage equality bill, two weeks ago 23-18.

If the gay marriage legislation passes in the state Senate, Governor Jack Markell has said that he will sign the bill, and Delaware will be the 11th state to allow same-sex marriage.

There are 21 state Senators in Delaware, consisting of 13 Democrats and 8 Republicans. Eleven Senators must support gay marriage for the bill to pass. Seven Republican state Senators have registered their opposition to gay marriage, with one GOP Senator undecided. There are at least 8 Democrats in the Senate who have voiced their support for marriage equality, and the position of the other 5 is currently unknown.

Yes 8

No 7

Undecided 6

Fasten your seatbelts, the road to marriage equality in Delaware might be a bumpy ride.

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Stop The Bullets. Kill The Gun.

2013-05-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

On January 8th, 2011 a mentally deranged shooter tried to assassinate US Representative Gabrielle Giffords. He wounded the Congresswoman and 12 others, and murdered six Americans that day.

Since then, there have been at least 11 firearm massacres, including the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 innocent children were murdered along with six of their teachers.

To date, Congress has failed the American people. They have done NOTHING to combat gun violence.

Every day, 33 Americans are murdered with guns – and that’s 20 times the gun murder rate of other developed countries.

The inaction by our do nothing Congress is pathetic and an embarassment. We have to demand change, and we must hold our elected representatives accountable.

Please share this blog post with your social networks, to maximize the impact.

I saw this graphic on tumblr, adapted from a Youtube video , and wanted to share it with a larger audience, because I think it’s disturbing and powerful. The video was produced by the International Action Network On Small Arms (iansa).

Stop the bullets. Kill the gun. Now.

[The Youtube video is embedded below - and you can see it by clicking read more.]

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Macklemore And Ryan Lewis Perform Their Gay Marriage Anthem On The Colbert Report

2013-05-07T02:59:00.000-07:00

On May 1st, 2013, hip-hop artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis appeared on Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Report. The Seattle based musicians talked about the virtues of producing and distributing their own music, and decried the misogyny and homophobia in hip-hop music.

They also performed “Same Love”, their fantastic paean to gay marriage. Written and recorded during the Referendum 74 marriage equality campaign, in the state of Washington, this top 100 tune features vocals from Mary Lambert.

I really love their album “The Heist” --- and appreciate that they support the gay community.

Macklemore was interviewed by Studio 360 when “Same Love” was released as a single, which they called “Macklemore’s Gay Anthem”.

Macklemore is an unlikely rapper: he’s from the Pacific Northwest, he’s white, he’s proud of wearing secondhand clothes. And now he’s famous for his support of gay marriage.

Macklemore’s “Same Love” came out of his frustration with hip-hop’s misogyny and homophobia: “Those are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip-hop culture,” he tells Kurt Andersen. “It’s 2012. There needs to be some accountability. I think that as a society we’re evolving and I think that hip-hop has always been a representation of what’s going on in the world right now.”

I try my best to support our straight LGBT rights activists, and hope that you do too.

You can buy the single Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert), or the album The Heist [Explicit] at Amazon.com.

Check out their performance of Same Love on The Colbert Report.

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