There are certain places you might not want to go to in the UK if you happen to be a little, shall we say, “flamboyant”. But a pub in the heart of the capital, surrounded by passing gay customers is not somewhere you’d expect to be confronted by a splash of homophobic sentiment.

It might be fair to expect a little icy attitude in a mining town or a rural farming pub, but not in the capital of our country, surely?

For those who don’t know, Soho in London is the capital-of-the-capital when it comes to the gay scene. It’s right up there with Camden for the alternative and liberal. This little area of our fabulous city is the place we all go whenever we’re in town. In the summer it is the epicenter of everything in gay culture, pretty much.  The music is pumping, the men are often shirtless and the women are ogled by all the straight locals as they enjoy a cuddle on the grass.

The place is packed with bars and restaurants, and the majority display insignia and rainbow colors to signify their welcoming attitude. Statements like “Gay Friendly” and “Gay Owned and Operated” are not uncommon, because it makes sense to appeal to your largest target audience, doesn’t it?

The Landlord and Landlady of the John Snow pub in Broadwick street Soho don’t seem to think so. They must have so many customers that they can afford to throw out the poof’s and the queen’s. Or perhaps they just missed a marketing for dummies seminar that they really should have attended?

They certainly don’t seem too bothered about letting down their operator – the Samuel Smith Brewery – through embarrassment and the inevitable negative press this will gain them.

It all began late one night as two cute boys on their first date chose to stop by in the John Snow for a drink after their enjoyable dinner. Johnathan Williams and James Bull had been having a thoroughly nice evening by the sounds of things, nice enough to enjoy a little snogging at their table. Cheeky fellas.

Now what would normally be considered uneventful in a London pub – in Soho – appears to have upset the off-duty Landlord (is that like an off-duty cop?) who interrupted the pair and asked them to stop because they were “bothering him”. How seeing two people kissing can bother a person is anyones guess. Perhaps the fella was jealous, who knows?

They ignored the unhappy chappy and continued their drink, enjoying another peck on the lips before heading off, only to be confronted again by a woman in branded uniform claiming to be the landlady. Apparently she advised them that they had to leave because they were being obscene.

After leaving (while being guided by hands on lapels, no less!) a Police report was filed. It later emerged that a couple (straight no less!) were also asked to leave shortly after for daring to question the Landlord and Landlady’s attitude!

Wow, it’s a double whammy of professional ineptitude isn’t it?

The witnesses to this (lets call it what it is) bigotry, have stated that no one else seemed to mind the young male couple loving it up, all except for this one man, and apparently his partner too.

Despite the nastiness of the Pub staff, it’s refreshing to see another couple stepping forward to show their support. They didn’t have to say anything about it, they could have just done what many others do when they see racism, homophobia or general bigotry and just pretended it wasn’t happening. But they didn’t, they stood up for them.

And that is the Soho I know and love!

I guess it might be wise for the Samuel Smith Brewery to hire an expensive PR company in an effort to rectify the damage – this only happened on Wednesday 13th, but the damage to brand and reputation is spreading fast!

With just over two months until Soho is inundated with us “Obscene” people celebrating Gay Pride, they couldn’t have chosen a worse time to reveal their homophobia. The first week of July should be one of their busiest weeks of the year, and I have a feeling it won’t be.

If you happen to be attending this year, join me and we’ll pop in just to tell them that we’re heading to the Admiral Duncan instead :)

We are glad to see these changes from Facebook especially because they are the most popular site right now and can set an example. Now the choice will be to call your partner a civil union, domestic partnership, open relationship, married (just like the straight couples), or it’s complicated.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today applauded Facebook for adding ‘In a Civil Union’ and ‘In a Domestic Partnership’ options to user profiles. The option is now available for users in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

“Today, Facebook sent a clear message in support of gay and lesbian couples to users across the globe,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “By acknowledging the relationships of countless loving and committed same-sex couples in the U.S. and abroad, Facebook has set a new standard of inclusion for social media. As public support for marriage equality continues to grow, we will continue to work for the day when all couples have the opportunity to marry and have their relationship recognized by their community, both online and off.”

GLAAD was among the organizations that met with Facebook to advocate for this change. In October 2010, Facebook partnered with GLAAD and other national LGBT organizations to create “Network of Support,” an educational initiative that works to combat anti-LGBT cyberbullying. GLAAD also worked with Facebook to reshape the way that the site responds to hateful, anti-LGBT comments posted on public pages.

One major thing that Facebook and other companies may gay from this new drop down box of options for married gays and lesbians is the niche marketing. They will now be able to find and market to the gays and lesbians who are in long term relationships and towards those who can buy their products and services. That is one exciting niche.

Facebook’s “Network of Support” is comprised of five leading LGBT advocacy organizations in conjunction with MTV’s “A Thin Line” campaign, including GLAAD, GLSEN, HRC, PFLAG and The Trevor Project.

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Issues that Lesbians Face in 2011

With a new year under way the lesbian community has an agenda of issues to explore. Most of these issues are carried over from previous years. Some of them may be settled in 2011 while others will most likely be carried on into future years. For example, at the front of the gay rights movement, affecting both lesbians and gays, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule has now been thrown in the garbage can where it belonged for many years. Even so, this was an issue that took a number of years to address and to solve. It can now be crossed over the “to do” list.

Another similar issue, that still remains with the lesbian community, is workplace discrimination. Of course there is a federal law in place that discrimination is illegal; however, let us face it, if a well-dressed woman walks into an upscale dress shop for an interview, followed by a dyke dressed in Levis and a flannel shirt along with her hair cut as short as possible – is there any question as to which lady will be offered the job? Although sex discrimination is against the law it is still a part of our culture. It is an issue that has been fought for many years before and an issue the lesbian population will face in the years ahead. Related to this issue is workplace discrimination. Nearly half of the states in America do not have laws that bans workplace discrimination based on a persons sexual orientation. The lesbians living in our country need to have a uniform policy that assures them that they will not suffer from workplace discrimination.

Family, relationships, and marriage are also issues that have faced the lesbian community for a number of years; unfortunately these same issues will most likely be with us in 2011 as well as into the future. Two women raising a child together still remains different, in the opinion of society, opposed to the customary husband and wife. Two women attending a PTA meeting, representing their child, still offers some uncomfortable moments for most female couples opposed to the husband and wife couple. Even the children of a lesbian couple continue to be discriminated against at school once it is learned that s/he has two mothers opposed to one mother and a father.

Naturally, at the top of the list of family, relationships, and marriage issues is that of gay marriage. Many lesbians have actually moved to different states or to different countries – places that accept gay marriages. This is a major political issue that remains in the forefront. Women want the same guarantee of rights as any married couple. The question remains: why shouldn’t they?

Those lesbians under age, still in high school for example, continue to be bullied and harassed. This makes it extremely difficult for a teen lesbian to function at school as well as in society. This discrimination is felt not only at school but in public as well. If the young lesbian chooses to dress in a less then feminine manner, wear her hair shortly cut, and so forth, she will most likely suffer from discrimination. This is a major issue in 2011 but hopefully it is an issue that will be extinguished one day in the near future as young people learn to understand and try to deal with differences in people.

Health care is also an important issue that lesbians must deal with in 2011. Unfortunately, this has to deal mostly with misinformation and inadequate information the medical care community has as well as the homophobia among some health care providers. These issues have led to an increased rate of suicidal behavior among lesbians as well as in stress related chronic illnesses. The lesbian community is making an effort to address many of these issues by supporting medical research in such areas as rates and risk factors of cancers, infections, and diseases among lesbians. There is also a widespread effort to gain access to the health care system. There is the need to address lesbian family issues as well as mental health concerns of lesbians.

The new year will most likely offer a continued struggle that lesbians will face in order to be heard; however, little by little they are making the guarantee that they will eventually be heard.

There are many legal and political issues that the LGBT community faces in the United States that need to be continually addressed. Lambda legal is dedicated to these issues, and have been for quite some time now. They are the largest and oldest such organization in the United States and have helped the LGBT community make great strides politically and legally in the past few decades alone. Most notably of late is the Gays in the Military issue that has been at the forefront of the gay rights movement. Acceptance of homosexuality has always been an uphill battle, and Lambda Legal as well as the HRC work hard to to make it easier.

One of the longest running issues that the LGBT community has faced has been workplace discrimination. While there is a federal law in place that businesses cannot discriminate against people in their hiring process based on a persons sexual orientation, there are no laws in roughly half the states that bans workplace discrimination based on a persons sexual orientation. There needs to be an even, across the board, representation of sexual discrimination laws that cover every aspect of a persons employment. From the hiring process, to the actual time of employment, and to the time of an actual discharge of said employment. Currently there is no across-the-board, uniform policy, and we are working hard to change that.

Laws regarding family, relationships, and marriage have been a high priority of ours for going on 40 years now, with the specific issue of marriage leading the way. We have been fighting hard to protect families since the 1970′s when a lesbian mother,who was a foster mother, regained custody of her children with the help of Lambda Legal when the appropriate state agency took them away. In the same time frame we helped a father who was gay get the legal right to visit his children after a legal divorce. Same sex relationships and marriages without children have also gotten our attention and help through the years in regards to obtaining the same health benefits that heterosexual couples get. There are many different legal rights that we try to obtain for same sex partners and we have learned through the years that you have to start small if you want to get to the top of that legal hill.

The youth of our country is also a big concern for us. Bullying in general in our public schools has been on the rise lately, but with gay students this is labeled as harassment for it is based on a persons sexual orientation. Being a teenager these days is hard enough, but being a gay teenager in this society is extremely difficult, and the pressure they can feel from their peers is not only felt in school, but in out-of -home care facilities as well. We have made a lot of legal strides with the public schools in our country to make them a more safe and open environment for gay students. Out-of -home care facilities such as foster homes and juvenile detention centers are also hotbeds for sexual discrimination, and we keep active in those areas as well.

Our legal teams and political activists have been working overtime for decades now to help ensure equal rights for everyone in the LGBT community. With your financial help we will be able to do even more. Organizations such as the HRC also help make life in general for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gender individuals better on a legal and political level. For example the HRC helped in the State Departments decision to modify the application process for a child to obtain a passport. The information on the parents now ask for “father or parent 2” or “mother or parent 1″, instead of simply “father” or “mother”. We believe that the mere acknowledgment of the different family structures here in the U.S. will lead to the acceptance of them.

With your donations to help with our legal and political work, we can all help ensure a more fair and balanced way of life for us all.

It seems there has to be something done here with all these states and countries taking action against what they perceive as people having unprotected sex or having sex at all. Some of these laws come down to hate and discrimination against gays or those with HIV. It should be pretty plain and simple if you have sex with someone and you do not use protection then its your fault as well. You can’t go blaming someone for not knowing their status or what STD they might have.

If you have had multiple sex partners then how can you go around blaming all of them or even blaming one person. We always want to blame someone for things we have done but this is something that is preventable if you take the proper steps. The choice to bareback comes with consequences for some and others just get lucky but when two people are having consensual sex then the questions or tests should be done before the sex not after.

States having HIV lists which I am sure are online somewhere or they probably will have iPhone apps with these telling you when someone with HIV walks in the door. We have gone so big brother these days even with things like HIV. It is offensive that there is an HIV list. Just because someone has HIV they do not deserve to be on some list with a scarlet letter on them. They have not committed a crime for having a virus and the person who gave it to them unless they did not consent did not either.

Of course this is a very touchy subject if someone gets an STD they are quick to blame someone. I cant imagine anyone who would want to purposely give someone an STD or HIV. It is crazy to me to think someone should be put on some public list like some type of criminal. The laws in this country and even the ones where the Wiki Founder was arrested are out of control aimed at HIV and Sex. Sex has always been such a subject the media likes to blow out of proportion as you see here this article at the Body tells it best. HIV is being turned into a crime. Not the rapist or the pedophile or the real criminal but it is the HIV which with laws like we are seeing are turning carrying HIV into a crime. With HIV being a crime this could hurt prevention and testing efforts as you can see here:

Most of the cases prosecuted around the world have not actually focused on criminal HIV transmission, but rather on exposure to the risk of transmission. These cases often hinged on whether or not someone with HIV had informed their sexual partner — sometimes a one-night stand, sometimes a long-term partner or spouse — that they were HIV-positive before having sex that may — but may not — have risked HIV transmission.

Very few cases have involved people who truly intended to harm anyone. That’s the ‘line in the sand’ that most experts, including UNAIDS, have agreed fulfill the criteria of when it is justified to prosecute allegations of criminal HIV transmission. Rather, what most of these cases boil down to is perceived responsibility for HIV prevention. Research suggests that most HIV transmission takes place during sex between two consenting adults, neither of whom is aware that one them is living with HIV.

Have such laws and prosecutions reduced the number of new infections? There is absolutely no evidence that they have. Have they made more people with HIV disclose? There’s no evidence there, either. However, there is some evidence that HIV-specific criminal laws and prosecutions for non-disclosure have made people who are at risk of HIV, and who expect to be told if their sexual partner is HIV-positive, feel more secure, even though this is a false sense of security. And there’s little doubt that these laws and prosecutions have further increased the stigma associated with HIV, sometimes making people living with HIV feel even more insecure about disclosing — the very thing expected of us.

-The Body’s Edwin Bernard

This was originally intended as a reply to a Moveon.org letter sent to me asking me what concerns I had of what was in the news right now and what news I was interested in. I thought I would reply my biggest concerns, some concerns I have had for awhile, and address my views on a few things.

I am really disgusted with this oil disaster right now. I think we need to put more of the tax focus on energy and more taxes on gasoline at the pump. We have got to get away from our oil dependency. I would even go with nuclear before buying more oil from terrorists and to cargo oil all over the ocean. Of course, the world would be a much better place if we would have made Exxon pay for their damage years ago because this created an environment where anyone can get away with an Oil Spill and not pay the consequences.

I am also concerned that our spending is out of control we do need to keep taxes reasonable so that companies and people do not move to other countries. The Tea baggers have lots of good points and it makes me want to join them if they weren’t racist hypocrites. Then they make statements about microchips in people but want less government. But some of the sain people such as Ron Paul make good points in the unfair taxes for some while others get by without paying taxes at all when some should (they are probably getting more use out of Federal facilities than the people paying for them for free).

I also think that gays should get every federal right such as marriage. GLBT are paying taxes and deserve to be treated like every other tax paying citizen. While I agree that the Arizona law went to far at discrimination I do feel we have got to do something when it comes to illegals mooching off our system. If someone is living off our healthcare and driving uninsured cars down the highway these people need to be addressed.

We need to focus on incentives for companies more to build stronger internet backbones, faster rails, and curing diseases and viruses such as HIV and cancer. Private companies need greater support doing these things and much larger tax or cash incentives. We want to be the first here in America and want to make sure our bio-techs are focused on science that can save lives and not things like Ambien and Restless Leg Syndrome just to make a quick profit.

We have to make sure the FDA does not stop any more natural supplements such as Almonds or something like Vitamin D. We have to protect natural ways to keep healthy and make sure there are no toxins in these products at the same time. That will be hard but we have to do it. We should also make it where natural pain killers or a natural inflammatory such as THC/Pot are available and we should be able to grow anything in our own yard. This is a freedom we must have to be a real America and get away with having to buy things like this from the drug lords in Mexico.

Finally, I feel that Churches that do not do a certain amount of community service SHOULD pay taxes. If the church is not doing say 50% community service besides preaching and activism why are they getting by without paying taxes just like any other business? They are a business they need to be taxed.

I feel that the news is not really worth watching lately. I get more quality stuff out of the Daily Show than anything and still fast forward through Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. Most of my factual news comes from the Yahoo.com homepage and if I want opinions I turn over to MSNBC.

No this is no April Fool’s Joke or anything this really is a painting of Jesus Christ dated back to 12th Century art where his genitals wee exposed during the crucifix. This painting is displayed in a Catholic Church near Oklahoma City, OK. The church is not taking the painting down and surprisingly most of the visitors to a news website in the city agree that it is ok to leave up.

Keep in mind this is a 10-foot-tall crucifix hanging above the alter at a Catholic church. One Facebook comment makes the point “The image is quite obvious; but, I find it interesting that many people don’t… seem to notice (on a 10-foot-tall crucifix), and that 62% of people polled don’t find it offensive (whereas people sure were “outraged” when Erykah Badu exposed herself at Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas on March 17). According to the Church, there are no plans to remove it.”

I agree that our bodes are art and so are the clothes we wear for that matter. We may be disgusted by seeing one person walk around nude but someone else we may get turned on by but when we came out of our mommies we certainly were not dressed and we bared all. We were in our birthday suits. I am surprised there is not more art that depicts nudity in our true form and the beauty of our different bodies.

Jesus in this painting definitely had something sticking out of his skirt or dress that looked mighty powerful and that was not your ordinary sized penis. I am not sure if I was in shock it was so big or because the balls were so big. In some of the same paintings dating back to this time it seemed to show more abs and images of the genitals. The crucifix hanging at this Catholic Church resembles other San Damiano crucifixes except for Jesus’ abdominal area, which is noticeably more pronounced than on similar crucifixes. Very hung if you ask me.

Could this be a sexual depiction of Jesus? Could this be a bondage type depiction? I do not think so I think it is just the way the artists captured this moment. I do find it strange that some captured abs in that area that look similar and this painting has a full out private part sticking out for the world to see.

The Catholic Church certainly has their problems with some Priests who are pedophiles (people who molest children) which has been confused with gays serving in the church. There is a big difference there because gays are not pedophiles they are attracted to the same sex of someone who is consenting adult. But this Vatican problem is something that has been crippling the church and as for the artwork it is certainly not going to be a problem because it has been around for thousands of years and no one has bothered to remove the genitalia from the paintings as they should not.

Well everyone is talking about the new “Obama Care” this week as they should. It was shocking news to many that the Healthcare legislation passed late Sunday night then went on to President Barrack Obama’s desk for signature this week to become the law of the land.

What this will do for gays and lesbians is really not much too soon unless you have kids in college or children in the home. The healthcare legislation was certainly not perfect because it will take too long for the pre-existing part to kick in. It will also not put enough restrictions on the health insurance companies that are known for their heartless greed.

We also should have done something more for research in medicine in terms of vaccines and cures. It scares me to think less money could go into these areas at a time we need them the most with MRSA infections which antibiotics cannot help immediately and HIV and Cancer still out there putting people in pain and suffering.

This was an amazing Victory for the Democrats such as Pelosi and Obama. They have really worked hard on this and I am pleased it passed in some ways. It defeated all the namecalling and hate speeches that went on during this debate. The republicans went to extremes and lied to try to get this to not pass and if they would have not acted like ignorant mules and used some intellect in their discussion it may have been stopped.

Where will all of this new healthcare money come from?
There is talk of new taxes for those who make over $250,000 a year who could end up paying 2.5% instead of 1% in Medicaid taxes. There is also talk of taxes for those who drink soft drinks and a 10% tanning salon tax.

I do my tanning now and then but I think its a brilliant idea to tax tanning and high fructose corn syrup and things such as diet coke chemicals. All of the chemicals but at the same time think its a bad idea to be able to make judgments on what to tax. TAXING SHOULD BE FAIR AND ACROSS THE BOARD. The sales tax should be increased for any goods we buy that way it would hit all these families who have kids who are mooching off the system. You can sit around and have all these kids but not pay more in taxes and get more deductions?? These kids are the reason my property taxes are so high thanks to the school district I live in. Without kids it is just unfair and unwarranted to have to pay these taxes. That would be like me paying taxes for someone else to enjoy drinking or smoking. You always hear about Children benefiting from most any legislation passing.

Most of us will not benefit from this until 4 years from now unless you are on your parents health ins until age 26.

Also, we need to Tax churches!! Churches are supposed to be separated but they damn well do their indirect grubbiness into politics!

While the gay rights movement in the United States is typically focused on gay marriage, gays in the military and similar civil rights issues, elsewhere in the world the situation is much more dire. Homosexuality is, in some areas, treated as a criminal offense. Recently, Uganda has been in the news with steps taken toward laws that would condemn gays and lesbians not only as criminals, but even impose the death sentence in some circumstances. Other African countries, including Kenya and Tanzania, have anti-gay laws on the books, but there is fear that these may be expanded.

Unfortunately, the Ugandan law, The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, is expected to pass, regardless of international condemnation. In its current form, the law will condemn HIV positive individuals, those convicted of same-sex rape or sex with a minor, and serial offenders to death. If found guilty of homosexuality, life imprisonment is the penalty in other situations. Family, friends, and even landlords can face imprisonment if they fail to report someone for homosexuality.

While the international community has condemned this law and is treating it as a foreign policy issue, there are much more concerning ties to America. The initial law came to be after visits to Uganda by conservative fundamentalist American clergy; Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge, and Don Schmeirer, supporting treatment for homosexuality and religious cures and promoting intensely negative views of homosexuality. During the course of their visit, gays were accused of sodomizing teenage boys and attempting to defeat a marriage based culture. It should be noted that the three have criticized the new legislation, even though Lively met with lawmakers to discuss it.

What is being done and what can you do about gay rights so far away? President Barack Obama has publicly criticized the bill at a morning prayer breakfast on February 4, 2010 and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has phoned the Ugandan president to express very strong concerns. Take a few minutes out of your day and call your senators and representatives to encourage them to voice their condemnations of this human rights violation. If you wish to give money, options are limited to get funds directly into Uganda and Ugandan gay rights activists are largely silenced. You can opt to give to Amnesty International or the Human Rights Campaign to support international attempts to prevent this legislation.

I could think of a few worse things that could happen in life. Maybe a tax on jeans or shoes that would really hurt us. You have to admit that the gays will get hit hard by any kind of tanning or cosmetic tax because we like to stay beautiful.

In a way to make funds to pave the way for the new Healthcare bill our Congress has came up with a creative gesture with a 10% tax on tanning services. This could help create over 2.5 Billion in tax revenues that our government would not normally see but in a span of ten years.

Tanning is something that is similar to our sins that we do not really need. Although some doctors argue that we need it for Vitamin D, but that would only be in certain tanning beds and only for a few minutes a week versus spending every other day in the tanning bed. The light from outside is much more beneficial but only in certain parts of the US and certain times of the day.

Ten percent is really not too bad of a tax on tanning and you have to say that lots of teens spend too much money freely on things such as tanning that they could be spending on better things. Well if they are not spending it on tanning I guess they could spend it on clothes or a new iPhone or music. But we know they will probably trade sin for sin and spend it on cigarettes or beer. Tanning could be made more sexy the more it is regulated.

The indoor tanning industry is already consolidating at a rapid pace as the belts are tightening up with the recession. With companies such as Planet Tan and Palm Beach Tan with many more soon to follow they are worried about the impact of even higher costs in their salons.

Botox treatments were another cosmetic treatment that was being thrown around to be taxed or not. This was going to be called the BoTax which has the potential to generate over $5.5 billion over ten years. This supposedly could generate more than tanning taxes but the American Academy of Dermatology Association and the AMA both opposed the 5% tax on cosmetic procedures. Although, Botox and most cosmetic procedures do not have the skin cancer risk of tanning beds.

They certainly want to tax something related to this industry so we are not sure what it will be yet but what do you think? Do you think tanning salons deserve this new tax or people trying to look younger?

Now that we’ve all recovered from the joys (or horrors) of the holiday season, thoughts turn once again to politics. What is on the gay agenda for 2010? Elections, court cases and international issues all loom in the forefront of the gay rights movement this year.

2009 saw the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act on a federal level, creating an inclusive federal hate crime law. While we can’t particularly expect a lot of growth or change on the federal side of things, there is hope for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act or ENDA in 2010 according to Barney Frank (D-Mass). Opinions are mixed on the possibilities of a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) in 2010.

The New Jersey Senate has defeated a gay marriage bill in that state, but supporters are already planning to head to the Supreme Court. New Jersey offers civil unions for gay couples; however, marriage remains out of reach.

Supporters of gay marriage in California may have another chance to be heard at the ballot box. Speculation suggests that the issue may see the ballot this November rather than in 2012. All three possible Democratic candidates for California’s gubernatorial race support full gay marriage rights, making 2010 seem the year to try and try again in California. Gay marriage may also be on the ballots in Colorado and Maine this year.

Internationally, news of anti-gay laws in Uganda have worried many in the gay community worldwide. These laws show the clear influence of fundamentalist Americans, of the type to support the “pray away the gay” theory. In their original form, Ugandan law would have put gays at risk of execution; however, as the law stands now, the penalty for homosexuality is life in prison. International pressure reduced the penalty, but this news provides a harsh glimpse of reality for many of us. Take the time to phone and write your senators and representatives to express the clear need for the US to condemn this and similar laws worldwide.

In a recent blow to the gay community, Window Media has closed down the operation of a number of gay and lesbian publications nationwide. Among the gay and lesbian newspapers closed are the Houston Voice, the Southern Voice, the Washington Blade, David Atlanta, the South Florida Voice and 411 Magazine. Window Media had been put into federal receivership earlier this year; however, the staff and employees of the various publications had no knowledge of the closure until it occurred. These publications have all served an important role in spreading news and providing information to gay and lesbian communities around the country.

Print media across the board, not just in the gay and lesbian community, is struggling in today’s economy. More and more people opt to get their news and community information online, rather than purchasing magazines and newspapers. Advertising revenues have dropped for both mainstream and queer publications. Even long standing and well known magazines like the Advocate are struggling, and many mainstream publications have gone under in this economy.

Several of the newspapers and magazines in question are expected to resurface under new names and ownership in the relatively near future. Mark’s List has expressed an interest in 411 Magazine and the South Florida Blade, with 411 Magazine set to publish as Mark’s List Magazine starting with the next issue. No significant changes to the magazine are expected. The Washington Blade will return as DC Agenda on December 4, 2009.

What is the impact of this on gay media? Given that several of the publications will be reborn from the ashes of the fall of Window Media, it does seem that leaner operations are likely. They will, however, be able to operate without corporate control, gaining more independence and a greater ability to serve their individual markets. While many of former Window Media websites are offline, as the publications themselves resume, expected web activity should as well.

This is just months after Planet Out’s stock went to nothing (at least I see none in my E*Trade account) and turned into Regent Media or Here! Media. I assume Logo will end up eating up all of that at some point because I see no changes so far. Mainstream media is buying up the badly managed gay media and bleaching it out pretty well.

With the end of Esquire magazine it was a sign of things to come. Employees seem to blame it on bad management not the bad economy. It could be a bit of both and the fact that sometimes companies have to merge to save on expenses and survive in trying times.

In other news today we noticed that Blu Media, Inc bought over Just Us Boys. Justusboys.com is a highly popular gay destination and community with over 1.5 million unique users per month and enjoys almost 1 million page views per day. It is not just big corporations and banks that are merging but the gay media is coming together and forming bigger alliances than ever.

In today’s harsh economy, fewer people can afford to give to charity and more people are coming to charities for assistance. If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford to make charitable donations, think carefully about what you do with your money to make the most significant impact within your community. Giving locally can make a big difference to your friends and neighbors.

One of the best places to give in these hard times is your local food pantry. If you are able, make a cash donation. You can also consider using coupons and shopping sales to accumulate toiletries and other items at a very low cost. If you do give food, make smart choices. Shelf stable protein sources are an excellent choice, as are easily prepared dry goods. Choose foods that can be combined to make healthy meals without many additional ingredients. You may want to give some items that do not require cooking, as these foods can be used by those without access to cooking facilities. Even small donations can be a significant help to those in need.

Local children’s charities are also in need in this economy. Look for organizations that provide children with clothing, shoes and school supplies. These items are critically needed and families that could once get by without assistance may not be able to do so right now. Many schools do coat swaps and school supply drives on their own, making it convenient to give within your own neighborhood.

If you do not have the financial resources to give money to help others, consider what you can offer. Mow an elderly neighbor’s yard or offer to fix a car for a friend. See if volunteer groups in your community need help in hospitals, crisis nurseries or soup kitchens. Offer up your skills through your church or community center. If you want to help, but aren’t sure where to start, call a local food pantry or other organization and ask what you can do to help. Charities themselves can often use support services behind the scenes, ranging from a handyman to computer repair. Hard work, a caring ear or a helping hand can be just as appreciated as money in hard times.

Top 5 Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender charities include the following:
1. Human Rights Campaign, HRC.org – most popular and they do great work to ensure we have equal rights
2. Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
3. SAGE, sageusa.org – advocacy for elders
4. Soulforce, soulforce.org, freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance
5. GLSEN, glsen.org – ensuring safer schools for LGBT

I would also research the top HIV/AIDS related charities to make sure they are going to the proper places such as research and care instead of all marketing.

One charity that you should not donate to is the Salvation Army due to its intolerance of gays and lesbians.

This story is so painful to type that I am literally in tears just thinking about it but I want to get the word out there. This boy only 19 years old in Puerto Rico was decapitated, dismembered, and burned over the weekend and his body found at the side of the road. George Steven Lopez Mercado was left for dead ina town called Caguas, Puerto Rico. The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the type of lifestyle he was living.

This teen was dismembered by both his arms, legs, head, and torso. This is so heartbreaking. A hate crime so disgusting that it deserves major media attention. Hate like this needs to be stopped and we better damn sure pay attention to this.

The investigator needs to be punished by being forced to resign. The Superintendente’s name is Figueroa Sancha who seems to be biased and too prejudice to be investigating this hate crime. Please take action and send emails to Attorney General Holder asking him to have the FBI investigate this possible hate crime. The local police investigator, assigned to the crime, said because the kid was gay he should have expected this to happen.

Hate crimes seem to be up this last year in some cities in the US. A report released Friday from the California Attorney General’s office says more gay and Jewish people were victims of hate crimes last year. The incidents targeting gays and lesbians rose by 28 percent in 2008. A sharp increase to hate crimes to LGBT.

Read about bullying in schools and how to respond.

This is a major milestone for HIV research in my book. My hero, President Barack Obama said today that on Monday he plans to lift the 20-year-old ban on HIV positive people entering the United States. The ban should be lifted in 2010 after a 60 day waiting period.

No major international AIDS conference has been held in the U.S. since 1993, because HIV-positive activists and researchers cannot enter the country.

The ignorance and fear about HIV led to ban of people from entering the US who was considered positive. This kept out students, tourists, refugees, and children who could have been adopted. HIV was the only medical condition explicitly listed under immigration law as grounds for not entering the US.

The turning around of this ignorance will help other countries and people realize HIV should not be quarantined or discriminated against. These are humans who have HIV/AIDS and we really need to stop the harsh discrimination.

Obama also signed a bill today to extend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program which started in 1990. Ryan White was a 13 year old teenager who caught the virus from a blood transfusion who turned into an AIDS activist but died at the age of 18. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program will help provide medical care, meds, as well as support to half a million people who normally would not be able to afford or survive without it.

These steps today mark major milestones along with the Hate Crimes bill he signed this week. We are finally moving along in a positive way after years of hate and discrimination and hope we continue down this path of success for our health and future.

Gay bashings can happen anywhere, at any time. Unfortunately, safety isn’t assured even near home. In many states, hate crime laws do not provide protection on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender presentation. Oklahoma is one of those states. While federal hate crime legislation encompassing sexual orientation protections is pending, it didn’t come fast enough for one young man in the Midwest.

A young man in Tulsa, Brandon Patrick, suffered a vicious assault on the evening of October 18th as he walked from his home to visit a nearby friend. Three people, a woman in her 40s and a younger man and woman in their late teens or early twenties approached him, shouting homophobic insults. The verbal assault escalated into a beating after the individuals got into a maroon Ford Mustang and followed the victim. Physical injuries sustained in the attack included bruises, knife wounds and bite wounds. Three staples were required to close the wound on Mr. Patrick’s scalp and three stitches were needed for a stab wound on his knee.

Brandon Patrick fought back, defending himself against the assault once the man began punching him in the head. He continued to fight back and the three returned to their vehicle and fled. The three assailants are still at large; however, due to Oklahoma’s weak hate crime legislation, they will only be charged with felony assault.

News stories like this worry all of us, reminding us that caution, self defense and activism are all necessary. Know your surroundings, keep your cell phone close at hand, and watch out for yourself and your friends. You can find information on activism in Oklahoma, including information on hate crimes in Oklahoma at from Oklahomans for Equality at http://www.okeq.org/. Federal hate crime legislation, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has passed the House of Representatives. Call your senator and encourage their support of this important piece of legislation.

What is really disturbing about this is that hate crimes for sexual orientation is not covered in Oklahoma’s hate crime law but that may soon change on the Federal level. Let’s hope these attackers get caught and justice is served.

Find more on this story at http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1009/670120.html and http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20091019_298_0_Whatsh4950&allcom=1.

Just as we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel here in the United States we are seeing more hate in the UK. London police have reported to the BBC that the homophobic crime rate has went up almost a quarter fold since last year. This is horrible to hear if you are going to London to visit or live there in one of the best cities in the world.

Ian Baynham, is an example of one horrific attack in Trafalgar Square who died just two weeks after the fatal homophobic act. This has thrust homophobic crimes into the public eye in London and hopefully will bring attention to more laws being passed to prevent more deaths.

This rise could be a positive sign according to the Metropolitan (MET) police in London because it means that more homophobic acts are being reported than before. Authorities claim that people were scared to report these attacks before and now they make sure its reported. That they have been way underreported over the years. This holds true everywhere though we need to report something even if we just happen to see an attack. The police should be notified and help put an end to the violence.

A study by Stonewall, conducted last year, showed one in five lesbians and gay men surveyed in London had experienced a homophobic hate incident in the previous three years.
It also found that three quarters of those experiencing such an incident did not report it to the police. In fact, seven in 10 people did not tell anyone else about it. This is disturbing.

President Obama has the Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill on his desk here in the U.S. Let’s hope this act flows over to the U.K. and they see the trend go backwards and let’s hope we do too. I have noticed more hate crimes here in the states lately.

RELATED:  This hate crime in Tulsa, OK earlier this month has still not received the media attention it deserves and the attackers have still not been caught.

Lady Gaga spoke at the 2009 Equality March or as some call it the gay rights rally in Washington D.C. She opened up the speech saying she was humbled to stand here before us and that it is the single most important thing she has done in her career.. and that she loved Judy Garland. Thanked her generation… the young generation who is continuing to push this movement forward and close the gap and demand full equality for all. Lady Gaga wants this country to be free and not equal sometimes but for everyone all the time. She screamed out and asked if Obama was listening and did it quite dramatically. She screamed loud to alert people that this is needed and it is needed now. An urgent call for action!!

To Barney Frank – we are putting more than pressure on this grass and this grass is ours. We will come away today and continue this war in our backyards to our local politicians said Gaga. Barney Frank basically said we were wasting our time marching in Washington and not putting more time into going directly to the politicians involved but I think he was wrong this time. Barney Frank was seen in the Castro district in San Francisco over the weekend and I am sure he will change his tune once he knew all that went down in D.C. this weekend.

Lady Gaga also called her gays beautiful fans and refused to accept any homophobe lyrics and actions in the music industry that has become filled up with hate over the years. She then ended the speech to bless God and to bless the Gays. Amazing speech from Lady gaga.

This of course is after her brilliant piano performance with the John Lennon song “Imagine” where President Barrack Obama “Opened up for Lady Gaga”, at least he said that in his speech. Lady Gaga came on stage and performed a newly written version of the song she made for the HRC Dinner and it made references to equality and even to Matthew Shepard who was murdered from a hate crime while his mother Judy Shepard was there in the audience.

2009 marked one of the best years I have ever seen for gay rights following President Obama’s speech saying he would sign the hate crime into law and saying he would soon get rid of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DOMA). Obama’s speech also made references to Matthew Shepard and told a great story about 60 years ago with the beginning of Pflag and the story behind it. It was a speech that I could watch a million times. He also promised to get the HIV/AIDS infected people visiting this country the approval to come inside and visit friends and relatives or for even business reasons in which they cannot get in our country now.

This is a great time to be a true American and love and embrace each other more than before and fight for our equality because it will come and come within the next few years.

Academy Award Winner and Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black Speaks At The LGBT National Equality March in Washington, DC on October 10th. We are excited to see him here at the gay rights rally and made one of many great speeches that should stick in our brains and motivate us to all be activists for love and equality. Here is the video of Dustin Lance black at the rally on Sunday-

Sally Kerns, a Republican Oklahoma state representative in district 84, known as the Bethany and Northwest Oklahoma City part of town will have a challenger in the ring come next fall.  Brittany Novotny, a local transgender attorney, plans on putting her hat in the ring and with all the big mouthed junk that has came out of Sally Kerns mouth in the last few years we can only hope Brittany wins!

Brittany Novotny is a Democrat and hopes to win the race by not focusing on her being transgendered but her being a better politician for the people of Oklahoma.  This is quite ironic for the Kerns campaign as she has spelled out her dislike (more on the hate side) for homosexuals in the past comparing us to terrorists and such.

This could backfire for Kerns or it could backfire for Novotny. While I think it is a great thing for someone to run against Kerns in this election we better make sure Novotny is well-funded and has her name out there.  No one has been able to beat Kerns yet and Novotny better think of a strategy to beat witch Kerns out.  Kerns is nothing but a talking big mouth wishing for a future with Fox News or some crazy outfit as a commenter but she really has no future.   She has Sarah Palins that have taken her big mouth job on the road.  Kerns holds her state rep. position and there is no visible end in that future unless the GLBT can really stand together and get her out of office.  Then we will be done with this lady.  She can go sit in her husbands Baptist church or help out with some community service if she gets outed but there is a mere chance that will happen unless we build momentum NOW.

While the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community worked earnestly to see a positive and gay-friendly candidate in office, the realities have been somewhat less positive than the promises. What has been accomplished since Obama took office in January and what has not? Are steps being taken to see campaign promises made reality?

The two most critical campaign promises to the gay and lesbian community were the big issues, the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The current Defense of Marriage Act prevents the recognition of same-sex marriages across state lines and on a federal basis. This poses questions of states’ rights as well as individual rights. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has led to the expulsion of many qualified military personnel, a practice which still continues.

Unfortunately, the only action on the Defense of Marriage Act has not been positive. On June 12, 2009 the Justice Department filed papers defending DOMA. The official administration statement is that President Obama supports a legislative repeal of the act, but until that time the Justice Department will continue to defend DOMA. Critics contend that the Justice Department brief was especially problematic as the cases quoted backing their argument included a state not recognizing an incestuous marriage and states not being required to recognize underage marriages.

While the Defense of Marriage Act requires legislative repeal, some political experts believe the enforcement of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell could stop immediately with an executive order. This might cause some amount of political fallout; however, pressure from the Obama administration could likely eliminate this piece of legislation altogether. Moreover, public polls support the open service of gays and lesbians in the military, making a repeal likely to pass the House and Senate with ease. Why then, are officers and enlisted service people who have worked hard to serve, served faithfully and given of themselves being given dishonorable discharges?

Gay and lesbian federal employees have seen a positive change. At last, federal employee benefits extend to the partners of gay and lesbian employees. Unfortunately, this change seems a paltry offering to a community that fought for change.

The GLBTQ community has been patient. We have been supportive. For many of us, our patience is beginning to wear thin. It is time for the current administration to make good on their promises and to see change. States are making positive changes and it is time for the federal government to follow.

When I first read this headline the other night It was on Yahoo News and it said “3 Dead in Tel Aviv Gay Club Attack” it was quite shocking. I clicked on the link and could still not believe that it was such a horrible tragedy that happened. It was a gay youth center not a gay club and there were two dead but when they say injured there is no telling how badly the injury can be.

This is an attack on a gay group in Tel Aviv and it really sets gay rights in Israel back in time as the world is becoming more gay accepting. Tel Aviv is ranked highly on the scale of the gay holiday or vacation destinations and could lose a great deal of tourism from this tragedy.

Offer Nissam, a world-wide known DJ with a huge gay following is based out of Tel Aviv but there is no word on his myspace blog or anywhere about this. Madonna also plans a concert to end her Sticky and Sweet tour in Tel Aviv on September 2nd in Tel Aviv, Israel at the Yehoshua Gardens.

Hundreds of Israelis on Sunday staged a protest at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association, where on Saturday two people were killed and 11 injured in a shooting described by some officials as a hate crime. “What happened last night takes us back years in the fears of parents and families. But we cannot let anyone or anything take us back into the closet,” said Tel Aviv resident Joseph Berg.

There is no doubt that things are improving in our world. More and more states are legalizing gay marriage and recognizing civil unions. According to polls, support for gay marriage is increasing across the country. Unfortunately, the news is not all good.

As of this writing, six states in the United States have legalized gay marriage via legislative or judicial actions. Same sex couples can currently marry in Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont and Maine will allow gay and lesbian couples to marry as of September, 2009. Gay marriages will be performed after January 1, 2010 in New Hampshire. While New York and the District of Columbia will not allow gay couples to marry, they will recognize marriages from other states. Current legislation is pending in New York to allow same sex marriage.

New Jersey offers civil unions that include all state rights given to heterosexual married couples. A number of states, including Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington and the District of Columbia offer civil unions or domestic partnerships that include some degree of rights and responsibilities.  These range from minimally guaranteeing hospital visitation privileges and some inheritance rights to more comprehensive unions requiring insurance protections, impacting tax laws and more.

Some forty states restrict marriage to a man and a woman. Some of these states do offer domestic partnerships or civil unions. Nineteen states ban any recognition of civil unions, partnerships or gay marriage. Federal law, under the Defense of Marriage Act, does not recognize gay marriages or civil unions; however, some federal employee benefits have been extended to gay partners.

What can we expect to change across the United States? While Obama promised an overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act, this is still to come. Massachusetts has challenged this law on the basis that it is discriminatory, relying on the defense that family law is typically a state matter. Other suits are being brought against the Defense of Marriage Act by private parties. It is expected that other states with legal gay marriage will join in the fight against DOMA.

See http://www.npr.org/news/specials/gaymarriage/map/ for an easy state by state breakdown of gay marriage laws.

If you ever get on CraigsList you may discover more and more massage or “money needed” ads in the mainstream section of the personals.  The men seeking men or the casual encounters posts are free to post but the erotic services posts actually required you give them your credit card information.  I looked on there today and when you try and make a post it came to a error page so I guess they have already taken the ability to post away but leaving up the remaining massage service providers.

We are speaking of a site that is 14-years-old and generates more than 20 billion page views per month in 50 countries and has had one murder case in Boston change the entire category for every city.  I know the Rick Sanchez and Bill O’s have been bitching for weeks about it but they are looking for an excuse to have the sections removed.  They scrape through the news everyday to find things they feel are not acceptable for others they feel should be changed.  The real wanna-be gods of our generation…because we are not adult enough to do things ourselves.

The section is not completely removed though.  It is now a Adult section under Personals in which the service providers pay a $10 fee and approved ads will be eligible for reposting at $5.  The ads will be approved by a person which will be different from the algorithm they used before.

On this same subject I watched Elliott Spitzer speak on Prostitution with Rachel Maddow yesterday and in the interview Spitzer answered as if prostitution was a victim crime and it should not be legal (but yet it was for him to take part in it).  Whether it is massage with a happy ending or more physical intercourse I think that prostitution really is not a crime that has a victim.  It is two adults consenting and unless someone is being forced into having sex like they do in some countries as slaves or such then there should be nothing wrong with it.

The Defense of Marriage Act and lack of federal marriage rights impact gays and lesbians across the country in so many ways. These range from basic day to day issues to problems and legalities that can be destructive to relationships and lives. There are some 1,049 legal rights and responsibilities conferred with marriage under federal law, and approximately 400 more conveyed by the states. Even in states with legalized gay marriage or civil unions, lack of the ability to legally marry at a federal level penalizes gay families financially and personally. Federal income taxes, social security, inheritance laws, immigration regulations and more are all significant issues integrally connected to legalized federally recognized gay marriage. Some of these rights can be granted by private entities or legal documents, but others cannot.

Some of the most significant of these rights and benefits are largely financial or property rights. Without the protections of legal marriage, couples are not be entitled to survivor’s benefits, pension rights, medicaid, income tax exemptions and deductions and certain veteran’s benefits. In the case of the loss of a partner, inheritance is not automatic and property may be held up in probate even if a will is present or ownership was joint. Couples also lack the rights of legal divorce, including property division laws.

In personal and family terms, without legal marriage rights, adoption and child custody issues are problematic. Child support may not be legally mandated during a break up. Children of the relationship, if not legally adopted or biological, will not be entitled to survivors’ benefits and other rights. Bereavement, maternity and paternity leave, and sick leave are not legally protected outside of marriage. In case of a medical crisis or the death of a partner, marriage confers automatic next of kin status and the right to make all medical and end of life decisions. Immigration law impacts many couples and families. A married citizen can legally sponsor their spouse for legal status or citizenship. Gay couples have no such option and in some cases end up opting to live outside the US or separately.

In the courts, gay individuals may have less protection against domestic violence. Judicial protections and spousal immunity only apply to legal marriages. Wrongful death benefits, including the right to sue, only apply to the legal next of kin.

The full repeal of DOMA and federal recognition of same-sex marriages will allow couples across the country to access federal marriage rights, even if their own states do not support or allow for gay marriages. This offers the potential for equality for all couples and families in terms of both financial and legal rights.

They call themselves the Westboro Church but as you can see they are better known as the Westboro Hate group.  The UK Border Agency speaking of Fred Phelps and his daughter said “Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behavior by inciting hatred against a number of communities.”  They went on to say “The Government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country.”

Members of the Westboro Church had plans to protest The Laramie Project, which is a play about Matthew Shepard who died from being brutally beat to death in Wyoming.  It was hate that caused this death.

I am glad to see the UK take a stand and not allow such extremism in their country.  Free speech is one thing but to protest soldiers funerals and plays which try and teach love instead of hate then these people are nut bags that should not be allowed to leave the mental home for one thing.

I wonder if this means that the hate filled rhetoric which Sally Kerns is on this list as well?

Where is the love with all these big mouths anyway?  Do they not know how to love or is all they do obsess and hate other groups?  They need to get a life for one.  They don’t want you in the UK and we certainly do not want you in our towns so stay home you haters.

Yes, we love the UK!

As we look back on 2008, we can see a victory in the election of a new president, but many sorrows as well. Proposition 8 passed, leaving so many couples worried about the legalities of their marriages and many of us wondering about the possibilities in our states. What can the queer community expect or hope for in 2009? Is there anything we should prepare ourselves for in a negative context and what can we all do to reach for equality with a new president and government.

Marriage remains a big issue this year. New Hampshire and Maine will likely see marriage equality in 2009. New York, California, and New Jersey all have a good chance of truly equal marriages at the state level this year as well. See gayrights.change.org for a breakdown of the issue in each state and the chances of success.

During his campaign, Obama pledged his support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, hate crimes legislation, and a repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell legislation. Unfortunately, all of these require not just presidential authority, but also the support of the House and Senate. Democratic gains in these important races in the 2008 elections may make all the difference here as well.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act or ENDA was approved by the House in 2007, but died in the Senate. It is reasonable to expect that ENDA or a similar bill incorporating protections for sexual orientation and hopefully, gender identity, will be passed in 2009.

While the chances of a full repeal of DOMA in 2009 seem slim, a Repeal DOMA protest is planned for January 10, 2009 nationwide. More information is available at queersunited.blogspot.com.

An improved federal hate crimes law including sexual orientation and gender identity seems ripe for passage this year. The Matthew Shepard Act passed both the House and Senate in 2008 and was nearly sent onto the president as a part of a Department of Defense Reauthorization package. A threatened veto prevented the possible passage of this bill. The 2007 Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) includes protections and data collection for hate crimes based on sexual identity, gender identity and gender. Dailykos.com offers a thorough overview of this issue.

While repealing don’t ask, don’t tell remains a priority for this administration, experts do not expect action to be taken in 2009. After the clear failure of don’t ask, don’t tell as a means of correcting long term military policy towards gays and lesbians, it is likely that this issue will be a sensitive one.

What can you do? Write your congresspeople. Write your senators. Call them. If there is an opportunity in your state for a town hall meeting, take the chance to speak to them in person. If issues come up in your town, city or state, be aware and do what you can. Be a face and a voice for change.

Watch out for people such as Sally Kerns who will be out there saying the craziest of things to get attention and make sure crazy witches like her do not get re-elected.  We should start now and prepare ourselves for the governor races for next year in states such as California and Texas.  There is a lot to do!

Bill O’Reilly is THE biggest hypocrite on the planet. He wants to take away our privacy in some ways then when it comes down to protecting his sheltered and blinded people he wants to act like they are the innocent ones. For some unknown reason I was watching his show on Fox News and noticed some lady from Townhall.com who almost didn’t add anything to the discussion but accusing Google of doing wrong in this. They actually accused Google of being the bad guy of letting people map out who donated from what neighborhood to fund Proposition 8. How is this any different than any other map online to find out what your neighbors are doing.

The privacy thing online I will agree has gone too far. We should not be able to see what our neighbors are doing or have done. Even if they did something horrible they should still have a chance to be forgiven and not treated like the scarlet letter. This is certainly not Google’s fault this is happening. It is the fault of the jerks such as Bill O’Reilly who want all the doings of people be stated all over the place. They started this and now they don’t want to be the ones in the spotlight. They do not want their houses appearing as the jerk or pinhead or bad guy or soul less person.

Eightmaps.com is where you can find the proposition 8 supports and see if they live in your neighborhood. This is a fantastic idea given that EVERYTHING and anything else can be detected online these days. I guarantee these same pinheads that want to do away with everyone’s privacy will start wishing they had some privacy of their own. This is also a good idea because its good to be able to see what neighbor donated to Prop 8 and is fake to your face. Talk about “coming out” of the closet.

Bill O’Reilly discussed this on his show as if it would be used as a violent weapon. This is used not for violence but to find out who near them they know are against what they believe and find out who they can trust in their neighborhood. It will show people to think twice before they donate towards hate. Eightmaps showed great initiative in doing this and I applaud them.

After all would you rather live in a neighborhood where Sally Kerns lives or one of these freaky prop 8 supporters. Those people looked scary from the videos.. I mean how long since they have been laid or are they also coming up for the Child Molestation on the map pins as well? That would be like living on Freddy Kruger lane.

Who owns 8 maps?  This site is privately listed just like most of the sites on the internet so the hag from Townhall.com saying that the owners of the site are hiding out and are cowards has no idea what she’s talking about.  Although, I do think there needs to be more regulation on private domain names because I have had many people copy my site and end up having to try to find the owners for stealing my content.  Billoreilly.com is not even listed in his name Bill O’Reilly.  Hey, if the owner of 8 maps wants to contact me then please do so because I would love to advertise on your site and support it!

If you have not seen Rachel Maddow on cable news then you are watching the wrong channel.

MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow is finding her way into millions of American households and has improved the network’s ratings during the 9:00 PM hour. She’s insightful, liberal, politically savvy and openly gay. Maddow started her public media career on Air America with her own liberal talk radio show. Maddow’s radio show covers both headline news and the political analysis behind the headlines. She appeared on both CNN and MSNBC in 2005 and 2006, adding her voice to election coverage on CNN’s Paula Zahn Now. In January, 2008 she was named a political analyst for MSNBC, appearing on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” and “Race for the White House”. The Rachel Maddow Show began on MSNBC on September 8, 2008, airing at 9:00 PM Eastern every weekday. She continues her Air America radio program nightly at 6:00 PM Eastern. Maddow’s show, along with Olbermann’s, provides MSNBC viewers with a full three hours of liberal commentary, debate and discussion weeknight.

Maddow is a former Rhodes Scholar with a P.h.D. in political science from Lincoln College at Oxford University. Prior to her work as a political commentator and television and radio host, she worked in both HIV/AIDS activism and prison reform, making these the subject of her doctoral dissertation. Her radio career began on stations in Massachusetts, eventually leaving for Air America’s Unfiltered and later her own show.

Rachel Maddow’s shows, both on radio and TV, offer a funny and quick moving look at the news of the day, politics and pop culture. Her radio show typically includes a look at the war and life in wartime in Iraq, “underbelly” which looks at the politics behind the news, and interviews with various political and pop culture icons. Her MSNBC show offers interviews with journalists and newsmakers of all sorts, a look at underreported news stories, and a regular segment called “Talk Me Down” about the day’s news.

She is open about her personal life, and was the first out gay or lesbian individual to become a Rhodes Scholar. Today, she splits her time between New York City and a home in rural Massachusetts with her partner, artist Susan Mikula. The couple has been together since 1999.

In 2008, Maddow topped Out Magazines “Out 100 List” of the most culture moving gay men and women in America. Whether you consider her a broadcaster, a news anchor or a political pundit, Rachel Maddow has brought a new face and a new voice to both a major news network. Maddow is an intelligent voice for liberal politics and a liberal agenda, but does it with class, grace and top notch debating skills.  She also received the cover of the Advocate magazine and named the “Smartest Woman on Television.”

Here are some quotes we have seen on blogs about Rachel Maddow’s success on MSNBC:

“It is so good to see a SMART woman who doesn’t have bleached blond hair with low cut dresses on as a host of a good “talking heads” show…and of course, I agree with her most of the time.  I sometimes catch her at 1 am and usually do not watch during prime time but guess I should record (I am often up at 1 am)” – Mary, Chicago

People overall seem to like Rachel because she is nice and smart without being as cocky as her male counterparts.  We still watch Keith Olbermann on Countdown but love the addition to MSNBC.  I have to at least watch his special comments and the Worst Persons in the World showdown.  I am mostly happy about her beating Sean Hannity and Colmes in some of the ratings because we deserve good, quality reporting and journalism instead of all the trash repeated all day on Fox News.  The funny thing about all of this is that I originally had a dream Rachel would get her own show on MSNBC then she started filling in for Keith and it all began.

Thousand upon thousands of gays united across the country today to say that we want equal rights now when it comes to marriage.  We are tired of paying taxes just like every other family but not being equal.  There were protests held from Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, and 130 cities overall.

Everyone I speak to in the gay community think that Proposition 8 in California was the best thing to ever happen to gay rights.  It not only opened up the floodgates for the LGBT community to be motivated to get out there and be active but it is really bringing us together.  I attended the rally in Houston today at city hall and took some great photos of the event.

This was a highly respectable event with people dressed nicely and showing up to support love instead of hate.  I was so impressed with the speakers and the performance from Jason and deMarco who sung in a Capella.

Two lesbians took stage who have been married and not sure their current marriage status in California gave the most emotional speech.  It was an enlightening event to bring the gay community together and see so many gay youth attending.  This was no gay pride parade, nightclub, or house party but a meeting at city halls across the nation that really showed we want and deserve marriage rights just like anyone else.  America was made to give rights to minorities not to be taken away from majorities.  It was great to see everyone out and about coming together for our futures.

We should all get together and find out where all this money came from to get Proposition 8 passsed in California and who funded the commercials in Florida.  If Churches are getting involved in politics THEY SHOULD get their TAX EXEMPT status taken away.  Hey, what better way to get our economy back in shape get some tax money from these Churches.

Churches seem to get the free ride when it comes to taxes and we all know they are dipping into politics way more than they should.  They should be taxed just like everyone else!  We at least need to make sure this is enforced.

We should have been undercover in the churches with small recording devices.  We damn well should have been doing this.

I think the best place to make a donation right now is lambdalegal.org to help get the ball running on this.  Marching and honking may make noise but the real noise is making phone calls and sending emails to people that can make a difference.

Here’s how you get it done:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the “Mormon” or LDS Church) has gone too far in promoting the 2008 California Proposition 8, which would claims to amend the California state constitution to define marriage as one man and one woman in order to supersede a state supreme court opinion issued earlier this year. [Whether the proposition was a lawful amendment or a revision that cannot legally be made by a voter initiative remains an open question.]

Section 501(c)(3) of US Code Title 26, which governs tax-exempt organizations, reads (emphasis added):

(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

(The “otherwise provided” clause does not apply, as the LDS Church, being a church, is a disqualified entity as described in subsection (h).)

The LDS church, through inciting its members to donate time and means to support Proposition 8 (resulting in millions of dollars of cash contributions from its members and countless volunteer hours), and in-kind campaign contributions to a group that supports Proposition 8, has now made a substantial part of its activities attempting to influence legislation.

You can help! Send the IRS an official complaint about the LDS Church’s activities, either by email, fax or US Mail.

1. Prepare a copy of the Official LDS Prop. 8 Letter read in all LDS churches in California on 29 June 2008.
2. Prepare one or more other articles of your choice (you can use these links, or do your own research) showing the LDS Church’s substantial activities attempting to influence this legislation.
3. Prepare this Pre-Filled IRS Form 13909 and add your personal information, or fill out a Blank IRS Form 13909 from scratch with the information in the pre-filled form (these links and an alternative filled form are copied below in RESOURCES.)
4. Don’t forget to date your referral at the top and include your submitter information. If you are a member of the Church, you may wish to check the box marked “I am concerned that I might face retaliation or retribution if my identity is disclosed.”
5. Send it to the IRS, either by:
   * Email: Prepare your documents as PDF’s or web links, and send your complaint form with supporting documentation to eoclass@irs.gov.
   * Fax: fax your documents to (214) 413-5415
   * Mail: mail your documents to
   IRS EO Classification
   Mail Code 4910DAL
   1100 Commerce Street
   Dallas TX 75242-1198

RESOURCES:
Official IRS Complaint Process for Tax-Exempt Organizations
US Code Title 26, Section 501
Official LDS Prop. 8 Letter
List of LDS Entities (Source of Tax ID Number)

Information required for IRS Form 13909:
Name of Referred Organization: The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Street Address: 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City UT 84150
Organization’s EIN: 23-7300405
For Section 4, see the Pre-Filled IRS Form 13909, or write your concerns in your own words. If your reader will not open that form, try the Alternative Pre-Filled 13909.

Thanks to a formerly faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (”the Church”) for the update to this for us to take action.

The Mormons managed to spend millions and use Karl-Rove type scare tactics in getting the word out that gays will be teaching your children about homosexuality at an early age in schools.  They did this because they are so scared of gays having a right to marry.  The Catholics were also part of the big circus against gays in Proposition 8 and most surprising were Black Churchgoers who were excited to bring in Obama as the first Black President.

Gays and Lesbians will now know that they can’t just go around thinking that a minority will care about the GLBT cause.  The “minorities” will look out for their selfish religious beliefs first.  It was sad to see so many blacks voting for Proposition 8 as if they forgot what being discriminated against was like and as if they forgot what it felt to be on this side of the fence.

Ellen Degeneres said on her blog today that:

This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step toward equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away.

I believe one day a “ban on gay marriage” will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us.

We can hope that a Democratic controlled congress and senate and president will change things for gay rights but I have my doubts.  They want to get re-elected in 2-4 years and how can they if they dare approve of such a thing as gay marriage, hate crime legislation, and putting more money into a real hiv cure.

GLBT lost a lot this election even worse off than we were 2 years ago.  Sally Kerns in Oklahoma got re-elected – you know the lady who calls Gays Terrorists.  Keith Olbermann has not made her a Worst Person in the World for some reason I sure wish he would.  This lady is the witch of witches.  I have a friend in her district of 86 in OKC and he could not believe she won again.

There was also Andrew Rice out of Oklahoma who got beat out.  Then there was Florida who voted to put more discrimination against gays in their constitution.  I could expect this attitude out of Arizona but why Florida and California.  How disappointing is that?

We can be proud of Massachetts who legalized marriage and pot but pretty much disguisted with the rest of the country right now!

Bottom Line:  We pay taxes just like everyone else.  Equal rights should be given to every tax-paying citizen.  Keep in mind these churches do not pay taxes but yet they seem to control every social issue in our government.

Peter Tatchell, writing in the Guardian (UK) recently, reported that despite the ‘improved’ security situation in war torn Iraq, Islamic death squads are engaged in a ‘homophobic killing spree. The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa urging the killing of lesbians and gays “in the most severe way possible”’, Tatchell says.

David Grey, producer for the gay film company Village Film, recently made a short film entitled ‘Queer Fear – gay life, Gay death in Iraq.’ The movie charts the tragic stories of several Iraqi individuals who are gay; it is not an easy movie to watch. Since its release, it is said, the situation has not improved, and it may in fact have become worse for gay and lesbian people in Iraq.

The reality is that in today’s ‘liberated’ Iraq, being gay or lesbian has become a death sentence. (Just as it is for a woman to have sex outside of marriage.) Anyone who is deemed to be insufficiently devout and pure is at risk of assassination, particularly in areas such as Basra, a city that the British military have now abandoned. This is, in effect, sexual cleansing and the death squads are boasting that they have exterminated all “perverts and sodomites” in many of the country’s other main cities.

There is a covert gay rights movement in the country. We know this because several members of it have gone missing after documenting the abuse of rights and the killing of gay men and women, and getting the news to the outside world. Commentators believe that the situation in Iraq is now worse for lesbian, gay and transgender people than it was under the rule of Saddam Hussein.

But, in the true spirit of the free voice, Iraqi LGBT is bringing the news to the world at large and trying to make a difference. Their site, iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com, based in the UK, is keeping a watch on international reportage while raising funds to help fight the cause. It was while browsing this site that I found more, yet similar, disturbing news:

“This morning, [25th September 2008, just after the Tatchell article was published] news came from Iraq that the coordinator of Iraqi LGBT in Baghdad, Bashar, aged 27, has been assassinated in a barber shop. Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets.”

What can the Iraqi people do about it? You may well ask. Sadly the answer is not a lot. Going to the police for protection is a non-starter as the police are infiltrated by fundamentalists, especially in the Badr militia. Pro-fundamentalist ministers in the Government are turning a blind eye to the killings and, if one’s government will not help, who else is there? There are organizations like Iraqi LGBT, doing what they can from a distance, and individuals too can add their voice and their views. Outrage, the direct action group formed in the UK to fight what they see as violations of human rights in the GLBT community, also accept donations and provide help to Iraq GLBT. And the media around the world is slowly picking up on the subject, I am thinking of recent articles in Newsweek and the UK gay paper, the Pink Paper, in particular here.

Your own views are your own of course and not everyone will read the above from the same viewpoint as those who report it. But the clear message is that, in this part of the world, a battle rages between the religion and rights, a battle that will going on for many years and may never end. Which means the killing of fellow LGBT people will never stop either. Unless those of us lucky enough to be born elsewhere try to make a difference.

NOTES:

Queer Fear,  the mentioned movie is available to stream at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uB7TcPGXlHY

Does Alaska Govenor Sarah Palin support gay rights?  Well according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News she sort of does.

Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill Thursday that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples.

Sen. John McCain’s VP pick Sarah Palin was not exactly backing gay marriage with this veto.  Palin supported the 1998 constitutional amendment on gay marriage.

There are lots of things we do not know about her until the upcoming debates she will have with Joe Biden.  We will learn more then but it does not look like shes much of a gay rights advocate even though she supposedly “has good friends that are gay.”  She still has to keep her day job and I doubt she an keep that Republican name tag if she starts going up against the religious right.

How about this pic on the left of Sarah Palin.  Well actually its an entertainer at Charlie’s Chicago but it sure looks like the VP pick.  The fake Sarah Palin may be more gay rights friendly and be a true maverick.  And why is the VP pick called an Alaskan Maverick anyway? What exactly has she done that she has not flip flopped on – she even flip flopped on the bridge to nowhere!

Being young and queer is, regardless of family and school situations, hard. There is no way around this reality, and it is no surprise that suicide rates are horribly high among gay, queer and transgender youth. Coming out can be terrifying and remaining closeted is fundamentally no better. Having the right resources can help you sort out conflicting feelings, manage the challenges of being young and out, and can allow you to sort through the difficulties managing family, friends and relationships.

If you are still in school, bullying and basic physical safety may be a real concern. Gay and lesbian teens are much more apt to be bullied, and may not find the school administration to be helpful. Webmd.com offers more information on bullying and gay teens. Unfortunately, most of us are aware that bullying often leads to physical violence against GLBTQ teens. More and more schools are working to combat these issues and create a more welcoming environment. If your school has a Gay-Straight Alliance or participates in Day of Silence, dayofsilence.org, activities, these can be a good way to judge the overall environment of the school before coming out.

Coming out to family and friends can range from nerve wracking to devastating. While you should not underestimate the love of your family, assess what you know about their views before coming out. HRC.org offers some great information on coming out to family and friends. You might also consider providing your family with brochures and meeting times for PFLAG, or even just the website link community.pflag.org. If you believe that coming out puts your safety, shelter or emotional health at risk, waiting until you have moved out of your family’s home is valid and reasonable. While we all hope to be able to come out and be accepted, your physical well being may need to be a priority while you are young.

One of the serious issues facing our community is the rate of depression and suicide among gay youth. While it is not surprising that gay and lesbian teens struggle with bullying, acceptance and self acceptance, there is help available. If you have a local gay and lesbian center, they may offer a support group for teens or free confidential counseling. In many cases, if you need a ride or other assistance, they may be able to help. If you are suicidal or in crisis, call Trevor’s Hotline at 866-4-U-TREVOR or online at thetrevorproject.org. Trevor’s Hotline is staffed by trained volunteers and is a 24 hour hotline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.

Another issue that must be mentioned that effects all young people, but in today’s world of abstinence only sex ed is more critical than ever is just that. If you need honest, clear information about sex, and about sexual issues that impact queer youth, see scarleteen.com or goaskalice.columbia.edu.

Bullying is Still a Problem for Teens

Above you will find some resources for gay youth in time for the Fall school season.  London has many subway ads proclaiming that Being Gay is OK and not to bully.  More ads ran in the US might be useful in buses and subways.  It could be the smaller towns where we see it most and the more black prominent schools have always been worse with bullying even though they are considered a minority.

My solution to most bullying in highschool, middleschool, and elementary is to encourage a mandatory dress system giving students black and white clothes to choose from so you do not have brand bullying.  This would also include certain shoes since shoe brands are a big bullying problem.  Hair should not be mandatory and should be freedom of choice if someone wants to have a mohawk or have pink hair that should be their expression.

We all know this is a big issue in our community. How does it break down, and what’s happening in the states currently? What does it all really mean to you? If you have a partner, it may mean quite a lot in terms of health care, credit, benefits and your rights and responsibilities.

Only one state, Massachusetts, allows same sex partners to marry, issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples just as they would heterosexual couples. Domestic partnerships and civil unions offering all the rights accorded a married couple under state law are an option in California, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Some legal protections are available as domestic or civil unions without all the protections of heterosexual marriage in Hawaii, Washington, the District of Columbia, and Oregon.

Many states that recognize same sex marriage or unions will recognize those granted in other states. Unfortunately, states without such unions as an option will not legally recognize such a union from another state. Furthermore, twenty-six states have constitutional amendments barring the recognition of same sex marriages, and some forty-three have statutes confining marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman.

Laws regarding same sex marriages and civil unions can impact each of our lives in ways we may not have considered. A Michigan Supreme Court ruling has recently deemed that the state cannot offer benefits to domestic partners in any way because of the state’s constitutional amendment banning recognition of same sex marriages and unions. There is worry that a similar amendment in Florida could create the same legal situation. While some institutions, like the University of Michigan, are responding by creating language that still allows for domestic partner benefits, this is a significant concern for many of us.

What can we expect to see in terms of laws regarding same sex unions in the foreseeable future? As you might imagine, that will largely depend upon the outcome of the 2008 election. Both Democratic candidates oppose same sex marriage, but support civil unions. They do, however, believe it is a matter best left to the states. Barack Obama supports a full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) while Hilary Clinton only supports a partial repeal. McCain has flip-flopped on gay issues, including civil unions, but does not support a federal ban on gay marriage.

The realities: for a long time to come, unless you’re lucky enough to live coastal or are willing to move, you will be creating the legal aspects of your relationship with durable powers of attorney and commitment ceremonies in front of friends and family. Any hope of widespread legalized same sex unions of any sort is still a long way off.

It is, of course, an election year. While many of us are thinking about the presidential election, there are many seats in political office open this year and you can make a difference. Your own level of political action and involvement is personal, of course, and may be decided based on your own priorities, your time and more. You may want to volunteer for a local politician or work through your local gay and lesbian organizations in order to help publicize issues that matter to you. Not only might you want to consider who you’re voting for and who you’re working to get into office, but also the issues, including ENDA, don’t ask don’t tell, marriage legislation and more.

One of the best options for political action this year is to work locally. Working locally is often more motivating, more relevant and can allow you network within your community. You may find that there is a local political group that works specifically on GLBT issues and this can be a good jumping off point. Local activities sponsored by moveon.org can be another possibility within your community. You can also find information about the local organizations for the Democratic Party at democrats.org/local . Conveniently, working with these sorts of organizations on a local level can help you to stay informed about issues that may matter within your community specifically. Often, local organizations need help on the phones, in person, or even with tasks you may be able to work on from home when you have time.

If you live in a small town, are short on time or simply are looking for other options for political activity, there are some great possibilities for GLBTQ individuals. First, sign up for moveon.org to stay informed about political issues. You may even want to donate money if you are able. The Victory Fund at victoryfund.org is another possibility, whether you are looking for political information or would like to offer help to GLBT candidates. Stonewalldemocrats.org is another good source for information and another possibility in terms of donation, fundraising and political action. You may be surprised to find that even in a smaller community you can find ways you can take action, share your views and more.

Stay apprised of the issues in your community and the nation as a whole to make good choices with your time, money, and eventually your vote. Research the candidates and issues thoroughly, take the time to talk to candidates whenever you are able, and make your vote based on who you believe will act to the benefit of the GLBT community. When all else fails, vote for the candidate who will not promote or support legislation harmful to our community.

What issues are you for or against in this presidential campaign? For higher taxes, lower taxes, or a fairer taxing system?  Ending the War in Iraq with Obama or 100 years more of war with McCain?  Politics as usual with McCain? Gay Marriage and Gays in the Military are also some of the issues surrounding the 2008 campaign.

You may also want to examine local issues in some counties where you could be voting on things such as liquor drinking rights, judges, and house property taxes.

I was in a happy surprise today when searching my favorite search engine Google today.  I had noticed that on the word gay and several of the gay terms they are displaying a gay flag on the right side.  Big G is based near San Francisco so it could have to do with them celebrating gay pride but the flag is not coming up when I search for San Fran.  I think this is a historic event for them to help in celebrating gay pride.  It could also be that they are helping us celebrate couples marrying in California.   If there is a company we do not mind there being the leader on search it is a gay friendly one even though they do make some mistakes.

Happy Pride to everyone celebrating this weekend in Oklahoma City and those next weekend in San Francisco and New York City among many others!

The nations largest state today had an outcome from the top Supreme court that said gays could marry as soon as a month away. This is great news for gay rights across the nation and over 90,000 estimated same sex couples in California. California’s highest court ruled that denying same sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, granting loving, committed gay and lesbian couples the dignity and support their relationships have so long been denied.

While many in California and the nation are celebrating that gays can now marry in the state. Their is a possible backlash in the November election. Anti-gay groups such as Focus on the Family have gathered signatures to put the gay marriage issue on the November ballot. This could not only hurt the chance of Democrats in the white such as the stolen Bush election 7 years ago but it could overturn the Supreme court decision based on the constitution.

California’s secretary of state is expected to rule near the end of June whether the activists gathered enough signatures to put the gay marriage amendment on the ballot. Right wing groups are building up a 10 million dollar bomb to throw towards the November ballot issue. The National Organization for Marriage’s own web site is calling on their supporters to give $10 million so they can pollute the state with anti-gay messages in months ahead.

VoteYesMarriage.com, who seek to to amend the California Constitution to ban gay marriage are saying that the decision today is a bad role model for children to follow but they are not thinking of the basic rights of other tax paying humans sharing the planet with them. Same sex couples pay taxes and we have the right to marry just like your families and your kids.

What can you do to help? Donate to the Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org) or get a card that helps these causes just by making everyday purchases.

Conspiracy theories are not my thing but Reverend Wright has brought light to an issue that needs attention. If HIV and AIDS are not man made viruses then what is wrong with opening up an investigation into this matter. When you stop questioning things and learning then you really stop living. I am not saying to be paranoid but there are just so many unanswered questions in this debate.

Russia, China, the United States are just a few of the nations that have to constantly do research on war programs for protection. The pentagon has admitted many programs that use biological warfare after sometime. Some may even be needed to protect the U.S. in case some country decides to do the same. But this could just possibly be a case of an experiment gone wrong. It could also be many other factors.

I normally always question things such as who owns the drink sites that tell you that drinking corn syrup really is not that bad for you? hmm maybe Coca-Cola. It was on the main page of Yahoo.com one day advertising and at the time it did not have anything that resembled Coke on the site until I researched it. It now has a semi-Coke looking label. A web page owned and created by Coke called the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness.

My point is that questions need to be asked sometimes.

I do not really see any gay blogs talking about this issue that Rev. Wright brings up. Sometimes it seems that the GLBT overall is scared to speak up about HIV/AIDS and just submit to "tests" every time they are told with no questions asked. With full trust of everyone involved for some reason even though we are the most discriminated group known to mankind.

Above is Hillary making a good point from a YouTube video. Rev. Wright may be on the racist side of things but he may have a point that needs to be looked into further. Not just blacks but gays and blacks could have been the target.

There are sites online such as EATG.org that point out some interesting details that never make it to the big media:

But an adviser to WHO who disclosed the problem, told The Times ‘I thought it was just a coincidence until we studied the latest findings about the reactions which can be caused by Vaccinia. Now I believe the smallpox vaccine theory is the explanation to the explosion of AIDS." the article stated, adding, "The greatest spread of HIV infection coincides with the most intense immunization programme… The article said about 14,000 Haitians who were involved in the vaccination program then brought the disease home to the Caribbean.

The literature on this site brings up thoughts that Smallpox, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis "vaccines" or experiments or tests could all be part of the main problem. I am not a doctor I just found it really interesting. I would like to know what the people over at theBody.com have to say about it.

Of course we have all heard about the Tuskegee experiment where black patients who were never told they had Syphilis all eventually died untreated. This went on for forty years with African-Americans in the medical community not saying a word.

Not saying I agree with all of this… Just saying some things need to be evaluated.

A Collin County commissioner decided to put this guys job on the line when an article was published in the Dallas Voice which mentioned his sexuality.   This commissioner wanted to fire a rising political star and person with no criminal record for being gay.  They claimed that he should not be working with children and had even discussed whether it was safe for a gay person to be working with children.

The person who has been dragged through the slaughterhouse lately by these religious radicals is Justin Nichols who just so happens to be gay and running for Plano City Council.  He recently appeared on the front page of the Metro Section of the Dallas Morning News three times this week, the front page of the Plano Star Courier, and the front page of the Dallas Voice.  People are watching how this battle goes, and we must win!  The fight is not over!

We have got to stand up to this bigotry and say NO MORE!!  It is going to cost money to fight the radical fundamentalists, and I need your help.  If you have already donated to the campaign, thank you!  If not, please click here and make a contribution today.  MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO 10 FRIENDS OF YOURS SO THEY CAN HELP TOO!

To give you an idea of what you donation can do, please consider:

$20 allows us to buy breakfast for volunteer who will knock on hundreds of voters’ doors.

$50 pays for 10 yard signs, or makes it possible to reach 100 voters by mail, or 500 voters by phone.

$100 pays for 4 large signs, makes it possible to reach 200 voters by mail, or 1,000 voters by phone.

Whatever the amount, your contribution will make the difference in this campaign.

Please join me in standing up against bigotry, intolerance, and equality for every person.  This isn’t about being Republican or Democrat, man or woman, straight or gay - this is about people taking a stand for what is right!

I never imagined taking on this fight so publicly and becoming the poster-child for discrimination in Collin County – but that is where I’ve been led, and I am ready to fight.  I say to those bigots, “BRING IT ON!”

Thank you for your consideration and support, and please remember to forward this on to your friends, whether they are in Plano or not, because this fight affects us all!  I remain

Very truly yours,

Justin Nichols

www.JustinNichols.net

Nichols has also been endorsed by the Victory Fund, and encourage you to visit their website.  

Hillary Clinton may be behind Barrack Obama in the polls but she is still helping the underdogs of society. While its cool lately to bash gays Hillary is taking a huge step in the right direction. Today a newspaper interview showed that she supports Gays and Lesbians more than ever.

Clinton said she opposes a measure that would ban gay marriage in Pennsylvania and proposed a few other great ideas:

• Eliminate her husband’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that prevents gays from serving openly in the military. Asked if she could do so by a signing order connected to a military appropriations bill, Clinton said she didn’t think that is possible but she would look into it and do it if it were legal.

• Be “very strongly outspoken” against foreign governments that execute gays and use financial assistance and other leverage to prevent the killings.  (read our article on dangerous gay travel destinations regarding this)

• Support federal domestic partner legislation to extend rights to all same-sex couples.

• Support services for gay youth, including guidance for schools about the discrimination they face.

• Continue to support gay pride celebrations, to the extent that security would allow. “I don’t think the Secret Service let Bill walk in a parade when he became president,” Hillary said.

She also recently spoke on AIDS/HIV Issues. I love Hillary and hope she gets the Democratic nomination for president. I am sad that MoveOn.org had to support Obama in such an early state of the election. They clearly do not represent millions of progressive voters who are for Hillary.

Obama and McCain declined the interview with the Philadelphia Gay News.

The funny thing of this story is that Gary George sounds like Sally Kern’s to me for some reason. They sound like Pleasantville, USA fictitious names for some reason. They are living in a fictitious land filled with hate and karma will come their way. People like George and Sally are trying their hardest to silence us and make us feel lower than life so our self esteem will be “gay bashed.” Ellen was so right when she said that we are not going to sit here and remain second class citizens. We pay taxes, we vote, we should not have to shut up and we will not shut up. I hope Oregon voters tell Gary George to Shut up when they vote again though!

My advice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don’t talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel. – State Senator Gary George of Oregon, (sen.garygeorge@state.or.us)

Here is what a friend (Floyd Martin) wrote on a myspace bulletion that I totally agree with:

Yeah, Senator George,
I will stop talking about it when you take down all pictures of your wife and children, and stop wearing your wedding ring, and flaunting your heterosexuality. I will stop talking about it when all Americans are allowed to serve their country if they so desire, and to have all the legal benefits that other American couples are afforded. I will shut up when bigots like you do not exist in the world anymore, and unfortunately, thats not going to happen for a long time. So, your desire is not our wish. I have an idea, why don’t you shut up, and resign, and go crawl under the rock you came from. Free Speech and civil rights are not only for those that you agree with, and are too small-minded to see reality. Shame on you. — FD Martin Oklahoma City, OK

You may have heard this rumor just as I did: Australia is to ban internet porn. What on earth…? Well, I started looking into this recently and tried to find out more information about this potentially life-shattering edict from the Oz government, if indeed the rumors were true.

I did my usual searching about on the net and found some related articles and info, which I’ve put together for you, to try and explain what exactly is, or isn’t, going on.

It was around August 2007 that news started breaking that Australia was going to ‘clean up internet porn’ but how it was going to do this was another matter. Then Prime Minister, John Howard, announced that a whole heap of cash was going to be made available to assist a new programme, ‘Assisting Australian Families Online’ which would come under the auspices of NetAlert – Australia’s internet safety advisory body. Some say that this was just a ploy to recruit the Christian voters in the upcoming elections, (the announcement was made in a webcast that went out to 770 churches and which was watched by an estimated 100,000 Christians,) so bear that in mind.

The scheme works in two ways: families can opt to have a filtering programme installed on their home PCs or they can requests a ‘clean’ internet connection – one from a service provider that is responsible from blocking porno content at ISP level. (At the main hub.) These options take up most of the budget and the rest goes on publicity, an awareness campaign and ‘internet police’ and prosecutions. The main thrust of this action, of course, is to protect children from unscrupulous website owners and others who provide CP, but there were concerns from legitimate adult webmasters (providing 18+ adult entertainment) that their businesses could also be affected.

There were more concerns about the scheme when, soon after the filter system went public, a teenage hacker managed to find a way around it within half an hour. A second version was released and this took the lad 40 minutes to get through.

The caldron bubbled some more as new legislation was proposed that would make the owning of five or more pornographic movies an offense, (in the Northern Territories) even if they were for ‘home use’ as opposed to distribution. There were, some say, good reasons behind this move, again to do with trying to stamp down on the occurrences of CP in those areas but the ideas were called ‘draconian’ by the New Zealand Herald and slammed by the Australian Christian Lobby as not going far enough, after all, what about other parts of the country?

So it seems, from what I could find out, that the screaming headline of ‘Australia bans porn’ is not as dramatic as it sounds and you don’t need to be too concerned that it is a trend that will start to spread to other countries. There were (and still are as far as I know, though the controversy seems to have died down recently) plans to help parents limit the kind of content that was accessible on their home PCs, via a couple of methods. This can only be good news if you have young children who are adept at using the computer and internet (as more and more are) and you don’t want them to stumble across inappropriate content. The idea that a government can tell you what you, as an adult, can and can’t view totally smacks of censorship and I doubt that it would be stood for by human rights campaigners. Though don’t forget that in some other countries the government have already taken this step. For example, in China a law has existed since 1997 that makes it a criminal offense to produce a piece of work (art, literature etc.) that is deemed a ‘computer crime’ and promotes, among other things, ‘pornography.’

And there is one other thing to remember. The attempt by Howard to woo the Christian vote on the back of a ‘clean up the net campaign’ didn’t help him. A new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, was elected in December 2007.

Final Point:  Who wants to visit a country that bans porn or takes away basic rights? Not someone who demands freedom.  This is a right every adult should have.  It should be the parents decision to put filters on what their kids view online not the government or internet provider.  What will they ban next?

It is sad that when I was searching for gay resources online I would find a hate site in the top 6 results. Top 4 results if you do not count gay.com and wikipedia.org as being two sites (since they are double listed). The site listed is lovegodsway.org but the title of the site clearly says “God Hates Fags! Love Gods Way!”. The same bozos that brought us godhatesfags.com.

I would expect to find more gay news related resources such as GayWired.com, PlanetOut.com, 365gay.com, etc. The strange thing is that neither MSN nor Yahoo search has the hate group listed in the top 10. So I suppose maybe some googlebombing is taking place? Similar to the tactics websites used to get George Bush to rank high on the term “idiot.”

With the rise of hate crimes lately including the killing of a teenager in gay California and neo-conservative religious radicals going up against gays we need as much love and support as we can get and not expect to be bashed just by searching online. We should all at least try to get google to remove this or lower it down for the term “gay”. I am not trying to tell google how to run their search engine but it is unfair that they are using the same techniques of google bombing to rank high on this highly popular term.

Gays are infiltrating city councils. Gays are like Terrorists, like Islam, they have more suicides, get diseases more… These are just a few of the comments this old hag made in Oklahoma City. I am originally from Oklahoma and am sickened that there is such hate from such a backwards witch.

No Society that has embraced gays has lasted more than two decades? I would like to know where this so-called Representative got her facts.
“It will destroy our young people and it will destroy this nation.” Yes, you will Representative Sally Kern of District 84, a Republican in Oklahoma City.

You may reach Rep. Sally Kern at 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 332, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Her email is sallykern@okhouse.gov. Feel free to send her a piece of your mind. If you live in her district in Oklahoma be sure and get out and vote. This is what happens when you do not get off your hides to vote people like this get into office and spread their hate. Hate is the disease that she already has!!

Rep. Sally Kern’s gets our Worst Person of the World vote for today!

I just do not understand why You tube videos will not play on this site so here is the link.

Big Voting is taking place in Ohio, Texas, and Oklahoma.  While Texas and Oklahoma are duking it out over Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama the people of OKC are fearing the highrollers playing monopoly with tax payers money.  Here is a comment from Floyd Martin of Oklahoma City, a contributer of Hard News Online and Floyd’s Newsletter:

Clay Bennett, the man who owns the Supersonics (or whatever they are called), is a notorious homophobe, and thats part of the reason the good people of Seattle would not let them bully them into paying for a new staduim.

He is also one of the richest men in Oklahoma City, and if he wants to bring an NBA team here, he should, but not on the backs of the poorest people that reside here. The little old lady shopping at Buy For Less, deciding whether she should buy groceries or get her medication this month, will pay a penny sales tax every time she makes a purchase. So will I, the Gay man ,who Bennett and Cornett and thier cronies so passionatly oppose and donated millions to anti-Gay campaigns in the state of Washington. That little old lady at Buy For Less will never attend a game at the Ford Center, nor will I. In
my case, not so much on principle, just not interested in pro basketball. When we pay teachers what we pay athletes, then I might care. Until then, I do not. That same aforementioned senior citizen might like basketball, but she could not afford to go the games. Funny thing is, also as mentioned before, she and everyone else in this city will be paying for it.

I have lived in this city all of my life, and am very interested in city government. I know this town like the back of my hand, (give me an address, I’ll tell you which house it is…)I have lived and worked in all areas of it for almost 42 years., and am probably the only person you know that watches all of the meetings religiously on Channel 20. I would run for office if I thought I could get elected. Of course, I want to see the city progress. Of course, I want to see the merchants and waiters in Bricktown do well, but a sales tax for an NBA team is NOT the answer.

The concerts will still come to The Ford Center. They make money and thats the driving force behind that business. To infer that that won’t happen suddenly because we don’t extend this sales tax is pure bullshit. Yes, they will.

I was opposed to the original MAPS Project. I didn’t trust this city. We had a brand new jail that was flooding and that people could kick bricks out and escape. We had a failed string of pearls project that never went anywhere, and someone stole all of the federal money. I was wrong, and I admit it.

I was all for Maps For Kids, as a lifelong resident and product of the Oklahoma City Public Schools. We got three new high schools out of the deal, and although I haven’t paid much attention to John Marshall, Grant and Douglass are beautiful.

Mick Cornett is correct when he says that your taxes will not increase if you vote yes for this. What he isn’t telling you is that your sales tax will GO DOWN at the end of this month if you vote no. Thats right, Maps for Kids expires at the end of March, 2008.

When MAPS for Kids was about to expire, the city asked on thier website if we should extend the sales tax for MAPS 3, and if so, what for. The response was that yes, we should, and that we needed to improve public transportation. With the rising cost of fuel, and the fact that our bus system pure and simple SUCKS, that was a good idea. That has all been placed on the back burner, as Bennett and McClendon and the ilk approached thier buddy, Cornett, about buying them a basketball team.

With the money they have, that team will come to OKC. No one has said that it wouldn’t, and as far as I know, they arn’t even looking anywhere else. Thats fine, I just don’t want to pay for it.

People I have lots of love and respect for feel very different then I about this issue. I am glad that they are passionate, and I am probably going to be on the losing end of this stick, but I will vote No, and it it passes, its certainly not the end of the world, not for me, not for you, and damn sure not for the snake oil salesmen who promise economic development in this city because of an NBA team. (You know, one of the tribes wants to build a mega-casino at Hefner and I-35 that would hire 1,900 people. Cornett is very much against that. I realize cities do not get sales tax or much of anything else from tribal ventures, but 1,900 of your citizens employed and paying sales tax on everything they purchase has got to be an economic boon, compared to maybe 50 full-time employees and maybe 100 temporary employees during basketball season).

One more point and I will shut up. This whole staduim to lure pro sports teams things is a dangerous road for municipalities to go down. There is always going to be another city, facing a resurgence, willing to pay for a new staduim or whatever to snag them away. Businessmen like Bennett know this. We are a temporary stop on this journey. Three years from now, they will be asking you again to pay for thier arena, because Wichita or Omaha, or whoever is building a new one.

Vote how you like. So will I.
Thank you for reading.

Floyd D. Martin, Jr.
Oklahoma City, OK

I always thought Oxnard was a nice, quiet town just south of Santa Barbara and north of L.A.  I never dreamed there was such hate and predujudice in this part of California.  Today changes my mind.

A gay student that is only 15-years-old was shot in a California middle school (junior high) and some say he is “clinically dead” but other reports say he could make a recovery.  The boy was known for being femanine and wore women’s jewelry (these days some jewelry was unisex I would have thought) and makeup.

Teachers say he did not deserve this and who would.  It is beyond me that a kid cannot goto school without being worried of being beaten up, bullied, or shot to death or until you are handicapped the rest of your life.

Thank you for sharing…we as a lesbian couple have a 7yr old son who enjoys wearing his older sister clothes and lil clips in his hair he wanted to wear it to school but we had to explain that somethings other people just arent ready for and people can be really mean so when hes older he can make that choice for himself but now as his moms we let him dress up for lack of a better term at home and school time is just time to learn. Its hard and wrong that we have to shelter our youth in such a way. Thanks for caring and may peace be with you. -the Lesbo Mommies (taken from myspace bulletion)

We here at Dailydoseofqueer.com are in support of Hillary Clinton. It seems she is the only person who can run and win against the Neo-conservative republican party of John McCain or Mitt Romney. Do you want four more years of the Bush Administration? I know I do not. I think its time to make history and get a woman in the whitehouse and really shake things up.

Obama is in the lead in many places and Hillary needs help now more than ever. I am just too scared that if Obama wins the nomination that he will not win in the general election. They are both great people but Hillary is the best candidate and has the most experience for President of the United States.

Madonna endorsed Hillary while she was in NYC this weekend. I am glad to know Madonna is on board for the Hillary camp.

https://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/form.html

Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee all came on live today to speak to students on a special MTV pre-Super Tuesday program. I enjoyed watching Ron Paul speak especially about the fact that Hemp can be used more effectively than Ethanol for energy. I also liked the fact that Hillary mentioned HIV, since it is rare of any of the candidates to say that word.

Here is the video from MTV if you would like to watch:

This all comes on the heals of the big Super Tuesday decision this week where things will come closer to the final decision in November. There has also been lots of HIV news this week including research that from Swiss AIDS experts saying that “some people with HIV who are on stable treatment can safely have unprotected sex with non-infected partners.”

The Swiss National AIDS Commission said patients who meet strict conditions, including successful antiretroviral treatment to suppress the virus and who do not have any other sexually transmitted diseases, do not pose a danger to others.

For some reason I could not find the Swiss National AIDS Commission website because all the newsstories came up in search instead of their site. I would like to see their full report on this subject instead of reading the blogs and various news gossip. Also in the news this week was the talk of HIV Funding and too much money being appropriated to abstinence instead of prevention or helping us battle the virus.

The folks over at the Oklahoma City Pride this year have done something I think is crazy they have moved the pride from a Sunday to a Friday. What on earth are these people thinking? The reasoning was so people who had to work on Monday could come on a Friday? But wait… Friday is also a work day. And last time I checked its a horrible day to get around in rush hour traffic.

I am in disbelief that the OKC Pride board would do such a thing and put the entire parade in jeopardy. I can understand them wanting to sell alcohol to make some extra money from the parade but why not on Sunday? This is during the summer time which helps out on it being Monday the next day for some. Am I just being too closed minded to change?

I thought these comments from Sarah Evans (I assume not the Country singer?) were a nice read on Hard News Online:

My apologies to Kelly Ogle, but lesbians have money too…..In my humble opinion, with input from several of my friends, here is what the board should look at doing……

Friday night, a nice fun Street Party down on 39th Street, local performers, not just drag queens, but musicians like IRIS, Peggy Johnson, Heath Fitzgerald, etc. We have so much real talent in this state, let’s show it off.. Block off 39th by the Bars and let’s have a great dance in the streets…… Have your vendors, have some charity type games for local organizations…. kissing booth, dunk the drag queen…. etc…..

Saturday, have the party in the park…. vendors, music… beer if you must… then kick off the parade that evening winding down on 39th Street for a Saturday night of fun, maybe another street party or just have all the bars have special promotions..Drag Shows, Drag King Shows, Live Music..Real Entertainment, how about bringing in a top notch performer or a DJ..

As for the parade, please let’s not have the new car/truck showcase again.. Parades are for floats with paper flowers and decorations, not a poster board announcing who is riding in the new car provided by the local car dealer…Plus, do we have any marching bands or cheerleaders??? I know there were gay and lesbian members of college bands and high school bands in Oklahoma..How about a marching band??? A kazoo band…. anything that would liven up the parade.

Sunday, let the Churches and other groups have their outreach. Local clubs can have a recovery dance and such. Trim it down to one day in the park, one night on the strip with the parade on Saturday……

I thought Sarah had some interesting comments that should generate some ideas about what to do with some pride festivities that they should use. I do not agree with what she is saying on doing away with the entire parade though. That is kind of like giving up on one of the backbones of pride itself. It tooks years of hard work to get where we are today and we should have a celebration in the streets and be proud of who we are. I just think doing it on Friday at 7pm is a horrible time. Also take into account that the highly popular Angles T-Dance will not be able to happen without the help of the Parade going on and that is sooo much fun.

The debate may cause quite some drama in Oklahoma City where many are against this time change. A poll on HNOKC.com recently showed more were against the change last week. The sites contributing writer Floyd Martin (myspace.com/itzfloyd) chimed in with some interesting points to take in to account …

I also think that Pride for many is the one chance all year that they get to be themselves, especially in repressed Oklahoma. If that means donning a wig, leather chaps, holding hands with your spouse, or dancing to The Pet Shop Boys, go for it. It’s Gay Pride, we’re Gay, why not celebrate who we are? We could go be boring straight people anytime. Some even live their life like that.

I, of course, think serving alcohol is fine at the park. It’s a celebration. Many people, the world over, imbibe when they celebrate. Ever heard of New Years Eve, or Mardi Gras? AA has conventions all year long, if you have that big of a problem with it.

It just amazes me the people that, rightfully so, feel that the government has no business on what they do with their bodies or whom they marry, are so judgmental of other people that believe in the same thing, basic human rights. It is not us against us, it is us against the world. Sometimes that’s easy to lose sight of when dealing with Gays and Lesbians, many of whom have strong personalities and opinions. Accomodating everyone shouldn’t be hard. When you go to a buffet, if you don’t eat meat, you skip it, and go to what you like. Why should pride be anything but a buffet of happiness, for all GLBT people and their supporters. Take what you like, avoid what you don’t. Of course, life should be that way as well.

Super Tuesday is now just days away. A few states’ primaries have already passed. Have you made your decision yet? Sadly, I haven’t.  I have pondered, considered, mused and fumed. I simply do not like the available options, particularly in terms of the issues that matter most in my daily life. I will try, over the next days in my own head, to balance out the candidates’ views and choose the best of the available options as far as the Democratic primaries go.  With that, here is my breakdown on the issues that matter to the gay community. The best source for information I’ve found? The candidates themselves, in the Human Rights Campaign survey they each filled out earlier this year. These responses have been conveniently broken down here (which basically tells you the current Democratic frontrunners Obama and Hillary agree with most the gay issues).

Obviously, we all know which issue is getting the press. Marriage rights are big news in our community, and rightly so. None of the forerunners for the Democratic nomination support marriage rights; however, both have voiced support for civil unions in clear and broad terms. Edwards, too, has voiced wide ranging support for civil unions. In all cases, they include medical rights, health insurance, employer benefits and the rights and responsibilities that go along with marriage in their definition of civil unions. Edwards and Obama have publicly stated that they would support the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, while Clinton supports only a partial repeal.

Other family-focused issues are also important within our community. Adoption rights, immigration rights and more affect the daily lives of many gay Americans. Clinton, Obama and Edwards have all voiced support for these issues as they impact our community. All three candidates have reached out to the gay community in a way we have not seen before. While it may not be adequate or enough, it is an improvement.

While the family-centered issues may be in the news, many other issues also impact our lives, sometimes in far more difficult ways. All of the candidates in the Democratic primary support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the repeal of the don’t ask, don’t tell policy in the US military and strongly worded hate crime legislation. All three candidates actively support HIV funding, prevention and research

It quickly becomes clear that the differences may be fairly minimal for our community. We are left to make our choice on details, emotion, and personality. We are left to consider who is the most likely to win the general election, and who fits all the other criteria we each deem important. I think I’ve made my choice. Have you made your decision for Super Tuesday?

HIV funding, both on a national and international scale, is a significant issue to many of us within the queer community. Sadly, far too many of us have been personally touched by this. While even the current administration has increased the budget for funding health care, housing and cash assistance, and prevention, there are many problems with the current funding strategies, both within the US and outside its borders.How does funding play out in your neighborhood and your community? First, the good news: funding has increased from 2006 to 2007, in nearly every budget area, from providing for health care to housing and cash assistance. Unfortunately, there is somewhat more bad news than good. Funding is not adequate to provide for even the basic needs created by this epidemic, with long waitlists for medications, struggles with Medicaid payments for health care providers and more. Moreover, again the current administration’s emphasis on abstinence only sex education, which fails both straight and queer young people,  has left some youth without the prevention information that they critically need. Some 50% of new infections are diagnosed in people under 25, and new CDC testing recommendations for routine HIV testing are likely to stretch an already tight budget even further.

The US is responsible for a significant portion of the international funding, under the heading of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). US funding, currently in the amount of 3.9 billion dollars earmarked for international HIV funding, comes with some strings attached. The most worrisome of these is a requirement that some 33% of funding go to abstinence only resources. This is, without a doubt, one of the most significant flaws in the overall plan for international funding a response to this crisis, as well as one of the major problems with funding for prevention programs in the US as well.

Need more information?

• Kff.org/hivaids/7029.cfm offers breakdowns of US budget funding for HIV in 2007 and prior years.
• Gmhc.org/policy/federal/pres_report.pdf will give you a look at where the current presidential candidates stand on funding issues.
• Whitehouse.gov/infocus/hivaids offers more information on PEPFAR.
• Avert.org/aidsmoney.htm provides a practical breakdown of funding for the international HIV crisis.
• Apa.org/releases/sexeducation.html details the flaws in abstinence only sex education with regard to prevention efforts.

If you want to help, consider consulting your local organizations that assist those in your community with HIV or AIDS. Many of the community based grassroots organizations in our communities need help, not only in terms of funding, but also are on the lookout for willing volunteers. While no one of us can end the crisis on an international scale, we can work locally in prevention and advocacy.

Organizations I was not impressed with are the AIDS Healthcare Foundation who are currently threatening litigation against the porn industry for not making condoms mandatory.  I do not think litigation nor the loss of another right such as the choice of condoms is the way to go.  I feel that emphasis needs to be put on an organization to put their support out there for HIV infected individuals and raise money for these people and for a cure and a vaccine.  We need mostly a cure or a vaccine or better HIV meds in the pipeline and we should put our money into these types of organizations instead.

When it comes to the Republican presidential candidates I normally watch their debates as often as the Dems.  I find it interesting their views on things such as taxes, social security, gay rights, and of course the endless war in Iraq.

Mike Huckabee seemed like a nice guy when I watched him appear on the Bill Maher HBO show a few times and I even had a new love for Ron Paul once I saw him appear on Bill Maher’s Real Time. 

Then reality set in after watching a few debates and finding out this ex-Baptist preacher from Arkansas is really a hate-filled jerk.  This GOP contender that is leading many polls in Iowa and early primary states has not even taken back the mean words he has said towards gays or anyone with HIV.

Mike Huckabee brags to Christian Conservatives that he has the toughest position against gay marriage than any of the other GOP candidates.  Even Ryan Whites mother was sickened when she heard of Huckabee’s statement isolating infected people with HIV.

This man has no brains to lead our country.  AIDS cannot even be spread by casual contact and he is stating that gays with AIDS should be isolated.  He also commented that gays lived an “unnatural, sinful lifestyle”.   Ok, You Hitler jerk are you going to tattoo pink triangles on us as well.  Maybe make us your slaves?

Not only is Mike Huckabee uneducated but he has said many irrational things in his campaign this year and in previous years.  I certainly do not have anything against Arkansas because I have family there and love the Clintons but this moron is making Noahs-ArK-ansas look pretty bad.

The best thing to do in this situation is to donate time or money to the Ron Paul or Giuliani campaigns to fight against Huckabeast.  Even if you intend to donate Democratic we do not need this guy in any high ranking position.

This is a must watch! I watched the Presidential Debate on MTV’s LOGO TV the other night. I first noticed it advertised on Keith Olbermann’s show on MSNBC by the HRC. I saw Hillary Clinton and Obama and Edwards and Kucinich. The debate was upclose and it was more real than any of the debates we have seen this year with an excellent, unique format. Clinton said she still against gay marriage as Edwards.

Really good questions but I especially liked that the candidates were interviewed one at a time with no time limit for a particular answer and no posturing and no poking at the other candidates. It brought out each candidate’s best, I thought.

We were sitting here applauding Kucinich, he seemed like much less of a joke in this format, got me thinking that maybe he COULD have a chance if people got to see him in such a format more often.

Margaret Carlson was the moderator; I think I recognize her from Countdown or something. She’s written for Time and Bloomberg news. It’s those glasses, though. Melissa Etheridge was very sharp. She asked tough questions politely. Etheridge did an awesome job and put her heart into everything she said as always.

Anyway, so now I’ve seen two of the debates (okay, this wasn’t a debate, but whatever) and overall, despite Hillary and Obama’s waffling on the gay marriage issue, I think they both did well and actually, so did Edwards who was the most waffley of all. Mainly because none of the interviewers were jerks. They all treated all the candidates decently, which was good. I’m sure Biden and Dodd are sorry they sat it out; they really look like total chickens for no good reason.

I feel kind of like the lady I saw interviewed today on CNN. She was gay and was elevating the Dems showing with gay issues and she said: “It showed us that the Dems are more open to discuss equal rights for gay people” and are more willing to work for that.

Here is a bulletin posted from Matthew Shepard’s myspace:

Tonight history was made and Hillary Clinton prevailed…

Body: Tonight the Democratic Presidential candidates attended the first ever GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender) forum hosted by The Human Rights Campaign and Logo Tv in Los Angeles. Logo channel fo those of you sheltered people, is a gay channel- a sister channel to MTV. Never in the history of America has this occured.

Barack Obama impressed me which is very rare. Dennis Kucinich was very sincere and that seems so hard to come by. John Edwards lost any chance of support from “the gays” he kept on repeating that he did not support gay marriage, um good one!!! He is over… Bill Richardson well what to say? I feel like him and I should have a connection being that I am Hispanic and all. This is not the case however, sadly he also failed miserably.

The candidate that shined even through tough questions from Melissa Etheridge, was Hillary Clinton. When asked about how not much was done and how ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ was a failure she carefully and accurately described how it was a good policy at the time. She continued saying how the Republicans had control of the House of Reps and how much her husband fought for some middle ground regarding gays in the military. No one understands that progress takes time. Hillary Clinton is our girl!

Here is the Debate on Logo’s Visible Vote ’08 Blog

The big news around the country in politics deals with not just the presidential nominees but a gay man running for Mayor in one of the fastest growing cities.  The religious right is fighting this with a vengeance but we can stop them.  The candidates are Ed Oakley, the gay Democratic candidate and Tom Leppert, who is millionaire and ex-CEO of a construction company.

Money has been such a huge concern in this election that Oakley was not able to communitate with non-local media contacts because he was non-stop fundraising.  The Dallas Morning News reported that only 11 perceent of Dallas residents showed up for last months election and that “only 70,000 people could decide who will become mayor of the nation’s ninth-largest city.”

If you live in Dallas you need to get out and vote.  Remember, if you decide to vote you must have a voter registration id and you are free to vote in the runoff election even if you did not vote in the general election.   This Saturday is our chance to make history and make Dallas the largest city ever to elect an openly gay mayor.

Get in Free at Sue Ellens and S4 

If you are 21 and up the Caven clubs Sue Ellens and Station 4 (a.k.a. S4 and formerly Village Station, the largest gay club in Texas) will pay your admission and let you in for free if you show your stamped voter registration.  If you are 18 and over you can get in free on Sunday night at S4.  It is a great thing that the nightclubs in Dallas are recognizing the fact they need a gay friendly major to survive unlike the jerk running NYC (Michael Bloomberg) who is shutting down clubs left and right.

In Oklahoma City just before the hate crime legislation comes up in front of our representatives there was a hate crime over the weekend in the gay district of the city. There is no telling how hate crimes go unreported or do not get enough media attention. The vote on hate crimes will be Thursday, and there is some disturbing news we have received from the Human Rights Campaign. Apparently legislators are being so heavily bombarded with calls and emails from the radical right that some are getting very nervous about voting for the bill. Knowing how close we are to getting this legislation passed, this is not good.

Even if you’ve already called your representative about this hate crime bill, and even if they’ve said they’ll vote for it, we need you to pick up the phone Today (Wednesday and Thursday) and remind them of your support.

I would recommend you going to the HRC website for talking points and to find out which representative to call.

If you haven’t done so then join the HRC. They are out there fighting for our rights every day. Tell your friends, send out a bulletin on MySpace.com, and get everyone involved. They need more money and more people involved to make this fight stronger with the radical right bullying us and politicians around.

I posted about news on Nancy Arabillas Morales’ asylum claim I read in February’s edition of the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes here. In reading this month’s edition of the Notes, I also came across the news that Jorge Soto Vega, a gay Mexican man who had been previously denied U.S. asylum, can now make a permanent home for himself in the United States.

Vega was denied asylum in 2003 by Immigration Judge John D. Taylor, who stated at the time that Vega could return to Mexico because “it would not be obvious that he was homosexual unless he made it obvious himself.” The 9th Circuit panel disagreed with Judge Taylor’s ruling:

[T]he 9th Circuit panel, ruling in Soto Vega v. Attorney General, 183 Fed.Appx. 627, 2006 WL 1518945 (2006), found that as Soto Vega had provided sufficient evidence of past harassment in Mexico, the burden was the government to show that his subjective fear of persecution there was not well founded.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals told Judge Taylor that he had “applied an incorrect legal standard in denying U.S. asylum to [Vega].” This lead to Judge Taylor ruling on January 30, 2007, that Vega can stay in the United States permanently.

More on page 29 of February’s edition of the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes in “Immigration Judge Awards Asylum to Gay Mexican on Remand from 9th Circuit.”

Some of you may have picked up the news of Nancy Arabillas Morales’ bid for asylum last month. An article in February’s edition of the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes goes into great detail about this case:

Morales, born Juan Manuel Arabillas Morales, began using the name Nancy and dressing as a woman at age 14 when she moved out of her abusive family’s home. She was arrested for working in a bar as a minor and placed in jail, where prison officials laughed and ignored her cries for help while she was raped by several inmates. When she attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, Morales was attacked and raped by seven men. She did not report the incident to the police for fear of being beaten or forced to pay a bribe. Morales eventually fled to the United States, where she has lived since 1986.

In April 2002, Morales was convicted of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. She had also been charged with third degree rape of a child and third degree child molestation,but was convicted only of communication with a minor. The Department of Homeland Security placed Morales in removal proceedings for being illegally present within the United States, and also for having been convicted of a crime “involving moral turpitude.” Morales applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under CAT, all of which were denied.

Nancy Arabillas Morales’ claim for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) was first denied by an Immigration Judge (IJ), and then by the Board of Immigration Appeals when she appealed the IJ’s decision. The Mexican male-to-female transsexual then appealed the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals.

In Morales v. Gonzales, 472F.3d 689 (9th Cir., Jan. 3, 2007), Judge David R. Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit remanded Morales’ claim for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) to the Board of Immigration Appeals to the IJ who originally denied the claim.

Judge Thompson’s holdings, according to Bryan Johnson’s summary in the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes:

Senior Circuit Judge David R. Thompson, writing for the court, held that the IJ had incorrectly relied on facts that did not relate to the crime for which Morales was convicted that were contained in the appellate court’s opinion affirming her conviction of communication with a minor, to determine that Morales had committed a “particularly serious” crime. The IJ had concluded that Morales would have been eligible for asylum and withholding of removal, “but for [the] finding that she had been convicted of a particularly serious crime.”

Judge Thompson also held that the IJ had failed to apply the correct legal standard to Morales’s CAT claim, because the IJ had only taken into consideration testimony establishing “direct government action”, but had ignored the “willful blindness” of the prison officials who had watched and laughed at Morales while she was repeatedly raped by fellow prison inmates.

The IJ must now “determine whether Morales committed a “particularly serious” crime barring her from an otherwise eligible asylum claim. In addition, the IJ must consider the “willful blindness” of prison officials in establishing whether it was “more likely than not” that Morales would be tortured if she were returned to Mexico.

According to Kenneth Ofgang’s article:

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday ordered the Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider its order that a Mexican transsexual be removed to her native country, where she says she is likely to be physically abused because of her sex change.

The panel said the BIA erred in summarily affirming an immigration judge’s ruling that Nancy Arabillas Morales, who used to be Juan Manuel Arabillas Morales, does not qualify for asylum, withholding of removal, or relief under the Convention Against Torture.

Morales, the judges said, may qualify for relief based on a well-founded fear that she will be attacked because of her trangendered status. Morales testified that such attacks occurred in the past, and the court said the IJ erroneously relied on Morales’ admission that her attackers were not associated with the government.

You can read more details of Morales’ case on page 20 of February’s edition of the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes in “9th Circuit Grants Review of Mexican Transsexual’s Asylum Claim.”

Alabama’s law banning the commercial distribution of sex toys was upheld for the third time yesterday.

It looks like even the ex-gays are doubting Haggard’s “return to heterosexuality.”

Religiously motivated men who say they have made the journey from gay to straight say it is a long one.

“I do know that a three-week journey is not something reflected in my own life … It took me three years to change my personal orientation,” said Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International, which seeks to turn gays onto the “straight path” through Biblical inspiration.

Other religiously motivated activists who have taken the same route agreed it took years.

“I would say that a transition would take five to eight years — I came out of a gay lifestyle and it was a long process,” said Frank Worthen of New Hope Ministries outside San Francisco, which also is devoted to turning gay men straight.

A runaway from Nicaragua, where having a same-sex relationship is a crime, has been denied asylum in Canada because he cannot prove he is gay to the Immigration and Refugee Board.

[Alvaro Antonio Orozco], now 21, is slated for removal next Tuesday to a country where sodomy is illegal and to a family that he says beat him and taunted him for his sexual orientation ever since he was a young boy.

“My father called me ‘marica’ [a derogatory word for gay], and told me he would beat it out of me,” Mr. Orozco said. “But it’s impossible to prove you are gay.”

…snip…

Since coming to Toronto two years ago, Mr. Orozco says he has finally felt comfortable to live a gay lifestyle, and spends his weekends at gay bars. “The law protects me here. In Nicaragua, I could be put in jail,” he says. “I still fear my father, who threatened that he would kill me for being gay.”

Globe and Mail reports a board member did not believe Orozco is gay because “he wasn’t sexually active during his teen years, and wasn’t clear about his sexual orientation when he fled Nicaragua at the age of 12.” You know how gays are such sluts in their teen years.

JURIST reports the KKK is using gay marriage, along with issues such as urban crime and immigration, to spark new cells in Mid-Atlantic and Great Plains towns.

• The Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have issued statements condemning the ad and the three “alternate ending” ads Snickers posted online at AfterTheKiss.com. Snickers also posted player reactions to the two men kissing; here’s a still shot of one:
  
  
  
  More shots from the site here.
• AfterTheKiss.com has disappeared.
• The New York Times reported the goal of the ads was to “capture the attention of [the] core Snickers consumer, primarily 18-to-24-year-old adult males.” A spokesperson for the Masterfoods division of Mars commented: “We know that humor is highly subjective and we understand that some consumers have found the commercial offensive…Clearly that was not our intent. We do not plan to continue the ad on television or on our Web site.”

Why does that sound like the title of a fucked up children’s book? And is rehab the answer to everything these days?

Does anyone really believe that Isaiah Washington is sorry for calling T.R. Knight a “faggot” because he went to counseling? Is anyone really going to believe that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is sorry for sleeping with his now ex-campaign manager’s wife because he’s decided to seek treatment for alcohol use? I guess he had to do something. But what does his sex life have to do with his mayoral responsibilities?

After three weeks of intensive counseling by four ministers Ted Haggard is now ”completely heterosexual.”

Haggard also said his sexual contact with men was limited to the former male prostitute who came forward with sexual allegations, the Rev. Tim Ralph of Larkspur told The Denver Post for a story in Tuesday’s edition.

”He is completely heterosexual,” Ralph said. ”That is something he discovered. It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn’t a constant thing.”

Ralph said the board spoke with people close to Haggard while investigating his claim that his only extramarital sexual contact happened with Mike Jones. The board found no evidence to the contrary.

”If we’re going to be proved wrong, somebody else is going to come forward, and that usually happens really quickly,” he said. ”We’re into this thing over 90 days and it hasn’t happened.”

Haggard stepped down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals last year following allegations that he had sex with and used methamphetamine with Jones, a (former?) male prostitute (who recently visited Haggard’s former church, btw).

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, commented late last year to Larry King that it could take four or five years to turn Haggard into an ex-gay. No wonder they used four ministers.

“Anti-gay blogger charged with inciting murder”: A French man accused of advocating the killing of gay people on a Web log has been charged with incitement of murder in the Caribbean island of Martinique…

“Edwards slammed for hiring pro-gay bloggers”: Two bloggers hired recently by Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards were criticized Tuesday by a Catholic group for posts they had written elsewhere on the Internet…

If you didn’t tune in to the Super Bowl last night, here’s one of the commercials you missed:

King Kaufman reports there was another similarly homophobic ad after that one:

Two ads after the Snickers spot, a CBS ad for “Survivor” showed some guy saying, “Me and Richard became friends — not in a homosexual way.”

You know, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

AOL Sports Blog points to the commentary on Tony Dungy’s post game speech found over at OutSports:

Sorry, Tony Dungy and Colts owner Jim Irsay – God did not want you to win the game. If such a deity exists, he/she/it has bigger things to worry about.

Irsay and Dungy’s overt prostelyzing was nauseating, made even worse by Dungy’s upcoming appearance before an anti-gay Christian group. This kind of in-your-face God-squadding suggests that they are in some way superior, and they need to be called on it.

As a friend wrote me about Dungy after the game: “He is the sort of fundamentalist who truly believes that his way is the only way and thus wants to shove it down everyone’s throat, and feels further emboldened by a meaningless football victory that he feels infuses him with even greater legitimacy.”

Read my previous post on Tony Dungy’s upcoming attendance at an Indiana Family Institute special event dinner here.

Dr. Gao Yaojie has been placed under house arrest so that she cannot attend Vital Voices Global Partnership‘s annual awards ceremony, where she would be honored for helping AIDS sufferers.

Dr. Gao Yaojie has been confined to her apartment in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou since Feb. 1, according to her friend, Hu Jia, himself a well-known advocate for Chinese AIDS patients. Friends and relatives of Dr. Gao who have tried to visit her found police officers outside her apartment, Mr. Hu said. Dr. Gao, 79, is apparently being confined alone.

“Now her phone is cut off,” said Mr. Hu, who has spoken to members of Dr. Gao’s family. “She can’t even call out for help if something goes wrong.”

The awards ceremony will be held on March 14th in DC. Senator Clinton is an honorary co-chairwoman of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a group that invests in women leaders.

Via TheLawyer.com:

Sullivan claims that Charney broke his attorney-client privilege, bringing the 125-year-old firm into disrepute when he published his grievances on a website, greedyassociates.com, before officially bringing them to firm management.

…snip….

Sullivan is also claiming that Charney stole and leaked documents to the press.

Previous posts here, here, here and here.

ETA:

The New York Sun reports in more detail: “[Sullivan & Cromwell] also suggested that Mr. Charney stole proprietary documents from an office adjacent to his, and then leaked them to the Wall Street Journal.” (Heel click: ATL)

UPDATE:

Read the Sullivan & Cromwell v. Charney complaint here.

Rachel Samantha Smith and Rachel Lacy Crites, two teens reported missing on Jan. 19th, have been found dead in a car belonging to the family of one of the girls.

Investigators said they had no evidence of foul play in the teens’ disappearance. In a statement released Jan. 22 by Montgomery County police, detectives from the Family Crimes Division said they were “concerned about the mental state of both girls and want to make certain that the teens know that whatever concerns or problems they may be facing can be worked out.”

Their concern stemmed in part from a diary entry made by Crites that, according to WRC-TV, read: “Wherever I end up laying, whether buried or cremated, I want to stay with my true love, buried next to her. This is my choice. I’m sorry.”

The Washington Post reports the deaths appear to be suicides. NBC4 shared that the girls may have made a suicide pact in an article published on January 22nd.

(Heel click: The Republic of T.)

John Scheich has stepped down from his position as the president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Law Association (which he had only been elected to days ago) over comments he made about Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell shortly after Aaron Charney filed his complaint against Sullivan & Cromwell.

In a January 18 ABC news story, John Scheich, the first-vice president of LeGaL, stated that “Sullivan Cromwell is far from prejudiced in any way” and that “I don’t know Aaron Charney or the details of his case, but if I had to line up on one side or the other, I would have to line up with David H. Braff [an openly gay partner at the firm] and Sullivan Cromwell.”

Law.com reports that “Scheich said he disaffirmed his statement to ABC and apologized to Charney.”

It seems the weird behavior from the Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell parties witnessed on Friday was not a sign that we’d be seeing a settlement soon.

News emailed to Above The Law by a reader:

Sullivan & Cromwell filed its own action against Charney [yesterday] — and it was started by an order to show cause seeking a preliminary injunction!!!!

The case is on for next Thursday, February 8, before Judge Bernard Fried.

I think this means the case is far from settling, if S&C started their own lawsuit. I will try to get my hands on the complaint.

That’s right, it’s now Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell and Sullivan & Cromwell v. Charney.

That’s index number 600333/2007.

Updates will continue.

Initiative 957, an initiative requiring all married couples to file “proof of procreation” within three years of a marriage, was filed by the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance in response to a ruling made by the Washington Supreme Court last year stating gay and lesbian couples could be prevented from marrying by the state because Washington has a legitimate interest in preserving marriage for couples who can procreate. I-957 has been accepted by Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

A press release from the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance states that I-957 would:

• add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
• require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
• require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
• establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
• make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.

I-957 needs 224,800 signatures by July 6th to make it on to the November ballot.

Today’s New York Post reports that Dina Matos McGreevey will not “make any divorce deals with her homosexual hubby until they resolve their ‘profound differences about what [their] daughter should be exposed to.’” James McGreevey filed for divorce from Dina Matos McGreevey yesterday.

(Heel click: Viviane’s Sex Carnival)

James McGreevey filed for divorce today from Dina Matos McGreevey. It took long enough. Posting that his wife has a book coming out soon felt really off.

Above The Law thinks a settlement is about to be reached in Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell (they’re even breaking out the settlement calculator). Read why here and here.

Check out Above The Law’s Aaron Charney Archives for the events leading up to this possible settlement.

I previously posted about homelessness among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth here. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, declaring “[i]t is a national disgrace that 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender,” has teamed up with the National Coalition for the Homeless to release a report titled “LGBT Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness.” You can view the full report here. City-specific fact sheets are available here and you can listen to the Task Force’s audio press conference on GLBT homeless youth here.

AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis have launched tweakends.org, a website dedicated to providing educational information on crystal meth to gay and bisexual men.

[Gay.com]

Charlene Cothran, the publisher of Venus Magazine, a magazine that has targeted Black gays and lesbians for 13 years, has announced that she is now an ex-lesbian. She has changed the direction of the magazine to one that will “encourage, educate and assist those who desire to leave a life of homosexuality.”

Back in October, Jasmyne Cannick posted the “10 ways to get out of ‘the life’” Cothran included in an issue of Venus and on the magazine’s website.

Mary Cheney defended her decision to become pregnant at a panel discussion at Barnard College yesterday.

“When Heather and I decided to have a baby, I knew it wasn’t going to be the most popular decision,” Ms. Cheney said, referring to her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe. She then gestured to her middle — any bulge disguised by a boxy jacket — and asserted: “This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate, on either side of a political issue. It is my child.”

Steve Koval at NYBlade Blog (no need for me to repeat what’s already been said):

You don’t work to elect an anti-gay administration that uses same-sex marriage as a wedge issue to ensure victory, and then get to complain about how having a baby with your same-sex partner is somehow not a legitimate subject.

Evangelical graduate student Mark Schumacher was expelled from Argosy University, a private school in Minnesota where he was a student in the Doctor of Psychology program. Argosy University expelled him for “demonstrat[ing] intolerance for gays and lesbians.” Schumacher filed a suit, including claims for discrimination, breach of contract, arbitrary expulsion, defamation, and violation of his constitutional rights, against the institution.

Judge Donovan Frank, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, dismissed Schumacher’s entire complaint in early December 2006. See “Federal Court Rejects Suit Over Expulsion of Grad Student Over Homophobia Allegations” in the January edition of the Lesbian/Gay Law Notes (page 8) for the whole story.