tagged w/ Gay Lesbian Bi Transgender
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Don't ask, Don't tell is government sponsored discrimination based upon sexual orientation (in my opinion). It should stop. In a decade or two we will look back upon it as we now look upon Jim Crow laws or denying women the right to vote.Don't ask, Don't tell is government sponsored discrimination based upon... more
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http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/ACLU-may-enter-school-transgender-case
http://talkaboutequality.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/screen-shot-2010-09-27-at-3-53-34-pm.png
Oakleigh Marshall not allowed to compete for court
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - Some Mona Shores High School students say administrators stole the homecoming king throne from the rightful winner -- a transgender senior.
The controversy is playing out in the school's hallways, and on Facebook.
Some classmates believe the crown belongs to Oakleigh Reed -- who was born as Oakleigh Marie, but who now goes as Oakleigh Marshall, or Oak for short.
In fact, friends have started a Facebook page, titled, "Oak is My King."
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103699403028170
"It's the senior class that votes for their representative," Reed said. "What they did was taking away the voice of the senior class."
Assistant Superintendent Todd Geerlings said the issue is simple: The ballots gave two choices -- vote for a boy for king and a girl for queen.
And, in school records, he said, Oakleigh is still listed as a female.
The 17-year-old says the gender struggle has been life-long -- with sports, family and friends, even band camp. After years of counseling, Oakleigh plans a sex change operation at age 18.
Already, the school has made concessions.
"They let me wear a male tux for band uniform, and they're going to let me wear the male robe and cap for graduation."
Teachers, Oakleigh said, use male pronouns.
"They call me Oak, and they say, he, him, his," the teen said.
Oak, an honor student, campaigned for homecoming king on Facebook -- a one-day campaign.
"I just said, 'Vote for me for homecoming king.' I don't see why there's any reasons why someone who's different shouldn't be on court. I thought, 'Hey, why not put myself out there? I have just as much qualifications as anyone else in the school."
The campaign took off.
"I knew I had a lot of votes because people were telling me in the hallway, 'Hey, I voted for you, I voted for you.'"
Oakleigh was overwhelmed by the support of classmates.
Then, last Monday, the principal called Oak into her office.
"They told me that they took me off because they had to invalidate all of my votes because I'm enrolled at Mona Shores as a female," Oakleigh said.
Oakleigh was happy with the support from classmates, but "sometimes it's nice to have something tangible."
The teen's mother says she's angry.
"He was voted for homecoming king and, according to the votes, he should have been homecoming king, and it's just sad, and it just breaks my heart that all these people all voted and it was taken away, it was completely taken away from him."
The ACLU may enter this case . Oakleigh said he'd be willing to talk with them.http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/ACLU-may-enter-school-transgender-... more
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More than 13,500 people have been discharged under the military's ridiculous "don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue" policy since 1994. How exciting that despite playing by all the complicated rules of tiptoeing through the landmines of living LGBTQ in the military, Jene Newsome gets to count herself among that number after she was outed to superiors. Not by her co-workers, but by local police
http://womensrights.change.org/blog/view/lesbian_sergeant_outed_by_police_and_discharged_under_dadtMore than 13,500 people have been discharged under the military's ridiculous... more
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Annise Parker has been elected by the voters as Houston's first openly gay mayor, seizing 53.6 percent of the vote.
Of the more than 152,000 residents who turned out to cast ballots in the fourth largest U.S. city Saturday, 81,652 chose Parker - some 11,000 votes more than for her opponent.Annise Parker has been elected by the voters as Houston's first openly gay mayor,... more
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The times, they are a-changin'. In an open letter to Xbox Live members, Microsoft's Marc Whitten has announced that the Xbox Live Code of Conduct has been altered to allow members to "more freely express their race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation in Gamertags and profiles." Looking over the updated code, it appears that the major change directly affects references to sexual orientation. Specifically, the terms "lesbian," "gay," "bi," "transgender" and "straight" are now allowed in both Gamertags and user profiles. According to Whitten, the change has been made as the result of customer feedback.
Early last year, something of a controversy erupted when an Xbox Live user was allegedly banned from Xbox Live for identifying herself as a lesbian in her Xbox Live profile. The report brought to light an ongoing conversation on the matter between the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Microsoft. At the time, Microsoft claimed that it didn't allow users to express any form of sexual orientation -- including heterosexuality -- in an effort to prevent player harassment.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/xbox-live-code-of-conduct-updated/The times, they are a-changin'. In an open letter to Xbox Live members,... more
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International in scope, ‘Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag is a a celebration of gender identification - featuring androgynes, the transgendered, drag queens and tranimals... Going way beyond the boas, glitter and whip-smart sass, it aims to showcase a new filmic genre — a genre we are dubbing ‘transploitation’ — born of, and predicated on the instant accessibility of internet culture, the do-it-yourself ethos of home publishing, and, the humorous narcissism inherent to self-reflection, gender identification and ‘otherness’. All this, through the best new performance video and short film work by established filmmakers, avant-garde performers, iconic chanteuses, Gen Y viral superstars, and developing talents alike. Oh, and a lot of make-up.International in scope, ‘Ultra Fabulous, Beyond Drag is a a celebration of... more
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Photographs of actress Lucy Lawless, who you remember for her title role on the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess." http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/5551260.phpPhotographs of actress Lucy Lawless, who you remember for her title role on the... more
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here you can read about the petition and print out forms. get everyone you know to sign and if you know unregistered voters get them registered.
from the site:
Thank you for your interest in assisting us with the signature process. The following is a list of ideas on how to gather signatures. If you require assistance or support for an idea, please contact us directly at 800.778.2998
1. **An easy place to start is asking people who you see on a regular basis.** This includes friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, dorm mates, colleagues, fellow church members and other organizations that you may interact with.
2. **Host a signature gathering party.** Invite friends and neighbors over to discuss equality and ways of getting involved. Perhaps highlight the party with a viewing of Milk or you could just serve drinks.
3. Contact local groups and organizations and ask for their support. This is also a good opportunity to start dialog with and get involved with organizations you may not have previously thought about. Ask if the organization can contact their members for support.
4. Gather a few friends and go to a safe, but high traffic location and collect signatures. Examples of friendly locations include farmer’s markets, universities, local cafes, and LGBT events.
5. Call up friends in other California locations and share the Yes! on Equality web link with downloadable signature pages (http://www.yesonequality.com/initiative)
spread the word to everyone you know, even if you don't live in california.here you can read about the petition and print out forms. get everyone you know to... more
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this is from the may 6 newsletter of the national organization for marriage. (not gay marriage btw)
Dear Friend of [opposite] Marriage,
I'm reading report after report describing Maine (where, as expected, the House of Representatives passed the same-sex marriage bill today) as coming "a step closer to being the fifth [state] in the nation to allow same-sex marriage." And while that storyline plays nicely into the "same-sex marriage is inevitable" message that gay marriage advocates are pushing, the reality couldn't be further from the truth!
I've yet to read one news report that even mentions the "people's veto," the referendum provision of the Maine Constitution that gives the people of Maine -- not legislators or the governor -- the final word on marriage.
And that's why today the National Organization for Marriage announced that it will join the Maine Marriage Coalition, pushing for a people's veto of the same-sex marriage bill if Governor Baldacci signs it into law.
The Coalition is headed by Robert Emrich of the Maine Marriage Alliance and Marc Mutty of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. NOM will stand with our colleagues in Maine to give voters the ability to overturn the marriage bill passed by the House today, and will devote staff, volunteers and resources to the battle in Maine.
Qualifying a referendum for the ballot requires roughly 55,000 signatures of Maine voters, and NOM will work hard to ensure that the people of Maine have the opportunity to stand up for marriage just as the voters in 30 out of 30 other states have done when given the chance.
MEDIA APPEARANCE:
Make plans to watch or record "Maggie vs. Perez" on Larry King Live on CNN at 9pm ET tonight! NOM President Maggie Gallagher will be on with Perez Hilton, calling Hilton to task for the character assassination and personal attacks he has leveled against Carrie Prejean. It will no doubt be a lively discussion as Maggie sets the record straight!
Faithfully,
Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
bbrown@nationformarriage.orgthis is from the may 6 newsletter of the national organization for marriage. (not gay... more
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Equal Rights: Weathering The Storm - A Response To NOM's Gathering Storm (National Organization for Marriage)
Love Not Laws is a coalition of people of various ages, races, and beliefs, who came together to show solidarity and support for same-sex marriage. In response to videos that are circulating the internet that use fear and falsehoods to promote an offensive agenda of "separate and unequal", Love Not Laws created a video that was grounded in compassion, emotion, and heart.Equal Rights: Weathering The Storm - A Response To NOM's Gathering Storm... more
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Across the USA, transgender people are making the case for full recognition and protection of their civil rights. This video talks about what's really on their minds.
Check out this moving piece produced by a collaboration among three leading Massachusetts advocacy organizations: the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MassTPC.org), Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD.org), and MassEquality (MassEquality.org).Across the USA, transgender people are making the case for full recognition and... more
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From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Author Martin Duberman sat down to speak with Sarah Schulman on the publication of Radical Acts, a collection of four of his politically charged plays. Here is some of their conversation.From http://www.gaycenter.org/out Author Martin Duberman sat down to speak with... more
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From http://www.gaycenter.org/out/ Author, teacher and spiritual coach Christian de la Huerta says the Goddess is back. He spoke to Out At The Center's Rick Borutta about how the empowerment of women and balancing the feminine and masculine in all of us may be the key to spiritual renewal for the LGBT community.From http://www.gaycenter.org/out/ Author, teacher and spiritual coach Christian de... more
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BOSTON -- For Ethan St. Pierre, allowing someone who is biologically female but self-identifies as male to use the men's bathroom is a no-brainer.
"Look at me," said St. Pierre, who was born a woman but is now a transgender man with a beard and short hair. "I don't want to get hurt by some woman who thinks I'm in the ladies' room for the wrong reasons. I mean, clearly I don't belong there."
St. Pierre, of Haverhill, was one of hundreds of advocates at a Tuesday rally supporting a bill that would add "gender identity and expression" to Massachusetts' discrimination and hate crimes laws. He said having this legislation would have protected him from being fired in 2003 from his job as a security supervisor because he became a man.
But opponents of the measure have deemed it "a bathroom bill," saying it would lead to a breakdown in privacy and public safety in rest rooms, locker rooms, showers and other single-sex facilities. They contend the law would open women's bathrooms to sexual predators.
4/8 09:26 ClipsFC - WandaBOSTON -- For Ethan St. Pierre, allowing someone who is biologically female but... more
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At a private risotto dinner Sunday night with gay leaders and elected officials at Gramercy Tavern last night, Sen. Chuck Schumer reversed himself on the issue of same-sex marriage, saying he not only now supports it but also backs a full reversal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Schumer's office confirmed the meeting and also the senior senator's change of heart, issuing the following statement from the Brooklyn Democrat:
"It's time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of America and no group should be deprived of it. New York, which has always been at the forefront on issues of equality, is appropriately poised to take a lead on this issue."
It's hard to overstate the significance of this in the eyes of gay marriage advocates.
With the ascent of Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Hillary Clinton's vacant US Senate seat, Schumer was the last remaining statewide elected official who backed civil unions over full marriage equality.
(Recall that one of the first issues Gillibrand "evolved" on was marriage, although her office has insisted she always personally supported it).
Clinton's departure from the New York political stage arguably gave Schumer some breathing room on this issue.
Both Clinton and Schumer were under pressure from the gay community (which includes some very heavy-hitting political donors) to change their position from supporting civil unions to backing marriage, but they both refused to budge.
While Clinton was running for president, there was no way Schumer could move on this topic - no matter how much he might have wanted to follow the lead set by then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his lt. gov., David Paterson - especially since Barack Obama also took the civil-union-only approach.
Sunday night's dinner was organized by Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle and Jeff Soref, a gay philanthropist and donor who was board president of the Gay Men's Health Crisis from 1991-1004 and a past ESPA co-chair.
"I want to thank Sen. Schumer for his support of marriage equality and repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act,” said Van Capelle.
“Like a majority of New Yorkers, Sen. Schumer recognizes that only marriage equality provides same sex couples the status, protections and rights afforded to all other Americans. We look forward to working with him to win marriage equality in New York State and around the country."
Also present for the meal were Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, who sponsored the gay marriage bill that passed his house in 2007; Assemblywoman Deborah Glick; Council Speaker Christine Quinn; and Assemblyman Micah Kellner.
Sen. Tom Duane, who is carrying the marriage bill in the Senate, was in Albany and couldn't make it.At a private risotto dinner Sunday night with gay leaders and elected officials at... more
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Judge Hewitt is openly out and proud! On the courts website her biography states that she is married to her partner, Eleanor Dean Acheson. Huzzah!Judge Hewitt is openly out and proud! On the courts website her biography states that... more
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Info: www.mglff.com
'Pedro' will be simulcast at 8 p.m. April 1 on MTV, MTV TR3S, mtvU and LOGO with an introduction by former President Bill Clinton. It will be released June 9 on DVD.
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Fifteen years after Miami's Pedro Zamora became a national symbol for living with HIV -- and dying of AIDS -- a new drama about his life will soon debut on the network that made him a reality TV star.
Pedro, a film written by Dustin Lance Black, who won an original-screenplay Oscar for Milk, will be simulcast April 1 on four MTV networks. The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will screen the film Sunday night at the Colony Theater in Miami Beach.
Zamora's older sister Mily, who raised him after their mother died, and nursed him until his own death at age 22, will attend the Colony screening.
''It's a piece of my heart that I'm going to share with the world,'' she said.
At first, Mily Zamora didn't think she could relive the pain of Pedro's illness and death.
''When they first asked me about making the movie, I was thinking very selfishly about dealing with this again,'' said Zamora, now 44. ``But when I sat down and thought about the movie, and I thought about Pedro and what he wanted and his life, I had to say yes. He wanted to reach as many people as possible. He wanted to reach everywhere.''
Zamora attended a screening of Pedro last week at Florida International University.
''We spoke with Mily after the show. She's a very strong woman,'' said Rashad Subhan, 18, a member of FIU's gay fraternity, Delta Lambda Phi.
Subhan said he loved the film.
''It was very emotional. It pulled on your heartstrings,'' he said. ``The acting was pretty spot on.''
Pedro stars Alex Loynaz, a 27-year-old actor originally from Miami Beach, in his first big part.
''It's an inspiring story,'' said Loynaz, who now lives in Los Angeles. ``The message still needs to be spread. That's what Pedro wanted. His story is as relevant back then as it is now. There still is no cure for HIV.''Info: www.mglff.com
'Pedro' will be simulcast at 8 p.m. April 1 on MTV,... more
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