HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced plans to establish the nation`s
first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their
efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) individuals.
Experts estimate that as many as 1.5 to 4 million LGBT individuals are age 60
and older. Agencies that provide services to older individuals may be unfamiliar
or uncomfortable with the needs of this group of individuals. The new Resource
Center for LGBT Elders will provide information, assistance and resources for
both LGBT organizations and mainstream aging services providers at the state and
community level to assist them in the development and provision of culturally
sensitive supports and services. The LGBT Center will also be available to
educate the LGBT community about the importance of planning ahead for future
long term care needs.
The LGBT Resource Center will help community-based organizations understand the
unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in
implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to
LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other
challenges.
The Administration on Aging will award a single Resource Center grant at
approximately $250,000 per year, pending availability of funds. Eligible
entities will include public-private nonprofit organizations with experience
working on LGBT issues on a national level. The funding announcement for the
Resource Center will be made available on the following website very soon. http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspxHHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced plans to establish the nation`s
first... more
The BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Mika, whose sexuality has been the subject of rumour since he entered the public eye in early 2007, said this month, "Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me."
Does he need a label?The BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Mika, whose sexuality has been the subject of... more
Silver Spring Wilson II identifies as a bisexual woman and some lesbians will not let her into the clique.
U People Stories are stories from regular everyday people, gay, straight, black, white and with varied beliefs who have had been made to feel like the "other". These are the kinds of stories that we all have carried with us; where it would make you cry if you thought about it but makes you laugh when you talk about it.
What the U People Story Archive does is build a bridge of understanding that unifies our struggles while at the same time lifting an emotional weight off the shoulders of the storyteller. These stories are humorous, moving and timeless. They are individually a testament of how discrimination and the emotions that result connect, effect and can change us all. www.iloveupeople.comSilver Spring Wilson II identifies as a bisexual woman and some lesbians will not let... more
More than 58,000 Referendum 71 signatures have been checked as of Friday, the secretary of state's office reports.
R-71 is the measure seeking to overturn Washington's "everything but marriage" same-sex domestic partner law.
The new signature total is 58,493 checked, said David Ammons, secretary of state spokesman. "That total includes 51,645 signatures accepted and 6,378 rejected – 5,502 because they weren't found in the statewide voter registration database, 30 with signature images pending from the voter's home county, 501 where the petition signature doesn't match the one on file, and 345 duplicates," Ammons said.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Crowds packed 5th Avenue in Manhattan for New York City's 2009 Gay Pride Parade. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a violent clash that ushered in the gay liberation movement.
By Video Journalist Olu Gittens (Producer / Reporter/ Cameraperson / Editor / Writer / Narrator)
Program on Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Production Facilities courtesy of MNN
Copyright 2009 by Olu GittensNEW YORK, NEW YORK - Crowds packed 5th Avenue in Manhattan for New York City's 2009... more
What can the progressive movement learn from the LGBT community? On the 40th anniversary of Stonewall there has been a good deal of reflection and soul searching on the role of the struggle for gay rights within the larger civil rights movement. Yesterday when Barack Obama met with gay couples in the White House he said, “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago. We’ve been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.” That could be applied to a number of issues, not only those affecting the LGBT community.
Richard Burns, Chief Operating Officer of the Arcus Foundation, Naomi Clark of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Richard Kim, Associate Editor at The Nation, and independent journalist Nancy Goldstein on the role of LGBT politics within the progressive movement.What can the progressive movement learn from the LGBT community? On the 40th... more
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
OutCast Films present a film about Stonewall, from the Riots to the Awards. Filmed on location at the Stonewall Awards Protest in London, November 2008. Preview of a collection of short films.OutCast Films present a film about Stonewall, from the Riots to the Awards. Filmed on... more
That, my friends, is the $25,000 question! Or at least a topic of increasing popularity.
There is nothing new under the sun, and some would say that same-sex pairings are as old as history itself. So, why is it that just recently Oprah is addressing this issue? I have given this topic quite a bit of thought myself through the years and I can offer you gentle readers a whole truck load of reasons why a woman just might leave a man for another woman. Some are humorous, some are serious--and you can read them here if you are so inclined.That, my friends, is the $25,000 question! Or at least a topic of increasing... more
Filmmaker Karen Everett turns the camera on herself and her love life as she enters into a polyamorous relationship with her partner, Erin.
Giving each other the freedom to love more than one person, Karen and Erin struggle to find balance within their relationship.
This is a cut-down of the feature documentary "Women In Love."Filmmaker Karen Everett turns the camera on herself and her love life as she enters... more
As over 600 Californians came to Sacramento to talk to their legislators for EQCA's Lobby Day to Overurn 8, the Assembly Judiciary committee heard HR 5 (Ammiano), the Assembly resolution to overturn 8.
Watch the hearing to see the work EQCA and you make happen—hear the heartfelt personal stories told to the legislature and the testimony of our leaders—as well as what our opponents said to see what we are up against.
click the link aboveAssebly Judiciary Committee Passes HR 5
As over 600 Californians came to Sacramento... more
Love is all over the tube right now with The Bachelor, Rock of Love Bus, For the Love of Ray J and Real Chance of Love. Conor takes you through some of the lessons that can be learned from these shows while reading the most famous love poem of all time.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Love is all over the tube right now with The Bachelor, Rock of Love Bus, For the Love... more
Gansta rap, big guns, blinking jewelry, masculinity, hot chicks and booties; these are just a few stereotypes from mainstream Hip Hop as we know it.
But what if we were to blank away one of those stereo types?!
Gay Rappers...
Uh huh!!! In many parts of the US one of the stereotypes has fallen away and a new wave of Hip Hop has emerged: Gay Hip Hop.
What are their lyrics about? What's life like in the Hood when you're a gay rapper? Can these guys become just as big as Jay-Z? Check it out in this mini-documentary where CPX dives into the world of Gay Hip Hop in NYC!Gansta rap, big guns, blinking jewelry, masculinity, hot chicks and booties; these are... more
Antihomosexual protestors and members of the Westboro Baptist Church marched in the streets of Washington D.C. in defiance of the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.Antihomosexual protestors and members of the Westboro Baptist Church marched in the... more
From NPR: All Things Considered, December 29, 2008
Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens and young adults have one of the highest rates of suicide attempts — and some other health and mental health problems, including substance abuse. A new study suggests that parental acceptance, and even neutrality, with regard to a child's sexual orientation could have a big impact in reducing this rate.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that the gay, lesbian and bisexual young adults and teens at the highest risk of attempting suicide and having some other health problems are ones who reported a high level of rejection by their families as a result of their sexual orientation.
"A little bit of change in rejecting behavior, being a little bit more accepting," says lead researcher Caitlin Ryan, "can make a significant difference in the child's health and mental health."
Ryan, director of Adolescent Health Initiatives at the Cesar Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University, and her researchers conducted lengthy interviews with more than 200 gay, lesbian and bisexual young adults. Ryan tried to judge whether, as adolescents, they had faced low, moderate or high levels of rejection from their families.
They found that kids who, by Ryan's measure, experienced high levels of rejection were nearly 8.5 times more likely to have attempted suicide. They were nearly six times more likely to report high levels of depression and almost 3.5 times more likely to use illegal drugs or engage in unprotected sex. That was compared with adolescents whose families may have felt uncomfortable with a gay kid, but were neutral or only mildly rejecting.
Acceptance Can Go A Long Way
Because the level of rejection is hard to measure, Ryan looked at things like whether the parents tried to get their children to change their sexual orientation, or tried to stop them from being with other gay kids.
"Parents thought that by trying to change them, that would make them happy. But actually it put their children at great risk," Ryan says. "When we shared that with parents, they were shocked."
The study shows that just a little bit of acceptance can go a long way. That's what has other health researchers excited about Ryan's work, says Effie Malley, a senior prevention specialist at the federally funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center in Newton, Mass.
Malley has done her own research and released another study this month that shows that gay teens have very high rates of suicide attempts. She says parents matter — and so do peers, teachers and society in general.
"What I'd like to see down the road," she says, "is that parents and people who work with families counseling them would really take to heart Ryan and her co-authors' research about not trying to change who the parents are or their beliefs, but just to help them to recognize the words they use and the actions that are harmful to their kids and to stop using those behaviors."
[more at link....]From NPR: All Things Considered, December 29, 2008
Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens... more
Bisexual twins, OJ jailed, buh-bye Polaroids, Japanese charity porn, a giant tuber, sexy money, Paula Abdul, and a bunch of cursing news anchors.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at infomaniafacebook.com.Bisexual twins, OJ jailed, buh-bye Polaroids, Japanese charity porn, a giant tuber,... more
New Jersey should follow two other U.S. states and allow same-sex couples to marry rather than just enter into civil unions, as the law currently permits, a state commission recommended on Wednesday.
In a report that could lead to New Jersey legalizing gay marriage, the Civil Union Review Commission said same-sex couples cannot achieve equality with heterosexual couples if their legal status is restricted to civil unions.
Full marriage is the only way to meet a state constitutional requirement for equality, said the 13-member panel of public officials, clergy, lawyers and same-sex marriage advocates.
The panel was picked by the governor, other state officials and state agencies and charged with evaluating New Jersey's civil union law and making a recommendation. Its recommendation was unanimous.
"The Commission finds that the separate categorization established by the Civil Union Act invites and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children," the panel said in a 79-page report based on an 18-month investigation.
Citing "overwhelming evidence," it said "civil unions will not be recognized by the general public as the equivalent of marriage in New Jersey."
New Jersey's state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that same-sex couples are entitled to the same civil rights as heterosexual couples but declined to say whether a same-sex union should be called marriage.
It's New Jersey, I'm surprised it's taken this long...New Jersey should follow two other U.S. states and allow same-sex couples to marry... more
Gay Pride? or Shame!? Our take on the Glorious Annual Celebration of Exploitation, Manipulation, Deception and Intimidation provided to serve Manchester's LGBT Community.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People have been speaking out in response to an increase in wristband prices, charges for small groups to enter the parade and have a stall, a "youth space" that you have to pay to get in which only last 2 hours that's if you can beat the queues... and then all the respect we've had (not!) from bullies charged with running run Manchester's Pride Festival in 2008... and it certainly didn't go unnoticed!
Watch our short documentary film that's really getting under the skin of pride, exposing corporate greed and authoritarian censorship at it's worst and most appalling, ripping off the people it's designed to empower.
This film is dedicated with much love and respect to Manchester Pride's Festival Director "Yeah" Jackie Crozier. We love you Jackie, much love to you and all your friends and associates!
See you at Manchester Pride 2009 - when we will be in the parade and once again, not afraid to speak out however hard you try to stop us.
Don't forget to get your Manchester Pride tickets... we can sell you some for just ten pence! apparently that's all their (we're worth).Gay Pride? or Shame!? Our take on the Glorious Annual Celebration of Exploitation,... more
The group ImpACT Florida is organizing a statewide event on Dec 12th to "congratulate" Governor Charlie Crist on his wedding. The point of the event is to show the hypocrisy of the governor to have supported proposition 2 which has now banned gay marriage in Florida. He grants himself rights he doesn't want others to have.The group ImpACT Florida is organizing a statewide event on Dec 12th to "congratulate"... more
