tagged w/ LGBT News
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I know about this school since I live near Chicago. They feel they have a right to get into you personal life. They once fired a teacher because she got divorced.I know about this school since I live near Chicago. They feel they have a right to get... more
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While Perry and his 3 ring circus of anti-queer hate is gearing up to congratulate each other for passing the buck to Yahweh Elohim in what he’s calling “The Response”, the GLBT community in Houston came together to remember those we have lost to hate and to dedicate a small garden as a lasting place of reflection. This effort was sparked to life as a reaction to a recent murder that took place in Houston. A young gay man named Aaron Scheerhoorn had been stabbed as was running from his attacker. Upon seeing a nightclub, he ran to the club’s entrance seeking help. The doorman turned him away… whereupon Aaron’s attacker pushed him down and in front of dozens of onlookers, commenced to stabbing Aaron over and over again… the onlookers did absolutely nothing to stop the attack and allowed the murderer to escape without hindrance.
http://www.cristanwilliams.com/b/2011/08/01/the-real-response-in-houston-texas-to-hate-bigotry-and-murder/While Perry and his 3 ring circus of anti-queer hate is gearing up to congratulate... more
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Proud of the LGBT Movement? You Bet!
Filed By Matt Foreman | July 03, 2011 8:00 AM | 5 comments
Category: The Movement
Tags: gay organizations, gay rights, gay rights groups, LGBT movement, LGBT rights
In the days after California voters approved Proposition 8 in 2008, the measure that stripped away from gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry, gay-pride.jpgpeople began talking about how progress had stalled, and how the organizations that were supposed to be advancing the cause of LGBT rights had become ineffectual.
As we celebrate the New York marriage vote and the 42nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, it's time to take real pride in the LGBT organizations that do us proud every day of the year. Working together, this valiant group of underfunded, overwhelmed and scrappy organizations and their leaders, staff and volunteers has delivered (and continues to deliver) historic gains for LGBT people across the country.
Let's start with some facts. By any objective measure, the LGBT movement has made extraordinary progress in a short period of time. In just the last 10 years:
The number of states (including the District of Columbia) protecting lesbian, gay and bisexual people from discrimination almost doubled to 22, and these states cover 44% of the U.S. population.
The number of states (including the District of Columbia) extending marriage equality or "all-but-marriage" rights to same-sex couples grew from just one to 14 (including three more this year), and these states cover 36% of the U.S. population.
The number of states (including the District of Columbia) protecting transgender people from discrimination jumped from 1 to 16 (including three more this year), and these states cover 29% of the U.S. population.
Anti-gay policies going back hundreds of years have been repealed in four of the five leading mainline Protestant denominations (including the Presbyterian Church USA in May).
These broad gains don't begin to tell the whole story. If you look at what's been happening in towns and cities and among American businesses on these issues over the past decade, you also see the LGBT-rights cause advancing by leaps and bounds. The number of gay student alliances in U.S. high schools has surged to nearly 5,000, we're seeing more and more LGBT-inclusive safe schools laws, and nine out of ten Fortune 500 companies have adopted nondiscrimination policies protecting their gay employees. The list of achievements goes on and on. And, we're not done yet: all polling data show that public support for LGBT equality is not leveling off but accelerating.
What makes this ongoing progress even more remarkable is that the LGBT-rights movement has been outnumbered and outfunded at virtually every turn and in every arena, even in comparison to other progressive movements. Opponents of LGBT rights operate hundreds of radio stations, they run huge (and hugely influential) national advocacy organizations, and they are enmeshed in enormous faith communities and able to deliver their anti-equality message to millions every weekend.
While opponents of LGBT rights have at least eight national advocacy organizations with budgets of more than $10 million, the LGBT movement has just one. In fact, the annual budget of just one of the biggest opponents of LGBT rights, Focus on the Family/CitizenLink, is greater than the budgets of the 39 largest LGBT advocacy, legal and research organizations, combined.
So what explains the continued traction that the LGBT movement has enjoyed in the face of such adversity? There are a lot of related factors. For example, more LGBT people are coming out and more non-LGBT people are getting to know them and are themselves becoming advocates for equal rights. There is also the influence of popular culture and celebrities, the high profile of LGBT issues in the media, and the vibrant presence of LGBT bloggers in social media.
But the legal and policy advances of the last decade did not spring miraculously from the results of a public opinion poll or a single heartfelt, pro-gay acceptance speech at the Oscars. Instead, they happened because LGBT organizations made them happen. Whether working for high-profile victories such as the marriage equality win in New York last week or defending an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance from being overturned by voters in Bowling Green, Ohio, these organizations provide focus, deploy volunteers, organize phone banks, and wrangle allies.
At the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, we have been privileged to support a variety of LGBT organizations at the national, state and local levels. They range from the Palm Center at UCLA, whose research helped make the case for overturning the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, to Equality North Carolina, the driving force behind the first LGBT-inclusive safe schools law in the South. Organizations like these are working every day, often against considerable odds, to keep the cause of LGBT rights moving forward, and to prevent the movement's opponents from keeping our society and our communities mired in an unequal past.
Has the LGBT rights movement done everything it needs to do? Not by a long shot. Could it be doing certain things more effectively? Of course. But as Pride celebrations take place around the globe this summer, I encourage everyone who supports LGBT rights to take a stand for pride - in the organizations that drive our movement and the people behind them.
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/07/proud_of_the_lgbt_movement_you_bet.phpProud of the LGBT Movement? You Bet!
Filed By Matt Foreman | July 03, 2011 8:00 AM... more
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The FBI said Wednesday that members of an anti-gay fundamentalist group participated in the bureau's training of police officers and FBI agents - a move the bureau says it will take steps to remedy in the future.
The bureau extended the invitations to Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., for training this spring at two bureau facilities in Virginia: Quantico and Manassas.
Westboro has stirred widespread outrage with raucous demonstrations at the funerals of U.S. military service members. The group contends God is punishing the military for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
National Public Radio first reported the FBI's involvement with Westboro.
At FBI headquarters in Washington, bureau spokesman Paul Bresson acknowledged that Westboro was invited to the training sessions.
An FBI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that in retrospect, the bureau underestimated how the involvement of the outside organization would be perceived.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/29/3737154/fbi-anti-gay-group-participated.html#ixzz1QjK1cAEIThe FBI said Wednesday that members of an anti-gay fundamentalist group participated... more
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Sojourners refused to post this ad featuring a child with two moms. They claimed they do not want to take a stance on this "wedge issue" yet they claim to be a progressive organization fighting for social justice. Seriously? http://chn.ge/mC8u7SSojourners refused to post this ad featuring a child with two moms. They claimed they... more
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To hear Navy Petty Officer Stephen C. Jones tell it, what happened in his bedroom one night last month was purely innocuous: Another male sailor came by to watch “The Vampire Diaries,” and they both dozed off in the same bed.
“That is the honest, entire story,” Jones said.To hear Navy Petty Officer Stephen C. Jones tell it, what happened in his bedroom one... more
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A website that claims Christchurch’s devastating earthquake was an act of God triggered by the tolerance of homosexual behaviour in the city has been denounced as ”despicable and appalling” by New Zealand’s gay and lesbian community.A website that claims Christchurch’s devastating earthquake was an act of God... more
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ANGRY scenes erupted at the funeral of a murdered Ugandan gay activist when the presiding pastor called on homosexuals to repent or “be punished by God”.ANGRY scenes erupted at the funeral of a murdered Ugandan gay activist when the... more
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A Ugandan gay rights campaigner who last year sued a local newspaper which outed him as homosexual has been beaten to death, activists say.A Ugandan gay rights campaigner who last year sued a local newspaper which outed him... more
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While most Americans celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Bill James, a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, used it as an opportunity to bash LGBT people.
“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the U.S. military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining U.S. military readiness and effectiveness, not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”
It’s not the first time Commissioner James has used his spot on the County Board to promote anti-gay bigotry. During debate over a domestic partnership bill, Commissioner James called homosexuality a “crime against nature” that should be prosecuted by police.
And last year, Commissioner James turned to a colleague whose son died from complications from AIDS, and called the son “a homo.” He then compared homosexuality to alcoholism, and argued that all gay people bring AIDS on themselves.
We can’t let this kind of hate speech by public officials go unanswered – and we have a chance in the next few days to do something about it.
Right now, the rest of the county commission is publicly debating whether to censure James. Condemnation by the commission would send a strong signal that bigotry by elected officers holds no place in our society.
http://ynative77.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/n-c-commissioner-james-says-homosexuals-are-sexual-predators/
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJhA2OQgsTvE22g0T0XhucSS2PiqlTEoIR5Bhkq0SAvRD1KhN3sgWhile most Americans celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t... more
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PEARLAND, Texas – A Pearland student is facing murder charges in the death of an 18-year-old classmate who went missing Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Hermilo Vildo Moralez, 19, was identified as a person of interest in the disappearance of Josh Wilkerson Tuesday after officers noticed Moralez loitering in the area of Wilkerson’s abandoned vehicle.
Wilkerson was last seen at his high school, Pearland ISD’s PACE Center, around noon on Tuesday. His parents reported him missing after finding his car abandoned at a shopping center in the 5000 block of W. Broadway.
Police said they found Wilkerson’s shoes and backpack in a dumpster near his vehicle.
When they initially questioned Moralez at the shopping center, investigators said he falsely identified himself and refused to give his address.
According to court documents, Moralez told them he knew Wilkerson from school, and he’d seen him earlier that day.
Once his true identity was discovered, Moralez was taken into custody and charged with failure to identify himself.
Investigators, along with dozens of volunteers and members of Texas EquuSearch, launched a search effort for Wilkerson Tuesday afternoon.
As their investigation progressed, police said Moralez agreed to cooperate with search-and-rescue activities.
While walking with detectives through a field Wednesday afternoon, investigators said Moralez, who was handcuffed at the time, tried to pull a detective’s weapon from his holster.
Moralez was immediately restrained and returned to the city jail.
He was then charged with attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer.
Wilkerson’s body was found in a field near FM 518 and FM 521 around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
According to court documents, Moralez told investigators that Wilkerson had given him a ride home from school Tuesday and made a pass at him.
Moralez said he pushed Wilkerson off, and the two began to fight near the back patio of his father’s home.
Moralez told police that during the fight, he grabbed a wooden rod and hit Wilkerson with it several times.
He said when he got up off the ground, Wilkerson didn’t move.
Investigators said Moralez then partially burned the body before dumping it in the field.
When police found Wilkerson’s body, they noted that the teen’s hands and feet were bound, according to court documents.
Investigators said they went back to the scene of the crime and found a large amount of blood on the patio and a bloody wooden rod in a nearby field.
Moralez was charged with murder Thursday and was being held without bond.
He is also awaiting trial on an unrelated harassment charge.---
PEARLAND, Texas – A Pearland student is facing murder charges in the... more
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Megan Taylor grew up feeling she was living in the wrong body. In her 20s, she decided to do something about it. First, she changed her name to Miles. Miles began taking testosterone, scheduled a double mastectomy — part of sex reassignment surgery — and began changing his body into one that felt right. The hardest part was telling his parents.
Through it all, he kept an audio diary.
Miles lives in Boston with his friend Chris Jacobs, and first started recording his diary in November 2008. His parents, Vicky and Bill, live in Texas.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129631536Megan Taylor grew up feeling she was living in the wrong body. In her 20s, she decided... more
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Mexico's supreme court has upheld a law allowing same-sex marriages in the capital, dealing a blow to federal prosecutors who argued that it violated the constitutional protection of the family. The justices' eight to two ruling this past week will be seen as legal victory for hundreds of gay couples who have been married in Mexico City since the landmark law took effect on March 4th.Mexico's supreme court has upheld a law allowing same-sex marriages in the... more
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The next morning, we all swung by Roger’s Rocky Top Retreat, so that we could get a group photo with Fayetteville institution Roger. I still don’t know Roger’s last name, although I keep meaning to ask him. Roger was kind enough to put up one of our posters, which made me feel even more guilty about the fact that we were camping at Chestnut Creek (I lost that fight to people who require level tent space). I suspect next year the appeal of forgoing quiet hours will swing the vote toward Roger’s.
We took over the entirety of Butcher’s Branch, and at the base of Flight of the Gumbie, Matt revealed that he had brought his dresses and wigs. So there was really no choice but for us to do a drag climb. I was going to climb lead, but the only open climb nearby was slab, and I prefer injuries I can explain. These were five of my favorite photos. I’m the blond.
…….I nearly sent the damn thing on TR, but between the last clip and the anchors my heels slipped off on the smears and I had to stop to slide them back on.
Kate from New York led some God-awful sandbagged 12b that raped me on top-rope, even out of drag. John fell while clipping on Flight of the Gumbie and after a thirty foot fall and a not quite soft enough catch, rammed his ankle with enough force to go all blue and purple–which scored him the “best lead fall” win in the anti-comp and a free pair of Chacos.
That night, the dictators picked up a to-go meal and discussed dictator things on the lawn, so I didn’t get to see what all the convention attendees got up to.
Saturday, I joined a group of 14 HC’ers to go rafting with the Rivermen. The head guide was kind of a douche, and totally not rolling with our faggotry, but the two guides who were actually steering the HC boats were fantastic and all about being stowaways on our queer train. One of them, Shea, steered her boat over to my boat, guided by Abbi. “Hey,” she said, “what do gay horses eat?”
Matt started to yell, “haaaaay,” but then Shea interrupted, “HORSECOCK!” and HC’s next official inside joke was born. For the remainder of the day, all we could yell at each other was “horsecock!”
We had lunch at the Secret Sandwich Society, and I got the Ulysses, which was really good, and so were the chips, although the mac and cheese tasted kind of funny.
That night at the campground, Connor expressed to me that maybe I should play bad cop a bit more with the quiet hours, because “we are,” he said, “whether we like it or not, representing all gay people.”
“I think it’s a bit late for that,” I said.
Dad called me on the phone to talk about mom, whereupon I learned that it had only taken a few hours for photos of me in a dress to show up on Facebook.
“I saw your pictures on Facebook,” he said.
“Did I look good?”
“Maybe you should have shaved.”
Late Saturday night ended with smores, and therefore, a chubby bunny battle. Laurie egged me on to go up against the other dictator named Alex, Alex Chavez, and so we were stuffing marshmallows into our mouths one by one and saying “chubby bunny.” I got up to about 7, with marshmallows oozing out of my mouth, when I saw a good opportunity to forcefully make out with Alex and hump him on the ground, as pictured here.
We ran into campground owner Brian in the bathroom when we went to wash the marshmallow off. “We had a chubby bunny competition get violent.”
The next morning was a group breakfast at the Vandalian. The food was amazing, as usual, and we had the anti-comp award presentation. We gave away the goods from Chaco, Prana, Black Diamond, Friction, Beta Clothing, Aveda, Waterstone Outfitters, and drag superstar Pandora Boxx. Tim, who took most of the photos in this report, got a prize for being our favorite ‘mo photographer.
I got a prize too, but I forgot what the category was, if there was one. On our last trip to the Red, we debated out loud what would happen if porn star Levi Poulter showed up, and we decided that if he did, someone would have to get a pair of kneepads as a prize. So Kelly obtained a pair of kneepads and Bedazzled (TM) them, and that was my prize, although Levi never showed up.
We got worried later, after the anti-comp ceremony, that maybe we were too crude for the Vandalian, so I texted Porter to be all like, “I hope we weren’t too crude,” and he wrote back, “no, it was xxxpected,” and so all was well.
Just as we stepped outside, Deadpoint Magazine arrived for an interview, so I stood on the street corner within the auspice of a tape recorder. He asked, “Why did you start the club?”
Usually, when confronted with this question, I respond, “I started this club to find tops, remedying social iniquities was just collateral damage.” But I was concerned that DPM’s readership wouldn’t know what tops were (straight male climbing mag readers are usually bottoms) and so I hedged and said something like, “to have fun” or whatever’s quoted in the article. The tape recorder didn’t pick up me leaning over and miming a blowjob.
DPM, I’m pretty sure, was more interested in the social justice-y aspect of HC, which dances in tandem with our tendency to act ridiculous. I usually have trouble speaking seriously of social justice and the challenges stemming from discrimination faced by the queer community, e.g. the 800% suicide rate, which DPM brought up. I let the others talk about discrimination present and past. For me, HC was/is about creating a new world, rather than working on an old one. Like Opus’s departure for Outland, I figured everyone I liked would eventually follow me in. The most I would do for the old world would be to Bedazzle (TM) the portal so it would at least be easy to find.
Standing there on the streetcorner, I realized I had come a long way. When I was in my teens, I think I felt ashamed of the crude gays in the dresses and the hotpants, because if only all the gay people would just act like straight people, talking normally, buying life insurance policies and houses and getting married, being responsible, and fitting in with gender expectations, and not being crude, THEN the straight people would accept us. Two martial arts and many pool table hustles later, I finally realized that straight people didn’t worry about what other straight people were doing or whether they were properly representing other straight people, and if they weren’t taking collective responsibility for 2 girls 1 cup, I didn’t see why I had to prove shit. All I really wanted was for people to be free to do what they wanted. Up to and including climbing 5.10 in a dress. (Next year’s goal: send Apollo Reed in drag.)
We posed in front of Waterstone for a group photo, yelled “horsecock” in lieu of “cheese,” and then everybody went to Bubba City, which turned out to be a little bit of a disaster.
Coming soon… part 3.
A correction: Well, a pseudo-correction, as I left something open to misinterpretation; Connor’s comment was only in regard to quiet hours, he wasn’t suggesting that we tone down our swishyness, just that we not be assholes by keeping the campground awake all night, whether by drag show or by alligator wrestling. (Although that does give me a new idea for next time…)
http://homoclimbtastic.com/2010/07/26/supertopo-trip-report-nrg-2010/The next morning, we all swung by Roger’s Rocky Top Retreat, so that we could... more
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Tim Tebow, who in January shot highly-publicized anti-choice, anti-abortion ads for anti-gay evangelical group Focus on the Family, has signed a multi-year contract as the new spokesman for Jockey underwear , which sees a partner in Tebow's values. Said Jockey Chairman and CEO Debra S.
Said Jockey Chairman and CEO Debra S. Waller: “Tim is a highly gifted athlete with a positive attitude and an admirable character. We at Jockey see a very bright future with Tim, and believe that he is an excellent representative for the brand. Tim is genuine, smart and driven and those qualities align well with Jockey. We look forward to building a long and collaborative relationship with him in the coming years.”Tim Tebow, who in January shot highly-publicized anti-choice, anti-abortion ads for... more
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Anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera has a new "instructor" for his upcoming anti-gay training conference - Cliff Kincaid
From People for the American Way:
. . . Accuracy in Media's Cliff Kincaid, who shares a LaBarbera-level hatred for gays, has now been added to the list of instructors, which explains why he is now writing glowing columns about the conference warning that it is our only hope of save America from its "moral suicide" as gays seek to kill themselves and everyone else:
LaBarbera is one of those brave few taking a leadership role in the effort to preserve traditional American social and religious values. Fighting off the predictable smears of “hater” and “homophobe” from the gay-run Media Matters group and the Southern Poverty Law Center, he and his associates will be gathering near Chicago from August 5-7 to educate the next generation—and their parents—about the consequences if homosexuality is promoted in the schools and by the federal government. This is when AFTAH is launching a Truth Academy on how to fight the “gay agenda.” I am honored to be invited to be a part of this effort. I will be discussing gay influence on the media and the homosexual drive for the “right” to donate possibly infected and contaminated blood to the nation’s blood supply.
LaBarbera, head of the anti-gay group Americans for Truth, announced plans for his "Truth Academy" in June. He claimed that it is to instruct the next generation (between the ages of 14 to 25) lessons in "combatting the gay agenda" and supposed homosexual "misinformation." at a cost of $99 a head.
His list of instructors are dubious enough, but the selection of Kincaid adds more of a sinister air to the mix.
Kincaid openly supported Uganda's "Kill The Gays" bill even when it was facing a backlash:
In February he said the following:
"Uganda's people and government deserve support, not criticism, from the United States. They are up against the international homosexual lobby, the money of George Soros, and the Obama Administration. They are trying to create a Christian culture that is protective of families and children."
As far as it is known, Kincaid continues to support the bill.
One can only imagine what he will be telling young folks about the lgbt community.Anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera has a new "instructor" for his upcoming... more
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Last week Argentina became the first Latin American nation to legalize gay marriage, granting same-sex couples all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexuals.Last week Argentina became the first Latin American nation to legalize gay marriage,... more
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Largest LGBT Friendly Rock Climbing Convention to Date to be Held in West Virginia
History will be made on July 14 – 18, 2010 when more than 60 climbers from around the United States and Canada arrive at the New River Gorge in West Virginia for North America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) friendly bouldering and rock climbing convention. The event, organized by Homo Climbtastic (“HC”), is the third annual event for the organization and the largest to date. “It’s the biggest queer climbing event in history,” says Laurie Watkins of Atlanta, Georgia. “It’s going to be rad! I’m totally stoked!”
Others agree that history is being made as climbers from around North America come out to climb. “There’s never been anything like this before,” says Mike Abell, boulderer and founder of San Francisco LGBT climbing organization Flame & Flash. “This is history making because we are becoming more comfortable being ourselves in the sport and don’t feel the need to separate our ‘gay lives’ from our ‘climbing lives’ anymore. I know some people would distance themselves from me if they knew I was gay. I like to bring it out after I flash their project.”
Creating a climbing community for people who identify as LGBT and for those who support their equality was one of the founding purposes of Homo Climbtastic. In the three years since its founding, HC has grown to more than 500 members and has successfully helped create local LGBT climbing organizations in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto. Other groups have chosen to associate with HC, such as New York’s Crag & Crux Climbers and St. Louis’ ‘Mo Climbers.
It’s also about challenging climbers to be better at the sport. “Everyone’s gotten a lot better over the last few years,” says founder Alex Rowland. “And we’ve also gotten a lot of indoor climbers outside.” Consistent with this objective, HC has organized trips to Red Rocks, the Red River Gorge, the New River Gorge, Chattanooga, and Sand Rock. Affiliated groups have also organized numerous outdoor trips.
HC has been working hard to bring together a diverse crowd around one major thing: the love of climbing. Sponsors for the 2010 annual convention include the Access Fund, Prana, Black Diamond, Friction Climbing, Chaco, Aveda, Beta Clothing, Water Stone Outdoors, and Pandora Boxx. Special thanks to our sponsors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: email press@homoclimbtastic.com, call 901-466-6254, or visit http://www.homoclimbtastic.comLargest LGBT Friendly Rock Climbing Convention to Date to be Held in West Virginia... more
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