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$125,000 donation to ban gay marriage in California brings boycott for hotel owner
When Doug Manchester, owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in San Diego, donated $125,000 to support Proposition 8, an amendment to ban same-sex marriage on the November ballot, he probably didn't think it would impact the bottom line of his business.
A gay rights group called Californians Against Hate plans to launch a boycott of Manchester's hotels. Organizers of the campaign, which is expected to be announced at a news conference today, say they believe it is the first time that gay rights supporters have boycotted a business whose owner seeks to ban same-sex marriage.
Leaders will urge the public to avoid the downtown hotel because they say that support for Proposition 8 amounts to unfair treatment of gays and lesbians.
In an interview earlier this year, Manchester said that he decided to donate to Proposition 8 because he had heard that schools that teach that marriage is between a man and a woman could be sued for discriminating against gays.
In addition, he said, he was motivated by his strong Catholic faith to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. When Doug Manchester, owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in San Diego, donated $125,000 to support Proposition 8, an amendment ... more -
'Pregnant man' Thomas Beatie gives birth to baby girl
Thomas Beatie, 34, told People magazine that he had given birth at a hospital in Bend, Oregon on Sunday. “The only thing different about me is that I can’t breastfeed my baby. But a lot of mothers don’t,” he said, adding that he planned to publish a book about the experience this autumn.
The bearded Mr Beatie was born a girl and named Tracy Lagondino, but had gender-reassignment surgery and is now legally male and married to Nancy. The couple, together for ten years, run a custom screenprinting business in Bend.
He decided to get pregnant because his wife had had a hysterectomy. He was able to conceive because he kept his female organs when he switched genders. Thomas Beatie, 34, told People magazine that he had given birth at a hospital in Bend, Oregon on Sunday. “The only thing different abo... more -
Anti Gay Marriage arguements do not hold up to the light of reason!
"We cannot accept the view that Amendment 2's prohibition on specific legal protections does no more than deprive homosexuals of special rights. To the contrary, the amendment imposes a special disability on those persons alone. Homosexuals are forbidden the safeguards that others enjoy or may seek without constraint"
-Justice Anthony Kennedy,
writing for the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court in the decision overturning Colorado's Amendment 2 referendum "We cannot accept the view that Amendment 2's prohibition on specific legal protections does no more than deprive homosexuals of speci... more -
NY Includes Transgender Kids in New Juvie Policy
A year and a half after paying a $25,000 settlement to a male-to-female transgirl, the agency that runs the New York's juvenile-detention centers has quietly adopted a host of new rules to accommodate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in its custody.
The new rules, adopted in March by the Office of Children and Family Services, now allow transgender youth to request special housing, wear their hair however they want, be called by their chosen name rather than their legal name, and shower privately. The new guidelines even allow biological males to wear girls' panties and bras if they prefer. The agency has also included transgender kids in its anti-discrimination policy—a first for any New York state agency, according to OCFS spokesman Edward Borges. A year and a half after paying a $25,000 settlement to a male-to-female transgirl, the agency that runs the New York's juvenile-detent... more -
Same-sex marriage ruling adds a volatile new issue to the presidential race - Los ...
The California Supreme Court's decision allowing same-sex marriage probably throws the politically volatile issue into November, when a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage could spill into the presidential campaign and contests for Congress and the state Legislature. The California Supreme Court's decision allowing same-sex marriage probably throws the politically volatile issue into November, when ... more
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In the name of faith and love: "For the Bible Tells Me So"
"For the Bible Tells Me So" is the acclaimed documentary reconciling gay lives and a literal understanding of Biblical scripture. It offers healing and hope to people who feel caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.
Photographs, the documentary trailer, the "Be A Voice Against Violence" video and "The 2008 National Day of Silence" video are included. "For the Bible Tells Me So" is the acclaimed documentary reconciling gay lives and a literal understanding of Biblical scripture. It ... more -
Scott Walker: The Outsider Sensibility and Creative Visions of Identity
Scott Walker is said to be the world's premier experimental musician, with perhaps no other musician having had a greater influence upon rock music. He was part of a wildly popular English band during the 1960s.
However, he withdrew from public view as his interests turned to more avant-garde music, which he helped revolutionize to major critical success, but only minor public attention. The reclusive Walker has now re-surfaced with a widely acclaimed album (The Drift), his first recoded album in years. In addition, a highly praised documentary about the influential artistic vision of Walker’s experimental musical works has just been produced.
Photographs, two videos from the documentary and a music video of a song from his new album are included. Scott Walker is said to be the world's premier experimental musician, with perhaps no other musician having had a greater influence up... more -
Postcards From Warren: The Cinematic Legacy of Warren Sonbert
By the time Warren Sonbert was only eighteen years old, he already had become an acclaimed experimental filmmaker in the heady 1960s New York City avant-garde art world and in the city's artistically booming East Village. His later films became more cynically paradoxical, with films solely comprised of harsh successions of cinematic shots delivered to audiences in total silence. He courageously challenged us to confront the inevitable sense of futility in our lives.
This thoughtful article includes photographs, a music video and "Postcards From Warren," a cutting-edge, experimental animated video tribute to Walter Sonbert. By the time Warren Sonbert was only eighteen years old, he already had become an acclaimed experimental filmmaker in the heady 1960s N... more -
Gay Rights=Civil Rights
History repeats itself. Repeats itself. Repeats itself, if we don't take the time to look at it objectively and in correlation to today's issues. History repeats itself. Repeats itself. Repeats itself, if we don't take the time to look at it objectively and in correlation to toda... more
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Gays should have rights!
Because it's hippocritical if they don't have those rights.
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Voter Profile: Bruce Mayhall and Tom Rastrelli
Meet voters Bruce Mayhall and Tom Rastrelli, two members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles.
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Be a Voice Against Violence
There have been many responses to the classroom killing of Larry King in Oxnard (CA), including the now well-known statement made by Ellen DeGeneres on her television program. More recently a Public Service Announcement against violence has been created, a video also produced in response to the Larry King murder.
An image and the very moving PSA video are included. There have been many responses to the classroom killing of Larry King in Oxnard (CA), including the now well-known statement made by E... more -
Alone: All By Myself
"Alone: All By Myself." This is an emotionally touching photographic essay about solitude and loneliness in the modern world. It contains poignant, moving photographs, an engaging video (with background music: Nick Drake's "Blue To You") and a beautiful, heart-rending photo-gallery. "Alone: All By Myself." This is an emotionally touching photographic essay about solitude and loneliness in the modern world. It con... more
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I Feel Sorry for my Kids
we need to drop it for another 100 years until we fix the other stuff because people will do what they want anyway and we really mess a lot of more impotent things up we need to drop it for another 100 years until we fix the other stuff because people will do what they want anyway and we really mess ... more
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Open Your Eyes... To LGBT Issues
Just a quick video (more like AD) I threw together to... protest (?) for gay rights. Sorry it's not the greatest, but its the best I can do with this computer. Just a quick video (more like AD) I threw together to... protest (?) for gay rights. Sorry it's not the greatest, but its the best I c... more
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Gay Moms and Dads can now fully adopt in Israel
Israel will extend gay couples full adoption rights, thanks to a ruling by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Sunday.
Previously, gay couples could adopt only if the child was one of the partnersâ biological offspring.
"ÂÂI welcome the decision," said Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog. "There is no reason why same-sex couples who meet the criteria for adoption should not be able to join the process of adoption and of parenthood. We must adapt to the spirit of the times and the changes that are afoot."
Israel will extend gay couples full adoption rights, thanks to a ruling by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Sunday. ... more -
My story.
On Feb. 1st my cousin went to the skating rink(she is gay). She meet this really nice girl that she liked and wanted to skate with her so she did but when she did the manager and sercrity guy keep there eyes on her and her friend no matter where she went. So it came to this game called snowball were the guys ask the girls to skate my cousin didn't want to skate with a guy she wanted to skate with the girl she liked and when she did she got in trouble.When she got called into the office they told her she couldn't do that and that isn't right and bla bla bla bla,from day one the have had there eyes on her because she is "trouble",but when the guys are rolling on the floor punching each other that is ok.whatever so now we don't go there. We have been studin gay rights and stuff it is stupid. Some people say they think they shouldn't do it in front of children but it is just as bad as a man and woman makingout.whatever people are crazy! On Feb. 1st my cousin went to the skating rink(she is gay). She meet this really nice girl that she liked and wanted to skate with her... more
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Gay Rights or Right to be Gay?
As a human being who has gay as one the many defining attributes that when compied describe me, don't need anyone to bestow upon me gay rights, but rather I want a government that secures through legislative doctrine my human rights, civil rights and participation in civilized culturally society. Religious dogma will always be, however whenever policy or governing process for all humans is affected it should be non-religionous in practice. As a human being who has gay as one the many defining attributes that when compied describe me, don't need anyone to bestow upon me ga... more
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Wedge Issue in 2008
Gay men and lesbians who survived the 2004 presidential election against republicans who successfully used same-sex marriage as a wedge issue in 11 states are relieved not having to fight this battle again. If polls are correct, this will be a democratic year and the gay community seems satisfied with either Clinton or Obama as president. In stark contrast to the republican race, this year will be a watershed year for the Democratic Party with potentially the first woman or African American party nominee/president, and the first gay-sponsored debate back in August, among others. Gays are an important voting bloc in states like New York, comprising between 5-13% of democratic voters. As the race tightens, Clinton and Obama are aggressively courting gay voters.
It is easy to forget past struggles when tides are turning in the gay community's favor such as more and more states are granting civil unions, in one state particular, Massachusetts, permits same-sex marriage, and recent passage of federal anti-discrimination laws to include sexual-orientation. While polls showing greater public tolerance and gay issues becoming non-issues, another group is increasingly being marginalized. This year's wedge issue will be immigration, and intrusive anti-immigration laws at the state and local level have torn families apart, and driven a myriad of Hispanics from their communities. Gays (and other minorities) must wage in the debate and cannot be complacent because of recent successes. At minimum, we are bound by one belief - the fundamental principle of human rights and dignity applies to all human beings regardless of citizenship status.
As pastor Martin Niemoller famously said during the Holocaust, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me." The time to speak up is now. Gay men and lesbians who survived the 2004 presidential election against republicans who successfully used same-sex marriage as a wedg... more -
A Very Sad Story: bobbycrush
"A Very Sad Story: bobbycrush." In this short film, Bobby Stone is 13 and in love. The problem is that he's in love with his best friend Dylan, and Dylan doesn't feel the same way. Filmmaker Cam Archer captures the heartbreaking melancholy of unrequited teenage desire in this dreamlike reverie.
Photographs and the video are included. "A Very Sad Story: bobbycrush." In this short film, Bobby Stone is 13 and in love. The problem is that he's in love with his best fr... more
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Gay Issues
