August, 2010 News (82 Articles with 54,398 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for August, 2010 Marchers from the GLBT contingent at the Millcreek 4th of July Parade. We had a record turnout for this, our fifth year of participating. Photo by Betheny of Erie Sisters.
This is the second run of Erie Gay News, which began publishing again in December of 2002. This is the current publication for the region. The co-editors are Deb Spilko and Michael Mahler , with Mike Lipiec handling graphic/ad layout.
Calendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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History
Equality Forum Announces GLBT History Month 2010 Icons
For the only community worldwide deprived of its history at home, in public schools and religious institutions, GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community, and celebrates our extraordinary contributions. Each day in October 2010, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. The resources for GLBT History Month 2010 Icons will be available at www.glbtHistoryMonth.com. The 124 Icons with resources for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are archived on the site.
Local Faces and Photos
FACE 1 Year Anniversary at Zone Dance Club
On Sunday, July 18, 2010, Michelle Michaels and other drag performers celebrated the 1 year anniversary of FACE, the drag show happening the 3rd Sunday of the month at the Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie PA. Many talented performers contributed to making the night a stunning success! Photos are by Michael Mahler for Erie Gay News, with editing by Deb Splko, Co-editor of Erie Gay News.
Local/Regional News
PFLAG Butler at Butler Area School Board Meeting on Monday
PFLAG Butler will be making an important presentation at the Butler Area School Board meeting on Monday, August 16, If you live in the area, you are encouraged to attend!
Block Party to Benefit SafeNet
SafeNet and Scully’s Pub will partner again for the 3rd year in a row with a Downtown block party. The block party will be held at Scully’s Pub at 5th and State Streets this Thursday, August 12th 2010, beginning at 5:00pm
Out in the Silence Just Received the Most Important Honor
OUT IN THE SILENCE, a documentary film about the quest for fairness & equality for LGBT people in small towns & rural communities, just received the most important honor imaginable, recognition from the Oil City Arts Council, an amazing organization and group of people working for change in the very community portrayed in the film.
PFLAG Butler News
Upcoming meetings, successful first picnic, Butler Area School District has PFLAG on the agencda for August 16 - your input and help needed! Transgender Panel, Sexual Minoroty Spirituality, Candidate info.
Potter County library faced protests over gay documentary
From the Patriot-News in Harrisburg: After several hours of people pointing their fingers in her face and telling her she was going to hell, Keturah Cappadonia cracked. In tears, the 28-year-old librarian in Coudersport, a rural town of 2,500 people, sent an e-mail to Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer, canceling the planned screening of their award-winning PBS documentary about the challenges of being openly gay in rural Pennsylvania. Wilson and Hamer are traveling the state with their film “Out In The Silence,” and Perry County is on the list of future venues.
Pa. Tea Party Apologizes for Documentary Controversy
From The Advocate: George Brown, president of the Potter County Tea Party, has issued a public apology for his protest of the acclaimed documentary Out in the Silence when it screened at a local library on its tour throughout Pennsylvania.
Tea Party Threatens Public Library and Attacks Christian Pastor Over Screening of PBS Documentary Film In Rural Pennsylvania Community
In a scene reminiscent of the recent racist smear campaign against public servant Shirley Sherrod, the Potter County Tea Party in rural northern Pennsylvania has launched an attack on a local public library simply for being the site of a screening of the award-winning PBS documentary film OUT IN THE SILENCE, and is attempting to vilify a conservative Christian pastor who appears in the film.
A THANK YOU for the Butler Picnic
On Sunday, July 8, 80 people gathered at Butler's Alameda Park to share in a picnic sponsored by Persad Center's "Community Safe Zone Project" (CSZP) and Butler County PFLAG. CSZP is a program of Persad Center which provides GLBTQI community building projects and events to non-urban areas outside of Pittsburgh. Directed by Ted Hoover of Persad, this new program and Butler County PFLAG sponsored a showing of "Out in the Silence" in May.
Mahoning Valley Pride Center Picnic August 28
Youngstown, Ohio Pride Center’s summer picnic is August 28, 2010 at Lake Milton in the Craig Beach area from noon till 6pm (?). We are asking picnicners to bring a covered dish or a dessert. Hotdogs and hamburgers and soft drinks will be provided by the Mahoning Valley Pride Center. Call for info Terry (330) 788-1142 or email questions [email protected]
Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group new website
Please note that the Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group has a new web site. At the end of 2010 it will be their primary site. The new site is http://eriesisters.ning.com/. You can also find them on Facebook.
LBT Women Events
Social group for lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women. Meets the 2nd Sunday of month at Presque Isle Gallery Coffeehouse. Contact: Laurie Finch. Phone: (814) 452-6645, cell 450-8804). Email: [email protected] For details on these events, visit http://womynoferie.wetpaint.com/
Summer Camp for Queer Youth and their Straight Allies
Dreams of Hope is hosting an overnight arts camp from August 17 - 20th for LGBTA youth ages 13-17. The camp will be held at the Emma Kaufmann Camp on Cheat Lake near Morganton, West Virginia. Cost is $500 per camper, which includes: Three meals a day plus snacks, all camp activities (ropes course, swimming, water skiing, arts and crafts, special Dreams of Hope workshops and more!!!), round-trip transportation from Pittsburgh to camp and memories that will last a lifetime. You can register here.
Need based scholarships available upon request. For more information or to register go to http://dreamsofhope.org/camp.aspx. Registration deadline Aug. 1, 2010.
Special Thanks to our individual donors, MUKTI Fund and Persad Center for your support!
GLBT table at Erie Blues and Jazz Festival August 7 & 8
Last year, we had an info table at the Erie Jazz and Blues Festival, held in Frontier Park (by W 8th and Bayfront Parkway), Erie PA. The festival is held the first full weekend in August and this year that is August 7 and 8. You can see more about the Blues and Jazz Festival at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/performances/bj_fest/index.html
4th of July Parade sets record
Over 20 people marched as a part of the GLBT community in the Millcreek 4th of July Parade, which was held on Saturday, July 3. Although this was the fifth year that there was a GLBT presence, previously, we had marched as part of the peace and justice contingent. The organizers for the parade were unfailingly gracious and supportive. Quite a few groups were represented, including Erie Gay News, LBT Women of Erie, PFLAG - Erie and Crawford Counties, Erie Gay Pride, and members, friends and supporters of the community.
You Belong (in your legislator’s office!): A Town Hall Forum and Training Session recap
On July 8th, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh visited Craze nightclub in Erie for a town hall and training session about working with elected officials on Pennsylvania LGBT rights issues.
Submissions sought for Ashtabula Coming Out Anthology
If you are interested in sharing your story, please send your submission to the address listed below. By submitting your story, you agree to have your story published and also that you allow us to use the information in the anthology as a tool. No monetary royalty will be given to those who have submitted stories. The AGLBTOA Anthology Committee reserves the right to edit for spelling and grammatical errors. We also reserve the right to withold stories that we do not feel are fit for the audience of the anthology from the book.
Western PA Advocacy Initiative Announces New Name
July 13, 2010—Pittsburgh, PA—The Western Pennsylvania Advocacy Initiative has announced that they have changed the name of the project to Equality Partners of Western Pennsylvania.
Spirituality and Religion
Christian seminary applauds federal decision striking down Proposition 8
BERKELEY, CA – Pacific School of Religion and its Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry applaud U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision that California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the United States Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. The decision, along with Judge Joseph L. Tauro’s July 8, 2010 ruling in Massachusetts that the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, forms the legal foundation for overturning all discriminatory laws against same-sex couples seeking marriage in states and municipalities throughout the country. The leadership of Pacific School of Religion and the executive director of the seminary’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS), and clergy from diverse faith traditions celebrated this ruling and reissued a call for marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples in California and across the country. Their comments and contact information appear below:
Homosexual Exorcism
I attended a church-related college which required every student to take a freshman course in introduction to Christianity. It was called something like Religion 101. The professor was an older man who was strict and dogmatic in his religious beliefs.
Political, Activism and Legal
LGBT Conference Call with Joe Sestak this Saturday at 9:30 AM
On Saturday, August 14 at 9:30 AM, there will be an LGBT Conference Call in offices for Joe Sestak, Democratic candidate for US Senate, across the state. The way this works is that people would come to the local office, and the office wil;l dial into the call and listen to Joe Sestak talk about LGBT issues. If someone has a question for the Congressman, and we know about it beforehand, they can ask him (because we have 20 offices across the state, each office only gets one question). Joe Sestak's Erie office is located at 3409 State Street between 34th and 35th Streets. Please RSVP to Chris Black at (814) 746-4766 or [email protected]
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responds to judge’s decision denying motion to stay Proposition 8 ruling
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 — Federal Judge Vaughn Walker, who recently ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, today denied a motion for a stay of the ruling from Prop. 8 proponents, meaning same-sex couples will again be able to marry in California on Aug. 18.
For the First Time, Poll Finds Majority Support for the Freedom to Marry Nationwide
New York, NY--Earlier today, CNN released a national poll in which they asked, "Do you think gays and lesbians should have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid?" 52% of respondents replied "Yes." 46% replied "No." And 2% had "No Opinion." Sampling Error: +/-4.5 Percentage Points
Servicemembers United Action Fund Launches New Web/TV Ad on DADT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies, announced today that it's new lobbying arm, the Servicemembers United Action Fund, has launched its first web ad on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The new ad is the first in a series that will be rolled out during August and September at www.MilitaryReadiness.org.
PFLAG Applauds New Joint Commission Recommendations for Patient Care
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PFLAG National praised the release of a new publication intended to improve the care that diverse populations receive, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients. The publication, issued by the Joint Commission, has significant power in guiding healthcare practices and policies since the guidelines that it issues are followed by about 80% of U.S. hospitals.
GLSEN Lauds Introduction of Safe Schools Improvement Act in Senate
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2010 – GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, praises today’s introduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, a federal anti-bullying bill that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, in the Senate by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and 10 cosponsors.
Historic Ruling Strikes Down Prop 8
Reactions from various organizations to the ruling by Judge Vaughn Walker striking down California's Prop 8 as being unconstitutional.
Three Alaska Same-Sex Couples Challenge Discriminatory Tax Law
ANCHORAGE, AK — Three Alaska same-sex couples have filed a lawsuit today challenging the state of Alaska's tax-assessment rules, which discriminate against same-sex couples by denying them equal access to a property tax exemption for senior citizens and disabled veterans. Those who qualify and who live with same-sex partners are only permitted to, at most, half of the exemption available to opposite-sex married couples because they are treated as roommates rather than families.
An Open Letter to the House Speaker on ENDA
We are writing to express how extremely troubled we are that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has not yet been scheduled for a vote by the full House of Representatives. We believe a floor vote must be scheduled for ENDA immediately.
Sign at NOM Rally Calls for Murder of Gay Couples
Earlier tonight, Bilerico.com broke the story that at today's anti-gay National Organization for Marriage rally in Indianapolis, a NOM supporter called for the murder of gay couples. The supporter's sign states that the "Solution to Marriage" is that gay people should "be put to death" and quotes Leviticus 20:13 ("Their blood shall be upon them"). In case his quotation was not clear enough, the sign includes an image of two nooses. The sign states the NOM supporter's name and address: Larry Adams, from Cross Bearer Ministry in Indianapolis.
New Jersey's Campaign for Marriage Equality Surges Forward
MONTCLAIR, N.J., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's procedural decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court, voting 3 to 3 not to take the marriage equality case directly and all but inviting our side to initiate a new case at trial, is, of course, profoundly disappointing. Today's decision represents a delay until the Court hears how the civil union law has devastated same-sex families and their children. And any time justice is delayed, justice is denied.
Montana Same-Sex Couples Sue State For Legal Protections For Their Families
HELENA, MT — Seven committed same-sex couples on July 22 filed a lawsuit against the state of Montana for failing to provide legal protections to same-sex couples and their families in violation of the Montana Constitution’s rights of privacy, dignity and the pursuit of life’s basic necessities and its guarantees of equal protection and due process. The goal of this lawsuit is ensure that same-sex couples are able to protect their families with the same kind of legal protections that opposite-sex couples are offered through marriage.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Remarks at Event Celebrating LGBT Month
“I know that when you’re in the midst of a great movement of change it seems like it is glacial, but any fair assessment, from my perspective, having lived longer than at least more than 75 percent of you that I see in this room, is that it is extraordinary what has happened in such a short period of time.”
– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at her official “LGBT Month” event, June 22.
Read the full speech here
Task Force: Pay equity and workplace fairness are critical to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
WASHINGTON, July 20 — The White House Middle Class Task Force and Council on Women and Girls today unveiled recommendations from the Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force aimed at ending pay inequity and discrimination. The recommendations are related to the 2009 passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps women who face wage discrimination recover their lost wages. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey joined leaders of women’s and labor groups for the release of the recommendations, which include ways to better inform employees about their rights and improve coordination among enforcement agencies. Advocates and officials also urged the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will help ensure people who do equal work receive equal pay.
Servicemembers United Executive Director Testifies as Lead Witness in DADT Trial
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, announced that its founder and Executive Director, Alexander Nicholson, will testify today as the lead witness in the lawsuit brought by the Log Cabin Republicans to challenge the constitutionality of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. The case, which is being tried in federal court in Riverside, California, seeks to have the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law declared unconstitutional and all discharges under the law enjoined.
Mississippi School Agrees To Revise Policy And Pay Damages To Lesbian Teenager Denied Chance To Attend Prom
ABERDEEN, MS – Itawamba County School District officials agreed to have a judgment entered against them in the case of a recent high school graduate who sued her school for canceling the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. The agreement ends a precedent-setting lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of 18-year-old Constance McMillen, who suffered humiliation and harassment after parents, students and school officials executed a cruel plan to put on a “decoy” prom for her while the rest of her classmates were at a private prom 30 miles away.
Showdown at the State House in Trenton Over Marriage for Gay Couples
TRENTON, N.J., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In a state where the Governor and several conservative activists have endorsed the civil union law as a way to avoid marriage equality - saying the civil union law already provides equality to New Jersey's same-sex couples - Garden State Equality has just released a damning two-and-half-minute video in which state Senators who voted against marriage equality confess that the civil union law has failed.
Jury Selection for Lawrence King Murder Trial
NEW YORK, July 14, 2010 – As jury selection for the murder trial of Lawrence “Larry” King’s attacker, Brandon McInerney, is began on July 14 in Ventura County, Calif., GLSEN is deeply saddened by the loss of two young lives to homophobia.
LGBT, Immigration, Civil Rights and Faith Groups Praise Congress for United Effort to End Discrimination Against Lesbian & Gay Binational Families
WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A coalition of organizations and leaders from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), immigrants' rights, civil rights and faith communities issued the following statement today as members of Congress gathered on Capitol Hill to call for passage of immigration reform legislation that ends discrimination against LGBT binational families:
Members of Congress Urge Colleagues to Pass LGBT-Inclusive Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A coalition of Congressional leaders joined Immigration Equality and advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) immigrant families on Capitol Hill today to press for passage of an immigration reform measure which would end discrimination against the LGBT community. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus all expressed support for a legislative package which includes the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Reuniting Families Act (RFA). The UAFA and RFA include provisions to allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners for residency in the United States.
Argentina Makes Gay Marriage History
From Gay Rights blog at Change.org, by Michael Jones: Put your Evita soundtrack on this morning, and head on down to the track "A New Argentina." There's a line in that song, "A new Argentina, the chains of the masses untied!" How apt, given that in the middle of the night, Argentina's Senate cast a historic vote breaking the chains of inequality that the country's gays and lesbians have faced when it comes to civil rights under the law. In a 33-27 vote, Argentina now becomes the first Latin American country to fully recognize marriage equality.
Obama Administration Releases AIDS Strategy With Important Anti-Discrimination Policies
WASHINGTON – In a critical acknowledgment of the discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, the Obama administration today, in its newly released strategy, emphasized the government’s responsibility to enforce nondiscrimination laws and made clear that education about the transmission of HIV is crucial to fighting the stigma that many living with HIV face. The administration’s strategy is aimed at reducing HIV infections, redirecting resources to alleviate health disparities of those infected with HIV and increasing the accessibility and quality of health care.
New York City coalition responds to anti-LGBT violence in Puerto Rico
NEW YORK, July 13 — A coalition of New York City elected officials and organizations today released a report that documents the hate-motivated violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Puerto Rico. This report comes out just a week after the most recent transgender victim was found shot to death in Loíza, Puerto Rico. In the past eight months, seven LGBT individuals have been killed on the island.
Health
Grief, Shock and Suicide
Death is a part of life, yet somehow we all do our best to avoid thinking about it. Even though none of us gets out of this life alive, it sure is tempting to think that, somehow, maybe we won’t have to. Illogical? Sure. But it’s a way to cope.
How a Hook-Up Can Open Your Heart
What happens when you meet someone through a sexual experience and then discover that there might be more...much more. How do you turn sex into love? Or can you? As a psychotherapist with a practice largely of Gay/Bi/Trans men, I encourage my clients to see a good relationship as a marriage (pun intended) of mind, heart and dick. If any one of these is left out, good luck! When you let your dick lead you into sex with someone, tell the truth about it: the dicks were in charge! And we've all been there. But what happens when what started off as just a sex hook-up becomes more: when your heart and mind start to get involved? Wow! What a great surprise, isn't it?
Thirty-Nine Candles
Yesterday was my thirty-ninth birthday. I chose to wake with the roosters and run a five kilometer race to begin my fete of this event. I ruminated on my choice of a celebratory method before, during, and after this strenuous competition. I discovered many reasons why I dragged my partner and our little canine companion along with me to this athletic spectacle.
Your Own Worst Enemy
Are you a jealous person? What makes you jealous? Jealousy is a form of self-sabotage. It rarely helps you get what you want. Jealousy usually is a sign that something is “off” in you. Not necessarily in others; but in you. Sure, you may have reasons to be concerned about a friend, job or lover. But being concerned isn’t the same as being jealous. Being concerned is a reality-based strategy. Concerned people communicate calmly and rationally about their concerns and work with others for mutual solutions. Jealous people are rarely calm or rational. Jealousy is usually irrational.
Americans Living With HIV/AIDS: Affordable Probiotics to Help
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study looking at the role probiotics may play in increasing CD4 cell count in people with HIV infection is underway at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Today, researchers began a 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to demonstrate safety and efficacy of taking capsules with 2 billion cells of a strain of Bacillus coagulans probiotics known as GanedenBC30 to increase critical CD4 cell count, a measure of immune status used to gauge progression of HIV infection.
Coping with Change and Major Life Upsets
In this crazy economic time, so many people have lost their jobs, their homes, their stock portfolios, their retirement monies. How can we cope with change and major upsets in our lives? What do we do when we’re scared shitless about the present and/or the future? Even if the changes are “good” (e.g., you’ve found a new job, you’re moving in with your partner, or you’re going back to college to finish your degree) it’s still scary and daunting. What to do?
Five Reasons I Run
I have been running for twenty years. I haven’t been running from the law. I haven’t been running from the truth. I haven’t been running for state mining inspector. I have simply been running and seemingly gaining some “pleasure” from this peripatetic lifestyle. Through my introspective ways I was able to glean the reasoning behind my enthusiasm for running thirty miles per week for the last one thousand weeks. I have neatly packaged the five things I like about running.
Pain, Suffering and Spirituality
When you read about the rich and famous “going spiritual”, e.g., going to meditation retreats, studying Buddhism in India, reading (and writing) Spiritual/New Age/Personal Growth books, what the hell is going on? Is this a true search for dealing with pain and suffering or is it mere New Age quackery? Is it just another way to make a buck, or is there really something valuable there?
Sticks and Stones
Since 1894, the taunt “Sticks and stones may ‘break’ my bones but words will never hurt me,” has resounded across playgrounds and school hallways. Time has taught us bones will heal but emotional wounds not so easily.
My Girlfriend loves me- and another girl!
Nyya, do you work with polyamorists? My girlfriend warned me she was poly when we met three years ago, and I said I was fine with it- I’m quite open minded- but now that she’s in love with a co-worker and wants us both, I’m finding it harder to accept than I thought I would.” B.D.
Study: Kids of lesbian parents more well-adjusted
From ACLU Blog of Rights: Pediatrics, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has published online a groundbreaking study from a research project that has measured the psychological health from conception to adolescence of children raised in a cohort of lesbian families. It is the largest and longest running longitudinal study of the children of lesbian parents, and will continue until the children reach adulthood. In U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Psychological Adjustment of 17-year-old Adolescents, lead author Nanette Gartrell and coauthor Henny Bos report that the children in the study were rated significantly higher (using a standardized survey instrument) than an age-matched national sample on the following measures: social, school/academic and total competence. In addition, they were rated significantly lower in social problems, rule-breaking, and aggressive and externalizing problem behavior. Read the study as a PDF.
10,000 Steps
The car won’t start. The bicycle has a flat tire. Your neighbor left for work 20 minutes ago. The bus line is 14blocks away. The number for the cab company has been busy forever. Your pulse quickens, sweat beads on your forehead, you furrow your brow, and you realize you may have to….WALK! Loosen your tie and put on those sneakers and “Walk Like a Man”. It’s going to be different today!
Full Page Variety Magazine Advertisement Calls on ABC and The View to Take Responsibility for Spreading Inaccurate Information about HIV/AIDS
New York, NY, July 12, 2010-- In a full page ad running in today’s Variety Magazine, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) the Black AIDS Institute and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) call on the ABC Television Network and its popular morning program The View, to correct misinformation put forth on the June 22 edition of the show.
Entertainment and Travel
Former Erie Resident Finalist in Pandora Boxx T-Shirt Design Contest
A former Erieite is a finalist in the T-shirt design contest contest for Pandora Boxx of RuPau;s Drag Race and needs your vote! He currently in second place and need smore votes! You have until August 26 to vote. You need to become a fan of Pandora Boxx first at http://www.facebook.com/thepandoraboxx, then follow this link for Jimmy's design and then click the "like" button under his design. Thanks!!!
Hillcrest: One Weekend, Two Stories!
“Homo is where the heart is,” and for San Diego’s gay and lesbian community that means—Hillcrest! Spanning less than a mile’s walking distance, this easy going neighborhood will keep you occupied until your wallet’s empty, you can’t walk anymore (this could be for an assortment of reasons).
MTV Becomes First Network To Receive an "Excellent" Rating in Fourth Annual GLAAD Network Responsibility Index
Los Angeles, CA, July 23, 2010 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today released its fourth annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on television. Primetime programming on the five broadcast networks was evaluated as well as original primetime programming on 10 of the highest-rated cable networks.
Country singer Chely Wright comes out
Noted country singer Chely Wright recently came out as a lesbian, a first for a performer in that genre. Check out the interview below. Also, Chely Wright sings "Like Me" from her new album,. "It’s clear in this song that it’s about me in a relationship with a woman," she told Ellen DeGeneres. She calls it "the musical centerpiece of all these songs we’ve been working on."
Worldwide Pop Sensation Kylie Minogue to Host 100th Episode of Logo's 'NewNowNext PopLab'
NEW YORK, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Logo, the entertainment network for gays, lesbians, their families and friends announced today that pop icon Kylie Minogue will host the 100th episode of NewNowNext PopLab, the destination for up-and-coming party music in all its forms, on Tuesday, August 3 at 7/6C.
GLSEN to Honor ABC’s ‘Modern Family’ at Respect Awards
NEW YORK, July 14, 2010 – GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, will honor the hit ABC show “Modern Family” at the Respect Awards – Los Angeles, Presented by Centropolis Entertainment, on Oct. 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Also being honored are Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and the GLSEN Educator of the Year, presented by Sodexo.
Logo Acquires Off-Cable Syndication Rights to Groundbreaking Golden Globe Award-Winning Drama Series 'Nip/Tuck'
NEW YORK, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Logo announced today that it has acquired the off-cable syndication rights to the groundbreaking dramatic series "Nip/Tuck" in a four-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. This deal marks the premiere for the series in syndication. The agreement includes all 100 episodes spanning the complete seven seasons of the Golden Globe® Award-winning and multiple Emmy® Award-nominated drama.
525,600 Reasons to See Rent at the Erie Playhouse
It’s the "Season of Love" at the Erie Playhouse as they present the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Rent August 5-28. The musical follows a group of young artists who live in New York's East Village during the 1990s. http://www.siteforrent.com/home.php Rent is a passionate story of friendship and love that challenges many tough subjects like AIDS, poverty, homophobia and drug addiction.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Real Boys Don't Die
In the early sixties I spent a lot of time, like most teens, trying to figure out who I was. My best resource was the library. The section where I found the most relevant information was Criminology.
Contests
Win FAME: Taylor Lautner Comic Book
Win FAME: Taylor Lautner. Erie Gay News is giving away 20 copies of this comic book from Bluewater Productions. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from August 20 through September 10.
Win Hard at Work by Brad Saunders
Win Hard at Work by Brad Saunders. Erie Gay News is giving away 5 copies of this collection of erotic tales. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from August 13 through September 3.
Win Erika Jayne Pretty Mess Prize Pack
Win an Erika Jayne Pretty Mess Prize Pack.. Erie Gay News is giving away 5 prize packs consisting of an Erika Jayne T-shirt (new print!), a signed mini-poster and a Pretty Mess Club Mixes CD. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from August 6 through August 27.
Win Born to Be Blue by Solitaire Miles
Win the new CD Born to be Blue by jazz vocalist and artist Solitaire Miles. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from August 5 through August 26.
Win Jazz Idiom: Blueprints, Stills and Frames
Win Jazz Idiom: Blueprints, Stills and Frames. Erie Gay News is giving away 5 copies. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from August 3 through August 24.
Win Surprise Surprise DVD
Win Surprise Surprise DVD, from Ariztical Entertainment.. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from July 30 through August 20.
Win Change of Life DVD
Win Change of Life DVD, from Ariztical Entertainment.. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from July 23 through August 13.
Win a pair of tickets to Rent at The Erie Playhouse
Win a pair of tickets to Rent at The Erie Playhouse. We are giving away 4 pairs of tickets to the Erie Playhouse premiere of this rock musical. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from July 20 through August 3. Winners can pick up their tickets at the Erie Playhouse box office at 13 W 10th St.
Miscellaneous
Real Estate Ownership and the Gay Marriage Issue
From GayRealEstate.com: Buying a home as a gay couple can be a really rewarding experience and a savvy investment strategy. But those buying through a LGBT partnership should be aware of the unique legal implications of that kind of transaction. Until the laws are changed to ensure equal rights the concept of owning a house as a LGBT couple is different from home ownership as a legally married heterosexual couple.
Study on Gay and Lesbian Consumers on Economy and Discretionary Spending
New York, August 2, 2010 — Gay and lesbian consumers are more optimistic than many Americans about the overall direction of the country, its future economic growth, the job market and their own personal financial condition, according to survey results published in The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in the LGBT Community, 6th Edition by market research publisher Packaged Facts. Armed with this confidence and $743 billion in estimated 2010 buying power, the U.S. population of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults is expected to amp up discretionary spending on products and services in the wake of the recession and emerging recovery.
Campus Pride Climate Index ranks gay-friendliness of American colleges and universities just in time for 'Back to School'
(Charlotte, NC) – As thousands of students return to their college or university campus and as many step onto campus as a new student for the first time this fall semester, they now have one complete and comprehensive national resource ranking for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusion and friendliness.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates names finalists for 2010 Workplace Awards
On Thursday, October 7th, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates will host the 11th annual Out & Equal Workplace Awards Dinner at the Los Angeles Convention Center as part of this year’s Out & Equal Workplace Summit. The “Outie” Awards recognize individuals and organizations for exceptional achievements on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Birthdays Listing
For quite a few years, Erie Gay News has listed birthdays for our friends and supporters on the left sidebar at the Erie Gay News web site. We believe that it is important to recognize people on their special day as a way of emphasizing that we are a friendly and caring community. We having expanded this by also posting birthdays for the current day to both our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/ErieGayNews) as well as the Erie Gay News group on Facebook. Please feel free to add your birthday here!
Gay and Lesbian Adults Are More Likely and More Frequent Blog Readers
New York, N.Y. and Washington, D.C. - July 13, 2010 - As media trends accelerate towards citizen-journalism and blogger-created news content, a new national survey again validates that gay and lesbian adults online today are among the nation's most loyal and heaviest blog readers and social network users.
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