October, 2011 News (151 Articles with 206,372 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for October, 2011 The Dr. Who contingent, getting ready to step off at the Erie Pride Parade & Rally August 27. Photo by Deb Spilko
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
LGBT History Month - Day 31 - Pedro Zamora
LGBT History Month: Pedro Zamora was an AIDS activist who appeared on MTV’s reality series “The Real World.” As the first openly gay and openly HIV-positive person on a television series, he brought national attention to HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues.
LGBT History Month - Day 30 - Virginia Woolf
LGBT History Month: Virginia Woolf was an accomplished 20th century English novelist and one of the founders of the modernist movement. She published nearly 500 essays and nine novels.
LGBT History Month - Day 29 - Lilli Vincenz
LGBT History Month: Lilli Vincenz is a pioneering gay rights activist. In 1965, she was the only lesbian to participate in the first White House picket. From 1965 to 1969, Vincenz demonstrated each Fourth of July in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. These protests, called Annual Reminders, launched the gay and lesbian civil rights movement.
LGBT History Month - Day 28 - Wanda Sykes
LGBT History Month: Wanda Sykes is an Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor praised for being one of the most entertaining women of her generation. She was the first African-American and first openly gay master of ceremonies for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
LGBT History Month - Day 27 - Amanda Simpson
LGBT History Month: Amanda Simpson is the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology in the U.S. Department of Defense. She is the first openly transgender female presidential appointee.
LGBT History Month - Day 26 - Dan Savage
LGBT History Month: Dan Savage is an award-winning author, journalist, newspaper editor and political commentator. He launched the “It Gets Better” video project to combat bullying and prevent LGBT teen suicides.
National Gay History Project - Week 4 - Abraham Lincoln: A life in the closet?
Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) may likely be the most studied and researched of the United States presidents. The first reference to him possibly being “homosexual” came from notable Lincoln expert Carl Sandburg in his 1926 biography, “Abraham Lincoln: The War Years.” In describing the early relationship between Lincoln and his close friend, Joshua Fry Speed, Sandburg wrote “a streak of lavender, and spots soft as May violets.” This line got historians talking about an issue from which many had previously shied away. Still, the biography was written in the early 20th century, a time when such topics were only discussed in whispers. But by including the line, Sandburg felt the relationship deserved acknowledgement. It wasn’t until 2005 when the first book was published on Lincoln’s relationships with men, C.A. Tripp’s “The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln.”
National Gay History Project - Week 4 - Frederick Gotthold Enslin: An obscure and revolutionary life
Entering the port of Philadelphia on Sept. 30, 1774, a ship called Union, commanded by Andrew Bryson, completed its long voyage that began in Rotterdam, Netherlands, some months before. The ship held 132 souls on board, but one man in particular was bound for new adventures. According to ship records, this man arrived in the colonies alone and in relative good health for a man in his late 20s to early 30s. On the ship’s roster, the name would appear as “Gotthold Fried. Enslin,” but he would be known as Frederick Gotthold Enslin in future, significantly fractured accounts of his whereabouts. Upon arriving in Philadelphia, all hands on deck were brought ashore and had to pledge the “Pennsylvania Foreign Oaths of Allegiance.” This pledge was an oath given to the British Sovereign by the recently landed colonists in the new world. According to his military records with Valley Forge, Enslin (b. 1740) was living in New Jersey when he when he enlisted into the Continental Army in March 1777.
National Gay History Project - Week 4 - Walt Whitman: Poet, chronicler of war
Walt Whitman (1819-92) was the father of both American poetry and modern poetry in general. His monumental collection of poems, “Leaves of Grass,” established free verse as the international norm for poetry in English — and celebrated gay sexuality with surprising openness for its time in its remarkable series of “Calamus Poems,” named for a phallic root with an aphrodisiac reputation.
National Gay History Project - Week 4 - Benjamin Franklin: Writer, inventor, statesman and friend to gays
There is no more fascinating character among the Founding Fathers than Benjamin Franklin. An intellectual powerhouse credited with an extraordinary number of inventions and writings, he also was one of the three most pivotal players in the solidifying of the new colonial government, along with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Historian Walter Isaacson, author of the definitive biography of Franklin, described him as “the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become.” It was Franklin who edited the Declaration of Independence as Jefferson wrote it, making significant changes, which altered the course of history. (For example, Jefferson had originally written “we hold these truths to be Sacred,” but Franklin altered that to read “self-evident” because, he argued with Jefferson, the new democracy could not be predicated on the old divine right of kings, like the monarchy they had just won freedom from. Thus “self-evident” — coming from the people, not “Sacred,” coming via a kingly conduit to God.)
LGBT History Month - Day 25 - Ryan Murphy
LGBT History Month: Ryan Murphy is an award-winning film and television director, writer and producer. He is best known for creating the television series “Glee.”
LGBT History Month - Day 24 - Constance McMillen
LGBT History Month: Constance McMillen became a poster child for LGBT rights after asking permission to bring her girlfriend to the prom. When her school responded by cancelling the prom, McMillen took legal action.
LGBT History Month - Day 23 - Amelie Mauresmo
LGBT History Month: Amélie Mauresmo was the World No. 1 tennis player. She won 25 career titles including two Grand Slams. In 2004, she received an Olympic Silver medal in tennis singles.
LGBT History Month - Day 22 - Ricky Martin
LGBT History Month: Ricky Martin is a Grammy Award-winning pop singer. A professional entertainer since childhood, Martin has sold more than 60 million albums.
LGBT History Month - Day 21 - Dave Kopay
LGBT History Month: Dave Kopay made headlines in 1975 when he became the first NFL payer and one of the first professional athletes to come out. His autobiography, now in its fifth printing, was a New York Times best seller
LGBT History Month - Day 20 - Victoria Kolakowski
LGBT History Month: Victoria Kolakowski is the first openly transgender person to be elected a trial judge in the United States.
LGBT History Month - Day 19 - Michael Kirby
LGBT History Month: Michael Kirby is a former justice of the High Court of Australia. He is the world’s first openly gay justice of a national supreme court. When he retired, he was Australia’s longest-serving judge.
National Gay History Project - Week 3 - George Washington: Gay-friendly Father of our country
Tea Party leaders have taken a revisionist view of early American history, insisting that the Founding Fathers were not revolutionaries and radicals, but arch-conservatives. Among the Republican presidential contenders for 2012, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann both contend the men who built America (with slaves who were, according to Bachmann, deeply grateful to be slaves) were red-staters before there were even states.
National Gay History Project - Week 3 - Horatio Alger Jr.: From scandal to seminal boys' storyteller
While writer Horatio Alger Jr.’s work has come to symbolize the “rags to riches” possibilities of the post-Civil War 19th-century American dream, his stories were also an outlet for his own desires and frustrations — fueled by his probable life in the closet.
National Gay History Project - Week 3 - (Mary) Edmonia
(Mary) Edmonia “Wildfire” Lewis (1843-1911) stands out for her courage and willingness to live a life defined by her own sense of agency and independence. Despite her mixed racial/ethnic heritage, she is considered one of a few African-American artists to develop a fan base that crossed racial, ethnic and national boundaries — and the first to develop a reputation as an acclaimed sculptor, which would later give her access to circles that generally excluded people of color and women. While many have speculated about her sexuality — given her close associations with women and her androgynous style of dress — Lewis was a transformational figure who used her art form to capture the historical legacies of women, African Americans and other figures central to black culture and the American Civil War.
National Gay History Project - Week 3 - Col. George Middleton: Black Revolutionary War hero
During the time of the American Revolution, George Middleton (1735-1815) was recognized as a great fighter for liberty and independence, and a respected leader among the community of blacks living in Boston, Mass. Local politicians, neighbors and other contemporaries viewed him as a central figure in promoting and garnering freedoms while advancing America’s cause. Throughout his life, Middleton possessed an unconventional style of leadership, a commanding voice and an encompassing presence that motivated the allegiance of those connected to him.
LGBT History Month - Day 18 - David Kato
LGBT History Month: David Kato was the founder of Uganda’s LGBT civil rights movement. He was an outspoken advocate for equality in a country with some of the harshest anti-gay laws. His murder brought global attention to the plight of LGBT people in Uganda and Africa.
LGBT History Month - Day 17 - Frida Kahlo
LGBT History Month: Frida Kahlo is a renowned Mexican painter, noted for her vibrant colors as well as nationalist and feminist themes. Her paintings have commanded higher prices than any other female artist.
LGBT History Month - Day 16 - Langston Hughes
LGBT History Month: A celebrated poet and novelist, Langston Hughes is one of the most significant voices to emerge from the Harlem Renaissance. A major contributor to American literature, his legacy includes 25 published works.
LGBT History Month - Day 15 - Daniel Hernandez
LGBT History Month: University of Arizona student and congressional intern Daniel Hernandez Jr. garnered national recognition when he saved the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. President Obama acknowledged him for his heroism.
LGBT History Month - Day 14 - Neil Patrick Harris
LGBT History Month: Neil Patrick Harris is an award-winning television, film and stage actor. Starting at age 16, he has forged an enduring career as a performer in Hollywood and on Broadway.
LGBT History Month - Day 13 - Michael Guest
LGBT History Month: Michael Guest is the first openly gay Senate-confirmed U.S. ambassador. He was nominated by George W. Bush. After serving for 26 years, Guest resigned from the State Department due to its discriminatory policies toward same-sex couples.
LGBT History Month - Day 12 - Lady Gaga
LGBT History Month: Lady Gaga is a world-famous performance artist and singer. She is best known for her chart-topping singles and outrageous costumes. She has had three consecutive best-selling albums and one of the highest-grossing tours.
National Gay History Project - Week 2 - Dr. Mary Edwards Walker: Civil War Surgeon
Known for her determination and strength of conviction, Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) is also remembered as the only woman to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor in the United States military, for her service during the Civil War.
National Gay History Project - Week 2 - Deborah Sampson: American Revolutionary War soldier
Among the small number of women documented as experiencing military combat during the American Revolutionary War is Deborah Sampson, often said to be the first American woman to disguise herself as a man to join the Army. Serving 17 months as Robert Shurtleff, she was wounded in 1782 and later received a military pension.
National Gay History Project - Week 2 - Katherine Lee Bates: Author of 'America the Beautiful'
Katherine Lee Bates was born on Aug. 12, 1859, on Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass., to William and Cornelia Frances Lee Bates. Known as Katie early on, things would not be easy from the start. Her father, a pastor of the First Congregational Church, was too sick to officiate or attend her baptism and died just six days afterward. This prompted her mother to take on odd jobs to support her four children. Bates’ brothers even went to work to support the family.
National Gay History Project - Week 2 - Friedrich Von Steuben: Father of the U.S. military
There are few historians today who would doubt that Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben was gay.
LGBT History Month - Day 11 - Denise Eger
LGBT History Month: One of the first openly gay rabbis, Denise Eger served as rabbi for the world’s first gay and lesbian synagogue. She is the first female and the first openly gay president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.
LGBT History Month - Day 10 - Alan Cumming
LGBT History Month: Alan Cumming is an award-winning film, television and stage actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television series, as well as major theatrical productions in London and on Broadway.
LGBT History Month - Day 09 - Aaron Copland
LGBT History Month: Aaron Copland was a world-renowned composer, teacher, writer and conductor. He was a key figure in forming the early 20th century American style of music and composition.
LGBT History Month - Day 08 - Dan Choi
LGBT History Month: Lt. Dan Choi is a West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran and Arabic linguist. He was the nation’s leading activist for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
LGBT History Month - Day 07 - Rita Mae Brown
LGBT History Month: An author and screenwriter, Rita Mae Brown is best known for her semi-autobiographical lesbian-themed novel, “Rubyfruit Jungle.” She is a groundbreaking activist for lesbian and civil rights.
LGBT History Month - Day 06 - Keith Boykin
LGBT History Month: Keith Boykin is a political commentator, a New York Times best-selling author and a veteran of two presidential campaigns. He is the editor of The Daily Voice and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and BET.
National Gay History Project - Week 1 - Anna Maria Lane: Soldier
Just beyond the grounds of the Virginia Capital in Richmond stands a historical marker honoring Anna Maria Lane, a soldier in the American Revolution. It distinguishes her for donning men’s clothing so she could enlist with her husband in the Connecticut Continental Line. “In the garb, and with the courage of a soldier, she performed extraordinary military service,” the sign reads.
National Gay History Project - Week 1 - William Rufus King: First gay U.S. vice president?
William Rufus DeVane King, the 13th United States vice president, has the distinction of having served in that office for less time than any other vice president.
National Gay History Project - Week 1 - James Buchanan: America’s first gay president?
More than 150 years before America elected its first black president, Barack Obama, it most likely had its first gay president, James Buchanan (1791-1868).
LGBT History Month - Day 05 - Dustin Lance Black
LGBT History Month: Dustin Lance Black is a screenwriter, director and producer. In 2009, he received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “Milk,” about openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk.
LGBT History Month - Day 04 - John Berry
LGBT History Month: John Berry is the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He is the highest-ranking openly gay federal employee in U.S. history.
LGBT History Month - Day 03 - Alison Bechdel
LGBT History Month: Alison Bechdel is a celebrated cartoonist and author of the long-running comic strip, “Dykes To Watch Out For.” Her groundbreaking graphic memoir, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book.
LGBT History Month - Day 02 - John Ashbery
LGBT History Month: John Ashbery is one of the most successful 20th century poets. He has won almost every major American literary award, including the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
LGBT History Month - Day 01 - Kye Allums
LGBT History Month: Kye Allums is the first openly transgender athlete to play NCAA Division I college basketball. Allums was a star shooting guard on the George Washington University (GWU) women's basketball team.
National Gay History Project - Introduction
Historians take note. This year's National Gay History Project is a shout out to say that the LGBT community will no longer allow insensitivity, intentional or not, to downplay the contributions LGBT people have made to this country. To put it simply, this year's project is definitive. Without people who were LGBT or LGBT allies, there would be no United States of America. We helped create this nation and we helped keep it together through the Civil War. And indeed, the Founding Fathers not only had us in mind when creating this country, they welcomed and recruited us in their efforts.
LGBT History Month Remembers Teen Suicides: Jamey Rodemeyer
A 14-year-old gay teen from Buffalo, New York, Jamey Rodemeyer, took his life on Sunday. LGBT History Month Icon Lady Gaga was his inspiration, especially her song “Born This Way.” Jamey,who was constantly bullied in school, felt he "could never escape it."
LGBT History Month 2011 Website Launch
The 2011 LGBT History Month Website is now online at www.lgbtHistoryMonth.com. Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. These resources are available without charge. Organizations, educational institutions, workplace groups and individuals can obtain for free the featured Icon’s video for each day in October. A free and easily embedded video player provides the Icon’s video, which is automatically updated daily.
Local Faces and Photos
All in the Family: A Tribute to Chris & Season
From E R I Jams GLBT page: For decades, the push to observe homosexuality as an accepted lifestyle has come a long way. Many a battle has been fought to uphold causes and organizations that aim to benefit those who suffer in the face of homophobia. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists hold rallies and conferences to demonstrate the need to come to terms with a so-called difference that doesn't plan on disappearing anytime soon. What people don't always see is that there are many kind souls behind the scenes that care and sacrifice a great deal to keep the fires of hope lit in the never-ending fight for recognition and civil rights. In the GLBT community, sometimes those kind souls aren't even gay.
LBT Women of Erie 3rd Annual Picnic
On August 20 2011, the LBT Women of Erie held their 3rd annual picnic at Kim and Andrea's. Friends had a wonderful time enjoying great food and delightful companionship. Photos are by LBT Women of Erie coordinator Laurie Finch, with photo editing by Erie Gay News co-editor Deb Spilko.
LBT Women check out Beavers
On August 14, 2011, The LBT Women of Erie went to check out the beaver exhibit at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie PA after their monthly meeting. Photos are by LBT Women of Erie coordinator Lauie Finch, with photo editing by Erie Gay News co-editor Deb Spilko.
LGBT Table at Blues and Jazz Fest
On August 6 & 7, Erie Gay News and LBT Women of Erie for the 3rd year staffed a local LGBT community info table at the 19th Annual Blues and Jazz Fest in Frontier Park in Erie PA. This was a great opportunity to reach out to those not aleady in touch with the community. Photos are by Erie Gay News co-editor Deb Spiko and LBT Women of Erie coordinator Lauie Finch, with photo editing by Deb Spilko. The Blues and Jazz Fest is organized by the Erie Art Museum and other resources.
Local/Regional News
October 21st is Wear Purple Day
Help support Domestic Violence Awareness Month by wearing something purple on Friday October 12st. Purple ties, purple slacks, purple skirts or dresses… it doesn’t matter what you wear, just wear purple proudly on Oct. 21st to remember those whose lives are affected by Domestic Violence, celebrate survivors, remember the victims and to promote awareness!
Win Home CD by Jenny O.
Erie Pride Parade & Rally a Great Time!
On Saturday, August 27, about 230 people participated in the Erie Pride Parade & Rally. This year’s Pride events were organized by the Pride Planning committee, which is an informal coalition of groups and individuals.
Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter Survey for Services in the Johnstown PA Area
The time has come that we have a true representation for our gay community in the Johnstown PA region. The Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter is looking to start some kind of mental health program for the LGBTQ community. We are creating the center, we are moving forward so we need your help, your volunteering and your support. To do so, we need to have a sense of the need in the community. Please take our survey and email us back at [email protected] by October 31, 2011.
Zone Diva Benefit for Erie Pride 2011
On August 14, 2011, The divas of The Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie PA, oput on a special benefit FACE drag show to support Erie Pride 2011 events. Over $250 was raised, and the Pride Planning COmmittee is very grateful to all of the performers and volunteers who gave of their time to help make Pride events in Erie possible! Photos are by Pride Planning Committee member Danny Tingley, with photo editing by Erie Gay News co-editor Deb Spilko.
SafeNet Launches New Website for Teens
Several weeks ago SafeNet launched its new Facebook page directed towards teens, now SafeNet has launched a companion internet website to reach more of an audience.
National Coming Out Day Is Local
Butler, Pa. (September 20, 2011)- Butler’s PFLAG chapter will be hosting a celebration of National Coming Out Day at Butler County Community College on Oct. 8 from 1pm to 6pm.
A tip about "Prevention Tips"
October is National Crime Prevention Month, and this usually means a flood of helpful tips. Sexual Violence seems to have the biggest list, which is understandable: every 2 minutes, someone in the US is sexually assaulted. We are told, “Don’t walk alone, don’t burden yourself with too many packages, don’t let yourself become isolated with someone you don’t know/trust, etc.” This isn’t bad advice, and there are things you can do to reduce your risk of being assaulted. It’s flawed thinking, though, on multiple levels.
Local Organization Adopts New Name
With a new vision and a new direction, Erie Gay Pride, Inc. now has a new name – Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE).
"Donor Unknown" premieres on PBS October 20
Donor Unknown is the fascinating story of JoEllen Marsh and her search for the sperm donor father she knows only as Donor 150. Raised in Warren County Pennsylvania by her lesbian moms, JoEllen, 20, grew up with a burning curiosity to know more about her anonymous father. When she discovers an online registry that connects the children of donors, JoEllen manages to track down a half-sister in New York. And when The New York Times picks up the story, the circle widens, and 12 more half-siblings emerge over time. A discarded copy of the paper is also picked up in a Venice, California coffee shop by none other than Jeffrey Harrison — Donor 150 — who reads about the children he has fathered for the first time. Funny, moving and surprising, Donor Unknown raises intriguing questions about parenthood and the strange power of our genetic connections. Directed by Jerry Rothwell, the film will premiere on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 10 PM (check local listings). The film is produced by Al Morrow and Hilary Durman and is a Met Film/Redbird production.
"Respectful Relationships Coalition" Teen Video Contest
SafeNet, the Crime Victim Center and The Nonprofit Partnership collaborate in The Respectful Relationships Coalition Teen Video Contest. SafeNet, Crime Victim Center and The Nonprofit Partnership have joined together to help promote healthy relationship and interactions among teens by holding a video contest. Teens ages 13-18 are invited to create videos that focus on issues including bullying, cyber bullying, friendships and dating relationships.
Dreams of Hope presentation at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown
The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown (UUYO) has received a matching grant of $1,563 from the Raymond John Wean Foundation. This grant will support the Cocoa Mocha LGBTQA youth group.
Edinboro University LGBTQIA Heritage Month 2011
Various events at Edinboro University for LGBTQIA Heritage Month.
Certificate from basket at Pride Picnic replacement
There was a certificate in a basket at the Pride Picnic on June 16 from the World of Curry. It is no longer usable as they are no longer open and the company that it was purchased from is willing to exchange it for another. Please contact Tammi at (814) 881-3890 if you were the winner of this basket.
Erie GLBT Contingent in Edinboro Homecoming Parade
Erie's GLBT Community has been invited to participate in Edinboro University's annual homecoming parade on October 8, which draws thousands of spectators. The 2011 theme is Jungle Safari because GRRRREAT Things Happen Here! The parade will take place through the town and campus this year. Parade line-up is scheduled for 9 AM at the intersection of Heather and Darrow on the Edinboro University campus with the parade beginning at 11 AM. The thousands of Edinboro University alumni, faculty, staff, students and area residents who are present along the parade route look forward to our involvement. This is a great way to promote local GLBT visibility by participating in this cherished tradition at Edinboro University. You can RSVP at the Facebook page. (It is helpful to RSVP, but not required!)
Spirituality and Religion
First Openly Gay Candidate To Be Ordained In The Presbyterian Church (USA) Since Historic Vote By Church
MADISON, WI -- On Saturday, October 8, Scott Anderson will become the first openly gay candidate ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since the church opened ordination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) candidates earlier this year.
Diversity Worship service on October 23 at Community United Church
Community United Church, 1011 W 38th St, Erie PA, will again hold a Diversity Service on Sunday, October 23, at 11:00 AM. In this annual celebration, we highlight what it means for a Christian community to be open and affirming, welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, racial/ethnic backgrounds, ability levels, ages, and so forth. Assistant Pastor Rich McCarty will be giving the sermon, and all are welcome to attend.
Political, Activism and Legal
Erie-West LGBTQ Youth Town Hall Meeting
ERIE- On Sunday, October 23rd at the Erie County Public Library, a youth meeting about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) in Northwestern Pennsylvania will take place. The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition is holding an Erie-West LGBTQ Youth Town Hall Meeting to build on conversations about challenges and opportunities in communities across the NWPA region and to develop ways to make it better in NWPA for LGBTQ youth.
Southern Poverty Law Center and Truth Wins Out Launch Campaign Targeting Destructive Conversion Therapy
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Truth Wins Out (TWO) launched a national campaign on October 11 targeting conversion therapy, a thriving practice that claims to “convert” people from homosexuality to heterosexuality. The groups made the announcement in coordination with National Coming Out Day.
GLAAD, Celebrities, TV Networks, Corporations Join Millions To Speak Out Against Anti-LGBT Bullying by 'Going Purple' on Spirit Day, October 20
New York, NY, October 13, 2011 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced an initial list of participants in Spirit Day as well as the launch of its “Amplify Your Voice!” public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring celebrity talent and young people speaking out against anti-LGBT bullying.
Married Binational Gay Couple Set To Be Torn Apart Despite New Department of Homeland Security Guidelines
New York, NY, October 13, 2011 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today launched an online action for community members and allies to speak out and stop the deportation of Anton Tanumihardja. That action can be found here: www.glaad.org/saveanton.
New Jersey Teacher Condemned for Homophobic Facebook Remarks
A teacher at a public high school in Union Township, New Jersey has sparked a storm of controversy with her remarks on Facebook criticizing her high school’s display celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month.
Kathryn Boockvar, Democratic Nominee For Commonwealth Court, Visiting Erie on October 21, 2011
Kathryn Boockvar, the Democratic nominee for Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, will be meeting with voters in Erie on Friday, October 21.
Frank Kameny, LGBT rights pioneer, passes on
On October 11, 2011, Frank Kameny, LGBT rights pioneer, died of natural causes at the age of 86 at his home in Washington DC. His accomplishments are notable. Many organizations and people mourned his passing.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force launches next phase of Queer the Census campaign to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are counted in federal surveys
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is launching the next phase of its “Queer the Census” campaign, which is designed to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are included in a broad swath of federal surveys and data collection efforts. The Task Force is encouraging people to learn more about why federal surveys are important and to get involved through an action center on its www.QueertheCensus.org website.
Whirlpool Corporation Joins The 'It Gets Better' Movement
Benton Harbor, Mich., Oct. 11, 2011 – In honor of National Coming Out Day, Whirlpool Corporation’s employees posted a video to share an “It Gets Better” message with LGBT youth who are struggling with bullying and self-acceptance.
Mitt Romney (Kind of) Stands up to Fischer’s Bigotry
Oct 8, 2011- Today, in response to calls from People For the American Way and others, presidential candidate Mitt Romney gently distanced himself from the hateful language regularly pushed by radio host Bryan Fischer, Director of Issues Analysis at the American Family Association.
First openly gay minister to be ordained by Presbyterian Church (USA) tomorrow
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force applauds the historic ordination of Scott Anderson set for tomorrow in Madison, Wis. He will become the first openly gay minister ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA) since the denomination amended its constitution this year to eliminate official barriers to the ordination of people based on their sexual orientation. He was ordained 21 years earlier, but was forced out of the ministry after his sexual orientation was made public.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force mourns the passing of LGBT rights leader Paula L. Ettelbrick
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force mourns the passing of Paula L. Ettelbrick, a lifelong activist for LGBT rights and former Task Force family policy director, who died today of cancer. The Task Force honors and remembers Paula’s significant contributions to our movement.
Pennsylvania Diversity Network President To Receive Prestigious 'Human Relations Award' from City of Allentown
October 6, 2011 (Allentown, PA) -- On October 18th, the Human Relations Commission of the City of Allentown will bestow its prestigious Human Relations Award on Dr. Patricia Sullivan, President and Co-Founder of Pennsylvania Diversity Network. Sullivan is one of eight honorees at the 34th annual event.
Dear Mitt Romney: Prove Us Wrong
From Michael Keegan, President of People for the American Way, as posted at Huffington Post: Mitt Romney is scheduled to speak at the far-right "Values Voter Summit" on Saturday morning, immediately before the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, a man with a long and shocking record of bigotry toward gays and lesbians, American Muslims, Native Americans, African Americans, Mormons and other minorities. Today, I sent Romney this open letter outlining Fischer's record and urging him to publicly distance himself from Fischer's bigotry before sharing a stage with him.
Bisexual Woman and Straight Man to Protest Ohio Marriage Discrimination
Columbus, Ohio - Protesting Ohio’s constitutional amendment and state law prohibiting same-sex marriages, Columbus residents Tabitha Woodruff and Brian Davis will marry this weekend in New York State, a state that allows same-sex marriage. Davis is a straight male, and Woodruff is a bisexual female.
Who's Who at the Values Voter Summit: A Guide to the Anti-Gay, Anti-Muslim, Anti-Mormon, Anti-Choice Activists Spending the Weekend with the GOP
This weekend, nearly every major GOP presidential candidate, along with the top two Republicans in the House of Representatives, will speak at the Values Voter Summit, an annual gathering of the leaders of the movement to integrate fundamentalist Christianity and American politics.
Groups Launch Campaign Urging Senator Casey to Cosponsor Respect for Marriage Act
Harrisburg - Today, following the successful campaign in Maryland last month by Freedom to Marry, Courage Campaign and Equality Maryland to get Senator Barbara Mikulski to support the Respect for Marriage Act, Equality Pennsylvania, Freedom to Marry and the Courage Campaign announced a joint campaign urging Senator Robert Casey to sign on as a cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that will overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
Tennessee High School Student: Principal Assaulted Me for Wearing T-Shirt Supporting Gay-Straight Alliance
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. – A 17-year-old senior at Sequoyah High School was reportedly shoved, bumped in the chest and verbally harassed by his principal last week for wearing a T-shirt in support of efforts to establish a gay-straight alliance (GSA) club on campus. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Tennessee sent a letter to the school district today demanding that students’ rights to free speech be protected in the classroom.
Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition Youth Action Conference October 14-16, 2011
WHY THIS CONFERENCE?: The establishment of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition this spring as the first youth-led statewide LGBTQ organization in the nation has been a significant development in the pursuit for equality in Pennsylvania. The brave and committed leadership of PSEC is composed of hundreds of students in high school and colleges, from large cities to rural communities. With the overwhelming support by thousands of Pennsylvanians towards our work, PSEC provides new opportunities for our future. This great potential for social change now calls us to the front lines. The PSEC Youth Action Conference is convened to coordinate our action. Together, we can chart new goals and achieve a more unified sense of direction with expert trainings, policy briefings, and working groups.
Plaintiffs in Prop. 8 Case Oppose Further Delay of Public's Right To Access Trial Video
San Francisco, CA – Today the plaintiffs in Perry v. Brown, the landmark federal lawsuit that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional, filed a brief in opposition to an emergency motion for a stay pending appeal, arguing that "the public has an overriding interest in immediate access to the video recordings so that it can scrutinize for itself the full trial record as this closely watched case progresses through the appellate process." Proponents of Proposition 8 have again asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to restrain the public’s right to see the video recordings of the Perry trial.
Freedom to Marry to President Obama: Finish the Job on Marriage Now
(New York, NY, October 3, 2011) – Today, President Obama stated in an interview with ABC News that he was “still working” on his support for marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Below is a statement from Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide:
Appeals Court to Hear Case of Counseling Student Dismissed from Program for Refusing to Work with LGBT Clients
Cincinnati -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is slated to hear arguments today in the case of a graduate student who was removed from Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU) counseling program because she refused to counsel lesbian, gay and bisexual clients on any issues relating to same-sex relationships during her clinical training.
Romney to Share Stage with Bryan Fischer; PFAW Urges Candidates to Denounce Bigotry
At this week’s Values Voter Summit, Mitt Romney is scheduled to take the stage immediately before Bryan Fischer, an American Family Association spokesman with a long and shocking record of bigotry against gays and lesbians, American Muslims, Native Americans and other minority groups. Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum are also scheduled to speak at the event, which is sponsored by the anti-gay Family Research Council, the AFA, and other Religious Right groups.
DOD Issues Guidance Permitting Marriages by Chaplains and on Military Bases for Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples
(Washington, D.C., September 30, 2011) – Today, following the repeal of military discrimination, the Department of Defense clarified that military personnel have the same freedom to celebrate their weddings on military bases as any other service-personnel, and chaplains are free to officiate as they choose, except where prohibited by state or local law. Below is a statement from Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide:
ADL, GLSEN and StoryCorps Create LGBT History Resource Unheard Voices
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2011 – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and StoryCorps today announce the release of Unheard Voices, a new middle and high school resource that seeks to integrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and events into middle and high school curricula.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Makes Major Change in Transgender Medical Policy
A settlement was announced today in the case of Vanessa Adams, a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate at FMC Butner in North Carolina who has gender identity disorder (GID). Ms. Adams sued BOP in order to receive appropriate treatment for her GID.
ACLU Marks Banned Websites Awareness Day with Report on LGBT Censorship in Schools
NEW YORK – Public schools across the country are largely receptive to removing web filters that block educational content related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, according to a new report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project.
Downloads of Song Featured in Upcoming ABC News '20/20 Special to Benefit Work of GLSEN-led National Safe Schools Partnership
NEW YORK, September 26, 2011 – Austin-based youth band Residual Kid will donate all proceeds from downloads of its song “Can’t Take Me Away,” which is featured throughout the upcoming ABC News “20/20” special on the murder of 15-year-old Lawrence “Larry” King, to the work of the GLSEN-led National Safe Schools Partnership.
Groups Launch Campaign Urging Senator Reed to Cosponsor Respect for Marriage Act
(Providence, RI, September 27, 2011)–Today, following the successful campaign in Maryland last month by Freedom to Marry, Courage Campaign and Equality Maryland to get Senator Barbara Mikulski to support the Respect for Marriage Act, Freedom to Marry and Courage Campaign announced a partnership with Marriage Equality Rhode Island and Ocean State Action to launch a similar campaign urging Senator Jack Reed to sign on as a cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that will overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
New 2010 census data released on married same-sex couples
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released its new estimates of the number of households headed by same-sex couples in the United States, including the number of couples identifying as married. The 2010 census marked the first time the Census Bureau tracked information about same-sex spouses. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force played a key role in getting the U.S. Census Bureau to report the number of married same-sex couples in the 2010 census, and continues to work with policymakers to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are included in a broad swath of federal surveys and data collection.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Reactions
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, the policy known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell was officially repealed, and sexual orientation was no longer a bar to military service. Some reactions:
GIVE HATE A HOLIDAY: Take A Stand for Fairness & Equality in the home of the American Family Association
In partnership with a coalition of local organizers, the OUT IN THE SILENCE Campaign is sponsoring a very special series of events in Tupelo on Monday, October 10, to help raise public awareness about the lives and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and build support for local, state, and regional efforts to make our communities more just, inclusive, humane, and safe for LGBT and all people who call them home.
Freedom to Marry Celebrates First Republican Cosponsor of DOMA Repeal Bill
(Washington, D.C., September 23, 2011) – Today, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced that she would be the first Republican member of Congress to cosponsor the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116), sponsored by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
Kerry Legislation Would Outlaw LGBT Discrimination in Housing, Credit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today introduced legislation to outlaw discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans in the housing and credit markets. The Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act would amend the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or source of income. It would also amend the Equal Opportunity Credit Act to prohibit LGBT discrimination in credit decisions. Rep. Jerrold Nadler is introducing the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
ACLU Appears in Federal Court to Challenge Military Separation Pay Policy that Discriminates Against Lesbian and Gay Veterans
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union argued before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims today that a Defense Department policy that cuts in half the separation pay of service members who have been honorably discharged for being gay is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against the policy, which is not part of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute and so was not changed when that law was repealed. The Defense Department can change the policy on its own, without congressional approval.
Victory for the American People: District Court Rules Proposition 8 Trial Tape Should Be Released to Public
San Francisco, Sep 20 2011 -Today,U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Ware ruled that the video recordings of the Proposition 8 trial (Perry v. Brown) should be released to the public. Plaintiffs had asked the District Court to unseal the video recordings of the Prop. 8 trial, citing the strong presumption of public access to judicial records and the lack of any factual evidence by Proponents to keep the video secret. Prop. 8 was ruled unconstitutional in August 2010.
Equality Pennsylvania Candidate Endorsements for General Election 2011
Harrisburg: Equality Pennsylvania is pleased to announce its statewide candidate endorsements for the 2011 general election.
PA State Rep Babette Josephs intros bill to exempt domestic partners from Pa. inheritance tax
HARRISBURG, Sept. 21 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has introduced a measure that would add domestic partners to the list of relatives who are currently exempt from paying state inheritance taxes.
Alaska Court Rules That State Tax Law Treats Same-Sex Families Unfairly
The Alaska Superior Court today ruled that the state’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, are unconstitutional. The rules were challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Alaska and the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on behalf of three Alaska couples who are in a committed relationship with a same-sex domestic partner rather than an opposite-sex spouse who were denied full access to a $150,000 property tax exemption and are thus treated as “roommates” rather than as families. Same-sex couples are excluded from having marriages recognized in Alaska.
PA State Rep. Babette Josephs introduces Marriage Equality Act
HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has introduced a bill that would put same-sex relationships on par with heterosexual couples in Pennsylvania by allowing them to marry here, as well as recognize their marriages performed in other states.
Before House Hearing, ACLU of PA Calls Passage of LGBT Non-Discrimination Bill "Long Overdue"
HARRISBURG (September 19)- The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee will convene a hearing today on legislation to prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) residents and visitors to the commonwealth. In advance of the hearing, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania called on state legislators of both parties to get behind the effort to pass House Bill 300.
Campus Pride Announces Call for Voice & Action National Leadership Award in partnership with OUTmedia
CHARLOTTE, NC – Today Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) releases its official call for the Voice & Action National Leadership Award, an honorary recognition highlighting the extraordinary contributions of young adult leaders at colleges and universities across the United States. For the fourth year, the national award is the only one nationally focused on the work of undergraduate college students who are creating positive change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally issues. The application process officially opened today until November 16, 2011.
VIDEO: It Gets Better response
What has been the effect of the "It Gets Better" Campaign on young GLBT people? One young gay teen named Dylan answered the question in a video response two weeks ago to an “It Gets Better” video posted by a Northern California police officer and his husband. Dylan’s video is an example that the campaign’s message of hope is indeed being received.
Campus Pride celebrates 10 years of leadership, dedication to LGBT students
(CHARLOTTE, NC) – Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit working to build future lesbian,gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) leaders and develop safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities, celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. The group is highlighting its decade-long record of achievements and accomplishments and giving back, kicking off their national BORN THIS GAY Campus Tour and a contest including more than $10,000 in prizes.
Freedom to Marry Lauds UK for Announcing Move Towards Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
(New York, NY, September 17, 2011) – Today, Great Britain Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone announced that the ruling conservative government will launch a consultation to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in the UK, where same-sex couples currently are eligible for “civil partnership.”
Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 — Black transgender and gender non-conforming people face some of the highest levels of discrimination of all transgender people according to a new analysis released today, Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.
GLAD Files Forceful Replies to House in 2nd Circuit DOMA Case
Last night, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) responded to two August 15 filings by the U.S. House of Representatives, when the House both moved to dismiss the DOMA case Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management and responded to GLAD’s motion for summary judgment. Pedersen is the multi-plaintiff challenge to Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) pending in the federal district court for the District of Connecticut.
LGBT Parents Pledge to Play Fair in Parenting and Custody Agreements
Following the re-release last week of Protecting Families: Standards for LGBT Families, a set of 10 guidelines aimed at preventing contentious custody battles between LGBT parents, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and NCLR’s National Family Law Advisory Council launched a campaign to raise awareness of the standards by asking parents and legal practitioners to sign a pledge to uphold them.
PFAW Foundation Demands that NY Town Clerks End Marriage Discrimination
People For the American Way Foundation and Proskauer Rose, LLP, a global law firm, sent a letter this weekend to the Ledyard Town Board, demanding that the town’s clerk fulfill her legal duty to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The letter refers to Ledyard Town Clerk Rose Marie Belforti, who had publicly stated that she will not sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples and refused to do so for Katie Carmichael and Deirdre DiBiaggio on August 30. With the Ledyard Town Board’s permission, Ms. Belforti decided to stop issuing marriage licenses altogether due to her opposition to the Marriage Equality Act, instead delegating the responsibility to a subordinate officer. Upon appearing before Ms. Belforti for a marriage license on August 30th, Ms. Carmichael and Ms. DiBiaggio were told by the town clerk herself that they could not obtain a license that day and instead would need to return by appointment another day to meet with a subordinate official who would fulfill their request. Faced with discrimination by an elected official who placed her personal prejudices above the law, Katie Carmichael and Deirdre DiBiaggio turned to People For the American Way Foundation for help in realizing their right to wed.
Health
Exercise Away Those Demons!
I’ve taken my hangovers as a consequence, not as a punishment. The author John Steinbeck wrote these words some years back in describing his penchant for drinking. You can accept your consequences too during this spooky and eerily delicious time of year. The overindulgence of candy during the Halloween season will consequently leave you with extra calories around your waistline. That’s OK though; there’s no need for punishment! Eat all the goodies you want and just find ways to balance life in your favor through the art of exercise.
Minimum Requirements
Your ninth grade English teacher said you needed a minimum of 500 words for all essay papers submitted during the semester. Mrs. Cory usually received papers from you that had about 501 words. Your boss wants you to make a minimum of 150 sales calls each day. You frequently log around 151 prospecting calls each day for your goal paperwork. Don’t just aim for the minimum in life. More than the requirement can be beneficial…especially with your health and wellness.
Blood Pressure
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. Several weeks ago, my doctor stood before me and said he had the answers that could indeed make my life the best of times by giving me suggestions on lowering my blood pressure sans any medication. His welcome wisdom cast light upon me and sent my shadows of foolishness scattering. Allow me the chance to share his healthy advice as I begin with my blood pressure at 148/94.
Transgendered Beauty: An Interview With Sarah P.
Before me sits a dark haired beauty, a little nerdy and a little cherubic at the same time… When she smiles, though, that angelic innocence turns to a mite bit of playful mischief. Only about a year into transition, one would be hard pressed to guess that the lady before me has fought hard for her female beauty- with her, it just seems so natural… She is uncannily graceful in body and spirit. And so, with her beauty and her courage both coming so naturally, it seemed only natural that I asked her to share her story with EGN for me. This is our conversation.
Reinventing Dating
DATING: this word strikes terror into the hearts of many. Why? What is it about dating that we dread so? Let’s take a look and see if we can’t make the process more fun and less fearful. Whether you call it dating, hooking up, or some other phrase, let’s reinvent dating.
Hate Math?
Your favorite subject in school was probably not math unless you had the sizzling hot teacher who taught you how to properly use your protractor. Most of us weren’t living in that Van Halen video world so we hated the subject. I’ve got breaking news that will have you loving math and using it to get you healthy too. It’s all simple numbers about the food and drinks you put into your body every day. Turn on your Texas Instruments and let’s begin!
Entertainment and Travel
Logo's 'NewNowNext Movies' Debuts Five New Movies
NEW YORK, October 12, 2011- Logo’s movie franchise “NewNowNext Movies” presents the “next big” indie hits that film festivals, fans and critics have all adored. Remember you saw them here first on Logo! Be sure to catch two musical comedies, a drama about a love triangle and two irreverent comedies. “NewNowNext Movies” begins with the network premiere of “The Four-Faced Liar” Sunday, October 16th at 10/9c.
Logo's Pro-social Initiative 'beCAUSE' Recognizes Critical Social Issues in New Series of Documentaries
NEW YORK, October 6, 2011- Logo, a channel of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), continues the efforts of its first pro-social campaign “beCAUSE” by addressing critical social issues in a new series of documentaries. The series begins with the U.S. premiere of “The World’s Worst Place to be Gay” on Saturday, October 22nd at 8 PM / 7c.
Arriba! An Aruban Adventure
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association welcomed their first hotel member from the Island of Aruba, the Aruba Marriott and Sellaris Casino located on Palm Beach. Didn't think of Aruba as a gay friendly destination? Yeah, I didn't either, until I got there.
20th Anniversary Season Premiere: IN THE LIFE Celebrates 20 Years of Groundbreaking Media
New York, October 1, 2011 – The public affairs program that pioneered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) visibility on television celebrates two decades of groundbreaking media that shatters stereotypes and exposes social injustice.
LOGO's 'Bad S*X' Takes Viewers Behind Closed Doors of Sex Therapy Group
NEW YORK, September 29, 2011 – Who doesn’t love s*x? But what happens when that love becomes an obsession or addiction? Or you don’t feel the love at all? S*xual issues – from promiscuity to s*xual phobias and love addiction can destroy lives – and in some cases end them. Noted sex specialist Christopher Donaghue has dedicated his professional life to helping people reclaim control of their s*x lives through intense individual and group therapy sessions. In the docu-reality series “Bad Sex,” the cameras capture the dynamic group sessions and the explosive and frequently heart-felt exchanges among clients. “Bad S*x” will offer a frank and shocking behind-the-scenes look at the process of healing severe sexual issues – both inside and outside the therapy room. The 10-episode series “Bad Sex” premieres Friday, November 4th at 9PM ET/PT on Logo.
Fox Becomes Most LGBT-inclusive Broadcast TV Network, HBO Tops List of Cable Networks
September 28, 2011, Los Angeles, CA – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today released the 16th annual Where We Are On TV report; a comprehensive review of scripted LGBT primetime characters in the 2011-2012 television season. After a significant increase last year, the number of regular lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) characters on broadcast networks experienced a decrease while the overall LGBT character count remains steady on cable television.
Batwoman's Big Outing: The Brief History of DC Comics' Lesbian Superheroine
Reprinted from Eri Jams GLBT page: As many may or may not know, the comic book publishing titan, DC Comics has undertaken the grueling New 52 (or DCnU...or N'Universe) concept, a magnanimous comics industry reboot that has stripped away the familiarity of beloved characters we've come to grow up with and love for decades, and narrowed it all down to fifty-two #1 titles set to be released this Fall. This venture was considered a pretty tall order to force upon the fans of DC Comics; many an online message board (particularly DC's own) simply exploded in happy ways for those tired of the current run of books...or a really bad way regarding the scale of changes being made. This challenge was a chance to see old characters with a fresh take on new origins with big nods to the old origins as well. No one knew if the relaunch of a whopping fifty-two brand-new, re-numbered titles could actually be pulled off...until the pre-orders suddenly maxed out...then, within two weeks of just a handful of the #1 title releases, comic shops realized the number of backorders became frighteningly underestimated...DC's success may have surprised virtually everyone by sending their debut comic, Justice League #1, back to print for the second, third and fourth time.
National Hockey League Refuses to Take Action After Player Shouts Anti-Gay Slur
New York, NY, September 28, 2011 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today called on the National Hockey League (NHL) to take action after Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers was shown on video clearly shouting an anti-gay slur during a pre-season game on Monday night.
Logo's Travel Awards Gets a New Name and New Categories to Honor the "Next Best Thing" in Travel
NEW YORK, September 19, 2011 – Logo, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announced today the nominees for its third annual travel awards. This year’s awards have undergone a makeover with a new name, “NewNowNext Travel Awards,” and new categories demonstrating Logo is on the pulse of what are tomorrow’s trends and the next “it” destinations.
Review: Time Dances On by Sophia Kruz
Every individual has a coming out story to tell. Time Dances On is told from the perspective of one Jim Kruz – a man who once believed that if he played his cards straight (literally), he could achieve happiness and love with a woman and potentially carry on the Kruz bloodline with a family of his own while compressing the odd feeling of difference within the deepest reaches of his soul.
Neil Patrick Harris…Wait For It…Nails It With First Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame
(Hollywood, CA, Sept. 15, 2011) – Neil Patrick Harris, co-star of “How I Met Your Mother” was honored today by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with his first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony was held in celebration of the upcoming DVD release of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Season 6: The New is Always Better Edition on September 27.
Review: On The Bus by Tracy D Smith
Reviewing this little-film-short-that-could, On the Bus, requires me to approach director/editor Tracy D. Smith's short cautionary tale from a personal perspective. By personal, I mean floating through the last few years of high school, longing for the unobtainably hot crush. And by cautionary, I mean fearful confession of a same-sex attraction to said crush who sits high atop the social pillar of heterosexual “cool kids.”
GLAAD and Community Organizations Urge Support for Chaz Bono on ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'
New York, NY, September 16, 2011- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today joined numerous advocacy groups including GetEqual and the Transgender Law Center in voicing support for Chaz Bono and urging community members and allies to watch ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and vote for their favorite contestant.
Dreams of Hope: Kathi Boyle, First Managing Director
We are thrilled to welcome Kathi Boyle as the new, first ever, Managing Director for Dreams of Hope. Kathi is a well-known and respected advocate in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Not ready to fully retire, Kathi joined us this September after finishing her tenure with Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.
Review: Death of a Nation by Michael Pollak
Death of a Nation is a small, 26-minute film that delivers a taste of the rarely-seen (and often-times troubling and violent) perspective of a teenager so emotionally restrained by life at home that he's reduced to the very thing that we, as a nation, fear: bigotry. Focusing heavily on the post-Matthew Shephard world, first-time director Michael Yale Pollak unspools a frightening look at John, a socially-inept young man beaten to oppressively biblical submission by his alcoholic father and then pushed to the brink when he fails to accept his own sexuality.
Review: I Am, documentary by Sonali Gulati
In I Am, Indian independent filmmaker Sonali Gulati shares her unresolved pain of never having the right opportunity to come out to her mother prior to her death. Sonali's means of coping led her to research and record the testimonials of many families of her socially-stricken and old-fashioned homestate, Delhi, where laws like Section 377 scare the pants off Prop 8 by simply criminalizing homosexuality altogether, let alone fight for basic human rights such as marriage.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Reasoning, Not Rhetoric, Needed For Improving HIV/AIDS Treatment
Instead of coming together as Americans and finding common ground to solve our problems, the pendulum swings of the last two elections have only served to sharpen the differences between right and left.
Scared Little Dyke Writer
Now that I've been around for a while, new writers sometimes tell me how terrified they are of reading in public. All I have to offer them is enormous, sincere sympathy and the story of how I started my public life as a writer.
ButchGear.com
Lover was out of town, working in some snowy outback, so the Hotelier and the Revered Poet helped me survive my loneliness over an elegant dinner. Outside it hailed furiously. We three huddled around the candlelight and talked lesbian talk, sometimes exchanging chat with the friendly gay gentlemen at the next table.
The Morning After
You've been there. You wake up in the morning, yawn a bit, stretch a little, and then you feel it. A warm body next to you in bed, and you don't remember who he is. I say "warm" body for a reason: no matter what he looks like this morning, he's not nearly as hot as he was last night before you got into bed. You know it. I know it. Hell, even he knows it..
Fair Opportunity, Greater Effort
From Joe Sestak: On September 20th, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) will be repealed by the Defense Department, and from that day forward all Americans will finally be able to serve in our military, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. As a young Navy Captain, I was asked by the Admiral I worked for what I thought of DADT when it became official policy during the Clinton Administration. I now think ruefully about my reply:that I soon expected DADT to be overturned by the Supreme Court on the basis of discrimination. Over the years, I remember a number of instances when a young sailor would approach me to let me know he was gay, intent upon no longer living a lie, and wishing I could say, “Please don’t tell me, you’re too good and I don’t want to lose you”.
Contests
Win Keesha & Her Two Moms Go Swimming from My Family! Books
Erie Gay News is giving away Keesha & Her Two Moms Go Swimming from My Family! Books to 2 lucky winners. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from October 21 through November 11.
Win The Evolution of Ethan Poe by Robin Reardon from Kensington Books!
Win The Evolution of Ethan Poe by Robin Reardon from Kensington Books! Erie Gay News is giving away 5 copies of this coming of age novel that can be enyoed by both adult and young adult readers. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from October 7 through October 28.
Win Aerials by Ariel Aparico
Win a CD of Aerials by Ariel Aparico. We are giving 5 CDs from this out Latino performer. To enter, just fill out the form here between September 30 and October 21.
Win ZAZ! by ZAZ
Miscellaneous
The Thriller in the Haunted House
Enjoy the frightful delights of this haunted house story with 1980s song titles mixed into it. I love Halloween just about as much as I love 1980s music! Have fun finding as many of those songs from that great decade as I had writing this ghastly tale. I counted 84 musical hits in this warren of wickedness!
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