December, 2014 News (59 Articles with 345,749 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for December, 2014 Attendees at the Annual Lake Erie Gala, Nov. 22. Photo by Mike Mahler
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
A Very Merry TubaChristmas to You!
ERIE, Pa. – Dec. 2, 2014 – It's large, loud and a tad bit impractical, but for one day every year, the stage belongs to the tubaT. he 13th annual Erie presentation of TubaChristmas will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The performance begins at 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Evergreen Health Services move
Evergreen Health Services has moved their Southern Tier offices.
They are now at 408 West 5th St., Jamestown NY.
Marriage Equality for PA is now Pennsylvania Equality Project
Reflecting a new mission, the Marriage Equality for PA organization has become the Pennsylvania Equality Project. You can find the new organization at www.paequality.org/ and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equalpa. You can follow them at Twitter @PaEquality.
NW PA Pride Annual Report
As the Northwest PA (NW PA) Pride Alliance begins its fifth year, we are delighted and proud to see how much we have grown in such a short amount of time. We are pleased to share this success by providing our 2014 Annual Report. This report highlights some the accomplishments and activities involved in continuing our mission of improving the visibility of the LGBTQIA community and facilitating communication and collaboration between groups and individuals.
Laverne Cox to Speak at Penn State Behrend on December 9
ERIE, Pa. – Nov. 19, 2014 – In the Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black," Laverne Cox's character, Sophia Burset, is a victim of transmisogyny from other characters.
Drenched Fur 11 Video News Update #2
It's here! The second of our Drenched Fur run news video updates has posted on our YouTube channel and this time we're revealing some info folks have been asking about regarding when run registration and hotel booking will begin. The DF11 Events Schedule is now posted on the run website and we look forward to adding new activities in the coming months to when we host another weekend of fun!
Administrative
Web Server Crash
The websites of NW PA Pride and Erie Gay News experienced a web server crash on October 3. Here is what was lost, recovered, and not affected:
Entertainment and Travel
Logo TV kicks off Art Basel with New Now Next Awards hosted by Darren Criss, narrated by Cyndi Lauper
New York, December 02, 2014 – Logo TV today announced that Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is slated to perform a song from her live CD Coming Home on the Logo TV's 2014 "New Now Next" Awards premiering on Logo TV on Sunday, December 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and MTV on December 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Actor and singer Darren Criss will host the event, which kicks off Art Basel from Kimpton's Surfcomber Miami, South Beach, and serves as the definitive farewell party for 2014 and predictor to who and what will dominate pop culture in the year to come. Pop icon Cyndi Lauper will narrate the New Now Next Awards, which will also feature special appearances by Nick Cannon, Tyler Glenn,"Looking" stars Raúl Castillo & Frankie Alvarez, "Girl Code's" Nicole Byer, "Awkward's" Molly Tarlov, as well as "Faking It's" Katie Stevens and Michael J. Willett.
Dormant Phoenix Auditions at PACA for MASQUERADE December 10 & 11
Local theatre company Dormant Phoenix is is holding AUDITIONS for MASQUERADE on December 10 & 11 from 6pm- 9pm at PACA, 1505 State St. Erie PA 16501. The show performance dates are Feb 26, 27, 28 and Mar 5, 6, 7. The play's plot deals heavily with LBGT and AIDS-related issues. The show is a comedy and has 9 characters. 2 female 30's & 60's. 6 male 20's - 50's and one character who is in his 20's but is dressed as an 11 year old girl. His costume is Margaret from Are you There God, it's Me, Margaret.
MTV, MTV2, mtvU and LOGO TV Go Red For World AIDS Day on Monday, December 1
NEW YORK, NY (November 25, 2014)—On Monday, December 1, MTV, MTV.com, MTV2 and mtvU are going red in support of World AIDS Day. MTV will run interstitials throughout the day highlighting this year's theme of an "AIDS-Free generation is within our reach." Also timed to World AIDS Day, MTV's award-winning sexual health campaign, "It's Your (Sex) Life" wi
RuPaul's Drag Race Cast to be Announced Live On Air During Logo TV's 2014 New Now Next Awards
New York, December 4, 2014 – Logo TV today announced that for the first time in network history, the new cast of queens competing on the upcoming season of mega-hit reality show "RuPaul's Drag Race" will be revealed live during the 2014 "New Now Next Awards." The shroud of secrecy surrounding the 14 elite drag performers who'll comprise the seventh season cast will be lifted via a series of OMFG interstitials interspersed throughout the "New Now Next" telecast on Sunday, December 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Betty Who to follow in steps of Lady Gaga- to make award show debut at Logo's New Now Next Awards
New York, November 13, 2014 – Logo TV today announced that emerging pop princess Betty Who is slated to make her television award show debut during Logo TV's 2014 "New Now Next" Awards premiering on Logo TV on Sunday, December 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and MTV on December 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT from Kimpton's Surfcomber Miami, South Beach. The event, which kicks off Art Basel and serves as the definitive farewell party for 2014 and predictor to who and what will dominate pop culture in the year to come, will also feature appearances from Laverne Cox, Charli XCX, Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas, A Great Big World, Tyler Oakley and Lance Bass. Additional performers, presenters and guests will be announced at a later date.
Political, Activism and Legal
ACLU Comment on DOL Final Rule Prohibiting Federal Contractors from LGBT Workplace Discrimination
WASHINGTON - December 3, 2014– This afternoon, the Department of Labor published a new rule to prohibit businesses that contract with the federal government from engaging in workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT Leader Says New Labor Department Rules Could Cost Exxon Millions in Federal Contracts
Statement from Tico Almeida, founder and president of Freedom to Work on new Department of Labor rules regarding federal contractors: "Today's Labor Department regulations start a 120 day countdown clock for ExxonMobil, the most anti-gay corporation in America, to completely reverse their anti-LGBT workplace policies or face losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts next year. While our litigation against Exxon is currently before the Illinois Human Rights Department, the oil giants failure to change their policies opens them put to new legal complaints based on President Obama’s latest executive order. As we look to settle our case, we call on Labor Secretary Tom Perez to help ensure that ExxonMobil adequately amends its Standards of Business Conduct and does away with its notorious and offensive anti-LGBT workplace policies and practices.”
NCLR Statement on Staten Island Grand Jury's Decision Not to Indict Eric Garner's Killer
(San Francisco, CA, December 3, 2014)—Today, a Grand Jury in Staten Island decided not to bring charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer that killed Eric Garner.
NCTE Welcomes Non-Discrim Order Final Federal Contractors Rule
Washington, DC - December 3, 2014 - Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to implement President Obama's July 21 Executive Order 13672 prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment practices on the bases of gender identity and sexual orientation.
Marriages for Same-Sex Couples to Begin in Florida After Jan. 5
New York - December 3, 2014 – Today the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to extend a stay on marriages for same-sex couples in Florida. The stay expires at the end of the day on January 5, meaning that same-sex couples should be free to receive marriage licenses after that.
D.C. Council Passes Groundbreaking Bill to Protect LGBT Youth from Conversion Therapy
(Washington, D.C., December 2, 2014)—Today, the District of Columbia Council unanimously approved a bill that will protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy.
AMPA Statement on Resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
WASHINGTON - November 24, 2014 – Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, issued the following statement in response to the news that Chuck Hagel will be resigning as Secretary of Defense.
Military Services Fail to Comply With New Defense Department Regulation on Transgender Service
WASHINGTON - November 26, 2014– Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, issued the following statement in response to a report released by the Palm Center outlining the failure of the military services to comply with new Defense Department regulations on transgender service.
Retired General and Flag Officers Call on Military Services to Comply with Recent DOD Rules Affecting Transgender Person
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - November 26, 2014 – Three retired General and Flag Officers, including Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, Major General Vance Coleman, and Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, issued a joint statement today to accompany a new report showing that the Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marines have failed to comply with new Defense Department (DOD) rules on transgender personnel.
Federal Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in Mississippi
New York - November 25, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that denying marriage for same-sex couples in Mississippi is unconstitutiona
Federal Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in Arkansas
New York - November 25, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker ruled that denying marriage for same-sex couples in Arkansas is unconstitutional.
GetEQUAL Responds to Ferguson Decision
WASHINGTON, DC - November 24, 2014 -- Tonight GetEQUAL -- a national grassroots social justice organization working toward the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans -- released the following statement regarding the Ferguson non-indictment:
NCLR's Statement on Grand Jury Decision to Not Indict Michael Brown's Shooter
(San Francisco, CA, November 24, 2014)—Today, a Ferguson grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, this summer in Ferguson, Missouri.
New York High Court Allows Retrial on Hate Crime Charge in Killing of Transgender Woman Lateisha Green
New York, NY - November 24, 2014 - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today renewed its call for justice in the case of a slain transgender woman after the New York State Court of Appeals overturned the hate crime conviction of the man accused of killing her but allowed the state to retry him on the disputed hate crime charge. DeLee was originally convicted of manslaughter in the first degree as a hate crime for the 2008 killing of Syracuse resident Lateisha "Teish" Green, a 22-year-old African American transgender woman.
State of LGBT Equality in Pennsylvania-based Companies Detailed in HRC's New Corporate Equality Index
WASHINGTON - November 19, 2014- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today released the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, an annual report assessing LGBT inclusion in major companies and law firms across the nation, including 32 in Pennsylvania.
While Administrative Relief Applies to Millions of Immigrants, Millions More Are Left Out
WASHINGTON, DC - November 20, 2014 -- Moments ago, President Obama made a long-awaited announcement about his intentions to offer administrative relief to millions of undocumented immigrants facing the threat of deportation.
SPLC's Intelligence Report: Recent Wave of Immigrant Children May Have Revitalized Nativist Extremist Movement
MONTGOMERY, Ala.- November 21, 2014 – As presidential action to allow more undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States became news this week, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) released a major report examining the possible rebirth of the nativist extremist movement that roiled the country from 2005 to 2011.
New ACS Issue Brief Provides Guidance for Advocates Representing Transgender Individuals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 19, 2014 – Following Time Magazine's assertion that "another social movement is poised to challenge deeply held cultural beliefs," an expert on transgender legal issues offers pointers to advocates on how to effectively represent transgender clients in discrimination cases.
Federal Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in Montana
New York - November 19, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Brian Morris ruled in favor of the freedom to marry and respect for same-sex couples' marriages in Montana.
Montana Marriage Equality Victory
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - November 19, 2014 - In a victory for equality across Montana, the U.S. District Court of Montana ruled today in favor of four same-sex couples suing for marriage.
Freedom to Marry Launches Texas Marriage Campaign
New York - November 18, 2014 - Freedom to Marry, in partnership with Equality Texas, today launched a public education campaign to amplify the bipartisan momentum for the freedom to marry in the Lone Star State. The campaign, called Texas for Marriage, will highlight that support as well as the continued harms that committed gay couples face everyday until the state's marriage case, DeLeon v Perry, is decided by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals early next year.
Federal Court Denies South Dakota's Motion to Dismiss Marriage Equality Lawsuit
(Sioux Falls, SD, Nov. 14, 2014)—South Dakota's marriage equality lawsuit is moving forward after United States Judge Karen Schreier rejected the State's motion for the case to be dismissed on Friday.
NCLR Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Tennessee Marriage Equality Case
(Nashville, TN, Nov. 14, 2014)—Today, the three same-sex couples challenging the State of Tennessee's laws excluding same-sex couples from marriage and refusing to recognize their out-of-state marriages asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that state marriage bans do not violate the U.S. Constitution.
ACLU and Lambda Legal ask Supreme Court to Review Ohio Marriage Cases
CINCINNATI - November 14, 2014 – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio, Lambda Legal and private firm Gerhardstein & Branch filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ aberrant ruling upholding discriminatory bans on marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ohio and three other states.
Pride Foundation Invests Nearly $7.1 million to Support LGBTQ Community in 2014
Seattle, WA - November 13, 2014—Pride Foundation announced today that it has invested nearly $7.1 million this year to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, adults, and families throughout the Northwest.
GLSEN Releases 29 State Snapshots from Most Recent National School Climate Survey on America's Middle and High Schools
NEW YORK (Nov. 13, 2014) – GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) today released state-level data from its biennial National School Climate Survey report for 29 states that show that schools remain unsafe for the majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.
NCLR Applauds the Oklahoma Supreme Court for Allowing Same-Sex Parents to Seek Custody
(Oklahoma City, OK, November 12, 2014)—In a victory for all LGBT families in Oklahoma, the state's Supreme Court ruled today that non-biological parents in a same-sex relationship can seek custody of children they raised based on an agreement to parent together. The decision found that there is no public policy in Oklahoma against a child having same-sex parents, and if a biological parent jointly conceives children with a non-biological parent and then raises those children together, she cannot deny the other parent the ability to seek custody or visitation based on their agreement.
U.N. Committee Raises Concern About LGBT Conversion Therapy in U.S.
(Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 12, 2014)—For the first time in its history, today the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) expressed concern over the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy being used on LGBT youth in the United States.
Federal Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in South Carolina
New York - November 12, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Richard Mark Gergel ruled that denying marriage for same-sex couples in South Carolina is unconstitutional. The decision also cites a previous ruling from the U.S. Fourth Circuit of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over South Carolina.
State of LGBT Equality in Nine New Jersey Cities Detailed in HRC's New Municipal Equality Index
WASHINGTON - November 12, 2014 - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today released its third annual report assessing LGBT equality in 353 cities across the nation, including nine in New Jersey
Missouri Joins 32 States and the District of Columbia that Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry
KANSAS CITY, MO - November 7, 2014 – U.S. District Court Judge Ortrie D. Smith ruled today that same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses. This judgment strikes down Missouri's 2004 constitutional amendment that excluded gay men and lesbians from marriage allowing Missouri to join the 32 states and the District of Columbia that issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in Missouri
New York - November 7, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith ruled that denying marriage for same-sex couples in Missouri is unconstitutional. The ruling comes just two days after St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison also declared Missouri's ban unconstitutional, and a month after a state ruling which found that Missouri must respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples performed elsewhere.
Health
Fighting Fair
Why do we fight, argue or disagree? We want our way. We want to be right. We want to get something. Are we willing to get it at any cost? For most of us, the answer is: no. In any relationship of worth, we want the relationship to prosper more than we want to "win".
Spirituality and Religion
Pennsylvania Catholics respond to Archbishop Chaput, want candid discussion about LGBT issues during Pope's Philadelphia
PENNSYLVANIA – Keystone Catholics is disappointed by the November 19th statement by Archbishop Chaput in which he suggested issues dealing with sexuality are driven by the media and therefore will not be widely covered at the World Meeting of Families next September in Philadelphia.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Michael Dithers
Thoughts on anti-discrimination legislation and recent video on street harassment. Also, marriage equality gains.
Church synod LGBT slap in the face?
For the LGBT community to simply ignore what happened at the Vatican a couple of weeks ago when Pope Francis convened a synod on issues facing the Catholic Church would be a major mistake. Even those of us who are not Catholic are effected by a church that has an estimated 1.2 billion members worldwide. Here in the U.S. it's influence effects the way some elected officials vote and some Judges rule. And then their are the issues that effect our brother and sister believers and their families. We can not turn our backs on them.
The Amazon Trail: Cheeseburgers In Paradise: Cate Culpepper 1957 - 2014
Author Cate Culpepper was friends with just about everyone in her life. Our friendship began in 2006, when we met in Olympia, Washington for a signing. In 2007 my sweetheart-to-be and I visited Cate's hotel room at the Golden Crown Literary Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Cate was wearing over-sized, faux-furred brown bear slippers, a vision I will never forget -- and never allowed her to forget.
Contests
Win KURIOS-Cabinet of Curiosities CD from Cirque du Soleil!
Win KURIOS-Cabinet of Curiosities CD from Cirque du Soleil! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 19 and January 9.
Enter for a chance to win an Annie Prize Pack!
Enter for a chance to win an Annie Prize Pack! Enter for a chance to win an Annie Prize Pack including a Sandy plush, t-shirt and poster! Columbia Pictures presents Annie. Academy Award® nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) – advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) – makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around. Annie has been rated PG by the MPAA for some mild language and rude humor. To enter the contest, fill out the form below between December 16 and January 6.
Win The Dark Place DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures!
Win The Dark Place DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 16 and January 6.
Enter to win the Reflections EP from MisterWives!
Enter to win the Reflections EP from MisterWives! REFLECTIONS, the debut EP from the buzzworthy new band MISTERWIVES. Featuring six tracks including the hit single "Reflections" AVAILABLE NOW: smarturl.it/ireflections. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 12 and January 2.
Win a copy of Isabel Rose's brand new album, Trouble in Paradise
Win a copy of Isabel Rose's brand new album, Trouble in Paradise.Trouble in Paradise, the new CD from acclaimed singer Isabel Rose (www.isabelrose.com) is a top-drawer musical event. Produced by Bob Rock (Michael Buble, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Cher), it is now in stores via BDG/RED, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 9 and December 30.
Win Katie Gilmartin's Blackmail, My Love: A Murder Mystery
Win a copy of Katie Gilmartin's brand new book, Blackmail, My Love: A Murder Mystery. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 5 and December 26.
Win 4 Moons DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures!
Win 4 Moons DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 2 and December 23.
Enter to win The London Sessions from Mary J. Blige!
Enter to win The London Sessions from Mary J. Blige! THE LONDON SESSIONS, the new album from global superstar MARY J. BLIGE. Featuring the hit single "Therapy," "Right Now" and groundbreaking collaborations with UK talent including Sam Smith, Disclosure, Naughty Boy and more! Available Now! http://smarturl.it/TheLondonSessions. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between November 28 and December 19.
Win The Door of the Heart by Diana Finfrock Farrar!
Win The Door of the Heart by Diana Finfrock Farrar! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between November 25 and December 16.
Miscellaneous
Local Wedding Officiant Directory planned
Erie Gay News is compiling a directory of authorized wedding officiants who will perform services for same-sex couples We will be asking every district justice in Erie and Chautauqua counties if they will treat same-sex couples' wedding requests in a respectful and equal manner. In addition, we are asking our readers to let us know about any other authorized wedding officiants in the area (clergy, civic officials, etc.) who would perform same-sex weddings. We will then contact those officiants to confirm whether or not they wish to be listed in the directory.
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