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Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-05T16:59:00.001-07:00

Did the bitch set him up? Washington D.C. City Councilman Marion Barry, who's devoted the last few weeks to rallying against the city's recognition of same-sex marriage from other jurisdictions, just added to his controversy hash marks. Barry was arrested last night on stalking allegations, made by a woman who says the former mayor was [...]

Information must be free, yes? Then here's your regularly updated list of which U.S. Senators and House Representatives support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — and those who don't. Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Congress, Discrimination, ENDA, legislation, Politics, Senate

GRATUITOUS SKIN — There's a good chance this is what your July 4th resembled this year. Not seen in the shot, of course, are the two hamburgers, three hot dogs, and half dozen empty beers you've managed to down while celebrating Independence Day. At Queerty HQ, we're setting off our own version of firecrackers. Stand [...]

Okay so back on July 15, 2003 I was at Universal Studios Hollywood on a family vacation. I was with my husband Miguel & his family: mom, 3 sisters & his godson (His older brother who was a huge MJ fan & his 4 kids opted to stay home, but heard all about it by [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Our divine "moral compass" and declarant of "civil war" on same-sex marriage was arrested and charged last night in DC for stalking a woman in Anacostia Park.

According to the Washington Post:

At about 8:45 p.m., a woman traveling near the intersection Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive flagged down a U.S. Park Police officer to report that a man in a vehicle nearby was stalking her, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman. That man, Schlosser said, was [Marion] Barry.
The officer interviewed the woman and Barry, then arrested Barry and took him to the Park Police's Anacostia Station, Schlosser said. There a detective interviewed Barry again, and police charged him with a misdemeanor count of stalking. Barry was released and ordered to appear in court, likely sometime later this week, Schlosser said.
Barry, a former D.C. mayor, has had a series of brushes with the law during a long career in politics and civic activism. He is currently on probation for tax offenses.

How much are you willing to bet the religious fanatics won't be circulating a referendum petition to remove the morally corrupt and divorced 4 times Barry from office? Oh the hypocrisy keeps growing, and it's only been a week since "sanctity of marriage" Sanford f**ked around on his wife. Now if only we could catch Rick Warren smoking crack with a prostitute.

A major paper has pick up on this story, and capture the outrage over the Stonewall weekend police raid at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Texas. In "A Raid at a Club in Texas Leaves a Man in the Hospital and Gay Advocates Angry," James McKinley, Jr. of the NYT captures the major issues at play and added a few more details about the event.

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

Angry allies and members of the LGBT community there have created a new organization, Fairness Fort Worth, to track the investigations and inquiries regarding the raid and plans a benefit concert to help those injured.

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready foATA[ 18e LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

This week’s featured music video is from The Gossip’s new album ‘Music For Men’; its also from the single: ‘Heavy Cross’. The video: Heavy Cross More of Beth Ditto & The Gossip: - The Official Gossip Site - The Gossip on MySpace

Friday: New news we haven’t covered some of which is just breaking today, and updates on stories we’ve been following this week: Bullies: In Ireland: Most gay pupils bullied in school says youth service. Celebs: - Neil Patrick Harris is in negotiations to host this year’s Emmy Awards! - Margaret Cho’s “Beautiful” Trailer (”Beautiful” Premieres July 3rd on SHOWTIME [...]

Since yesterday’s big news out of India on the gay sex ruling I’ve come across so many great blog posts and news stories on it that I decided I need to do a post dedicated to just this one topic. The Story: The High Court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual intercourse between [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-05T16:54:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

FULL FRONTAL: This Transformers hottie gets way too comfortable in this old photoshoot (nine years old to be exact). You bet we have the NSFW versions inside!

LATIN FEVER: These sexy se and ntilde;oritas know a thing or two about making dance pop gems, but will they be able to spread their message in another language or will their efforts get lost in translation? Listen to both of their new Spanish singles here!

The Human Rights Campaign has launched a national action campaign encouraging the public to submit comments on why the draconian ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants should be lifted.Â Our action alert follows: It’s one of the ugliest remnants of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS â" hurtful, obsolete, and wrong. A decades-old policy BANS nearly every foreign [...]

Next week the Human Rights Campaign will launch a nationalÂ tour to encourage repeal of the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in conjunction with Servicemembers United.Â The kick off event will be a National Press Club Newsmakers press conference this coming Wednesday, July 8th at 10 a.m. in the Zenger Room, 13th floor, National Press [...]

Yesterday the mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy was notified via a recorded message that the man respon responsible for her son’s death was being released from prison immediately – a week earlier than expected.Â It’s the latest heart wrenching development in a story devoid of justice for Sean and his family.Â Stephen Andrew Moller [...]

Trawling hard for support in unrewarding times, Labour has made a determined pitch to gay and lesbian voters in the run-up to today's Gay Pride march in London. Gordon Brown's poetic comment on Thursday that "you can't legislate love" was part of an insistent government message that Labour has stood up for gay people through the years, while the Conservatives cannot be trusted with equality. ...

Over half a million people packed the streets of London yesterday to mark the annual Pride event. As sun shone down, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) and their supporters marched from Baker Street to Trafalgar Square in one of the most diverse and colourful events of the year.

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-05T12:54:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

OVERDOSE?: The spotlight is now on Michael Jackson's doctors as speculation surfaces that irresponsible drug prescriptions might have led to the icon's death. The Drug Enforcement Administration steps in, so things must be getting serious...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-05T11:59:00.001-07:00

Information must be free, yes? Then here's your regularly updated list of which U.S. Senators and House Representatives support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — and those who don't. Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Congress, Discrimination, ENDA, legislation, Politics, Senate

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 52 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

So many questions have been raised about the police account that on Friday afternoon, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to review the Police Department’s investigation.

Tom Anable, a 55-year-old accountant who said he was in the bar during the raid, said that for more than a half-hour the officers entered the bar repeatedly in groups of three and escorted people out. Then around 1:40 a.m., he said, the officers started to get rougher, throwing one young man down hard on a pool table.

Minutes later, one of the state agents approached Mr. Gibson, who was standing on steps to a lounge at the back of the bar with a bottle of water in his hands, and tapped him on the shoulder, Mr. Anable said. Mr. Gibson turned and said, “Why?”

Then the officer, who has not been identified, twisted Mr. [Chad] Gibson’s right arm behind his back, grabbed his neck, swung him off the steps and slammed his head into the wall of a hallway leading to the restrooms, Mr. Anable said. The agent then forced Mr. Gibson to the floor, Mr. Anable said.

“Gibson didn’t touch the officer,” Mr. Anable said. “He didn’t grope him.”

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

Some days are better than others, I guess. From The Leaf Chronicle:

A disagreement at the local Social Security office Wednesday ended with one of the people dropping her pants.
According to a Clarksville Police report, a customer became angry when she and a office clerk got into an argument about the customer's gender.
The suspect then allegedly dropped her pants to prove she was a female, according to the report by CPD Officer Nathan Vanatta.

Well. As we're having this "reboot" week that includes a lot of lively discussion on sex, gender, transgender, transsexual, and privileges of all sorts, the last line of the article goes to the suspect reality of living trans:

According to the report, the suspect was born a man and had gender reassignment surgery and is now a woman.

Worthy of note, I guess, is that the article mentions an argument between both the customer and the clerk, and metions the customer was "angry." Not only was the customer sex and gender suspect, but now she's a criminal suspect as well.

...With her story being of interest for her local press.

~~~~~
Further Reading:
Alas A Blog: The [Cissexual] Privilege Checklist (Especially check out the first two items on the list these relate to this story)

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 1ON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

OREGON LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNES UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - SALEM, OR) The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The [...]

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: LaBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GayTalkRadio - Weekly News Review - JUL 05 2009

2009-07-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

7/05/2009 - 9:00 AM PST - NOON EST - EVERY DAY -

GayTalkRadio Independent Internet Radio now streams 23 hours a day, every day, in HD Stereo.

Our daily live segment starts at 9 AM PST - NOON EST.

Live text chat, news and music; all with a LGBTQIA slant!

Attend our live show at 9 AM PST - NOON EST every day by visiting www.GayTalkRadio.org

Feel free to call our voicemail system anytime at (360) 283-5052 or send me email tom@GayTalkRadio.org.

Join us daily (9 AM PST-NOON EST) for some laughs along with your news.

Hear todays show (click here).

We are on a mission to start a new dedicated LGBTQIA Channel/Station.

To help us organize, join us at GayTalkRadio.ning.com

Please visit our Independent Internet Radio Station site often at www.GayTalkRadio.org

All the best to you and yours.

-tom

International Gay News Headlines (T25T-3)

2009-07-05T11:22:00.001-07:00

While just over a million people turned out in London for gay pride, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester called on gay people to "repent and be changed" saying the Church of England must not be "rolled over by culture." Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called on the Bishop to "repent his homophobia."

The prime minister's wife Sarah Brown today made history by marching in London's Pride parade.

Just a day after a heated row over homophobia between Labour and the Conservatives, almost one million people gathered in London to celebrate gay Pride.

(Russia) Gay and Lesbian Film Festival “Bok o Bok” which was supposed to take place in Saint Petersburg from today and last until Sunday finally did not open after Fire Department Inspectors closed the place due to problems with fire security. In a phone interview to Project GayRussia.Ru, Organiser of the festival Irina Sergeeva said that the clubs “The Place” and “Sochi” where the screenings of the films were supposed to take place, were closed due to fire security reasons.

New York Daily News

Credit: Wilson/AP
New York Daily News
Dancers performs during the opening ceremony for the 44th Karlovay Vary International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. A man celebrates gay ...

and more »

UN chief: Talks in Myanmar fail
Philadelphia Inquirer
The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined thousands of revelers yesterday in London's annual gay-pride march. Sarah Brown held a red, white, ...

and more »

ABC News

(No) progress on gay rights: What's Obama waiting for?
Philadelphia Daily News
... International & the Michael D. Palm Center 2006 study). One in four US troops who served in Afghanistan or Iraq knows a member of their unit who is gay. ...
Gay-rights advocate complain over President Obama's handling of ...New York Daily News
40 years after Stonewall, still a long way to goOnline Journal
Obama recognizes LGBT Pride and Stonewall 40th AnniversaryThe Daily Voice
Daily Kos -The Moderate Voice -MiamiHerald.com
all 677 news articles »

New York Daily News

From the International Herald Tribune
New York Times
There was a huge gathering of Americans, and the toilettes of the many women present gave the banqueting hall a particularly bright and gay appearance. ...

and more »

Gay veteran's military dismissal puts spotlight on California ...
Kansas City Star
On Monday, Garamendi, a former state legislator and state insurance commissioner, won the endorsement of the 700000-member Service Employees International ...

and more »

REGINA â" The Saskatchewan government wants the province’s highest court to weigh in on proposed legislation that would allow marriage commissioners to not perform same-sex marriages if it is contrary to their religious beliefs. Justice Minister Don Morgan said Friday that the government is referring legislative options to the Court of Appeal for its opinion on [...]

GORDON Brown and David Cameron were last night locked in a bizarre and bitter battle for the GAY vote. The PM and Conservative leader are desperate to win over the UK’s three million pink voters. Two Cabinet ministers sprang into action to accuse the Tories of being anti-gay after new figures showed a [...]

The Human Rights Campaign, the nationâs largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a statement today in the death of Seaman August Provost, 29, at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. According to local media reports, the Navy and Marine Corps confirmed that a sailor’s body was found on the base [...]

The capital will host this year's UniQ Conference next weekend, along with a Burlesque Ball on Saturday night, and an '80's themed party to celebrate 23 years since Homosexual Law Reform.

The host of the Naval & Family pub's new quiz night says it'll be "a good old-fashioned Pub Quiz, but with a K' Road twist!"

A rugby team captain is on trial in the Timaru District Court after a male complainant says he was sexually assaulted by him.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-05T08:54:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-05T06:59:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

GRATUITOUS SKIN — If you can excuse the gaudy Christian Audigier clothing, Zach Burns' self-portraits are incredibly sexy. Self-indulgent, yes, but incredibly sexy. (See page 7 if you need convincing.) CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: gratuitous skin, Models, Photos, risque, Zach Burns

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Just like Ted Haggard, Gov. Mark Sanford's "little Sanford" took over the South Carolina governor and was led to his Argentine concubine by Satan, according to his spiritual adviser.

Each Sunday afternoon in May, Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife hosted five other couples at the executive mansion for a spiritual "boot camp." Topics discussed during the hour-and-a-half-long sessions included forgiveness and "not loving your wife as Christ loved the church."

...In an interview with The Associated Press this weekend at his Columbia office, just blocks from the State House, [Warren "Cubby"] Culbertson said he believed his friend when he said that this was his only marital transgression. He thinks Sanford was simply caught off guard by "the power of darkness."

..."God hates lawlessness and is tireless in His desire to dissuade man from his fascination with lawlessness," reads a paper titled "Cubby's Talks." "Our hearts are lions' dens of devouring lusts. Lawlessness torments righteous souls every day."

Culbertson does not believe the other woman went out of her way to seduce a married man. When asked if he had met Maria, Culbertson paused, then looked up, an embarrassed smile creasing his face. "I'm not going to comment," he said.

Some days are better than others, I guess. From The Leaf Chronicle& lt;/a>:

A disagreement at the local Social Security office Wednesday ended with one of the people dropping her pants.
According to a Clarksville Police report, a customer became angry when she and a office clerk got into an argument about the customer's gender.
The suspect then allegedly dropped her pants to prove she was a female, according to the report by CPD Officer Nathan Vanatta.

According to the report, the suspect was born a man and had gender reassignment surgery and is now a woman.

Worthy of note, I guess, is that the article mentions an argument between both the customer and the clerk, and metions the customer was "angr"angry." Not only was the customer sex and gender suspect, but now she's a criminal suspect as well.

...With her story being of interest for her local press.

~~~~~
Further Reading:
Alas A Blog: The [Cissexual] Privilege Checklist (Especially check out the first two items on the list these relate to this story)

How are we supposed to get anything done with health care reform with ridiculous attitudes like this? (Think Progress):

During a townhall in Waukon, IA Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked by a constituent of his: "Why is your insurance so much cheaper than my insurance and so better than my insurance?" When Grassley struggled to explain the details of his own health care plan, the elderly man followed up, "Okay, so how come I can't have the same thing you have?" Grassley said, "You can. Just go work for the federal government."

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishme[Press 1d 21 http://www.basicrights.org/?p=727 8 18 168 OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

OREGON LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS FOR GAY AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS (WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2009 - SALEM, OR) The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Memorial 22, calling on Congress to pass and the President to sign expanded federal hate crimes legislation to include the gay and transgender community. The [...]

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

LGBT News Headlines (T26T-5)

2009-07-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

New York Times

On the Rainbow Lounge incident: Gay club raid inexcusable
Dallas Morning News
"Gay panic" is no excuse for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents' actions. I was profoundly saddened to read of the brutal gay-bashing at the ...
A Raid at a Club in Texas Leaves a Man in the Hospital and Gay ...New York Times
Rainbow Lounge incident puts Fort Worth at forefront of struggle ...Fort Worth Star Telegram
Mayor Calls For Federal Review Of Gay Bar RaidOn Top Magazine
Dallas Morning News -Dallas Morning News -Dallas Morning News
all 625 news articles »

Daily Mail

Gay row 'may cause Church split'
BBC News
The fellowship was set up at a conference of conservative Anglican bishops and leaders in Jerusalem in the wake of the ordination of an openly gay bishop in ...
'Repent!' Rochester tells gays as Synod starts. 'No, you repent ...Telegraph.co.uk
Bishop urges homosexuals to change and repentInTheNews.co.uk
Senior Church of England Bishop says gays must "repent and be changed"PinkNews.co.uk
The Press Association
all 207 news articles »

Seattle Post Intelligencer

British PM's wife joins 1000s at gay pride parade
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) â" The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march. Sarah Brown held a red, ...
Gay community split over 'depoliticised' London Prideguardian.co.uk
In pictures: Pride party politicsBBC News
Brown's wife takes part in gay prideAFP
Independent -On Top Magazine -Wikinews
all 328 news articles »

The Anti-LGBT Moments of the Sarah Palin Tornado
Tips-Q GLBT News
Sarah Palin's announcement yesterday that "I'm a celebrity, get me off this oil field," have sent a handful of shockwaves through the political chattering ...

and more »

ABC News

Obama urges lesbian, gay patience overturning 'unjust laws' (text)
Los Angeles Times
And that's important, and I'm glad that so many LGBT families could join us today. (Applause.) For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws ...
Local, national LGBT leaders mark Stonewall at White HousePhiladelphia Gay News
Why It's Time For LGBT Democrats To Get Over Their Battered Wife ...Huffington Post
POTUS to LGBT: "Welcome to Your White House"ABC News
Minnesota Independent -Catholic News Agency -Atlantic Online -Right Pundits
all 677 news articles »

Retreat offering new LGBT treatment option
Brattleboro Reformer
The clients who choose to enter the new LGBT program will receive the same psychiatric care that is offered throughout the rest of the Retreat. ...

and more »

GLBT group holds gay pride parade in MB
WPDE
AP Video By Graeme Moore Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach ...
'Gay' column shows how far we still have to goThe Free Lance-Star
Gay community holds Pride event in Myrtle BeachWPDE

all 3 news articles »

National Education Conference focuses on GLBT students of color
Gay and Lesbian Times
The conference took special interest in GLBT students and their teachers, along with GLBT minorities of color and women. âFor educators, the challenges are ...
Location key to information disseminationGay and Lesbian Times

all 2 news articles »

Embracing the Homosexual Agenda
Daily Kos
I think promotion of knowledge of GLBT diversity is an excellent subject in schools, should be on the Agenda. Well, I have to visualize strongly the concept ...

and more »

Here are some pictures from our San Francisco chapter's participation in this year's Pride celebration! In addition Prayers for Bobby Executive Producer Daniel Sladek and star Ryan Kelley were on hand to show their PFLAG pride...

PFLAG Mother and Son Ask President and First Lady to Speak Out for Families and LGBT People to Create Safer Communities

A PFLAG mother and son asked President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and their families at the White House today.

[Pictured left to right: Carmen Robello of PFLAG's Families of Color network, her son, Louie, and PFLAG National's Jody M. Huckaby]

"A supportive environment makes a world of difference, and we are hopeful the President and First Lady will take the initiative in making our country a safer place for all of our family members," said Carmen Robello, a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

She is a member of PFLAG's Families of Color and Allies of New York City and Newark, New Jersey chapters, both dedicated to providing support for families across diverse communities.

Robello and her son Louie, were invited to a special reception at the White House to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the event identified as the starting point for the LGBT equality movement in the U.S.

"We were incredibly honored to meet with the President and First Lady, and tell them our story, and how anti-LGBT violence and harassment create problems not just for LGBT people, but for their families and communities," said Robello. "My son and I asked the President and First Lady to speak out and become more visible in denouncing anti-LGBT discrimination."

Louie Robello experienced anti-LGBT harassment in his high school years. He later founded his high school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and went on to be elected his class president.

This month PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET) President Kim Pearson is featured in Diversity Rules magazine for her critical work with transgender youth. She is also Executive Director and Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA).

Pearson explains to Diversity Rules, "Create schools and communities that respect and celebrate that people are different. Speak up when someone says 'thatâs so gay' or 'what a sissy' or 'boys donât do that.' Make room for difference. Value individuality and learn about that which you do not currently understand. Have an honest and compassionate conversation with a transgender adult, child or parentâ¦walk a mile in their shoes... The only way the ârulesâ of society change is for individuals to step up and say something. When we stop accepting the status quo and start living the change we wish to see in the world, that is when true change will happen, in my humble opinion."

Click here to read the complete interview with Kim Pearson, and click here to visit PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET)

Taken from a satirical column posted on thediscust.com: South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford released another statement today, this time blaming her husbandâs affair on the declining moral values in America. Jenny Sanford (right) and SC GOP chair Karen Floyd are both outspoken opponents of gay marriage. âOf course Iâm not saying that Mark is gay,â Sanford [...]

SHAMING THE DEVIL Collected Short Stories By G. Winston James Reviewed By Stanley Bennett Clay Poet G. Winston James makes a remarkable fiction debut with SHAMING THE DEVIL, a collection of short stories that examine black, predominantly homoerotic experiences with beauty, passion and a boldness that renders it both transcendental and deeply personal. One need not be gay or [...]

From the Village Voice: Assemblyman Micah Kellner, one of the officials to whom state senator Tom Duane reached out when Joe Holladay got gay-bashed on the Upper East Side last week, has told WCBS that there have been other incidents in the neighborhood recently that are disturbingly similar — “Three of which are currently being considered [...]

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GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-05T01:59:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

Matt Comer at QNotes has a great piece on openly gay candidates running for office in my state, as well as a look back at some of the trailblazers in the past. This year North Carolina has three out gay candidates who will be on the ballot -- Mark Kleinschmidt, who's running to serve as the mayor of Chapel Hill, Lee Sartain is making a bid for a seat on the Raleigh City Council, and Owen Sutkowski has his eye on the Charlotte City Council. Taking a look back at the timeline of progress of openly gay North Carolinians running for office is interesting:

Bob Hoy and Lightning Brown: In 1981, Hoy lost his bid for a seat on the Raleigh City Council, while Lightning Brown narrowly lost in a race for Chapel Hill Town Council.

Joseph Herzenberg: Way back in 1987, North Carolina elected its state’s first openly gay elected official -- Joe Herzenberg. He won his race for Chapel Hill Town Council. Lightning Brown's partner, Joe was a co-founder of Equality Carolina Political Action Committee.

Robert Sheets: Ran and lost his bids for a seat on the Charlotte City Council in 1987 and 1989; in his first bid played coy in the press about his orientation that reflected the times:

Q-Notes reported, “He said that asked whether he is gay, he will reply, ‘Would you ask such a damaging question of all candidates?’”

Mike Nelson: Elected to Carrboro Board of Alderman in 1993, then elected mayor of Carrboro in 1995 before running a successful campaign for Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Sen. Julia Boseman: NC's first out LGBT member of the NC General Assembly was elected to the Senate in 2004.

This seThis session, Boseman has taken on the responsibility of being the leading proponent of the School Violence Prevention Act, opening her to personal criticism from radical, right-wing colleagues.

In a House committee hearing on the bill on June 16, Republican Minority Leader Skip Stam of Wake County said same-sex parents were “more dangerous that second-hand smoke.” He said protecting gay students would lead to the protection of pedophilia and gay marriage. All this in front of Boseman and her six-year-old son, who were both attending the committee hearing.

Elic Senter: Won his bid to become mayor of Franklinton in 2007; this is the first elective office ever held by Senter.

Additional notables cited in Matt's piece:

Other current openly gay or lesbian elected officials include:
• Ernest Fleming: Warren County Board of Commissioners, first elected 2006.
• Janet Pepin, Boone City Council
• Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro Board of Aldermen
• Jennifer Knox, Wake County District Court
• Nancy Caviness, Duck, N.C., Town Council

Other historic candidacies include:
• Lesbian Sue Henry’s 1995 independent, write-in campaign for Charlotte mayor.
• Openly gay Jim Neal’s 2008 bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He was defeated by then-N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan who went on to defeat then-incumbent Elizabeth Dole.
• Wade Boyles’ 2008 Democratic challenge to incumbent N.C. Rep. Dale Folwell in western Forsyth County. Folwell, a Republican, carried 60 percent of the vote.
• Libertarian Chris Cole’s several unsuccessful runs for the Charlotte City Council, N.C. Senate and House and U.S. Senate.

As we fight for equality here, look at what our brothers and sisters face in Uganda.

A stringent Bill against homosexuality is in the offing, the state minister for ethics and integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has said.
Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre yesterday, Buturo said the country was besieged by homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, human sacrifice, drug abuse, embezzlement and witchcraft to the extent that it was "dangerously becoming a permissive society."
He noted that once the Bill is passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality or advocate for it. He also stated that it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to their cause, once the Bill becomes law.

Update from Autumn: For those of you who think this post is a comment from me that says "F*** it, it doesn't matter if I identified the right first person" of "First actual perceived-by-me weaponizing of the term cis, cisgender, or cissexual" ... that is literally not what I meant. I likely did get it wrong -- it was the first weaponizing of the term that I remembered specifically as the weaponizing of the term, as opposed the probable first actual perceived-by-me weaponizing of the term cis, cisgender, or cissexual. I should have wrote it that way initially, but the way it was presented editorially left it open to wide interpretation. This was not a news story or reporting, but my personal commentary.

In addition, I'm saying that if you think I got the "first" aspect of this wrong, that's probably correct as well. If the point of the continued commentary is to achieve resolution of this editorial or semantic lack of clarity, I'm presenting it here. To those who want me to specifically admit I got the timeline wrong -- I didn't scan the comments looking for the first instance of what I remembered the initial perceived-weaponized-as-weapon comment, it in all likelihood wasn't the first one; that's obviously a mistake. If the purpose of continuing this discussion is to ensure there are clear public winners and losers regarding this entire time-draining endeavor, then this is the "win" you're looking for. The bottom line is that this is the correction, the statement of fact to answer the questions you've expressed. It's not clear that many of you will accept it no matter how it's phrased or presented, but I wanted it to be clear that this needed to editorially be put to bed.

There is a new meme of commentary out there now that I wrongly misstated the timeline of who threw the first snowball(s) in the current cisgender and cissexual discussion.

In the big picture, does it matter who threw the first snowball? Is the argument that no one threw any snowballs? Or, is argument that there were snowballs thrown and I misstated who threw the first snowball? Or, is the argument that I threw the first snowball, and no one else has thrown any snowballs?

Would we all agree that snowballs have been thrown? Does it really matter that much who threw the first snowball or snowballs? Do we need to know who threw the first snowball(s) in this ongoing snowball fight? Or, is the real question WHY is the snowball fight continuing unabated?

And while this fight has been going on and seems to have escalated to pitchforks and torches being passed out at the snowball forts, in the grand scheme of things...

• is the upcoming Latisha Green Hate Crime Murder Trial receiving our attention?
• is the hate expressed at the young, trans woman Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder being forgotten?
• is our community focused on passing the Matthew Sheppard Act -- the federal hate crime legislation?
• is our community making calls to ensure the passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?
• have we highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't going to appeal the Diane Schroer trans federal government discrimination case decision?
• is our community taking notice that an apparent hate crime murder of an apparently gay sailor is being called "not a hate crime" by the United States Navy?

I don't care to rehash how and why the snowball fight began at The Blend and the blogosphere in the first place, or who and when the first snowballs were thrown. But now, o now, of course, the snowball fight has taken on a life of its own -- I don't think anything I do at this point will affect an end to the snowball fight. Nothing. What this snowball fight has done is leave me asking bigger picture questions. In the grand scheme of things: What is important to our community? -- What is the bottom line for our community? -- What are the priorities for our community?

Note from Pam: Just so people know, Kynn decided to engage in sock puppetry (as "Caoimhe") and got herself banned again. If you're banned, you're certainly not welcome to come back and pretend to be someone else advocating for the banned person. Take a look.

LGBT LATINOS CELEBRATE DUAL CULTURES WITH PRIDELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡DELatino Gay Pride committee gets ready for 4th Annual Portland Latino Gay Pride: La Lucha! ¡Que Viva La Lucha! Is the rallying cry for the fourth annual Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 4th to Sunday June 7th. In 2006 a volunteer planning committee was formed to organize [...]

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-05T00:39:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

2009-07-05T00:15:00.001-07:00

Feature Story:
Crowd of Pride partiers at Charles and Eager Streets in Baltimore ''We need more love in the world,'' Amber shouted from Baltimore Pride's main stage last Saturday evening, June 20, using her headliner status to inject a bit of passionate politics with pointed barbs for Proposition 8 and support for the protestors in Iran.
It was a well-received injection, as pride celebrants felt both the love and the beautiful weather at the 34th Annual Baltimore Pride -- although the latter was never guaranteed.
''We dodged a bullet with the weather,'' says Craig Wiley, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore, the organization presenting Baltimore Pride. Forecasted thunderstorms and heavy downpours never materialized Saturday night. Instead, there was a slight breeze and a largely clear-blue sky. ...more

Gauge:
Frank Kameny in the 2009 Capital Pride Parade Fifty-two years after being fired from the federal government for being gay, Frank Kameny has now being honored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for his accomplishments as a gay-rights pioneer.
''I would not have been able to accomplish what I have in my career without all of Frank's work,'' said OPM Director John Berry, the highest-ranking openly gay appointee in the Obama administration, at the June 24 ceremony. Berry's agency is the successor to the U.S. Civil Service Commission, the agency whose policy against gays in the federal government resulted in Kameny's termination.
Berry presented Kameny with a letter officially apologizing for the firing. ...more

Gauge: Two years after the Virginia DMV sent a letter of apology to a Virginia resident for demanding he return his ''poofter'' license plate, 41-year-old Sidney Antommarchi of Herndon, Va., is reaping the benefits of what he calls an ''open-minded'' DMV.
Sitting on the back of his Toyota Corolla, framed by a rainbow sticker and an HRC decal, is his new ''boy4boy'' license plate, just a few months old.
''My last plate was 'hotboyz,''' says Antommarchi, ''but I got that with my ex-partner, and it was time for a change.'' ...more

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP)
A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention cut ties with because it didn't adhere to the denomination's stance on homosexuals has been told they aren't welcome to participate in a Kentucky Baptist mission program.

The Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir, made up of high-schoolers, was informed Monday that it was "uninvited" to participate in the University of the Cumberlands' Mountain Outreach program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The Southern Baptist Convention voted during its national meeting in Louisville last week to sever ties with Broadway Baptist C ...

From Washington Blade staff reports
Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June 2008 for the death of Sean Kennedy, was released from prison early after serving one year, according to a press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

Witnesses testified at Moller's t rial that he used anti-gay slurs when beating Kennedy outside a Greenville, S.C., bar in May 2007.

“This adds insult to injury. To release a man just one-year after his sentencing in this heinous crime and to inform the victim's mother through an automated recording is despicable,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Sean Kennedy was vio ...

From Washington Blade staff reports
The CEO of Window Media and Unite Media has resigned from his position after eight years with the company to pursue another position in the finance industry.

David Unger announced his resignation Wednesday to employees. The Window Media portfolio includes the Washington Blade.

In a statement, Unger said he's leaving “for an excellent opportunity in New York” and that his departure “will have no effect” on the Blade or other Window Media publications.

“I will be around to help if needed and I wish everyone the best,” he said.

Unger's resignation leaves Mike Kitchens, chief ...

Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, an LGBT-focused business advisory group based in San Francisco, has scored a major get for its annual summit this fall: John Berry, the openly gay director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today picked Ronald E. Albers for a judgeship on the San Francisco County Superior Court.

Theresa Sparks, the transgender woman who has served two terms as president of the city’s police commission, has ruled out running for a third term. When she first won the coveted seat by one vote back in 2007, Sparks became the first transgender person to head a city oversight panel. But her ascension led to [...]

In a shocking announcement on Friday, Alaska Gov. and former vice-presidential ential candidate Sarah Palin announced she is resigning from office.

In Oakland Park, Florida at least... The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has been working to get local governments to support an act to eliminate "don't ask, don't tell." The Oakland Park City Commission passed the Military Readiness Enhancement Act unanimously.

The Westboro Baptist Church clearly knows no boundaries.

Some gay AAA members say there's no real problem. Stock photo The American Automobile Association (AAA) division that serves members and residents in Florida, Georgia, Middle and West Tennessee, and...

Karma, a posh downtown straight bar, held its first 'gay night' on Wednesday, June 24.

by Laurie Holloway Contributor Experts at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt recommend that families attend professional fireworks displays instead of buying their own to shoot at home. However, if parents choose to buy fireworks...

Texas church choir 'uninvited' by Ky. university Ties severed with Broadway Baptist Church over views on homosexuality WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP) | Jul. 2 at 4:04 PM Jul. 2 at 4:04 PM A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

Sean Kennedy's killer released from prison Stephen Moller served one year for murder of gay man From Washington Blade staff reports | Jul. 2 at 12:44 PM Jul. 2 at 12:44 PM Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June 2008 for the death of Sean...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

Gay media mogul resigns from Window Media Unger to pursue finance position From Washington Blade staff reports | Jul. 2 at 11:20 AM Jul. 2 at 11:20 AM The CEO of Window Media and Unite Media has resigned from his position after eight years with...

To continue reading, please visit www.sovo.com

A million people are expected at London Gay Pride, where an emphasis on fun over politics is being criticized

With Franken, Senate Democrats get 60 votes _ on paper _ and a lot more pressure

The gay minister who survived a challenge by religious conservatives will take his post Friday

I finally got around to watching Sarah Palin’s entire resignation speech — described universally as “disjointed” and “rambling,” and rightly so — but what had my lovely wife and me in stitches was the background noise. First, there was the kid (”Why doesn’t somebody shut that squalling brat up?” I asked, adding: “And then maybe [...]

But that’s still a darned big “-gate” — you betcha! Per The Inquisitr: Multiple sources have been digging around in the wake of Sarah Palinâs cryptic resignation speech Friday and theyâve found that when Palin was Mayor of her home town of Wasilla, AK in 2002, she was influental in the construction of the Wasilla Sports [...]

Man, oh man, is The Great Deceiver ever feeling the pressure from his betrayed liberal base — and he doesn’t like it one bit. And neither do the libs hornswoggled into voting for him: Obama Urges Groups to Stop Attacks President Obama, strategizing yesterday with congressional leaders about health-care reform, complained that liberal advocacy groups ought to [...]

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-04T20:59:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

As we fight for equality here, look at what our brothers and sisters face in Uganda.

A stringent Bill against homosexuality is in the offing, the state minister for ethics and integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has said.
Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre yesterday, Buturo said the country was besieged by homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, human sacrifice, drug abuse, embezzlement and witchcraft to the extent that it was "dangerously becoming a permissive society."
He noted that once the Bill is passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality or advocate for it. He also stated that it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to their cause, once the Bill becomes law.

In addition, I'm saying that if you think I got the "first" aspect of this wrong, that's probably correct as well. If the point of the continued commentary is to achieve resolution of this editorial or semantic lack of clarity, I'm presenting it here. To t hose who want me to specifically admit I got the timeline wrong -- I didn't scan the comments looking for the first instance of what I remembered the initial perceived-weaponized-as-weapon comment, it in all likelihood wasn't the first one; that's obviously a mistake. If the purpose of continuing this discussion is to ensure there are clear public winners and losers regarding this entire time-draining endeavor, then this is the "win" you're looking for. The bottom line is that this is the correction, the statement of fact to answer the questions you've expressed. It's not clear that many of you will accept it no matter how it's phrased or presented, but I wanted it to be clear that this needed to editorially be put to bed.

There is a new meme of commentary out there now that I wrongly misstated the timeline of who threw the first snowball(s) in the current cisgender and cissexual discussion.

In the big picture, does it matter who threw the first snowbalowball? Is the argument that no one threw any snowballs? Or, is argument that there were snowballs thrown and I misstated who threw the first snowball? Or, is the argument that I threw the first snowball, and no one else has thrown any snowballs?

And while this fight has been going on and seems to have escalated to pitchforks and torches being passed out at the snowball forts, in the grand scheme of things...

• is the upcoming Latisha Green Hate Crime Murder Trial receiving our attention?
• is the hate expressed at the young, trans woman Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder being forgotten?
• is our community focused on passing the Matthew Sheppard Act -- the federal hate crime legislation?
• is our community making calls to ensure the passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?
• have we highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't going to appeal the Diane Schroer trans federal government discrimination case decision?
• is our community taking notice that an apparent hate crime murder of an apparently gay sailor is being called "not a hate crime" by the United States Navy?

I don't care to rehash how and why the snowball fight began at The Blend and the blogosphere in the first place, or who and when the first snowballs were thrown. But now, of course, the snowball fight has taken on a life of its own -- I don't think anything I do at this point will affect an end to the snowball fight. Nothing. What this snowball fight has done is leave me asking bigger picture questions. In the grand scheme of things: What is important to our community? -- What is the bottom line for our community? -- What are the priorities for our community?

Click here to sign up to meet with your US Senators and Representatives in August in your local district to press the case for HR 3017, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Did you click on the link just now and sign up? Why not? That unreasoning ning reason that just jumped into your head - you know, the thing along the lines of "You expect meeee to....no thanks, I can't, someone else will do it, I'm just browsing, leave me alone" - that one?

We can have ENDA -- if we get smart and we get targeted.

Or not.

Why ENDA?

There are a dozen different items on our LGBT agenda. But only ENDA has an excellent chance of becoming US law this year, if the grassroots gets smart and gets targeted. The House is almost there, with 200 Representatives having taken a public position in favor, and 60 more likely yeses out there, bringing us well over the 218 needed for passage. The Senate is going to be more of a firefight because of the larger and more split constituencies that they represent, but there are probably (I emphasize probably) more than the 60 needed to preclude a filibuster. ENDA is also the greatest good for the most people, for it will have a direct impact on a larger segment of the LGBT community than any of the issues on our plate. Most of us work, and far fewer are hate crime victims, serve in the military or want to get married.

The right to discriminate against us is the right to keep us unemployed and underemployed and marginalize both our economic and personal lives. Furthermore, the House is very, very close to a clear and public majority on ENDA, and the Senate now has the power to shut down any filibuster after the seating of Senator Franken, with probably enough votes to do it.

We could have ENDA. We should have it. We would have it, if we take effective actions. But this may all be "coulda shoulda woulda" at the end of 2009.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

The Grinch That Stole ENDA

There is a very persistent enemy, an enemy that threatens to deny us even the limited job fairness bill that is ENDA, and that is our reluctance to come together as a community to tell our Representatives and Senators with a clear voice: WE WANT THIS LAW.

Instead, we have a dozen different calls to action on different issues going around, people marching in a dozen different directions with their fists in the air and their brains firmly in the off position, and there is even a contingent that is opposing ENDA on the shortsighted ground that we don't want anything if we don't get everything right now - which is the legislative equivalent of a hissy fit. The small LGBT populations in the states where ENDA is most iffy and most in need of public contact with legislators are being split in a dozen different directions. Am I against petitions and marches and calling President Obama to task? Am I against free speech?

Yes, if it takes the form of crazy speech. I'm against anything that is going to fractionalize our community into a dozen different pieces, all speeding away from each other like the Big Bang. All heat and no light. I want ENDA and I'm not afraid to say so.

Desperately needed is an LGBT community signing up to meet with their Representatives and Senators on ENDA during the August recess when legislators control their own calendars, instead of the insane marching drumbeat that happens when Congress is in session.

Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Representatives and Senators don't vote based on how mad you are or how long your petition, or how big your Facebook group or march is.

They vote based on how many people in their districts tats take the time and effort to explain their positions. There are too many things drowning out our voices otherwise - health care and immigration and taxes and whatnot. That is a pain in the butt, but that is reality. That is why lobbyists make so much money.

A meeting is so much more powerful than an email or a phone call. Emails and phone calls get marked down as numbers on a list, if they get marked down at all. They help, but much less than meetings.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Face-to-Face Meetings Will Get Us ENDA

Face to face meetings are what really make the difference for an undecided legislator. Think about yourself, and take some issue that you don't know a whole lot about, but are being asked to vote on.

Let's take as an example the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2009. Pretty exciting, eh? It establishes a cleanup fund for reclamation of old mines by subjecting production of minerals from any mining claim to royalties and fees. Is it a good idea? Do we need this? Is this addressing a major problem or is it some legislator paying back a debt to a constituent on an issue no one else cares about? Is it going to drive marginal businesses under?

I don't know, I don't really care, and you probably don't either.

Which of these scenarios are most likely to get you to support the bill?

1) Your aide tells you some emails came in supporting the bill.

2) Your receptionist says you got some phone calls supporting the bill.

3) You meet with three constituents who vote in your district, nice people all of them, and they tell you how mine-damaged land is a major problem for them, and why this Act is needed to improve the quality of their lives. Each of them tells a story about what it's like living with these abandoned mines and why it's bad.

I don't know about you, but I'd go with number 3.

Now, number 3 doesn't happen all that often.

Why? Because, in fact, most people are too busy with their lives to stop and take the effort to set up a meeting and go and pitch their legislators. It's also a bit frightening. What will I say? How will they react? Will I be rejected? So a meeting of legislators with ordinary constituents happens once in a blue moon. Oh, the corporate constituents and the lobbying groups and the nonprofits are in there every day. But an ordinary person who experiences discrimination?

Rarely.

That's got to change.

The Facebook campaign for "Inclusive ENDA" (with over 2700 members, by the way, but who's counting?) is providing a service that allows those interested in passage of the bill to sign up for meetings scheduled with their U.S. Senators and Representatives in their local districts in August.

August is a time when no legislative session is scheduled, and legislators are in their home districts. They are not controlled by a tight meeting schedule. They have time to listen. And that time is now.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Why Are You Exempt?

Did you click and sign up?

Hmmm. This meeting signup site has been in place for a month and we have advertised it tirelessly. Do you know how many people visited the site?,About a 1000. Do you know how many signed up for meetings? About 50.

Do you see a disconnect here?

We are too busy with too many things. We have calls for petitions, and we have calls for marches, and we have rhetoric and bloggers' tough talk out the wazoo about DOMA briefs and DOJ and President Obama and a lot of things that, frankly, don't amount to a hill of beans.

I, for one, don't want to hear about petitions and I don't want to hear about marches and I certainly don't want to hear about whether President Obama is with us or against us - none of these will matter one whit when the ENDA vote comes down this fall.

President Obama can't do this for us. Barney Frank can't do this for us. Joe Solmonese can't do this for us.

The only thing that will matter is how many of your legislators say "aye" when their name is called.

If you want them to meet you on ENDA, you have got to meet them.

Forget signing some internet petition that's going to line the legislative bird cage, and marches that will fill newspapers with angry words and pictures but not produce a single legislative vote.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Or Bye-Bye ENDA.

cross-posted from Bilerico.com

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-04T20:38:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

Yesterday the mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy was notified via a recorded message that the man responsible for her son&er son’s death was being released from prison immediately – a week earlier than expected.Â It’s the latest heart wrenching development in a story devoid of justice for Sean and his family.Â Stephen Andrew Moller [...]

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-04T16:38:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

By Graeme Moore Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. Saturday in Myrtle Beach, the gay and lesbian community celebrated the second annual Pride Festival at the historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-04T15:59:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

Okay so back on July 15, 2003 I was at Universal Studios Hollywood on a family vacation. I was with my husband Miguel & his family: mom, 3 sisters & his godson (His older brother ther who was a huge MJ fan & his 4 kids opted to stay home, but heard all about it by [...]

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

There is a new meme of commentary out there now that I wrongly misstated the timeline of who threw the first snowball(s) in the current cisgender and cissexual discussion.

And while this fight has been going on and seems to have escalated to pitchforks and torches being passed out at the snowball forts, in the grand scheme of things...

• is the upcoming Latisha Green Hate Crime Murder Trial receiving our attention?
• is the hate expressed at the young, trans woman Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder being forgotten?
• is our community focused on passing the Matthew Sheppard Act -- the federal hate crime legislation?
• is our community making calls to ensure the passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?
• have we highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't going to appeal the Diane Schroer trans federal government discrimination case decision?
• is our community taking notice that an apparent hate crime murder of an apparently gay sailor is being called "not a hate crime" by the United States Navy?

Did you click on the link just now and sign up? Why not? That unreasoning reason that just jumped into your head - you know, the thing along the lines of "You expect meeee to....no thanks, I can't, someone else will do it, I'm just browsing, leave me alone" - that one?

We can have ENDA -- if we get smart and we get targeted.

Or not.

Why ENDA?

We could have ENDA. We should have it. We would have it, if we take effective actions. But this may all be "coulda shoulda woulda" at the end of 2009.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

The Grinch That Stole ENDA

Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Representatives and Senators don't vote based on how mad you are or how long your petition, or howr how big your Facebook group or march is.

They vote based on how many people in their districts take the time and effort to explain their positions. There are too many things drowning out our voices otherwise - health care and immigration and taxes and whatnot. That is a pain in the butt, but that is reality. That is why lobbyists make so much money.

A meeting is so much more powerful than an email or a phone call. Emails and phone calls get marked down as numbers on a list, if they get marked down at all. They help, but much less than meetings.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Face-to-Face Meetings Will Get Us ENDA

Face to face meetings are what really make the difference for an undecided legislator. Think about yourself, and take some issue that you don't know a whole lot about, but are being asked to vote on.

I don't know, I don't really care, and you probably don't either.

Which of these scenarios are most likely to get you to support the bill?

1) Your aide tells you some emails came in supporting the bill.

2) Your receptionist says you got some phone calls supporting the bill.

I don't know about you, but I'd go with number 3.

Now, number 3 doesn't happen all that often.

Rarely.

That's got to change.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Why Are You Exempt?
Did you click and sign up?

Hmmm. This meeting signup site has been in place for a month and we have advertised it tirelessly. Do you know how many people visited the site?,About a 1000. Do you know how many signed up for meetings? About 50.

Do you see a disconnect here?

We are too busy with too many things. We have calls for petitions, and we have calls for marches, and we have rhetoric and bloggers' tough talk out the wazoo about DOMA briefs and DOJ and President Obama and a lot of things that, frankly, don't amount to a hill of beans.

I, for one, don't want to hear about petitions and I don't want to hear about marches and I certainly don't want to hear about whether President Obama is with us or against us - none of these will matter one whit when the ENDA vote comes down this fall.

President Obama can't do this for us. Barney Frank can't do this for us. Joe Solmonese can't do this for us.

The only thing that will matter is how many of your legislators say "aye" when their name is called.

If you want them to meet you on ENDA, you have got to meet them.

Forget signing some internet petition that's going to line the legislative bird cage, and marches that will fill newspapers with angry words and pictures but not produce a single legislative vote.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Or Bye-Bye ENDA.
cross-posted from Bilerico.com

Everyone out there has a theory -- the latest is that Sarah Palin stepped aside as governor of Alaska because she's about to get caught up in a scandal centered related to a building contractor, Spenard Building Supplies that has close ties to the Thrilla from Wasilla and her husband, Todd. Max Blumenthal at <at The Daily Beast explains.

Many political observers in Alaska are fixated on rumors that federal investigators have been seizing paperwork from SBS in recent months, searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the well-connected company in exchange for gifts like the construction of their home on pristine Lake Lucille in 2002. The home was built just two months before Palin began campaigning for governor, a job which would have provided her enhanced power to grant building contracts in the wide-open state.

SBS has close ties to the Palins. The company has not only sponsored Todd Palin's snowmobile team, according to the Village Voice's Wayne Barrett, it hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004.

Though Todd Palin told Fox News he built his Lake Lucille home with the help of a few "buddies," according to Barrett’s report, public records revealed that SBS supplied the materials for the house. While serving as mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin blocked an initiative that would have required the public filing of building permits—thus momentarily preventing the revelation of such suspicious information.

Sounds like an Uncle Ted Stevens kind of deal, huh? This story has eclipsed the 2012 presidential run speculation a bit, but it's hard not to revel over Palin's decision and the consternation it has brought to GOP operatives, who are weighing whether this is a positive or negative for the party and Palin.

[L]iberation comes at a potentially steep price. These include brutal reviews from many Republicans, who believe that quitting mid-term in the fashion she did amounts to political suicide.

“There is just no good way to say quitting has made her more qualified to run for higher office,” said veteran GOP pollster Glen Bolger.

...“I think Sarah Palin is on the verge of becoming the Miami Vice of American politics: Something a lot of people once thought was cool and then 20 years later look back, shake their heads and just kind of laugh,” quipped Republican media consultant Todd Harris.

Even those who were less critical of her choice were taken aback by Palin’s rambling, hard-to-follow news conference by the side of a lake outside her home. The performance had shades of Richard Nixon’s “You won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore” news promise in 1962, as well as Mark Sanford’s bizarre exercise in self-revelation just last month.

Meanwhile, the Freepi watched Palin's news conference and apparently the swamps have turned into Bizarro land. She's about to take on the left and they are right behind her. See below the fold.

One Freeper put up a vanity post, "Sarah Palin just made a covert Declaration Of War":

Ever notice? When she’s angry, she starts talking a little faster, her eyes lids narrow a tad, and she talks through lips that are a bit closer together – and that faint frown of hers becomes almost permanent, yet a smile remains. She displayed all of those signs today. She didn’t say it in so many words, but if I don’t miss my bet, Sarah Palin just declared all-out war on the left – and believe me, she can wage that war like no other – as has been well demonstrated.

No, she’s not about to run off into seclusion – no, she isn’t tired of politics – and most definitely she isn’t going to join some third-party. This lady is a well-known fighter. She will gather resourcresources, do research, write a book, and enlist an army to fight with her. When that army attacks, squish-GOP kooks and Democrats alike will run in fear, try to hide and cry for help from presstitutes and leftist media whores.

There are many on the right that think that Sarah Palin should go quietly off into the Alaskan outback to fish for salmon. Sorry about that – she will quite likely remain an Alaskan, and yes she’ll do a lot of fishing – a lot of it the political kind, and she’ll skin her political prey, barbeque and roast them – then serve them up for ridicule.

We’ve not seen the last of her – nor have those on the commie-left – all of us have only seen the beginning.

So sit back and wait – many of us will likely get a draft notice in the not distant future.

We have a population intent on fighting back hard – against criminal government, and its betrayal of America. The call to battle began weeks ago, and today as millions join in a revolution already well underway – an accomplish fighter just declared her intention to lead – full time.

Just my 2 cents...

Good lord, that's delusional. You can surf over and read the reaction to the battle cry...

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-04T12:38:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

For the second year in a row, the gay and lesbian community will hold a Pride Festival in Myrtle Beach.

GayTalkRadio Internet Radio now in High Definition Stereo

2009-07-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

GayTalkRadio is moving on up.

We are now streaming a High Definition Stereo feed 23 hours every day.

Visit us at www.GayTalkRadio.org

We also have time slots available for other people who would be interested in having their own show on GayTalkRadio.

Feel free to contact Tom@GayTalkRadio.org

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-04T10:59:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 27 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

GRATUITOUS SKIN — If you can excuse the gaudy Christian Audigier clothing, Zach Burns' self-portraits are incredibly sexy. Self-indulgent, yes, but incredibly sexy. (See page 7 if you need convincing.) CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: gratuitous skin, Models, Photos, risque, Zach Burns

Former paramour to Portland's Mayor Sam Adams (before he was mayor), porn model Beau Breedlove continues his on-again-off-again relationship with media attention. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Beau Breedlove, Oregon, Portland, Sam Adams, Scandal

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

We can have ENDA -- if we get smart and we get targeted.

Or not.

Why ENDA?

We could have ENDA. We should have it. We would have it, if we take effective actions. But this may all be "coulda shoulda woulda" at the end of 2009.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

The Grinch That Stole ENDA

Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Representatives and Senators don't vote based on how mad you are or how long your petition, or how big your Facebook group or march is.

A meeting is so much more powerful than an email or a phone call. Emails and phone calls get marked down as numbers on a list, if they get marked down at all. They help, but much less than meetings.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Face-to-Face Meetings Will Get Us ENDA

Face to face meetings are what really make the difference for an undecided legislator. Think about yourself, and take some issue that you don't know a whole lot about, but are being asked to vote on.

I don't know, I don't really care, and you probably don't either.

Which of these scenarios are most likely to get you to support the bill?

1) Your aide tells you some emails came in supporting the bill.

2) Your receptionist says you got some phone calls supporting the bill.

3) You meet with three constituents who vote in your district, nrict, nice people all of them, and they tell you how mine-damaged land is a major problem for them, and why this Act is needed to improve the quality of their lives. Each of them tells a story about what it's like living with these abandoned mines and why it's bad.

I don't know about you, but I'd go with number 3.

Now, number 3 doesn't happen all that often.

Rarely.

That's got to change.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Why Are You Exempt?

Did you click and sign up?

Do you see a disconnect here?

President Obama can't do this for us. Barney Frank can't do this for us. Joe Solmonese can't do this for us.

The only thing that will matter is how many of your legislators say "aye" when their name is called.

If you want them to meet you on ENDA, you have got to meet them.

Forget signing some internet petition that's going to line the legislative bird cage, and marches that will fill newspapers with angry words and pictures but not produce a single legislative vote.

So click here now to sign up for those August meetings with your Senators and Representatives.

Or Bye-Bye ENDA.

cross-posted from Bilerico.com

Many political observers in Alaska are fixated on rumors that federal investigators have been seizing paperwork from SBS in recent months, searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the well-connected company in exchange for gifts like the construction of their home on pristine Lake Lucille in 2002. The home was built just two months before Palin began campaigning for governor, a job which would have provided her enhanced power to grant building contracts in the wide-open state.

SBS has close ties to the Palins. The company has not only sponsored Todd Palin's snowmobile team, according to the Village Voice's Wayne Barrett, it hired Sarah Palin to do a statewide television commercial in 2004.

Though Todd Palin told Fox News he built his Lake Lucille home with the help of a few "buddies," according to Barrett’s report, public records revealed that SBS supplied the materials for the house. While serving as mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin blocked an initiative that would have required the public filing of building permits—thus momentarily preventing the revelation of such suspicious information.

[L]iberation comes at a potentially steep price. These include brutal reviews from many Republicans, who believe that quitting mid-term in the fashion she did amounts to political suicide.

“There is just no good way to say quitting has made her more qualified to run for higher office,” said veteran GOP pollster Glen Bolger.

...“I think Sarah Palin is on the verge of becoming the Miami Vice of American politics: Something a lot of people once thought was cool and then 20 years later look back, shake their heads and just kind of laugh,” quipped Republican media consultant Todd Harris.

Even those who were less critical of her choice were taken aback by Palin’s rambling, hard-to-follow news conference by the side of a lake outside her home. The performance had shades of Richard Nixon’s “You won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore” news promise in 1962, as well as Mark Sanford’s bizarre exercise in self-r self-revelation just last month.

Meanwhile, the Freepi watched Palin's news conference and apparently the swamps have turned into Bizarro land. She's about to take on the left and they are right behind her. See below the fold.

One Freeper put up a vanity post, "Sarah Palin just made a covert Declaration Of War":

Ever notice? When she’s angry, she starts talking a little faster, her eyes lids narrow a tad, and she talks through lips that are a bit closer together – and that faint frown of hers becomes almost permanent, yet a smile remains. She displayed all of those signs today. She didn’t say it in so many words, but if I don’t miss my bet, Sarah Palin just declared all-out war on the left – and believe me, she can wage that war like no other – as has been well demonstrated.

No, she’s not about to run off into seclusion – no, she isn’t tired of politics – and most definitely she isn’t going to join some third-party. This lady is a well-known fighter. She will gather resources, do research, write a book, and enlist an army to fight with her. When that army attacks, squish-GOP kooks and Democrats alike will run in fear, try to hide and cry for help from presstitutes and leftist media whores.

There are many on the right that think that Sarah Palin should go quietly off into the Alaskan outback to fish for salmon. Sorry about that – she will quite likely remain an Alaskan, and yes she’ll do a lot of fishing – a lot of it the political kind, and she’ll skin her political prey, barbeque and roast them – then serve them up for ridicule.

We’ve not seen the last of her – nor have those on the commie-left – all of us have only seen the beginning.

So sit back and wait – many of us will likely get a draft notice in the not distant future.

We have a population intent on fighting back hard – against criminal government, and its betrayal of America. The call to battle began weeks ago, and today as millions join in a revolution already well underway – an accomplish fighter just declared her intention to lead – full time.

Just my 2 cents...

Good lord, that's delusional. You can surf over and read the reaction to the battle cry...

There has been a great deal of talk here about "civility" lately, much of it justified. I'm the first one to confess that I can be pretty snarky when provoked, and I'll gladly admit that I have a certain small talent for provoking others.

But exactly what do we mean when we talk about "civility"? Which is to ask, where does disoes disagreement, even vigorous disagreement, become "uncivil"? I'd be the first one to argue, for instance, that claiming that Ann Coulter "looks like a man" is frivolous, insulting and, for that matter, beside the point. (If your biggest criticism of Coulter is that she "looks like a man," you're implicitly giving her a pass on all the detestable things she's said and written. If she looked like Grace Kelly, would everything else about her be okay?) But is it being uncivil to her? That strikes me as arguable, at best. She isn't even here.

But leaving aside the question of whether it's possible to be "uncivil" to someone who isn't even part of the conversation, there is another strain of argument we hear all the time: that disagreeing with Christians, criticizing or even examining their beliefs and finding them wanting, is in some way inherently "uncivil."

I contend that it isn't, for a lot of reasons.
First of all, to get the obvious out of the way, there is the long, bloody record of Christian history vis-?-vis gay people. The Christian church, in its various manifestations, has been actively persecuting us for as long as it's been in a position to do so. The first legal code in the Western world to criminalize gayness was the Theodosian Code in the 4th century (it called for imprisonment and torture)-which was composed by a panel of Christian bishops. The first law code to call for the death penalty for gays was the 6th century's Justinian Code-which was likewise the handiwork of bishops. And the persecutions continue to this day. In parts of Africa, the Christian church still imposes severe penalties for what the Church of England used to call "the abominable crime of buggery," and much of the Christian world still enforces sodomy laws. And I hardly have to detail all the Christian villainy we've faced in this country. The word sodomy itself has its roots in the Christian holy book.

Whether people want to admit it or not, the way Fred Phelps and Benedict XVI talk about us is consistent with the way we've been treated by the Christian church for 2,000 years. Anything pro-LGBT in Christianity is a recent development. I know there are people who are willing to give Christianity a pass on that. Many more of us are not.

It will be argued that "not all Christians are like that" and that "you shouldn't paint Christians with a broad brush." Well, I can't remember ever seeing a comment here (or anywhere else, for that matter) to the effect that every single Christian everywhere is a bad person. We are all perfectly aware that there are "affirming" and "accepting" congregations and a great many fine individual Christians. Comments tend to be about the Christian church at the institutional level and its supporters.

I've pointed out before that of the 30-odd state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, and the scores of anti-gay ballot initiatives and referenda across the country, every single one of them has been initiated or actively promoted by a Christian group. In contrast, I'm not aware of even one pro-gay measure that has come out of a Christian group. Not one.

Moreover, the "affirming" churches never seem to speak out against the language and behavior of the actively hateful ones. It's all very well for churches to claim to be "affirming," but that affirmation never seems to translate into action. The old phrase "all aid short of help" comes to mind.

I also have to point out that there are no known "ex-gay" groups that are not either sponsored by Christian churches or do not have active ties to them. And of the anti-gay groups that combined to form the "Freedom Foundation" earlier this week, at least 14 of the 24 are identifiably Christian, while a good many more have strong ties to the Christian right.

I've debated any number of homophobes over the years, both on and off the airthe air, and I can honestly say that there wasn't even one of them who at some point didn't try to justify his position by citing the Bible or the church's teaching. And of course there is no way of calculating the amount of damage being done to us by Obama's five anti-gay "spiritual advisers."

But let's leave aside for a moment Christianity's virulently anti LGBT past and present. There is a long, long philosophic position of unbelief, dating back to the pre-Christian era. I've always loved this, from the Greek philosopher Epicurus: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" Cicero famously declared, "The gods are forces and ideas made poetry for our instruction." But despite their skepticism about established religion, no one presumed to accuse them of "incivility".

That refusal to take anything about religion at face value has been more common than not among great thinkers. From Aristotle ("Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form, but with regard to their mode of life") to Sir Francis Bacon ("Atheism leads a man to sense") to Voltaire ("Atheism is the voice of a few intelligent people") to Marx ("The first requisite of the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion"), atheism has been the rule rather than the exception. Were all those philosophers being "uncivil" by voicing their philosophies?

Even figures as unlikely as Charlie Chaplin voiced their disbelief and the reasons for it ("I am an atheist on the ground of common sense"). To argue that people who put forth their own unbelief are being uncivil is missing the point entirely and, quite frankly, it strikes me as a rather desperate argument.

And of course the tradition of criticizing Christianity, specifically, on various grounds is equally long and equally rich. Thomas Jefferson: "The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva from the brain of Jupiter." There is this, from Nietzsche: "Christianity makes suffering contagious." And also this Nietzschean dictum: "The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad." Even Christian leaders have, perhaps unintentionally, called their religion into question. Pope Leo X: "It has served us well, this myth of Christ."

(One complaint we frequently hear is about the use of the phrase "fairy tales" to describe the Bible. But if I were to express a belief that, say, the sun is really a flaming chariot driven across the sky each day by Apollo, would anyone hesitate to tell me I believe in a fairy tale? Fair's fair.)

It would be possible to cite scores more of such quotes, but why go on? The simple fact is that unbelief in general and severe skepticism about Christianity in particular constitute a long intellectual/philosophic tradition. Whether you agree with it or not, it is at least as valid as any other world view, and the proposition that expressing it inherently constitutes some sort of calculated insult to believers is petulant, passive-aggressive nonsense. To put it another way, I ask, along with Martin Luther, "Why should my freedom be taken away from me by someone else's superstition and ignorance?"

OREGON RESTAURANTS TAKE ACTION FOR GAY RIGHTS Over 60 Establishments to Participate in Tenth Annual Bites for Rights Event on Thursday, June 18th Who: Pro-equality restaurants, cafÃ©s and bars around the entire state. What: Bites for Rights: More than 65 establishments statewide will donate 15% of their proceeds from June 18th to Basic Rights Oregon [...]

International Gay News Headlines (T25T-3)

2009-07-04T10:22:00.001-07:00

The prime minister's wife Sarah Brown today made history by marching in London's Pride parade.

Just a day after a heated row over homophobia between Labour and the Conservatives, almost one million people gathered in London to celebrate gay Pride.

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has reminded Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife, that gays cannot get married. She marched in the Pride parad e with Stonewall chief Ben Summerskill and gay MEP Michael Cashman as she waved a pink Union flag.

The British actor and funny lady best known and loved for her portrayal of Ms. Betty Slocombe in the hit show 'Are You Being Served?' has died, aged 86

Pericles has enjoyed a renaissance in the last century or so, it spent an odd 200 years languishing like an unwanted puppy, staged in corrupted versions. Bell Shakespeare has exhumed the work for a solid run with musical menagerie, TaikOz.

Following on the success of a similar event in Melbourne, Same Same is holding a fun and social wine tasting night in a few weeks time, and you're invited to taste a selection of some of the best wines available.

(Russia) Gay and Lesbian Film Festival “Bok o Bok” which was supposed to take place in Saint Petersburg from today and last until Sunday finally did not open after Fire Department Inspectors closed the place due to problems with fire security. In a phone interview to Project GayRussia.Ru, Organiser of the festivaestival Irina Sergeeva said that the clubs “The Place” and “Sochi” where the screenings of the films were supposed to take place, were closed due to fire security reasons.

(USA) - As part of Bibi's outreach to our communities, Bibi|SF will be hosting talks on various issues affecting queer South West Asian, North Africans (aka Middle-Easterners). Its first engagement is with Arsham Parsi of the IRanian Queer Organization on Thursday, June 26 at the SF LGBT Center.

(USA) - Gay human rights activists in San Francisco staged a speak out at the Russian consulate on May 16, in conjunction with IDAHO events around the planet. Before showing up at the consulate, the group sent emails to the staff explaining their reason for coming -- to press the government to grant parade permits to Moscow's Gay pride event.

Examiner.com

Gay and thinking about adopting?
Examiner.com
International - When a US family adopts a child from a foreign country, it is known as an "international" adoption. Prospective parents usually work with a ...

and more »

The capital will host this year's UniQ Conference next weekend, along with a Burlesque Ball on Saturday night, and an '80's themed party to celebrate 23 years since Homosexual Law Reform.

The host of the Naval & Family pub's new quiz night says it'll be "a good old-fashioned Pub Quiz, but with a K' Road twist!"

A rugby team captain is on trial in the Timaru District Court after a male complainant says he was sexually assaulted by him.

Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma, who has called being gay a “deadly lifestyle”, has released what she calls a “Proclamation for Morality”, which reads more like a manifesto against homosexuality. Kern, who apparently is unfamiliar with the fact that the United States was founded on the principle of separation of church and State, consistently uses [...]

See EDUCATION COMMITTEE: MOST LESBIAN, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) second-level students have suffered homophobic bullying, the Belong To youth service has told an Oireachtas Education Committee. More than 20,000 post-primary students are lesbian, gay or bisexual, representing an average of two students in every classroom. A smaller number of students identify as transgender, according to [...]

The NYC Anti-Violence Project has issued a community alert now that the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crimes Bureau thinks several recent anti-gay attacks on the Upper East Side might have come at the hands of the same assailants. In addition to Joseph Holladay, brutally beaten and robbed, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly now states, “There [...]

The New Zealand Blood Service is defending donor rules after claims by a gay community that they are "unnecessary and unfair".

John Key has been getting into the groove at Auckland's Big Gay Out at Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier. It wasn't the Prime Minister's first visit to the event so the flair and frivolity did not come as a shock.

Canadian Gay News Headlines (T13T-4)

2009-07-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

As Katie King celebrated Eastside Pride in Grandview Park Jun 27 her mind was on Stonewall and the riots that galvanized New Yorkâs gay liberation movement 40 years ago. âI think we have to realize weâve come a long way an...

Kate Reid knows how to work an audience. When the dynamic singer steps on stage with her guitar, people listen. âSome singers like well-behaved, quiet audiences,â she confides, âbut me, I like unpredictable crowds.â<...

On Jul 2, the Davie stroll came alive once more as community members, sex worker advocates and politicians marked the 25th anniversary of a court injuction that quashed the once vibrant sex trade in Vancouver's gay village. Check out the

Through rain and shine Xtra's photographers and videographers were on the scene all Pride weekend long.

Sex, drama, love and lies. No, Iâm not talking about that last sad 4am grasp at finding someone â" anyone â" to go home with after Pride. Torontoâs Fringe Festival may not have floats, but it offers fabulous entertainment for the drama queens who prefer to sit in cushy air-con...

Remember the vicious, mean-spirited time Mike Harris spent as premier of Ontario? Remember welfare-to-work? Remember the province's brinkmanship with teachers? Remember the amalgamation of cities and the offloading of services to them? Remember Harris d...

Cycling enthusiasts operate on a compressed timeline. From snowmelt to first snowstorm is only six months. That means there's no time to dick around. So get on your bike and get out there. Capital Xtra's Noreen Fagan has charted a shorter, ...

On Jun 19, the Canadian AIDS Society presented their annual leadership award to Albert McNutt, a Nova Scotia-based gay activist. McNutt, 59, has been HIV-positive since 1986. This isn't the first time he's been recognized for his work by th...

Elisha Lim's narrative comics are charming as hell — and I'm not just saying that because I love butch queers. If you're not familiar with her work, prepare yourself. Lim's exhibit, 100 Butches — based on her soon-to-rel...

Through rain and shine Xtra's photographers and videographers were on the scene all Pride weekend long.

Seventeen percent of the worldâs gay people had their sex legalized, at least temporarily, by a court ruling in India July 2. However, some gay sex is still illegal, as the ruling only applies to those over 18 who have sex in private. ....

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-04T08:38:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

Yesterday the mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy was notified via a recorded message that the man responsible for her son’s death was being released from prison immediately – a week earlier than expected.Â It’s the latest heart wrenching development in a story devoid of justice for Sean and his family.Â Stephen Andrew Moller [...]

For the second year in a row, the gay and lesbian community will hold a Pride Festival in Myrtle Beach.

President Barack Obama opened the doors of the White House to hundreds of gay and lesbian leaders Monday, continuing his cautious outreach to a constituency that has loudly criticized his efforts on their behalf.

It's now illegal for landlords and employers in Kalamazoo to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

2009-07-04T06:01:00.001-07:00

One-time vice presidential hopeful, flag desecrator, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'll resign from office sometime this month and won't seek another term. CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 27 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Alaska, News, Poliics, Sarah Palin

GRATUITOUS SKIN — If you can excuse the gaudy Christian Audigier clothing, Zach Burns' self-portraits are incredibly sexy. Self-indulgent, yes, but incredibly sexy. (See page 7 if you need convincing.) CONTINUED Â» CONTINUED Â» Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: gratuitous skin, Models, Photos, risque, Zach Burns

doughty \DOW-tee\, adjective: Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave. If you’re a word hound like me you should check out Dictionary.com.Â

I present photographic evidence that fine Fresnans were found having a fabulous time at the phenomenal, the always fashionable, the ever fascinating, the refreshingly funky: INTEGRATION.

But exactly what do we mean when we talk about "civility"? Which is to ask, where does disagreement, even vigorous disagreement, become "uncivil"? I'd be the first one to argue, for instance, that claiming that Ann Coulter "looks like a man" is frivolous, insulting and, for that matter, beside the point. (If your biggest criticism of Coulter is that she "looks like a man," you're implicitly giving her a pass on all the detestable things she's said and written. If she looked like Grace Kelly, would everything else about her be okay?) But is it being uncivil to her? That strikes me as arguable, at best. She isn't even here.

Whether people want to admit it or not, the way Fred Phelps and Benedict XVI ct XVI talk about us is consistent with the way we've been treated by the Christian church for 2,000 years. Anything pro-LGBT in Christianity is a recent development. I know there are people who are willing to give Christianity a pass on that. Many more of us are not.

I also have to point out that there are no known "ex-gay" groups that are not either sponsored by Christian churches or do not have active ties to them. And of the anti-gay groups that combined to from the "Freedom Foundation" earlier this week, at least 14 of the 24 are identifiably Christian, while a good many more have strong ties to the Christian right.

I've debated any number of homophobes over the years, both on and off the air, and I can honestly say that there wasn't even one of them who at some point didn't try to justify his position by citing the Bible or the church's teaching. And of course there is no way of calculating the amount of damage being done to us by Obama's five anti-gay "spiritual advisers."

And of course course the tradition of criticizing Christianity, specifically, on various grounds is equally long and equally rich. Thomas Jefferson: "The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva from the brain of Jupiter." There is this, from Nietzsche: "Christianity makes suffering contagious." And also this Nietzschean dictum: "The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad." Even Christian leaders have, perhaps unintentionally, called their religion into question. Pope Leo X: "It has served us well, this myth of Christ."

Hutcherson photo art via Mike Tidmus.

Oh man, the homo-hating pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Washington state, Ken Hutcherson, has decided to weigh in on the perceived homosexualist statements of President Obama during that White House reception last week. While the LGBT community didn't see any forward momentum in that speech, Pastor Hutch says Obama's "problem" is that he's simply not black enough, or rather, the President lacks what Hutch feels is the "correct" black background (a charge levied against candidate Obama early on by some blacks during the campaign) to claim membership in the African American community.

As usual, Hutch, who joked once about ripping off the arm of an effeminate man, goes off the rails:

"But I guess we...have to ask, 'Even though he is black because his father was, what is his "black experience"?' He doesn't have any. He was raised by a white mother and a white grandmother, so this man has about as much black experience as my Doberman Pinscher -- and I guarantee [that] my Doberman Pinscher doesn't have any," he points out. "There is nothing, nothing that compares between what thwhat the Afro-Americans went through and what homosexuals are going through now."

"A person can be as black as a piece of coal, [but] if he goes against God's biblical views, I would not support him, I would not endorse him, I would not even give a smile in his direction so people could even think that I endorse him," he states, "because God is my God, the Bible is my playbook, and I run it the way it is written."

What can you say behind that?

Oh am I gonna be glued to the TV when this sh*t goes down. Does anyone else think the WBC will get the living hell beat out of 'em (or worse) (or better depending on how you feel about the WBC)?

In the now infamous words of Michael himself, "Just Beat It! Beat It!"

http://www.godhatesfags.com/written/fliers/20090702_Los-Angeles-CA-Michael-Jackson-Funeral-g.pdf

GLBT News Headlines (T4T-6)

2009-07-04T04:13:00.001-07:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WORKING ACTOR: Taking to the streets of West Hollywood, California, David Moretti and Jai Rodriguez demonstrate an interesting way of preparing for auditions...

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: The King of Pop is not returning to Neverland after all, but he might just fill up a coliseum one last time...

For the second year in a row, the gay and lesbian community will hold a Pride Festival in Myrtle Beach.

Tories and Labour at loggerheads over who is more gay- friendly