tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168467717936268962024-03-12T22:16:23.766-04:00The Gayborhood Times - LGBT NewsYour source for the latest news from the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-36098919416045331232009-12-10T15:22:00.000-05:002009-12-10T15:22:31.130-05:00Annise Parker, openly lesbian candidate for mayor of Houston, comes under vicious anti-gay attack in the final days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DN1Feq6BoRE/SyFYAH0k45I/AAAAAAAAABo/MXf1vAhCu9M/s1600-h/anniseparkerattacked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DN1Feq6BoRE/SyFYAH0k45I/AAAAAAAAABo/MXf1vAhCu9M/s640/anniseparkerattacked.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't let them get away with this. Get involved today. Live phone bank tonight (Thursday). Call in from anywhere in the country (toll free number) and make a few calls.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Email us at <a href="mailto:gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com">gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com</a> and we'll get you set up.<br />
</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-31461557428609191252009-12-09T14:53:00.001-05:002009-12-09T14:54:56.547-05:00It doesn't matter where you live. You can help Annise Parker make Houston the nation's largest city with an openly LGBT mayor!<strong>All Points Bulletin: The Houston Mayoral runoff takes place this Saturday, December 12th and Annise Parker needs you help!</strong><br />
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Who is Annise Parker? She is a highly qualified candidate to be Houston's next mayor, and she happens to be an out lesbian. She finished in first place in the November election, but she did not get over 50%, so she has a runoff election against the runner-up, Gene Locke.<br />
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Learn more about Annise at these links:<br />
<a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/">http://www.anniseparker.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.victoryfund.org/endorsed_candidates/profile/candidate:320">http://www.victoryfund.org/endorsed_candidates/profile/candidate:320</a><br />
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<strong>This race is huge for LGBT people all across the United States. If elected, Annise Parker will become mayor of Houston, the USA's fourth largest city.</strong><br />
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Despite the recent setbacks at the ballot box on the issue of marriage equality, openly gay and lesbian candidates have made some real strides this year, including last Tuesday, when Simone Bell became the first openly lesbian African American elected to a state legislature. On the same night, Alex Wan became the first openly gay Asian American elected official in Georgia when he was elected to Atlanta's City Council.<br />
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The race in Houston is tight. The recent Zogby poll showed Annise Parker with a small lead, with a large percentage of voters "undecided."<br />
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<strong>She needs our help to win this election. Here's what you can do:</strong><br />
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<strong>If you live in or near Houston,</strong> contact the campaign directly by going to the campaign office or by giving them a call. Annise's "contact us" page with all the details is <a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/contact/">here</a>.<br />
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<strong>If you do not live in the Houston area,</strong> you can still phone bank from home. To get more info, email us here at the Gayborhood Times and we'll pass you info on to a phone bank coordinator. Our email address is <a href="mailto:gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com">gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com</a> (Include your name and phone number, as well as a Twitter or Facebook ID if you have one, and we'll get you all set up.) The system is easy-to-use and we'll provide you with all the info you need to get started. All you need is the script we give you and a telephone with touch tone capability.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-50083798407738201682009-12-09T10:10:00.000-05:002009-12-09T10:10:16.574-05:00Adam Lambert and Elisabeth Hasselbeck set to lock horns on Thursday's episode of "The View"Thursday, 11 AM on ABC...set those DVRs. Adam Lambert has pre-taped an episode of "The View," and word on the street is that it is a pretty interesting exchange. The ladies of the view talk about the upcoming show in the clip below.<br />
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<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM76d1g98Ek&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM76d1g98Ek&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-45315265739114216752009-12-05T09:52:00.001-05:002009-12-05T10:02:40.998-05:00The Gayborhood Times is looking for guest posters. Let us share your wisdom with our audience!If you have been following The Gayborhood Times on Twitter or Facebook, you probably realize that we tend to repost news articles and YouTube videos, but not much else. Most of our time is committed to promoting the site so we can grow our audience.<br />
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But now that we have a significant audience, things are about to change. First, we're just days away from migrating to a new .com domain of our own. It will be a lot shorter to type in and it will help us establish greater credibility than just being on the .blogspot.com domain. Second, we're looking to add fresh, original content to the site.<br />
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Despite the good following we have established, The Gayborhood Times doesn't really make money. Perhaps a few dollars per day from Google Ads, but we haven't really tried to monetize our traffic. Our first priority is to make a top-notch site for activists and interested parties. If money comes later, so be it. If it doesn't, but we can still make a difference for the cause, that's fine too. I guess that's my roundabout way of saying that we're not paying for content. At least not yet.<br />
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<strong>But how do we take it to the next level? That's where you come in.</strong> We're looking for writers to submit original content - opinion articles that are interesting to read and have some supporting documentation, LGBT-themed poetry or short stories, and/or "Letters to the Editor" of The Gayborhood Times.<br />
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<strong>Have something interesting and/or compelling to say? Let us distribute it for free and build your profile in the online LGBT community.</strong> We'll link back to your Twitter and Facebook profiles from the article, and we'll distribute it online through our Twitter account (nearly 1000 followers and growing) and our Facebook account (nearly 6000 fans and growing).<br />
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All we ask is that you submit your content to <a href="mailto:gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com">gayborhoodtimes@gmail.com</a> and, once we inform you that we have selected and published your content, we ask that you "tweet" and/or post a link to the article on your Facebook profile. Then we'll spread the word about the post on our end.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-67079098054251177552009-12-05T00:49:00.000-05:002009-12-05T00:49:14.858-05:00Portia De Rossi schools Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the importance of the word "marriage" on The View<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9lNeE4QEVSw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9lNeE4QEVSw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br />
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Portia De Rossi was on The View on Friday morning and the issue turned to marriage. Elisabeth Hasselbeck didn't understand why it needed to be called "marriage." Portia nailed it right on the head. Watch the video to see how she handled it.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-82831053088254829682009-12-04T19:17:00.000-05:002009-12-04T19:17:13.092-05:00VIDEO: Openly Gay NY State Senator Tom Duane on Marriage Equality Vote<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CBurXChVZtU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CBurXChVZtU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br />
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In my opinion, his speech sums up everything. Please post your comments below.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-999152379622179992009-12-02T14:51:00.008-05:002009-12-02T15:20:02.248-05:00Marriage Equality bill fails in NY Senate. Gays and Lesbians remain 2nd class citizens in the Empire State.This post is a work-in-progress. Still developing...<br /><br />The NY State Senate voted 24 Y, 38 N (Ds 24-8 in favor; Rs 30-0 against) and defeated the marriage equality bill in New York state. This comes at a time when there was great optimism that New York state would pass the bill and send it to Gov. Paterson's desk for his signature.<br /><br />Supporters claimed to have enough votes to secure passage of this landmark legislation. This was clearly not the case. Gays and lesbians will continue to be second-class citizens in the Empire State.<br /><br />FULL ROLL CALL (from <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/20479/gay-marriage-vote-tally/">TimesUnion.com</a>)<br />Eric Adams (D) — YES “This is about love.”<br />Joseph Addabbo (D) — NO<br />James Alesi (R) — NO<br />Darrel Aubertine (D) — NO<br />John Bonacic (R) — NO<br />Neil Breslin (D) — YES<br />John DeFrancisco (R) — NO<br />Ruben Diaz (D) — NO “Sen. Smith, it is better to keep your word.”<br />Martin Malave Dilan (D) — YES<br />Tom Duane (D) — YES<br />Pedro Espada (D) — YES<br />Hugh Farley (R) — NO<br />John Flanagan (R) — NO<br />Brian Foley (D) — YES<br />Charles Fuschillo, Jr. (R) — NO<br />Martin Golden (R) — NO<br />Joseph Griffo (R) — NO<br />Kemp Hannon (R) — NO<br />Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D) — YES<br />Shirley Huntley (D) — NO<br />Craig Johnson (D) — YES<br />Owen Johnson (R) — NO<br />Jeffrey Klein (D) — YES<br />Liz Krueger (D) — YES<br />Carl Kruger (D) — NO<br />Andrew Lanza (R) — NO<br />Bill Larkin (R) — NO<br />Kenneth LaValle (R) — NO<br />Vincent Leibell (R) — NO<br />Tom Libous (R) — NO<br />Elizabeth Little (R) — NO<br />Carl Marcellino (R) — NO<br />George Maziarz (R) — NO<br />Roy McDonald (R) — NO<br />Hiram Monserrate (D) — NO<br />Velmanette Montgomery (D) — YES<br />Thomas Morahan (R) — NO<br />Michael Nozzolio (R) — NO<br />George Onorato (D) — NO<br />Suzi Oppenheimer (D) — YES<br />Frank Padavan (R) — NO<br />Kevin Parker (D) — YES<br />Bill Perkins (D) — YES<br />Michael Ranzenhofer (R) — NO<br />Joseph Robach (R) — NO<br />Stephen Saland (R) — NO<br />John Sampson (D) — YES<br />Diane Savino (D) — YES<br />Eric Schneiderman (D) — YES<br />Jose Serrano (D) — YES<br />James Seward (R) — NO<br />Dean Skelos (R) — NO<br />Malcolm Smith (D) — YES<br />Daniel Squadron (D) — YES<br />William Stachowski (D) — NO<br />Toby Ann Stavisky (D) — YES<br />Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) — YES<br />Antoine Thompson (D) — YES<br />David Valesky (D) — YES<br />Dale Volker (R) — NO<br />George Winner (R) — NO<br />Catherine Young (R) — NO<br /><br />We will be editing this post to add more. Please leave your comments below. Gay rights activists may have lost this particular battle, but the war will be won over time.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-82063647430349535382009-12-02T09:39:00.005-05:002009-12-02T09:43:22.772-05:00"Family Ties" Mom is, in fact, 'family'<a href="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/g-tdy-091202-baxter-gf2-530a.standard.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px" alt="" src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/g-tdy-091202-baxter-gf2-530a.standard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>For seven years, Meredith Baxter, who played the mother on the 80s TV hit, "Family Ties," has been keeping a secret. She's been dating women. She finally came out on The Today Show today.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>From The Today Show site:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now, Baxter, who played the devoted hippie mom constantly butting heads with her conservative kids on “Family Ties,” is making a public admission.<br /></div><br /><div>“I am a lesbian and it was a later-in-life recognition,” she told Matt Lauer on TODAY. “Some people would say, well, you’re living a lie and, you know, the truth is – not at all. This has only been for the past seven years.” </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>See the video and read more at <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34228231/ns/today-today_people/">The Today Show site</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-77498349894153991172009-12-01T21:27:00.011-05:002009-12-02T09:37:14.124-05:00Openly gay councilman and state legislator elected tonight in Georgia!<a href="http://www.alexwanforatlanta.com/uploads/6/6/4/3/664339/6694992.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 333px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="http://www.alexwanforatlanta.com/uploads/6/6/4/3/664339/6694992.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Simone Bell, an openly gay African-American woman, will be nation's first openly lesbian state legislator when inaugurated. </strong><strong>Alex Wan, an openly gay Asian-American candidate, has won the election to fill the Atlanta City Council District 6 seat on Tuesday night.</strong><br /><div>Bell captured 56% of the vote with all precincts reporting. With 100% of precincts reporting in Atlanta, Wan captured 60% of the vote against his opponent, Liz Coyle.</div><br /><div>Read more about Simone Bell at her web site, <a href="http://www.simonebell.com/">SimoneBell.com</a>. Read more about Alex Wan at his web site, <a href="http://www.alexwanforatlanta.com/">AlexWanForAtlanta.com</a>. Both candidates were endorsed by <a href="http://www.victoryfund.org/">The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund</a>.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Meanwhile, the race for Mayor of Atlanta was shaping up to be a nailbiter. With nearly all ballots counted, Kasim Reed has an edge of less than 800 votes and has declared victory over his opponent, Mary Norwood, who has not yet conceded. Both candidates are widely seen as gay-friendly.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>View results updated LIVE at the <a href="http://projects.ajc.com/election-results/2009/12/01/metro-atlanta-runoff-races/">Atlanta Journal Constitution</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-9253775215013974122009-12-01T17:06:00.003-05:002009-12-01T17:08:42.750-05:00Openly gay assemblyman could become Speaker of California's state house?Wow! This would be awesome!<br /><br />First-term Assemblyman John Perez, an ally of organized labor and cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, has launched a campaign to capture the Assembly speakership, and many members of the house are quickly rallying behind his bid.<br /><br />Perez entered the race after a number of his Assembly colleagues mounted an effort to draft him as a speakership candidate. Capitol sources said if Perez is able to secure a majority of his caucus, the vote on a new speaker could come by next week, when the Assembly reconvenes to vote on education legislation. <br /><br />One of those involved in the Draft Perez movement was Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael. Huffman told Capitol Weekly Tuesday, "I believe John now has the votes. I think it's over."<br /><br />Read the full article at <a href="http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1&_c=ygcohzhqe3x23t&xid=ygcfr8il005w89&done=.ygckcz7pcc0ez1&_ce=1259701254.367148d46f0dde49f230b4e26cdd6528">Capitol Weekly</a>, the newspaper of California government and politics.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-19218444262374695822009-12-01T16:40:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:47:10.621-05:00Gay marriage news from New Jersey & Washington DC<a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/122624/thumbs/s-DC-GAY-MARRIAGE-large.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/122624/thumbs/s-DC-GAY-MARRIAGE-large.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A couple of news stories on the marriage equality front on Tuesday:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>New Jersey:</strong> Over 200 prominent Garden State Democrats demand a vote on gay marriage before the end of the lameduck session in January. This is critical because this is the last chance before supportive Governor Jim Corzine leaves office. His successor, Gov.-elect Christie has pledged to veto any such effort. Read the full story at <a href="http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/120109_Dems_demand_gay_marriage_vote_in_New_Jersey.html">NorthJersey.com</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Washington, D.C.:</strong> On an 11-2 vote, the city council passed the first of two votes required to allow same-sex marriage. Councilmembers Marion Barry was among the two dissenters. Not sure why we should listen to his view of morality anyways. Read the full story at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/01/gay-marriage-dc-council-p_n_375435.html">The Huffington Post</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-78945621228013143382009-12-01T16:37:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:39:46.941-05:00Adam Lambert: "People aren't used to seeing a sexual gay man on TV"<a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/29794-adam-lambert-people-arent-used-to-seeing-a-sexual-gay-man-on-tv/1259679346_degeneres-lambert-290.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 346px" alt="" src="http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/29794-adam-lambert-people-arent-used-to-seeing-a-sexual-gay-man-on-tv/1259679346_degeneres-lambert-290.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Among the people who weren't thrilled with Adam's Lambert's controversial American Music Awards performance: His dad.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"My dad was like, 'Maybe you should apologize, Adam,'" he says on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Tuesday "I was like, "You know, dad, I don't feel like I did anything wrong. It just wasn't maybe the right judgment call. It's a taste thing more than an obscenity thing. I think it's just a taste level.'"</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Read the full article at <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/adam-lambert-people-arent-used-to-seeing-a-sexual-gay-man-on-tv-2009112">US Magazine</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-79262634325554189012009-12-01T16:34:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:36:36.798-05:00Sweden to end ban on blood donations from gay men<a href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20091201/capt.photo_1259683213670-1-0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 410px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px" alt="" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20091201/capt.photo_1259683213670-1-0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Sweden will lift its ban on gay blood donors as of March 1, 2010, but will restrict donations to gay men who have not had sex with a man for a year, national health authorities said Tuesday.</div><br /><div><br />"Men who have had sex with men will no longer be permanently barred from donating blood," the National Board of Health and Welfare said in a statement released on World AIDS Day.<br /></div><br /><div>Sexual orientation will no longer determine whether a person can give blood. Instead, people who have engaged in "sexually risky behaviour" can be barred as donors for one year.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Read the full article at <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091201/hl_afp/healthaidsswedengays_20091201160851">Yahoo News</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-88948100146465133092009-12-01T16:28:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:30:38.471-05:00AIDS Silence - David Kaufman's excellent article on Huffington PostDavid Kaufman had a great article on the Huffington Post today about the sweeping-under-the-rug of HIV/AIDS issues.<br /><br />Take a looksie by <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kaufman/aids-silence-americas-new_b_373670.html">clicking here</a>.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-80014216255641855102009-12-01T16:23:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:25:38.487-05:00UNAIDS condemns criminalizing being gay<a href="http://www.advocate.com/uploadedImages/ADVOCATE/NEWS/2009/200912/2009-12-01/UNAIDSX390.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px" alt="" src="http://www.advocate.com/uploadedImages/ADVOCATE/NEWS/2009/200912/2009-12-01/UNAIDSX390.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The United Nations’s Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, released a statement on Tuesday calling for nations to stop criminalizing the LGBT community.<br /></div><br /><div>According to the organization, 80 nations still have laws that criminalize gay sex. The organization claims that such laws not only violate human rights, but also undermine effective HIV treatment. </div><br /><div><br />“The human rights of people living with HIV, men who have sex with men, lesbians and transgender people must be fully respected,” UNAIDS stated in a press release on <a title="their website" href="http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PressCentre/PressReleases/2009/20091201_PS_human_rights.asp" target="_blank">their website</a>. “Where they have been able to access HIV information, prevention and treatment and avoid discrimination, these populations have become a force for health and community empowerment.” </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Read the entire article at <a href="http://www.advocate.com/article.aspx?id=103412">The Advocate</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-26106851010478687522009-12-01T16:19:00.001-05:002009-12-01T16:21:58.468-05:00Philippines bars LGBT political party from election participationThe Philippines Commission on Elections (Comelec) has blocked the LGBT group Ang Ladlad from registering as a political party. Comelec claims the group is a threat to the nation’s youth.<br /><br />"We are not condemning the LGBT, but we cannot compromise the well-being of the greater number of people, especially the youth," the commission said<br /><br />Read the rest of the article at <a href="http://www.advocate.com/article.aspx?id=103405">The Advocate</a>.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-15403090766210092172009-12-01T13:27:00.004-05:002009-12-01T13:31:05.878-05:00Judge in Argentina Puts Brakes on Gay Marriage<a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/122423/thumbs/s-ARGENTINA-GAY-MARRIAGE-large.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/122423/thumbs/s-ARGENTINA-GAY-MARRIAGE-large.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Updating an earlier story...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine judge put a hold Monday on another court's decision to permit the first gay marriage in Latin America, but supporters of the couple said they would try to go ahead with the ceremony anyway.<br /></div><br /><div>The official court Web site said national judge Marta Gomez Alsina ordered the wedding blocked until the issue can be considered by the Supreme Court.<br /></div><br /><div>Read the entire article from the AP at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/30/argentina-gay-marriage-ju_n_374705.html">Huffington Post</a>. </div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-90614268068242375532009-11-29T10:22:00.005-05:002009-11-29T10:36:15.765-05:00Gay Argentine Couple to Wed on Tuesday<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DN1Feq6BoRE/SxKUnpAj93I/AAAAAAAAABM/TWPYPzBzGDI/s1600/Alex-Freyre-left-and-Jose-001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409549511169406834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 192px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DN1Feq6BoRE/SxKUnpAj93I/AAAAAAAAABM/TWPYPzBzGDI/s320/Alex-Freyre-left-and-Jose-001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>On Tuesday, Alex Freyre and partner Jose Maria Di Bello, Latin America's first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage, will be wed in Buenos Aires, Argentina.</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Freyre and Di Bello's forthcoming nuptials have been debated on television, in churches and on the street. Hostile posters can be found on billboards across the city. But, in Di Bello's words, nothing can now prevent him and his partner becoming "husband and husband".<br />Not surprisingly, the marriage is already being hailed by equality activists as a significant triumph against the odds in a traditionally macho society. Argentina – and Latin America in general – is not known for a tolerance of sexual diversity, and violence against gays is an everyday occurrence.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"This marriage is bigger than José María and I," Freyre told the Observer. "It is a victory for all who face prejudice and discrimination across Latin America and the Caribbean. It is proof that at last the grip of the Catholic church is slipping across Latin America, the system that has kept gay communities silent and fearful is crumbling. What is happening on Tuesday is a strike against those attitudes that have repressed sexual rights across this continent for too long."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Freyre and Di Bello say they will be relieved when the spotlight moves elsewhere after Tuesday's ceremony. "We have people calling us every day saying we are their heroes, people we don't know crying on the phone saying that Tuesday will be the best day of their life," said Freyre. "But we won't want to be heroes, all we wanted to do was get married. And now we've brought a little rainbow to Latin America, it's time for others to take up the banner as well and make us not the exception but the rule."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Read the full article at <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/29/latin-america-first-gay-wedding">The Guardian UK</a>.</div>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-30612283283319851882009-11-29T10:15:00.002-05:002009-11-29T10:18:22.422-05:00New Disease Among HIV+ Gay MenA rare parasitic disease, which normally only is transmitted by contaminated water, has been shown to be transmitted by gay sex between hiv-positive men. In the industrial world the disease is virtually absent, but from now on that could change. For this observation, Taiwanese researcher Chieng-Ching Hung received a doctorate from the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp.<br /><br />Read the rest of the article at <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172334.php">Medical News Today</a>.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-75570244929020698162009-11-27T20:44:00.004-05:002009-11-27T21:00:27.279-05:00Will Annise Parker make Houston the country's largest city with an LGBT Mayor?Decision Day is rapidly approaching in Houston, Texas. In just over two weeks, December 12th, voters in Houston have the chance to make history by electing Annise Parker to be their next mayor. If elected, Houston would become the largest city with an openly gay or lesbian mayor.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dOcSiEB1lWw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dOcSiEB1lWw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Although a victory by Annise would be historic and a victory for the LGBT community at large, a win would also be a big victory for the citizens of Houston. Annise is not new to this city; she has been an elected official for years and she is currently the city's Comptroller.<br /><br />She has received the <strong><a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/article/for_houston_mayor_chronicle_endorses_annise_parker/">enthusiastic endorsement of the Houston Chronicle</a></strong>, the city's largest newspaper, and a <strong><a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/article/third_poll_shows_parker_leading/">recent poll</a></strong> shows Annise Parker with a tiny edge:<br /><br />Annise Parker 37%<br />Gene Locke 34%<br />Margin of Error +/- 4.4%<br /><br />Want to connect with the campaign or help with time or money? Here are your links:<br /><a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/">http://www.anniseparker.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/annise4houston">http://www.facebook.com/annise4houston</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/anniseparker">http://twitter.com/anniseparker</a><br /><br />and most importantly:<br /><a href="https://services.myngp.com/NGPOnlineServices/contribution.aspx?X=pJ5FolkTk8v5qgMfqERpHLtQXs%2b1AU2J&m=anniseparker">https://services.myngp.com/NGPOnlineServices/contribution.aspx?X=pJ5FolkTk8v5qgMfqERpHLtQXs%2b1AU2J&m=anniseparker</a>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-26302053963710168712009-11-05T20:26:00.002-05:002009-11-05T20:54:46.056-05:00Election Roundup from November 3rdWe have been away for a few months, but now we are going to get back to regularly updating this blog.<br /><br />There was a lot of LGBT news from Election Night around the country.<br /><br />The biggest story of the night was that voters in Maine vetoed the marriage equality law. Politico had a thoughtful analysis of what went wrong. You can read it <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29140.html">here</a>.<br /><br />But there were many bright spots:<br /><br />Kalamazoo, Michigan voters chose to keep an existing ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT persons.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.anniseparker.com/">Annise Parker</a> finished first in the Houston mayoral election, although she fell short of the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff. If she wins the runoff election, Annise will be the city's first openly LGBT mayor.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20091103/METRO01/911030427/1006/rss01">Charles Pugh</a> will become Detroit's first openly gay councilmember. He finished in first place and will also become the city council president.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/st-petersburg-elects-first-openly-gay-official/1049282">Steve Kornell</a> won his race for St. Petersburg City Council. Now St. Pete will be Florida's largest city with an openly gay councilmember.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ohio.com/news/69030882.html">Sandra Kurt</a> overcame anti-gay attacks to become the first openly LGBT councilmember.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/173407.html">Mark Kleinschmidt</a> was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-86640526509364785362009-06-07T14:20:00.003-04:002009-06-07T14:31:18.501-04:00Polling suggest major shift in Michigan voters' attitudes towards gay rights and marriageIn 2004, Michigan voters adopted a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage by a 58% to 42% margin. Now polling suggests a nearly even split on the issue, with <strong>46.5% in favor of same-sex marriage rights and 48% opposed</strong>.<br /><br />The shift is even more profound when you look at other issues:<br /><br /><strong>92.2% believe that same-sex partners should have hospital visitation rights</strong>, while only 6% are opposed.<br /><br /><strong>70.9% favor inheritance rights when a gay or lesbian partner is deceased</strong>, while only 26% are opposed.<br /><br /><strong>65.5% support domestic partner benefits for government and university employees</strong>, and only 29.7% are opposed.<br /><br /><strong>63.7% are in favor of civil unions for gay/lesbian couples</strong>, while only 31.1% are opposed.<br /><br /><strong>57.5% believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to adopt children</strong>, while only 35.9% are opposed.<br /><br /><strong>Why the change in attitudes? Polling in 2004 suggested that only 56% of voters personally knew a gay or lesbian person. Now that number is sharply higher, 80.2%.</strong><br /><br />Source: The Glengariff Group Inc. poll of 600 registered Michigan voters conducted May 27-29. MOE +/- 4%.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-36976901446131267062009-06-06T22:38:00.001-04:002009-06-06T22:40:45.153-04:00Update on the story a few days ago about anti-transgender comments on KRXQBank of America, Verizon and Chipotle are among those companies pulling ads after anti-transgender comments on KRXQ's morning show.<br /><br />Read more <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090606/ap_on_re_us/us_radio_station_transgender_3">here</a>.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-40644292979297872992009-06-06T22:24:00.006-04:002009-06-06T22:35:39.862-04:00Gay marriage likely to bring the "creative class" to New England statesI have had several friends tell me about Richard Florida's book, The Rise of the Creative Class, which, among other things, tells of the importance of having a thriving gay community in a city and how it is an integral part of building quality of life. Although I haven't read the book yet, I am going to probably pick up a copy at Amazon in the next few days.<br /><br />I just read an article from <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5535JT20090604?sp=true">Reuters</a> which told of the economic benefits many northeastern states will reap due to recent marriage equality laws. Here are a few key excerpts:<br /><br /><strong>"The expansion of legal gay marriage across New England could deliver an economic windfall by attracting a youthful "creative class" of workers to a region with an aging population."</strong><br /><br />"New arrivals include John Visser and Nick Keffer, who recently moved to Hartford, Connecticut, from Raleigh, North Carolina. They plan to wed later this month.<br />"The sole, only reason why we moved was because it was now legal for us to get married here," said Visser, 42. 'No other reason whatsoever other than marriage equality. We were perfectly happy in North Carolina.'"<br /><br />"<strong>The spread of gay marriage could serve as a recruiting tool for universities, health care companies and financial services firms that dominate the region's economy, experts said.</strong><br /><br />"It will be a selling point when it comes to trying to lure people with same-sex partners who are being wooed for a job," said M.V. Lee Badgett, a University of Massachusetts economist who studies gay and lesbian issues.<br /><br /><strong>Same-sex couples in the so-called "creative class" were 2.5 times more likely to move to Massachusetts in the three years following the approval of same-sex marriage than they had been in the three prior years, according to a study released in May by the Williams Institute of the University of California.</strong><br /><br />That study also found that migrants relocating to the state were more likely to be younger and female than before same-sex marriage was approved.<br /><br /><strong>Research shows that heterosexual members of the "creative class" -- a group that includes financial whizzes, software programmers and educators -- tend to regard states that allow gay marriages as more appealing places to live.</strong><br /><br />"It broadly suggests you have an environment in which people who are seen as different are accepted," said Gary Gates, the UCLA demographer who was the study's lead author."<br /><br />The first economic effect Massachusetts felt from gay marriage was a boost in business related to actual wedding ceremonies performed over the past five years.<br /><br />The 12,167 same-sex couples that have wed and their guests have spent about $111 million on weddings, from flowers and cakes to hotel rooms and meals for out-of-state guests, another Williams Institute study found.<br /><br />Over the longer term, there could be a greater economic effect if gay couples decide they are unwilling to leave the region to move to states where their marriages would not be recognized. Forty-two of the 50 U.S. states have laws on their books prohibiting same-sex marriages.<br />"Once these states offer marriage to these families, they will not quickly, willingly or easily accept new assignments, transfers and promotions to states that don't offer them," said Bob Witeck, chief executive of Witeck-Combs Communications, a Washington-based marketing firm that focuses on gay and lesbian issues. "They're creating an economic wall in the region that is going to impact the ability of all national employers to move talent around."<br /><br />Some married gay people said they would not consider moving to a state where their marriage would not be recognized.<br /><br />"I just wouldn't do it. It's pretty straightforward," said Mike Swartz, 41, a vice president at a software company who lives with his husband in Cambridge, Massachusetts.<br /><br />Some couples said another key factor influencing where they would move is how states recognize their role as parents.<br /><br />Marie Longo, 45, moved to Massachusetts before the state allowed gay marriage because its laws allowed her now-wife Allison to adopt Longo's twin daughters.<br /><br />"Portability is a big issue for those of us now who have lived in a state where we have been legally married and respected and treated just like any other couple," said Longo, who works as a fund-raiser for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, a group that lobbies for gay marriage.<br />Knowing they could move from state to state and still have their marriage recognized made it easier for Visser, an interior designer, and Keffer, a real estate agent, to start a new life in the north, Visser said.<br /><br />"Connecticut is a very small state," Visser said. "Hartford is the center and it only takes an hour to get to the state border in any direction, so for us to be able to establish ourselves in the surrounding states, it broadens our opportunities. We feel less restriction."<br /><br />New England has a graying population, particularly in Maine where 14.7 percent of the population is 65 or older, compared to 12.5 percent for the nation as a whole, according to U.S. Census data. Economists and academics say this will take a toll on the region's economy, both by limiting innovation and growing the demand for government services.Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416846771793626896.post-37062609145899707792009-06-06T22:16:00.003-04:002009-06-06T22:19:27.325-04:00Video footage from Saturday's rally for marriage equality in Rhode IslandAccording to Marriage Equality Rhode Island, over 400 people joined to rally for marriage equality at the Rhode Island statehouse today. Some video footage is below.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/yM8xMdZe4qQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/yM8xMdZe4qQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>Almost all of the other states in New England are on board. Come on Rhode Island! Get with the program!</strong>Mattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00827643632771642554noreply@blogger.com0