North America
Gay GOP candidate loses House bid
Democratic Rep. John Tierney won re-election in Massachusetts and thwarted Richard Tisei’s historic bid for Congress. Richard Tisei, a former state senator, is an openly gay Republican. Tierney was considered vulnerable for defeat because he was tied up in a gambling scandal. Although there have been other gay Republicans serving in the U.S. House of… Read more »
Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin is first openly gay person elected to Senate
(CNN) – Tammy Baldwin made history Tuesday night — twice. She became the first openly gay politician, and first Wisconsin woman, elected to the U.S. Senate. She told CNN on Wednesday morning that she hopes the Senate will be “more reflective of America” and that it will reflect the “life experience of more women.” The… Read more »
Regarding Obama’s 2012 Victory
As much as the USA is divided politically it is also, ‘ultimately for now’, dominated by the smart people who do have more money, influence and positive attitudes toward diversity. Obama garnered 306 electoral votes with a slight majority of the popular vote, and Romney got 206 votes and almost half the voters. Obama was… Read more »
The GayGlobe
In the last two years, three internet surveys in Europe, the USA and Asia asked over 200,000 gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) about sex, safety and stigma. Gus Cairns looks at some of the data, and finds a mix of the expected and unexpected and some challenging findings for… Read more »
Ugandan parliamentary speaker blasts Canada over gay rights criticism
The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament claims that Canada has refused to grant visas for several of the country’s politicians due to its ban on same-sex marriage. According to the Daily Trust, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga made the statement on Tuesday as an international summit took place in Quebec. She reportedly said most of her colleagues who… Read more »
New survey: 3.4% of U.S. adults are LGBT
A Gallup survey finds LGBT Americans at lower education and income levels. What’s being touted as the largest study ever aimed at counting the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population finds that 3.4% of adults across the USA identify as being part of the LGBT community. Based on interviews with more than 121,000 individuals,… Read more »
Gallup survey: 3.4 percent of US adults are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
New York — A new Gallup survey, touted as the largest of its kind, estimates that 3.4 percent of American adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The findings, released Thursday, were based on interviews with more than 121,000 people. Gallup said it is the largest study ever aimed at calculating the nation’s LGBT… Read more »
Not There Yet: Inclusion, Acceptance and Support for LGBTQ Muslims
Discussions on LGBTQ inclusion in Muslim communities are one of those things that make my blood boil because in my community, as in some others, Muslims who support same-sex unions and condemn homophobia tend to be disregarded. For many Muslims, the recognition of Muslims who may identify as queer or trans poses a challenge to… Read more »
Moraga: Gay teen denied Eagle Scout submits petition asking Boy Scouts to change policy
Pleasant Hill – A gay teenager denied his Eagle Scout award because of his sexuality turned in an online petition with more than 400,000 signatures Wednesday urging the National Boy Scouts of America to change its policies against allowing gay members. Ryan Andresen of Moraga marched into the front office of the Mt. Diablo Silverado… Read more »
Minority stress could be the missing link with problems facing the LGBTQ
Oct. 11 is National Coming-Out Day which is a great day of celebration for all those individuals that made the tough choice to come-out. This day can also be an empowering symbol for those wanting to come-out but don’t quite have the courage to make it through the door. One of the obvious reasons some… Read more »
Gay Scout Denied Eagle Award Says He Believes in God
Boy Scouts Say He Violated Scout Oath and Law The Boy Scouts of America say that Ryan Andresen was denied his Eagle Award because of a violation of the organization’s religious principles, but the 17-year-old refutes that, saying he believes in a “higher power.” “…The only reason he’s being denied the rank of Eagle is… Read more »
We’re Here, We’re Queer, Y’all
Gays in Rural America Reality television often acquaints us with people we never knew existed. During last week’s season finale of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” TLC’s smash hit about the small-town Georgia family of Alana Thompson, a 7-year-old pageant contestant, viewers were introduced to Alana’s Uncle Lee — affectionately known as “Uncle Poodle.” In… Read more »
Same-Sex Couples Granted Protection in Deportations
The Department of Homeland Security has stated in writing that foreigners who are same-sex partners of American citizens can be included under an Obama administration policy suspending deportations of some immigrants who pose no security risk. In letters sent late Wednesday to several Democratic lawmakers, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she was clarifying guidelines… Read more »
Los Angeles Gay Happiness, the New Frontier
Are mental and physical health problems really a reaction to bigotry? Sixteen years ago, at 19, James Brandon drove cross-country from St. Louis to study at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena. A year earlier, his alcoholic father, whom he had nursed nearly daily, had died of cancer. Handsome, talented and affable,… Read more »
Report: Latino and African-American media are pro-LGBT
A new report that the Opportunity Agenda released suggests that support for LGBTs among African-Americans and Latinos is on the rise, especially in media serving both communities. According to the report, “Public Opinion and Discourse on the Intersection of LGBT Issues and Race”, a study of attitudes toward LGBTs and studies of Latino and African-American… Read more »
Sexual Prejudice
Source – Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8686; email: AR2013@herek.net. Abstract Despite shifts toward greater acceptance in U.S. public opinion and policy, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people remain widely stigmatized. This article reviews empirical research on sexual prejudice, that is, heterosexuals’ internalization of cultural stigma, manifested in the form of negative attitudes toward… Read more »
No homophobia? Hip-hop’s anti-gay tone shifts
New York — Snoop Dogg has rapped in songs where the f-word — the other f-word — has been tossed about. He’s even said it, part of a long list of rappers who have freely used the gay slur in rhyme. For years, anti-gay epithets and sentiments in rap have largely been accepted, along with… Read more »
Top U.S. Marine: Openly gay servicemembers not an issue
The head of the U.S. Marine Corps on Tuesday stressed that the integration of openly gay and lesbians into the military has gone smoothly. “I don’t think there is a problem,” said Commandant Gen. James Amos during a National Press Club luncheon in downtown Washington. “I don’t see it. I don’t hear about it.” Amos’… Read more »
Lesbian doctor is first openly gay president of the Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian Medical Association has its first openly gay president. Anna Reid MD officially became the president of the CMA at their national convention in Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where she works as an emergency room doctor. The body has 76,000 members, and installed Doctor Reid as their president earlier this month. She will… Read more »
Fired gay Boy Scout camp worker petitions for reinstatement
Sacramento (Reuters) – A gay Eagle Scout who says he was fired from his job at a California Boy Scout camp over his sexual orientation delivered a petition on Wednesday with 70,000 signatures asking to be reinstated despite the organization’s ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. Tim Griffin worked at Camp Winton, roughly 80… Read more »
Poll: Gay men take twice as many holidays
A new poll suggested gay men take double the national average number of holidays each year. Ipsos Mori polled 2,174 gay men for Gaydar and has released both the pattern for gay holidays and the most popular destinations. San Francisco was the most popular city, followed by Amsterdam. The resort of Gran Canaria came third… Read more »
Transgender People No Longer Considered Mental Illness
“Gender Identity Disorder” is now a term of the past as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, will be replacing the term with “Gender Dysphoria,” according to the Associated Press. This change is a result of years of lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to change or remove the “mentally ill” characterization… Read more »
Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
St. John’s, N.L. – As Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates its gay pride week, pressure is growing on the province to improve human rights protections for the transgender community, one of society’s most marginalized and vulnerable groups. The NDP has called on the Progressive Conservative government to add gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination… Read more »
U.S. allows uniformed active duty military to march in gay pride parade
(Reuters) – The Department of Defense, in a first-of-its-kind move, will allow active duty members of all branches of the U.S. military to don their service uniforms while marching in an upcoming San Diego gay pride parade, event organizers said on Thursday. The move, confirmed in an internal defense memo, marks the first time the… Read more »
Toronto unveils rainbow cabs to woo gay Londoners for WorldPride 2014
Pride Toronto has unveiled a new taxi advertising campaign to promote the host city of WorldPride 2014 to gay Londoners, as the latter city handed over the mantle this weekend. Toronto beat Stockholm to host WorldPride after winning the majority vote from leaders of gay and lesbian organisations around the globe. As WorldPride celebrations in… Read more »
Barney Frank weds Jim Ready to become first congressman in same-sex marriage (Updated)
Updated Sunday: More wedding details below. It was by choice that Rep. Barney Frank came out of the closet 25 years ago — not the first gay congressman, but the first to announce voluntarily that he was gay. On Saturday, he took another deliberate first step: By exchanging vows in Massachusetts with his longtime boyfriend… Read more »
Major Medical Advance Against HIV-AIDS
“After decades of controversy, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new H.I.V. test on Tuesday that for the first time makes it possible to learn in the privacy of their homes whether they are infected. The availability of an H.I.V. test as easy to use as a home-pregnancy kit is yet another step in… Read more »
Iranian Queers March in Toronto Pride Parade for Those Who Can Not in Iran
A group of Iranian queers in Toronto decided to march in Toronto Pride Parade 2012 (Today, July 1st), to show their existence and promote Iranian Queer Human Rights Cause. Last year, IRQR officially registered the first Iranian contingent at Pride Parade 2011 and won the Best Entry Award of ‘Dream Big’ Theme by Pride Toronto… Read more »
Dr. Richard Isay, Who Opposed Classifying Homosexuality As Disease, Dies
Dr. Richard Isay, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who argued that being gay was normal, not an illness, has died at the age of 77. Isay, the father of two sons who came out gay at the age of 40, died of cancer, The New York Times reported. “He changed the way the psychoanalytic world viewed… Read more »
Gay Couple Holds First Civil Union Ceremony On Military Base
A gay service member in the Air Force and his partner entered a civil union on Saturday at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Wrightstown, New Jersey. The civil union of Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali and Will Behrens is considered the first same-sex ceremony held on a military base since repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” According… Read more »
In a first, Pentagon ceremony marks gay pride month
Less than a year after the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, gay service members celebrate another cultural milestone with a formal event at the Pentagon. Washington — A year ago, Marine Capt. M. Matthew Phelps might have been relieved of his command in San Diego if the military found… Read more »
Gay Pride around the country
New York – Revelers kiss in front of the Stonewall Inn during the New York City Gay Pride March on June 24, 2012 in New York City. The annual civil rights demonstration commemorates the Stonewall riots of 1969, which erupted after a police raid on a gay bar, the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. Source… Read more »
Obama hosts gay pride month reception at White House
President Barack Obama will host a reception at the White House today to observe Gay Pride Month. Obama’s recent declaration of support for gay marriage was celebrated as a key endorsement among gay rights groups. Video here Source – The Washington Post
Ontario passes pro-gay anti-bullying bill despite opposition from Catholic Church
The Canadian province of Ontario has passed a wide-ranging anti-bullying bill which mandates that students be allowed to form Gay-Straight Alliances in schools, including those run by the Catholic Church. The state’s legislature passed Bill 13 easily by a 65 to 36 majority, and the Education Minister, Laurel Broten, said that it is expected to… Read more »
Ex-Rutgers student who spied on gay roommate starts jail as victim’s family rejects apology
New Brunswick, N.J. — The former Rutgers student convicted of using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate has reported to a New Jersey jail, and the victim’s family is speaking out for the first time about his apology and 30-day jail sentence. The parents of Tyler Clementi say the apology issued by Dharun… Read more »
California senate approves ban on ‘gay cure’ therapy for minors
The Californian state senate last night approved a bill to ban the use of so-called conversion therapies on minors which attempt to alter their sexual orientation. Senate Bill 1172 will now be voted on by the state Assembly before heading to the Governor’s office, where it would become the first law in the US banning… Read more »
First Openly Gay Military Graduates Say They Find Acceptance
Gay students at America’s military service academies ending the first year without “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have described a smooth transition. The policy, which ended in September, for 18 years threatened to end the military careers of gay students who did not hide their sexual orientation. “For the most part, it allows us to be… Read more »
Raul Castro daughter lauds Obama gay marriage stance
San Francisco (Reuters) – Cuban President Raul Castro’s daughter Mariela said on Wednesday she was surprised by the warm welcome she received on arrival in the United States and was heartened by President Barack Obama’s support for same-sex marriage. Sexologist Mariela Castro, 50, heads the communist island nation’s National Center for Sex Education and is… Read more »
Federal Anti-Gay Hate Crimes Law Gets First Test In Kentucky
Harlan County, Ky. — In the middle of an April night last year, a young gay man named Kevin Pennington crawled out of the woods in the remote hills of southeastern Kentucky, looking for help. Bruises and cuts covered his face and body and he limped down the road, dragging his ankle along the asphalt,… Read more »
Lady Gaga responds religious protests with emotional speech
International pop star who has met protests from Christians and Muslims during Asian tour speaks out during Manilla concert Lady Gaga’s Asian tour has been met with religious protests in Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. At last night’s concert in Manilla she finally aired her views. ‘So many people have been protesting and it really… Read more »
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