Monday, July 14, 2014
Gay Summer Getaways On A Budget: Puerto Vallarta
Books: A Queer Capital: A History of Gay Life in Washington, D.C.
From the turn of the twentieth century through the 1980s, gay people in Washington, D.C. created their own communities, fought for their rights, and, in the process, helped to change the country.
But much of this vivid history had never been documented. Until now.
In A Queer Capital: A History of Gay Life in Washington, D.C., Genny Beemyn explores how lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals established spaces of their own before and after World War II, survived some of the harshest anti-gay campaigns in the U.S., and organized to demand equal treatment.
Telling the stories of black and white gay communities and individuals, Beemyn provides insights not only into LGBT life, but also on the history of Washington, D.C. and African American life and culture in the twentieth century.
Michael Bronski, author of A Queer History of the United States, said the book “is at once exhilarating and moving. Brimming with newly discovered information and vibrant sketches of people and historical events brought together with a fresh eye and original analysis, A Queer Capital is an important addition to academic and popular studies of LGBT American history.”
Largest Gathering of LGBT Business Owners in History to Discuss Challenges, Opportunities at Leadership Conference
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The 2014 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce National Business and Leadership Conference, July 29–Aug. 1 in Las Vegas, will occur against a backdrop of reports that the economic climate is improving as LGBT acceptance grows. The more than 700 business owners, from across the U.S. and countries as far away as Argentina, will connect with Fortune 100 companies as well as learn about federal government contracting opportunities. Participants include directors and supporters of an extended network of local affiliated chambers.
“More than 140 major corporations work directly with NGLCC to access certified LGBT suppliers and this conference is an important way to make those connections,” says Justin Nelson, co-founder and CEO, NGLCC, which is the business voice of the LGBT community. “We also will be reviewing the latest research about the $800 billion spending power behind LGBT consumers. Most importantly, this is a premier networking conference. Business owners go away with new leads that directly help their bottom line.”
OUT on DVD: Eroddity(s)
David Pollack - Why Not Now
New York based indie-pop artist David Pollack's first single, “Why Not Now?,” is a reggae beat driven proclamation of desire that will surely resonate for many lustful listeners this summer.
GLAAD and over 25 organizations: FIFA must take action on homophobia in soccer
"At a time when more of the world than ever loves the sport of soccer, its biggest tournament, the World Cup, is starting to be known as an anti-gay event and this narrative will only grow in advance of the next games in Russia and Qatar, two countries with disastrous records when it comes to LGBT people," said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. "Networks, fans and sponsors do not want to be associated with stadiums chanting anti-gay slurs nor do they want a situation like the Sochi Olympics, which was overshadowed by the discussion of Russia's anti-LGBT environment. GLAAD will be reaching out to FIFA and corporate partners worldwide to bring change."
To see the letter visit: http://www.glaad.org/open-letter-fifa. LGBT, Latino, faith and sports organizations that signed on to the letter to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter include: GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), The Task Force, National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), The Trevor Project, Family Equality Council, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), Women's Sports Foundation, GO! Athletes, Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc., Br{ache the Silence, Federation of Gay Games, FearlessProject.org, Outsports, Latino Equality Alliance, CODISE A.C. (Mexico), Federación Argentina de Lesbianas Gays Bisexuales y Trans (Argentina), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, AM Comunicación e Información (Mexico), Metropolitan Community Churches, DignityUSA, More Light Presbyterians, New Ways Ministry, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Seventh Day Adventist Kinship International, and Nehirim.
During the 2014 World Cup soccer games in Brazil, fans in the stadiums and at home could hear groups chanting anti-gay slurs at members of the opposing team. Before the start of World Cup, GLAAD asked FIFA to speak out about all forms of discrimination including that directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Out soccer player Robbie Rogers supported GLAAD's #StopTheSlurs campaign.
After investigating a complaint filed by Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) FIFA said the use of the anti-gay slur 'puto' was not offensive in the context of a soccer game, which sparked debate among LGBT fans and allies. In many parts of the Spanish-speaking world, 'puto' means 'faggot.' In countries where it is not specifically an anti-gay epithet, it is a very offensive pejorative, which expresses misogynistic attitudes. Conapred, Mexico's anti-discrimination agency, has come out strongly stating that the word is offensive and hurtful.
After FIFA decided to allow slurs in the game, Univision read a statement on air before and during the half time of the recent Mexico v. Netherlands match that warned viewers that offensive language would be heard during the match and reaffirmed the network's commitment to supporting a World Cup that is safe for all. ESPN also spoke about the controversy around the slurs on-air. To see their statements visit: http://www.glaad.org/blog/univision-speaks-out-against-anti-gay-slurs-and-voices-solidarity-lgbt-fans-during-world-cup.
The 2018 World Cup is planned to be held in Sochi, Russia, which has come under heavy criticism since the Olympics and after Russia passed an "anti-propaganda" law that is silencing LGBT citizens and promoting violence against them. Additionally, the 2022 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar, where being gay is illegal and LGBT people can be imprisoned. When FIFA President Sepp Blatter was asked about Qatar's anti-LGBT laws, his response was to laugh and state that LGBT fans who plan to attend should “refrain from sexual activity.” He later apologized for his flippant comments.
"Sports and international sporting events are a way to unite people around the world. Allowing hate and hate speech to be part of the games flies in the face of what tournaments like World Cup stand for," Ellis said. "LGBT people, and our family members and friends want to attend events like World Cup, but won't be joining when the celebration doesn't welcome us."
Friday, July 11, 2014
New LGBT Fitness Class Offered
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Thursday, July 10, 2014
Laverne Cox: The Making of an Icon
Cox knows that her past and her upbringing play an important part in where she is today. Now, in the midst of writing her own memoir, her origin story – one that began in Mobile, Ala. – is very clearly on her mind, specifically being bullied seemingly by both classmates and teachers. She remembers one teacher telling her mother, who later repeated it to Cox, “Your son is going to end up in New Orleans wearing a dress if you don’t get him into therapy right away.”
When Cox was bullied by other kids, her mother would yell at her for not fighting back. “She was concerned about what other people would think about her parenting, about her. There was all this fear that I would end up gay or whatever, and there was a lot of homophobia in my hometown. Surprise, surprise.”
Cox herself would hide behind her good grades as a sort of defense. “It’s sort of embarrassing to say, but as a bullied kid, [I said], ‘Well, you’re bullying me, but I’m making all As and I’m better than you!’ it’s a childish thing to say, and I was a child, but that was my mentality. ‘You’re bullying me, but I’m going to be rich and famous some day,’” she says, laughing, adding, “I’m not rich yet.”
After high school, Cox eventually wound up in New York, where she began both performing and accepting her true self. A few years before her medical transition, Cox began living full-time as a woman. She hadn’t yet changed her name or started using feminine pronouns, but was wearing makeup and dresses, wearing her hair long, and, she says, “getting tons of street harassment, harassment in the subway.” And it was an acquaintance, Tina Sparkles, who prompted a turning point. “Watching her and other trans women transition, I thought, This is who I am. And I was terrified.”
Sometime later, when she was in her doctor’s office getting her first hormone shot and was finally able to say aloud, “I’m transgender,” it was a breakthrough. “I never really said that before, and owning that was just a relief. I feel like it was something I’d been running away from my whole life, something I’d been fighting and trying not to be and trying to negotiate, instead of just trying to be who I am. It was just a relief.”
Cox now realizes that the fight is way bigger than just her. According to a Facebook post she penned, “It is no longer acceptable for trans lives to be stigmatized, ridiculed, criminalized and disregarded.” She now says, “If I’m going to have a public platform, I want to use it not just to elevate myself but to elevate issues that are important to me. I know a lot of people would rather not have me be the face of this thing…but what’s exciting about what’s happening now, culturally, is that there are so many more trans folks coming forward and saying, ‘This is who I am, this is my story. I will not be silent anymore, I will not be in hiding anymore,’ and that’s when a movement really happens, right?”
Read The Advocate’s full Laverne Cox cover story here.
Sign the petition for the freedom to marry!
Since the ACLU and Edie Windsor took down the Defense of Marriage Act last year at the Supreme Court, there’s been unimaginable momentum toward the freedom to marry across the country, with court after court declaring state bans on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional. After yesterday’s ruling, Colorado is close to becoming the next state to recognize the freedom to marry.
Urge CO Attorney General John Suthers to let yesterday’s historic ruling stand so that same-sex couples can marry without delay.
Attorney General John Suthers is now the last person standing in the way of marriage equality in Colorado, as he will have to decide soon if he will appeal the ruling. If Suthers appeals, it will mean Colorado’s marriage ban stays on the books as the appeal makes its way through the courts. For same-sex couples in Colorado one more day is too long to wait.
Tell Attorney General Suthers: Don’t appeal yesterday’s ruling striking down Colorado’s marriage ban.
OUT on DVD: Tennessee Queer
Breaking Glass Pictures and QC Cinema are proud to present Tennessee Queer on DVD and cable (Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon) and Internet VOD (iTunes) on July 29, 2014. A film about the clash of religion, politics and gay pride, Tennessee Queer is the story of one man who aims to make life better for LGBT teens.
Jason Potts (Walker) is an openly gay man living in New York City. When he returns to his hometown of Smyth, Tennessee, Jason realizes things have not changed for LGBT teens. As Jason sets out to help, he is put in charge of the town's first-ever gay pride parade. Meanwhile, a conservative city councilman is working with a minister to send Smyth's gay teens to an ex-gay ministry camp.
Filmed in Memphis, Tennessee with an all-local Tennessee cast, Tennessee Queer made its world premiere in 2012 at Philadelphia QFest. LA Weekly praised Tenneesee Queer calling it "A sweet, charming film! Filled with sharp, unforced, quickly sketched observations."
Jason Potts (Walker) is an openly gay man living in New York City. When he returns to his hometown of Smyth, Tennessee, Jason realizes things have not changed for LGBT teens. As Jason sets out to help, he is put in charge of the town's first-ever gay pride parade. Meanwhile, a conservative city councilman is working with a minister to send Smyth's gay teens to an ex-gay ministry camp.
Filmed in Memphis, Tennessee with an all-local Tennessee cast, Tennessee Queer made its world premiere in 2012 at Philadelphia QFest. LA Weekly praised Tenneesee Queer calling it "A sweet, charming film! Filled with sharp, unforced, quickly sketched observations."
Nyanda - Trouble
Nyanda, one half of the Pop/Reggae duo Brick & Lace, returns with a brand new remix and music video for Taylor Swift's hit single "Trouble". Remixed by Miami based production duo BlackLion, this hot record brings new life to the chart topping pop single. The video, directed by Eric Christian King, celebrates Nyanda's remix which spent over 10 weeks on UK's club music charts.
Tranifesto: Can a Gay Man Love a Trans Woman?
A reader writes: “I am a gay man and have no doubts really about that. I was late in coming out after being married and having children. However, 15 months ago I started a relationship with a guy who I had met several years earlier and who also was previously married with children.
“After we had been dating for six or seven months, he started to talk about how he really liked dressing as a girl and felt he should have been born a girl. I did know he was always quite fem and liked fem things and that was part of my attraction to him.
“Well, now he is well into transition to her, including name change and hormone treatments, and is fully out to family and work. I have supported this transition because I loved/love him/her and know that it was making her happy and it was what she wanted.
“Now, though, I am having a real problem in my head as to how can it be that a gay guy is still fancying a girl. Is it an identity issue? What is going on in my mind? Can this relationship continue?
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