Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Chilean lawmakers consider marriage bill
Pope Francis calls for church support of LGBT families
Pope Francis on Sunday called on the Catholic Church to provide support for parents with LGBT children.
"We come across this reality all the time in the confessional: a father and a mother whose son or daughter is in that situation. ... We have to find a way to help that father or that mother to stand by their son or daughter," Francis said during a discussion of the church's Synod of Bishops in the fall. A day earlier, the pontiff urged his fellow officials to recognize the "signs of the times."
"We come across this reality all the time in the confessional: a father and a mother whose son or daughter is in that situation. ... We have to find a way to help that father or that mother to stand by their son or daughter," Francis said during a discussion of the church's Synod of Bishops in the fall. A day earlier, the pontiff urged his fellow officials to recognize the "signs of the times."
From Women Rule Summit: The Next Wave of LGBT Challenges
Check out Change the Ratio co-founder Rachel Sklar moderating a conversation about the next wave of LGBT challenges with political commentator Sally Kohn, attorney Robbie Kaplan and former N.Y.C. mayoral candidate Christine Quinn at yesterday’s Women Rule Summit.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The Advocate’s 2014 “Day in LGBT America”
"When
people get to know us, it's obvious there's nothing credible in all the
terrible things said about LGBT people. Coming out was the first step,
but being out in our everyday lives shows what we have in common with
other Americans. That's why we hope thousands of people take part and
show there is no single type of LGBT person, and that there are
thousands of ways to relate to being LGBT," said Lucas Grindley,
editorial director for Here Media.
Morgan Shaughnessy - February Moon
“February Moon” is Morgan Shaughnessy’s first single off of her debut EP, Makeout Scars and Breakout Stars. Morgan says the song “is meant to be sonically evocative of - and uses metaphors involving - nature and of Earth's seasons to reflect the cyclical nature of all life and the very certain uncertainty of interpersonal human relationships.”
Michigan Legislature Poised to Grant Special Discrimination Rights to Anti-LGBT Adoption & Foster Care Services
On Thursday, December 4, in addition to passing a Religious Freedom Restoration Act through the Michigan House of Representatives, in a surprise move the Michigan legislative body also resurrected three bills that would allow adoption or foster care providers to refuse services on the basis of their personal religious objections—the consequences of which would be immediate, random, broad, and disastrous. These four bills now head to the Senate where they may likely pass this week. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, strongly condemned the bills and urged the Michigan Senate to stop them.
These bills would enshrine special discrimination rights into Michigan law. They would allow a religious adoption agency from a non-Christian faith to deny service to a straight, Christian couple. A single parent seeking to foster a child in need could be turned away no questions asked. And of course, this law would also allow rampant discrimination against committed and loving LGBT couples.
“This is not what religious freedom is supposed to look like,” said Marty Rouse, HRC’s National Field Director. “These bills are nothing more than explicit and repulsive licenses to discriminate, and have no place in Michigan law. It is in the best interests of children that all qualified adults who have the room in their hearts and homes to adopt a child are permitted to do so, and are treated fairly in the process. We urge the Michigan Senate to stop these heinous bills from moving forward.”
More than 400,000 children remain in the US foster care system, and 100,000+ of these are waiting for permanent families. A disproportionate number of foster youth are LGBT.
These bills would enshrine special discrimination rights into Michigan law. They would allow a religious adoption agency from a non-Christian faith to deny service to a straight, Christian couple. A single parent seeking to foster a child in need could be turned away no questions asked. And of course, this law would also allow rampant discrimination against committed and loving LGBT couples.
“This is not what religious freedom is supposed to look like,” said Marty Rouse, HRC’s National Field Director. “These bills are nothing more than explicit and repulsive licenses to discriminate, and have no place in Michigan law. It is in the best interests of children that all qualified adults who have the room in their hearts and homes to adopt a child are permitted to do so, and are treated fairly in the process. We urge the Michigan Senate to stop these heinous bills from moving forward.”
More than 400,000 children remain in the US foster care system, and 100,000+ of these are waiting for permanent families. A disproportionate number of foster youth are LGBT.
'Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine' Comes to Theaters in February
Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine will begin a theatrical rollout in twelve cities during February 2015, following a year of acclaim on the festival circuit and recent accolades at the Side by Side Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. A winner of four Best Documentary awards, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine will first open in New York and two other cities on February 6, followed by Los Angeles on February 13, and continue expanding into select markets across the United States and Canada.
Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog - MileHighGayGuy
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Monday, December 8, 2014
Marc Solomon's “Winning Marriage” Book Launch Tonight
The book, with a foreword by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, has received critical acclaim from Bob Woodward, Dee Dee Myers, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
As a senior political strategist for the marriage movement for more than a decade, Solomon takes readers inside the White House, the Supreme Court, governors' offices and state capitols, as well as into the war rooms of marriage campaigns throughout the country, showing how the campaign for marriage equality has been waged and how it has prevailed. Solomon chronicles the indispensable role of Tim Gill, as well as the Denver-based Gill Foundation and the Gill Action Fund, in bringing about the victories secured over the last decade.
Free Music Download: Brass Knuckles - Water Gun (Anbody Remix)
Andrew Christian and the Hunky Santas Present 'Jingle Bells'
HRC Statement on Nomination of Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defense
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| Ashton Carter |
“We look forward to working closely with Ashton Carter on the important challenges to equality that remain for LGBT service members,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs Director. “While there has been a tremendous amount of progress made in the Armed Forces over the past several years starting with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, transgender service members are still forced to serve in silence because of outdated regulations. There is no valid reason for this to continue. Once confirmed, Ashton Carter should address this expeditiously.”
The repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy allowed lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals to serve in the military openly and honestly. However, while the repeal of DADT was an incredibly important step forward, many issues remain for these service members, veterans, their families, and those still prohibited from serving.
Two of the remaining challenges that can be addressed specifically by the Department of Defense include:
Transgender Service: Despite the repeal of DADT, transgender individuals are still prohibited from openly serving in the military due to outdated DoD regulations that are out of step with current medical practice. In May of this year, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he was “open” to reviewing the military’s ban on transgender people. An estimated 15,500 transgender individuals are currently serving in silence.
Non-Discrimination Protections: LGB service members who face discrimination or harassment have few options for addressing their problem. Most harassment and discrimination complaints can be pursued outside of the chain of command through the Military Equal Opportunity Program. However, following repeal of DADT, sexual orientation was not included in the DoD’s formal non-discrimination policy, which triggers access to the MEO complaint and support processes, leaving LGB service members more vulnerable.
David Hyde Pierce On The Domino Effect of Same Sex Marriage, Joining CBS’ ‘Good Wife’ & Alzheimer’s Disease
The ‘Frasier’ actor also talked to Larry about the change in attitude towards same sex marriage in the U.S., “I’m amazed of the sort of domino effect with same-sex marriage happening throughout the states, but I think people, it had to do with visibility, all the brave people who fought for marriage and just the average american looking at these people or looking at friends or family who are gay or lesbian and realizing it’s kind of hypocritical.”
Are You Ready? Just 2.5 Months Till OutBoard 2015
The new dates, Februrary 17-22nd, 2015 should mean even better snow than last year, but it also means that you have a month less to plan so don't wait, head over to OutBoard2015.com for complete details and to book your trip to "The Most Laid Back" Gay Snowboard and Ski Week" today!
'Sing It! Merry Christmas' - New Holiday Tune from Aaron Paul
"I really channeled my childhood with this song and wanted to make sure that I brought a bit of the younger me, mixed in with situations that are happening in the world today", says Aaron. "I just wanted to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and the holidays while dancing and there was no doubt in my mind that Julian Marsh would do just that", he adds.
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