Pinknews is reporting that the Supreme Court of Nepal has granted equal rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.
This is huge.
Read more.
Truth Wins Out Shows Foolishness of "Ex-Gay" Therapy
NEW YORK - Truth Wins Out introduced two new Internet Public Service Announcements today (IPSA) that show the absurdity of the ex-gay myth, while rebutting the blatant fear tactics that these organizations use to recruit new members.
"We urge all bloggers to consider posting these ads, to educate Americans about the harm done by ex-gay therapies," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "These ads use cutting edge humor to address a serious issue that is tearing apart families and ruining lives."
The first ad, "Bald," addresses a lie told by Exodus International's executive director Alan Chambers earlier this year on a national television show.
"What I found was that homosexuality was for the young," said Chambers. "There was a time when I wasn't going to have hair anymore. There was a time when I wasn't going to work out every day, and lay out in the sun, and be as much a commodity as I was when I was eighteen."
In "Bald"(:50), ex-gay survivor Nick Cavnar - a bald man from Washington, DC in his 50's - takes Chambers to task for exploiting the fears of young gay men. "I have wonderful friends," says Cavnar, "and many of them are bald too. And all of us middle age gay bald men, just want to tell you, it's great out here."
The second groundbreaking ad, "Rubber Band" (:30)features Dallas ex-gay survivor Brian Nesbitt, who was urged by his therapist to wear a rubber band on his wrist and snap it whenever he saw an attractive guy.
"You feel terrible that he had to go through this in his desperate efforts to go from gay to straight," said Besen. "But, at the same time, one can only snicker at the thought that this bizarre technique is still used and taken seriously by ex-gay organizations."
Truth Wins Out released these ads in time for the holiday season, because many people return home only to be confronted by sincere, but misguided, family members and friends wielding ex-gay literature like a club.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.
Thanks to Wayne Besen for alerting me to this news
"We urge all bloggers to consider posting these ads, to educate Americans about the harm done by ex-gay therapies," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "These ads use cutting edge humor to address a serious issue that is tearing apart families and ruining lives."
The first ad, "Bald," addresses a lie told by Exodus International's executive director Alan Chambers earlier this year on a national television show.
"What I found was that homosexuality was for the young," said Chambers. "There was a time when I wasn't going to have hair anymore. There was a time when I wasn't going to work out every day, and lay out in the sun, and be as much a commodity as I was when I was eighteen."
In "Bald"(:50), ex-gay survivor Nick Cavnar - a bald man from Washington, DC in his 50's - takes Chambers to task for exploiting the fears of young gay men. "I have wonderful friends," says Cavnar, "and many of them are bald too. And all of us middle age gay bald men, just want to tell you, it's great out here."
The second groundbreaking ad, "Rubber Band" (:30)features Dallas ex-gay survivor Brian Nesbitt, who was urged by his therapist to wear a rubber band on his wrist and snap it whenever he saw an attractive guy.
"You feel terrible that he had to go through this in his desperate efforts to go from gay to straight," said Besen. "But, at the same time, one can only snicker at the thought that this bizarre technique is still used and taken seriously by ex-gay organizations."
Truth Wins Out released these ads in time for the holiday season, because many people return home only to be confronted by sincere, but misguided, family members and friends wielding ex-gay literature like a club.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.
Thanks to Wayne Besen for alerting me to this news
Turn $10 into $1000 for Trans Rights Today!
Between now and Friday at 3pm you have the opportunity to turn a $10 donation into a $1000 award for Trans rights! Your donation will also keep MTPC in the running for a $10,000 grant to be given in February. CLICK HERE!
And be sure to join the QueerToday.com facebook group too: Click Here!
And be sure to join the QueerToday.com facebook group too: Click Here!
Occupation of Iraq Increased Hostility Towards Gays
The New York Times has an interesting article today about how the US invasion of Iraq made it more dangerous for many gays to live openly.
Trans Student Accuses Mass. College Of Discrimination
"(Haverhill, Massachusetts) A transgendered students says he is the victim of discrimination at a small Massachusetts community college because he is biologically female.
Ethan Santiago says that Northern Essex Community College is refusing him to use the men's locker room." - 365gay.com
Act Now! Help MTPC Win A Bunch of $$
The MTPC has issued a challenge! They are on the verge of winning a bunch of money from facebook and they need our help.
Click Here for their cause page on facebook. Even if you just give a dollar, you'll help their chances of winning.
"Facebook is awarding money to organizations with the most unique donors. They are giving away 50 $1000 grants every 24 hours. We are now in 5th place of all the causes on Facebook, with 3 hours to go. We are also in 5th place for the 50-day, $50,000 challenge, and are currently the LEADER in the $10,000 challenge - ahead of many other causes with many more members!"
Act now!
Click Here for their cause page on facebook. Even if you just give a dollar, you'll help their chances of winning.
"Facebook is awarding money to organizations with the most unique donors. They are giving away 50 $1000 grants every 24 hours. We are now in 5th place of all the causes on Facebook, with 3 hours to go. We are also in 5th place for the 50-day, $50,000 challenge, and are currently the LEADER in the $10,000 challenge - ahead of many other causes with many more members!"
Act now!
Victory for Biolab Opponents!
BlueMassGroup is reporting that the SJC made a ruling that will please those of us who oppose the scary BU Biolab.
Death Penalty Banned
Desmond Morris on male homosexuality
Pinknews is reporting that British zoologist, anthropologist, and best-selling author, Desmond Morris, has a new theory on the causes of male homosexuality. In The Naked Man: A Study Of The Male Body, Morris concludes that social rather than genetic reasons make men attracted to men.
Read more.
Question - Does knowing why we are gay alter our self-perceptions or somehow construct our identities in new ways?
Read more.
Question - Does knowing why we are gay alter our self-perceptions or somehow construct our identities in new ways?
Being Anti-Gay is a Drag!
Giuliani begins to run from his "pro-gay" past...
Giuliani in drag:
Giuliani in drag again:
Giuliani saying "it's the acts that are sinful."
Giuliani in drag:
Giuliani in drag again:
Giuliani saying "it's the acts that are sinful."
Presidential Candidate Advocated Quarantine for AIDS Patients
The prospect of this man being our president is terrifying. He now refuses to recant his call for a quarantine on AIDS patients. Watch the video here, if you can stomach it.
Mankind Project Update: We're Not Anti-gay!
Wayne Besen is now reporting that he was wrong about the Mankind Project. The group is not anti-gay and is actually frustrated by its recent endorsement by anti-gay groups. While I still find their organization a bit peculiar, I now trust that they are not an ex-gay group. Many of the activities described seem to have been exagerated or changed. The group says they aim to create a environment where men feel shame free and comfortable with their bodies. Hopefully Besen will be more a more thorough reporter in the future.
Chavez Concedes Defeat: Democracy Alive & Well in Venezuela
Low voter turn-out, confusion, and apathy among Chavez's base gave him a narrow defeat last night. Chavez, who the international media portrays as a dictator, graciously conceded.
"I thank you and I congratulate you," said Hugo Chavez to his opponents. "I recognize the decision a people have made." - Chavez
The constitutional reforms would have made Venezuela the first country in South America to add protections based on sexual orientation. (365gay.com)
"I thank you and I congratulate you," said Hugo Chavez to his opponents. "I recognize the decision a people have made." - Chavez
The constitutional reforms would have made Venezuela the first country in South America to add protections based on sexual orientation. (365gay.com)
Caracas, December 3, 2007 - Venezuela's National Electoral Council Announced at 1:15am that the No vote against the President's constitutional reform proposal lost 49.3% to 50.7%, with 45% abstention. Chavez conceded that the reform proposal lost "for now."
The vote was divided into two blocks, whereby the first block included Chavez's 33 proposed article changes and the second block included changes proposed by the national assembly. The second block lost with a slightly higher margin, with 51.0% for "No" to 49.0% for "Yes". - VenezuelaAnalysis.com
Hands Off Venezuela: Rally Sunday
What: Rally Supporting Venezuelan ReformsWhen: Sunday December 2, 12-2:00pm
Why: The United States CIA and allied forces have been attempting to undermine the will of the vast majority of Venezuelans since Chavez was democratically elected president. The media has been pushing lies to portray Chavez as an evil dictator, using shady polling companies to distort the reality of the will of the people, and executing plans to incite violence in the days following tomorrow's vote. It is up to us to spread the truth because like the lead up to the Iraq war, the mainstream media (mostly owned by right-wingers) is lying.
More Info & Updates:
Why: The United States CIA and allied forces have been attempting to undermine the will of the vast majority of Venezuelans since Chavez was democratically elected president. The media has been pushing lies to portray Chavez as an evil dictator, using shady polling companies to distort the reality of the will of the people, and executing plans to incite violence in the days following tomorrow's vote. It is up to us to spread the truth because like the lead up to the Iraq war, the mainstream media (mostly owned by right-wingers) is lying.
More Info & Updates:
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day (worldaidsday.org)* Special Meeting & Service. State of Emergency! Community Church of Boston, Copley Sq. 6pm.
* AIDS Action Committee Events
Update: AIDS Activists Arrested at Whitehouse
Cruising. We all have so much to learn from it!
This speech was given by Abe Rybeck at this year's Pride Lights celebration after he received an award from AIDS Action Committee. Abe is the Artistic Director of Theater Offensive.
When a trashy Jewish Communist Safe-Sex Porno Street Guerrilla Drag Queen breaks into song at 3:00 AM in a cruising area, it does not occur to him that one day somebody’s gonna give him an award for it!
THANK YOU!
Thank you Rebecca and Dennis and Diego and Paul and the whole gang. Twenty-two years ago I walked down into a crowded basement on Havelind Street to volunteer for the AIDS ACTION Committee.
Nowadays, when someone wants to talk about courage, they mention the military. When they talk about commitment, they refer to marriage.
But those folks I met at AIDS ACTION all those years ago: Speaking truth to power. Being there for sick brothers and sisters. Using common sense prevention when the medical establishment wouldn’t even pay attention. Teaching each other safer sex in backrooms and bushes and beds. That’s commitment. That’s courage.
To receive this honor from the AIDS ACTION Committee makes me so proud... of all of us.
Some say that kind of activism is passé. But I know better. I have witnessed a working model for community building that can resist the sucking vacuum of cooptation! It’s called...
Cruising. We all have so much to learn from it.
Okay, hear me out. I have a simple point. Coming out has taught us each to respect who we really are, to respect our desires, yes, our horniness. And I believe that’s a clue about how to change the world.
For over one hundred years guys have been fooling around in The Fens, despite attacks against them from Fagbashers; Muggers; Gardeners; STDs; HIV/AIDS; the Police; and Politicians.
But cruising in the Fens is utterly unstoppable, the way a political movement should be. 365 days a year guys go there to hook up. (I use the term guys very loosely, since there is a crazy mishmash of genders in the Fens.) You can walk three blocks from your apartment in the projects into a lush green jungle of pleasure. You can cum on your coffee break. You can get blown in a blizzard.
There is no committee that organizes guys in The Fens. There’s no board of directors. There’s no e-blast. And most incredibly, nobody makes a profit off it! For LGBT folks, who are organized more as a market niche than a community, this is downright astounding! Hundreds of guys are getting satisfied every night and no one makes any money off it!
So why do they go? Because it works. They get just what they cum for.
I am part of A Street Theater Named Desire. We do AIDS activist guerrilla theater performances in cruising areas on summer nights, from Midnight to 3:00 AM for the guys who come there to fool around. We lay out picnic blankets for them and share some coffee, water, doughnuts and sex supplies. Sometimes we even make s’mores. We hang out and talk with the guys.
Since we’re trying to learn from the magic of the Fens, we take its simple truth as our motto: “Get just what you cum for.” Like: Get laid but don’t get AIDS; Get vulnerable but don’t get mugged; Get naked but don’t get mosquito bites. So, sure, we give out condoms, but we also share a lot of intimacy... and bug repellent.
We encounter about 300 people per night, a madly diverse group of ages, ethnicities and genders, all there in the Fens to satisfy their desires. And almost everyone gets it.
And there, again, is my simple queer point. Respect who we really are. Respect our desires, yes, our horniness. And I believe that’s a little clue about how to change the world.
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