Happy Holidays
I will be traveling through Europe over the holiday season, and unable to update this blog.
My planned return is January 5th, 2009.
For all things gay, merry and bright, I recommend checking www.queerty.com.
May you and your loved ones have a delightful and safe holiday!
Lesbian gang raped in possible hate crime
Watch the video, read the article: http://www.ktvu.com/news/18321357/detail.html
Kennedy comes out for gay marriage
Read the article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16769.html
Israel, Arab states at odds over first UN gay rights declaration
Israel has joined a group of United Nations member states calling for the institution’s first gay rights declaration, an initiative which has met with resistance by an Arab-backed opposition.
The declaration that was presented Thursday at the UN General Assembly calls for decriminalization of homosexuality.
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Syrian representative read out a statement drafted by the opposition, arguing that the declaration would result in more sex crimes against children.
France and the Netherlands initiated the declaration following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary that was marked earlier this month.
“This is the first time in history that a group of member countries voices its objection to discrimination that is based on sexual identity and orientation,” said Dutch foreign minister, Maxime Verhagen. “The issue is no longer taboo,” he added.
The United States, Russia and China have abstained on the matter.
The nonbinding declaration was read out by Argentina at a plenary session, and so far diplomats promoting it have gathered 66 supporting signatures.
Dr. Phil & Transphobia: Act NOW!
QUEERS UNITED WRITES:
Dr. Phil hosted a program today entitled “Gender Confused Kids” and even had an “expert” Glenn Stanton from the notoriously anti-gay and transphobic Focus on The Family. Transgender affirming voices were also heard on the show, but it is the title and the selection of Focus on the Family that concerns me most.
The website goes on to talk about “gender confusion” and also links to Focus on the Family.
There is also a poll on the website:
“What do you think causes gender confusion? Should a parent let their child dress as the opposite sex?”
Administrative Contact:
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Barbara Robinson
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Click to email Barbara Robinson
Phone: 1-323-9563393
Sponsors of Prop 8 ask Calif Supreme Court to Nullify Marriages of 18K Same-Sex Couples
The sponsors of Proposition 8 are asking the California Supreme Court to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters last month approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions.
The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief Friday arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions.
The campaign submitted the brief in response to three lawsuits seeking to invalidate Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that overruled the court’s decision in May that legalized gay marriage.
Both Attorney General Jerry Brown and gay rights groups are maintaining that the gay marriage ban may not be applied retroactively.
The Supreme Court could hear arguments in the cases as soon as March.
–Associated Press
Obama Transition Team ‘Took Notes,’ ‘Listened’ During Meeting With Gay Rights Leaders
Oh how kind of the incoming Obama administration to listen to the concerns of the wee gay community. Having pandered to the gay community during his entire campaign, the president-elect appears ready to actually hear what we have to say. Over a week ago, “gay activists met with members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team last week in a two-hour session focused on policy issues and presidential appointments,” reports Southern Voice. Of course, this was before Obama selected Pastor Rick Warren to say a prayer at his inauguration.
“Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said transition team officials were attentive during the meeting and very appreciative of the clarity of recommended policy changes. ‘They were taking notes, they were listening, they were responding, they were asking questions, they were a very, very engaged transition team and that bodes well for our community moving forward,’ she said.
“About 60 people attended the Dec. 10 meeting, including transition leaders such as John Podesta, co-chair of Obama’s transition team; Jim Messina, who is in charge of Obama’s personnel decisions; Mike Strautmanis, director of public liaison and intergovernmental affairs; Melanie Barnes, whom Obama tapped to become the White House’s domestic policy director; and Parag Mehta, the transition team’s liaison for minority groups, according to activists.
“Carey said activists also told transition officials that the gay community is interested in being part of the major issues of the day, including the economic crisis or health care reform.
“Activists made it clear that the gay community wants to be “part of creating solutions to these problems” and asked transition officials to make sure that “LGBT people are not left behind when these discussions are taking place,” Carey said.
“Solmonese said his role at the meeting was to discuss non-legislative changes that Obama’s administration could make to improve the lives of gay and transgender Americans.
“He said he presented the transition team an 80-page document of proposed changes.”
Southern U.S. Needs To Do More To Address HIV/AIDS Among Hispanics
“Demographers have noted that the South is one of the regions that have seen the most rapid influx of Latino workers,” Marisa Trevio, who writes the blog “Latina Lista,” writes in a USA Today opinion piece. She adds, “So with a steady influx of Latinos, and a growing number of them contracting HIV/AIDS, why aren’t states making inroads via aggressive public awareness campaigns in attacking this preventable and treatable disease?”
According to Trevio, a recent study from the Latino Commission on AIDS “found that HIV/AIDS cases are rising at alarming rates among the two million Latinos in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.” She adds, “Prevention education isn’t keeping pace.” Trevio writes that public awareness efforts likely are not having much effect among Hispanics because the “targets of these messages — which include legal and undocumented workers — don’t trust the messenger.” A report from Progressive States Network found that “every state identified by the study, with the exception of Alabama, has passed policies criminalizing undocumented immigration,” according to Trevio. “These laws intimidate people from seeking any assistance,” she writes, adding, “For example, South Carolina passed a series of laws that include establishing a hotline to report suspected nonresidents and making it a crime to transport or harbor undocumented immigrants.” The report found that as a “result of this anti-immigrant climate and the high rate of people without health insurance,” many HIV-positive Hispanics do not “seek medical attention until they are in its late stages,” Trevio writes.
However, some “states are trying to confront this crisis,” according to Trevio, who adds that North Carolina in October “conducted a bilingual campaign to encourage people to get tested. Even so, the report found that these states didn’t have enough bilingual professionals to address the crisis.” Trevio writes that the study “made several recommendations, all rooted in communication. Whether it’s utilizing more Spanish-language media to market prevention programs, training more people to speak Spanish, partnering with Latino organizations to replicate their successful programs or connecting with Hispanic religious and community leaders, it all comes down to opening lines of communication to a population that has been forced to stay in the shadows of society.” She concludes, “For their health and for the health of the country, these Latinos must come forward — and the sooner the better”
Kicking A Lion 
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