Friday, March 13, 2009

OUT for Work; West Coast College Student Career Conference

I am re-posting this just in case you missed it the first time.

For those of you on the west coast who are about to graduate from college you might want to check this out. It is a big job fair with specifically LGBT, and LGBT friendly Organizations that come to do hiring.

2009 West Coast Regional
OUT for Work LGBTQA College Student Career Conference

Hilda is sworn in today

Vice President Joe Biden swore in California Rep. Hilda Solis as the next Secretary of Labor this Morning.
Solis, 51, becomes the first Latina and the first person of Central American heritage to be appointed to a senior post in a cabinet level department, according to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, which keeps an eye on such things.

Gay Word of the Day

Gay Panic: is when a crime is committed against an individual and the perpetrator claims temporary insanity out of a so called homosexual panic frenzy. Often the defense team claims the perpetrator was subject to unwanted romantic and/or sexual advances by the victim.

So what is it called when straight men give "unwanted romantic and/or sexual advances" to women?

New Layout!

Let me know what you think

easier to read??
Look more fabulous??

Get you MILK now!

Winner of two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Sean Penn and Best Original Screenplay for Dustin Lance Black, Milk is the powerful and inspirational true story of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, a genuine man of the people, whose life and death changed the course of the gay rights movement in America.

Special Milk DVD bonus features include:

Remembering Harvey, a collection of film clips and photos from the set of Milk illustrating stories and reflections from people close to Harvey including - Cleve Jones, Daniel Nicoletta, Frank Robinson, Carol Ruth Silver, Anne Kronenberg and Allan Baird; Hollywood Comes to San Francisco, where the film's cast and crew discuss the development of the script, the making of the film and their personal stories from the set; and Marching for Equality, a recap of the people on hand for the shooting of the film's march sequences along with a look back at the shoot and the marches of the 1970s that inspired it.

Milk was released on March 10th and is available in stores now.

The Ex-Gay Agenda

be careful they may be coming after you.

Lambert Dolphin, an ex-gay who now tries to provide scientific evidence to support claims in the bible, has began targeting young gay boys... to turn them straight?? yeah right. Any old queen "targeting" young gay boys to "support" them definitely has ulterior motivates.

Apparently, Dolphin frequently visit the gay social network site, D-List (and by frequent I meant like more time a day than I visit facebook, which is a ridiculous amount already). He befriends younger members, usually under 25, and sends them messages stating "Just wanted to let you know that I'd be here for you if you ever needed support." His profile speaks about who he is and what he does and the need for everyone to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. And if you dive a little further and visit his actual website Lambert Dolphin's Library you will find all of his ex-gay writings.

Now I think it's funny that everyone thinks that the "gay agenda" is the turn the world gay. Into one huge pink boa wearing, mama mia dancing, Cher loving, disco ball party (which I would not protest). But I am pretty sure that there are not LGBT folks going on to "straight" social-networking sites and sending message to heterosexuals saying "Just wanted to let you know that I'd be here for you if you ever needed support," I hopes to turn them gay. (Although, that's not that bad of any idea.)

So just be careful out there (you might get conned into being straight!!)

Here's the full story.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

"Not in My Shower" a Campaign against Transgender Rights

Not this is truly absurd.
There is a bill in going through the Maryland legislature that will prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Well apparently the conservative, public showering, have nothing better to do members of the Maryland Citizens for Responsible Government have started the "Not in My Shower" campaign to oppose this legislation. Dr. Ruth Jacobs, head of the MCRG, claims that the real intent of this law is: “to give special rights to men who want to dress like women- allowing them access to women’s restrooms and [gasp] public showers."
Now I understand her concern, but let's compare. Is ensuring that people who choose to clean themselves in public showers feel comfortable more important than stopping the discrimination in employment and housing for a community of people?!

Amanda Hess from The Sexist has a great argument:

Let’s pause here for a second. Who do you think is put at the most risk by the shower situation, REALLY?

- Those women and girls who were born male, identify clearly as female, and and are currently being forced to shower alongside groups of dudes who think they look feminine enough to harrass;

- Whining Republican ladies who surreptitiously inspect other women’s genitals in the gym shower to make sure the other ladies’ vaginas are vagina-looking enough to shower alongside them;

- Us all, who must endure lengthy discussions about who may access public showers that, strangely enough, nobody was clamoring to access before. If you’re so scared of being naked in public, wear a bathing suit for Christ’s sake.

PEN's Mega Networking Event

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time: 6:30pm- 8:30pm
Where: Town Danceboutique
2009 8th St. NW
Washington, D.C.

Facebook event page

Gay Word of the Day


Gayleidoscope: is a term used to describe the wide spectrum of culture among the gay and lesbian community.

Tuxedos are for boys, and dresses are for girls

... Not! At least according to ACLU.

Indystar.com reports:
A 17-year-old Boone County girl has sued Lebanon Schools after her high school principal told her she could not wear a tuxedo to the school's April 25 prom but would have to wear a dress.The Lebanon High School senior, whose name is not revealed in the lawsuit, is a lesbian and does not wear dresses because she sees them as expressing a sexual identity that she does not embrace, court filings said.

Her attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has asked a federal court to issue an injunction that would require the school to let her wear the same formal attire to the prom as male students at the school.

Michael Steele says being gay isn't a choice and the abortion is an individual choice

Do you think homosexuality is a choice?
Oh, no. I don’t think I’ve ever really subscribed to that view, that you can turn it on and off like a water tap. Um, you know, I think that there’s a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that, uh, you just can’t simply say, oh, like, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being gay.” It’s like saying, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being black.”

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

Read full interview at men.style.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

No Saws in your Vagina!!


Or any other parts for that matter. I just came across this story and it is quite bizarre. Apparently, a man thought that I would be a good idea to put a dildo onto a power hand saw and then stick it into his girlfriend. Now I get that the intentions of the guy were very sweet. He was only thinking of pleasing his girl because made his hips cannot move as fast as a saw. However, he must be a complete idiot!! Who in there right mind would put and actual saw into a woman vagina?!
So the story goes that the saw cut through the dildo (now who would have thought that would happen) and then continued into the woman. The guy called 911 and explained the situation and she was air lifted to a near by hospitals.

Now I would also assume that putting something like this in any other openings in a person's body is also not very smart. SO DON'T DO IT!! There are sex toys made for this exact purpose (pictured), please so not try making them at home.

Read more here

Trans in the Media

jb in dc went a little more in depth with the discussion of showing trans folks in the media. She discusses the Argentinian commercial as well as the one done by Taco Bell.
Check it out.

Gay Word of the Day

Omnisexual: is someone attracted to all genders, it is distinct from bisexuals who are attracted to two genders (male & female) and monosexuals who are attracted to one gender.

Iowa and Washington Gay Marriage update

In the state of Washington a same-sex domestic partnership bill, which affords the same rights as married couples, passed the State Senate 30-18 mostly along party lines, reports the Associated Press, and was certainly helped by the six openly gay state senators.

Read more at Queerty

Matt McCoy, an openly gay senator in Iowa will introduce a marriage bill that would make marriage a gender-neural affair.

Pink News Writes:

"The bill would remove words such as 'husband' and 'wife' from the state's laws, replacing them with 'spouse'.

The legislation means that if the Iowa Supreme Court was to rule that the state’s Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, same-sex marriage would be legal in Iowa and the language in laws would have to reflect that.

Read More here

Transwomen in Argentinian Commercial

Jennie ran across this commercial for Banco Provincia in Argentina. It is a really great advertisement and just goes to show that the "land of the free" has some catching up to do. Check it out.

Idol Crush....

He's cute and is a good performer. His singing... ehhh... but he's good to look at.
I finally caught an episode of American Idol and there are a few of them that I really like. The guy from Cuba is really good, the 16 year old punk rock girl, and Lil Rounds! that's my girl. Although there are some that just plain suck. But here is a clip. Enjoy.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

You just have to LOVE her

Gay Word of the Day


QPOC: stands for Queer People of Color and is used to discuss LGBTQ individuals in communities of color or as an abbreviated term for an organization or cause representing them.

Substitute "marriage" for Domestic Partners" in CA Law

Two heterosexual Southern California college students yesterday submitted a ballot measure initiative with California Attorney General Jerry Brown that would replace the term "marriage" with "domestic partnership" in California law.
Under the rules of the initative, they must collect 694,354 signatures by August 6, 2009 to get it on the ballot.

Here's the text of the initiative:

"The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure: SUBSTITUTES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP FOR MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA LAW. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Replaces the term 'marriage' with the term 'domestic partnership' throughout California law, but preserves the rights provided in marriage. Applies equally to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Repeals the provision in California’s Constitution that states only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure would have an unknown fiscal effect on state and local governments. (09-0003.)"

Under an initiative, Californians can "directly propose and enact state laws and amendments to the California Constitution. Under the initiative process, a proposed statute or constitutional amendment must receive a specified number of valid petition signatures in order to be placed on a statewide ballot for consideration by voters."

Read more and see copy of initiative here

So what IS the Next Step in the Gay Movement?

I just read a great article on Queerty about what does the future of the gay movement look like and who is going to lead it. The answer the story puts forward is "YOU." This could not be more true. This movement is going to need all the help that it can get and the ideas of everyone willing to offer them up. This article discusses the next move that Equality California will take bring over Marc Solomon who argued for marriage eqaulity with MassEquality. He will be setting up shop in Los Angeles and running the next push to repeal Prop.8.

But the more interesting part of the article discusses the fight beyond marriage eqaulity and even further beyond just LGBT rights. It was announced yesterday that HRC will be sponsering Campaign Courages upcoming "Camp Courage" grassroots training programs. This organization is not strictly LGBT and anything else for that matter. It's goal is to give people, all people, the tools they need in order to join in the fight for eqaulity for all people.

This is what I was really relieved to finally hear from someone on the gay blogisphere. And Japhy Grant could not have said it any better.

"I believe that the gay rights movement is larger than just gay rights. We must move beyond the petty battles of identity politics and embrace our role as part of a larger progressive movement. You can not care about gay rights without caring about the issues of poverty, race, education and social justice that beset this country, because without making progress on those problems, we will never make progress on our own.

We are all aware that the world is undergoing rapid change. None of us live in a vacuum and the time has come for us to stop thinking about ourselves as a gay rights movement and begin thinking of ourselves as an equal rights movement. Equality is not just about equal rights for ourselves, but equal rights for all. The way forward will require us to be smarter then we've been, no question about it, but it will also require us to take a broader view of who we are and what we want. If we wish to weave our lives into the fabric of America, we have to weave our movement into the broader tapestry as well."
Full article.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Vatican: Washing Machine- Key to Women's Libertation


I thought that some of you might find this as amusing (by amusing I mean absolutely absurd) as I did.

The The Independent reports:
As International Women’s Day is celebrated, the Vatican had a novel message for the women of the world: give thanks for the washing machine. This humble domestic appliance had done more for the women’s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home, said the the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano.

“'In the 20th century, what contributed most to the emancipation of Western women?” questioned the article. “The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine.'”

"The article is entitled, 'The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax', taking its name from the Washy Talky, the Electrolux bilingual-talking washing-machine launched in India seven years ago, which would remind the absent-minded housewife how to use the appliance."

"The Catholic Church was never likely to laud the pill for its transformative power on women’s lives. Since Pope Benedict became the leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics, he has published a religious document condemning contraception for “negating the intimate truth of conjugal love, with which the divine gift [of life] is communicated” and has urged pharmacists to refuse to dispense the morning-after pill. The Osservatore Romano held the pill responsible for polluting the environment and contributing to male infertility."

I mean really there should be a national holiday celebrating the washing machine and its contributions to society as a whole. Why hasn't Obama made an Executive order already!

Are you Assexual??



And I thought I had it bad... this is nuts.

Rep. Baldwin to introduce Federal Domestic Partnership Bill

Gaypolitics.com reports:
"Openly lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin will introduce legislation that will benefit the same-sex partners of federal employees, according to the Washington Blade. A spokesperson for Baldwin said that the legislation would come this month.

Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida will co-sponsor the bill in the House, while Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins will sponsor the bill in the Senate."

Go Tammy!!

Read full story at gaypolitics.com

Gay Word of the Day


flame dame is an attractive woman who prefers the company of gay men.

you all know who you are.

2010 Census won't count same-sex marriages or Sexual orientation

Now this is some bullshit. Apparently we don't even matter enough to be asked.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports:

"The federal Defense of Marriage Act signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton does not recognize gay unions sanctioned by states. Census takers will ask same-sex couples who live together to define themselves as 'unmarried partners,' as they did in 2000 before some states - currently only Connecticut and Massachusetts - allowed gay marriage. 'This is all about the numbers. This not about lifestyle or anything else,' says U.S. Census spokeswoman Cynthia Endo. The omission of gay marriage and sexuality questions on the census bothers some gays and lesbians, who argue that a proper accounting would give them the same visibility as minorities, who gain political power when their numbers increase...If two people of the same sex identify as husband and husband or wife and wife, the census will retain that answer, but when results are released those people will be counted as unmarried partners. 'The census is all about self-identification,' Endo says. 'We don't ask that question on the census at all, but certain information can be gleaned from that if two people are living ... in the house.' Same-sex couples with children will not be categorized as 'families' on the census. Children will be counted as belonging to single parents, those 'unmarried partners.'"

Because if they did count us it might mean that have to start giving us actual rights?!

Obama's disapproving letter of Prop 8 not used by Campaign


So here is yet another mishap of the No on Prop 8 campaign. There was a letter written from at the time presidential candidate Barack Obama to the Alice B. Toklas democratic club about his disapproval of Proposition 8. This letter was NEVER used. This came out after a recent "No on Prop 8" town hall meeting that took place in San Francisco last month. This would have been really helpful seeing as how the Yes campaign sent out mailers with Obama's picture with quotes about how he does not support same-sex marriages. Come on! Really?! Use that thing located about 4 inches above your shoulders.

Towleroad.com has the full letter here.