New Study: Gays not as Rich as they seem

A new study was just released today down by professors at the University of Michigan and the Williams Institute (UCLA). The study shows quite profoundly that the myth that Gays and Lesbian are disproportionately wealth is not true at all.

"[They] used three different population-based (meaning findings can be generalized to the population) and publicly-funded data sources: the 2000 Census, the 2002 National Survey on Family Growth (NSFG), and the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Analyses from all three surveys confirm that large numbers of LGB men and women are living in poverty, perhaps as many as a quarter of lesbian/bisexual women and one in seven gay/bisexual men. We also find that lesbian/bisexual women are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to receive public assistance."

"As each day seems to bring more glum news about home foreclosures, job losses, and recession, our findings suggest that LGBT people might be particularly vulnerable in this economic downturn. Policy initiatives designed to help struggling homeowners, enhance unemployment and public assistance benefits, and create new jobs should all be understood as an important part of the gay political agenda. Broadening engagement on these issues may be very important for the short-term needs of the LGBT community."

See the entire study and read more at Bilerico Project

US finally Endorses the UN gay rights text

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration on Wednesday formally endorsed a U.N. statement calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W. Bush had refused to sign.

The move was the administration's latest in reversing Bush-era decisions that have been heavily criticized by human rights and other groups. The United States was the only western nation not to sign onto the declaration when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.

Read full article at Associated Press

Gays not Allowed to march in St. Patrick's Day Parade

Well it looks like this has been an issue for a couple of years now according to the article on 365gay.com

The organization that organizes and puts on the nationals largest St. Patty's day parade in New York is extremely Catholic and has refused to allow gay Irish groups to join in the parade. "For 18 years the Ancient Order of Hibernians which organizes the parade has barred Irish gay groups from marching. "

Some of the LGBT community find this completely disrespectful and did not join in on the festivities. "The city’s highest ranking gay politician, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, boycotted the parade again this year. As she did before last year’s parade, Quinn attempted to set up a meeting between the Hibernians and gay representatives and again this year the conservative Catholic men’s group ignored the invitation.The Hibernians claim the parade is a private, religious procession in order to to justify keeping LGBT groups out."

So are religious processions normally followed by Irish car-bombs and green beers till you can't see straight? Because if that is the case then sign me up!

Gay Rainbows are Offensive

Here is another story to add to the absolutely ridiculous list.

An openly gay high school student has been forbidden to wear his "Rainbows are Gay" wristband to school anymore, because some TEACHERS found it OFFENSIVE!?!

Are you F#*&ING KIDDING ME!!

You have to read this story on Joe.My.God

Britney Fans Beware- Targeted Gay bashing outside of concert

Police are investigating after a gay couple from Kearny complained they were beaten by a crowd a few blocks from the Prudential Center in Newark after attending a Britney Spears' concert there Saturday night.

Joshua Kehoe, 25, said he and his partner, Bobby Daniel Caldwell, 36, were returning to their car near Raymond Boulevard and Broad Street when a group of 15 to 20 youths surrounded the couple and began beating them.

The Star-Ledger

Obama names another LGBT to OPM

The Obama administration has appointed lesbian attorney Elaine Kaplan as general counsel for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where she will serve under the office’s gay director, John Berry, according to a source familiar with the appointment.

Kaplan has worked as senior deputy general counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union in Washington since 2004. She began working as an attorney for the NTEU in 1984 and became known as an expert in federal workforce issues. The NTEU represents federal workers at the Department of the Treasury as well as workers in other federal agencies.

[Washington Blade]

Teacher fired for Lamamie Project?!

I cannot believe that this is still happening. Teachers getting fired for trying to impart understanding and tolerance on their students for people who are different from themselves. Shouldn't she have gotten an award for making the world a better place!? You can Call/Email the Superintendent Ed Turlington and tell him how inappropriate and unjust these actions are. His contact info is listed at the bottom.

Queers United reports:

Grandfield High School's Debra Taylor the school’s Ethics and Street Law class teacher has been fired over controversy surrounding the showing of gay-themed film The Laramie Project. The movie is about Matthew Shepard's murder and the teacher wanted to facilitate discussion and promote tolerance after initial approval by the schools principal.

After the school principal reneged on his decision and Superintendent Ed Turlington told Ms. Taylor she could no longer show the film due to its subject matter, the teacher held a mock funeral in a nearby park where students could write down their thoughts and release them into balloons to develop a sense of closure on the topic.

The district says she was suspended and then fired by the board for her actions in the park, but others believe it is due to the nature of the play.

Superintendent Ed Turlington can be contacted at:

580-479-5237
eturlington@grandfield.k12.ok.us

Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Transphobia has gotta go!!

This is extremely dis-heartening to hear, especially with the LGBT movement going in full force, and the recent appointment of the first openly-Trans person to Barney Frank's congressional staff Diego Miguel Sanchez.

Trans phobia is apparently not only found outside the LGBT community but within it as well and this is not acceptable. How can an Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual person fight and argue to stop hatecrime against them and then turn around and do the exact thing they are fighting against to someone else??

Well that is exactly what happen on Friday, March 13 outside of Fab Lounge in Dupont Circle to two transgender men according to the D.C. Police Department’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit. After being verbally harrassed by three bar patrons, two women and one man, inside the club the two men left. As they were walking away from the bar the harrassers followed them out and physically assulted the transmen.

How do we as a community expect others to treat us with respect and create safe spaces when we can not even do that for each other??

Next week is the National Transgender Lobby Day and if you have a chance I strongly encourage you to attend. Even if you can't attend show your support in other ways by showing respect and being an active ally to the T within our community, because they have ever right to it as anyone else. It sound cliche but it's true: UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL.

Discrimination or Safety? Another strike in Orange County

Now growing up on the border of LA and Orange County in California I personally know the distinct differences between the two. Although I live in Whittier, which is in LA County, I often was in Brea, La Habra, and other parts of Orange County because there was better shopping. So I know the area very well. Orange County is much more conservative, wealthier, and white.

Now during the time that I was living there I was not "out" and did not know what the gay scene was like. However, it's been about five years since I have been there and even after Prop. 8 and the still recurring events following it there are still anti-gay events occurring.

This is the latest one.

There was a "gay night" event at the Lucky Strike, a block of Orange bowling alley, that is a recurring event. Apparently, the event was getting "out of control" and police had to come and break it up. By out of control they meant "too well attended." They accused the promoters of turning the bowling alley into a suedo-nightclub. Well DUH! We turn every place we go to into a night club. Seriously though, for underage LGBT youth there is no other place to go to find community and not the police have taken this place away from them. The event planners claimed discrimination, and the police claimed "safety."

Read for yourself. What do you think?
LATimes.com

First Israeli gay man to get "maternity" leave

The National Insurance Institute authorized Israel's first-ever "maternity" leave for a male couple on Thursday. Yonatan Gher, director of Jerusalem's nonprofit Open House Pride and Tolerance organization, has received institute approval of a 64-day leave from work on the occasion of the birth of his biological son, born of a surrogate mother in India. His partner of seven years commenced formal adoption procedures, so that the child will be formally recognized as his as well.

Despite confirmation of the leave, Gher has not received an answer to his request for reimbursement of NIS 10,000 in hospitalization costs (Gher and his partner also stayed in the hospital prior to the delivery) from the NII.

Read the rest at Haaretz.com

Mexico's first gay Mayoral Candidate

This is a really big step in looking at LGBT issues on an international basis. He will be on the ballot but sadly does not have a chance of winning. But to have one of the party's actually put him on their slate is a step forward.

Queerty reports:

Miguel Antonio Galán is running on the Social Democratic Party, or PSD ticket in Guadalajara for Mayor, making him the first openly gay candidate to run for a mayoral seat in Mexico, according to gay rights groups in the country. That's the good news. The bad news is that he doesn't have a shot in hell of winning– the most optimistic projections give the PSD, a super-liberal party that supports decriminalizing drugs, among other things, a 3% chance of winning.

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.

"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.

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

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

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.

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

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?!