Come Out Against Stigma, Live Out Proud

The fight against HIV/AIDS has always been about more than the search for medicine or a cure. It has been a battle for human dignity, to demonstrate that each life, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, nation of origin, or religion, has inherent value. From the beginning, this epidemic has taken the largest toll on our most marginalized communities. From gay men and transgender women to injection-drug users and people of color, those who are most often shut out of our nation’s halls of affluence and power are also the most vulnerable to a whole host of health challenges, including HIV.

A few days ago I had the honor of participating in a panel on HIV sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California) at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Caucus. During the event the always-inspiring Douglas Brooks, who is the first black gay man living with HIV to head the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, gave brief opening remarks in which he quoted the Bible, saying, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). As we once again marked National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Sept. 27), this simple verse resonated with me in a powerful way and seemed to reflect the position that so many gay men, especially gay men living with HIV, find themselves in.

In almost every aspect of our lives, we are marginalized. Our employers can fire us simply for whom we love. Our landlords can deny us housing for the same reason. We are banned from donating blood. And despite major progress, we continue to fight for legal recognition of same-sex unions. We and our trans brothers and sisters are brutalized and abused at higher rates than any other population. And our young people are often forced to live on the streets because their parents refuse to accept them for who they are. For those of us living with HIV, these experiences of social and structural aggression and trauma are even more pronounced. Too often we are shunned not only by society at large but by our own community.

For years the LGBT community has sought to combat homophobia and transphobia through the simple yet heroic act of living openly and authentically. Each year on October 11 we mark National Coming Out Day and urge our brothers and sisters living in the closet to step out and declare themselves in the belief that it is much harder to demean or discriminate against someone when you know and love them.

Since 2012 the National Minority AIDS Council has sought to highlight the fact that for too many members of our community, coming out is something we must do twice: once in relation to our sexual orientation or gender identity, and again about our HIV status. This year we have partnered with the Stigma Project and the National Black Justice Coalition to launch a two-week social media campaign titled “Come Out Against Stigma,” which started on Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and will conclude on National Coming Out Day. As part of the campaign, we have created a number of graphics to share on social media and collected quotations from leaders of our community on their own coming-out stories and why it’s so critical that we #liveoutproud. We urge you to join us in this effort. Share our graphics. Share your story. And come out against the stigma facing everyone who is LGBT and living with HIV.

www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-kawata/come-out-against-stigma-l_b_5891690.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Levy Fidelix e o surto LGBT
Vídeo sobre assassinato de gays: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrh48jU43A8 Acesse: – Blog Não Click -» www.naoclick.com.br – Fanpage Não Click -» www.facebook.com/NaoClick.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyzWHKkjvh4&feature=youtube_gdata

WATCH: GLAAD Videos Promote Bisexual Awareness, Shatter Myths

The two videos debunk misconceptions about bisexuality and offer tips for bi allies.

read more

Eliel Cruz

www.advocate.com/bisexuality/2014/09/29/watch-glaad-videos-promote-bisexual-awareness-shatter-myths

Five Things You Should Know About Scott Lively Before Tonight

Tonight anti-LGBT gubernatorial candidate Scott Lively will debate four other candidates in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/five-things-you-should-know-about-scott-lively-before-tonight?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Right-Oh: Survey Confirms 16 Percent Of Brits Are Homophobic Prats

A survey of 1,052 UK adults has revealed some troubling data from our neighbors across the pond.

Most unsavory are the 16 percent who reportedly agreed that gay sex should be made illegal by the government. That’s roughly one in six Brits who would gladly slap a pair of cuffs on you for engaging in some innocent arsing around.

And respondents who weren’t against gay sex legally but simply morally clocked in at 20 percent. Of course, in 2008 that number was 24 percent so it looks like things are heading in the right direction on that front. 60 percent of Britons support gay marriage and gay couples’ right to adopt children, up from 50 percent in 2008.

Also, straight relationships averaged 17 years while gay ones lasted five. But we already knew about the “gay years” conversion rate. “Six months? Wow, that’s like a year and a half in gay years.”

But to be fair, America surely wouldn’t fare any better.

via RT

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/JAt2-axYIIo/right-oh-survey-confirms-16-percent-of-brits-are-homophobic-prats-20140929

What To Watch This Week on TV: 'Gracepoint' Intrigues; McDermott Stalks Stalkers

Bobby Hankinson

www.towleroad.com/2014/09/what-to-watch-this-week-on-tv-gracepoint.html

Dilma Rousseff na tenda LGBT de SP
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