Everyone Matters, LGBT Matters By : Hayley Calkins
Daily Archives: February 25, 2015
Former Baseball Player Jason Burch Comes Out, Regrets Waiting This Long
Former Baseball Player Jason Burch Comes Out, Regrets Waiting This Long
“Looking back, I wish I had told the whole world that I’m gay from day one.
That feeling of being relied upon, that people must turn to you as a closer to make things right, to have that role – and to have people have that feeling about me in that role – as a gay man, I think that would have been a powerful message.
If we are talking about changing people’s opinions, I do think that would have been a powerful message. But I wasn’t really thinking about that at the time.”
– Former professional baseball player Jason Burch to OutSports on his choice to remain in the closet until now
Dan Tracer
9 Out Of 10 HIV Transmissions Occurring From People Not Receiving Care: VIDEO
9 Out Of 10 HIV Transmissions Occurring From People Not Receiving Care: VIDEO
The tide of HIV transmission rates has been stemmed over the decades, but it hasn’t stopped with estimated tens of thousands of new transmissions every year. A new CDC analysis is showing that of those transmissions, 91.5% of them are coming from people who have HIV and are not receiving treatment or care, including those who are not aware that they are infected. Said Jonathan Mermin, MD of the CDC:
We could prevent the vast majority of new infections tomorrow by improving the health of people living with HIV today.
Improving health includes:
[I]n addition to antiretroviral therapy, HIV care should include risk reduction counseling on how to protect their partners, screening and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
All ya gotta do is TUG: Take PrEP; Use a condom; Get tested. End HIV.
Watch a video from the CDC on how we can prevent the vast majority of new HIV infections, AFTER THE JUMP…
Christian Walters
Dundalk LGBT Marriage Equality Yes Campaign
Dundalk LGBT Marriage Equality Yes Campaign
Voting on the 22nd of May LGBT Marriage Equality DKiT Yes Campaign.
Toronto Police: Trans Woman of Color's Death Was Not Homicide
Toronto Police: Trans Woman of Color's Death Was Not Homicide
Police have determined that Sumaya Dalmar’s death was not a murder, but investigators still released a statement after inquiries from trans residents.
Mitch Kellaway
Depression's Peculiar Grip on Black LGBTQs
Depression's Peculiar Grip on Black LGBTQs
Remember Raymond Chase, Aiyisha Hassan, and Joseph Jefferson? All three were so depressed that they committed suicide.
Raymond was a 19-year-old, openly gay student majoring in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. On Sept. 29, 2010, he hanged himself in his dorm room.
Just a few days later, on Oct. 4, 2010, Aiyisha, 19, also took her own life. According to an Oct. 23, 2010, ChicagoNow blog post by Lenox Magee:
“She was having a lot of trouble with a lot of different things, but mainly her sexual identity and just trying to express that,” says 21-year-old Lauren Morris, a fourth-year student at Howard, who lived in the same building as Hassan from 2008-2009. Hassan was a former biology student at D.C.’s Howard University.
Joseph, 26, a New York City resident and graduate of Harvey Milk High, was a gay youth activist. He was HIV-positive, and it has been reported that he was especially prone to depression and experienced a variety of financial setbacks — as well as his father’s disapproval of his sexuality. On Oct. 23, 2010, the day Joseph killed himself by hanging, he posted the following on his Facebook page:
I could not bear the burden of living as a gay man of color in a world grown cold and hateful towards those of us who live and love differently than the so-called “social mainstream.”
The most salient characteristic that these young people had in common was their race. They were Black.
I’m writing this multi-part series to shine a bright light on depression’s disproportionate impact on Black LGBTQ persons. As one who’s suffered from this illness throughout periods of his life, I can attest to its near-crippling effects.
But before I share my personal experiences and why and how depression can be more prevalent among Black LGBTQ individuals, let’s define the illness. There are several types of depression, but I’ll discuss the two considered to be the most prevalent: major depressive disorder (MDD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD).
Let’s talk MDD. According to WebMD:
You might have this type if you feel depressed most of the time for most days of the week.
Some other symptoms you might have are:
- Loss of interest or pleasure in your activities
- Weight loss or gain
- Trouble getting to sleep or feeling sleepy during the day
- Feelings of being “sped up” or “slowed down”
- Being tired and without energy
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of suicide
Now on to PDD. WebMD states:
If you have depression that lasts for 2 years or longer, it’s called persistent depressive disorder. It used to be known as dysthymia.
You may have symptoms such as:
- Change in your appetite (not eating enough or overeating)
- Sleep too much or too little
- Lack of energy, or fatigue
- Low self-esteem
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feel hopeless
Are LGBTQ individuals more prone to mental-health issues — including depression — than the general population? A United Kingdom study published last September in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that at least for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, this is indeed so. According to a Care2 post by Steve Williams:
This research, which is the largest of its kind to assess sexual minority groups in this manner, confirmed what smaller studies have repeatedly shown: that LGB people are far more likely to suffer from certain mental health problems like depression and anxiety, as well as being more prone to substance abuse.
So just why might LGB individuals be more prone to depression? Williams explains that it’s not our sexual orientation itself but how society treats us as a result of our sexual orientation:
[E]arly and sustained periods of stress can make people more likely to develop a range of adult mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Stigma and discrimination surrounding LGBT identity is certainly one factor here.
Next up: the beginnings of my experience with this beast named depression (which can be both insidious and in-your-face), and an exploration of its peculiar grip on Black LGBTQs.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Wyatt O’Brian Evans’ website is wyattevans.com.
Anti-LGBT Bill Stripping Local Non-Discrimination Ordinances Advances in West Virginia
Anti-LGBT Bill Stripping Local Non-Discrimination Ordinances Advances in West Virginia
On the heels of a successful attack on fairness and equality in Arkansas, anti-equality forces are trying to quickly push through a similar bill abolishing local liberty in West Virginia
HRC.org
Madonna Almost Dies On Stage After Major Wardrobe Malfunction
Madonna Almost Dies On Stage After Major Wardrobe Malfunction
Holy shit. Someone just got fired.
While performing before a live audience at the Brit Awards in London this evening, Madonna was violently yanked down a flight of stairs by one of her backup dancers. She crashed to the ground several feet below and struggled to regain her composure.
The Living for Love hit maker was wearing a black Armani cape. The plan was for the backup dancer to pull the cape off to reveal a sparkly red getup underneath. But before doing so, Madonna was supposed to untie the strap around her neck.
Evidently the strap was too tight because when the backup grabbed the cape, he accidentally pulled Madonna down with it.
But, just like the lyrics in her song, the Queen “carried on.” Ever the pro, she got up off the ground, took a deep breath, and kept on singing. (Though she was likely dying of embarrassment inside.)
Shortly afterward, she posted the following message to her Instagram page:
A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Feb 25, 2015 at 2:50pm PST
Long live the Queen!
Related stories:
Madonna Couldn’t Care Less About You Ageist Haters
Madonna Steals The Grammys With Rousing Performance Of “Living For Love”
A Look Back At Madonna’s Greatest Live TV Performances
Graham Gremore
Kentucky Senate Panel Approves Discriminatory Transgender Bathroom Bill
Kentucky Senate Panel Approves Discriminatory Transgender Bathroom Bill
What is with the anti-trans crowd’s obsession with bathrooms? Do they think trans kids are all Eric Cartman, sticking a bow on their head and faking it to get some nefarious need met?
This past Monday the Kentucky Senate Education Committee revisited and approved Senate Bill 76 in an 8-1 vote in an attempt to force transgender students to use the bathroom at their school that matches their biological sex rather than their gender identification. In a particularly shady move, the committee kept its agenda for Monday in perpetual “Pending” status and no mention of the bill was ever made to the public until it was brought up at the meeting.
Opponents called the bill “mean-spirited” and contended that it may violate federal law governing the equal treatment of male and female students. Proponents claim that transgender rights are being elevated above student rights and that they don’t feel comfortable with trans students using the “wrong” bathroom.
The Republican-led Senate is expected to approve the bill and pass it on to the Democratic-controlled House.
Christian Walters
Watch: LGBT Athletes Tell Their Stories in Trailer for SXSW Doc 'Out to Win'
