Monthly Archives: June 2015
Point Foundation Announces 2015 Scholars
Point Foundation Announces 2015 Scholars
Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society.
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REVIEW: BEST WESTERN Willow Bank Hotel, Manchester
REVIEW: BEST WESTERN Willow Bank Hotel, Manchester
Sleek, stylish and perfectly located – with a portrait of Alan Turing in the dining room
jamiet
www.gaystarnews.com/article/review-best-western-willow-bank-hotel-manchester230615
Maya Rudolph’s Brutal Spoof Of Rachel Dolezal Can’t Be Missed
Maya Rudolph’s Brutal Spoof Of Rachel Dolezal Can’t Be Missed
Perhaps Rachel Dolezal’s decision to check every available box by coming out as bisexual was the last straw, for comic genius Maya Rudolph has finally given the world what it’s been waiting for: her spot-on impression of the controversial former NAACP president who introduced “transracial” into the lexicon. Not since Tina Fey skewered accomplished big game hunter former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has there been such intense anticipation.
Check out the skewering below.
Jeremy Kinser
Virginia Governor Orders Removal of Confederate Flag from License Plates
Virginia Governor Orders Removal of Confederate Flag from License Plates
The Confederate Flag will no longer be an option on Virginia specialty license plates following an order this morning from Governor Terry McAuliffe, The Roanoke Times reports:
McAuliffe’s decision comes on the heels of efforts in South Carolina to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds following a racially motivated shooting that left nine dead in a Charleston church.
It also follows a Supreme Court decision last week that ruled states can censor messages on license plates.
“Although the battle flag is not flown here on Capital Square, it has been the subject of considerable controversy, and it divides many of our people” McAuliffe said in a statement. “Even its display on state-issued license tags is, in my view, unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people.”
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2002 ruled that the Confederate Flag could appear on the plates after a court battle launched in 1999 by The Sons of Confederate Veterans.
McAuliffe said today that the Attorney General’s Office will take steps to reverse the prior court ruling in Virginia and the Department of Transportation will develop a plan for replacing the existing plates as soon as possible.
Currently, nearly 1,600 Virginia automobiles carry the plates.
The post Virginia Governor Orders Removal of Confederate Flag from License Plates appeared first on Towleroad.
Andy Towle
Virginia Governor Orders Removal of Confederate Flag from License Plates
Feminine
Larry Kramer Stars in New HBO Documentary
Larry Kramer Stars in New HBO Documentary
A new HBO documentary debuting June 29 focuses on the life and work of the one and only Larry Kramer, the firebrand at the center of HIV/AIDS activism.
Bil Browning
www.advocate.com/politics/media/2015/06/23/larry-kramer-stars-new-hbo-documentary
The Teachers Who Gave Me a Voice
The Teachers Who Gave Me a Voice
Living a happy life as a gay teen in Nixa, Missouri isn’t the easiest thing to achieve. Most of my life was spent in the metaphorical closet where it was dark, scary, and smelled like moth balls. After a long time of searching, I finally found the light I needed to brighten up my life. Jeremy Charneco-Sullivan and Jackie Swindell have been that light for me, and they have helped me to achieve that happy life that every hard-working teenager deserves. They started a club that feels like home to me, have been phenomenal role models, and have shown me ways to work outside my community to change the world.
These small-town high school teachers started a club that is already doing astounding things. The most recent being our GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) having been presented the award for GSA of the Year at GLSEN’s annual Respect Awards. This would have never come about without my small-town teachers with big hearts. Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Swindell had so much courage to start the GSA in this heteronormative, gender-stereotyped part of the country, but they did it. I, along with many other grateful students, think it’s shown to be worth the effort. If you’re thinking about starting a GSA at your school, follow Shia LaBeouf’s advice and “JUST DO IT!”
I have learned how to hold my head high, how to love myself, and how to love other people, even when they may not support me. Mr. Sullivan helped me mature into the young lady I am today. Ms. Swindell not only taught me grammar, but also helped me to see the world for what it really is. Of all my role models, these two have been the most essential to the growth of my character. I can’t imagine how my life would be without their support and unconditional passion for LGBTQ equality. If my community had more people like them, I wouldn’t be afraid for the future.
Once I felt comfortable sharing my views within the club, I felt I could share my thoughts with the world. This is another thing I have to thank them for because without these stepping stones I would still be that timid, closeted girl in the back of the classroom, too scared to share her thoughts. I would not have the passion to change the world and the courage to stand up for myself if not for my wonderful teachers. And trust me, I have to stand up for myself often in my tough little town.
I have been set free with the help of my GSA. I found trust in a place where I didn’t think I had allies. I can live my life the way I want to and I have the tools to do so. I’m so grateful for these two amazing people. I respect them not only as teachers, but as allies, leaders, and teammates in the battle against inequality. Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Swindell have helped me find the pull chain in my dark, scary closet and I’ve never been happier.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Christian Right Prepares For Arrival Of Marriage Equality By Doing Even Crazier Things
Christian Right Prepares For Arrival Of Marriage Equality By Doing Even Crazier Things
The Christian Right is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. With the Supreme Court set to rule on gay marriage literally any day now, quite possibly making it the law of the land, wing-nuts are clutching their Bibles closer than ever. Last week alone saw behavior so insane and inane we would laugh if they were not so pathetic. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
Scroll down for a quick recap of all the crazy ass sh*t equality opponents did …
The Southern Baptist Convention declared war
During the Southern Baptist Convention annual hate fest on Monday, Pastor Ronnie Floyd proclaimed: “We are in a spiritual warfare,” he preached. “This is not a time for Southern Baptists to stand back!” Since we are in the middle of multiple battles raging across the middle east, maybe the war metaphor was a bit, well, extreme and insulting. Plus, it is a war, Ronnie baby is about to lose, big time.
If that’s not enough, Ronnie tried to take down the high court a notch or five. You know, that court dominated by five religious conservatives appointed by religious conservative presidents: “The Supreme Court is not the final authority, nor is the culture itself! I declare to everyone today as a minister of the Gospel: I. Will. Not! Officiate. Over. Any. Same. Sex. Unions. Or. Same. Sex. Marriage. Ceremonies!”
Phew!
Concerned neighbor calls grieving widow relentlessly gay
On Wednesday, Julie Baker, a widow and mother of four living in Baltimore, received a nasty note from a “concerned neighbor” condemning her for stringing a set of rainbow-colored solar lights across part of her front yard. The note threatened police action if she didn’t “tone down” her “relentlessly gay” behavior.
In response, Baker launched a GoFundMe page and raised over $30,000 in a single day to buy more rainbow swag for her garden — and maybe even a new roof.
We’d love the anonymous note writer to step forward. It would be good for another laugh.
The couple that threatened to break up if gay marriage is made legal had over 175,000 people RSVP to their divorce.
Nick Jensen and his wife Sarah had the brilliant plan of dissolving their 10 year union if gays are allowed to get married. Because mindless divorce is such a Christian idea. The dimwitted duo claimed that “by changing the definition of marriage, ‘marriage’ will, in years to come, have an altogether different sense and purpose. We no longer wish to be associated with this new definition.”
This week, a Facebook event page was created celebrating the Jensen’s impending divorce. So far, over 175,000 people have RSVP’d to the party.
A DJ refused to play at a gay man’s 60th birthday bash.
Speaking of parties, Dani Tsakounis just wanted to do something special for her roommate’s 60th birthday. So she did what good people do: planned him a party. But when she called Ultrasound Deejays in Gaithersburg, MD, about providing music, the company’s owner, Michael Lampiris, told her: ” We won’t be able to do it, we’re a Christian organization and it would go against our faith, I’m sorry. … We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Evidently, the Bible specifically prohibits Christian disc jockeys from laying down beats at gay men’s birthday parties.
Rick Santorum is back at it
Rick Santorum promised that if he’s elected president in 2016 he’ll ensure all children are raised by parents of the opposite sex. None of this two dads or two moms or single moms or single dads business. He also said that if the Supreme Court strikes down gay marriage bans nationwide “that doesn’t mean we won’t fight and try to push back both as the Congress should and as the president should as a co-equal branch of the government.”
Good luck with that!
One Million Moms vs. enjoying Chobani yogurt in bed
When our favorite right-wing Moms saw Chobani’s latest TV commercial featuring a lesbian eating yogurt in bed while her lover sleeps beside her it got busy. “Chobani should be ashamed of their latest commercial for attempting to normalize sin by featuring two women naked in bed together,” it opined. “This commercial not only promotes same-sex relationships by including two lesbians, but also same-sex marriage because the two women wear matching wedding bands.”
Who knew Greek yogurt could be controversial?
Graham Gremore
Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum Sign Pledge Branding Same-Sex Parents ‘Destructive’ And ‘A Threat To Security': VIDEO
Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum Sign Pledge Branding Same-Sex Parents ‘Destructive’ And ‘A Threat To Security': VIDEO
GOP presidential hopefuls Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee have signed a pledge that describes same-sex parents as “unconscionable…destructive..[and] a threat to security”, reports Pink News.
The pledge was written by Texas pastor Rick Scarborough who last week said he is willing to “burn to death” in his fight against same-sex marriage.
The pledge states:
“Conferring a moral and legal equivalency to any relationship other than marriage between a man and a woman, by legislative or judicial fiat, sends the message that children do not need a mother and a father.
“As a policy matter, such unions convey the message that mums and dads are completely irrelevant to the well-being of children.
“Such a policy statement is unconscionable and destructive. Authorizing the legal equivalency of marriage to same-sex couples undermines the fundamental rights of children and threatens their security, stability, and future.
“A decision purporting to redefine marriage flies in the face of the Constitution and is contrary to the natural created order.
“As people of faith we pledge obedience to our Creator when the State directly conflicts with higher law. We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross this line.”
Back in April, Santorum said that his opposition to the 2003 Supreme Court decision striking down anti-gay “sodomy” bans is proof of his strength of leadership.
The post Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum Sign Pledge Branding Same-Sex Parents ‘Destructive’ And ‘A Threat To Security’: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Michael Fitzgerald
