Gay Student Protests for LGBT Rights At Michelle Bachmann Rally

Kudos to Gabe Aderhold (seen above), a seventeen year old gay student who stood his ground during a speech given by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail earlier this month. 

Aderhold stated that before heckling Michele Bachmann at the Iowa State Fair, his mission was to help educate the representative about how harmful her rhetoric is against gay and lesbians who are also her constituents. 

As a state Senator Michele Bachmann also led aggressive efforts to amend the state’s constitution, to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.

But Aderhold seemed adamant in bringing awareness to gay issues, due to the death of a family friend who committed suicide in 2009 after being bullied. The friend was only 15 years old. 

Aderhold expressed that,“It is her responsibility to address social issues in her area, and there have been six suicides in the last year from being bullied in her district,” the student commented to The Des Moines Register -- prior to heckling Michele Bachmann today at the Iowa State Fair.

Bachmann spoke for three minutes at the soapbox today. When she stopped talking Aderhold stood up and shouted: “You treat me like a second-class citizen,” before chanting. “Shame on you!”

Bachmann’s husband Marcus, operates a mental-health clinic in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. He has faced scrutiny for the clinic’s purported efforts to help clients “pray the gay away."

The young activist also made sure to mention Bachmanns' senate efforts, in keeping the ridiculous praying techniques. “You can’t pray the gay away,” he screamed at Marcus Bachmann, who turned away and did not respond. 

The congresswoman commented earlier that she would shake hands with people in the audience, but after being heckled she quickly left the area.

Gabe, thank you for standing up not just for yourself but for all LGBT people. You are a hero! Keep up the good work!

2011 LA

New York Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

June 24, 2011, New York became the sixth largest state to legalize same-sex marriage. 

The New York Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation twice before in 2007 and 2009, but in both cases it stalled in the state senate as it nearly did again last week. 

The bill passed after legislators agreed on language allowing religious organizations, to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings.

New York is home to more than 42,000 same-sex couples according to an analysis of U.S. census data conducted by the Williams Institute. This means among other things, that the number of same-sex couples living in states allowing same-sex marriage has doubled overnight.

Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, beginning a trend that will quickly submerge most states in a decade.

A report last month from New York's Senate Independent Democratic Conference, estimated the state would earn nearly $400 million dollars over the next three years from gay and lesbian couples getting married; including tourism, weddings, sales-tax revenue, and wedding license fees.

This moment means so much to gay and lesbian couples all over the country. But to all my gay and lesbian peeps out there, please do not be naive to the fact that things can change. This is a big accomplishment however, don't forget what happened in California when gay marriage passed and then was suddenly revoked. 

The big difference between the two states is that California passed a court ruling for gay marriage, and New York passed legislation which President Obama will sign into law. 

When California legalized same-sex marriage in 2008, I fully believed it was strictly for the purpose of increasing revenue within that state. This country was headed for a second Great Depression and ex-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, had run the state of California into the ground and so much so, that instead of Californians receiving their income taxes in the mail they received an I.O.U.!

A little advice: Don't have a ridiculously huge and expensive wedding until you know for sure that gay marriage is the law of the land. Should marriage equality be revoked for whatever reason all it leaves you with is debt up to your ears and a broken heart, and leaves New York with increased revenue.

2011 LA

Miss Lawrence 'Closet Freak' (2011)

Yeeesss Miss Lawrence! Work it!

If you're a regular viewer of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, then you couldn't have missed the public performance of Miss Lawrence. OMG! Talk about working it out! Now this is "real" talent -- hint Kim Zolciak.

Miss Lawrences' vocals are undeniably excellent! The deep, velvety, smoothness of her voice reminds me of a modern day, Donny Hathaway. 

The beat of the music knocks hard but gives strong bass, while Miss Lawrence's beautiful baritone voice compliments the track very well.

When listening to the song you feel intensity, energy, happy, and whatever was sleeping inside you immediately wakes up and forces your arms, shoulders, legs, and feet, to move in unison while your head rocks and fingers snap!

Kandi Burrus, you did an excellent job with production and I hope you take this young stunna all the way to the top!

Click below to hear song. So AmAzInG!

2011 LA

Movie Review On: The Kids Are Alright

Watching the much anticipated and celebrated lesbian flick The Kids Are Alright, the first thing evident was the average looking women in the film. 

It was only noticeable because I had grown accustomed to seeing very hot, very sexy, lipstick type lesbians on television. 

For example: The Real L-Word is a lesbian based series that airs seasonally on Showtime, and consists of mostly attractive females. I guess I was spoiled in thinking that all shows would keep up this trend -- but I digress.

The two actresses in the film were very plain Jane in appearance, but as you got to know the character's personalities -- little by little, you began to see the attractive qualities about them. These same qualities locked me into the film and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the film along with the great acting skills, until my enjoyment was killed due to a male counterpart that made his way into the film while ultimately, reaching his goal of sleeping with one of the moms -- and multiple times at that! 

I'm not against heterosexual sex at all, but when there aren't many lesbian flicks to begin with the last thing you want to see is a lesbian having sex with a man; it defeats the whole purpose of watching a "lesbian" film. 

In one scene, the children of the lesbian couple wanted to meet their sperm donor; this part was understandable because there's always a piece of you that desires to know who you are and where you came from. The children wanting to meet their donor gave way to the donor spending a lot of time with the family -- which resulted in a marital affair. 
 

Due to stigmas placed on the gay community, sex scenes in films are very limited. However, heterosexual sex in film is widely accepted and even more detailed; this is also true in The Kids Are Alright, where there are more heterosexual sex scenes then lesbian sex scenes.

In conclusion: the storyline and acting was great, I just wish the movie didn't make lesbians appear boring, sexless and deprived.

2011 LA

Lesbian Bridal Bliss

                        Aisha Mills and Danielle Moodie tie the knot!

Essence online magazine decided to shine light on beauty from another side of the tracks.

The first lesbian Bridal Bliss highlight! About time! Thanks Essence!

To view the brides' photos click here.

2010 LA

Fired For Being Gay Pass ENDA Now!

Kimya share her story

Dave shares his story

What are your thoughts?

Mourning LGBT Youth

Raymond Chase (seen above), was a nineteen year old sophomore that attended Johnson and Wales college in Rhode Island. 

On September 29, 2010, Raymond committed suicide by hanging himself in his dorm room. He was openly gay and while the cause of his suicide is not yet known, he is the fifth gay youth to commit suicide in the past four weeks.

September 9, 2010, Billy Lucas (seen-r), a high school student from Greensburg, Indiana, was taunted for being gay and as a result, Lucas hung himself in a barn at home where he kept his most beloved pet -- his horse. 

A memorial page for Lucas was created on Face book as a way of giving people the chance to say goodbye, but the tragic death of this young man wasn't enough as people still left homophobic and hateful comments on the wall.

To all gay youth out there with suicidal tendencies, if you're reading this right now please STOP! 

Know that you are loved and wanted and by hurting yourselves, you give the bad people all the power. Don't give them any more power than they need, because we don't need to make them stronger. 

Shame on school officials and staff members, that allowed this to happen underneath their noses. 

For those staff members with homophobic hearts, it may seem like water under the bridge and one less gay person to worry about, but what happens in the dark always comes to the light. Don't for a minute think that no one is watching your hateful actions because someone is watching you.

To those in need call: 866-488-7386. This number is the nation's leading organization for creating awareness about LGBT youth crisis and suicide prevention. They provide online support and maintain a 24 hour help line.

In remembrance of other LGBT youth who committed suicide these past weeks: Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University, teenagers Asher Brown and Seth Walsh. 

RIP

2010 LA

Woman Sues Church Over Gay Marriage Ceremonies

 
2010 LA

Adam Lambert's New CD Is HOT!

Former American Idol star Adam Lambert, has introduced his first album. 

Many people have been anticipating Lambert's album -- curious to know what it would look like. 

I had a feeling he would shock us and shock us he did! Personally, I became a fan of Lambert's as soon as he opened his mouth and extracted out what I felt was the most beautiful, powerful, and compelling voice I've heard in a long time. His image is awesome but to hear his voice mixed with his rocker dress style is a killer combination.

When Adam Lambert graced the stage of American Idol, his sexual orientation became more of a concern then his artistry, which many people felt was totally irrelevant. 

Lambert's sexual orientation became the focal point and rumors began to fly, with speculations about if he "could sell records." People commented it'd be embarrassing to walk in a store and openly purchase his album. Some even resorted to purchasing the music online out of fear.

Lambert's talent has nothing to do with his sexual orientation and once people purchase the album they'll see that what they end up with, is really great music by a really great artist.  

Have you ever picked up a CD and didn't purchase it, because you thought the artist might be gay? Of course not! No one stops to think about a person's sexual preference when you buy their product, you're only concerned about the value of the product.

If you're an Adam Lambert fan -- be a true fan. Adam is the first of many who stood up for himself as a gay man and stated, "this is me love me or hate me."

When he took that stand he took it for all gay people, and made a point that you must be who you are and love yourself. If you don't love yourself first then who will?

Great work Adam and I look forward to hearing your music for many years to come!

2009 LA

Gay In The Work Place

You've been through it before. You go for a job interview, you're hired for the position, and after being on your job for a while you make a few friends and then the personal questions begin.  

"So where do you live? Do you have any kids? I see you're wearing a ring are you married?"

When you admit to being in a relationship, you begin paying attention to how you mention your partner -- using neutral words at all times. 

Instead of saying my girl, wife, boyfriend, husband, he, or she, you might say my fiance or my spouse, this way your co-worker can't tell the sex of your partner. 

If a co-worker calls your home and your partner answers the phone, you might further camouflage your status by saying, "Oh that was my (friend, sister, or brother) that answered." It can really get ridiculous!

The gay and lesbian world of secrecy is common, due to fear that nice treatment from co-workers might end if found out. 

Even if you've known a co-worker for a few months and feel comfortable enough explaining your personal background, it's still a risk you're taking when you completely open up. 

If you've made a connection with a co-worker over a period of time and if you deem them worthy of your secrets -- which is a privilege, should they turn their back on you then they weren't genuine from the start. So you shouldn't feel bad at all, it's them that should feel bad for being prejudice.

I feel people respect you more when you're honest and I say all this to say, there is never a good time or bad time to be honest. All you can do is be real with yourself and others, and hope for the best in all situations. 

Everything happens for a reason, so should you be fired from a job for being honest about your relationship, then it probably wasn't safe for you to be in that environment anyway. 

And should you lose a friend for being honest, then they weren't a friend to begin with. It's their loss and your load was made lighter, when they made their exit from your life.

So keep your head up knowing you're a good person with a good heart, and someday, somewhere, somebody, will recognize it!

2009 LA

Anti-Gay States Should Be Boycotted?

Just a thought in light of Prop 8; it's interesting how states refuse same-sex couples equal marriage rights but have no problem with the LGBT community spending hard earned cash within the state -- while in turn helping the economy thrive. 

Contributions from the LGBT communities to America and the world are very well known, and yet LGBT people are treated like outcasts or aliens from another planet.

My resolution to combat this issue? 

LGBT individuals should move their place of residence to a state that honors marriage equality. In a sense by moving it'd be like boycotting the discriminatory states, while taking large amounts of state revenue in the process. And when state officials get their acts together only then should one reconsider moving back.

The message is clear; LGBT individuals are needed so stop acting like they aren't.

What are your thoughts on boycotting discriminatory states?

2009 LA

Maine Makes Fifth State To Legalize Gay Marriage

Governor John Baldacci of Maine, signed into law a bill legalizing gay marriage. 

The move declares Maine as the fifth state to allow gay marriage. Other states that have already followed suit are Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts and D.C. 

The state of California use to be apart of marriage equality, until a few naysayers decided to engage Prop 8 and reverse the law; currently activists are hard at work to change the discriminatory bill.

After California passed its gay marriage law, previously I had written an article commenting that the law was only passed for state officials and businesses to increase revenue -- therefore, digging the state out of a debt hole. I was adamant that LGBT couples should keep weddings small, just in case the law was overturned.

California lawmakers understood that gay marriage would generate a lot of money, and I urged people to not spend a dime just yet. However, California gained that revenue and in the end gay marriage was still revoked -- breaking the hearts of many loving couples

Up next for the Marriage Equality Challenge? New Jersey and New York!

Let the fight begin!

2009 LA

Miss California's Same-Sex Marriage Answer Cost Her The Crown?

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday, but on Monday it was Miss California Carrie Prejean's (seen above-l) answer to a question about same-sex marriage from celebrity blogger and pageant judge Perez Hilton, that ended up being the nights biggest story.

During the show Perez asked Carrie, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"

Carrie answered, "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. "No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman."

According to Perez Hilton, Carrie's answer to the hot button question cost her the crown. 

Miss California is very much entitled to her own opinion
however, I was taken aback that she felt all people shouldn't be given the same equal rights. Marriage is marriage, period.

It's a commitment established by two people that pledge to build their lives together, connecting, growing, and living as one family unit. All people are deserving of equal marriage rights no matter the race, creed, color or gender. 

People coming together to vote for President Obama, is the same way folks should come together for the common purpose of equal marriage rights.

And who's to say Miss California would have won the crown if she did answer differently? Obviously, Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton was the better candidate because she took home the prize.

2009 LA

Two Eleven Year Old Boys Commit Suicide From Anti-Gay Harassment

In the past weeks, two eleven year old boys have committed suicide after being taunted repeatedly in school. 

Both boys suffered from the same taunts of bullying and harassment's of anti-gay epithets and attacks. Obviously, the youth were in desperate need for the pain to go away -- which resulted in their deaths.

The victims names are Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover (seen above) of Massachusetts, and Jaheem Herrera (seen below-r) of Georgia. 

Jaheem's mother stated that she repeatedly complained to the Dekalb school system about her son being harassed, but nothing was ever done to rectify the situation.

Our current culture of accepted homophobia, and the prevalence of bullying hurts LGBT youth and heterosexual kids as well. 

Because students are affected by a climate of anti-gay rhetoric, as a result, these anti-gay taunts were a driving force behind Jaheem and Carls' tragic suicides. 

When children go to school aren't they supposed to be protected? School houses are considered to be second homes to our children, and now we can't feel safe in knowing that our children aren't in good hands?

According to the 2007 National School Climate Survey, 73.6 percent of the students surveyed heard derogatory remarks like “faggot” or “dyke” frequently at school. 

We know that in schools the word “gay” with derogatory intent, can be applied to any student who maybe viewed as different no matter what their actual sexual orientation might be. 

Even in our own government right-wing groups and religious institutions, continually use anti-gay sentiment and rhetoric. Many describe scary imagery and falsify religious arguments to fuel misinformation and fear, many also outright claim that LGBT people are a threat to society.

But how many deaths must we witness before we enact laws to protect our children? 

Eleven states including the District of Columbia have student protections based on sexual orientation, and only seven of those states including the District of Columbia, protect based on gender identity and expression. 

We need to expand these protections to every state and defend the states that have already put in place these protections. 

We must fight back against the misuse of religion as a tool of hatred and intolerance. We must work to create a culture which embraces differences in gender and sexual orientation, just as we work endlessly to end racism, sexism and any other negative -- ism there is. 

We need a powerful movement that will protect our children from all negativity and danger. We must do it fast and we must do it NOW!

2009 LA

Colorado Man Sentenced To Death After Murder Of Transgender

A Colorado man by the name of Allen Andrade (seen-r), was convicted and sentenced to death for brutally murdering Angie Zapata (seen-l), a transgender woman that Andrade met over the Internet. 

This marks the first time a hate crime law resulted in the conviction of a transgender person’s murder. It took the jury two hours to return its verdict, which was praised by members of gay and transgender rights groups.  

"This is a landmark decision," Mindy Barton the legal director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado, told CNN. 

Barton attended the trial daily stating that, "Hearing guilty on first degree murder and guilty of 'bias-motivated crime' was an emotional experience for all the family, friends and supporters of Angie. She will not be forgotten."

Allen Andrade never denied killing Angie Zapata, although his defense team argued for a lesser verdict, contending that he acted in the heat of passion after discovering Zapata was biologically male. Prosecutors referred to Zapata as "she" throughout the trial, while the defense referred to the transgender teen as "he".

Defense attorney Annette Kundelius, argued that "when [Andrade] met him, he met him as 'Angie.’ "When he found out it wasn't 'Angie,' that it was 'Justin,' he lost control."   

The jury was not convinced. "This was an ambush attack," said Chief Deputy District Attorney Robb Miller. "This was an all-out blitz." Zapata was "born in a boy's body but living as a female," added Miller. “Ultimately, she was murdered because of it."

Prosecutors argued that after Zapata, 18, and Andrade 32, met online last summer, they hooked up at Zapata’s apartment in Greeley, Colo., where they spent almost three days together. 

While Zapata was away from the apartment according to court documents Andrade, noticed some pictures that made him think Zapata might be a man, CNN reports. When Andrade confronted Zapata about her sexuality she declared, "I am all woman." 

Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia. Andrade told police he began pounding Zapata with his fists, and when she fell to the ground he picked up a fire extinguisher and hit her in the head, the documents show.

Believing he had “killed it,” he told police referring to Zapata; he covered the body in a blanket and cleaned up the crime scene. But as he was about to depart he said he heard “gurgling” sounds coming from the body and then Zapata sat up. That’s when Andrade hit her again with the fire extinguisher, the affidavit says. 

The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations including Andrade telling a girlfriend, "gay things must die." He did not testify in his own defense.

Although Zapata may have mislead the 32 year old Andrade into believing she was all woman, that still did not give him the right to take her life. No one has the right to take another person's life no matter what the situation. 

How did Andrade not know Zapata was transgendered after spending three days living with her? 

Maybe Andrade feared that someone would find out he was messing with a man, so he killed Zapata to cover up his tracks? 

Either way, what he did was wrong and I'm glad Zapata and her family have received justice.

2009 LA

The United States Endorses UN Gay Rights Message

The Obama administration 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 Obama administration reversed yet another Bush-era decision that had long been criticized as being discriminatory by human rights groups. The United States was the only western nation that didn't sign on to the declaration, when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.

"The United States supports the U.N.'s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.  

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood told reporters. 

"As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora." 

The Associated Press reported that the administration would endorse the statement.

"The administration's leadership on this issue will be a powerful rebuke of an earlier Bush administration position that sought to deny the universal application of human rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals," said Mark Bromley of the Council for Global Equality, which promotes equal rights for same-sex loving individuals.  

"This is long past overdue and we are encouraged by the signal it sends that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will now be considered human rights," said Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

U.S. officials stated that America, opposed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but that parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review. There were concerns from the Bush team that those sections could commit the federal government on matters that fall under state jurisdiction. 

In some states landlords and private employers, are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military.

Twenty-seven European Union members, Japan, Australia, and Mexico, all endorsed the U.S. gay rights message. Seventy U.N. members outlaw homosexuality as homosexual acts can be punished by execution also. 

And more than fifty nations including members of the 'Organization of the Islamic Conference' opposed the declaration. Some Islamic countries stated that protecting sexual orientation could lead to "the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and incest. The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican.

How does one compare same-sex relationships to pedophilia and incest? Pedophilia is when an adult has sexual desires for a child. Incest is when closely related people (family members) have sexual intercourse, which is also called "inbreeding."

People's assumptions and personal analogies are downright ridiculous. Pedophiles are allowed to run churches, work in schools, and live next door to us. Incest takes place everyday, and yet no one petitions charges against those that do it.

How can two same-sex loving individuals receive a worse rap than those that violate children? I'll never understand it.

2009 LA

Gay Couple Turned Away From Glen Ridge Country Club

        Picture of Glen Ridge Country Club - taken by Mia Song/The Star Ledger

Michael Norton a Glen Ridge, New Jersey, resident saw an advertisement for new members at the Glen Ridge Country Club in the community newspaper. 

Mr. Norton commented that he wanted a pool to "keep cool this summer", and felt this would be a great club for him and his partner to join.

Norton stated that when he asked a club administrator, "if a membership would include his domestic partner" the same way the club allows married members to include their spouses on their memberships, the club administrator gave him the cold shoulder.  

"It was unbelievable. I thought I was kicked in the stomach," said Norton, 58, of Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Barry Schrager, president of the country club's nine member board said that Norton and his partner Stewart D. Grossman, 62, were "victims of an unfortunate misunderstanding that stemmed from the employee's error in stating the club's membership policy. The club abides by state law which recognizes same-sex couples as civil unions and domestic partners", he said.

Norton and his partner decided not to pursue a membership, and instead the two men are preparing to file suit against the one hundred and fifteen year old club with the N.J. Division of Civil Rights. The couple expressed that the problem is bigger than just one country club's gatekeeper. Their situation could have been avoided if state laws would allow them to say they are married

"The equality is in the word," Grossman said. "If  you tell people you're married, people know what that means." 

Stephen Hyland, a Westwood family law attorney with many gay and lesbian clients commented that the Glen Ridge County Club incident could be attributed to the legal prohibition of the word "marriage" with regard to same-sex couples. "If this couple had been able to marry, then there would not have been any need to explain anything further," Hyland said.

Norton e-mailed Amy Sikkerboll the club's controller on March 23rd, asking about membership fees for the club's house and pool. Sikkerboll responded with an e-mail stating "Memberships include spouses but not significant others."

Schrager the club's board president, released a statement saying the club's policy is to consider all applicants without reference to race, religion or gender. He added that the club recognized all couples sanctioned by state law, including domestic partnerships and civil unions. 

Schrager, also expressed that the Glen Ridge Country Club changed its membership policy more than a decade ago to include women. 

Steven Goldstein, executive director of Garden State Equality stated that Norton and Grossman's experience at the country club was not unique, and that the organization has received thousands of complaints about discrimination against domestic partners stating,"This case is Exhibit A of why we at Garden State Equality are calling  for marriage equality," Goldstein said. 

"This should be a wake up call to everyone of the 120 state legislators. Wake up and smell the inequality that single sex couples endure."  

2009 LA