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April 8th, 2006
Torture... so in fashion.
Updates from the Gay Movement’s Xanga headquarters
Updated daily to keep you informed on the issues and stories facing the global LGBT community
365gay Quote of the Day
"It has kind of a chilling effect and will until some of these issues are resolved."
- Bill Rich, associate dean, Washburn University Law School on full implications of Kansas anti-gay amendment.
Common Sense New Yorkism NEWS
It's as cold as a witch's tit here in NYC, and wetter than a horny monkey.
Here's to Spring.
A New Opportunity for all Common Sense New Yorkers (Don’t have to be a New Yorker to join). Join our new blog!
Common Sense New Yorkism
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Icon of the Week:
Daily News update
Anniversary of Kansas Ban 0n Gay Marriage
Years into the equal marriage debate, I think that we've all grown tired of hearing the same old arguments.
It doesn't mean that we don't have strong feelings about the issue, but it's just plain boring for us activists now.
On the anniversary of the Kansas Constitutional ban on gay marriage, I really can't bring myself to talk about how the ban couldn't be worse, it's just been talked to death.
Kansas, of course, has things much more anti-gay than even this amendment.
My case and point? Fred Phelps.
Known as a pastor, Fred Phelp's greatest hobby remains protesting outside military funerals.
Now my heart truly goes out for the LGBT community in Kansas. Though Fred Phelps really does not have a following, his protests still deal a psychological blow to the LGBT community there.
That, along with the institutionalized homophobia in the constitutional amendment, as well as the homophobia encountered in Kansas, makes me want to write a check to a therapist for every LGBT person in Kansas.
Kansas will probably be among the last states to legalize gay marriage, but now the good news:
"The public backlash over gay marriage has receded since a controversial decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2003 to legalize those marriages stirred strong opposition, says a poll released Wednesday.
Gay marriage remains a divisive issue, with 51 percent opposing it, the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found. But almost two-thirds, 63 percent, opposed gay marriage in February 2004.
"Most Americans still oppose gay marriage, but the levels of opposition are down and the number of strong opponents are down," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. "This has some implications for the midterm elections if this trend is maintained. There are gay marriage ballot initiatives in numerous states.
The number of people who say they strongly oppose gay marriage has dropped from 42 percent in early 2004 to 28 percent now. Strong opposition has dropped sharply among senior citizens and Republicans."
That's it for today. Ciao for now. Use a condom... or a dental dam for my lesbian readers... and if you're sharing a dildo I'd assume you'd best use a condom on that dildo... I think that assuredly covers all bases. CIAO!
This Month in Gay History
The most unrecognized need in the Gay Movement today is for every LGBT American to be taught that the gay movement has been around for decades, and that we are indeed a very rich culture. This new addition to my blog attempts to teach those who read this very lesson.
Today in Gay History!
August 8, 1974
The American Psychiatric Association remove its "sickness" definition of homosexuality.
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LET’S ALL CELEBRATE OUR 28,000+ visits since THIS SITE WAS CREATED!!
Updates from the Gay Movement’s Xanga headquarters
Updated daily to keep you informed on the issues and stories facing the global LGBT community
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Hello all! I am back! myspace, blogspot, they all just no longer do it for me. Xanga is the only blog place that made me complete inside.
A lot has happened since I last posted in here:
1. I am organizing a team for the AIDS Walk, and already have 70+ signed up!
2. I am helping to create a house for LGBT youth.
3. I am helping to plan a Day od Silence rally in Bryant Park for all participating members in NYC!
A lot to talk about, but oh so little time, Ciao until tomorrow! | | |
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Quote of the Day:
"PEMS prioritizes invasive data collection above the actual work of HIV prevention itself, threatening to turn educators into interrogators and overwhelm already understaffed HIV prevention agencies with paperwork."
- Julie Davids, Executive Director of CHAMP warning new federal HIV/AIDS reporting guidelines could endanger the privacy of PWAs.
Today In History:
December 22, 2004
France Makes Homophobic Speech A Crime
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Late Breaking Headlines From The Nationwide Gay Straight Alliance Movement
TOP STORY
Georgia Embroiled in Battle to Outlaw Gay Straight Alliances
“Those with whom and for whom I work would love to see discussions of this type returned to the back burner so that front-burner education issues can get the attention and coverage they deserve.”
- Herbert W. Gerrett of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A proposed state requirement that schools and their club sponsors obtain written permission from parents for their children to participate in all extracurricular activities has reappeared for discussion and possible action by the Georgia General Assembly.
Thought to be dead after the state Board of Education panned the idea by an overwhelming 10-3 vote last summer, the proposal has once again found new life in HB661 and SB149. Both bills are being treated as high priority by the education committees of the Senate and the House, and it will not be surprising to see the bills move quickly during the first week of the 2006 session.
The bills, both of which require a voluminous amount of record-keeping, are being touted by their sponsors as legislation intended to increase the level of parental involvement in their children's education without placing an undue burden on schools and their (usually volunteer) club sponsors.
In reality, the bills are a reaction to the formation of a controversial student organization — Gay-Straight Alliance — on a high school campus in White County. The legislation attempts to use parental permission to limit or eliminate clubs to which the bills' sponsors might object.
Article here
NORTHEAST NEWS
(12/22/05) Massachusetts- Gay Straight Alliance Plans To Fight Domestic Violence
(12/22/05) Massachusetts- New Gay/Straight alliance outlines plans for the future
(12/22/05) Pennsylvania- Gay Catholic students balance lifestyle with Vatican'
(12/21/05 ) New York- MCS board won't grant recognition to Gay-Straight Alliance Club
(12/16/05) Pennsylvania- Duquesne University Allows Formation Of Gay-Straight Alliance
(12/15/05) Massachusetts- Gay/Straight group at Shawsheen
MIDWEST NEWS
(12/21/05 ) Kentucky- ACLU Asks Court to Uphold Kentucky School’s Training Aimed at Reducing Anti-Gay Harassment
Ohio- School groups try to promote understanding
Gay-straight alliances on rise here, elsewhere
SOUTH NEWS
(12/20/05 ) Florida- Residents Counter Anti-gay/straight Alliance Protest
(12/18/05) Virginia- Gay Straight Alliance forms at E.C. Glass
(12/18/05) Florida- School prepares for anti-gay protesters
(12/14/05) Florida- Parents want all sexually oriented clubs out of schools
WEST NEWS
(12/16/05) Utah- Utah Gov. To Oppose Ban On Gay Student Clubs
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August 18th
Updates from the Gay Movement’s Xanga headquarters
Updated daily to keep you informed on the issues and stories facing the global LGBT community
365gay Quote of the Day
"[They] take the School Board's thoughtfully crafted and progressive diversity policy and use it for toilet paper."
- Rev. Katy Peterson, Palm Beach Gardens Metropolitan Community Church, of conservatives on the Broward School Board diversity committee.
Common Sense New Yorkism NEWS
Major delays on getting this podcast up and running. Any podcasters out there with some helpful hints?
“Common Sense New Yorkism” is currently working on a new feature for our readers who own ipods or listen to radio online. We are designing this site’s very own podcast, which will be a weekly 30 minute radio show. Eventually we have plan to expand it to a daily service, however for right now this is in the works.
We also are looking for dedicated new members for “Common Sense New Yorkism.” The admission process is long and hard (stop thinking nasty thoughts), but it is worth it. SImply leave a comment sharing your interest in becoming a blogger on this site.
VOTE here for rating us the BEST LGBT blog ON THE INTERNET!!!
Haven't done it YET?! VOTE HERE!
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Icon of the day:
Weekly Comic
From my favorite comic ever, The Chelsea Boys
My Daily Rant
Going to go see "Main Pyar Kyun Kiya" today with my new gay indian person Raj. He's so friggin hot lol. I would post a photo, but he's more in the closet than my grandmother's hand-knit sweater.
He's so cute though, but we're just friends. He's really slutty lol. So it's obviously best to keep it as friends.
He is amazing though, simply amazing. I love hanging out with him and cannot wait for today.
I have to go into training at my mom's salon today.
I chilled with Patrice all day looking up scholarship information and me preparing for my AP exams. We also spent all day rating hot guys. We rated AT LEAST 125 yesterday lol.
So yeah, Have to clean now.
This is who I feel like now:
Daily News update
August 18th
Why Pataki isn't the hard pro-LGBT crusader that some say
I was inspired to make this post because conservative gay blogger Gay Patriot made a teary lament about how poor ol’ NY guvnor Pataki did soo much for LGBT rights, and barely even received 1/3 of the Gay Vote.
Pataki has always seemed to me to be eager to take up the image of being pro-gay while at the same time not doing much FOR gays.
For instance, arguably one of Pataki’s greatest achievements for LGBT New Yorkers, the passing of the Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Act (SONDA), was not even really his accomplishment.
Now, without a doubt Pataki was in words supportive of the bill. His actions however seemed to fear more what the religious right would think and maybe even at that early stage, possibly how the passing of the bill could affect his presidential ambitions.
Pataki made several promises to pass the bill, all of which he never fulfilled.
Gay City News posted a while back on this:
“The critics, including all five of the city’s out gay or lesbian elected officials, to a person pointed out that Pataki, in two high profile settings in the past year, had promised action on SONDA by the end of the June legislative session but failed to deliver, and asserted that his eight-year record on LGBT and AIDS issues was wanting.”
His last promise before the bill was passed promised to pass it in June of 2002. It was passed in October, and not totally thanks to Pataki.
See, this bill was introduced first in 1971. It was frequently and by growing numbers passed annually by the Democratic controlled House, but never even brought to the floor by the Republican controlled Senate until October of 2002.
The person who prevented this? The notorious Republican State Senate leader Joe Bruno:
It was his support that finally paved the way to the passing of this bill. Also, while Pataki may have paved an influential road in forcing Bruno to concede support for the bill, credit also must go to the years of sweat and hard work put into this effort by the Empire State Pride Agenda.
In the end Pataki is at least a voice for LGBT people, even if at times it is not at the top of his agenda. But to make him look like some pro-LGBT knight in shining order is just hogwash.
This Month in Gay History
The most unrecognized need in the Gay Movement today is for every LGBT American to be taught that the gay movement has been around for decades, and that we are indeed a very rich culture. This new addition to my blog attempts to teach those who read this very lesson.
Today in Gay History!
August 18, 2004
“Rev. Jerry Falwell announces the creation of a law school at Liberty University to train lawyers to fight for conservative issues including traditional marriage.”
- And thus the careers of hundreds of anti-gay bigots are born… so help us God.
Month of August 2000
“Birch speaks before the Democratic National Convention. She is the first head of a national gay and lesbian organization to address convention of a major political party.”
- And she won’t be the last. From now until 2008 we will see a string of achievments, ranging from AIDS care, to protection from anti-gay discrimination, and to even gay marriage.
In 2008, we’ll probably again see the DNC ask an LGBT activist to address their convention. As for the RNC? Let’s just hope that they at least give those Log Cabin Republicans some decency,
although I still think that Republican gays closely resemble Jewish nazis, but it’s their right to choose their political allegience, and no one can take that away from them.
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August 17th
Updates from the Gay Movement’s Xanga headquarters
Updated daily to keep you informed on the issues and stories facing the global LGBT community
365gay Quote of the Day
"I have sometimes wondered if Phelps and his lawyerly clan are 'gay plants.'"
- Peter LaBarbera, Illinois Family Institute
Common Sense New Yorkism NEWS
Nothing new since last week.
“Common Sense New Yorkism” is currently working on a new feature for our readers who own ipods or listen to radio online. We are designing this site’s very own podcast, which will be a weekly 30 minute radio show. Eventually we have plan to expand it to a daily service, however for right now this is in the works.
We also are looking for dedicated new members for “Common Sense New Yorkism.” The admission process is long and hard (stop thinking nasty thoughts), but it is worth it. SImply leave a comment sharing your interest in becoming a blogger on this site.
VOTE here for rating us the BEST LGBT blog ON THE INTERNET!!!
Haven't done it YET?! VOTE HERE!
A New Opportunity for all Common Sense New Yorkers (Don’t have to be a New Yorker to join). Join our new blog!
Common Sense New Yorkism
(Icons from Gay_Pride_Zone.
gay_pride_icons
GayPride4Ever20)
Icon of the day:
Weekly Comic
From my favorite comic ever, The Chelsea Boys
My Daily Rant
Went to a funeral today... very sad...
Also I bought two new books for my LGBT studies:
"Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality" by Andrew Sullivan
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"Gay & Lesbian Rights: A Guide for GLBT Singles, Couples and Families"by Brette McWhorter Sember.
I might be going to the movies tomorrow with Raj, but strictly as friends.
Going to go see "Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya"... and Indian movie lol. Thank God for the theater in Times Square.
Besides that nott much else. CIAO!
I’ll leave you with the photo of the guy that Keire (my friend in Texas) landed:
Daily News update
August 15th
Open chat today
Not posting today. But tell me guys, when did you first realize you were gay?
This Month in Gay History
The most unrecognized need in the Gay Movement today is for every LGBT American to be taught that the gay movement has been around for decades, and that we are indeed a very rich culture. This new addition to my blog attempts to teach those who read this very lesson.
Today in Gay History!
Month of August 2000
“Birch speaks before the Democratic National Convention. She is the first head of a national gay and lesbian organization to address convention of a major political party.”
And she won’t be the last. From now until 2008 we will see a string of achievments, ranging from AIDS care, to protection from anti-gay discrimination, and to even gay marriage.
In 2008, we’ll probably again see the DNC ask an LGBT activist to address their convention. As for the RNC? Let’s just hope that they at least give those Log Cabin Republicans some decency,
although I still think that Republican gays closely resemble Jewish nazis, but it’s their right to choose their political allegience, and no one can take that away from them.
August 12-17, 1968
“The North American Conference of Homophile Organizations, nicknamed NACHO, made up of delegates from 26 groups, convenes in Chicago to discuss goals and strategy. Although delegates fail to form a unified national organization, they pass a five-point "Homosexual Bill of Rights" and resolve to make "Gay Is Good" the slogan of the movement.”
To clarify that photo, the actual first LGBT convention took place in the summer of 1963, and was sponsored by ECHO (East Coast Homophile Organizations)
A landmark day in the Gay Rights movement. This day marked the beginning of a flurry of organized activism that continued until the Stonewall riots, where organizing exploded to previously unprecedented levels.
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