The Movement: November 2009
UK judge explains how people's rights are trampled in cruising cases
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 30, 2009 4:30 PM |A UK judge had some stern words those who use their power to intimidate those who cruise for sex into giving up their rights. Only two news sources covered the proceedings, and this is all they published from the judge,...Read More
Against Equality, In Maine and Everywhere
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 30, 2009 3:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger R. Conrad is an outlaw artist, terrorist academic and petty thief dividing his time between Lewiston, Maine and Montreal, Quebec. He is a member of the naughty north collective and his written and visual work is...Read More
Against Equality, In Maine and Everywhere
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 30, 2009 3:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger R. Conrad is an outlaw artist, terrorist academic and petty thief dividing his time between Lewiston, Maine and Montreal, Quebec. He is a member of the naughty north collective and his written and visual work is...Read More
Stupak, Pitts, and the Classist, Sexist "Sin Tax" Amendment
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 29, 2009 11:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Louisa V. Hill is an MFA candidate at the University of Iowa's Playwrights' Workshop. LGBT folks and their allies know all too well that their human rights are often the first to be sacrificed under the...Read More
Sacred cows and sacrificial lambs
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 27, 2009 3:00 PM |That post about rich people getting kicked out of the LGBT movement the other day was intended as satire. I see from the comments that a lot of people didn't get it, even though the proposition was ridiculous, untenable, contradicts...Read More
Sympathy fatigue
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 25, 2009 12:00 PM |There are just so many divergent communities and interests waving the "LGBT" banner, ones that I personally have no reason to defend, interests that simply don't line up at all with my own, and people whose priorities are just far...Read More
Hate crimes up in 2008
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 24, 2009 5:30 PM |It's not really surprising that the FBI is reporting that hate crimes based on sexual orientation went up in 2008. The trend has already been remarked in New York and in California. It's almost as if demonization of LGBTQ people...Read More
"I'm getting married!" A New Way of Coming Out?
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 24, 2009 4:00 PM |Editors' note: Alan Schwartz, M.D., a member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, is also Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health. He is a psychoanalyst at the William Alanson White Institute and...Read More
Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 24, 2009 11:30 AM |I just have one thing to say about this. Forget WWJD. The new question is apparently What Would MLK Do? A coalition of politically and theologically conservative Christian leaders, including nine Roman Catholic bishops, who have just signed a...Read More
Sodomy wasn't born yesterday
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 23, 2009 1:00 PM |Antonin Scalia is apparently doing a speaking tour supporting the "originalist" interpretation of the Constitution, whereby a justice has to use his or her telepathic powers to read the minds of people who died 200 years ago, a power they...Read More
In Honor of our Fallen Brothers and Sisters on this Day of Remembrance
Filed by Kelley Winters | November 22, 2009 2:30 PM |My sisters, brothers, friends and allies, Tonight, on this eleventh International Transgender Day of Remembrance, we come together once again to honor those who lost their lives to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Our annual Day of Remembrance was founded by...Read More
Whose Day of Remembrance?
Filed by Tobi Hill-Meyer | November 21, 2009 4:00 PM |This year the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) lists 162 trans people killed. That's over 3 a week. The number is significantly higher than previous years (which had generally been between 20 and 30), and most people are attributing that...Read More
Irene Vilar's Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict
Filed by Paige Schilt | November 20, 2009 4:00 PM |The title of Irene Vilar's new memoir, Impossible Motherhood: Testimony of an Abortion Addict, is a bit misleading. Although Vilar chronicles 15 abortions over 15 years, "addiction" as a diagnostic category is only hastily grafted onto her tale of existential...Read More
From the Washington Blade's Ashes Comes DC Agenda
Filed by Michael Crawford | November 20, 2009 3:28 PM |I was as shocked and saddened as anyone on Monday when it was revealed the Washington Blade (along with other Windows Media publications) had been shut down on Monday. But, the great news is Kevin Naff and the former Blade...Read More
Interview w/NGLTF Exec Dir Rea Carey (part two)
Filed by Adam Bink | November 20, 2009 2:00 PM |TThis is part two of an interview with Rea Carey, the Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Part one focused on the No On 1 campaign in Maine, the push to repeal Prop 8 in 2010...Read More
Judge deals a rhetorical blow to DOMA
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 19, 2009 1:30 PM |This is a small decision that governs court personnel, but it seems to imply that there is law that is more important than DOMA when it comes to government benefits nonetheless: A gay lawyer in the federal public defender's office...Read More
Stephen Colbert on DC Gay Marriage
Filed by Michael Crawford | November 18, 2009 10:43 AM |Stephen Colbert takes on the DC marriage equality issue in the way only he can. The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cThe Word - Skeletons in the Closetwww.colbertnation.comColbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorU.S. Speedskating...Read More
Lesbian and Gay Parents Are Not Better--and That's Okay
Filed by Dana Rudolph | November 18, 2009 9:30 AM |Everyone's been asking the question. The New York Times: "Are Same-Sex Couples Better Parents?" The Advocate: "Gay Parents Better than Straight?" SF Gate: "Are same-sex couples better parents?" The Dallas Voice: "Do gays and lesbians make better parents?" All were...Read More
Bash Back disagrees with calling vandalism "homophobic"
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 17, 2009 10:30 AM |Yasmin Nair emailed me a link with the subject: "I think you called this when it first happened..." Back in September, a Memphis billboard put up by the LGBT community center went from this: To this: Folks were quick to...Read More
Out 100: Cathy Renna & Pam Spaulding
Filed by Bil Browning | November 17, 2009 8:30 AM |Congratulations to contributors Cathy Renna and Pam Spaulding for making the Out 100 list of LGBT movers and shakers. Pam is featured with music blogger Arjan Timmermans while Cathy shares the page with Advocate reporter Kerry Eleveld and WashingtonPost.com editor...Read More
Making A Better Life
Filed by Antonia D'orsay | November 16, 2009 6:00 PM |As I pointed out, I don't really have a lot of cause or reason to fight. Indeed, I don't find activism to be particularly fulfilling, or advocacy to be especially rewarding, and don't really want to do it as I can think of many things I'd rather be doing. Like making a better life for myself.Read More
LGBT Resistance to the Coup in Honduras
Filed by Jessica Hoffmann | November 16, 2009 2:00 PM |On Saturday I attended a talk by Indyra Mendoza, an activist with the LGTB Coalition Against the Coup in Honduras, who was in LA for a speaking tour. Her message was simple and powerful: Murders of trans women and gay...Read More
The sexual politics of a hug
Filed by Cassandra Keenan | November 15, 2009 1:00 PM |Far from just warm and fuzzy, hugging is commonly rich with personal revelations regarding our sexual and gender identity, as well as sexual equality. What got me to thinking about this? I was hanging out recently with this girl I...Read More
First Event 2010: One Big Happy Transgender Family
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | November 15, 2009 10:00 AM |I will be presenting a keynote address at "First Event 2010" in Peabody, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. First Event, an annual event presented for the past 29 years by The Tiffany Club of New England, will be held January...Read More
Preacher's Sons: Two Dads, Five Sons, Four Cities
Filed by Dana Rudolph | November 14, 2009 10:00 AM |President Barack Obama, in his proclamation of November as National Adoption Month, said: "By continually opening up the doors to adoption, and supporting full equality in adoption laws for all American families [my emphasis], we allow more children to find...Read More
When Its Not Your Fight
Filed by Antonia D'orsay | November 13, 2009 3:00 PM |So for my first actual contribution, I'm going to talk about something that's been on my mind of late. Some of it is informed by Austen's recent posts, but for the most part its informed by the direction I've come to feel that things must go in order to make headway in our quest for equality and equity. And I think about this stuff for a really simple reason: its not really my fight.Read More
Michael Crawford: One of Advocate's People of the Year
Filed by Bil Browning | November 12, 2009 1:00 PM |Congratulations to Bilerico-DC managing editor Michael Crawford for being named one of Advocate magazine's "People of the Year." In a city that is more than 50% African-American, Michael Crawford has been leading the charge on an issue often used to...Read More
Attacking Tax-Exemptions for Churches a Lose-Lose Proposition
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 12, 2009 9:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Sam Ritchie is a writer and activist who lives with his husband of twelve years in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He writes, edits and manages online content for the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBT & AIDS Projects....Read More
Why I'm So Damn Frightened of You
Filed by Diane Silver | November 11, 2009 7:00 PM |YOU - that's the "you" that's generally young, gay, trans, queer, lesbian, etc., and so certain you're right - YOU scare the living heck out of me. I'm not exactly certain what it is that is so frightening. I do...Read More
Time For Gay Power
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 11, 2009 3:00 PM |Editors' Note: Ronald Gold was media director for the Gay Activists Alliance in the early 1970's. He was one of the five original cofounders of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and its first media director. He is best...Read More
About that LGBT boycott of the Obama Campaign, the DNC, and Organizing for America....
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 10, 2009 5:00 PM |I have the following problems with the LGBT boycott of the DNC that a few bloggers launched yesterday: 1. I thought we were already boycotting the DNC. Am I the only who thought that the gAyTM was already supposed to...Read More
Indianapolis Transgender Day of Rememberance
Filed by Austen Crowder | November 10, 2009 11:57 AM |It's that time again. This year's Transgender Day of Rememberance activities include a presentation of "TransActions," a play exploring the emotions and realities of being transgender in this day and age. It's a wonderful play, and a wonderful way to...Read More
Is Violence Inevitable In Our Fight For Equality?
Filed by Father Tony | November 09, 2009 7:00 PM |Before you comment on this topic, I urge you to carefully read this post at JoeMyGod. Joe's advice is sensible. Don't say anything in a comment that you wouldn't say when writing a signed letter to a newspaper. The specter...Read More
Ed Flanagan, FTW
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 09, 2009 6:00 PM |Good on Vermont senator Ed Flanagan. Take a lesson from this lawyer and politician, boys, because he didn't do the stupidest thing you can do when you get arrested for cruising: admit to doing anything wrong. [Addison County State's Attorney...Read More
Down but Not Defeated
Filed by Sara Whitman | November 08, 2009 5:30 PM |It's hard to think of what to say. My heart is broken. I am exhausted and sick (literally and figuratively). I kept checking the Bangor News site to see the last of the numbers trickle in, hoping it got closer....Read More
The Finances Behind the National Equality March
Filed by Bil Browning | November 05, 2009 5:00 PM |National Equality March leaders have discovered they have money left over after paying all the bills. Organizers raised approximately $260,000 to put on the event in Washington DC that drew 200,000 activists. March leaders budgeted $282,000 for the event -...Read More
Are We Listening?
Filed by Rebecca Juro | November 05, 2009 1:30 PM |It's times like these when, even though you're proven right, you take no joy in it. Back in February, I wrote that same-sex marriage is overall a loser issue in this country right now and that our community would be...Read More
On Projecting R-71's Outcome, Or, We Visit A Political Party
Filed by Don Davis | November 05, 2009 12:30 PM |Over the past few days we have been talking about Washington State's Referendum 71, which was voted on this week. If passed, the Referendum will codify in law certain protections for same-sex couples. In the first story of our three-part...Read More
Speaker Pelosi (and all your Democratic friends): I'm not waiting anymore.
Filed by Kip Williams | November 05, 2009 9:00 AM |Early November last year, I stayed up into the wee hours one morning obsessively refreshing my web browser. The incoming precinct results for Prop 8 confirmed that my rights were being stripped away from me. I should have been celebrating...Read More
Our Muddled Electoral Mess
Filed by Diane Silver | November 04, 2009 4:00 PM |Anyone who says they know exactly what yesterday's election results mean for the future of LGBTQ people is a blowhard and a liar. Yesterday's results were decidedly muddled. Marriage equality lost yet again, this time in Maine. For anyone who's...Read More
The Day After a Hard Night
Filed by Kate Kendell | November 04, 2009 3:00 PM |Déjà vu is welcome when it flashes us back to a welcome or happy memory. Today déjà vu is not so pleasant. The loss of marriage rights in Maine is a traumatic reminder of our Prop 8 fight in California....Read More
Justice for Ryan and Something More
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 04, 2009 1:00 PM |Editors' note: Brian Winfield is the Equality Florida Communications Director. In March of 2007, Ryan Skipper was stabbed 19 times and left to die on a dirt road in rural Polk County, Florida. He was only 25. His killers drove...Read More
Election Night Results Open Thread: Maine, WA State, Kalamazoo & Beyond
Filed by Waymon Hudson | November 03, 2009 6:30 PM |Tonight is a big night for LGBT rights and issues- Marriage Equality in Maine, Relationship Recognition in Washington State, and a Human Rights Ordinance in Kalamazoo. Add that to the openly gay candidates (Annise Parker in Houston) and races that...Read More
A little marriage bill moves ahead in D.C.
Filed by Guest Blogger | November 03, 2009 5:50 PM |Editor's Note: Guest blogger Bob Summersgill is a long-time GLBT rights activist in the District of Columbia who has successfully led numerous human rights efforts. Lost in the aftermath of the D.C. Council hearing on the marriage bill and in...Read More
How Do You Just Watch a Rape?
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 03, 2009 4:00 PM |NOTE: TRIGGER WARNING, VIDEO BELOW DEPICTS GRAPHIC RAPE SCENE FROM A MOVIE. WTF is wrong with people? How do you just watch a rape?...Read More
Washington: New Referendum 71 Polling Analyzed
Filed by Don Davis | November 03, 2009 10:30 AM |It is now Election Day around the US, and one ballot question that is attracting national attention is Washington State's Referendum 71. Voting "yes" on the Referendum would codify in law various protections for same-sex domestic partners, and it is...Read More
DC marriage hearings end with a proposal
Filed by Michael Crawford | November 03, 2009 9:30 AM |Monday was the second day of the marathon hearings on the DC marriage bill. Over 250 people signed up to testify for or against legalizing marriages between same-sex couples over the two days with roughly 80% of the witnesses supporting...Read More
Equality March Co-Directors Resign; Group Reorganizes Amid Controversy
Filed by Bil Browning | November 03, 2009 12:30 AM |Kip Williams and Robin McGehee, Co-Directors of the National Equality March, have left Equality Across America citing differences about the direction the new group should take. The march, held less than a month ago, attracted about 200,000 LGBT people to...Read More
Why gay marriage IS the End of the World (or the queer world, at least)
Filed by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore | November 02, 2009 2:00 PM |I organized a sassy roundtable for the queer issue of Maximum Rocknroll, which was the October issue -- the issue is now off the stands, but here is the roundtable for your viewing pleasure -- it's a bit long, but...Read More
