The Movement: May 2012
IDAHO Has Come & Gone But the Work Continues
Filed by Guest Blogger | May 30, 2012 1:00 PM |On the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) we recognized the tireless work of human rights defenders around the globe. In the face of harsh discrimination and persistent human rights violations, activists and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people everywhere demonstrate extraordinary resilience.Read More
SEIU Passes Trans Healthcare Resolution & Builds Progressive Partnerships
Filed by Bil Browning | May 30, 2012 9:00 AM |SEIU represents the service industry. These are the folks that are often overlooked in our society - the janitors, the security guards, and health care professionals, for example. They stand for the 99%.Read More
Support OBX Pridefest and Gay Friendly Dare County, NC
Filed by Michael Hamar | May 29, 2012 4:30 PM |Like many others, my first reaction to the depressing vote results on North Carolina's Amendment One was to totally boycott all of North Carolina. Was I angry and seeking revenge? Yes, most definitely. But I've calmed down somewhat now. Read More
Bi Cities in the Twin Cities: Bisexuals on TV
Filed by Amy Andre | May 29, 2012 2:00 PM |"A young transgender man said our show had saved his life. He happened to be watching television, and our show came on. It featured a trans activist. He said when heard that person's story, he knew he wasn't alone, and opted not to kill himself." - Dr. Charmoli Read More
NY Times Op-Ed on Marriage Equality: Save Us, Obi Wan Kennedy
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | May 29, 2012 1:00 PM |Will Justice Kennedy ring liberty throughout the land, allowing same gender loving couples the freedom to marry in Mississippi and West Virgina? No, Virginia, there is no Justice Santa Claus, even if the Sun says it's so.Read More
LGBT Youth: Resiliency, Strength, & Hope
Filed by Guest Blogger | May 29, 2012 10:00 AM |In the midst of the merriment came the youth, their faces catching the rays of the sun, marching side-by-side, hand-in-hand, middle school, high school, and college Gay/Straight Alliance banners waving in this storm of humanity, announcing their entry, solidarity, feisty outrage, and yes, their pride.Read More
Western Pennsylvania LGBTQ Bloggers Team Up
Filed by Sue Kerr | May 24, 2012 4:30 PM |I have my own ideas where I would like to start but I'm also very open to hearing what others have to say and determining how I can fit in to support their work. Read More
Richard Noble Nearing End of His Walk Across America
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 23, 2012 3:30 PM |Activist Richard Noble is almost finished with his walk across America for LGBT rights. This beautiful video tribute of his time on the road shows the people he's met, the proclamations of support he's elicited, the joys and troubles he's overcome.Read More
Mainstreamed in the Press
Filed by Leslie Robinson | May 22, 2012 10:00 AM |Being the old-fashioned type, I have a newspaper delivered to my door every morning. Being part of modern American society, I rarely have time to read it.Read More
NAACP's Evolution on Marriage Equality Began Decades Ago
Filed by Nadine Smith | May 21, 2012 1:30 PM |This isn't the first time the NAACP has stepped out on principle for an issue that affects the lives of LGBT people. Nor is it the first time they will experience a predictable, orchestrated backlash. Read More
John Aravosis on Boycotts [Comment of the Week]
Filed by Bil Browning | May 20, 2012 6:00 PM |In yesterday's open thread I asked the question, "Do boycotts work?" I posited that the time for using a boycott as a serious tool of grassroots organizing has come and gone. John Aravosis weighed in on the thread and makes some good points.Read More
How Should We Respond When Our Enemies Come Around?
Filed by E. Winter Tashlin | May 20, 2012 3:00 PM |Whether Beenie Man's evolution, to use a term that's come into vogue, is the product of honest soul searching or results from colder, financially driven calculous, he isn't the first and won't be the last of our enemies to make a public about-face. When these about-faces happen, how are we as a community to respond? Read More
The NAACP Endorses Marriage Equality
Filed by Viktor Kerney | May 20, 2012 12:30 PM |Yesterday, the NAACP made history. During a meeting in Miami, the board of directors passed a resolution that will wholeheartedly endorse marriage equality.Read More
Freedom to Marry Founder Evan Wolfson Honored
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 16, 2012 3:30 PM |Yesterday, Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson was honored with the Medal of Distinction by Barnard College, along with President Barack Obama.Read More
America Is 'Evolving' Towards Justice
Filed by Terrance Heath | May 16, 2012 2:00 PM |President Obama nearly cost me five bucks. In the build-up to his historic interview, a co-worker announced that he would bet $5 that Obama would end of his evolution on same-sex marriage and announce his support of marriage equality.Read More
DC LGBT Orgs Evacuated After Bomb Threat
Filed by Bil Browning | May 15, 2012 2:30 PM |The offices of several LGBT organizations were evacuated today after Los Angeles police recieved a bomb threat targeting a "national gay rights organization."Read More
Indiana Equality Declares Bankruptcy
Filed by Bil Browning | May 14, 2012 1:30 PM |Indiana's only statewide LGBT advocacy organization, Indiana Equality, has filed for bankruptcy. The organization has been plagued for years with a poor reputation for financial mismanagement and inefficiency.Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates Released 'It Gets Better' Video: Now What?
Filed by Sue Kerr | May 14, 2012 12:30 PM |I must admit I was disappointed that the local media ignored the Pittsburgh Pirates "It Gets Better" video. It would appear that no one really cares. Read More
Are Porn Stars Gay Men's Idolized Rock Stars?
Filed by Jesse Monteagudo | May 14, 2012 10:00 AM |We may agree that, to some extent, gay adult film stars serve our community as role models as well as objects of desire. But are they good role models? Read More
Are Log Cabin Republicans Influencing the GOP?
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 13, 2012 4:00 PM |A memo to GOP insiders and operatives warns that if Republicans continue their rhetoric and attacks on gay people after President Obama announced his support for marriage equality - they could well render the party irrelevant.Read More
Marriage, Indiana, & High School Prom [Weekly Reader]
Filed by Bil Browning | May 12, 2012 11:30 AM |You weren't able to read every post on Bilerico Project last week? Don't worry! Every weekend I round up the best Bilerico posts from the past seven days to help you stay up to date on the latest queer news and analysis.Read More
Thoughts on the Anniversary of the Murder of Sakia Gunn
Filed by Jessica Max Stein | May 11, 2012 6:00 PM |Nearly a decade has passed since Sakia Gunn was killed in an anti-gay attack in Newark. But has anything really changed for the LGBT movement? Read More
Bad Blood in the South
Filed by Leslie Robinson | May 11, 2012 5:00 PM |Mississippi is ready to fight over North Carolina governor Beverly Perdue's recent statement on the passage of a marriage amendment.Read More
Marriage Activists Launch 'We Do' Campaign After Amendment One Passes
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 09, 2012 6:00 PM |Sometimes it is hard to remember that history is on the side of LGBT equality. Despite a recent Gallop poll indicating that 50% of Americans support marriage equality, individual states controlled by Christian conservative Republicans continue to vehemently buck the trend.Read More
Colorado Civil Unions Bill Runs Out of Time
Filed by James Holmes | May 09, 2012 4:00 PM |On the heels of NC's Amendment One, a Colorado bill granting same-sex couples the right to form Civil Unions died along with the legislative session. With the President evolving a day late, one has to wonder if it would have made a difference.Read More
A Taiwanese Take on America's Gay Rights Struggles
Filed by James Holmes | May 09, 2012 12:00 PM |It is always interesting to see how the world views the internal politics of the United States. In this new animation video from the Taiwanese news station NMA, we see their take on America's fights on gay rights in California and North Carolina. Read More
Freedom To Marry's Chutzpah on North Carolina Loss
Filed by Bil Browning | May 09, 2012 11:00 AM |Freedom To Marry's press release about the passage of an anti-gay marriage amendment in North Carolina is amazingly tone deaf. In one of the paragraphs the org has the chutzpah to even claim credit for Vice President Biden's mealy-mouthed support of marriage equality.Read More
5 Reasons the Black Church Shouldn't Support Amendment One
Filed by Viktor Kerney | May 08, 2012 10:00 AM |The Amendment One battle is hitting inferno status. From folks shooting and pissing on signs to a slew of marriage commercials, the fight to define marriage has everyone talking. It's not a secret that the Black church is split on the matter.Read More
Self Care for Activists: Robyn Ochs Shows Us How
Filed by Amy Andre | May 07, 2012 5:00 PM |"It's not enough just to change our personal relationship to our activism... It's important that we also develop a culture around us into one in which we support and appreciate each another as activists both within and across issues." Read More
Why I Joined The Board of Lambda Legal
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | May 07, 2012 11:00 AM |This past weekend, I was elected to the Board of Directors of Lambda Legal, a national legal organization dedicated to achieving full equality for LGBT people. Trans people have had difficult experiences with some national organizations over the years, so I thought it apropos to explain my decision.Read More
Bullied Gay Teen Faces Expulsion for Firing Stun Gun at School
Filed by Viktor Kerney | May 06, 2012 2:00 PM |Darnell Young is a gay teen who has been teased and bullied at school in Indianapolis for months. With no support from the school, Darnell's mother took matters in her own hands - she gave her son a stun gun to protect himself.Read More
How'd You Get Your Start? [Open Thread]
Filed by Bil Browning | May 05, 2012 12:45 PM |Today's Saturday open thread should provide some interesting responses... What was your first action you took on our community's behalf and what sparked your deed?Read More
FCKH8 With Mr. T - Sort Of
Filed by James Holmes | May 04, 2012 4:00 PM |In this new video from FCKH8 titled, "Gay Marriage: What's the Big FCKIN' Deal?," an actor portraying a condensed size Mr. T says fuck a lot. Oddly for me, I feel like I should be offended. What are your thoughts? Read More
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Celebrates 25 Years [Photo Essay]
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 03, 2012 3:00 PM |At the core of AHF's astounding success is a laser-like focus on the simple fact that healthcare is a right and access to treatment should not be denied anyone based on income, national origin, or any other means used to disqualify people.Read More
Transgender Legal Defense And Education Fund Marks Seven Years
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | May 03, 2012 1:00 PM |TLDEF, the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, is celebrating its seventh year. The hundreds of trans people being served by TLDEF deserve our support. Read More
Gay Marriage Hurts My Breasts
Filed by Yasmin Nair | May 02, 2012 6:00 PM |Gay marriage is supposed to help my breasts. The gay marriage movement has created a climate where the most progressive people fail to see that healthcare is an economic matter and something that should go to everyone, regardless of their marital status.Read More
Iowa: Remaining Vigilant
Filed by Guest Blogger | May 02, 2012 4:00 PM |Guest blogger Calla Rongerude points out that One Iowa was founded seven years ago and in those seven years, we have seen Iowa transform from a state with no LGBT protections to one of only six states that recognizes the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.Read More
Behind the Wheel of the Soulforce Equality Ride
Filed by Davina Kotulski | May 02, 2012 10:00 AM |I love it when the Universe brings opportunities to my front door. Today, it was the Soulforce Equality Riders. Read More
LGBT Baby Boomers Need Support for Social Security Equality Bill
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 01, 2012 4:00 PM |Let's face it: much of the LGBT movement has one massive Peter Pan complex. We won't grow up. Nope, not us. We're here, we're queer and everyone just has to get used to it!Read More
GetEqual Gets New Board Chair
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | May 01, 2012 2:00 PM |The GetEqual Board of Directors has elected a new Chair, and I am stepping down as Board Chair, though I will continue on the Board. Our new chair is Tanya Domi, a seasoned activist with excellent qualifications.Read More
Queer Contingent to Join LA May Day Parade
Filed by Karen Ocamb | May 01, 2012 10:00 AM |A contingent from several LGBT organizations and activists will march in LA's May Day parade today.Read More
