ABC's Good Morning America Boots Adam Lambert

The ABC networks Good Morning America has canceled a scheduled concert by performer Adam Lambert citing his "controversial" behavior at the American Music Awards this past weekend where he engaged in homoerotic behavior as part of his show.

A spokesperson for ABC said:

"Given his controversial American Music Awards performance, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning."

Twitter is up in a storm with hashtags #GMAfail and #ShameOnYouAbc trending.

Contact Good Morning America via their e-contact form and twitter to express outrage.

Utah Paper Rejects Gay Couples Wedding Announcement

Spencer Jones and Tyler Barrick were married at San Francisco City Hall on June 17, 2008 and will be living in California which recognizes their marriage which was performed before the passage of proposition 8 which eliminated gay marriage. They are holding a ceremony in their hometown of St. George, Utah for their friends and family and wanted to make that announcement as many couples do in their local newspaper, The Spectrum.

The newspaper first agreed to post their ad under celebrations if it did not show the couples picture. The couple refused and were then told by publisher Donnie Welch that they would run no ad at all because Utah law does not permit same-sex marriage.

GLAAD encourages you – particularly those who live in Utah – to reach out to The Spectrum’s Donnie Welch, and urge him to publish Spencer and Tyler’s announcement and all future gay and lesbian couples.

Donnie Welch
President/Publisher, The Spectrum
435-674-6222
dwelch@thespectrum.com

Gay Couple Forced to Remove Rainbow Flag by Homeowners Association

A gay couple has been forced to remove their rainbow pride flag, even though it was approved by a previous management company. The new company doesn't want to "clutter" the neighborhood and only allows national holiday flags to be recognized, even though Easter decor which is not part of a national holiday is permitted.

"Steven and Zeniff Vanderran of Mesa, Arizona say homophobia and ongoing disputes with their homeowners association are behind an order to remove a gay pride flag from their Queen Creek home.

Cambria Ocotillo’s design guidelines only allow certain flags, including decorations for certain holidays, according to Jonathan Olcott, the association’s attorney. The association also allows military and U.S. flags.

The couple says it has been the subject of slurs and mockery since the dispute began. In a May 11 posting on a local blog, a writer said the decorations were offensive and “If they want to flaunt their preferences in sex partners like that, they need to move into a gay community” (Naz Today).

The gay couple is being unfairly mocked, and singled out while other non-nationally recognized celebrations are permitted.

To contact the Cambria Ocotillo Homeowners Association:

Important numbers and community contacts

Tell Amazon to Stop Discriminating Against LGBT Books

It was recently revealed that Amazon has been stripping the sales rank of gay and lesbian books, labeling them as "adult" content and removing them from search rankings.

At the same time, books about heterosexual porn stars, Playboy centerfolds, and techniques on how to "cure" homosexuality remain ranked.

Please tell Amazon this discrimination is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately, and that as a public company they should release a transparent set of guidelines on how books are classified on the site.

Your change.org email will be targeted to Amazon customer service as well as Jeff Bezos the CEO of the company.

Is Amazon Censoring LGBT Books?

It has been brought to our attention that hundreds of gay,lesbian, and trans books simultaneously lost their sales rankings yesterday. Bringing into question whether there is a campaign to suppress LGBT themed books?

This prompted many Amazon users, authors, and purchasers of LGBT literature to contact the company. It seems many books simply about being transgender, or a college guide for LGBT students is being deemed "erotic"?

Amazon has taken the rankings off of many books in "erotica" categories. The question is why are they deeming so many non-erotica LGBT based books as offensive? While they still have ratings available on such books as Playboy centerfolds which clearly is in a different category than many of the books that are being targeted.

Use their express customer service form to voice your complaint or call 1-800-201-7575.

KNBC Refuses to Air 'Get To Know Us' Ads During Superbowl

Recently we reported about the Get To Know Us Ads and how they were rejected by KABC-TV.

Now Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV refused to air the same ads during the Superbowl citing that the NFL doesn't allow for "advocacy ads".

"Despite this policy, other advocacy ads aired multiple times throughout the day’s NFL-controlled programming. Among the advocacy ads which did air were PSAs for TobaccoFreeCA.org and DontBeAnAsterisk.org, an anti-steroids advocacy campaign" (GLAAD).

Click here for the contact form for KNBC-TV (scroll down on the page).

Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV Refuses to Air Get To Know Us Ads

1/24 UPDATE: KABC TV in Los Angeles says it will air a public service announcement that it initially deemed too controversial to air during President Barack Obama's inauguration.

The PSA will run this Sunday during Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at about 9:15 p.m. Five ads were produced to counter discrimination in the aftermath of the passage of California's Proposition 8, which rescinded marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in the state. (Advocate)

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1/22 - Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV refused to air the Get To Know Us First Ads featuring gay and lesbian families during the inauguration, citing that it was too controversial.

KABC told Chris Yokogawa, the media buyer at New and Improved Media trying to place GetToKnowUsFirst.org's ads, that "many families will be watching," and that it was "controversial". "They were firm in their rejection,” Yokogawa says in a release. (PR Newswire)

KABC's president and general manager is Arnold J. Kleiner. The station lists their phone number as (818) 863-7777.

E-contact form for KABC TV

Main Line: (818) 863-7777

ABC7 Broadcast Center
500 Circle Seven Drive
Glendale, CA 91201

These ads are far from controversial, they are beautiful families who deserve recognition. Let the station know your thoughts.

Montana Library Chooses Not to Censor Gay Book

UPDATE:Thanks for your activism, the Montana library board voted 5-0 not to censor the gay book.

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After several residents complained about the book "The Joy of Gay Sex" by Dr. Charles Silverstein and Felice Picano's, the library was considering whether to toss the book out. The number one selling guide for gay men offers advice on everything from coming out, to self esteem, and safe-sex.

Citizens against the book in the Helena Montana town object to the book on the basis that it is "immoral", there are also many people defending the book as a "resource, and on the basis that censorship is wrong".

The library board of directors made a decision to keep the book at its Oct. 21 meeting.

LGBT Alaskans on Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Is All About Censorship

As Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin now Vice Presidential candidate running alongside John McCain inquired about the process of removing books from her local library. Rumor has it Sarah Palin inquired about the process of removing books she did not approve of. Including "Go Ask Alice" and "Pastor, I am Gay." Regardless of whether she did ask for specific books to be removed and/or fired the librarian in the story, this goes to show Sarah Palin is all about censorship. Below is a clip from Brian Ross of ABC who has covered the story.