ACTION ALERT: South Carolina School District Voting on GSA Issue Tonight!

"A request from a student at Irmo High to form a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) club at the school has presented a difficult and complicated decision for the School Board. While this club is student-initiated and not school or district sponsored, if the school has permitted the formation of other non-curricular clubs, federal law requires that the school provide equal access to a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) Club. The law is very clear that if non-curricular clubs are allowed at a school, which they currently are at Irmo High, it would be discriminatory not to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) club." More info on the story here.

Please contact the board and have your voice heard on the issue. Students should have the right to form a club and be free to have a safe space to discuss issues of concern to LGBT students and allies.

Contact Members of the Board!

Barack Obama's Declaration of PRIDE

“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core this issue is about who we are as Americans.

It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.

We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people who are working every day to achieve equal rights -- the gay couple who demands equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children, the lesbian soldier who wants nothing more than to serve her country openly and honestly, the transgendered workers who ask for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work. Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work we can fulfill the promise of equality for all.

The Obama for America campaign is proud to be actively participating in over 60 local and state wide Pride events over the summer. To find the events nearest you please visit Basic Rights Oregon; join us around the country as we show our Pride and support for Barack Obama!"

H/T to God is a Dyke for the story.

Oregon "Bites for Rights" on June 19

"Restaurants around the state will donate 15% of their day’s gross proceeds to Basic Rights Oregon in a fundraiser known as “Bites for Rights.” This 9th annual event encourages Oregonians to “put their money where their mouth is” and support fair-minded businesses by dining out at participating restaurants, coffee shops, delicatessens, bars, and night clubs on Thursday, June, 19th.We are encouraging folks to make a date out of supporting Basic Rights and dine out all day long! Check back soon for sample itineraries.Basic Rights Oregon’s “Bites for Rights” goal is to build partnerships with participating restaurants - located in Portland Metro, Bend, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland, and Astoria – and to garner support for fair minded businesses while raising critical funds to support a fair and equal Oregon."

Check out Basic Rights Oregon for participating restaurants.

Word of the Gay: "Lambda"

Originally a Greek letter chosen to represent a campaign for gay liberation that has gone onto become an international symbol of gay/lesbian rights. The lambda represents energy in physics and is also symbolic of the power and energy of the gay rights movement. Others suggest the symbol is reflectant of the fact that Queer people operate on a different "wavelength". It is now seen as a symbol of unity and pride, and frequently used in Queer Theory and academic circles.