Pittsburgh Rally Tonight Over Gender Expression Hate Crime

There will be a rally tonight in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where a well-known drag performer was beaten by 3 drunk men outside of the Pleasure Bar on Liberty Ave. The performer, Veruca has two black eyes, but is otherwise now said to be fine. Participants in the "Stop the Hate Rally" are being asked to come with at least one black eye (make up, face paint, duct tape) to show support.

Stop the Hate Rally!
729 LIBERTY AVE
PLEASURE BAR, 9PM
Friday, April 30, 2010

*Image courtesy of Prashanthns of Wikimedia.

Vigil and 'Kiss-Out' Tonight Protesting Anti-Gay Assault in Brooklyn

Activists have organized vigil for tonight at 8:30 pm at the corner of Luquer Street and Hamilton Avenue in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, New York to rally against an anti-gay hate crime in which a man was attacked and severely beaten by a gang of five men last week.

The vigil will be preceded by a KISS-OUT at South Brooklyn Pizza at 5:30 pm. The organizers write: "This Monday, March 15th at 5:30 pm, we’ll assemble at the pizza place (451 Court Street) and then, starting at 6pm, groups of two or more will be given a place to go and kiss. You will be directed to stand at an intersection and kiss for 20 minutes. Ideally, we'll have 4 groups at a given intersection, one at each corner. By stationing ourselves on each corner in the neighborhood, we're aligning ourselves with the street-- a fixture that isn’t going away. At 6:30, everyone is invited to return to the pizza place and enjoy the night together."

Crossposted via Towleroad.

Austin March Against Hate 2/27

Citizens of Austin Texas will be holding a rally this Saturday in response to the attack on Matt Morgan and Emmanuel Winston. The two men are part of a gay softball team and were attacked by four men shouting anti-gay slurs after leaving a bar dressed in their jerseys.

'Austin March Against Hate’
Saturday February 27th at 2pm.
March from Oilcan Harry’s at 211 West 4th St. to City Hall.

*Participants encouraged to wear their jerseys if they belong a local gay team, and the softball teams 'Shady Ladies' jerseys will also be sold to show support.

Word of the Gay: "Bias Crime"

A "bias crime" is a crime perpetrated on the account of a persons sexual, gender, religious, ethnic or racial identity.

Nationwide Vigils Planned for Slain Gay Puerto Rican Teen

Vigils are being planned across the nation for this Sunday, November 22 to honor slain teen Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado who was brutally murdered for being gay. Activists are demanding that the alleged perpetrator be charged under the new U.S. federal hate crimes law which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Vigils scheduled:

In New York City a vigil will be held at Pier 45 followed by optional mass at 5:00 pm.

In Boston - 6PM, Trinity Church, Copley Plaza [Facebook link]

In Chicago - 4PM, Division and California, procession to Humboldt Park Boat House.]

In Dallas at 6:15 pm on Sunday.

In L.A. - 8PM, Santa Monica and San Vicente [Facebook link]

In Oakland - 3:30PM, MacArthur and Lakeshore/Grand Ave [Facebook link]

In San Francisco - 7PM, Castro and Market [Facebook link]

Vigils are also planned for Atlanta, Durham, New Orleans, and Philadelphia but information on location and times is not yet available.

H/T to Towleroad.

"No to Hate Crimes" Day of Action

Tonight starting at 9pm through to 9pm on Saturday, an internet campaign created by Act on Principles is happening to demonstrate worldwide support for ending hate crimes.

For just two minutes of your time this October 30th, take a moment to light a candle and stand in silence. You can be together with big or small groups in your public square, in your neighborhood, in front or your city hall or you can be in your room in front of your altar.

Then, take a of photo of the candle you light and post it as your Facebook or other social networking profile pic for the next 24 hours. This is to make a further visual statement saying NO TO HATE CRIMES.

Light a candle. Be silent for 2 minutes. Remember those hurt and lost to us by hate crimes. Stand and say NO TO HATE CRIMES.

DC vigil for Durval Martins Tomorrow

For those in the DC area, DC’s GLBT Anti-Violence Task Force GLOV will hold a candlelight vigil and march through Logan Circle on the evening of May 19, 2009 to honor the life of Durval Martins and raise awareness of biased crimes against members of our GLBT community.

On Tuesday, December 16, 2008, Durval Martins was shot and killed while walking home at the intersection of 11th and Q streets, NW in D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood. Local community leaders will be in attendance to raise awareness, enlist community support in finding those responsible and condemn hate-biased violence. Please join us.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (estimated)

WHERE: Introductory remarks at Reeve Center Courtyard (Corner of 14th and U streets, NW). Procession will head South on 14th street, East on Q street, end at 11th and Q streets, NW and end with a moment of silence at corner of 11th and Q streets, NW (the site of Durval Martins’ murder).

WHAT TO WEAR: Attendees are encouraged to show solidarity by wearing white.

Crossposted via HRCbackstory

Word of the Gay: "Sexual Bullying"

"Sexual bullying" is any bullying behavior, whether physical or non-physical, that is based on a person's perceived or actual sexuality or gender.

Love Conquers Hate - Pass Federal Hate Crimes Legislation

The Human Rights Campaign launched a new website today to kick off the campaign to pass federal hate crimes legislation in the 110th Congress. The site, found at www.hrc.org/FightHate, will:

• Provide background information on the legislation, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA).
  

• Feature photos and videos illustrating the devastating impact hate crimes have on individuals and communities.
  

• Answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the bill.
  

• Provide the latest updates on the bill’s progress.
  

• Provide users with the tools to directly contact their members of Congress to urge them to support the legislation.

Goto Fight Hate to send a message to congress and to find more resources.

Demand National Hate Crimes Legislation!

We've just gotten word from our legislative action team that a comprehensive hate crimes bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. This very same bill has been before Congress many times before, but here's what's different: this time, we have a chance of seeing it become law. Your representatives need to hear from you right now.

Click here to send them a short message urging them to pass comprehensive hate crimes legislation. This is our chance to secure federal protections for the LGBT community from vicious attacks and hate. But there's no guarantee we'll win without your action today. Our opponents also know that we have the votes to get this bill passed and with the Obama administration poised to see it through, they'll be fighting with everything they've got to make sure we lose.

We cannot let that happen. By taking action today, you can help make sure the LGBT community is protected and has the resources to seek justice when victimized by hate crimes. Please, take action now, then urge everyone you know to get in touch with their representatives. Now is our moment and we need your voice.

Crossposted via Planet Transgender.

End "Corrective" Rape of Lesbians in South Africa

There is a high and horrific rate of lesbians being raped as part of a "corrective" measure to alter their sexual orientation in South Africa, with little penalty or action on the part of authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable. Reports suggest that there may be as many as 10 "corrective" rapes per week!

Lesbians and gays are recognized under the South African constitution, but crimes against them are not considered hate crimes. 31 lesbian women have been murdered in homophobic attacks since 1998 and in all that time there has only been 1 conviction.

Please sign the petition telling South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to consider "corrective" rape against lesbians a hate crime.

Stop Early Parole for Sean Kennedy's Killer

In May of 2007, in Greenville, South Carolina, Sean Kennedy, a 20-year-old gay man was leaving a bar when Stephen Andrew Moller called him a homophobic slur and hit him in the face so hard that Kennedy's brain separated from its stem. Moller left him on the sidewalk, unconscious, and Sean died later than night from his injuries.

Sean Kennedy’s family will never see justice done for Sean. Because of the inadequacy of South Carolina murder laws and the lack of hate crime statutes, his killer, Stephen Andrew Moller, could be out of prison as early as February. We must protest this injustice and ask the parole board to make Moller serve the remainder of his sentence.

Moller was plea bargained down to involuntary manslaughter and received a suspended 5 year sentence for his crime. Because of the credit he received for time he served before his sentencing, the longest possible time he will have to serve in prison is until September 2009. Despite the violence of his crime, he could be eligible for parole by this coming February, meaning that he will have served only 8 months since his sentencing in prison.

The parole board is currently conducting an investigation to decide whether to allow him to have a parole hearing, so it is critical that they hear from you that Stephen Andrew Moller violently murdered Sean Kennedy and should serve the remainder of his sentence!

Please consider writing a letter to the parole board and ask them to deny Stephen Moller parole and serve out his sentence. In your letter, please remind the board of the violent and unprovoked nature of Moller’s offense and the pain and suffering it has caused in the lives of Sean Kennedy’s family and friends. If you have the time, please write a personal letter by hand or by computer, as those will be the most effective, and if you knew Sean or his family personally, please include that information.

Also, please let Elke know if you send a letter and if possible, send her a copy of the letter, so she can have copies to take with her to the parole hearing.

Be sure to include Moller’s full name and ID number:
Stephen Andrew Moller - SCDC ID # 00328891.

Send your letters to:
Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services
2221 Devine Street, Suite 600, PO Box 50666
Columbia SC 29250

For more information on Sean's murder and Sean's Last Wish, please visit www.seanslastwish.org

Vigil for Lesbian Rape Survivor in Richmond, California

There is a vigil tomorrow for the tragic case of the lesbian who was brutally gang-raped by four men because of her sexual orientation.

Community Vigil for Peace and Healing

Peaceful vigil in response to hate-motivated gang-rape

Where: 1500 Visalia Avenue, Richmond, CA
(near Richmond BART Station)
When: Saturday, December 27, 2008
Time: 9:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Activist Tip: Love The Sinner, Hate The Sin!

We are taught to love the sinner and to hate the sin. We must exercise compassion and provide outreach to the heterosexual community some of whom engage in the sin known as homophobia: a fear and/or hatred of homosexuals or transphobia: a fear and/or hatred of transgender people.

Find out how you rank on the homophobia scale.

Want to get more involved to fight queerphobia?

Find out what programs your local LGBT community center offers.

Find a local Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapter.

See if there is a safe-space training program, get certified, or start your own!

Learn more about and host a Stop the Hate workshop.

Check out the 52 things you can do to help stop transphobia!

Speak up when someone uses anti-queer terms or misrepresents the truth.

National No Name Calling Week is Jan 26-30, 2009.

Check out the Think B4 You Speak campaign.

Catholic Church Against Making Gay Death Penalty Illegal

The Catholic Church a body that has been staunchly opposed to the death penalty does not want to include international protections by the United Nations for gay people who face death penalty charges in countries where homosexuality is illegal. The Vatican is voicing opposition and plan to go against the French proposal that is introducing this piece of human rights resolution.

"This week the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations, said the Holy See would oppose a resolution that would protect gays from being killed, just because they are gay because it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination" and could lead to reverse discrimination against traditional heterosexual marriage.

The French resolution, scheduled to be proposed this week, recommends protecting Gays and Lesbians from being jailed or killed because of their sexual orientation and is being introduced to the UN on behalf of the European Union.

But Archbishop Celestino Migliore said, if adopted, the resolution would create “new and implacable discriminations," and also said that states which do not recognize same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an objects of pressure.

However, the French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, says absolutely nothing about gay marriage; it is about ending jail and death penalty sentences gays yet face in more than 85 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen where you can still be killed for being gay."(LGR)

This is so disgusting and hypocritical of the Church. They are against the death penalty but don't want to be on the record opposing it for gays and lesbians?

Permanent Observer Mission of the
Holy See to the United Nations

25 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016-0903

Tel: (212) 370-7885
Fax: (212) 370-9622

Violence Inciter "Bounty Killer" Granted Visa by U.K.

Anti-gay reggae artist Bounty Killer is seen below saying violence inciting homophobic commentary. He says such things as "faggot, I kill every one of them", and "queers must die."

The U.K. has granted him a temporary visa and he is set to perform a show this Sunday at The Stratford. The police say the show will go on unless there is a riot which puts the public in danger, gay activists are afraid to protest the show due to unforeseen violence.

Human rights activist Peter Thatchell has been arguing against hate inciting violence for years now saying that: "There is a clear correlation between murder music and homophobic violence, especially in Jamaica, where the release of anti-gay tracks often coincides with a rise in queer-bashing violence." (Pink News)



Mr. Thatchell is urging us to contact the Jamaican High Commission in the United Kingdom.

Address:
1-2 Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BZ
Tel: 44-(0)-207-823-9911

Demand Comprehensive Hate Crime Legislation

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays has a petition targeting the U.S. senate urging them to pass comprehensive hate crimes legislation. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are on the rise! Only 27 states and the District of Columbia have hate crimes laws inclusive of sexual orientation, and only five of those and the District of Columbia are expressly transgender inclusive.

Sign PFLAG's Petition Over at Care2

Word of the Gay: "Sexual Cleansing"

Sexual Cleansing is the use of extreme measures to suppress gays and lesbians. It is found in attempts by governments to crack down on homosexual behavior and punish or execute LGBT people for their identities.

H/T to The Lesbian Said What for the word idea.

Word of the Gay: "Gay Bashing"

"Gay bashing" is when physical, emotional, and/or verbal violence is inflicted on someone of the LGBT community because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Boycott and Contact Anti-Gay Bahrain!

Bahrain has begun a new campaign targeting gay/lesbian citizens in a bid to cleanse them from the country. The government is working to ban all foreign homosexuals from being able to obtain residence. The government is also conducting a study to see how widespread homosexuality is in the country and what can be done to counter it. The government also advises teachers to look out for signs of homosexuality amongst students and to take appropriate disciplinary action.

This is outrageous and our voices must be heard!

Click here to email the Economic Development Board


(The EDB is responsible for business and tourism within the country)