Activist Tip: Sharing is Caring, Oh, and Visibility!

Next time you are done reading a gay/lesbian newspaper/magazine, or some sort of activist flier or publication instead of tossing it in the trash, leave it on a table at the doctors office waiting room, or at your local library. It is great to recycle and someone else gets use out of it, but more importantly someone else will be reached with queer issues and may be personally affected by it. We change hearts and minds through our stories and through visibility of our movement.

Happy Mother's Day!

A shout out to all the mothers out there! Happy Mother's Day from Queers United. Challenging heterosexism 24/7.

Links to check out:
Family Equality Council

Proud Parenting

Mombian

Word of the Gay: "Lesbos"

"Lesbos" is a Greek island, that was home to the famous lesbian poet Sappho. It is where the word lesbian originated from.

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.

XBOX Live Bans Words 'Gay' and 'Lesbian'

There have been a number of reports that Microsoft is banning people from using their XBOX Live video game console for simply having the word gay or lesbian in their username and/or profile. These players have been harassed and chased to different games by other users. One situation involved a guy last May whose tag theGAYERgamer was banned. Now, a lesbian user has been banned for identifying her sexuality.

These users have had their account suspended and xbox live did nothing to solve the issue, but instead said others found it offensive.

Please tell Microsoft that while it is getting 100% ratings on the corporate equality index by the Human Rights Campaign, in this scenario they are siding with the homophobes and penalizing the victim.

Email support for XBOX Live.

Assistance by phone seven days a week.
1-800-4MY-XBOX

Word of the Gay: "Futch"

"Futch" is neither feminine nor butch, but somewhere in between.

Word of the Gay: "Fairy Lady"

A "fairy lady" is a lesbian who takes a more passive role in the relationship.

National Lesbian Health Summit, March 6-9th 2009

The Summit is focused on addressing lesbians, bisexual women, queer women, and transgender people. We welcome all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities, and our important friends and allies, nationally and internationally.

We will come together to rebuild a multi-issue, multicultural women’s health movement focused on long-term strategic goals for lesbian/bi/queer women’s health and wellness that is reflective of the diversity of our community.

San Francisco, California March 6th-9th
For more information or to register check out National Lesbian Health Summit

Petition to Stop Deporting Gays & Lesbians

Recent cases highlight the extreme danger lesbians and gays face because of their sexuality if deported to a number of countries. Sending people back to their possible death is totally unacceptable.

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop deporting gays and lesbians to countries where they may be imprisoned, tortured or executed because of their sexuality."

U.K. Residents Click Here to Sign Petition!

"Help A Sister Out" Benefit for Lesbian Hate Rape Victim

On December 13th, a twenty-eight-year-old California woman was brutally raped by four men because she is a lesbian and had a rainbow sticker on her car. See the story at SFGate.

The woman will need months to recover physically and years and years to recover psychologically. She needs our emotional and financial support.

If you would like to send a card, please mail it to:

Richmond Police Department
Attn: Sgt. Brian Dickerson
1701 Regatta Blvd.
Richmond, CA 94804

If you can send a financial contribution (even a few dollars) to help her pay her medical bills and other costs associated with her recovery, please mail a check payable to Community Violence Solutions to:

Community Violence Solutions
2101 Van Ness Ave.,
San Pablo, CA 94806
Attn: Mrs. Joanne Douglas

In the memo section of the check please write: Richmond Jane Doe.
For details and to show support join the Facebook group.

Word of the Gay: "Sergeant"

A "sergeant" is an old mid 1900's term for a butch lesbian.

Word of the Gay: "Sapphistry"

"Sapphistry" is a term used to describe lesbian sexuality, and the art and history of lesbianism.

Word of the Gay: "Lesbian Potential"

"Lesbian Potential" is a term used when playing a game to decipher a strangers sexuality in public places. The term is indicative of someone who either is likely lesbian or as the term says has potential to be one.

Word of the Gay: "Tryke"

A "tryke" is a transsexual dyke, a male-to-female transsexual who identifies as a lesbian.

Word of the Gay: "Stone Butch"

A "stone butch" is a woman who is strongly masculine in her personality and style. A "stone butch" is generally the more aggressive partner in the relationship, and the one who wears the pants.

Word of the Gay: "Rug Muncher"

"Rug Muncher" is a term used to describe oral sex in which a female is stimulated, but the term has also become a derogatory word synonymous for lesbian.

Word of the Gay: "Crone"

A "Crone" is an elderly lesbian, and sometimes the term is also used for old men who are perceived to be effeminate.

Word of the Gay: "Non-Heterosexual"

"Non-heterosexual" is a term used to describe anything that doesn't fit the woman/man heteronormative mold. It can include everything from gay, bi, and queer, to gender non-conformity, gay for pay, or gay when drunk.

Web Spotlight: Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf

"The Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) is a nonprofit organization established in 1977. The purpose of this Alliance is to establish and maintain a society of Deaf Gays and Lesbians to encourage and promote the educational, economical, and social welfare; to foster fellowship; to defend our rights; and advance our interests as Deaf Gay and Lesbian citizens concerning social justice; to build up an organization in which all worthy members may participate in the discussion of practical problems and solutions related to their social welfare. RAD has over twenty chapters in the United States and Canada."

http://www.rad.org/

Stop Deportation of Iranian Lesbian Pegah Emambakhsh

Pegah Emambakhsh is an Iranian lesbian currently being threatened by the British government with deportation to her homeland. In Iran 4,000+ homosexuals have been murdered. Pegah is in danger of torture and possibly stoning due to her sexual orientation.

Pegah says:

"If the British government could prove to me that I would be safe in Iran and to be able to lead a normal life and to be myself I would be very happy to go back to Iran. I had to leave my old father, my ill mother and young sister. I have two lovely children which their father took away from me. I had to give this all up because my life was at risk. At the moment I am safe because I am in England but my life is very difficult. I miss my family and more than anything I am worried all the time that the police will suddenly arrest me and send me back."

Please demand the British government grant her and other LGBT people whose lives are in danger asylum within their borders.

(Please note Pegah's Home Office reference number: B1191057)
Click here to email government officials

Please also sign the petition below.
http://www.petitiononline.com/pegah/petition.html