This is What Queer Activism Looks Like!

Students at John Carroll University occupied center court during a basketball game to protest the schools decisions to exclude LGBT students from its non-discrimination policy.



H/T to Joe My God.

Rockstar Energy Makes Nice With The Gays

Rockstar Energy Drinks was coming under increasing pressure by LGBT activists and others who were concerned about the alleged connection between the company and racist, homophobic, right-wing radio personality Michael Savage.

The company has reached out to the LGBT community to improve it's image and prove that they are not connected with nor subscribe to his anti-gay views.

In a press release it was announced that:

"It has recently come to ROCKSTAR’s attention that there might be a misconception about our company’s policy and my personal support for LGBT rights,” said Weiner. “We apologize for that misunderstanding, and want to make clear today that our company fully supports our LGBT employees and our LGBT customers.”

"Some have erroneously associated our company with offensive language directed at LGBT people, specifically statements coming from Michael Savage, who is not and has never been a shareholder or officer of ROCKSTAR Energy Drink. On behalf of our company and directors, including myself and CFO Janet Weiner, I would like to take this opportunity to disavow any offensive statements directed toward LGBT people, including statements from Michael Savage. ROCKSTAR assures our customers and the general public that our brand will never be associated with any language that does not affirm the essential dignity of every person in our diverse national community"(Change).

The company will contribute $100,000 to several prominent queer organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and The Trevor Project, and ROCKSTAR Energy Drink will also financially sponsor the National LGBT Bloggers Initiative.

Rockstar will institute protections for employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. They also are including these issues in their diversity training, and will offer support and resources to those interested in starting an LGBT group for employees.

We applaud this move by Rockstar to support their LGBT employees and customers and encourage people to contact them to show support for this decision.

Tony Guilfoyle
Director of Corporate Relations, ROCKSTAR Energy Drink
tony.g@rockstar69.com
415-269-2064

Desktop Activism

It takes little effort every day to send an email, call a number, or write a letter, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home! So get started on your desktop activism and join the fight for queer equality!

Action #1
Needed: Telephone

Call the White House Comments Line at 202-456-1111 between 9AM and 5PM EST Monday-Friday. (I’ve programmed it into my cell phone). Tell President Obama that you want him to:

a) Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
b) Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act
c) Help pass the Uniting American Families Act
d) Help pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act
e) Pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Bill
f) Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Action #2
Needed: Paper, Pen, and Stamp.

Send a letter every week to President Obama and ask five people to do the same. With your letter you can send him a picture of you, your family, your wedding photo, your wedding announcement, your marriage license, etc.

Barack Obama, President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Crossposted via United We Stand.

Equality on Campus Day - T-Shirts Available!

Equality on Campus Day shirts are now available on the Students for Equality website.

The t-shirt will be worn by high school and college students across the country on January 27th, and the proceeds will go to Lambda Legal to help revoke Prop 8.

Also, be sure to RSVP via facebook and invite your friends!