CNN Polls Readers on Whether Gays Should Be Given Hospital Visitation Rights

The CNN homepage has a non-scientific poll up asking visitors 'What they think of President Obama's order to allow hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian partners?' Thankfully the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands who answered have sided with basic fairness and only a small minority believe hospital visitation rights shouldn't be extended to gay people.

CNN in putting this poll up fails to see how offensive the mere question is. Could you imagine the outrage if there was a poll allowing users to vote on another minorities basic civil rights?

Express your dissapointment with CNN over this poll by giving them feedback on their homepage.

Don't Let The Religious Right Drown Out The Voices For Equality!

HRC is urging us to write a letter to Newsweek thanking them for their extensive article by Lisa Miller on marriage equality and the "Religious Case for Gay Marriage." The article discusses why the Bible should not be used as a weapon against marriage equality and instead discusses points in favor of it.

Opponents of same-sex marriage have been flooding Newsweek with thousands of emails criticizing them for their article.

Send a thank you letter to Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and express your wish to see more LGBT positive articles.

Keith Olbermann a True Hero & Ally

Keith Olbermann of the MSNBC show Countdown has given six and a half minutes of air time to express his true remorse for proposition 8 passing. It is a beautiful video and straight from his heart to the American people. It is incredibly moving that Mr. Olbermann who has no personal stake in marriage rights would make this strong heartfelt plea urging Americans to think twice about their stance on marriage equality. Please watch the video below and join me in sending a very gracious thank you to Keith Olbermann for being such a strong ally and for speaking out against prop 8.


Send a thank you message to Keith Olbermann

Sherri Shepherd "Struggles" With Whether LGBT People Deserve Equal Rights

11/10 Update: Thanks to your activism and the activism of GLAAD and Ellen DeGeneres the show was held accountable for the outright lies spread by Sherri Shepherd on prop 8. Also, one thing that keeps irritating me is that this show is supposed to be informative. They talked about the gay adoption ban, in the last program they said they thought it was in Nebraska, well on today's program they said that as if it were factual. The adoption ban was in Arkansas, if you want people to take the show seriously, get the facts straight. I wish Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck would keep their religious viewpoint out of the political debate on civil rights.

H/T to Good As You for the video.

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11/8 Sherri Shepherd one of the co-hosts of "The View" of ABC spread a lot of misinformation about marriage equality and prop 8. She talks of her "pastor possibly being jailed" for speaking against homosexuality. She also said that gay issues are something she "struggles" with because she has gay friends. She "doesn't want rights being taken away" but she says she is a "christian and believes marriage is between a man and a woman."



Contact Sherri Sheperd over her anti-gay views.

WTF? Tyra Banks Show Seeking "Ex-Gays"

Maybe I spoke too quickly when I said that Tyra Banks is a true ally of the LGBT commmunity.

Now the Tyra Banks show is looking to host a program on "Ex-Gays"

"I WANT TO BE AN EX-GAY

Are you a gay man or lesbian who wants to be straight? Do your friends or family disagree with your gay lifestyle and wish you were straight? If you ever wish you could erase your same-sex attractions and not be gay?" (Tyra)

The Tyra Banks show has been inclusive in featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in her shows in a positive light. Unless Tyra Banks seeks to prove on her show how "conversion therapy" and "ex-gays" are nothing more than a myth and people who are in denial or outright lying, this show is a bad move.

Click here to send actual good show ideas to Tyra.

Click here to leave a comment telling Tyra Banks either not to make a show on "ex-gays" or to make one which exposes the myth that is the "ex-gay" movement. If the show just shows so called "ex-gays" and religious fanatics it will further confuse people in the closet and legitimize a movement that is based in fear and hate and not grounded in science, psychology or reality.

Oopsie - Gay Blooper!

A little gay blooper for some weekend laughs. The video is not that clear, but the words are fabulous and I do mean fabulous!

Too Butch for Primetime!

It appears the television network MSNBC is presenting the LGBT community a double edged sword this evening. Rachel Maddow openly lesbian political commentator is getting a prime time slot to air her progressive ideological viewpoint. This is great not only as a way for members of our community to be in the public spotlight but also to take on the neo-cons ie: Pat Buchanan and the like who are anti-gay.

Here is the problem...

"MSNBC loves the chatter of liberal pundit Rachel Maddow, but not her look. Maddow, who's getting her own show, is being subjected to a network makeover. A source says an entire "glam squad" has been hired for the openly gay Maddow, and she has been asked not to wear her Drew Carey-esque glasses again. There's even talk of "putting her in a skirt." We're sure that'll do the trick. A rep for the channel didn't return e-mails."

(NY Post)

There has been speculation all over the place. Some are suggesting this is an attempt by the NY Post (owned by Rupert Murdoch of Fox News) to damage MSNBC. Politely message MSNBC making sure Rachel Maddow can present as she likes and let them clarify what their position is.

viewerservices@msnbc.com

MSNBC TV
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, N.J. 07094

Intersex Movie: XXY

The soon to be released film of XXY is groundbreaking as it is one of the few movies dealing with intersex people. 15 year old Alex (Ines Efron) was born intersex and had both male and female genitalia. Alex falls in love with a 16 year old son of her mothers friend. The movie goes through the trials and tribulations faced by this young teen as they explore their sexuality, gender identity and living life outside of the box.

Below is a trailer of the upcoming movie...

Open Forum: Is Any Publicity Good Publicity?

Anytime someone who identifies or appears to be part of the Queer community is in the public spotlight it reflects on us all. It shouldn't be the case because we are such a diverse community, comprised of various political, religious, and personal preferences. The fact is though the majority will judge any minority they don't know much about by the little information they do receive.

The question and conversation I pose this week is whether any publicity is good publicity? There is a long time internal debate within the Queer community of those that feel we should strive to show the world our families, our professions, and our religions to show that we are self respecting hard working people just like everyone else.

Many LGBTQ people are embarrassed by such things as the pride parades where people dress up in Halloween like costumes, go naked, or act perverse. At the same token many of the people who are parading around in such attire or making sexual or fun and outrageous statements feel that some Queers are trying to sugarcoat the community and are an affront to the efforts to advance civil liberties and sexual liberation.

Do you think any publicity is good publicity, and will ultimately desensitize straight people to our varied ways? Is the media perhaps only focusing on the outrageous and does this hurt the image of the entire community? Share your thoughts.

South African Gays Protest Media 24's Sun Newspaper

"South African homos are preparing to protest outside the Sunday Sun’s offices after the paper published a “shocking homophobic article” penned by Jon Qwelane:

Qwelane wrote that: “There could be a few things [about which] I could take issue with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, but his unflinching and unapologetic stance over homosexuals is definitely not among those.”

He added that he could only pray that politicians would one day have “the balls” to scrap the sections in the Constitution that sanctioned gay and lesbian marriages."(Queerty)

Email top contacts at Sunday Sun's Newspaper

Street Address:

Head office:
MediaPark
69 Kings Way
Auckland Park

Open Forum: Does the Media Ignore Us?

Right wing thinktanks and commentators so often talk about the "homosexual agenda" and the liberal media's love of all things gay. You would think there was some queer conspiracy with regards to the media with the way they talk.

Upon closer examination it appears the media is anything but gay friendly. Where was the coverage of the marriages in California? Sure, there was some but the story in my opinion was barely covered. I often hear reporters reference homosexuality by talking about the "gay lifestyle" or seem very uncomfortable or almost mocking and joking about gay lives. Is this the media that supposedly loves and is infatuated with gay people?

Does the media have a bias when it comes to reporting on Queer issues? Are we loved or ignored or treated just like everyone else?

Thoughts?

GLAAD Urges Action to Condemn FX Networks Over Anti-Gay Activist

"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today urged community members to contact FX Networks to express their concerns about a defamatory claim by an anti-gay activist that will appear, unchallenged, in the June 24 episode of 30 Days.

During the June 24 episode, entitled "Same Sex Parenting," Kati, a woman who opposes gay and lesbian parents and their families, lives for 30 days with gay parents Dennis and Thomas and their four adopted sons. The episode includes the personal stories of kids raised by lesbian and gay parents.

Regrettably, the episode also features a defamatory statement by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, an anti-gay activist organization, who claims: "Homosexuality is associated with higher rates of sexual promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse, and those are all reasons for us to be concerned about placing children into that kind of setting." While there is no credible scientific research that backs Sprigg’s claim - and much that disputes it - the episode presents his assertion as if it were fact and offers no credible social science experts or child health authorities to challenge Sprigg’s assertion. Indeed, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the Child Welfare League of America, and many other child health and social services authorities who support parenting by qualified lesbian and gay parents dispute Sprigg’s claim."

TAKE ACTION:
FX Networks:
Nick Grad
Executive Vice President of Original Programming
(310) 369-0949
ngrad@fxnetworks.com

Chuck Saftler
Executive Vice President of Programming
(310) 369-0949
csaftler@fxnetworks.com

Scott Seomin
Vice President of Public Relations
(310) 369-0938
scott.seomin@fxnetwork.com

For more on the press release and action alert, head on over to GLAAD.

Put Away That Remote - TiVo Signs up For Bigotry!

UPDATE: The contest has been pulled from the TiVo website. TiVo has been feeling heat from activists, thanks guys! Focus on the Family still has the contest on their site. Stay tuned for updates and keep up the pressure on TiVo to make sure their partnership ends with FOTF for now and for good!

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We told you about TiVo's Super Dad Contest and how their partnership with right-wing group Focus on the Family which is notoriously anti-LGBT will not allow for submissions of gay/bi/queer/trans dad entries.

Contact TiVo and tell them to drop the right-wing hate group "Focus on the Family" and be inclusive of all families.
http://www3.tivo.com/abouttivo/pressroom/contactpr/contact_public_relations.html

*Photo courtesy of manu contreras off of Creative Commons.

Homophobe Greg Gutfeld of Fox News at it Again

It was not long ago that we reported and had a call to action based on Mr. Gutfeld's transphobic remarks on his show Red Eye over the Pregnant Trans-man story.

Well the jerk is at it again, this time making homophobic remarks over Ellen DeGeneres announcement of her plans to marry long time partner Portia de Rossi on her daytime talk show in light of California Supreme Court's pro same-sex marriage ruling.



Contact Fox News and Red Eye and tell them to stop their Homophobia!

Email: redeye@foxnews.com

Phone Fox News: 1-888-369-4762

LOGO's "New Now Next Awards" Honoring the Best of LGBT Pop Culture

I got an email from LOGO the LGBT cable TV channel asking me to put this up, I love LOGO so I am happy to give them a shout for their upcoming program...

"LOGO's proud to be hosting the first-ever NewNowNext Awards on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The event will be hosted by Candis Cayne (of ABC's Dirty Sexy Money) and will feature a number of special guests and performers including Janet Jackson, who will accept the Always Next, Forever Now award. Unlike other awards shows, LOGO will be highlighting the best of LGBT pop culture across all mediums, including the web, film, television and music. Don't get LOGO? Watch the show online right here, with commentary from our own John Polly, as well as other special guests and shenanigans."

Contact P&G and Vote in Support of Luke & Noah!

Procter & Gamble which is the sponsor of the CBS show "As the World Turns" which has a gay couple Luke and Noah AKA: "Nuke" who have been the subject of much controversy over their on tv gay romance. Anti-gay activists have been calling on their constituents to complain to CBS and P & G. They were succesful in limiting their presence on the show for months, recently the couple has again kissed on air. Now the American Family Association has created an action alert against P&G asking them to stop the gay programming.

P&G has created an automated toll-free hotline to contact them about whether you support the gay plotline on the show. Whether you watch the show or not, please contact them and vote so that we can win against anti-gay forces and increase gay exposure and visibility.

bordercolordark=lime>

Just call 1-800-331-3774 (Press 1 for English), (Press 2 to vote about ATWT) and finally press 1 (one) to keep the Gay Storyline.

Not So Fast - We Saw The Anti-Gay Bias WNEM!

WNEM, a CBS affiliated network has published fiercely biased anti-gay coverage of the Day of Silence. They quickly took down the article after Queer activists complained that this was a mouthpiece for the right-wing homophobic agenda.

Check out this cached page of the article

Contact them at:

WNEM TV

55409 Gateway CentreBuilding C, Suite D

Flint, MI 48507

Phone: 810-232-3900

Newsroom: 810-234-5607



EMail WNEM: wnem@wnem.com

Email Ian Rubin:
ian.rubin@wnem.com

The Gays are being Gay Again...

According to The Advocate:

It appears our activism in contacting CBS has been fruitful, the threats by the anti-gay American Family Association are no longer dissuading CBS.

"As the World Turns's ban on gay kissing was apparently lifted Wednesday as characters Luke and Noah shared their first on-screen kiss after seven months of chastity.

After two passionate on-screen kisses last fall, the couple lovingly referred to by fans as "Nuke" suddenly stopped displaying their affection toward one another. Jeannie Tharrington, the producer's spokeswoman, told The Advocate, "To be frank, a lot of people weren't expecting that first kiss. We got a lot of letters -- not from activists but from regular fans who said, 'We're not ready for this.'"

Shortly after the abrupt end to their sensuous kisses, however, fans and activists mailed in bags of Hershey's kisses to CBS's studio offices in Los Angeles in protest. After letters protesting both the kisses and their absence, April 23 marked the day the passion returned."

*Photo by Cstardust off of Creative Commons.

GLAAD Issues Call for Action on Associated Press

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has issued a call for action to email the Associated Press over their lack of coverage and mischarcterization of their anti-gay hate crimes media coverage.

"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is encouraging community members to call upon The Associated Press to provide greater depth and context when covering incidents of bullying and violence directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

The AP’s latest story on Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, Calif., who died after he was shot by a classmate in what prosecutors have identified as a premeditated hate crime based on King’s perceived sexual orientation, unfairly assigns blame to King. The story suggests that the openly gay student’s flirting may have provoked the shooting.

“If King had flirted with the other boy, ‘that can be very threatening to someone's ego and their sense of identity,’” said Jaana Juvonen, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles."

The Associated Press should be condemning these crimes and reporting them accurately and not finding jsutifications for the anti-gay killers or blaming the victim which in this case is Lawrence King.

Please voice your concern by emailing the AP

Greg Risling
News Reporter
grisling@ap.org
213-626-1200

Brian Melley
News Editor
bmelley@ap.org
213-626-1200