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.

Activist Tip: Inquire About Candidates Positions

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever political affiliation your representative has in your local area, ie: liberal, conservative, moderate, etc you can ask their opinion on LGBT issues. Tell them you are a staunch supporter of LGBT rights including (marriage, adoption, hate crimes, employment non-discrimination, the right to serve and others).

Phone or email your candidates for senate, congress, city council, and the courts and let them know where you as a constitute stands on these crucial issues. The more we speak up, the more we will be heard, and we can demonstrate that we are a segment of the population that can and does get out the vote!

Feel free to re-post the comments you receive from candidates whether positive, neutral, or negative.

Did You 'Call In Gay'?

Share your thoughts and activism on this day of action. Did you call in to work or school as 'gay' or 'gay friendly'? Are you boycotting products, or doing something in the realm of queer activism in your own special way? Let us know!

Web Spotlight: Queer Today

Queer Today is the myspace for queer activists and allies. It offers an opportunity to communicate, organize, and empower one another in our efforts. The website offers groups, events, videos, and photos.

http://queertoday.ning.com/

Homophobia by Last Nights Makeup Video

One of our readers kindly emailed me a great video showing various footage of prop 8 protests. I think you will enjoy the video and feel inspired.

Historic Firsts for LGBT Community This Election

Amidst all the election madness, the first bi-racial president, and the marriage and adoption bans along with the wave of protests there is some refreshing news to report for the LGBT community. Silverton, a small town in Oregon with a population of 7,414 has elected Stu Rasmussen the first transgender mayor in the country. Colorado has elected Jared Polis for congress, the first openly gay person to get elected to the house. Kate Brown has become the first openly bisexual to become Oregon's Secretary of State. Barack Obama has opened up the road for blacks to gain positions of power, even as high as the commander in chief! Harvey Milk, Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank the hero's listed above, and other LGBT icons are paving our way to true equality and government representation.

Activism Is More Than A Word!

Inspiring video on queer activism and our fight for liberation.

A Beautiful Display of Non-Violent Queer Resistance!

"The Proposition 8 battle is being fought on the street in San Jose. After one family claims a 'Yes on 8' sign was stolen from their front yard, they replaced it with a huge banner on the front of their house.

Supporters of marriage equality then parked an SUV directly in front of the house with a sign and arrow on the windshield, indicating "Bigots Live Here."



I applaud the efforts of these anonymous activists. They are exercising their right to free speech and displaying a non-violent form of resistance against our oppressors.

H/T to Towleroad

Oct 25th HRC Gala Protest!

TBGL activists and allies will be protesting against the Human Rights Campaign's gala in Boston on October 25th. Many people in the community are angry over HRC's exclusionary policies towards transgender people and over their endorsement of war-mongering politicians.

The protest of the New England HRC Dinner will be held on October 25th at 5pm at the Sheraton Boston. All are invited to join a sign making party to be held at the conference room at 14 Beacon Street at 3pm.

An after party, the “Left Out Party,” will be held at Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain located at 45 Danforth St.Ethan St. Pierre

radicalguy@gmail.com
978.518.1835

More info over at our friends Transgender Planet

Activist Tip: Write an Editorial In Favor of LGBT Rights

Submit an editorial to your local newspaper or magazine, perhaps you go to a high school or college and can write a piece for the weekly paper? Stand up for LGBT issues and let others know why you support them. You can write about anything, a gay show, a transgender friend, your coming out story, LGBT political or social issues, it's your editorial and it is your call. Not every piece will get accepted and editors do get many requests but don't let that dissuade you, keep trying to get your opinion heard. Someone will read it, and it will make a difference!

Activist Tip: Update Your Picture With a No On Prop 8 Sign

Got a facebook?, myspace? or some other social networking site? Why not update your default picture with a picture of your beautiful face holding a "No on Prop 8" sign! Whether you are in the heat of the storm in California or somewhere else in the world, show support for preserving real family values, vote NO on proposition 8 and keep same-sex marriage legal in California!




http://www.stop8.org/

Soulforce's Equality Ride is Desperate for Donations!

Soulforce an organization dedicated to "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance" sends numbers of students yearly to conservative religious academies and seminaries that bar or are hostile towards queer people. The mission is to create dialogue and inform them of the misinterpretations of scripture. Some campuses allow these activists to come and communicate and others call the police on the riders, which in turn the activists are prepared to get arrested and physically removed from the property in a demonstration of nonviolent resistance. The Equality Ride as it has come to be called has been influential in changing the hearts and minds of students, faculty, and clergy on many of the respective campuses

"The Equality Ride is the signature program of the Soulforce young adults. It saves lives and opens minds. Of the 55 colleges and universities already visited, we've seen significant progress made in the official policies of several schools.

Nearly twenty schools have formed Gay-Straight Alliances and created "Safe Zones" for LGBT students. LGBT students have begun to come out of their closets to their friends, professors and families in order to live whole and complete lives."

Soulforce's Equality Ride is set to launch Oct 1st, 2008. The Equality Ride is in dire need of contributions in light of the fact that a large donation has fallen through. The organization must raise $70,000 to meet the costs of transportation, lodging, food, and expenses for training, as well as bale money.

Please help out the equality ride by donating to Soulforce or sponsoring an individual rider. Please click here to help support the Equality Ride!

Open Forum: Are You a Queer Superhero?

Queer activism can take on many forms. Whether it be marching in a PRIDE rally, to calling your legislators to take action on specific legislation. Making a difference for the community, can and does manifest itself in many different ways. For some it means protesting and being out loud and proud. For others it's more subtle in the form of coming out to someone with more conservative views on sexual/gender identity. While some people can be be allies and make a difference simply by speaking out against misinformation and hateful rhetoric. Every little bit of activism makes a difference, the bucket to equality can only be filled if we all work together, each drop we make no matter how insignificant we think it is, helps as far as the broader goal of reaching freedom and acceptance.

What are some of the things YOU do to help promote Queer equality? Nothing is insignificant so please share, even if its as simple as just coming to this site and shooting an email or signing a petition, or just being a friend to someone in need who is coming out.