Web Spotlight: Autostraddle

Autostraddle is an intelligent, hilarious & provocative voice and a progressive online community for a new generation of kickass lesbian, bisexual & otherwise inclined ladies. They feature articles, videos, interviews, roundtables and photoblogs covering topics including music, literature, television, DIY culture, style, events, sex & relationships, travel, business, tech & gadgetry as well as LGBLTQ politics, feminism, social justice, queer theory and cyberculture.

Save Sexuality and Gender Studies Petition

Lawmakers in Georgia and Florida are using 'budget cuts' as an excuse for a witchhunt--targeting sexuality, queer and women's studies courses and cloaking a moral agenda as a fiscal decision.

We need to act now to protect the integrity of scientific research and the importance of sexuality and gender studies--including those who do sexuality work in complementary programs like anthropology, gerontology, sociology and ethnic studies.The work of these researchers and academics contributes greatly to a healthier sexuality for all of us, preventing disease, addressing stigma and promoting lifelong sexual literacy with accurate, science-based evidence.

For more information and to sign the petition please access the link below:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesexualitystudiesnow/

Georgia Rep. Charlice Byrd Wants To Fire "Disgusting" Queer Theory Profs

Georgia state Rep. Charlice Byrd wants to fire every university professor who teaches such "disgusting" classes as queer theory. (Or anything else to do with sex or gayness, apparently.) Sounds like somebody wants to be the next Sally Kern.



Since Byrd wants you to contact representatives and complain about perverted classes on dirty homo sex, you should start with her: 404.656.0126.

Crossposted via Joe My God.

Queering Up History: Sept 22nd

Queer Events On This Day In History...

1975 Doug Wilson, graduate student in education at University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon (Canada), is prevented from practice teaching because he was publicly active in the gay movement. The university president calls it a "managerial decision."

1975 Oliver "Billy" Sipple, a Vietnam veteran, saves the life of president Gerald Ford in San Francisco by lunging for a revolver held by Sara Jane Moore. Harvey Milk (who had not yet been elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors) outed him to the press, which destroyed Sipple's relationship with his family.

1984 For the first time on Polish television a discussion on homosexuality is broadcast.

1987 Sir Elton JohnElton John appears on the US television show, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." In response to the suggestion that he star in his own sitcom, he turned to fellow guest Tim Allen and said, "I could do Homo Improvement with you."

1990 The Black Lesbian and Gay Group of London, England, and other gay groups picket the Brixton Police Station protesting police discrimination.

1990 British gays in London deliver a protest letter to gay pub Brief Encounter over their ban on same sex kissing in the bar.

1991 Film director Derek Jarman is canonised by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as St. Derek of Dungeness of the Order of Celluloid Knights.

1992 The Advocate, a US magazine, runs a story about US Rep. Jim McCrery whose voting record on gay issues had taken a sharp downturn. The article included statements from several men who had sex with McCrery.

1993 British gays demonstrate against advertising by Benetton HQ, resulting in the arrest of 'The Benetton 9', who are all subsequently acquitted. But the court case implied that one gay group, OutRage, had been under surveillance by the British secret services.

1995 Eigel Axgil dies in Copenhagen at age 71. He and his partner, Axel Axgil, formed the National Homosexual Association in 1948, which was among Europe's earliest post-war gay rights groups. In 1989 the two were the first to register their relationship when a Danish law went into effect allowing same sex couples to do so.

1999 Richard Socarides, US President Bill Clinton's liaison to the gay and lesbian community, announces that he would leave his position for a media job.

2005 Amnesty International releases a damning report accusing American police nationwide of being "criminals" in their abusive treatment of LGBT Americans.

Courtesy of our friends at Wicked Gay Blog

Word of the Gay: "Bent"

"Bent" - A term used within the U.K. as a slang for homosexuals. It also means predisposition, abnormal or unorthodox behavior. Of late the term has been reclaimed and many groups and publications proudly use the term "Bent" as a source of gay pride.

Word of the Gay: "Queer Nationalism"

"Queer Nationalism" - The movement/dream for a homeland for LGBTQ people. Australian activists declared the Cato Islands the "Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea" in 2004. Organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Commonwealth Kingdom, Unified Gay Tribe, and Gay Homeland Foundation embrace the idea of a Queer nation state. The premise is that Queers have a right to a safe and national homeland to embrace their identities freely and grow their culture. They also want recognition by the United Nations and a country where LGBTQ people have all the rights that are not afforded to them in other countries around the world.

*Photo courtesy of proggie off of creative commons

Open Forum: "Straight Acting"

We have all done it, know someone who does it, or have varying understandings of what the term means. "Straight Acting" is when a Queer person is not exhibiting any mannerisms that appear to fit an LGBTQ stereotype. For example a gay man who tries to fit in by avoiding seeming effeminate, or a lesbian who tries to avoid seeming overtly masculine.

"Straight Acting" is a controversial and deeply divisive topic, especially among gay/bisexual men where femininity is seen as weakness. Society divides us into gender roles and any variation from it is seen as taboo. This goes back to our earlier discussion on Gay Assimilationists versus Queer Liberationists. Some may see trying to fit in as a good thing, while others may see this as a false attempt to deny ones true identity. Others may feel it is essential for safety and security purposes to cover up their identity.

In his newly released book "Straight Acting" by Angelo Pezzote he says:

"In the struggle to come out, we can experience two conflicting drives - the important need to belong, and the equally important need to be our true selves. We may get caught up in the catch-22 of conforming to belong, while being our authentic selves. We may be out, but we may also elect to conform, at times diminishing the signals that we're gay - to play it more mainstream".

People use the term "Straight Acting" in an effort to differentiate themselves from the broader gay community and culture, they identify themselves as same-sex attracted but otherwise just regular ordinary citizens.

Others are deeply offended by this terminology because it conveys that a so called gay stereotype exists and that perhaps flamboyancy, gender-variation, or gay culture are somehow inherently wrong.
Mr. Pezzote discusses how he believes that this term is representative of Gay Shame.

"In such an inhospitable climate, many gays themselves ingest that being gay is not a good thing. If I feed a plant poisoned water, it can't help but absorb some of the poison. We, too, take in toxic ideas about being gay from our polluted cultural environment. The way we see ourselves is part a reflection of how we think others see us".

Further, not all heterosexuals are the same which begs to question what "Straight Acting" really is.

What do you think about "Straight Acting" is this good or bad for the community, are you indifferent? Or, perhaps are you a "Straight" actor yourself?

Word of the Gay: "Lambda"

Originally a Greek letter chosen to represent a campaign for gay liberation that has gone onto become an international symbol of gay/lesbian rights. The lambda represents energy in physics and is also symbolic of the power and energy of the gay rights movement. Others suggest the symbol is reflectant of the fact that Queer people operate on a different "wavelength". It is now seen as a symbol of unity and pride, and frequently used in Queer Theory and academic circles.