Word of the Gay: "Poofter"

"Poofter" - A pejorative English term for a male homosexual, especially one who is unusually effeminate. Its synonym counterpart and more widely recognized term is faggot.

Volunteer to Defeat Florida's Amendment #2

"Fairness for All Families and the VoteNoOn2.com campaign need you to volunteer at the polls on Primary Day - August 26th - and help defeat Amendment #2, the so-called "marriage protection" amendment.

Primary Day offers one of the best opportunities we'll have to educate voters. With widespread participation by you, your friends and family, we will take full advantage of this chance to talk to voters face-to-face about the harmful consequences of Amendment #2, the deceptively named "marriage protection" amendment.

Of course this amendment doesn't protect anyone's marriage. However, it does take away protections and benefits like healthcare from all unmarried couples - gay and straight.

Register today for a morning (7:00-10:00 am), afternoon (11:00 am-2:00 pm), evening (4:00-7:00 pm) shift, or all three! We'll provide you with training and the materials to have a successful Primary Day experience."

Click Here for Events and Phonebanks Throughout the State

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday

Please feel free to share any links to Queer or Queer related topics of interest. You can post a blog entry you made, a website you found interesting. Anything goes as long as it is Queer in nature.

Fox News Does not Give Blessing to Lesbian Kiss

Never one to be shy about tackling the so called "homosexual agenda," conservative news channel Fox News discussed the controversial song "I kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry. They title the segment "Unholy Melody" and talk about how Katy Perry formerly a Christian singer, can no longer be considered a Christian. "It shows girls you got to do something really naughty to get noticed". I didn't know that a girl on girl kiss was considered "unholy" anti-christian, and "naughty". The anchor goes on to say "What kind of message of confusion does this send to kids?"

Fox News is right to address that its wrong that our culture has a double standard when it comes to two females kissing versus two males kissing. They are also correct in pointing out that it is blatantly misogynist for our culture to encourage female kissing simply for the pleasure of male viewers. That being said the song by Katy Perry is already filled with homophobia in my opinion and Fox News has just added their additional homophobic rant. Instead of taking Katy Perry to task on being anti-queer they decide that she is pro-queer and a bad influence.



Please click to contact "The Live Desk with Martha & Trace" and tell them to stop their blatant homophobic news coverage.

You can also contact Fox News via phone at: 1-888-369-4762.

Blog Spotlight: Atomic Gay Wonk

Today's shout and blogspotlight goes to Atomic Gay Wonk. "News for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Democratic community". Also included on the site is a comprehensive state by state listing of LGBT publications.

Bookmark them today :) http://atomicgaywonk.blogspot.com/

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.

Word of the Gay: "FtM"

"FtM" stands for female to male transsexual or transgender. The individual was born female but has taken steps to present as male in accordance with their gender identity.

Word of the Gay: "Byke"

A "Byke" is a bisexual dyke identified woman who is mostly emotionally/sexually attracted to other women but also acknowledges her interest in men.

New Asexual Advocacy Groups Starting Up!

Four new AVEN (Asexual Visibility Education Networks) are starting up in New York City, San Francisco, Vancouver, and London.

An AVEN chapter would be a localized organization that focuses its efforts on visibility and education in the area it's in. Having an actual physical presence in different locations could really be of some benefit to the asexual community. And of course, starting an AVEN chapter doesn't have to be all about work - organizing meet ups to meet other asexual people and having fun with it are all really important too.

For those who are interested please e-mail Anne Macon and/or David Jay for more information:

Anne Macon - aemacon@gmail.com
David Jay - davidgljay@gmail.com

Blog Spotlight: Life Issues

Today's shout and blog spotlight goes to Life Issues. This blog is full of insight on issues affecting the LGBTI community. From commentary on politics, to information about safe-sex and sexual pleasure. There is a lot of great information at this blog.

Check them out at http://friendseverytime.blogspot.com/

No Pride for Gay McCain Supporters!

"If you want to order a custom made outdoor banner (25 character limit) from McCain’s website store - price $25.00 - here are the limitations given: “Demeaning or derogatory names or phrases are not acceptable”, and “All personalized banners are subject to content approval by the John McCain 2008 campaign.” No other limitations are mentioned.

You can buy ready-made signs with “Veterans for McCain”, “Sportsmen for McCain”, “Asians & Pacific American” for McCain. And you can also get ready-made T-shirts with “Jewish Americans for McCain” or “Business Leaders for McCain”.

So when Craig Brownstein who is a Democrat, gay and a supporter of McCain’s campaign for president tried to get a sign made saying “A Proud Gay Democrat for John McCain”, he got a call from a site representative rejecting the text.

Brownstein says, “I was told it could only be personalized with names.” They would for instance, accept “Craig and Doug for John McCain."

If you have any "customer service inquiries" you can contact the John McCain for President Store below:

e-mail - customerservice@goptrunk.com
phone - 877-542-1426

Crossposted from Bruce Blog

Florida Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson's Anti-Gay Adoption Stance

"An appearance by Florida State Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson (formerly Republican) on a talk show discussing adoption by same-sex couples has been raising eyebrows.

Said Rouson: "I think it is wrong to allow adoptions of children by gay and lesbian couples. It sends a wrong message early to a child during formative years that’s hard to overcome just by sitting down and talking to them."

As well as, "I think lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong. The law is supposed to discriminate sometimes, in some respects, it is supposed to discriminate against social order and anarchy."

Rouson is running against Rev. Charles McKenzie in the August 26th Democratic primary. McKenzie supports anti-discrimination laws and opposes Amendment 2, the Marriage Protection Amendment.



Contact Anti-gay Candidate - E-Contact Form
voterouson@gmail.com
Phone: 727-322-2777

Pro-Equality Candidate - http://www.mckenzie2008.com/index.html

Crossposted from Towerload.

Word of the Gay: "Gay Panic"

"Gay Panic" is when a crime is committed against an individual and the perpetrator claims temporary insanity out of a so called homosexual panic frenzy. Often the defense team claims the perpetrator was subject to unwanted romantic and/or sexual advances by the victim.

Diversity Lesson 101: Transgender

Transgender is a term used for people who do not fit the gender role assigned at birth (male or female), as well as the role traditionally held by society.

Sex Does NOT Equal Gender:
People often get these two terms confused because they are similar yet in reality they are entirely different. Sex is the biological genitalia we are born with, either male, female, or intersex(combination of male/female genitalia). Gender is how we identify and is a social/biological construct, so one may have the parts of a male yet their mind, body, and spirit identifies as a female.

The Gender Continuum:
Like sexuality, gender identity lies on a continuum. Most people identify with the gender corresponding to their biological sex of male or female. However, some people fall along this continuum. For example one may be fully comfortable in their female gender identity but they may exhibit more masculine traits. In reality there are as many genders as there are people on the planet, we each view ourselves and our roles differently and there is no unifying code of gender.

*Male ------------------------------------------------------Female*

Transgender is an umbrella term for people exhibiting gender variant behavior and is used for transvestites, drag queen/kings, transsexuals, and sometimes genderqueer.

Definitions:
Transvestite-Someone who wears the clothing of the opposite sex (AKA - Crossdresser). An individual whose gender identity may or may not match their birth sex.

Drag Queen/King-A drag queen is a biological male who impersonates a female, and a drag king is a biological female who impersonates a male. Drag is usually done for entertainment purposes and does not necessarily reflect the persons desire to live as a male or female.

Transsexual-A person who desires to live as the opposite sex. Some choose to undergo elective surgery or take hormones to have their sex match their gender identity. Pre-operative Transsexuals are those who have not undergone surgery. Post-Operative Transsexuals have undergone surgical procedures. Non-operative are transsexuals who choose not to undergo surgery. Most transsexuals who have transitioned classify as male or female but some identify as transman, or transwoman.

Genderqueer-Individuals who self-identify as gender queer may consider themselves to be both male and female, androgynous, being neither male or female, or falling completely outside of the gender binary spectrum.

Sexual Orientation Does NOT Equal Gender Identity:
Sexual orientation and gender identity are two completely separate concepts. Transgender people can be gay, straight, bisexual, or asexual. Just the same that gay/lesbian people may have no issue with their gender identity and their gender fits their biological sex. One's gender identity or sexual orientation has no influence on the other.

Transphobia:
This is the fear of gender variant people. Many people do not understand transgender people and are disgusted, scared, or don't understand, instead of seeking to educate themselves on the topic they look to harass, tease, or physically cause harm to trans-folks.

Transgender Resources:

Susan's Place

National Center for Transgender Equality

Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Sylvia Gender Public Advocacy Coalition

International Foundation for Gender Education

Transgender Awareness Videos (20/20 Video 1-5):

"America Doesn't Want us Here" So Come on Bi!

The latest homophobic rant we have received on this blog here in light of my blog entry on McDonald's.

"You Nasty, Dirty, Freaks need to stay out of public & weather you think it or not most of America doesn't want you here! You are so quick to judge & call people homophobes, but these are just people who know right from wrong! CHILDREN don't need to be exposed to such trash, McDonalds is a FAMILY place, not a queer bar. You people take something that is meant to be a beautiful thing & PERVERT IT!!! GO TO EUROPE"

Since this anonymous hater tells queers to goto Europe, it encourages me to promote the following website...

http://www.immigrationequality.org/

A wonderful organization dedicated to securing immigration rights of non-citizen same-sex partners. Bring more queers to the country! LoL.