Pass ENDA Now!

Today, the Senate has introduced a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would protect workers against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This federal bill would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The house currently has a similar bill working its way through the chamber.

Send a clear message to your lawmakers to support passage of an inclusive ENDA.

Billy DeFrank LGBT Center in San Jose May Close Doors

The Billy DeFrank center which serves the LGBT community of the Silicon Valley in California may have to close its door unless it can meet its funding requirements. After suffering donation losses and losing all government funding, the center cannot fund their day to day operations.

The center has been a safe space serving the community since 1981 through youth programs, HIV/AIDS testing, senior lunches, their library, a bookstore, bingo nights, resource center, movie nights, womens programming, and other social events.

Please help keep the center doors open by donating generously.

Word of the Gay: "Fairy Hawk"

"Fairy Hawk" is a term for individuals pretending to be gay in order to entrap a gay man. This technique has been used by police to arrest homosexuals in places where it is illegal, gay bashers, and those seeking to blackmail people.

Fox News Show Red Eye Bashes Pre-Op MTF Boxer

The Fox News show Red Eye hosted by Greg Gutfeld continues to air transphobic remarks at the expense of various transgender people in the public spotlight, now focusing his attention on a boxer who will transition from male to female. We first called Mr Gutfeld out for his outrageous transphobic and horrific remarks about the "Pregnant Man" FTM, Thomas Beatie. He also spewed out offensive remarks against openly gay congressman Barney Frank.

His attention has now turned to British professional boxer Rob Newbiggen who will undergo sex re-assignment surgery. To report on and discuss the controversial and sensitive topic of transgender athletes competing against their newly assigned sex is one thing but Mr. Gutfeld takes it further.



Mr. Gutfeld not respecting the gender identity of the athlete continues to reference them as "he". Mr. Gutfeld also goes on to joke about the athletes desire to model as saying "you go girl, or boy, or whatever" which mocks not only trans modeling but also continues to disrespect gender identification.

One of the guests on the panel jokes about him fighting and losing to another contestant and that "he will probably go back and want to be a man."

But most offensive is the fact that Mr. Gutfeld questions whether this is a "PR stunt" which they laugh about and say "no man would do that, and of course you lose your friends"

It ends with the suggestion by another panelist for a new show called "Million Dollar Tranny"

As always some will say that we are being too sensitive and looking to pick a fight while not understanding the true nature of this 'intelligent comedy'. There is a fine line between funny and offensive when it comes to comedy, and the line has clearly been crossed in this case and in multiple other situations as evidenced by the links above.

Please contact Red Eye and tell them how you will boycott their transphobic program:

Email: redeye@foxnews.com

Phone Fox News: 1-888-369-4762

Word of the Gay: "Hermaphroditism"

"Hermaphroditism" is the fusion of male and female genitalia on an individual. It is biologically impossible for someone to have complete male and female genitalia, rendering the word unfounded and offensive.

Blog Spotlight: Asexuality

Asexuality on Live Journal is an opportunity for people to discuss living without sex or sexuality. It is a forum for all experiences ranging from some to little or no attraction at all, and for asexuals who have romantic relationships.

Hersband & Wife Prepare for Marriage Equality Tour Across U.S.

The Hersband and Wife Marriage Equality tour is planned for kick off on Oct 31, 2009 in Atlanta, GA during the pride festival. Hersband and Wife plan a 50-week, 50-state, 50 Marriages, tour for marriage equality. They will travel around the U.S. in an RV and get hitched in each state. They are scheduled to appear at Atlanta Pride on October 31st and Palm Springs (CA) Pride November 7th. Subsequent dates and states TBA, they are looking for sponsors to fund a complete 2009-2010 cross-country tour to support efforts in every state towards marriage equality.



If you can help visit their website at http://www.hersbandandwife.com and click the thermometer, all it takes is $1 from everyone that cares to make this tour a reality.

Word of the Gay: "Dizzy Queen"

A "dizzy queen" is a gay man who can't get his shit together and lacks common sense.

New Grassroots HRC Campaign 'No Excuses'

The Human Rights Campaign has begun their 'No Excuses' grassroots campaign to demand equality on a face to face basis with our representatives. Activists will meet with their lawmakers during the summer recess when politicians are at home in their districts.



http://noexcuses.hrc.org/

Schedule your meeting with your representative and get the resources and tools necessary to ensure their vote on behalf of LGBT equality.

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.

Word of the Gay: "Mary Ellen"

A "mary ellen" is a pickpocket who pretends to be gay in order to steal another mans wallet.

Blog Spotlight: Ameriqueer

Ameriqueer is a queer current events blog with news pertinent to those living in the United States. They also often find the latest breaking queer news via twitter and post it to their blog to keep us up to speed.

No On 1 - Protect Maine Equality!

Maine residents will vote on proposition 1 which determines the fate of the marriage equality bill passed by the legislature earlier this year. The Maine Freedom to Marry coalition is out in full force to protect equality for all families and come November 4th it is pertinent to vote NO on prop 1.

It's not enough to just vote, the anti-gay side is out in full force collecting signatures, money, and spreading lies about same-sex couples. We must counter this misinformation and ensure that Maine prop 1 does not repeat the mistakes of California's prop 8 which ultimately eliminated same-sex marriage rights.

Find your county to get involved locally in changing hearts and minds.

Out of Staters can also get involved in fighting prop 1.

Donate any spare change to Maine Freedom to Marry so they can ensure equality remains the law.

Open Forum: LGBTQAIZ5123?

Labels for the community have been evolving and continue to evolve to this day. It started with "Gay" which included same-sex attracted males and females, then it branched out to include "Lesbians" as their own separate label. Over time other movements like the "Bisexuals" and "Transgender" populations joined in under the acronym "GLBT". The acronym was thought to be biased towards the "G" and hence the more popularized acronym became "LGBT". Now we see movement to change the acronym so that perhaps the "B" or "T" come before the "L" or the "G" in the sequence of the letters to be more reflective of an inclusive community.

Just when you thought the whole "LGBT" or is it "GLBT" drama was settled we now have new movements boarding the sexual/gender minority bandwagon. "Queer" people who reject the notion that sexuality is fixed and who don't attach binaristic labels want "Q" added to the ever long list of letters in the acronym. People who are "Questioning" their sexuality or are curious want the "Q" to represent the term "Questioning". "Intersex" people don't want to be lumped under the "Transgender" umbrella and want the "I" added to the list. "Asexuals" want to be recognized as a legitimate sexual orientation and have "A" added to the list. "A" has also been representative of those who consider themselves "Allies" to the community.

So we already have a long and varied list with letters overlapping for different communities who want representation. Confusing huh? Well there are also movements by "Polyamorous" families, fetish groups, "Pansexuals", "Two-spirits", and others who want to be part of the acronym.

How far do we go with the acronym, is the label "LGBT" fair and inclusive? Or should we come up with a new term to describe all of these sexual/gender minorities. Is Queer too broad and open so that if we use it nobody will know what we are talking about? Share your thoughts on this ever growing and evolving debate...

Word of the Gay: "Right-Handed"

"Right-handed" is a term meaning heterosexual because left-handed people are a minority constituting around 10% of the population much like LGBTQ people.