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.

Tell Obama to Act Now

The Obama administration was absent in yet another critical fight for the soul of our nation. His failure to speak out forcibly against Question 1 in Maine is unacceptable. Sign Equality California's petition. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

Petition Obama to support federal Prop 8 lawsuit

MTV's 'True Life' Upcoming Queer Opportunities

MTV's True Life is a docu-series which features various young people going through extraordinary circumstances in life. There are two upcoming tapings that may be of interest to readers here, one about being passable as hetero-normative, and the other about athletes coming out to their teammates.

TRUE LIFE: I'M PASSING
Are you "passing" as someone you're not? Have you been passing in school, at work, in your community or anywhere else as being of a different race, gender or sexual orientation from what you actually are? Are you are a transsexual female who passes as someone who was born a female? Or maybe you're a person of color who passes as a white person. Or perhaps your schoolmates or colleagues think you're straight while in fact you're gay.

Do you try to pass as someone other than who you are for a particular reason? Do you feel it gives you an advantage of some kind at work, school or with your friends? Or do others look at you and simply decide for themselves? Do you correct them or do you enjoy passing? Are you considering "coming out" and putting your days of passing behind you?

If you are passing as someone of a different race, gender, sexual orientation or otherwise, MTV wants to hear from you. If you appear to be between the ages of 15 and 28, please email us at passing@mtvn.com. Please be sure to include your name, location and phone number.

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TRUE LIFE: I'M COMING OUT TO MY TEAM
Are you planning to come out to your teammates? Have you been afraid or hesitant to come out to your sports team as gay, bisexual, or transsexual but are now planning to reveal yourself? Perhaps you've already come out to your friends and now have to face the upcoming season with teammates who still think you're straight? Or maybe you're unsure of how your fellow athletes would react if they knew, and thus have not come out to anyone?

Whatever your situation may be, if you are planning to come out to your teammates and appear to be between the ages of 15 and 28, MTV wants to hear from you. Please email us at comingout@mtvn.com and be sure to include your name, location and phone number.

For more info or to check other upcoming episodes goto True Life - MTV

Open Forum: The Death of Queer Culture

Is queer culture on the verge of death? The question may strike you as odd since millions of people have come out over the past few decade, and the numbers only increase over time. We have entered a time period where sexuality and gender are no longer binaristic, and new terms and identities are being created to allow freedom of self expression to take place. All these are signs that queer identity is blossoming and taking on new forms. After all religion doesn't dissipate when the number of followers expands, it only becomes more evident and vibrant.

So what's this talk about queer culture fading? Well unlike religion or political parties whereby more followers means more identity and power, the opposite is true with queer identity. Queer identity is built on the notion that we are different, and apart from the general public. The more people who join the queer "freak show" the less weird and alien it is to the general public and the easier it is for queers to assimilate. Assimilation is inevitable, the more people come out, equals the more normalized queer identity becomes, results in the less marginalized queer people become, and the result is less need for queer specific resources.

Is assimilation really a bad thing? It does come at the expense of some aspects of queer culture but many of the aspects being erased are ones of shame and exclusion...

"If there is a real choice between a culture built on oppression and a culture built on freedom, the decision is an easy one" - Andrew Sullivan

Is this the death of a culture, or is it the evolution of a movement? Do you see queer identity as growing or fading over the course of time, and do you view that in a positive, negative, or neutral light?

Nationwide Marriage Equality Protest Listing

In the wake of marriage equality being defeated in Maine, and the one year anniversary of the passage of proposition 8, activists are holding protests throughout the country to express their outrage that the majority has the right to deny civil rights to a minority population.

*Please notify me of any planned protests, vigils, or demonstrations and I will promptly add them to the list and keep it up to date.

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Saturday, November 14th Protests:

Atlanta, Georgia
12:00-2:00 pm
GA State Capitol Building (Washington St. Side)
contact: Jeff Schade (jeffschade3@gmail.com)

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November 29th Protests:

No On Prop 8 Peaceful Protest & Candlelight Vigil - Long Beach, California Saturday 11/29 7pm
Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

Help Ensure Health Care Reform Includes LGBT Families!

We are at an unprecedented point in the process of national health care reform: the House of Representatives plans to vote TOMORROW, November 7, on its reform bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962).

It is crucial for LGBT families that this bill passes with a strong majority. The House bill includes numerous provisions that are key to the health and well-being of LGBT families, including:

* data collection that includes sexual orientation and gender identity, which is foundational to understanding the needs of the LGBT community
* strict prohibitions on discrimination in health care and insurance coverage
* an end to unequal taxation of domestic partner health benefits
* funding for comprehensive sex education
* a strong public option that greatly expands coverage

The LGBT community is the un- and under-insured. We are families with children, seniors and youth, women, people of color, immigrants, people living with HIV and AIDS, and transgender people. We are too often discriminated against by insurance companies and health care providers and denied the care that we need. The status quo harms our community and our families; we deserve to be part of the nation’s blueprint for reform.

Tell your Representatives to pass LGBT-inclusive health care reform NOW. CALL your Representatives using the toll-free number 1-877-264-4226 and ask them to support the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Follow this link to find your Representative’s contact information.

Crossposted via Family Equality Council.

'Million for a Million' to Bring Marriage Back to California!

Million for aMillion is a new campaign by Yes On Equality, Truth and Hope, and Restore Equality 2010 to raise a million dollars to get the over 1 million signatures needed to put marriage equality on next years ballot.

Polls indicate public support growing for an effort to repeal proposition 8 which banned marriage equality in California in 2008.

Donate now, and sign up to get updates at Million for a Million.

New York Marriage Debate Set for Tuesday's Senate Agenda

The New York State Senate under the order of Governor David Patterson is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on the issue of marriage equality. The marriage bill has been passed by the house, if the senate concurs, the bill will be signed into law by the governor.

New Yorkers please take a minute to call your state senator through the Empire State Pride Agenda's click to call action service.

E-Day Phone Banking in California

Equality California to Host Phone Banks for Maine and Washington Ballot Initiatives

WHAT: Equality California (EQCA) will host phone banks across the state for California volunteers, encouraging voters in Maine and Washington to vote to protect the rights of same-sex couples. On November 3, Mainers will vote on whether to repeal a law granting same-sex couples the right to marry. In the state of Washington, voters are being asked to re-confirm the expansion of domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

WHERE:

* SAN DIEGO: 301 University Ave., San Diego, 92103, 2:30 PM- 5 PM
* ORANGE COUNTY: 1700 E. Garry Ave, Ste. 231, Santa Ana, CA 92701, 10 AM-4:30 PM
* PALM SPRINGS: 314 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 92261, 1 PM- 5 PM
* INLAND EMPIRE: 410 3rd Street, Ste. 7, Riverside, 92507, 1 PM-7 PM
* LOS ANGELES: 2801 Hyperion Ave., Ste. 103, Los Angeles 90027, 10:30 AM- 5:30 PM
* HOLLYWOOD: 1125 N McCadden Pl., Los Angeles, 90038, 10:30 AM- 5 PM
* FRESNO: 1055 N. Van Ness Ave., Ste. C, Fresno, 93728, 7 AM- 5 PM
* SAN JOSE: 19 N. 2nd Street, Ste. 102, San Jose, 95113, 11 AM- 9 PM
* SAN FRANCISCO: ACLU Office, 39 Drumm St, San Francisco, 94114, 7 AM-7:30 PM
* BERKELEY: 1528 Hopkins St., Berkeley, CA 94703, 7 AM-7:30 PM
* SACRAMENTO: 1722 J St., 2nd Floor Unit 9, Sacramento, CA 95814, 10 AM-5 PM

H/T to Mike Tidmus.

Election Day Endorsements

Today is election day and it is vital that the LGBT community and allies get out to the polls to vote for progressive and equality minded candidates for our local districts throughout the country.

There are also some key races and ballots for consideration today that effect the LGBT community and this blog is endorsing some candidates and positions.

*Election day recommendations are always based on the LGBT record of the candidate and not on the basis of their political affiliation.

Maine

Vote NO on question 1 to protect marriage equality.

Washington

Vote YES on Referendum 71 to protect domestic partnerships.

Michigan

Kalamazoo vote YES on ordinance 1856 to protect anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

New Jersey

Vote for Governor Jon Corzine (D) a marriage equality proponent, his opponent is opposed to marriage equality and uses it as a campaign scare tactic.

Virginia

Vote for Creigh Deeds(D) who voted against a marriage amendment, his opponent is fiercely anti LGBT equality.

New York (District 23)

Vote for Bill Owens (D) who supports civil unions, his opponent is fiercely anti LGBT equality.

Texas

Houston vote for Annise Parker (D) to be first openly lesbian mayor.

Word of the Gay: "Queerbie"

A "queerbie" is a play on the words queer and newbie and is a term for someone new to the gay scene.

Organization Spotlight: SQREAM

SQREAM stands for "Scooter Queers Riding Everywhere and More". The group is open to all gay and lesbian scooter riders and their friends and operates in 9 areas and welcomes new chapters to be formed.

Alert: Maine Opposition Pushing Ahead in Polls and Money

Tomorrow Mainers will decide the fate of the marriage equality bill, and the No on 1 Protect Maine Equality is now behind the polls and facing an uphill challenge as the opposition drives a last minute fund-raising campaign.

A new poll released today shows those in favor overturning marriage equality, or those voting YES for Question 1, beating us 51% to 47%.

And to make matters a little worse, the Yes on 1 side has just done an unexpected, major push to raise $25,000 to air one last major attack ad (Unite The Fight).

Please get out the word, donate, volunteer and vote!

Happy Belated Trans Parent Day!

The first Sunday of November marks Trans Parent Day! An innovative and new holiday to celebrate the unique relationship between a transgender parent and their children. Trans parent day is an opportunity to celebrate parents without adhering to the gender stereotypes traditionally associated with mothers and fathers day.

Check out Trans Parent Day for stories, resources, and to connect with others.

Web Spotlight: Asexualitic

Asexualitic is a free dating site for Asexual People. When major dating sites don't recognize asexuality, asexual people have a dating place to meet here.