Lesbian Koala's Steal Andy Roddick's Spotlight

Here is a funny queer story to launch your weekend...

Tennis superstar Andy Roddick was having an interview in Australia's Brisbane Lone Pine Sanctuary but the limelight was quickly stolen from him by some lesbian Koala's enjoying a romp. The same-sex marsupial couple was having sex in the background while the tennis star was being filmed.



The lesbian Koala separatists are making themselves known to the world as footage has begun to spread throughout the United Kingdom and United States.

H/T to The Outskirts.

Portugal Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage, Keeps Adoption Ban

The country of Portugal took a major leap forward by granting its citizens marriage equality. The heavily Catholic nations parliament vote makes it the sixth country in Europe to have same-sex marriage.

Even though the country took a momentous step forward, it has voted down a proposal to allow same-sex couples the right to adopt.

Parabéns Portugal!

Where New Jersey Senators Stand on Civil Marriage

Yesterday the New Jersey Senate defeated The Freedom of Religion and Equality in Marriage Act by a vote of 20-14. The roll call list is now available courtsey of Good As You.

13 Democrats and 1 Republican voted for marriage equality,
6 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted against civil rights,
3 Democrats abstained from voting, and 2 Republicans were absent.

YES (14)

Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic)
Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex)
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex),
Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), co-sponsor
Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex)
Sen. Teresa M. Ruiz (D-Essex)
Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Hudson)
Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Hudson)
Sen. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex)
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert M. Gordon (D-Bergen)
Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union)
Sen. Joseph F.Vitale (D-Middlesex)
Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer)

NO (20)
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May)
Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D- Essex)
Sen. John A. Girgenti (D-Passaic
Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) .
Sen. Fred H. Madden (D-Gloucester)
Sen. Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer)
Sen. Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean)
Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris)
Sen. Christopher Bateman, (R-Somerset)
Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R -Union)
Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth )
Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos (R-Monmouth)
Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen)
Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Hunterdon)
Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole (R-Essex)
Sen. Philip E. Haines (R-Burlington)
Sen. Christopher J. Connors (R-Ocean)
Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris)
Sen. Steven V. Oroho (R-Sussex)
Sen. Sean T. Kean (R-Monmouth)

ABSTENTIONS (3)
Sen. Paul A. Sarlo (D-Bergen)
Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester)
Sen. James Beach (D-Camden)

DID NOT ATTEND SESSION (2)
Sen. Diane B. Allen (R-Burlington)
Sen. Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean)

Be sure to contact your senator to thank or criticize them for their vote or lack of one.

Web Spotlight: Gay Church

Gay Church is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay and lesbian Christian community (GLBT) and friends of our community. They feature one of the largest gay and lesbian affirming Christian church directories and bulletin boards in the world.

Say No to Manchester - Rally at Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel!

LGBT groups, union groups, and allies will be protesting this Saturday, January 9th against the Manchester Grant Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California. There have been numerous demonstrations at the resort due to the fact that the owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

The wildly successful protests have entered into their second year and organizers estimate the hotel has incurred over 8 million dollars in losses as a result of their boycott and protests.

Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
Saturday, January 9, 2010
One Market Place, San Diego
2:00PM

RSVP here.

Take Action: New Jersey Senate to Vote on Marriage Equality Today!

The New Jersey Senate is scheduled to begin debate about marriage equality at 2 pm EST today. Insiders say the votes are likely not there, but nevertheless activists need to push their senators to be on the right side of history. Regardless of whether the bill passes or not it is important to know the position of the senators so that we can support/oust them in their next re-election bid.

Please contact your state representative and urge them to vote in favor of full marriage equality.

David Letterman Show Promotes Trans Disgust

The David Letterman show on the CBS network has insulted Amanda Simpson, a trans woman who was recently appointed to the U.S. Commerce Department by the Obama administration. In the clip below David Letterman announces the news, followed by a guest on his show who breaks out in shock that "Amanda used to be a dude" the man is disgusted and outraged and runs off stage, the segment insinuates the man had some sort of relationship with Simpson and reinforces the sentiment that being transgender is somehow disgusting, misleading, and abnormal.



This isn't David Letterman's first transphobic problem, he made news on this blog two years ago when he insulted F2M Thomas Beatie the pregnant female to male transsexual. While we approve and acknowledge that Letterman has done some good, ie: standing up for marriage equality, his continual jabs at the transgender community cannot go on without consequence.

Contact David Letterman and tell him to apologize for this offensive jab at Amanda Simpson and the entire transgender community.

Email:cbsmailbag@aol.com

Sign the petition directed to the shows Executive Producers.

Word of the Gay: "Lovemap"

A "lovemap" is a psychological concept allowing a person to picture a mental template to describe their idealized lovers gender, sexuality, physical and personal attributes.

Web Spotlight: GALA Magazine

Gay and Lesbian Artists (GALA) Magazine is giving voice to unseen, unheard and undiscovered artists; inspiring, educating and motivating others to follow their dreams within the queer community.

Word of the Gay: "Faux Queens"

"Faux Queens" are women who dress in exaggerated styles to emulate drag queens.

National Drag History Month 2010

January 2010 marks the second year with the celebration of National Drag History Month! This month-long event salutes the richness of drag culture and pays tribute to the courageous queens & kings who have fought for equality while inspiring, educating & entertaining us all.

See films, articles and more at:
http://www.draghistorymonth.com

Word of the Gay: "Fluffy"

"Fluffy" is a term used by lesbian women to suggest a woman is turned on. The term is also used among gay leather circles as a put down of someones bad attire.

Word of the Gay: "The 123 Words"

"The 123 Words" was the U.S. military policy formulated in 1982 barring gays and lesbians from serving prior to the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy.

Singer Jazon Mraz Resolves to Speak for Equality!

Singer and songwriter Jason Mraz has written a beautiful post on his blog speaking up for LGBT equality as his new years resolution.

On his blog the Freshness Factor Five Thousand he writes:

"As a straight man I really have nothing to gain by standing up for equal rights for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual, and/or my Transgender friends. Except for the fact that I have many friends who are still subjected to hurtful comments by a society that hasn’t yet embraced fully the nature of… nature.

Supporting a limiting system of rules for specific people to follow is prejudice. It’s the Antithesis of Christ Consciousness and (like smoking) it’s Soooo last century.

Allowing love to freely flourish will only enhance the life experience - For All.

Imagine telling cyclists to stay off the road. “These roads are for cars only! Those who dare to pedal on the shoulder will most likely get hit! Drivers will not expect to see you. It will not be the drivers’ fault if you get hurt.”

Yet, by sharing the road, the same rules get to apply to all of us. And surprisingly, we all get somewhere.

No one has to sit at the back of the bus.

A Marriage is a powerful commitment by any two people who are committed to each other’s lives being great. The God that is present in ceremony is looking itself in the eye in the form of the two worthy participants. Their commitment is the divine expression “love loving itself.” Any interference from the outside world be like a bear coming out of the woods and mauling the two lovebirds in front of the entire wedding party, the family and invited guests. Interference is messy and downright rude.

Hosting closed minded thoughts or making lewd comments about the intimate affairs of someone else does not make life great. In fact, it clogs up the judicial system, diminishes entire communities, and turns the clock backwards to our ultimate realization that we are all One - living in harmony with the Earth, with the cosmos, and with great things unseen. Thinking that others are a ‘particular way’ rather than reinventing them as new everyday makes you separate and disconnected from the really easy, peaceful solution.

Life is too short. The age of interfering with someone’s natural rights (and natural born gifts) are over.

Love is too powerful to resist. I think the whole world would be better if we just got out of our own way. It would certainly be sexier.

I understand many people who stumble onto this blog are already dialed in and ready to transform the world. Much of my community is too. But there are some who still don’t care one way or the other about the ways of being in the world. Thereby, it’s up to us to share our positive outlook on our favorite issues.

To learn more about how you can be a part of the Epic Movement for Equal Rights. Visit The Human Rights Campaign at http://www.hrc.org/ and support the True Colors Fund.

This Year I Resolve to Join the Conversation on Equality. I will Stand Up and be outspoken about Same Sex Marriage and Let Freedom Sing."

Be sure to thank Jason Mraz by leaving a comment on his blog, and joining him in the 'Conversation on Equality'

Word of the Gay: "Tragicula"

"Tragicula" is a term used within the gay community when someone has a poor taste in fashion, and personal upkeep.