Urge IAAF to Apologize to Caster Semenya

Athletics South Africa (ASA) has called on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to apologize for the treatment of one of their athletes Caster Semenya.

Semenya, 18 who the won 800m gold medal was thrust into the public spotlight when she won and a controversy over her gender erupted. The IAAF forced Semenya to undergo a test to determine her sex, which resulted in the report that Semenya is intersex and has internal testes responsible for her higher levels of testosterone. The IAAF did not adhere to the human rights of the athlete and did not keep her confidentiality in mind.

"The ASA Council noted with concern that, contrary to its position as the custodian of athletics in the world, the IAAF did not follow its constitution and procedures in dealing with the matter, failed to observe the confidentiality required to handle the matter of this sensitivity; and the human rights of the athlete," read the minutes of the meeting. The ASA concluded: "The Council therefore called on the IAAF to apologise to the athlete, her family and the people of South Africa" (Guardian).

Urge the IAAF to apologize to Caster Semenya for their way of handling the situation.

Travel for Change to Protect Maine Equality

Travel for Change seeks to enable volunteers and supporters to help out with the No on 1 Maine Marriage Equality campaign by:

1. Recruiting people to come organize in Maine;

2. Providing a platform for sponsors to donate through airline miles or fund travelers;

3. Organizing rideshares for equality.

So whether you want to hit the ground, donate some cash, or donate frequent flier miles, you can pitch in at Travel for Change.

GLSEN Spins on "That's So Gay" Catchphrase

Look out for adverts mocking the infamous phrase "that's so gay" by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). This outreach is being coordinated by their 'Think Before You Speak' campaign and has released several billboards, print ads, TV, radio, and internet graphics throughout the country in an effort to get students to stop using language that is hurtful towards LGBT students. The campaign seeks to make the phrase look outdated, meaningless, and ignorant.

Below are some of the new posters that have been released featuring a jock, cheerleader, and a gamer that attempt to make the point.



Sign the pledge and come up with something original to replace "that's so gay" with something that actually makes sense!

Word of the Gay: "Grrrl"

A "grrrl" is a strong and independent young woman who is comfortable with her sexuality.

Rainbow Sash Movement Events for Justice on Behalf of LGBT Catholics

The Rainbow Sash movement is an organization committed to engaging in dialogue about human sexuality and the dignity of LGBT people within the Catholic Church. The group will be participating in the National March for Equality in Washington D.C. Oct 10-11th and has a series of events to push their agenda forward.

Events Sat Oct 10th Morning/Afternoon

Event at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral
1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW,
Washington, D.C.

11:00 AM Ecunmenical prayer service outside of the Cathedral.

12:15 PM Gather within the Cathedral to pray for the National Equality March and to wear a rainbow sash in solidarity with LGBT Catholics.

Events Sat Oct 10th Evening/Night:

Vigil of Light 8-9pm in front of the White House to remember those who have passed away due to HIV/AIDS. The vigil is also to remind the administration not to forget the LGBT community and those with HIV/AIDS in the current health care debate.

Events Sunday Oct 11th:

March will kick off at 12 Noon. Marching Gathering space TBA

For further information or to get involved please email us at contact@RainbowSashMovement.com.

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: "Gay Plague"

HIV/AIDS due to its high concentration in the LGBT community has been called the "gay plague" by anti-gay forces.

Protest Rally At Atlanta Eagle Over Police Raid

A rally is set for Sunday Sept 13th from 5-8pm to protest the raid of a gay bar in Atlanta Georgia. Patrons say the bar was raided for no reason and that people were forced onto the ground, searched for drugs, and dealt with derogatory and mean spirited remarks and attitude from the police department. No drugs were found, but arrests were made, and the GLBT community is demanding answers about this unnecessary and forceful raid.

Sunday, Sept 13th
The Eagle Atlanta
306 Ponce De Leon Ave
Atlanta, GA
5-8 PM

Organizer's contact Info:

Jeff's Email: jeff@glbtatl.org

Laura's Email: dictatorlaura@gmail.com

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.

Icons Selected for GLBT History Month

October is GLBT history month and the Equality Forum has selected 31 diverse icons who represent the GLBT community. Below is a preview of the upcoming videos on the icons selected. Each day of the month a new icon will have a clip about them and we will be making that available to our readers.

Open Forum: The Fallout from Caster Semenya

South African track & field star Caster Semenya who won the 800m gold medal in Berlin last month has been the subject of much controversy with people questioning her sex and gender due to her gender expression and speed results. After being forced to undergo a series of tests to determine her actual sex, it has been revealed that she is intersex and has internal testes which are responsible for the output of testosterone.

It is tragic that Semenya was forced into the public spotlight in terms of scrutiny over her identity and had to undergo sex assessment. What is the fallout from this, now that we know that she is intersex, does this help the movement by creating awareness or just further create a sense of hostility towards this minority? The media has already used offensive and biologically impossible terms such as "hermaphrodite" instead of the appropriate term intersex to describe Semenya. How does this news coverage boad for the intersex and gender variant communities?

Photo courtesy of Erik van Leeuwen on Wikimedia Commons.

Word of the Gay: "Low Rent Gay"

A "low rent gay" is a guy who spends all his money on designer clothes, and materialistic items but is really broke and can barely afford the bare necessities.

Gay Republicans to Rally in Fort Lauderdale Tonight

A group of gay and lesbian conservatives will gather in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate the arrival of a new club in South Florida on Friday Sept. 11.

The new club was created as another avenue for local gay and lesbian conservatives to network and to engage in local activism. The group’s basic principles of a free market economy strong defense personal freedom and responsibility align perfectly with basic Republican tent pole issues. In addition the Sunshine Republicans aim to increase GLBT awareness and inclusion in the party and in the nation.

While monthly meeting information is to be announced the new club will host its high profile kickoff event at the Fort Lauderdale City Hall on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public in an attempt to lure conservatives to the new group and to the Republican Party. The meeting will feature special guest Robert Lowry Republican candidates for Congress and other guests from the community. More special guests are to be announced.

Please visit www.sunshinerepublicans.org for further meeting details or to find out more about the Sunshine Republicans.

Crossposted via Miami Herald.

Act to Repeal DOMA Now

Legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) may be introduced in the House of Representatives as early as next week. We must ensure that the President, congress, and our senate leaders speak out and co-sponsor a repeal of this discriminatory legislation. DOMA denies same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits, even in states where marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships are legally sanctioned.

The momentum is on our side with the recent slide of victories in favor of equality, the time is now with a more progressive majority in place to eliminate DOMA.

Go to www.repealDOMAnow.org and join in the campaign for equal rights for all families.

Word of the Gay: "Spider Lady"

A "spider lady" is a gay man who is known to habitually attempt to steal someone else's lover.