Live Long and Marry (Auction for Equality)

What is this?
Live Long And Marry is a fandom auction to benefit marriage equality. Bidding begins on July 1, 12:01 AM one minute after midnight Pacific Time, 2008, and closes on July 15, 12:01 AM one minute after midnight Pacific Time, 2008. Please do not bid until bidding opens.

What's the cause?
The auction will raise money for the fight against the California initiative which will legally destroy existing same-sex marriages and ban any further ones. If the initiative passes, it will write discrimination into the state constitution, annull existing marriages, and make Mr. Sulu cry.

How can I help?
You can bid on fanfic, original fic, vids, cookies, memorabilia, critique/betas, and much more! Or you can offer your skills and services as a writer, vidder, baker, knitter, or whatever else you'd like.

BIDDING OPENS ON JULY 1, 12:01 AM ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME, AND CLOSES JULY 15, 12:01 AM ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME.

http://community.livejournal.com/livelongnmarry/

For more info on what this is about, how to bid, and get your prize go here

Tell U.K. Prime Minister to Ban Queerphobic Music & Artists!

"Many artists from certain music genres seem to promote a hatred of homosexual and transsexuals in their lyrics. Urge the government to ban the sale of such material, and also ban the said artists from performing in the UK. The music is poisoning youth attitudes to LGBT people, BAN IT NOW!"

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to To ban any music or artists from performing in the UK whose lyrics promote homophobia and transphobia"

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/phobiamusic/

Word of the Gay: "RLE - Real Life Experience"

RLE is short for "Real Life Experience" and is also sometimes called "RLT- Real Life Test". It is the process whereby a transgender person lives in their preferred gender role for a period of time to show they can function and are happy within that role. This process has historically been a requirement by the medical establishment before any hormone treatment can be administered or an individual can go through sex re-assignment surgery.

Website Spotlight: "LGBT Bloggers"

Shouts out to Shaney who frequently comments here who has a wonderful listing of LGBT blogs. The categories are as follows: Gay male, Lesbian, Transgender, Community, Parenting, Bisexual, HIV Related, French, Spain, Gossip/News, Australian, Chinese, Mixed Language, Pinoy, Asia, Spicy Lesbian, Mixed Gay, LGBT friends, Artistic, Shopping, and Home & Travel.

He also highlights a new LGBT blog daily and is constantly updating his listing. In his very own words "If you can't find something you like on his site, you aren't looking hard enough!"

Check out LGBT Bloggers! and bookmark them =)

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: "Fag Stag"

"Fag Stag" - A heterosexual male who enjoys the company of or has many gay/bi male friends. It is the male equivalent of the term fag hag, and although still rarely used it is becoming more popular as homosexuality is becoming more widely accepted.

Open Forum: G0y's - New Identity or Shameful Gays?

There is a growing and controversial movement of men who call themselves G0y. They are men who are attracted to men but have grown disgusted of "Gay" male culture and anal sexual practices. Below is a snippet from a G0y website, which can best explain what this new identity and movement is all about...

"G0YS (Spelled with a ZER0) are guys who find men physically & emotionally attractive, but (for whatever reason) are offended with the stigmas that currently define the 'gay community' in the public psyche. G0YS recognize that the prominent facets of the "gay-male" community tend to embrace every gender-bending act, fetish & affectation; --And include those things in the general specter of the image that "gay" projects publicly. The easiest to observe example is the commonly used acronym "GLIT" (sometimes "GLIB") meaning Gay, Lesbian, Intersexed, Transgendered (or BiSexual). The fact that "GAY" is grouped with "Intersexed & Transgendered" is evidence to our primary point showing what the term "GAY" has morphed into. G0YS reject those associations completely & consider it a form of gender-prejudice against men who love men.

Behaviorally: Anal-sex is innately shunned by g0ys - as it represents the ultimate form of sexual disrespect whether male/male or male/female. Other distasteful stereotypes include (but are not limited to): Effeminate behavior, extreme passivity (like cowardice) & drag. G0YS don't call other men "girl", "bitch", "queen", etc. You probably get the idea.

What G0YS embrace is masculinity in it's purest forms. Many G0YS are GAY, or (usually)-BI identified men (who might wear those labels IF they were not aware of the G0Y movement). Many G0YS are STRAIGHT identified (involved in marriage or exclusive relationships with women) also - but have these deep feelings for masculine affection nonetheless (whether ever acted upon or not). Many of these men have had 1 or more sexual encounters with other men (not anal) & lack the language to describe those feelings & relationships. The term "gay" simply encloses too large a group & offensive associated stereotypes. G0YS place friendships at the top of their proverbial "list". Some of those friendships deepen to a level that is so intimate & personal that sexuality often becomes an element; -- & strong, invisible cords of love, respect & extreme-discretion cover what is an intensely personal thing. The reputation of the flamboyance, promiscuity, filth & bizarre cross-culture of the term "gay" - is seen as an affront to g0y relationships." (http://www.g0ys.org

G0y identified people have become increasingly visible on "Gay/Bi" communities and forums, and not only self-identify as G0y but are critical and even demeaning of those who identify as "Gay."

Please feel free to weigh in about the G0y's versus Gays phenomenon. Is this a new identity or are these men just ashamed to embrace their sexuality?

Word of the Gay: "Pomosexual"

"Pomosexual" stands for post modern and is used for people who do not fall into the traditional labels given for sexual orientation or gender identity, they are more undefined or fluid in nature.

San Francisco Bay Area Residents Take Stand Against HRC

"On Saturday, July 26th, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is hosting its annual San Francisco gala dinner and fund raiser at the Westin St. Francis hotel. They’ll raise money, cheer and applaud their apparent successes in Washington DC, announce a sudden, renewed interest in marriage, and claim that they are advancing the nation’s LGBT agenda.

But we in San Francisco’s LGBT community are preparing our OWN July 26th party in the streets, outside of the Westin St. Francis. We also encourage others in the LGBT community and our allies to boycott HRC’s gala event, due to HRC’s ongoing refusal to advocate for federal legislation that protects all Americans from discrimination based on gender identity and expression."

Sign the Petition to Show Solidarity with the HRC Gala Boycott!

Bisexual Dating Site Discriminates Against Trans-Man

"A 25 year-old Boston transman had his profile removed from a bisexual dating site last week after revealing to the site's operators that he had recently transitioned.

Site officials defended their action by saying that prior to his transition, Teich had registered on their lesbian dating site, which shares profile information with BisexualDatingNow.com

"We do not have a site appropriate for transgenders. You joined our lesbian site, which is not your sexual preference. You then listed yourself as a bisexual man. This is absolutely a violation of our community rules because we do not allow any man on a lesbian site," wrote Dupuis. "You are NOT a lesbian therefore you cannot and will not be a part of our lesbian community."

Please join me in voicing your outrage that a bisexual dating site would discriminate against an openly Trans person.
Click here for Bi Dating Now's E-Contact Form!

H/T to Joe My God for the story.

Word of the Gay: "Platonic Love"

"Platonic Love" Refers to non-sexual affectionate relationships between individuals. It can be described as a romantic friendship or partnership. Many Asexuals or celibate/questioning individuals choose "Platonic Love" relationships.

Rep. Steve Rothman Joins the Equality Bandwagon

New Jersey Democratic congressman Steve Rothman who previously did not support same-sex marriage has made an about face and now supports equal marriage rights. He has made this decision in light of his lesbian step-daughter.

Mr. Rothman has also joined the newly formed LGBT Caucus within the House of Representatives.

Please take the time to thank Representative Rothman for supporting Marriage Equality and joining the LGBT Caucus and let him know that you appreciate his commitment to equality.

http://www.house.gov/rothman/contact_steve.htm

Washington, DC Office
2303 Rayburn HOB
202-225-5061 (phone)

Transgender Inequality Video

This is a powerful video on Trans inequality, I'd recommend passing it along as we are always in the business of changing hearts and minds within the community and beyond.

Solidarity With the Intersex Community

The petition of Solidarity from the Organization of Intersex International goes as follows:

"I support the following Declaration of Fundamental Principles of the Organisation Intersex International and hereby express my solidarity with the Intersex community:

1) Intersex is not a disorder of sex development: intersex refers to those individuals born of intermediate sex - between what is considered standard for male or female in our societies.

2) Contrary to what is often asserted, the various degrees of intersex are not innately an illness or deformity. They are simply variations of the human body similar to the length of the nose, the colour of eyes, etc.

3) We reject medical categories for the various degrees of intersex, which are in fact only different reference points on a natural continuum of anatomical and genetic variations.

4) We stress the whole person from infancy through adulthood and choose not to focus on an individual's genitalia. We are people, not genitals. As people, we have a right to our own genitalia and our own identity without interference, forced treatment or other coercion from legal and/or medical authorities.

5) The basic problems faced by the intersexed are socio-cultural in nature and not medical and are a result of the dogmatic fundamentalism inherent in the current binary construct of sex and gender. Some intersexed individuals are subjected to genital mutilation in childhood as a result of this totalitarian, sexist oppression. For this reason, we denounce all forms of sexism prevalent in our societies, which is principally directed against women, the intersexed, and other communities which challenge sex and gender norms.

6) To promote visibility and the recognition of our existence as a normal and natural part of humanity will benefit not only the intersexed but all people oppressed by the sexism which prevails in our societies."

http://www.gopetition.com/online/9941.html

Word of the Gay: "LUG"

"LUG" stands for Lesbian Until Graduation, the term is used to describe women who are of high school or college age and are experimenting with their sexuality or self-identify as lesbian or bisexual while they are in school. These women later go onto live and self-identify as heterosexuals.

The Bisexual community looks at this term as a form of Biphobia and that these women were never really lesbian to begin with, nor straight after school ended, but merely Bisexual and sexually fluid regardless of how they choose to self-identify.