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.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Open Forum: Is the Notion of a "Queer Community" a Fairytale?
We often hear the terms "Gay community" or "LGBT community" to refer to sexual and gender minorities who have banded together under an umbrella term. Is there really such a community? The notion of whether we are a community is subject to debate in Queer theory circles.
Each subgroup has a different struggle and a different agenda, we all have overlapping similarities. We all have overlapping political aspirations. Does this make us a community? We also have divisions amongt us. Do Gay men really care about Lesbian rights and having a women centered and feminist empowering movement. Do Lesbians really accept Trans-women as female? Are Homos and Hetero's throwing out the Bisexuals as just a confused bunch? Do Transgender people really care about LGB rights once they have transitioned and are "passable"? Do Asexual people really want to be labeled with a bunch of Queers who are "defined" by their sexuality? and finally do Intersex people want to be lumped into the umbrella with those who have "GID"?
Even amidst our so called respective populations we have divisions. Gay men are divided into categories Bears, Twinks, Fetish practitioners, etc. Lesbians divide themselves up by Butch, Femme, and Trans. Transgender people are divided by classifications of M2F, F2M, Andogyne, Genderqueer, Pre-op, Post-op, etc.
There is a lot of inner debate and struggle within our so called "community" and there is misunderstanding and even downright hatred. So often we hear arguments about which letter comes first in the acronym LGBT and we hear other debates that acronym is not all inclusive. We also often hear that the B or the T is being left out.
That being said there are some unifying themes that we all share. We all have the struggle of being closeted, and embracing and coming to terms with our identities, and we all share an opposition that hates us and wants to deny us rights.
There are other indications that maybe the "community" part of the debate is valid. During the 1980's at the height of the AIDS crisis, Lesbians were at the hospital beds of dying gay men. Many people don't know that some of the greatest leaders in ACT-UP (an organization set to fight HIV/AIDS discrimination) were lesbian women.
Stonewall was started by the acts of many brave and angry Transgender people which paved the way for the rights and empowerment of Gays and Lesbians.
The Gays who have a substantially larger population have accepted the Trans community and brought their issues and legislation to the forefront. Had it just been Trans people alone, their movement would not have advanced as quickly or at all.
So that being said there are divisions but there is also love and unity.
How do YOU define community and do Queers fit that mold?
Demand Apology for Transphobic Boston Herald Article
"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)are encouraging people to contact the Boston Herald and ask editors to apologize for the paper’s offensive slurs and sensationalistic coverage of transgender people.
On July 7, the paper posted an article online about a police operation headlined “Undercover ‘john’ takes on trannies, pimps” and focused on a Boston-area detective who goes undercover to arrest sex workers. The article repeatedly referred to transgender women as “trannies” and opened the story by describing how the detective has been “trapped inside houses of ill repute by giant naked trannies.” The article was also published in the July 8 print edition."
Read the article here: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1105340
Please contact the Boston Herald and call on them to issue an apology.
Boston Herald Contacts:
Jessica Van Sack
City Reporter
jvansack@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6437
Kevin Convey
Editor in Chief
Boston Herald
kconvey@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6403
Joe Dwinell
City Executive Co-Editor
jdwinell@bostonherald.com
(617) 619-6177
H/T to Queah's Blog for the story.
Australian Activists Set to Protest Pope's Visit
"The NoToPope Coalition is inviting all civil libertarians, sexual health workers, condom producers, gays/ lesbians/ queers, women's rights activists, abortion providers, Christians and faith/holders, to challenge NSW governments attacks on free speech."
The NoToPope Coalition will peacefully protest on Saturday July 19th 12 noon at Taylor Square, Darlinghurst.
Youth Against World Youth Day are rallying in Melbourne Sunday July 13, 1:30pm (speakers from 2pm), Step of Parliament House, Spring St, Melbourne. Call Jason 0407781406
A kiss-in and condom distribution action will take place in Brisbane on Saturday July 19th at 3pm in Queens Park. Call Luke 0400 195 203 Dominic Hale o431 638 772
For Adelaide's Kiss-in Queen Street, Bowden Saturday July 19th at 2.30pm for 3pm please contact: Troy-Anthony Baylis 0439 684 876 or Jess Cronin 0438 668 370
Lismore NoToPope event at Winsome Hotel contact Tara 02 6629 5358
For Newcastle call Star 0410 326 006
http://www.notopope.com/
Mayor Jim Naugle Obsessed with Homosexuality Yet Again!
"Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle spoke with 850 WFTL in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. The outgoing mayor, well-known for his positions that gays are "unhappy", says he thinks a "responsible homosexual" could fill his seat: "He defined that as one who rejects the idea that it's OK to take over public parks for gay sex, and who would 'do something about the AIDS crisis here, recognizing promiscuous activity has a heavy cost on life and dollars.'"
The bigot ahem I mean mayor is leaving office shortly. Anyways, feel free to send him your thoughts (he usually replies to emails).
mayorjames@aol.com
Friday, July 11, 2008
Word of the Gay: "Ex-Gay"
The "Ex-Gay" movement are people who claim to have once been LGBT and have converted their sexual orientation to straight or their gender identity to match their biological sex. Most so called "Ex-Gays" are driven by religious values that disparage homosexuality/transsexuality and regard it as sin. The "Ex-Gay" movement uses reparative therapy to try and "fix" LGBT people but it is a complete sham. The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association dismiss the notion that sexuality and gender identity can be changed and regard the practice as unscientific and dangerous to the mental well being of people.
Boycott Manchester Grand Hyatt, and the Grand Del Mar in California
"Same-sex marriage advocates urged travelers Thursday to boycott two hotels owned by a San Diego County businessman who gave $125,000 to a group backing a California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.
Doug Manchester, who owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego and the Grand Del Mar golf resort near La Jolla, donated the money to the National Organization for Marriage in January"
Email the top management at these hotels!
H/T to Blog Active for the story.
Blog Spotlight: "Planet Transgender"
Today's Blog Spotlight and shout goes to Kelli's blog "Planet Transgender." The blog is a wonderful resource with great news stories, videos, and general information for the LGBT community and its allies to get involved and learn more!
Check it out... http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/
Dancing With the Gays?
The media rumors are flying that Lance Bass the openly gay singer from the pop music band N'Sync will be on the ABC hit show "Dancing with the Stars." To add to the twist, the show is considering pairing him up with a professional male dancer. This would be the first time a same-sex couple would be seen on the show dancing and would be broadcast to millions of homes across the globe.
Click Here for ABC's E-Contact Form - Tell Them You Want Gay Duo on Dancing with the Stars!
*Photo courtsey of pizzpancakes on Creative Commons.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Stop The Radio Hall of Fame from Honoring Anti-Gay Bigot James Dobson
Sign the Truth Wins Out Petition!
"To fight back against this offensive decision, TWO strongly urges fair-minded people to take three actions. First, sign TWO’s formal request to have James Dobson removed from consideration.
Second, contact Museum of Broadcast Communications CEO Bruce DuMont directly, brucedumont@museum.tv, to express your displeasure.
Third, as an option, vote for nominees other than James Dobson or Laura Schlessinger (the general public may vote, and the other nominees are Bob Costas and Howard Stern). It is urgent to act now, as voting comes to a close on July 15."
Word of the Gay: "Dyke"
"Dyke" has traditionally been an offensive term for Lesbians who are noticeably more masculine. The term can still be used in a pejorative fashion but has also been reclaimed by Lesbian activists who view the word in a positive light. The term has become a description for independent, assertive, and tough Lesbian identified females.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
URGENT ALERT: Demand Asylum for Bisexual Nigerian Woman & Family
"“Time is running out for a bisexual woman who has been denied refugee status in Canada. Jane Okojie is scheduled to be deported to Nigeria on Thu, Jul 10 where she says she and her two children will face persecution because of her bisexuality.” (Queerty)
Click to Email the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada(IRB)info@irb-cisr.gc.ca and demand asylum for Ms. Jane Okojie.
Blog Spotlight: "Asexy Beast"
Today's blog spotlight and shout goes to "Asexy Beast" a wonderful blog for Asexuals and allies. From serious convo to light hearted fun, "Asexy Beast" has the ins and out of living as an Asexual and the trials, tribulations, and joys of being the A.
Check out Ily's Blog at http://theonepercentclub.blogspot.com/
Tyra Banks a True Ally to the LGBT Community
I just watched an episode of The Tyra Banks Show featuring Transsexual models from the world famous Trantasia Trans beauty pageant documentary. In the words of one of the guests who thanked Tyra she said "thanks for not exploiting transsexuals but merely educating."
The Tyra Banks show has consistently portrayed Bisexual, Transgender, Gay and Lesbian people in a positive light and has done a lot for the visibility of our movement and to share our stories.
In that spirit please join me in thanking Tyra Banks for her commitment to sharing our stories and educating about the lives of LGBT people.
Email Tyra! (Tyra sends all who email a free autographed photo as a special thank-you gift)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Rock the Vote With an Obama PRIDE T-Shirt!
Support the campaign and show your pride with this Obama Pride logo T-shirt.
Make a donation of $30 or more and receive a special edition Obama Pride logo T-shirt.
Click Here to Order an Obama Pride T-Shirt!
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