Word of the Gay: "Gaydom"

"Gaydom" is a term used to describe gay culture and the gay community.

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.

Wanda Sykes - Newest Member of the Gay Community

Comedian and same-sex marriage activist Wanda Sykes has announced today that she is gay and has married her partner. Wanda Sykes at a rally in Las Vegas today said:

"You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life," Sykes told a crowd at a gay rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"Everybody that knows me personally they know I'm gay. But that's the way people should be able to live their lives," she said.

"Now, I gotta get in their face," she said. "I'm proud to be a woman. I'm proud to be a black woman, and I'm proud to be gay." (AP)

Welcome aboard Wanda Sykes, you definitely make my list of top 3 funniest lesbian comics.

Open Forum: Are We a Biological Error?

Anti-gay former talkshow host and author Dr. Laura Schlessinger once said "gays are a biological error." It caused a storm of uproar among the LGBT community who urged a boycott against her and ultimately led the fight to the rescinding of her show.

Science is definitely on the side of homosexuality being biological, every few months new reports are released indicating that sexual orientation and gender identity have a biological component to them. Whether it be an overdose or underdose of hormones during pregnancy, some chemical composition, or a nerve related issue, it appears likely that being queer is strongly connected to our biological composition.

This eliminates the argument that being queer is a choice, puts a rest to nature versus nurture debate, and validates the notion that "we are born LGBTQIA". It also brings into the debate a whole new controversial arena. If something occurred during pregnancy or our DNA is different and influenced our sexuality or gender, are we a biological error? Might something have gone wrong during the process which rendered us defective?

I think as we advance in the realm of science we will find more and more evidence of the strong connection between sexuality and biology, but this will bring up the question of whether homosexuality/transsexuality are a genetic mutation that can be fixed.

All kinds of groups who are different be they gay, trans, intersex, asexual, might be considered an error that could be fixed by scientific altering?

Thoughts?

Join The Impact - National Protest Against Prop 8!

On Saturday November 15th cities in every state across the nation will be protesting the passing of proposition 8 which eliminated same-sex marriage in California. Find the protest location nearest you, or organize one yourself! The website also provides, media relations, badges, protest signs, videos and more. Get involved in demonstrating the power of equality across the nation this Saturday.

Join The Impact!

Click your state below to learn more.

Alabama	Indiana	Nebraska	South Carolina
Alaska	Iowa	Nevada	South Dakota
Arizona	Kansas	New Hampshire	Tennessee
Arkansas	Kentucky	New Jersey	Texas
California	Louisiana	New Mexico	Utah
Colorado	Maine	New York	Vermont
Connecticut	Maryland	North Carolina	Virginia
Delaware	Massachusetts	North Dakota	Washington
Florida	Michigan	Ohio	Washington DC
Georgia	Minnesota	Oklahoma	West Virginia
Hawaii	Mississippi	Oregon	Wisconsin
Idaho	Missouri	Pennsylvania	Wyoming
Illinois	Montana	Rhode Island	*International*

Stop the Transphobia on MSN Lifestyle!

In article called "Pop Go the Weasels" by Jason Daley of MSN Lifestyle, he writes about the 10 worst fatherhood role models.

In this article he lists Thomas Beatie the pregnant transgender man, as the third worst possible father figure.

"3. Thomas Beatie
Teaching kids about sex is tough enough. But when this bearded, deep-voiced transgendered Oregon man popped out a bundle of joy earlier this year, our jobs as fathers became even more complicated: "Sit down, son. I need to talk to you about the birds, the bees…and the trannies." Oof."

First off, where does Mr. Daley get off judging someones parenting skills whom he doesn't know. Second his use of the transphobic word "trannies" is unacceptable. It is people like Mr. Daley that make fatherhood more "complicated" because they impose their own notions of gender identity on society.

Got something to say about it? Email MSN Lifestyle.

Word of the Gay: "Gate-Swinger"

A "gate-swinger" is someone who can go both ways, otherwise known as a bisexual. "Gate-swingers" alternate between opposite sex, and same-sex relationships.

Call to Action: Urge Governor Schwarzenegger to Uphold the Constitution!

Our anti-gay foes over at the Family Research Council are urging their constituents to email Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and let him know that he should "defend the people's decision on marriage."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) since the election has come out saying prop 8 was a bad move, and that LGBT groups must keep on fighting till we win.

Please join me in contacting the governor urging him to remain committed to marriage equality, and to overturning prop 8.

E-contact Form.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841

Blue Jersey Marriage Equality Videos

Blue Jersey, a progressive group based in New Jersey has put out some cute marriage equality videos in light of the states likely upgrade to marriage from the current law of civil unions.

Overturn Prop 8 Petition - EQCA

Equality California is committed to defeating proposition 8. Please sign the petition to stand with the organization to overturn prop 8 either through the courts or through another voter referendum in 2010.
http://www.eqca.org/petition

Word of the Gay: "Homo-fascism"

"Homo-fascism" is a word used by anti-gay opponents asserting that the homosexual lobby is somehow fascist in nature and trying to impose a gay agenda on the world, as well as restrict the speech of those who are opposed to homosexuality and transsexuality.

"My Family" - Video Compilation of LGBTQ Families

OUT of touch!

OUT magazine a gay publication releases an annual list of the top 100 people deemed most influential in the gay community. This year they have controversial singer Katy Perry on the front of their magazine. Perry sings about kissing a girl and liking it, but does her supposed sexual exploration really get classified as bisexuality? Give me a break. This song was nothing more than lyrics about an experimental kiss, and radio ratings and publicity.

The right wing has criticized Katy Perry for promoting homosexuality. While the LGBT community is outraged over her lyrics to "I kissed a girl" and "Ur so Gay." The first song criticized as just experimental and degrading of true lesbian and bisexual women, and the latter homophobic and violent towards gay men.

If Katy Perry is influential in the gay community because of her homophobic songs, maybe OUT should also honor Fred Phelps, he also preaches about homosexuals and gains a lot of media attention.

out-letters@out.com
(310) 943-5858

Signing for Something - Resign From the Mormon Church

Hundreds of gay and straight Mormons are resigning from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints over the Church's funding and propaganda regarding proposition 8, that led to a ban on same-sex marriage in California.

Many families with deep ties to the LDS Church are resigning in droves because they feel it was wrong for the church to get involved with a political issue, especially one that is as divisive as gay marriage. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been taught, “We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government …” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:9). In addition many Mormons do not feel their faith represents them on the issue of homosexuality, and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

Below is a recent news assignment done covering the Signing for Something movement which has now helped hundreds of people leave the LDS movement.



http://signingforsomething.org/blog/

Rebuild The Party - Feedback Forum for the GOP

The Grand Old Party, hasn't exactly been the Gay Old Party, at least not openly. The Republicans after suffering major defeats at the polls this month are looking for suggestions to move forward. I am sure you have plenty ideas of your own.

Here are some of my ideas (feel free to steal them) in your message to the GOP.

-Stop using gays and lesbians as a political wedge issue.

-Remove language from the party platform that seeks to eliminate rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

-Be more inclusive of the Log Cabin Republicans an (LGBT GOP organization).

-Less government means no constitutional amendments, and not policing what people do in their homes/bedrooms.

http://ideas.rebuildtheparty.com/