Queers United in Top 25 Gay Rights Blogs

It is flattering to see that Queers United has been listed as one of the top 25 most influential gay rights blog. It is also great that the site Online Paralegal Degree notes our effort to include all sexual and gender minorities and not just focus solely on gay and lesbian issues.

"Queers United stands as one of the few blogs which actively seeks out relating to intersexual and asexual issues in addition to the usual GLBT news. They promote the importance of activism and education as the best routes towards obtaining equality for the community, citing Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and other nonviolent civil rights leaders as their main influences. Content encompasses issues, developments, and movements from around the United States, and readers can handily pick what subjects they would like to learn more about from a tab at the top of the menu."

Thanks to Online Paralegal Degree for recognizing us and the other great blogs listed on there! Thank you to all readers for your continued support and e-activism, and please also visit the other great sites listed!

The Cleveland Show Features Transphobic Episode

The Cleveland Show an animated series spin off of the Family Guy which appears on Fox has created a disgustingly transphobic episode.

The character Auntie Mama a beloved but "outrageous" woman who is overtly sexual and has poor manners is discovered by Cleveland to have a penis. Cleveland immediately declares her a man and feels sick to his stomach over his discovery. Cleveland's father hits on Auntie Mama and has sex with her and Cleveland debates how to tell his dad that "Auntie Mama is really a man" There were many jokes over her gender identity, and her genitalia. Cleveland confronts Auntie Mama and her voice suddenly deepens and she says she pretends to be a woman so that his wife whose mother died can have a feminine influence in her life. Ultimately, both Cleveland and his dad vomit several times to show their overt disgust with finding out that Auntie Mama is trans.

The entire episode can be seen below:



This show is problematic on multiple levels, for one it questions the characters gender identity, it makes fun of gender, and it reinforces the misconception that transgender people are purposefully deceptive.

Contact Fox to let them know your thoughts:
askfox@fox.com

The Cleveland Show on Twitter.

H/T to Bilerico Project.

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.

Open Forum: How Do You Self-Identify?

I'm bringing this post back because it was so popular and I'd like to get more of an idea of where my readers are coming from and who they are.

It would be interesting to know how most people who participate here identify. Don't feel the need to classify but if you wish to opine...

Sexual Orientation: Are you gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual, questioning, pansexual, straight?

Gender Identity: Are you male female, intersex, m2f, f2m, androgyne, genderqueer, questioning?

The Soulforce Equality Ride 2010

Soulforce an organization dedicated to freedom for LGBT people from religious and political oppression through the practice of non-violent means is taking to the road again this year to send 25 LGBTQ youth to colleges and universities that do not allow openly homosexual students.

The Equality Ride is a nationwide bus trip that stops at anti-equality academic institutions and seeks to engage and dialogue on issues relating to sexuality, gender identity and affirming verses in scripture. The students engage in non-violent direct action, and even accept arrest when universities demand they leave their premises and they refuse to comply.

Please support the Equality Ride by making a much needed donation, to support the costs of the bus, food, accommodations, and bail needed for riders.

A Thanksgiving Message to Pro-Equality Democrats

This Thanksgiving send a message of thanks to Democrats who have led the fight for LGBT equality in congress. The message of thanks through the Stonewall Democrats form goes to Representatives: Conyers, Frank, Murphy, Baldwin, Nadler, Sanchez, Honda, Stark, Christensen and Senators: Merkley, Leahy, and Whitehouse. They are the movers and shakers behind legislation such as the Matthew Shepard Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Act, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, the Respect of Marriage Act, the Uniting American Families Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Reuniting Families Act, and the Every Child Deserves A Family Act.

Fill out the form to send them a Thanksgiving card of appreciation!

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my readers, have a happy & healthy Thanksgiving. Thanks for your support and love.

In honor of the day, I leave you with a funny segment about coming out on the holidays which aired on the Joy Behar show yesterday.

The Changing face of Same-Gender Loving Students at Historically Black Colleges

The Human Rights Campaigns Historically Black Colleges and Universities program is an effort to create dialogue and awareness about LGBT issues among these schools. The effort is to help bring dialogue, campus organizations, and resources dedicated to LGBT students of color and their allies.


Students can join existing LGBT clubs at a HBCU, or create your own organization or event!

Faculty and staff can also help create safer, more welcoming and affirming academic institutions.

ABC's Good Morning America Boots Adam Lambert

The ABC networks Good Morning America has canceled a scheduled concert by performer Adam Lambert citing his "controversial" behavior at the American Music Awards this past weekend where he engaged in homoerotic behavior as part of his show.

A spokesperson for ABC said:

"Given his controversial American Music Awards performance, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning."

Twitter is up in a storm with hashtags #GMAfail and #ShameOnYouAbc trending.

Contact Good Morning America via their e-contact form and twitter to express outrage.

Double Standard on Adam Lambert's Display of Sexuality

On ABC's The View American Idol runner up singer Adam Lambert's display at the American Music Award's was the subject of heated discussion. Typically, more conservative co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck takes issue with Lambert's "sexual aggression" and Sherri Sheperd says "she wasn't pleased" with the AMA "lesbian kiss" between Madonna and Britney Spears either.



There is no doubt that Adam Lambert wanted to be edgy by appearing on stage with a man on a leash, receiving mock oral sex, and making out with a man on live TV but he is being singled out by some in the media for this behavior. The reaction is testament to the fact that Americans are still very uncomfortable with overt sexuality and non-heteronormative behavior being displayed.

Tell Hasselbeck and Sheperd not to single out Adam Lambert or gay behavior in general, he didn't do anything wrong, he is an artist, and many heterosexuals have been equally if not more overt about their sexuality, but weren't singled out because heterosexuality is the norm in our society.

Contact Hasselbeck on twitter.

Contact Sheperd on twitter.

E-contact form for The View.

Fox News Takes Side Against Gay & Trans Inclusive Sex Ed

In a segment called the Fox News 'Medical A Team' hosted by Trace Gallagher the discussion topic centered around a new magazine for teens called Sex Etc. The controversy was around the fact that the sex education magazine was allowed to stay on the shelves of an Iowa library even after 100 parents signed a petition against it.

The panel like most on Fox News, took a completely one sided opinion, that being that sex education has no place, and that it should be simply up to parents. Furthermore the panel takes issue with the queer content.

Dr. David Samadi (Fox News Medical Contributor) says "I'm not sure what kind of transgender information is out there but it is a little bit upsetting"

Followed by a comment from Dr. Cynara Cooner (Fox News Medical Contributor) who asserts that "not every parent wants their child to understand transgender, lesbian and gay issues"

The segment is ended with Dr. Manny Alvarez (Fox News Senior Medical Contributor) who admits that "STD rates are astronomical among teens, but that this type of magazine isn't good"

Tell Fox News that "fair & balanced" means actually representing both sides of a debate, tell them to cover pro-sex education and pro-LGBT doctors and educators.

yourcomments@foxnews.com
Phone Fox News: 1-888-369-4762

Buying for Equality 2010

The Human Rights Campaign has released their annual 'Buying for Equality' guide that scores businesses and products based on their commitment to LGBT equality.

The LGBT community is estimated to have $712 billion in buying power this year, according to research by Witeck-Combs Communications and MarketResearch.com. A recent study by Witeck-Combs/Harris Interactive also found that 78 percent of LGBT people are extremely or very likely to consider brands that are known to provide equal workplace benefits for their employees, including LGBT workers (HRC).

Be sure to check out which companies are supportive of equality by clicking here.

Also, be sure to contact supportive businesses and thank 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.

Open Forum: Metrosexuality - The Unlikely Ally for Gay Liberation?

"Metrosexual" is a term given for straight men who are very concerned with their appearance and maintain stereotypes generally associated with gay men. This 21st century man cares about his look, feel, and scent and will go to extremes to make sure he meets his own standards. This can include grooming such as facials, pedicures, manicures, waxing, as well as high end fashion and cologne. Some men do it for themselves, because they just like to pamper themselves and others feel it will attract women.

The gay community has a varied stance on the subject matter. On one hand metrosexuals are being accused of appropriating from gay culture, on the other hand gays feel like they can't stand out and know who is one of them anymore. The possible upside to metrosexuality is that these stereotypes are falling wayside and there is no such thing as a "gay look" anymore. If so many people look "gay" or are perceived to be regardless of their actual sexual orientation, than real gay people who enjoy pampering themselves and who may be effeminate are no longer outcasts but just another large segment of the male population.

Also, in responding consider the impact on lesbian and bisexual women, as well as implications for the transgender community. While the term metrosexual really has traditionally applied to "straight men who act gay" there are many straight women who cut their hair short, act rugged and are blurring the lines between heterosexual women and stereotypical lesbian attributes.

What do you think? Yay or nay to metrosexuality, and what is the impact for queer culture?

Transgender Day of Rememberance 11/20/09

Today, November 20th marks the eleventh Transgender Day of Remembrance, a solemn time to think back and honor our transgender brothers and sisters who were murdered for being who they are. Sadly 2009 witnessed an alarming increase in trans attacks and deaths and many of these were horrific acts of brutality simply because a person has a different gender identity or expression than society expects of them.



Suggested actions for the day:
-Candlelight vigils / marches
-Visual representation of the number of deaths with:
-Cardboard tomb stones of remembered people
-Paper cutouts of remembered people
-Body outline chalkings of remembered people
-Art / photography displays
-Conversation & awareness about trans issues

For a complete listing of memorial events please visit International Transgender Day of Remembrance.