Minorias aos milhões

Mais do que o retrato de uma classe, a parada gay de São Paulo é um retrato do povo brasileiro

06 de junho de 2010 | 1h 21

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Santiago Nazarian - O Estado de S.Paulo

A Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo é o maior evento do gênero no mundo. Estima-se que mais de 3 milhões de pessoas passaram pela última e a tendência é que o número aumente este ano. Mais de 3 milhões de gays, lésbicas, bissexuais e transgêneros, incluindo uma parcela significativa de simpatizantes. É um evento que nasceu da busca pela cidadania, respeito e direitos iguais, mas hoje se assemelha a um carnaval fora de época, com sexo livre pelas ruas, consumo desenfreado de drogas e bebidas, assaltos e uma programação intensa de festas paralelas nos clubes da cidade. E daí?

Pesquisas apontam como 10% a parcela de gays entre a população. Infelizmente, ainda é esperar muito que 10% da população brasileira (ou paulistana), seja educadinha, politizada, limpinha e com a libido sob controle. Mais do que um retrato de uma classe, a parada é um retrato do povo brasileiro ? e é importante que seja assim. É desejável e seria louvável que a parada fosse mais organizada, politizada, limpa e segura ? mas não é esse ainda o país em que vivemos. E os gays não vivem num mundo à parte. Mais do que dar um bom exemplo, a parada está aí para dar exemplos. Ser homossexual não é prova de caráter.

Questiona-se por que a parada paulistana se tornou tão grande. Não é fácil entender? São Paulo é das maiores cidades do mundo. O brasileiro é "um povo carnavalesco", com poucas opções de divertimento. Pronto. A importância da parada hoje se dá principalmente pelo seu volume. E talvez o volume seja mais importante do que o foco. São esses milhões que podem parar a Av. Paulista e emporcalhar as ruas. Milhões ? não é um personagem coadjuvante a cada quatro novelas ou um rapazinho no fundo da classe. É importante que as pessoas vejam. E se os clubes resolvem fazer festas, as empresas resolvem distribuir publicidade, qual é o mal?

Estamos no mês dos namorados. Propagandas com casaizinhos apaixonados rodam na TV. Os gays não estão lá. O homossexual ainda está longe de ter sua representatividade na mídia, nas artes. Entre os artistas, só assumem os que não conseguem disfarçar. Galã não pode se assumir gay porque ? diz-se ? vai afastar o público feminino. O adolescente que começa a se perceber diferente não se reconhece ? não tem exemplos ? "eu não sou afeminado", "não gosto de homens musculosos". É difícil se assumir diferente quando exemplos são só estereótipos.

Diz-se que a parada reforça estereótipos. Bem, são 3 milhões de pessoas, a imensa maioria tão neutra fisicamente quanto qualquer imensa maioria. Natural que, entre cem manos de bermuda e boné, uma drag queen se destaque. Natural que a imprensa prefira fotografar alguns milhares de drags e transexuais do que alguns milhões de manos. Mas quem está na parada vê o que qualquer homossexual com alguma estrada pode ver diariamente ? que os gays são seus colegas, dentistas, açougueiros, professores, cobradores de ônibus e pais de família.

Pode-se alegar que hoje já não há tanto preconceito ? os gays não estão sempre no Big Brother? (Já chegaram até a ganhar!) Mas a homossexualidade ainda é vista como uma coisa distante ? "não na minha família!". O que é visto com simpatia na televisão ou na Av. Paulista tem outros olhos dentro de casa ? e olhares de ódio em outras cidades.

Frases de senso comum são proferidas em programas de TV por pretensas simpatizantes bem-intencionadas: "Adoro os gays, mas não gostaria que meu filho fosse porque sei que ele sofreria com o preconceito". Por que não ouvimos "adoro os gordos, mas não gostaria que meu filho fosse"? Provavelmente, no meio artístico, alguém acima do peso é fruto de tanto preconceito quanto um homossexual. Mas sempre se pode emagrecer.

Os exemplos servem para vencer o preconceito. Para quê? Para que não tenha tanta gente apanhando, para que não tenha tanto gay se matando; para que não tenha tanto marido fugindo de noite de casa para pegar garoto de programa na rua; enfim, para que as mães possam aceitar e educar seus filhos para serem mais limpinhos, educadinhos, saudáveis e politizados. A palavra de ordem é "diversidade" e a Parada GLBT ? com orgulho ou não ? está aí para mostrar isso.

SANTIAGO NAZARIAN, ESCRITOR, É AUTOR DE

FERIADO DE MIM MESMO, ENTRE OUTROS



Tópicos: , Suplementos, Aliás

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Via JMG: This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

Illinois: Pastor Christian J. Johnson and his wife arrested for car theft and meth possession.
Maryland: Pentecostal Bishop Roan Samuel Faulkner arrested for sexually assaulting a female parishioner.
Canada: Bishop Raymond Lahey set to begin trial for possession of child pornography. Lahey has also been accused of molesting an orphan boy in his care.
New York: Pastor Phillip Joubert puts his church up for bail collateral after being charged with rape, incest, and sexual abuse of a child. Joubert does not own the church.
Maryland: Father Michael L. Barnes pleads guilty to child molestation.
Ireland: Father Oliver O'Grady will get $94K from his diocese in an annuity payment, even though he's been convicted of child molestation.
Connecticut: Pastor Iura Godenciuc to pay $26K in fines after larceny arrest for lying about his address to change the school his kids attend. The school district says he owes $76K.
Australia: Father Victor Farrugia charged with eight counts of indecent sexual assault.
Florida: Youth Pastor Paul A. Lisowski stabs himself in the neck as deputies close in to arrest him for violating a protection order on an underage girl.
Nigeria: Father Felix Afolayan charged with defrauding 110 people of millions by promising them Canadian visas.
Colorado: Pastor Douglas Alan Scott loses appeal on $12M hedge fund scam conviction. Scott defrauded more than 400 parishioners.
Italy: Bishop Gino Reali charged as an accessory for covering up multiple child molestations committed by a priest in his diocese.

This Week's Winner
Denmark: In 2005 a Catholic priest in charge of teaching children was convicted of downloading 38 child pornography films, but it wasn't until last month that he was suspended. And Bishop Czeslaw Kozlon, head of the Catholic Church in Denmark, didn't even tell his parish why the suspension finally took place. (They learned the truth from reporters.) The Danish Catholic Church is also facing accusations that an elderly senile nun froze to death after she was locked out of church for making noise during the morning prayers.reposted from Joe

Sen. Kerry called the couple heroes for persevering in their marriage

Gay couple get a boost in winning bid to reunite

Kerry helps Brazilian return to Haverhill

Tim Coco (left) with Genesio Oliveira and their dog, Q-tip, at home in Haverhill yesterday. Oliveira can now try again for legal residency. (David Kamerman for The Boston Globe)

By Maria Sacchetti Globe Staff / June 4, 2010

Tim Coco and Genesio Oliveira married in 2005, among the throngs who wed after same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts. But for nearly three years, they lived apart — Coco in Haverhill and Oliveira in his native Brazil — because federal law does not recognize their union.

make the jump here to read the entire article

Via JMG: GLAAD Demands Apology From Bill O'Reilly For Comparing Gays To Al Qaeda

GLAAD has issued a call to action, demanding that Fox's Bill O'Reilly issue an apology for comparing gays to al Queda.

On the June 2 edition of Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” host Bill O’Reilly made highly offensive comments while discussing a gay themed McDonald’s advertisement currently airing in France. After playing the ad for his viewers O’Reilly asked Jane Skinner to weigh in on the content. Skinner pointed out that the ad campaign is “part of an overreaching campaign called ‘come as you are,’ which you saw at the end there. So they show people in different walks of life.” O’Reilly then asked, “Do they have an al Qaeda ad, you know, come as you are? You know?” Instead of evaluating the commercial in a fair manner, O’Reilly used the occasion to defame the LGBT community, suggesting that McDonald’s might begin marketing to terrorists simply because the company produced a gay friendly television commercial. His lighthearted tone in the segment was equally disturbing. Cable opinion programs like “The O’Reilly Factor” have a responsibility to cover issues with a level of respect and civility. Bill O’Reilly failed to live up to that standard in making these defamatory remarks. Fox News Channel is equally accountable for allowing O’Reilly a platform for this insulting and irresponsible commentary.

Join in GLAAD's demand here.

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Happy Gay Pride From Tony Perkins

"Happy sexual deviance month--or, as this President likes to call it, Gay Pride Month. Under this administration, every month feels like one long same-sex parade. For the second year in a row, however, the White House decided to make it official, weighing in with its second proclamation for 'Gay Pride Month' detailing how homosexuals and cross-dressers have "enriched' American life. Unlike President Clinton, who spent a fair amount of his time indulging the Human Rights Campaign, President Obama took it a step further and added 'bisexuals' and 'transgenders' to the list. In fact, he called on 'every American' to spend the month celebrating their movement--a movement dedicated to destroying marriage, free speech, public health, religious liberty, and (after the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal) national security." - From yesterday's Washington Update by the Family Research Council, a message that was also emailed to their millions of members.

The Family Research Council wants LGBT people criminalized.
The Family Research Council wants LGBT people deported.
The Family Research Council wants LGBT people put to death.

And yet every time an LGBT rights issue is in the news, Tony Perkins or Peter Sprigg are trotted out on national television as America's leading Christian voices as they tut-tut their hatred, smirk their oily smiles, and promise viewers that they love homosexuals, despite our "sins."

Stormfront loves blacks.
Al Qaeda loves Jews.
Hutus love Tutsis.
And the Family Research Council loves you.reposted from Joe

Via JMG: UNITED NATIONS: Egypt Blocks LGBT Rights Group From Accreditation

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's request for accreditation as a consulting group to the United Nations has been blocked by Egypt.

The group, which had applied for "consultative status" at the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) three years ago, is an international NGO and advocacy group focusing on protecting the rights of homosexuals and lesbians worldwide. Diplomats from Western nations that support gay rights complained that Egypt and other developing states that have been criticized by rights groups for discriminating against gays and lesbians prevented the committee from voting on whether to accredit the group, thereby leaving it in limbo. "IGLHRC is disappointed by the vote of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations to block action on our application," Cary Alan Johnson, head of the New York-based group, said in a statement to Reuters.

The U.N. NGO committee has 19 members, among them the United States and Britain, as well as Egypt, Sudan, Qatar, Pakistan and China. Johnson said it was a "clear case of discrimination against an organization because it defends the human rights of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual) people around the world." The U.S. delegation defended the work of IGLHRC. "This NGO is committed to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," the U.S. statement said. "It has contributed to valuable research on HIV/AIDs and its work is well known to this committee."

According to the British delegation, Egypt blocked IGLHRC "on behalf of African countries."

via JMG: WaPo Picks Up My FRC Post

The Washington Post's David Weigel has picked up my post about the Family Research Council lobbying against Uganda's "kill gays" bill.

Gay City News and blogger Joe My God dug into the lobbying records of the Family Research Council and found that among the "Civil Rights/Civil Liberties" issues that the FRC's Tom McCluskey and David Christensen lobbied on was HR 1064, a resolution condemning Uganda's proposed anti-homosexuality bill. That's the bill that would assign a seven-year sentence for "homosexuality" and a possible death sentence for "aggravated homosexuality."

Should this come as a surprise? Well, it's the only issue under the "Civil Rights/Civil Liberties" heading that doesn't actually touch on a change to American laws. The resolution, proposed by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Ca.), spends most of its length arguing that Uganda's efforts to fight AIDS would be impeded by the law and proclaims that "all people possess an intrinsic human dignity, regardless of sexual orientation, and share fundamental human rights." In the FRC's report, this resolution is short-handed as "pro-homosexual promotion."

Weigel has posted the FRC's lobbying report in full, as well as the wording of the House resolution. He is waiting for the Family Research Council to respond.

a post lifted from Joe

Via another list: JUST A RANDOM THOUGHT....

the writer says:

I was walking through my midtown neighborhood of Lavendar Heights a little while ago, and since this section of Midtown is the "gay ghetto" of Sacramento, how come there aren't any rainbow flags or gay-related events posted on lightposts, stop lights, etc, you know kind of similar to what it's like down in the Castro. I think it would be a great idea to show our presence in this great neighborhood, other than just walking down or driving through the area streets. I was thinking how interesting it would be if the city did decide to put up those rectangular rainbow flags up and down the major thoroughfares, like 21st St, 19th St, P St, N St, K St, J St, etc, you know like you see in San Francisco. Since Sacramento has the sixth largest gay and lesbian population (percentage-wise) in the United States at around 33,000 or so, why not go for that idea?

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Admiral Mike Mullen

"The law needs to change. Fundamentally, it’s an issue of our values. It’s very critical for us as an institution, and I’m hard-pressed not to support policy and a law that forces individuals to come in and lie everyday. I have every expectation that not only we will do this, but we will lead in a way [so] it gets done. That doesn’t mean we won’t have challenges. I want to understand what the possibilities are … what it’s going take to implement this and, in that regard, address the leadership challenges and implementation with expectations that at the small-unit level, not exclusively, it will be led and led well. I have a lot of faith in you that that’s doable." - Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, speaking to soldiers yesterday at Fort Bragg.

Perhaps referencing the ridiculous claim by the Family Research Council that openly gay soldiers will lead to rampant male rape, one soldier asked Mullen if repealing DADT wouldn't lead to increases cases of sexual harassment. Mullen responded: "Certainly any change in the laws is not an excuse for anything like that to ever happen. We are a disciplined force. We have standards. Maintaining those standards, sustaining that discipline is our job, no matter what happens."

(Tipped by JMG reader Matt)reposted from Joe

Quote of the day (via JMG discssion):

To know a person’s religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance.

— Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind, aphorism 215 (1955)

Via JMG: CHRISTIAN LOVE: Family Research Council Lobbied Congress Against Resolution Denouncing Uganda's Kill Gays Bill

It's time for the Southern Poverty Law Center to reclassify the Family Research Council as an official hate group, not merely anti-gay as they are now listed. According to the FRC's official lobbying report for the first quarter of 2010, they paid two two of their henchmen $25,000 to lobby Congress against approving a resolution denouncing Uganda's plan to execute homosexuals. The resolution passed in the Senate on April 13th, but remains languished in the House almost four months after being referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee. Did the FRC's lobbying kill it? As we learned last week with Malawi, international pressure CAN sway even the most virulently anti-gay government.

Below are three screencaps of the 20-page Family Research Council lobbying report supplied to me by Duncan Osbourne at Gay City News. Among the other items they lobbied against are the overturn of DADT and DOMA, which is to be expected. But it's almost astounding, almost, that they would lobby the members of Congress against denouncing the death penalty for LGBT people. THIS needs to fucking THROWN in Tony Perkins' and Peter Sprigg's smirking faces the next time they appear on cable television to speak in soothing voices about the FRC's godly gentle love for homosexuals. The proof is right below on official United States government stationery. The Family Research Council wants you DEAD. Glory! Praise His Name! Also: Die, faggots, die!
reposted from Joe

T-shirt of the day

Via Stuart Gaffney on Facebook: IRS adopts state domestic-partner property law

"In a significant move for same-sex couples, the Internal Revenue Service has decided to recognize California's community property law and treat the income earned by California registered domestic partners as community property income for federal income tax purposes."

IRS adopts state domestic-partner property law

www.sfgate.com

In a significant move for same-sex couples, the Internal Revenue Service has decided to recognize California's community property law and treat the income earned by California registered domestic partners as community...

Via Belirico:Obama shifting responsibly for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Filed by: Rev Irene Monroe

June 3, 2010 8:30 AM

Last week, with a vote of 230 to 191, the House of Representatives voted to repeal former President Bill Clinton's 1993 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy that bars lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer service members from serving openly in the military. On the same day the House passed to repeal DADT, so too did the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"This legislation will help make our armed forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity," President Obama told the Associated Press.

But at the end of the day of all this historic voting, last week, the plight of our LGBTQ service members remained unchanged.

Investigations and discharges for being an openly LGBTQ service member will continue on as usual. Why? Because the Pentagon has not completed its study, reviewing how to maintain the military's "unit cohesion" while integrating LGBTQ service members.

December 1 is the day the country will know the results of the Pentagon study. We will also know if the welcoming mat will truly begin to unfold for our LGBTQ service members.

So, with the military having the real power to either overturn or to uphold DADT, what was last week's voting in the House and the Senate Armed Services Committee really about?

Pressure? Posturing? Or both?

Continue reading "Obama shifting responsibly for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"" »

Via Belirico: New Rules For The Barracks

Filed by: Father Tony

June 3, 2010 10:30 AM

According to recent studies, most soldiers are OK with the idea of gay comrades in arms, but the generals would have us believe that straight military personnel are trembling with fear at the thought of the elimination of DADT. I am not the only one who has occasionally asked a homophobe "What on earth are you afraid of?" I usually frame this heartfelt question with the explanation that homophobia is irrational. Gay marriage won't destroy straight "traditional" marriage. It won't destroy the "family". Letting gay men and women become ordained priests will not dilute the leadership of churches, nor would it pollute the pristine waters of heaven to affirm the presence of gay post-mortem angelic souls (for them that find comfort in fairy tale endings.) Openly gay military personnel won't cause weak links to form in the chain of command and within the ranks of those who have each other's backs.

Last week, I finally got an answer to my wondering about the basis of fear in the hearts of military brass. The rarely uttered truth is that some generals think that ditching DADT will mean that gay male soldiers will boldly creep into the beds of snoring straight soldiers and fellate them in their sleep.

There you have it. I knew that if we pushed hard enough, we'd eventually get the homophobes to blurt out the ridiculous fear that is at the root of their anxiety about the functioning of the military post-DADT.

Obviously, the real homophobic fear is not that a sleeping soldier will orgasm in the mouth of a gay soldier but that the straight soldier will enjoy gay sex, awake or otherwise. In the minds of homophobes, anti-gay rules constitute a dam that keeps their own guilty desires in check just as much as it keeps gay people in check. Homophobes tremble with fear at what is in their hearts. Let's help them out of their fear by suggesting some new rules for the barracks.

Continue reading "New Rules For The Barracks" »

Via Belrico: Some benefits extended to federal employees

Filed by: Alex Blaze

June 3, 2010 1:00 PM

Some progress:

The same-sex partners of gay and lesbian federal workers can start applying next month for long-term health-care insurance, the Office of Personnel Management said Tuesday.

That's great, because long-term health insurance can be incredibly expensive. The more people who have quality long-term health insurance, the better.

Of course, there'll be some who say this isn't enough, and it isn't. Regular health care benefits aren't extended here, although the bill to extend those to same-sex partners has already made it through committee and is expected to make it to the floor of the Senate this month (we'll see, of course).

What's been surprising is the number of queer commentators saying how this only affects a small number of people, as if that's ever been a reason for the LGBT community not to advocate for something. Marriage only affects those LGB people in long-term relationships who choose to participate in the institution, which isn't most of us. DADT only affects those of us in the military or who plan on enlisting if it gets repealed, which really doesn't account for the swaths of people who'll never enlist discussing DADT.

Nothing's stopped us before from celebrating progress that benefits only a sector of the community, and federal workers are great people to celebrate.

Continue reading "Some benefits extended to federal employees" »

Via 365gay: Culhane: How DADT repeal will help gay marriage

June 3rd, 2010

By John Culhane 06.03.2010
Professor of Law, Widener University

If the military can do it - so can society. Read more...

Via JMG: Chief Of Naval Operations Urges Sailors To Participate In DADT Study

It sure seems like he's asking for negative comments. "The repeal will ONLY go into effect AFTER this study."

reposted from Joe

ViaJMG: PFOX Complains: The PTA Won't Let Bigots Like Us Come To Their Convention!

"Ex-gay" group PFOX is stamping their widdle footies because the PTA says they don't allow hate groups to come to their national convention. PFOX says they called and emailed for eight months, requesting a booth at the convention, only to finally be told they don't meet the PTA's standards. Via Christian Newswire:

"Why is it gay groups meet the PTA Diversity and Inclusion Policy but our families do not? 'Diversity' and 'inclusion' should mean exactly that -- diversity and inclusion of everyone," said [PFOX head Regina] Griggs. "Instead, gay groups like PFLAG that deny public access to ex-gays and disrupt church events welcoming former homosexuals are approved by the PTA while ex-gay groups are not," said Griggs. "Now the PTA is pressuring its state PTA chapters nationwide to adopt its biased national diversity policy, which includes 'sexual orientation,' even though that term is selectively used to discriminate against people of faith and ex-gay families." "The PTA has become a left-wing advocacy group instead of serving the needs of all children," said Griggs.

PFOX is asking for concerned Christians to join in an email campaign to the national and local chapters of the PTA demanding that they rescind their sexual orientation non-discrimination policy until it includes the orientation of "ex-gay." Or "totally kidding themselves," as it is more properly known.

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: American Catholic Bishops Agree On ENDA: It Should Remain Legal To Fire Gays

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has written a letter to Congress demanding that they vote against ENDA. An excerpt:

While the Church is ardently opposed to all unjust discrimination on the grounds of sexual inclination, whether homosexual or heterosexual, it does teach that all sexual acts outside of a marriage between one man and one woman are morally wrong. The Catholic Church’s teaching cannot, therefore, be equated with “unjust discrimination,” because it is based on fundamental truths about the human person and personal conduct. Homosexual conduct is categorically closed to the transmission of life, and does not reflect or respect the personal complementarity of man and woman. In contrast to sexual conduct within marriage between one man and one woman—which does serve both the good of each married person and the good of society— heterosexual and homosexual conduct outside of marriage has no claim to special protection by the state.

Just as every other group in our society, the Catholic Church enjoys the same rights to hold to its beliefs, organize itself around them, and argue for them in the public square. This is guaranteed by our Constitution. This includes the right to teach what it holds to be the truth concerning homosexual conduct—and to act as an employer consistent with that truth—without the threat of government sanction. The USCCB continues to oppose “unjust discrimination” against people with a homosexual inclination, but we cannot support a bill – such as ENDA in its current form – that would legally affirm and specially protect any sexual conduct outside of marriage.

Andrew Sullivan reacts:

Notice that there is no attempt here to argue that straight people who violate church doctrine - anyone who masturbates or uses contraception, is divorced or re-married - should not be protected from discrimination. It is always just the gays who are the target, because their identity inherently proves their iniquity, while most straight people can hide theirs. Notice also that the focus here is entirely on the victims of discrimination, not the perpetrators.

Labels: bigotry, Catholic Church, employment, ENDA, LGBT rights, religion

reposted from JMG

Via ACAPA:

Na última sexta-feira (14/05), o ministério das Relações Exteriores oficializou o direito de passaportes diplomáticos a parceiros gays de servidores que trabalham nas representações do Brasil no exterior.

A decisão, que iguala parceiros homossexuais e heterossexuais, foi anunciada em comunicado interno a embaixadas e consulados em mais de 200 países.

De acordo com o Itamaraty, a medida deve evitar que funcionários gays registrem seus parceiros como serviçais, o que acontecia para assim garantir o direito de permanência fora do país.

Agora, com a concessão do passaporte diplomático, na prática, significa que os parceiros terão mais facilidade em obter permissão de residência. Tal decisão complementa outra resolução, de 2006, que já permitia aos funcionários do quadro de serviços do Itamaraty incluir parceiros do mesmo sexo como dependentes em planos de assistência médica.

veja ACAPA aqui

Via aatombomb:

“In the early 1980s, the Naval Investigative Service was investigating homosexuality in the Chicago area. Agents discovered that gay men sometimes referred to themselves as “friends of Dorothy.” Unaware of the historical meaning of the term, the NIS believed that a woman named Dorothy was at the center of a massive ring of homosexual military personnel. The NIS launched an enormous hunt for Dorothy, hoping to find her and convince her to reveal the names of gay servicemembers.

Via MSF:

In the fight for equality, sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the present, that we forget that this fight has been going on for decades and that those who have been fighting the fight on our behalf for many years have made the level of societal acceptance of LGBT people possible. There are few other people who have been unabashed advocates for equality and Ms. Barbra Streisand has been at the forefront of the fight for her entire career. Recently Ms. Streisand was gracious to give a bit of her time to answer some questions for MatthewsPlace.com. Thank you to her for her compassion, generosity and candor. The world is a safer place because of her voice. Click Here to read the story.

Tell a Friend!

From Buzz:

Has Mark Kirk, Illinois GOP Congressman Who is Seeking Obama's Senate Seat, Been Outed as a Typical Hypocritical Gay Republican Who Engages in Homophobia? It Appears That Way.

Via JMG: Tony Perkins: Repealing DADT Will Mean The End Of Religious Freedom

According to the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, repealing DADT will stomp the religious freedom of military chaplains to tell soldiers that they are sinners who will suffer in an eternal hellfire.

In their counseling role, military chaplains assist all service members who come to them, even if they are of other faith traditions. But if a homosexual seeks counseling regarding his personal relationships, will the chaplain be free to recommend therapy to overcome homosexual attractions? Or will he be forced to affirm a lifestyle that his faith condemns? While chaplains are members of the military, they must be “endorsed” by a sponsoring religious body. Denominations that are unequivocal in holding to a biblical standard of sexual morality may stop endorsing military chaplains rather than allow them to compromise their principles. This may result in a chaplain corps that has plenty of Unitarian ministers and homosexual Episcopal priests, but a shortage of clergy to minister to the largest religious groups in America, such as Roman Catholics (whose catechism declares that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered”) or Southern Baptists (whose Baptist Faith and Message declares that “Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography”).

According to the wingnuts, repealing DADT will cause soldier rapes, AIDS for everybody, Islamic retribution, and the return of the draft. Not being able to falsely tell people they will burn in a mythical fire seems almost petty by comparison.reposted from Joe

Via JMG: San Francisco's Gay Cheerleaders Advance On America's Got Talent

Cheer SF's audition is at about the 6:30 mark.


(Tipped by JMG reader Sean)reposted from Joe

Via 365gay: FDA rethinks gay blood ban

By Shamecca Harris, 365gay.com
05.29.2010 10:00am EDT

The Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability is set to hold a hearing June 10 and 11 to reconsider a FDA rule which bans gay from donating blood, CNN reported.

The rule, implemented in 1983, prevents men who have had sex with another man since 1977 from donating blood. Established during the onset of the HIV/AIDS crisis, it was intended to be a preventive measure from spreading the virus and other transfusion-transmitted diseases.

Today, with new and more effective means for HIV/AIDS testing , many argue that the ban is “medically and scientifically unwarranted.”

Activists, including the Human Rights Campaign, the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and AABB are opposed to the lifetime ban of gay donors. “Potential donors should be screened more fairly regardless of sexual orientation” they said in a joint statement.

Politians have also weighed in on the debate. Senator John Kerry and 17 other senators signed a letter challenging the “outdated policy.”

“Gay men, including those who are in monogoamous relationships, are forbidden from contributing blood for the rest of their lives, while ‘a heterosexual who has had sex with a prostitute need only wait a year [before giving blood]. That does not strike me as a sound scientific conclusion,’” Kerry wrote.

Even so, the Food and Drug Administration stands by their policy. The policy “is based on scientific data that s how that certain medical, behavioral and geographical factors are associated with increases risk of transfusion transmitted diseases,” they told CNN. Still, the agency says it is “considering the possibility of pursing alternative strategies that maintain blood safety.”

Via Pam Spaulding

Anti-DADT repeal vote Mark Kirk (R-IL) inadvertently outed himself to...Mike Rogers

Tue Jun 01, 2010 at 15:41:32 PM EDT

As they say, sometimes you just can't make stuff up. Gay activist and friend of the Blend, Mike Rogers of BlogActive, has been a bit dormant on the outing front, since most Republican Sexual Hypocrites seem to be outing themselves these days, usually after run-ins with the police.

But not Mark Kirk (R-IL). The man who's currently running for Barack Obama's former Senate seat made news recently for puffing up his military record, claiming he was "the only member of Congress to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom." He conveniently left out the word "stateside" there. Interestingly, one of the posts about this flap was entitled "Jean's lie outs a fellow Republican."

make the jump here to read the full article on Pam Spaulding

The View - Pee Wee Herman (6-01-10)

Via JMG: People en Español Features Gay Dad Ricky Martin On Father's Day Issue

Via Andres Duque at Blabbeando, who says: "How great is it that the editors of one of the most widely read Spanish-language magazines in the United States would deem it fit to honor Ricky Martin and his parenting as an openly gay man and, in doing so, highlight gay parenting in general? Appropriately, I also happened to come upon this story today on what a number of bloggers are celebrating as the 5th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day." Duque notes that the editor of People en Español is also an openly gay man with two kids of his own. repostdo de Joe

Via JMG: PORTUGAL: Soccer Star Cristiano Ronaldo Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

Portuguese soccer hero Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most beloved athletes in the world, has endorsed same-sex marriage. Via Blabbeando's Andres Duque, who translates Ronaldo as saying: "The Portuguese man that I am, I try to keep informed about what is happening in my country. I know the law was passed and the comment it deserves is that we must respect the choices made by anyone, because, after all, all citizens should have the exact same rights and responsibilities." Last month Portugal legalized gay marriage.reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Obama Issues Pride Month Proclamation

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2010

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2010

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.

LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us -- the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance -- we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.

My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life-saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.

In other areas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a series of proposals to ensure core housing programs are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also announced the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders.

Much work remains to fulfill our Nation's promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal.

As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Ron Paul

"I have received several calls and visits from constituents who, in spite of the heavy investment in their training, have been forced out of the military simply because they were discovered to be homosexual," Paul said Friday. "To me, this seems like an awful waste. Personal behavior that is disruptive should be subject to military discipline regardless of whether the individual is heterosexual or homosexual. But to discharge an otherwise well-trained, professional, and highly skilled member of the military for these reasons is unfortunate and makes no financial sense." - Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), one of five GOP House reps to vote in favor of repealing DADT. Stopped clock and all that. reposted from Joe

Via JMG: BREAKING: Malawi President Pardons Imprisoned Gay Couple

Fantastic news. President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi has pardoned the gay couple sentenced last week to 14 years in prison at hard labor for the "grossly indecent and unnatural act" of holding a commitment ceremony.

Mr Mutharika, speaking as UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited Lilongwe, said he had ordered their immediate release. Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were given 14-year jail terms after being convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts. The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country. Mr Ban said he welcomed the president's decision. Correspondents say Malawi is a deeply conservative society where religious leaders equate same-sex liaisons with Satanism. Mr Mutharika, who has in the past dismissed homosexuality as alien, said he had set them free on humanitarian grounds. "These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws," he said after meeting Mr Ban. "However, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions."

We can consider this welcome news as evidence that even the most virulently anti-gay government can indeed by swayed by international pressure. I imagine that today's planned protest at the Malawi consulate in NYC will not take place.

UPDATE: The protest in NYC is still going to happen. From the organizer:

WE DID IT! BUT THE WORK IS STILL NOT DONE! TODAY WE STILL PROTEST, FOR ALL THE STEVENS AND TIWONJES IN AFRICA, WHO DO NOT HAVE A VOICE. AND FOR A REMOVAL OF ALL THE ANTI GAY LAWS, NOT ONLY IN MALAWI, NOT ONLY IN AFRICA, BUT IN THE WORLD! THE PROTEST IN NYC, IS STILL ON! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! I HAVEN'T CRIED SUCH HAPPY TEARS IN A LONG TIME!

UPDATE II: The White House has issued a statement.

The White House is pleased to learn of President Bingu wa Mutharika's pardon of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza. These individuals were not criminals and their struggle is not unique. We must all recommit ourselves to ending the persecution and criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity. We hope that President Mutharika's pardon marks the beginning of a new dialogue which reflects the country's history of tolerance and a new day for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Malawi and around the globe.

reposted from Joe

How to Use a Condom: Brent Corrigan's Oral Exam

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - John Waters

"I don't even think there is bad taste anymore. American humor is bad taste — that's what we import, that's what television is about, reality television is based on that. I think it kind of ruined bad taste, because you're asked to feel superior to the subject matter, which I don't think I ever do. I think I always look up to my subjects, which is maybe what good taste is. Extreme taste is more interesting to me now than good or bad."- Director John Waters, lamenting that reality TV has destroyed the kitsch value of his work.reposted from Joe

Via towleroad: Colin Powell: 'Perfectly Acceptable To Get Rid Of DADT'

A couple of politicians took to the airwaves during Sunday morning's political talk shows to discuss "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Colin Powell, who back in February revealed that he supported the repeal of DADT, was a guest on ABC's "This Week" and was asked why he's changed his mind about the policy.

"Things have changed. That was 17 years ago." He also added that, "I am personally of the view now that attitudes have changed and I think it is perfectly acceptable to get rid of the law and the policy but I think before we actually do it we have to hear clearly from the officers and the men and women who are charge of executing the policy."

“I think it's important to listen to the troops who are affected and take into account the views of the senior leadership and military leadership of the armed forces.”

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