Out Raleigh coming up

	LGBT Center Raleigh (@LGBTCenterRal)
1 May 2014 10:17 AM EDT Yaaas http://t.co/5YRBHGeg5b

Forwarded via UberSocial

Sent from my iPhone

Read More

LGBTQ Wellness Passport Event

Please join the LGBT Resource Office in welcoming the esteemed lecturer and writer, S. Bear Bergman

to campus NEXT WEEK, April 15, 2014!

Student Activities Board, LGBT Resource Office, & Campus Living Diversity Education Team will be hosting a series of interactive lectures throughout the day. The Wellness Passport Event @5:30pm in Hendrix Theater is free and open to the public! Please RSVP at lgbt@ecu.edu if you're interested in attending one of the informal closed sessions:

Student Focused Workshop - April 15, 2014, 2:30pm, Brewster B-104

Educational questions and answer sessions with the LGBT Resource Office Advocates, GLBT Student Union members, RAs,RHAs, and other interested students to discuss trans* topics in healthcare, relationships, social constructs, gender dysphoria, and the importance of inclusivity within the ECU LGBTQ community. Please RSVP via email at lgbt@ecu.edu

Dinner with S. Bear Bergman - April 15, 2014 @ 7:00pm- Winslow's Tavern, 2nd floor, 120 W. 5th St. Greenville, NC

This informal dinner directly following the 5:30pm lecture is geared towards undergraduate and graduate students. Please RSVP via email at lgbt@ecu.edu if you're interested in grabbing a bite to eat while engaging in informal conversations on trans* topics in healthcare, relationships, social constructs, gender dysphoria, and the importance of inclusivity within the ECU LGBTQ community.

Breakfast with Faculty/Staff with S. Bear Bergman - April 16, 2014 @ 8:30am on main campus  (location TBD)

An informal faculty/staff session to foster open and honest communication around trans* topics affecting college campuses, with bagels and coffee provided! Please RSVP via email at lgbt@ecu.edu

Traci Davis

Graduate Assistant

LGBT Resource Office

Brewster B-103

Mail Stop 567

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858

(252) 737-2512

Read More

Join Equality North Carolina and our partners, the ACLU, HRC, and Rocky Mount PFLAG, to find out how you can help build a state of equality.

Equality NC 'WHAT'S NEXT?' Town Hall | Rocky Mount

Following the amendment vote, what's next on the road ahead? This month, Equality NC hits the road for town hall meetings designed to provide an opportunity for supporters like you to look forward and learn how together we will continue to fight for full equality by electing pro-equality legislators, being effective grassroots leaders in our communities, and do the vital work of sharing our stories.

What

When
Jun 19, 2012
from 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Where
Unitarian Universalist Church 516 North Church St., Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Contact Name
Jen Jones

More information about this event…

Read More

An event next week in Carrboro:

Equality NC's Trans Policy Task Force is proud to invite you to a very special screening of Southern Comfort, winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for documentary. Lola Cola, who stars in the film, will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A.

The screening is made possible through the generosity of Planned Parenthood's supporters. To purchase advance tickets at a suggested donation of $10, please go to the Planned Parenthood website at www.ppcentralnc.org/lola.

Southern Comfort follows the final year in the life of Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual. Eads, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, was turned down for treatment by two dozen doctors out of fear that treating a transsexual person would damage their reputations. By the time Eads received treatment, the cancer was too far advanced to save his life. During his final year, Robert fell in love with male-to-female transsexual, Lola Cola. Southern Comfort also highlights the discrimination many transgender people encounter when seeking healthcare.

Benefit Screening of Southern Comfort - Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina secure.ppaction.org

Read More

Equality NC plans Town Hall Meeting Tour

From EqualityNC site, please check for update on dates and times from these meetings.

Following the amendment vote, what's next on the road ahead? This month, Equality NC hits the road for town hall meetings designed to provide an opportunity for supporters like you to look forward and learn how together we will continue to fight for full equality by electing pro-equality legislators, being effective grassroots leaders in our communities, and do the vital work of sharing our stories.

What

• Community Event

When
May 21, 2012 12:50 PM to
Jun 21, 2012 12:50 PM

Where
Statewide

Contact Name
Jen Jones

Tentative Stops on the Equality NC "What's Next?" Town Hall Meeting Tour, include:

Wilmington

Greenville

Kitty Hawk

Rocky Mount

Durham

Greensboro

Charlotte

Hickory

Asheville

Read More

OUTSERVE ANNOUNCES 2012 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE ON ARMY RESORT

CONTACT: SUE FULTON, sue.fulton@outserve.org, 908-256-6727

OUTSERVE ANNOUNCES 2012 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE ON ARMY RESORT

LGBT Military Group Will Meet Oct 25-28 in Orlando, FL; Conference Expected to Double in Size from 2011

WASHINGTON, February 20 – Today OutServe, the association of actively-serving LGBT U.S. military personnel and one of the largest LGBT employee resource groups in the world, announced that its Second Annual OutServe International Leadership Conference will take place October 25-28, 2012 at the military’s Shades of Green Resort in Orlando, FL.

The Conference will welcome currently serving LGBT and straight military members, veterans, spouses/partners, and allies to join workshops and meetings. Like the 2011 Conference, it will provide an international forum on creating an environment of respect in the military with regards to sexual orientation and gender identity, and provide the LGBT military community a venue for building professional networks, sharing best practices and formulating strategies that help build a stronger military community.  OutServe’s International Leadership Conference is the only conference designed around and for LGBT members of the largest fighting force in the world. 

The 2011 OutServe Conference in Las Vegas boasted maxing out capacity at over 200 attendees, including several from allied nations and an Assistant Secretary of Defense. With the ongoing veteran employment crisis, OutServe will also host a job fair during the event that will be open to veterans and employers.  OutServe events during the conference will take place at various locations on Walt Disney World properties.

“Disney’s support of the military and LGBT communities goes hand in hand with the support and sponsorship provided by Orlando Gay Travel, Come Out with Pride Orlando and the Metropolitan Business Association of Orlando and is why we chose Orlando as our 2012 destination,” said Ty Walrod, Co-director of OutServe.

“We have made tremendous progress over the last few months with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Josh Seefried, active duty Air Force Lieutenant and co-director of OutServe. “LGBT military members must be visible and confident, showing the leadership that will set the example for future generations of service members.”

The Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and Courage Campaign will be co-sponsoring the OutServe Conference, as well as others. Announcements regarding schedule of events and additional sponsors and attendees will be forthcoming.

Registration can be completed at www.outserve.org/2012conference/

For information on sponsoring the conference, contact Tom Nibbio at tom@outserve.org.

Press interested in attending must register with Sue Fulton at Sue.Fulton@outserve.org

Media are welcome to use any photos from last years conference. Available photos are located on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/outserve/

###

OutServe is the association of actively serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) military personnel. With more than 4,900 members and 42 chapters worldwide, it is one of the largest LGBT employee resource groups in the world. OutServe works to support a professional network of LGBT military personnel and create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. For more information, go to www.outserve.org. For more information on OutServe’s Magazine, which is distributed on military installations, please visit www.outservemag.com

About Shades of Green: This resort is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located in Orlando, Florida owned and operated by the US Army. It is a true resort destination offering the perfect mix of exceptional resort accommodations and friendly hospitality. Shades of Green’s unique position on Walt Disney World property in the Magic Kingdom Resort area offers military and civilian professionals the opportunity to work efficiently and comfortably during the day, and spend the evenings relaxing in first class accommodations or enjoying the legendary entertainment of the nearby attractions.

Read More

The Vote Against Project

Here's an easy way to take a public stand against the amendment

The Vote Against Project - Welcome! from Vote Against Project on Vimeo.

Lend your face to the cause. Tour dates below the fold. Find out when the photo shoot will be happening near you!

Vote Against Project

Read More

NJGJA: Open Letter to the News: National Coming Out Day

Open Letter to the News Industry: National Coming Out Day

Dear Colleagues,

Tuesday, October 11, 2011, is National Coming Out Day (NCOD). The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association encourages news organizations to take the opportunity presented by this national event to chronicle the LGBT narrative to their readers. Journalists play an important role in presenting diverse communities to the general public. This is an excellent example of how fairness and accuracy of language will lead to better coverage.

Established in 1988 on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, NCOD is a day to set to celebrate and recognize the difficulty of coming out.

Several resources are available through NLGJA to assist your NCOD coverage, the Stylebook Supplement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Terminology including suggestions for language usage and contact information for dozens of LGBT organizations. In addition, our Journalists Toolbox can come in handy for reporters seeking guidance on covering the LGBT community.

As stories mentioning the sexual orientation or gender expression of individuals are produced at your newsroom, NLGJA recommends the following guidelines for accurate reporting on LGBT people:

•             Use restraint when publishing an individual's sexual orientation until determining whether the subject's orientation germane to the story. In many situations, it probably isn't a matter of concern — in the same way that a person's race, ethnic background or religious beliefs are often not relevant.

•             The term “gay” is the preferred adjective that has replaced “homosexual” in referring to men who are sexually and affectionately attracted to other men. “Homosexual” should be used only if “heterosexual” would be used in parallel constructions, such as in medical contexts. 

•             When reporting on the outing of an individual, whether in headlines, or body copy, avoid using forms of the word "admit," which is typically used in the context of something shameful or illegal. Some examples of less potentially charged words are "announce," "disclose" and "say."

•             Also, be aware that the Associated Press Stylebook and the NLGJA Stylebook Supplement recommend avoiding the term "lifestyle" when referring to someone's sexual orientation. In this context, "lifestyle" suggests that gays and lesbians — not to mention bisexuals and transgender people — think and act the same way. In fact, there is no "gay lifestyle" or “alternative lifestyle” just as there is no "straight lifestyle."

For background information and tips on NCOD coverage, please visit:

•             The NLGJA article: How to Cover LGBT People

•             The NLGJA article: Why LGBT Voices Matter

•             The Poynter article: How do you say he’s gay?

•             The Human Rights Campaign offers a History of Coming Out Day

NCOD offers an opportunity for you to provide your audiences with stories on the LGBT people in their local community. Please join us to ensure that these stories are told fairly and accurately.  

In addition, perhaps some of your colleagues are members of NLGJA. National Coming Out Day is an excellent opportunity to encourage and show your support of their efforts to cover the LGBT community both fairly and accurately.

Sincerely,

David Steinberg

NLGJA National Board President

President@nlgja.org

Read More

Faith in America, Email NC Ballot is act of Violence

Ballot initiative is an act of violence against
North Carolina children and families

But it also has created an opportunity for
ground-shaking vote against religion-based bigotry

The anti-gay religious industry for 10 years has been threatening violence against North Carolina gay and lesbian citizens in the form of a placing a moral, religious and legal stamp of disapproval on their lives via the state's constitution.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 their threat of violence became an act of violence as the N.C. House and Senate voted to place an anti-gay marriage amendment before a misinformed and ill-intentioned citizenry – which represents the problem and the remedy.

While the vote was taken this week, that is not where this sad chapter in North Carolina governance started - it began in November 2010 with the election of a Republican majority in the N.C. General Assembly. If anyone doubts that the Republican Party is the party that embraces  religion-based bigotry, please spare us the defense argument. We've heard it before.

But on to the good news –  a majority of North Carolina voters on May 8, 2012 can send a ground-shaking and historic message – religion-based bigotry and prejudice toward LGBT people will not prevail in North Carolina. View remarks by Chely Wright and Mitchell Gold at rally in Raleigh.

And I believe they will and here's why.

This weekend,  N.C. Republican Sen. James Forrestor – who has been pushing this bill for N.C. Southern Baptists and other anti-gay religious groups in the state – called the beautiful and vibrant city of Asheville a "cesspool of sin" because of "homosexuals that live there." That's right. Forrestor believes Asheville, N.C. is a cesspool because of its LGBT people.

In the week leading up to the action in the General Assembly, Forrester spoke at a forum held at a Gaston County church about the proposed amendment. During that forum he referred to Asheville as a “cesspool of sin.” In explaining his remarks to M2M Politics, he stated “They have a lot of homosexuals that live in the Asheville area."

It is pretty clear that Forrestor is one of the most ignorant, prejudiced and bigoted individuals in our state. Certainly, he does not represent the majority of North Carolinians and I do not believe the majority of voters will embrace bigotry, prejudice and discrimination as values this state upholds nor as values to enshrine in our state constitution. I'm even more certain that young people are 80 percent opposed to such ill-intentioned mistreatment of LGBT people.

The hostility embraced by lawmakers who voted to put this on the ballot may prove to be a unique gift that may result in one incredible signal coming from this state on May 8, 2012.  And that's not just expressing hopeful sentiment.

Here's what the current voter rolls and other numbers look like. 

• Current registration: Democratic – 2,711,351; Republican – 1,936,077; Libertarian – 11,654; Unaffiliated – 1,485,675 

• If there is a 40 percent turnout among Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiliated, and equality gets 60 percent of the Democrats, 70 percent of Unaffilated and 25 percent of Republican, the anti-gay marriage amendment would be defeated 1,260,320 to 1,192,919.

If you do not think that is a realistic scenario, consider North Carolina polling in April that showed 64% of independent voters, 60% of Democratic voters, and 36% of Republican voters support legal recognition. If those numbers support legal recognition, what might they think of embedding bigotry, prejudice and discrimination toward gay couples and LGBT people in general into the state constitution.

Those numbers and the fact that 80 percent of young people will vote against it ought to have Forrestor and his bigoted friends in the General Assembly wondering if perhaps they have given supporters of equality the opportunity to express a historic stand against the very bigotry and prejudice that motivated their hostile anti-gay legislation. 

That is exactly what they have done.

And here's the most important part. Those winning numbers and that monumental statement for equality in America will not materialize without an all-out county-by-county organizing effort. And it must begin now and we must have everyone working together. And egually important will be our efforts to transform a misinformed citizenry into an informed citizen. We have to exposed the vile religion-based bigotry behind such a measure and present the irrefutable case that history has provided against such a vile form of bigotry.

Faith in America is wasting no time in helping make that happen.

We will be in Hendersonville, N.C. this coming Tuesday evening for a community dialogue on what really is at stake in this ballot initiative. If you are in the area, please join us at the Historic County Courthouse on Main Street, Hendersonville at 7 p.m. for a compelling and important dialogue. The event is being co-sponsored by PFLAG Flatrock/Hendersonville and Love Welcomes All.

And what a more appropriate place to hold this event than 10 minutes from Asheville – that vibrant mecca of diversity that N.C. Sen. James Forrestor believes is a "cesspool."

Read More

Letter From HRC to the Citizens of NC

We only have two weeks left until the North Carolina General Assembly votes on the anti-LGBT marriage amendment, House Bill 777 and Senate Bill 106. Join HRC and help mobilize constituents in key districts to contact their legislators and tell them to vote "NO" on writing discrimination into North Carolina's constitution.

• Business owners – If you own a business or know someone who does, we need your voice now! The two bills up for a vote seek to amend our state constitution in ways that would damage our state's ability to attract and retain the best and the brightest.

The Body Shop, a global company with a headquarters in Wake Forest, has advised lawmakers in a letter that "...this bill (SB 106) ultimately would have long-term detrimental effects to North Carolina's economy - not only could it keep businesses from relocating to North Carolina, but it may lead to the exodus of businesses..."

If you own a business, sign onto a public letter with other businesses and civic leaders. Be sure ask others you know who are also business owners to sign onto the letter.

• Rally – HRC, Equality North Carolina and a coalition of pro-equality organizations will be convening at the state legislature on the day of the vote, Tuesday, September 13. The rally will be held to urge legislators to oppose House Bill 777 and Senate Bill 106. For more information about the rally, click here.

• Phonebanks – Volunteer at one of our in-person phonebanks in Raleigh, Greensboro, Asheville, and Pinehurst. Volunteer today! If you're not able to join us at one of our in-person phonebanks, we've made it easy for you to help from your home, your office or anywhere in the state through our virtual phonebanks. Sign up today!

Sincerely,

Marty Rouse
HRC National Field Director

P.S. If you haven't already done so, or even if you have, email your legislators today and tell them to defeat these harmful measures in September!

Read More

Barbarian FlashMob at Bachmann's Husband Clinic..

“The American people have a right to know: does the Bachmann family profit from bogus “gay reparative therapy” or not,” continued Espinosa. “The medical evidence against the practice aside, the Bachmann’s subversive marginalization of the LGBT community is despicable.”
Today’s action was organized by the same young man who previously glittered Newt Gingrich, inspiring a national trend in political protest of anti-LGBT sentiments from political candidates and campaigns.
“It’s clear that the Bachmanns are the real barbarians here, and their archaic views on LGBT equality will no longer be tolerated.”

Read More

We didn’t know, my foot…

The flags were among several colorful ones flying at the fair, and organizers were reportedly unaware of the gay connection. General manager Dan Jacobs said he received a call “from a very irate individual that explained to me what we had up,” Jacobs told the station.

See the report on the flag incident here. and here

Please, unless you have been living under a rock or at the bottom of the ocean, everyone by now knows that the 6 striped rainbow flag is a major symbol of the LGBT community..

I do believe they didn’t plan it, and wasn’t making a political statement..

Read More

Pentagon, President Certify Legislative Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

President Barack Obama on Friday formally enacted the end to the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Military gay ban to end Sept 20. http://bit.ly/qcD8bb #lgbt #gay #lesbian #p2 #tcot (via @WashingtonBlade)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, hailed today's news that the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have all signed off on, or certified, the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

"Today, gay and lesbian servicemembers can and will breath a huge sigh of relief. While we still must wait 60 days for this change to formally take effect and for the law to officially be off the books, this step is nothing short of historic," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This is the final nail in the coffin for the discriminatory, outdated, and harmful 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. All servicemembers, the U.S. military, and the nation will be better off as a result of this long overdue change in policy."

Certification - a formal acknowledgement by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that military is ready for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law - was the last major political hurdle before the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act of 2010 could take effect. Now a 60-day waiting period will commence, at the end of which the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law will officially be repealed and off the books. 

In 2010, a U.S. District Court judge found the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law to be unconstitutional in a lawsuit brought by the Log Cabin Republicans and in which Servicemembers United's Executive Director served as the sole named plaintiff. A subsequent worldwide injunction barred enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law against servicemembers by the Department of Defense. That injunction, which had previously been stayed for a period of time by the Ninth Circuit, has been partially back in effect as of July 15th. 

For more information about Servicemembers United and the gay military community, please visit our new home on the web at www.servicemembers.org. 

###

Servicemembers United, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies. Based in Washington, DC, Servicemembers United actively engages in education and advocacy on issues affecting the gay military, veteran, and defense community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7/22/2011

Contact:

Jarrod Chlapowski: 252- 721-8152 | Email: jchlapowski@servicemembers.org

Alex Nicholson: 202-531-4839 | Email: anicholson@servicemembers.org

Read More

Rogers Closes PageOneQ, what will we do now

Mike Rogers has decided to folded the long-running LGBT news aggregator PageOneQ. It was a great reliable source for LGBT items. Hit the link for the back story and what Rogers has coming.

 

 

Read More

FIRST OPENLY GAY MEMBER OF WEST POINT BOARD OF VISITORS

President Obama Appoints Sue Fulton, West Point ’80, to Board

WASHINGTON, DC, July 5, 2011 – Sue Fulton, a founding Board Member of OutServe, the association of actively serving LGBT military personnel, was appointed today to the U.S. Military Academy Board of Visitors. Fulton, who graduated in 1980 with the first West Point class to include women, is the first openly gay member of the Academy’s Board.

“I’m proud to have the opportunity to support the cadets who will lead our Army in the coming years,” said Fulton, who served as an Army Captain and company commander after her 1980 graduation. “And I’m pleased that the President is clearly setting the stage for a post-‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ military with appointments like this. It is my honor to continue to serve the Academy and the Army that I love.”

“Sue’s tireless work for repeal of DADT came from a heartfelt commitment to serving soldiers, and a belief that DADT was harmful to military readiness,” said said “JD Smith,” OutServe’s active-duty co-director, who is identified by a pseudonym while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still in effect. “She’s been a company commander; she knows cadets; and she loves West Point. This is a great day for the Academy.”

The USMA Board of Visitors, the oldest currently operating Board appointed by the President, is comprised of nine Congress members and six Presidential appointees. Its mission is to provide “independent advice and recommendations” on matters concerning the Academy to the President. Former Congressman Patrick Murphy, an outspoken straight advocate for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was recently appointed to the Board.

“Sue’s appointment demonstrates the commitment our nation's most hallowed institutions have to equal treatment of EVERYONE--a quintessential American value.” said OutServe spokesperson Jonathan Hopkins, West Point ’01, and former Army Captain. “But we aren’t fully honoring that commitment until [DADT] certification and repeal occur. Every day of delay is borne on the backs of gay and lesbian troops who have endured so much for so long under this policy. Everything is in place for immediate certification, and we look forward to swift action by the Chiefs, Secretary Panetta, and the President.”

“Sue’s appointment is a promising signal that we are close to certification and final repeal, which will remove this ongoing burden from our troops,” added Ty Walrod, OutServe’s co-director. “We know that the troops, gay and straight alike, are ready for this to be done.”

Read More

CA Legislature Passes LGBT Education Bill

Equality California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2011

CONTACT: Jorge Amaro, Equality California
PHONE: 562-964-3591 EMAIL: jorge@eqca.org

CONTACT: Jill Marcellus, Gay-Straight Alliance Network
PHONE 516-313-9659 EMAIL: jill@gsanetwork.org
 
State Assembly Passes Landmark LGBT Education Bill

Legislation sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network aims to end LGBT history exclusion in education and to promote school safety

Sacramento -- Today, the California State Assembly in a 49-25 vote passed a bill that would require schools to fairly and accurately portray the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights movement and the historic contributions of the diverse LGBT community in social science instruction. The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act (SB 48), authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would also add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's existing anti-discrimination protections that prohibit bias in school activities, instruction and instructional materials.

Studies have shown that inclusion of LGBT people in instructional materials is linked to greater student safety and lower rates of bullying. The bill is co-sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network.

"The struggle of the multicultural and multiethnic LGBT community in California is one of the greatest stories yet to be told," said Equality California Executive Director Roland Palencia. "The FAIR Education Act will ensure that public schools acknowledge the heroism of individuals and communities who in spite of countless barriers continuously overcome adversity."

Palencia added, "For decades, LGBT leaders have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Californians. LGBT leaders were heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the farm workers' movement, the women's movement, and have built health and human services institutions that now serve millions of Californians. It is time for history to accurately depict our community's contributions."

The FAIR Education Act would bring classroom instruction into alignment with existing non-discrimination laws in California and would add the LGBT community to the existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, which are covered by current law related to inclusion in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools. By including fair and accurate information about the rich and diverse history of LGBT people in instructional materials, SB 48 will enrich the learning experiences of all students and promote an atmosphere of safety and respect in California schools.

"This is a victory not only for the LGBT youth in California who have been fighting to be heard in Sacramento and represented in their history classes, but also for all California youth who deserve to learn a fair and accurate account of California and US history," said Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. "By passing the FAIR Education Act, the Assembly has taken an unprecedented step to reduce bullying, increase safety for all students, and teach students to respect each other's differences."

"We are selectively censoring history when we exclude LGBT Americans, or any other group of people, from our textbooks and instructional materials," said Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). "We can't tell our youth that it's OK to be yourself and expect them to treat their peers with dignity and respect when we deliberately deny them accurate information about the historical contributions of Americans who happened to be LGBT."

The bill now heads to the Governor's desk.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has passed more than 70 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment.www.eqca.org

Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) is a national youth leadership organization that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools by training student leaders and supporting student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs throughout the country. In California alone, GSA Network has brought GSA clubs to 56% of public high schools, impacting more than 1.1 million students at 850 schools. GSA Network's youth advocates have played a key role in changing laws and policies that impact youth at the local and state level. GSA Network operates the National Association of GSA Networks, which unites more than 30 statewide networks of GSA clubs throughout the country. GSA Network is also the founder of the Make It Better Project, which aims to stop bullying and prevent suicide. www.gsanetwork.org  

Read More

Another Marriage Equality Rally Planned for September

Time

Friday, September 2 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm

---

Location

Halifax Mall

16 West Jones Street.

Raleigh, NC

---

Created By

David R Cappel

---

More Info

We are gathering here to show our NC Senators and Representatives, that we we have voice. A Voice that is more powerful with numbers behind it. Let them know that as gay voters in this state, we are no longer willing to stand idle while they let religion dictate how we are allowed to live our lives. We are here to prove to them, as Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans-sexuals Carolinian's, we can and do have a power over their decisions and more importantly their careers.

The time for Change is before us, and just as easy as they are elected into office, we have the power to in unity to oust them from those offices in the future.

So come out and let your voice be heard. That we won't let them simply pass house bill 777 or senate bill 106 with out hearing our voices..

Speaker to be list later..

See FaceBook Event page,

Read More

Preacher gets kissed by N.C. gay rights supporter

Preacher kissed by 74 yr old NC gay rights supporter has her charged w/ assault bit.ly/mzlnr9 via @CBSNews #lgbt #tcot #p2 #WWJD #fok

"He was just waving his arms and has a Bible in one hand, up and down, and screaming at the top of his lungs, 'sodomites' and 'you're going to hell,'" Parker said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I thought he needed a hug. So I gave him a hug."

At some point, the preacher turned to yell at a man with a camera. Also at some point, she kissed him. On the cheek, she says, not on the mouth.

"He claims I kissed him on the lips, and he's a damned liar," said Parker. "I believe I did kiss him on his cheek."

Read More

Finally, GLAAD releases this statement to clarify

GLAAD Board of Directors Announces Resignation of President Jarrett Barrios
Organization Puts Focus on the Future

New York, NY, June 23, 2011 - The Board of Directors of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today announced their acceptance of President Jarrett Barrios' resignation. The Board of Directors will now begin to assemble an Executive Search Committee to identify a new President. GLAAD's Board of Directors confirmed a commitment to maintaining a strong focus on its mission-related activities during this transition and has appointed Mike Thompson, Chief Operating Officer, as Acting President of the organization.

Barrios announced his resignation in an email to the Board of Directors on Saturday, June 18:

"None of you have asked me to resign, and I have appreciated such confidence in me.

I have been pained by the difficulties that have beset GLAAD over the last three weeks. As you know, they concern GLAAD's endorsement of the AT&T / T-Mobile merger--and inaccurate but effective characterizations that suggest GLAAD has supported this merger because of our relationship with them as a corporate sponsor. As many of you have observed to me, this entire situation is wrought with miscommunication and assumptions. Be that as it may, I respect the function and responsibility of my position, and know this is the right course of action.

Of utmost concern and foremost in all of our minds must be the well-being of GLAAD. The staff continues to work hard and does not deserve to work under a cloud, nor do they merit the distraction that it has become from our organization's fine brand."

Board Co-Chairs Roxanne Jones and Scott E. Miller confirmed that the decision to resign was made on Barrios' personal accord and that he was not asked to resign by the Board.

Read More

Obama seek money for A-List Gays and Lesbians

Via Back2Stonewall.com

Tomorrow night President Obama will be holding a $1,250 per plate “Gala with the Gay Community,” hosted by Doogie Houser (NPH) at The Sheraton Hotel in New York City. 

"The LGBT Leadership Gala" (some leadership) is the first fundraising event with the LGBT community held by a sitting president to ask the LGBT Community's help to get him elected in 2012.  Also tomorrow night President Obama IS NOT expected to endorse same sex marriage.

The nerve, the gall, the utter balls this man has coming to us for support when he delivered a mere fraction of the promises he made while writing pretty proclamations and throwing LGBT cocktail parties and crumbs to FOUR YEARS without putting any REAL PRESSURE or taking any REAL ISSUES

Now nice, what about all those you can’t dish up the dough? These Gala only serve to keep those with less means out of the Political scene. It’s the same in every state, every elections, they only want the A-listers with money to attend and minge with them.

For one the LGBT Community hasn’t seem much change in our status since he got office, well, yes DADT, but it’s fully done yet is it.

You want the money?  You want the LGBT Community's full support and backing.  Then do your fucking job and keep your fucking promises and "evolve" already because we may not have much of a choice in voting for you.  But we DON'T have to "support" you.

Read More