National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - building LGBT political power from the ground up
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance Article Linkpress/releases/pr_112008Gray LabelNovember 11Link TitleRead the full releaseTeaser
- Commentary: National LGBT rights leader says stand firm, move forward Article Linkpress/releases/pr_111908Gray LabelNovember 19Link TitleRead the commentaryTeaser
- Article of Faith: Keeping the faith after outcomes of ballot measures impacting LGBT people Article Linkhttp://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prNRLR_111008Gray LabelNovember 10Link TitleRead the full Article of FaithTeaser
- Election 2008: Media resources available from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Article Linkpress/releases/pr_110708Gray LabelNovember 7Link TitleGet all the detailsTeaser
- Task Force Action Fund deeply disappointed in passage of California’s Proposition 8 Article Linkpress/releases/pr_110608Gray LabelNovember 6Link TitleRead the full releaseTeaser
Queers United
- Word of the Gay: "Stone Butch" A "stone butch" is a woman who is strongly masculine in her personality and style. A "stone butch" is generally the more aggressive partner in the relationship, and the one who wears the pants.
- The Gay American Smokeout 11/20/08 A disproportionate amount of people in the queer community face cancer risk due to high level of smoking within the community. Smoking exacerbates complications in queer men and women who are already at a higher risk for breast, anal, and ovarian cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 30,000 LGBT people die each year of tobacco related diseases.So commit to quit, take your last drag and find more resources and meet-up/social groups for those trying to or have quit at the Gay American Smokeout and the LGBT Tobacco Control Network.
- Video Remembering Our Beloved Transgender Friends & Family
- Transgender Day of Remembrance - 11/20/08 Today is the 10th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance commemorating all those in the transgender community who lost their lives due transphobia, misunderstanding, and pure hate. Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance"God full of mercy, bless the souls of all who are in our hearts on this Transgender Day of Remembrance. We call to mind today young and old, of every race, faith, and gender experience, who have died by violence. We remember those who have died because they would not hide, or did not pass, or did pass, or stood too proud, or looked like someone who did. Today we name them: the reluctant activist; the fiery hurler of heels; the warrior for quiet truth; the one whom no one really knew.As many as we can name, there are thousands more whom we cannot, and for whom no prayer may have been said. We mourn their senseless deaths, and give thanks for their lives, for their teaching, and for the brief glow of each holy flame. We pray for the strength to carry on their legacy of vision, bravery, and love.And as we remember them, we remember with them the thousands more who have taken their own lives. We pray for resolve to root out the injustice, ignorance, and cruelty that grow despair. And we pray, God, that all those who perpetrate hate and violence will speedily come to understand that Your creation has many faces, many genders, many holy expressions.Blessed are they, who have allowed their divine image to shine in the world.Blessed is God, in Whom no light is extinguished.(CBST)" 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 Please use the opporunity to commemorate a friend or loved one who has suffered due to transphobia, regardless of whether one is theist, atheist, and regardless of your particular faith, please keep those names in your heart today and think about how we can all work to make this world a better and more just place regardless of ones gender identity/expression.
- Word of the Gay: "Non-sexual" "Non-sexual" is a term for not having or not being involved with sex and sexuality. It can apply to asexuals or people who for various reasons choose to disengage from sexuality.
LGBTFOGG Syndicated News Feed
- Dozens rally here to protest California's same-sex marriage ban More than 150 people stood in the rain outside the Monroe County Administration Building this afternoon, rallying in support of same-sex marriage. Read more...
- LBGTFOGG 2008 Endorsements LGBTFOGG Proudly Endorses The Following Candidates For The 2008 Election Cycle: Rick Dollinger - NYS Senate - 56th District David Nachbar - NYS Senate - 54th District Dave Garretson - NYS Assembly - 134th District Joseph Morelle - NYS Assembly - 132nd District Susan John - NYS Assembly - 131st District Read more...
- Rochester Pride 2008 - 1st Annual Flag Raising At City Hall! The FIRST EVER Pride flag raising and Rochester Pride 2008 kick-off Ceremonies were held at Rochester City Hall! Pride flags will fly at City Hall through next Sunday as Rochester celebrates Pride Week. And, this year marks the beginning of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot in NYC (June 27, 1969). The idea was proposed to Mayor Duffy by Streets of Pride, part of the Rochester LGBT Community Business Forum, who worked with Councilman Bill Pritchard to get it done.According to Pritchard, when he contacted the Mayor about raising the pride flags over City Hall, "...the Mayor's first question wasn't 'Why?,' but 'Where do you want them?'"Representing the Mayor, who Read more...
- Congratulations Del & Phyllis! At 8:01 PM ET today, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, a couple for 55 years, were married in San Francisco. I’m not going to make commentary, editorialize or anything else. Just watch the videos, read the articles, and enjoy as I have enjoyed. Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon Marry - VIDEO (bring your hanky) Picture Gallery No Secret [...] Read more...
- GENDA passes Assembly Codes Committee The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) has just passed the Assembly Codes Committee by a bipartisan vote of 16-2. The bill had already passed in the Government Operations Committee on April 30 and now goes to the Assembly Rules Committee, which is chaired by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.Thirteen Democrats and three Republicans voted for moving GENDA, while only two Republicans voted against. Democrat Robin Schimminger was the only Assemblymember absent for the vote.GENDA has 75 co-sponsors in the Assembly and 101 Assemblymembers are on record in support of the bill, according to our Legislative Scorecard.Below is the Codes Read more...
J.A.T.G.A.B. Jewish Author Tough Gay Activist Bear
- Mixed Emotions I have very mixed emotions, as many gays do, with the results of the recent elections.One one hand, the democrats won, which is good, to say the least. We have the first Africa-American president -- also very good. And he is at least gay-friendly, although he doesn't support gay marriage and has too many evangelical-type friends to suit me. The main problem -- among many -- with the Republicans is their idiotic alliance with the religious right, their failure to understand the need to separate church and state. I hope Obama doesn't make the same mistake. Certain of his remarks during the whole mess when he had that homophobic, ex-gay gospel singer on his tour gave me the idea that on some gay issues Obama just doesn't get it. But that's true of most family men when it comes to us gays.At least we have a better chance under the democrats of getting various gay rights bills and gay marriage bills passed. If the Republicans had won, we wouldn't have had any chance at all.Still, whatever [relative] elation many of us feel over Obama's win is minimized by the passing of Proposition 8 in California, which bans same-sex marriage. While I appreciate that Obama always mentions gays and lesbians when he talks of Americans, we must keep in mind that religious family man Obama does not support gay marriage (which, I have said, is as much about human equality as it is about marriage).Wayne Besen looks at the reality that many blacks do not support gay marriage or gay rights and are indeed homophobic, but he argues -- correctly, I believe -- that it is more about educational levels than race. His column on this makes for an interesting read. While I think an anti-gay "machismo" can affect even educated men, it does tend to be less educated males of all races who are externally or internally homophobic, and are -- if homosexual -- on "the down low." Still, many gays -- many of whom supported civil rights for blacks their entire lives and even worked hard for civil rights -- are disappointed that some members of this oppressed minority group are so willing to oppress another.But as I have said before, rather than letting this engender inappropriate and equally hypocritical racist feelings in those of us who are gay and non-black, it is better to remember that their are many out and proud black gay people, and many straight blacks are very supportive of gay rights. Besides, think of the mixed emotions that many Americans who are both black and gay feel during this time. Let's keep things in perspective.Still, it's hard not to see the irony and feel just a bit bitter. The same day that the first African-American president is voted into office -- an historical occasion, long in coming -- gays are told by the passage of Proposition 8 and other bills that we are second-class citizens. that our lives and loves are unequal and our feelings don't matter.In other words, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
- Write to Marry Day The fight for gay marriage is in reality a fight for equality. There have always been loving, committed gay couples-- many of whom have been together longer than many of their straight counterparts -- and gay couples deserve the same protections and privileges under the law that heterosexual couples have.Sure I may snicker from time to time at modern-day gay couples who lust for the proverbial house with the white picket fence in the middle of the suburbs, not to mention 2.5 children -- it almost seems like an imitation of the conventional straight life I was raised in and longed to escape from -- but since I'm always yammering about the diversity of the gay community I have to say I'm all for everyone getting what they want whether it's my cup of java or not.So I support gay marriage hands down. It won't automatically make some people easier with what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms, but it will bring us one step closer to equality.Bloggers of all stripes and persuasions across the land are posting on or before October 29th to register their opposition to Proposition 8, which would amend California's constitution by banning sex-sex marriages. This would not only be a giant step backward, but would increase the likelihood of a national bill, such as that supported by the likes of Sarah Palin, opposing same-sex marriages.In these days of an uneasy economy, there are those who might feel that gay marriage is not an important issue. I say that when the equality of several million Americans is called into question, then that certainly makes it an extremely important issue.It goes to the very heart of the bedrock upon which this nation was built. Freedom from intolerance, equality for all. It is as much of paramount concern as the ongoing civil rights struggle for African-Americans, not to mention the fight for women's rights and against anti-Semitism and all other forms of blatant discrimination.Hence this post in honor of "Write" to Marry Day.
- Dumb, Dumb, Dumb -- or Smart as a Fox? JOE KORT, S.O.B.Way back when I ran the media committee of New York City's militant Gay Activists Alliance, we occasionally used the term "media darling." This was how we described people who would attach themselves to the movement but who turned out to be less interested in helping gay people and working to fight for Gay Rights then they were in promoting themselves. Media Darlings didn't stay in the movement for very long; they'd leave as soon as they finished using anyone and everyone to achieve their ultimate goal of fame, money, or what-have-you. Usually these people were such losers they didn't really amount to much, although they could cause a lot of damage.Media darlings are still with us. But nowadays they aren't always in the movement. Gay Rights and the Internet have combined to form a situation where any idiot with half a brain (and I do mean half a brain) can set himself up as a gay expert (regardless of background) with the purposes of parting people from their hard-earned dollars.An aside: Years ago I would attend what we called "zaps" against a trio of homophobic therapists we called SOB. Their names were Socarides, Ovesey, and Bieber. They made quite a living treating self-hating homosexuals, convincing them their lifestyle was unnatural, and helping them to "turn straight." Naturally, they hated gay activists and those of the psychiatric community who wanted to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness (which eventually happened, in no small part due to groups like GAA) because if their patients felt good about being gay, they wouldn't need psychotherapy. SOB insisted that gay men were sick, unhappy and troubled, but they based their assertions only on the self-hating homos who came to see them.You see, SOB had a vested interest in having gay people see themselves as sick and unnatural, doomed to a miserable existence unless they changed or restrained themselves.Keep these guys in mind as I continue.Okay, back to our media darling of the month, a gay psychotherapist named Joe Kort (pictured). Kort is one of these people who takes the term MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) way too literally. MSM was only created to deal with all of those men who were attracted to other men but who identified as straight. Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, Kort thinks these men really are straight, despite the fact that the term MSM was never meant to suggest that these guys running around sucking cock and taking it up the ass or vice versa were really heterosexual. Jeez.[Kort also goes against the feelings of most gay therapists in that he claims he often advises mixed marriage couples --gay husband/straight wife -- to stay together. Certainly these couples should remain supportive friends if they can, but they should also move on so that each can have the full relationship with another man that they deserve. I remember a couple in this position who continued to live together even after the husband came out. She just couldn't let go, and out of his own weakness, he wouldn't let her. Ten years later they were still living together -- sexlessly -- neither with a new relationship. And I've no doubt the situation never changed.]Now, stop here a moment and click here to read my Gay Dr. Bill post regarding The Truth about MSM -- and Really Bad Therapists to find out about Joe and why I have such a problem with him.Okay, back? A while back, when I first learned of Kort, I sent him an admittedly angry email. I never heard back. Now he's started a blog (which I wouldn't doubt takes credit cards) about this whole heterosexual-men-having-sex-with-men business, as a way of drumming up new business for his practice. [After all, these days men who identify as gay and are out and proud rarely need therapy, at least relating to their sexual orientation. But "straight" guys? -- that's a whole new market!) I tried to leave a comment on his blog using my blogger I.D. -- I'm much too militant to want to be anonymous -- but it wouldn't go through. However, when I did try the "anonymous" option, it worked. Of course Kort prefers anonymous comments to ones from people like me, where someone who reads his blog might follow the link back here and see how there are people like me and many others who see Kort as being totally irresponsible and downright greedy.But maybe media darling Joe isn't quite as stupid as he seems. If it's true that he sees "hundreds" -- yes, hundreds -- of straight men who think they're gay, then he must have quite a lucrative practice.Now back to SOB, remember them? No, I'm not suggesting that openly gay Joe tells anyone that it's wrong to be gay, so while he's in a different league from SOB because of that, he's still their spiritual brother. Here's why:1.) He, like SOB, sees self-hating, unhappy homosexual men and plays into their internalized homophobia, SOB by saying they'd be better off if they were straight, and Kort by telling them they really are straight (which, in a sense, amounts to the same thing.)2.) Like SOB, Kort has a vested financial interest in manipulating how these men see themselves.3.) Like SOB, Kort has no vested interest in helping these men accept their obvious homosexuality and live an out and proud gay life. If anything, he probably advises them to see themselves as hetero, stay with the wife and girlfriend, and restrain from gay sex.All I can say is here we appear to have a gay man who is willing to fuck around with the lives and sexuality of homo and bisexual men, convincing them that they're straight, just to make a few bucks. I think I perhaps have more contempt for a person of this nature than I do for an honest-to-goodness homophobe, and you know what I think of them.SOB, indeed!NOTE: Kort has also published a book entitled Ten Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Improve Their Lives. I shudder to think what kind of dumb advice he gives!
- Nastiness in the Blogosphere I've been a bit appalled by the level of nastiness I see on GLBT message boards and blogs and I wondered if it was getting worse (due, perhaps, to the election year) and what other factors might be responsible. I contacted some prominent as well as lesser-known bloggers and well-known gay people (Wayne Besen, Andrew Sullivan, Michael Musto etc.) from all sides of the political spectrum for their responses and have written an article which I call "Nastiness on the Blogosphere." I think it contains some interesting opinions on the subject. [This was originally intended for the New York Blade, but since they've gone from weekly publication to bi-weekly they don't have as much room for general think pieces as opposed to hard news.]On the gay web site queerty, a heated debate is going on as to whether a certain gay periodical has improved since the new editor has taken over, and if said editor is gay, straight or bisexual -- and if it matters. A diversity of opinions are expressed, so diverse in fact, that it’s as if the people posting are not only not part of any community, but are actually from separate planets. The comments become increasingly personal. One poster who is an actor is told that he’s too ugly and untalented to get a job. Another person, quivering with self-hate, leaves a message that reads "I’m not bisexual but I wish I were and I’d kick the asses of all the faggots who say it has to be one way or the other." The majority of posts, at least on this particular thread, are jarringly nasty. What’s going on here? Is the level of viciousness on LGBT blogs and message boards increasing, and if so, why is it happening? There could be several factors to blame for all the in-fighting: 1.) different factions of the LGBT movement who have been lumped together for political reasons but who may not really relate to one another; 2.) Out and Proud gays versus in-the-closet gays who use the anonymity of the Internet to put in their two cents but who look at gay life very differently from out-of-the-closet gays; 3.) young gays versus older gays; 4.) Other, less obvious factors. The question was put to several bloggers. Andrew Belonsky of Queerty says " I think it's primarily political differences - on queerty, at least. I don't think that blogs have made gays any nastier, no. There's always been infighting in every social community, so why should we be any different? That said, however, many commentators can get particularly cruel and ugly, which really isn't the most constructive activity unless you actually have a point." Andrew Sullivan sees it a bit differently: "I'm afraid it has always been true that gays have viciously attacked other gays online." he says. "It gets personal very quickly. Some of it is classic minority group self-loathing; part of it is just classic gay bitchiness; part genuine outrage, especially at pretty useless gay political groups; and partly it's a function of very familiar patterns of varying outness. We really do need to get better at being calmer."Andres Duque, who has a Gay Latino blog entitled Blabbeando [blabbeando.blogspot.com] says "Some bloggers engage in over the top demagoguery, sensationalistic arguments and shock tactics to engage their readership -- and increase traffic -- and some responses might react to that. Personally I prefer to stake a view without slandering or insulting others and try to be respectful of others who may disagree with my views and perhaps this is why I rarely get a negative or nasty comment on my blog. It might not be as titillating to some, but not sure that I want to attract readers who run on the latest scandal."Aureliano DeSoto, Post-Doctoral Fellow in LGBT studies at Carleton College in Minnesota [americanqueer.blogspot.com], says "LGBT folks as well as everyone else, have very little sense of etiquette or really know, for that matter, how to articulate critical commentary in ways that are not ad hominem and personal. This might just be a general function of the coarsening of our larger public culture." "From a socio-cultural perspective," DeSoto adds, "lesbians and gay men have engaged in sometimes quite vociferous debate over what, how, why, and who constitutes gayness, really from the Mattachine Society of the 1950s onward, when the question was whether gay people constituted a separate category of experience or were just sexually different ...The movement of these questions onto the Internet is just a continuation of conversations that used to mostly happen in community papers, newsletters, flyers, wheat-pasted manifestos, and at the bar."And I would say, for what it's worth, that LGBT people are avatars of Internet culture, so perhaps there is some greater meaning to whatever perceived increase of hostility and aggression [there is] on gay blogs. Generational differences and dimensions of outness do seem to be more prominent in online media, especially the latter, since for many the Internet is an anonymous space, and that has empowered ... closeted men who have no public expression of gay identity but an investment, sometimes quite conservative, in these questions -- not to mention their participation in sexual online cultures such as Manhunt or Craig's List." "I think the Internet has always been a place where cowards become bold and attack anonymously," says activist and Truth Wins Out President Wayne Besen [waynebesen.com]. "What has changed, of late, however, are the issues - two in particular. The first is the presidential elections. There are many spiritually and emotionally empty people who live vicariously through candidates and wrap their identities around these leaders. They become larger than life - almost like Gods. So, if you criticize the candidate, these individuals take it as a personal sleight and react insanely over the Internet. I saw a glimpse of this when I criticized Obama over using "ex-gay" gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. The level of irrational Internet comments and e-mail was mind blowing. People really need to get lives - or at least get a grip.""The second issue was the debate over including trans people in ENDA," says Besen. "From the standpoint of trans people - and many of their supporters - this was not just policy, but an existential question. If abandoned by the GLB community, they would have been left to fend for themselves. So, it was quite understandable that it got ugly, raw and personal. Were the trans people about to get shafted supposed to smile and take it? Sometimes it is important to throw down and duke it out. Much of this occurred on the Internet and it wasn't pretty - but, in the end, the fight may have been pretty important." Some bloggers have had kinder, gentler experiences. Says Michael Musto, "I recently started a blog, "La Daily Musto," on villagevoice.com and the tone of the comments is generally upbeat. There’s some bitchiness, but generally in a good-humored way. So not all gay blogs elicit pure hate from their readers -- except whenever I mention Clay Aiken. But if there IS a rise in blog comment bitchiness, I’d say all of those factors [you mentioned] are involved. The anonymity gives people who generally can’t express themselves a chance to vent and to go overboard because they don’t have to suffer any consequences for it. And the different LGBT subgroups often resent each other (the "straight acting" ones often hate the out, femmy ones, and so on), and drag out their darkest biases which they probably would not trot out in public.""This is a political year with much at stake," says Wayne Besen, "so there is a natural tendency for such attacks to multiply. Politics is about power and with this comes a brutal struggle, and this accounts for much of the nastiness online. "I wouldn't get alarmed, as things ought to calm down in 2009."
- Endangered New York City Nightlife? In the past few months there as been much talk of an anti-nightlife campaign being waged in the city, with gay venues especially being targeted. Is this an exaggeration or are gay New Yorkers really in danger of losing a lot of their homo-friendly spaces?Last March several clubs in Chelsea, including gay bars Splash and View, were raided, along with several non-gay establishments, a few of which held gay parties on occasion. Drugs were cited as the reason for the raids. Back then several owners of gay bars in Chelsea, as well as a representative of the New York Nightlife Association [NYNA] told The New York Blade that gays or gay clubs were not being targeted. Despite highly exaggerated accounts of the places being shuttered for good, most of the clubs were re-opened within days.The problem was not just drug use, but the fact that residents of the area dialed 311 to complain of the noise generated by bar patrons lounging on the sidewalks to have a smoke. This is a problem for straight bars as well as gay. According to Robert J. Benfatto, Jr., the president of Community Board 4, which oversees the Chelsea area and determines which establishments will be granted liquor licenses, "The clubs can’t control the crowds once they leave the bar."The situation was not helped when Splash and two other bars that had planned to hold Gay Pride events were again raided over Gay Pride weekend. The timing understandably engendered much suspicion and paranoia. However, Splash was the only gay bar out of the 13 establishments to be hit over that weekend. Nevertheless, given the negative history between gay bars and the police, gay activists are quick to investigate any possibility of discrimination.Much of the controversy recently centered on the Roxy nightclub on West 18th Street. The Roxy was not a gay place, but had a popular gay night on the weekends. Suspicions were fomented when the Roxy reapplied to Community Board 4 for a liquor license and the hearing was delayed on more than one occasion. On August 12th the application for a license was withdrawn by the club itself, and they will probably not reapply. Robert J. Benfatto, Jr. told me "it is my understanding that something happened between them and the landlord."According to Benfatto, the problem with the Roxy and other clubs has little to do with an anti-nightlife attitude in Chelsea or anywhere else. "Years ago The Roxy was in a manufacturing area that was approved for big clubs. Re-zoning has turned the area into a residential neighborhood." It is no longer a good mix.Many of the people who seethe when the noise level of the street smokers goes too high don’t necessarily have anything against nightlife and may even enjoy it themselves. It’s when they’re trying to sleep and have to get up early on weekdays to go to work that they reach for the phones. Some bar owners in Chelsea have gotten together to address the problems. One solution was to hire off duty cops to stand outside the bar in their uniforms and keep order. Unfortunately, the city doesn’t allow "pay detail" – the name of this program – for establishments that have liquor licenses, with the exception of large venues such as Madison Square Garden. As for the drug issue, the Roxy went so far as to hire undercover agents to make sure their employees weren’t dealing.The New York City Council introduced a Nightlife Security Initiative to address some of the problems. Their suggestions included changing the shift of the cabaret unit of the police to last until 5AM instead of four, so that they could deal with the noisy flow of often drunken patrons coming from the bars. Responding to the death of bar patron Imette St. Guillen, who was killed by a bouncer with a criminal record at The Falls, bars were to do background checks on all employees – this was also supposed to help deal with the drug problems as well, which persist.Nightlife – gay or straight – isn’t going away any time soon. Benfatto told me that "most applications that come before this board are approved. Very few are turned down." But the larger clubs with the noisy smokers and drug deals in the bathroom will have to take more of the initiative in policing their establishments and patrons – and cooperating with the police and State Liquor Authority – or the raids will undoubtedly continue.As for the Roxy? The beloved club appears to be gone for good. However, some people aren’t willing to let it go. Or at least let our nightlife go without a fight. Ryan J. Davis, who headed a "Save the Roxy" campaign, told The Blade "We’ll be turning the 'Save The Roxy' nightlife movement -- and it is a movement, with over 300 people activated -- into a committee as part of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. There, we'll be able to provide oversight of New York City's Appointed Community Boards."
Gay Wedding Fodder
- LA Premiere of The Year or Paper Set For Feb. 12 Please join the filmmaker, narrator and stars of the Los Angeles premiere of THE YEAR OF PAPER! Tuesday, February 12th 7:30pm Renberg Theatre, The Village 1125 N. McCadden Place LA, CA 90038 The screening will benefit Let California Ring, the campaign for marriage equality. Suggested donation is $10. Reception to follow with the couples, filmmakers and narrator, Peri Gilpin. When officials began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004, this country went to war over a word. How different is a 'gay marriage' from a heterosexual one? THE YEAR OF PAPER follows three couples - lesbian, heterosexual and gay- through their first year of marriage and explores both sides of the same-sex marriage debate. The film is being distributed by Frameline. Event co-sponsored by: Freedom to Marry, the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, The Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Outvite.com FOR TICKETS: RSVP to Kelly
- LOGO Series, Be Real, Is Casting! Submitted by Linton Media Casting Call for LOGO Documentary Series, Be Real Be Real, a documentary series for LOGO (MTV/Viacom network) celebrating GLBT life in America, is currently casting for its second season. More specifically, we are casting for our COMMITMENT episode. We are looking for couples 25+ years in age and older that have a compelling story they would like to share. Whether it is tying the knot, proposing, or celebrating an anniversary—we’d like to capture on camera this momentous occasion in your lives. This is an opportunity for you to share your ceremony and love story with LOGO viewers and help send a positive and inspiring message to the GLBT community. All inquiries and submissions may be directed to us via email. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Bridezilla Is Casting! Submitted by WE Entertainment Casting Call For Brides! Are you planning a wedding in the next six months (NOV 07' - APR 08')? Are your wedding preparations getting out of control? Are you swamped with a massive to do list for your big day? Are you doing everything in your power to make sure your wedding day is perfect? Do you think you have what it takes to be on America's top rated wedding show? Benefits of participating: $$ All participants will be compensated generously! $$ Videographer included! Interested? PLEASE CALL OUR CASTING OFFICE at: (213) 417-4437 Or e-mail us. Please include a photo of you and your fiancee along with your contact info.
- Mass Las Vegas Gay Wedding Event Announced FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Vegasonesource.com in conjunction with LV Wedding Connection will host a mass Las Vegas gay and lesbian wedding event entitled "Our Love" on July 5th, 2007 to take place during Gay Days and Nights Las Vegas, July 4th - 8th, 2007. LV Wedding Connection is very excited to brides and grooms celebrate this momentous occasion. Join this first of its kind Las Vegas mass gay and lesbian wedding. Make this one of the most special memories of your lifetime for only $225.00! RSVP is required by June 29th, 2007. Review event details and make your reservation "Gay Days & Nights Las Vegas" is a trademark of Community Marketing Inc., Copyright © 2007
- Pioneering Online Boutique, GayWeddings.com, Gets Facelift As Momentum For Civil Unions Builds And Need For Gay-Friendly Wedding Services Increases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PIONEERING ONLINE BOUTIQUE, GAYWEDDINGS.COM, GETS FACELIFT AS MOMENTUM FOR CIVIL UNIONS BUILDS AND NEED FOR GAY-FRIENDLY WEDDING SERVICES INCREASES First e-Commerce Site for Same-Sex Unions Is Largest Resource of Its Kind WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17,2007) – GayWeddings.com today announced the re-launch of its web site, which includes a new storefront with free planning articles, free “Wed Pages” for couples, a gay-friendly vendor directory, consulting services, a community forum, news updates and more. The remodeled site and extension of services solidifies GayWeddings.com top rank at the forefront of the burgeoning same-sex wedding industry. Forbes.com estimates that if same-sex marriage were to be legalized in the United States today, it would pump $16.8 billion into the wedding industry, while a recent ResearchMarket.com survey projects the total buying power of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community to be $641 billion. “As the leading online boutique dedicated to providing resources to same-sex couples who seek to affirm their life-long partnerships, GayWeddings.com is poised to change the landscape of the wedding industry through serving the underserved GLBT community,” said company president, Kathryn Hamm. “The tools on our updated site allow us to reach farther, to provide greater service and to truly fulfill the needs of same-sex couples around the world who wish to celebrate their love for one another through ceremony.” Long-held stereotypes in American culture purport that -- straight or gay -- men want to play the field and women want to settle down and that members of the GLBT community are not interested in settling down in stable relationships. Shattering these stereotypes, lesbian and gay couples alike have organized commitment ceremonies, sought to have their relationships legally validated where recognition exists, and sued in jurisdictions where rights for same-sex couples do not exist. At GayWeddings.com, approximately 40% of its clients are gay couples, 60% are lesbian couples, and a burgeoning number of clients are friends and family members shopping for specialty wedding gifts. Straight “Mother of A Bride” and company founder, Gretchen Hamm, embraces the market growth. “I’ve always said that recognizing the partnership rights of same-sex couples is not a matter of ‘if.’ It’s a matter of ‘when.’ We’re excited that the marketplace has begun to catch up with us and we are thrilled to serve so many happy couples. We commend the growing number of jurisdictions that have embraced partnership rights for same-sex couples and look forward to welcoming more states into the fold.” Currently, five countries and Massachusetts fully recognize same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, 17 countries in addition to Oregon, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Washington, Vermont and the District of Columbia observe civil unions, domestic partnerships or offer other legal recognition of same-sex couples; and, legislation awaits the signature of Gov. John Lynch in New Hampshire. About GayWeddings.com While planning a wedding for daughter Kathryn in 1999, Gretchen Hamm was frustrated by the lack of resources available to same-sex couples and thus founded TwoBrides.com and TwoGrooms.com – the first such online boutiques to cater to the GLBT community – that same year. In 2005, the mother-daughter team acquired GayWeddings.com, solidifying its position as the largest resource of its kind. Based in Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C., GayWeddings.com serves the under-served GLBT community with its community forum, national gay-friendly vendor directory, wedding planning seminars, consultation services, personalized customer service and its online boutiques, which feature hard-to-find gay wedding items including certificates, invitations, cake tops, albums, guest books, personalized accessories and more. Through advocacy, relationship building and education, GayWeddings.com strives to affect change in the wedding marketplace. Visit us at www.GayWeddings.com.
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