Posts Tagged LGBTQ issues

Hombre y hombre? It’s love

Via Colorlines, a beautiful video from Somos Familia, a project that works to promote acceptance of LGBTQ people in the Latino community.

It stuck a chord with me in particular, coming from a Cuban family, and knowing how important it is for those of us in the Latino community to speak to one another about our challenges and experiences as LGBTQ Latinos. The video gave me chills.

Via Colorlines, a beautiful video from Somos Familia, a project that works to promote acceptance of LGBTQ people in the Latino community.

It stuck a chord with me in particular, coming from a Cuban family, and ...

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pushes for DOMA repeal

It’s been a hell of a couple of days for advocates of LGBT rights around here. On Friday night, the New York State senate sent a passed marriage equality bill to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who signed it into law right away. And on Sunday, the streets of New York were filled with rainbow-clad revelers who had come from all over the world to participate in the annual Pride parade (and to get their hands on the hilarious freebies).

But, as the smoke – and the glitter and the confetti – clears, it’s time to start looking toward the next fight. And for many people, that fight is repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.

The Defense of Marriage Act ...

It’s been a hell of a couple of days for advocates of LGBT rights around here. On Friday night, the New York State senate sent a passed marriage equality bill to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo, ...

The Wednesday Weigh-In: PRIDE Edition!

As Miriam noted, June is LQBTQ Pride Month in many places around the world, generally marked by parades, celebrations, demonstrations, and acts of solidarity for people in the LGBTQ community and allies. Here in NY, it could be made extra sweet if we pass marriage equality this week.

What better time for a Pride-themed weigh-in?

Pride is a funny thing. In public discourse, it’s alternatively described as a problem of self-righteousness or arrogance, and a necessary component of achievement and sense of a job well done. For me, it tends to come sporadically, and in accordance with my moods. I often find myself deflecting recognition for things I’ve worked on to others that I feel are more ...

As Miriam noted, June is LQBTQ Pride Month in many places around the world, generally marked by parades, celebrations, demonstrations, and acts of solidarity for people in the LGBTQ community and allies. Here ...

Happy Pride Month!

June, in many places around the world, is LGBTQ Pride Month. It’s a month marked by public celebrations, demonstrations and acts of solidarity for those of us in the LGBTQ community. It’s often the first time a newly out person feels part of a community, feels included in something celebratory and fun, in contrast to the often difficult and shame-ridden process of coming out.

I remember very clearly my first Pride celebration, five years ago at Washington DC Pride. I remember not being able to wipe the grin off my face. I was so excited, so exhilarated, to see all of these people who were like me, and made up the community I had newly joined. ...

June, in many places around the world, is LGBTQ Pride Month. It’s a month marked by public celebrations, demonstrations and acts of solidarity for those of us in the LGBTQ community. It’s often the ...

Ugandan anti-gay bill is poised to pass (and what westerners should do about it)

Remember that horrendous Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill we posted about late last year? According to the AP, the bill is once again rearing its ugly head. A Ugandan parliament committee is currently holding hearings on it, and Ugandan lawmakers have indicated the bill could be voted on as early as before Parliament ends its session at the end of the week.

Many advocates, including a blogger on GayUganda and Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), suggest that the bill is being debated now to divert attention from recent political demonstrations in Uganda that have attracted police crackdowns. Human Rights Watch says security forces killed nine people in the recent ...

Remember that horrendous Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill we posted about late last year? According to the AP, the bill is once again rearing its ugly head. A Ugandan parliament committee is currently holding hearings on it, ...

What does support for same-sex marriage say about LGBT acceptance?

Miriam posted yesterday about a number of recent gay rights wins on the marriage front, including that more Americans now support same-sex marriage than oppose it.

This graph shows a clear, steady victory for those who have been organizing for decades for gay marriage. I’m happy for their wins, but I’m ambivalent about what it means for broader social acceptance of queer and transgender folks.

Gay marriage is not the issue I would choose to focus on as the center of the gay political agenda. It directly benefits more privileged members of the gay community, those for whom access to the legal rights of marriage is the big deal — not homelessness, hunger or violence. It’s trickle down social justice: organize ...

Miriam posted yesterday about a number of recent gay rights wins on the marriage front, including that more Americans now support same-sex marriage than oppose it.

This graph shows a clear, steady victory for those who have ...

Britain to legalize same-sex marriage

According to news reports, the British government is preparing to remove the final distinctions between same-sex partnerships and marriage.

British media reported Sunday the government is preparing to erase some of the last remaining distinctions between gay partnership and traditional marriage — allowing gay couples to tie the knot in churches in ceremonies that may be officially known as marriages.

While Britain has had a civil partnerships law since 2005, which essentially allows for all the rights of marriage afforded to straight couples, advocates there have been pushing for this change as a move away from the current “separate but equal” arrangement.

If the plans go through, Britain would join the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Portugal and Spain as another ...

According to news reports, the British government is preparing to remove the final distinctions between same-sex partnerships and marriage.

British media reported Sunday the government is preparing to erase some of the last remaining distinctions between ...

It Gets Better: Music video edition

Lyrics available here.

Rebecca Drysdale, a NYC-based queer comedian recently made this incredible It Gets Better music video. Criticisms of the project acknowledged, I do think there is some amazing activism and media coming out of the project.

Rebecca also makes a really important point at the end of the video–it’s not just queer kids that get bullied. Bullying is an epidemic problem across adolescence, with serious consequences.

Lyrics available here.

Rebecca Drysdale, a NYC-based queer comedian recently made this incredible It Gets Better music video. Criticisms of the project acknowledged, I do think there is some amazing activism and media coming out ...

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