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Activists Dismayed by Queen's Speech

2012-05-10T11:09:28Z

Although the issue of gay marriage is more quietly debated in England, gay activists are no less demanding of equality than their American counterparts. In her Diamond Jubilee year, celebrating 60 years on the throne, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was expected to mention the British government's promise to legalize gay marriage during her annual speech to the legislature Wednesday.

2015 is the year the English are promised to be awarded gay marriage rights. Many activists fear Prime Minister David Cameron may not make good on his pledge and the Queen's silence on the issue only heightens speculation.

Last October during his party conference, Mr. Cameron openly supported gay marriage rights despite opposition. "I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative." he said. "I support gay marriage because I'm a Conservative."

However, as poll numbers dip, the conversation has shifted into silence over the issue. Many believe his support for gays was the deciding factor for his unpopularity.

Pink News called Mr. Cameron's office to inquire about the Queen's speech and were told that gay marriage was never planned to be included, however the Prime Minister's stance is "unaltered."

With Britain sharing similar woos as the U.S. on issues of the economy, education and unemployment, some like Chancellor George Osborne argue that gay marriage simply isn't a priority.

Activists Dismayed by Queen's Speech originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 11:09:28.

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North Carolina Becomes 30th State To Ban Gay Marriage

2012-05-09T10:21:20Z

North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The amendment makes North Carolina the 30th state to institute a ban on gay marriage. Main supporters, Vote for Marriage and Coalition to Protect All N.C. Families, celebrated with a seven-layer cake.

In all, the amendment's supporters and opponents combined spent a whopping $3 million on TV, billboards and messaging. In the end, the public sided against the possibility for gay marriage or domestic partnerships.

North Carolina law already banned gay marriage, but the amendment effectively slams the door on the possibility of a additional legislation.

North Carolina Becomes 30th State To Ban Gay Marriage originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 10:21:20.

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Nebraska Brings Positive Attention With Anti-Gay Letter?

2012-05-07T09:17:41Z

In the South, football is the world so naturally coaches are god. They carry more weight than local preacher, politician or celebrity. Saturday service is the tailgate and Monday night the holiday. Therefore, it's no surprise Ron Brown's opposition to a proposed Lincoln ordinance to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination is getting so much attention.

You may be thinking what I am: Who in the world is Ron Brown? To University of Nebraska fans, he is the world (or at least part of the axis on which it spins. Ron Brown is Nebraska's assistant football coach and apparently takes his duties seriously, even those outside of his responsibilities.

As a public figure, Brown saw the need to openly express his opposition to Lincoln's anti-discrimination proposal with a formal letter to the Lincoln Journal Star. In the letter he cites his Christian beliefs as if we cared about more than his defensive strategy.

Brown says he's not in favor of discrimination, that if he had a gay player he wouldn't penalize him for his sins. However, he can't "embrace a legal policy that supports a lifestyle that God calls sin." I feel comfortable all ready.

Brown's dizzying explanation may explain Nebraska's fall from football grace, but his personal beliefs are in shared company.

"I hired Ron Brown because of who he is and the type of person he is," head football coach Bo Pelini told The Associated Press. "He's never brought negative attention to our program."

Am I the only one that's waiting for Pelini's statement to end with "...until now"?

Nebraska Brings Positive Attention With Anti-Gay Letter? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 09:17:41.

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Biden Courts Gays for 2012 Election

2012-05-07T08:49:46Z

It's not unusual for presidential candidates to hand pick their constituents the summer before an election with plays of promises and political considerations. The Obama-Biden camp knew back in 2008 that their grassroots package had to include a long list of "others" that rarely find a home in our two party system.

Amongst the pack are gay and lesbian voters who are a diverse lot, but tend to vote with the candidate that gives the most consideration for gay rights causes. President Obama promised equality for LGBTers in 2008 and continues to make good, albeit slower than expected.

Still, the grass is not greener on the other side as Republicans continue to alienate gay voters. The latest offense came last week with the sudden firing, I mean resignation, of Romney adviser Richard Grenell. By letting him go Romney officially sides with the establishment. The establishment, however, has never been good for the gays.

Vice President Joe Biden, however, recognizes that gay constituents have very good memories and show up to vote. Biden told NBC's Meet the Press that marriage should be about being loyal to someone you love, whether that's a man or a woman.

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties," Biden said on Sunday's show.

Missteps aren't tolerated this close to the end game, so it's safe to say Biden is willing to bet on the side that most Americans will side with the idea of equality over division come November's election.

Biden Courts Gays for 2012 Election originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 08:49:46.

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Gay Bias Claim Gets Entire Jury Dismissed

2012-05-02T12:03:26Z

What exactly is bias? Is it simply a favor of one person (or thing) over another or is bias a subconscious desire to make a hopeful connection of empathy with another? If that's the case, could bias be justified? It's not politically correct to say, but we all tend to share more in common with those that share our circumstances, out culture or even our look. This is no absolute, but undeniably a reality in many circles.

In fact, bias has made claim to many accusations of unfair advantage. Think of standardized tests. How likely is it that an inner city kid living in poverty would know what a regatta is? Sure, there are tools available for him to learn about the it, but he's still at a disadvantage to another kid who's social-economic circumstances make rowing commonplace during summer holidays. But does that mean the word "regatta" on a standardized test is biased?

Or what about the name Keyshia on top of a resume. Is she more likely to solicit a perception about who she is and her work ethic because of the association of her name? Assuming that the hiring manager isn't White, does the scenario change? No circumstance is untouched. Is, say, the University of Texas graduate more likely to hire another UT grad?

Sadly, bias or actions based on perception and framing are everywhere. Bias is an evil bug that, like a New York cockroach, leaves no home untouched regardless of culture, color or height of dollar bills. The less cynical, however, believe that bias is all around us yet it's the individual who chooses to by into it or ignore it's temptation. In many cases bias becomes an opportunity that not everyone takes. The optimistic says most people let it pass.

I've talked a lot about bias based on culture and socioeconomic status, but what of sexuality? Are gay men a crew that can't be broken? Is a gay man more likely to carry empathy for another gay man?

To the fury of a San Diego judge, local prosecutors rejected a gay man from a jury panel because the case was about same-sex marriage. The move is reminiscent of a 2011 claim from Prop 8 supporters who accused presiding Judge Walker of presenting bias because he was a gay man overseeing a trial over gay issues.

Then, Judge Walker refused to recuse himself and he was eventually found fit to serve by his peers. Walker didn't raise much of a stink. After all, it wasn't his prosecutors who were presenting the claim nor the bias.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Weber, however, is in a much more troubling position. Not only did she call the city attorneys' actions "shocking" but she later dismissed the entire jury panel. Both sides will now have to start over with jury selection.

Was the city attorneys' rejection of the gay juror a systematic move to present his own bias in the case or do you think the gay juror was more likely to vote in favor of the gay defendants?

Gay Bias Claim Gets Entire Jury Dismissed originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at 12:03:26.

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Summer Gay Weddings in Washington

2012-05-02T11:16:24Z

Mark your calendars and call the planner, taken Washington couples can legally marry beginning June 7th.

Same-sex marriage in Washington has a long history of consideration before the legislature and courts. On February 13, 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire signed a bill legalizing gay unions. Prior to the historic decision, the issue of gay and lesbian couples reaching the alter has been an evolutionary process.

In 2006, during a wave of state same-sex marriage bans, the Washington legislature amended the state constitution to limit marriage between members of the opposite sex but gave themselves the power to reverse the decision through majority vote.

They did just that in 2007, granting Washington gays domestic partnership rights, but still not the full claim to marriage. Same-sex marriage rights crept forward in 2011 when the marriages of out-of-state gays and lesbians were recognized in Washington at the anger of LGBT residents.

However, this year marks complete inclusion of same-sex unions by all within Washington. Opponents hope to bring the issue up on the November ballot. If successful, history could be repeated. If not, there are welcomed days of equality ahead.

Summer Gay Weddings in Washington originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at 11:16:24.

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Was Richard Grenell Asked to Resign?

2012-05-02T10:09:52Z

After a Republican candidate race that mirrored more of an audition for X Factor than a political showdown, the stage couldn't be brighter for Mitt Romney.

Speculation over his attractiveness to American ultra-conservative factions may still be in question, but no longer can politicos deny his staying power. He's beat out the king of chicken, the queen of spin, the prince of controversy and the crust of the scary side of American conservatism to become the GOP presidential hopeful.

It comes as know surprise, however, that like most good media images Romney's play into the Republican hearts was manufactured by a gay man.

Openly gay Richard Grenell, 45, was hired by Romney as an adviser on foreign policy and national security in April after previously serving as spokesman for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush.

While Grenell's credentials place him in prime position to spar with the Obama camp over foreign policy, a favorite talking point of Republican leaders, his personal life has proven more scandalous than the idea of preserving Alaskan wetlands. So much so that Grenell resigned abruptly Tuesday citing increased criticism and probing into his personal life.

A Romney spokesman said the office is "disappointed that Ric decided to resign... for his own personal reasons," but the his exit adds more than a tinge of curiosity.

Grenell may be highly qualified to help propel Romney to victory, but being an openly gay man makes him less than attractive to ultra-conservative voting blocks, whom have little trust in Romney's closeted liberalism.

Romney has a history of playing to the right while his natural tendencies read more moderate. Yet, the political whispers in his ear continue to advise against the McCain mistake of appearing too mainstream. Could it be that GOP would rather loose 2012 than admit that its potential victory was on the strength of an openly gay man?

Was Richard Grenell Asked to Resign? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at 10:09:52.

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Chicago Trans Woman's Death Still a Mystery

2012-04-25T11:54:59Z

Investigations into the gruesome death of 23-year-old Paige Clay are dry as Chicago police uncover no suspects or leads a week after Clay's body was found on the city's West Side with a gunshot wound to the forehead.

Outrage over the young trans woman's death is exacerbated by what some activists are calling a mistreatment of her remains by the Cook County Medical Examiner. Clay became a ward of the state at age 9 or 10, so medical examiners refuse the release the body due to lack of immediate family.

Trans activist Brian Turner, who runs a program for transgender women called Women of Many Voices, has tried but failed so far to claim her body. Turner says Clay an adopted member of his family via his aunt, Denise Turner, who was a foster mother to Clay. Rod 2.0 has more updates.

Chicago Trans Woman's Death Still a Mystery originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at 11:54:59.

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Britain's Gays Find Little Comfort in GP Policy

2012-04-25T09:57:06Z

A discouraging report by charity Stonewall shows that only a third of Britain's gay and bi men are out to their general practitioner.

What's particularly poignant about the survey of 6,861 men is that healthcare in England is nationalized. In a nutshell, access to a primary doctor for preventative and after care is a matter of making an appointment. Bureaucratic hurdles do exist, but they are few compared to the iron wall of insurance companies or HMOs in America. So why aren't Britain's gays filling appointment spots?

According to Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill, "respondents said (sic) that they can't talk openly to GPs." Only 21% of respondents said their doctors displayed policies against discrimination and only 9% felt their health provider created a welcoming environment for gay and bi patients.

The population's silence could mean that many of the countries gay and bisexual men are missing out on care they may need, especially if exposed to HIV and other STI's.

The potential outcome expands beyond immediate physical health. Summerskill warns that like in the United States, "gay and bisexual men [in Britain] are more likely to attempt suicide, self-harm and have depression than their straight peers. They are also more likely to smoke, drink and take illegal drugs."

Stonewall's report lists 10 recommendations that urge doctors to display explicit anti-discrimination policies, create welcoming environments with posters and leaflets displaying images of gay and bi men, include sexual orientation on patients' electronic records and be clear about confidentiality.

Britain's Gays Find Little Comfort in GP Policy originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at 09:57:06.

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Another Repulsive 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Hits State Legislature

2012-04-25T09:25:13Z

When I was kid I was quite savvy at getting what I wanted (or so I thought). I'd pick my target, whether it be a toy or a snugly wasted Saturday in front of tube, then map my strategy to the parents. I left no angle unturned or technique untried. With exhaustion, my parents heard my constant rationale: I needed it. I'd do extra chores. Extra credit homework? No problem. What I hoped is if I pushed them into exhaustion on the topic they would cave into my personal agenda. The longer it took them to flinch, the more ridiculous my strategies became. In all, sometimes it worked and I'd have a shiny new toy. Other times, my purposeful annoyance was rewarded with tremendous backlash.

I can't help but relate this child's game of manipulation to the conservative American block's obsession with the so-called "gay agenda." It's impossible to turn on American television without witness of what is the decline of conservative culture. Crime in most cities is increasing faster than the value of the dollar can fall. Churches are becoming flea markets. Teen pregnancy tests are near standard items on back-to-school checklists. And our cultural fascination with public buffoonery as the path to riches and a reality show has thrown years of honed professional and artistic craft into the dirty Hudson, where it sinks fast like the American Dream.

So, with all of this in plain sight, what's the obsession with the word "gay"? Is it really the end of American society if a middle schooler learns that there's more than one identity? Could it be all that damaging to his or her growth to gather an awareness of the trite concept of a melting pot? Could it be that regardless of how many times they hear the word "gay," they might still be gay or even straight?

These observations matter not to conservative blocks who share little in common with today's youth other than the age-old obsession with manipulation of authority. The universal They (no need to get specific, you know who I'm talking about) are determined to rid America from the affliction of homosexuality and will Ahab their way to making it happen, even if that means stripping Americans of their First Amendment Rights. They will try strategy by strategy until we, like my parents, just give in just to have a little peace in our lives, which by God I hope never happens.

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Another Repulsive 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Hits State Legislature originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at 09:25:13.

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