http://gaynow.com Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) News, Issues and Networking Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:05:15 MST en http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-top-10-bizarre-lgbt-stories-of-2012 most bizarre LGBT stories of the year, which will have you laughing...or perhaps just shaking your head.

10. How to win friends and influence girls to sleep with you
In one of the most unbelievable stories of 2012, a 30-year old-lesbian in Lufkin, Texas was arrested for impersonating a gynecologist to trick her friend into having sex with her. According to a police investigation, Buchanan convinced her female friend that she -- Buchanan -- had breast cancer (she didn't). Then, while posing as a gynecologist online, she prescribed lesbian sex to the unsuspecting friend, who fell for the ruse and had sex with her to "cure" her. Buchanan also convinced her friend to marry her because she was having custody issues with a former girlfriend (she was not). They were wed shortly after. Smartest criminal ever, or the world's most gullible victim?

9. Cloudy with a chance of gay porn
During an episode of Morning Live, an A.M. talk show in Hamilton, Ontario, viewers were treated to three full minutes of hard-core gay porn -- just what you want to see at 9:33 a.m. as you eat your cornflakes. The parent company responsible, CHCH, blamed the studio's cable provider for the glitch, but apologized all the same: "We're very disturbed... it seemed like an eternity."

8. GayNow.com Idiot of the Year Award
As North Carolina geared up to vote on Amendment 1, a measure that would Constitutionally redefine marriage as between one man and one woman, an idiot named Alex Wiles videotaped himself shooting his neighbor's pro-gay marriage sign with a rifle, then uploaded the incriminating video to YouTube. Despite taking down the video the same day, a copy was released...as well a link to his not-so-private Facebook page.

7. Who knew a somersault injury could make you gay?
What would you do if you woke up gay? According to South Wales rugby player Chris Birch, now a hairdresser with a live-in boyfriend, a somersault injury did more than just put him a coma...it changed his whole world. In a BBC documentary that came out this April, Birch explained that after doing a somersault trick down a grass hill, he woke up from a coma with an inexplicable attraction to a male nurse in the hospital.

6. That's one way to do it
Tired of people saying you're trans? Send them a full-frontal nudity shot on Twitter to shut them up. That's exactly what Joseline Hernandez, a contestant on VH1's Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta, did to disprove the online rumors that she was secretly a man. The 34-year-old former stripper wasn't shy about tweeting a naked photo to the world, and it seemed to work. The tweet ended with some advice to those who didn't believe her: "F- ck y'all HATERS." Well said.

5. The gift that keeps on giving
Tom Cruise is having a rough year. To help him get over his Katie Holmes divorce, the scandalous Scientology rumors and a crappy 50th birthday, the gay hookup and dating site Manhunt offered the actor a lifetime membership, free of charge: "Dear Tom, sad to hear about the split. Now that the cat's (or Kat's) out of the bag and you've realized that traditional marriage is a mission impossible, maybe it's time to explore your options?" No word yet from Cruise.

4. Best drag show, ever
On a July episode of Piers Morgan Tonight, video footage of Ikenna Beney Amaechi -- a German drag queen -- was accidentally aired as part of a video tribute to commemorate Whitney Houston's tragic death. The footage, from the 2008 Reel Awards Show in Las Vegas, was of Amaechi doing what he does best: impersonating Whitney Houston. Amaechi: “I feel very honored that I was mistaken for the real Whitney Houston on CNN… is there EVEN a bigger compliment for a tribute artist?!"

3. Will and Grace, the Antiques Store
Les Miserables star Amanda Seyfried may not be gay, but her best guy pal and roommate, Alex Nesbitt, is. Not wanting to take her chances in what she called the "shallow" Hollywood scene, the 27-year-old announced that she would hedge her bets by opening an antique store with Nesbitt: "He's gay. He's my roommate and practically my husband... We're planning on opening an antiques and curiosities home store, which we want to call Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt."

2. Even the Horse Whisperer finds this a bit much
In the final month of 2012, a pastor at the Cowboy Church of Virginia made national headlines with a promise that Equine Assisted Psychotherapy -- i.e. stroking horses -- would cure homosexuality for members of his gay, male congregation. Referring to homosexuality as an "addiction," pastor Raymond Bell told the press in December that horse interaction leads to a greater sense of masculinity, and bonus: petting them makes you straight.

1. Gay for Pay, Hong Kong edition
One of the most surprisingly bizarre stories this year involved Hong Kong billionaire Cecil Chao and his lesbian daughter, Cici. The unmarried Chao (who told 20/20 that he bedded over 10,000 women) offered a $65 million (USD) dowry to any man -- stranger or otherwise -- who could turn CiCi on to men. Fortunately, Chao still hasn't founder a suitor. And that's a good thing, considering the fact that Cici is happily married to a woman.

Happy new year, and visit GayNow.com for more bizarre LGBT stories, a new, daily feature that reports the craziest LGBT stories from across the globe.

-Leah Waldron
Head Staff Writer, GayNow.com ]]> Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:05:15 MST Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-top-10-bizarre-lgbt-stories-of-2012 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=hong-kong-millionaire-cecil-chao-is-the-ultimate-hypocrite-and-probably-gay
But...no.

According to a new 20/20 exclusive interview, Cecil Chao does not care about marriage for the sake of societal normals or religious purposes (let alone honor). Chao, himself, admitted in the interview that he has never been married. But that didn't stop him from having three children with three different mothers (all without marriage), and bragging that he had bedded over 10,000 women over his lifetime. And yes, I did the math. Assuming he started having sex at around 18 years old, that's 172 women a year, or a new woman every other day for 58 years.

This guy should not be seeking marriage for his lesbian daughter, but a Guiness Book of World Records award. Or a best friendship with Hugh Hefner. Or, even more importantly, a breather.

Chao, without a doubt, only cares about sex—and not marriage (as evidenced by 10,000 number; I have no problem with men who choose this lifestyle, but don't try to change your daughter's because you couldn't handle monogamy). Reversing his daughter's lesbianism would be a win-win for Chao in the eyes of his millionaire tycoon collegeagues. Ci Ci marrying a man would negate Chao's shortcomings as a traditional father, while preserving his reputation as a man who accomplishes goals (straight children) on his own terms. Or, possibly, Chao is gay himself, and changing Ci Ci from a lesbian to a straight woman would prove that he's straight, too.

That's right...Chao's 10,000 women may actually have made quite a bit of money themselves. When you can pay a man to marry your daughter, you certainly could pay women to pretend they slept with you. And with the exception of basketball player Wilt Chamberlain, who claims to have slept with 20,000 women, what kind of insecure man counts the number of women he's been with, then advertises it to the world as a badge of honor? Not to mention the fact that he's never had a wife. Instead of asking Chao why he's homophobic and possibly a sex-addict, why not ask him about his own personal life?

Because when it comes to a multi-millionaire staying in the closet, $65 million is a bargain.
]]> Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:09:11 MDT Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=hong-kong-millionaire-cecil-chao-is-the-ultimate-hypocrite-and-probably-gay http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=top-10-most-bizarre-lgbt-stories-of-the-month-september-2012
10. A Tea Party member calling the kettle gay
Tea Party activist Jerome Corsi, a conspiracy theorist known for his outlandish, rumor-based claims, topped his usual insanity this month by affirming that Obama is a gay man who was formerly involved in Chicago's bathhouse and gay bar party scene. Corsi has also claimed that Obama was married to a former roommate (he based his evidence on a photo of Obama acting “chummy” with a former male roommate).

9. Malaysia warns of V-neck-wearing children
In Malaysia, a list of guidelines for identifying potentially-gay schoolchildren was released by several PTA organizations in a nationwide teacher seminar. The list, which warned of V-neck sweaters and handbags for boys and “a preference for sleeping in the company of women” for girls, was eventually discredited by the Malaysian school board.

8. Hilfiger's ex-wife pulls rug out from gay designer
While redecorating Susan Hilfiger's Massachusetts and Connecticut homes, openly-gay designer Todd Alexander Romano got more than a hefty paycheck. Susan Hilfiger proposed marriage to Romano, and when he declined, she filed damages against him in a Manhattan court.

7. Sleeping beauty awakened by chivalrous lesbian
At Ukraine's National Art Museum, a unique art installation featured beautiful sleeping women who were legally contracted to marry any museum guest who woke them with a kiss (lots of men tried and failed). But when one woman opened her eyes, she met the eyes of another woman—her princess charming. Will Ukraine have to change its gay marriage legislation to accommodate the artist's legal contract? Probably not, but the story was great for LGBT activists pushing for marriage equality.

6. Mark Grisanti compared to a gay prostitute
In one of the most widely-read LGBT news stories of the month, an anti-gay marriage organization used gay porn photography in a campaign attack mailer against Republican Mark Grisanti, one of four GOP Senators who voted for New York's gay marriage legislation in 2011. The ad, which featured two gay men having sex, was followed by the tag line: “How far will a politician go to get in your pants?”

5. Trans activists boycott Anderson Cooper for ridiculous trans interview
Mandi, a guest on Anderson Cooper's daytime talk show, Anderson Live, claims that she “turned trans” after using a medication for hair loss. Trans activists were outraged that Anderson would give airtime to such a ridiculous guest, and demanded the show be cancelled (it was not).

4. Cowboys will be (not the Dallas) Cowboys
Up until recently, NFL fans who wanted to read up on the Dallas Cowboys could visit Cowboys.com for the latest stats and game information. But now, web-surfing fans are in for a surprise. Bought out in September by a gay dating site, Cowboys.com is now the internet dating destination for men who like Texas men (although the site also provides Cowgirl/Cowboy dating, too).

3. Rapping, anti-gay priest waxes homophobic
Nothing says “out of touch” like a Catholic priest who uses spoken-word rapping to lay down a homophobic beat. Based on the lyrics, Father Claude Dusty Burns, a.k.a. "Pontifex," seems like quite the closet case, himself. His “Yes to You” rap centers around the difference between having homosexual feelings (okay) and acting on them (not okay).

2. The fairy tale gone wrong
Gigi Chao, the Chinese daughter of millionaire playboy Cecil Chao, has been in a lesbian relationship for seven years. But that isn't stopping her father from offering a $65 million dowry to any man who can turn his daughter straight. Gigi was flattered at first, but quickly changed her tune when thousands of offers flooded in from suitors.

1. The milkman cometh
Even if you don't like milk, you have to love the fact that anti-gay activists are calling for the boycott of Vesyoly Molochnik, or “Gay Milkman” brand milk, for violating St. Petersburg's anti-gay propaganda law. “Gay Milkman” is manufactured by a Russian subsidiary of PepsiCo, which did not originally name the brand (but they may have added the rainbow on the packaging).

Stay tuned on October 31st for another list of bizarre news stories, or check in daily with GayNow.com for the world's top LGBT news. ]]> Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:08:13 MDT Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=top-10-most-bizarre-lgbt-stories-of-the-month-september-2012 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=post-season-politics-what-a-season-for-lgbt-sports-news
Considering these top 10 stories from the summer and early fall, I'm willing to bet we're in for a whole new ball game.

10) Another ex-NFL Player Comes Out
In early June, former Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins player Wade Davis did the unthinkable by coming out shortly after his NFL run. Now that football is behind him, Davis works at the Hetrick-Martin Institute as a champion of LGBT advocacy.

9) That's Amar'e
Shortly after Wade Davis came out of the closet, New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire made national news when he called an unhappy fan a “fag” on Twitter. Within a few days, the NBA fined Stoudemire $50,000 for the incident (that's over 16,000 per anti-gay slur letter), ushering a new era of Twitter foul penalties.

8) Megan Rapinoe: Bad Timing, But Great Summer
In early July, U.S. Soccer Team midfielder Megan Rapinoe came out as a lesbian, but she may have picked the wrong week (Frank Ocean and Anderson Cooper quickly followed). But that didn't stop Megan from having a great Olympics; just a few weeks later, the U.S. Soccer Team took home the gold. Rapinoe, whose revelation coincided with her 27th birthday, also revealed that she was dating Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh.

7) A 'Patriot Act' That Doesn't Suck
Also in July, New England Patriots' tight end Rob Gronkowski made headlines for his pro-LGBT comments about gay teammates. In an interview with OutSports, Gronkowski, a known “foot in mouth” athlete, admitted that he's a team player first, even if the other player is gay: “If that’s how they are, that’s how they are...I mean, we’re teammates so, as long as he’s being a good teammate and being respectful and everything, that’s cool.”

6) The Kiss Seen Round the World
At London's Opening Ceremonies in late July, international viewers saw more than just an airborne Mary Poppins and Harry Potter. The televised program also featured a lesbian kiss from the 1980s British soap opera "Brookside,” which was part of a “Famous British Kisses” video compilation. And because the Olympics were broadcast in real time, the short segment became the first-ever same-sex television kiss in many nations across the world.

5) Lesbian Swimmer (With Awesome Name) Nearly Breaks Record
In August, Diana Nyad, a 62-year-old motivational speaker and competitive swimmer, attempted to swim from Cuba to Key West—and nearly made it. The combination of a freak storm, not to mention shark and jellyfish attacks, stopped her short of her goal (her 4th try). But she still got to celebrate her 63rd birthday in Key West, and lived to tell the tale.

4) The Brendan Ayanbadejo Story
In perhaps the most mainstream LGBT sports-related story of the year (so far), Maryland Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo, a known gay rights supporter, got the attention of Maryland delegate and pastor Emmett C. Burns Jr., who contacted Raven's owner Steve Bisciotti to demand that Ayanbadejo cease his public support for gay marriage. The public outcry in defense of Ayanbadejo was unprecedented in NFL history, with support coming from both players and fans, alike. Minnesota Vikings' kicker Chris Kluwe wrote a scathing letter to Burns, calling him “mind-boggingly stupid,” and shortly after, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that Ayanbadejo had a right to free speech: “I think in this day and age, people are going to speak up about what they think is important. They speak as individuals and that’s an important part of democracy.” As for Brendan Ayanbadejo, he told the press that he couldn't be more happy about Burns response, which brought more attention to the issue of gay marriage.

3) Touchdown for Trans Rights
One of the most touching LGBT sports stories of the season came from trans football player Seth Knop, a senior at Michigan's Grosse Pointe South High School. Knop, who was born female, avoided trying out for the football team throughout high school, but after friends encouraged him, he decided to give it a chance. Knop is now the running back on the school's Varsity football team, a first for the program.

2) There's No Homophobic Eye Black in Baseball
After Blue Jays' shortstop Yunel Escobar wrote “you're all faggots” in Spanish on his eye black last weekend, the team's management, the MBA, and the MBA player's league sent a message that homophobia will not be tolerated in Major League Baseball. The former MVP was suspended for the next three games for the homophobic stunt, which meant that he would be on the bench for this weekend's series against the Yankees. I'm willing to bet Yunel, a former MVP, would have preferred a $50k fine.

1)I Know There's a Gay Pirate Joke in Here Somewhere...
Finally, former Pittsburgh Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy came out of the closet this weekend, shocking many in the world of Major League Baseball. McClathy, who served for over a decade from 1996 to 2007, said that the decision was not an easy one: "I've spent 30 years -- or whatever the number is specifically -- not talking about my personal life, lying about my personal life... I probably didn't sleep as well as I could have last night."

Is the sports world creating a "new normal" for LGBT athletes? There's a long way to go before this happens, but locker room homophobia may soon be a thing of the past. ]]> Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:11:56 MDT Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=post-season-politics-what-a-season-for-lgbt-sports-news http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=a-sea-of-white-just-how-diverse-was-the-values-voters-summit
Total Speakers:
There were 73 men and women invited to speak at the 2012 Values Voter Summit. Of these, 4 did not attend, including presidential nominee Mitt Romney (wow...maybe he hates the FRC, too); TV host Glenn Beck; Governor Mike Huckabee; and TV host Laura Ingraham. While they stayed clear of the conference, these four no-shows represented the overall demographic: all white, 75% men, and super crazy.

It's Raining Men...Hallelujah?
When you look at the “invited guests” page of the Values Voters Summit website, one thing you're sure to notice is that it's raining (white) men. Of the 69 total speakers, only 12 were female, or less than 1 in 5. The lack of female conservative speakers is a pretty big misstep on the part of the FRC/AFA, especially considering Romney-Ryan's abortion stance, which has been called the most conservative (sausage party-esque?) platform in the history of the party. What's worse, the summit appeared to be scraping the bottom of the conservative female barrel. Aside from former Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, the only remaining women speakers were private organization founders, 2 FRC employees, and a “saline abortion survivor.” But, hey...Michele Bachmann always brings a few laughs.

Black People You've Never Heard Of:
Out of the 69 total speakers at the Values Voter Summit, only 5, or 7 percent, were African American. These included Center for Neighborhood Enterprise-founder Bob Woodson; President of CURE (Center for Urban Renewal) Star Parker; High Impact Leadership Coalition President Bishop Harry Jackson; co-founder of The Radiance Foundation Ryan Bomberger; and Maryland Family Alliance president Pastor Derek McCoy. And no, I haven't heard of any of them, either.

Latinos? Latinas?
With the exception of former Texas solicitor general Ted Cruz, who is half Cuban, there were no apparent Latino or Latina speakers at the 2012 summit (Jan Brewer got lucky). But for good measure, the FRC and AFA made sure to get a few non-white-sounding speakers into the mix: Koome Ministries founder Kamal Saleem, and Nonie Darwish, an Egyptian-American whose identifying information was simply “Arabs for Israel.”

Gays?
I wish. Oh, wait...Rick Santorum was a speaker. And does being married to a gay man count? If so, then Michele Bachmann.

Crazy People?
As expected, this is where the Values Voter Summit really shone. Yes, Glenn Beck bowed out, but they made sure to headline David Bereit, the national director of “40 Days for Life,” an organization that brags about saving “5,928 babies” and closing “23 abortion centers” (some of which were Planned Parenthoods). The FRC and AFA made sure to invite the anti-gay marriage campaign directors in all four states with a gay marriage referendum this fall (Maine, Washington state, Maryland and Minnesota), but every House representative or politician was from a Southern or Midwestern state (except, of course, the invitee but no-show Mitt Romney). And then, of course, there's Kirk Cameron. You can't get crazier than that.

So what does the Values Voter Summit speaker list tell us about diversity in America's conservative party? One thing is for sure: there is no American melting pot. Only white bread. ]]> Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:37:55 MDT Staff Blog 2 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=a-sea-of-white-just-how-diverse-was-the-values-voters-summit http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=was-the-new-normal-cancelled-in-utah-for-being-pro-gay-or-anti-gop
Even if it the GOP jokes were not the catalyst for cancellation, I'm sure they didn't help.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with the anti-GOP sentiment, and found the premise—a gay, West Hollywood couple opening up their home to their surrogate, her precocious daughter and a homophobic grandmother—to be creative and important, even if the “Glee”-style PSA message was a bit too loud and clear (a playground scene in the pilot showcased the most diverse group of parents ever congregated on the planet). But despite the powerful “love is love” message, I couldn't help but wonder if the barrage of GOP, Southerner and Christian zingers is what pushed KSL-TV over the right-leaning edge.

For example, in the pilot episode, the gay couple asks the surrogate if she has ever been an “operative of the Republican Party,” to which the surrogate company representative retorts, without missing a beat, “we screened for that.” In a later scene, an employee of the gay couple calls the homophobic grandmother—played by Ellen Barkin—a racist with a “Callista Gingrich hairdo” who should go “back to the South where [she] belongs.” The daughter—a bit too intelligently for a 10 year old—tells her mom that “no one plans to have a kid when they are 15 unless they're in an extremist Christian cult.” The daughter also tells her grandmother, who does look a bit like Callista Gingrich (minus the crazy eyes), that she is unfriending her on Facebook for being a “bigot” (the grandmother had insulted gays in a few moments prior). I found it also interesting that the grandmother wore a bright, Republican-red pantsuit while saying the phrase “gay elephant in the room,” but maybe I'm reading too much into that one.

The LGBT community—myself included—loves a few GOP, Southerner and Christian jokes from time to time; we are often the brunt of not only their jokes, but their campaigns against our basic human rights. That said, the 22-minute episode, which contained at least three jokes at the expense of GOP and two more combined against Southerners and Christians, seemed a bit geo-phobic, GOPhobic and Christian-phobic. I don't blame the show runners for feeling this way—I know I often feel this way too—but in our already polarized climate, should we keep making everything so black and white?

If we want to take the high road against people who lump us into a “lame stream media, socialist, atheist, gay agenda” category, I think it makes more sense to insult specific Republicans and the tuber-craziest of the nut ball Christians, and when it comes to the South, avoid the assumption that every single person living below the Mason Dixon line—a place where quite a few LGBT people live—is racist, homophobic and crazy (okay, many of them are, but definitely not all). If Northerners want to stop being labeled elitist, we need to assume that there are some smart people in the South. And while its hard for me to admit, not all Republicans are out to squash my rights... just look at the Koch brother who came out for gay marriage this week.

That said, even if the writing on “The New Normal” had twice the GOP, Southerner and Christian jokes in 22 minutes, it's still an irresponsible and biased misuse of power for KSL to cancel the series from the Fall lineup. If a national TV series passes the network regulations that make it air-worthy, no affiliate should have the right to play God with the remote.

And we, the group trying to move “forward” (myself included), should perhaps keep the few allies we have in the South, the GOP and in Christian faith. Without some support from that side of the aisle, we're worse than cancelled. We're stuck with Romney. ]]> Sat, 01 Sep 2012 22:19:09 MDT Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=was-the-new-normal-cancelled-in-utah-for-being-pro-gay-or-anti-gop http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=why-is-the-media-ignoring-kayla-elliott Kayla Elliott was stabbed in front of her house by her neighbor, 38-year-old Camino Nicole Maxwell, who had been taunting her with gay slurs for months. Elliott survived, but was left with 18 stitches on her forehead and defensive wounds on both hands. Maxwell has been apprehended and jailed on a $5,000 bond, but not officially charged yet. In Oklahoma, there is no statute against LGBT discrimination.

So I have to ask: why is no one talking about this?

Less than a month earlier, in late July, two other lesbians were also attacked in the Midwest. On July 22, in Lincoln, Nebraska, 33-year-old Charlie Rogers was nearly killed by three masked men who tied her up, carved a gay slur into her forehead, and tried to set her house on fire. Rogers escaped and found help, but was hospitalized for her injuries. As of this week, there are still no suspects in the case.

Two days later, on July 24, a lesbian in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 41-year-old Jeana Terry was jumped by her 16-year-old neighbor, Mercedes Ayers, and Ayers' two siblings, an 11-year-old brother and a 13-year-old sister, who beat her up in the front yard of her home while other neighborhood children cheered them on. Terry's injuries were severe, and she will need to undergo eye-surgery. Ayers, now 17, has been arrested and charged as an adult under Missouri's hate crime law. The two siblings are being held by the state's juvenile detention system.

While these three hate crime cases are similar (the Midwest location, as well as the women's ages and level of injuries), there is one significant difference: Jeana Terry and Charlie Rogers are white (and blond), and Kayla Elliott is black. In Elliott's hate crime, the attack was perpetrated by another black woman, while Terry is a white woman who was attacked by a black woman. In Rogers' case, the race of the three masked men is unknown.

As of Sunday, August 19 at 2 p.m. CST (five days after Kayla Elliott's attack), only two online sources have picked up the story: Gayly.com and Midwest City, Oklahoma's local news station, NewsOn6.com. When Charlie Rogers and Jeana Terry were attacked, nearly every major network ran the story within 24 hours—even Fox News.

Could race be the reason that Elliott was largely ignored by the media, or was the actual crime—a woman being stabbed in the head by a neighbor—not as newsworthy as the violent, horrific and sensational attacks on Terry and Rogers? Elliott was not attacked by a gang of kids, and she was not mutilated with an anti-gay slur, but the attack she suffered was no less violent. According to NewsOn6, she still has nightmares.

When it comes to crime news reporting, does the national media assume that a anti-lesbian hate crime is not interesting enough for people to care, unless it happens to involve a white, blond woman in a state with a hate crime law?

Since the story broke over the weekend, I guess we'll have to wait and see how many media outlets break the story on Monday. If the media does end up ignoring this attack, it sends a clear message that some hate crimes are more important than others.

Let's hope every news source in America covers it. ]]> Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:03:34 MDT Staff Blog 1 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=why-is-the-media-ignoring-kayla-elliott http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-chick-fil-argument-25-short-internet-comments-from-real-online-people
I chose these particular, unedited comments because they were diverse, interesting, and were written by people who managed to get their message across in just a few sentences (instead of writing a dissertation on the subject). Enjoy!

1. “God is smarter than President Obama! Gods views on marriage don't 'evolve' like Obama's did, because God isn't running for reelection! GO! Chick-fil-A!”


2. “Thank you Chick-fil-A! You made it a lot easier to get in to Burger King today.”


3. “My grandmother had a saying for relationships like homosexuals ones. I would like to share it with everyone. Here it is: “Love will fly up a pig’s “you know what” if you let it.”


4. “Well, whatever, I like the chicken but it is expensive.”


5. “Why do gays care if they can get married when a civil union gives them all the same rights. shut up already and go have your gay sex. you little whiney babies”


6. “I love FREE SPEECH. You couldn't have arguments like this in communist China, Russia or Chicago.”


7. "They" are not "gay" - "they are HOMOSEXUALS - AN ABMONINATION TO GOD - so says the Bible - so says the Koran - do YOU really want your child to become "one"? I didn't think so.”


8. “I can't wait until this finally goes to the Supreme Court and gay marriage will be legal in all 50 states. We will be lining up in front of Chik-Fil-A's to have our wedding ceremonies! Woo-hoo!”


9. “I wonder how many of those opposing homosexual PDA have ever enjoyed girl-on-girl pornography? Betting on a decent percentage. Hypocrites, once again.”


10. “To support the word of our God we will fill our stomachs with overpriced chicken as we pass needy people on the street.”


11.“Repent and be saved! Its not to late!”


12. “Here in the Kansas City area, Chick-Fil-A sent out coupons for a free sandwich a few days before August 1. Could that have anything to do with so many people showing up to buy?”


13. “We are never going to change gays, its a part of the world. We might as well accept them as sickening as it might be to many people.”


14. “2012 and people are making their political statements by eating or not eating Fast Food. Thanks for making the US the laughing stock of the world.”


15. “I plan to go to Chick-Fil-A on Friday to support them and I don't care if every gay person is kissing in the parking lot.”


16. "STOP FORCING US TO BELIEVE WHAT YOUR GOD DOES!!!----- And stop trying to force us to go against our belief.”


17. "Hate: It has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet." ~ Maya Angelou”


18. “What happened to the "Q" at the end of LGBT? Did they not make the cut for some reason?”


19. “Hmmm... lesbians kissing at the local Chick-fil-A while I'm watching and eating chicken... I'm in!”


20. “If marriage is so sacred how come so many Christians get divorced. I think the majority of our kids parents are divorced and they say they are good christians, I just don't get it...”


21. “Who really cares. Let them play married. Question is when will Bob and Ralph or Mary and Sue have a kid?”


22. “What is all this about HATE groups? Can someone please list out what HATE groups they give money to?”


23. “So gays are being intolerant of intolerance. I suggest we end all this nonsense by having Richard Simmons and Dan Cathy arm wrestle on national TV. Winner takes all.”


24. “Homosexuals call heterosexuals breeders, which is hate speech. If it wasn't for us breeders, homosexuals wouldn't be here.”


25. “Three cheers for FREE SPEECH and all the opposing comments in this board. This is exactly why USA is the greatest nation on earth!” ]]> Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:51:08 MDT Staff Blog 2 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-chick-fil-argument-25-short-internet-comments-from-real-online-people http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=deep-fried-media-s-storm-hits-u-s-the-top-10-chicken-pun-headlines-of-the-week
10. Boston Herald: Clucks of support & then pecks of dissent
You can almost hear the horror film music and see the slow-motion pan of a Chick-fil-A counter.

9. Irish Times: Feathers fly over chicken chain's gay rights stance
Well said. If the Irish know potatoes, they understand homophobic waffle fries.

8. WTVR: Chick-fil-A manager goes against flock, sponsors gay pride festival
There's always a black sheep in the world of fast food franchising (I mean black chicken).

7. LAist: PETA Readies to Clip Chick-fil-A's Biblical, Anti-Gay Wings
I love it for its absurdity, and I think you will too.

6. Baltimore Sun: Chick-fil-A Boston mayor lays an egg
Technically, the mayor laid a Chick-fil-A egg, not the other way around. But it's still funny.

5. Examiner: Chick-fil-A: Very Southern fried chicken
Excellent regional food punning.

4. Tampa Bay Times: Clucking and strutting over same-sex marriage
Very clucking clever.

3. MSNBC: Chick-Fil-A's high stakes game of chicken
I was waiting for someone to use that pun.

2. Boston Herald: Chick-fil-A beef puts mayor in pressure cooker
I give you...the double pun.

1. New York Post: Speaker Quinn's coop d'etat: Fowl attack on free speech
You may not agree with the article, but “coop d'etat” is a pretty amazing pun.

Honorable Mentions:

NBC News: Chick-fil-A out of the fryer, into the fire
Investor's Business Daily: Chick-fil-A Americans Give Big Government The Bird
Washington Examiner: Jaffe: Mayor Gray runs afoul in Chick-fil-A comments
Boston Herald: Ready for a tender kiss

Did I miss any? Please add suggestions in the comments, and keep on cluckin'.
]]> Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:47:23 MDT Staff Blog 3 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=deep-fried-media-s-storm-hits-u-s-the-top-10-chicken-pun-headlines-of-the-week http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=can-we-stop-paying-attention-to-chris-brown
Chris Brown has some great dance moves, an amazing singing voice, and a few felony charges for beating the crap out of his girlfriend, Rihanna. But because he's a star, we tend to look the other way about his past, and instead, concentrate on his talent. But how much is enough?

I have some words for Chris Brown: “Man, no Chris Brown!”

But I'm a bit outnumbered. Chris Brown has over 10.8 million followers on Twitter, and is the recipient of this year's BET “Fandemonium Award,” the Billboard Music Awards' “Top R&B Artist” Award, and the Grammy's “Best R&B Album” award. No one is saying, including me, that he has no talent. But one nomination surprised me. The “NAACP Image Awards” honored Brown this year with a nomination for “Outstanding Male Artist.”

Really, NAACP? Chris Brown is the image you're going for? You might want to wait for his probation to end before you honor him with that one (he's still serving probation time for the 2009 attack on Rihanna).

I think Chris Brown's stardom would be perfectly reasonable if his prior offense was a drug charge or a DUI or illegal gambling or unlawful gun possession. No star is perfect, and we don't stop loving celebrities when they screw up. If we did, we'd have only a handful of celebrities. But Brown physically attacked and criminally threatened his girlfriend, an act that would have landed anyone else in jail.

But not Chris Brown.

If you have enough star power, you can beat up your girlfriend and get away with probation. And it's a good thing he didn't go to jail for those felonies, or he may have missed out on some studio time.

I'm not saying that we should ignore Chris Brown altogether (he makes that really, really hard), but all stars—from homophobic former child actors to anti-Semitic Hollywood icons—should be held to the same level of accountability, regardless of their profession, their race, or their age. For example, what if Daniel Radcliffe yelled “man, no Muslims!” in the south of Italy? Would the media have treated that differently?

When a person with a violent past mouths off about gay people, and you're a fan who happens to be gay (or a supporter of gay rights), isn't it time to throw in the autographed towel? If we can stop eating Chick-Fil-A because it tastes homophobe-y, shouldn't we stop listening to musicians who say "no homo?"

Yes, homo!
]]> Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:43:19 MDT Staff Blog 2 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=can-we-stop-paying-attention-to-chris-brown http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=mitt-romney-%E2%80%9Cretroactively-retires%E2%80%9D-from-being-a-human-being
Romney claims that while he was running the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, he was “retired” from Bain Capital, an assertion that analysts have now proved completely false. Romney wasn't just on the payroll at Bain during this time, he was still listed as president and CEO. This would have been considered a pretty big error in any presidential campaign, but the fact that he “retroactively retired” from Bain—went back in time and erased his association with the company during the dark years (in the period when the company outsourced American jobs overseas)--is the perfect example of how Romney is not a human being, but a tightly-constructed little software program.

Software programs, like Mitt Romney, are programmed to run differently when uploaded to particular computer platforms. Back when Romney was governor of Massachusetts, he was about the best little software program the state ever had. When Romney needed to process gay rights, gay marriage, gay benefits (not to mention, RomneyCare), he did it. Gay marriage! That was how he good he was at data processing.

(One small note...I don't exactly understand how computers work).

When Romney began his bid for the White House, he was taken off one computer (for fun, let's say a MAC) and downloaded to a PC. Everyone said Romney's program was incompatible on a PC, but we thought: hey, maybe we will get lucky and our computer won't blow up.

Now, the Republican candidate is a bit lost and confused (super pinwheel of death time) because not only did he cross computers too quickly and without the proper tech, he is now trying to run on two systems simultaneously. And the updates! How is he supposed to keep up?

If you saw Romney's campaign speech to the NAACP this week, you've seen a live, real-time example of what it looks like when he “crashes.” After telling the crowd that he wanted to protect the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation (MAC laptop buzzes softly, happily), he knew he would need to satisfy the other “computer,” so he not-so-deftly threw in a monotone “I believe in traditional marriage” code and blew both programs to hell.

If Romney is smart, and I think that he is, he'll choose which computer he wants to be uploaded to, and he'll choose it soon. In this country, you're either a MAC or a PC.

You can't be both.

(Is Ron Paul a Linux?) ]]> Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:17:45 MDT Staff Blog 5 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=mitt-romney-%E2%80%9Cretroactively-retires%E2%80%9D-from-being-a-human-being http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=dont-throw-stones-from-stained-glass-houses-scotlands-cardinal-keith-obrien-declares-war-on-gay-marriage Sunday Times that Scottish Roman Catholics were “declaring war” on Britain's upcoming gay marriage legislation, and that he, the highest-ranking Roman Catholic in the United Kingdom, will do whatever it takes to block the country's upcoming gay marriage legislation.

Whatever. It. Takes.

If only Roman Catholics applied that “can-do” attitude to their own child sex abuse scandals.

O'Brien has been building up to this war cry for some time. He has called gay marriage a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right” (not, it should be noted, a “religious” right, but a “human” right). O'Brien has compared Britain's introduction of gay marriage legislation to the re-introduction of slavery. He has said that gay marriage will lead to complete legal chaos for churches caught in the middle, despite the fact that Scotland's churches may opt out of conducting gay weddings in the proposed legislation. And today, addressing tens of thousands of readers, O'Brien vowed that “marriage is under threat and politicians need to know the Catholic Church will bear any burden and meet any cost in its defense.”

Any burden? Any cost? Will money be taken out of the Church's own coffers—donations that could be used for helping the poor, building new churches and spreading the word of God—in order to put a stop to gay marriage?

That doesn't sound very Christian, or, even more importantly, financially sound. Economy-wise, Scotland's not doing so well. Now more than ever, the Cardinal's own constituents could use a little Christian charity. In January 2012, a government study reported that one in five Scottish children was living in poverty. But hey. What good is feeding and clothing a child if that child grows up in a world with gay marriage?

And while we're talking about finances, O'Brien may want to look at the Roman Catholic Church's budget. It's surprising that there is any money left, at all. In 2007, the Church paid out $615 million in legal costs—the highest ever paid in a single year—to defend priests accused of child sex abuse. Ironically, O'Brien believes that children are the ones in danger if gay marriage passes. In an article for the The Telegraph titled “We cannot afford to indulge this madness”, O'Brien wrote that gay parents will “unequivocally” damage a child: “This brings us to the one perspective which seems to be completely lost or ignored: the point of view of the child. All children deserve to begin life with a mother and father; the evidence in favour of the stability and well-being which this provides is overwhelming and unequivocal. It cannot be provided by a same-sex couple, however well-intentioned they may be.”

At least we're “well-intentioned” when we try to raise a child. For one, we'd probably make sure our child was never left alone with a priest.

Finally, O'Brien thinks he has an army of donation-giving Catholic Scots behind him, but this is the most misinformed statement of all. According to a Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, 61 percent of Scottish citizens are in favor of the U.K.'s proposed gay marriage legislation. Despite what O'Brien may believe, Scots want the “human” benefit of gay marriage.

O'Brien - when it comes to an all-out war, I'm afraid you're outnumbered. ]]> Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:42:08 MDT Staff Blog 3 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=dont-throw-stones-from-stained-glass-houses-scotlands-cardinal-keith-obrien-declares-war-on-gay-marriage http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=is-%E2%80%9Cdont-say-gay%E2%80%9D-the-new-%E2%80%9Cdont-ask-dont-tell%E2%80%9D
In states where being openly gay is still a matter of life and death (like the military), it's easier if the classmates don't ask, and the students don't tell. And now Midwest and Southern legislators want to force the gay “gag rule” even more. In Tennessee and Missouri, “Don't Say Gay” bills are in the works to prohibit teachers from making any reference to the subject of homosexuality in the classroom. To put this in perspective, imagine a history lesson on the American civil rights movement that does not include any reference to the current struggles of the LGBT community. By erasing our role in history, which was protected by untold numbers of silenced soldiers, state lawmakers are essentially re-writing the way students will be taught American history (and science, but that's another story).

Meanwhile, Canada is taking an entirely different route. Earlier this month, the Ontario government passed an anti–gay bullying law that required all schools—including private Catholic schools—to create Gay Straight Alliances. When Catholic school officials learned of Ontario's GSA law, they came out of the pew-shaped woodwork and picketed, wrote letters and collected petitions. But this was to be expected. The GSA law, the first of its kind in the world, was controversial. Nationwide, many Catholics felt that GSAs violated their religious doctrine, and would open the doors to further government regulation.

But in America, a country built on “religious freedom,” our own legislators are the ones who are creating bills to limit the discussion of homosexuality in the classroom, and not the other way around. In Tennessee and Missouri, the authors of the “Don't Say Gay” bills are on the side of religion, and not civil rights. Why else would they want to silence the next generation of LGBT students?

If they pass, Tennessee and Missouri's “Don't Say Gay” bills will end up mirroring America's failed abstinence-only education policy. In what should now be considered a teachable lesson, the U.S. government thought AO-education would prevent unwanted pregnancies and lower the rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Instead, the opposite occurred. America is now ranked first among the world's developed countries in unwanted pregnancies and STDs, and all because we thought a “don't say condom” education program would work.

When we blind our students from the world around them, we end up causing more harm than good.

As a military concept, “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” was about hiding one's true self from intolerant people, while protecting those same people from outside harm. When the Obama administration repealed DADT, it freed tens of thousands of service members from a deafening silence. If we take the word “gay” out of the American classroom, we will be teaching the next generation that it's better not to ask, and not to tell. ]]> Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:29:46 MDT Staff Blog 4 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=is-%E2%80%9Cdont-say-gay%E2%80%9D-the-new-%E2%80%9Cdont-ask-dont-tell%E2%80%9D http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=different-shades-of-gray-different-shades-of-hate
Such was the case for Brandon Elizares. On June 2, he took his own life because he had been bullied for two years. This young man was harassed to the point that he saw no other alternative but to leave this world. Yet, there are people who feel no remorse in rationalizing harassment when it comes to “different” kids. Brandon was not the first teen to commit such a desperate act, and sadly it does not seem like he will be the last. His name is known by many today because he represents a problem that faces our youth. But the sweet and creative teen that we know today may become just another statistic tomorrow.

There are many organizations dedicated to helping the victims of bullying. There are also plenty of documentaries filmed on the subject, and dedicated people fighting the good battle so that these kids do not have to suffer anymore. Yet, the problem continues and it is time for all of us to consider why. Why, despite all the efforts made to eradicate bullying, are kids still dying? Maybe we are simply not attacking the real problem. It is not until we forget the “politically correct” part that we will finally be able to admit what the problem is. Until we face reality, the body count will continue to climb.

Last week I watched a video that took me back to my high school days, when I witnessed bullying first hand. And as I watched this so called conservative 14-year-old speaking about social issues and the “liberal conspiracy” (whatever that is), I could not help but notice how passionate he felt about showing gay kids their wicked ways. Caiden Cowger first told his listeners that bullying is wrong. He then went on to say that preaching to gay students, convincing them that their natures are inherently evil and will cost them eternal suffering, should not be considered bullying. Bullying, by definition, is an act designed to make an individual feel bad about themselves in some way. It appears, by his words, that young Caiden does not even understand the term.

What will it take for people to realize that to bully someone, you don't have to lay a finger on them? There are plenty of studies that demonstrate that verbal abuse causes anxiety and depression. The invisible scars, as some people call them, may be a factor that is yet to be addressed in schools. Brandon did not get a chance to develop these scars, and while he might soon become a number to most, there are people who will be haunted by his tragedy for the rest of their lives, simply because some are too afraid to be seen as “politically incorrect,” even if that means saving our children.

There are different shades of gray, different shades of love and hate. We have different forms of bullying, but only one form of cowardice. Inaction often equals complicity. ]]> Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:39:06 MDT Salvador Blog 4 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=different-shades-of-gray-different-shades-of-hate http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-miracle-of-sight-for-lady-justice
Unfortunately, for CeCe McDonald, the State of Minnesota´s governor vetoed a similar proposed law, but it was unclear whether she would have been able to use it to protect herself, especially when considering how it had been used recently in Florida. CeCe was walking past a tavern in Minneapolis when she was confronted by three people, all straight, all Caucasian. After hurling numerous racial and sexual epithets at the young African-American Transwoman, one of her attackers smashed a drink (glass or bottle) into her face, causing serious damage, and then attacked her. In the ensuing scuffle, CeCe stabbed one of the attackers in self defense.

Minnesota does not have a “stand your ground law,” but it does have a self-defense law The “victim,” a white male, had a swastika tattooed on his neck and was approaching CeCe after the drink glass struck her face. But this law, as well as the state and federal hate crime laws, was ignored. McDonald was a university student and had a pair of scissors in her purse. She took them out to defend herself from further attack. But despite all of the evidence that she was defending herself from what was clearly a hate crime, CeCe was charged with second degree murder and taken to jail. No consideration was given to her injuries and there were numerous reports of abusive behavior from arresting officers, jail staff, and investigators.

The LGBT community is spending a great deal of time and resources on issues like equal rights with respect to marriage and employment, but this is an issue that no one seems to want to talk about. If our community has to fear walking down the street, what is the point of getting married? Our community has a long way to go before we can begin to call ourselves equal. Feeling safe on the streets and in our homes should be the first step in this process. We have been standing together on marriage and employment rights and have made significant progress, but people like CeCe McDonald still appear to stand alone. While she did have support, it was not enough, and this college student was forced to plead guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter to avoid a possible life sentence for defending herself. We must remember that she was not attacked because she was a woman alone; she was attacked because she was transgender and African-American, and this makes it an attack against our entire community. It is only as a community that we can work to enact laws that actually protect us. ]]> Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:59:07 MDT Salvador Blog 4 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=the-miracle-of-sight-for-lady-justice http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=%E2%80%9Cout%E2%80%9D-in-paperback-the-top-10-lgbt-books-for-summer
10. In One Person, John Irving (Fiction)
John Irving's 13th novel explores the life of bisexual narrator Billy Abbott, who came of age in the 1950s in a sexually-charged prep school. Told through the eyes of a mature Abbott, In One Person follows the young man's often tenuous relationships with often-unattainable men and women.

9. The Fan Who Knew Too Much, Anthony Heilbut (Non-Fiction)
Do you love gospel music but wish more singers were gay? You're in luck. In his second book, author, producer and gospel music historian Anthony Heilbut takes the reader on a journey through the secret gay underside of the gospel music world. The book focuses on some of the genre's other dark secrets, as well.

8. A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She Is Today, Kate Bornstein (Memoir)
The title says it all. Trans activist Kate Bornstein's new memoir provides a stunning revelation into the inner workings of the Church of Scientology's ocean cult, where Bornstein spent years as an ambassador. Seriously.

7. A Queer History of the United States, Michael Bronski (Non-Fiction)
For history lovers, Michael Bronski's documentary of queer U.S. history, published in May of this year, combines personal accounts and official records into a vivid narrative of the LGBT revolution. Exploring history from 1492 to the 1990s, the book has been called a “radical reassessment of history.”

6. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Jeanette Winterson (Memoir)
In the follow-up memoir to her widely-successful debut memoir, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, literary fiction author Jeanette Winterson explores her highly-dysfunctional relationship with her religious and often abusive mother. Like “lesbians and dysfunctional moms” lit? You may want to also check out Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother?, a memoir with a similar theme.

5. Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction, Various Authors (Fiction)
For speculative fiction fans, the just-published Beyond Binary promises a collection of 17 genderless worlds, free of identity and sexual orientation, and full of imagination.

4. The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller (Fiction)
Ever wonder what Brokeback Mountain would look like if it was told as a Greek myth? Madeline Miller's debut novel, The Song of Achilles, intertwines the legend of Troy with a love affair between two young, gay warriors.

3. The Hunger Angel, Herta Müller (Fiction)
Nobel Prize-winning author Herta Müller may not be gay, but her story of a gay love affair set in a World War 2 labor camp has been called a “masterpiece.” German narrator Leo is deported from Romania to the Ukraine, where he meets a twice-forbidden Romanian gay love interest.

2. A Fundamental Freedom: Why Republicans, Conservatives, and Libertarians Should Support Gay Rights, David Lampo (Non Fiction)
Due out next week, David Lampo's study of right-wing American politics and the gay rights movement is a fascinating, timely read. Lampo expertly argues that both conservatives and libertarians would be better served in the long run with a pro-gay stance, and reveals that many have already started to cross the fence.

1. The Astonishing X-Men #51, Marvel (Comic Book)
Due out on June 27, Issue #51 of The Astonishing X-Men #51 will feature Marvel's first-ever gay wedding between X-Man Northstar, and human beau, Kyle. If you can get your hands on this landmark edition, it promises to be worth the read and a collector's item, all in one.

For your Fall pre-order:
Jesus in Drag, Timothy Kurek (Non-Fiction), publication date: Oct. 11, 2012
Ever wonder what it would be like to be straight for a year? In Jesus in Drag, straight Christian Timothy Kurek dares to be an undercover gay man for a full year. Kurek's expose reveals what the author calls his “second-class citizen” experience.
]]> Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:04:49 MDT Staff Blog 2 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=%E2%80%9Cout%E2%80%9D-in-paperback-the-top-10-lgbt-books-for-summer http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=equality-doing-away-with-the-vestiges-of-the-cold-war-
There was one thing that would always confuse me while I was watching these films. Inevitably, all the movies about spies, communism, the Cold War or any 60s-related movie had some sort of reference to Cuba being “the bad guy.” I did not think much of it then, assuming the movies were right, and when you are 5 years old you tend to do that. But here was a bearded, evil man that would never bathe (because he was always wearing the same clothes), and that man was the leader of a country comprised of evil people who liked cigars. As the years passed and the adults started including me in their conversations, the whole picture behind the cigar people began to change. Cubans offered me friendship, education, and most importantly, a way out of the desperation I felt by offering to finance my future sex reassignment surgery had I decided to travel to the island.

Mariela Castro, Fidel Castro's niece, is taking a very different path than her uncle did back in 1980 with the Mariel boatlift. Furthermore, she self-identifies as an activist for LGBT rights even though she is heterosexual, and is making many changes to long-established policies that affect the gay population. This is why, after President Obama came forward in support of marriage equality, it did not surprise me that Mariela would give him some credit. What did surprise me, however, was the fact that the U.S government would give her a visa to enter the United States in order to participate in an LGBT convention. For a second, the long years of total separation between these two countries seemed to be coming to an end. That was until Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for President, reminded us that he believes the Cold War is still raging. When asked about Mariela's visa, he said: “We shouldn't be extending an open hand to a regime engaged in the systematic and flagrant denial of basic human rights.” This is a strong statement coming from a man who offers donations to groups that specialize in the denial of basic human rights, and who has never set a foot in Cuba.

Understanding the issues surrounding some of the comments made by Romney necessitates an understanding of the relationship between the United States and Cuba. The political climate during the late 1950s and early1960s was intensely anti-communist. Nearly a decade of “McCarthyism” had created a nearly visceral fear of even the word communism, and when Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, placing a communist government within 100 miles of U.S. soil, the feeling only intensified. Even though President Kennedy promised not to interfere militarily with the Cuban government, less than a year after that promise, Cuban dissidents, mostly past employees of American corporations that had been nationalized or expelled after the revolution, were trained and armed by the US military and launched the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. The reality is that Cuba's original treaty with the Soviets was exclusively economic, political, and defensive, but when the United States acted as they did, their reaction was purely defensive. The U.S. had to be viewed as hostile and Cuba needed military support.

It appears as if Romney thinks that the threat of communism is still a valid tool to keep a state of fear going, and if he gets to prevent the LGBT community from gaining any benefit upon Mariela's visit, I guess that's just a bonus for him. The truth is that Romney's reluctance to evolve on such basic issues as civil rights and global relationships seems to demonstrate his inability to look towards the future or even consider the present. The fact that he would choose war over dialogue should give voters pause about his ability to lead a nation. The Obama administration should be given more credit for trying to improve the country's relationship with Cuba. When we consider that more than five decades have passed since Cuba's defensive reaction to the Bay of Pigs invasion occurred, we should also consider that this small nation has been “punished” enough. While there are many things that can be criticized about Cuba's internal policies, there are many things that can be criticized about the policies of all nations. It is wonderful to see that despite harsh economic sanctions placed on Cuba for nearly half a century, the people there still have the spirit to continue moving forward. But even more beautiful is the fact that LGBT rights seem to be an important factor for the slow reconciliation with the cigars nation.
]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2012 21:09:17 MDT Salvador Blog 3 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=equality-doing-away-with-the-vestiges-of-the-cold-war- http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=what-the-florida-family-association-can-do-with-their-12802-37 $12,802.37 buy you? If you want to protect the American family from poverty, you could use the 100-percent donated funds to help house, feed, clothe, educate or provide medical help for Florida's most needy families. Or you could spend it on 20 hours of flight time over Orlando's Disney World with a banner that warns tourists that “Gay Days” are coming. If you're the Florida Family Association, an organization that has protested the event for over a decade, this may seem like a bargain. But what else could $12,802.37 buy you in Florida?

For starters, how about two years' tuition and fees for college? “The Sun-Sentinel” reports that college tuition in Florida steadily rises each year by about 15 percent—forcing many parents (and their children) to delay education or drop out of school. In 2012, Florida state college tuition and fees averaged approximately $5,500 per student, per year. For the same price as 20 hours of banner flight time, the FFA could send one parent or family member to college for two years, with enough left over for bus fare. Just around the corner from Disney, at Orlando's Valencia Community College, tuition is even lower, or an average of 2,100 per student, per year. With this tuition rate, the FFA could provide a 2-year community college education for three single Orlando-based parents. Or, of course: 20 hours of flight time with a banner that reads: “Warning, Gay Day at Disney 6/4.” Which would “protect” a family more?

For Florida families who are about to lose their homes, a donation of $12,802.37 would provide a much-needed windfall for an upside-down mortgage. Florida is second in the nation for foreclosures after California (the “other” Disney location). As of April, 2012, one in 364 housing units were in foreclosure in the state, or 24,712 homes. If the FFA really wanted to help “defend American values”, they could use this money to help save a family's home from being foreclosed. A little under 13K won't pay off a house, but it will help a family pay off back-mortgage payments, hire a foreclosure lawyer, or invest in relocation expenses. Or: the banner.

Finally, $12,802.37 could help a family climb out of poverty. The Bureau of Economic and Business Research reports that one in six Floridians are living in poverty, the highest percentage seen in the state in over a decade. For a four-person family to be considered “poverty level,” the family must earn $23,050, or roughly twice the cost of flying a banner over Disney for two days. This amount may seem minimal to an organization like the FFA, but in a two-parent, poverty-level home, it equals one parent's income for a year. But hey, “Gay Days” warning banners to tourists you will never meet are important, too.

According to the Florida Family Association's website, flying a warning banner over Disney World will help shield families from indecent exposure to gays. But are the families who can afford to go to Disney World the ones who need saving? On June 4, 2012, Disney announced that it would raise ticket prices to $89 per person, per day. For a 4-person family, that equals $356 per day, not including accommodations, parking, airfare and food. For a 2-day weekend visit, that equals a price tag of $712—just to get through the gate. But go ahead, FFA. Warn them. ]]> Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:45:49 MDT Staff Blog 5 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=what-the-florida-family-association-can-do-with-their-12802-37 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=greener-pastors-why-the-baptist-church-should-apologize
As the nation takes a breath from fighting Baptist Pastor Charles Worley (of queers should be put in an “electrified pen to die out” fame), more Baptist pastors are coming out with a “death to homosexuals” mantra. Curtis Knapp, a Baptist pastor in Kansas, believes that the American government should kill gay people, like they did in Israel. This is even worse than the recent Facebook post by Mississippi pastor (and State representative) Andy Gipson, who said the Bible states that all gays should be killed (and then followed up with another Facebook post refusing to apologize), or North Carolina's Pastor Ron Baity, who told his congregation that all gays should be prosecuted as they were in Biblical times (in other words, killed). And let's not forget the Baptist pastors who believe that gays should live, but in misery. North Carolina's Sean Harris told parishioners this month to “punch” and “crack the limp wrists” of their seemingly gay children.

Not surprisingly, the Baptist pastors with the most hate-filled, anti-gay rhetoric reside in North Carolina, where Amendment One not only threatened gay marriage if it failed, but threatened North Carolina's reputation as a “Southern” state if it passed. If Amendment One failed, North Carolina would remain the only state in the South that did not have a Constitutional amendment against gay marriage. But only one day after the amendment passed, as Baptist pastors were under the impression that “the worst” was over, Obama stoked the fire with his announcement that he supported gay marriage. The result: more fire and brimstone, aimed at gays.

A handful of Baptist pastors may not reflect the public opinion of members of the Baptist faith. But where is the backlash from offended Baptist parishioners? According to a 2008 Religious Self-Identification survey, 36 million Americans self-identify as Baptist—more than any other non-Catholic, Christian religion. If Baptist parishioners do not agree with Pastors Worley, Knapp, Gipson, Baity, Harris and others, why have we not heard from them? They may be among the protesters, but they remain affiliated with a church that refuses to apologize for—or even acknowledge—the “death to homosexuals” language.

Even if individual Baptists remain quiet, members of the gay and lesbian community (and embarrassed members of the Baptist community) deserve an apology from the heads of the Baptist faith. By idly standing by, Baptist leaders are affirming that the pastors of their “flocks” did nothing wrong when they condemned, insulted and called for the death of homosexuals.

Ironically, several of the “death to homosexuals” pastors have reported death threats to their own lives, most notably Pastor Andy Gipson. This past Sunday, thousands protested in North Carolina against Pastor Charles Worley, and word was spread that someone set fire to his church (this was later debunked). In Kentucky, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State have filed charges against Baptist Pastor Ronnie Spriggs for using his pulpit for anti-gay political activism. Across the country, protesters are beginning to equate “Baptist” with “hate.”

If the Baptist church apologizes, would the protests, lawsuits and death threats cease? Possibly. Either way, it would be a good place to start.
]]> Wed, 30 May 2012 18:32:42 MDT Staff Blog 3 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=greener-pastors-why-the-baptist-church-should-apologize http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=one-small-step-for-a-trans-woman-one-giant-leap-for-the-transgender-community
Last week, a Canadian trans woman made it to the Miss Universe Canada pageant. A number of people around the world got to see, first hand, that the world is changing for the better, after all. Not so long ago, women could not vote; now, even the most marginalized women on Earth are taking a stand and are given more respect than ever. While Talackova did not win her crown, she will forever be the first trans woman to participate in a beauty contest previously restricted to cisgender women.

Some people may not enjoy beauty pageants. This may be associated with the frivolity of trying to determine who is the most beautiful based on how well their body is sculpted by the standards of our society. Personally, I like to rate how well-made the dresses are and how graceful the women have trained themselves to be. Regardless of whether you agree with these kinds of competitions, the reality is that millions of people watch these shows every year and any representation that the LGBT community receives is proof that they we are not going anywhere. Jenna will have to settle with the Miss Congeniality award and the fact that she is a pioneer of equality. And, although many would have preferred that the community be represented by a trans scientist discovering the cure for HIV, for now, we have a trans woman in a beauty pageant who is just as important as the 41 percent of trans people who attempt to commit suicide in America alone.

In the end, not only was the opposition able to do nothing about the idea of a more inclusive pageant, but the doors are now open to 'different' women who wish to participate in the future. The only way to be recognized is by demonstrating that we are a part of every aspect of society, as we are. Only then, when others look around and see that we are a reality, and the world has not come to an end, they might just realize that laws need to change in order for all of us—“we the people”—to enjoy the same quality of life.

Somewhere on this planet, there was at least one trans person who watched the pageant and thought: “If she can live her dream and be happy, I should be able to do it, too.” That is the real prize Talackova received from the Miss Universe pageant, and that is the one present she gave to the trans community. ]]> Sun, 27 May 2012 20:55:25 MDT Salvador Blog 4 http://gaynow.com/story.php?title=one-small-step-for-a-trans-woman-one-giant-leap-for-the-transgender-community