Gay Coffee" Debuts at Castro Street Fair 2011

Gay owned and operated roasting company to introduce five hand-roasted blends; 1% of all profits donated to the LGBT Task Force.

Something new is brewing in the coffee world − Gay Coffee.  Poised at the intersection of delicious, expertly hand-roasted coffee and the collective history of the unique gay community, Gay Coffee is distinct, vibrant, and meaningful.

WHO: Gay Coffee, a gay owned and operated coffee company founded by Artisan Coffee Roaster Melissa Krueger

WHAT: Introduces five new hand-roasted coffee blends for purchase at the Castro Street Fair and online at www.gaycoffeecompany.com

Stone Butch Breakfast Blend – A classic blend of light and medium roasted beans from the highlands of Guatemala. Full bodied, slightly dry, with a hint of fruit and chocolate in the finish.

Good Morning Mary! – A blend of medium and darker roasted beans shows off a caramel sweetness through a classic American roast style.

Red Hanky Roast – Gay Coffee's strongest, heartiest brew. Slightly smoky, mild acidity, exceptional body with roasted nut and earth tones.

Second Date – Dry processed Ethiopian beans emit lemon and berry flavors while Sumatran beans balance out this sublime blend, resulting in a complex and sweet brew.

Weekend Pass – French roasted Honduran Ocotepeque beans are paired with a floral and fruit toned Sumatran Vienna roast to form an incredibly smooth blend with bright acidity.

All Gay Coffee roasts are fairly traded and organically sourced, respecting coffee growing partners, and the planet's health, with 1% of all profits donated to the LGBT Task Force.

WHEN: Sunday, October 2, 2011

WHERE: Castro Street Fair 2011, San Francisco, CA and www.gaycoffeecompany.com

Take the IGLTA-Curve Lesbian Travel Survey and Win!

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association is working with Curve magazine to gather data on the seldom-tracked lesbian travel market. Women who fill out the joint survey by Oct. 28 have the opportunity to win a two-night stay from IGLTA member The Angler’s Boutique Resort in Miami Beach.

“We try to be as inclusive as possible, but – as with many LGBT organizations – the gay men tend to outnumber the women,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “We welcomed this opportunity from one of our media partners to gather more information about what lesbian travelers really want. It will be great to share this data with our member businesses.”

The survey is available through Oct. 28 at: http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazine/Web-Articles-2011/Win-a-South-Beach-Vacation/ or click the link on the home page of www.iglta.org.

Neil Patrick Harris…Wait For It…Nails It With First Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame

Neil Patrick Harris, co-star of “How I Met Your Mother” was honored today by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with his first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The ceremony was held in celebration of the upcoming DVD release of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Season 6: The New is Always Better Edition on September 27.

Equally successful on stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris continues to demonstrate his creative versatility.  He can currently be seen as the womanizing Barney Stinson on the hit CBS comedy series, “How I Met Your Mother,” a role which has garnered him four Emmy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor, and a Critics’ Choice Award for Supporting Actor in a Comedy.

Neil accepts his star (left) with his partner David Burtka.

200,000 E-mails Speaking Out Against Sally Kern Met with Silence from Oklahoma Leaders

Governor Fallin and legislative leaders must speak out against State Rep. Kern’s dangerous extremism

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) members and supports have generated 200,000 emails to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and state legislative leaders in the past day, calling on them to speak out against State Rep. Sally Kern’s dangerous anti-LGBT remarks. Kern recently called homosexuality a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism because, according to Kern, young people learn that being gay is “normal and natural.” Kern also implied gay Americans were responsible for the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Governor Fallin, Speaker of the House Kris Steele and Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman have remained silent so far.

“The silence of Governor Fallin and Oklahoma’s legislative leadership is deafening, particularly given the number of people we now see calling on them to speak out,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Enough is enough. Sally Kern has a long track record of outrageously slandering LGBT Americans, ethnic and religious groups, and women. It’s time for Oklahoma’s leaders to stand up to her bigotry and hold her accountable for her remarks.”

HRC is calling on its members and supporters to keep the pressure up on Governor Fallin, Speaker Steele and President Pro Tempore Bingman, and to rally friends and family to join in taking action.  For the latest, visit www.hrc.org/callitout.

As Oregon Republicans March Into the Future, North Carolina Retreats to the Politics of the Past

Log Cabin Republicans statement on the divergent actions in the states as Oregon's Republican Party strips antigay rhetoric from its platform while North Carolina legislators elect to send a constitutional amendment banning recognition of same-sex couples to the voters.

"The Republican Party is at a crossroads, and the contrast could not be greater than what we have seen today. The Oregon Republican Party chose to march into the future with an inclusive platform while North Carolina is retreating into the politics of the past," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "Winning in politics is about addition, and Republicans need to bring in additional members to our party instead of losing them to an 'Independent' registration status. The polls on support for gay and lesbian equality are clear; a party which does not respect the freedom and dignity of all Americans will alienate the moderate, independent and younger voters we need to succeed. The 2010 midterm focus on fiscal discipline, debt reduction and economic growth helped Republicans gain majorities in states and the U.S. House of Representatives. Hopefully the updated Oregon Republican Party platform will serve as positive example to other state committees as well as delegates to the RNC convention in 2012. Meanwhile, the ugly and divisive vote in North Carolina serves as a sad reminder that there is much work left to be done."

Homophobia in Sports

IN THE LIFE documents how LGBT youth & allies are “Changing the Game”

There are currently no out major league athletes in the United States. IN THE LIFE goes inside the aggressive, homophobic world of sports with “Bam Bam” Meulens of the SF Giants, Former NY Giants Running Back Tiki Barber, Rugby Star Ben Cohen, college wrestling champ Hudson Taylor, and more in this month’s IN THE LIFE episode Changing the Game premiering on ITLMedia.org and airing on public television stations across the country.

When a professional athlete like Kobe Bryant screams the “F” word at a referee or the Atlanta Braves coach yells homophobic slurs at SanFrancisco Giants fans there is a message that homophobia in sports is okay, but the tide is turning as more teams and athletes take a public stance supporting the LGBT community. Featuring the pioneering work of GLSEN’s Pat Griffin, out college athletes, and the Fearless exhibit, IN THE LIFE documents the concerted effort to end homophobia in sports.

“I always hearken it back to the Jackie Robinson era. Think about a time when African Americans weren’t allowed to play sports simply because of the color of their skin. Think about the contributions that weremissed then that are now capitalized on. It’s the same thing with sexual orientation as it was with skin color. It doesn’t matter. You’re either a great athlete or you’re not.” Tiki Barber, Former Running Back, NY Giants.

Changing the Game concludes with a profile of a college bound youth, Kadeem Swenson, who experienced homelessness and developed leadership skills with support from the organization Campus Pride.

“On a college level, things just don’t get better. We have to pick the right college. 23% of LGB, lesbian, gay and bi identified students, faculty, and staff are harassed on campuses. A third of transgender students, faculty, and staff fear for their physical safety. I mean this is 2011,” Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director & Founder, Campus Pride.

Changing the Game is now airing on public television stations across the country and  available for free video streaming and downloadable podcasts from the In The Life Media website. To find out when it will air in your local area, to stream or download it, go to ITLMedia.org.

Changing the Game
Meet pro athletes and leaders standing up against homophobia in sports. Featuring “Bam Bam” Meulens of the SF Giants, former NY Giants running back Tiki Barber, rugby star Ben Cohen, college wrestling champ Hudson Taylor, and more.

CMI’s 12th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism

Community Marketing is proud to announce our speakers for the 12th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, November 2-4, 2011 at the Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs, California.

If you have not done so already, it is time to register for this highly regarded conference!

Your 3-day investment will return extensive education and ideas that go far beyond the LGBT basics, and includes networking with the very top tourism professionals serving the LGBT community. Attending this conference will help you make your budget go farther, and will improve your LGBT market performance for the next year and beyond.

Conference website.