GLAAD Releases Transgender Resources

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today issued resources for media reporting on Chaz’s exit from Dancing with the Stars to improve public awareness of America’s transgender community.

When he was initially cast, GLAAD released resources to media reporting on the story. Enclosed in this release is a list of additional transgender leaders who would be able to speak to the enormous importance of Chaz’s primetime appearances and are available for media interviews.

"Americans expect to see the diversity of our country represented on TV and that includes transgender people," said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. “When it is still legal in 35 states to fire a transgender person solely because they are transgender, visibility and education are key to growing understanding and acceptance,” Graddick continued.

When Chaz was cast, media such as The Insider used the opportunity to discuss what it is like to be transgender in America today. Even though Chaz has now been voted off Dancing with the Stars, we hope to keep that conversation going.

HRC to NOM: Fess Up About Stolen Photo

Anti-LGBT organization manipulates crowd photo to create illusion of supportToday Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – sent a letter to the so-called National Organization for Marriage (NOM) calling out the group’s deceitful tactics in New Hampshire.  NOM is using a photograph from an Obama campaign event in Ohio to mislead New Hampshire voters into believing they have more supporters than they actually do.  The news was broken by Jeremy Hooper on his Good as You blog; Hooper is also a contributor to HRC’s NOM Exposed. 

The photo debacle comes on the heels of news from the nonpartisan University of New Hampshire Survey Center who recently released a poll showing 62% of Granite Staters oppose repealing the popular same-sex marriage law.

Read Solmonese’s letter to NOM President Brian Brown below:

Dear Mr. Brown:

Your organization has sunk to a new level of deception by manipulating photographs from an Obama campaign event in Ohio to trick Granite Staters into believing support for the National Organization for Marriage is much greater than it really is.  And while I know that NOM has never been above misleading the public to further its cause, this new phoniness is an example of just how far you will go to make people believe your pursuit – the denial of equal treatment under the law -- is supported by New Hampshire voters and Americans in general.

There’s no mistaking the facts: 62 percent of Granite Staters oppose repealing marriage equality. In addition, polls reflect that a majority of Americans support marriage equality nationwide.  And it’s no secret that support is growing as Americans from all walks of life come to the understanding that all that gay and lesbian families seek is to have our love and commitment recognized and legally protected.  Yet NOM futilely and painstakingly attempts to convince otherwise.

The fact that you had to “steal a crowd” from someone else’s event to create the illusion that people support your cause is evidence that you and your cohorts are truly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Americans want the truth.  And the truth is voters in New Hampshire want the legislature to leave the popular marriage law alone and focus on the economy and budget matters.

Sincerely,

Joe Solmonese

PEREZ HILTON SPARKLES AND SHINES AS NEW SHOEDAZZLE DESIGNER

100% of Profits To Benefit GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network

 Continuing with its successful male designer trend, ShoeDazzle has inducted celebrity media mogul and author Perez Hilton into its popular “Celebrity Shoe Design Program for Charity.”  Hilton has designed not one but two shoes for ShoeDazzle, displaying his ambitious nature.  The charity Hilton has chosen to benefit from the sales of his shoes is GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.  100% of the profits from both shoes will be donated to this national education organization that addresses LGBT issues in K-12 schools (http://glsen.org).

The first shoe Hilton designed, named “Sparkle,” is a black faux suede pump with silver stud detailing on the heel, platform and dual ankle straps. The second is a casual unisex silver metallic sneaker with stud embellishments and zipper detailing, named “Shine.” The pump and sneaker will be available on November 11th, exclusively in ShoeDazzle showrooms (www.shoedazzle.com).

In addition to designing both the “Sparkle” and “Shine” shoes, Hilton has been continuing to build his media empire with his multiple blog sites including perezhilton.com, cocoperez.com, teddyhilton.com, perezitos.com and fitperez.com.

HRC Launches Americans for Marriage Equality

Video Featuring Mayor Cory Booker Leads National Public Education Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign today launched Americans for Marriage Equality, a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married. The campaign will draw from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, political and civil rights leaders– and will have a special emphasis on Republicans, African-Americans, Latinos and elected officials. The campaign can be viewed at www.hrc.org/americansformarriageequality.

Keshet and Nehirim inclusion in 2011‘Slingshot’ Guide signals integration of LGBT community within Jewish world

Slingshot, the prestigious guide to the most innovative Jewish organizations in the country, included two LGBT organizations, Keshet and Nehirim, in its new edition, released today.

Keshet is a leader in education, training, and grassroots organizing for LGBT inclusion in the Jewish community.  Nehirim is the leading national provider of community programming for LGBT Jews, partners, and allies.

“Whereas a few years ago, gays and lesbians were shunned from much of Jewish communal life, today we are recognized as being among its leaders,” said Jay Michaelson, founding director of Nehirim.

Idit Klein, executive director of Keshet, agreed and added, “As far as we have come, there is much more work to do until we reach the day where all LGBT Jews are fully seen and celebrated. We envision a future where the ethos of justice, caring, and inclusion that encapsulates the best of Jewish tradition is seen and felt by all Jewish youth and adults – gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, and/or transgender.”

The Slingshot Guide is available at http://www.slingshotfund.org/.

One More Lesbian: Shirin Papillon

As one of the largest curators of lesbian film/TV content online, OML is proof positive that there’s both quality and quantity to be found when it comes to creative work that represents “lesbians” in all of their real colors.

With OML, Shirin has created not only a trusted brand, but as well a seminal Mecca of online lesbian movie streaming. Moving OML toward becoming the Netflix, Hulu, iTunes and Amazon of the lesbian world, Shirin has recently been able to realize her second objective for the company: a Video on Demand section dubbed OML+, which will offer films anywhere from $.99 to $3.99 for a 48 hours viewing period.  OML+ will allow instant streaming of popular lesbian titles as well as independent feature films and shorts that would usually only screen at film festivals or go straight to DVDs and are not available online. It is an affordable and easy medium for audiences to see the films they love and/or have heard of but may not have access to otherwise.


Revolutionizing her industry, overturning tradition, and raising the bar on female achievement, Shirin Papillon is one sassy businesswoman on a mission and a no less wickedly savvy entrepreneur with a vision. An online media platform that strictly serves as an aggregator for video content already existing on other sites, OML is the one-stop emporium for movies, television shows, web series, Vlogs, music videos, live video chats, PSA’s, specials/events and even commercials made for and by lesbians and bi-sexual women.

Understanding that the digital revolution has created a platform for personal expression and supplying unknown artists with the tools to tell their stories, Shirin decided not only to find all these talents but also to unite them under one address: the OML marquee.

Witeck-Combs Communications on GoGayBiz | GoGayBiz

Witeck-Combs Communications on GoGayBiz | GoGayBiz

Gay Top Model 2012

After an exciting four years in Canada, the project along with its founder and producer Terry Costa are going to Europe. GAY TOP MODEL V, the 2012 season will have an updated format that will happen for 5 days in 5 islands and welcome up to 12 male model contestants from around the world. More details along with applications will be available January 2012.

Gay Top Model is a theatrical community project rooted on a competition and staged with the goal to raise funds for organizations while educating and entertaining its participants, patrons and the community at large. From  photo and video shoots, public presentations to parties, the project is a great self-esteem builder and a way to launch careers in the entertainment and modelling world.

Make A Difference For LGBT Youth

Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth by speaking at a Live Out Loud school program?

Live Out Loud is a non-profit organization that inspires and empowers LGBT youth by connecting them with successful LGBT role models in their community (www.LiveOutLoud.info). Every year, we conduct dozens of hour-long programs for LGBT youth in classrooms throughout NYC. This academic year, Live Out Loud needs up to 50 LGBT role models to come with us and tell their story to groups of 20 - 25 students.

On Thursday, October 20, Live Out Loud is hosting a Role Model Social - a night of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres - to tell you about how you can become a speaker for one of our school programs this fall.

Please join us at 6:00 p.m. at Deutsch, A Lowe & Partners Company to mingle with other LGBT professionals and learn more about how you can use your story to make a difference in the lives of LGBT youth!

"We're teenagers. We need people to be encouraging us. There are so many kids in this world who feel lost and they want somebody to be able to tell them 'It's ok. I'm here for you.'" - LGBT youth at a Live Out Loud program

Everybody has a story to share. Yours might be more life-changing for an LGBT youth than you realize! RSVP for the Role Model Social by replying to this email.

Date: October 20, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: 111 Eighth Ave, NYC
RSVP: info@liveoutloud.info

New Site: Come Out Together for Equality!

The First Website Ever For The LGBT Community and Allies to Post Their Picture and/or Tell Their Story and Come Out Together for Equality!

Invisible no more! Show your face, tell your story and be proud.

There are an estimated 9 million out LGBT people in the US alone.  That estimate reflects only a slightly less than 4% of the entire population, yet we hear that more than 9% of the population is actually gay.  Our community is still struggling for equal rights, to marry legally, to be out without discrimination and all the other legal rights afforded to straight people.

What if there was a website where the entire LGBT and Ally community could come out together, post a picture, tell a story, and show the world that we need to be seen and heard?  There is strength in numbers.  Together each of us can feel safer, stronger and united in our cause to be free and equal.

Be part of this historic quest for equality as we drive to show our strength in numbers. Help get the word out to the world, not just in your area, not just in the US, but in every country.  If there are 9 million people in the US, let’s assume there are 100 Million of us in the world seeking equality for all.



The time is now and the place is here!  http://comeouttogether.com

LGBT Parenting on center stage in SF Mayor's race...

Bevan Dufty is running to become Mayor of San Francisco. If elected on November 8, 2011, he would be the first openly gay Mayor of San Francisco. Last week he made headlines around the world when his first television campaign commercial -- produced by Obama ad guru Mark Putnam -- was released. It was the first time in history an LGBT candidate for office had featured his or her own child in a campaign spot. You can see that ad here:

HRC Mourns the Passing of Steve Jobs

The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality – mourns the loss of one of America’s greatest visionaries, and a tremendous ally to the LGBT community, Steve Jobs.  Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:

“Steve Jobs’ life and career touched the lives of millions of people across the globe.  From his unparalleled contributions to technology and communication, to his steadfast support for the fight for LGBT equality, Jobs has truly embodied the spirit of our great nation. The world is without a doubt a better place because he lived in it.”

In 2008 under Job’s direction, Apple donated $100,000 to fight Proposition 8, which aimed to end same-sex marriage in California by amending the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman – one of the first major corporations to donate to the fight.  During his tenure as CEO, Apple scored a perfect 100 on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

All Love is Equal by Revenge Is

Always pushing for fashion with a cause, Revenge Is tees inspire and educate, all made from organic-cotton and bionic yarn.

The All-Love-Is-Equal Tshirt range stems from the firm belief that everyone has the right to be free and marry who they wish.  Inter-racial marriage was illegal in the US until 1967 when the US Supreme Court ruled the ban unconstitutional (some states had already allowed inter-racial marriage).  Most people would now think it absurd to ban inter-racial marriages and perhaps in several decades same sex marriage will be similarly viewed.  

Having the right to publicly love the person you want is one of the most basic rights any of us can have.  Legalizing and respecting same sex marriage will only enhance our communities.

http://www.revengeis.com/

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Commemorates LGBT History Month

“LGBT History Month offers us an opportunity to honor the pioneers of the movement for LGBT rights and recognize the extraordinary contributions of LGBT Americans to our history and culture,” stated Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. “And it is a time to rededicate ourselves to the bedrock values of our nation: civil rights for every American; equality under the law; respect and dignity for all.

During this LGBT History Month, we must remain firmly committed to the rights, equality, and progress of LGBT Americans.”

“Equality Forum is gratified by Representative Nancy Pelosi’s support for LGBT History Month 2011. This follows the launch of LGBT History Month 2010 by Secretary Arne Duncan at the U.S. Department of Education. Started in 2006, LGBT History Month in October makes our Icons visible and our historic civil rights movement empowering,” stated Malcolm Lazin, founder of LGBT History Month and Executive Director, Equality Forum.

For more information about LGBT History Month, visit www.lgbtHistoryMonth.com.

Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com), a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month worldwide, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents annually the largest national and international LGBT civil rights summit.

NYC'S HOMELESS LGBT YOUTH: NEW VIDEO

The Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization working on behalf of homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, today released a compelling new video viewable online in support of the Campaign for Youth Shelter. The video, outlining the stark facts of the plight of LGBT homeless youth in New York, was released to promote an October 24 rally in Union Square, at which New York’s LGBT community will demand shelter for all youth in the city. The video can be viewed at:
http://vimeo.com/29990372


LGBT Campaign for Homeless Youth from Ali Forney on Vimeo.

Chaz Bono: I Won't Dance to Cher

"Dancing with the Stars" contestant Chaz Bono said his musical preferences on the dance floor won't include songs from his mother, Cher.

"It won't happen," the transgender advocate told "Extra" correspondent Adrianna Costa. "It's just not want I'm into!"

Down 12 pounds and flexing some newfound muscles, Bono is still on the mend from a knee injury. "I'm probably 75 per cent, which is a big improvement from last week."

As for the controversy that is still following him, Bono said, "I don't really pay attention to the haters, but the people who've been so supportive have been a huge motivation for me."

Watch how Bono and Kardashian perform, Monday on "Dancing with the Stars"!

http://www.extratv.com

Gay Congressman Announces Birth Of New Son

Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado has announced the birth of a new son, making him the only openly gay member of Congress to be a parent.

While few details of the birth were made available, the Democratic congressman's press office did release the announcement that Polis and his partner, Marlon Reis, sent to friends and family.

The announcement said Caspian Julius was born on Friday and weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. The announcement asked well-wishers for "nice thoughts for Caspian, humankind, the planet and the universe." It was unclear whether the baby was adopted or born through a surrogate.

Polis is one of four openly gay members of Congress. He's serving his second term in office.