The Advocate Celebrates 45 Years!

Last night, The Advocate celebrated their 45th anniversary at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. What an awesome night!

Many of the LGBT movers and shakers were there including: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, David Burtka, Dustin Lance Black, Camille Grammer, George Kotsiopoulos, Mark Deklin, Perez Hilton, Rex Lee, Marisol Nichols, Renee Olstead, Reza Farahan, Willam Belli, Michelle Clunie, Tracey Heggins, Serinda Swan, Drew Droege, Bruce Vilanch, Billy Bean, Gloria Allred, Betty DeGeneres, David Millbern, Miss Coco Peru, and many more.

Sponsored by Lexus, Hilton, Macy's and American Spirits, the iconic publication presented video congrats from many celebrities and a historic illustration of many of the important issues since 1967.
The event benefited The Point Foundation, an organization that presents scholarships to LGBT students.

Last but not least, we got to see an amazing performance by the diva herself: Macy Gray.

Happy Birthday Advocate! Many more....

BrunchButler – LA’s First Brunch Delivery Service

 The most important meal of the weekend just got better. BrunchButler, the first-of-its-kind luxury brunch delivery and catering service from Switzerland makes its debut onto the Los Angeles dining scene on March 21, 2012.

“We are excited to share BrunchButler with Los Angeles,” said Founder and Co-President, Raphael Monsch. “Our customizable brunch boxes offer everything from Mini Organic Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Sandwiches with Avocado, Queso Blanco and Sun-Dried Tomatoes to Pan-Seared, Chile Ginger Glazed Duck Breast with Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy, making them a perfect way to celebrate a special event, impress at a corporate meeting or even just enjoy a treat for the everyday.”

Los Angeles brunch-lovers have the option to customize packages including a choice of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts or create a BreakfastBox from their favorite traditional breakfast items. Each BrunchButler box is designed to share, with two or more servings of fresh options, served chilled. BruchButler boxes are priced from $58 for the BreakfastBox and $66, $96 and $126 for the traditional BrunchBoxes. BrunchButler is available for select zip codes in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City and Marina del Rey with delivery fees depending on location. For additional information or to place a brunch order, please visit www.brunchbutler.com or call 866-264-7036.

One Anchorage Campaign Responds to Stigmatizing Cartoons of Gay and Transgender Individuals

Today, supporters of Proposition 5 released a response ad to the opposition group depicting unacceptably offensive and distorted cartoon ads of gay and transgender individuals.

In the last two weeks, ads paid for and produced by those opposing Proposition 5 - Jim Minnery, “Protect Your Rights”, and Glenn Clary and Jerry Prevo’s Anchorage Baptist Temple’s “Protect your Freedoms” have made false claims about the legal effects of Proposition 5. Moreover, the TV versions of these ads contain highly offensive cartoon imagery which seeks to dehumanize and demean our transgender friends, family and neighbors.

The Yes On Proposition 5 – One Anchorage campaign has called for the offensive ads opposing Proposition 5 to be removed from all broadcast and internet media immediately.

To support or learn more about the Yes On Proposition 5 – One Anchorage campaign please visit www.oneanchorage.com.

Phoenix Teen To Raise Awareness On Bullying & Diversity

Caleb Laieski, a high school student who was bullied, followed home and threatened for being gay, is now the youngest advocate on loan in the Phoenix Mayor’s Office and working to make a difference.
Laieski, 17, as a youth and diversity liaison, will work to raise awareness about bullying and diversity and serve as a point of contact for youth issues.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work for one of the largest cities in our nation, and I look forward to continue making Phoenix a safer place for our entire community,” Laieski said. “Being a youth myself, I feel that this opportunity will allow me to bring a young person’s perspective to the administration. During my time in this office, I will strive to see the dropout rate lower, intervention by school administrations steadily increase and the suicide rate rapidly decline.”

Read on...

GLAAD and MTPC Launch "I AM: Trans People Speak" Video Series

GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), announced the upcoming national launch of the "I AM: Trans People Speak" video series and called for the public to submit their own stories. The campaign aims to spotlight the stories of transgender Americans and their allies in an effort to educate the public about transgender issues, as well as speak to transgender youth and adults.

A trailer video of Laverne Cox, Isis King, Noah Lewis and Kit Yan, as well as more information about the campaign is available here: http://www.glaad.org/transpeoplespeak, http://community.transpeoplespeak.org/ 

GLAAD and MTPC today asked members of the transgender community and their allies to create their own videos for the upcoming launch.

"The stories of transgender Americans remain relatively invisible in both national and LGBT media," said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick. "These stories will not only empower members of the transgender community who rarely see relatable stories, but also educate Americans everywhere about the fact that the community is a valuable part of the fabric of our culture. The campaign will also shine a light on the high level of discrimination that our transgender brothers and sisters continue to face in schools, the workplace and in their own neighborhoods." 

Tyler Clementi - it's not cool to be mean

Written by Geoff Rosenberger  
 

"No one has done more stupid things than me."

We all say that to ourselves. I say it daily as I continue to do stupid things.
I am sure Dharub Ravi is saying it to himself over and over again.

This 20 year old faces up to 10 years in jail because he didn't separate stupid from mean.
This lack of separation triggered his gay college roommate,18-year-old Tyler Clementi, to jump to his death. Ravi is guilty of a hate crime – bias intimidation. In other words, he targeted Clementi because he is gay.

I have kids this age. I can only imagine how many stupid things they do daily, and how many stupid things I would have done at 20 had social media, webcams, and cell phones existed.

As a gay man, I am not happy about this young man's conviction, though fully in favor of it. I am not happy these situations exist at all. It is not easy coming out for many people. It took me much longer than some, as I hid from self, trying to fit societal and religious "norms." Since then, I have learned – who cares what others think? And as a result I am far more tolerant and accepting of self and others.
Now, here is what I am happy about: societal and religious awareness. We are killing each other over and over again with our words and our hatred. We can teach our kids and parents that it's not cool to be mean.

I have a straight friend in his 50s who carries inside him very painful memories from childhood. He was constantly picked on and harassed by other kids for reasons only children can justify.

Read on in OutinJersey

Jupiter Hotel Offers to “Keep Portland Queer” with New Program

Locally-owned boutique property launches new room package for LGBTQ-friendly travel

This month the Jupiter Hotel continues welcoming travelers from all walks of life with a new room package, Keep Portland Queer. By focusing on the LGBTQ community, which has always been a pillar of support for the property, the Jupiter aims to provide tools that invite guests to come as they are for a comfortable travel experience.

While the place to rest your head comes standard, this special package encourages Jupiter Hotel visitors to bask in all that Keeps Portland Queer with an LGBT Travel Portland brochure, as well as complimentary goodies including Out City and PQ Monthly magazines, Voodoo Doughnuts, a gift card to Fantasy For Adults Only and a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato, with ten percent of the proceeds from the package donated to the PDX Q Center.

Gay Activists Recruit Kids to Fight Homophobia

H8SUX.com, a gay activist and T-shirt website, launched today and released its first viral video campaign targeting school kids with an offer of a free "OK4U2BGAY" T-shirt. The free pro-gay shirt will be shipped to any teen who simply makes a special YouTube video pledge to speak out against homophobia at school and support gay marriage. Inspired by the hit show "Glee," the organization released a slickly-produced musical commercial showcasing a same-sex teen kiss and kids dancing in front of hot-pink school lockers while singing a catchy pro-gay song.

Organizers say the teen-targeted campaign is in response to who they call, "ballot box bullies" - politicians who directly inspire a climate for schoolyard bullies to torment LGBT kids. They cite initiatives to ban gay marriage in North Carolina and Minnesota, "Don't Say Gay" Bills in Utah and Tennessee, and Rick Santorum's promise to "force-divorce" thousands of legally married gay and lesbian couples as motivation for their pro-gay message to kids.

LBGT Happy Hour @ SXSW

SXSW just got a lot gayer!

dot429 & Unicorn Booty are proud to be hosting the 1st ever LGBT Tech event at SXSWi this Sunday from 1:30pm - 3:30pm!

The event will benefit The Trevor Project and will be a great opportunity to meet some of the panelists that will be on the "Elliot and Friends on GayTech" panel that is taking place the following day (Monday the 12th from 2-4pm Texas time) and will be live streamed here: http://www.ustream.tv/startupbus2012

The panel, hosted by Elliot Tomaeno, features leaders from the LGBT tech community discussing what it means to be gay in the world of online entrepreneurship and social media. Participants include Kara Swisher of AllThingsD.com; Joel Simkhai, CEO of Grindr; Nick Vivion, founder of Unicorn Booty; and Cathy Brooks, social media maven and spokesperson for dot429.com.

Details (flyer and RSVP page) for the LGBT Tech Happy Hour at Conduit Corner here: http://gaytechatsxsw12.eventbrite.com/

This is the 1st time we have ever had an LGBT Tech event at SXSW and it will definitely not be the last!

NARTH Becomes Main Source for Anti-Gay ‘Junk Science’

PHOENIX — Michael Brown took the dais in a sterile Marriott ballroom last fall, beaming for the 40 or so therapists who form the devout core of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). With a hulking frame packed tightly into a three-button black suit, one of the nation’s most vociferous anti-gay activists began his speech with a dire warning.

The “homosexual agenda” is on the march, he said, and shows no signs of slowing. Gay rights activists, aggressively working to undermine Christian values and the traditional family, have infiltrated the nation’s schools, civic centers and places of worship. The war for the heart of the country is on.

Read more on Southern Poverty Law Center site

Chad Griffin named new HRC President

 Chad H. Griffin was appointed today as the next president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, by the organization’s Board of Directors. Griffin, a national communications and policy strategist, is widely credited for being the mastermind behind the federal lawsuit to overturn California's Proposition 8, which has now been ruled unconstitutional by two federal courts.

A native of Arkansas and a veteran of the Clinton White House, Chad Griffin was inspired by young people in taking on this new endeavor. He told the board this morning, "All over this country in big cities and small towns, there are families and young people who long to be accepted for who they are, and who want be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else. Today's generation of young people, and each generation hereafter, must grow up with the full and equal protection of our laws, and finally be free to participate in the American dream. As HRC president, I'll approach our work with a great sense of urgency because there are real life consequences to inaction."

Lady Gaga Born This Way Foundation Launch Event Closing