Same-Sex Couples Less Likely To Get Divorced Than Straight Couples?

While Administrative data from two states shows that same-sex couples end their marriages at a rate of 1.1% annually, on average, and an average of 1.6% of couples dissolve their legal relationships if a broader set of states is included. This rate is slightly lower than the annual rate of divorce among married different-sex couples.

Read on...

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Out in the South, Part Two

 Out in the South, Part Two identifies more than 750 LGBTQ community assets in the U.S. South   

Funders for LGBTQ Issues has released a new report entitled Out in the South, Part Two: LGBTQ Community Assets in the U.S. South. The report finds that not only is the U.S. South home to more LGBT adults than any other region, it is also home to an impressive array of more than 750 LGBTQ community assets.

Out in the South, Part Two (2014) assesses the state of the LGBTQ movement in the U.S.South, based on a comprehensive scan of the region's LGBTQ community assets, a survey of more than 200 organizers and service providers working in the South, and in-depth interviews with 30 LGBTQ leaders.  It also identifies several funding strategies with potential for high impact.

The report, authored by Claudia Horwitz, finds that more than two-thirds of the LGBTQ community assets in the U.S. South are grassroots community groups.  As the report notes, "in every state in the region there is an inspiring depth of LGBTQ work being done with shoestring budgets and minimal or no full-time staff."

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

First PV Hotel to Earn LGBT Service Excellence Certification

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa just announced its recognition as the first hotel in Puerto Vallarta to earn a certification in LGBT Service Excellence.

Puerto Vallarta has long been a popular vacation spot for the LGBT community with an array of LGBT friendly nightlife, excursions and activities. CasaMagna Puerto Vallarta is now the first hotel in the area to train its entire resort staff, earning this certification with Out Now Global. The resort also has an array of LGBT highlights and packages; please see the full release below for your reference. Happy to send additional details as needed.


For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Safe In My Hands | Allstate LGBT Campaign

Short animated film that is part of the 2014 LGBT campaign, Out Holding Hands. The film features a new single, "Safe In My Hands" a song written exclusively for Allstate's LGBT campaign by out singer/songwriter Eli Lieb. Join the campaign http://al.st/SDY_LBGT

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Suddenly Fem™ Launches Tips & Tricks Learning & Resource Center

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Betabrand Discovers Gay Jeans

Q:  How do I know these jeans are really gay?  Could it just be a phase?

A:  Actually, brand-new Gay Jeans look and act like any other pair of fine five-pocket denims.   But as they get older, they can't help showing their true colors -- literally!  Through washing and wearing, their indigo dye will gradually fade away, revealing a rainbow of fabulously colorful yarn.

Q: Can I prevent them from becoming gay by not washing them?

A:  This will merely slow the process.  It will also have the unintended consequence of repulsing friends and loved ones, regardless of orientation.

Q:  If I'm straight, will wearing Gay jeans make me gay?

A: No more than driving a Toyota will make you Japanese.  If you put on a pair of Gay Jeans and begin experiencing gayness, chances are it's because you're gay. 
 
Gay Jeans are out of the closet, but how many more closets will they end up in?   Launched on Betabrand's crowdfunding platform only yesterday, they've already more than doubled their funding goal.   Mr. Wheeler is celebrating this success by donating 10% of the proceeds to the San Francisco LGBT Center.  
For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Here TV Debuts Webseries Guy Dubai: International Gay Spy

Here TV (www.heretv.com), America’s only gay television network, today announced the premiere of the first three episodes of the new webseries Guy Dubai: International Gay Spy exclusively on the network’s YouTube Premium channel. Watch the first three webisodes for FREE now at: https://www.youtube.com/user/HereTVPremium

Each episode of Guy Dubai: International Gay Spy finds its eponymous star, played by TJ Hoban, working to solve outlandish mysteries while, at the same time, trying to keep himself alive. Guest stars in the first three webisodes include Suzanne Whang, Junade Khan, and Jesse Pepe. The series is written by Terry Ray and directed by Sam Irvin. Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow are the show’s executive producers, and David Millbern is the producer.

The first three webisodes find Guy Dubai in a myriad of wild situations including:
Episode #1
In the cheesy, ultra-low budget, but ALWAYS sexy world of international gay spy Guy Dubai (TJ Hoban), Guy travels to Hawaii and bumps into a volcano as well as an equally steaming hot waiter (Junade Khan).

Episode #2
Guy Dubai witnesses the murder of a Hawaiian Prince (Jesse Pepe), whose nude corpse nearly redefines the term “stiff”.  Aloha, Prince Eyewannaleiyou!

Episode #3
Guy Dubai has every intention of getting to the bottom of Prince Eyewannaleiyou’s mysterious death, but first, he’s got another bottom to tend to.  What’s sarong with that?
Here TV is available as a YouTube paid channel worldwide. Launched in 2013, the channel was initially available in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Spain, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Brazil and is now available in more than 27 countries. 
 

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Gay Co-Founders of Wag N' Wash

 Gay co-founders of Wag N' Wash, Jef and Dan discuss the ins and outs of their franchise opportunity.


MEET WAG N' WASH FRANCHISE CO-FOUNDERS DAN & JEF from RainTree Franchise on Vimeo.

To find out more, click here.

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Lance Bass Appears in New Video on Winning Marriage in the South

)
Today Southerners for the Freedom to Marry released a web ad featuring Mississippi-born musician Lance Bass and his fiancé Michael Turchin about their support for marriage for same-sex couples. The ad, the second in a series, is part of a $1 million campaign to grow majority support for marriage in the South. A March 5 poll by the Washington Post/ABC News shows a majority of people in South support marriage for same-sex couples, with 50% of Southerners in support and only 42% opposed.

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

National Seniors Foundation SponsorsWebcast to Inform LGBT Community of Their New Eligibility

For the first time in its long history, the Social Security Administration is providing benefits to same sex married couples, thanks to the Supreme Court’s June 2013 Windsor ruling in the Defense of Marriage Act.  This is a significant development with important financial implications for millions of elder lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, same sex spouses, widows, and children of LGBT parents.

“Know Your Rights” is a national education campaign for LGBT Americans impacted by the Windsor decision. The Foundation of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare events are funded in part by the Archstone Foundation to help support a series of “Know Your Rights” town halls in Los Angeles March 18-20.

The March 18th session, moderated by LA Gay and Lesbian Center CEO, Lorri Jean, will feature panel discussions with the Social Security Administration, legal experts, and seniors’ and LGBT advocates and will be available via webcast for those who can not attend in person.

March 18th 6:30 – 8:00 pm PT

Register online for the “Know Your Rights” Webcast here.

The mission of the National Committee Foundation, founded in 2008, is to protect, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and well being of current and future generations of older Americans through research, analysis, and public education. Previous successful Foundation projects include: Living Outside the Safety Net: LGBT Families and Social Security in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, Patients Aware, educating Medicare beneficiaries about their new benefits through the Affordable Care Act, and the latest research report, “Chained CPI; Shackling America’s Economic Recovery.”

Established in 1986, Archstone Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation whose mission is to prepare society for the growing needs of an aging society. Under the leadership of president and CEO Joseph F. Prevratil, J.D., Archstone grants up to $5 million annually, primarily in Southern California.



For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

All Gender Restrooms Signs on sale this week.

Celebrating Facebook's important decision, MyDoorSign put their All Gender Restrooms Signs on sale this week. Share the message with schools, town halls, and restaurants in your area. Just use the code FB4ALL for 10% off the order. 

A restroom should be a safe place for everyone, including those that identify as transgender. Restroom use can be fraught with confusion and, often, intense anxiety. These signs try to reduce this uneasiness, while fitting in the rest of your building’s wayfinding and signage systems. Pick an all-gender or gender neutral restroom sign.

http://www.mydoorsign.com/transgender-signs


For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Most Eligible Bachelor from OUT magazine

The results are in for this year’s Most Eligible Bachelor from OUT magazine. We provided a list of 100 of the most dateable gay guys on the planet and asked you to vote. And here are the results. Adam Lambert took the Top Spot as the Most Eligible Bachelor with a landslide of votes from his loyal fans (the No. 1 spot was held by Chris Colfer last year, who is at No. 6 in 2014). We were informed that Chris Salvatore, at No. 2, is actually dating boyfriend Patrick McDonald (check out their adorable Instagram couple shots), so he may not be as available as we had previously supposed.

Actor Darryl Stephens easily took the No. 3 spot due to his stunning good looks and a fair amount of social media lobbying (thanks!). There were several new faces that hooked hearts and minds, including androgynous male model Andrej Pejic (No. 10). For the first time ever, we have a politician in the lineup, Brian Sims at No. 5, with Israeli entrepreneur and party promoter Eliad Cohen, just in front, at No. 4. Surprisingly newly single Ricky Martin was nudged out of the Top 10 (landing at No. 11) and Jonathan Groff split his vote since many people voted for his Looking character, Patrick, rather than the actor himself (sorry for the confusion!). But in our book, all these guys (and many more) are wonderful winners.

OUT’s Most Eligible Bachelors for 2014 are:

• 1. Adam Lambert (musician/actor)
• 2. Chris Salvatore (musician/actor)
• 3. Darryl Stephens (actor)
• 4. Eliad Cohen (entrepreneur/party promoter)
• 5. Brian Sims (politician)
• 6. Chris Colfer (actor)
• 7. Steve Grand (musician)
• 8. Christopher Rice (author)
• 9. Wentworth Miller (actor/screenwriter)
• 10. Andrej Pejic (model)

Read the whole list at:
http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2014/02/14/top-10-most-eligible-bachelor-adam-lambert

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Clay Aiken's Political Ad Rocks

 Clay Aiken is running for Congress and has launched his campaign with this heartfelt ad that is so refreshing to see.



http://www.clayaiken.com/


For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Anton Hysen Wears Efva Attling Rainbow Freedom Pendant to Support LGBT Rights

Swedish soccer player Anton Hysen 

 

After numerous reports of human rights violations around the world and specifically in Russia where Olympic Games start this week, jewelry designer Efva Attling creates a piece of jewelry to support LGBT rights.

Being gay and vocal about it, Efva was inspired to do something for LGBT community. 30% of all proceeds go to Hetrick-Martin Institute.

HMI Is the oldest and largest agency in the country that provides services and programs to at-risk LGBTQ youth.



For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Moovz.com Hosts Exclusive Live Broadcast Event

Moovz.com, a new social networking platform for the gay community, announced today collaboration with DWV, the Los Angeles-based pop group consisting of drag queens Willam Belli, Detox Icunt, and Vicky Vox. In celebration of this collaboration, Moovz will be hosting a live broadcast show featuring the trio on February 13, 2014 during which Moovz’s worldwide user-base will be invited to digitally attend a DWV special broadcast.

The famous drag queens will give fans and Moovz users the opportunity to check out a special compellation of the trio’s greatest hits, pictures and much, much more. The members have previously been seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nip/Tuck, and found viral success with their music videos "Boy is a Bottom" and "Chow Down (at Chick-Fil-A)."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr51afj7eJY

With over 25 million interactions since its launch, Moovz provides a friendly community in which gay men can connect with like-minded users locally and globally.

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) Remembers Friends of Russian LGBT Family in Tribute Video, Footage From 1999

 As Sochi, Russia prepares for the 2014 games, and as the international community remains divided about recently-passed anti-gay laws in that country, members of Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) continue to stand in solidarity with their Russian friends as they searched their archives and pieced together a video dedication to the LGBT Community.

In October of 1999, GMCLA traveled to Moscow to perform at Tchaikovsky Hall with famed Russian pop star Alla Pugachova. Nearly 2,000 LGBT persons and their allies filled the concert hall to stand together in harmony as one of the largest ever gatherings of LGBTs in the country. The Chorus sang various songs, including "We Shall Overcome," which is featured in the recently rediscovered footage

For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com

Teaching The Cat To Sit

 In 2010, Michelle Theall and her partner were living in Boulder, Colorado and had their adopted son enrolled at a Catholic school. When the school announced that all children of gay parents would be expelled, it quickly brought various aspects of Michelle’s life into perspective.

She had been raised in the Texas Bible Belt in a devoutly Catholic family. Her childhood was marked by various painful moments like being outed and kicked out of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes all before even realizing for herself that she was gay. She made steps towards self-acceptance with the passage of time, but was always seeking her mother’s approval. Then the controversy of the expulsion brought long-buried shame to the surface that led her to truly stand up for herself and her family – both publicly and privately with her parents. It was in this process that Michelle realized that in order to be a good mother, she may have to be a bad daughter.

A book about coming-of-age under difficult circumstances, TEACHING THE CAT TO SIT is ultimately a story about family and reconciling one’s past and present.

Michelle describes the project beautifully in this video that is receiving heavy traffic online: http://on.aol.com/video/michelle-theall-on-teaching-the-cat-to-sit-517955301.




You can buy the book on Amazon.


For more LGBT business news, visit http://www.echelonmagazine.com