“Ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven”

The Human Rights Campaign is strongly condemning the latest round of anti-LGBT rhetoric from extremist religious voices. In a disturbing video that is going viral, a child in church is singing a song that concludes with the line “ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven” – a line met with wild applause and a standing ovation by the congregation. The Huffington Post reports the Church where the video was shot to be the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Church in Greensburg, Indiana.

HRC commissioned polling last year that found nearly 75 percent of people of faith believed religious leaders did more harm than good when they condemned LGBT people. The poll also found that 85 percent of people of faith felt their religious beliefs compelled them to support LGBT equality. Learn more about the intersection of religion and equality.

The Paul and Matty Show

The Paul and Matty Show is an entertaining, inspiring, and often lighthearted hour of internet radio that caters to the GLBT community.  The boys like to say they’re the comic relief for the end of your day.

Broadcast live from New England every weekday evening, each hour is packed with celebrity guests, an all star team of regular contributors, and the always hilarious stories and antics straight from the crazy gay lives of Paul and Matty.

Thanks to their ability to be live, their content is fresh and topical:  stories ripped from the headlines; celebrity gossip from the latest movie or TV show; the latest trends in music and fashion; and an up to date look at what’s going on in and of interest to the GLBT community. With every topic, their goal is to find that which is inspirational and entertaining to their GLBT audience especially when they can make a point that helps tear down the stereotypes.  What sets these boys apart is their incredible rapport and their unique take on every topic as young gay men.

http://www.paulandmatty.com/

Gay Women's Gathering: Family Building

The American Fertility Association (The AFA), in association with California Cryobank, announced today a free seminar focused on family building for the lesbian community.

The Gay Women's Gathering will take place on Thursday, June 7th, from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 North McCadden Place, in Los Angeles.

Critical information such as choosing a sperm donor, getting pregnant through insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF) at home or not at home, unraveling the legal jargon, and maintaining optimum health will all be explored in a relaxed, conversational way.

"Finding a sperm donor, selecting an insemination procedure, and protecting both parents' legal rights can all have significant long-term financial, medical, and emotional impact on a lesbian family," stated Scott Brown, Director of Client Experience & Communications at California Cryobank, who will also be speaking at the event. Scott further stated, "California Cryobank is proud to be a part of this incredibly important evening of family building education and support."

Though the evening is focused on the lesbian community, family, friends, and supporters are encouraged to attend as well. A light meal will be served, and gift bags with educational content will be given to all participants.

The event is free, but reservations are requested by calling The AFA's Program Director, Corey Whelan, at 718-853.1411 or emailing Corey@TheAFA.org.

Gay Wine Weekend

The LGBT-oriented travel-and-event company Out In The Vineyard is hosting Gay Wine Weekend during the heart of June’s Gay Pride Month. Highlights of the event-packed weekend include a Wine & Dine OUT dinner at which local winemakers pair wines with delectable treats from three of the area’s top  restaurants, a meal and wine tasting at beautiful B. Wise Vineyards and Estate Restaurant, a cabaret night featuring drag-tastic “Russian opera diva Katya Smirnoff-Skyy” at Sebastiani Vineyards, a Winery Vista Tour at Gloria Ferrer and Nicholson Ranch Winery, a Twilight T-Dance to benefit the Sonoma County AIDS Network, the Big Gay Wine Auction & Brunch, and several more events. For more information on Gay Wine Weekend, visit www.outinthevineyard.com.

HARVEY MILK STREET APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

 – FIRST IN THE COUNTRY HAPPENS IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO –  Today, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to give final approval to rename a street after LGBT civil rights hero, Harvey Milk.  San Diego now becomes the first city in the country to have a street named for Harvey Milk.

“A year ago, a group of community leaders came together around the notion the time had come to honor an LGBT civil rights leader in San Diego the same way we have given honor to other civil rights leaders  such as Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King, Jr,” said Dwayne Crenshaw, San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director. “Today marks a symbolic and significant moment in the movement forward towards the American value of equality.”

A celebratory unveiling of the new street is now planned for Harvey Milk’s birthday.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
5:00 – 6:00 pm
at the corner of Harvey Milk Street (Blaine Ave.) and Centre Street

Speakers with include:

• Nicole Murray-Ramirez – City Commissioner and Community Activist
• Todd Gloria - City Council Member, District 3
• Tony Young - City Council Member, District 4
• Stuart Milk - Nephew of Harvey Milk
• Dwayne Crenshaw - Executive Director - San Diego LGBT Pride
• Delores Jacobs - Chief Executive Officer - The LGBT Community Center

A reception with refreshments, inside the LGBT Community Center, will conclude the evening after the program.   
             
Harvey served proudly as a member of the United States Navy – including time served in San Diego as a diving instructor.

Harvey Milk’s ground breaking election in 1978 as one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials - and its most visible one - symbolized the freedom to live life in full authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world.

Harvey served less than a year in public office before his assassination, but his life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community.  His courage, passion and sense of justice moved the nation and stirred the very core of an oppressed community; bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom.

National Geographic's American Transgender

Male or female? Boy or girl? Most of us can answer that question without a second thought. But for some people, the answer isn’t so simple. Go firsthand into the daily lives of three people who are transgender, and witness their struggles for acceptance and the triumphs and hardships they face along the way. Clair’s family struggles to cope with losing a son and brother, while also learning to embrace their new daughter and sister. Jim became a heartthrob in the transgender community after participating on a transgender dating show but really wants to get married and raise a family. Eli returns home to his big, Italian-American family in Alabama hoping to win the support and guidance of his brother, so he can become the father and man that he wants to be. Hear their stories in their own words as we follow them through day-to-day life in a world that sees them as anything but normal.

Queering the Airwaves

Webinar on Community Radio Opportunity

May 3, 2pm EST

Hosted by CenterLink with the Prometheus Radio Project

Free. RSVP now.

Community radio is transformative. It helps people connect, share local news and events, and participate in decisions that impact their lives.  90% of Americans use radio at least once a week, making it the most common point of connection today.

In the next year, there will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for local groups to start their own radio stations.  1000+ new licenses will be available in most cities in the U.S. including urban areas where their signal can reach up to a half million people.

This represents a major opportunity for LGBTQ organizations to amplify their messages and reach new audiences. LGBTQ centers are ideal locations for these affordable radio stations which will further extend our voices and issues to the whole community.  Centers can share programming and information, helping to build our networks.

The Prometheus Radio Project seeks to educate and support groups in applying and getting on air. Join this exciting webinar with Prometheus to learn how your organization or center can plug into this one in a lifetime opportunity. 

If you are interested in starting a station, sign up with Prometheus to stay in touch.

About the Presenter

Danielle Chynoweth is a Director at the Prometheus Radio Project. She co-founded the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center home to Radio Free Urbana and Uniting Pride Center. She worked on campaigns to add sexual orientation discrimination to Illinois’ human rights act and to promote marriage equality. She served as a member of city council in Urbana, Illinois, instigating a domestic partner registry, public arts and broadband programs, She assisted non-profits with strategic planning and communications for 12 years as VP of Pixo Technologies and has taught media arts in Thailand, Burma, Italy, and Kenya, and as an Evans Scholar at Evergreen State College.

ANYONE CAN BE AN ALLY IS A WINNER

The Telly Awards has named Anyone Can Be An Ally, by SunShower Learning,as a Silver winner in the 33rd Annual Telly Awards. The video training program was among nearly 11,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries.

Anyone Can Be An Ally– Speaking Up for an LGBT Inclusive Workplace (http://ally-video.com) was written and presented by Brian McNaught, considered the world’s leading corporate diversity consultant dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in the workplace. The training program demonstrates how anyone can be an ally to create a respectful workpace that is inclusive of LGBT co-workersand customers.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1979, and is the premier award honoring outstanding TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films.  Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, TV stations, and corporate video departments in the world. Less than 10% of entries are chosen as winners of the Silver Telly, their highest honor.
 
“I knew we had a winner from the moment we started the project,” said Joel Lesko, owner and operator of SunShower Learning. “This award, and the terrific feedback we’ve received from our clients, affirms my expectations.”

The Ally training program has been used in corporations, universities and government settings. Deb Dagit, the Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion for a Fortune 100 company said, "In this short 14-minute video, Brian McNaught offers what we need to know, and what we need to say and do as allies - in a way that is compelling, informative and actionable. If you are looking for guidance about language choices, when to speak up, and how to foster inclusion as an authentic LGBT ally, this video (and a little courage and practice) is all you need to have the confidence and capability to make a difference."

SunShower Learning is the producer of many of the training industry’s most popular and widely used training programs in diversity and inclusion, including Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts, Ouch! Your Silence Hurts, and Inclusion Insights.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE

5 Simple Steps to Make Social Media Work for You

So, it’s that time of year again and while many Americans refer to Spring cleaning of their personal homes, this should by no means stop at the professional front as well.

Keeping social media clean and tidy will help make social media work for you. Don’t let the weeds grow too long in your social media profile and certainly don’t keep your audience waiting. Keep them engaged and you may be surprised as to the real affect social media can have for you and your organization.

Let’s talk about your social media profile. Do you have old information, job history, photos, and posts? It’s time for a spring cleaning. Here are 5 simple steps you will want to do to stay social media savvy.

Go through your e-mails and add the names of contacts to your social media. You can start with LinkedIn. Go straight to that search field and start typing names. Do you collect business cards or have an app that does so for you? Bust this out right now and get going!

Go postal! When was the last time you had a social media posting? If it was older than 3 weeks ago, you are in need of spring cleaning. First, write a post about you, your company, positive news, upcoming projects, or something to get the ball rolling. Don’t stress too heavily on what to write – just start! Next, whip out your planner and begin writing some broad topics for certain days. Now make sure you post regularly. Our rule of thumb is posting at minimum twice per week for your audience to stay engaged.

Spring cleaning still involves cleaning. So, do you have old information on your profile? Maybe you still have a few colleagues or employees who have left your organization and know your social media passwords. Maybe your Facebook Timeline needs some ‘sprucing’. Or perhaps you have some comments which you wish to take down all together. This is the time to get this done. You will thank yourself!

Team work is great! Too busy to keep your social media tidy? Get some help! Get one or two employees in your organization, come up with a time-table of who will post and when (that way there is not duplicated effort) and make a plan. You might find this to be a fun project for them to be included in and also showcase new talents!

Toot your own horn! Do you have your LinkedIn profile link on every signature line of your e-mail? Why not? Let others know that you want to connect. Have you had a great accomplishment and want to share with others? Of course you can share this with social media.
Keep savvy!

About Jennifer Vickery/National Strategies Public Relations: Jennifer Vickery is CEO/President of National Strategies Public Relations and is considered a PR Social Media Coach and Expert. She advises organizations and professional individuals on public relations efforts and campaigns with an emphasis on the growing trend of social media. National Strategies Public Relations (NSPR) is a national public relations agency based out of Tampa, Florida. For more information visit nspublicrelations.com or call (727) 946-2082.

7-Eleven Sponsors Echelon's Expo

7-Eleven Stores signed on as a Dignity Sponsor of The Echelon Pride in Business Expo taking place June 23-24, 2012 in Los Angeles. The event includes a franchise pavilion and expects over 2,000 in attendance. http://www.prideinbusinessexpo.com

Diversity.  7-Eleven takes great pride in the diversity of our franchisees and employees.  It is one of our greatest strengths and a reason we’re nationally recognized every year as a top franchise opportunity.

We extend a warm welcome to all who are attending the 2012 Echelon Pride in Business Expo here in Los Angeles and invite you to explore the (exciting) business opportunities at www.franchise.7-eleven.com

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.