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Commentary
Why the Boy Scouts’ expulsion of a lesbian den mother hits close to home
That the Boy Scouts of America continue to engage in blind discrimination, fixated on the identity of its adult leaders instead of the content of their characters, is both disappointing and discouraging. The Boy Scouts have otherwise codified bravery into its value system, maintain a policy of religious diversity and stress the importance of self-enrichment instead of passing judgment on others. It provided an experience that I found to be incredibly beneficial and an experience of which my mothers are thrilled to be a part…
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Commentary
Silence Is Not Golden
Taking down the bullies has to start with taking down those who empower the bullying. That’s not the onlookers, who are victims of their conditioning too, nor only the schools. Indeed, bullying is empowered by every institution that seeks to limit an individual’s ability to say, “No, I won’t be limited, I want the freedom to be me. I do not want to be what you want, but whoever it is that I can be, with all the good I might achieve. Now, teach me, provide me with the means to let me become all that I can be, or get out of my way.”
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Life
True LGBT Story: John W. McLaughlin, ‘I’m from Medway, Maine’
In this video story by “I’m from Driftwood,” John McLaughlin shares his story of falling into and pulling himself, with the help of loved ones, out of drug addiction.
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Life
‘Why I am an Athlete Ally’
To this day, I know only a handful of closeted gay athletes, though I have likely met and befriended countless without knowing. With stereotypes about LGBT people pulsing through the athletic experience, this is no surprise … Nonetheless, I have no illusions that ending homophobia is going to be as simple as telling a closed-minded teammate that setting aside fear or stereotypes will improve performance, or that team diversity is simply the right thing…
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News (USA)
Thousands sign petition protesting Boy Scouts’ dismissal of lesbian den mother
BRIDGEPORT, Ohio — More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Boy Scouts to reinstate a volunteer den mother who was ousted from her position because she is gay.
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Life
Interview with Steven Fales: A gay Mormon boy grows up
Actor/playwright Steven Fales first came to my attention with his groundbreaking solo play, Confessions of a Mormon Boy, which was a hit off-Broadway and in cities around the world. The play chronicles Fales’ heartbreaking journey from being a devoted sixth-generation Mormon and father of two, to coming out as gay and being excommunicated from his church.
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News (USA)
Obama releases timeline of ‘three years of progress’ for LGBT Americans
Facing criticism over his recent refusal to issue an executive order protecting LGBT people against workplace discrimination, President Barack Obama on Friday touted a list of 40 accomplishments over the past three years in the area of LGBT rights.
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News (World)
Vatican rebukes ‘radical’ U.S. nuns for ‘promoting issues of social justice’
The Vatican this week rebuked the Leadership Conference of Women Religious – an umbrella group representing most American nuns – for spending too much time “promoting issues of social justice” and failing to speak out often enough about “issues of crucial importance to the life of the church and society,” such as gay marriage.
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News (USA)
U.S. Senate candidate blasts SNDA, says it ‘criminalizes’ teasing
A candidate for the U.S. Senate has come under fire for criticizing the Student Non-Discrimination Act, legislation meant to protect children, becuase she said it “criminalizes” teasing.
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News (USA)
Nebraska’s capital city to consider LGBT fairness ordinance
LINCOLN, Neb. — The city council in Lincoln, Neb., is expected to consider a “fairness ordinance” that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s non-discrimination law.
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News (USA)
‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill introduced in Missouri state House
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Anti-gay legislation made its comeback in the Missouri legislature on Thursday as House Bill 2051, sponsored by Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Dist. 153), was referred to the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
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News (USA)
Annual ‘Day of Silence’ calls attention to ‘silencing effect’ of anti-LGBT bullying
Hundreds of thousands of students across the United States, and in nearly 60 countries around the world, on Friday participated in the 17th annual “Day of Silence” — an event designed to illustrate the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.
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News (USA)
Obama endorses SNDA, SSIA anti-bullying bills
President Obama has thrown the full weigh of administration behind a pair of bills that would help protect LGBT students against bullying: the Student Non-Discrimination and the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
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News (USA)
Education secretary dodges question on endorsement of anti-bullying bill
Education Secretary Arne Duncan ducked a question Friday on whether the Obama administration was prepared to endorse LGBT anti-bullying legislation as the White House prepared for a screening of the movie “Bully” in the afternoon.
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Life
Fox’s O’Reilly, Carlson: ‘Glee’ makes kids experiment with homosexuality, gender identity
During the April 19 edition of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” Bill O’Reilly hosted a segment attacking this week’s episode of Glee for featuring a storyline about a transgender teenager struggling with her gender identity.
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Commentary
Anti-gay extremist planning day of ‘teaching and preaching’ in Oklahoma
Anti-gay extremist Scott Lively, has been invited to visit the Draper Park Christian Church in Oklahoma City for three days of “teaching and preaching,” from April 27-29, 2012. His visit happens to follow both the Holocaust Day of Remembrance and the Day of Silence, which is timely, since much of Lively’s career has been built around attempting to mis-educate and confuse people about the lives of LGBT people and making frankly absurd claims about gay people within the Nazi Party.
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News (USA)
Pew Research Poll: Social issues rank lowest among voter priorities
WASHINGTON — As voters continue to focus on the economy and jobs as top issues, President Barack Obama’s lead over Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP nominee, has narrowed from a 12 points last month to a slim 49 percent to 45 percent advantage.
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News (USA)
Colorado civil unions bill headed to Senate floor
DENVER — The Colorado state Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved SB-2, a bill to recognize same-sex civil unions. It passed 5-4 on a party-line vote with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no. The bill will be debated and voted on in the full Senate next week.
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Life
Anglican Archbishop Of Wales backs same-sex marriage in UK
LLANDDUDNO, Wales, UK — Dr. Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, on Tuesday lent his support to same-sex marriage during a meeting of the Church in Wales’ governing body, and gave an impassioned plea for Anglicans to be more tolerant towards homosexuals.
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Life
Olympic diving champion comfortable as role model for gay athletes
SYDNEY, Australia — Openly gay Olympic gold medalist diving champion Matthew Mitcham, in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, said he’s comfortable being seen as an icon for the LGBT community and a role model for gay athletes.