LGBT
Monday, May 14, 2012
Y@ Speak: Post-Jazz Fest depression edition
Posted by Lauren LaBorde on Mon, May 14, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Obama endorses same-sex marriage
Posted by Kevin Allman on Wed, May 9, 2012 at 2:41 PM
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
On Sunday's Meet the Press, Vice President Joe Biden also expressed his support of both same-sex marriage and the sitcom Will and Grace.
In 2004, Louisiana voted to amend its Constitution to explicitly say marriage is "the union of one man and one woman." — a position consistently echoed by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal. Other leading Republicans, including former First Lady Laura Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney, have spoken in support of same-sex marriage.
Earlier this year, at the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, more than 80 mayors of U.S. cities signed the Freedom to Marry pledge in support of same-sex marriage rights. Democratic Mayor Mitch Landrieu was not among them. Asked by Gambit's Alex Woodward whether Landrieu supported same-sex marriage, administration spokesman Ryan Berni said Landrieu supported civil unions, but would not elaborate on Freedom to Marry.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
NO/AIDS Task Force to open center on St. Claude Avenue
Posted by Alex Woodward on Tue, May 8, 2012 at 6:00 PM
The NO/AIDS Task force, a longtime presence in the fight against HIV/AIDS in southeast Louisiana, will open a new HIV prevention office, funded through a five-year, $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dubbed The Movement (4005 St. Claude Ave.), the community center will feature HIV prevention activities for young black gay/bisexual men between the ages of 13 and 29. It also will offer on- and off-site HIV counseling, testing and referrals, a young gay/bisexual men’s social networking program, one-on-one counseling, a "drop in safe space" and a Youth Advisory Board that oversees the center's development.
According to the task force, African-Americans in Louisiana account for 74 percent of all new HIV cases and 78 percent of all new AIDS cases. In 2010, of the new HIV diagnoses among African Americans in Louisiana, 47 precent are men who have sex with men — and within New Orleans, the rate is 57 percent. The state is the fourth highest in estimated state AIDS case rates (at 20 per 100,000).
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
"Bully bill" pulled from Legislature
Posted by Alex Woodward on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 3:08 PM
State Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, sponsored House Bill 407, which proposed strengthening existing anti-bullying legislation for Louisiana schools. It included language meant to protect all children, with a clearer definition of bullying, and would require schools to train faculty to identify bullying in and out of the classroom.
The House Education Committee met this morning, and following the panel's major changes to the bill's language, Smith pulled the bill. “Rather than you degrade a bill that was meant for the safety of children, which is what you have just done, I am pulling the bill,” Smith said.
Smith's bill was inspired by statewide and national reports of bullying, and bullying-provoked suicides — including the recent deaths of Tesa Middlebrook of Pointe Coupee Parish, and Savannah Robinson of Slidell, among others. Last year, State Rep. Austin Badon's similar anti-bullying bill was rejected in the House, to which he remarked, "It’s a sad day in Louisiana. We have the authority and the power to address this issue. It’s a sad day when we won’t stand up and help the parents. For us to sit here and say that the conservative, religious right is going to dictate to us how we’re going to vote, I’m embarrassed by that."
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Bully documentary will be released unrated and unedited
Posted by Alex Woodward on Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 10:55 AM
In this week's Gambit, I look at proposed anti-bullying legislation — and speak with families of bullied teenagers, some who killed themselves after constant torment from classmates, in school and online. Most recently, 17-year-old Louisiana student Tesa Middlebrook was found hanging from her school's bleachers on March 2, a school day, hours after her death — her family insists she was driven to suicide from relentless bullying, and demands answers from the school and the authorities.
The controversial documentary Bully opens this week, but it will likely face a limited release. Petitions, filmmakers and producers demanded the Motion Picture Association of America lower its R rating to PG-13 in hopes that more kids can see the film. It's loaded with offensive slurs and F bombs — and the MPAA refused to budge (and, likely, the National Association of Theater Owners).
Friday, March 16, 2012
Lesbian daughter = "Katrina hitting New Orleans"
Posted by Kevin Allman on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 at 12:19 PM
By now we've all heard plenty of bizarre Hurricane Katrina-related similes, metaphors and comparisons, but this was a new one on me.
It seems Minnesotans will vote in November on a Louisiana-style constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and a group called the Public Insight Network is gathering voter opinions and putting them on YouTube. That's the background of this clip from a fellow named Mark Hayes:
"My response to one of my daughters being a lesbian would be — would be a lot like Katrina hitting New Orleans."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Ellen DeGeneres, Bill O'Reilly, One Million Moms ... and the Metairie JC Penney
Posted by Kevin Allman on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Last week we told you about One Million Moms, a group that was threatening to boycott JC Penney because the store has hired Ellen DeGeneres to appear in its commercials —Â and, you know, she's gay. (DeGeneres, a New Orleans native, has mentioned her first job was at the JC Penney in Metairie.)
Since then, JC Penney has issued a statement of support for the comic, and BIll O'Reilly took DeGeneres' side last night on his Fox News hour The O'Reilly Factor:
DeGeneres also addressed the issue on her talk show today:
It seems the very fabric of our republic has somehow survived both DeGeneres' hiring and the fuming of a Million Moms. Who could have imagined?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Group threatens JCPenney boycott because of Ellen DeGeneres
Posted by Kevin Allman on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 1:36 PM
"One of my first jobs was at a jcpenney in Metairie, Louisiana. You know what — I don't think I ever clocked out on my last day. I should look into that. Anyway, I'm so excited to be back working with the company," said DeGeneres. "They have an incredible vision for the future and are completely re-inventing themselves to become America's favorite store. And most importantly, I'm gonna get my employee discount again. Hello new pillows!"
Seems like a good fit of store and spokesperson — Ellen's light and funny, she has a very popular talk show that probably matches Penney's demographic, she's raised millions and millions for charity (especially New Orleans recovery) and continues to raise more, she's ... uh-oh.
Can you see where this is going?
Enter some group called "One Million Moms":
JC Penney Offends Traditional Families AgainRecently JC Penney announced that comedian Ellen Degeneres will be the company's new spokesperson. Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families. More sales will be lost than gained unless they replace their spokesperson quickly. Unless JC Penney decides to be neutral in the culture war then their brand transformation will be unsuccessful.
Their marketing strategy is to help families shop and receive a good value for their money. Degeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there. The small percentage of customers they are attempting to satisfy will not offset their loss in sales.
Seriously? Seriously?? More on "One Million Moms" after the jump ...
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
HUD announces ruling against LGBT discrimination
Posted by Alex Woodward on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Following this month's conference of U.S. mayors announcing support for the Freedom to Marry initiative, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week announced new provisions to "ensure that its core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."
HUD secretary Shaun Donovan said "the Obama Administration has viewed the fight for equality on behalf of the LGBT community as a priority and I’m proud that HUD has been a leader in that fight. ... With this historic rule, the Administration is saying you cannot use taxpayer dollars to prevent Americans from choosing where they want live on the basis sexual orientation or gender identity — ensuring that HUD’s housing programs are open, not to some, not to most, but to all.”
Provisions to protect LGBT communities in public housing previously only fell into the Fair Housing Act's considerations. Donovan announced the latest Equal Access to Housing rules on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the 24th National Gay and Lesbian Task Force “Creating Change” Conference. The ACLU called the announcement a "tremendous step forward" — the final ruling (as "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs — Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity") will be implemented 30 days after its publishing, next week.
HUD also is expanding its race and gender discrimination studies (performed every 10 years) with a study on LGBT discrimination in public housing.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Jonathan Vilma Twitter drama: "Grown men should NOT hav female tendencies. Period."
Posted by Kevin Allman on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma stirred up some Twitter drama Wednesday night when he posted this:
Well, OK. Apparently this particular Saints fan has some explaining to do:
Under the jump: some reactions, and Vilma explains he wasn't targeting gay men, but rather straight guys with "female tendencies" ...
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