GayWrites.: Archive

GayWrites.

February 2011

Not gay enough? Can't stay here →

Imagine being persecuted in your country for being gay. Imagine attempting to emigrate from that country to the United States, where tolerance is higher and you can start over. Imagine being dismissed from an immigration case for not being “gay enough.” In the piece above from The New York Times, Dan Bilefsky looks into an immigration policy whereby applicants for gay asylum cases...

January 2011

Hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners... →

I’m not sure how this has fallen under the radar for so long, but a newly implemented hospital visitation policy will create more equality more LGBT hospital patients. Last year the president along with the Department of Health and Human Services created a policy giving hospital patients the right to decide who can visit them and who can make medical decisions on their behalf. The policy...

The leading candidate in Ireland's presidential... →

David Norris, an openly gay Irish senator, is leading in popularity in Ireland’s presidential race. 27% of people polled in early January favored Norris. The next highest candidate, Mairead McGuinness, is favored by 13% of the people. PinkPaper.com reports: In a famous 1988 gay rights case, Norris took the Irish government before the European Court of Human Rights and forced the nation...

Pentagon releases the next step of DADT repeal →

In a briefing on Friday, Pentagon officials revealed the progress of the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. On a timetable of about a year, undersecretary of defense Clifford Stanley, at the request of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will implement a repeal strategy for the entire department, focusing on inclusion for all people regardless of sexual...

“To hear two American men congratulating each other on being heterosexual is one...”

Civil unions bill passes through Hawaii senate →

A long-awaited civil unions bill passed in the Hawaii senate Friday, the Advocate reported. An identical bill passed through the state’s house and senate in 2010 but was vetoed by then-governor Linda Lingle (R). Current governor and Democrat Neil Abercrombie supports civil unions, so in theory, the bill should pass. “The Hawaii Senate has sent a strong message that discrimination...

France upholds gay marriage ban after challenge →

Even after a lesbian couple with children asked France’s Constitutional Council for the right to marry, France said no. The couple also told the AFP news agency that marriage was the only was to ensure the protection of the children, should one of them die. But the court ruled that the ban did not breach the French constitution and said it was up to parliament whether to change the...

Gay studies courses offered in Italy for the first... →

For the first time ever, an accredited university course on gay studies is being offered in Italy. Giacomo Moro, a 23-year-old biology major, received a death threat once when hanging flyers for the gay association at the university in Milan. He suggested the course to the university and it’s being offered in winter. 200 people showed up for the first day of class, so it may be repeated...

“Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of...”

Ugandan gay rights activist beaten to death →

Uganda’s most prominent gay rights activist, David Kato, was beaten to death in his neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon. Homophobia is extremely widespread and often cruel and violent in Uganda - the country’s Parliament is considering a bill legalizing gays’ execution. The New York Times reports: In October, a Ugandan newspaper called Rolling Stone (with a circulation of...

Elton John's baby is not suitable for children? →

So, you guys all heard about this yesterday because the picture above went viral, but here’s the lowdown on what happened. Harps grocery store in Arkansas censored Us Weekly magazine with this cute little sign after some customers complained about the magazine cover. The cover of the magazine features Elton John, partner David Furnish and their new son Zachary. Censorship signs like...

What President Obama should have said last night →

By now we’ve all read over the text of President Obama’s State of the Union Address last night, analyzed Republican responses, and stood up and clapped from behind our TVs when he gave the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell a shout-out. (It was a good moment.) We’ve also noticed that the president didn’t really say anything else about gay rights. Should he have? ...

“Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they...”

– President Barack Obama, State of the Union 2011

“In a letter to ‘Dear Abby’ a reader complained that a gay couple was...”

– Abigail Van Buren

Hey howdy hey, want to recommend me? →

Dan Savage reminds Obama: gay marriage is still a... →

President Obama’s State of the Union speech is tonight. He’s got a lot to talk about - the economy, the environment, war, peace, Republicans. The usual. But what about gay rights? In this guest editorial for The New York Times, columnist and founder of the It Gets Better campaign Dan Savage tells the world that it’s crucial President Obama address gay issues, particularly...

Breaking stereotypes, breaking boundaries: gay... →

Where do you think the most gay couples are? The West Coast, the Northeast? Wrong. They’re in the South. This phenomenal article from The New York Times provides a glimpse into the lives of gay couples - many with children - who live, work and pray in Jacksonville, Fla. This is excessively difficult for many of them - Florida doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages and people in...

deargaybies asked: Hey GayWrites!

I'm spreading the word about a new gay girl tumblr, called deargaybies.tumblr.com. It's meant to be a place for info and supercool stuff for those who aren't straight, and for those who are beginning to recognize that they're part of the queer fam. It's sort of a welcome pad, so to speak. It would be awesome if you could check it out!

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

– e.e. cummings

Progress for marriage equality in Maryland? →

At the beginning of the year, analysts said Maryland was among the states likely to achieve marriage equality during 2011. Lawmakers’ commitment to the idea means marriage equality could come as early as April for Maryland. The Advocate reported two days ago that it was likely a marriage equality bill as well as a gender identity antidiscrimination measure would pass the state general...

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

– e.e. cummings

Hey, everyone: DADT repeal has financial benefits,... →

Though the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy was repealed last month, there’s unfortunately still controversy bubbling about how this decision will be implemented and whether it could fluctuate. In the spirit of positive evidence, the Government Accountability Office released some information about just how much money the United States spent trying to...

hellidid asked: Aww :D You have an inspiring blog! Keep it up! :D
x

puffyshirt asked: you probably get a lot of messages like this, but i am just really glad blogs like this exist. i am a film student, and am in the beginning stages of creating and producing a film about two gay best friends. film making is incredibly hard work, but it's what i love, and it's awesome to know there are close communities out there for support :)

Anonymous asked: "I love reading news stories about the LGBT world, but existing coverage doesn't tell the whole story"

So you'll push your own agenda with this blog? It's blogs like this that make my own community, especially that "this is jim" bullshit.

“We are of the opinion that there should be one law for everyone. It is the only...”

– Dutch Reformed Church, mid-October 2006. Proposal to the South Africa parliament, regarding their consideration of a Civil Unions bill, rather than providing equal treatment for legal same-sex marriage.

Is an anti-gay voice necessary in LGBT media...

Those of us familiar with journalistic principles know every story has two sides: victim and suspect, accused and accuser, left and right. When it comes to media stories about LGBT issues, does there have to be a “con” side arguing against gay rights? In a brilliant Huffington Post editorial, columnist Eric Deggans says no. In the spirit of celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,...

Shameless self-promotion →

Just so everyone knows…I’m gaywrites.org now! :D Still hosted on Tumblr, so no worries about that. Also, if you haven’t checked out my Facebook page here, you totally should. I don’t say it enough: I love each and every one of you. You’re all beautiful.

wisetabacco-deactivated20110817 asked: All the hate I see you all going through, all the suffering, I can't understand how people can do that. I am pan-sexual, I live in New Zealand and it is so much more open here. When I came out, my friends didn't want to stay over for a while, and it made them feel uncomfortable, but they are used to it now. So Come Here!!!! It is so hard, I know. I was thirteen when I first attempted...

Louisiana couple fighting to put both their names... →

Today, 16 federal appeals court judges heard the case of Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith, who want to put both their names on their adopted child’s birth certificate. Adar and Smith adopted a son in 2006 in New York state, as adoption by unmarried couples regardless of orientation is not allowed in Louisiana. The Wall Street Journal reports: Adopted children get new birth certificates with...

“There is just one life for each of us: our own.”

Gay marriage stands in Washington, D.C. →

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal to overturn the 2009 law allowing gay marriages in Washington, D.C., the Advocate reported. They’ll word it better than I can: The court rejected the challenge led by Beltsville, Md., minister Harry Jackson, who sued the District’s Board of Elections and Ethics when that board rejected his push to allow voters to decide whether Washington should...

“There is just one life for each of us: our own.”

Gay marriage stands in Washington, D.C. →

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal to overturn the 2009 law allowing gay marriages in Washington, D.C., the Advocate reported. They’ll word it better than I can: The court rejected the challenge led by Beltsville, Md., minister Harry Jackson, who sued the District’s Board of Elections and Ethics when that board rejected his push to allow voters to decide whether Washington should...

RIP Lance Lundsten, 18 →

The Advocate reported today that Lance Lundsten, an 18-year-old gay man from Minnesota, took his own life Saturday. He was openly gay and friends said he was bullied at school for his sexual orientation. KSAX TV reports that authorities believe Lundsten’s death was a suicide. Police officers responded to an emergency call at his family’s residence in Miltona around 10 p.m. Saturday, and he was...

It's my birthday! (Really!) Recommend me? :D →