See I’m a big drama movie kind of gay, so the Oscars is something that I follow closely…a yearly tradition for me. I know, you all are judging me because I follow that crap and it’s totally not based on whether it’s really a good movie or not and the Oscars totally has no real meaning in popular culture and Brokeback Mountain sucked ass and I don’t understand why you liked it anyway. Blah, blah blah. Well good movies and acting are rare and far in between, and I think good entertainers should be acknowledged. Brokeback Mountain was awesome in its own way. Just like Napoleon Dynamite was. So ha. Anyways, back to the Oscars…they announced a gay to host it so obviously I get excited! Thanks Advocate. I included a pic of her with Portia. Awww, so cute.

Hey whoever’s out there,

I know we haven’t updated in forever. I blame it on a number of things, most importantly the fact that aaron and i started third year of medical school, and as a result anything that’s extraneous and takes away from our sleep time was dropped. That said, I’m on Anesthesia right now and it’s definitely one of the nicer “surgery” blocks. Let’s just say I survived my general surgery rotation and leave it at that.

Well being the gay that I am, I obviously subscribe to Details. And this article reflected two things: (1) too much gayness is not necessarily good…gayness to the point of being hateful and obnoxious isn’t any different from any other type of prejudice; (2) “gay” is too mainstream! I know Details and GQ market to a gay reading base (namely, readers like me) but the mainstream culture treatment of gays has blurred the real problem with being gay even now: there’s a lot of hate and prejudice for LGBT people. I’m not saying that having the mainstream audience exposed to gays is a bad thing, I mean obviously the more people know about gays, the better. But LGBTs need normalcy (at least in my mind)…I want to talk about my boyfriend and not have to deal with awkward looks or conversations that steer timidly around anything that might bring up the fact that I’m gay. Why can’t being gay be treated like being a woman? I hope it will come to that soon, maybe in the next generation. Anyways I’ve completely steered away from what the article talks about, which is here (I warn you, it’s a lot of text…).

And completely randomly, of course I have to insert a picture of Andy Roddick.

I got an email about this, in case anyone’s interested. It doesn’t really reveal anything new, but it’s cool to see the line rising through the years…there’s some hope there. Here’s the poll if you want to see more…

I know this is a little outdated, but I love this statement.  Personally I’m biased because I’m passionate about gay marriage (which I fight for partly for selfish reasons too…but aaaanyways), but regardless, it’s true that the senate is debating this marriage issue when there are so many more pertinent issues that need to be addressed in the US (like, uh, you know, the lack of good health care for the general public).

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold

Objecting to the Judiciary Committee’s Handling of the Constitutional Amendment on Marriage

Office of Senator Feingold

May 18, 2006

“Today’s markup of the constitutional amendment concerning marriage, in a small room off the Senate floor with only a handful of people other than Senators and their staffs present, was an affront to the Constitution. I objected to its consideration in such an inappropriate setting and refused to help make a quorum. I am deeply disappointed that the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee went forward with the markup over my objection. Unfortunately, the Majority Leader has set a politically motivated schedule for floor consideration of this measure that the Chairman felt compelled to follow, even though he says he opposes the amendment.

Constitutional amendments deserve the most careful and deliberate consideration of any matter that comes before the Senate. In addition to hearings and a subcommittee markup, such a measure should be considered by the Judiciary Committee in the light of day, open to the press and the public, with cameras present so that the whole country can see what is done. Open and deliberate debate on such an important matter cannot take place in a setting such as the one chosen by the Chairman of the Committee today.

The Constitution of the United States is an historic guarantee of individual freedom. It has served as a beacon of hope, an example to people around the world who yearn to be free and to live their lives without government interference in their most basic human decisions. I took an oath when I joined this body to support and defend the Constitution. I will continue to fight this mean-spirited, divisive, poorly drafted, and misguided amendment when it comes to the Senate floor.”

For those of you in NYC…
Friends of HRC,

Marriage Equality New York, which advocates for the freedom and right of same-sex couples to enter into legally-recognized civil marriage, is organizing its Third Annual Wedding March across the Brooklyn Bridge on June 3rd.

The March will begin forming at 11am in Cadman Plaza where we will be joined by political leaders, honored guests, and celebrities as we start our march across the bridge. When we reach the other side we will gather in Battery Park for a picnic and performances by various artists.

Of course HRC will be there to lend both numbers and support to this event. We would like to form a group (as many as possible!) to march behind the HRC banner. Please mark the date in your calendar and come out to show your support for the marriage movement and to share with the greater community!

Some additional details will come in another email closer to the event. I look forward to seeing many of you there! It will be great fun for an even greater cause!

Best,

Joey Hahn
Volunteer Coordinator
HRC Greater New York

(Wow, Providence, RI has its own LGBT site called Edge.  Thanks for the article guys!)

GLBT News

Two a Day Discharged for Being Gay
by Peter Cassels
EDGE National News Editor
Thursday May 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite recruiting and attrition problems brought on by the continuing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. armed forces continue to discharge two lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel per day.

New data obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the organization advocating for gays in the military, indicate the rate of discharge has remained relatively consistent since 9/11 and represent a 40 per cent decrease compared with years before the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington.

A total of 742 military personnel were discharged under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban on openly gay service members in Fiscal Year 2005, an increase from 668 discharges in the previous fiscal year.

“The time has come for the Pentagon to call on Congress to repeal [the ban],” SLDN Executive Director Dixon Osburn said in a May 24 statement. “The law deprives our nation of thousands of skilled men and women who could be instrumental in fighting the war on terror.”

The Army discharged 386 soldiers in 2005, up from 325 the year before. The Air Force dismissed 88 airmen, down slightly from 92 in 2004. The Navy discharged 177 members, the same as the previous year. The Marines discharged 75, an increase from 59 the year before. And the Coast Guard discharged 16 men and women, one more than 2004.

“The time has come for the Pentagon to call on Congress to repeal [the ban].”
According to an analysis of 2000 census data by statistician Gary Gates, 65,000 gays currently serve in the military. “Many gay and lesbian service members are out to colleagues, yet Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell still threatens to cut their careers short if they get caught in the crosshairs of this counterproductive law,” Osburn stated. According to Gates, an additional 41,000 lesbian and gay Americans might enlist if the ban were repealed.

The military’s need for qualified and experienced personnel also continues to grow, SLDN said. The San Antonio Express-News recently reported that the armed forces are facing a “major” officer shortage, including a shortfall of 2,500 captains and majors in the Army this year, a number that will rise to 3,300 in 2007. To attract new recruits and fill the gap, Pentagon leaders have recently relaxed enlistment standards regarding age, physical fitness, education and criminal records. The discharge of lesbian and gay Americans, however, continues.

In March 2005, Congressman Marty Meehan, D-Mass., introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1059) to repeal the law banning gays from serving openly. A bi-partisan coalition of 116 sponsors, including five Republican members of Congress, supports the legislation.

Retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the three-star rank in the Army, also has called for Congress to repeal the military ban. “The Army teaches its soldiers–officers, NCOs and other enlisted personnel–to live by seven values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and courage,” Kennedy said in an April interview with EDGE. “Tell me: which is only found in the heterosexual population?”

Visit www.sldn.org for more information on annual discharges under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

This article my classmates forwarded me is really interesting. For those who don’t like reading papers, the paper discusses HIV transmission in the Georgia prison system, and urges for better education about HIV/AIDS as well as better screening for the inmates. Not surprisingly, seroconversion was related strongly to “male-male sex, tattooing, and injection drug use that occurs during incarceration and risk behaviors that occur after release.” Blacks had also an increased risk, and for some reason, having a BMI of <25.4 kg/m2 on entry into prison was also a risk factor.

Anyways, if you're interested, the article is here on the CDC website.

Awwwww!! A soccer mom (who also happens to be a lesbian), named Jennifer Schumaker, walks from San Diego to SF to raise awareness for LGBT issues. The name “Walk for Togetherness” is just too sweet. She even has a blog and a website if you’d like to donate, and apparently she’s posted her phone number online, so go bug her and give her your support. (Thanks Queerty!)

I’m sorry, Mr. Woodworth is ridiculous.  Simply ridiculous.  I took some time before putting this on here because otherwise I would havebeen so worked up that I’d say things that I regret.

So Mr. Woodworth is extremely confused.  The AMA and the APA have both issued official policy regarding sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination policies here and here respectively.  In fact, the AMA has recently formed a GBLT Advisory Committee focusing on LGBT issues (see here), and the AMA president gave a speech at the most recent GLMA (Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) conference (see transcript here) supporting LGBT rights (yes, including transgendered people).  Regarding the APA’s stance on transgendered people as having a “disease,” it’s a hot debated topic, and there are websites to advocate for DSM reform like here, but comparing transgendered people to alcoholics is just damn insulting.

Here’s his letter if you’re interested (thanks Queerty).

I see aaron hasn’t updated since he’s been back, tsktsk…still in Chitown, but I’ll be back later on tonight!  Here’s more bs from gay haters.
(News Channel 5 Nashville)

Some Gay Couples Adopt to Molest, State Rep Says

Rep. Debra Maggart, R-Hendersonville, said she still believes homosexual couples should not be allowed to adopt children. In fact, in addition to e-mail correspondence with a master’s student at Vanderbilt publicized recently, in which she said as much, she has also said homosexual couples may molest the children they adopt.

“We also have seen evidence that homosexual couples prey on young males and have, in some instances, adopted them in order to have unfretted access to subject them to a life of molestation and sexual abuse,” she said.

“In all cases to paint with a broad brush strokes is unfortunate,” said adoptive parent Dr. Christopher Harris.

Harris is a pediatrician by day and a single gay adoptive parent by night.

“She brings such joy into my life,” he said. “It’s always said pediatrician doesn’t finished his training till he or she has a kid.”

Harris fits every requirement for the state’s definition of a good adoptive parent: loving, healthy and financially stable. He is also gay, and for Maggert, that means he’s unqualified.

“I have strong convictions. I just feel kids in our foster have been through enough. They need the optimum family unit, and that is a mother and a father,” she said.

In the e-mail with the Vanderbilt student, Maggart said research shows most homosexual couples have numerous emotional dysfunctions and psychological issues that may not be healthy for children.

A lot of debate has circled around the evidence on whether gay adoptions are good for kids.

Harris said a career in pediatrics has shown children of gay and lesbian parents turn out just fine.

Maggert said it’s just the opposite, and the research she’s read comes from a variety of sources, including the ACLU and Focus on the Family, a Christian group.

The gay adoption bill is still in the House committee on children and family affairs and has several more steps before lawmakers can take a vote.

See the Canadian forces can do something too. So there.

Canadian, British peace hostages rescued in Iraq

Updated Thu. Mar. 23 2006 3:28 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Two Canadian aid workers and a British colleague held hostage in Iraq for nearly four months were freed Thursday during a multinational military operation involving Canadian special forces.

The freed aid workers include Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and Briton Norman Kember, 74.

CTV News has learned that Canada’s elite JTF-2 special forces played a role in helping to rescue the three aid workers.

“We’re told that Canadian special forces and British special forces played a very key role,” CTV’s Robert Fife told Newsnet.

Though Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada participated in the operation, he wouldn’t confirm nor deny reports that the top secret commandoes helped rescue the aid workers.

“At every phase of these particular events of this hostage-taking, Canadian government officials, the government of Canada, was fully engaged,” Harper told reporters in Gatineau, Que.

“Anything beyond that, I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say. These are issues of national security,” said Harper, who was awakened in the early hours with news of the rescue.

The Americans and British had played an “outstanding role” in freeing the men, Harper said.

He expressed his thanks to Prime Minister Tony Blair personally and to President George Bush through the U.S. ambassador.

The Defence Department also refused to confirm Canadian military involvement, but a source told The Canadian Press the elite squad was “instrumental” in the rescue operation.

I got this in my inbox this morning and it lifted my spirits a little bit. From Time Magazine Blogs.

Email from New Hampshire

22 Mar 2006 07:33 pm

A reader writes:

“I’m a conservative (and editorialist/reporter) from New Hampshire who covered the same-sex civil marriage issue for my community newspaper. As a matter of fact, I was present at one of the lengthy public hearings held throughout the state. A raucous affair!

As such, let me tell you and your readers this: this amendment (he’s refering to: New Hampshire House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against a proposed amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage) never had any chance of passage from the start, for political “inside pool” reasons as well as our “Live Free or Die” motto. The widely-held view by state legislators (off the record, of course), was that the committee’s recommendation of an amendment to ban gay marriage was more indicative of the committee chair’s views than a general consensus of what the state felt on the matter. In fact, I know of more than one legislator who drifted from the committee for precisely those reasons.

So it’s no surprise it got voted down roundly by the State House. New Hampshire has been - and will continue to be - a libertarian state. We hate taxes (no sales or income tax here!), we hate big government (we trust it to plow roads, and that’s about it), but we don’t hate each other. Gays and lesbians are too much a part of our social fabric - our friends, family, neighbors, and yes, politicians - for this ridiculous constitutional ploy to have had any chance. In response to your post, then, I’m not sure if this marks “a turning tide,” as the tide was never flowing in favor of the amendment. At least not here.

This is the type of Republicans we are, Andrew, and this is the type of Republicans we will remain, theocons or no!”

Keep hope alive.

Oops…I meant Australians and naked Venezuelans. Anyways I haven’t heard about the cyclone since it hit Yesterday in north Queensland (see here) so I hope no one got killed. There are way too many cute boys down there, hope they’re all safe.

Now here comes the weird part of the post. Spencer Tunick, the artist who gets thousands of people to get naked for him for 2-3 hours all over the world so he can take pictures of them en masse at famous sites, has done it again. This time, his photo shoot’s along downtown Avenida Bolivar, a frequent spot for political rallies by supporters of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. An article here by Sydney Morning Herald, and Towleroad.  Towleroad also has pics of his work in Belgium, Gateshead, UK, and Florent, a restaurant in NYC where Tunick packed naked guys living with HIV/AIDS.  Apparently he has an attitude problem sometimes though.

Check out some of the 10 most expensive cars in the world at Forbes.com!

Dear Friends,

I am proud to share with you a copy of my comprehensive health care plan. You may be lucky enough to have excellent health insurance. You may struggle to afford inadequate insurance. Or you may be one of the nearly 7 million Californians without any coverage at all. But whether you have health insurance or not, we are all paying the price for our dysfunctional health care system.

• In 2005, the cost of caring for uninsured Californians was $13.4 billion.
• Almost every single one of us could lose our coverage if we lose our jobs.
• Starbucks is now paying more for employee health care costs than for coffee beans
• General Motors is moving plants overseas because they can’t afford to pay for health care in America.
• Many small business owners aren’t able to offer coverage at all because the premiums are skyrocketing.
• Last year, medical bills caused approximately 50 percent of all personal bankruptcies in America.

I believe there is an answer to our health care crisis. It just isn’t politically easy, so most of the politicians run away from it. I am going to stand up and fight for a plan that covers every single Californian with health care. It’s called universal coverage – and we’re going to finally make it a reality.

Join Our Fight For Universal Health Care

The truth is we have the money to cover everyone. Right now 30 percent of every health care dollar pays for bureaucracy and paper work; only 65-75 percent of costs go directly to health care. We can streamline our system to eliminate the middleman and allocate 95-98 percent of costs directly to care. We can let everyone keep his own doctor and make her own medical decisions.

Join Our Fight For Universal Health Care

The special interests want us to believe that changing our broken system is impossible. But, we aren’t going to improve health care until we have leaders willing to stand up for reform.

I urge you to join me in this fight by reading my plan and by signing our petition in support of universal health care. Please forward this email, and my plan, to friends and colleagues who care about a Healthy California.

**We’re hosting a community forum to discuss the need for single payer universal care on Thursday, March 16th at 6:30 PM at 320 West Portal Avenue in San Francisco. We’ll be joined by SF Supervisor Tom Ammiano, UCSF Medical Professor Kevin Grumbach, SEIU Rep and SF General Hospital Social Worker Ed Kinchley and Health Care for All’s Don Bechler. **

For Details Visit http://www.janetreilly.com/healthcare_forum.html

Sincerely,

Janet Reilly

Do You Want To Help Us Create a Healthy California? Please email or call 415-391-4088 today to volunteer on our Campaign. We’re working seven days a week to create a Healthy California. Let us know when you can help.

P.S. This health care booklet is one in a series of comprehensive policy proposals on issues such as transportation, improving our schools, protecting our environment and keeping our communities safe from violence. You won’t agree with all of these ideas, but you will know where I stand. Please share feedback at http://www.janetreilly.com

Web Address:
www.janetreilly.com

Contact Us:
(415) 391-4088
320 West Portal Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127

Contribute to Janet Reilly for Assembly

For Immediate Release
March 15, 2006

Contact: Damien LaVera – 202-863-8148

Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on National LGBT Health Awareness Week:

“National LGBT Health Awareness Week serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of focusing on the unique health challenges confronting America’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. America needs a health care system that works for everyone, including the LGBT community. I am proud to lead a party that has taken this challenge to heart, and is fighting to protect the economic security and health care security of every single American.

“America also needs public policies that seek to fully incorporate LGBT families into the fabric of our society. Many of the unique health challenges facing members of the LGBT community are directly related to the pressure of living in the closet or the pain of confronting persistent prejudice on a daily basis. As Governor of Vermont, I signed the nation’s first civil unions bill, in part because I understand that we cannot fully address these problems until LGBT families can live with the dignity and recognition they deserve, and until they have access to the same health benefits as every other family in America.

“Finally, truly confronting the LGBT health issues means ending the stigma that too often surrounds those issues. That is why I believe the theme of this year’s LGBT Health Awareness Week, ‘Own Your Health, Get Checked Out,’ is so powerful. As a doctor, I understand the importance of early detection and treatment, the need for the government to respect patients’ privacy, and the dangers of avoiding treatment or hiding information from caregivers because of fear, discrimination or bias. No American should be denied health care by prejudice.

“This week, we recommit ourselves to the fight to provide access to health care to every American.”

It’s people like these that really want me to beat the bigots up. They’re athletes dammit! What has this got to do with “highly dangerous homosexual behavior”???

(agapepress.com)
(Gay Blog News)

Feds Lift Ban on HIV-Positive Travelers for Chicago’s ‘Gay Games’

By Mary Rettig
March 14, 2006

(AgapePress) - The executive director of an Illinois pro-family group is calling on President Bush to reinstate HIV travel restrictions for those wanting to enter the U.S. for the “Gay Games” in Chicago this summer.

The seventh installment of “Gay Games Sports and Culture Festival,” scheduled for July 15-22 in the Windy City, has achieved federal recognition as a “Designated Event Status” — as well as a federal blanket waiver that permits non-U.S. citizens with HIV/AIDS to enter the United States to participate or attend Gay Games 2006. Those travelers are eligible to apply for single-entry B-2 travel visa that is valid from a week before the quadrennial event until six days after the closing date.

At least one family advocate in the state is concerned about the possible arrival of thousands of HIV-infected people in his state. According to Peter LaBarbera with the Illinois Family Institute, the Gay Games’ website is already promoting numerous “extracurricular” activities that he says are dangerous.

“On their website, they are already promoting highly dangerous homosexual behavior,” says LaBarbera. The IFI leader is definitely concerned about that. “We really believe this waiver of the HIV ban is going to lead to more people being infected with HIV here in the Chicago area and possibly all across the nation and the world.”

I know I like to ram lgbt equality down everyone’s throats but this quote’s awesome.

Quote of the Week
(WayneBesen.com)

Saturday, March 11, 2006

In Annapolis, (Capital of) Maryland, at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at AU, was requested to testify and he did so.

At the conclusion of his testimony, a right-wing senator rose to say, “Mr. Raskin, my Bible says that marriage shall occur only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?”

Raskin: “Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.”

The room erupted into applause.

…only because he agrees with my point Nah I love his books too. Carrie was my first Stephen King book and god it was scary. I started the Dark Tower series too (still have to catch up on those).

(thanks Brian for the link, even though you liked Crash better you sweetie you)

(Entertainment Weekly)

Analyzing Oscar

Stephen King rates the Academy Awards ceremony — and explains how he knew all along that ”Crash” would score the top prize by Stephen King

I know what you’re thinking: You need another column on this year’s Oscars, especially at this late date, about as much as Dick Cheney needs a few more jokes about hunting quail in Texas. But bear with me; this is, after all, the only Oscar postmortem you’ll read from a guy who put The Devil’s Rejects on his 2005 Ten Best List. Besides, this year I actually picked most of the big winners, although I admit there were some surprises — a rap crew wins for Best Song? Slap my tail and call me stinky. I don’t know if Academy voters were trying to show their kids (make that grandkids) that they’re still hep (make that hip), but Three 6 Mafia’s performance — and exuberant acceptance — lit up the evening. And the ”clean” version went over pretty well; my elderly ears detected only a single ABC bleep.

…

To Crash, of course.

Crash was the perfect alternative, and — ahem — I had it picked for Best Picture the whole way. It’s the sort of flick the Hollywood establishment loves best and will always embrace, if given the chance, one where the complexities are all on the surface; its issues should come stamped GOOD FOR 2 SLICES OF PIZZA AFTER THE MOVIE (OR) 1 COCKTAIL PARTY. Crash says we have problems. Crash says we have troubles. It says this modern life of ours is certainly a pain in the ass, especially this modern urban life. People keep ”crashing” into each other (heavy symbolism at work, better wear a hard hat). But in the end — this is the part Academy voters like best — we can all get along if we rilly, rilly TRY!!! You almost expect to hear ”Why Can’t We Be Friends?” over the closing credits.

And you know, until I read that last paragraph over, I didn’t realize how bitter I’ve become about this process. Because I liked Crash. I did. I happen to believe we can get along if we really try, that coincidences do happen from time to time in the great Manhattan Transfer of city life, and people sometimes do change. It’s a valid point of view, a decent theme, and Paul Haggis made the most of it. But was it the best film of the year? Good God, no. Brokeback was better. So were Capote and The Squid and the Whale, for that matter.

But let’s let it go, okay? The lights are off in the Kodak Theatre for another year. The set has been struck. The Academy sent the same soothing message it almost always sends: Everything’s all right, everything’s okay, the right movie won — the good movie, not the gay movie. Go to sleep, and sleep tight. Next year we’ll do it all again.

What’s up with London’s anti-gay violence?  First the murder, then this insane beating.  Even where we live (read: in the middle of nowhere) is better.  At least I don’t have to worry about being beaten up if I was with my boyfriend…as much.

(Towleroad)
(BBC News)
(IC South London)

See also Towleroad’s post about the Clapham gay murder here.

Police hunt homophobic attackers
Two gay men have been attacked in the street after leaving a pub in south London on Sunday morning.

The couple left the Brewers pub in Clapham High Street at about 0330 GMT when between three and five men started shouting abuse and punching them.

One, aged 27, is in hospital with a serious head injury. The other, aged 24, escaped with minor injuries.

Police are searching for the attackers, who were black and in their 20s, and are treating it as a homophobic crime.

The 27-year-old is said to be in a stable condition.

Witnesses are asked to contact police.