Will same-sex marriage destroy American society?

Of course not. A bit of common sense, which the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) seems to be lacking, and some additional validating research tell us that same-sex marriage actually makes for stronger, more inclusive societies. As M. V. Lee Badgett, author of "When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize Same-Sex Marriage," told The New York Times:

"The big point is that all of the evidence suggests that same-sex couples will fit right into our current understanding of marriage in the U.S. Marriage itself will not be affected. Dutch heterosexuals appear to have adapted to the legal change [in 2001] by changing how they see same-sex couples, not how they see marriage. Now they see gay couples as people who should get married, and they are happy to remind their gay and lesbian family members of that fact!

We also see why the word 'marriage' matters. The Dutch same-sex couples I interviewed saw their civil union-like status as 'a bit of nothing,' as one person called it, or as a political compromise that an accountant might invent. Only marriage has the social understanding to back up the legal status, and the social meaning is as important as the legal rights. Civil unions just don't have that social meaning. One woman I interviewed put it this way: 'Two-year-olds understand marriage. It's a context, and everyone knows what it means.'"

Sound practical judgment.

Transgender artist Jaila Simms makes P. Diddy's band

This story hasn't had much media attention, probably due to poor television ratings, but about a month ago something very special happened. Singer Jaila Simms, transitioning from male to female, became the first transgender person of color to win a reality series in the United States.

It all began in summer 2009 when producer, rapper, and three-time Grammy Award winner P. Diddy auditioned singers, drummers, guitarists, bassists, and keyboardists on the show "Making His Band" to join him on stage for backup vocals and instrumentals on his 2010 "Last Train To Paris" tour. After weeks of narrowing down the field from nearly four dozen hopefuls to an elite squad of talented professionals, on the series finale that aired on 10 October 2009, Diddy selected, among others, Miss Jaila, to be part of his own Bad Boy backup band. In the world of hip-hop where homophobia goes too frequently unchallenged, this is indeed momentous.

Check out this clip from Episode 7 of the series. At around the two minute and twenty second mark, you can watch Jaila sing and see her charming exchange with Diddy afterwards.



"I love you Diddy!"

Sweet.

Washington civil rights referendum passes

I think it's now safe to say that Referendum 71 (R71), the initiative that asked Washington state voters to re-confirm the expansion of domestic partnership rights and obligations in the state's originally limited domestic partnership legislation, has passed. Although ballot counting continued Friday, and opponents of R71 have at this point still refused to concede defeat, reports across the state indicate that supporters have secured a virtually insurmountable lead of 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent.

This is an especially sweet surprise for those who don't believe that a person's civil rights have any place on a ballot and who question the ethics and lawfulness of the public being in a position to vote against a particular minority group.

Also known as Washington state's "everything but marriage" law, the new bill expands the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage. This marks the first time any U.S. state's voters have approved a gay equality measure at the ballot box.

Congratulations to the hard-working coalition of organizations, communities, major employers (including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Google) and small businesses, who, in a short six week campaign, managed to succeed in doing the right thing.

Professional soccer player fired after publishing book

Polish goalkeeper Arek Onyszko has been fired by FC Midtjylland, a Danish soccer club, after writing and publishing a book, entitled 'Fucking Polack,' in which his hatred of gay people (and himself, it seems from the title) is clearly expressed. From Pinknews:

"I hate gays, I really do. I think it’s fucking disgusting to hear them talk to each other as if they are girls. I can’t be in the same room as someone who’s gay. Look at them kissing each other – it’s sickening."

Wow. This certainly makes Kansas City Chiefs Larry Johnson's homophobic snap to the media ("Get your faggot asses out of here") and his Twitter rampage ("[T]hink bout a clever diss then that wit ur fag pic. Christopher street boy. Is what us east coast cats call u") seem like kindergarten speak.

This is not the first time that Mr. Onyszko has gotten into trouble. In March 2009, he was arrested by Danish police and faced charges of assaulting his former wife in her home. In June 2009, he was sentenced to three months in prison, and, as a result, was fired by a previous team, Odense Boldklub.

Life can be messy when you're hateful.

Get help, Mr. Onyszko. Get help.

Maine voters repeal same-sex marriage law

As with every civil rights movement in America, it seems there are setbacks. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Maine voters stood for marriage equality, but with 87 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, 53 percent of voters had approved the repeal of the state’s law allowing same-sex marriage.

Not a great scenario for those of us who believe in equality across the globe, but, in the end, this is just another obstacle to overcome before wisdom finally replaces ignorance in the United States.

I think it's time we start thinking about applying international pressure on American states that don't allow for equal rights....

'Gay Eradication Day' imposed by Jamaican town

Homophobic residents of the McGregor Gully community in East Kingston, Jamaica, are vowing to take action after a two week notice given to all gays and lesbians to flee the town ended over the weekend. Yes, that's right. The residents declared they were fed up with gay behavior, and ordered all gays to leave by 30 October. Those who did not leave, the residents warned, would "suffer the consequences."

From the Digital Journal:

"According to the residents, the main problem is a local hangout that is frequented by lesbians who 'kiss, hug, and even touch each other.' And the community's anger is directed mostly at those lesbians, though any gay men who reside in the area are also expected to leave. The residents say they will not stop until their community is "gay free" and are not afraid of resorting to extreme measures, though they would not explicitly say what those measures might be."

Such extreme bigotry. And, I don't understand how so many people continue to spend their tourist dollars in the homophobic haven a.k.a. Jamaica and turn a blind eye to flagrant human rights violations.

What can you do? Spread the word to your elected officials and help to apply more international pressure on the Jamaican government to either stop this nonsense or, as the homophobic residents of McGregor Gully put it, "suffer the consequences."

Join Call for Equality in Maine now

On Tuesday, voters in Maine just may make history by becoming the first American state to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. With one day left before Mainers hit the polls, the result will largely be effected by voter turnout. You can still make a difference now by calling a Maine voter who supports marriage equality and encouraging them to go out and vote. Every vote counts in this landmark decision, so join Call for Equality now and make the difference between victory and defeat.

Barack Obama lifts HIV Travel and Immigration Ban

American President Barack Obama put an end Friday to the 22-year HIV Travel and Immigration Ban to the United States during the signing ceremony for the re-authorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. The ban, first implemented in 1987 and codified into law by Congress in 1993, prevented HIV-positive non-American citizens from traveling or immigrating to the country unless the Department of Homeland Security granted them a waiver. The U.S. Congress passed the policy reversal in summer 2008, and former President George W. Bush signed it into law, but his administration did not implement the change before his term ended. The lifting of the ban will come into effect in January 2010.

More changes for a better America.

On living at the margins of society - Jamake Highwater

This quote eloquently reveals how those of us who feel marginal in one way or another actually have privileged access to valuable perspectives that can't be found anywhere else.

"People who exist at the margins of society are very much like Alice in Wonderland. They are not required to make the tough decision to risk their lives by embarking on an adventure of self-discovery. They have already been thrust beyond the city’s walls that keep ordinary people at a safe distance from the unknown. For at least some outsiders, 'alienation' has destroyed traditional presumptions of identity and opened up the mythic hero’s path to the possibility of discovery. What outsiders discover in their adventures on the other side of the looking glass is the courage to repudiate self-contempt and recognise their 'alienation' as a precious gift of freedom from arbitrary norms that they did not make and did not sanction. At the moment a person questions the validity of the rules, the victim is no longer a victim."

Jamake Highwater from The Mythology of Transgression – Homosexuality as a Metaphor.

(Big hat tip to Anthony Venn-Brown!)

Barack Obama signs bill extending hate crimes protections

US President Barack Obama signed legislation Wednesday that extends existing American hate crimes laws (for race, colour, religion, and national origin) to attacks motivated by gender, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Before endorsing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Mr. Obama stated:

"After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are."

The new legislation allows prosecutors to tack on additional punishment for crimes motivated by hatred and represents a major step towards equality for the American LGBT community.

Good history in the making.

Australian Pentecostal pastor calls for acceptance of LGBT community

As the Pope invites Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church, another Christian, an Australian Pentecostal pastor, has publicly called for the acceptance of LGBT people. In what is being reported as a "world first," Rob Buckingham, Senior Pastor of Melbourne’s Bayside of the Christian City Church, delivered a sermon on Sunday that referenced ideas from the book unChristian (2007), by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. From SX News:

"Often the church is viewed as anti-homosexual. Real Christianity is accepting...God is not presenting the attitudes sometimes presented by Christians and by the church...Christians’ criticism of gay people doesn’t just drive a wedge between the church and the gay community. Many [heterosexuals] in our community are not anti-gay, so when they hear an anti-gay message coming from the church it actually drives a wedge between Christianity and them as well."

Pastor Buckingham, who is straight and married with three children, just may have started something great, not only for the over 100 million followers of Pentecostal denominations worldwide, but also for the rest of us who believe in mutual acceptance and peace.

Equality turns 17 in the Canadian military

In 1976, the Canadian Forces issued Canadian Forces Administrative Order (CFAO) 19-20, Canada's own form of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which allowed members of the military who were suspected of being gay to be investigated and released from service. The order was subsequently challenged by then Canadian Forces Member Michelle Douglas, who, despite having an exemplary service record, was dismissed in 1989, under the release item "Not Advantageously Employable Due to Homosexuality." Just before the challenge went to trial, however, Canada’s Federal Court, on 27 October 1992, ruled that barring gays from the military violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The verdict allowed openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people to join the ranks of the Canadian army, air force, and navy. Tuesday marks the 17th anniversary of the landmark decision.

Happy birthday, equality! We love you. Cheers to 17 years in the military!

Paul Haggis quits Scientology over homophobic stance

After 35 years of being a member of the Church of Scientology, Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning Canadian director of Crash and Million Dollar Baby, has publicly resigned from the Church in protest against its homophobic stance. In a letter made public by The Hollywood Reporter, Mr. Haggis is sharply critical of the Church's refusal to denounce statements made by its San Diego branch in support of Proposition 8:

"As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the Supreme Court of our state – shames us...I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated....Despite all the church's words about promoting freedom and human rights, its name is now in the public record alongside those who promote bigotry, intolerance, homophobia and fear....I am only ashamed I waited this many months to act. I hereby resign my membership of the Church of Scientology."

You're a good man, Paul Haggis. Thanks for standing up.

Gay neo-Nazi love story Broderskab (Brotherhood) wins top prize at Rome Festival

The Danish film, Brotherhood, about two gay neo-Nazis in a clandestine romance, won top honors at the Rome Film Festival on Friday:

"'Brotherhood' is a story about dangerous love and the search for identity. Following disillusionment with his career, Lars decides to leave the army and is drawn to the Neo-Nazi movement and not least to his peer, Jimmy. The two men become embroiled in a secret love affair, but such forbidden love cannot go unpunished in fascist circles. However, despite all the rules forbidding it, the love and sexual attraction between the two men is so strong that they cannot abandon their affair."



Brotherhood is the first feature film debut from Danish photographer and filmmaker Nicolo Donato.

Dream finally comes true for Russian brides in Canada

Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shepitko, the Russian lesbian couple who challenged the country's legal system in May 2009 when they asked for a marriage license that was ultimately rejected, will finally marry today in Toronto, Canada, where gay marriage is legal and no residency is required.

Hurrah!

The two women will wed at the Toronto City Hall, and when they return to Russia next week, they will try to get their Canadian marriage licence recognized. Russian marriage legislation has a number of reasons that prevent the recognition of foreign marriages in the country, but according to gay activists, a marriage license signed by two persons of the same sex is not one of them. If, nonetheless, they are turned down, the couple say they will file a complaint with the European Human Rights Commission.

Although Russia decriminalized gay sex in 1993, two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, unlike other major European cities, Moscow has no LGBT-friendly district, and gay life is largely kept underground, with only a few openly gay bars.

In any case, today is a day to smile and celebrate. So cheers to the happy couple, and best wishes for a wonderful future together as wife and wife!