GLBT DIGEST - December 29, 2009

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

Entry Level: Helping Youths Who Struggle With Identity
By JENNIFER 8. LEE
Vidari DeGuzman was a New York City teenager searching for acceptance when he first came to the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a service organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths. Now 24 and with reassignment surgery behind him, he is a youth worker at the institute, located in the East Village.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/nyregion/29entry.html?scp=7&sq=gay&st=cse/

Gay Marriage in Argentina Is First in Latin America
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- They had to travel to the ends of the Earth to do it, but two Argentine men succeeded in becoming Latin America's first same-sex married couple.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/29/world/AP-LT-Argentina-Gay-Marriage.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=cse/

Malawi Police Arrest Couple After Gay Wedding
By REUTERS
LILONGWE (Reuters) - Two Malawian men were arrested and charged with public indecency, police said on Tuesday, after becoming the first gay couple to marry in the conservative southern African state where homosexuality is illegal. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza publicly wed in a symbolic, traditional ceremony on Saturday.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/29/world/international-uk-malawi-arrest.html?scp=3&sq=gay&st=cse/

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
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MINNESOTA: First openly gay marshal confirmed
Associated Press
Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski has become the first openly gay U.S. marshal. The Senate confirmed the Green Bay, Wis., native to be the U.S. marshal for the Minnesota district. Last week's confirmation also makes her the first female marshal in the state. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), who recommended Lubinski to President Obama, said on Monday that Lubinski's breadth of experience makes her highly qualified. Lubinski has served a number of roles with the Minneapolis police. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/28/AR2009122802467_3.html/

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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/
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Some Whole Foods Folks Hope for GOP Nourishment
After an Ivy League education, countless vegan dinners, and a seemingly equal number of wasted GOP votes in Massachusetts and New York, I've managed to devise a distilled GOP platform I am confident can succeed: Taxes & Terrorism. The young urban professional shopping alongside me at a Manhattan Whole Foods is as afraid of the "Two T's" as I am but cannot bear to vote for the party that makes issues such as abortion and gay rights as visible as issues such as our economy, our paychecks and our national security. A narrower GOP message would provide some much-needed cover for members of this important, growing constituency at their next sustainably grown wine-and-cheese event.
J.J. Weinstein
New York
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004574600104124680822.html/

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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
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HATE CRIME: Task force targets Broward hate crimes
After a series of hate crimes in Broward County last year, a task force was established to investigate and prevent them. More than a year later, challenges remain.
BY JOEL MARINO
The shooting death of a cross-dressing teenager in Fort Lauderdale; black swastikas spray-painted on a Parkland synagogue; anti-gay graffiti on Wilton Manors homes.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1401344.html/

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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

Top 5 Foot-in-Mouth Moments of the Year
By Advocate.com Editors
Thankfully, nary a year goes by without someone saying something utterly stupid and hilarious. The last year of the aughts was no exception, with a plethora of gay-related gaffes escaping from various pie-holes. The top five:
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/12/29/Top_5_Foot_in_Mouth_Moments_of_the_Year/

D.C. Gay Man Shot Dead
By Advocate.com Editors
Police in Washington, D.C., are investigating the murder of 29-year-old gay man Anthony J. Perkins, who they say was found shot to death inside his car early Sunday, DC Agenda reports. The car was parked near Bolling Air Force Base in Southeast Washington.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/12/DC_Gay_Man_Shot_Dead/

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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
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Anti-gay MP Iris Robinson stands down due to mental illness
Iris Robinson, the Northern Ireland MP who called gays an "abomination" and mentally ill, has announced she is standing down from politics due to depression.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/29/anti-gay-mp-iris-robinson-stands-down-due-to-mental-illness/

Westlife's Mark Feehily credits Stephen Gately for helping him come out
Westlife singer Mark Feehily has paid tribute to Stephen Gately for helping him find the courage to come out. Gately, who died in October, came out in 1999 during his time with Boyzone. He was the first boyband member to announce he was gay.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/29/weslifes-mark-feehily-credits-stephen-gately-for-helping-him-come-out/

Former club drug addict relaunches support website
A man who recovered from addiction to club drug GBL has relaunched his support website for other addicts. Jay Evans has put knowghb.org.uk back online educate and assist those in the UK affected by GHB and GBL.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/29/former-club-drug-addict-relaunches-support-website/

HIV experts call for declassification of transgenderism as mental illness
An international meeting of experts on HIV has called for transgenderism to be reclassified as a medical condition, rather than a mental illness.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/29/hiv-experts-call-for-declassification-of-transgenderism-as-mental-illness/

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Daily Queer News
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

D.C. gay man found shot to death in car
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
D.C. police are asking the community for help in their investigation into the murder of a 29-year-old gay man who was found shot to death inside his car early Sunday morning in Southeast Washington near Bolling Air Force Base. Police said they found Anthony J. Perkins, whom they described as a “shooting victim,” seated inside of a car on the 2900 block of 4th St., S.E., about 5:15 a.m. Dec. 27. A police statement says the car had steam billowing from its engine when officers responded to reports of the sound of gunfire.
http://dcagenda.com/2009/12/29/d-c-gay-man-found-shot-to-death-in-car/

A proud way to start the new year
Monitor staff
About a year ago in this space we congratulated state Rep. Jim Splaine for his courage in sponsoring a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. His colleagues in the Legislature, we observed, might take time to come around to his point of view, but Splaine was on the right track. We encouraged him to persevere, even if the effort took years.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091229/OPINION/912290330/

The Peter Vadala controversy was a major victory for lgbt community
by: Alvin McEwen
As we remember major lgbt stories in 2009 like Maine and Carrie Prejean, let's not forget the so-called minor stories. One in particular I would like to point out because it was a victory for the lgbt blogging community. Remember Peter Vadala?
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14632/the-peter-vadala-controversy-was-a-major-victory-for-lgbt-community/

Bizarre, Cultural Insensitivity Towards LGBT Community By A Self-Identified Progressive Publication
by: Autumn Sandeen
If a whole bunch of trans people tell you that your words are transphobic, they're right. ~Allyson Robinson
Rewriting Allyson Robinson's words to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community terminology issues: If a whole bunch of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people tell you that your words are culturally insensitive or offensive, they're right. ~Autumn Sandeen
On Monday, when accomplishing a Google news search for trans related terminology (as I often accomplish during the week), I ran across an article by the Atlanta Progressive News (APN) entitled Legislative Editor Fired over Sex Change, Seeks Reinstatement -- which has now been revised once after folk like me complained about the piece..
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14631/bizarre-cultural-insensitivity-towards-lgbt-community-by-a-selfidentified-progressive-publication/


Law professors' conference addresses needs of same-sex partners in a "defense of marriage" state
Filed by: Nancy Polikoff
Next week, the Association of American Law Schools will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans. This is the annual meeting of law professors from across the country. In acknowledgment of the needs of same-sex and unmarried partners in a state with a "defense of marriage" act, the AALS's executive director, Susan Westerberg Prager, today sent out the following message to all attendees. I am reprinting it in full here because I hope other associations with plans to hold meetings in states that refuse to recognize the needs of same-sex and unmarried different-sex partners will follow this fine example provided by the AALS.
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/12/law_professors_conference_addresses_needs_of_same-.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BilericoProject+%28The+Bilerico+Project%29/

The Year of Gay
Filed by: Alex Blaze
"One catalyst was the Olympic Games in 2008, a landmark event that many in the LGBT community have interpreted as a "coming out" event. LGBT websites have allowed for communities to build, to advertise events, and to allow contact and information to be exchanged between LGBT members from big cities and small towns in China with those from around the world. As one of the organizers of China's first gay pride events and editor for shanghaiist.com, Kenneth Tan, puts it: "Gay people, young and old, are now coming out en masse. These people are all what I call 'first generation queers'." --China Daily, in naming 2009 "The Year of Gay"
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/12/the_year_of_gay.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BilericoProject+%28The+Bilerico+Project%29/

Best Video Of 2009: Big Fat Gay Collab
By Joe.My.God
Lots of sites are posting their "Best of YouTube" recaps this week. We loved the parodies of NOM's Gathering Storm ad, we giggled at all the Single Ladies tributes, and we got all teary-eyed over the many inspiring clips of impromptu marriage rallies/protests. But for me, one clip stands out above all the rest. Still makes me laugh, still chokes me up. Best Clip Of 2009: The Big Fat Gay Collab's lip-sync of Lily Allen's Fuck You. The kids are alright.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-video-of-2009-big-fat-gay-collab.html/

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Arts United
http://www.artsunited.org/
Go to the links for the following articles:

Unique Perspectives
January Exhibit Features Ernesto Masis
ArtUnited presents "Perspectives" by artist Ernesto Masis at the George Hester Gallery of Stonewall Library & Archive from January 4-29, 2010. A native of Costa Rica, Masis' work often incorporates traditional elements of Hispanic Culture and explores the crossing lines of our modern living and spiritual quests. Masis was the recipient of the first place prize in painting in United and Proud 2008 and the first place prize in drawing in ArtExplosion 2009. A reception to meet the artists will be held January 4 from 6:30 to 8pm at the Stonewall Library, 1300 East Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale with food kindly provided by Sublime Restaurant. Both the exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public.
For more information contact keith@artsunitedonline.org

Comedian Kate Clinton opens new tour at AE10
ArtExplosion Performance half sold already!
ArtsUnited presents legendary gay comedian and political humorist, Kate Clinton, in her newest one-woman show "The Lady HaHa Tour" as part of ArtExplosion LGBT Arts Festival, February 20th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts at 8pm. Tickets for the show are already half sold out as of today- there are only 20 tickets left in the front sections! Tickets are discounted to only $20/ $28 for ArtsUnited members. Members should call Keith at 954.551.5273 or email KeithClark@aol.com for the best seats left without any service fees. You may also purchase online at www.browardcenter.org and enter the password "ArtsUnited" to receive the member discount but service fees will apply.

ArtExplosion Celebrates 10!
Arts Festival has something for everyone
ArtExplosion celebrates 10 years this February 6-20, 2010, with two weeks of art, film, music, dance, theatre, literature, comedy and cabaret by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender artists and performers. This year's highlights include the legendary Kate Clinton, music sensation Matt Albers, an exhibit of the Harlem Renaissance, and a special pre-festival performance by Ballet Trocadero of Monte Carlo. The spotlight country is Brazil this year with LGBT artists & performers from Brazil and a special opening night event theme of "Carnival!" Call for Artists applications are available for the visual arts exhibit by contacting keith@artsunitedonline.org. Watch for updates to the ArtsUnited website, www.artsunitedonline.org, and in upcoming emails.

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HeartStrong
http://www.heartstrong.org/
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

A message from Marc Adams of HeartStrong
Dear HeartStrong Friends,
Please read this email from a 17 year old student at a religious school who recently attended a PFLAG meeting which sponsored a HeartStrong forum.
We've changed his name and removed any identifying information. Please read his story. We know this is a long email and we appreciate you taking the time to read it.
"Dear HeartStrong,
I really appreciate someone caring about me and what I am going through. As you know, it is a very difficult time in my life and I have had to make some decisions which I normally wouldn't make such as lying. You called it 'self preservation.' After talking with you I have convinced myself to let go of some of the guilt I've felt about that. My Christian school is very difficult because of my inner emotions conflicting with the religious attitudes. I simply feel different and feel a need to act different yet I almost always hide how I feel. I have been called gay at school many times before I realized that I would have to hold back my emotions in order to survive. Self preservation I guess. My school is like a factory - everyone must be the same and the other pieces are thrown away. Living with my parents has created the most difficult complications though. I have no one to talk to and no one to tell about my struggle. I continued to go to church because I figured that I could be accepted since all of the other kids are. But when I went to church I just felt worse.
[Contact Ray's List for the remainder of the letter.] Please consider supporting HeartStrong -
Donations: http://www.heartstrong.org/ - Email: marcadams@heartstrong.org

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