Latest Site Updates

21 Mar, 2011 - Link to a Salon article on sexual orientation
31 Mar, 2011 - Link to story on immigration policy change
07 Apr, 2011 - Facinating story on the first gay caveman
09 Apr, 2011 - A Conservative changes his mind on Marriage Equality.
15 Apr, 2011 - Conservatives concede, they are losing the PR battle
1 Jun, 2011 - Add link to the relaunch of Diversity Rules Magazine
12 Jun, 2011 - EqualityBinghamton launches YouTube Channel
1 Jul, 2011 - Same sex couple deportation canceled.
 

News, Links & Stuff You Should See

Binational same sex couple relieved at deportation cancellation

(A happy update to a previous BARA story)

Gay couple Josh Vandiver and Henry Velandia say they're relieved that a federal immigration judge has canceled Velandia's deportation.

Josh Vandiver and Henry Velandia got married in August 2010

The New Jersey couple on Wednesday was informed that Velandia's deportation proceedings had been closed.

Velandia, a citizen of Venezuela who immigrated to the United States in 2002, married Vandiver, 30, in Connecticut last year.

Previously, the couple was told that because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples, the United States would not recognize the couple's marriage and would not allow Vandiver to sponsor his husband for citizenship, as a U.S. citizen in a heterosexual marriage would be allowed to do.

Full Story Here

Conservative Homophobes, Losing PR Battle, Seek New Word for "Gay"

The story out of the Conservative Christian "awakening" conference in DC shows just how far we've come in terms of gay rights--and how nervous it's making the institutions that bank on homophobia. Right-Wing groups are actively seeking new ways to say the word "gay' because the stigma they've tried to maintain around the term has failed.

As the Advocate.com editors note in their post on the topic, conference attendees suggested "changing the terms of debate, namely, swapping the word 'gay' for alternatives including 'sodomy' and 'anti-Christian.'”

Watch the video, by Sofia Resnick of the American Independent, at which a speaker, Ryan Sorba, blatantly makes it clear that using the word "gay" is not working for their cause:

I now support full marriage equality

Louis J. Marinelli

Having spent the last five years putting all of my political will, interest and energy into fighting against the spread of same-sex marriage as if it were a contagious disease, I must admit that it is hard for me to put the following text into words let alone utter them with my own voice.

Whether it is an issue of disbelief, shame or embarrassment, the one thing that is for sure is that I have come to this point after several months of an internal conflict with myself. That conflict gradually tore away at me until recently when I was able to for the first time simply admit to myself that I do in fact support civil marriage equality.

See the entire posting here.

First homosexual caveman found

Archaeologists have unearthed the 5,000-year-old remains of what they believe may have been the world's oldest known gay caveman.

The male body – said to date back to between 2900-2500BC – was discovered buried in a way normally reserved only for women of the Corded Ware culture in the Copper Age.

U.S. immigration service accepting green card applications from bi-national same sex couples

Married bi-national same sex couples scored a victory March 28, 2011 when the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would no longer deny their green card applications.

U.S. immigration service will no longer accept green card applications from bi-national same sex couples

March 31, 2011 - A victory scored by married bi-national same sex couples this week turned out to be only temporary.

After only one day, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it would no longer accept green card applications from gays and lesbians with spouses from abroad.

Fact-checking Lady Gaga's "Born This Way"

An interesting examination of the current research on sexual orientation. It seems we humans are a pretty complicated bunch!

If being gay is really genetic, then what accounts for twins with different sexual orientations? Experts explain.

Breakthrough: Majority of Americans back gay marriage

For the first time in history, a majority of Americans support gay marriage, according to a new poll.

A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll found that support for same-sex marriage has increased significantly in the last decade.

Backing of gay marriage has grown to 53 percent, while 44 were opposed, according to the survey.

See the whole story here!

Zach Wahls, whose speech defending his gay moms in front of the Iowa House went viral this week, speaks to Lawrence O'Donnell about same-sex marriage, his video, and the reaction to it.

(Added 4 Feb, 2011)

In Isolated Utah City, New Clubs for Gay Students

ST. GEORGE, Utah - Some disapproving classmates called members of the new club "Satanists." Another asked one of the girls involved, "Do you have a disease?"

But at three local high schools here this fall, dozens of gay students and their supporters finally convened the first Gay-Straight Alliances in the history of this conservative, largely Mormon city.

Read the full story here;

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/us/02utah.html?_r=1&ref=erikeckholm

(Added 4 Jan, 2011)

Barney Frank "We don't get ourselves dry cleaned"

Barney Frank chastises conservative reporter on "don't ask" repeal

Be sure to watch the video.

(Added 23 Dec, 2010)

Mass Exodus From Finnish Church After Church's Anti-Gay Screed

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has gotten itself into hot water with its members -- many of whom are now ex-members -- after aligning itself with hateful, conservative views about homosexuality.

Full Story Here

(Added 27 Nov, 2010)

Gays and The Salvation Army

In case you've forgotten, the holiday season is fast upon us. That means the Salvation Army bell ringers will be out in full force dunning shoppers for donations meant to help the needy and destitute. Unfortunately, the Salvation Army won't assist everyone - only those they deem sufficiently worthy.

While many think of the group as just another charity, in truth the group is a religious sect that is notoriously anti-gay; you shouldn't give to the Salvation Army this holiday season if you support gay rights.

Click here for the full article

(Added 23 Nov, 2010)

Gay couple weds as flight veers over Canadian airspace

Same-sex marriages are not legal in most US states, so some gay couples are finding creative ways to tie the knot.

Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress, announced Thursday that he had witnessed a gay couple get married on a redeye flight from San Francisco to New York as it briefly crossed into Canadian airpace.

Click here to read the rest of this story
(Added 20 Nov, 2010)

A Video you should See

GAY=SIN (re-edit)

by Matthew Brown

GAY=SIN (re-edit) from Matthew Brown on Vimeo.

Original vimeo page is here

(Added 20 Nov, 2010)

Dithering on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
(New York Time Editorial)

The Obama administration professes to oppose the odious and misguided policy of banning gay soldiers from serving openly in the military. So it was distressing to hear that the Justice Department plans to appeal a federal court order that the military immediately stop enforcing the law that is used to drum out gay service members once their sexual orientation becomes known.

Click here to read the rest of this editorial
(Added 16 Oct, 2010)

Joel Burns tells gay teens "it gets better"

(Added 15 Oct, 2010)

Ken Mehlman's Difficult Path To Redemption

I subscribe to Truth Wins Out's on-line newsletter and thought this weeks post on Ken Mehlman, and the comments people made on it were worth sharing. You can see it here;

Ken Mehlman's Difficult Path To Redemption

(Added 29 Aug, 2010)

Gay USA

Gay USA, a weekly news-hour, offers comprehensive news and analysis by and about the LGBTQ community. The program features lively repartee between hosts Ann Northrop and Andy Humm, as well as interviews with special guests.

Gay USA airs several times a week on Free Speech TV.

Click the screen shot above or go to http://www.freespeech.org/gayusa to view the current and past episodes of Gay USA. Free Speech TV is available on Dishnetwork, DirecTV and on line.

Gay USA is also available as a free Podcast on the iTunes store.

Free Speech TV

Launched in 1995, Free Speech TV is an independent, publicly-supported, non-profit TV multi-platform digital media pioneer. Using both television and the Internet, Free Speech TV inspires viewers to become civically engaged to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable society.

Free Speech TV is available to all Dish Network subscribers and DirecTV subscribers with an HD package. You can also view their programming on line.

http://www.freespeech.org/

College Team Teaches a Lesson in Acceptance

Members of Oneonts's men’s lacrosse team are developing a new reputation this season — as models of tolerance — after one of the team's captains announced in an online essay in February that he was gay.

Gareth Thomas ... The Only Openly Gay Male Athlete

Christian leader caught with male escort says he needed help with his luggage

Pastor Rick Warren won’t condemn law punishing homosexuality with death

Author: ‘The Family’ behind proposed Ugandan law that would execute HIV+ men

If these made you at all curious about "The Family", check out the next link.

Jeff Sharlet, The Family, 2008

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