On the night of Dec. 1, members of Light Brigade Maryland, joined by members of GetEqual DC and the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), stood outside the Ugandan Embassy and displayed the message "REJECT UGANDAN HOMOPHOBIA" in card-mounted lights. I held the "JE." Perhaps because I had seen the holiday concert of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington a few hours earlier, our display of tiny lights along the 5900 block of 16th Street felt like Christmas decorations.
Passing cars slowed to read our message, and many honked their horns in solidarity. A Secret Service officer parked across the street and said he liked the lights. Blogger Melanie Nathan quickly posted an item about our protest, and Frank Mugisha of Sexual Minorities Uganda retweeted our messages.
Expressions of solidarity are only the beginning. The struggle will continue regardless of the outcome of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill, and goes beyond one country. Anti-gay laws have passed in Burundi, Malawi and Nigeria (on top of laws dating from the colonial era), and anti-gay abductions and beatings by Islamist militias are reported in Libya. As Mugisha notes, anti-gay laws make HIV/AIDS prevention much harder in at-risk populations like men who have sex with men. Outrageously, right-wing American Christian groups are pushing these laws.
In September, at The DC Center for the LGBT Community, I met a male Kenyan couple seeking asylum. Though they avoided being sent into America's prison-like immigration detention system, they soon ran out of money, were homeless, could not yet legally work, and required assistance with their asylum claim. They married in D.C., but would have been in dire straits without quick work by DC Center Director David Mariner. The DC Center has launched a new project, Center Global, to help people like them, but it already faces financial challenges in maintaining its other programs.
The flow of refugees will increase. Capacity building is needed. We start with a friendly State Department, as well as the Council for Global Equality with its LGBT foreign-policy expertise. Invaluable allies include faith-based groups like St. Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation, whose focus is on "the intersection of human rights, health, education and faith, by providing resources for emerging grass roots organizations and leaders in the Global South."
American cities must add refugee assistance to particular city agencies' responsibilities. We cannot simply wait for asylum seekers to wander into a community center from the street and then scramble to find homestays, food and legal assistance. But community-based groups need to be involved. If your city has a project like Center Global, support it. If it doesn't, help start one.
Even in gay-friendly cities, we must demand changes that are properly disseminated and implemented. A refugee referred to a shelter shouldn't arrive there to blank stares. We must make it clear that a city that fails to identify resources up front will pay more on the back end.
One of the participants in the Dec. 1 action in D.C. was Kushaba Moses Mworeko, a bright-spirited Ugandan who won asylum in 2011. As he was leaving, he kissed and thanked us, and I joked, "Oh look, we're standing right under a lamppost! People will know we're queer!" He laughed and replied, "I don't give a," and stopped. I finished his sentence, "a flying fuck."
That was easy for us to say in the relative safety of an American city with LGBT-rights protections (despite the continuing problem of hate crimes). Anti-gay groups like The Family raise money here, but use it to spread poison overseas. We have much to do to defeat them and help those they have harmed, growing numbers of whom are landing, quite fittingly, on America's doorstep.
Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@starpower.net.
...moreGroups of local activists joined Saturday evening, Dec. 1, to protest the renewed push in the Ugandan Parliament for a bill that would further criminalize homosexuality and administer severe punishments, such as life imprisonment or possibly the death penalty.
Rallying in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda, located along busy 16th Street NW, in the city's Brightwood neighborhood, members of Light Brigade Maryland, GetEqual DC and GLAA held signs of lights made into letters that spelled out ''Reject Ugandan Homophobia.'' Starting at 7 p.m., for a bit more than an hour, the activists stood on the eastern side of the street holding their signs as early evening travelers flowing in and out of the District drove by, some honking their in support of the protest.
Ugana Embassy Protest
(Photo by Aram Vartian)
Several activists told Metro Weekly they hoped to raise awareness among area residents about the anti-homosexuality legislation, dubbed the ''Kill the Gays'' bill after it was first introduced in 2009 and included the death penalty for ''aggravated homosexuality.''
Mark Patro, head of the Baltimore County chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the chief organizer of Light Brigade Maryland, said one of Light Brigade's members suggested that the group – who helped rally support for Question 6, the measure that secured marriage equality in Maryland, with similar illuminated actions – should use its methods to help send a highly visible message to passerby about the situation in Uganda.
''D.C. and Maryland are rather liberal places where we've got protections for gay and lesbian people,'' said Patro, a Perry Hall, Md., resident, citing the embassy's location on a D.C.-Maryland traffic corridor. ''Gay and lesbian people need to have protections in every country around the world, wherever they live. They shouldn't need to come here in order to have protections, especially with issues as strict as the death penalty.''
Patro said he believes D.C. residents are a little more politically attuned to what is happening in Uganda than people he knows in Baltimore, but hopes that the protest will spark interest around the bill so that it can be defeated.
''Bringing this to the street and lighting it up in front of the embassy [of the nation] that's responsible for this legislation is what takes this message to social media and paper media,'' Patro said. ''That was part of our goal.''
David Snead, the partner of GetEqual DC organizer Charles Butler, said he attended the protest to generate awareness among residents of D.C. in Maryland, because even in the District the issue has largely gone under the radar.
Hillary Clinton: GLIFFA
(Photo by JustinSnow)
''I think it's important for people to come out and say that religious-based persecution is not acceptable,'' Snead said.
Kushaba Moses Mworeko, a native of Uganda who sought asylum in the U.S. and now lives in D.C., said the fight was personal to him. Mworeko noted that the protest took place on World AIDS Day, a date when the LGBT community has historically been called to take action to better the lives of members of the LGBT community.
''Many people have died, and this is the day we should be remembering them,'' Mworeko said, referring to Worlds AIDS Day. ''But it's very unfortunate that those gay people, especially who are HIV-positive and are living in Uganda, are going to die not because of the disease they have, but because of who they are, because of their sexual orientation.''
Mworeko said the Ugandan government is trying to use LGBT people as a scapegoat and that many of the politicians in Uganda are heavily influenced by religion and traditional African values emphasizing the importance of family, which are used as excuses for pushing the anti-homosexuality bill. Mworeko also noted that several networks of evangelical Christians from the United States have influenced key Ugandan politicians in pushing for the bill.
As to what can be done to stop the bill from taking effect, Mworeko said that threats of cuts to foreign aid, on which Uganda is heavily reliant, have derailed similar bills in the past. He added that any action taken on the part of American citizens, from signing petitions to lobbying political leaders, as well as heightened awareness and scrutiny of the Ugandan government, can help stop anti-gay measures and gives people on the ground in Uganda a measure of hope.
Jiva Manske, a Takoma Park, Md., resident and straight ally, said the fight against the anti-homosexuality bill and other anti-gay measures remains a grassroots effort and highlights the need for strong LGBT allies who can fight on behalf of the community's safety. He also said that the struggle for full equality is not limited Uganda, that the U.S. government has more to do to protect the rights of LGBT Americans.
''What's happening in Uganda is important for people to know about, so this is a powerful way to send a message,'' Maske said. ''It's horrific. That anyone would advocate for such a hateful thing, it is really terrible. It makes it all the more important that there are people standing up on the side of justice.''
...morePhilip Pannell is getting a vacation. Finally.
''It's only the second vacation I've ever had in my life,'' says Pannell, 62, an icon of grassroots District activism. ''I'm going for two weeks to Palm Springs, Calif. A friend of mine has a house there and is treating me to an airplane ticket. So, I'm actually going on a vacation, in the desert, in a very, very gay-friendly city.''
With Pannell's decades of partisan action, it's fair to ask if he'll be comfortable in a place not quite so Democratic as the overwhelmingly ''blue'' District of Columbia.
Philip Pannell at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, home to Faith Temple
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
''My understanding is the Republican [congressional] incumbent, Sony Bono's wife (Mary Bono Mack), lost,'' Pannell points out. ''I will be in a just-turned-blue congressional district vacationing. And I have Republican friends. I should be able to find some rest and relaxation in their territory.''
He certainly deserves some. First of all, he could use that R & R to recover from election season, which saw him lose his bid to serve as the Ward 8 member of the D.C. State Board of Education despite years of experience and unquestionable dedication to the Ward 8 community and beyond. Second, Pannell could simply use some time to recharge before heading back to his multiple obligations in Washington. Election loss or not – and Pannell vows that was his last attempt at seeking office – he might be giving more time than laws of physics allow.
''When you've been going the way I've been going, trying to squeeze a 25th hour out of 24-hour days, it just can be challenging.''
Among those challenges: serving as president of his Congress Heights Civic Association. He's working by day as the executive director of the Anacostia Coordinating Council. A small irony is that he's also the president of the Anacostia/Bellevue/Congress Heights chapter of the AARP – formerly the American Association of Retired Persons – with no retirement in sight.
''I can't afford to retire,'' Pannell says bluntly. ''That's the situation so many of us senior citizens find ourselves in. Retirement is nowhere within my reach at this point. Though I hope to at least be starting to… not have as much on my plate.''
Some small consolation is that, at least, Pannell continues to be recognized for his contributions. There may not be a golden parachute, but he has received a share of community gratitude – this year more than most. The Anacostia Community Museum honored Pannell in September, for example. He was honored by D.C.'s Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for work with ex-offenders. More recently, the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations named him the Civic Association President of the Year.
Come Dec. 8, there will be another honor for Pannell. This time, Faith Temple will celebrate him as ''an activist to all people in the city.'' And he's not even a member. Pannell spends his Sundays at the progressive Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ. Still, as Faith Temple uses the Dec. 8 occasion to honor ''pioneers, past and present,'' Pannell certainly fills the bill, having witnessed the Stonewall uprising in Greenwich Village in 1969, leading the D.C. Young Democrats as the group's president in 1979, and on through years of D.C. activism.
''I've been involved in gay-rights issues for four decades. I've been around for a while,'' says Pannell, teasing that if the Faith Temple recognition means one thing, it's that he's old. In a more serious tone, Pannell congratulates Faith Temple on the work it, too, has done for the city. As he continues, it genuinely seems that the Faith Temple honor is more valuable than his upcoming Palm Springs respite, however much he may be looking forward to it.
''I thank God for blessing me to be 62 years old, in that I've obviously done some things in that time,'' Pannell offers. ''I've just been out there. Maybe it's a recognition of the fact that I'm so delusional that I can actually make a difference, that I continue to be involved. In the late '70s, I was president of the D.C. Young Democrats; now that I'm in my 60s, I'm president of my AARP chapter. This shows that longevity is something, that I've been involved. I'm very honored and humbled to be receiving this kind of recognition.''
Faith Temple honors Philip Pannell at its Christmas Holiday Mixer, Saturday, Dec. 8, at the District's central Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, basement level A-5, 901 G St. NW, from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Rev. Jakki Dennis at jakiddd@att.net or visit faith-temple.com.
...moreThe site, aimed at helping Mormons deal with 'same-sex attraction,' encourages acceptance of LGBT people but makes clear that the church still considers it a sin to act on such attraction.
The endless train wreck that is Bret Easton Ellis's Twitter feed has run over yet another issue of propriety.
by Shaun Knittel
Big Gay News Magazine Staff Writer
On December 5, Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified Referendum 74, the marriage equality bill that makes same-sex marriage legal in the state .
"This is a very important and historic day in the great state of Washington. For many years now, we've said, 'One more step. One more step.' This is our last step," Gregoire said. "To the couples that are here today that will finally be treated with the equality they've deserved for many years, congratulations to each of you."
On midnight, December 6, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed the first same-sex marriage license in Washington State for Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen at the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 a.m. to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November's election…
Dozens of gay and lesbian couples attained their marriage licenses. King County, the state's biggest county, opened the doors to its auditor's office shortly after midnight.
King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “People who have been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to wait one minute longer."
In Seattle, the mood was festive.
Volunteers distributed everything from roses and coffee to fruit. Champagne was poured. Different groups of men and women serenaded the waiting line, one to the tune of "Going to the Chapel."
According to the Associated Press, “Hundreds of people,†(many of whom had waited all night and had lined up hours earlier†shaik snaking around the downtown Seattle building on a chilly December night.
"We knew it was going to happen, but it's still surreal," said Amanda Dollente, who along with her partner, Kelly Middleton, began standing in line at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Among those getting marriage licenses was Dan Savage, who said, “It's been a long fight but it ain't over. We still have to fight (the Defense of Marriage Act) and there's 41 other states were same-sex couples aren't allowed to marry."
Savage plans to marry his partner on Sunday in a ceremony at City Hall.
Washington will be the seventh state to recognize same-sex marriages. Maine will follow on Dec. 29 and Maryland on Jan. 1 as the result of votes in those states on similar ballot measures. The other six states (by order of adoption) are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. Washington, D.C. also allows gays and lesbians to marry.
by Shaun Knittel
Big Gay News Magazine Staff Writer
On December 5, Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified Referendum 74, the marriage equality bill that makes same-sex marriage legal in the state .
"This is a very important and historic day in the great state of Washington. For many years now, we've said, 'One more step. One more step.' This is our last step," Gregoire said. "To the couples that are here today that will finally be treated with the equality they've deserved for many years, congratulations to each of you."
On midnight, December 6, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed the first same-sex marriage license in Washington State for Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen at the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 a.m. to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November's election…
Dozens of gay and lesbian couples attained their marriage licenses. King County, the state's biggest county, opened the doors to its auditor's office shortly after midnight.
King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “People who have been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to wait one minute longer."
In Seattle, the mood was festive.
Volunteers distributed everything from roses and coffee to fruit. Champagne was poured. Different groups of men and women serenaded the waiting line, one to the tune of "Going to the Chapel."
According to the Associated Press, “Hundreds of people,†(many of whom had waited all night and had lined up hours earlier†shaik snaking around the downtown Seattle building on a chilly December night.
"We knew it was going to happen, but it's still surreal," said Amanda Dollente, who along with her partner, Kelly Middleton, began standing in line at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Among those getting marriage licenses was Dan Savage, who said, “It's been a long fight but it ain't over. We still have to fight (the Defense of Marriage Act) and there's 41 other states were same-sex couples aren't allowed to marry."
Savage plans to marry his partner on Sunday in a ceremony at City Hall.
Washington will be the seventh state to recognize same-sex marriages. Maine will follow on Dec. 29 and Maryland on Jan. 1 as the result of votes in those states on similar ballot measures. The other six states (by order of adoption) are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. Washington, D.C. also allows gays and lesbians to marry.
“An online video network is a natural next step in the evolution of gay media and entertainmentâ€, says Matt Farber, who has launched several successful LGBT media brands including Viacom’s Logo, Clear Channel’s “Radio With a Twist†and Sony’s “Music With A Twist†record label. “The social media, on demand, and universal distribution aspects of online and mobile video are perfectly suited for niche programming. With broadcast and cable networks becoming more homogenous in order to reach the broadest audience, and online video consumption reaching critical mass, the time feels right for Gwist.â€
Gwist has formed relationships with Bud Light, Orbitz, and the Atlantic City Alliance (the tourism marketing organization for Atlantic City, NJ) to include brand integrations into specific shows. Brand integrations, as well as other creative and production services for Gwist will be developed and produced by BARK BARK, a leading television brand integration/production agency whose Founder, Brian Tolleson, was the original Vice-President of Creative at Logo, and is a partner in the new venture. Gwist has also teamed with the Gay Ad Network to provide advertising services to reach brands that target gay and lesbian consumers.
Gwist has announced ten series, which include both original and established programming that will roll out in the months following launch:
· “Gwissues†with Howard Bragmanâ€"a panel discussion about a topic the LGBT community is talking about hosted by the legendary PR kingpin and television pundit.
· The Randy Rainbow Showâ€"signature celebrity spoofs and comedic sketches featuring tongue-in-cheek commentary from established YouTube star Randy Rainbow.
· “The Untitled Spousal Equivalent Game†with Judy Goldâ€"relationship game show where gay and straight couples face off to prove their marriages can be equally miserable, hosted by acclaimed lesbian comic Judy Gold.
· Miss Richfield 1981 “Q and Youâ€â€"comedic advice show, from popular theatrical character Miss Richfield 1981.
· “So Wrong!†with Louis Virtelâ€"contrarian analysis on why certain pop culture darlings really aren’t all that, from Logo personality and YouTube star Louis Virtel.
· “Love’N Moâ€â€"a gay girls guide to sex and relationships for straight men starring former WNBA star Margot Clark. From Amy Goldstein/Steve Chivers.
· Steam Room Storiesâ€"popular scripted YouTube series about a towel-clad group of guysâ€"gay and straightâ€"discussing a topic at the gym. From Cinema 175 Productions.
· Gay Snackbitesâ€"stand up comedy segments featuring up and coming LGBT comics.
· Cuentin’s Caddy Commentaryâ€"â€" an animated talk show from veteran animator, Matthew I. Jenkins (Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Venture Brothers, The Brak Show).
· Tina Cesa Ward project (TBD)â€"scripted drama from noted lesbian filmmaker and creator of popular web series “Anyone But Meâ€.
“We are really excited to have such a diverse slate of shows that appeal to not only the gay audience, but also to anyone who wants to ‘be a gay’!†added Farber. “We want producers and talent to see Gwist as a creative playground to showcase programming with a gay twist, and look forward to helping them find a home for their work.â€
Follow Gwist on Twitter @GwistTV
Scrooge & Marley is a modern day variation on Charles Dickens’ classic story of the holidays, “A Christmas Carol.†On Christmas Eve, Ben Scrooge, the man who hates the holidays, is given the chance to begin again when he is visited by three spirits â€" the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Revisiting the tragic missteps of his life enables Scrooge to rediscover the joy of the holiday season and make a journey back to love. Recounted from a gay sensibility with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens’ timeless tale comes alive from a fresh perspective that will appeal to audiences of all persuasions.
I urge you to support this wonderful independent film! It is very well done with excellent acting and SURE TO BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYE! It is such an awesome cast loaded with great original music!
Ebenezer Scrooge- David Pevsner
Jacob Marley’s Ghost - Tim Kazurinsky
Freda - Rusty Schwimmer
Fezziwig - Bruce Vilanch
Terry, Ghost of Christmas Present - Megan Cavanagh
Colin - Richard Ganoung
Bob Cratchit - David Moretti
Randy, Ghost of Christmas Past - Ronnie Kroell
Young Ebenezer Scrooge - Drew Anderson
Young Jacob Marley - Nicholas Bailey
PLAYING IT CITIES EVERYWHERE-Dec. 5, Thursday, 8 p.m. The Seattle at The Rendezvous JewelBox Theatre (2322 2nd Ave., Seattle) will serve as host with proceeds benefiting Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea). This special screening is being presented by The Seattle Lesbian. Tickets are $10 general admission and $25 VIP. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., full bar and food menu available. Brown Paper tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com Facebook event page: www.facebook.com
Dec. 6, Thursday, 8 p.m. Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film festival special screening. Baywalk Muvico, 151 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg FL www.tiglff.com
Dec. 7, Friday, 8 p.m. Acorn Theatre, 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks MI, 269-756-3879 www.acorntheater.com
Dec. 8, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids MI 616-459-4788 www.grcmc.org tickets www.grcmc.org
Dec. 8, Saturday, 7 p.m. OUT at the Movies at University of North Carolina School of the Arts/ACE Theatre Complex, 1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC; $7 ($6 seniors/students). Admission is $5 for anyone who brings a donation for the food pantry of AIDS Care Service. Tickets on sale at 6:15 p.m. in the ACE lobby. Advanced, reserved tickets can be purchased by calling 336-918-0902. www.OUTattheMoviesWinston.org
Dec. 9, Sunday, 2 p.m. Cinema Center, 437 East Berry St., Fort Wayne IN 260-426-3456 www.cinemacenter.org
Dec. 9, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. The Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA, 515-287-4545 www.fleurcinema.com
Dec. 13, Thursday, 7 p.m. Philadelphia Ritz East, 125 South Second Street, Philadelphia PA 215-925-7900 Direct ticket link
Dec. 13, Thursday, 7 p.m. Camelot Theatre, 2300 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs CA 760-325-6565, http://www.camelottheatres.com Cast David Pevsner, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell and David Moretti will do a post-show talk-back. Benefit for Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Dec. 16, Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH 937-767-7671 http://www.littleart.com
Dec. 16, Sunday, 3:15 p.m. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco CA In a double-header with “Hannah Free†starring Sharon Gless, 1 p.m., $8, “Scrooge & Marley†at 3:15 p.m., $10. Tickets available at the door prior to showtime www.castrotheatre.com
Dec. 17-18, Monday-Tuesday, 7 p.m. Tivoli Cinemas in Westport, 4050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO, http://www.tivolikc.com/scroogemarley.html
Dec. 18, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. $10, The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., Rochester, NY tickets or www.thelittle.org
Dec. 20, Thursday, 5 p.m. Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema, 143 W. Houston St., New York NY 212-260-7289 www.landmarktheatres.com
Dec. 21, Friday, 8:15 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
Dec. 22, Saturday at 7:45 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
Dec. 27, Thursday, 7:45 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
WATCH THE TRAILER!You can even buy the DVD NOW!
On December 2, The Trevor Project honored international super star Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award and Audi of America with the Trevor 2020 Award at “Trevor Live†in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Palladium.
This high-profile annual event benefits the life-saving, life-affirming work of The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ teens and young adults.
“I am so proud to be honored by The Trevor Project as a Trevor Hero,†said Katy Perry. “I hope all LGBTQ youth know that they are as valuable as anyone else, that they are amazing and unique, and make the world a more vibrant place. Trevor’s life-saving, life-affirming work helps youth find the future they deserve. I want every young person to choose to have a tomorrow and to dream for the future.â€
“And if they don’t get to hear it enough, I hope they know that they can pick up the phone to call the Trevor Lifeline, or log on and talk to someone on TrevorChat,†Perry continued. “It’s okay to ask for help. You are worth it. Make a pledge to yourself to get help if you need it, because we need you in our lives.â€
“The Trevor Project is proud to have honored Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award and Audi with the Trevor 2020 Award,†said Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “Trevor Live is where entertainment and cultural change align to send a message to young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth that they deserve a bright future, and it starts the moment you reach out to The Trevor Project.â€
Michael Patrick, Media and Entertainment Communications manager at Audi I said, “Audi is grateful to be able to help encourage LGBTQ youth to take pride in themselves and the communities that support them. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and being a true leader means being unique and being authentic.â€
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people under 24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. Honored by the White House as a Champion of Change, The Trevor Project is a leader and innovator in suicide prevention.
Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.
In fact, Kurek was so disgusted by his response to his friend that he decided to do something drastic. Living in Nashville, Tennessee, he would pretend to be gay for a year. The experiment began on the first day of 2009; Kurek came out to his family, got a job as a barista at a gay café and enlisted the help of a friend to act as his boyfriend in public.
The experience â€" which stopped short of Kurek getting physically intimate with other men - is documented in Kurek’s recent book “The Cross in the Closet
BRAINWASHING OUR CHILDREN -
For years, Kurek says, the only life he had was “his church life.†Being an evangelical Christian was his identity.
He was home-schooled until seventh grade, almost all of his friends were from church and his social life was a nightly string of faith-based events, from church sports to a Christian Cub Scout troop. “It was the only thing I was used to doing,†said Kurek, who attended Liberty University, the largest evangelical university in the world, before dropping out after freshman year.
Kurek grew up in an “independent Baptist church.†“We were evangelical,†he said, “but we were more conservative than evangelical, too.â€
His churchy lifestyle led to some deeply held views about homosexuality. Most evangelical churches condemn homosexuality as sinful. Many rail against certain gay rights, like gay marriage.
It’s no surprise that the “The Cross in the Closet,†has spurred strong reaction, especially from the LGBT community.
“I feel for the gay community of Nashville, and for every person who trusted Kurek enough to flirt with him, hang out with him, and confide in him about their lives,†wrote Amy Lieberman on the blog Feministing. “If I were in that community, I would feel so betrayed right now.â€
In a Huffington Post blog post titled “Pretending To Be Gay Isn’t The Answer,†Emily Timbol, a religion blogger, expressed a similar opinion: “What's sad is that every interaction Timothy had during his year pretending was fake.â€
But we are missing the bigger picture here! Kurek says that that was not his aim. “This isn't a book about being gay, I could not write that book, I am not qualified,†he writes. “What this is about is the label of gay and how that label affected me personally.â€
Throughout the book, Kurek emphasizes that distinction. While much of “The Cross in the Closet†is about the struggle to understand the gay community, which he tries to address by enlisting a friend to act as his boyfriend, much of it addresses how his former church’s community â€" and family â€" reacted to his new lifestyle.
As for his original goal, to radically change who he was, Kurek says mission accomplished. He says he has conquered his prejudices of the LGBT community and is happy with the person he has become.
“If anybody had told me back then who I would be or what I would believe now,†Kurek said, “I would have thought they were completely insane.â€
For example, Kurek now thinks homosexuality is completely acceptable.
BUY THE BOOK The Cross in the Closet
THIS IS A LETTER FROM A STUDENT!
www.Facebook.com/Cher
Http://www.Twitter.com/Cher
He told US Magazine, "Everything reflects something that is going in my life at the present time. Some of them can be pretty emotionally intense… "Place of Paradise," specifically, that one is a good song that sort of is representative of how I feel about life in general. It's a song about trying to find that place of paradise inside of yourself… The song is sort of about breaking down all of your walls and letting go of what you think will make you happy and to start looking inside of yourself."
Try to imagine The Golden Girls summering on Fantasy Island if it were run by Patsy & Edina! Then watch it for free! Half-Share is a 30-minute sitcom shot on location in Fire Island Pines featuring an all-star cast of fabulous gay comics including Alec Mapa, Jack Plotnick, Jesse Archer and Sam Pancake!
Hot on the heels of film festival success spanning three continents, Half-Share will debut its FREE worldwide streaming premiere at 10pm EST/7pm PST on Tuesday November 20th at www.half-share.com & Ustream.tv/channel/half-share.
Through December 31st, 50% of all net profits on DVD and Amazon Instant Video sales will be donated to the Ali Forney Center in NYC which provides homeless LGBT youth with shelter, food, and counseling. Sandy left their offices underwater and they are in desperate need of donations to continue their important work (Aliforneycenter.org).
The poll results shared exclusively with Business Insider, find Clinton grabbing a clear majority â€" 61% of Florida Democrats pick her as the hypothetical 2016 Democratic nominee. Only 14% of Florida Democrats choose Biden. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo comes in third, earning 8% of the vote.
Using his platform to spread a message of love, acceptance, mixed in with his clever wit and talk about male sexy stuff and the occasional penis jokes, Davey has become one of the leading online voices for the gay and lesbian community.
Famous for his authentic and often irreverent approach, some of Davey’s 500+ videos include Swimming in $67,000 of Lube, 250 Balloons to Remember the Fallen, Gay Handkerchief Code Exposed and Coming Out: A Game Changer.
My personal recent favorites include when Davey got a straight guy to try on sexy underwear and also when Davey tells SIRI he is gay. A much different video then when Davey showed an extremely sensitive side and came out to his Grandmother.
A certified personal trainer, Davey believes that honoring your body is an extension of honor your lifeâ€"and has launched several fitness programs and videos including Davey Wavey’s Get Ripped Workout, The Davey Wavey Weight Loss Program and Underwear Yoga.
One of your videos really touched a chord, 250 Balloons to Remember The Fallen. It brings tears to my eyes, every time I watch it. Have you been a victim of bullying?
"I haven't been the victim of anti-gay bulling, but like so many of us, I'm just so sick and tired of seeing members of our community denied the support they need. When it comes to the tragic suicides - like that of Jamey Rodemeyer - that our community continues to face, it's hard to find the words. So, I made this video when I was in Toronto. We wrote the names of LGBT suicide victims on balloons. I wanted to do a video to raise awareness about the issue and to honor the lives of those that didn't make it. That's where the idea for 250 Balloons to Remember the Fallen came from, and - of the 500+ videos that I've made it's my absolute favorite." (all of the balloons were biodegradable).
Is RED BALLOONS one of YOUR favorite Videos - or most popular? "Each video holds a very special place in my heartâ€"and usually my favorite video is the one I’m currently working on. But the most important videos are rarely the ones that get the most views because I’m not talking about sex, foreskin or gay twins.
If I had to pick just one, it would be “250 Balloons to Remember the Fallenâ€. It was our own little tribute, but it was incredibly moving and powerful. And it didn’t contain a single penis joke. Go figure! I hope that my videos are entertaining, but - at their core - I try to infuse every video with a good, positive and affirming message."
What do think is next? Whats the future hold for you?
"5 or 10 years ago, I would never have thought that I’d be doing this. Creating YouTube videos for a living wasn’t even a job that existed. Looking forward, I have no idea what I’ll be doing. I have talked to television people, but you give up so much control. I love what I do right now. Wherever life takes me, I hope that I’ll have an open mind, a loving heart and a sense of adventure."
If someone wrote a biography of you, what do you think the title should read?
“Dream Big. Live Bigger.†Or else, “How a Masturbating Neighbor Changed the World.â€
I just watched the preview version of THE FALLS! Awesome acting and a wonderful story about breaking away from your family wants for you - and following your heart!
Breaking Glass Pictures is proud to announce the December 4 DVD release of The Falls
(SRP $24.99, about $18 at Amazon). Reminiscent of The Seminarian and Latter Days, The Falls is the story of two young Mormon men beginning to question just what it means to be faithful to God while being true to themselves. Ultimately, it illuminates one basic truth: that love is not a sin. R.J. and Chris were born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now known as Elder Smith (Nick Ferrucci) and Elder Merrill (Benjamin Farmer), both have pretty girlfriends, were Eagle Scouts, and have perfect academic records. Now, it’s their turn to serve a mission and experience the Mormon rite of passage.
RJ travels to a small town in Oregon with Elder Merrill to serve their mission and teach the words of Joseph Smith. Living together and sharing the challenge of leaving home, the two men help each other discover their strengths. They share a passion for their faith and learn to express their feelings, risking the only community they have for a forbidden intimacy.
Unknown to them, serving a mission will not only open the doors to strangers’ households â€" where they preach the Gospel and experience point of views they never expected â€" but it will open up secrets in their own lives â€" and feelings that they’ve long kept buried.
The Falls captures the lives of two young men struggling to make sense of the conflict between their worlds, their desires, and each other. What they ultimately discover is a challenge to them both, but also an affirmation of the human spirit.
The Falls
has played at the Mix Mexico International Film Festival, Outview, the Vancouver Queer Film Fest, and is scheduled to play Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, Rochester Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Tampa Gay and Lesbian Festival, and Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Festival before its DVD debut. “Director Jon Garcia has crafted a quiet, intimate film that truly expresses the love, desire and conflict between the two talented leads. The Falls
is an amazing, assured debut film,†said Richard Ross, Breaking Glass Co-President. The DVD release will come complete with an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette showcasing the director and stars in their creative process during the making of The Falls.
www.BreakingGlassPictures.com.
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