Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Why Didn't Any Republicans Vote For John Pérez to Become CA Assembly Speaker? Because He's 'One Of Them'

Sure, John Pérez might have received a 64-second standing ovation from his colleagues in the California State Assembly after voting him in as speaker (and, thus, he became the first gay one), but absolutely zero Republican lawmakers voted to confirm him — something of an anomaly is the Assembly, notes Willie Brown, who held Pérez's [...]

Obama's Constitutional Belief That He Can Ignore Laws Passed By Congress Doesn't Apply to Civil Rights

Oh, this is just delicious. As we've noted on previous occasions, the Obama administration is no enemy of executive orders and fancy ways to execute power plays. The White House has made clear it's just fine using signing statements to bypass laws, passed by Congress, that it deems, by way of the Constitution, too limiting [...]

Prop 8 Supporter William Tam Wants Out of the Perry Trial. 'Cause Everyone Is Making Fun of Him!

As the battle over televising the federal Prop 8 trial continues (five cities will get a live feed), one of Perry v. Schwarzenegger's defendants/intervenors, Hak-Shing William Tam, is asking the court of the eve of the trial's start to from the lawsuit. How come? Well, he fears you gay rights supporters are going to hunt [...]

Empress 36 Chantal of San Diego present a benefit for The Matthew Shepard Foundation

My trip to Hayward on New Years !!!!!!

On my trip back home from Hayward CA,  myself and a good friend Rowshawn White and her boyfriend were heading back home and before getting to the  freeway i  had my gps showing us the way and then out of no where she hit the brake and fly into the parking lot of this wonderful [...]

Fresno Stonewall Democrats to meet

Fresno Stonewall Democrats will meet on Wednesday, January 13, 2009 at Carrow’s Restaurant, 4280 N. Blackstone at Ashlan in Fresno. Dinner and social 6 P.M. Meeting 7 P.M. We will be discussing the current policies of the Obama administration in Afghanistan as well as participation in local activities. Fresno Stonewall Democrats represents the interests of the [...]

CRITICAL SERVICES FOR GAY COMMUNITY FACE MAJOR CUTBACKS

MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Thomas Wheatley

503-222-6151 x103 (w)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 503-888-4988 (c)

January 8, 2010 Thomas@basicrights.org

critical services for gay community face major cutbacks

New report documents devastating impact for gay and transgender Oregonians if Measures 66 and 67 fail

(PORTLAND, oregon â€" FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2010) â€" As ballots bellots begin arriving in mailboxes around the state, Basic Rights Oregon today distributed a new report documenting the impact of budget cuts expected if Measures 66 and 67 fail.

According to the study, released by the Williams Institute at UCLA, tens of thousands of lesbian, gay and bisexual Oregonians face severe cuts to critical services like HIV treatment and prevention, civil rights enforcement, mental health programs, education and public safety if Oregon voters do not pass Measures 66 and 67 in the January election.

In a dramatic illustration of the impact of failing to pass Measures 66 and 67, the Oregon Department of Human Services predicts that cuts to HIV testing and treatment program could result in 35 additional Oregon deaths.

"For many gay and transgender Oregonians who will lose critical services, this is literally a life or death election," said Jeana Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. She added, "We can't afford to lose. We have to vote Yes on Measures 66 and 67."

Highlights of the report include an analysis of the American Community Survey and other sources indicating that 12,000 poor and low-income LGBT Oregonians rely on public services that face cuts.

"It is critical that Oregonians vote yes on Measures 66 and 67," said Michael Kaplan, executive director of Cascade AIDS Project. "Should these measures fail, we will be looking at drastic cuts to a broad net of services that our communities and our clients rely on."

Basic Rights Oregon is the state's leading advocacy organization working to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oregonians experience equality. The Williams Institute at UCLA is the nation's leading research organization studying sexual orientation law and public policy.

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Poison Water’s Notorious Noel (12/07)

 

Tickets are $10 all pre-event ticket buyers will be entered to win a Marriott/The Original New Year’s Eve package!

Tickets will be available at these locations:

Funny Bone

Just Out

The Original

Basic Rights Oregon office

 

Maine’s super-volunteers and passionate student allies

In the days leading up to my departure for Maine, I wasn't sure what to expect from the people I'd meet here. I'm no stranger to ballot campaigns; we've had our share of those in Oregon. I rode on Tuesday to a suburb outside of Portland, Maine with another volunteer staff to meet with nine high schigh school students about their interest to get involved with the No On 1 campaign. Our goal was to start a “Friends and Family” Volunteer Recruitment Phone Bank with them on the spot, and to organize a few times when they and their friends could volunteer together, canvassing door-to-door the weekend before Election Day. We rolled up to their neighborhood Starbucks at about 3 o'clock and met the students inside. They'd come straight after school, and had heard about the campaign at an all-ages concert, where they'd been watching their favorite local band. Three of the youth were band members! A few of them had worn their No On 1 buttons to school that day, and mentioned that they'd started conversations with other students about the issue, and what it meant to them. After introducing ourselves and briefly describing the state of the campaign, we read through a script and role-played it, making sure to arm the students with the facts needed to express to their friends and family members how much this means to them and why we need their help in the last two weeks of the campaign. When we asked the students to get out their mobile phones and start calling to sign their friends up for volunteer shifts with the campaign, they excelled at the task! After about a half hour, the students made a plan to gather together with their newly signed up volunteers for a morning canvass on Halloween, knocking on doors to get out the vote. None of the nine students were affiliated with the Gay Straight Alliance at their school, (and none mentioned that they identified as LGBT,) but all shared a sense that whoever you are and whomever you love, couples deserve to be recognized equally under the law.

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