Cynthia Nixon on Proposition 8

activism, lgbt, media, politics, video No Comments »

Cynthia Nixon appeared on Larry King Live tonight hosted by Joy Behar. Watch.

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My Civil Rights are better than yours… Blacks, Gays and Prop 8

activism, lgbt, politics 6 Comments »

Jasmyne Cannick, a sometimes controversial lesbian writer from LA has spoken out on Prop 8, and you might not like what she has to say, particularly about us “white gays.”

“I am black. I am a political activist who cares deeply about social justice issues. I am a lesbian. This year, I canvassed the streets of South Los Angeles and Compton, knocking on doors, talking politics to passers-by and working as I never had before to ensure a large voter turnout among African Americans. But even I wasn’t inspired to encourage black people to vote against the proposition.

“Why? Because I don’t see why the right to marry should be a priority for me or other black people. Gay marriage? Please. At a time when blacks are still more likely than whites to be pulled over for no reason, more likely to be unemployed than whites, more likely to live at or below the poverty line, I was too busy trying to get black people registered to vote, period; I wasn’t about to focus my attention on what couldn’t help but feel like a secondary issue.”

And…

“There’s nothing a white gay person can tell me when it comes to how I, as a black lesbian, should talk to my community about this issue. If and when I choose to, I know how to say what needs to be said. Many black gays just haven’t been convinced that this movement for marriage is about anything more than the white gays who fund it (and who, we often find, are just as racist and clueless when it comes to blacks as they claim blacks are homophobic).

“Some people seem to think that homophobia trumps racism, and that winning the battle for gay marriage will symbolically bring about equality for everyone. That may seem true to white gays, but as a black lesbian, let me tell you: There are still too many inequalities that exist as it relates to my race for that to ever be the case. Ever heard of “driving while black”? Ever looked at the difference between the dropout rates for blacks and for whites? Or test scores? Or wages? Or rates of incarceration?”

This isn’t the first time Jasmine Cannick has run across our radar. She successfully ran a campaign against Shirley Q. Liquor — a white man doing drag as a southern, black, not-so-well-educated woman — getting him banned at several night clubs/events throughout the country. Liquor has a large fan base, both black and white.

I get the sense that Cannick would like us “white gays” to get to the back of the line and wait our turn. Perhaps a better analogy is for us to get to the back of the civil rights bus. While she makes a “few” valid points, I couldn’t disagree more. What do you think?

Full article here.

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Catholic calvary failed, Connecticut same-sex weddings start today

lgbt, politics, video 1 Comment »

Despite a last minute push by the Connecticut Catholic Conference which paid for last minute television advertising, Connecticut voters on November 4th rejected a constitutional convention that could take away the right of marriage equality from all its citizens. And those same-sex marriages begin today.

Below is the ad funded by the Connecticut Catholic Conference.

From the Hartford Courant:

“The Church has been like the cavalry coming over the hill with guns blazing,” said Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, which supported the convention. “The other side was outspending us 83 to 1. The only thing that leveled it out is the Catholic Church.”

And to be fair, here is the ad run by those opposing a constitutional convention.

One observation: At least they had the courage to mention “gay marriage” in their advertising, unlike California.

So while Question 1 failed, it’s still a sad reminder of how pervasive this movement really is, as Mormons, Catholics and other faith-based groups pressure states to adopt discrimination into their constitutions, banning same-sex marriage. We just lost our rights to marry in California, thanks to that effort, in great part to the Mormon church, and to a lesser degree Catholics, who invited the Mormons to join the fray back in June. Rights were also lost in Florida and Arizona on November 4th, as well as a number of other states in previous elections.

While I’m happy for the people of Connecticut who made a stand and didn’t let fear get in the way of equal rights, I wonder if more money had been spent in support of the constitutional convention, would gay men and women still be saying “I do” today.

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Honor our LGBT vets on Veterans Day

announcements, lgbt 1 Comment »

On Veterans day we honor the brave men and women who gave of themselves, and often their lives, in service to this country. Their courage and sacrifice should never be forgotten and that is why we pay tribute to them on this day.

But for our LGBT veterans, their service and sacrifice are seldom recognized in the context of who they were. And today I would like to extend a special tribute and thanks to them, for serving in a military and protecting a nation that would prefer they did not exist.

Several months ago I created a website to capture the stories of the LGBT community who served but never came home, as told by the families, friends and partners they left behind. It was my intention to ensure that those who served were never forgotten, and to show their sacrifice is no less worthy because of who they were and who they loved.

Thanks to a recent wedding, the election and the passage of Proposition 8, the effort has unfortunately languished in recent months. But today seems an appropriate day to renew that effort. My hope is to document the story of their lives on film, celebrating who they were while honoring their service and sacrifice.

If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please visit: WorthyofSacrifice.org

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Who are Proposition 8's biggest supporters?

Proposition 8 denies same-sex couples the right to marry in California. Who are their biggest donors and where do they stand on other issues?


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