February 8, 2010
Join NCTE for a lobby day in D.C.
February 6, 2010
Cincy Black AIDS Day exhibit kick-off
STOP AIDS, The Black AIDS Institute and other community partners are proud to present during Black History Month 2010: The Reggie Williams Exhibit – the life and legacy of AIDS activist Reggie Williams.
This is a free multimedia exhibit project fiscally sponsored by the Black AIDS Institute, and it is stopping in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Amsterdam.
Reggie was born and raised in Cincinnati and he truly helped bring the fight against AIDS into the forefront of many communities across our nation. Please help us in honoring Reggie’s life and work by visiting this loving, movin, and inspiring multimedia exhibit.
The exhibit opening ceremony, also Black AIDS Awareness Day, is Sunday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Exhibit Hours: Sunday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, March 7. Open Mondays through Thursdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at STOP AIDS, located at 220 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
February 5, 2010
JCU students protest exclusive policies
Students at John Carroll University took to center court shortly before a basketball game touting posters and rainbow flags in protest of the university’s refusal to include LGBT students in the non-discrimination policy. JCU is a small Jesuit university located in University Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
“We the students, faculty and alumni of John Carroll University choose to voice our support for those the university leaves without protection,” was stated next to the video of the protest.
Police officers urged picketers to move, as the band played on through “Hot Stuff.” Eventually the basketball teams warmed up around the sit-in, as protesters were removed from the chaotic scene of dumbfounded athletes, administrators, coaches and fans.
“We expect better of John Carroll University. We demand better. We are a gentle, angry people and we are singing, singing for our lives,” was stated next to the video of the protest.
Via Queers United.
February 5, 2010
Crossport Cincinnati Girl’s Night Out
February 4, 2010
Quote: Sarah Silverman on marriage
“It’s like a joining a country club that doesn’t allow blacks or jews.”
— Sarah Silverman on The View, referencing marriage equality allies who are heterosexual and chose to get married
February 4, 2010
Ads: Raging Grannies take CBS to task
The South Florida Raging Grannies really rip CBS a new one over its biased Super Bowl ad choices. And the explanation for what CBS stands for in this catchy jingle is priceless. Check it all out in the video below.
As if the firestorm surrounding this issue wasn’t raging enough already, CBS partnered with Focus on the Family to create the controversial pro-life Super Bowl ad. Dun, dun, dun.
February 4, 2010
FTM Cliks singer named sexiest man
Lucas Silveira, frontman for The Cliks. Photo from Google Images.
CHART Magazine’s 15th Annual Year-end Readers’ Poll named The Cliks lead singer Lucas Silveira, an out transgender man, the sexiest Canadian man. Silveira cleaned up with 38 percent of the reader vote in the category aptly named Throw Your Underwear Award.
CHART Magazine is a top music publication in Canada, which is why it is so sensational that it entered a transperson into its sexiest man poll. Contests, polls and countdowns like this one usually reinforce stereotypical ideas of who is attractive, leaving out people whose gender does not conform to their sex.
February 3, 2010
Trans support group forms in Toledo
A transgender support group is forming in Toledo, Ohio. This is a collaborative effort between TransOhio, Equality Toledo, The Village Church and local Transgender residents in Toledo.
“EqualityToledo is excited to be working with TransOhio to establish a transgender support group and increase resources for trangender individuals in the Toledo area,” says Sherry Tripepi, Executive Director of Equality Toledo.
The initial meetings will be peer led. The support group is open to everybody – FTM, MTF, crossdressers, genderqueers, intersexed, etc. Initial meetings will be facilitated by TransOhio board members.
The first meeting of the Toledo Transgender Support Group will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2 p.m. at The Village Church, which is located at the corner of West Central Avenue and Monroe Street in Toledo, Ohio.
The Village Church
3992 Monroe Street
Toledo, OH 43606
Drop-ins welcome! E-mail TransOhio at TransOhio@gmail.com if you have questions or need additional information.
February 2, 2010
Award shows: double standards abound
When it comes to awards ceremonies in America, this perfect acceptable:
Pink performs at the Grammy Awards.
But this is offensive and inappropriate:
Adam Lambert kisses a band member during his American Music Awards performance.
It doesn’t make a bit of sense.
February 2, 2010
Action alert: CBS bans Super Bowl ads
Next Sunday, much of the nation will gather to watch Super Bowl XLIV – but this year, viewers are in for a surprise.
CBS has approved an ad designed to fuel the culture war over abortion, sponsored by the far-right group Focus on the Family. Stranger still, after years of refusing to run “advocacy ads” by progressive groups, CBS suddenly reversed its policy in order to allow this ad to air.
Ads about the deficit or promoting LGBT tolerance were “so controversial” they would have ruined the Super Bowl – but anti-abortion ads are just fine? Changing its policy to allow “advocacy ads” is a spineless move designed to give CBS political cover and save $2.5 million in ad revenue.
The Super Bowl isn’t the time or the place for a debate about abortion. Take action below and tell executives at CBS not to air Focus on the Family’s divisive and deceptive ad.
CBS also banned a GoDaddy.com ad that features an effeminate football player turned lingerie designer.
Tell CBS to stop by clicking here.
January 20, 2010
Quote: Singer Kesha drops the t-bomb
“A cross between Beastie Boys and a tranny with a hangover.”
— Kesha, the person who brought us “Tik Tok”, on her upcoming album
The word she was looking for is probably drag queen. And I refuse to recognize the dollar sign in her name.
January 20, 2010
Streep, Bullock heat up Critic’s Choice
Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock locked lips on stage at the Critic’s Choice Awards on Friday. Bullock called the moment, ”mindblowing and unbelievable.”
Bullock continued, quippingg that the two are looking to play lesbians in a film: “We may do a movie together that has a little sapphic element to it. Everyone’s been like, ‘Let’s get them together as lovers.’”
Of course, if the moment had been two men a la Adam Lambert, I am sure the reactions would be much less jovial.
Watch the moment here:
January 19, 2010
This week’s best links
January 15, 2010
GaGa PSA for LGBT homeless youth
One in five homeless youth identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
January 14, 2010
Happy first blogoversary to me!
It all started as a class project. At the University of Cincinnati, students of journalism are required to take two seminar classes, one of which covers blogging and Internet journalism. Other students presented their newly registered blogs on the second day of class – the men picking sports topics and the women picking student life or fashion. I was the only one to do something different.
Stuff Queer People Need To Know was born on Jan. 14. Less than a year and a quarter million hits later (364,676 to be exact), SQPNTK has blossomed from my humble assignment to one of the top 100 LGBT blogs in the world, as named by the Lesbian & Gay Foundation.
The LGBT community is largely ignored by the national media and is almost never covered by the local media unless there is a large protest. There were stories waiting to be told in my community, issues that were dying to be explored.
So in honor of my one year blogoversary, I have rounded up some of the most important, most impactful and most interesting posts selected from all 354 of them:
University of Cincinnati opens Queer Center
So if a girl kisses a girl then it doesn’t count, right?
Femaleness as a mental disorder
PETA’s Fur is a Drag campaign steps over the line
Kanye West reinvents the word “gay,” appreciates rainbows
Sean Penn’s Oscar speech hits the mark
No UC funds for Queer Center staffer
GenderF*ck causes bathroom confusion
UC students anti-gay crime update
Alleged anti-gay crime protest at UC
“Silly faggot, dix are for chix” shirt
Queer Art/Queer Action conference
Kate Bornstein educates, entertains XU
Guerrilla Queer Bar a success in Cincy
UC activists host rally for office staffer
Miss California denounces gay marriage
“Trans Survival Guide” now available
Focus On All Families draws queers
Intelligender predicts fetus’ identity
Miss California’s photos – not values or statements – may cost her the crown
GenderBloc GenderF*ck Drag Show
Fergie indulges in Sapphic scenarios
UC’s discussion of diversity is hilarious
Brother Micah protest planned at UC
Alleged anti-gay crime at Tabby’s Bar
Canceled sit-in not a missed chance
Radio hosts ridicule transgender child
CGQB article stirs controversy, support
Cincinnati Pride Day 1: disappointing
Cincinnati Pride day 2: phenomenal
The story of Cleveland Pride in photos
“Bruno”: A long road ahead for queers
MacFarlane outs Family Guy’s Stewie
Former Miss California strikes back
Now we have God to blame for Prejean
Gender continues to oppress everyone
Lady GaGa beats out Obama on equality
National Equality March in photos
National Equality March in video
Bouncer uses unnecessary force to remove gay man at guerrilla queer bar
UC marriage equality flash mob video
Ohio seems more liberal than ever
Lambert’s AMA performance on target
Get tested in honor of World AIDS Day
January 14, 2010
UC blood drive: gay men can’t donate
Donating blood saves lives, and many University of Cincinnati students helped do just that by participating in this week’s Hoxworth Blood Center blood drive. That is, except gay male students.
A 1983 Food and Drug Administration regulation, made at the height of the AIDS epidemic when very little was known about the disease, permanently banned men who have had sex with other men from donating blood because the organization considers this a high-risk behavior for transferring HIV. Consequently, blood centers across the United States do not allow gay men to donate blood and blood products, such as blood platelets, blood plasma and other human blood clotting agents.
“It is the policy of the FDA and we are regulated by the FDA,” said Alecia Lipton, a public relations representative for Hoxworth. The organization must comply with all of the FDA’s regulations to be a licensed blood center. Without this licensing, Hoxworth would not be able to supply blood and blood products to patients and hospitals.
While Hoxworth must comply with the regulation to function, the organization has championed its stance against the ban on gay men’s blood donations since 1997, joining forces with the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers to remove the policy.
Once blood is collected, it is tested for a myriad of reasons, detecting such things as HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. Individual’s blood that test positive for illnesses such as these is deferred and a notice is mailed to the donor. The donor must then call the blood center for the reason why their blood was deferred.
And when tests such as these are in place to ensure that no HIV positive blood is passed on to recipients, why ban gay men from donating? Most gay men are not HIV positive, and anyone who wants to donate blood should not be denied because of their sexual identity.
The questions donors are asked before their blood is drawn are basically answered on the honor system anyway. While the technician may test iron levels by pricking a donor’s finger, there is no homosexual test. A gay man could still donate as long as he says no to the question that asks if he has had sex with other men.
And while 47 percent of new HIV cases are a result of male-to-male sexual content, 44 percent of people with AIDS are black, according to AVERT, an international AIDS charity. Along the FDA’s reasoning, black people should also not be allowed to donate for fear they are HIV positive.
People who are intravenous drug users are also not allowed to donate blood, as the practice accounts for 22 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases. But high-risk heterosexual contact (unprotected sexual contact between a man and a woman), accounts for 24 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases.
The News Record reported in a Jan. 11 article titled “Hoxworth Center thirsty for more,” that the blood center is not meeting the demand for blood. So why deny someone who could potentially save a life by donating blood the ability to do so? Anyone who donates could potentially have HIV/AIDS, that is why all blood donations are tested.
Individuals who wish to leave the FDA comments regarding this policy should call 800-835-4709.
January 14, 2010
Action alert: Uganda anti-LGBT bill
Current legislation pending in Uganda’s parliament would severely punish homosexuality, making it one of the harshest bills against homosexuals in the world, virtually annihilating all human rights for LGBT Ugandans.
Amnesty International is urging everyone to write their representatives to take action on this issue. Do this effortlessly by clicking here.
January 13, 2010
D&G queers advertising, yet again
Super Bowl ad:
January 13, 2010
Best Prop 8 resources, coverage, Tweets
Resources:
365gay.com: Historian says marriage is about more than procreation
CNN: Prop. 8 is simply unconstitutional
Newsweek: The conservative case for gay marriage
San Francisco Chronicle: YouTube could humanize issue
Coverage:
365gay.com: Live blogging and news stories
Courage Campaign: Daily recaps, breaking news, live blogging and updates
Law Dork: Daily analysis of trial proceddings
Pam’s House Blend: Boies and Olson appear on Maddow
Towleroad: Federal Prop. 8 trial hub
Tweets:
@GayRightsMedia Prop. 8 Tweet list
Best Tweeters to follow: @ADFMedia, @AmerEqualRights, @Chris_Stoll, @CourageCampaign, @Drkotulski, @FedCourtJunkie, @GayMarriageWatc, @GayRightsMedia, @JenniferVanasco, @LGBT_POV, @LawDorkBlog, @NCLRights, @Pam_Spaulding, and, of course, @SQPNTK
