Rihanna

Megan Fox

It was only a matter of time before yet another starlet admitted to possibly having same-sex desires. “I’d love to be an assassin. Either that or a lesbian. Maybe both! Hey, a gay assassin, there’s nothing hotter than that,” Rihanna told the Daily Star.

And who else would play her girlfriend? None other than part-time sister of Sappho Megan Fox, every Maxim reader’s dream girl. “She’s yummy. She’s hot,” Rihanna said.

Of course, the world has been all a twitter over this, because when women –especially those who embody the straight ideal of what is attractive – reveal any sort of attraction for another woman, it is celebrated. Usually by heterosexual men, but still, it doesn’t receive that harsh of a punishment.

Yet, not too long ago, this same society condemned Adam Lambert for openly displaying his sexuality during the American Music Awards. I bet if Rihanna had made out with Megan Fox during her AMA performance, she wouldn’t have received the same type of backlash.

“I just think that all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes,” Megan Fox told GQ. “I mean, I could see myself in a relationship with a girl.”

Of course you could. And as long as that girl is another leading lady, you’re good in the eyes of society. Well, at least better than if you are paired with someone who is a gender deviant.

But what if Rihanna had said she wanted to be with a butch woman? She probably would have received a very different reaction. When she expresses interest for another feminine woman, it is eroticized, but if she deviated from the societal convention of what is attractive, this would have been a very different story.

Two LGBT community supporters are the latest MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam spokesmodels: Cindy Lauper and Lady GaGa. Every cent of the selling price of products in the Viva Glam line go to the MAC AIDS Fund. Previous spokesmodels include everyone from  songstresses Fergie and Eve, burlesque queen Dita von Teese and professional drag extraordinaire RuPaul.

Dec. 2 marks the fifth anniversary of Ohio’s Defense of Marriage Act. In 2004, Ohio passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

In honor of the banniversary, Equality Ohio has created a video to be delivered to members of the Ohio legislature. It is a part of the organization’s Our Stories project, which seeks to share the real stories of LGBT Ohioans to lawmakers and other citizens. Warning: It’s a tearjerker.

Cleveland City Council unanimously voted on Nov. 30, to approve a proposal protecting discrimination based on gender identity and expression in employment, housing and public accommodations.

According to Equality Ohio, other municipalities also voted on similar measures that day. Akron, Ohio, now includes sexual orientation and gender identity for employment, housing and public accommodations, in a vote of 1o-2. Summit County, Ohio, passed an almost identical ordinance, voting 11-1.

Dec. 1 marks the 21st celebration of World AIDS Day, an international day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Worldwide 33.4 million people live with HIV/AIDS, according to international AIDS charity, AVERT. Of those 33.4 million people, 1 million live in the United States. Every year the United States adds 56,000 people to that number.

To bring the number closer to home, 15,412 Ohioians live with HIV/AIDS, according to the Ohio Department of Health. In Hamilton County, 1,949 people live with HIV/AIDS. Other urban areas across the state also have staggering statistics: Cuyahoga County, home to Cleveland, has 3,298 people living with HIV/AIDS, while Franklin County, home to Columbus, has 3,023 people.

The AIDS epidemic took the world by surprise. There still is no cure for HIV/AIDS. The treatment is very expensive, and most people have limited or no access to the life-prolonging drug cocktails. It is no surprise more than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981, when the first HIV/AIDS cases were brought to light.

After many years of research, researchers have discovered HIV is spread through contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk, usually during unprotected genital contact, sharing syringes or needles and, less frequently, blood transfusions.

Currently, prevention and early detection are becoming the route to battle AIDS. Local organizations like Stop AIDS provide free, confidential testing at their offices and in mobile testing centers. The University of Cincinnati Wellness Center even partners with Stop AIDS quarterly to bring the free testing directly to students in University Health Services.

Knowing your status is integral to stopping the spread of HIV, well, knowledge and having protected sex.

The UC Wellness Center also provides three free condoms a day to students, as well as other goodies such as lube, dental dams, adhesive bandages and pain reliever. A student simply has to pop into the office in 675 Steger Student Life Center to pick up the swag and help stop the spread of HIV. Other organizations such as Planned Parenthood also distribute condoms or safe sex packs.

McMicken Commons at the University of Cincinnati is decorated with red ribbons for World AIDS Day.

Stop AIDS also provides other services in addition to free testing, including educating community members on how to access treatment and other services while having HIV/AIDS. Services like financial counseling, transportation, housing assistance and chemical and alcohol dependency are among the array offered by Stop AIDS. For more information call 513-421-2437.

Other programs like syringe exchange programs swap used syringes for sterile ones with intravenous drug users. The reasoning behind these programs is people are using intravenous drugs and spreading HIV/AIDS in the process. By offering a needle exchange, these groups are not promoting drug use, but decreasing the risk of contracting blood borne pathogens like HIV. Currently, Cincinnati has no such program, and 7 percent of Ohio’s HIV/AIDS cases can be credited to intravenous drug use.

In honor of World AIDS Day, people across the globe hold vigils or services in honor of World AIDS Day. Red ribbons are everywhere, even University of Cincinnati’s McMicken Commons had them. Facebook statuses, Tweets and blogs are devoted to the topic or go red for the day.

While all of this awareness raising is good, where is the action?

Wearing a red ribbon will not eradicate HIV/AIDS, but getting tested, having protected sex and using sterile syringes will curb the spread of HIV. There is no cure. Our only option is to prevent it.

Adam Lambert’s performance on last night’s American Music Awards may have been a lot of things, but inappropriate isn’t one of them.

The performance of Lambert’s latest single featured about three seconds of Lambert shoving someone’s face into his crotch, as well as a passionate kiss with a band member. And this was the closing number of the night – viewers could see worse on other shows that typically take that time slot. Much ado about nothing.

No one cared when Lady GaGa wore a flesh-toned body suit – one that made it look like she was wearing a strap-on at that – and broke liquor bottles on stage when she performed. No one said a word about Rihanna’s rings of clothing that left little to the imagination or when she entered the stage bound up BDSM-style. But when a fully clothed gay man mimics a few seconds of fellatio all hell breaks loose. Lambert’s number wasn’t inappropriate, it was right in line with the other outrageous performances of the night.

Lady GaGa at the AMAs. Photo from Google Images (TheSuperficial.com).

Rhianna at the AMAs. Photo from Google Images (TheSuperficial.com).

After all the press about it, I expected to see Lambert on stage with his pants open and a partner gleefully pleasing the pop star for a vast majority of the song, so when I watched the clip for the first time, I completely missed the controversial act entirely.

And trust me if GaGa – or even Britney – had done it, no one would even bat a false eyelash.

But Lambert’s new album drops tomorrow. I’m sure his camp isn’t all that upset about the hype.

Adam Lambert performs “For Your Entertainment at the AMAs

Lady GaGa performs “Bad Romance” and “Speechless” at the AMAs

Rihanna performs at the AMAs

“I imagine if our lord and saviour Jesus Christ had a cell phone, he would have sent Mary Magdalene a little something-something to show her.”

Today members of GenderBloc, a radical queer organization on the University of Cincinnati’s campus, observed Transgender Day of Remembrance by placing white flags on McMicken Commons, one for each person who dies yearly because of hate crime perpetrated against a transgender person. The students also chalked messages explaining the flags and denouncing hate.

From Google Images.

The Miami Herald is reporting that a technicality in the wording of the Texas Defense of Marriage Act may actually ban all marriages, not just those pesky homo ones.

In the state constitutional amendment it states, “Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.”

But the huge issue is in following statement meant to block civil unions and domestic partnerships: “This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.”

“You do not have to have a fancy law degree to read this and understand what it plainly says,” said Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general. She also said the language effectively “eliminates marriage in Texas.”

Of course this language will not result in an overnight cancellation of all marriages in Texas, it is still quite hilarious. It seems that whomever wrote the Texas DOMA amendment was so worried about gays finding some sort of equality in civil unions or domestic partnerships that they accidentally eliminated marriage for everyone. Talk about irony.

Cue the cynical laughter.

Photo from Google Images.

Nov. 16 – 20 marks Transgender Awareness Week, culminating in Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday. Cincinnati and Columbus have planned candle light vigils for the victims of transgender hate crimes and GenderBloc, a radical queer organization on the University of Cincinnati campus, will be placing flags on the commons to represent the amount of transgender people killed annually.

Photo from Google Images.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Ohioans elected 10 public officials from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, bringing in a record number of progressive LGBT voices, with positions ranging from school board to municipal court judge.

“The Ohio Democratic Party is proud to have recruited and groomed candidates across Ohio who reflect the great diversity of our party and our state,” Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said.

Amanda Armstrong, a third-year student at the College of Wooster, was elected to the Medina Educational Service Center Governing Board. Voters chose Kevin Johnson for Portsmouth City Council Ward 1. Nickie Antonio was picked for Lakewood City Council. Dayton City School Board will receive a new LGBT member Joe Lacey. Mark Tumeo was voted into Cleveland Heights City Council. Eric Resnick was elected to Canton City School Board. Bexley City School Board will welcome Carol Fey. Akron received a double dose of LGBT public officials in Sandra Kurt forAkron City Council Ward 8 and Jerry Larson for Akron Municipal Court. Jim Sands will join the Athens City Council.

“Democrats helped elect candidates young and old, male and female, gay and straight, from all geographical areas and of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds,” Redfern said. “Ohio Democrats fielded an unprecedented number of openly gay and lesbian candidates this year and achieved historic success by electing 10 of these candidates to office. We celebrate that success.”

The Victory Fund, which supports any out LGBT candidate running in an election for a position that he or she is qualified to hold, called the recent elections the most successful year for LGBT candidates outside of a national election.

Are the conservative tides changing for Ohio? It did go blue for Obama this same time last year. Cincinnati’s recently re-elected mayor is a dem. The representative for most of Hamilton County is Steve Driehaus, another democrat. Sen. Sherrod Brown, yet another democrat, was a co-sponsor of the Matthew Shephard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Protection Act, which toughened hate crime legislation already in place and brought LGBT people in as a protected class. Five Ohio representatives are co-sponsors of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Cincinnati’s representative in the Ohio House, Tyrone Yates, introduced a resolution to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Even Ohio’s governor plays for the blue team.

Again, why are Cincinnati and Ohio notorious for being conservative?

Ohioians even legalized gambling this year. Around this time every year,an issue is on the ballot about legalizing gambling in Ohio, and every year it gets voted down: We wouldn’t want the Cin City to become the next Sin City, now would we? Why the change of heart?

Is it the economy? Were republicans responsible for dwindling pocketbooks? Why has this historically red state, a state that twice voted for George W. Bush as president, has had such a radical change recently?

Ohio has been all Reaganomics and family values. Now it has an equal housing and employment act in the works to protect LGBT people; the bill was already passed by the Ohio House.

Maybe the Buckeye State is seeing an upturn in liberal candidates and legislation. Let’s just sit back and see how the backlash pans out.

The federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act is entering its final stages before it sees a House vote. Call the capital switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative’s office.

A sample of what to say would be: “I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H. R. 3017/S. 1584), which will protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. No one deserves to be fired from their job because of who they are. Please vote yes for ENDA.”

You can call 24/7 and leave a message – they count just as much as actually speaking to someone.

You may also sign the National Center for Transgender Equality’s ENDA petition here.

The Advocate: Ohio flash mob for gay marriage

The Cincinnati Enquirer: Flash mob for marriage equality video

The News Record: Flash mob protests Maine legislation

Out Gay Life: Flash Mob Protests Maine Gay Marriage Repeal

And some other videos onlookers made:

UC Marriage Equality Flash Mob

From the event’s Facebook page:

“Maine’s passage of Question 1 – stripping away existing rights from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens – made it clear that homophobia, transphobia and hatred are still allowed to permeate the American political sphere. Question 1 sought to silence the queer community’s voice by characterizing our relationships as second class and unequal.

“Although Question 1 was only decided by Maine voters, it is an assault to all people who believe in universal dignity and equality.

“Join Xavier Alliance Monday, Nov. 16, as we make it clear that no one is a second-class citizen.

“Meet in the Atrium of the Gallagher Student Center at 11:30 a.m. to watch a short video produced by members of Xavier’s Alliance. From there, Alliance members will distribute “I am not a second-class citizen” and “My friend is not a second-class citizen” posters and duct tape.

“We will then line up outside of Gallagher Student Center at 12:15 p.m., with posters in hand and duct tape over our mouths, making a statement to all of campus that each and every Xavier student is equal, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

“None of us can be passive observers of oppression – it’s time for all of us to demand equality.”

Activist Silvia Martinez of the Trans Network of Nicaragua (REDTRANS) was denied permission to travel to the United States. Martinez has been issued visas in the past to other countries and MADRE, an international women’s rights group and mother-type group to REDTRANS, has previously been allowed to bring other activist speakers to the United States. MADRE also cited that Martinez met the eligibility requirements for a U.S. visa.

MADRE believes Martinez was denied a visa because she is transgender: “This discrimination constitutes a violation of internationally recognized human rights, which the US is obligated to uphold.”

The organization is urging people to write the U.S. embassy in Nicaragua through a convenient action alert, located here.

It has been five years for Ohio, one year for California and one week for Maine. Citizens in these areas have been stripped of their rights under the guise of defending marriage. It’s time to change that.

For Tuesday, Nov. 10, University of Cincinnati  students have planned a flash mob and silent protest in response. A flash mob is a brief assembly of people, from seemingly out of no where, who freeze in a position that represents what that particular issue means to them.

This is not your ordinary protest. Beginning at 10 a.m., between Steger Student Life Center and Swift Hall (A map of UC’s campus can be found here.), students will meet to put tape on their mouths and pick up speaking cards explaining why they have chosen to stay silent. The silent protest lasts all day. Participants will also where white, writing “Are you listening?” across the front and how marriage inequality affects them as individuals on the back.

At 12:15 p.m., as classes are changing, students will reconvene for the flash mob. Whistles will blow promptly at 12:20 p.m., signaling the beginning of the protest. In the heart of campus, between Steger Student Life Center and Tangeman University Center. students will freeze in whatever pose represents how marriage inequality affects them. After five minutes, the whistle will be blown again and students will resume as if nothing happened.

UC flash mob tutorial

Keep in touch: R.S.V.P. to the Facebook event.

This month’s Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar event took place at Million’s, sibling bar to Mount Lookout Tavern. Not unlike queerings past, women were allowed to dance on the stage or poles but men were not, resulting in the use of force against a gay man.

Many men were asked to leave the stage and were pulled down by a bouncer. Some tried to resist, but it wasn’t until a pair refused to leave the stage that the situation began to escalate, as evidenced in the video below.

The man was escorted out of the bar, but was quickly allowed back in by the manager, giving the man and his companion complimentary shots. After this, no more men were escorted off the women-only dancing stage.

When questioned, a man who identified himself as one of the managers of the bar said, “It is just the policy of bars in this area [to not allow men on the stage].”

That translates to, “The stage is reserved for the objectification of women.”

Bouncer slams gay man at straight bar

Ohio has a lot to celebrate after this election. Not only will casinos finally be built in the Buckeye State, but 10 LGBT candidates were elected to office. Maybe the conservative tide in Ohio is turning.

Below is the welcomed list of new public officials:

Amanda Armstrong: Medina Educational Service Center Governing Board
Kevin Johnson: Portsmouth City Council Ward 1
Nickie Antonio: Lakewood City Council
Joe Lacey: Dayton City School Board
Mark Tumeo: Cleveland Heights City Council
Eric Resnick: Canton City School Board
Carol Fey: Bexley City School Board
Sandra Kurt: Akron City Council Ward 8
Jerry Larson: Akron Municipal Court
Jim Sands: Athens City Council

“The Ohio Democratic Party is proud to have recruited and groomed candidates across Ohio who reflect the great diversity of our party and our state,” Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said in a statement.

Those elected were mostly from the more northern areas, with Akron receiving a double queering.

“Democrats helped elect candidates young and old, male and female, gay and straight, from all geographical areas and of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds,” said Redfern. “Ohio Democrats fielded an unprecedented number of openly gay and lesbian candidates this year and achieved historic success by electing 10 of these candidates to office. We celebrate that success.”

A copy of the article can be found here. Visit Pam’s House Blend for the full report. Click here to send a response to the transphobic article in Seventeen Magazine.

Psst! Carrie, tuck in your nipple. Jesus is watching. Photo from TMZ.com.

Today is a most glorious day, for it has been revealed that the conservative values preaching former Miss California Carrie Prejean has dropped her lawsuit against the Miss California USA organization because an graphic sex tape of her has allegedly surfaced. Hallelujah.

From TMZ.com:

“They showed her the X-Rated version of Home Alone, starring Carrie herself.

“When the video started playing, Carrie’s first reaction was ‘that’s disgusting’ and Carrie denied it was her.

“Then, the camera angle changed and panned up to her face. She was caught red-handed, so to speak.

“Carrie was rendered speechless and immediately began talking with her lawyer. We’re told it took about 15 seconds for Carrie to drop her $1 million demand.”

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

It was bound to happen: Every idiot who wants to be famous knows a sex tape can help take a pseudo-celebrity’s D-list status up a couple of notches.

Groups like the National Organization for Marriage defended Prejean when scandalous photos surfaced. I wonder if Maggie Gallagher, president of NOM, and other conservative leaders will come to her rescue now. Family values indeed.

Stay in the loop by adding the Facebook event page.

Americans headed to the polls in droves yesterday to weigh in on a myriad of issues and candidates, including many dealing with the LGBT community.

The good news: In Kalamazoo, MI, 65 percent of voters supported an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance; currently, domestic partner benefits are leading in Washington with 51 percent of the vote, but only 50 percent of precincts have reported; Akron, Ohio, elected it’s first openly lesbian candidate, Sandra Kurt, to city council.

The bad news: No on 1, the stance that would preserve gay marriage in Maine, has conceded as 53 percent of voters voted yes to reject marriage equality.

Of course today is reminiscent of this same time last year. In a country that had just elected it’s first black president, oppression was institutionalized for another class of people. This has happened yet again.

And while radical actions are great, when it comes down to it, we must still answer to the laws of our nation, and when those laws create privilege for some we must work to change them. We need to work both within the system and through radical action to make real change.

Marriage equality is a tired subject and maybe shouldn’t be the LGBT or queer movement’s top priority, but the inequality is still indoctrinated in American law at many levels and that must change.

Moreover, what has happened in California, Maine and other states that have embedded oppression and hate into it’s most sacred document – it’s constitution – are just symptoms of how America feels as a whole. Constitutions are a contract between the government and the people; apparently a majority of both are okay with having a gay marriage ban in this contract. This is about changing the way people view queers as second class citizens, not just about the institutionalized inequality.

So if you get the opportunity to support equality where you live take it. Even if you’re tired of hearing about gay marriage or you are too radical to support such an issue, because when it comes down to it, it’s about equality. Even if you don’t want to take advantage of marriage equality, someone else does. And wouldn’t you want their support if something you valued was being taken way?

And keep in mind the famous – and albeit trite – quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”