2/28/14
Quote of the day, by Deion Sanders
"I don't nor do I condemn, but I've had a friend, family members... Everyone out there, you've had someone of homosexuality in your family — and someone whose on drugs and alcohol. How can I judge them? It's up to me to give him love, to give him support, to just be there for him. So I don't condone nor I condemn. But I'm gonna love him. Everybody in the NFL is always talking about football as a family but when you have the opportunity to really extend and show them that you're a family member, this is the opportunity. He's not the first gay guy in the NFL! He's the first one to come out, let's get that straight. Every team I've played on, there was someone...we always knew. But he was cool. That was our boy. We had to look out for him. Every team I've played on - five different teams - there was someone gay in the locker room."-- Deion Sanders
2/27/14
This high school coach talks about "having the best season of his life" after coming out. Beautiful and inspiring!
Read this first-person account by Saunders High School boys basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo:
There are two parts of the season that I despise. The first comes in the late autumn when I have to make cuts. Telling kids that they're not quite good enough to make the team can be gut-wrenching as the potential players' dreams are crushed.
The second comes at the end of the season. Entering the locker room after the final loss can be extremely emotional. A team that has worked hard for the past 10 months has to say goodbye. Hours of effort and bonding ends in seconds, and as coaches we often wonder what went wrong.
This season ended with a 54-51 loss in a great high school basketball game. As I entered the classroom to address the team for the final time I knew that it would be difficult to keep my emotions in check. This was the team that I came out to and who supported me all year. They wore Nike's gay-themed #BETRUE shirts in warmups. They finished 13-5 and went undefeated in the league. I thanked them for their effort and for providing me with the most enjoyable season of my career. With my voice cracking, I told them I loved them. They slowly trickled out to move on with their lives, with hugs and tears exchanged.
The end of the season is so definitive. Months of the same routine end suddenly, and it usually takes a few days to accept the inevitable. You never enter a game expecting to lose, so when that final horn sounds, it can send you into a major funk.
My journey over the past eight months has made me a better coach. I am more relaxed and secure in everything I do. When I attend an LGBT function or visit a gay bar, I do not look over my shoulder. Friends no longer attempt to match me with their sister or their wives' friends. I am longer expected to comment on the attractiveness of females when with my buddies.
The feeling of being free carries onto the court on a daily basis. Being stress-free has allowed me to better communicate with my players and run better practice sessions. My quality of life has improved, and in turn so has my performance as a coach and educator.In sports we so often equate success with wins and losses.
This year I felt that the journey was so much more than just basketball for both myself and my players. I watched them deal with national media, and they were stellar in their representation of the community. Their evolution was remarkable. In April, when Jason Collins came out (two months prior to my own coming out) I asked how they would feel if a teammate had announced the he was gay. Several said they would be very uncomfortable, stirring my own fears of coming out. The same players now wear #BETRUE shirts to school.
Read the entire article at Outsports.
Quote of the day, from Secretary of State John Kerry
"You could change the focus of this (Uganda) legislation to black or Jewish, and you could be in 1930s Germany, or you could be in 1950s or '60s apartheid South Africa," Kerry told reporters during a 55-minute question-and-answer session at the State Department. "It was wrong there, egregiously, in both places, and it is wrong here."-- John Kerry
2/26/14
2/25/14
Not surprisingly, U.S. 'Christian' groups helped write Uganda's hateful anti-gay law...
So-called 'Christians' are behind Uganda's ugly 'jail-the-gays-for life' bill. Is this what Jesus meant by teaching love? I don't think so.
2/24/14
2/23/14
More grace: On his way to New York City, Jason Collins has been signed by the Brooklyn Nets and will be in uniform for tonight's game. America is changing!
According to ESPN, Jason Collins was signed today and is on his way to NYC for tonight's game. Read this beautifully written article from ESPN:
At a recent Sunday morning service at his church in Los Angeles, Jason Collins swayed along with his fellow congregants to the gospel rock ballads being performed on stage. The church is a remarkably happy place, with a rustic chic design and Arcade Fire playing before the service out on the lawn, right near the coffee bar. It’s an urban believer’s paradise, and Collins appeared right at home.
Collins was going on his 10th month of basketball unemployment. He didn't receive a training camp invite, and as opening night came and went, then the Jan. 10 date when rosters rid themselves of some guaranteed contracts, the reality began to set in that he might not suit up again in the NBA.
The positive response of a handful of superstars and head coaches back in April, which seem like eons ago now, didn't change the fact that the league’s median opinion on Collins’ sexuality was still suspicious. Over the past decade, league executives have innovated many facets of their decision making, but they’re still conservative men at heart in their steadfast desire to maintain their careers. These days, few are really interested in being Walter O’Malley or Branch Rickey.
From the exterior, this was a cruel event, but for Collins it was something else entirely. He took refuge in his workouts each morning, and maintained an in-season regimen of conditioning and nutrition. But far more than that, he built a life for himself. Coming out isn't just a personal proclamation. It’s the moment you start to sculpt an identity as a gay person. In many respects, it’s Year Zero -- and for Collins, Zero was shaping up as an awesome year.
He met the world, established new friendships in different social communities around the country, and started dating. Barack and Michelle Obama reached out and pretty soon, Collins found himself at the State of the Union. From the White House to grassroots organizations, people were honoring Collins for his courage, and that's about as validating as an experience can get as a human being.
Though watching the league from afar wasn’t without frustration, Collins was loving life. As the service ended and the worshipers filed to the exits, Collins greeted a slew of people. The support was clearly both humbling and energizing. Out on the street, Collins caught up with a few friends. He was off to Washington on Monday as a guest at a state dinner for French President Francois Hollande and needed to run some errands before the trip east.
Collins will now board a plane with the Brooklyn Nets to join their drive toward the 2014 postseason. The opportunity comes 10 months after his last one, but the hiatus also unintentionally provided him time necessary to build confidence as an openly gay man, which should only help ease his transition back into life as a professional basketball player...For the full article
2/22/14
2/21/14
2/20/14
AZ lawmakers on the verge of passing a law that legalizes discrimination against LGBT based on "sincerely held religious beliefs." Pro-segregationists made the argument in the 1950s
From Joe.My.God
By a vote of 17-13, yesterday afternoon the Arizona Senate approved a bill that would legalize anti-gay discrimination on the basis of "sincerely held religious beliefs."
The vote along party lines, with Republicans in the majority, came after supporters defeated an attempt to extend existing employment laws that bar discrimination based on religion and race to also include sexual orientation. Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, said that's a separate issue from what he is trying to do. But Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said that's precisely the issue. "The bill opens the door for discrimination against gays and lesbians," he said. Yarbrough, however, said foes of SB 1062 are twisting what his legislation says. "This bill is not about discrimination," he said. "It's about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith."The Arizona House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats by 36-24, will debate the bill this afternoon.
2/19/14
2/18/14
Remembering my former business partner and friend, Leslie Kessler, who passed away today...RIP
She is the one in the center, at her 50th birthday party a few years ago. Leukemia.
2/17/14
Downton Abbey's humanity has been buoyed my spirits during these personally-challenging, last 10 days. Thank you, PBS!
This show reminds me of the wonderful English people I got to know in London, studying there 30 years ago.
Bittersweet: after these gay Russians emigrated to the U.S., they married but feel still some fear in expressing their love in public
One of the lingering effects of homophobia is the shame that gay people feel about themselves and their love. That is sad and something I hope disappears in my lifetime.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says he will sign "jail the gays" bill, declaring “war on the homosexual lobby”. President Obama warns Uganda...
President Obama is not pleased.
As a country and a people, the United States has consistently stood for the protection of fundamental freedoms and universal human rights. We believe that people everywhere should be treated equally, with dignity and respect, and that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, no matter who they are or whom they love.
That is why I am so deeply disappointed that Uganda will shortly enact legislation that would criminalize homosexuality. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans and reflect poorly on Uganda’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people. It also will mark a serious setback for all those around the world who share a commitment to freedom, justice and equal rights.
As we have conveyed to President Museveni, enacting this legislation will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda. At a time when, tragically, we are seeing an increase in reports of violence and harassment targeting members of the LGBT community from Russia to Nigeria, I salute all those in Uganda and around the world who remain committed to respecting the human rights and fundamental human dignity of all persons.
2/16/14
This is what one charismatic & talented gay man can do in the South. Watch the reaction of MIzzou to Michael Sam's return
This video should scare the GOP and the anti-gay forces like NOM and the Family Research Council: your brand of anti-gay rhetoric and hate is going out of style -- and fast.
America is finally learning to love it LGBT children. We have a long way to go, but, as this video shows, the tide has turned.
Quote of the day, on the GOP, Christianists, and LGBT equality
If you were devising a strategy to make the Republicans look like the Bull Connors of our time, you just stumbled across a winner. If you wanted a strategy to define gay couples as victims and fundamentalist Christians as oppressors, you’ve hit the jackpot. In a period when public opinion has shifted decisively in favor of gay equality and dignity, Kansas and the GOP have decided to go in precisely the opposite direction. The week that the first openly gay potential NFL player came out, the GOP approved a bill that would prevent him from eating in restaurants in the state, if he ever mentioned his intention to marry or just shack up with his boyfriend. Really, Republicans? That’s the party you want? As for the allegedly Christian nature of this legislation, let’s not mince words. This is the inversion of Christianity.-- Andrew Sullivan on the proposed GOP legislation in Kansas that would allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT people.
2/15/14
Quote of the day, on one reason why Federal judges are ruling in favor of love and marriage equality..
“It is becoming increasingly clear to judges that if they rule against same-sex marriage their grandchildren will regard them as bigots,”---Andrew M. Koppelman, a law professor at Northwestern
2/14/14
A Federal judge gives a big Valentine's Day gift to the LGBT community in striking down Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage: "marriage is a fundamental right"
From Towleroad.com:
Happy Valentine's Day! Lately, it seems like every day brings another falling domino in the fight for marriage freedom. Today's victory comes from Virginia, where a federal judge declared the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
The case, Bostic v. Rainey, looks a lot like every other marriage case -- loving and committed same-sex couples want nothing more than to have their love recognized by the state.
Judge Arenda Wright Allen, a former Judge Advocate General in the Navy and public defender and an Obama appointee to the federal bench, declared Virginia's ban unconstitutional, but took a different path than some other judges who have recently come to similar conclusions.
The decision concludes that marriage is a fundamental right and, as such, any ban on fundamental rights has to be evaluated under strict scrutiny. But Judge Wright Allen notes that she does not have to go the far: the ban fails very easily under equal protection, and under the lowest form of scrutiny. But, as you will see from our discussion below, this decision feeds off recent decisions elsewhere on marriage equality, proving that a victory in one case does indeed make it easier to win the next case.
2/13/14
2/12/14
We -- the LGBT -- can be anything, from an Eurosong contestant to Navy Seal. And we are...
Introducing Ryan Dolan. This story from Towleroad:
Ryan, perhaps best known as Ireland’s contestant in Eurovision’s Song Contest last year, came out of the closet in an interview with Ireland’s Radio One. As The Independent reports, the singer told radio personality Derek Mooney, “In school I was confused about who I was, and it was really hard for me growing up because of that. It was hard to deal with because I knew that I was gay, but I couldn't get the courage to talk to someone about it.”
Ryan, perhaps best known as Ireland’s contestant in Eurovision’s Song Contest last year, came out of the closet in an interview with Ireland’s Radio One. As The Independent reports, the singer told radio personality Derek Mooney, “In school I was confused about who I was, and it was really hard for me growing up because of that. It was hard to deal with because I knew that I was gay, but I couldn't get the courage to talk to someone about it.”
Introducing Brett Jones, a gay Navy Seal. Story from Sofrep:
The Navy had a Don’t-ask Don’t-tell policy (DADT), and I had met a number of people at gay bars in the area who still had been dishonorably discharged for it. Being a Navy SEAL and gay proposed its own set of problems. Fortunately for me, it was not obvious to people that I was gay. If I wanted to go out on a date with Mike (which I did), I was going to have to do some serious lying.
First, I was going to have to lie to my SEAL teammates. I absolutely hated it when I did that. It was Friday and they would no doubt try to get me to go out with them after our last dive. Second, I was going to lie to Mike, because there is no way in hell I was going to tell him truthfully what I did and who I worked for. I’m not proud of the lies, but living under the rule of DADT left me few options in such a small close-knit community.
Being gay is not a choice. In fact, I can remember countless nights of restless sleep praying for God to help me find women attractive in that way. As Garth Brooks says, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are un-answered prayers.” Though it took me a while to fully understand, I know now, that our diversity is one of the greatest gifts this world has to offer.
It can be very difficult to accept who you are, especially in an environment that has a history of treating LBGT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender) people negatively. At the time, the thought of my teammates discovering my secret was terrifying. Eventually, I was forced out of the closet to my SEAL team, and I discovered that it was not as bad as I had made it in my mind. Sure, there were guys who would whisper and talk behind my back, but overall my SEAL brothers supported me. For that, I will always be thankful. It was because of that support, from my brothers, that I could proudly say, “My name is Brett Jones, I am a Navy SEAL, and I am gay.”
2/11/14
2/10/14
Tweet of the day
This gave me chills. Love you guys #mizzounation RT @Mizzou Support for Sam at Memorial Stadium. #OneMizzou pic.twitter.com/pVejgYWiC2
— Michael Sam (@MikeSamFootball) February 10, 2014
2/9/14
Unprecedented! One of the most promising college football players comes at the BEGINNING of his NFL career. Introducing Mike Sam...
Mike's money quote: "I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it. I just want to own my truth."
Bisexual Dutch Ireen Wüst won the 3KM today. Speaking loudly with her skates, she reminds the world that all people are equal
Openly gay speedskater Ireen Wüst took the gold today in the women's 3000-meter race, becoming the first out athlete to medal at the Sochi Olympics. Today's is her third Olympic gold medal.
2/8/14
My president sends a message to Russia...of inclusion & love!
From Towleroad:
In an interview with Bob Costas this evening before the Opening Ceremonies of the Sochi Games, President Obama was asked about the inclusion of openly gay athletes in the official delegation.
Said Obama:
"There is no doubt we wanted to make it very clear that we do not abide by discrimination in anything, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. One of the wonderful things about the Olympics is that you are judged by your merit, how good you are regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love and that I think is consistent with the spirit of the Olympics."
2/7/14
2/6/14
2/5/14
When Midwestern kids like this one come out so proudly and authentically, you know that love is winning...
Ryan is a role model for closeted gay teenagers around the world. Unfortunately, his bravery comes at a cost: he has received two religious-referencing death threats. How crazy is that?
2/4/14
John Carlos, Olympian who protested the treatment of African-Americans in 1968, offers advice to gay athletes and their allies
From Towleroad:
"They’re going to risk condemnation. They’re going to ridicule him in the early stages, until society wakes up and realizes that the individual is right and had a right to speak out for the issues that concern his life as well as so many others."
Carlos also has high praise for Billie Jean King and is glad that people of all races and sexual orientations see his act as an inspiration:
"Well, it makes me feel good. You know, we can’t put labels or tags on one another. All we can say is that we’re just human beings. And we should try to remember, regardless of what your ethnic background is, or what your sexual preference is, or what type of food you like, it doesn’t matter. It just matters that we all have the right to be who we are in this society. And we need to keep fighting to make sure that there’s an even playing field for all people that are being oppressed."
From drag queens to jocks, the LGBT are proudly standing up for themselves and love, with grace. Two great examples...
From Outsports:
Chandler Whitney wanted to come out to his Walla Walla Community College baseball team, he just didn't know how or when. Over winter break he had spent time with his boyfriend, Willamette University kicker Conner Mertens, and his friends and felt acceptance by Mertens' hometown friends. It was a relief to be open and honest about his relationship with them.
When he returned to school last month, Whitney was more at ease with his sexuality. He didn't want to hide from his teammates anymore.
"I'd been planning to do it at some point anyway," Whitney told Outsports, "and seeing the reaction to Conner's story calmed me down."
Last week when the baseball team gathered for the first practices of the new year, talk turned to stories from winter break. Because he'd spent much of the break with Mertens, Whitney felt the time was now. He stood up in front of the team, said he had contemplated whether to tell them a secret or not, and shared a "confession" he'd been holding back from them since they first met:
"I'm gay."
The team broke into spontaneous applause. It took Whitney off-guard.
"Being where I am in eastern Washington, it's not the response I expected. I'm in Walla Walla, there's not a lot of open-mindedness on the surface."
In 2012, over 60% of the Walla Walla County voters rejected a ballot measure that ultimately legalized same-sex marriage in the state of Washington; Barack Obama garnered less than 40% of the vote there.
"I didn't necessarily expect hostility, but I expected a guy or two to feel uncomfortable or awkward. Everyone on the team shook my hand, gave me a hug and said we're a family and they had my back. The guys I thought would feel the most uncomfortable said don't worry about a thing, it's not a big deal."
Whitney grew up in a Catholic household in Beaverton, Ore., just a couple miles from Nike world headquarters. He was a standout baseball player, going between first base and outfield.
"I'm a pretty good hitter," Whitney said. "And my defense is fair."
He batted .350 in high school with a .461 on-base percentage. He was first-team all-state in Oregon his senior year, leading the team to the state semifinals. He attended Southridge High School, coincidentally the same name (but not the same school) as Mertens' high school. You can check out Whitney's college recruiting video below.
2/2/14
2/1/14
This Federal court case might change everything for the LGBT: sexual orientation may be subject to "heightened scrutiny," as are race and gender now
From the Huffington Post:
In the next few weeks, AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company that produces an important AIDS drug, will make a decision that could have a far-reaching effect on gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, and not just those with HIV.
If the company appeals a recent court ruling and wins, it will come as a blow to those who hope to see states around the country topple the remaining barriers both to same-sex marriage and to laws that protect gay people from discrimination.
The case did not initially concern gay rights at all, but was instead a fight between two pharmaceutical giants. In 2007, a drug company called SmithKline Beecham Corp. sued a rival drug producer, Abbott Laboratories. Abbott, which later spun off its drug research activities into a new company, AbbVie, had quintupled the price of its popular AIDS drug, a move that ended up hurting SmithKline's bottom line.
Predictably, Abbott's decision to raise the price of its drug sparked anger and protest from AIDS activists. Still, the case may have never come to the attention of the broader gay rights community if not for an attempt by Abbott to tilt the jury's makeup in its favor: In 2011, a lawyer for Abbott dismissed a potential juror who had revealed he was gay and had friends with HIV. SmithKline argued that the removal was discriminatory, and last week the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.
In the unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel called the exclusion of gay jurors unconstitutional. The reach of this ruling goes beyond gay jurors, however, because it touches on one of the most significant legal questions concerning gay rights today: Should laws related to sexual orientation be subject to "heightened scrutiny"?
Over the last several decades, the Supreme Court has developed a three-tiered system for classifying alleged violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which says that states can't deny people equal protection of the laws. When the Court classifies a case as deserving of "heightened scrutiny," it falls to the state to prove that its laws serve an important state interest. Until recently, the court has reserved this level of scrutiny for cases involving race and gender. But that’s changing.
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