By Michael D. ShearPresident Obama on Monday became the first Oval Office occupant to officially celebrate gay pride in the White House even as the gay community remains bitterly divided about the pace of Obama's efforts to turn words into action for their agenda.
In recognizing the march of progress since the protests outside New York's Stonewall Inn 40 years ago, Obama achieved a milestone for many gay and lesbian Americans who mark the day as the beginning of their modern rights movement.
But the excitement among the several hundred guests invited by the first couple to the East Wing Monday was tempered by frustration among many who believe that the president has moved too slowly to make good on his campaign promises.
Obama's refusal to take unilateral action to end the "don't-ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military and his administration's support for a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act even sparked a small protest outside a speech to gay activists by VicePresident Biden last week.
"There's been an awful lot of noise and criticism," said Steve Elmendorf, a top Democratic lobbyist who is openly gay. "For him to send a message to the entire country that this is an event worth celebrating is a big deal. But people expect beyond that to see some substance on a whole host of issues."
Obama confronted those expectations directly Monday, renewing his campaign promises to change the military's policy, repeal the marriage act and pass a federal hate crimes bill named for Matthew Shepard, the student murdered in Wyoming in 1998.
"I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by word, but by the promises my administration keeps," Obama said to sustained applause from the crowd. "By the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/06/29/in_a_presidential_first_obama.html?wprss=44
Saturday, July 4, 2009
China's first Gay Pride event
Julie Desne
June 11, 2009
China's first Gay Pride event, organised by Shanghai's English-speaking expatriates, has been quietly celebrating homosexuality this week with no hint of a parade or advertising hype.
In a country where acceptance of homosexuality is still low, organisers -- foreigners living in China -- have been reluctant to draw official attention.
So "Shanghai Pride" does not include the colourful parade that typifies Gay Pride events in Europe and the US, but is centred around events held in private venues to avoid the need for government permission.
As a result, few Chinese appear to be taking part -- or even to know about the events -- and attendees have been mostly expatriate.
"Even though we have talked about (Shanghai Pride) for a long time, the news published in Chinese about this is only very recent," said Xing Zhao, a gay man in his thirties.
Homosexuality has long been a taboo subject in China with gay sex decriminalised only in 1997, while homosexual behaviour was officially viewed as a mental disorder until 2001.
Those behind Shanghai Pride hope it will help change prevailing attitudes, no matter how incrementally.
Organised by Shanghai LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered), an association of English-speaking expatriates, Shanghai Pride revolves around film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and charity sales.
Money raised will go to the Hong Kong-based Chi Heng Foundation, which funds education for children orphaned by AIDS in central China.
"We are aware that to develop understanding and acceptance of a non-traditional way of life naturally takes more time than to build skyscrapers," association spokeswoman Hannah Miller said in a statement.
"We therefore hope that this festival will work positively in that direction."
The gay Chinese community does not appear convinced the event will inspire greater acceptance of homosexuality.
"I don't think Shanghai Pride will change people's perception of homosexual people at once," said Wang Jin, a 27-year-old Chinese lesbian who has heard of the festival but does not intend to take part.
"But it's much better that it takes place than not," she said.
The week-long programme of events -- and the fact that the Shanghai Pride website is not in Chinese -- underscored the domination of expats, said Xing.
"They do not have bad intentions, but this is a very Westernised gay culture and it's not enough to include Chinese people, despite the fact there are so many Chinese homosexuals in a city like Shanghai."
Chinese homosexuals had their own life in the city, he said, adding he sometimes goes to gay tea dances, costing 5 yuan (70 cents), where everyone is Chinese.
By contrast, a Shanghai Pride barbecue on Saturday will cost 150 yuan -- a significant sum for Chinese people.
Nevertheless, Shanghai -- a vibrant metropolis of around 20 million -- is certainly more tolerant of its gay community than most Chinese cities, with bars that attract an exclusively gay clientele.
The official China Daily newspaper estimates there are 30 million homosexuals in China, or less than three percent of the population.
June 11, 2009
China's first Gay Pride event, organised by Shanghai's English-speaking expatriates, has been quietly celebrating homosexuality this week with no hint of a parade or advertising hype.
In a country where acceptance of homosexuality is still low, organisers -- foreigners living in China -- have been reluctant to draw official attention.
So "Shanghai Pride" does not include the colourful parade that typifies Gay Pride events in Europe and the US, but is centred around events held in private venues to avoid the need for government permission.
As a result, few Chinese appear to be taking part -- or even to know about the events -- and attendees have been mostly expatriate.
"Even though we have talked about (Shanghai Pride) for a long time, the news published in Chinese about this is only very recent," said Xing Zhao, a gay man in his thirties.
Homosexuality has long been a taboo subject in China with gay sex decriminalised only in 1997, while homosexual behaviour was officially viewed as a mental disorder until 2001.
Those behind Shanghai Pride hope it will help change prevailing attitudes, no matter how incrementally.
Organised by Shanghai LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered), an association of English-speaking expatriates, Shanghai Pride revolves around film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and charity sales.
Money raised will go to the Hong Kong-based Chi Heng Foundation, which funds education for children orphaned by AIDS in central China.
"We are aware that to develop understanding and acceptance of a non-traditional way of life naturally takes more time than to build skyscrapers," association spokeswoman Hannah Miller said in a statement.
"We therefore hope that this festival will work positively in that direction."
The gay Chinese community does not appear convinced the event will inspire greater acceptance of homosexuality.
"I don't think Shanghai Pride will change people's perception of homosexual people at once," said Wang Jin, a 27-year-old Chinese lesbian who has heard of the festival but does not intend to take part.
"But it's much better that it takes place than not," she said.
The week-long programme of events -- and the fact that the Shanghai Pride website is not in Chinese -- underscored the domination of expats, said Xing.
"They do not have bad intentions, but this is a very Westernised gay culture and it's not enough to include Chinese people, despite the fact there are so many Chinese homosexuals in a city like Shanghai."
Chinese homosexuals had their own life in the city, he said, adding he sometimes goes to gay tea dances, costing 5 yuan (70 cents), where everyone is Chinese.
By contrast, a Shanghai Pride barbecue on Saturday will cost 150 yuan -- a significant sum for Chinese people.
Nevertheless, Shanghai -- a vibrant metropolis of around 20 million -- is certainly more tolerant of its gay community than most Chinese cities, with bars that attract an exclusively gay clientele.
The official China Daily newspaper estimates there are 30 million homosexuals in China, or less than three percent of the population.
Obama extends gay health benefits
June 18, 2009
President Barack Obama has extended some federal health benefits to same-sex partners of US government workers, in what he said was a historic step towards equality for gays and lesbians.
"Many of our government's hardworking and dedicated patriotic public servants have long been denied basic rights... for one simple reason, the people that they love are of the same sex," Obama said on Wednesday.
Obama signed a presidential memorandum ushering in the changes, in the wake of rising criticism from some lesbian and gay rights groups about what they see as sluggish progress towards implementing campaign promises.
Under the new measures, domestic partners of federal workers will get benefits including long term care insurance. Government workers will also be able to use sick days to care for their partners if they become ill.
The move will also cover members of the foreign service, allowing partners of diplomats to use medical facilities at US posts abroad, to benefit from medical evacuations and to be included in housing allocations.
But Obama's memorandum does not include comprehensive health and life insurance. Obama promised to back legislation in Congress allowing those full benefits to be provided.
Despite his action on Wednesday, the president has yet to follow through on a White House promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the US military - a hugely controversial issue.
Gay groups also recently slammed the Obama Justice Department for backing the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.
© 2009 AFP
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/obama-extends-gay-health-benefits-20090618-cige.html
President Barack Obama has extended some federal health benefits to same-sex partners of US government workers, in what he said was a historic step towards equality for gays and lesbians.
"Many of our government's hardworking and dedicated patriotic public servants have long been denied basic rights... for one simple reason, the people that they love are of the same sex," Obama said on Wednesday.
Obama signed a presidential memorandum ushering in the changes, in the wake of rising criticism from some lesbian and gay rights groups about what they see as sluggish progress towards implementing campaign promises.
Under the new measures, domestic partners of federal workers will get benefits including long term care insurance. Government workers will also be able to use sick days to care for their partners if they become ill.
The move will also cover members of the foreign service, allowing partners of diplomats to use medical facilities at US posts abroad, to benefit from medical evacuations and to be included in housing allocations.
But Obama's memorandum does not include comprehensive health and life insurance. Obama promised to back legislation in Congress allowing those full benefits to be provided.
Despite his action on Wednesday, the president has yet to follow through on a White House promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the US military - a hugely controversial issue.
Gay groups also recently slammed the Obama Justice Department for backing the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.
© 2009 AFP
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/obama-extends-gay-health-benefits-20090618-cige.html
India's ban on gay sex overturned after 150 years
LAWS dating back to the British Raj that banned gay sex have been overturned in a landmark judgment in India's capital.
The 150-year-old section 377 of India's penal code, introduced when the British ruled the subcontinent, described homosexual intercourse as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and imposed a 10-year jail term for offenders.
The Delhi High Court yesterday declared the laws a violation of "fundamental rights" and unconstitutional.
The decision means consensual sex between those over the age of 18 will no longer be punishable, although the court ruled that section 377 should still apply to cases of non-consensual sex and pedophilia.
The court recommended that the Indian Government amend section 377 in accordance with its ruling. However, Indian Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily responded cautiously, saying he would study the judgment before commenting.
The ruling is a big victory for India's gay rights movement, which has staged a long campaign for homosexuality to be decriminalised.
A petition seeking legalisation of homosexuality was first lodged in 2001 by Naz Foundation, an organisation that promotes sexual health. One argument put forward for decriminalising homosexuality was it would help promote the prevention of HIV/AIDS in India.
The petition, which was opposed by the Indian government, was thrown out of the Delhi High Court in 2004 but later reopened after India's Supreme Court directed that the High Court reconsider.
Tripti Tandon, one of the lawyers who brought the petition, said she hoped the Government would not appeal against the decision.
Gay activists said the judgment reaffirmed the liberal and secular nature of India's democracy.
"This is a huge milestone and a very emotional moment for so many of us," said activist Nitin Karani of the Humsafar Trust, which promotes prevention of HIV/AIDS among gay men.
"A lot of gay people have been … too afraid to come forward to get information about their sexual and mental health because of this law. Now they will be less afraid and less inhibited."
The court's decision drew fire from Indian religious leaders.
"This is absolutely wrong," said Muslim leader Ahmed Bukhari, the imam of Delhi's Jama Mosque. "If the Government (attempts) to scrap Section 377, we will oppose it strongly."
Last year, during a hearing into the Naz Foundation's petition, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, objected to gay sex on the grounds that it caused bodily injury, a claim rejected by the Delhi High Court.
Father Dominic Emmanuel, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, said the church did not oppose the decriminalisation of homosexuality but opposed further reforms such as the legalisation of gay marriage.
Matt Wade, South Asia Correspondent, Delhi
July 3, 2009
http://www.theage.com.au/world/indias-ban-on-gay-sex-overturned-after-150-years-20090702-d6j4.html
The 150-year-old section 377 of India's penal code, introduced when the British ruled the subcontinent, described homosexual intercourse as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and imposed a 10-year jail term for offenders.
The Delhi High Court yesterday declared the laws a violation of "fundamental rights" and unconstitutional.
The decision means consensual sex between those over the age of 18 will no longer be punishable, although the court ruled that section 377 should still apply to cases of non-consensual sex and pedophilia.
The court recommended that the Indian Government amend section 377 in accordance with its ruling. However, Indian Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily responded cautiously, saying he would study the judgment before commenting.
The ruling is a big victory for India's gay rights movement, which has staged a long campaign for homosexuality to be decriminalised.
A petition seeking legalisation of homosexuality was first lodged in 2001 by Naz Foundation, an organisation that promotes sexual health. One argument put forward for decriminalising homosexuality was it would help promote the prevention of HIV/AIDS in India.
The petition, which was opposed by the Indian government, was thrown out of the Delhi High Court in 2004 but later reopened after India's Supreme Court directed that the High Court reconsider.
Tripti Tandon, one of the lawyers who brought the petition, said she hoped the Government would not appeal against the decision.
Gay activists said the judgment reaffirmed the liberal and secular nature of India's democracy.
"This is a huge milestone and a very emotional moment for so many of us," said activist Nitin Karani of the Humsafar Trust, which promotes prevention of HIV/AIDS among gay men.
"A lot of gay people have been … too afraid to come forward to get information about their sexual and mental health because of this law. Now they will be less afraid and less inhibited."
The court's decision drew fire from Indian religious leaders.
"This is absolutely wrong," said Muslim leader Ahmed Bukhari, the imam of Delhi's Jama Mosque. "If the Government (attempts) to scrap Section 377, we will oppose it strongly."
Last year, during a hearing into the Naz Foundation's petition, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, objected to gay sex on the grounds that it caused bodily injury, a claim rejected by the Delhi High Court.
Father Dominic Emmanuel, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, said the church did not oppose the decriminalisation of homosexuality but opposed further reforms such as the legalisation of gay marriage.
Matt Wade, South Asia Correspondent, Delhi
July 3, 2009
http://www.theage.com.au/world/indias-ban-on-gay-sex-overturned-after-150-years-20090702-d6j4.html
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Hot Hot Hot....
It is just after 3pm here in Portland and the thermometers on my patio say 100 and 102. Summer is defiantly here.........
Over heard.......
...at work today.....
Male coworker: I can think of a couple of things I'd rather be doing, but I'll let you choose.
Male supervisor: Why do I get to choose???
Male coworker: because either way you will be on your knees.............................
Male coworker: I can think of a couple of things I'd rather be doing, but I'll let you choose.
Male supervisor: Why do I get to choose???
Male coworker: because either way you will be on your knees.............................
Poll Results
Who would you like for your fag hag?
42% Bette Midler
35% Betty White
7% Sandra Burnhardt, Margret Cho, Michelle Obama
0% Valeri Bertinelli, Nancy McKeon, Britny, Lindsay Lohan, Marg Helgenburger, Colista Flockhart
New poll will be posted shortly......
42% Bette Midler
35% Betty White
7% Sandra Burnhardt, Margret Cho, Michelle Obama
0% Valeri Bertinelli, Nancy McKeon, Britny, Lindsay Lohan, Marg Helgenburger, Colista Flockhart
New poll will be posted shortly......
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