Regional & National News
The Staff of OIA gather and compile the NEWS from a variety of sources including but not limited to: PageOneQ.com, 365Gay.com, New York Times, The Advocate, and PlanetOut.com, TulsaWorld.com, The Grand Rapids Press, The Baltimore Sun, Southern Voice, Charlotte News and Observer.
Regional News
National News
REGIONAL NEWS
Camp Lickalotta's Bushstock ‘08 Finds a Venue
Gastonia, NC - Camp Lickalotta has overcome the challenge of controversy, threats, and eviction to find a new venue for their upcoming weekend festival, Bushstock ‘08.
The LGBT campground was located within Golden Valley Campround in Rutherford County, NC until early March when a local newspaper gave them a little too much publicity.
After The Shelby Star, was contacted by someone in the community about the content of the camp’s website, a reporter contacted camp founders Nancy Leedy and Joanie Beasley for an interview. Not sure whether they wanted that kind of exposure, they declined the interview. But the reporter ran the story using information and quotes from other sources.
Although the article in the Shelby Star was fair and objective, it created a firestorm of controversy. Leedy, Beasley, and the Hoyles who own the Golden Valley Campground became targets for harassment. It didn’t take long for Leedy and Beasley to be evicted from their campsite home without recourse because they only had a verbal agreement with the Hoyles.
But that hasn’t swayed them from their conviction to create a safe and welcoming campground community for everyone. Leedy and Beasley have remained true to the ideals and goals of Camp Lickalotta; lick-a-lotta prejudice, lick-a-lotta pollutants, and lick-a-lotta pessimism. And have continued to move forward with plans for a fundraiser/benefit weekend camping and music festival, dubbed Bushstock 08.
After being run out of Rutherford County, NC and an exhausting search for a new venue for Bushstock ‘08, the founders of Camp Lickalotta signed a contract on April 12 with the owners of the Etowah River Campground, an hour north of Atlanta, in Dahlonega, GA, to hold Bushstock '08 at their site May 16-18.
Etowah River Campground co-owner Jacki Scott told Southern Voice the hullabaloo concerning Camp Lickalotta in North Carolina didn’t bother her, saying, “I’m just not that small-minded,” She owns the campground with her husband, Darrell Scott.
Besides, Scott acknowledged, she and her husband look forward to the attention of having the controversial couple make camp at their place in North Georgia. “We welcome the exposure,” Scott said.
In spite of the fact that most of the controversy was triggered because folks in Rutherford County thought the camp’s name to be obscene, Leedy and Beasley have never considered changing it.
“If people don’t like it, that’s fine…” Beasley told Southern Voice. “All we want to do is push Bushstock and make it a reality. And show there are people like Jacki and Darrell who will take a risk for us to have an event.”
Now that a site for Bushstock ‘08 has been secured Beasley says, “I’m feeling wonderful.”
Leedy said she and Beasley felt victorious in finding the support to make Camp Lickalotta and Bushstock ‘08 a reality.
“We have won over fear, bigotry and hate, done all in the name of God,” Leedy said. “I do consider myself a Christian … live and let live…we have been violated so much by the Religious Right. We have won.”
Performers at Bushstock ‘08 include Julie Schurr, The Cinnamon Girls, Vickie Blankenship and Kym Berry Music. The bands have agreed to play at this year’s festival for free. For tickets and more information about Bushstock08, go to wwwbushstock.com.
Leedy explained that as a fundraiser and benefit 45 percent of profits from Bushstock ‘08 will be paid to the Etowah River Campground, 45 percent will be used to purchase land for Camp Lickalotta and 10 percent will go to Indie Music for Life, a music therapy organization that offers services for children with cancer.
Anti-Gay Graffiti at Charlotte School on Day of Silence
Charlotte, NC - Students across the region participated in the national Day of Silence observation on April 25 to express solidarity with gay and lesbian students who have been bullied and harassed.
School officials in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district said the event took place without incident on most campuses, despite earlier talk of counter protests from students who feel they are being pressured to mute their opposition to gay rights.
The only incident reported by noon on The Day of Silence was that anti-gay graffiti had been scrawled on a campus rock at Providence High School. The graffiti was discovered on the rock before school opened, and removed before students arrived for classes, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Sgt. David Schwob.
The Day of Silence is a national event in which students remain mute at school to call attention to the bullying -- and effective silencing -- of LGBT students.
Critics call it a disruptive demonstration organized by national gay rights activists. School board member Kaye McGarry tried to have CMS give excused absences to students who didn't want to witness it, but other board members voted against her.
Supporters say the demonstration brings attention to the bullying LGBT students suffer, and gives other students a chance to stand with them in support. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools did not endorse the event, but allowed the silent protests as long as they didn't disrupt learning.
The Day of Silence fell on the same day as the annual Diversity Summit organized by the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice. The event, held at North Mecklenburg High, gathered about 300 students from high schools across the county to talk about bridging social and cultural gaps.
One of the student organizers, Kristen Livingston, wore a "GLBT Ally" button. She said she'd seen many other North Mecklenburg students wearing buttons and T-shirts to support the observation, and teachers were understanding as long as students explained why they weren't talking.
"I'm in full support of the Day of Silence," she said. "We should be allowed to have it at school. We are a diverse culture."
TBR Adopts Fully Inclusive Non-Discrimination Policy
Mufreesboro, TN - Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has adopted a non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy that covers both sexual orientation and gender identity. The TBR system includes six Universities, 13 Community Colleges, and 28 Tennessee Technology Centers across the state. This policy immediately affects thousands of students, staff, and faculty.
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) applauded TBR for adopting this policy banning discrimination and harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people on all 47 of the campuses under its jurisdiction and encourages each of the TBR member institutions to follow up with their own specific guidelines to enforce this new policy.
TTPC also encourages the University of Tennessee system to follow the TBR’s lead and adopt a fully inclusive, non-discrimination policy as well.
Until this move by TBR, not one institution of higher learning in Tennessee, public or private, had a non-discrimination or anti-harassment policy covering all gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender students, staff, or faculty.
Charlotte Activist Doubly Honored
Charlotte, NC – Charlotte based Campus Pride founder honored national award.
Shane L. Windmeyer is one of the foremost educators on sexual orientation issues on college campuses, a national leader in LGBT civil rights, and author. His unique style, insight, humor and personal stories actively engage the audience to break down stereotypes and stand up against hate and bigotry on campus. Gay or straight, Windmeyer opens the closet door that traditionally keeps students silenced on issues surrounding sexual orientation
Because of his commitment to social justice, education development and training, Campus Pride founder and executive director, Windmeyer, has been honored with the 2008 Voice of Inclusion Medallion from the ACPA – College Educators International (American College Personnel Association).
The Voice of Inclusion Medallion recognizes an individual for their exemplary campus-based programs in the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs. In addition, the award is bestowed to recipients who have responded to an assessed need in the areas of multiculturalism and diversity through well-developed, meaningful programs and practice.
Windmeyer was nominated by student leaders and professional peers who attended the Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp, a five day undergraduate training program for LGBT and ally student leaders. He was recognized for founding the camp, as well as his groundbreaking work in 2007 launching the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index, the only national resource of its kind.
Also, as part of the accolades at the ACPA national conference, Windmeyer received the Elizabeth A. Greenleaf Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma matter, Indiana University. Windmeyer received his Masters in from Indiana University in 1997. According to the selection committee, Windmeyer exhibited the sincere commitment, professional leadership, and personal warmth characteristic of the distinguished mentor after whom the award is named. He is the youngest alumnus to receive the award since its inception.
Windmeyer’s organization, Campus Pride, is the leading national nonprofit organization for LGBT and ally student leaders and campus groups. The organization is a volunteer-driven network "for" and "by" student leaders to develop, support and give “voice and action” in building future LGBT and ally student leaders and safer, more LGBT-Friendly colleges and universities.
Maryland Legislature Approves Medical Rights for Domestic Partners
Annapolis, MD - Unmarried couples would get additional medical decision-making rights in Maryland under a bill headed to the governor.
The House of Delegates has approved a bill to allow domestic partners, gay or straight, to make medical or funeral decisions for each other if they meet certain criteria to show they are a committed couple.
The bill has already passed the Senate and is now headed to Gov. Martin O'Malley to be signed.
Some Republicans in both chambers tried to defeat the decision-making bill, saying it paves the way for gay marriage. But supporters said gay couples should be allowed such rights as riding in ambulances with a sick partner or making next-of-kin funeral decisions.
NATIONAL NEWS
Record Number Of Schools Observe Day Of Silence
New York City, NY - Students from some 6,000 middle and high schools took part in the 12th annual National Day of Silence on April 25 to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.
This year the observance is in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old from Oxnard, Calif., who was shot and killed in school on February 12 because of his sexual orientation and gender expression.
"Young people from across the country have heard about this horrible tragedy and are coming together on the Day of Silence to show their support for safe schools for all students," said Kevin Jennings, executive director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the event’s national sponsor.
"The Day of Silence brings hope to hundreds of thousands of students that their schools and their world can be safer and more tolerant places."
Students taking part hand out 'speaking cards' explaining their action.
But increasingly the event is being threatened and countered by social and religious conservatives. Some conservative activists have called on parents to take their children out of school on the day of the event. Others are organizing The Day of Truth as a response to the Day of Silence, and school districts that bar counter demonstrations are being threatened with lawsuits.
The day before the Day of Silence this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit issued a temporary reversal of two lower courts rulings and allowed a teen to attend class today wearing a T-shirt opposing homosexuality.
A study released by the GLSEN in 2006 showed that homophobia is widespread in the nation's schools. The study also showed that bullying has had a negative impact on learning.
American Family Association Targets McDonald's
Upset over the election of a McDonald’s senior executive to the Board of Directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association is calling upon his organization's members to take action.
Wildmon is asking followers to call their local McDonald's franchises to ask why the company is "using its size and resources to promote the homosexual agenda" and to use the AFA's online action center to send company Chairman Andrew J. McKenna an email.
Last month, Richard Ellis, VP of Communications for McDonald's USA, was elected to the NGLCC board and said he was "thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work." McDonald's is also listed as a Chamber corporate partner.
"With publicity stunts like this, you have to begin to wonder if the entire staff at the American Family Association was in a coma the last decade when corporate America rocketed towards equality," HRC spokesman Brad Luna told PageOneQ. McDonald's scored an 85% rating from the HRC Equality Index.
"The NGLCC is an economic advocacy organization that represents the business interests of LGBT-owned companies, just as the US Hispanic Chamber, the US Women's Chamber or the US Black Chamber represent those of Hispanic, Women and African American business owners," NGLCC president Justin Nelson told PageOneQ.
"…if anyone takes the time to understand our agenda – an agenda focused on access to affordable health care, creating opportunities for new business development, developing avenues for increased revenues, creating jobs and growing the workforce…anyone that would call this a 'radical homosexual business agenda'…chooses to ignore reality..."
ABSOLUT’s New Gay-Friendly Ad Campaign
New York, NY – With its tongue planted firmly in its cheek, ABSOLUT® VODKA, the world’s most iconic vodka, unveiled its first-ever LGBT-specific ads stemming from its ‘In An ABSOLUT World’ campaign.
Embracing both the humorous and socially conscious, ABSOLUT challenges the status quo by presenting a bold and optimistic worldview that speaks directly to gays and lesbians. The campaign visually answers the questions “what if everything in the world were approached with the same ideals that ABSOLUT approaches vodka?”
The brand’s two new, daring print ads include: “Ruler,” a humorous twist on the idea that “size matters,” and “Stadium” incorporates the issue of gay marriage when one half of a gay couple “pops” the question during a sports outing. Created by SPI Marketing/Moon City in New York, these new lifestyle-driven ads build on a heritage of advertisements that prominently featured gay artists since 1984.
The preferred brand of vodka for gay and lesbian consumers, ABSOLUT® was one of the first major brands to place an ad in a gay magazine 27 years ago and is a long-time supporter of events and causes important to the gay and lesbian community.
John Nash, President of Moon City, the agency responsible for the execution of the new gay ads explains, “These two new visions bring a perspective to the ‘In An ABSOLUT World’ campaign that was inspired by a gay point of view, but can easily be appreciated by many people. Gay men and woman have long felt connected to the artistic legacy of the brand and these new ads…make the brand relevant in a smart, personal way for gay men and lesbians today.”
Oprah Interviews Pregnant Transman
Chicago, IL - A transgender man who is six months pregnant said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he always wanted to have a child and considers it a miracle.
Beatie, 34, who lives in Oregon, was born a woman but decided to become a man 10 years ago. He began taking testosterone treatments, had top surgery, and is recognized as a man under state law.
He's actually not the first transman to get pregnant. Matt Rice of San Francisco, who was born female, gave birth to a son in 1999. His partner, Patrick Califia-Rice, also a female-to-male transgendered person, wrote about the experience in 2000 in The Village Voice.
"I opted not to do anything with my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day," Beattie told Winfrey.
"It's not a male or female desire to have a child. It's a human desire," a thinly bearded Thomas Beatie said. "I have a very stable male identity," he added, saying that pregnancy neither defines him nor makes him feel feminine.
Beatie's wife Nancy also appeared on the show and explained she inseminated him with sperm purchased from a bank.
Beattie and his wife Nancy have been legally married for five years. Nancy has two grown daughters from a previous marriage and told Winfrey the couple's roles will not change once the baby is born.
"He's going to be the father and I'm going to be the mother," she said.
The couple was shown on video provided by People Magazine, which collaborated with Winfrey on the show, showing the room that will be the baby's nursery. Beatie said the little girl was going to be "daddy's little princess."
The couple was also filmed in their hometown of Bend, Oregon, where he underwent an ultrasound showing the baby in his womb.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe she's inside me," Beatie said while watching the ultrasound image. "We see her as our little miracle."
His obstetrician, Dr. Kimberly James, who practices in the Oregon town, told Winfrey, "This baby is totally healthy. This is what I consider a normal pregnancy." She also explained Beatie stopped taking testosterone two years ago and his levels of the hormone are normal.
Winfrey called the development "a new definition of what diversity means for everybody."
No Benefits for Partners of Gay Chicago Teachers
Springfield, IL - The Illinois House has rejected a measure aimed at helping gay teachers in Chicago.
The measure involved pension benefits that surviving spouses can collect after a teacher dies. The change would have allowed gay teachers to give survivor benefits to their partners, just as married couples can.
The legislation failed 43-67 in April.
Supporters say the change wouldn't have cost taxpayers anything. Teachers would have paid all costs.
They also say it's only fair to let gay teachers provide financial security for their partners.
But Republican Representative Ron Stephens called the idea "an important error in judgment."
LGBT Community is Reading & Posting More Blogs
Washington, DC – April 21, 2008 – According to a recent national survey conducted by Harris Interactive, gay and lesbian adults online are reading more blogs than their heterosexual counterparts.
When asked, just over half of the gay and lesbian respondents reported reading some type of blog, compared to 36 percent of heterosexual adults. In November 2006, only 32 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported reading blogs.
The new nationwide survey of 2,733 U.S. adults, (ages 18 and over), of whom more than 13 percent self identified as gay or lesbian (which includes an oversample of LGBT adults), was conducted online in March by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm specializing in the LGBT market.
Gay and lesbian adults are also more active in and connected to the blog medium. When asked to choose from a list of online activities, 27 percent of gay and lesbian adults reported posting a comment on a blog in the last month, and 21 percent of gay and lesbian respondents said they had written a personal blog in the last month.
Regarding the varied interests of blogs, the survey found 28 percent of gay and lesbian adults read news and current issue blogs. More than 25 percent of gay and lesbian adults read entertainment and pop culture blogs. And a significant number, nearly one-quarter (23%), of gay and lesbian adults read political blogs. In comparison, only 14 percent of heterosexual adults reported reading political blogs.
Apart from blogs, gay and lesbian adults also participate in other online activities more than heterosexuals.
“Studies consistently show that gays and lesbians are leaders in online usage, are very keen to find relevant and timely information, and feel more strongly about staying on top of latest trends,” said Wes Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications.
Activist Corvino Defends Morality of Homosexuality
Grand Rapids, MI -- If gay relationships involve consenting adults and bring meaning to people's lives, "it sounds like the sort of thing we'd want to encourage," philosophy professor John Corvino said.
In an hour-long talk that drew a standing ovation at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, gay-rights advocate John Corvino argued against proclamations that homosexuality is a "moral abomination." Instead, society has a moral imperative to treat gay people justly, he said.
"Gay and lesbian relationships make some people happy. And I don't just mean that they make people feel good. They are an important avenue of meaning and fulfillment in people's lives," said Corvino, who teaches at Wayne State University.
"If we're going to deny that experience to an entire group of people, we better have a darned good reason."
Corvino pointed out three common arguments against homosexuality: the Bible says it's wrong, it's harmful to society and it's unnatural. He countered with a humorous litany of reasons why those positions lack moral reason.
While Scripture vilifies homosexuality, it also forbids cotton-polyester blends and shellfish, Corvino noted. And the Bible approves slavery, he said, quoting a passage from Leviticus.
"If it's not OK to (single out) the slavery passages, why is it OK to do that with the sexuality passages?" asked Corvino.
In response to the assertion that homosexuality poses a greater threat than terrorism, Corvino said "I might think I'm powerful in bed, but whoa, that's crazy."
And to counter the idea that same-sex relationships are invalid because they don’t, naturally, lead to procreation, Corvino said, "Of course two men can't make a baby. But is making babies the only legitimate reason for having sex?"
Corvino took the opportunity to highlight biases in society such as: heterosexuals have "lives" and homosexuals have "lifestyles;" and where straight people have a "moral vision" and gays have "an agenda."
He said the debate about homosexuality often focuses on sexual acts, which "can give us a skewed picture of gay and lesbian people's lives."
"Sex is weird. We're often bothered by things that are unfamiliar, and that's especially true in the area of sex," he said. "The fact that something grosses you out doesn't make it wrong. The fact that something is rare doesn't make it wrong.
"The way gay and lesbian people are treated in our society is morally wrong. I'm asking people to make moral judgments not on whom they love, but on whether they love."
Judy Shepard to Speak at Equality Forum 2008
Philadelphia, PA— Equality Forum 2008, the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum, will include A Conversation with Judy Shepard at the National Constitution Center on Sunday, May 4.
October 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard, Judy and Dennis Shepard’s 21-year-old son. Determined to prevent others from suffering their son’s fate, the Shepards established a foundation to carry on Matthew’s legacy.
“Judy Shepard is a civil rights hero. She has helped educate schools and society about the impact of prejudice. She has turned the homophobic murder of her son into a nationwide campaign for… hate crime protection,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. "Since Matthew Shepard's death…34 states…have included sexual orientation in hate crimes protection.”
As Executive Director of The Matthew Shepard Foundation, Ms. Shepard travels across the nation speaking to audiences about what they can do to make this world a more accepting place for everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. Speaking from a mother’s perspective, she focuses her efforts on the prevention of hate crimes and respect for everyone.
“There is an urgent need in this country to focus our attention on our youth, and make sure GLBT youth are getting the support and resources they need to live healthy and productive lives,” says Ms. Shepard.
