Quinn urges Obama, Congress to take action on LGBT rights

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, in remarks at a fundraiser for the upcoming LGBT-rights march in Washington, D.C., recounted an incident during which she urged President Barack Obama to “do more” for LGBT people. “I’m happy there’s something we can organize around in October to send a clear message that we’re thrilled that he’s the president and we’re thrilled that Democrats have control of the House and the Senate, but it’s simply not enough,” Quinn said. PolitickerNY.com

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by 

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/quinn-urges-o…

Tags: Act, Acti, Actio, Ads, Ali, Amp, Ba, barack obama, Bia, Bisexual, Blog, Blog Blogspot, Blogger, Blogs, Border, Christine Quinn, Cib, Colo, Congress, Control, Coord, Cou, Council Speaker, Demo, Democrat, Democrats, Fo, Fr, Fun, Fundraiser, gay, gay men, Gay New, Gay News, Gin, google, Images, Lea, Lead, Leads, Lear, Led, lesbian, Lesbian News, Lgbt, Lgbt Rights, Lt, Map, Met, Mp, N News, Nbsp, New York City, New York City Council, Norm, Obam, Obama, Organize, Original Source, Ouse, Pac, Peop, People, Pl, Pos, Pot, president, Quin, Rea, Rema, Rig, Roun, Sage, Senate, sex, Shap, Sourc, Span, Spe, Ssa, Tag, Target, Ted, Tent, Transgender, Urge, Url, Verd, Vet, Washington D C, Wh, York City Council

Fundraiser hosted by lesbian couple disrupted by arrests

(California) A fundraiser for Congressional candidate Francine Busby in Encinitas, California, was disrupted after several guests were sprayed with pepper spray and the host was arrested.

The fundraiser was being held at the home of lesbian couple Shari Barman and Jane Stratton when deputies showed up in response to a …

Dean drops out of LGBT Democratic Pary Fundraiser

(Washington) According to Ben Smith at Politico, former DNC Chairman Howard Dean has pulled out of tomorrow’s LGBT Democratic Party Fundraiser in Washington, D.C. A Dean spokeswoman, Karen Finney, said that he pulled out due to a scheduling conflict because of a “family commitment.” Dean was listed as one of …

Angry Gay Democrats Pull Support For DNC

The Obama administration’s decision to file a controversial brief on behalf of the Defense Of Marriage Act appears to have been the last straw for many gay and lesbians who were once enthusiastic supporters of the administration as well as the Democratic party.

Politico reports that the National Stonewall Democrats is the latest group to pull out of a June 25 Democratic National Committee fundraiser because of the Obama administration’s defense of DOMA and lack of action on gay issues.

The group said is “incredibly disappointed” in the party for a variety of reasons, including a perceived lack of support.

“The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality,” National Stonewall wrote in an e-mail, according to Politico. “This year, we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing.” See Angry Gay Democrats Pull Support For DNC

CBS News -

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by 

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/angry-gay-dem…

Tags: Act, Acti, Actio, Adm, Ads, Ali, Ally, Amp, Appo, Ba, Bens, Bid, Biden, Bisexual, Blog, Blog Blogspot, Blogger, Blogs, Bod, Border, Cal, Cbs, Cbs News, Coord, Cou, Decisions, Defense Of Marriage Act, Demo, Democrat, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Party, Democrats, Dems, Dn, Dnc, Dom, Doma, E Mail, Enthusiastic Support, Equality, Eve, Festivals, Fo, Fr, Fun, Fundraiser, gay, Gay And Lesbian, Gay And Lesbians, Gay Issues, gay men, Gay New, Gay News, Gin, google, Grou, Hes, Hot, Images, Last Straw, Latest Group, Ld, Lea, Lead, Leads, lesbian, Lesbian News, Lesbians, Lgbt, Lgbt Community, Lt, Mail, Map, Marr, Marria, marriage, Mate, Mp, Mu, N News, National Stonewall Democrats, Nationwide, Nbsp, Obam, Obama, Original Source, Pac, Pi, Pl, politics, Pos, pride, Pride Parade, Pride Parades, Rea, Rig, Rio, Roun, Rov, Rr, sex, Shap, Sig, Sourc, Stonewall, Stonewall Democrats, Tag, Target, Ted, Tent, Tg, Ties, Tradition, Transgender, Uni, Url, Vet, Wh, Wou

Gay Dems complain DNC cut off funding, drop support for Biden event

Theboard of directors of the National Stonewall Democrats are dropping their support for a June 25 DNC fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden over, they wrote in an email obtained by POLITICO, a combination of policy slights and the claim that they’ve been cut off from traditional party funding.

In the email to Tom Petrillo, who runs the party’s substantial gay fundraising operation, the board members write:

[W]e are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for the DNC in a difficult financial environment. The DNC has historically supported National Stonewall through sponsorship of the annual Capitol Champions event. This year, we did not receive any support. The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality. This year we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing.

We’d be remiss to also not mention that the recent legal brief of the Obama Administration defending DOMA is incredibly hurtful. The members of the Board and our membership put our hopes, our dollars and our time into ensuring the election of Barack Obama because we believed that he supported us. To now have his Administration refer to our relationships in the same terms used by our long time enemies such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and James Dobson hurts on so many levels. To have our committed and loving relationships referred to as the moral equivalent of incest and pedophilia is not something that any of us ever expected from this Administration considering how hard we worked to be seen and respected. For that reason alone, advocating for attendance at a fundraiser to support the Administration and the DNC, while they have not condemned this hurtful language, is not something our membership will receive positively.

The group says it’s not “boycotting” the June 25 fundraiser with Joe Biden; it just won’t encourage its members to attend.

Gay money is, historically, of outsized importance to the Democratic Party. Howard Dean, in particular, launched his presidential campaign in part on enthusiasm from gay donors about his support for civil unions, and maintained those relationships as chairman. For update see Gay Dems complain DNC cut off funding, drop support for Biden event

Politico

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by 

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/gay-dems-comp…

Tags: Act, Acti, Adm, Ads, Aig, Ali, Ally, Amp, Anc, Appo, Attendance, Ba, barack obama, Bens, Bid, Biden, Bisexual, Bloc, Blog, Blogger, Blogs, Board Member, Board Members, Board Of Directors, Border, Boycott, Cal, Champion, Civ, Civi, Civil Union, Civil Unions, Consi, Coord, Cou, Courage, Dea, Dean, Decisions, Demo, Democrat, Democratic Party, Democrats, Dems, Direc, Dn, Dnc, Dobson, Dom, Doma, Donors, elect, Email, Endi, Enemies, Environment, Equality, Era, Eve, Expe, Fal, Festivals, Finan, Financial Environment, Fo, Fr, Fun, Fundraiser, gay, Gay Don, gay men, Gay New, Gay News, Gin, google, Grou, Hes, Howard Dean, Images, Incest, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Joe Biden, Lars, Launch, Ld, Lea, Lead, Leads, Legal Brief, lesbian, Lesbian News, Lgbt, Lgbt Community, Loc, Long Time, Loving Relationships, Lt, Mail, Map, Mate, Members, Met, Mis, Money, Moral Equivalent, Mp, Mpa, Mu, N News, Nan, National Stonewall Democrats, Nationwide, Nbsp, Nme, Obam, Obama, Omb, Oral, Original Source, Pac, Pat Robertson, Pedophilia, Pi, Pl, Pos, president, President Joe, Presidential Campaign, pride, Pride Parade, Pride Parades, Quot, Rea, Relationship, Relationships, Respect, Rig, Rio, Roun, Rov, Rr, sex, Shap, Ships, Sig, Sin, Sit, Sourc, Span, Spe, Sponsorship, Stonewall, Stonewall Democrats, Tag, Target, Ted, Tent, Tia, Ties, Tom Petrillo, Tradition, Transgender, Uni, Unions, Url, Vet, Vice President, Wh, Wit, Wor, Wou

Mixner slams Obama’s inaction, will not attend DNC fundraiser

Tags: Fundraiser, Inaction, Obama, Slams

AIDS/LifeCycle 8 to Raise $10+ Million to Fight AIDS 2,200 cyclists to start San Francisco-to-Los Angeles ride May 31

SAN FRANCISCO and LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 2,200 bicyclists from 41 states and 14 nations will stream out of San Francisco on May 31 en route to Los Angeles as participants in the colorful and emotional AIDS/LifeCycle, the world’s largest annual AIDS fundraiser.

The 545-mile trek is expected to raise more than $10 million to support vital HIV/AIDS-related services at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The event also raises awareness about the disease, particularly significant this year following a recent survey revealing a dramatic drop in the sense of urgency about HIV/AIDS and persistent misconceptions about HIV transmission and treatment among Americans.

Participants on the weeklong ride include cyclists and a volunteer support crew of hundreds of “roadies” who range in age from 18 to 78. Whether gay or straight, HIV-positive or HIV-negative, expert cyclists or novices, they share a commitment to reducing new infections and the suffering caused by AIDS.

“People come to AIDS/LifeCycle to fight a disease,” said Mark Cloutier, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and one of the cyclists. “But the event is also a celebration of health. Participants have the physical strength to complete a challenging course, and the emotional connectedness to help others succeed on an exhausting, yet exhilarating journey.”
Riders train for months to prepare for the rigorous ride, and raise a minimum of $3,000 each to support the work of the two sponsoring organizations. The event has raised approximately $50 million to fight AIDS since it began in 2002.

“The economic recession has deeply impacted HIV/AIDS service providers on all fronts. Charitable giving and government funding of HIV/AIDS support services are dropping while the number of people who need free or low-cost services is going up,” said Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. “Our participants and their supporters recognize the urgent need for HIV prevention. I’m proud of the AIDS/LifeCycle community, and I’m deeply grateful.”
During the seven days of AIDS/LifeCycle, an estimated 1,080 Americans will become infected with HIV. There are 1.1 million Americans living with HIV — the highest number in the history of the epidemic — 1 in 6 of whom are Californians. Gay and bisexual men bear the brunt of the disease, representing 73 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in California and 53 percent nationally. Communities of color are also disproportionately affected; although African Americans comprise 6 percent of the state’s population, they account for nearly 19 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS.See * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by 

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/aidslifecycle…

Tags: Act, Ads, Africa, African Americans, aids, Aids Foundation, Aids Fund, Aids Lifecycle, Aids Related Services, Aids Service Providers, Aids Support Services, Aig, Ali, Ally, Amon, Amp, Anc, Ba, Bea, Bicyclist, Bisexual, Bisexual Men, Blogger, Border, Cal, Cali, Californ, Californians, Celebration, Ceo, Colo, Conn, Coord, Cou, Dn, Dramatic Drop, Economic Recession, Emotion, Epidemic, Eric, Erica, Eve, Expe, Flo, Fo, Fr, Francisco Aids Foundation, Fun, Fundraiser, gay, gay men, Gay New, Gay News, google, Gove, Government Funding, health, Hes, hiv, Hiv Aids, Hiv Positive, Hiv Prevention, Hiv Transmission, Hot, Hs, Ids, Images, Lara, Larg, Ld, Lea, Lead, Leads, lesbian, Lesbian Center, Lesbian News, Living With Hiv, Lorri, Lt, Map, Mile Trek, Mis, Misconception, Misconceptions, Mp, Mpa, Mu, Nbsp, Nme, Organization, Original Source, Pac, Participant, Participants, Peg, People, Photo, Pl, Pop, Population, Pos, Rea, Recession, Rig, Rita, Roadies, Rov, Rox, Rr, San Francisco, San Francisco Aids, San Francisco Aids Foundation, Sens, Sense Of Urgency, Service Providers, Seven Day, Seven Days, sex, Shap, Sic, Sig, Sin, Sit, Sponsoring Organization, Sponsoring Organizations, Sting, Support Crew, Survey, Tag, Target, Ted, Tent, Ties, Transgender, Uni, Urge, Url, Vet, Volunteer Support, Wh, Wit, Wor

Lt. Dan Choi, Gay Arabic Translator Discharged From Army, Gives Speech

Nearly a hundred protesters assembled Wednesday outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, CA where President Obama hosted a Democratic Party fundraiser.
Protest organizers called for Obama to repeal the government’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that exempts openly gay men and women from serving in the military.
Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and an Arabic translator, was discharged from the Army when he declared he was gay on national television. His conviction that the military’s policy is “a deadly poison” inspired him to lead the protest on Wednesday.
“There is a message that I want to give to Obama,” said Choi. “Stop forcing our soldiers to hide. Let them be free to serve.”
Undeterred by Tuesday’s decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold the ban on gay marriage passed by voters in November, Choi said to the crowd, “We can’t wait for somebody else to give us rights…. if we want rights, we have to fight for it. We have to earn it.” Choi ended his speech the same way it began, chanting, “Love is worth it.”
Pro-peace and anti-torture protesters took part in the demonstration as well. See Lt. Dan Choi, Gay Arabic Translator Discharged From Army, Gives Speech