The Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the United State’s of America’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, today endorsed marriage equality at an meeting on Saturday, 19 May 2012. The organization had originally been founded in 1909 to improve the lives of the country’s African American citizens.

The NAACP’s move comes as attitudes in the African American community towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are changing rapidly. A recent poll found that 54% of African Americans supported US President Barak Obama’s recent decision to also personally endorse marriage equality in the USA and his additional remarks that he favors the repeal of DOMA, the misnamed “Defense of Marriage Act” that codified anti-marriage discrimination into law on a federal level.

The Decision Affirms Opposition to Government Efforts to Codify Discrimination

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure the political, social and economic equality of all people,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP. “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.”

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP. “The well-funded right wing organizations who are attempting to split our communities are no friend to civil rights, and they will not succeed.”

Below is the text of the resolution passed by the NAACP board of directors:

The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the “political, education, social and economic equality” of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment.

Source NAACP, Bi Magazine, Democratic Underground, TransGriot

No, it does not. There are those who say that a man shouldn't dress like a woman and vicey versy because of Deuteronomy 22:5 which says "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God."

If you encounter someone who says that men shouldn't dress like women, ask them why. And when they bring up that verse, say "Before we get into the issue of why that was written to start with or whether that part of the old covenant still applies today, please tell me, where does the Bible set apart what pertains to men and women and what clothing is men's garments and women's garments. And by "the Bible," I literally mean the Bible, not you picking a specific passage of scripture and interpreting it to mean what you want it to mean."

My alma mater recently started up a group for queer people of color and the issue of membership has brought up the discussion of identity. I'm curious to know how many of you identify as a queer person of color. If so, how often and how closely do you affiliate with the term 'person of color'? Does it take a secondary to your queerness or ethnicity? Does it mean anything at all to you?

I myself feel a lot of pride and connection to the term 'gaysian', which I feel represents both my cultural heritage and my sexuality. I only recently came across the term 'queer people of color' (QPOC). I find it more commonly used among the activist community but it's good to know that there is a word that can stand for solidarity and commonality for us. Racial/cultural diversity is often overlooked within the LGBTQ community, making QPOC even more invisible, so I find it empowering to have vocabulary and safe spaces for QPOC.

    There are so many members of the GLBT communities through out the United States that have our newest members are teenagers. They have so many problems when it comes to coming out to family, friends, and peers. When they do come out to their parents about half of today's youth get kicked out of their home and are put out on the streets. Statistically, 119 % chances that teens that come out to their parents and kicked out become drug addicts. They become like this to deal with the hurt and shame to their family for being homosexual. Many larger cities now have places for teens that have been kicked out of their parents house. But what about the cities that don't? We as GLBT adults should want to do more for GLBT teens so they don't become drug addicts and alcoholics. Some we can't save from addiction but we adults can however help get these teens help to deal with their addictions.
      I was one of these teens that had no one to turn to when I came out. The only thing I felt I could turn to is drugs and alcohol. I have had issues with addiction for many years. I have now been completely sober for 33 days and just wish I could change just 1 teens life that is dealing with GLBT issues. We can to this together and finally show teens that they don't have to turn to drugs, alcohol, or even death.

I'm Ryder, an adolescent who is coming to terms with his sexuality. 
My livejournal is a collection of poetry and short stories by me as I discover who I am.

I have no friends and would REALLY appreciate if you would read my poems and stories and even be my friend.

Thanks,

-Ryder Cassond

Saw this on reddit... It's the Pinterest of 14 year old Kenneth Weisuhn, an Iowa teen who recently committed suicide after being bullied. http://pinterest.com/15kweishuhn/when-i-get-married/

I always did like how this takes aim at those who think the Bible is a buffet from which they can choose only what they want and ignore the rest

Gay pride groups appear at US military academies.

5 option poll on Mr. Sulu's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/questions/409307692432023/

And remember, it's OK to be Takei!

Originally posted by gestaltrose at The Time Has Come

Their hearts may be in the right place, but I don't like the idea.

I like demographics and statistical breakdowns as much as the next nerd, but even if it is optional, there's an expectation to answer (and to do so honestly). It has no bearing on anything, and what's to stop a homophobic admissions counselor from discriminating?

More than that, just as students of Asian descent have seen pressure to limit their numbers, who's to say the same couldn't happen for non-heterosexual students.

And quite frankly, it's none of the government's business. There are no benefits to this, but there are potential pitfalls.

Sometimes, The Onion can be strangely poignant.

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (the guy who wrote Milk) wrote a play called "8" based on the transcripts from the Perry v Schwarzenegger trial to overturn Proposition 8 in California. This past Saturday, a bunch of celebrities (Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, George Clooney, Martin Sheen, Jane Lynch, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc) did a reading of it, and it was broadcast live over you-tube.

You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlUG8F9uVgM&feature=youtu.be

It's about an hour and a half long (when you click the 'skip ahead to start button, it takes you to about the 29 minute mark. Don't worry, you are at the beginning, I think they had a place holder letting people know that it was getting ready to start before they actually went live when they first showed it), but very much worth watching if you have the time.

Tanya Ditty, Georgia Teacher, Compares Homosexuality To Necrophilia, Voyeurism, Pedophilia

i am posting this because i live in this state and in this same county where this so-called teacher and "concerned woman" lives and because i have a brother who works for the government in another state and is gay and is a perfectly lovely human being and... and... sometimes i just despair, i really do.

p.s. there were so many tags i could have applied here... sigh.

Proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on the behalf of one who is dead, with the living person receiving the ordinance of baptism, for the dead person. Baptism for the dead is today best known as a doctrine of the Latter Day Saint movement, where it has been practiced since 1840

As most of you know, there has been a good bit of news lately of the Mormons doing these proxy baptisms for famous dead people, even Jewish Holocaust victims.

"Sadly, many Mormons throughout history have died without having known the joys of homosexuality. With your help, these poor souls can be saved. Simply enter the name of your favorite dead Mormon* in the form below and click Convert! Presto, they're gay for eternity. There is no undo. Don't know any dead Mormons? Click the "Choose-a-Mormon" button and we'll find one for you. You're welcome!"

http://alldeadmormonsarenowgay.com/

What do you guys think about this?

It's awesome that the parents are so affirming and positive and supportive. But is 7 truly old enough to know? I mean, I recall being attracted to some boys from a young age, but it was fleeting and obscure. Is it really possible to know before puberty? I dunno.

My fear, however, is that it's only a matter of time until he becomes a target. We all know that society - especially kids who are parroting what they hear and see at home - aren't going to be as loving in their response as his parents are. I'd hate to see the kid become a pariah. Not everyone is going to think he's an "awesome" little snowflake like his parents do.

We see how some parents freak about gay-affirming library books. Imagine how some might act if their 2nd grader comes home and says they have a gay friend.

On the other hand, we know kids are clean slates, so maybe if they're exposed to someone who is gay from such a young age will lead to more acceptance and less homophobia as they grow up. Where there's a sense of normalcy.

His parents are amazing...I just hope it turns out well in the long run for the little dude.

(And yes, I know that Rusty Is A Homosexual)

Indeed. Of Companies and Closets:

"Some 86% of Fortune 500 firms now ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, up from 61% in 2002. Around 50% also ban discrimination against transsexuals, compared with 3% in 2002. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an American pressure group, measures corporate policies towards sexual minorities in its annual “equality index”. Of the 636 companies that responded to its survey this year, 64% offer the same medical benefits for same-sex partners as for heterosexual spouses. Some 30% scored a fabulous 100% on the group’s index."

The wretched 1% certainly seems to be doing more than our politicians on advancing meaningful acceptance and equality.

Read. Cry.

Here is an article that claims that a bill would reinstate DADT for Oklahoma National Guard.

HRC claims that since the bill doesn't specifically prevent officials for asking about orientation that it would be allowed.

This article spells it out more fully, but I am not sure of its accuracy.
"Such a move would effectively reinstate the policies that the military abandoned almost 20 years ago. Gays and lesbians were forbidden from serving in the military until 1993, when President Bill Clinton enacted DADT as compromise between gay rights advocates and military leaders. Before then, potential servicemembers were explicitly asked about their sexual orientation as part of the recruiting process and barred from joining if they said they were gay"

In Minnesota, there is a push for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. An anti-gay state legislator - the freaking Majority Leader - has been campaigning for it. Now it's revealed that she's been engaging in an extra-marital affair.

I might normally think such a move was tacky, but it's clever and smart ass enough to make me think it's hilarious. Their letter:

"On behalf of all gays and lesbians living in Minnesota, I would like to wholeheartedly apologize for our community's successful efforts to threaten your traditional marriage. We apologize that our selfish requests to marry those we love has cheapened and degraded traditional marriage so much that we caused you to stray from your own holy union for something more cheap and tawdry."

I feel sorry for her husband.

This teacher deserves an Award For Total Awesomeness.

That is all.

Cheers,

Bruce

I've fallen in love with this video.  What Love Looks Like.

I actually expected this article to be something more negative than it was because of the title. What I found negative--not surprising though--were some of the comments left on it. And the assumption that a boy who is 14 cannot possibly know that he's gay still surprises me with its ignorance.

http://news.yahoo.com/utah-family-supports-school-outed-gay-son-154123202.html