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May Day, St. Petersburg, 2013 Photo: AFP/Olga Maltseva

May Day, St. Petersburg, 2013

Photo: AFP/Olga Maltseva

Gay rights activists clasp hands as they march during a tradition May Day rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The poster reads, “We demand the abolition of the homophobic law!” Photo: AP / Dmitry Lovetsky

Gay rights activists clasp hands as they march during a tradition May Day rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The poster reads, “We demand the abolition of the homophobic law!” 

Photo: AP / Dmitry Lovetsky

commiepinkofag: And the Mild-Tolerance Merit Badge Award Goes to… Seems the Boy Scouts may earn their ‘Mild-Tolerance’ merit badge in the coming weeks, as they are hinting to allow openly gay troop members. This allowance will come with the caveat that the determination of said admittance of homosexuals will be left to the leaders at a local level. This new directive allows the BSA to alleviate some of the bad press it has faced in recent months and placate many mainstream activists, while the organization circumvents the issues of institutional discrimination by “passing the buck” to local troop officials. While some troops may open their doors to openly gay and queer youth, and many more youth already within their ranks may ‘serve openly’, this policy leaves intact the underlying homophobia and discrimination within the Boy Scouts of America.  This new-found openness is reminiscent of the typical libertarian ‘privatize everything’ response; their keen idea that local business owners have the right to discriminate against a minority, if they so choose, as a part of the American ‘free market’. This libertarian ideal was highlighted by Rachel Maddow during her interview with Rand Paul in the 2010 election debates. Undoubtedly, the Civil Rights movement under libertarian authority would have inflicted a ‘different sort of equality’.  To not come out completely against discrimination of gays, lesbians, trans, queer in their ranks, the Boy Scouts of America continue the dodge responsibility and glaze over the harm their institution does to young minds.  The homophobia will continue to corrupt their policies, and the fear and shame will continue to effect the lives of the youth they mentor. The Boy Scouts of America must not be allowed to escape the consequences of their discriminatory actions. Whether they set up courses for troop leaders and merit badges on gender, social equality and sexual diversity, a grand effort must be made to end the tolerance of bigotry — locally, or nationally. There are no tiers of equality, merely layers of injustice.

commiepinkofag:

And the Mild-Tolerance Merit Badge Award Goes to…

Seems the Boy Scouts may earn their ‘Mild-Tolerance’ merit badge in the coming weeks, as they are hinting to allow openly gay troop members. This allowance will come with the caveat that the determination of said admittance of homosexuals will be left to the leaders at a local level.

This new directive allows the BSA to alleviate some of the bad press it has faced in recent months and placate many mainstream activists, while the organization circumvents the issues of institutional discrimination by “passing the buck” to local troop officials.

While some troops may open their doors to openly gay and queer youth, and many more youth already within their ranks may ‘serve openly’, this policy leaves intact the underlying homophobia and discrimination within the Boy Scouts of America. 

This new-found openness is reminiscent of the typical libertarian ‘privatize everything’ response; their keen idea that local business owners have the right to discriminate against a minority, if they so choose, as a part of the American ‘free market’. This libertarian ideal was highlighted by Rachel Maddow during her interview with Rand Paul in the 2010 election debates. Undoubtedly, the Civil Rights movement under libertarian authority would have inflicted a ‘different sort of equality’. 

To not come out completely against discrimination of gays, lesbians, trans, queer in their ranks, the Boy Scouts of America continue the dodge responsibility and glaze over the harm their institution does to young minds. 

The homophobia will continue to corrupt their policies, and the fear and shame will continue to effect the lives of the youth they mentor.

The Boy Scouts of America must not be allowed to escape the consequences of their discriminatory actions. Whether they set up courses for troop leaders and merit badges on gender, social equality and sexual diversity, a grand effort must be made to end the tolerance of bigotry — locally, or nationally.

There are no tiers of equality, merely layers of injustice.

No Gay Chickens? Homophobic-Stupidity Reigns Supreme Gay Activists Beaten During Picket in Southeast Russia

No Gay Chickens? Homophobic-Stupidity Reigns Supreme

Gay Activists Beaten During Picket in Southeast Russia

commiepinkofag: That’s So Gay: Reclamation, Not Admonishment and Abolition [excerpt] While I appreciate the necessary task of training of educators and parents in dealing with homophobia, hate speech and bullying, as well as their efforts in creating alliances and crucial support networks for queer youth, I disagree with some of GLSEN’s more strident tactics. With the ludicrous “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill advancing in Tennessee, I urge for the cessation of the National Day of Silence, and a repositioning of the Think Before You Speak campaign. Don’t Say ‘Gay’ Community and workplace pressures often prevent representation and influential, historic contributions of LGBQTI people in a positive light, thereby depriving positive mentors for queer youth. Control over curriculum must be seriously examined to provide a breadth of topics for students to gain life experience; as well allow teachers a supportive community environment without fear of reprisals or firings. Intervention for incidents of bullying and follow up support are especially crucial. Teachers, care-givers and parents alike must speak out and intervene against the bullying in schools and elsewhere. Numerous studies, including GLSEN’s, illustrate the negative effects of hate speech and anti-gay stigma faced by queer youth — increased at-risk behaviors, homelessness, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts. Anti-gay stigma has been shown to increase violence against queers. Read More > RE: redbeardedoctopus: (via GLSEN Releases Groundbreaking Study of Bias, Bullying and Homophobia in Grades K-6) GLSEN today also released Ready, Set, Respect! GLSEN’s Elementary School Toolkit, an instructional resource developed to help educators address issues raised in Playgrounds and Prejudice, particularly teachers’ willingness to address but lack of understanding of biased language, LGBT-inclusive family diversity and gender nonconformity.

commiepinkofag:

That’s So Gay: Reclamation, Not Admonishment and Abolition

[excerpt]

While I appreciate the necessary task of training of educators and parents in dealing with homophobia, hate speech and bullying, as well as their efforts in creating alliances and crucial support networks for queer youth, I disagree with some of GLSEN’s more strident tactics.

With the ludicrous “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill advancing in Tennessee, I urge for the cessation of the National Day of Silence, and a repositioning of the Think Before You Speak campaign.

Don’t Say ‘Gay’

Community and workplace pressures often prevent representation and influential, historic contributions of LGBQTI people in a positive light, thereby depriving positive mentors for queer youth. Control over curriculum must be seriously examined to provide a breadth of topics for students to gain life experience; as well allow teachers a supportive community environment without fear of reprisals or firings.

Intervention for incidents of bullying and follow up support are especially crucial. Teachers, care-givers and parents alike must speak out and intervene against the bullying in schools and elsewhere. Numerous studies, including GLSEN’s, illustrate the negative effects of hate speech and anti-gay stigma faced by queer youth — increased at-risk behaviors, homelessness, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts. Anti-gay stigma has been shown to increase violence against queers.

Read More >

RE: redbeardedoctopus: (via GLSEN Releases Groundbreaking Study of Bias, Bullying and Homophobia in Grades K-6) GLSEN today also released Ready, Set, Respect! GLSEN’s Elementary School Toolkit, an instructional resource developed to help educators address issues raised in Playgrounds and Prejudice, particularly teachers’ willingness to address but lack of understanding of biased language, LGBT-inclusive family diversity and gender nonconformity.
art-of-clx: 70 artists created some illustrations & comics for may 17th, international day against homophobia. It’s french speaking. Check it out here: http://www.projet17mai.com 70 créatifs ont réalisé des BD et des illustrations pour le 17 mai, jour de lutte internationale contre toutes les LGBT phobies. Voici le site dédié : http://www.projet17mai.com

art-of-clx:

70 artists created some illustrations & comics for may 17th, international day against homophobia. It’s french speaking. Check it out here: http://www.projet17mai.com

70 créatifs ont réalisé des BD et des illustrations pour le 17 mai, jour de lutte internationale contre toutes les LGBT phobies. Voici le site dédié : http://www.projet17mai.com

Give Blood: Except [Accept] Gays.Brent Pruitt, digital illustration, 2012.

Give Blood: Except [Accept] Gays.
Brent Pruitt, digital illustration, 2012.

That’s So Gay: Reclamation, Not Admonishment and Abolition GLSEN continues to annoy the living fuck out of me. I appreciate the necessary task of training of educators and parents in dealing with homophobia, hate speech and bullying, as well as their efforts in creating alliances and crucial support networks for queer youth. I disagree with some of GLSEN’s more strident tactics. With the ludicrous “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill advancing in Tennessee, I urge for the cessation of the National Day of Silence, and a repositioning of the Think Before You Speak campaign. Don’t Say ‘Gay’ Community and workplace pressures often prevent representation and influential, historic contributions of LGBQTI people in a positive light, thereby depriving positive mentors for queer youth. Control over curriculum must be seriously examined to provide a breadth of topics for students to gain life experience; as well allow teachers a supportive community environment without fear of reprisals or firings. Intervention for incidents of bullying and follow up support are especially crucial. Teachers, care-givers and parents alike must speak out and intervene against the bullying in schools and elsewhere. Numerous studies, including GLSEN’s, illustrate the negative effects of hate speech and anti-gay stigma faced by queer youth — increased at-risk behaviors, homelessness, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts. Anti-gay stigma has been shown to increase violence against queers.1 Perpetuating The Stigma The Think Before You Speak campaign website features a word counter depicting the mentions of ‘dyke’, ‘fag’, and ‘so gay’ on Twitter. The campaign’s stated goal for mentions of these words is ‘zero’. GLSEN discourages the use of these terms in ads featuring celebrities and literature. Their site and recent how-to guide, Ready, Set, Respect!, includes tips and tools for teachers to aid students in understanding “this terminology is expressing a bias about groups of people in our society, and that this is unacceptable.” The expressed bias is offensive/unacceptable, not the terminology. I concede that language evolves, and meanings change. ‘That’s so gay’ has become a slogan tossed around so often and so quickly that the origin for this shift in terminology has failed to be closely scrutinized — the social stigma against those who fall outside of the prescribed roles of gender, sex and sexuality. Admonishment and censorship lends credence to this nefarious notion that being gay is somehow wrong, immoral, dirty, or shameful. To disparage the use of the phrase is to slap the wrist, and not counter its underlying intent. ‘That’s so gay’ should not be elevated to a derisive jab or slur. To be gay, or even be perceived as gay, is extraordinary, powerful, and absolutely fabulous. To be ‘so gay’ is to be so natural, so lovely, so human. Don’t Say Anything GLSEN’s National Day of Silence coincidentally happens to occur days after legislation in Tennessee passes through the Education Committee to be voted on in the TN House, after passing a similar bill in the Senate. This day of silence in many ways mimics another lame, passive and largely ineffectual public relations campaign where participants apply duct tape over their mouths with a logo emblazoned on their cheek.2 Our lesbian-gay-bi-queer-trans-intersex kith and kin are already being silenced; everyday, they are being killed or killing themselves, being beaten or beating themselves up emotionally. The political upheaval here in the states and around the world — countries such as Iran, Iraq, St. Petersburg, most countries of Africa — declare gays/queers should be censored, fined, imprisoned, deported, whipped and/or murdered, sentenced to death by arcane law.3 This day of silence blatantly ignores even the most recent chain of events in our long history of oppression — and stands in direct opposition to National Coming Out Day in October. I wholly support social and political dissonance, dissent, and direct non-violent action. But I argue a more radical action would be much more effective now than remaining passively silent. The bigots, bullies, zealots and homophobes will rejoice in your silence. They lose nothing in this moment of silence; it would be as if you aren’t around — they win. They thrive in exerting power over your continued silence. Be proactive! Break this Silence! Take a step forward. Tell our stories so that people may understand, and empathize. Share our experiences so that we don’t forget that we are not alone in this struggle. Speak to as many as who will listen. Great progress has been made in the last few decades in queer rights, and we are seeing some tremendously vocal political and social opposition due to fear, hatred, and a lack of human compassion. Those who oppose equality fear change, uncertainty, and loss of power. There is no shame in existing. There is no shame in being so gay. Reclamation, not admonishment or abolition. UNITE! FIND ALLIES! ACT UP! FIGHT BACK! SPEAK OUT! SPEAK PROUD! SPEAK LOUD! Call me faggot. Call me gay. Call me queer. I am. I will not be bullied. I will be SO GAY. I will not be silent. SILENCE = DEATH Williams Institute PrideNation No Hate No Tape LGBT Rights Worldwide, by country or territory

That’s So Gay: Reclamation, Not Admonishment and Abolition


GLSEN continues to annoy the living fuck out of me.

I appreciate the necessary task of training of educators and parents in dealing with homophobia, hate speech and bullying, as well as their efforts in creating alliances and crucial support networks for queer youth. I disagree with some of GLSEN’s more strident tactics.

With the ludicrous “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill advancing in Tennessee, I urge for the cessation of the National Day of Silence, and a repositioning of the Think Before You Speak campaign.

Don’t Say ‘Gay’

Community and workplace pressures often prevent representation and influential, historic contributions of LGBQTI people in a positive light, thereby depriving positive mentors for queer youth. Control over curriculum must be seriously examined to provide a breadth of topics for students to gain life experience; as well allow teachers a supportive community environment without fear of reprisals or firings.

Intervention for incidents of bullying and follow up support are especially crucial. Teachers, care-givers and parents alike must speak out and intervene against the bullying in schools and elsewhere. Numerous studies, including GLSEN’s, illustrate the negative effects of hate speech and anti-gay stigma faced by queer youth — increased at-risk behaviors, homelessness, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts. Anti-gay stigma has been shown to increase violence against queers.1

Perpetuating The Stigma

The Think Before You Speak campaign website features a word counter depicting the mentions of ‘dyke’, ‘fag’, and ‘so gay’ on Twitter. The campaign’s stated goal for mentions of these words is ‘zero’. GLSEN discourages the use of these terms in ads featuring celebrities and literature. Their site and recent how-to guide, Ready, Set, Respect!, includes tips and tools for teachers to aid students in understanding “this terminology is expressing a bias about groups of people in our society, and that this is unacceptable.” The expressed bias is offensive/unacceptable, not the terminology.

I concede that language evolves, and meanings change. ‘That’s so gay’ has become a slogan tossed around so often and so quickly that the origin for this shift in terminology has failed to be closely scrutinized — the social stigma against those who fall outside of the prescribed roles of gender, sex and sexuality.

Admonishment and censorship lends credence to this nefarious notion that being gay is somehow wrong, immoral, dirty, or shameful. To disparage the use of the phrase is to slap the wrist, and not counter its underlying intent. ‘That’s so gay’ should not be elevated to a derisive jab or slur. To be gay, or even be perceived as gay, is extraordinary, powerful, and absolutely fabulous. To be ‘so gay’ is to be so natural, so lovely, so human.

Don’t Say Anything

GLSEN’s National Day of Silence coincidentally happens to occur days after legislation in Tennessee passes through the Education Committee to be voted on in the TN House, after passing a similar bill in the Senate. This day of silence in many ways mimics another lame, passive and largely ineffectual public relations campaign where participants apply duct tape over their mouths with a logo emblazoned on their cheek.2

Our lesbian-gay-bi-queer-trans-intersex kith and kin are already being silenced; everyday, they are being killed or killing themselves, being beaten or beating themselves up emotionally. The political upheaval here in the states and around the world — countries such as Iran, Iraq, St. Petersburg, most countries of Africa — declare gays/queers should be censored, fined, imprisoned, deported, whipped and/or murdered, sentenced to death by arcane law.3

This day of silence blatantly ignores even the most recent chain of events in our long history of oppression — and stands in direct opposition to National Coming Out Day in October.

I wholly support social and political dissonance, dissent, and direct non-violent action. But I argue a more radical action would be much more effective now than remaining passively silent.

The bigots, bullies, zealots and homophobes will rejoice in your silence. They lose nothing in this moment of silence; it would be as if you aren’t around — they win. They thrive in exerting power over your continued silence.

Be proactive! Break this Silence!

Take a step forward. Tell our stories so that people may understand, and empathize. Share our experiences so that we don’t forget that we are not alone in this struggle. Speak to as many as who will listen.

Great progress has been made in the last few decades in queer rights, and we are seeing some tremendously vocal political and social opposition due to fear, hatred, and a lack of human compassion. Those who oppose equality fear change, uncertainty, and loss of power.

There is no shame in existing. There is no shame in being so gay.

Reclamation, not admonishment or abolition.

UNITE! FIND ALLIES! ACT UP! FIGHT BACK!

SPEAK OUT! SPEAK PROUD! SPEAK LOUD!

Call me faggot. Call me gay. Call me queer. I am.

I will not be bullied. I will be SO GAY. I will not be silent.

SILENCE = DEATH

  1. Williams Institute
  2. PrideNation No Hate No Tape
  3. LGBT Rights Worldwide, by country or territory
commiepinkofag: ‘Gay is Normal’ Signs Get Demonstrators Arrested in St. Petersburg Photo: Activist Alexei Kiselyov being detained by police Thursday. Two gay rights demonstrators were detained by police in St. Petersburg on Thursday in what could be the first case resulting from the recently passed city law banning so-called gay propaganda.

commiepinkofag:

‘Gay is Normal’ Signs Get Demonstrators Arrested in St. Petersburg

Photo: Activist Alexei Kiselyov being detained by police Thursday.

Two gay rights demonstrators were detained by police in St. Petersburg on Thursday in what could be the first case resulting from the recently passed city law banning so-called gay propaganda.

John Grant: Jesus Hates Faggots

[live version]