BBC Examines The Late Rev. Jerry Falwell's Legacy

This blogger listened with piqued interest this morning as the British Broadcasting Corporation talked with two Republican analysists about the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's legacy. The Thomas Road Baptist Church founder's homophobia and outrageous statements against lesbians, gays and anyone else who opposed his divisive agenda were widely known. But his role within the Republican Party during the 1980s and early 1990s was equally as important.

The panelists were correct to note the war in Iraq remains the dominant issue in the current election cycle. They are also correct to note the growing discontent among social conservatives about the current Republican Presidential candidates. Log Cabin Republican Executive Director Patrick Sammon told this blogger in an interview last month the GOP must focus on issues which unite Americans if the party hopes to maintain the White House next November. Voter discontent with the war remains high. It seems likely this sentiment will continue -- or even increase -- as the situation in Iraq continues to evolve in the months leading up to the first caucuses and primaries. Marriage and other social issues remain important to many social conservatives and their LGBT counterparts. The current geopolitical realities will almost certainly diminish the impact the anti-LGBT rhetoric Falwell and others used so well in previous elections. Hopefully this trend will become permanent.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Airs Revealing Documentary About LGBT Oppression in Iran

This blogger remains highly suspicious of self-preserving naivete as a means to shelter oneself from reality. The American people remain, by and large, blissfully ignorant to events which continue to unfold outside the United States. The LGBT community is no exception but a recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation documentary about the brutal oppression LGBT Iranians endure in their own country serves as a stark reminder of the conditions under which many of our brothers and sisters unfortunately live.

The CBC broadcast "Out in Iran" earlier this year but this blogger rather ashamedly discovered it only this past weekend. Producers interviewed gay activist Mani Zaniar, a former gay prostitute named "Hooman," a transgender woman and others who continue to suffer persecution from the current regime. Iranian law punishes those convicted of lavat or sodomy with a range of punishment that includes 100 lashes and even death. Those who appeared in the documentary literally risked their lives to publicly discuss their plight within Iran. Zaniar himself explained his decision to come forward in a short but defiant and brave statement.

"It is time for us to speak out," he said. "It is time to start defending our rights."

LGBT Americans certainly struggle against discrimination based on the lack of anti-discrimination and anti-hate crime statutes, marriage equality and other basic legal protections. They remain fortunate, however, to live in a country where their government will not execute them because of the person with whom they choose to sleep with or love. This point underscores the obvious as opposed to make a self-righteous argument as the movement in this country continues to struggle under overinflated egos, self-serving personal and organizational agendas and a lack of accountability. There are certainly a multitude of good people within the broader movement who continue their good work on behalf of LGBT Americans. Organizations and stakeholders within the movement, however, need to remind themselves of the common goals of fairness and equality upon which it was created. Zaniar and his Iranian colleagues certainly provide this reminder through their extraordinary activism.

New Yorkers March To Support Marriage Equality

More than 100 New Yorkers joined U.S. Rep Anthony Weiner [D-Queens], New York City Council Members Rosie Mendez [D-Lower East Side] and John Liu [D-Flushing] and others this past Saturday at Marriage Equality New York's annual marriage equality march over the Brooklyn Bridge. Turnout was certainly less than organizers had expected but Fox 5, New York 1 and other local television stations and newspapers covered the march in light of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's bill to extend marriage to gay and lesbian couples in New York State.



From left; New York City Council Members John Liu [D-Flushing], Rosie Mendez [D-Lower East Side] and Kate Seely-Kirk on behalf of Speaker Christine Quinn [D-Chelsea] present MENY with a plaque before the march.



March participants gather at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan

Gentrification Continues to Cause Tension in New York

Gentrification continues to transform neighborhoods many New Yorkers once condemned as too violent. Bushwick, this blogger's home, remains an example of how a once maligned area has attracted a growing number of artists, hipsters and 20-somethings who have recently moved to the city. This influx of new residents continue to change the long-held identity on which Bushwick and other neighborhoods hold.

These changes inevitably cause tension among recent arrivals and long-time residents as the Los Angeles Times detailed today in an article about the evolution of the West Village. The neighborhood remains a cradle of the modern LGBT rights movement. But some long-time West Villagers remain unhappy with the new generation of LGBT people whom they say continue to disrupt their quality of life. Local residents have long complained of increased violence, vandalism and prostitution as a result of the youth who gather in the neighborhood. The murders of Sakia Gunn, Marsha B. Johnson and others only exacerbate these tensions.

The neighborhood and the Christopher Street Pier in particular remains a haven for many LGBT youth of color from the Bronx, Staten Island and New Jersey. West Villagers concerns about increased violence, vandalism and prostitution remain valid but it is perhaps disingenuous to exclusively blame the youth for the ongoing problems in the neighborhood. Many of these residents played prominent roles in the early gay rights movement. They, along with the youth themselves and their advocates, have a responsibility to ensure the neighborhood remains a safe haven for everyone.

Single? Listen to Public Radio? Tune in to WNYC’s Gay Mixer

The story I wrote for this week's New York Blade is much more light-hearted [and fun] than other more cynical blogs about American politics and movement maneuvering in recent days. "Sex and the City" provided me with an obvious inspiration... What's up Carrie? This blogger remains an avid WNYC listener who tunes into the station for hours each day. The station continues to cover a variety of LGBT-related stories in the city in a comprehensive manner. I very much look forward to attending next week's mixer.

For many single New Yorkers, Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City” said it best when she compared Gotham to a “dating desert.” But contrary to popular belief, queer New Yorkers do not have to schlep all the way to Fire Island, East Hampton or even their local bar or bathhouse to find a potential date for the summer.

New York public radio station WNYC will provide Gotham’s LGBT singles with a much more local opportunity to meet their matches with its first singles mixer specifically for the LGBT community. It takes place Wednesday, May 23, at the Chelsea Art Museum on West 22nd Street.

Japanese photographer Miwa Yanagi will show her work in her first solo exhibit while gay and lesbian singles mingle and take part in a pop culture quiz moderated by veteran WNYC news reporter Richard Hake.

Hake, who also hosts the Advocate Newsmagazine on Logo, said the mixer provides gay listeners with an opportunity to meet like-minded public radiophiles. He joked that he expects singles to compare their favorite WNYC and National Public Radio programs—“Morning Edition,” “The Leonard Lopate Show” and “Fresh Air,” to name a few—while they discuss their favorite Madonna song, their favorite episode of “The L-Word” and other aspects of gay pop culture.

“People who listen to public radio love public radio,” he said. “This is a great way for people who are like minded to meet each other.”

WNYC remains the most listened-to public radio station in the country. More than 1 million people tune into New York Public Radio’s two stations each week. And WNYC remains the most popular radio station in Manhattan.

Brian Lehrer of “The Brian Lehrer Show” hosted a singles mixer last year but Hake said WNYC decided to host a variety of events this year with musical and other themes.

The station has sold more than 100 tickets for its gay singles event as of press time. Hake said he expects WNYC will sell more tickets because he feels listeners will find the mixer an attractive alternative to New York’s bars, dating Web sites and other virtual venues.

“The online thing can get so mechanical and so impersonal,” he said. “Events like this that are not bar-related or computer-related play on that well.”

Hake conceded he looks forward to the opportunity to talk about the Material Girl and other gay legends as emcee and quiz master.

But he added the upcoming mixer provides him with an opportunity to meet listeners who continue to support WNYC.

“I sometimes feel like I’m talking to myself in a windowless room and I don’t realize thousands of people are eavesdropping,” Hake joked. “I totally love to meet people who listen to us on the radio.”

WNYC’s LGBT Singles Mixer, hosted by Richard Hake, 7–10 p.m., The Chelsea Art Museum, 556 W. 22nd St., $35 advance/$40 at door (complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres are included); for more information, call WNYC Listener Services at 212-669-3333 or visit their web site at wnyc.org/events.

Three Years of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in Massachusetts; Politicos Jockey to Influence Vote on Proposed Amendment

The Boston Globe reported today the margin of votes needed to block a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples has shrunk to less than half a dozen. This article comes on the third anniversary gays and lesbians began to marry in the Commonwealth. It also ran on the heels of increased legislative lobbying to block the proposed amendment and a $750,000 media campaign to back up these efforts.

Today is a day to celebrate the more than 8,000 same-sex couples who have married in Massachusetts since the Supreme Judicial Court issued its landmark Goodridge decision. Activists suffered a setback earlier this year after Beacon Hill lawmakers approved the proposed amendment. They have had more than four months to reformulate their strategy but they must remain vigilant as they continue to make the case for marriage among legislators and their constituents.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean and other Democratic political operatives have reportedly urged their colleagues in Massachusetts to move quickly to block the proposed amendment. A vote could come as early as June 14 but they clearly want to end the debate before marriage for same-sex couples could become a divisive social issue in the upcoming Presidential elections. The party remains all too aware this issue contributed to their stinging defeat in the last Presidential election. It's intervention into the current debate in Massachusetts remains a blunt example of political posturing for the sake of advancing the party's own White House ambitions. Cynicism aside; the goal must remain to defeat the proposed amendment through a solid [and convincing] campaign. Same-sex couples, especially those who have married in Massachusetts since 2004, deserve nothing less.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell Dies

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a long-time nemesis of LGBT activists and progressive organizations and political factions, died yesterday after he was found unconscious in his office at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. President George W. Bush, U.S. Sen. John McCain [R-Ariz.] and other GOP Presidential hopefuls, the Rev. Al Sharpton and other religious figures have added their condolences to the already long list of public tributes. But Falwell's vitriolic anti-LGBT rhetoric simply cannot be ignored.

Falwell publicly secured his anti-LGBT credentials with his support of Anita Bryant's efforts to repeal a South Florida gay rights ordinance in the late 1970s. The outspoken minister's categorization of AIDS as God's condemnation of homosexuality further enraged activists while his denunciation of the Teletubbies because he believed Tinky Winky was gay bordered on the absurd. Falwell further vilified himself among progressives after he said gay rights supporters and others caused the Sept. 11 attacks in the days after the tragedy.

The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, CNN and the BBC are among the media outlets to report Falwell's anti-gay legacy. The National Lesbian & Gay Task Force and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation also drew attention to these sentiments in their public responses to Falwell's death.

Falwell certainly became a national [and perhaps mythical] figure who did not fail to influence politics and the movement he helped to create and elevate out of the pews. His many supporters will continue to praise the good work they feel he has done and they will seek to romanticize his life in the coming days and weeks. But he leaves behind a divisive legacy of homophobia and intolerance from which even those within his own constituency have begun to distance themselves. This legacy remains an essential part of the Falwell story that must be told.

Iranian Authorities Arrest More Than 80 Suspected Gay Men

Iran remains one of the world's most oppressive countries in terms of ongoing persecution of LGBT people. The Islamic Republic's penal code calls for the execution of anyone found guilty of sex with a person of the same-sex. Iranian authorities routinely conduct raids on parties and other gatherings attended by gay men, lesbians and cross-dressers.

The Toronto-based Iranian Queer Organization reported police arrested more than 80 people last Thursday at a birthday party in Isfahan. IRQO Executive Director Arsham Parsi said in a press release authorities continue to torture those it took into custody and refuses to allow their families to visit them in jail. One man, whom IRQO identified as Peyman, said he found police cars outside the home where the party had been held after he turned onto the street.

"All my friends were arrested while seven or eight policemen beat them with batons," he said. "Fearing the usual punishments for attending a party, two had jumped from the second-floor window and were in a bad condition."

This arrest is the latest in a series of raids and executions that continue to highlight the brutal oppression LGBT Iranians continue to endure in their own country. Gay City News contributor Doug Ireland reported last month many Iranian gay men undergo sex-reassignment surgery to avoid government persecution . The same reporter documented the British government's decision to ignore a gay Iranian's asylum application after authorities arrested him on April 20. Another Iranian asylum seeker committed suicide two years earlier after British authorities also denied his request. The hanging of Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni in 2005 also sparked outrage among international LGBT activists.

Some dispute claims as to whether authorities executed the two teenagers because of their homosexuality. But nobody can dispute the severe oppression LGBT Iranians continue to face in their country. Iran has a long history which spans thousands of years. The country also lays claim to a rich and diverse culture. Yet the government's continued oppression of its LGBT citizens remains a shameful blemish to an otherwise proud tradition.

Activists Target Homophobia in Black Churches

This story I wrote for EDGE Publications late last week examines the very serious problem homophobia in the Black church continues to pose. This institution is all too aware of the impact discrimination continues to have on underrepresented groups in this country and around the world. The ministers and activists I interviewed for this story used hypocrisy, social conscious and justice as themes in their sound bites. Many feel the church is guilty of hypocrisy in its continued treatment of their LGBT congregants. Others argue the institution has lost its 'social gospel' or even standing among many LGBT people of color. The debate over homophobia from the pulpit will rage on as affirming ministers and activists seek to end these attitudes.

More than 50 years after the civil-rights movement began, homophobia within historically Black churches remains a concern for many GLBT people of color. The National Black Justice Coalition and other organizations continue to challenge these attitudes through a variety of outreach and educational programs and initiatives.

NBJC announced its second Faithful Call to Justice earlier this year as part of its ongoing efforts to eradicate homophobia from the pulpit. The advocacy organization describes this latest call to action as a "nationwide effort to bring attention to the value and worth of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregants as well as HIV/AIDS awareness and stigma."

Faithful Call to Justice will take place early in June at more than 100 churches across the country. NBJC Director of Religious Affairs Dr. Sylvia Rhue said in a recent interview with EDGE this initiative is a direct challenge to the homophobia she said continues to plague the Black church.

"We felt it was high time to acknowledge the spiritual worth of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters," Rhue said. "In many faith communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not presented as people to emulate but rather are put down and demonized."

This call to action comes after Bishop Yvette Flunder, senior pastor of the San Francisco-based City of Refuge, and other faith leaders and activists from across the country gathered in Philadelphia to attend the annual Black Church Summit to address homophobia in the Black church. The Rev. Al Sharpton and others have also campaigned against these attitudes in recent years.

Faithful Call to Justice urges congregations to sign a "Statement of Affirmation," to deliver sermons that discuss homophobia, develop GLBT-inclusive programs and to acknowledge openly GLBT congregants in bulletins and other publications.

"This is our way of saying the church--synagogues, mosques and temples--need to examine attitudes towards gay men and lesbians and take actions that best serve justice and spiritual healing," she said.

The Rev. Janyce Jackson of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church in Newark, N.J., praised NBJC’s latest call to action. The Black church plays a prominent role in the lives of many people of color. She said homophobia denies many LGBT people of color access to this cultural and religious institution.

"If I can’t go to my pastor as a mother and talk about how my son or daughter is suffering because of the issues surrounding their being gay or lesbian, that’s a whole piece that’s missing for me," Jackson said. "I’m glad they are doing this work."

Cambridge, Mass., based columnist the Rev. Irene Monroe issued an equally scathing indictment against the Black church. She said the homophobia many pastors and congregations continue to support raises the question as to whether the institution remains a viable one.

"More of us are outside of the Black church," she said. "Since the civil rights movement, the Black church has really lost its social gospel calling."

The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Miami fired the Rev. Tommie Watkins, Jr., after he refused to marry a lesbian as a way to hide his sexual orientation. The Alabama-born minister chronicled this experience in his book "Living Out Loud" but he, like Monroe, said the Black church continues to focus on homosexuality at the expense of HIV, teenage pregnancy and other issues.

"Homosexuality is somehow seen as the ultimate sin," Watkins told EDGE in a recent interview while he added churchgoers continue to support these attitudes. "The only way the church gets away with it is because we allow the church to do it."

The Unity Fellowship Church remains the largest domination within the Black church to minister primarily to GLBT people. The Rev. Carl Bean founded the fellowship in Los Angeles in 1982. The denomination remains based in Southern California and continues to operate a variety of HIV/AIDS, health and educational ministries across the country.

The Rev. Derrick Wilson of the Healing Stream United Church of Christ in Philadelphia said gay men and lesbians comprise a large portion of traditional Black congregations. He cautioned against the categorization of the Black church as more homophobic than other faith institutions--or society. But Wilson said the Black church is guilty of hypocrisy through its public denials of homosexuality.

"Gays and lesbians make up our choirs, our preachers," he said. "We accept this. We understood ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ long before Bill Clinton came up with it."

Elder Joseph Tolton of the Rehoboth Temple Christ Conscious Church in New York said Faithful Call to Justice provides an opportunity to reflect upon the impact homophobia continue to have on gay men and lesbians inside and outside the Black church. He traced these attitudes back to the Black Power movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. But Tolton concluded they are simply an attempt to deflect attention away from the conversation about sexuality that has yet to take place within the Black church.

"The issue at its heart is that we have yet to have an open and honest conversation about human sexuality," he said. "All the noise about homosexuality is a distraction from the silence."

Indeed; Rhue and others said Faithful Call to Justice is really about the need for the Black church to return to its roots. She urged pastors, ministers and others who continue to preach against homosexuality to re-examine Jesus Christ and the example she said he set.

"Christ’s message was about hospitality and welcome," Rhue said. "There shouldn’t be homophobic messages connected to Jesus Christ."

Watkins readily agreed. "If there is any organization that should stand up for all human rights it should be the Black church," he said. "God is love and God is unconditional love. They are commanded... to love everybody. They don’t have a choice in that."

Monroe further described Faithful Call to Justice as an opportunity to follow the example Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others set during the civil rights movement. She bluntly said the Black church continues its failure to head their legacy.

"King said the fight for equality is greater than just for racial justice," Monroe said. "We need to put front and center those ministers and allies who are for LGBT justice. We need to let the LGBT community and the larger community know these are our new heroes who follow in MLK’s vision of justice."

Pride Arrives Early In New Hope, Penn.

A soft, fluffy piece about New Hope, Penn., I wrote for this week's issue of the New York Blade. This blogger confesses to have never visited the village. But perhaps now is the time!

With the barrage of Pride celebrations fast approaching, gay and lesbian New Yorkers have a myriad of places across the Tri-State area in where they can celebrate their pink heritage. The city’s gay and lesbian commemorations later next month remains the Grande Dame of local Pride celebrations. But New Hope, in Bucks County, Penn., provides Gothamites their first opportunity of the year to show off their true colors.

The New Hope Celebrates (NHC) festival will take place at various locations throughout the gay friendly village along the west bank of the Delaware River from May 18 through May 20. Festival organizers selected “Somewhere Wver the Rainbow” as this year’s theme in apparent homage to the late diva Judy Garland and her legions of gay fans.

New York DJ Lady Bunny, singers Josh Zuckerman and Scott Nevins, the Glamazons, the Lesbians of Laugher and others are slated to perform at a number of different venues in the village during the three-day festival. The Raven Resort will host a Sunday tea dance with the Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston and Reichen Lehmkuhl of the “Amazing Race” along with a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Saint of 9/11.” A parade will also wind its way through downtown New Hope.

NHC Organizer Terrence Meck said he expects the parade, which is a first for the festival, to draw thousands of local residents and visitors alike.

“There are a lot more activities going on that will appeal to a broader audience,” he said. “It won’t be, by any means, a New York gay pride, but it is exciting because it will be the first parade happening in New Hope.”

NHC chair and part-time New Yorker Daniel Brooks shared this excitement. Brooks, who owns the Wishing Well Guesthouse in New Hope, joined other local innkeepers, merchants and residents to create the festival in 2003 as a way to attract younger gay and lesbian visitors to the village. Less than 1,500 people attended the first Pride, but Brooks expects 3,000 to attend this year’s festival. He also said he expects the event to raise $85,000 for a number of local gay advocacy organizations.

“The impact has been exactly what we had hoped it would be,” Brooks said. “We have definitely seen the number of LGBT people increase. The festival has really helped to generate interest that has always been in New Hope from the gay community.”

Less than two hours from New York, New Hope first became a popular destination for gays and lesbians more than half a century ago. The Bucks County Playhouse, along with the Raven Bar, a number of bed and breakfasts and antique shops are among New Hope’s many attractions.

Gay Philadelphians and others from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and other cities across the Northeast and the Mid Atlantic descend upon the village each weekend in search of relaxation. A growing number of gay New Yorkers have also found New Hope an attractive alternative to the Jersey Shore, the Catskills, Provincetown and other traditional summer Meccas.

Brooks said the typical New Hope visitor hails from either Northern New Jersey or New York despite the seasonal influx of those seeking an urban escape. But he added the village has grown more popular with people from across the country and beyond.

“We get guests from all over the place—from Europe, from the West Coast,” he said.

Meck agreed. He proudly pointed out that he feels this growing phenomenon is no coincidence.

“New Hope is a much quicker place to get to than the Hamptons or Fire Island,” Meck said. “Over the years it has evolved into a beautiful river town. There is no attitude, and it’s a beautiful place to live.”

Both men credit the festival as one reason New Hope has regained its place on the gay and lesbian travel circuit. Brooks said he expects even more people will discover the laid-back village along the Delaware in the years to come.

“In some cases it is like a reacquainting situation,” he said. “For others who have never been here before it is a brand new experience.”

For more information, visit the site newhopecelebrates.com

Massachusetts Lawmakers Against Postpone Marriage Amendment Vote

With less than a week until gay activists celebrate the third anniversary of marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts, lawmakers on Beacon Hill yesterday again debated the future of a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban these unions. This contentious debate has continued in the Commonwealth since the Supreme Judicial Court issued its landmark Goodridge decision in 2003. Lawmakers, true to form, postponed a vote on the proposed amendment until June 14.

The case can be made activists need to again make the case for marriage for same-sex couples after the legislature voted to approve the amendment during their Constitutional Convention earlier this year. The SJC ruled a few days before the vote the Constitution mandates a vote on the amendment and other citizen-sponsored petitions. Activists suffered a stinging defeat because their strategy had relied on the use of parliamentary tactics to block a vote. Nearly six months later, they continue to lobby lawmakers in key legislative districts with Gov. Deval Patrick's approval and the support of other key legislators. The tide has certainly changed with the Deval administration and Senate President Therese Murray. Activists and their supporters, however, cannot fall back into a false sense of security that seemed to dominate past debates. More than 8,000 couples have married in Massachusetts since Goodridge became law in 2004. The sky has truly not fallen onto the Commonwealth and activists will have something additional to celebrate next May 17 if they successfully kill the amendment.

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Celebrates Second Anniversary

The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund has secured settlements for Helena Stone, who reached a significant legal victory with the MTA last October after police officers repeatedly arrested and harassed her after she used a women's restroom inside Grand Central Terminal, and other transgender New Yorkers who have endured discrimination. This blogger attended TLDEF's second anniversary celebration last night in Lower Manhattan. This organization's profile continues to grow within New York as it enhances it's work on behalf of transgender New Yorkers.



From Left; TLDEF Executive Director Michael Silverman, TLDEF board members Pauline Park, Todd Robichaud and Dinh Tu Tran

Coming Out: A Personal Story

New York City remains a relative easy place to live as an openly gay man. The vast majority of elected officials support their gay constituents, hundreds of clubs, bars and restaurants cater to gay New Yorkers in neighborhoods across the city and most New Yorkers accept gay men as another facet of their city's rich diversity. Yet it is naive to think every gay man is fortunate enough to live in a city where difference is celebrated as a strength.

It has been nearly six years since I first came out to myself in a small town laundromat in Central New Hampshire. The experience remains a defining moment in my life because of the support I received from my friends, my community and most importantly my family. My mother brought up this obvious fact during one of our almost daily phone calls last night. Her brother who lives in South Texas is the first person on a list in his community to receive a kidney transplant. I was elated to hear this news but my mother suddenly interjected my uncle respects me despite my sexual orientation. I paused for a second because she caught me off guard. A sense of happiness [and relief] soon followed and I am almost certain my mother could see me beaming on the other end of the phone.

I rarely think about how my sexual orientation differentiates me from other people any more because New York continues to provide me with the space to live as how I want to live. My uncle and the vast majority of my family will probably never fully understand why I am attracted to people of the same-sex. I will most likely never understand the reasons for my sexual orientation either. But I am truly blessed to have a family who accepts their son, their nephew, their brother and their cousin without condition. I am truly blessed.

Members of Diversity Committee Resign After Officials Cancel Lesbian Speaker's Speech

Straight allies continue to define their ever-increasing influence within the LGBT movement. The work of former colleagues, faith leaders and everyday people testify to this presence time and time again. A group of Nebraska state workers who did the right thing are among the legions of straight Americans who continue to change hearts and minds.

More than a dozen employees with the state Department of Health and Human Services resigned from a workplace diversity committee after they claimed officials forced them to cancel a lesbian speaker's presentation about same-sex families during a recent luncheon. Former committee members Cathy Kingery, Lupe Hickey and others told a local television station they stepped down as a matter of principle.

"I can't be a part of something that is hypocritical and definitely discriminates and promotes intolerance," Hickey told KETV.

HHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Peterson quickly distanced herself from the growing controversy. She, rather coldly, tried to explain her department's definition of diversity.

"We followed the federal protected classes," Peterson told KETV. "Sexual orientation is not a federally protected class."

This definition is simply inaccurate outside of a strict legal definition and a frankly lame attempt at damage control that benefits nobody. The federal government remains woefully slow in expanding its bureaucratic definitions and reflecting societal changes that continue to evolve. The committee members who stepped down recognized this evolution through their actions. They will almost certainly not wave rainbow flags at the local gay pride parade. But their collective resignation certainly sends a powerful message of inclusion upon which the idea of diversity is built.

Gay Republicans Hold Annual Convention

Gay Republicans from across the country met in Denver this weekend for the annual Log Cabin Republican convention. The confab came after the leading GOP Presidential candidates met at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Southern California in the first of several planned forums in the months leading up to the first primaries and caucuses. The war and abortion dominated the conversation between moderator Chris Matthews and the candidates attempted to display their conservative credentials in the image of the late 40th President. The GOP remains in shambles after last November's mid-term elections and the current administration's unpopularity. This reality was on full display on the stage in Simi Valley.

Log Cabin Republican Executive Director Patrick Sammon told this blogger last month the GOP needs to nominate a candidate who can appeal to moderate voters across the country. He added gay and lesbian Republicans, in particular, will look to a Republican who will unite the party. True. Last November's election proved the American people have begun to grow tired of the use of the anti-LGBT rhetoric around marriage for same-sex couples and other social issues to rally voters to the polls. The Republican Party's current disarray reflects that reality. The fact remains, however, the campaign remains in its infancy and LGBT politicos on both sides of the aisle cannot grow complacent [or arrogant] with regards to the perceived support their candidates give them. The Log Cabin Republicans could play an important role within the GOP as it attempts to appeal to a more voters outside of its socially conservative base. LGBT Democrats should follow suit if they wish to become more than a lucrative fundraising Rolodex.

House Passes Hate Crimes Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill that would allow federal, state and local law enforcement to better prosecute hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act languished for nearly a decade in the formerly Republican controlled Congress before lawmakers passed it with a vote of 237 to 180. The Human Rights Campaign and other advocacy organizations quickly praised passage of the historic bill.

"This is a historic day that moves all Americans closer to safety from the scourge of hate violence," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement. "Today, legislators sided with the 73 percent of the American people who support the expansion of hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity."

Legislation is a small part of a much larger solution needed to reduce the number of anti-LGBT hate and bias crimes in this country. Anti-LGBT organizations continue to frame LLEHCPA as an attempt by a radical agenda to stifle anti-LGBT sentiments. This argument is ridiculous but the Bush administration, which appears receptive to these positions, announced the President plans to veto the bill.

"The administration favors strong criminal penalties for violent crime, including crime based on personal characteristics such as race, color, religion or national origin," the White House said in a statement. "There has been no persuasive demonstration of any need to federalize such a potentially large range of violent crime enforcement, and doing so is inconsistent with the proper allocation of criminal enforcement responsibilities between the different levels of the government."

Inconstant with the proper allocation of criminal enforcement responsibilities between the different levels of the government? Only 22 states have in place anti-hate crime statutes that include sexual orientation while less than a dozen of these states include gender identity or expression. The federal government has a responsibility to protect all of its citizens and the Bush administration's position fails to meet this responsibility. The murders of Matthew Shepard, Sakia Gunn, Brandon Teena and countless others are stark reminders of the tragedy these crimes continue to inflict in this country. Politicians, activists and average citizens alike all have a responsibility [and a duty] to work together to reduce the numbers of anti-LGBT violence. LLEHCPA remains a symbolic piece of this solution. But the Bush administration and other LLEHCPA opponents should attempt to explain their opposition to the friends and family members anti-LGBT hate crimes impact most directly before they further their gross misjudgments based on homophobia and transphobia.

Isaiah Washington Announces PSA With GLAAD and GLSEN

A litany of celebrities continue to partake in that all too predictable cycle of using racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic slurs, quickly apologizing for their offensive comments and doing damage control to deflect attention away from any potential damage the backlash may have done to their carefully choreographed careers. Grey's Anatomy's co-star Isaiah Washington is among these public figures.

He sparked outrage earlier this year among the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and other LGBT activists and organizations with his use of a homophobic slur during an interview with reporters after the Golden Globes. Washington quickly apologized for the slur. He met with GLAAD President Neil Giuliano and GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings and soon afterwards announced he had entered a treatment facility to rectify his own homophobia. Many activists remained highly skeptical of what they perceived to be a high-profile PR campaign designed to deflect attention away from Washington's perceived homophobia. But his publicist's announcement yesterday the actor will appear in a PSA with GLAAD and GLSEN could begin to change these perceptions.

This blogger remains highly skeptical of PR campaigns and the repeated attempts at damage control in which high profile figures continue to engage. Washington's announcement, however, comes as a hopeful development he took the criticism from earlier this year to heart. It remains to be seen whether the actor will stay true to this apparent new found course. But his recent announcement remains a positive step forward.

Don Imus May Sue CBS

Former shock jock Don Imus has made headlines once again with reports he plans to sue CBS Radio for wrongful breach of his contract after the network fired him last month. CNN reported Imus had $40 million left on his contract with CBS. Documents provided to CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin further indicate the network also encouraged Imus to remain "irreverent" and "controversial" on his program.

"Company (CBS Radio) acknowledges that Artist's (Imus') services to be rendered hereunder are a unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial and personal character and that programs of the same general type and nature containing these components are desired by Company and are consistent with Company rules and policies," the contract stated.

CBS fired Imus last month after he used racist epithets to describe the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Imus had a long and documented history of using racist, homophobic and sexist statements during his decades long career. Activists on both sides will almost certainly continue to debate the post-Imus termination fallout as he seeks to redefine his role. CBS' decision, however, remains a strong and long overdue statement against hate speech that has reignited the debate over its continued presence in the media.

Fired Transgender City Manager Front-Runner for New Position

The Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida, reported today a former city manager fired from his job earlier this year after he disclosed her transition is the front-runner for the city manager position in the Gulf Coast city. The Largo City Commission fired Steven Stanton, who applied for the Sarasota position as Susan A. Stanton, in February after commissioners learned Stanton's plans to transition from a man into a woman.

The National Center for Transgender Equality, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force and other local, statewide and national LGBT advocacy organizations blasted the commissioners' vote. Police also arrested Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith during a Feb. 27 public hearing in Largo after she began to hand out "Don't Discriminate" leaflets.

Stanton's termination remains an outrageous and tragic example of the discrimination that exists for millions of LGBT people everyday. Most accounts indicate Stanton received excellent performance reviews during his 14-year tenure as city manager. Stanton, through no fault of his own, has become a cause celebre that highlights the need for universal anti-discrimination statutes in this country. Sarasota commissioners recognized Stanton's qualifications, and not his gender identity, in their announcement. The same cannot be said for their counterparts in Pinellas County at their own expense.

Dina Matos McGreevey Talks to Oprah

There comes a time where it is necessary for a journalist to ask the perhaps obvious question: Is this story actually important to my readers? Dina Matos McGreevey's appearance on Oprah yesterday prompted this blogger to repeatedly ask that question.

Matos McGreevey appeared on the talk show to discuss her new book "Silent Partner: A Memoir of My Marriage." It chronicles her relationship with former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, her reaction to his disclosure of an affair with a former aid and his subsequent resignation in 2004. The talk show host, not surprisingly, peppered Matos McGreevey with questions about her sex life with the now openly gay former governor and other topics of interest to her and to the millions of women who watch her everyday. Matos McGreevey, for better or worse, came across as a naive and somewhat bitter soon-to-be-ex-wife as she methodically discussed her book.

The former New Jersey first lady certainly suffered greatly from the governor's resignation and the very public scandal that ensued. Both Matos McGreevey and McGreevey, however, continue to engage in a very public PR campaign as their contentious divorce plays out in the media. The New York Post, for example, reported late last month Matos McGreevey strongly objected to a nude photograph McGreevey and his partner Mark O'Donnell had placed in their home. She confirmed her position to Oprah.

"It's another example of his poor judgement," Matos McGreevey said. "It's not Michelangelo. It is a 55 by 60 photograph of a nude male."

Matos McGreevey certainly has every right to tell her side of the story. But her book tour, combined with the release of McGreevey's own account last September and the former couple's public divorce, raises questions about intent. These developments certainly provide journalists and editors with an endless supply of sensational headlines. But the question remains as to the personal necessity to generate such headlines at the expense of other stories that most may argue are more important to cover.

BP Chief Executive Resigns After Tabloid Details Relationship with Former Escort

British Petroleum Chief Executive John Browne resigned yesterday after a British tabloid published details of his long-time relationship with a Canadian-born escort. The high-profile businessman had sought to prevent the Mail on Sunday from reporting details of his relationship with Jeff Chevalier but the House of Lords rejected the claim.

“For the past 41 years of my career at BP, I have kept my private life separate from my business life,” Browne said in a statement. “I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter to be kept private. It is a matter of personal disappointment that a newspaper group has now decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public.”

The tabloid, the Times and other British newspapers reported Browne, who has close ties to Prime Minister Tony Blair, had lied to a court about how he and Chevalier met. The Mail also published documents that show Browne allegedly used BP resources to help Chevalier’s business, urged BP executives to serve on its board and made other questionable business and personal decisions. Browne’s resignation closely resembles the series of events that lead to former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey’s resignation in 2004 after he acknowledged an affair with a former aide. McGreevey appointed Golan Cipel as his Homeland Security adviser despite a lack of qualifications for the position. Browne, unlike McGreevey, led a corporation. But he, like the former governor, made a series of decisions that ultimately lead to his downfall.

The focus of this story should remain on Browne’s alleged conduct and not his sexual orientation. The question of outing remains a sensitive topic for many LGBT people in this country and around the world. Some writers, such as Michelangelo Signorile, argue it is unethical not to report on a person’s sexual orientation while others, such as Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute, urge journalists to exercise extreme caution on this topic. The debate will obviously continue but the story behind Browne’s resignation will certainly continue to dominate headlines as it continues to unfold.

New York Governor No-Show at LGBT Rights Lobby Day

More than 1,000 LGBT rights supporters from across New York State gathered in Albany yesterday for the Empire State Pride Agenda’s annual lobbying day. Activists continue to celebrate the bill Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduced late last month that would extend marriage to same-sex couples in the state but his absence added an interesting side note to an otherwise successful day. Spokesperson Christine Anderson told the New York Times the governor did not meet with activists because he was in San Francisco to attend a series of fundraising meetings. Spitzer undoubtedly did not snub activists. But Times reporter Nicholas Confessore correctly noted in his blog Spitzer’s absence has a “Honey, I’d love to go look at fabric samples with you, but I have to, um, alphabetize my CDs today.”

Beltway Powerbrokers Anxiously Await Release of Alleged Madam's Client List

Washington insiders remain on edge as they await the expected release of an alleged madam's client list later this week. Federal prosecutors indicted Jeane Palfrey, whom the media has dubbed the D.C. Madam, earlier this year in connection to an alleged prostitution ring she ran in the District of Columbia. The alleged madam gave ABC News her client list as she reportedly plans to call many of her clients to the stand during her trial.

Former Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias became the first casualty of this brewing scandal late last month with his abrupt resignation after he confirmed to the network he was a regular client of Palfrey's escort service "to have gals come over to the condo to give me a massage."

Tobias oversaw the Bush administration's controversial HIV prevention policy that urges abstinence and faithfulness over condoms and demanded an 'anti-prostitution' pledge from any United States-based prevention organization that sought federal funds for their programs. There is no problem with consenting adults who engage in sex behind closed doors. But Tobias is certainly not the first high profile Washington official to engage in personal and political hypocrisy at the expense of his own reputation.

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr [R-Ga.] co-sponsored the so-called Defense of Marriage Act despite his own divorces; former President Bill Clinton signed DOMA into law in 1996 despite his own extra-marital transgressions with former White House intern Monica Lewinksy that almost cost him his presidency and former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich [R-Ga.], himself married three times, admitted to Focus on the Famly founder James Dobson earlier this year he had an affair with a former Congressional aide while he oversaw impeachment proceedings against Clinton. Former National Association of Evangelicals President Ted Haggard resigned last November after a former male prostitute told a Denver radio station he had sex with the disgraced minister and used crystal meth with him. Haggard was a powerful proponent of the anti-marriage for same-sex couples amendment Colorado voters passed last November. Yet his downfall represents one of the most tragic cases of personal hypocrisy in recent years.

Haggard's personal transgressions, like Gingrich's, Clinton's, Barr's or Tobias', are not the issue in and of themselves. They become the issue, however, in light of their public statements that support of harmful legislation, policies or initiatives. Washington will continue it's anxious wait until ABC News discloses Palfrey's client list. But perhaps this latest scandal will remind those inside the Beltway who make decisions based on their so-called personal convictions that their actions speak much louder than words.

Presidential Candidates Court California Democrats

Buzz surrounded many of the Democratic presidential candidates who appeared at the annual California Democratic Party's annual convention this past weekend in San Diego. Sen. Barack Obama, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards were among those who predictably criticized the White House's war strategy with rhetoric that surely energized anti-war party activists. The war will certainly continue to dominate discussion in the campaign. But Sen. Hillary Clinton's strategic comments towards gay and lesbian voters during her speech at the convention also raised some eyebrows.

The Associated Press reported Clinton promised to treat all Americans with dignity and equality no matter who you are and who you love. The Empire State Pride Agenda and other LGBT advocacy organizations have criticized the former first lady for her opposition to full marriage for same-sex couples. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduced a bill last Friday which would extend full marriage to gay and lesbian couples while California lawmakers continue to debate a similar bill in their state. Clinton's reference was clearly aimed to court gay and lesbian voters in the influential state. Yet her own record on marriage remains troubling to a number of LGBT activists and potential voters.

Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors told this blogger earlier this month his organization would not endorse any candidate who do not support its mission. California remains an important fundraising source for presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle. LGBT voters, however, should expect more from candidates than good sound bites and anti-Bush rhetoric. They should expect candidates to answer their questions directly. The candidates themselves, in turn, also have a responsibility to explain their positions on marriage and other issues to LGBT voters.

LA Times Sports Writer Announces Transition

The LGBT rights movement contains an untold number of unsung heroes who continue to push its collective agenda forward in their own way. They are not the 'paid gays' who regularly appear on CNN or in the New York Times as talking heads, the porn stars who make token appearances at organizational fundraisers and benefits, or those who live in Chelsea, West Hollywood or in the Castro who continue to insulate themselves from the realities with which the vast majority of LGBT Americans continue to live. These unsung heroes are those who advance the movement at great personal or professional risk.

Los Angeles Times sports reporter Christine Daniels is one of these unsung heroes. The veteran reporter and columnist, known to readers as Mike Penner, announced in a column yesterday she will transition into a woman.

"Today I leave for a few weeks' vacation, and when I return, I will come back in yet another incarnation... as Christine," Daniels wrote.

Daniels' disclosure is not newsworthy in an ideal world but sports remains an entity plagued by homophobia and transphobia. Daniels' reporting, however, provided her a unique opportunity to discuss her own transition -- and challenge these pervasive attitudes head-on that have compelled countless other LGBT people to remain in the closet. Daniels shows true courage many may claim the broader LGBT movement lacks in its current incarnation.

New Hampshire Civil Union Bill Clears Last Hurdle

The New Hampshire Senate yesterday passed a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil unions less than a month after the House overwhelmingly endorsed the same legislation.

Governor John Lynch said last week he would sign the bill into law as "a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination." Presidential candidates who have already inundated the state in advance of the first primary early next year have also taken note. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards was among the candidates who issued statements in support of the bill.

"Gov. Lynch and the state of New Hampshire showed us that the idea of America -- fairness, justice and equal opportunity -- can become a reality when we have the courage to stand up for what is right," Edwards said. "New Hampshire's decision tor recognize civil unions and grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights granted to heterosexual married couples is an important step in the fight for justice. This is an issue of fundamental fairness, and by passing this law, New Hampshire's leaders chose fairness over discrimination."

Civil unions are not the same as marriage for same-sex couples but the bill certainly represents a significant step forward. The conservative Union Leader and the handful of other vocal groups, institutions and politicians who oppose the bill will certainly continue to express their opposition at the expense of many others in the state who support it. New Hampshire has a strong libertarian tradition based on limited government involvement in the private lives of its residents. This bill only continues that proud tradition in the Granite State.

New York Governor Introduces Marriage Bill

Governor Eliot Spitzer kept his promise to LGBT advocacy organizations today and introduced a marriage equality bill in Albany. Spitzer, who took office in January, became the first governor in the country to introduce such legislation.

"Today is a watershed moment in our community's struggle to win the freedom to marry in New York and have our relationships treated the same as any other relationship under the law," Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle said in a statement. "We are extremely proud to have a Governor who understands that all New York families need access to the protections and responsibilities that the state provides through marriage."

This bill is a monumental move many activists and same-sex couples in New York State will continue to praise over the coming days and weeks. ESPA will certainly have a lot to celebrate next week as it brings hundreds of LGBT New Yorkers to Albany for its annual lobbying day but it, and other groups, have a responsibility to manage expectations based on current political realities.

Spitzer has certainly proven himself a strong ally for LGBT New Yorkers in their quest for equality. But the New York State Senate, controlled by Republican Joseph Bruno, poses a very significant challenge to the success of this bill as an April 24 editorial in the New York Times correctly pointed out. The senate Majority Leader has repeatedly expressed his opposition to marriage for same-sex couples. His counterpart in the state Assembly, Sheldon Silver [D-Manhattan], has yet to publicly take a position on the bill. This political reality underscores the uphill battle activists face as they work with the governor to advance the bill. They will continue to polish their messages, talking points and sound bites to convince New Yorkers across the state that marriage equality is an important issue. But these groups also need to clearly articulate to their constituencies the significant hurdles that lay ahead.

Outing in 2007: Media Coverage of Glass Closets

My article, see below, appears in today's New York Blade. This issue remains quite contentious among activists and journalists alike.


Out Magazine’s May issue reignited and redirected the debate on outing celebrities and public figures. “The Glass Closet: Why the stars won’t come out and play” reads the cover line. The provocative image portrays two models holding masks of actress Jodie Foster and CNN personality Anderson Cooper.

In the feature story, Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto examines the reasons celebrities choose not to openly discuss their sexual orientation—specifically, those celebrities who seemingly live an openly gay life on many counts but who refuse to divulge the details in the press. Hence, the term “glass closet.”

The issue of Out also includes a story called “The Power 50,” which lists the most powerful gay men and women in America. (The top five: David Geffen, Anderson Cooper, Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Gill and Barney Frank.)

Before the issue hit the stands, it was a hot topic among bloggers and activists. Many praised the magazine; others went on the attack.

Musto himself was quick to defend the article, saying he has a right to report on celebrities’ personal lives. “As an entertainment reporter, I cover celebs’ lives,” Musto said. “When these people are acting out same-sex love affairs, often in public, it’s not even outing. It’s simply reporting.”

The openly gay columnist has written extensively about Rosie O’Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres and other lesbian and gay celebrities, at times reporting on them before they came out in the media.

Musto labeled potential critics of his reporting as hypocrites. “No one ever complains when the reports are about Paris Hilton’s boyfriends or Lindsay Lohan’s partying,” Musto said. “Most of the people who are so outraged at the [Out] piece gobble up all kinds of personal gossip all day long, but suddenly become pious when gay sex comes up.”

In a New York Daily News article, Chris Ciompi, editorial director of Genre magazine, which is affiliated with the Blade, criticized Out Magazine editor Aaron Hickin for putting likenesses of Foster and Cooper on the cover. Ciompi described the stunt as a ploy to sell magazines. “Your right to privacy is a constitutional right,” Ciompi said. “Maybe Jodie and Anderson would prefer to be known for their work, not their sexuality. The climate of the United States today still would not allow that to occur. With Anderson, many people would perceive his credibility to be undermined.”

Hicklin defended the article. He, like Musto, suggested celebrities remain in the closet to protect and advance their careers. Hicklin challenged them to come out as a way to decrease media speculation.

“It takes people like Jodie Foster and Anderson Cooper to acknowledge their sexuality to stop [this story from] being intrinsically interesting to the media,” he said. “None of these are new arguments. There’s enough information out there, and we were just stating the obvious.”

Sirius Satellite Radio host Michelangelo Signorile has outed late publishing tycoon Malcolm Forbes and other public figures throughout his journalism career. He agreed with Hicklin’s defense of Musto’s article.

“Journalists are not in the business of helping people’s careers with lies—or at least, they’re not supposed to be—or being worried about the well-being of public figures to the point of keeping facts out of stories,” he said. “They’re supposed to be in the business of telling the truth.”

The abrupt resignation of former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley [R-Fla.] last September after ABC News broadcast sexually explicit e-mails he sent to a former Congressional page and other recent scandals, such as claims former pastor Ted Haggard had sex with a former male prostitute, highlight the difficulty national LGBT organizations face in addressing outing. The Human Rights Campaign and other organizations quickly issued statements that condemned the former Congressman’s alleged conduct.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, on the other hand, remained silent for several weeks despite several conservative commentators who attempted to link homosexuality and pedophilia after Foley came out.

GLAAD President Neil Giuliano told the Washington Blade in an interview last November his organization worked behind the scenes with journalists to focus their coverage of the scandal away from the former Congressman’s sexual orientation. He told the Blade his organization does not support outing. Signorile quickly dismissed this position.

“They articulate a very simplistic and often offensive response to the issue,” he said. “They know why this is relevant, why it should often be reported on and why it’s not wrong.”

Giuliano conceded the public remains interested in celebrities’ private lives. He further added that public figures whom come out increase understanding of LGBT people.

“When more people from all walks of life choose to live openly, the more accepting and understanding society will become toward LGBT Americans,” Giuliano said.

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association President Eric Hegedus agreed. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughan and other high-profile couples and romances have dominated gossip columns. But Hegedus concluded the media, as a whole, fails to report on gay and lesbian celebrities in the same way it continues to report on the private lives of their heterosexual counterparts.

“The public certainly has an interest in who is LGBT,” he said. “But the news media still treats LGBT individuals differently by not attempting to approach the subject of their personal lives.”This question continues to pose difficult ethical questions for journalists. Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute said they should weigh whether a person’s sexual orientation is relevant to their story before they write about their personal life. But she noted Musto’s article for Out Magazine contains potentially damaging speculation that readers could conclude is true.

“In this case, you’re not dealing with fact—you’re dealing with innuendo and rumor,” McBride said. “That’s very dangerous because innuendo can become fact in public perception if we don’t give it the proper treatment.”

Musto said he will continue to report these issues. “The debate will always rage on,” he said. “I will always find a way to simply state to the public that many of our idols are gay and leading gay lives. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Rosie Leaves "The View"

Rosie O'Donnell's short but contentious tenure on "The View" came to an abrupt but perhaps expected end yesterday with her announcement she will leave the daytime talk show in June after she failed to secure a contract extension with ABC executives. Groups, such as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, lauded the outspoken co-host who made LGBT issues "front and center in America's living rooms."

O'Donnell certainly brought much needed visibility to same-sex families, marriage equality and other important issues with which many LGBT Americans are concerned into the living rooms of millions of viewers each morning. But the controversy she so often sparked alongside the visibility she created continues to distract viewers' attention away from these issues. The Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund and other advocacy organizations blasted O'Donnell after she repeatedly used a slur to mock so-called Asian speech during an interview with a drunk Danny Devito last December. The public feud between the Long Island native and Donald Trump dominated gossip columns earlier this year while open speculation about whether the network had grown tired of O'Donnell's public antics, such as comments Rupert Murdoch reportedly made after the Matrix Awards earlier this week in New York, will certainly continue.

These issues raise an important question that activists and organizations will obviously debate as O'Donnell's departure from "The View" draws near. O'Donnell has certainly used her celebrity to advance the causes in which she believes. But her bombastic approach, combined with her public antics, threaten to alienate the very audience with which she connected on "The View." O'Donnell gave Barbara Walters the renewed ratings she wanted for her one-time struggling talk show. But her on-air and off-camera conduct threaten to significantly tarnish the visibility she brought to mainstream America.

Presidential Candidates Seek Gay Endorsements

Even though the first caucuses and primaries are nearly a year away, the 2008 presidential campaign is in full swing and LGBT voters and organizations have already begun to weigh in.

Candidates from both sides of the aisle have raised a record $157 million in the first quarter. Many have created elaborate operations in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early contest states in this election cycle.

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced April 18 that openly lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Democratic National Committee LGBT caucus chair Jeff Soref and more than two dozen other elected officials, activists and celebrities had endorsed her bid for the White House. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards issued a similar statement earlier this month to announce Democratic fundraiser David Mixner and other LGBT activists had endorsed his campaign.

Both Clinton and Edwards, along with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and other leading Democratic candidates, remain opposed to marriage for same-sex couples.

National Stonewall Democrats Communications Director John Marble conceded most candidates are not "perfect on this issue at all" but added his organization remains confident their positions will evolve over time. "We now expect them to be open to evolving their positions on marriage," he said.

Blogger Andrew Sullivan and other gay commentators have already criticized the Human Rights Campaign and other national LGBT advocacy organizations for their perceived support of candidates who do not support marriage for same-sex couples. National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director H. Alexander Robinson, on the other hand, said the candidates themselves need to better explain their position on this issue and others, such as hate crimes, which concern voters.

He further added he believes the candidates generally fail to understand the complexity of the issues LGBT people routinely face."The political analysis that gay and lesbian issues present a liability has meant that in many cases the candidates have failed to have a sort of fundamental view of what the challenges of discrimination are," he said. "Leadership is not just about casting the right vote or taking the right position. It is about going to a place where people may not share their opinion and really making the case for the positions [they] support."

HRC Executive Director Joe Solmonese dismissed Sullivan’s criticisms and was quick to point out his organization has yet to endorse any candidate. He said marriage remains one of several issues voters will examine during the campaign. And Solmonese added the HRC will carefully examine each candidate’s positions before it makes any decisions.

"Our job is to evaluate each race and make a decision based on the best interest of the community and understanding the whole host of issues the community expects us to advance," he said as he dismissed Sullivan’s criticisms. "It’s the whole package and a variety of different factors."

Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors was more pragmatic. His organization refused to endorse U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s re-election campaign last year after she failed to support marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Lawmakers in Sacramento continue to debate a bill which would allow same-sex couples to marry but Kors remained confident his organization will not support any presidential hopeful who did not fully support their LGBT constituents. "Equality California does not endorse any candidate who opposes our mission," he said.

Marriage remains an important issue for voters in other states as well. Alabamans overwhelmingly passed a state constitutional amendment to define marriage last June while voters in South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia and three other states supported similar initiatives in November.

Equality Alabama Board Chair Howard Bayless said LGBT voters in his state will continue to examine each candidate’s position on marriage. But he also believes voters will expect them to outline their positions in support of hate-crimes legislation and non-discrimination statutes before they head to the polls.

"This election is not about one or two issues," Bayless told EDGE in a recent interview from Birmingham. "It is about a myriad of issues. People will look at the candidate who is going to reach out to them the most."

This analysis remains consistent with the position many national LGBT organizations took following the mid-term elections. They saw the election results, in particular the Democratic take-over of the House and the Senate, as an opportunity to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Local Law Enforcement and Enhancement Act and the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military that had stalled during the previously Republican controlled Congress.

Solmonese added that the results, including the defeat of anti-LGBT incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and other social conservatives, were an indication voters had begun to reject the rhetoric that had determined the outcome of previous elections. He expects this trend will continue into 2008. "We continue to have fewer and fewer people buying into their rhetoric," Solmonese said.

Log Cabin Republican Executive Director Patrick Sammon agreed. He insisted his party will maintain the White House only if the GOP returns to what he described as its "core principles" and appeals to a much broader base."

Republicans need to nominate a candidate who can appeal to voters in the middle," Sammon said. "They [gay and lesbian Republicans] are looking for a candidate who will focus on uniting Republicans and not dividing Republicans."

It remains to be seen whether marriage and other issues will play a prominent role in the 2008 election as they did in previous campaigns. But most activists and political pundits agree the war could ultimately determine its outcome. "The war in Iraq will be a huge issue," Sammon said.

Robinson of the National Black Justice Coalition echoed these sentiments. He asserted many NBJC members and supporters remain concerned the Bush administration continues to fund the war at the expense of efforts to combat HIV and AIDS, public health and other social and educational initiatives. "Issues of national concern--the war in Iraq and the sense many people have that the country is headed in the wrong direction--are themes I’ve heard time and time again," Robinson said.

Marble added that Americans will continue to scrutinize events in the civil-war-torn nation as the election draws closer."The current situation has LGBT voters largely focused on issues that aren’t LGBT specific," he said. "This cuts across the electorate regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

Solmonese hesitated to say whether he feels the war would overshadow LGBT issues during the presidential campaign. He added, however, voters will almost certainly continue to demand the White House change its policy in Iraq.

"The war in Iraq and the administration’s role in the war defined the [2006] election," Solmonese said. "If there are no significant changes in the Middle East, the war will continue to dominate the agenda."

The Bush administration announced earlier this year it would increase the number of troops in Iraq. This deployment remains highly unpopular among members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and among the American people. Observers remain doubtful the GOP will maintain the White House in 2008 if this policy remains in place."

LGBT voters, like the majority of voters in the country, are ready to see an end to the hostile positions and the incompetent Bush administration," Kors predicted.

Bayless of Equality Alabama agreed. "The electorate will be revved up for a change," he said. "Republicans will have a difficult time overcoming the last eight years."

Post-Imus Termination Debate Continues

Media pundits, social commentators, politicians and average Americans continue to weigh in on the fallout from former radio talk show host Don Imus' comments against the Rutgers University women's basketball team. The decision to terminate Imus came as a welcome development among the groups that had urged MSNBC and CBS to remove him from the air. It has sparked a long-overdue national conversation about hate speech but several questions remain unanswered.

"Washington Week" host and former New York Times reporter Gwen Ifill posed one of the most obvious questions yesterday during a rountable on NBC's "Meet the Press." She correctly asked host Tim Russert and Times columnist David Brooks to explain their repeated appearances on Imus' program despite his long history of racist, sexist and homopobic comments. Russert, rather uncomfortably, deplored Imus' comments but also expressed sadness for the former talk show host and his family. He also candidly admitted Imus' program generated "political discussions you don't hear anywhere else." Imus clearly provided an attractive forum for many politicians -- former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, U.S. Sen. John McCain and former Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry have all appeared on his show -- celebrities and others. But the question remains as to why these public figures seemed to overlook Imus' history of irresponsible comments for their own personal or political gain.

Imus once categorized Ifill as a 'cleaning lady' during an on-air commentary. Yet she rightfully challenged her colleagues to explain their passive support of his comments each time they appeared on his show. These questions are certainly uncomfortable to answer. Yet, answers to these queries are an essential part of the national conversation on the continued tolerance of racism, sexism and homophobia that must continue to take place in light of Imus' comments and his termination.

CBS Fires Don Imus

The inevitable second shoe finally dropped late yesterday afternoon with CBS Radio's decision to fire Don Imus. CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said in his statement that announced the shock jock's termination that 'there has been much discussion of the effect language like [that used by Imus to describe the Rutgers University women's basketball team] has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society' among CBS employees, fellow media professionals and others across the country.

This controversy was never really about the former radio personality. Coach C. Vivian Stringer herself told the New York Times his comments 'are indicative of greater ills in our culture.' Imus should be held accountable for his appauling comments. But the fact remains that his listeners and, to a broader extent, society as a whole should be held equally accountable for their support of such blatant hate speech. Imus is only indicative of the broader society which supports him and his termination will remain that -- his termination -- if the broader issues raised during this past week are not addressed.

Don Imus Sparks More Outrage

Don Imus is at it again! The outspoken radio talk show host sparked his latest outrage last week with his racially insensitive categorization of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Imus has repeatedly apologized for his comments but both NBC News and CBS Radio yesterday suspended his show for two-weeks.

This man has a long and documented history of charged comments against underrepresented groups. He famously joked the New York Times had let 'the cleaning lady cover the White House' in a pointed reference to now "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" Senior Correspondent Gwen Ifill. Imus also sparked outrage among lesbian and gay advocacy organizations last year with his description of "Brokeback Mountain" as "Fudgepack Mountain" during an on-air exchange with MSNBC personality Chris Matthews. These sophomoric attempts at humor, and others like them, only serve to generate attention for themselves along the same vein upon which conservative commentator Ann Coulter and others have built their careers. NBC News and CBS Radio are correct to suspend Imus but his latest insult plays into a much broader phenomenon.

Imus is only the latest of a laundry list of commentators, politicians and celebrities -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Grey's Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington and others -- whose comments have sparked controversy. These public figures apologized almost immediately afterwards in a self-serving attempt to quell outrage and condemnation in an exercise of personal repentance. The real issue this phenomenon raises, however, is the fact these comments are a reflection upon the society that continues incubates these racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes in the first place. Imus' comments are certainly not a surprise to those who have been in his comedic cross hairs throughout his career. He should certainly be held to account. But the real challenge is how society can use this incident as an opportunity to remedy its long-held prejudices. This work will certainly take much more effort than a self-serving statement of repentance.

New Hampshire's Exercise in True Conservatism

The New Hampshire House yesterday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. Governor John Lynch has yet to take a position on the bill but its passage indicates the significant transition the state has undergone over the last two decades.

Native Granite Staters, such as myself, take immense pride in their self-determination and resentment of governmental interference in their personal lives. This 'Live Free or Die' philosophy trascends itself into the state's body politic with debates over taxes, education funding -- and now the possible expansion of legal rights to same-sex couples. This legislative mindset certainly has some drawbacks but remains the norm among the majority of New Hampshire lawmakers.

This philosophy often stokes New Hampshire's conservative reputation among outsiders who remain ignorant to the current reality within the state. Fiscal responsibility, the lack of broad-based sales and income taxes and limited state government remain the cornerstones of the "New Hampshire advantage" to which elected officials proudly point. Yet so-called conservative Christian values [i.e. traditional marriage] rarely take root in the broader New Hampshire consciousness. The Union Leader certainly adds folder to this illusion but the majority of lawmakers in Concord remain committed to their laissez-faire approach to governance.

The passage of this legislation certainly reflects a common sense approach to this issue. People vote for lawmakers whom they feel will legislate on their behalf. This bill, while it does not extend full equality to same-sex couples who live in the state, is certainly a significant step forward. Elected officials too often lack the political courage to take a stand in support of equal marriage rights for all of their constituents. But those who support the bill understand the necessity to limit government's involvement in their constituents' personal lives through discriminatory statutes. These lawmakers, through this bill, are true conservatives.

Cyndi Lauper Highlights Imperial Court Gala

Kings, queens and other New York royalty donned their crowns, tiaras and other royal attire at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square on March 31 for the 21st annual Night of a Thousand Gowns.

Reigning New York Empress Gefil Tefish paid homage to the extravagant French queen Marie Antoinette with one of the several gowns she wore throughout the hours-long gala. She, alongside Emperor Fantasia, crowed Craig Hollywood and B as the city’s next monarchs during an elaborate coronation ceremony attended by Panzi, Robin Kradles, Coco LaChine, Billie Ann Miller, Tony Monteleone, other royalty and their loyal subjects.

Emperor Hollywood praised his predecessors’ reign during a post-coronation interview.

"There are large shoes we are filling from Gefil and Fantasia," he said. "They raised a lot of money. We will try to keep up their schedule and involve the entire community, as best we can, in the pageantry of the Imperial Court of New York [ICNY]."

The ICNY, part of the larger International Court, remains one of New York’s premier gay philanthropic organizations. It has raised more than $1 million for dozens of organizations across the Tri-State area since it’s founding at the height of the AIDS crisis during the mid 1980s.

This year’s gala doubled as a fundraiser for PFLAG New York City. Cyndi Lauper, who is featured in the organization’s ’Stay Close’ campaign with her lesbian sister Elen, attended the gala alongside Broadway star Charles Busch, Darlene Love, DJ Lady Bunny, former porn star Will Clark and others.

The Queens-born diva indulged the assembled monarchs with a rendition of ’True Colors.’ She even invited them to attend her upcoming summer tour. "Bring your crowns," Lauper quipped.

New York City Councilmember Eric Gioia [D-Sunnyside, Queens] honored the ICNY with an official proclamation from the Council. He quickly apologized to the formerly reigning monarchs for not honoring the gala’s strict black tie [or gown] dress code. But Empress Tefish quickly forgave Gioia for his fashion faux pas.

"You’re good-looking enough," she joked.

PFLAG New York City President Phyllis Steinberg donned a white boa and she, along with PFLAG Executive Director Drew Tagliabue, faired much better. Tagliabue, whose father is former National Football League [NFL] Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, added the coronation rivaled any Broadway show in the adjacent Theatre District.

"It came across as one of the most fun, most genuine type of dinners that we had ever been to," he said. "You’re hard pressed to get a show like that in New York City."

Uptown Manhattan Gay Life Swings to Latin Beat

My first article as a contributor for EDGE New York


It’s 1:30 on a recent Wednesday morning at Umbrella on West 202nd Street in the Inwood section on the extreme northern tip of Upper Manhattan. That means another night of drag queens, papi chulos, go-go dancing hombres and packs of gay men, lesbians, and their straight friends packed into a club enjoying one of New York’s most unique scenes: the gay Hispanic clubs that dot this neighborhood.

Hundreds of people are packed on the dance floor as DJ Eddie Cruz spins merengue, salsa, bachata and Spanish pop tracks. A dozen male and female go-go dancers are gyrating on the massive central bar and on pedestals around the club. The crowd eagerly awaits Latin diva Lorena St. Cartier’s flamenco-inspired performance with her dancers. Welcome to a typical night at Uptown’s most popular gay party!

Promoters Alberto Fermín and Fernando Romero launched "Escandalo Nights" in 2004 as a way to provide locals with an alternative to the gay scene in Chelsea, the East and West Villages and Hell’s Kitchen. It takes place on the last Tuesday of each month and quickly became the "in" destination for gay Latino clubgoers from nearby Washington Heights, Harlem, the Bronx, Westchester County and even farther afield: New Jersey, Queens and Brooklyn.

March 28 marked the party’s third anniversary. Over 500 people packed Umbrella to celebrate. Clubgoers are known to wait an hour or more just to enter the club. Fermín and Romero proudly point to these lines as evidence of their party’s growing popularity. "When we started the party three years ago, there was nothing happening in Washington Heights," Romero said. "People needed a place in their own neighborhood."

Fermín and Romero say their party’s unique blend of music and entertainment as its main draw. DJ John Rizzo and Cruz’ mix of revival, House and Latino tracks is rare among the city’s nightlife. And there are those dancers! Scantily clad performers are also an integral part of Escandalo Nights’ entertainment.

Hispanic gay men and lesbians from Upper Manhattan and the Bronx comprise the majority of the partygoers. But Fermín also noted the increasing number of straight people who come to Escandalo Nights each month. "It’s a party for everybody - gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight," he said. "That’s what makes the party so unique. Everybody can come in and have a good time."

Margie Martinez of Washington Heights said this mix of people is one of the main draws. She has attended several parties with her gay cousin and said she feels more comfortable at Umbrella than she would at other neighborhood establishments. "It’s a cool environment," Martinez said as she and her cousin stood near the bar. "I don’t feel pressured. We can just let loose."

Sahadi Beltre drove from neighboring Hudson County in New Jersey, to attend the party. She eagerly pointed out Escandalo Nights is better than the parties on the other side of the George Washington Bridge as she bought a drink at the bar. "It’s a hot place," the West New York, N.J., resident said. "Some places don’t accept gay people. Here they do."

Uptown gay parties are certainly not a new phenomenon. ARKA Lounge and the Monkey Room in Washington Heights have both hosted a variety of parties over the last two decades.

The gay bar No Parking on Broadway and West 177th Street opened last April. Sibe Bistro on Broadway and West 171st Street hosts a Gay and Lesbian Bohemian Night on the last Wednesday of each month in conjunction with the Gay & Lesbian Dominican Empowerment Organization [GALDE].

The opening of No Parking, the growing popularity of the Gay and Lesbian Bohemian Night and Escandalo Nights are indicative of Washington Heights’ growing reputation as a popular destination for gay New Yorkers. The neighborhood, like others throughout Upper Manhattan, has undergone significant gentrification in recent years as people from other parts of Manhattan find Washington Heights an increasingly attractive place to live, not to mention affordable.

Andrés Duque, coordinator of the Mano a Mano coalition within the Latino Commission on AIDS in New York, said this influx has sparked a renewed interest in these parties. He questioned the impact these parties have on these neighborhoods but conceded they provide important gathering places for gay Latinos. "They offer, to some degree, a hometown bar feeling," Duque said. "You go in and you know your friends."

GALDE Executive Director Francisco Lazala noted these parties have had a very positive impact within these neighborhoods. GALDE organizes a picnic and health fair each summer each July under the George Washington Bridge that draws gay Latinos from across the city. Lazala added these parties provide local gays yet another place to come out and to feel comfortable.

"They have really turned Uptown into a place where people feel comfortable and connected to the community," he said. "To have a place in Uptown that you can call your own is definitely a good thing."

No Parking owner Brian Washington Parker agreed. He said his bar, along with Escandalo Nights and other local venues, continue to play an integral role in the elimination of homophobia in Upper Manhattan. Gay men who live in these neighborhoods will continue to come out as more bars and clubs welcome them, he added."

In their own way, these parties have built a bridge," Parker said. "They allow--at least for gay people --to feel part of the community and for other people they open a dialogue. It’s a huge change."

Back at Umbrella, partygoers heaped up the praise for their neighborhood’s newfound status as a destination. Martinez said she remains hopeful these parties will continue to change local attitudes towards homosexuality.

"A lot of Hispanics are not accepting of being gay," she said. "These parties are a very big step."