gaelick » equality

14 year old girl asks Maryland to vote “No” on marriage equality for her birthday

Jen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:06 +0000

A video of a 14 year old girl asking the people of Maryland to vote “No” on marriage equality went viral yesterday on Buzz Feed. She spent her birthday with the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and made her birthday wish to lawmakers. She said:

Today is my 14th birthday and it would be the best birthday present ever if you would vote NO on gay marriage. I really feel bad for the kids who have two parents of the same gender. Even though some kids think it’s fine, they have no idea what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on. I don’t want more kids to get confused about what’s right and okay. I really don’t want to grow up in a world where marriage isn’t such a special thing anymore.

It’s rather scary to think that when I grow up the legislature or the court can change the definition of any word they want. If they could change the definition of marriage then they could change the definition of any word.

People have the choice to be gay, but I don’t want to be affected by their choice. People say that they were born that way, but I’ve met really nice adults who did change.

So please vote no on gay marriage. Thank you.

The recorded birthday message sounds obviously scripted. A girl of fourteen does not come up with these opinions on her own, so what kind of parents must she have? It’s truly sad to hear a fourteen year old voice her homophobia so blatantly whether she’s being influenced or not.

I posted the YouTube video on Facebook and immediately people were commenting on the video, voicing their outrage. Darragh Horgan said:

Definitely a sense of moral questioning going on, “whats right and okay“, plenty of things are not right and ok, but they are ongoing in the world at present and dont heed any obstruction. The only difference is, this threatens people’s understanding of the society they are in, and more importantly brings the recognisation of anyone who fails to fufill a heteronormative role into question as a second class citizen.

Paul Bostock said:

“But i think marriage should be between opposite genders and children must experience a mum and a dad” What bullcrap. When it comes to marriage and family it’s love and stability that matter, not gender. I still can’t believe the amount of “not-in-love” people that get married and screw up their kids time and time again and are allowed preference over a gay couple that’ll happily love and care for their children and for each other. The whole thing sickens me.

On ThinkProgress where the original ‘news flash’ was posted, a comment beneath the recording said:

For her to be abused that way by her anti-gay parents constitutes a form of child abuse. “People have the choice to be gay,” she says “but I don’t want to be affected by their choice.” The only way she is being “affected” by gay people is that her parents are teaching her to hate them.

For all of the people who have moved on from their prehistoric homophobic views, there seems to always be somebody waiting to challenge the progress that has been made, and what a disgrace it is when adults are still influencing the next generation of kids to be just as homophobic and ignorant as they are.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Tsr7rz9Og

“Vote Against” Project in North Carolina

Gooner — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:54:16 +0000

We gays do a good campaign don’t we? It Gets Better, NOH8 and so on.

To be fair to our community, most LGBTs really want a way to come together and try to make a difference and when given a platform we can outdo ourselves. The latest in this distinguished list is the North Carolina “Vote Against” Project.

Some background for you: on 8th May next the folks of North Carolina will vote on a ban on same sex marriage. While most places are voting on recognising rights, these people have to stand up and speak just to keep things the same and prevent their work for marriage equality taking a major step in the wrong direction.

Last September a rally was held in Raleigh, NC, to oppose the legislature’s vote to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Sadly, however, the amendment passed and now attention must go to getting as many no votes as possible, but what exactly would this mean to LGBTs in North Carolina?

According to the Vote Against website the amendment does the following:

In addition to prohibiting same-sex marriage, as state law already does, the Amendment would:

prohibit North Carolina from ever passing legislation that would grant civil unions;
bar the state from instituting domestic partnership rights;
strip the domestic partner insurance benefits currently offered to employees by a number of local governments.

It’s hard to fathom in this day and age that people still have to stand up against this kind on nonsense, but there it is.

Curtis Brown is a Raleigh-based photographer who has started the project which captures images of people wearing “vote against t-shirts”, much like the NOH8 campaign started by Adam Bouska in California.

Brown is even going on tour around the states to facilitate the participation of as many people as possible. You just have to commend people like him: well done to Curtis and all his volunteers. Let’s hope the vote goes the right way and this kind of backwards step is prevented by a large majority.

Zappone and Gilligan receive European honour

click here — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:42:08 +0000

This just in from our friends in Marriage Equality:

Senator Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan honoured among top inspirational female role models in Europe

Following a successful nomination to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) by Marriage Equality, Senator Katherine Zappone and her partner Dr Ann Louise Gilligan have been featured in the EU organisation’s “Women Inspiring Europe” 2012 calendar.

With the publication of the calendar, currently in its second year, EIGE aims to give visibility and pay homage to some of Europe’s most remarkable women, by highlighting their achievements and success stories.

Moninne Griffith, Director of Marriage Equality, said:

We’re absolutely delighted that Senator Zappone and Dr Gilligan have been featured in the ‘Women Inspiring Europe’ calendar. They are hugely inspirational women for the marriage equality movement – not only in Ireland, but around the world. Their struggle to have their Canadian marriage recognised here is a huge part of the reason that we have Civil Partnership legislation in Ireland today.

While Civil Partnership is an important step on the road to equality, there is still much work to be done before equality is achieved. Senator Zappone and Dr Gilligan’s continued challenge has inspired people from all across the country to join the campaign for equality for same-sex couples, our families and our children.

Marriage Equality nominated Senator Zappone and Dr Gilligan not only for their work with the marriage equality movement, but also for their tireless dedication to women’s rights.

In 1986 they founded The Shanty (An Cosán) – a distinctive model of community-based education aimed at tackling poverty, isolation, inequality and disadvantage that played a key role in crystallising women’s community education in Ireland and worked to gain recognition of women’s community education as deserving a state-supported role within the education system.

They have also established the Centre for Progressive Change, which aims to respond to the crisis of the breakdown of financial and social systems that Ireland is facing by promoting an ethical vision that puts community at the heart of public life. The CPC offers services and training to individuals and organisations aiming to implement progressive change in the development of public policies and laws, and the design and delivery of public services.

Senator Zappone and Dr Gilligan are featured in the month of May, which coincides with the International Day of Families (May 15th) and the International Day Against Homophobia (May 17th). The 2012 calendar is the first time a lesbian couple has been highlighted as an inspirational feature. The text accompanying their photo praises their courage and devotion as an inspiration to others who encounter a violation of their rights to fight for them.

Speaking at the launch of the calendar, EIGE Director Virginija Langbakk said:

So many women across Europe could be promoted as great examples of their career and actions. We selected 12 women … just to give Europe a glimpse of their potential and to demonstrate that people can make a difference – if they act, and in particular, if they act different.

The “Women Inspiring Europe” calendar will be widely distributed in EU policy making circles. A copy of the calendar can be found online here.

LGBT milestones of 2011

click here — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:31:05 +0000

Here’s another article from one of our new writers, Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin. Happy New Year!

2011 has been celebrated as a great year for the LGBT community. Of course, as long as severe inequality persists, it’s difficult to wholeheartedly agree that it was a great year. We’ve seen setbacks for marriage equality in Ireland, homosexuality still criminal in 76 countries around the world, lesbians tortured in anti-gay clinics in Ecuador, the LGBT community drastically suppressed in Russia, and gay teenagers everywhere still being tormented by homophobic bullying.

All the same, 2011 has certainly upheld that crucial message; that it gets better. So, grab a cup o’ kindness and we’ll run through some of the achievements of the LGBT movement in 2011.

1. Civil Partnership

Ireland rang in the New Year with the Civil Partnership Act, which came into effect on 1st January 2011, granting considerably enhanced rights to co-habiting partners, including gay couples. On 4th April, Hugh Walsh and Barry Dignam entered into the first publicly celebrated partnership under the Act.

On 5th March, the Taoiseach outlined the government’s intentions for a constitutional convention, including a provision for discussing marriage for same-sex couples. While the parameters of the convention remain unclear, the mention of marriage equality in the Programme for Government shows that gay rights have become something of a legislative priority. As Iarnród Éireann would put it, “We’re not there yet… but we’re getting there”.

2. LGBT Representatives in the Oireachtas

The number of openly gay Oireachtas members has quadrupled in 2011. In February, Dominic Hannigan and John Lyons of the Labour Party became the first openly gay TDs in the history of the State. David Norris, despite the upsets in his presidential campaign, held the Trinity seat he’s been fighting from for the last 24 years.

Finally, in a real triumph for the LGBT community, for women, for men, for children, for Human Rights, for Ireland, for the world, the solar system and the universe… the visionary Dr Katherine Zappone was appointed to the Senate at the request of the Táiniste.

3. Born this Way

Like it or not, Gaga’s anthem, released on 23rd May, was the soundtrack of gay 2011.

Gaga is a leader in a powerful popular campaign for equality that’s taking place on people’s TVs and iPods, and in their tweets, hearts and minds.

4. Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

On 20th September, the United States finally repealed the insidious, twenty-year old ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, which prevented LGBT people from serving openly in the military. At last, the army that professes to fight for freedom around the world afforded this most basic freedom to its own soldiers.

Last month the full adorable implications of the change were embodied by the ‘first kiss on land’ between Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta and Petty Officer 3rd Class Citalic Snell.

5. Hillary Clinton’s Speech

In the months since the repeal of DADT, the Obama administration has dramatically altered its foreign policy relating to gay rights. This shift culminated in Hillary Clinton’s ground breaking speech in Geneva on December 6th, urging the world’s leaders to afford LGBT people “the full measure of liberty, the full experience of dignity, and the full benefits of humanity.”

6. President Higgins

On 29th October, the election of Michael D. Higgins as the 9th President of Ireland was another victory for progressive, tolerant Ireland.

This feminist, human rights activist and LGBT ally is a true successor to the Marys Robinson and McAleese in the struggle to dismantle “the noxious apparatus of homophobia”.

7. International leaders support marriage equality

Around the world, the cause of Marriage Equality has been gaining momentum. In the UK, David Cameron has pledged that his government is now committed to discussing “how, not if” to implement full civil marriage for LGBT couples, and to have the legislation in place within the lifetime of the current parliament. The ruling Australian Labour Party also adjusted its platform to support full marriage equality.

In the USA, President Obama at last took a stronger stance on gay marriage, and voicing his support for the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’, which will invalidate DOMA. While many of the prospective Republican candidates for 2012 are virulently anti-gay, with Obama onside we’re promised a fair fight. Well, as fair as a fight can be when one side is clearly right.

8. Marriage equality in New York

On June 24th, just in time for a particularly joyful Pride, New York passed its Marriage Equality Act, becoming most populous state yet to legalise full gay marriage.

The first wedding in Manhattan was a real tearjerker, taking place between Phyllis Siegel, 77, and Connie Kopelov, 85.

9. Progress on homophobic bullying

Horrifying stories of gay bullying and suicide continued to emerge this year, most memorably that of 14-year old Jamey Rodemeyer, an out 14-year old activist and blogger. However, it seems that although change comes dropping slow, change does come.

In December, Ireland’s own Belong To were held up as role models at a UN conference in Rio, dedicated specifically tackling homophobic bullying as human rights abuse.

10. The UN’s first resolution on LGBT rights

This year the UN Human Rights Council passed a specific resolution supporting LGBT rights for the first time in its history. The resolution expresses “grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

While the resolution has no binding effect, it is a milestone in that it reflects an international shift in values. Its opponents are concerned that the Resolution will force countries to legalise homosexuality and recognise marriage equality. Here’s hoping that they’re right.

Have we missed anything important? Add your 2011 milestones in the comments!

I, like, like that you like this: Your fave Facebook links of 2011

click here — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:16 +0000

Here are some of the most popular non-Gaelick links from our Facebook page this year. Lovely!

16. Women have US Navy’s first same-sex homecoming kiss

They’re gorgeous, they’re confident, and they wear amazing uniforms. They’re Officers Gaeta and Snell, and they were the first same-sex couple to have the Navy’s traditional “homecoming kiss” since the repeal of DADT. They’re the new this.

As well as the Beeb’s story, there was the video, as well as the original story and pics from The Virginian-Pilot.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta (23) and her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell (22) share the traditional dockside “first kiss” since the US ended a ban on gays in the army.

Aren’t they only gorgeous?

15. Amber Heard: Staying in the closet in Hollywood is a horribly detrimental lie

We do love Amber Heard here on Gaelick. (At least, some of us are obsessed.)

14. Billie Jean King and Martina Navrátilová respond to Margaret Court’s homophobic rant

13. Gay couple being told they will become grandparents

12. In memory of Sonia Pierre, human rights defender

Sonia Pierre was a prominent human rights defender of African descent from the Dominican Republic, who founded and served as Director of the Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women (MUDHA). Sonia passed away at the age of 48 from a heart attack on 4 December.

11. Same-sex partnerships from abroad to be recognised in Ireland

This brings to 32 the number of jurisdictions in respect of which Ireland recognises same-sex relationships as civil partnerships, as of 25th December 2011. Of these 32 jurisdictions, 18 provide for marriage equality.

This means that (despite The Journal‘s headline) if you are validly married under the law in any of these 18 places, your marriage will be downgraded by Ireland to a civil partnership.

Happy Christmas.

10. Ellen and Sofia Vergara shoot a CoverGirl ad

9. “What’s goin’ on”

8. “Sarah Silverman’s It Gets Better message is to adults: antigay adults. Blunt and to the point.”

7. Gay Agenda planning

From the Recruitment Committee: We are facing an uphill battle. The world’s population has reached 7 billion. This means that we will have to work hard to not only maintain our strength at 10 percent of the population, but each current member will have to recruit at least three new members to reach our target goal of 11 percent in 2012. (Remember our long-range plan: 16 percent by ’16!)

6. Recently, a Michigan mayor wrote on Facebook, “I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there”. This woman stood up with her wife and her two children and spoke directly to the mayor. She was magnificent.

5. Margaret Cho feat. Tegan & Sara: “Intervention”

4. The primary reason why cats will never develop a system of organised religion

3. Yoga Cat

2. Ah, the Burke family, of ..somewhere in Mayo

1. From Jack to Jackie: “Why I had a sex change at 16”

“I do feel guilty sometimes,” says Jackie “because my mum’s gone through all this with me and I know people judge her and think she’s done the wrong thing. But I just couldn’t wait for it to happen. She and my dad have been brilliant. When they both came to terms with the situation they helped me so much. I owe them my life.”

Gaelick’s top posts of 2011

click here — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:41:30 +0000

These are the top 10 articles on Gaelick that you just couldn’t keep your peepers off this year. Is your favourite here, or have we left out something very important? Read! Share! Comment!

10. A is for Autostraddle

Before our super fabulous give-away, we brought you a taste of the gorgeous women of the Autostraddle 2012 calender, which is produced, photographed, make-upped, hair-did and modelled by and for lady-lovin’ ladies.

We can fully understand why this one is popular with you, dear readers..

9. Bitches Be Hazy

Best club night of 2011? It’s certainly a contender: I predict queues out the door, around the corner and down the streets in 2012.

Keep an eye out for the next one in January!

8. Preview: X Factor final

Admit it! You were all hooked this year: At least there were plenty of you were eagerly anticipating who among Marcus, Amelia and Little Mix would be victorious in telly’s greatest hype mach- er, I mean, talent competition.

Are we pleased with the outcome?

7. Glee: Santana vs It Gets Better

Glee stirred up a lot of passions this year, especially when it came to Santana’s storyline, and the (lack of) on-screen lesbian action.

Here, CanuckJacq took a look at the brouhaha in the context of the It Gets Better campaign.

6. Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN

Shortly before Human Rights Day, and Belong To’s amazing achievement at the UN in Brazil, Hillary Clinton delivered a historic speech to the UN in Geneva.

My advice was (and still is) to set aside 30 minutes to sit down and fully listen to the whole speech.

5. Filming Lip Service Season 2

Seems no-one can wait for the return of Lip Service to our screens, as our article published back in May is still one of our most read articles on the site. We last heard that the show was due to go on air “in early 2012″.

Ruta Gedmintas has been told it’ll air in the springtime – so thinks “Marchish?” Let’s hope they don’t delay!

4. Australian marriage ad is internet hit

A recent ad for Marriage Equality, this time from the land of Oz, became a hit online and on our blog.

It carries a simple but powerful message.

3. The lezolution is not being televised

Back to Glee, and of all the articles written about the programme’s treatment of its lesbian characters (we had at least three), this one was the most read of all.

One of our new writers, Sinéad, took a sideways look at lesbians on Glee, and on telly in general, and she was not a happy chappy!

2. To watch out for in 2011: Film

What hot girl on girl action came to the big screens in 2011? Here’s a list of queer-tastic films we predicted at the start of the year.

It seems we were a bit ahead of ourselves in naming some of these titles: a few are now no longer listed on IMDb (or anywhere in one case!), while some others are listed as “in production” with release dates in the new year or in 2013.

1. FAIL: RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year Awards

Just before Christmas, I had a big rant about the fact that, despite being shortlisted for the Irish Sports Council/RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Awards in 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, Katie Taylor was once again overlooked.

The lovely folks at Broadsheet picked up on the tirade, and the next day I spoke to Phantom FM’s Feedback to explain myself on air. Rarrrgh!

Human Rights: Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN

click here — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:30:10 +0000

Tomorrow, 10th December, is International Human Rights Day. If you haven’t yet seen Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN in Geneva this week, here it is.

My advice is to set aside 30 minutes to sit down and fully listen to the whole speech. Even better, while listening, read through the transcript. (I’ve pasted it below.)

The key message in the speech is that human rights are universal and indivisible, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that there are no exceptions to that (including religious, political or cultural considerations).

To be honest, before I heard/read it, in my head I let out a massive groan. I was wary of the US basically (once again) telling the world about the need to respect the rights of LGBT people – especially given the backlash over the decision of the UK and US to make aid conditional on vindicating the rights of LGBT people, and given it’s own not-exactly-great record on LGBT rights.

The speech is quite cleverly written, however. It seeks to pre-empt accusations of westernisation, neo-colonialism or American imperialism, and relies on comparisons with women’s equality and the abolition of slavery, as well as making reference to initiatives and progress made by Majority World nations. And it also directly addresses the US’s own shortcomings.

(Although, perhaps predictably, there has been angry reaction from some quarters.)

Have a listen and have a read.

Also: Today, at 9:30am (New York time, so that’s 2:30pm Irish time), the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will be answering questions about human rights during a live webcast.

Secretary Clinton’s Speech to the United Nations on LGBT Human Rights

Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century.

Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a statement of this kind to help ensure that we would prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people. And so the delegates went to work. They discussed, they wrote, they revisited, revised, rewrote, for thousands of hours. And they incorporated suggestions and revisions from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

At three o’clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It proclaims a simple, powerful idea: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And with the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people. It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

In the 63 years since the declaration was adopted, many nations have made great progress in making human rights a human reality. Step by step, barriers that once prevented people from enjoying the full measure of liberty, the full experience of dignity, and the full benefits of humanity have fallen away. In many places, racist laws have been repealed, legal and social practices that relegated women to second-class status have been abolished, the ability of religious minorities to practice their faith freely has been secured.

In most cases, this progress was not easily won. People fought and organized and campaigned in public squares and private spaces to change not only laws, but hearts and minds. And thanks to that work of generations, for millions of individuals whose lives were once narrowed by injustice, they are now able to live more freely and to participate more fully in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.

Now, there is still, as you all know, much more to be done to secure that commitment, that reality, and progress for all people. Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries, and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm.

I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity, who have a right to claim that, which is now one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country’s record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home.

Now, raising this issue, I know, is sensitive for many people and that the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs. So I come here before you with respect, understanding, and humility. Even though progress on this front is not easy, we cannot delay acting. So in that spirit, I want to talk about the difficult and important issues we must address together to reach a global consensus that recognizes the human rights of LGBT citizens everywhere.

The first issue goes to the heart of the matter. Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same. Now, of course, 60 years ago, the governments that drafted and passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were not thinking about how it applied to the LGBT community. They also weren’t thinking about how it applied to indigenous people or children or people with disabilities or other marginalized groups. Yet in the past 60 years, we have come to recognize that members of these groups are entitled to the full measure of dignity and rights, because, like all people, they share a common humanity.

This recognition did not occur all at once. It evolved over time. And as it did, we understood that we were honoring rights that people always had, rather than creating new or special rights for them. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.

It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave. It is a violation of human rights when governments declare it illegal to be gay, or allow those who harm gay people to go unpunished. It is a violation of human rights when lesbian or transgendered women are subjected to so-called corrective rape, or forcibly subjected to hormone treatments, or when people are murdered after public calls for violence toward gays, or when they are forced to flee their nations and seek asylum in other lands to save their lives. And it is a violation of human rights when life-saving care is withheld from people because they are gay, or equal access to justice is denied to people because they are gay, or public spaces are out of bounds to people because they are gay. No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity.

The second issue is a question of whether homosexuality arises from a particular part of the world. Some seem to believe it is a Western phenomenon, and therefore people outside the West have grounds to reject it. Well, in reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths; they are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes; and whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors.

Being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality. And protecting the human rights of all people, gay or straight, is not something that only Western governments do. South Africa’s constitution, written in the aftermath of Apartheid, protects the equality of all citizens, including gay people. In Colombia and Argentina, the rights of gays are also legally protected. In Nepal, the supreme court has ruled that equal rights apply to LGBT citizens. The Government of Mongolia has committed to pursue new legislation that will tackle anti-gay discrimination.

Now, some worry that protecting the human rights of the LGBT community is a luxury that only wealthy nations can afford. But in fact, in all countries, there are costs to not protecting these rights, in both gay and straight lives lost to disease and violence, and the silencing of voices and views that would strengthen communities, in ideas never pursued by entrepreneurs who happen to be gay. Costs are incurred whenever any group is treated as lesser or the other, whether they are women, racial, or religious minorities, or the LGBT. Former President Mogae of Botswana pointed out recently that for as long as LGBT people are kept in the shadows, there cannot be an effective public health program to tackle HIV and AIDS. Well, that holds true for other challenges as well.

The third, and perhaps most challenging, issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn’t cultural; it’s criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

The fourth issue is what history teaches us about how we make progress towards rights for all. Progress starts with honest discussion. Now, there are some who say and believe that all gay people are pedophiles, that homosexuality is a disease that can be caught or cured, or that gays recruit others to become gay. Well, these notions are simply not true. They are also unlikely to disappear if those who promote or accept them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.

Universal human rights include freedom of expression and freedom of belief, even if our words or beliefs denigrate the humanity of others. Yet, while we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose, not in a world where we protect the human rights of all.

Reaching understanding of these issues takes more than speech. It does take a conversation. In fact, it takes a constellation of conversations in places big and small. And it takes a willingness to see stark differences in belief as a reason to begin the conversation, not to avoid it.

But progress comes from changes in laws. In many places, including my own country, legal protections have preceded, not followed, broader recognition of rights. Laws have a teaching effect. Laws that discriminate validate other kinds of discrimination. Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality. And practically speaking, it is often the case that laws must change before fears about change dissipate.

Many in my country thought that President Truman was making a grave error when he ordered the racial desegregation of our military. They argued that it would undermine unit cohesion. And it wasn’t until he went ahead and did it that we saw how it strengthened our social fabric in ways even the supporters of the policy could not foresee. Likewise, some worried in my country that the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would have a negative effect on our armed forces. Now, the Marine Corps Commandant, who was one of the strongest voices against the repeal, says that his concerns were unfounded and that the Marines have embraced the change.

Finally, progress comes from being willing to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. We need to ask ourselves, “How would it feel if it were a crime to love the person I love? How would it feel to be discriminated against for something about myself that I cannot change?” This challenge applies to all of us as we reflect upon deeply held beliefs, as we work to embrace tolerance and respect for the dignity of all persons, and as we engage humbly with those with whom we disagree in the hope of creating greater understanding.

A fifth and final question is how we do our part to bring the world to embrace human rights for all people including LGBT people. Yes, LGBT people must help lead this effort, as so many of you are. Their knowledge and experiences are invaluable and their courage inspirational. We know the names of brave LGBT activists who have literally given their lives for this cause, and there are many more whose names we will never know. But often those who are denied rights are least empowered to bring about the changes they seek. Acting alone, minorities can never achieve the majorities necessary for political change.

So when any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. Every time a barrier to progress has fallen, it has taken a cooperative effort from those on both sides of the barrier. In the fight for women’s rights, the support of men remains crucial. The fight for racial equality has relied on contributions from people of all races. Combating Islamaphobia or anti-Semitism is a task for people of all faiths. And the same is true with this struggle for equality.

Conversely, when we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. Right here in Geneva, the international community acted this year to strengthen a global consensus around the human rights of LGBT people. At the Human Rights Council in March, 85 countries from all regions supported a statement calling for an end to criminalization and violence against people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the following session of the Council in June, South Africa took the lead on a resolution about violence against LGBT people. The delegation from South Africa spoke eloquently about their own experience and struggle for human equality and its indivisibility. When the measure passed, it became the first-ever UN resolution recognizing the human rights of gay people worldwide. In the Organization of American States this year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights created a unit on the rights of LGBT people, a step toward what we hope will be the creation of a special rapporteur.

Now, we must go further and work here and in every region of the world to galvanize more support for the human rights of the LGBT community. To the leaders of those countries where people are jailed, beaten, or executed for being gay, I ask you to consider this: Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear – I am not saying that gay people can’t or don’t commit crimes. They can and they do, just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay.

And to people of all nations, I say supporting human rights is your responsibility too. The lives of gay people are shaped not only by laws, but by the treatment they receive every day from their families, from their neighbors. Eleanor Roosevelt, who did so much to advance human rights worldwide, said that these rights begin in the small places close to home – the streets where people live, the schools they attend, the factories, farms, and offices where they work. These places are your domain. The actions you take, the ideals that you advocate, can determine whether human rights flourish where you are.
And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

This morning, back in Washington, President Obama put into place the first U.S. Government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Building on efforts already underway at the State Department and across the government, the President has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.

I am also pleased to announce that we are launching a new Global Equality Fund that will support the work of civil society organizations working on these issues around the world. This fund will help them record facts so they can target their advocacy, learn how to use the law as a tool, manage their budgets, train their staffs, and forge partnerships with women’s organizations and other human rights groups. We have committed more than $3 million to start this fund, and we have hope that others will join us in supporting it.

The women and men who advocate for human rights for the LGBT community in hostile places, some of whom are here today with us, are brave and dedicated, and deserve all the help we can give them. We know the road ahead will not be easy. A great deal of work lies before us. But many of us have seen firsthand how quickly change can come. In our lifetimes, attitudes toward gay people in many places have been transformed. Many people, including myself, have experienced a deepening of our own convictions on this topic over the years, as we have devoted more thought to it, engaged in dialogues and debates, and established personal and professional relationships with people who are gay.

This evolution is evident in many places. To highlight one example, the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in India two years ago, writing, and I quote, “If there is one tenet that can be said to be an underlying theme of the Indian constitution, it is inclusiveness.” There is little doubt in my mind that support for LGBT human rights will continue to climb. Because for many young people, this is simple: All people deserve to be treated with dignity and have their human rights respected, no matter who they are or whom they love.

There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: “Be on the right side of history.” The story of the United States is the story of a nation that has repeatedly grappled with intolerance and inequality. We fought a brutal civil war over slavery. People from coast to coast joined in campaigns to recognize the rights of women, indigenous peoples, racial minorities, children, people with disabilities, immigrants, workers, and on and on. And the march toward equality and justice has continued. Those who advocate for expanding the circle of human rights were and are on the right side of history, and history honors them. Those who tried to constrict human rights were wrong, and history reflects that as well.

I know that the thoughts I’ve shared today involve questions on which opinions are still evolving. As it has happened so many times before, opinion will converge once again with the truth, the immutable truth, that all persons are created free and equal in dignity and rights. We are called once more to make real the words of the Universal Declaration. Let us answer that call. Let us be on the right side of history, for our people, our nations, and future generations, whose lives will be shaped by the work we do today. I come before you with great hope and confidence that no matter how long the road ahead, we will travel it successfully together. Thank you very much.

Australian marriage equality ad is internet hit

Gooner — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:00:16 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBd-UCwVAY

Watch this. Then read on.

There have been many successful ads and viral campaigns for full civil marriage rights for gay people all over the world. Not least among them is our very own Rory’s Story. The latest in this distinguished list comes from Get Up! Action for Australia. It is seen through the eyes of someone falling in love with and sharing their everyday life with a man. In the end the man proposes marriage and it becomes clear the ad is depicting two men.

The short ad is basically a love story and what I find so moving about it is that is shows one person really loving and being there for another. The advert was shown in Australia over the weekend in an attempt to get the Labour Party to endorse marriage equality. The film has already been viewed well over 1.5 million times which, when you take into to consideration it’s release only 5 days ago, is startling.

This time next weekend, delegates at the ALP National Conference will be voting on whether to make it their policy to end marriage discrimination. Paul Mackay, a Get Up! campaigner, has said:

We’ve been pointing to the national conference as a key moment for the party to reconsider its stance on marriage and pave the way for equality, and with only one week to go, we need to do all we can to ramp up that pressure

The title of the video “It’s Time” says it all. Well done to everyone at Get Up! and I really hope their campaign does the trick. Who could watch this video and not be touched?

A Suppa Earl Gae

click here — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:46:39 +0000

Good morning, lesberinos! How are we on this fine November morn?

Grab yourself a hot cuppa and peruse some of the queer headlines from Ireland and around the world.

Gay Wexford have celebrated the conclusion of their first LGBT Visibility Week, with some amount of relief and pride. The group’s chair, Paul Cullen, writes in the Enniscorthy Guardian:

BE HONEST. Did you ever think that you would see the day? We have just survived the first ‘Wexford Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Visibility Week’ without major upset. Whew!

[...]

The revolution [in attitudes towards LGBT people] has come about so fast that there is already room for self mockery. The Visibility programme included a stimulating talk and slideshow on the ‘Irish Queer Archive’. Just as it has become acceptable for Irish people generally to call themselves Paddies, so it has become amusing for LGBT’S to be queer, at least amongst themselves.

[...]

Yet let no one believe that all is cosy on the Wexford LGBT front. It is notable that the programme for Visibility Week was presented almost entirely in Wexford town. The other three main towns in the county were catered for with low-key briefing sessions, while Wexford had the high profile parties and presentations, celebrity speeches and seminars. Yet, surely there are just as likely to be gays in Gusserane, lesbians in Liskenfere and bisexuals in Bunclody?

Elsewhere in Ireland, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland reports that it has received a spike in demand for its services, while the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre warns about the dangers of further cuts to its funding.

In related news, Women’s Aid is gearing up for the start of the international 16 Days campaign to combat violence against women. We’ve written previously about the issue of violence between same-sex partners.

In happier Irish news (and this will elicit a little yelp of joy from our webmaster, I suspect), one of our national red tops reports that Westlife’s Mark Feehily plans to tie the knot with his beloved, photographer Kevin McDaid next year. The sun may be setting for Westlife, but hey – every cloud, eh?

Abroad, then, and in the United States, it’s all kicking off in California (again) where homophobes (again) are throwing hissy fits over inclusion and equality (again). This time, rather than seeking to ban marriage equality, ‘phobes are voicing their objections to LGBT history being included in education programmes.

(We can only assume these are the same people who think that creationism is a real thing.) Like Proposition 8 (the ballot initiative to ban marriage equality) the ‘phobes propose to ban this inclusive law by popular vote in 2012.

Elsewhere, allegations of “pinkwashing” by the Israeli government have made it to the pages of the New York Times. This is the term used by those who accuse Israel (or indeed any government or organisation) of co-opting and using LGBT rights issues in a bid to strengthen their own political position.

Electronic Intifada and many activists on Twitter and elsewhere have complained about this issue for some time now.

Meanwhile, AP reports that in west Africa, the parliament and federal government of Nigeria are making strides in their attempts to prohibit and criminalise marriage equality.

There are those who see the move for what it is:

Some gender experts say the bill could be an attempt to stir anti-gay sentiment.

“If you want to whip up homophobia, I think focusing on same-sex marriage is a very good way of going about it, just sowing the idea that there are lots of ‘those’ people who want to get married, so that it’s seen as attacking a fundamental social institution,” says feminist scholar Charmaine Pereira, who is based in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja.

Given the pervasive homophobia throughout society and the state in Nigeria, together with widespread and extremely conservative interpretations of Christianity and Islam (sometimes mingled with traditional beliefs), it would appear that these voices of clarity may be few and far between.

And finally, in bizarro-world news and closer to home, a politician in Switzerland has compared lesbians to cocaine. One more time with that: he has compared lesbians to cocaine. I.. I have no idea.. There are no words.. He’s obviously talkin’ out of his Swiss.

Civil Partnership seminar in Wicklow (25th Nov)

click here — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:27:25 +0000

This just in from our friends at Gay Bray:

The Civil Partnership and Co-Habitation Act: What could it mean for you?

Whether you are contemplating civil partnership, have already tied the knot or are a co-habiting couple, you will learn about your rights and responsibilities, the financial cost and legal implications of the Civil Partnership and Co-Habitation Act.

Seminar presented by Dr Fergus Ryan, Lecturer in Law, DIT.

What? Civil Partnership & co-habiting: seminar on rights and obligations
Where? Hunters Hotel, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.
When? Friday, 25th November. Starts 7:30pm.

For more info, call or text: 086 8074999.

Brought to you by:

lgbtdiversity / Gay Bray (gaybray@gmail.com) / AMACH Wicklow (amachwicklow@gmail.com) / County Wicklow Partnership

Earlier this year AMACH Wicklow received a grant from the Community Foundation of Ireland (CFI) to produce an event to disseminate information on The Civil Partnership and Co-Habitation Act. It was also to enable AMACH Wicklow to out-reach to more rural areas of Wicklow County to enable isolated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals to attend an event based in County Wicklow and meet up with other LGBT people.

The event being organised is a Seminar entitled Civil Partnership and Co-habitation Act – what could it mean to you? The seminar will be presented by Fergus Ryan PhD, Lecturer in Law, DIT. It will be held on Friday 25th November at 7.30pm in Hunters Hotel, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow. There will be a short reception before the seminar.

This event is being supported by Gay Bray, LGBT Diversity and The County Wicklow Partnership.

Please give your support to this worthy event by either attending yourself and/or persuading your friends to attend.

The event’s organisers would appreciate if you could let them know in advance if you are attending, as numbers are limited and they will need to have an idea of numbers for the hotel catering services.

LGBT Noise Table Quiz Dec 1st

Gooner — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:23:13 +0000

Do you like riddles? Solve a few LGBT Noise riddles and be in with a chance of winning some great prizes, as well as helping out a worthy cause.

LGBT Noise will be having a table quiz on 1st December next in the Front Lounge, Parliament Street, Dublin.

Fighting for equality is expensive work and funds need to be raised in order to be able to continue fighting for our rights! So join the folks at LGBT Noise in the Front Lounge on Thursday the 1st and help raise money and be in with a chance of winning some amazing prizes!

To pre-book a table, email info@lgbtnoise.ie

LGBT Noise tablequiz: web / facebook / twitter

Where? The Front Lounge, 33 Parliament Street, Dublin 2
When? Thursday, 1st December 2011 at 7pm
How much? €10 per person. Max. four people per table.
Why? To raise funds for LGBT Noise!

Benetton, the Vatican and further thoughts

click here — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:00:47 +0000

Further to Wednesday’s post, I’ve been thinking.

Here’s what Benetton said about their “UnHate” campaign:

UnHate campaign: “We reiterate that the meaning of this campaign is exclusively to combat the culture of hatred in all its forms,” said a Benetton Group spokesman. “We are therefore sorry that the use of the image of the Pope and the Imam has so offended the sentiments of the faithful. In corroboration of our intentions, we have decided, with immediate effect, to withdraw this image from every publication.”

(Source)

@ all: The campaign was conceived this way because we truly believe in its message. We certainly did not intend to be offensive and we continue to believe that scandal is often in the eye of the beholder.

We were touched and saddened by some reactions but we are increasingly convinced that we must continue our battle against hatred.

We maintain our belief, but the last thing we wanted was to further hatred or misunderstanding, particularly when the spirit of the campaign is to “unhate”.

(Source)

Now, I’m confused.

The campaign originally included an image of the Pope kissing an imam.

The Vatican’s response

The Vatican’s swift and decisive reaction (in stark contrast, it may be noted, to the kind of reaction to worldwide, endemic child abuse by members of its Church), was to harass and threaten Benetton.

The Indo reported on Wednesday:

Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi had called the Benetton campaign a “totally unacceptable” show of “grave disrespect.”

[…]

The Vatican reacted immediately issuing a statement condemning the exploitation of the Pontiff’s image.
“This is a grave lack of respect for the pope, an offence against the sentiments of the faithful and a clear example of how advertising can violate elementary rules of respect for people in order to attract attention through provocation,” Rev. Lombardi said in a statement

What could possibly amount to “lack of respect”, “an offence”, and “provocation” (no less) in an image of a loving embrace? Isn’t the spread of love the key message these religious leaders seek to promote?

Unless, of course, the problem is that the image is of two men in a loving embrace. Which must, we can only assume, be inherently repugnant to the male-only citizens of the Vatican city-state.

In which case, we can only infer that the Vatican’s reaction was motivated by hate, in the form of homophobia. (It’s not like the Vatican doesn’t have form on this front.)

And well, so what? Isn’t that what we’ve come to expect from the Vatican?

Benetton’s action following the Vatican’s response

We’ve read the statements from Benetton, above.

Yes, I know this is the marketing ploy of an Italian fashion house, so I shouldn’t be surprised. I shouldn’t expect a brand’s marketing team to change the world.

But they are so adamant that they have an important message of “UnHate” (an “unspeak” term for “love”, perhaps?), and they are so clearly trying to re-capture the Good Old Days of controversial Benetton ads, that I can’t help but make this point:

Benetton has completely undermined their position, their message and their brand by bowing to vitriolic hatred from the Vatican and capitulating to its hate-motivated threats.

So much for “combating the culture of hatred in all its forms.”

The above illustration (c) Lewis Mirrett is reproduced with kind permission. Via SNP on FashionMagazine.com

20th November: Transgender Day of Remembrance

click here — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:37:23 +0000

20th November, is Transgender Day of Remembrance.

A Ceremony of Remembrance to mark the GID/TG Year of Hope 2011 takes place tonight, 19th November, at the Unitarian Church in Dublin at 8pm.

To coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance, journalist Rebekah Curtis wrote for Reuters:

“I knew I was transgendered as far back as memories go,” said the 76-year old, formerly called John, who works at Australia’s Gender Center for people with gender issues. “Four years of age or so.”

Since her 1930s childhood, the lives of transgender people have improved dramatically in many countries. But discrimination remains widespread. Hundreds of transgender people are killed every year and many live in constant fear of attack.

“Transgenders often suffer violence, physical and social, from their families, including spouses, parents, children and siblings,” Cummings said.

She spoke to Reuters ahead of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20 which commemorates those who have been killed because of their gender identity.

Founded after the 1998 murder of transgender woman Rita Hester in Massachusetts, the day now has a global following.

In the first nine months of 2011, 116 transgender people were murdered globally, according to Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM), a project coordinated by non-profit association Transgender Europe.

Their research indicates there have been at least 681 reports of murders in 50 countries since 2008

The above is an excerpt from an article which was first published by Reuters on 16th November, 2011. Continue reading the article in full here.

A Ceremony of Remembrance to mark the GID/TG Year of Hope 2011 takes place tonight, 20th November, at the Unitarian Church in Dublin at 8pm.

Vatican hates #UnHate

click here — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:23 +0000

God is love, I dare say.
But what a mischievous devil love is.

- Samuel Butler (1835-1902)

The Vatican has successfully managed to force Benetton to withdraw one of its UnHate campaign posters.

The image (don’t worry, interfaith dialogue-ophobes, it’s digitally manipulated) depicts ex-Cardinal Josef Ratzinger/current Pope Benedict XVI locking his Roman Catholic lips with Muslim cleric, the grand sheikh, Mohammed Ahmed al-Tayeb, of al-Azhar mosque in Cairo.

But don’t worry, here you can see the image in all its glory:

Reminiscent of the iconic Cold War image of Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev – which was real, rather than digitally imagined by marketers – what’s so really wrong with the image?

Maybe the image coincides a little too much with the news of a gathering of Egypt’s LGBT community at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Let’s not forget that Pope Benedict (the artist formally known as Ratzinger) is the author of the 1986 “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexuals”, which included:

It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the church’s pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered. When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase (No. 10).

What is at all costs to be avoided is the unfounded and demeaning assumption that the sexual behavior of homosexual persons is always and totally compulsive and therefore inculpable. What is essential is that the fundamental liberty which characterizes the human person and gives him his dignity be recognized as belonging to the homosexual person as well (No. 11)

(Link)

So if love – or, UnHate – is so terribly objectionable, I suppose this is what we’re left with. How very Christian.

Congratulations to Jane Hill!

click here — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:00:46 +0000

We won’t dwell on the fact that Tim Walker, Richard Eden and the Torygraph in general are bitter little “people”.

Instead, let’s wish the BBC’s Jane Hill and her partner wedded bliss!

Ah, look at them there. Aren’t they lovely?

Hill, a journalist and news presenter with the Beeb and who recently received a mention in the UK’s Pink List, confirmed earlier this week that she and her partner, Sara (a fellow meedja type), are planning their marriage.

Hill chided another colleague, sports journalist Jonathan Agnew, for spilling the beans.

But what a sweet way to spill ‘em?

In 2009, Hill came out in the BBC’s in-house magazine, Ariel. According to the Independent on Sunday, she contributed in the past year to Stonewall’s “It Gets Better” campaign, to inspire hope in young people suffering harassment.

She holds a degree in politics from the University of London and previously worked at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in Washington, DC. She anchored the BBC’s live coverage of the events of 11 September 2001 and of the invasion of Iraq.

Basically, she’s pretty fecking amazing.

So, to Jane and Sara, I wish you nothing but hearty congratulations, the very best for the years ahead, and an absolutely epic knees-up!

Art for Equality

click here — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:08:01 +0000

This just in from our friends at Marriage Equality:

Irish Artists Lend Their Support to Marriage Equality
16.11.2011

The work of some of Ireland’s leading artists will come under the hammer at an art auction fundraising event for Marriage Equality. Entitled “Art for Marriage Equality”, the auction takes place on Saturday, November 26th and features pieces from Anne Madden, Pauline Bewick, Steven Mannion, Jim Fitzpatrick and many more.

Adams Auctioneers have given their services free and will oversee the proceedings. Director Eamon O’Connor is hopeful that the donated work – which ranges from paintings to sculpture and ceramics – will sell well on the day.

“I am delighted with the support we have received from the artists who have generously donated their work to our auction – it’s events like this that really make a difference to our fundraising efforts,” said Marriage Equality Director Moninne Griffith. “We are a not for profit organisation working for equality for same sex couples, families and children. Many people think that civil partnership is the same as marriage but it is not, and same sex families still face discrimination on a daily basis because of the marriage ban for lesbian and gay people.”

Artist Steven Mannion explains why he’s supporting the event:

“When my husband and I got married we had to travel to Canada to do it. I didn’t believe that civil partnership was an option because Eamon asked me to marry him, he didn’t ask me to civil partner him! When I said I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life, I didn’t mean as a legally recognised, cohabiting, same sex, civil partner… I meant as his husband. That’s why my husband and I, our family and friends support Marriage Equality and the team who work so tirelessly to achieve it.”

Sculptor Ann Meldon Hugh added:

“I believe this is an extremely important cause to support. All Irish people should be treated as equal, and all Irish families and children should be given equal rights. Families, human relationships and the interactions of the individual with the environment around them is central to much of my work, so it seems fitting that I should give a piece to a cause that works to improve and stabilise the Irish legal environment for the families of gay and lesbian people in Ireland.”

The pieces will be displayed in a public exhibition at 14/15 St Stephen’s Green (corner of Dawson Street) on Friday, November 25th from 12:00–9:00 pm and on Saturday, 26th from 12:00 – 5:00.pm.

An on-line catalogue will be available to view on www.marriagequality.ie. An on-line bidding facility will also be available online.

List of Artists involved in Art for Marriage Equality:

Ecuador “using torture clinics to ‘cure’ lesbians”

click here — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:01:45 +0000

Holy fucking shit.

I received the below in my inbox yesterday from change.org, and there’s nothing else to say, so I’m just reproducing it here. You can take action by clicking on the links.

[Trigger warning: The following contains descriptions of violence including sexual violence.]

Paola Ziritti is unthinkably brave to speak publicly about the “clinic.” She endured physical assault, sexual abuse, and a constant battery of insults. Guards would even throw buckets of cold water and urine on her. For two years, this was Paola’s waking nightmare – because she’s a lesbian. The “doctors” and guards at the clinic were trying to “cure” her.

Paola lives in Ecuador, where these so-called clinics are terrifyingly common — although the government shut down 27 this year, 180 clinics remain open, and most of the prisoners there are women. Gay men and trans* people are also held in the clinics, although far fewer.

Paola’s parents knew they were sending her to a forced confinement clinic, but they had no idea how awful it would be. Once Paola’s mother realized what she’d done, she tried to get her daughter back, but the clinic said no. The process to free Paola took a year.

A few incredibly courageous Ecuadorian women are fighting back — they call themselves Fundacion Causana. The women of Fundacion Causana started a petition on Change.org demanding that Ecuadoran Minister of Public Health Dr. David Chiriboga Allnut investigate and shut down all 180 remaining clinics that torture women to “cure” them. Please sign the petition now.

Fundacion Causana does direct-service work on the ground to save women from the clinics, but they say it’s not enough. They need the unbridled support of the Ecuadoran government to get all of the clinics shut down.

So far, the government has only shut down a small cluster of clinics in one region of the country. Ecuador’s government officials need to know that we are watching and will not stand idly by while women are imprisoned and tortured.

Please sign Fundacion Causana’s petition demanding that the Ecuadoran Minister of Public Health investigate and shut down every “clinic” that tortures members of Ecuador’s LGBT community:

Sign the petition : Ecuador’s Minister of Health: Close “clinics” that torture LGBT people to “cure” them

Fundación Causana : On change.org / Blog / Facebook

Attn. Glinner and pals: Do not confuse manners with misogyny!

click here — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:39:35 +0000

Calling Graham Linehan and well-intentioned men-folk: Do not confuse manners with misogyny and degradation!

Yesterday, Laurie Penny wrote in the UK Independent about her experiences as a female opinion writer – specifically, she wrote about the reaction she gets for being a woman with an opinion: the death threats, the rape threats, the physical threats.

If you haven’t read it yet, you should. (Penny also writes with the New Statesman, and you should read her work there, too.)

Since then, Graham Linehan (a.k.a. @Glinner and who you may remember from Father Ted’s creators), weighed in with his support via Twitter.

Which was all going so swimmingly until he then tweeted this:

I get some sneers when I talk about chivalry, but I don’t think it’s incompatible with feminism and we could use a lot more of it online.

link

Good grief.

Before I bury my head in my hands, let me put this very simply: chivalry is misogyny.

Let me explain what I mean:

“Chivalry” comes from the word “cheval”, meaning “horse”. So: “chivalry” and “cavalry” to the rescue! (Stay with me on this.)

This is in reference to the fact that the chivalric code stems from the unwritten rules of the knightly class in medieval Europe.

I’ll say that again: medieval Europe. Also known as The Dark Ages. Not known for its enlightenment. (Conversely, The Age of Enlightenment was so-called as it was an age of enlightenment. But I digress..)

It’s also worth examining what knights were: they were a class of nobles, an aristocratic military order: one layer in the feudal system of social hierarchy and service to divine kings.

The chivalric code may conjure up images of romance and meetings on the turret stairs and green knights. To some, it has been reduced to holding open doors; or in Linehan’s mind:

Isn’t this the deal? If women are going to keep having babies, then men can at least hold fucking doors open.

link

Aside from the implied message of heteronormativity, binary concepts of gender, and women-whose-sole-purpose-is-as-vessels-for-child-bearing, no.

This is not “the deal”.

“The deal”, as far as chivalry, goes – and this is crucial – is that the rules apply among nobles. The chivalric code existed for their benefit, and their benefit alone – and, of course, “they” being medieval knights were all men. The rules help maintain the status quo.

So for instance, when nobles went to war, the unwritten rules were that those of the same social rank won’t kill one another. That would be unbecoming. Sure, burn villages to the ground and rape and pillage serfs and villeins; but where one noble is victorious over another, then maybe just exile the loser to some fine castle far, far away.

The rules even applied to heathens and infidels. So, when one noble is fighting in the name of god against another noble who is fighting in the name of god, social rank remains but we can set aside horrific bloody massacres and existential notions of divine existence, to meet, agree a truce, and seal it by marrying off our sisters.

I’m looking at you, Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.

And, actually, I suppose that isn’t too far a cry from assuming that the purpose of women (presumably when they are no longer virginal maidens) is to “keep having babies” while men hold the doors open.

So, when considering compaitbility, remember:

Unmannerly and misogynistic: Chivalry (preserves medieval patriarchal hierarchical status quo).
Mannerly and not misogynistic: Feminism (the radical notion that women are people, too).

No related posts.

It’s the Eamon Delaney round-up!

click here — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:15:34 +0000

Welcome one and all – even imaginary bisexuals and trans* people – to your mid-week, once-off “Eamon Delaney round-up”. (Or, to your mid-week, once-off “Eamon Delaney antidote,” if you prefer).

By now many of you will probably have had your brain scarred, and intellect dulled, by subjecting yourself to the poorly written and offensive article by Eamon Delaney in The Sunday Independent, “Loud and proud gays want to take over rest of society”.

I promised myself on Sunday that I wouldn’t draw attention to his views; I also promised myself that I wouldn’t complain to the Press Council or otherwise seek to silence him.

(In any event, I don’t think he has done himself any favours with his strange little tirade: in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. “.)

Many a spleen has been vented since Sunday, y’see though, and I thought it might be of therapeutic assistance to share the many and varied words which challenge and counter his dangerous bigotry.

To borrow a phrase from Mary McAleese, we must dismantle the noxious apparatus of homophobia.

So, let’s begin:

Coincidentally, Jennifer O’Connell‘s considered article examining homophobia appeared in the Sunday Business Post on the same day as Delaney’s: Despite all the progress, Ireland is still no lavender-scented utopia in which to be gay.

Then, one of the first responses to the Sindo article I read came from Paul Bowler‘s blog with his thorough and passionate post.

Later I read a brilliantly strong post by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, in equal parts suitably thoughtful and humourous.

Rachel Barry, Education Officer at Trinity College Students’ Union, made her feelings known in the University Times.

Aoife O’Riordan featured a guest post parsing Delaney’s verbal queerbashing.

Meanwhile, Alan Flanagan examined in particular the ways in which Delaney silenced and made invisible bi and trans people.

And Rebecca Murphy fired her riposte, focusing on the nature of Delaney’s ill-informed, groundless assertions.

Lorraine Haigney takes him to task: Look at these humans, wanting rights! Indeed.

Even the LGBT Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland entered the debate, making the concise point that LGBTs simply seek equality.

And there’s more: London lesbians are non-plussed into the bargain with disapproval from the Cakettes as Delaney ruins their day as well as ours.

But there’s even more: From Scotland, James Whyte gives auld Eamon what for – ker-POW!

Wait! It gets better, still: Eamon Delaney’s stupidity has managed to reach the poor, unsuspecting people of North America – in particular, the poor, unsuspecting people of Autostraddle. At least they’ve improved on his article’s title: “Most idiotic anti-gay article of all time.” You said it!

UPDATE (3 Nov 2011):

Brian Finnegan, editor of GCN, writes that Eamon Delaney’s attack on gay people is full of all the oldest tricks in the book.

Broadcaster Scott De Buitléir differs, however, and removes the rose-tinted sunglasses.

In a similar vein, Nigel Dugdale views Delaney’s article from another angle.

UPDATE (4 Nov 2011):

CornflakeGirl lets us know in the comments of her taking Delaney’s witterings to task, and also discusses Oliver Callan’s appearance on The Saturday Night Show.

END OF UPDATE

I’m sure that’s just a sample of the sanity that prevails – Please let me know who I’ve missed!

Congratulations, President Higgins

click here — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:51:26 +0000

UPDATE (2:50pm): Michael D Higgins has now passed the quota required to be elected President of Ireland. Final result expected at 4:15pm.

UPDATE 2 (6pm): You can now view Michael D Higgins’ speech in Dublin Castle on RTÉ.ie in full here.

The reign of the Marys (I & II) may have ended, but Ireland now welcomes into Áras an Uachtarain a man who is amongst other things a feminist, LGBT ally, intellectual and human rights activist. The Irish Times carries a profile of Michael D by Paul Cullen in today’s paper which is worth reading.

At the time of writing, the final results of the Presidential election are yet to be formally confirmed as we await the fourth and final count of votes to be completed, but Michael D Higgins comfortably won around 40% first preferences of the valid vote, and is picking up transfers by the hundreds of thousands, seeing off his main rival Seán Gallagher and the other five presidential contenders.

Earlier in the year, Higgins wished a Happy Pride to various Pride festivals, including Galway and Dublin. In 2007, when he was then a sitting TD, he spoke passionately in favour of equality for same-sex couples during Dáil debates around the then short-lived Civil Unions Bill.

Here’s an example of the man’s passion for the cause of equality:

EPIC.

Flickr slideshow via the official Michael D. Higgins campaign website.