Tag Archives: LGBT Community

Ireland Says #YES to Equality

Following a higher than expended turnout to the non-compulsory vote, the amendment to extend the right to marry to all couples regardless of gender will be passed with a decisive 2-to-1 majority across the republic.

Voters were asked to approve an amendment to the Irish Constitution that states: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.”

Making same-sex marriage legal requires a change to the constitution – that in Ireland can only be passed through a referendum.

Polling has consistently shown that at least 60 percent of people planned to vote in favour of equality, but campaigners warn that projections could be unreliable, as was seen in the recent UK Parliamentary elections.

The result goes to show there’s no “silent majority” against marriage equality. Even the most vocal anti-marriage equality campaigner was swift to realise his defeat, and gracious in doing so.

Many marriage equality activists across the globe advise against using a referendum to decide a minority civil rights issue – but when the numbers fall in our favour this compellingly, it sends them a clear message about the population’s sense of fairness.

Ireland has today proved it has come a long way on gay and lesbian rights in a relatively short time – homosexuality was illegal there until as late as 1993.

Earlier this year, an amendment was passed to make it possible for Irish same-sex couples to jointly adopt a child. Now we keenly await the first same-sex couples’ chance to walk down the aisle together.

‘Rather Be’ singer Jess Glynne Doesn’t Want to Define her Sexuality

Rather Be singer Jess Glynne has revealed she was left heartbroken after being in a relationship with a woman.

The British songwriter said while she doesn’t define her sexuality, she was ‘in love’ with this girl.

Recalling the moment she landed her record deal in August 2013, she revealed to ES Magazine:

I was actually broken-hearted. She just fucked me over. It was the first girl I’d ever fallen in love with. I’ve never said that to anyone. It was a relationship that was so new to me. Someone I met working.”

Jess is adamant she doesn’t want to define her sexuality right now and instead wants to leave romance alone and just focus on her music career, with her debut album, ‘I Cry When I Laugh’, being released this August.

I don’t know what I want now – to be with a guy, with a girl, be with anyone. I’m so content with just doing this and seeing where it all takes me.”

Although she doesn’t want to label herself as gay, straight or bisexual, Jess will be embracing the LGBT community this summer as she is set to perform at both at Birmingham Pride this Sunday (24 May) and in Brighton Pride (August 1) this year.

Watch | Can You See Past the Label?

A new video is out from the United Nations, which is hitting home the impact of discrimination – “Lesbian”, “gay”, “bisexual”, “transgender”, “intersex”, “queer”: can you see past the labels?

The video is from the United Nations Free & Equal campaign which celebrates the contributions that millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people make to families and local communities around the world. The cast features “real people” (not actors), filmed in their workplaces and homes — among them, a firefighter, a police officer, a teacher, an electrician, a doctor and a volunteer, as well as prominent straight ally and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

It challenges you to look beyond the label and see these people for what they truly are, just normal people going about their daily lives.

The video was launched in Times Square in New York City, where it will play throughout the day, and on YouTube.

Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the UN, said:

We should all be outraged when people suffer discrimination, assault or even murder simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We should all speak out when someone is arrested and imprisoned because of who they love or how they look. This is one of the great neglected human rights challenges of our time. We must right these wrongs!

Some may oppose change. They may invoke culture, tradition or religion to defend the status quo. Such arguments have been used to try to justify slavery, child marriage, rape in marriage and female genital mutilation.

I respect culture, tradition and religion, but they can never justify the denial of basic rights. My promise to the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender members of the human family is this: I’m with you. I promise that as Secretary-General of the United Nations I will denounce attacks against you and I will keep pressing leaders for progress.”

Hillary Clinton Writes Heartfelt Letter To Lesbian Couple Featured In Her Campaign Video

Hillary Clinton has sent a heartfelt note to the lesbian couple featured in her famously internet-friendly two minute campaign announcement video

Kassie Thornton and Christy Spitzer opened their mailbox this week to discover the letter from Clinton, which thanked them for their involvement in the video, and for their involvement with the lives and struggles of queer youth.

Spitzer was a producer on MTV’s “It Gets Better” specials, programs that enhanced the visibility and stories of young LGBT individuals.

#Repost @kassiethornton with @repostapp. ・・・ “Ooo this is definitely a framer!! We feel so honored to receive such a heartfelt letter from (hopefully) the first female President of the U.S.! #Hillaryforamerica #hillary2016 #itgetsbetter #061315 #allinwithkassieandchristy #bigdreams #gettingreadyforthewedding #grateful”

A photo posted by It Gets Better (@itgetsbetter) on May 13, 2015 at 3:33pm PDT

Spitzer and Thornton told The Huffington Post.

It’s not every day that you open your mailbox to find a letter of gratitude, love, and support from the potential first female president of the U.S. We felt so honoured, touched, and downright humbled. We are blown away that she is a heartfelt supporter of the ‘It Gets Better Project,’ and is aware how important their powerful message is. The organisation does positive things for many young people all over the world!”

The couple was especially moved by Clinton’s well wishes for their upcoming nuptials.

For Ms. Clinton to thank us for being part of her video announcement and to know that we are getting married [in June] is just unbelievable,” Spitzer and Thornton said. “Simply amazing!! Like screaming out loud amazing! We hope she can come and celebrate our love and future with us and our loved ones! And we hope she uses her plus one wisely!”

Lesbian Convicted of Hate Crime Against a Gay Man

A Washington court has convicted a 21-year-old lesbian and her twin brother of aggravated assault while armed, which was listed as a hate crime, for an October 2013 attack that caused a gay male victim to suffer facial bone fractures and a broken wrist.

Christina Lucas, 21, who did not testify at trial, told police that she was a lesbian and therefore could not be accused of an anti-gay hate crime.

Christina, her brother Christopher Lucas and a group of men approached the unnamed victim about 12.30 am on 19 October 2013 after he left a party in Washington DC with two female friends.

In a statement, the US Attorney’s Office said

The male victim was knocked over on the sidewalk and punched and stomped multiple times by the Lucases and others in the group. Christina Lucas had an object in her hand and used it to cut the victim’s face while he was lying on the sidewalk.”

A police arrest affidavit says a witness told police that the assault followed a verbal altercation that began when Christina Lucas approached the male victim and called him a “faggot motherfucker.”

The witness, a woman who was with the male victim at the time, told police that Christopher Lucas punched her in the face when she “attempted to intercede” to assist the male victim, the affidavit says.

Christopher was also found guilty of simple assault for punching a woman in the face who tried to help the victim. The Lucases will be sentenced on 9 June.

Egyptian Actress Mona Hala: ‘People Are Free to Be Homosexuals; It Is Not My Place to Judge Them’

Mona Hala is one of Egypt’s leading young actresses. In a recent interview, she called for the rights of sexual minorities in her homeland to be respected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dh6cFonht0

Hala, who has appeared in films including Cairo Time, Zaky Chan and The Baby Doll Night, gave the interview on 19 April to Egyptian television channel ON TV but the footage has only appeared online this month. The footage was uncovered by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) who shared the video on their YouTube channel.

In it she asks why it is necessary that the government includes her gender on her identity cards.

I have never classified myself as a “woman.” Quite the opposite. As far as I’m concerned they should delete that field from our ID cards … Why shouldn’t I be treated as a human being? Why does my sex have to be recorded? Why does the government have to know it? Why is it so important whether you are male or female?”

In response her interviewer asks what she would think would happen if a man went about dressed as a woman if gender was not recorded on ID cards.

He is free to be one. It is not my place to pass moral judgement on people. It’s none of my business. Homosexuality has existed since ancient times. Many people throughout history have been like that, so who are we to judge them? Alexander the Great who built Alexandria was homosexual. Is that a reason to destroy Alexandria or to change its name?’

Hala also touched on the suggestion that gay and lesbian tourists should be prevented from visiting Egypt or should be deported if they were discovered in the country.

I am opposed to discrimination against any human being, whether on the basis of skin color, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Anything. It is the same as if, after the [Charlie Hebdo attack] in France by Muslim terrorists, they had prevented all Muslims from entering France. It’s not fair … It’s the same as preventing all homosexuals from entering Egypt. Let’s say that someone [is in a same-sex relationship] in his country and he wants to come to Egypt to see the antiquities and so on – what right to you have to prevent him from doing so? I don’t get it.”

Stonewall Says They’re “Looking Forward” to Working With the Tories

Ruth Hunt, the chief executive of Stonewall, has said she looks forward to working with the newly-elected Conservative government, but that the charity will hold MPs to account when it comes to their manifesto promises.

In the wake of last week’s election, she said that Parliament is “richer and stronger for the diversity of voices within in” – but also expressed disappointment for the lack of representation for the trans community.

Stonewall Strengthens Board of Trustees with New Hires

Stonewall has announced the appointment of three new Trustees. Katie Cornhill, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and Tim Toulmin will join Stonewall’s established Board, led by Chair Jan Gooding, with immediate effect.

On the appointment, Jan said:

We are thrilled to welcome Katie, Phyll and Tim to the Stonewall Board. Their range of experience will help us to ensure that we reflect the needs of the diverse LGBT community. A great deal of progress has been made towards legislative equality, but there is still a lot more to do, and many more communities to reach, until we can say that equality has been achieved for LGBT people. Our new Board members will work closely with the Stonewall leadership team as we continue on this journey.”

Katie is a Manager at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, where she has worked for 17 years, and is seconded as the Functional Lead for Prevention, Protection and Safety at the Fire Service College. Her extensive knowledge of the public sector will support Stonewall’s work in this area. In addition, as a trans woman, Katie will help to guide the organisation as it undergoes the process of becoming fully trans inclusive and engaging further with trans communities.

Phyll is co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride. She is also the Head of Campaigns for the largest civil service trade union, PCS. Phyll brings with her an unwavering commitment to workplace equality and social justice, which has secured her a seat on the TUC LGBT Committee. She also sits on the Board for Justice for Gay Africans which focuses on Human Rights, Equal Rights, challenging racism and discrimination. Phyll will play a vital role as Stonewall broadens its reach and goes deeper into communities in Britain and abroad.

Tim is the founder and Managing Director of Alder Media, a London-based communications agency. He is a director of travel PR firm MyTravelPressOffice and a Specialist Partner of Pagefield Communications. He is also a Trustee of the charity ‘Parents and Abducted Children Together’. His vast communications experience will be central to Stonewall as it continues to engage new audiences and work towards achieving equality for LGBT people in all aspects of their lives.

Miley Cyrus: “I’m Not Hiding My Sexuality”

“There Are Times in My Life Where I’ve Had boyfriends or Girlfriends”

In an interview with TIME, singer Miley Cyrus explains that she doesn’t like to put herself in a box – she’s not bi, lesbian, *or* straight.

I’m not hiding my sexuality. For me, I don’t want to label myself as anything. We love putting people in categories, but what I like sexually isn’t going to label me as a person. There are times in my life where I’ve had boyfriends or girlfriends. And there are times where I just love being with myself and don’t want to give part of myself away to someone else.”

In a new interview with the Associated Press, Cyrus admits that not all of her relationships have been “straight, heterosexual” ones. Though apparently, “Cyrus didn’t elaborate” any further in the interview.

The 22-year-old wants everyone else to have as much freedom and empathy as she does, which is why she’s launching the Happy Hippie Foundation to help homeless and LGBT youth by providing digital support groups.

The position I’m in, I feel like I’ve got a lot of power. But so many kids don’t feel that way. They’re under their parents’ rule.”

MTV Celebrates Diversity With ‘It’s Our Prom: A Night To De-Gender’

Just last week, a prom proposal went viral when Jacob Lescenski asked his best friend Anthony Martinez to prom. The two were featured on Ellen, where they talked about how grateful they are to go to a high school that supports anyone who wants to go to prom, no matter who they bring as a date.

However, not everyone is this supported. For people who do not fit into the gender binary, prom can be a difficult experience. Students are often given restrictions on what they can wear, who they can bring as their dates, and sometimes are rejected from prom all together.

Enter MTV News, who wanted to send the message that prom is for everyone, so they asked 12 young adults with diverse gender identities to help create a series of looks that celebrate the fashion and true joy that’s possible when no one is excluded – It’s Our Prom: A Night To De-Gender.

Among the models for this shoot was Tiq Milan, who works with media outlets to ensure accurate and fair reporting for trans people.

It’s important for young people to see examples of LGBT and gender non-conforming folks having fun and showing love to one another. I would love for schools all across the country to allow students to come to prom in whatever makes them feel good and with the date of their choosing.”

This story highlights the importance of inclusion and support for the LGBT community in high schools. Every student should have the opportunity to attend and enjoy their prom, no matter their gender identity or sexuality.

It is important to promote messages of acceptance and authenticity among high school communities, and to let all LGBT people know that you can be your true self at prom, and we’ve #GotYourBack.

Miley Cyrus Says Not All of Her Relationships Have Been “Straight, Heterosexual Ones”

Miley Cyrus admits not all her relationships have been ‘straight, heterosexual’ ones.

The 22-year-old singer hinted she might be bisexual while launching her new Happy Hippie Foundation to help homeless and LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] youth. She declined to elaborate further, but hopes to use her provocative image to promote more important issues in the future.

She did go on to comment on the issue of youth homelessness on the back of recently launching the Happy Hippy Foundation, which seeks to offer support for homeless LGBT youths.

No one should have to hide who they really are, no matter what his or her name, gender or status. That’s why Happy Hippies are here to say that every life is valuable!

The position I’m in, I feel like I’ve got a lot of power. But so many kids don’t feel that way. They’re under their parents’ rule.

When you have all eyes on you, what are you saying? And that’s what I had to ask myself a lot. It’s like, I know you’re going to look at me more if my (breasts) are out, so look at me. And then I’m going to tell you about my foundation for an hour and totally hustle you.””

Her Foundation will also launch new music, including a collaboration between Joan Jett and Ariana Grande, to raise awareness of the cause.

It’s not going to be an overnight process. You’ve got to get into a lot of people’s brains and you’ve got to really make this a topic.”

Commenting on her sometimes controversial looks, Cyrus said pushing the envelope sometimes helped her progress causes like the Happy Hippy Foundation.

Cyrus, who recently split from Patrick Schwarzenegger, also admits she struggled with traditional gender expectations when she was younger.

She told Out magazine:

I didn’t want to be a boy. I kind of wanted to be nothing. I don’t relate to what people would say defines a girl or a boy, and I think that’s what I had to understand: Being a girl isn’t what I hate, it’s the box that I get put into.”

Study Finds That Being Out Does Harm Your Ability to Get a Job, Especially in Traditionally Male & Female Dominated Roles

A new study shows that discrimination of gay and lesbian job seekers is commonplace within both private firms and the public sector in the UK.

The research, carried out by Dr Nick Drydakis of Anglia Ruskin University and published by SAGE in the journal Human Relations, involved 144 young people — all first-time job seekers — making 11,098 applications.

The study, the first of its kind ever conducted in the UK, found that gay applicants of both sexes are 5% less likely to be offered a job interview than heterosexual applicants with comparable skills and experience.

The firms who offer interviews to gay male candidates pay an average salary of 2.0% less than those who invite heterosexuals for interview (£23,072 compared to £23,544). For lesbian women the average salary is 1.4% less (£22,569 compared to £22,907).

Gay men receive the fewest invitations for interviews in traditionally male-dominated occupations (accounting, banking, finance and management jobs), whereas lesbians receive the fewest invitations for interviews in traditionally female-dominated occupations (social care, social services and charity jobs).

In the accounting, banking, finance and management sector, the study found 74 occasions when only the heterosexual candidate was offered an interview and not the gay male candidate with comparable skills and experience, but no instances of only the gay male candidate being offered an interview.

Similarly, there were 63 examples when only heterosexual women were offered an interview in the social care, social services and charity sector, but no examples of only the lesbian candidate being offered an interview.

The study was carried out with the help of 12 students’ unions at universities across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Of the 2,312 students who volunteered for the study, Dr Drydakis was able to match 72 students whose CVs mentioned having a prominent role in their university’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) society with 72 students whose skills and experiences were identical, but whose CV didn’t indicate their sexuality.

The participants were all third-year undergraduates, 21 years old, British nationals and unmarried. They were all predicted to achieve an upper second class degree (2:1).

In pairs, the 144 students applied for 5,549 jobs (11,098 separate applications) that had been advertised on 15 of the UK’s leading recruitment websites over a two-month period.

Dr Drydakis, Reader in Economics at Anglia Ruskin University, said:

Because of the limited research carried out so far into the experiences of gays and lesbians in the labour market, the disadvantages and discrimination they experience has gone unnoticed and therefore unchallenged.

Despite measures to encourage openness and discourage discrimination, including the introduction of the Equality Act of 2010, it is evident from my research that gays and lesbians are encountering serious misconceptions and barriers in the job market.

It is also clear that people who face biased treatment in the hiring process must spend more time and resources finding jobs, and firms lose potential talent as a result of biased hiring.”

White House Staffers Show Support For Ban on Conversion Therapy in Powerful Video

Last week US President Barack Obama issued a statement calling for an end of the use of conversion therapy for LGBTI minors. Now, six White House staffers – some straight, some LGBT – are also calling for an end to the dangerous, widely debunked practice of conversion therapy.

The video, which was posted by The White House on YouTube, features Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President; Jay Davis, Advisor for Digital Strategy and Engagement, Environmental Protection Agency; Yohannes Abraham, Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs; Amanda Simpson, Executive Director, Army Office of Energy Initiatives; Megan Smith, Chief Technology Officer of the United States; and Douglas Brooks, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy.

Conversion therapy can be called many things – we used to call things like this “brainwashing” or “reprogramming.” It’s all about making people conform to the way things are. But if society is to grow, we need to move beyond the way things are, to the way things should be – the way things ought to be.”

In response to an online petition calling for a ban on conversion therapies, which had gained over 120,000 signatures in three months, Obama said in a statement urging states to ban therapies that attempt to change the sexual orientation of gay, lesbian and transgender youth.

Although the petition called on Obama to support a federal ban, the president has said he’ll instead call for state action.

The petition was inspired by Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender youth who committed suicide in December after attending conversion therapy.

Mental health groups and gay rights activists say such therapy can increase the risk of depression or suicide.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Friday during a town hall discussion on Tumblr also weighed in, opposing conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is not sound medical practice. Moreover, we all need to work together to build greater understanding and acceptance throughout our society. Doctors can and should be part of that effort.”

The US states of California and New Jersey have banned the practices targeting LGBTI youths whilreother states such as Oklahoma are considering legislation to protect the therapies from legal challenges.

UK LGBT People Should Fear Government ‘Complacency’, Says Stonewall

If you’ve been following the debates in the run up to the UK’s general election in May, then you’ll know that the top three deciding ‘issues’ that will determine which party gets into power are: immigration, the NHS and the economy. British people want to know how the government is going to cut the deficit, they want to know how the government is going to curb the rise in immigration (or at least build better infrastructure to cope with it) and how the government is going to stop the NHS from going under or going private.

Most notably not a talking point this time around is equality.

England, Scotland and Wales all have marriage equality and all three countries also have laws that permit adoption of children by same-sex couples or allow same-sex partners to be listed on a child’s birth certificate. Northern Ireland is a little bit behind when it comes to LGBT equality but it’s slowly but surely getting there.

The problem Stonewall has is that although the laws that have been passed already are important and are vital on the road to full equality, they are nowhere near comprehensive. There are still great changes that need to be done but “people assume that legal equality is enough by itself” and “there is still a lot to do to change social attitudes towards LGBT people”.

In a Huffington Post article, the LGBTQ organisation explains that the following need to be addressed by the main political parties of the coming election:

“Statutory Sex and Relationship Education for primary and secondary school children in England. This includes talking about different types of families to make people aware of the diversity of family life. It also means ensuring that the issues facing LGBT young people are included across the board, including in discussions around consent, abuse and online safety. Finally, Stonewall is calling on the next government to show its commitment to tackling homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying by ensuring all teachers are trained effectively.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime. This must be high priority and should be added to the list of ‘aggravated’ offences alongside hate crime based on race or religion. The next government should spearhead a campaign that encourages LGBT people to report all incidences of hate crime; we must abolish the notion that some incidents are not serious enough to report.
International aid. The next government must develop initiatives to ensure aid reaches LGBT people across the world. It should encourage its partners to embed LGBT equality into the way they plan and deliver aid, with the support of LGBT people in their countries, and it should make specific funding available for LGBT groups to achieve social change.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people. We also know that across the UK trans people have to fight for the right to be themselves, often struggling with a legal system that doesn’t make that easy. That’s why we’re asking all candidates to commit to reviewing laws affecting trans people, including the Gender Recognition Act, to ensure that all trans people are treated as equal citizens with equal rights.”

Unfortunately, none of these things have been mentioned in a positive light or at all during this election season. For example, the UK Independence Party (commonly known known as UKIP) has come under fire for its views on LGBT equality, having opposed several rulings that would help tackle homophobia against same-sex couples moving from the UK to other parts of the EU and in 2014 they didn’t support the calls to work on a strategy that tackle homophobia across Europe. Whilst UKIP certainly isn’t alone in its poor LGBT track record, the fact that LGBT rights have only really come up when a member of UKIP has said something against them is rather telling.

There’s just one month to go until the UK general election (May 7) so it seems unlikely that any of the leading political parties will change their tune between now and then, but we should still push for them to take action no matter what.

According to Recent Stats 1-in-20 Women Have Had a Same-Sex Partner

Sexual identity is now big part of official government statistics in both in the US and UK.

In the UK we have the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and in the US there is National Health Interview Survey, which is the government’s premier tool for annually assessing Americans’ health and behaviours.

It is reported that there are around 9 million LGBTs in America, which is roughly the equivalent to the population of New Jersey, and in the UK, there is around 1.2 million LGBTs, the equivalent to the population of Birmingham.

Over an age-range from 16 to 74, 1% of women and 1.5% of men consider themselves gay/lesbian, and 1.4% of women and 1% of men think of themselves as bisexual. But, there is a clear gradient with age, with a much higher proportion in younger people, particularly in younger women.

However, same-sex sexual behaviour can come in all degrees of intensity, from a same-sex experience, which could be just a smooch in the dark, to a same-sex partner, who is someone with whom you have had any genital contact intended to achieve orgasm.

For women, the proportion who report having had some same-sex experience has grown dramatically over the past 20 years: from 4% in 1990 to 10% in 2000, and to 16% in 2010 – a massive change in behaviour over such a short period. But this is not all just girls kissing girls in imitation of Madonna and Britney Spears; around half report genital contact, and around half of these in the past five years, so that overall nearly one in 20 women report a same-sex partner in the past five years.

However, it is clear that there is a lot of experimental activity going on. Roughly, for each woman who has had a recent same-sex partner there are two more of the same age who have had some same-sex contact in their lives.

Men show a different pattern. In 2010, about 8% of 16- to 44-year-old men reported having had a same-sex experience: this is higher than in 1990, possibly associated with both better reporting and the decline in fear of HIV, but there have been no substantial recent changes.

However, the picture shows a clear peak of lifetime same-sex experience for men aged around 60, and then a dramatic drop in those around 70, a pattern not seen in women.

History might provide some explanation: men now aged around 60 were teenagers in the liberating 60s, when homosexuality was legalised, while men who are now around 70 grew up when same-sex male behaviour in men was illegal and frequently prosecuted. Much younger men, meanwhile, would have come to adulthood in the more sober era of HIV.

Overall the proportion of people with same-sex experience is far higher than the proportion who identify themselves as gay and bisexual.

This must mean that many same-sex contacts are by people who do not consider themselves gay or bisexual.

Portraits Show What Life Is Like as a Lesbian Couple in Russia

Right now, it’s incredibly difficult to be an LGBT person who lives in Russia. In June 2013, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin signed the ‘Russian LGBT propaganda’ policy into law “for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values”.

However, despite this description, it meant that LGBT people would be able to do things like hosting Pride parades or just being open about their sexuality or gender identity in general. And it’s true that being LGBT isn’t illegal in Russia but with laws like this that limit LGBT expression, it may as well be.

Also read: Punished For A Kiss | Russian Police Raid Lesbian Nightclub Owned By The Woman Who Kissed Her Girlfriend In Selfie

But Russia wasn’t always like this as although it has never been the most progressive place on the planet, couples like Natasha and her partner Lyudmila were just getting by.

They live in Saint Petersburg and do normal things that couples do; they spend time with family and friends, look after their two children (Lyudmila’s, from a previous relationship), they break up, they make up and they live. And this is what photographer Misha Friedman wanted to capture when met them in 2011.

Friedman explains that the capturing of photos happened naturally and that he would spend a few days with them or an entire week at a time, developing a connection with them – after all, he has to spend a lot of time in their personal space to take these. The photos he took (between 2012 and 2014) were to be compiled into a recently published book called Natasha and Lyudmila – Russian Lives, and they are of various formats and colours according to what camera Friedman used across the two years.

Although the photographer explains that “the story happened [in Russia] he explains that “it would be the same here [in the US].” He also states that as the two women are “part of [his] life” and that these photos are “just a start.” We could see more photos then, which will hopefully shed more light on the positive side of the Russian LGBT community and not just the laws that oppress them.

Top 10 Stupidest Anti Gay Laws in the USA

Even though same-sex marriage is now legal, the majority of US still has other discrimination laws against LGBT.

Most states do not have nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people in the workplace, public accommodations, or housing, which means you can be sacked for being gay, or refused to rent a home. Many schools across the country still lack enumerated policies that protect LGBT students from bullying and discrimination. Some states go so far as to have “no promo homo” laws in place, which forbid teachers in public schools from even mentioning homosexuality, at least in a positive light.

There is still along way to go LGBT civil rights in the USA.

Watch: 10 Stupidest Anti Gay Laws

Image source – Spc. Sabryna Schlagetter, left, kisses her wife, Cheyenne Schlagetter, after returning home to Fort Carson with about 135 members of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Friday, November 14, 2014. Sabryna and Cheyenne married on Valentines Day in New Mexico nine-months ago, before Sabryna deployed to Afghanistan. Photo by Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette. Click to enlarge.

New Documentary “We Exist” Shows What It’s Like to Live Outside the Gender Binary

When you use a public bathroom, when you’re shopping for clothes or even when you choose the place that you go and have your hair done, you are constantly forced to choose between male and female. But what if you’re neither? What if you don’t identify as male or female or what if you feel as though you’re somewhere in between? Society doesn’t always accommodate that identity and for non-binary and gender queer individuals, it can be a headache as they are forced to apply a gender to themselves that just doesn’t fit.

A new documentary called We Exist aims to tackle the gender binary head on, by both raising awareness about the non-binary identity (and what it is, for those who are unaware) and to also explain the challenges faced by non-binary individuals who live in an inherently gendered world.

Creator and executive producer of We Exist, Lauren Lubin explains that:

This film is unique because it is the first of its kind to intimately document the everyday life—as well as the emotional, physical, and mental changes—that non-binary individuals go through while living in a binary world. Up until now, gender has been depicted within society and the media as exclusively as either male or female. This is one of the first films to really break that mold entirely.”

Lubin also says that with shows like Transparent and Orange is the New Black discussing trans* identities, it shows that society as a whole is ready to talk about gender and understand that just like sexuality, gender exists on a spectrum – a spectrum that doesn’t just have ‘male’ and ‘female’ at either end, with nothing in the middle.

But in order for society to accommodate non-binary identities, a lot of change will be made, explains Lubin.

In order to institutionalize and integrate a broader gender system across all of society—academia, medicine, legislation, government identification, and so forth—it’s imperative for change and accountability to occur at the top. Until then, it’s up to us individuals to educate, advocate and lobby against the status quo until that happens.”

That change may be some time away, but with documentaries like We Exist, that change will happen sooner rather than later.

Sad Fact – Most American States Still Discriminate Against LGBT People

In 37 states plus Washington, D.C. – same-sex couples have the freedom to marry once and for all.

However, the majority of US states do not have nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people in the workplace, public accommodations, or housing. Which means you can be sacked for being gay, refused to rent a home, and discriminated against because of your sexuality.

Many schools across the country still lack enumerated policies that protect LGBT students from bullying and discrimination.

Some states go so far as to have “no promo homo” laws in place, which forbid teachers in public schools from even mentioning homosexuality, at least in a positive light.

71% in the US live in a state where marriage equality exists, but if you watch the video below, it’s clear that LGBT civil rights battles are far from over.

New Report Highlights the Unfair Financial Treatment of Lesbian, Bi, and Trans* Women in America

A recent report carried out in America, has revealed that LGBT women are among those most at risk of poverty in the country.

The findings were released by a coalition of organisations, including the National Women’s Law Center.

Fatima Goss-Graves, the centre’s vice president for education and employment, says the report highlights the challenges most women face. However, the concerns are further magnified for LGBT women of colour, immigrant women, women raising children and transgender women.

“Getting adequate wages, having the supports necessary to both work and care for families, having access to health care – those are concerns that LGBT women are facing and in some cases facing more acutely.”

According to the report, almost 30 percent of bisexual women and 23 percent of lesbian women live in poverty compared to 20 percent of heterosexual women.

There are more than 5 million women in the US who identify as LGBT, and Goss-Graves says discriminatory laws, along with inequitable and outdated policies, compromise their economic security.

She adds some LGBT women are unable to access job-protected leave to care for a sick partner, and others struggle to obtain official identity documents that match the gender they live.

“Transgender women in particular have the problem of it being difficult to access appropriate ID when ID is so crucial in our society to access jobs, to access things like health care.”

Goss-Graves says state and federal policies should be improved to allow LGBT families the same protections and benefits available to others, including health insurance, family leave and child care assistance.

Paying an Unfair Price: The Financial Penalty for LGBT Women in America

The economic disparities experienced by LGBT women result from the stigma, discrimination, and the legal disadvantages they experience because they are women and because they are LGBT.

The report spotlights how LGBT women face unique challenges in three major areas that dramatically increase their economic insecurity and poverty rates:

JOBS: LGBT women struggle to find and keep good jobs. LGBT women face discrimination when looking for work and while on the job. The result is lower pay and fewer opportunities to advance. Workplaces also may be unwelcoming, hostile, or even physically unsafe. Transgender women face added challenges because they often cannot obtain accurate identity documents necessary for work.

HEALTH: LGBT women face challenges to good health that impact economic security. Healthcare can be more costly for LGBT women because of discriminatory laws, discrimination by providers, insurance exclusions for transgender people, and inadequate reproductive health coverage. The result: LGBT women are at greater risk for health problems that can affect quality of life and threaten their ability to work, and they often must pay higher costs for healthcare.

FAMILY RECOGNITION: Lack of support for LGBT women and their families results in higher costs. In many states, LGBT women still are not able to legally marry their partner or establish legal ties to their children. This means LGBT women may not be able to access affordable health insurance, safety net programs meant to keep families out of poverty, and job-protected leave to care for a sick partner. What’s more, like all women in the United States, LGBT women often are forced by law to make difficult and costly choices that can threaten their family’s economic security. The United States, for example, is the only developed country that does not offer paid parental leave.

Paying an Unfair Price: The Financial Penalty for LGBT Women in America offers broad policy recommendations to help address these harmful disparities and improve the lives of LGBT women.

What Is Being Gay (According to the Media)?

Lesbian and gay stereotypes permeate every aspect of our society, especially the media. These cliched views of gay characters have existed since the 1900s and are still prevalent, whether you notice them or not.

All exposure isn’t good exposure; these stereotypes are actually extremely damaging to the LGBT community, especially for queer women.

When it comes to portraying lesbianism on screen, there is an historical tendency to sensationalise the subject matter.

If you believe the work of exploitation directors such as Jean Rollin and Jess Franco, every woman alive is just waiting for any chance to shed their clothes and get down to lesbian business in a very explicit way.

Lesbian Media stereotypes

The Promiscuous Casanova

These ladies have a different woman every night, and make damn sure not to remember their names the next morning. They’re suave, cocky and always managing to get the girl. As viewers, we tend to fancy them, or want to be (look at how popular the Shane haircut got). They are usually presented with frown and general self-hatred is a must.

The Lesbian Psycho

These ladies range from bunny boilers to full blown psychopaths – if they’re not trying to destroy someone’s life, they’re chasing us with kitchen knives.

The Vampire Dyke

These ladies are a mix of pale skin, pouting lips, sharp teeth and no remorse. They are so overtly sexual that labelling them, as a lesbian doesn’t really work, as they want everyone. They’ll kiss you, strip you, lick you and then eat you.

The Hot Lesbian

These ladies are stunningly gorgeous. You’ll watch them wade out of pools in slow motion, climbing off motorcycles in leather one-suits, flicking their gorgeous locks in the wind and licking their plumped up lips in anticipation. These women are there strictly for the male gaze, but men beware, as these women will still your woman. It would appear no one can resist especially the naïve girlfriend of some pumped up jock.

All exposure isn’t good exposure; these stereotypes are extremely damaging to the LGBT community.

Kristin Russo is Giving Queer People A Place To Tell Their Own Stories in New Web Series ‘First Person’

First Person is new web series from WNET in partnership with PBS Digital Studios, which takes a thoughtful, no-holds-barred look at gender identity – from bisexual erasure, trans visibility to coming out in sports.

The first episode of First Person is an intimate conversation YouTube personality Skylar Kergil, a trans artist and activist known in part for documenting his transition via YouTube videos. In it, we get a more rounded out look at Skylar’s life and how he came to transition in the public eye, including the effects that decision has had on his life:

Host Kristin Russo, who is also the co-founder of LGBTQ youth advocacy group Everyone Is Gay, describes the project as an opportunity for “people to tell their own stories about being queer and trans.”

“Our mission for the show is to tackle the topics of gender and sexuality by actually talking with people whose lives intersect with those issues. The digital platform is important because it’s where the younger generation is going for their information.”

Kristin Russo

US President Continues Support For LGBT Community, Telling Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Bans Are Unconstitutional

Since his political beginnings, Barack Obama has continued to support LGBT rights, and not only pushing through same-sex marriages in a number of states, but he has made American history by references and backing the community in his speeches.

He did so again, on Saturday, in a ceremony celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Not only this, but Obama’s Administration has filed a Supreme Court brief announcing its belief that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.

“The laws they challenge exclude a long-mistreated class of human beings from a legal and social status of tremendous import. Those laws are not adequately justified by any of the advanced rationales. They are accordingly incompatible with the Constitution.”

The administration is stating bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, and it adds that LGBT people are “a long-mistreated class of human beings.”

The nation’s top court will hear oral arguments on four same-sex marriage cases April 28.

GLAAD: Despite Gay Marriage Gains, LGBT Acceptance Still Remains The Biggest Challenge

Despite a surge in gay marriage wins across America, acceptance of the LGBT community still needs much more work to ensure the safety and acceptance of LGBT Americans in their communities, workplaces, and families.

According to a new Accelerating Acceptance survey released by GLAAD, one-third of respondents were uncomfortable attending a same-sex wedding (34 percent), seeing a gay couple hold hands (36 percent) or learning their doctor is LGBT (31 percent). Harris Poll conducted the online survey in 2014 of 4,000 Americans who indicted they were heterosexual.

“Closing the gap to full acceptance of LGBT people will not come from legislation or judicial decisions alone, but from a deeper understanding and empathy from Americans themselves. Accelerating acceptance will require the help of not just LGBT people, but also their allies – everyday Americans who feel strongly and take an active role to make sure that their LGBT friends and family are fully accepted members of society.”

Sarah Kate Ellis, the CEO and President of GLAAD

Marriage and Same-Sex Relationships

While a majority of the public supports equal marriage protections, there remain large numbers of straight, non-transgender adults that still have a significant degree of discomfort surrounding actual weddings for same-sex couples. One-third (34%) say they would be uncomfortable attending the wedding of a same-sex couple, with 22% saying they would feel very uncomfortable. A substantially larger group (43%) responds they would be uncomfortable bringing a child to the wedding of a same-sex couple.

Beyond weddings for same-sex couples, the survey reveals that many are still uncomfortable simply seeing and interacting with same-sex couples. A third of non-LGBT Americans (36%) say that just seeing a same-sex couple holding hands makes them uncomfortable.

The survey also evidenced resistance to LGBT parents by other parents in their community. Many straight, non-transgender parents say they would be uncomfortable with their child playing at a home with an LGBT parent – 40% for a transgender parent, 29% for a gay dad and 28% for a lesbian mom.

A fifth to nearly a third of non-LGBT Americans are uncomfortable with common situations involving LGBT people. These range from simple things like having an LGBT person move in next door to more personal situations such as learning that a family member is LGBT.

Acceptance of the transgender community faces more resistance than does acceptance of the rest of the LGBT community. Most notably, a majority of non-LGBT Americans (59%) say they would be uncomfortable if they learned their child was dating a transgender person. More than a quarter (31%) say this would make them “very uncomfortable.”

Being on a sports team with a transgender person still makes large numbers of non-LGBT Americans uncomfortable. Roughly equal numbers report discomfort with being on the same team as a transgender woman (32%) and a transgender man (31%). These numbers are higher than the reports of discomfort with being on a sports team with a gay man (26%) or lesbian (20%).

Further demonstrating the importance of cultivating more allies, those who know LGBT people display substantially lower levels of discomfort –30% are uncomfortable seeing a same-sex couple hold hands among those who have LGBT family members, while that number drops to 25% among those with an LGBT coworker and 17% among those with a close LGBT friend. On the flip side, almost half (47%) of those who don’t know any LGBT people say seeing a same-sex couple holding hands makes them uncomfortable. Clearly, a connection exists between familiarity and acceptance.

How Many LGBT People Oppose Marriage Equality?

One of the loudest arguments in the fight for LGBT equality has been same sex marriage rights. Same sex marriage has been at the forefront of the movement, as grassroots campaigners and leading politicians alike champion same sex marriage, attempting to repeal laws that go against it and make it legal in places that only offered civil unions or partnerships.

And that campaigning has been incredibly successful. In the United States, same sex marriage campaigners have seen the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) repealed in order for same sex married couples to have their marriages recognised by the government and over 70% of the population now lives in a place where same sex marriage is legal.

Meanwhile, in the UK, David Cameron has said that helping bring same sex marriage into law is one of his proudest achievements.

But has it all been for nothing? Despite the growing support for same sex marriage amongst in and out of the LGBT community, a new study from Pew suggests that many LGBT people are actually opposed to it.

Pew deemed that overall, 7% of LGBT people in the United States are opposed to same sex marriage. The biggest demographics who are against same sex marriage are LGBT African-Americans, LGBT Republicans and bisexuals.

58% of black LGBT people are strongly in favour of same sex marriage, with 12% against it.

45% of LGBT Republicans are strongly in favour, with 19% against it. 8% of bisexuals are against same sex marriage and 22% don’t feel strongly in favour or against it.

The data suggests that religion and age could have been strong factors in LGBT people feeling this way as although 82% of those ages 18 to 29 were in support, 71% of LGBT people over 30 support same sex marriage, which is a big difference.

And in religious groups, 67% of religious LGBT people support same sex marriage in comparison to 82% of non-religiously affiliated LGBT people supporting it.

What’s also important to note is that Pew’s data was collected in 2013, which was before the many same sex marriage victories that took place in the United States in 2014. Perhaps respondents saw those victories take place and changed their opinions afterwards.

Other Pew data told us that 18% of LGBT people overall were in favour of same sex marriage but not strongly.

That’s likely down to the fact that a growing number of LGBT people feel as though same sex marriage gets too much of the limelight and that other LGBT rights issues – such as housing, employment and adoption rights – deserve more attention.

Clearly there is work to be done on all fronts, so we’ll keep you posted once we know more.

Isabella Moore Documents Russia’s War On Homosexuality

Russia has become increasingly conservative country. The orthodox church is now one the most revered institutions in the entire country, is it really any surprise then, that homophobia is still rife?

The country only decriminalised homosexuality back in 1993 when the Soviet era collapsed, but unfortunately, the situation appears to be regressing again, and now, even the law is beginning to target LGBTs. There is now a rise in homophobic acts of violence and hate crimes.

Photographer Isabelle Moore recently travelled to Russia to compile a visual biography, accompanied by textual testimonials, which documents the tragic plight of gay people from St Petersburg to Siberia.

Sadly, in a country that once viewed homosexuality with tolerance, Isabella has found nothing but terror, sadness and distress in the LGBT community. The result is a touching collection of interview, portraiture and landscape photography which paints a brutal picture of gay life in Russia.

You can catch more work from Isabella on her photography site.

Russia Sees Anti-LGBT Hate Crimes Increase as Discriminatory Laws Go Into Effect

While Russia has never had a great track record on the topic of human rights, this has become all the more apparent in recent years as the Vladimir Putin-led country has brought a series of discriminatory, anti-LGBT laws into effect.

The most notorious of these is the 2013 law against ‘homosexual propaganda’ in which Russia’s citizens are not allowed hold public LGBT events, promote gay rights or talk about LGBT identities with children, as the country deems these to be an attempt at spreading ‘LGBTness’ to the population.

Signed into law just this year is a piece of legislation that seeks to decrease “mortality caused by traffic accidents”. But despite its well-meaning description, the law is actually a thinly veiled excuse for more LGBT discrimination.

The law uses the World Health Organisation’s list of “mental and behavioural disorders”, which bafflingly includes transgenderism, gambling addictions, and voyeurism, to state who can and cannot drive.

There is obviously no proof that being trans has an effect on your ability to drive whatsoever and the law will be impossible to enforce as so few people are officially listed as trans* (they specifically avoid doing so to avoid anti-trans discrimination) but the fact that it exists is enough to tell Russia’s trans population that they are not welcome and they do not belong.

While it’s distressing enough that so many LGBT citizens of Russia are being denied their rights so blatantly, the government sponsored anti-LGBT opinions are spilling out into public consciousness. There are no official stats on it, but those within Russia say that they have seen a serious increase in anti-LGBT hate crimes as well as LGBT suicides since these laws came into effect and this viewpoint became so promoted.

For example, one Neo-Nazi group is notorious in Russia for identifying gay teenagers and proceeding to beat them up. Al Jazeera notes that the group’s leader Maxim “Tesak” Martsinkevich was arrested and imprisoned for five years for “inciting hatred” but the fact that his followers are still active throughout the country and little is being done to stop them is a reflection of how little those in power care.

So what is being done about Russia’s egregious human rights offenses? Things appeared to bubble up and gain some real traction in early 2014 when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

There were threats to boycott the event and LGBT athletes and visitors were also extremely concerned about attending but with so much money at stake and affirmations from Russia that LGBT people in the city for the Olympics would be left alone, little was done and many people turned a blind eye choosing to just enjoy the Winter-y sports instead.

There is also little other countries can do to stop Russia as the EU (European Union) is already imposing sanctions on the country due to its actions in the Ukraine (where Russia has reportedly been supporting separatist rebels). Russia’s economy is in the doldrums but the support for Putin and his party is at such a high that it’s unlikely that the country’s money woes will oust him and his anti-LGBT policies too.

According to reports from November, 2014, the Russian LGBT community may have found an ally in German chancellor Angela Merkel as after Putin told her that the West’s promotion of LGBT rights has led to a “decay of values”, she realised that Europe and America should abandon working things out with Russia altogether.

A source also revealed that “the chancellor has come to believe that Putin is driven by an ultra-conservative mindset that is shared by his inner circle and is based on a belief that Russia’s values are superior and irreconcilable to those of the West”.

It’s said that she would like the EU to become a united front against Russia and although we can’t verify how true that is without a statement from the Chancellor herself, Germany is one of Russia’s most important (and most wealthy) allies and so rumblings from its leader could very well change the tide in the LGBT community’s favour.

Brazilians Stage Kissing Protest After Bar Kicks Out Lesbian Couple For Embracing In Public

Protesters have taken to the street in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, with a kissing protest against homophobic treatment of two women.

About 50 Brazilian protesters responded with kisses on Sunday at a bar that had kicked out a presumed lesbian couple for embracing in public. The management of the bar in the town of Ribeirao Preto said in a statement the women, ages 22 and 23, had been shown the door a week ago for “inappropriate behaviour.”

The women immediately filed a complaint with the police and a Brazilian lawyers’ association commission against homophobia.

At Sunday’s protests, youths carried signs denouncing homophobia and engaged in a “beijaco,” or collective kissing, as police looked on.

A bill to punish homophobia has been sidelined for years in the Brazilian Congress by resistance from Catholics and Protestant Evangelicals.

In 2011, however, the Supreme Court guaranteed same-sex couples in stable unions the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Frenemies | Marriage Equality vs. Equality Period

As a response to the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing cases regarding same sex marriage in three states including my home state of Texas, a rally was held in Dallas where my wife and I live. Although the temps lingered around freezing that evening (not Dallasite friendly), we felt we should attend – in solidarity with our community and the couples representing us in the hearings.

I was expecting to see some anti-gay protestors around, but tacky signs with bible verses taken out of context were nowhere to be found. I was, however, unpleasantly surprised to find that members of our own Dallas queer community were present to passively communicate their dismay – holding a sign suggesting that “equality period” should be our focus rather than that of marriage and delivering a speech acknowledging that we should demand marriage equality but, in an almost patronizing fashion, reminding us that matters such as the bullying of our youth and the hate crimes against our trans brothers and sisters potentially hold more importance.

Overall, the rally was exactly what it should be – inspiring and motivational. It reinforced to my wife and me the importance of being active in this movement that is so personal. However, it also served as a reminder of how divided our community can often be.

I embrace and celebrate the various backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs that make up the LGBT family. We are quite diverse and when it comes to creating a picture representative of who we are, one brush simply will not do. We fall on all variants of the gender spectrum; we are black, Latino, white, Asian, Middle Eastern; we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist; we are monogamous, polyamorous, celibate; we are dating, married, single; we are conservative, liberal, moderate, non-political; we are everything you thought we were and so much more – I love it. And along with those differences comes varying worldviews. Regardless of what you’ve been told, there is such a thing as a gay Republican.

We’re not all Obama supporting, pro-choice-ing, immigration reforming, climate change acknowledging liberals. I am all of the aforementioned things and, admittedly, I struggle to understand and accept my LGBT brothers and sisters who aren’t, but I’m working on it.

Amongst the differing perspectives in our community, there is a movement that believes that the majority of LGBT activists are focused too heavily on marriage equality. Their perspective is that we are exerting too much of our energy in the fight for marriage while there are many other issues that deserve our attention in a more urgent sense than that of same sex marriage. And that, through our actions, we are suggesting that, as soon as nationwide marriage equality is accomplished, our work here will be done.

I wonder what would happen if we could find it in our hearts to support the causes of our community – whether actively or passively – rather than diminishing those that we are not passionate about. It seems to me that each of us has a zeal for something. Feminism, animal rights, racial equality, and LGBT equality are a few of mine.

If you were to look at my bank account, my social media updates, and watch where I spend my time, this would be evident to you. However, the fact that I’ve chosen to use my time in support of these causes does not imply that I believe others are of less value. It simply means this is where my passions lie.

Somewhere along the way, whether by nature or nurture, we all feel a tug to fight for something. It seems that this “tug” is there for a reason – so that we may use our talents and abilities to be a part of a movement that needs us. While my “tug” has called me to women’s rights, yours may have directed you to trans advocacy. Does this make me right and you wrong or vice versa?

I don’t think so. It places us on a parallel path – each having a goal that will lead us to the same place, but which has us on a different road to one destination.

The argument as to whether the marriage equality movement has overtaken LGBT equality is a tricky one. Opposition within our own community to same sex marriage activists will say that there are more serious issues we should be fighting for. They feel that we have become wrapped up in one issue rather than seeing the bigger picture. Maybe my strong desire for marriage equality is selfish. I am, after all, in a legally unrecognized marriage.

My wife and I have been together for 5 years, sharing a household for 4, running a business together for 2, and our wedding in Texas was in May of 2013. There is not enough time in the day to list the many reasons why I want for marriage equality in my home state. I will be a direct beneficiary when this finally passes. Maybe I am guilty of getting caught up in this particular brand of social change because it will enrich my relationship and remove many of the legal complications that go along with being in a committed same sex relationship. However, I am not in this fight for only self-serving reasons.

Marriage equality will not only serve as an advantage for gay couples desiring to marry. It will, and already has, been a major part of a culture change that has needed to happen in this country for ages. It has and will continue to be a crucial piece to changing hearts and minds in our society. As the naysayers see same sex couples functioning in this world as normal, committed couples, they will find fewer reasons to hold on to their prejudices. As the prejudices diminish, LGBT equality as a whole will benefit.

Young queer people will start to believe that, when Dan Savage and Terry Miller, told them it would get better, they might have actually spoken the truth. Once young LGBTs see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, they may be less likely to consider suicide. The ripple effects of marriage equality hold the potential to foster real positive social change for our community with further reaches than we can conceive of.

It is also relevant to address the fact that marriage rights are a part of a national dialogue happening now. There is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot. On a national level, same sex marriage is the focus of many in the equality movement, but why are we so quick to criticize? It is a conversation being had in political circles and in the media. And thank god for that. Is this not a product of the activism of our LGBT brothers and sisters who came before? Instead of picking apart the flaws of this discourse, shouldn’t we take advantage of the fact that it is being had? Maybe this is where we are placing our emphasis at this time, but we know that, as soon as this battle is won, we will damn sure be moving on to the next. We know the war is not finished until there is equality for all.

When queer people can be a united front, we cannot be stopped. We are at our greatest when we support one another. The fight for safer schools for LGBT youth is every bit as important as the battle for safer streets for trans people. Each has the potential to make the place of queer people in this world a stronger and more secure one. So, let us continue to view our movement with a critical eye and question everything. Let us always improve and refine our plans of attack. But, let us encourage and support our brothers and sisters who have chosen to give their time to the varying facets of the equality movement. Let’s face it – we have enough enemies.

Queer Ally, Miley Cyrus Shows Her Support For LGBT Community

Queer ally, Miley Cyrus has shown her pro-LGBT support once again by becoming the face of MAC’s Viva Glam campaign.

Viva Glam campaign is MAC’s AIDS Fund program, which donates money raised toward HIV/AIDS research. Previous celebrities to serve as the face of the campaign include Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and RuPaul.

Cyrus has been a long-time supporter of the queer community, having previously claimed that she believes ‘everyone’s a little bit gay‘. She also has the equality symbol tattooed on her middle finger in support of same-sex marriage and applauded The Disney Channel for including a same-sex couple in their programming.

Last week, she discussed with Good Morning America her new MAC partnership, as well as her commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

“I’m not the way people try to make me seem. I don’t go around just trashing hotel rooms and partying… I think [it is important to empower] those affected by HIV and giving them hope — letting them know there’s people out there fighting for them — especially not just for the cure but to end this kind of stereotype. I think it’s fun for young people to go buy a lipstick and know that it’s actually going towards changing the way their future is going to be.”

Miley Cyrus

Good Morning America also joined Cyrus as took some time out to visit the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Center and to meet with Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and the homeless LGBT youth served by the Center.

Following the tour, she joined a session of the Center’s Street Smart program — a facilitated discussion group that helps and encourages homeless LGBT youth to develop safer sex practices.

“I was quite impressed by Miley and by her genuine passion to help homeless youth,” Jean said in a statement, “as well as her concern for the growing HIV infection rate among gay and bisexual young people. It’s a huge concern here in Los Angeles where 87 percent of those living with HIV are gay or bisexual males and a staggering 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT. I’m grateful for the attention she’s bringing to the issue and look forward to working with her.”

Lorri L. Jean, CEO, Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Center

Paying an Unfair Price: The Financial Penalty for LGBT Women in America

Lesbian Media stereotypes

Marriage and Same-Sex Relationships

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