http://www.citizensugar.com/ Breaking News, Together. en http://www.citizensugar.com/2524947 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/22911/47_2008/43aa1e45a578a669_obama.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" height="400" width="267"></span>This week word broke that the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/" target="_blank">president-elect will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010</a> to ask Congress to end the military's longstanding ban on open homosexuals in the service.</p> <p>Throughout his campaign Barack Obama said he would <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526" >repeal the ban on open gays in the military</a>, but when selecting his joint chiefs of staff, he wouldn't require that they share his position on the policy. In a September interview, Obama said <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/2033190" >he wouldn't try to repeal the 1993 policy regarding gay service members on his own</a> and that he hoped to ensure that when "we revert 'don't ask, don't tell,' it's gone through a process and we've built a consensus."</p> <p>Advisers are now saying Obama wants to work with the joint chiefs of staff and his new political appointees at the Pentagon to reach a consensus and then present legislation to Congress. </p> <p>"Don't ask, don't tell" <a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1707545,00.html" href=<a target="_blank"> prohibits gay military personnel</a> from disclosing their sexual orientation because anyone that "demonstrates a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an <a href="http://web.mit.edu/committees/rotc/code.html" target="_blank">unacceptable risk</a> to standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion." </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2524947#comment Barack Obama Don't Ask Don't Tell Homosexuality Military Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:58 -0800 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2524947 http://www.citizensugar.com/2521551 <p>Eureka Springs has become the San Francisco of Arkansas, according to the American Family Association. The AFA's latest DVD — <a href="https://store.afa.net/pc-10000122-5-theyre-coming-to-your-town-dvd.aspx" target="_blank">They're Coming to Your Town</a> — teaches unsuspecting Christian communities how to prevent gays from taking over their towns. If you're so inclined, you can purchase the DVD in a five-pack and distribute it to your friends or Sunday school teachers. </p> <p><center><object width="425" height="344"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9zulfsy6Mg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9zulfsy6Mg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center></p> <p><a href="http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/11/20/afa_eureka/index.html" target="_blank">Salon points out</a> that the besieged town's city council recently implemented a domestic partnership registry for gay couples after a unanimous vote, thus making Eureka a great example of the homosexual threat AFA seeks to combat. I guess only straight people can be part of American families? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2521551#comment American Family Association Check This Homosexuality Same-Sex Marriage Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:30:25 -0800 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2521551 http://www.citizensugar.com/2425930 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/44_2008/86899cf9d3bff8c6_83293923.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="320" width="241"></span>At a meeting to discuss social threats to Muslims in Malaysia, a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/3250905/Malaysia-bans-women-from-wearing-mens-clothes-and-lesbian-sexual-relations.html" href=” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatw%C4%81”>fatwa</a> — scholarly opinion on Islamic law — was issued that <a target="_blank">forbids women to act like men</a>. According to the ruling, women should not cut their hair short nor walk, talk, or otherwise act like men.</p> <p>The fatwa, however, is not legally binding so it's not illegal to act masculine, just immoral. The chairman of the National Fatwa Council said these women were denying their femininity and violating human nature. To explain the ruling, he said:<br /> <blockquote>It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear. . . It becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender.</p></blockquote> <p>While lesbian sex is not illegal either, sodomy is an offense that is punctuated with a 20-year sentence. But in a country like Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion, a fatwa can hold as much power as the law, and many lawyers believe this is a push to put lesbianism on the other side of it.</p> <p>Considering masculinity and femininity is a spectrum — defined by culture — I do wonder how far this can go. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2425930#comment Fatwas Homosexuality Islam Malaysia World of Faith Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:00:15 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2425930 http://www.citizensugar.com/2340321 <p>Ten years ago today, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay man, was beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die. Since then 31 states and Washington DC have passed increased punishments for crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation. Yet, there is <a href="http://townhall.com/news/us/2008/10/10/10_years_after_shepard,_no_federal_hate_crime_law" target="_blank">still no federal hate crime law</a>, and FBI stats show that the rate of anti-gay based crimes has remained the same.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/41_2008/73870394.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="358" width="550"></span><br /> The Matthew Shepard Act, which <a href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/03/passage-matthew-shepard-act-remains-priority/" target="_blank"> has never made it into law</a>, would have given the federal government more authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, and would have expanded victims specifically protected by federal law to include those who are attacked because of disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. </p> <p>Should it be a federal offense to commit a crime against persons because of their sexuality, or is too hard to legally define a victim class based on how a criminal defines their sexuality?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2340321#comment Crime Gay Rights Hate Crime Headline Homosexuality Law Matthew Shepard Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:00:14 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2340321 http://www.citizensugar.com/2328838 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/41_2008/Pride-Campus.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="227" width="340"></span>Questioning the notion that segregation is bad for students, Chicago's school district is <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/proposed-school-for-gay-students-advances.html" target="_blank">considering opening a high school</a> for gay, lesbian, and transgender students. The school is among a group of recommended specialized schools, another example being a technology-focused campus. </p> <p>Schools targeting gay students — a group more likely to drop out, abusing drugs, and committing suicide — exist in other cities. </p> <p>Learning in an environment where they're not automatically "different" may help youth flourish. Even so, some gay students may feel that attending a gay-focused school would limit their identity to their sexual orientation. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to give students a chance to choose a targeted environment, while working to make mainstream schools more accepting, too.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2328838#comment Chicago education Headline Homosexuality Politics of Love Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:00:08 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2328838 http://www.citizensugar.com/2026701 <p>It's a coming out of a whole different variety: gay Republicans (sometimes known as <a href="http://www.logcabin.org/logcabin/home.html" target="_blank">Log Cabin Republicans</a>, the gay and lesbian Republican grassroots organization) coming clean about their party affiliation. It's a tricky sell for the average homosexual who is for strong national defense, limited spending and other Republican party favors. It's a pairing of identities that leaves some feeling like, "you're not liked by either side." </p> <p><center></p> <script language="javascript" src="http://www.thenewsroom.com//mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=V3083830&m=628856&w=420&h=375&v=2"></script><p></center></p> <p>One Log Cabin Republican in Texas says, "Some people think it's more difficult to come out as Republican to a gay friend, than to come out as gay to a straight friend." This could be especially true as the official Texas Republican Party platform says that homosexuality "tears at the fabric" of society, and blames diseases on the gay community. The Texan, gay GOP-er acknowledges, "There's a lot of hurtful and hateful language that we'd like to get stripped out of that platform." His partner knows the election day bottom line will eventually win over detractors saying, "They know our votes and our money [is] significant." </p> <p>To see how the Log Cabin Republicans play into the current election, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/2026701">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2026701#comment 2008 Presidential Election Homosexuality John McCain Log Cabin Republicans Republicans Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:14 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2026701 http://www.citizensugar.com/1896380 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/35_2008/20080826_121006_lesbian-tsh.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="174" width="150"></span>Normally a woman entering a federal building to pick up a social security card for her son wouldn't end up in controversy. Unfortunately for Lapriss Gilbert, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing the wrong t-shirt. When she arrived at the government complex <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/ci_10301518?source=rss_viewed" target="_blank">sporting a t-shirt</a> with the words “lesbian.com” on the front, a private security officer hired by the Homeland Security Department stopped her and demanded she leave the premises.</p> <p>The guard, an employee of Paragon Security, cited <b>The Rules and Regulations Governing Conduct on Federal Property</b> to support his claim that he is able to decide which articles of clothing are acceptable and which are not. Unfortunately, the document does not offer such guidance. </p> <p>According to a witness, the hired guard’s “loud, unreasonable, aggressive and angry approach to the situation almost caused chaos.” Gilbert says of the incident, "As an African-American and a lesbian, I haven't been through one day without facing some sort of discrimination . . . but this is just shocking." The ACLU is looking into the case they call the most blatant discrimination they've seen in a federal office building. </p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1896380#comment ACLU Department of Homeland Security Discrimination Free Speech Headline Homosexuality Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:10 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1896380 http://www.citizensugar.com/1882600 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1882600"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1882600',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1882600');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/34_2008/LS020586.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="275"></span>Though just a scootch late for the <a href="http://popsugar.com/1879428" >famous nuptials</a> of Ellen and Portia, Hallmark has <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iZl2uw2yTnV4K44E6PweHvdOQ8EAD92MLQFO0" target="_blank">rolled out a new line of greetings</a>, created for just such an occasion. In response to California ruling gay marriage legal, Hallmark saw a fancy card niche to be filled — one that doesn't involve shiny embossed images of a traditional bride and groom. Despite the fact that most states don't recognize gay marriage (CA and MA are the only two) several others recognize civil commitments, and when there's a ceremony, there's a cause for card.</p> <p>Hallmarks says the decision to offer the greetings was not politically motivated, but rather a response to consumer demand. Their spokeswoman says, "it's our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can." Indeed they started offering "coming out" cards last year (an event that strikes me as more interesting? I did not know one gave a card for such an occasion!) The new cards contain neutral language, <a href="http://dearsugar.com/1883372" >speaking to love</a> rather than a specific event so they're useful for weddings or commitments. Four designs in all will be released this summer.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/34_2008/ALeqM5jKT-mvgXuGELZ6fDskF1J19b73DA.jpeg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="150"></span>As 85,000 same-sex couples have become legal in one way or another since 1997 and estimates peg nearly 120,000 more will join Ellen, spelling millions in new business for wedding industries. Is this just smart marketing? Hallmark has already expanded to include cards for "sorry you can't get pregnant," and "good luck in rehab," as well as interfaith marriages — because in greetings, it's the specificity that counts?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1882600" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Hallmark Rolls Out Gay Wedding Greetings: Tasteful or Tacky?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Tasteful. It's smart business, savvy etiquette, and a sign of mainstream acceptance.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Tacky! By hyping them as gay greetings, they're taking advantage to make a buck.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I suppose there's no harm in making them available, but it does seem opportunistic.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other. I'll greet you in the comments.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1882600" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.citizensugar.com/1882600#comment Citizen Poll Gay Marriage Hallmark Homosexuality Politics of Love Poll Wedding Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:51:12 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1882600 http://www.citizensugar.com/1877702 <p>Some tourists <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/19/BACM12DALA.DTL" target="_blank">treat San Francisco's gay population as a tourist attraction</a>. Residents of the historic gay Castro District have reported an increase in large tour buses, which drop off thousands of nervous visitors ready to snap photos of two men holding hands or point and stare in shock.<br /> <span class="inline left"><a href="/node/1877699" ><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/2114771.preview_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="378" width="550"></a></span><br /> While Castro dwellers and merchants welcome visitors and their cash with open arms, they have little tolerance for the new breed of non-shoppers. And things might not get better — now that Hollywood has used Castro Street as the set for the upcoming movie <b>Milk</b>, <a href="http://buzzsugar.com/tags/Milk" >a film about the first gay councilman in the US</a> who was killed by his fellow San Francisco councilman, I imagine that the city's gay neighborhood will attract even more gawkers after the film's release. </p> <p>Positive curiosity might signal the end of a gay-stigma, and I don't blame residents for feeling like animals in a zoo. If San Francisco wants to base much of its economy on tourism, should it swallow the consequences? </p> <p><p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'><div id=mask-75145 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1877618?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/2114771.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'><div id=mask-33770 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1877618?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/2994634.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'><div id=mask-2745 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1877618?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/2994640.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'><div id=mask-72922 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1877618?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/2994681.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'><div id=mask-84428 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1877618?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/34_2008/50407013.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a></div></div></div></p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1877702#comment California Headline Homosexuality Politics of Love San Francisco Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:28 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1877702 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1806777 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/23/75-percent-back-gays-serv_n_114487.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">75 Percent Back Gays Serving In Military: Massive Shift</a><br /> In a recent poll, there has been a massive and remarkable shift in public opinion on homosexuals in the military since 1993. Up from 44 percent in 1993, now 75 percent say that homosexuals who publicly disclose their status should be allowed to serve. It is demonstrative of a vastly more progressive nation on LGBT rights.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1806777#comment aside Don't Ask Don't Tell Homosexuality Military Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:53:00 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1806777 http://www.citizensugar.com/1788684 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1788684"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1788684',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1788684');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/29_2008/south.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="375"></span></p> <p>The South Carolina state employee who approved a controversial ad campaign aimed at gay tourists has resigned, according to the director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.</p> <p>The "South Carolina is So Gay" posters <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/146279" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">appeared in the London Underground</a> and were aimed at gay travelers — the campaign is sponsored by Amro Worldwide and other cities like Boston, Las Vegas, and New Orleans have used the slogan to proclaim their inclusiveness. </p> <p>But the frank-talkin' slogan is not what the Palmetto state director <a href="http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/state_regional/article/state_employee_resigns_over_sc_is_so_gay_ad_campaign/5858/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">had in mind</a>, "Our tourism marketing funds are for the purpose of bringing visitors to South Carolina, not for getting involved in various social agendas," adding that the South Carolina target audience is families. </p> <p>The poster's mastermind says that the "So Gay" campaign is supposed to reverse the negative impact of the phrase and make it a tourist magnet. Does it work?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1788684" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Employee Quits Over &quot;So Gay&quot; Ad: Perfect Pitch or Sold Out?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Perfect pitch. What's the big deal? It's cheeky and makes an inclusive point. I'm sold. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Sold out! It's pretty tasteless, and why should sexuality matter in travel planning?</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Other. I'll tell you it's "So..." something else in the comments. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1788684" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.citizensugar.com/1788684#comment Citizen Poll Controversy Homosexuality Poll South Carolina Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1788684 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1734562 <p><a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1734330" rel="nofollow">Is This Heinz Ad Inappropriate?</a><br /> <b>Update!</b> In a controversial move, condiment king Heinz has pulled a UK television commercial from the air. Viewers complained that <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1714162" rel="nofollow">the commercial</a> — which features a single-sex parental relationship — was inappropriate and unsuitable.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1734562#comment aside Gay Marriage Homosexuality Politics of Love Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:25:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1734562 http://www.citizensugar.com/1731398 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/22911/26_2008/download.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="306"></span>"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," might bring to mind men fighting in foxholes — but the plan is actually rooting out more foxes of the opposite gender. The US Army and Air Force discharged an hugely uneven ratio of women to men in 2007 under the "<a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526" >Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell</a>" policy, which prohibits gay military personnel from disclosing their sexual orientation.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/washington/23pentagon.html?ref=us" target="_blank">New York Times reports</a> that even though women only make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged under the policy in 2007 were female. Up in the air, women account for 20 percent of the Air Force and 49 percent of its discharges.</p> <p>And the trend is growing — there's a noticeable increase from 2006, when about 35 percent of both the Army’s and the Air Force’s "asked and tolds" were women, according to stats pulled from Pentagon data by a policy advocacy organization. What's making the L-word, "lost female soldiers?" To see what the executive director of the organization had to say about the findings, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1731398">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1731398#comment Don't Ask Don't Tell Homosexuality Military Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:15:11 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1731398 http://www.citizensugar.com/1717766 <p>Yesterday, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marriage18-2008jun18,0,6701919.story" target="_blank">more than 1,400 same-sex couples all over California</a> tied the knot, and will continue to do so indefinitely. Along with taking some <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/slideshow/1717023" >pictures of the scene in San Francisco</a>, we filmed the newlyweds and their families talking about their love and decisions to get married. We even caught one couple exchanging vows! Watch the video to hear what impact California's decision to legalize same-sex marriage has had on families so far, in their own words. It's a very moving video!</p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_1717725"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so1717725 = new SWFObject('http://images.teamsugar.com/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','425','350','7'); so1717725.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so1717725.addVariable("file",'1717725.flv'); so1717725.addVariable('height','350'); so1717725.addVariable('image','http://images.teamsugar.com/media/cooked/thumbs/1717725.jpg'); so1717725.addVariable('width','425'); so1717725.write('player_1717725'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div> </center></p> <p>After seeing this video, do your feelings toward marriage change? Is it possible to leave emotions aside, and support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage? I guess we will find out in November, when California voters get a chance to adopt or reject a <a href="http://www.protectmarriage.com/" target="_blank">proposed constitutional ban</a> on same-sex marriage.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1717766#comment California Exclusive Gay Marriage Homosexuality Politics of Love San Francisco Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1717766 http://www.citizensugar.com/slideshow/1717023 <a href="/slideshow/1717023?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/25_2008/IMG_1765_1.xlarge.jpg" alt="Exclusive Photos: San Francisco Celebrates Gay Marriage" title="Exclusive Photos: San Francisco Celebrates Gay Marriage" class="image xlarge inline left" /></a>Not wanting to miss a historical moment, I went down bright and early to San Francisco's City Hall to check out all the wedding festivities. Today is the first full day of same-sex marriages, following the California Supreme Court <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1636337">ruling that legalized the nuptials</a>. A romantic and emotional atmosphere surrounded the happy newlyweds. While I was there, snapping these photos of the enthusiastic participants, I noticed nothing but support for these unions between same-sex couples. Take a peek at this special day. Do you think we'll see more days like this throughout the country? <div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/1717023?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.citizensugar.com/slideshow/1717023#comment Exclusive Gay Marriage Homosexuality Politics of Love Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:45:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1717023 http://www.citizensugar.com/1714934 <p>Today most counties in California, the nation's most populous state, will begin their first full day of <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/us/2008/06/16/D91BD35G0_gay_marriage/index.html?source=refresh" target="_blank">issuing marriage licenses to committed couples</a>, regardless their gender combination. San Francisco kicked things off last night at 5:00 p.m., with Mayor Gavin Newsom <a href="http://dearsugar.com/1713965" >marrying Phyllis Lyon, 87 and Del Martin, 84</a>, who have been in love for over 50 years.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/25_2008/81545334.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span></p> <p>Take this quiz to find out if you've been following our gay rights coverage. After you get your results, you'll see some lovely highlights from many diverse stories. And for some laughs, <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1062558" >watch Stephen Colbert interview a gay rights activist</a> in his hilarious segment "Better Know a Gay Lobbyist."</p> <p>Stay tuned for our exclusive eye-witness coverage of the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/16/MNQC118UG3.DTL&amp;tsp=1" target="_blank">same-sex ceremonies taking place</a> at San Francisco's city hall today. Do you think we will see ceremonies like this spreading across the country or a more organized effort to halt the movement?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1714934">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1714934#comment Gay Marriage Homosexuality Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:00:53 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1714934 http://www.citizensugar.com/1714162 <p>With gay marriages <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZmLBrL36NObNyMR0ghXN7vB5hYwD91BD35G0" target="_blank">about to begin</a> at 5 p.m. today in California, Heinz is using a kiss between two men to help the company sell some mayonnaise in the UK. The ad shows two kids getting ready for school, waiting for their "mom" (a man who looks like a deli counter worker and has a New York accent) to pack their lunches. The commercial, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/16/advertising3?gusrc=rss&amp;feed=media" target="_blank">airing in the United Kingdom today</a>, does what it can to make Brits accepting of a two-father household — and I'm not talking about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Two_Dads" target="_blank">My Two Dads</a> variety. After the kids' lunches are packed, in comes "dad" for a goodbye smooch. </p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_1714095"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so1714095 = new SWFObject('http://images.teamsugar.com/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','425','350','7'); so1714095.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so1714095.addVariable("file",'1714095.flv'); so1714095.addVariable('height','350'); so1714095.addVariable('image','http://images.teamsugar.com/media/cooked/thumbs/1714095.jpg'); so1714095.addVariable('width','425'); so1714095.write('player_1714095'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div> </center></p> <p>Will viewers become more open minded after seeing this traditional morning routine infused with a homosexual lifestyle? Perhaps it may have been more shocking to tradition if the lunchmaker was called "dad" and the parent going to work was called "mom." </p> <p>Some may think Heinz simply wants to shock viewers for added publicity. Considering a straight couple would be completely un-newsworthy, I think it offers social commentary just by getting attention. Did it get yours? </p> <p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/" target="_blank">Source</a> </p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1714162#comment Ad-rageous Heinz Homosexuality Media Politics of Love United Kingdom Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:20:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1714162 http://www.citizensugar.com/1699636 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/75552063.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="250"></span>Residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have brought a lawsuit against a Greek gay rights group, alleging that the term "lesbian" is an insult to the homeland.</p> <p>The lawyer representing the three Lesbos plaintiffs <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/world/2008/06/10/D917AHNG0_greece_lesbian_fight/index.html" target="_blank">says</a> that the group's name — the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece — "causes confusion by using a geographic term" in connection with social action. The island does not want to be associated with the group's "special character." </p> <p>It seems the islanders have a seriously uphill battle to fight if they are trying to reclaim the term "lesbian" as a geographical moniker. The <a href="http://www.sappho.com/poetry/sappho.html" target="_blank">ancient female poet Sappho</a>, who hailed from Lesbos, lent the name of her hometown island to female-loving females, as much of her poetry celebrated love between women. Considering travel to Lesbos is <a href="http://www.gay.com/travel/premium/?coll=adult_articles&amp;sernum=895&amp;page=1" target="_blank">popular among the world's gay community</a>, it might be in the island's economic interest to embrace its homosexual association.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1699636#comment Greece Homosexuality Lesbos Poetry Politics of Love Sappho Travel Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:00:50 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1699636 http://www.citizensugar.com/1698856 <p>Sure to mix up the gay marriage debate, social scientists are turning to same-sex couples to find out what makes a healthy relationship and marriage. One study analyzed how Vermont's married couples address issues like money, household work, and sex, as compared to gay couples joined in civil unions. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/sb10066015n-001.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="337" width="506"></span></p> <p>Some of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/health/10well.html?_r=2&amp;8dpc&amp;oref=slogin&amp;oref=slogin" target="_blank">the research findings</a> include:</p> <ul> <li>Same-sex partners generally share the work evenly. Conversely, in hetero relationships, the woman usually does more housework, while the man holds more financial responsibility.</li> <li>In straight relationships, men are more likely to initiate sex, while women are more likely to refuse sex and initiate "talks" about relationship problems. But, in same-sex couples, there is a balanced sharing of such behaviors.</li> </ul> <p>For some more analysis, and to find out how the groups handle arguments differently, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1698856">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1698856#comment California Gay Marriage Headline Homosexuality Politics of Love Relationships Vermont Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1698856 http://www.citizensugar.com/1689950 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/200296749-001.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="250"></span>An usher at a Seattle Mariners baseball game <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080605/ap_on_re_us/lesbian_kiss" target="_blank">asked a lesbian couple to stop kissing</a> because it was making another fan uncomfortable. I didn't know ushers were PDA police! </p> <p>A woman in the audience asked the stadium official to interrupt the romance because there were kids at the game. The Mariners responded to the controversy, stating the usher intervened on account of the team's no-groping, no-making out rule, not because of their sexual orientation. The team's spokeswoman maintained that the couple was told they could continue to kiss, but they had to tone it down.</p> <p>But the women deny they were getting touchy feely, saying that they just gave each other brief kisses while enjoying garlic fries. The garlic fry detail sort of makes their not-making out story more believable. </p> <p>If there is a double standard, I'm not sure where it applies. Would a spectator complain, and an usher interrupt, if the pair was not gay? Does political correctness dictate that these women be allowed to violate the stadium's code of conduct otherwise applied to straight couples? Why are public displays of affection (gay or straight) inappropriate for a family environment?</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1689950#comment Headline Homosexuality PDA Seattle Seattle Mariners Sports Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:00:29 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1689950 http://www.citizensugar.com/1685246 <p>With a Greek mayor who presided over outlawed gay marriages yesterday <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/2071291/Greek-mayor-could-face-jail-over-first-gay-wedding.html" target="_blank">saying,</a> "The laws on marriage simply do not specify any genders. To me, therefore, if something is not banned by law it is not illegal," now facing jail time for his actions, Japan's government is actually moving toward broader gender ideas.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/23_2008/80074109.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span><br /> Japan’s House of Councillors (like the US Senate) has unanimously passed legislation which will <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D912VBL00&amp;show_article=1&amp;catnum=0" target="_blank">allow people</a> with gender identity disorder to officially change their sex, giving Gender Identity Disordered (GID) people the ability to change the way the world perceives them — on paper. To see how, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1685246">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1685246#comment culture Gay Marriage Gender Identity Greece Homosexuality Japan Politics of Love Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:00:41 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1685246 http://www.citizensugar.com/1684692 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/77531092.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="400"></span>Five American women's colleges are taking their admissions presentations overseas — to the Middle East. School officials have been speaking with young women in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.</p> <p>The appeal to Middle Eastern women is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/education/03sisters.html?pagewanted=1&amp;ei=5087&amp;em&amp;en=caedb24a06e8e6c3&amp;ex=1212638400" target="_blank">paradoxically natural and awkward</a>. Single-sex education is the norm in the Middle East; however, liberal ideas espoused on traditionally free-thinking American female institutions do not find a home in the conservative region.</p> <p>Middle Eastern women attending a "Sister" say they enjoy the invigorating political climate on campus. But, one thing did shock many at first — open displays of homosexual affection. One student <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/education/03sisters.html?pagewanted=2&amp;ei=5087&amp;em&amp;en=caedb24a06e8e6c3&amp;ex=1212638400" target="_blank">said</a>:<br /> <blockquote> At the beginning, there were times when I’d have to close my eyes and say, "O.K., I’m at Mount Holyoke, and it’s different." But that lasted only a week or so, and now I have so many friends who are openly gay, and it makes no difference.</p></blockquote> <p>Ironically, the biggest challenge for the admissions officers isn't appeasing fears that the schools will be too wild, nor the opposite — convincing them that they are not nunneries. Instead, the schools must sell the value of a liberal arts education, as opposed to a professional degree. Do you think they can pull that off in the Middle East?</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1684692#comment education Headline Homosexuality Liberal Arts Middle East Mount Holyoke Sisters Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:55 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1684692 http://www.citizensugar.com/1681944 <p>Russian gay rights activists demonstrated on Sunday, marking the date homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia, way back in 1993. Their pride celebrations were not decriminalized, however, since <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080601180628.48ajufwk&amp;show_article=1" target="_blank">there is an official ban on gay-pride events</a> in Moscow.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321586.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="303" width="550"></span><br /> Unlike the <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1664634" >openly gay mayors of Berlin</a> and Paris, Moscow's mayor Yury Luzhkov has labeled gay events "Satan's work." Apparently many of Moscow's residents agree with him. While gay rights demonstrators ignored the ban, it was hard to ignore their opponents who threw eggs at them and physically assaulted at least one gay man by punching him to the ground. Meanwhile, Russian Orthodox elderly women held an antigay vigil, some loudly condemning gay activists to hell. </p> <p>Are you surprised that officials and residents of Moscow go to such extremes to repress the expression of gay pride? Do conservative Russians have the right to squash alternative lifestyles?</p> <p><p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-36787 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1681954?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321689.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Russian gays defied a ban by city authorities." title="Russian gays defied a ban by city authorities." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-31726 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1681954?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321897.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="A member of the Russian gay community lies on a ground after he was beaten by a far-right activist." title="A member of the Russian gay community lies on a ground after he was beaten by a far-right activist." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-45244 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1681954?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321881.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Russian police forces arrest a far-right activist during a banned gay rally." title="Russian police forces arrest a far-right activist during a banned gay rally." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-62689 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1681954?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321731.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Members of the Russian gay community hold flags." title="Members of the Russian gay community hold flags." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-9466 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1681954?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/23_2008/81321556.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Russian gay community leader Nikolai Alexeyev waves a flag." title="Russian gay community leader Nikolai Alexeyev waves a flag." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div></p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1681944#comment Berlin Europe Homosexuality Paris Politics of Love Russia Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:45:28 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1681944 http://www.citizensugar.com/1671049 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/22_2008/55842626.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="350"></span>I don't know if there's still time to hire a caterer or book a band, but state authorities have <a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h2qJ68YTOsLHGjkJTRaUxbqZWP7w" target="_blank">just announced</a> that June 17 is the first day same-sex marriages will be officiated in California. The announcement comes two weeks after the state Supreme Court rejected a ban on gay marriage.</p> <p>How will it work? The authorities say the terms husband and wife will be replaced by "party A" and "party B." No other details distinguish the ceremony from any other marriage officiated by state authorities.</p> <p>After the 4-3 ruling California becomes only the second US state after Massachusetts to legalize unions between homosexuals. Since Supreme Court rulings typically apply 30 days after publication, state authorities set June 17 as the date for the first weddings, clearing the safety zone since the ruling can be appealed up to June 16.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1671049#comment California Gay Marriage Homosexuality Wedding Wedding Planning Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:49 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1671049 http://www.citizensugar.com/1664634 <p>Germany's memorial to the homosexual victims of the Nazi era opened yesterday in Berlin. The simple yet powerful memorial is made up of a large stone with a small window. Inside, a video image of two men kissing plays.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81238854.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="392" width="550"></span></p> <p>The fate of Germany's homosexuals under the Nazis, who considered them a threat to German society, has long been ignored. The new display is meant to address the past and the present. Berlin's openly gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit, <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90U5PFGB&amp;show_article=1&amp;catnum=0" target="_blank">spoke at the ceremony</a>.<br /> <blockquote>This memorial is important from two points of view — to commemorate the victims, but also to make clear that even today, after we have achieved so much in terms of equal treatment, discrimination still exists daily.</p></blockquote> <p>Gay citizens living in Germany still faced hard times after the Nazis. According to the <b>AP</b>, the antihomosexual law used by the Nazis remained on the books in West Germany until 1969 and resulted in 50,000 postwar convictions.</p> <p>The new memorial is located near the expansive memorial for the Nazis' Jewish victims. A third one is on its way, as the 220,000 to 500,000 <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1632484" >Roma</a> and Sinti (Gypsy) victims will be honored next. Check out the pictures of the inauguration ceremony. Will this memorial appropriately honor past victims and improve the lives of Germany's modern homosexual population? Are monuments to the past effective in reminding the present generation, as well as those that will come next, of the importance of tolerance and human rights? </p> <p><p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-79073 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1664593?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81243005.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="A visitors peeks into the window." title="A visitors peeks into the window." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-4585 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1664593?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81243007.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Visitors line up to peek into the window." title="Visitors line up to peek into the window." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-73262 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1664593?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81242996.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Berlin&#039;s openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit (R) and former Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse stand in front of the just-inaugura" title="Berlin&#039;s openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit (R) and former Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse stand in front of the just-inaugura" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-32656 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1664593?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81245923.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="A visitors peeks into the window." title="A visitors peeks into the window." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-90749 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1664593?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/22_2008/81243011.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Two men from a gay counseling organization hold a wreath." title="Two men from a gay counseling organization hold a wreath." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div></p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1664634#comment Berlin Germany Homosexuality Memorial Nazi Wed, 28 May 2008 03:00:53 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1664634 http://www.citizensugar.com/1652386 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/21_2008/76383561.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="230"></span>John McCain <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jzUaZkWk4LLs7Rdlcgz7DnRg8ojwD90QEGU02" target="_blank">stopped by</a> the <b>Ellen Degeneres</b> show yesterday, where talk turned. . . respectfully tense over the issue of gay marriage and Ellen's pending nuptials. Calling it "the elephant in the room" Ellen asked McCain to explain his position. McCain believes same-sex couples should be allowed legal unions for insurance and other purposes, but he opposes gay marriage and believes in "the unique status of marriage between and man and a woman." McCain said, "and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue." McCain opposes an amendment to the Constitution to ban same-sex unions. To see how Ellen responded and McCain's plans for a Veepstakes BBQ, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1652386">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1652386#comment Ellen Degeneres Gay Marriage Headline Homosexuality John McCain Thu, 22 May 2008 08:00:58 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1652386 http://www.citizensugar.com/1636337 <p>Now that the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, the real question is whether the ruling will stick. California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has twice vetoed same-sex marriage legislation, has decided he will be one less person standing in the way of gay couples <a href="http://popsugar.com/1634193" >joyously planning</a> their nuptials.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/20_2008/79530732.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="387" width="550"></span><br /> Arnold said he supports the ruling, which overturned an unconstitutional voter-approved ban, despite his personal view that "marriage is between a man and a woman." He <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/16/BASD10NVAI.DTL" target="_blank">told </a> the <b>SF Chronicle:</b><br /> <blockquote>When the people vote, people are not legal experts, constitutional experts or any of that. I think that's why we have the courts. People may vote with good intentions, but then the court says, "This is not constitutional. It's not that the court interferes with the will of the people. But the court says, "You voted for something, but it's not constitutionally right, so let's rework this.'"</p></blockquote> <p>But the governator's support doesn't stop the battle. To see what's next, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1636337">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1636337#comment Arnold Schwarzenegger California Gay Marriage Homosexuality Marriage Politics of Love Mon, 19 May 2008 06:00:56 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1636337 http://www.citizensugar.com/1631841 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/20_2008/2980627.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="475"></span>Just moments ago, the California Supreme Court <a href="http://howappealing.law.com/051508.html#033748" target="_blank">overturned</a> the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The court held that "to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional."</p> <p>The court ruled 4-3. Unless overturned by the US Supreme Court, gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry in California. The <b>SF Chronicle</b> <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/15/BAGAVNC5K.DTL" target="_blank">reports</a> that:<br /> <blockquote>Outside the city clerk's office, three opposite-sex couples were waiting at 10 a.m. for marriage certificates. City officials had prepared for a possible rush on certificates by same-sex couples, but hadn't yet changed the forms that ask couples to fill out the name of the "bride" and "groom." </p></blockquote> <p>The case goes back to February 2004, when SF Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the city clerk to issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of their gender because he doubted the constitutionality of the state marriage law. California's highest court just agreed with him.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1631841#comment California Courts Gay Marriage Headline Homosexuality Laws Politics of Love Thu, 15 May 2008 10:56:15 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1631841 http://www.citizensugar.com/1599187 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1599187"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1599187',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1599187');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/18_2008/AA020813.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450" width="300"></span>According to several A-List actors, there is a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7377852.stm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">very obvious bias</a> in Hollywood and they say it’s against hiring homosexuals. In an exclusive interview to be released next week, Alan Cumming — one of the stars of <b>X-Men 2</b> — said that actors are more timid about coming out because of the way the press portrays homosexuality — they fear the controversy. “I don’t think the people that go see films care that much – the media make it more of a deal and it’s made into controversy. There is a lot of homophobia in the world – but in Hollywood definitely.”</p> <p>Stephen Fry and Rupert Everett who have both claimed a homosexual preference also complained that they are now pigeonholed. Derek Munn, director of public affairs for Stonewall, a group that promotes equality and justice for gay people said: “The pitifully low number of openly lesbian or gay actors suggests that there is a problem. The film industry needs to think about why it is gay actors choose not to come out.”</p> <p>Do you think fear of the way the media will portray them causes actors to stay in the closet? Is Hollywood less accepting than the rest of the world? Do you think actors keep their sexuality a secret because it's irrelevant?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1599187" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Does the Media Keep Actors in the Closet?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> No way. Tons of actors are out, regardless of media portrayal.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Actors get paid to be other people. Keeping personal details a secret serves that.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Yes! Would the media portray Brad Pitt the same if he was gay? So they hide out.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other. I'll tell you in the comments.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1599187" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.citizensugar.com/1599187#comment Alam Cumming BBC Citizen Poll Hollywood Homosexuality Poll Rupert Everett Sun, 04 May 2008 11:00:32 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1599187 http://www.citizensugar.com/1596209 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/18_2008/harm.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="305" width="350"></span>The eHarmony dating site bills itself as the ultimate uniter, but a piece in <b>Newsweek</b> shows that the very practices that make it so successful — 236 eHarmony users marry every day — could get them sued.</p> <p>The roots of the site have long been speculated about. It was founded by 72-year-old Christian self-help author Neil Clark Warren, who published several of his books under the imprint of Dobson's Focus on the Family, and then consummated that relationship when eHarmony started out by peddling eHarmony the service on Dobson's radio show.</p> <p>Adding to the buzz, and a fact successfully exploited by competitor Chemistry.com, is that eHarmony rejects about 20 percent of its applicants and doesn't fully explain why. Their official statement says that <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/134305" target="_blank">the site rejects people</a> who are underage, already married or dishonest—as well as those whose answers raise flags about their mental health. Some don't see it that way. To see who, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1596209">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1596209#comment Check This Courts eHarmony Homosexuality Newsweek On the Newsstand Politics of Love Fri, 02 May 2008 03:00:31 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1596209 http://www.citizensugar.com/1595444 <p>A Memphis high-school principal <a href="http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=a4be07d9-123c-4bcc-9da8-5dd91b789007" target="_blank">accused of outing</a> two gay students, is now at the center of an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit. The principal, Daphne Beasley, asked teachers to compile a list of student couples, in order to assist her in the fight against public displays of affection. Once armed with the romantic information, the principal posted the list in public, for teachers, students, and parents to see.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/18_2008/qs0raptoe00140r.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="332" width="513"></span><br /> Two gay students, Nicholas and Andrew, were effectively outed. In an interview with local news, Nicholas explained: "I really feel that my personal privacy was invaded. I mean, Principal Beasley called my mother and outed me to my mother!" Nicholas also alleges that a teacher would not let him go on a school trip to build homes in New Orleans because he would embarrass the school with his gay affection. As a result of the list, Nicholas and Andrew say they are being harassed by fellow students as well.</p> <p>The ACLU hopes the lawsuit will bring school-district policies that would stop such out-of-control behavior by administrators, policies they say violate students' constitutional rights. They also are asking that the principal apologize to the students, who should also be monetarily compensated for the horrible experience.</p> <p>Are you outraged by the principal's action? Is PDA in high schools such a threat to the educational experience that it deserves such drastic action? Do these students deserve financial compensation? Is it the only way to get the school district's attention?</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1595444#comment ACLU Court of Liberty Gay Rights Homosexuality Law Thu, 01 May 2008 15:45:29 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1595444 http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/15_2008/71862951.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="450"></span>Barack Obama just told the gay publication the <b>Advocate</b> that he favors the repeal of the 1993 policy, Don't Ask, Don't Tell. He also said <a href="http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20080410.aspx" target="_blank">as president he would</a> work to pass antidiscrimination workplace laws and grant those in same-sex civil unions federal marriage benefits. However, when selecting his joint chiefs of staff, he will not require that they share his position on the policy.</p> <p>Don't ask, don't tell <a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1707545,00.html" href=<a target="_blank"> prohibits gay military personnel</a> from disclosing their sexual orientation because anyone that "demonstrates a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an <a href="http://web.mit.edu/committees/rotc/code.html" target="_blank">unacceptable risk</a> to standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion." </p> <p>While the military does not accept openly gay recruits, it is increasingly making exceptions for <a href="http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20080410.aspx" target="_blank">those with criminal records</a>. Ex-cons are not allowed to enlist, unless they receive a moral waiver. To find out how many more ex-criminals the military is taking, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526#comment Barack Obama Don't Ask Don't Tell Homosexuality Military Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:00:26 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1541526 http://www.citizensugar.com/1130935 <p>You're minding your own business, when all of a sudden you find out the president of Poland using your wedding footage to bolster his <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/20/wpoland120.xml" target="_blank">argument against gay marriage</a> and saying that your life would be "against the universally accepted moral order in Poland and force our country to introduce an institution in conflict with the moral convictions of the decided majority of our country."</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104169/12_2008/77345871.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="373" width="550"></span><br /> That's exactly what happened one New York man, Brendan Fay. Upon learning that Polish President Lech Kaczynski had interwoven the video of his wedding into a speech warning against the dangers of adopting the new EU constitutional treaty that could open the door to same-sex marriage in Poland, Fay fought back. Describing the experience he said, "I started getting translations of the phrase the president used as the image appeared... My reaction was just really... I thought, 'oh my God, what an insult.'"</p> <p>An insult he wasn't going to accept. To see what he did, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1130935">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1130935#comment Gay Marriage Headline Homosexuality Poland Politics of Love Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:20 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1130935 http://www.citizensugar.com/1125653 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/19/193328/12_2008/my-big-fat-greek-wedding.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="380"></span> In Athens, a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7302433.stm" target="_blank">plan to grant</a> unmarried couples increased rights has upset both conservative and progressive forces. The government wants to grant heterosexual "common law" couples rights analogous to marriage, if the couples sign a simple notary contract. So you could have a legally binding relationship, without the big fat Greek wedding.</p> <p>The influential Greek Orthodox Church equates common law relationships with prostitution. The Church's governing council is decrying the plan, maintaining that legal recognition of relationships outside of marriage would set off a catastrophic bomb under the foundation of Greek society.</p> <p>The homosexual community thinks the plan must go further, to see how, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1125653">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1125653#comment Greece Homosexuality Marriage Politics of Love Prostitution World of Faith Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:50 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1125653 http://www.citizensugar.com/1117672 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/19/193328/11_2008/53326490.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="280"></span>The UK granted a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7294908.stm" target="_blank">temporary reprieve</a> from deportation to a gay Iranian teen, while they review his previously rejected asylum application. Mehdi Kazemigot, claims he will be executed upon return to Iran. While in England studying English, Mehdi got the word that his boyfriend had been hanged back home on account of his homosexuality. Before being executed, his boyfriend named Mehdi as his partner. </p> <p>Since 1979, 4,000 gay and lesbian Iranians have been executed. Last year, while speaking at Columbia University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked laughter, and outrage, when he <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=483746&amp;in_page_id=1811" target="_blank">pronounced</a> that Iran does not have the homosexual "phenomenon." </p> <p>Today's "cooked" elections, which excluded all reform candidates, will <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1441459720080314" target="_blank">yield little</a> change in Iran. Do you think countries like England have an obligation to act as a safe haven for people like Mehdi? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1117672#comment Headline Homosexuality Iran Politics of Love President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad United Kingdom Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:00:36 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1117672 http://www.citizensugar.com/1093799 <p>The California Supreme Court <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/04/MNBDVDCIM.DTL&amp;tsp=1" target="_blank">heard over three hours</a> of oral arguments for and against same-sex marriage, yesterday.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104169/10_2008/80108618.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span></p> <p>In 2004, the Supreme Court of California invalidated over 4,000 same-sex marriages authorized by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Citing Proposition 22, a 2000 state initiative which legally defined marriage as between a man and a woman, the Court said the same-sex marriages violated state law. Twelve couples, along with the City of San Francisco sued the state of California, arguing that the law is unconstitutional. </p> <p>For some of the arguments presented during oral arguments </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1093799">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1093799#comment California Courts Gavin Newsom Gay Marriage Homosexuality Law Politics of Love Proposition 22 San Francisco Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:00:23 -0800 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1093799 http://www.citizensugar.com/1062558 <p>Stephen Colbert decided to interview the people who have more to do with US laws than Congress — lobbyists.</p> <p><center><object width="425" height="350"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://citizensugar.com/v/1065482"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://citizensugar.com/v/1065482" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></center></p> <p>In the first segment of his infinite-part series "Better Know a Lobbyist" Stephen asks a prominent lobbyist for homosexual rights: "So, if I use birth control, you're saying that makes me gay?" Stephen's satire hilariously cuts through many of the arguments against gay marriage. Regardless of your stance on the issue, I'm sure you'll have a few laughs.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1062558#comment Gay Marriage Homosexuality Politics of Love Stephen Colbert Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:00:40 -0800 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1062558