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Tag: gay rights

  • Beyoncé: Gay Marriage Support Shown on Social Media

    When even Bill O’Reilly is conceding that gay marriage supporters have a compelling argument, it’s clear that a tipping point on the issue has already been reached. Even so, prominent celebrities are lending their voices to the cause this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court over the last two days heard arguments in two different cases involving gay marriage.

    The latest celebrity to lend her support is singer Beyoncé Knowles. On Tuesday she posted one of the red equality pictures seen all over social media the past few days to her Facebook and Instagram accounts. She followed it up with a clever handwritten message reading: “If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it.”

    (image)

    The statement is, of course, referring to Beyoncé’s 2008 hit song “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

    Coming off of her Super Bowl halftime performance, Beyoncé’s popularity and cultural relevance are as high as ever. Her support for gay marriage will undoubtedly influence the millions of followers she has on Facebook and Instagram.

  • Bill O’Reilly: Gay Marriage Supporters Have a “Compelling Argument”

    For the second day in a row, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case involving gay marriage.

    While the issue has predictably come to the fore on social media, it has also become a big topic of conversation on cable news.

    Last night, Fox News star Bill O’Reilly shocked many of his viewers by admitting he finds the case for gay marriage “more compelling” than the opposition’s case. In a conversation about the court cases with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly on The O’Reilly Factor, he stated that U.S. policy shouldn’t be based on the Christian Bible.

    Though O’Reilly prefaces his statement with “I hate to say this,” he goes on to say:

    “The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals. That’s where the compelling argument is. ‘We’re Americans, we just want to be treated like everybody else.’ That’s a compelling argument, and to deny that, you gotta have a very strong argument on the other side, and the other side hasn’t been able to do anything but thump the Bible.”

    O’Reilly made it clear that he has always supported civil unions, but that he doesn’t feel strongly one way or the other about gay marriage, seeing it as an issue for states to decide. “I want all Americans to be happy,” said O’Reilly.

    O’Reilly also used the conversation to attack politicians for changing their views on the issue of gay marriage now that public opinion in the U.S. has shifted. He calls former President Bill Clinton a “phony” and called politicians who shift their views to match popular opinion “sleazy.”

    O’Reilly may have a point that politicians who took a principled stand for gay rights before that stance became popular might be remembered more fondly by history. However, another way to look at it could be that the politicians changing their minds are simply representing the majority opinion of their constituents in a representative democracy. Considering his experience, O’Reilly seems inordinately surprised that politicians are playing politics.

  • Christie Gay Therapy Bill Stance Still Unclear

    Being a Republican governor in a blue state can be difficult, especially if that governor may rumored to be gearing up to run for the Republican nomination for President in 2016.

    New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tried to walk the fine line between his constituents and the national Republican base on social issues this week. A significant portion of that base is highly religious and opposed to homosexuality. On the other hand, Democrats in the New Jersey have recently been criticizing the Governor for failing to take a stand on a bill making its way through the New Jersey legislature that would ban the practice of what is known as “gay conversion therapy” in the state.

    The practice of “gay conversion therapy” is based on the belief that a person’s sexuality can be changed. Most often such programs in the U.S. are associated with fundamentalist Christianity. The American Psychiatric Association has condemned the practice as unethical.

    This week, Christie finally took a position on the issue. Sort of.

    A spokesperson for the governor told The Star-Ledger that Christie does not “believe in conversion therapy” and that he believes sexual orientation is determined at birth. However, the same spokesperson declined to say whether Christie would sign a ban into law. Christie has said that while he is generally opposed to bills that restrict parental decisions, the conversion therapy bill could be an exception.

    Governor Christie still maintains his opposition to gay marriage, and in the past has vetoed a bill to legalize it. That position could change in the future, though, as Senator Rob Portman’s turnaround on the issue last week demonstrated.

  • Michelle Shocked: Slurs Used in On-Stage Homophobic Rant

    Singer Michelle Shocked cleared the house on Sunday after going on an on-stage rant against homosexuality in a San Francisco nightclub.

    According to a report in the The Bay Area Reporter, Shocked played two sets at Yoshi’s nightclub in the Fillmore section of San Francisco on March 17. Though the first set went fine, after which she tweeted the following:

    During the second set, Shocked reportedly began ranting against homosexuality and predicting the return of Jesus. The Bay Area Reporter story quotes her as saying, “When they stop Prop 8 and force priests at gunpoint to marry gays, it will be the downfall of civilization and Jesus will come back.” When asked for specifics on what she was trying to say, Shocked is quoted to have said, “You are going to leave here and tell people ‘Michelle Shocked said God hates faggots.”

    The club began to empty and the club’s manager came on-stage to announce that the show had ended. Shocked continued to sing, even when her microphone was cut and the stage lights were turned off.

    Shocked became a member of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ choir in the mid-90s. In 2008 the singer told the Dalls Voice that she believes homosexuality is a sin.

    Shocked found indie acclaim in the late 80s and early 90s with her albums Short Sharp Shocked, Captain Swing, and Arkansas Traveler. She has been nominated for two Grammy awards, one for Best Contemporary Folk Album for Arkansas Traveler and one for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.

    (Image courtesy Sigmund/Wikimedia Commons)

  • Boehner: Gay Marriage Views Not Likely to Change

    Last week, Ohio Senator Rob Portman became the first senate Republican to openly support gay marriage. Though he was previously an opponent of gay marriage, the senator claims to have had a change of heart that stems from learning that one of his sons is gay. In an editorial, the senator stated that he wants his son, Will, to have the same opportunities “to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister.”

    Though Portman eloquently laid out the case for gay marriage and asserted that his new position is, in fact, in keeping with the conservative principles of personal liberty and limited government intervention, it doesn’t seem to have convinced many other Republicans to change their view on the issue. Specifically, fellow Ohio politician and Speaker of the House John Boehner this weekend spoke on ABC’s This Week, and affirmed his anti-gay-marriage position. The politician even went as far as to say that he “can’t imagine” his position would ever change, even if one of his close family members were revealed to be gay:

    It’s normal to see politicians be cagey on the Sunday morning talk shows when it comes to sensitive topics, but it’s clear that the gay marriage issue is quickly becoming a loser for Republicans. Listening closely to Boehner’s statement, he doesn’t explicitly mention gay marriage, instead opting to state, twice, that his definition of marriage only included unions between men and women.

    Boehner’s reasoning for his position is that it’s the belief he grew up with, and that it’s what his church teaches him. Of course, Portman had a similar Ohio upbringing, and took two years after learning his son is gay to officially change his position on the issue. Look for more politicians (though maybe not Boehner) to have Portman-like turnarounds in the coming years, as demographics shift and gay marriage becomes legal in more states.

  • Rob Portman ‘Change of Heart’ Leads Republican Senator to Support Gay Marriage

    Rob Portman, the junior U.S. Senator from Ohio, has become the first senate Republican to openly support gay marriage. Portman was previously an opponent of gay marriage and voted for the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevents gay marriages from being recognized at a federal level.

    In an editorial in The Columbus Dispatch, Portman outlined his changing feelings on the issue of gay marriage. He reveals that one of his sons came out as gay two years ago. From the editorial:

    I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn’t deny them the opportunity to get married.

    Portman went on to say that his opposition to gay rights in the past was, unsurprisingly, based on his religious beliefs. He stated that he struggled to reconcile his Christianity with his love for his son and ultimately came to his conclusion on the basis of “the Bible’s overarching themes of love and compassion and my belief that we are all children of God.”

    Portman said that he believes individual states should make decisions regarding gay marriage, and that he believes no law should force religious institutions to recognize gay marriages. He also stated that he believes his conservative views support his new position:

    British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he supports allowing gay couples to marry because he is a conservative, not in spite of it. I feel the same way. We conservatives believe in personal liberty and minimal government interference in people’s lives. We also consider the family unit to be the fundamental building block of society. We should encourage people to make long-term commitments to each other and build families, so as to foster strong, stable communities and promote personal responsibility.

    With Republicans such as Portman and former Vice President Dick Cheney supporting gay marriage, it is beginning to seem as if the gay marriage debate, at least politically, is over in the U.S. The tipping point may have been one year ago, when President Obama announced his support for gay marriage.

    The Supreme Court will soon hear cases involving the constitutionality of both DOMA and California’s Proposition 8 law. If the court decides to strike down the laws, the issue of gay marriage could cease to be a political issue sooner rather than later.

  • Bill Gates On Gay Ban In Boy Scouts: It Should “Absolutely” Be Lifted

    Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, who also happens to have been in the Boy Scouts, thinks the Boy Scouts of America should end its ban on gay members and leaders. He said so, quite matter-of-factly, at a Politico event in Washington D.C. this week.

    When asked what he learned from scouting, Gates said, “How to tie knots, how to weave baskets, how to hike long distances without complaining too much, how to cook food in rainy, drizzly mountain places where we carried the food in twenty miles. It was fun.”

    When asked which of those things he still does, he said he still ties knots every once in a while. “I haven’t weaved any baskets recently,” he admits, noting that he does go hiking with his kids.

    When asked if the Boy Scouts should rescind its ban on gay members and leaders, Gates said, “Absolutely. Because it’s 2013.”

    That got a lot of applause. Here’s the video:

    Gates’ comments are getting quite a bit of attention, and perhaps his influence will have an impact on the Scouts’ position going forward. We’ll see. The organization has been polling members on their “attitudes” toward gay people.

  • Carly Rae Jepsen Boy Scouts Appearance Cancelled Over Gay Rights

    Singer Carly Rae Jepsen, known for her 2012 hit song “Call Me Maybe,” has announced that she is canceling her appearance at the national Boy Scouts of America (BSA) jamboree over the organizations exclusion of openly gay members.

    The national Scout jamboree is held around once every four years and brings tens of thousands of Boy Scouts together for camping and events. Jepsen was scheduled to perform at this year’s jamboree, which is being held at a National Scout Reserve in West Virginia.

    The singer announced her decision via her Twitter accout, where she stated that she “believes in equality for all people” and “will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level.”

    The band Train has cancelled its appearance at the jamboree as well, saying that it “strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen.”

    The National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America last month considered a change to its current policy, which bans openly gay scouts. The new policy would have allowed local scout troops to set their own policies (discriminatory or not) with regards to gay members. The board did not take up the policy, and instead delayed the decision until its annual meeting in May. Many of the Boy Scouts’ troops are sponsored by religious organizations, such as the Mormon Church, that openly oppose gay rights.

    “No fair-minded media outlet, corporation or celebrity will want to partner with the BSA as long as the organization puts discrimination and anti-gay bias before the needs of young people,” said Rich Ferraro, VP of Communications GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). “GLAAD will continue to call for partners of the BSA to speak out against the anti-gay ban until the BSA puts Scouting first and adopts a national non-discrimination policy. Carly Rae Jepsen and Train’s decisions not only send the right message to the BSA, but remind LGBT young people that they are supported and accepted.”

  • National Cathedral to Host Same-sex Weddings

    Very Rev. Gary Hall, the dean of Washington National Cathedral, announced today that same-sex weddings can now be performed at the cathedral. The cathedral has been designated by congress as the “National House of Prayer” and has been the venue for many U.S. memorial services and funerals, including those for Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

    “Washington National Cathedral has a long history of advancing equality for people of all faiths and perspectives,” said Hall. “The Cathedral is called to serve as a gathering place for the nation in times of significance, but it is also rooted in its role as the most visible faith community within the Episcopal Church. For more than 30 years, the Episcopal Church has prayed and studied to discern the evidence of God’s blessing in the lives of same-sex couples. It is now only fitting that the National Cathedral follow suit. We enthusiastically affirm each person as a beloved child of God – and doing so means including the full participation of gays and lesbians in the life of this spiritual home for the nation.”

    Same-sex marriage ceremonies performed at the cathedral will use a rite adapted from an existing blessing ceremony the Episcopal Church approved last year, which allows individual bishops in each diocese to decide whether or not to allow the rite to be used for same-sex marriage. The bishop overseeing Washington D.C. chose to allow same-sex marriage using the rite just last month.

    “In my 35 years of ordained ministry, some of the most personally inspiring work I have witnessed has been among gay and lesbian communities where I have served,” said Hall. “I consider it a great honor to lead this Cathedral as it takes another historic step toward greater equality – and I am pleased that this step follows the results made clear in this past November’s election, when three states voted to allow same-sex marriage.

    “Matters of human sexual identity and questions about the Church’s role in blessing lifelong, committed relationships between its members are serious issues around which feelings run high and people of good will can often disagree. It is my hope and prayer that, if all of us open ourselves to the fullness and diversity of our nation’s many voices, we will learn to walk together in a new way as we listen for God’s call to us to be faithful to each other and to God.”

    Images of same-sex weddings at the National Cathedral will certainly help illustrate that a tipping-point has already been reached in the U.S., and that same-sex marriage rights (in addition to others) will soon be recognized across the country. There is a catch, however: not everyone can be married at Washington National Cathedral.

    At least one member of a couple must be Christian and baptized to be married at the cathedral. Also, “as a general rule,” only active members of the cathedral’s congregation, alumni of it’s schools, big donors to the cathedral, or those judged by Hall “to have played an exceptional role in the life of the nation” are eligible to be married at the cathedral.

    So, while the first same-sex marriages performed at the National Cathedral are likely to be small affairs for church members, it’s possible that some well-known LGBT people who have “played an exceptional” role in the U.S. could be married there in the near future.

  • Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal a Non-Event, Says Study

    A study released today shows that the repeal of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was largely a non-event, not the military-breaking doomsday some of the policy’s supporters predicted.

    When the policy was repealed almost one year ago, there was a large outcry from conservatives and some military personnel about what the repeal might do to the military and its morale. The study quotes a statement that was signed by over 1,000 retired admiral and generals in 2009, when talk of repealing the policy first began to gather political support:

    “Repeal… would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force.”

    The study was conducted by the Palm Center, a think-tank devoted to studying lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in the military. The study’s stated methods show that researchers went out of their way to gauge the opinions of military leaders who made dire predictions such as the one above. They also contacted all major opponents and watchdog organizations opposed to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” in addition to those who supported repeal. Surveys and interviews are the main basis for the study.

    The results of the study show that the repeal of the policy has had “no overall negative impact” on military readiness. Specifically, military cohesion, recruitment, retention, assaults, harassment, and morale have seen no net change.

    There was no mass exodus of soldiers from the military following the repeal. There was also no overwhelming wave of disclosures from gay soldiers. The study’s surveys indicated that a “minority of heterosexual service members” reported someone in their unit had ‘come out.’

    Units with openly gay service members also did not see a drop in cohesion. The study states that “In fact, greater openness and honesty resulting from repeal seem to have promoted increased understanding, respect and acceptance.” Violence against gay soldiers did not increase as a result of the repeal, and the study shows that openly gay service members now have new, official channels with which to resolve any harassment they may face.

    While the study shows that the morale of individuals in the military may have been negatively impacted, this is outweighed by the positive morale impact others have experienced. The study shows that, overall, there was no net change in morale across the U.S. military as a result of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” being repealed.

    None of these results are particularly surprising. U.S. soldiers are, for the most part, well-disciplined and mature individuals that can handle something as simple as differing sexual orientations at least as well as they can handle the demanding conditions of a battlefield. The report points out that opponents of repeal have now adjusted their predictions to say that long-term damage might be seen rather than short-term. For now, though, predictions of the end of the U.S. military appear to have said more about the predictors’ opinions on the maturity of U.S. soldiers than anything else.

    The study is scheduled to be published on September 20 – the first anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

  • Google’s Legalize Love Campaign Aims To Protect Gayglers Across The Globe

    Although Google’s high-profile, fierce opposition to California’s anti-gay marriage initiative Prop 8 plants the company firmly in the marriage equality camp, their latest pro-LGBT project isn’t really about gay marriage at all.

    It’s about something even more basic – the rights of LGBT workers to be safe both inside and outside the workplace.

    Dubbed “Legalize Love,” Google has announced the initiative as a “call to decriminalize homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world.”

    First outlined at a global LGBT Workplace summit in London, the campaign will officially launch Monday as the first-ever Google Legalize Love Conference in London, as part of the World Pride celebrations.

    Google provides more information on the campaign on their diversity page:

    Though our business and employees are located in offices around the world, our policies on non-discrimination are universal throughout Google. We are proud to be recognised as a leader in LGBT inclusion efforts, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. Legalise Love is our call to decriminalise homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world.

    At Google, we encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. In all of our 60 offices around the world, we are committed to cultivating a work environment where Googlers can be themselves and thrive. We also want our employees to have the same inclusive experience outside of the office, as they do at work, and for LGBT communities to be safe and to be accepted wherever they are.

    Google has always been one of the most outspoken on the issue of LGBT rights. For years, Google has celebrated LGBT pride month with colorful search results. But that small gesture is superficial compared to the real work they do.

    This year alone, Gayglers (gay Googlers) and their supporters participated in pride celebrations all across the world in places like Sao Paulo, San Francisco, and Sydney. Google has been consistently against any measure that attempts to discriminate or marginalize the LGBT community and has even put their money where their mouth is by recently expanding their transgender benefits companywide.

  • Google Shows Gay Pride With Search Rainbow

    If you didn’t know the history, you might think that Google was trying to be funny today. When you search the word “gay” or “lesbian,” your search results are adorned with a curved rainbow right around the search button.

    June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender month in the United States. The national awareness month was declared this year by President Obama, saying –

    Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

    This is the third year in a row that President Obama has declared June LGBT month. Former President Bill Clinton did the same in 2000. There was controversy about the issue during George W. Bush’s presidency, as he said no to making June LGBT month.

    Google has made no attempt to hide their support of gay rights. In 2008, Google publicly came out against California’s Proposition 8, which aimed to overturn the Californias Supreme Court Ruling allowing same-sex marriage by strictly defining marriage as an opposite-sex practice. The people of California passed the proposition. Google said –

    It is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8.

    Last year, Google proudly announced that over 300 of its employees had marched in the Pride parade in San Francisco. The company also participated in other pride parades across the globe in places like Poland and Tokyo.

    And this month, Google is doing its smart part to promote LGBT month. Not only will terms like “gay,” “lesbian” and “transgender” prompt the rainbow to display in search results, but so will queries like “queer,” “GLAAD,” “homosexual” and of course “LGBT.”