Openly gay Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham is unafraid to speak out on queer issues

SX/ Peter Hackney writes:
In August, diver Matthew Mitcham will become the first openly-gay Australian to compete in an Olympic Games. Not only is he an elite member of Australia’s Olympic diving team, but last month he became headline news around the world. The reason? For being gay.

Speaking to SX during a break from training at the Sydney Aquatic Centre in Homebush, Matthew Mitcham is nonplussed by all the fuss. “It’s not really a big deal,” he says. “It’s not like I’m a different person. It’s not like I was straight before. So nothing really has changed.”

While Mitcham, who came out to friends and family at age fourteen (Mum’s reaction: “Well, duh!”), doesn’t see his sexuality a big deal, he’s not naïve about his position as Australia’s highest-profile out gay sportsman.

He’s aware that other people do see it as “a big deal” and he’s happy to wear the mantle of ‘role model’ for young gay guys. “Being in my position, it’s inevitable,” he concedes. “There’s not really much choice. If someone looks up to you, then you’re a role model. And I’m happy with that. I just hope I do a good job – I’m not perfect!”

He certainly bears the markings of a good gay role model: he’s successful, attractive and he’s not shy about speaking up on queer issues. When asked for his view on same-sex marriage, for instance, he has no compunction slamming Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

“I’m not happy with Kevin Rudd,” he says, bluntly. “Kevin Rudd’s opinion of marriage as something that’s only between a man and a woman is quite narrow-minded. During the election campaign he was all about appearing young and cool, but his views on gay marriage make him look quite old-fashioned.” READ MORE

H/T: UK Pink News

Gay Pride in Hungary turns violent

AFP reports:
(Budapest, Hungary) Forty-five people were taken into custody and 10 others were injured in clashes between police and homophobes during a gay rights march in the Hungarian capital Saturday, reports said.

About 450 people took part in the march in central Budapest when extremists began throwing explosive devices, eggs, cobblestones and bottles at police and the marchers. Police seized chemicals and Molotov cocktails from a six-member group waiting for the demonstrators in an uninhabited flat along the route of the march.

Liberal member of Parliament Gabor Horn was hit and a police car carrying former undersecretary Gabor Szetey -- the first openly gay Hungarian politician -- and member of the European Parliament Katalin Levai was also attacked, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. Three media trucks were damaged by protesters. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the extremists gathering around the fenced-off marchers in Heroes' Square.

Last weekend, Gay Pride marches in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria were also disrupted. A report by the European Union's rights watchdog found Tuesday that a third of EU states are still failing to ensure equal rights for gays and lesbians. READ MORE

British Prime Minister invites gay rights group, Stonewall, to 10 Downing St.

Tony Grew writes:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured), has asked gay equality organisation Stonewall to meet with him at Downing St. tomorrow to mark Pride.

They will discuss the Education for All campaign, which aims to eliminate homophobic bullying in schools. The meeting will take place before tomorrow's Pride London celebrations, where Stonewall will be marching. "We are delighted," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall. "It its a good opportunity to talk about some of the things the government can be doing to promote equality and one of those issues is homophobic bullying. READ MORE

Who would you vote for? Someone gay? Someone older? What about gay and grey?

The Age.com reports:
European Union citizens would prefer to elect a gay leader than have one they consider too old, a study released in Brussels has revealed. According to the Eurobarometer study of 27,000 European Union citizens:

Just 17 per cent of Europeans would be totally comfortable with someone over the age of 75 in their country's highest elected post.

That is less than half than the 36 per cent who would be at ease with a homosexual leader, and
Well below the support for a leader drawn from:

an ethnic minority (26 per cent totally comfortable) or a

different religion (30 per cent totally at ease).

Photographer appeals fine for refusing to take pictures of a commitment ceremony

365gay.com reports:
(Albuquerque, New Mexico) An appeal was filed Wednesday by an Albuquerque photographer who was fined over $6,000 for refusing to take pictures of a lesbian couple's commitment ceremony. In April the state Human Rights Commission ruled that Elaine Huguenin, owner of Elaine Photography, violated the Human Rights Act by discriminating against Vanessa Willock and her partner on the basis of sexual orientation. Willock filed the complaint after Huguenin said she would only photograph traditional marriages. READ MORE

Traditions Strong At Gay Weddings

Associated Press reports:
(West Hollywood, California) Since the state of California began issuing marriage certificates to same-sex couples earlier this month, questions about wedding rituals and etiquette - not just politics - have grown faster than a wedding reception guest list.

With no long-established gay wedding traditions, partners-to-be and the wedding industry are making it up as they go along. "I generally don't see this type of excitement for weddings," said Los Angeles-based wedding planner Wendy Rhodes, who's coordinated two same-sex ceremonies since the ruling. "They've been dreaming about being able to actually get married for a long time, so these couples know exactly what they want."

And what they want is immersed in tradition. READ MORE

Heinz Controversy UPDATE: Silence from Heinz as MPs object to gay kiss ban

Tony Grew writes:
(UK) A group of MPs have signed an early day motion condemning food manufacturer Heinz for withdrawing a TV advert featuring a same-sex kiss. Meanwhile a petition demanding that the company reinstate the ad has been signed by more than 11,690 people.

So far nine MPs, all Labour, have backed the EDM by Diane Abbott.

It reads: "Millions of children watch depictions of same-sex relationships in soap operas every day … the advertisement was not intended to be a realistic depiction of a same-sex relationship … the advertisement was intended to be humorous." The MPs said that Heinz's decision was ill-considered and likely to offend millions of gay, lesbian and transgender people and called on the company to reconsider its decision. READ MORE

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Inside the Gill Action Fund, the most effective pro-gay political weapon you never heard of

Kerry Eleveld writes:
Patrick Guerriero and Bill Smith of the Gill Action Fund have a problem. Guerriero, former leader of the Log Cabin Republicans and onetime candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, and Smith, a political consultant and former employee of Karl Rove, want LGBT people to understand their strategy for winning equal rights -- a targeted approach to developing what they call “fair-minded majorities” in state legislatures across the country.

During the 2006 election, the first cycle in which the organization set its sights on state legislative races, control of 13 state chambers switched hands. Ten were Democratic takeovers -- chambers that are now more likely to make gay-friendly decisions.

Smith and Guerriero want to get that story out, yes, but they don’t want Gill Action to be a centerpiece of the article, nor do they want any of its internal or external machinations to be revealed. No focusing on Gill Action’s founder, Tim Gill, a self-made millionaire who by all accounts is exceedingly modest and usually ducks the press at all costs. No naming any of the state legislators the organization helped to elect in 2006, lest those candidates find themselves in the cross hairs of the Christian right in the next election. READ MORE

Gay vet, Darren Manzella fights to change DADT

365gay.com reports:
(Chautauqua County, New York) A Western New York native who served his country in Iraq has been kicked out of the Army because of his sexuality. News 4 spoke with Veteran Darren Manzella (pictured), who says his new mission is protecting the rights of homosexuals in the military. Former-Army Sgt. Darren Manzella loves his country. But, his love for boyfriend AJ, violates a 15 year-old military policy, "Don't ask Don't tell. It's a policy that says openly gay soldiers are to be discharged. The army medic told his commander in 2006 he was gay. This month he was officially discharged. Darren Manzella, said, "The closest thing I was given was I don't care if you're gay or not." READ MORE

Canadian Armed Forces members march in Canada's largest Gay Pride parade for first time!

CBC reports:
For the first time, members of Canada's Armed Forces represented the military in Toronto's annual Gay Pride parade, held Sunday. Lt. Steven Churm, one of 10 soldiers from across the country who marched in uniform, said their presence sends a message that the Canadian military is inclusive and an equal-opportunity employer.

"The message to the public is that the Canadian Forces is an employer of choice. We have employment opportuntities that people can pursue, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation," he told CBC News. "For our own members, they can be proud of what they're doing and also be proud of who they are."

To mark its place in the festivities, the Canadian Forces set up an information booth in an area of the city where thousands of people gathered for the start of the parade.

The parade is the main event for Canada's largest gay pride celebration and marks the end of a week of festivities that organizers say attracted about one million people.

Celebrate Pride with a good healthy f*ck! Do it, in spite of what anyone else might say!

Matt Mills writes:
Late last year Wayves Magazine, a wonderful publication serving gay and lesbian readers in Atlantic Canada, had to wage a fight against one of its most traditional allies. The coordinator of a St John's youth group was hacking Cruiseline advertisements out of the magazine before making it available to group members. Her implication is that solely sexual man-to-man relationships are inherently unhealthy. That's just ridiculous. She might just as well have called us a bunch of dirty faggots. There are thousands of sexy ads that appear in so-called respectable mainstream publications every single day. They hawk completely unsexy stuff like hair conditioner, cologne, beer and cars.

There are only two things that could possibly lead anyone to interpret a Cruiseline ad as more provocative than any mainstream ad that uses sex to sell. The first is that instead of depicting young heterosexual couples the Cruiseline pictures are of men with men... READ FULL ARTICLE

The U.S. Supreme Court's gay rights legacy

Michael A. Lindenberger writes:
Five years ago this week, the United States Supreme Court delivered its most sweeping gay rights decision ever, striking down laws in Texas and other states that had criminalized sex between gays.

The court erected a shield of privacy around sexual behavior for all consenting adults, and in doing so paved the way for other milestones in the gay rights legal movement, including judicial victories for gay marriage in November 2003 in Massachusetts and this year in California.

The decision in the Lawrence v. Texas case overturned convictions against two Houston men, who police had arrested after busting into their home and finding them engaged in sex. And for the first time in their lives, thousands of gay men and women who lived in states where sodomy had been illegal were free to be gay without being criminals.

Gay rights groups held spontaneous celebrations in dozens of U.S. cities. But matched against their joy was a storm of protests, beginning from right inside the nation's top courthouse itself.
READ MORE

Michelle Obama's stance on gay rights stronger than Associated Press reported

Steve Ralls writes:
In a passionate address to the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council, Mrs. Obama delivered a rousing call-to-equality and put her husband on record as a fighter for the full equality of LGBT Americans. “Barack believes,” she said, “that we must fight for the world as it should be, a world where we work together to reverse discriminatory laws.”

The Associated Press, using the creative and unfortunate powers of the editing pen, reported that Mrs. Obama told the crowd on Thursday evening that, “states should make their own decisions on the matter” of marriage and civil unions. But in fact, she went progressively further. What she actually said was that states should “decide for themselves how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. ” She did not endorse the option to simply push any form of recognition to the side. Those remarks are a far cry — and light years ahead — of the characterization that AP used in its reporting. READ MORE

Talk show host wins important libel case

Rafe Mair wins libel suit in Surrey gay-book case
Tobin Dalrymple, Canwest News reports:

In October 1999, Rafe Mair (pictured), a well-known host on CKNW radio [Vancouver, Canada], read an editorial regarding Kari Simpson, a high-profile social activist. Simpson opposed any positive portrayal of a gay lifestyle in public schools, according to the justices' ruling. Mair, in his editorial, compared her to historically racist and violent people.

"Now I'm not suggesting that Kari was proposing or supporting any kind of holocaust or violence but neither really . . . neither did Hitler or Governor Wallace or [Orval Faubus] . . . they were simply declaring their hostility to a minority . . . Let the mob do as they wish," he said, according to a transcript in the ruling.

The [9-0 judgment Friday, June 27] ruling sets a precedent by employing an "objective test" to grant fair comment. READ MORE

Canadian Supreme Court throws out libel case
Canadian Press reports:

The country's top court has absolved former Vancouver radio personality Rafe Mair of defamation for a commentary in which he made reference to the Ku Klux Klan and Adolf Hitler. The Supreme Court of Canada decision in the defamation suit also broadened a key defense often used by journalists to ward off libel actions.

In a 9-0 judgment Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Mair was engaging in fair comment in the 1999 radio editorial that was critical of Kari Simpson, a high-profile player in a campaign opposing the use of teaching materials about gay life in local schools. "I was relieved that it was over. I felt that I should have been vindicated and I am, so there we are,'' Mair said after the ruling.

In the course of the [Mair's] editorial, the controversial former radio commentator made references to the Klan, Hitler and skinheads, although he claimed he wasn't saying that Simpson actually advocated violence against gays. Simpson sued and the trial judge found that, despite Mair's disclaimers, his words could be understood by listeners as implying that Simpson condoned violence. READ MORE

Genetic explanations of homosexuality are crude, simplistic and doomed to failure

Commentary Excerpt

Peter Tatchell writes:
Same-sex behaviour in Ancient Greece was very different, in both its prevalence and particular manifestations, from homosexuality in Confucian China, Renaissance Italy, Meiji Japan, Tudor England and late twentieth century USA. Moral values, social ideologies and cultural expectations - together with family patterns and parent-child interaction - seem the only credible explanation for these massive historical divergences.

Despite obvious theoretical and empirical weaknesses, the claims that certain genes cause homosexuality have been seized upon and vigorously promoted by many in the lesbian and gay rights movement (especially in the US). The haste with which these unproven, questionable theories have been embraced suggests a terrible lack of self-confidence and a rather sad, desperate need to justify queer desire.

It's almost as if those pushing these theories believe we don't deserve human rights unless we can prove that we are born gay and that our homosexuality is beyond our control: 'We can't help being fags and dykes, so please don't treat us badly'. This seems to be the pleading, defensive sub-text of much of the pro-gay gene thesis.

Surely we merit human rights because we are human beings?

The cause of our homosexuality is irrelevant to our quest for justice. We are entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of whether we are born queer or made queer, and irrespective of whether our homosexuality is something beyond our control or something freely chosen.

The corollary of the 'born gay' idea is the suggestion that no one can be 'made gay'.

READ FULL COMMENTARY

Michelle Obama: "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall..."

ABC News reports:
Michelle Obama (pictured) addressed the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council Gala in New York City Thursday night and renewed her husband's promise to repeal federal policies that she says limit the rights of gays and lesbians. "Barack believes that we must fight for a world as it should be. A world where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like D.O.M.A. (Defense of Marriage Act) and Don't Ask Don't Tell," Mrs. Obama said, addressing an audience of 250 people at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee.

365gay.com reports:
Michelle Obama also drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights. "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union," she said at the event, held days before the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots between gays and New York police, and the city's annual gay pride parade. "The world as it is should be one that rejects discrimination of all kinds," she said.

Touting her husband's record pushing for workplace discrimination legislation as an Illinois state senator and his support of civil unions, Obama noted her husband also had brought a call for equality to conservative groups, telling churchgoers they need to combat homophobia in the black community.

Canadians urged to support gay rights abroad

Stuart Laidlaw writes:
Canada, as a relatively safe haven for gays and lesbians, has a responsibility to fight for homosexual rights abroad and open its doors to those escaping persecution because of their sexual orientation, a Pride Week panel discussion heard. "There are 86 countries in the world where we would be arrested just for being in this room," Rev. Brent Hawkes (pictured) of Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church told the panel Monday night. "In 10, we would be executed," Hawkes continued.

Scott Long of Human Rights Watch said despite what many believe, persecution of homosexuals often has more to do with culture than religion. For instance, in Turkey, he said, the Islamist party now in power has shown more sympathy for gay rights than the secular party that ruled before it. READ MORE

Front page gay kiss shows Heinz how it's done

UK Pink News reports:
A tabloid newspaper has responded to the Heinz gay kiss ad fiasco by printing a photo of two men kissing on its front page this morning. Brighton-based One80news features the headline ‘Is This Really Offensive, Kids?’ to provoke debate and urge its readers to complain to Heinz.

“We were disgusted at Heinz for pulling their ‘gay kiss’ ad and for apologising so readily for their own ‘offensive’ imagery,” said Torsten Højer from One80news. “We just couldn’t believe that in 2008, the sight of two men affectionately kissing really offends that many people - so we thought we’d put an image of a gay kiss out there. "It’s well-documented that familiarity can combat prejudice, and One80news is available throughout Brighton and Hove, in bars, cafes, shops, libraries and even leisure centres – and online. "The more people that see positive images of same-sex affection, the better.” READ MORE

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Historic Hearing On Transgender Discrimination

365gay.com reports:
(Washington) For the first time a House subcommittee has heard firsthand of widespread discrimination against transgender men and women. The hearing grew out of anger by a large number of gay rights groups after protections for transpeople were stripped from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act - much of it aimed at Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), ENDA's chief sponsor in the House. The stripped down version, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee passed the House last November. It has yet to be dealt with by the Senate. READ MORE

Did this comic go too far?

Lesbian insults spur human rights complaint against comic

CBC reports:
(Vancouver, Canada) Lorna Pardy filed a complaint alleging she and her lesbian partner were the targets the offensive comments made by Guy Earle (pictured), who was hosting the open mic night at Zesty's Restaurant on Commercial Drive in May 2007. Earle doesn't deny he was offensive, but claims Pardy and her same-sex partner first rudely heckled him, along with the amateur comics onstage that night. He told CBC News Wednesday that he lost his cool and shot back with some deliberately offensive lines of his own to shut them up.

There's much more to this story...

Natasha Barsotti, Xtra West writes:
Following what he calls his on-stage "tirade," Earle says he walked past the table where the women were seated and was doused with a glass of water. After the show, he says he went back to the women's table to make peace with them, but more water was thrown at him. Frigon's account confirms that the women threw water in Earle's face. It also alleges that the comedian later returned to their table, took one of the women's glasses and broke them. Earle does not deny it. "I took the sunglasses off her head and broke them in half," he admits. He says he regrets breaking the glasses, and offered "publicly" to replace them. But he argues that he was "assaulted" twice before reacting.

and this...

David Wylie, Canwest News Service writes:
However, in a November 2007 interview with the Internet-based Dave and Chuck Show, Earle spoke more openly about what he said at the show. "This is like an audio affidavit here," he stammered when asked what he said. However, Earle continued: "I said, 'come on - you're fat and ugly, you're not even lesbian, no guy will f--k you, that's why you're with each other.'" Then he suggested they perform fellatio to keep from talking. "Which one of you wears the strap-on dildo?" he asked.

Earle said one of Pardy's complaints was he told her and her friends to go home and use a sex toy on each other. But Earle argued he instead told them to use a strap-on sex toy on him. "There's a big difference. You just change one little verb and you take it out of context and all of a sudden it's time for me to drink a glass of hemlock," he said. "They were drunk, they were being jerks and I was very rude and visceral to them because, like I said, if you have a heckler what you want to do is put them in their place by offending them, so I tried to hit them where it hurts and the only thing I had to key on was the fact that they were lesbians. "I don't care if they're lesbians, heterosexuals, homosexuals or giraffes."

Earle said the complaint is an attack on comedians' right to perform. "I would never have expected it would get escalated to a philosophical battle." He added it's been more than 40 years since controversial U.S. comic Lenny Bruce was jailed for obscenity over his comic material - "and we're still fighting the same battle. I know it's a fight I can never win. But I've got to keep fighting."

Earle is holding a benefit concert on July 19 in Toronto to raise money for his legal fees.

So what do you think?
Did this comic go too far?
Does Lorna Pardy have a case?