UNITED NATIONS & EQUALITY FOR LGBTQ

Charles Radcliffe

Chief, Global Issues Section, 

UN Launches Unprecedented Global Campaign for LGBT Equality

 (FINALLY!)

 

In another sign of changing times, the United Nations today announced an unprecedented global public education campaign designed to raise awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination and promote greater respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people everywhere.

Launching the Free & Equal campaign at a press event in Cape Town, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron at her side, the UN's human rights chief Navi Pillay said that there was an urgent need for a concerted public education effort to tackle homophobia at its roots. "We know from experience that eradicating discrimination requires more than just changes in laws and policies. It takes a change in people's hearts and minds as well," she said.


With this campaign, the UN hopes to accelerate a change in attitudes toward LGBT people by provoking -- and helping to inform -- millions of conversations around the world and across the ideological spectrum.

In addition to plain language fact sheets and articles, Free & Equal will generate a stream of creative content, including short videos, graphics and testimony, all designed to dispel common misconceptions and negative stereotypes and encourage people to look at the lives of LGBT people through the eyes of LGBT people themselves, as well as those of their parents, siblings and children.

To kick off this theme of family, the campaign previewed "The Story of a Mother From Brazil," a short film telling the story of Edith Modesto, the mother of a young gay man, who shares her journey toward accepting her son.

The campaign's message is threefold:

• Human rights really are universal. Everyone, whoever they are and wherever they live, is entitled to the same rights -- and that includes LGBT people. Violence and discrimination against LGBT people, which has been documented in all regions, is unacceptable and illegal under international human rights law.
• LGBT people are just that: people. The United Nations wants to encourage those who have never thought much about this issue, and who might live in parts of the world where sexuality and gender identity are taboo topics, to learn about the lives of LGBT people, their hopes and their fears, and become better informed about the human rights challenges they face.
• Things are getting better. For all the bad news and the inevitable setbacks, the long-term trends are positive. Attitudes are shifting in many parts of the world, and many governments are gradually stepping forward and implementing necessary reforms. Changes that would have seemed impossible 10 or 20 years ago are taking root, and as they do, the balance of opinion both within and among countries is steadily tilting in favor of equality for LGBT people.

DOMA & PROP DOWN--TEARFUL CELEBRATION

THOUGH MY STATE, NEW JERSEY, IS NOT ONE OF THE 13 US AREAS (12 STATES & THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) BENEFITING FROM TODAY'S MONUMENTAL DECISION, AT LEAST THIS IS A CHANCE FOR ALL LGBTQ AMERICANS TO MARRY ELSEWHERE WITH FULL STATE & FEDERAL BENEFITS-FREAKIN' AMAZING!!!

I AM ELATED I LIVED TO SEE THIS DAY. ( WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013)

I KNOW THOSE WHO PASSED ARE LOOKING DOWN AT AMERICA WITH PRIDE.

LET'S NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES BEFORE US SO WE CAN TO GET TO THIS AUSPICIOUS MOMENT.
 EDIE WINDSOR, FOR EXAMPLE FOUGHT AGAINST DOMA...

 AND

 KRISTIN PERRY /SANDRA STIER & PAUL KATAMI /JEFF ZARILLO AGAINST PROP 8

BRAVO TO THOSE BRAVE JUDGES IN THE SUPREME COURT WHO REALIZE THE NEW AMERICA IS HERE. THOSE CRUSTY, OLD ONES ARE  NOW LOOKED UPON AS BIGOTS, HATEFUL AND FEARFUL DINOSAURS. SHAME ON YOU!

THE NEW AMERICA WAS OBVIOUS WHEN SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CAMPED OUT TO HEAR THE DECISION & WERE SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN D C .

GOD BLESS AMERICA & GOD BLESS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY...

 

GREG LOUGANIS GETS MARRIED

 

Diving Great Greg Louganis to Marry in Fall

NEW YORK June 18, 2013 (AP)

Former Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis plans to get married this fall.

People magazine says the 53-year-old Louganis will marry paralegal Johnny Chaillot.

The four-time gold medalist is the only man to win consecutive Olympic titles in springboard and platform diving — in 1984 at Los Angeles and 1988 at Seoul.

After his diving career ended, Louganis revealed he was gay in 1994 and announced he was HIV-positive a year later.

Louganis is helping Olympic hopefuls as an athlete mentor for USA Diving.

 He's also been featured as a coach on ABC's reality diving competition "Splash".

(If you really wanna know him better read his very candid  autobiography,"Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story" or  see the "muy caliente", Mario Lopez, portray him in the 1997 movie. I had the honor of watching this amazing athlete in 1994's Gay Games in NYC. The guy flies from a diving board, it is truly a thing of beauty. Friends who know him say he's a sweet man as well. )

FOX NEWS GETS A SMACKDOWN--AGAIN, GREAT!

 WOW: Fox Newswoman Lays Epic Smackdown On Fox Newsmen For Obvious And Blatant Misogyny-YOU GO Megyn Kelly!

 At 1:55, she even takes one of them to task for homophobia, and at 6:20, she completely eviscerates the "science" they keep quoting. It. Is. The best.

 

 LOU DOBBS BEING CLOSE MINDED & RUDE AGAIN!

 "The other day, a panel of male Fox News contributors described in great detail how women who are breadwinners are the source of all evil in America (or something). "The natural world isn't even like that!" they proclaimed, conveniently ignoring all facts about the natural world. Megyn Kelly, aFox News anchor, had a bone to pick with that — and boy, does she pick it. I've got a new lady-crush, friends..."

WATCH VIDEO...

 

 

Oatsey Hussein Rogers right Michael Smith. On election night, it was Megyn who's questioning brought on Karl Rove's on air meltdown

ANTI-GAY RALLY (MAY 20, 2013) IN VAIN?? ATTACKS LATER -AGAIN

 

 Thousands Rally in NYC in a Defiant and Spirited Response to Anti-Gay Murder (by "GAY MARRIAGE USA")

(update (may 28, 2013: now 9 attacks--one last sat-we gotta do something folks!)

"An estimated crowd of more than two thousand this evening marched and rallied in New York City in response to a spate of anti-gay crimes in Manhattan in recent weeks.

The wave of anti-gay violence came to a head on Saturday May 18th with the murder of Marc Carson who was shot dead in Greenwhich Vilage. The suspect in that fatal incident has been charged with a hate crime.

Members of the LGBT community and their allies assembled outside the LGBT Center of NYC on West 13th Street.

 By the time the march began the crowd had swelled to well beyond initial
expectations.

Led by representatives of the LGBT Center, the Anti-Violence Project, relatives of Marc Cason, religious leaders, Edie Windsor (DOMA plaintiff), and elected officials, the group marched towards the scene of Carson’s death at West 8th Street and 6th Avenue.

 Participants waved signs and chanted along the march route. A large number of police were in attendance.

Inspiring and upliftying speeches were given by representatives form a range of LGBT organizations and other community groups. The aunt of Marc Arson spoke on behalf of Marc’s family and accepted the condolences offered by those in attendance. Leaders from LGBT affirming churches provided input from a religious perspective. Nick Porto and Kevin Atkins, attacked in an unsolved anti-gay assault on May 5th, also spoke.

Much to the irritation of a number of rally attendees, no elected official spoke in relation to the recent rise in anti-gay violence in the city. The event ended with a minute’s silence to honor the death of Marc Carson..."
_________________________________________

THEN THIS HAPPENS???? UNBELIEVABLE


A gay couple was attacked early Tuesday in SoHo and a man was beaten in the East Village, hours after thousands marched to protest the killing of a gay man and several other bias attacks that have shaken the community, officials said.

Mayor Bloomberg said at a news conference Tuesday that "New York City has zero tolerance for intolerance."

"We are a place that celebrates diversity ... hate crimes like these are an offense against all we stand for as a city, and we will do everything possible to stop them," Bloomberg added.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the two men in the SoHo attack were walking on Broadway between Prince and Houston streets at about 5 a.m. when two men started yelling anti-gay remarks in English and Spanish. The victims, 41 and 42, are Hispanic.

The men were both punched, and one suffered an eye injury, sources said.

TODAY (MAY 22, 2013) I FIND OUT ONE MORE VIOLENT, HOMOPHOBIC BASHING IN THE EAST VILLAGE :Gornell Roman was charged Wednesday with assault and aggravated harassment after a hate crime against former Philadelphia promoter Dan Contarino.  The attack was one of two hate crimes authorities announced Tuesday following the killing of a gay man over the weekend.

--WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING AS A COMMUNITY--WTF????

A TRUE HERO (WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR)-CHARLES RAMSEY

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE: THERE ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD (MOST ARE NOT IN POLITICS, THAT'S FOR SURE).

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF US ARE INHERENTLY GOOD AT THE CORE AND MOSTLY CIRCUMSTANCES CAN TURN THOSE GOOD SOULS INTO NEGATIVE & PESSIMISTIC INDIVIDUALS.

WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER--LET'S ALL LEARN FROM THIS. 

MR. RAMSEY HAS NO IDEA THE IMPACT HE'S MADE IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES & MINDS BY DOING THIS SELFLESS ACT--GOD BLESS YOU MY MAN!!!!

 WHEN ANDERSON COOPER ASKED IF HE WOULD LIKE A REWARD, CHARLES PULLED HIS PAYCHECK OUT OF HIS POCKET AND SAID, "I GET A PAYCHECK, GIVE THE REWARD TO THE GIRLS RESCUED".

  AND

 He added, "I knew something was wrong when a little, pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms. Something is wrong here. Dead giveaway." (FUNNY GUY--BUT TRUTH--CHILDREN SENSE GOODNESS FASTER THAN ADULTS).

 

 May 8, 2013

(CNN) -- Within hours of becoming a national hero, a viral video star and the top topic on Twitter, Charles Ramsey talked about having trouble getting sleep.

It wasn't because of all the excitement that followed his knocking down a Cleveland neighbor's door, freeing three women and a girl who police say were held hostage for years.

Instead, Ramsey told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday, it was about knowing he had lived for a year near the captive women on the city's West Side.

"Up until yesterday the only thing that kept me from losing sleep was the lack of money," the restaurant dishwasher said on "Anderson Cooper 360."

Neighbor kicked in door to rescue women

Ramsey to 911: 'She's in a panic'

Women rescued after 10-year nightmare

Neighbor heard scream near Castro home

 

"I could have done this last year, not this hero stuff," said Ramsey. "Just do the right thing."

Ramsey recounted Monday night's drama, when he heard a girl scream "like a car had hit a kid."

He ran from his living room, clutching a half-eaten McDonald's Big Mac, to the house and helped free a woman identified as Amanda Berry.

"Amanda said, 'I've been trapped in here. He won't let me out. It's me and my baby."

Who are the three women freed in Cleveland?

Ramsey and a man named Angel Cordero broke down the door, CNN affiliate WEWS reported in an earlier interview heard around the world.

Ramsey told CNN he had never seen Berry before Monday, and at first, he could not place the name.

"Berry didn't register with me until I was on the phone, like wait a minute, I thought this girl was dead."

"She's like, 'This (expletive) kidnapped me and my daughter,'" he told the 911 operator, according to WEWS.

After police arrived, Berry explained there were other women inside. When police came out with them, Ramsey told the station, "it was astonishing."

Berry was last seen after finishing her shift at a Burger King in Cleveland in 2003 on the eve of her 17th birthday.

The other two women are Georgina "Gina" DeJesus, who disappeared at age 14 in 2004, and Michelle Knight, who vanished in August 2002, at age 21, according to police.

Ramsey told CNN he is no hero and should not receive any reward.

"You've got to put that being a coward and 'I don't want to get in nobody's business,'" he said. "You got to put that away for a minute..."

(READ MORE ON CNN ONLINE)

 

 

KENTUCKY TOWN (VICCO) SUPPORTS LGBT

ENCOURAGING!!!
 
With a population of just 334 residents, Vicco, Kentucky 

(Latitude:	37° 2157' North
Longitude:	83° 0616' West   --- in the USA)

is believed to be the smallest municipality in the U.S. to approve an LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance.

 The little Appalachian town is the first in the state to do so in the past decade. 

Let's congratulate the citizens and community leaders of Vicco for passing their "Fairness Ordinance." (via LGBTQ Nation)

 Vicco becomes Kentucky's fourth municipality to pass such an ordinance, following Lexington, Louisville, and Covington.

"Vicco is a community that believes all folks should be treated fairly," said Vicco city attorney Eric Ashley. "We believe everyone deserves the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Fairness is a Kentucky value, a Vicco value, and one of our most American values." 

DOCUMENTARY: "I AM"...( A MUST SEE)

			I FINALLY DECIDED TO WATCH THIS LIFE ALTERING DOCUMENTARY TODAY & I THINK I'M A BETTER PERSON FOR IT.

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE INNATELY BELIEVED THAT VIOLENCE IS UNNATURAL. I'VE HAD PASSIONATE DISCUSSIONS AMONG FRIENDS WHO BELIEVE THAT YOU FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE; BUT I BELIEVE THAT ONLY BEGETS MORE VIOLENCE. AS THOSE MUCH MORE EVOLVED & WISER THAN I AM HAVE FIRMLY STATED THE ANSWER IS "LOVE", AND THEN, MORE "LOVE".

 SURE I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THIS DIRECTOR'S PERSONAL  JOURNEY WHICH PROPELLED HIM TO CREATE THIS PIECE OF LOVING LOGICAL FILM CALLED "I AM".

BUT I WAS MORE IMPRESSED THAT MY GUT WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG.
BY WATCHING THIS IT PUTS THE IDEA OF HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD -WHICH SEEMS SO UGLY SO OFTEN IN RECENT TIMES-WITHIN OUR OWN PERSONAL REACH AND DAY-TO-DAY ACTIONS.
WHICH IS WHY I OFTEN REFER TO MY "GOD" AS "THE UNIVERSE" LATELY WHEN I PRAY.
I AM NOT RELIGIOUS, FOR THE RECORD AND NEITHER IS THIS FILM. I URGE YOU TO WATCH IT & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

OUR LIVES SHOULD BE LIKE THOSE LESS EVOLVED ANIMALS IN NATURE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE MUST LEARN FROM THOSE ANIMALS TWO FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICES: "COOPERATION AND DEMOCRACY".

OF ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FILM I FOUND THOM  HARTMAN THE MOST PRAGMATIC AND ENLIGHTENED; HOWEVER, MANY TRANSLATE AS GREAT TEACHERS.

I WISH YOU ALL LOVE...

 

SAME SEX MARRIAGE & THE SUPREME COURT

WILL 83 YR. OLD EDIE WINDSOR BE THE FACE OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS IN AMERICA?

WILL SHE REPRESENT FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY WHAT ROSA PARKS DID FOR CIVIL RIGHTS?

ONE CAN ONLY HOPE!

EDIE WINDSOR IS TAKING DOMA (DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT) TO BE OVERTURNED TO THE HILL.  THE SUPREME COURT WILL BE HEARING EDIE'S CASE ALONG WITH ONE OTHER FROM CALIFORNIA ON PROP 8 (I  HAVE MY RESERVATIONS OF COMBINING THE TWO CASES, HOWEVER). THEY WILL HEAR THE CASE IN MARCH 2013 & DECIDE BY THE END OF JUNE 2013, THUS FAR.

(GREAT TIMING TO INCORPORATE THE POTENTIAL WIN IN OUR ANNUAL JUNE GAY PRIDE CELEBRATIONS CELEBRATING STONEWALL)

My guess is that they will not fully give ALL federal rights but a modified plan (I hope I'm wrong and  true justice is served). If they continue to have the states vote on it instead-SHAME ON THEM!. People my age and older will be eaten by worms by the time it reaches all 50 states. WE WANT & NEED IT NOW!

Growing up in these United States, where our Constitution clearly states equal rights for all, I always felt left out and figured if I wanted to marry it would have to be with someone of the opposite sex. I chose to stay single or in  non-recognized,  society "mocked' long term relationships with a man. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this issue would become, well an issue...
Here we are in 2012 and the world is changing quicker than a drag queen on a cruise ship...
AWESOME!

Our heroin is a beautiful, sophisticated Manhattanite who was in a committed relationship with her partner, Thea Spyer.

" Windsor never imagined she would sue the federal government, but then Spyer died and Windsor was hit with a federal estate tax bill of more than $363,000 on Spyer's estate. If Windsor had been married to a man, the inheritance would have been tax-free and Windsor would not have owed the federal government anything..."

THIS IS EQUALITY???

Again & again we hear of how detrimental  same sex marriage would be to our society from the pulpits where many pedophiles chant-the continual hypocrisy-in the name of religion-churns my stomach! Luckily Edie-following in the steps of our LGBT past & present heroes  (Milk, Russo, Frank,etc.), can finally make this issue about what it really is-JUSTICE FOR ALL!

IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION!!!

It is about the rights all heterosexual people possess-even the cheaters, pedophiles,murderers and wife/husband beaters-have.

We don't need your profitable houses of worship with their hypocritical environment, we simply are asking for the same rights less worthy citizens legally take for granted. Keep your silly religious traditions (say 20 Hail Marys & be absolved of beating your wife & sleeping w/ your neighbors woman--keep putting stupid ashes on your head thinking you look superior when in fact it really doesn't go with your shoes--who the fuck cares what your bullshit, archaic traditions which have been ingrained in mostly the ignorant; those who crave a leader and never trust their own heart & minds. I don't want any part of it; however, what I do want & deserve as a citizen is ALL FEDERAL LEGAL RIGHTS. WHEN DO I WANT IT??? Motherfucker, NOW!!!

"SESSIONS" & "WALLFLOWER"

MOVIES: "THE SESSIONS" & "THE PERKS OF A WALLFLOWER"


 


BOTH AMAZING MOVIES--DIFFERENT THEMES BUT SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS

 "THE SESSIONS" would have hit a home run simply by tackling the true life story of  California-based journalist and poet Mark O'Brien who had polio since age 6 ( his plight had been explored once in the Oscar winning doc. "BREATHING LESSONS", btw). But the real reason you should run and see this film is because this is NOT a Lifetime desease-of-the-week sort; instead it is hysterically funny w/ enough pathos to establish a perfect balance.We see O'Brien making everyone-including himself-feel good (even sexy). 
Some of his best moments are talking sex with his priest, played beautifully by William H. Macy. 
The entire cast is fantastic!
This is Helen Hunt's best non-comedic role to date. "Deadwood's" John Hawkes steals the movie & our hearts along with it (an Oscar contender for sure)-can't wait to see him soon in "Lincoln". 
I love movies that make me feel like I'm peering into the private lives of someone (I usually forget it's a movie & these are actors-then again, am I  just a closet peeping tom?--lol); here we are privy to a world I'm sure few of us have entered.
The running theme in these two movies is the humor which ultimately transcends to the kind of compassion that can actually save lives. 

Both films have a seamless way of taking us through their different journeys-trust either one of these directors in the future (Ben Lewin & Stephen Chbosky).


 "THE PERKS OF A WALLFLOWER"
 I just had a gut feeling it would be great, and it was! It is this decade's best coming-of-age story-directed and acted beautifully. Special kudos go to the three young but naturally gifted actors the story centers around: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. I could swear John Hughes was directing from beyond (if you loved "The Breakfast Club" & "Mean Girls", you'll get a blend of both here). Lerman will surely become a heartthrob after this & a much sort after actor, his ease in the myriad of emotions he has to conjure is effortless.
Again, if you wanna go for the laughs, they're clearly here too. ENJOY!

HUGS, SERVED WITH BREAKFAST & LUNCH

THIS IS THE BEST FATHER'S DAY STORY...

"CBS News) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Sunday is Father's Day, which celebrates the special bond between a father and his son.

When Keith Harris' son Tim was born, a half-hearted smile was all he could muster.
"Our pediatrician asked me if I knew what down syndrome was, and the world turned black at that moment," he told CBS News.

What a difference 26 years makes. Today, in sunny Albuquerque, you'd be hard pressed to find a more glowing father than Keith. Or a more shining example of what truly great parenting can accomplish.

Keith and wife Jeannie, who also have three typical boys, have raised them all with the same high-expectations. As a result, they're all successful. But, none are more successful than Tim, who not only lives on his own but owns his own restaurant.

In fact, as far as we know, Tim is the only person with Down syndrome in the country who owns a restaurant..."

Besides this thriving mom & pop (for now, Tim plans on expansion) restaurant, Tim has a HUG-A-METER which tallies every hug given by him to his loyal customers and accepting new patrons.

I want one of Tim's hugs-though I was teary-eyed just watching this- not sure in person I wouldn't just sob.

 Heck, I'll take my chances!

WATCH THIS ONLINE & NOW GO HUG YOUR DAD EVEN IF IT'S IN SPIRIT