Boy Scouts of America Remain Anti Gay

The homophobic stance that the Boy Scouts of America have taken just shows us that even though we have come along way in our pursuit of equality we have a distance to go. It’s so archaic that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced that their secret committee ruled to keep in place their policy banning gay scouts & gay scout leaders. R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of The Log Cabin Republicans stated, “As an Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow member & National Eagle Scout Association member, I find the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) decision to continue to exclude gays from its membership extremely disappointing. It sends the message that gay youth are not fit to serve God & country, solely because of who they are. This is absolutely the wrong policy for the BSA, one of the most prominent youth development organizations in the United States.” One day after the Boy Scouts of America announced that their secret committee had ruled in favor of keeping the organization's ban on gay scouts & gay scout leaders, Jennifer Tyrrell, the mom from Ohio who was ousted as the den leader of her 7 year old son's Cub Scout pack because she's gay, delivered more than 300,000 petition signatures to Scouts' headquarters calling for her to be reinstated & for the Boy Scouts of America to end their anti-gay policy. Tyrrell said that no secret committee will be able to silence the overwhelming number of people who want to see the Boy Scouts join organizations including the Girl Scouts of the USA, the 4-H Club, Boys & Girls Club & the United States Armed Forces in ending the ban. Updates To Come…:)
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New Leader For Marriage Equality USA

As we reported back in December two powerful LGBT groups, Marriage Equality New York (MENY) & Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) consolidated. Now they have announced the appointment of a new full-time Executive Director, Brian Silva effective August 1st. Silva stated, “2012 is a historic year for marriage equality, with the issue on the ballot in 4 states this November & legal challenges to DOMA & Prop. 8 moving forward to the Supreme Court. This is an incredibly exciting time for our movement & I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves immediately as MEUSA expands grassroots efforts across the country to win equal marriage rights nationwide.” MEUSA Board Co-President Cathy Marino-Thomas added, “The strength of Marriage Equality [USA] has always been its volunteer staff, chapter leaders & countless individuals. MEUSA needed an Executive Director with proven skills to harness that energy to empower & expand the national & local initiatives that have made us such a critical partner in this movement – we know we have found that in Brian Silva & we look forward to many more successful campaigns to come under his leadership.” A member of MENY since 2008, Silva helped coordinate MENY’s participation in the 2009 National Equality March in Washington DC, multiple Equality & Justice Days in Albany & chaired the 2010 7th NYC Wedding March across the Brooklyn Bridge. In the spring of 2011, Silva became Deputy Executive Director, leading MENY’s participation in the New Yorkers United for Marriage Coalition formed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. After the state-level marriage equality bill was passed, Silva assumed the role of Executive Director of MENY, jump-starting MENY’s role on a national level by coordinating phone banks & assisting out-of-state marriage organizations to help marriage efforts in New Hampshire & New Jersey, as well as MENY’s membership in the federal Respect for Marriage Coalition.
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Target Stores Now Carry Gay Cards

Target continues to try to cash in on our LGBT community by now providing gay greeting cards in their stores. What a difference a few years makes since they were exposed for donating a sizable amount of money to an anti-gay politician in Minnesota. Remember Lady Gaga locked heads with them over a marketing deal for her BORN THIS WAY CD release due to their homophobic position. Lady Gaga stated last year, "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups & begin to reform & make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past ... our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community & to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those [anti-gay] groups." Last May Target offered a line of tacky LGBT tee shirts just in time for Gay Pride that were only offered online but the new gay cards are actually available in stores & placed on their card racks under the headings of "For Two Special Men" & "For Two Special Women.” With other Minnesota-based companies like General Mills coming out for gay marriage, Target hasn’t taken that step but with a proposed constitutional amendment on that state’s November ballot to ban marriage equality everything is on the line in Minnesota for our LGBT community.
Updates to Come…:)
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Other Sheep LGBT Rwanda Seminar

This past weekend Rev. J. Elie Gasana, Other Sheep Coordinator for Rwanda & Democratic Republic of the Congo, hosted a one-day LGBT workshop in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Other Sheep Executive Director Rev. Stephen Parelli offered 2 papers in French & Alfred Ssekabanja of Uganda Victim Support Organization was guest speaker. Twelve clergy & one lay leader, whose ministries range from the local to national level in Rwanda, participated. The attendees were arranged into discussion groups, with designated leaders, to read & interact between themselves on the 2 papers & to prepare written questions for Parelli to address before all the attendees. The first paper, authored by Parelli, dealt with his own journey through his ex-gay experience. The second paper, authored by Dr. Ralph Blair addressed the Bible texts traditionally used to condemn sexual minorities. Each attendee received a hard copy of each paper. The majority of the time was spent on the first paper with discussion & questions around homosexuality as an orientation. Parelli said, "Whatever questions you have about homosexuality, ask the same question about heterosexuality & you will have your answer." Alfred Ssekabanja, guest speaker from Uganda & himself Rwandan, shared his personal story as to how he came to work on behalf of the human rights of LGBT people in Uganda. He said he must help affirm the human rights of LGBT people even at the risk of being rejected by the church. He said he cannot stand silent in Uganda & watch the discrimination, rejection & even the possible death of LGBT people. Uganda cannot become another Rwanda where people are judged 'by their nature & not by their character.' He said if we have learned nothing from the Rwanda genocide, we will still discriminate. In group discussion, one member evoked the word 'kwihanganirana' which means: "I am different; you are different; but we must live together." This report was provided by Other Sheep Executive Director Rev. Stephen Parelli. Updates to Come…:)
For More Info: othersheep.org
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Media Giant Reuters Supports Equality

The media company Reuters stated that an amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota would be bad for business. Already prominent companies including General Mills & St. Jude Medical have made a stand against the proposed amendment on the November ballot. This is homophobic overkill in Minnesota since that state already has a law against gay marriage but anti gay marriage opponents say the amendment is necessary to put the ban in the state constitution. In a statement, Thomson Reuters said it doesn’t believe the amendment “would be good for Thomson Reuters or the business community in the state.” Spokesman John Shaughnessy said Thomson Reuters, headquartered in New York City, has almost 8,000 employees in Minnesota, most based in the Minneapolis suburb of Eagan & 60,000 around the world. “We believe the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, if passed, would limit our ability to recruit & retain top talent,” several Minnesota-based company executives wrote in an email to employees. It’s about time that a media giant has taken such a positive stand on marriage equality. In an attempt to change hearts & minds in Minnesota LGBT Minnesotans have launched www.greatminnesotaouting.com. The concept is to come out online to reach neighbors, friends & colleagues who are more likely to support gay rights if they’re aware they know a gay or lesbian person. The campaign collects videos produced by LGBT Minnesotans telling their friends & neighbors of their part in the LGBT community & making an appeal to them to vote no on the amendment. The Great Minnesota Outing is acting on statistics that show people who know a LGBT person are far more supportive of gay rights, especially if they hear a direct appeal about the marriage amendment.
For More info: greatminnesotaouting.com
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Gay Military Requested For San Diego Pride

San Diego Pride officials are asking gay & lesbian uniformed active duty service members & their families to join their pride parade. Active duty gay military have received approval from the Office of the Secretary of Defense & their commanding officers to march in the America’s Pride Parade Military Contingent while wearing their uniforms. Gay veterans have long been allowed to wear their uniforms & now their active duty brothers & sisters will be able to march in uniform alongside them with Pride. In a videotaped message released in June, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated: “Before the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ you faithfully served your country with professionalism & courage. And just like your fellow service members, you put your country before yourself. And now—after repeal, you can be proud of serving your country & be proud of who you are when in uniform.” In 2011, San Diego made global news as being the first city in the United States to have a gay active duty military contingent in a Pride Parade. With the theme of America’s Pride, San Diego Pride is looking to continue to break exciting new ground & push forward on issues of equality. “The promise of America grounded in the Constitution, contained in our Pledge of Allegiance, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty and enunciated by generations of our nation’s leaders is that America stands for liberty, for justice, for equality for all. This has been America’s Pride,” announced Dwayne Crenshaw, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride. San Diego Pride is July 20th & 22nd & so far they have over 300 individuals signed up for this one contingent.
For More Info: sdpride.org/military
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New Maine Poll Supports Gay Marriage

More encouraging news for marriage equality in the state of Maine. A recent poll by Critical Insights of Portland showed 57 % polled supported gay marriage just 3 years after residents defeated the gay marriage law in 2009. It’s a big win for civil rights advocates & the fabulous seaside resort wedding industry. This is a huge sign for the Maine November ballot initiative to legalize gay marriage. The survey indicated 57 % supported legalizing gay marriage compared to 35 % opposing with 8 % undecided. Jim Melcher, associate professor of political science at the University of Maine stated, “More than most election issues, that’s an issue where you have to take (polling) numbers with a grain of salt. I think those numbers will be closer on Election Day. That said, I think there’s been a lot of momentum in favor of gay marriage around the country.” The new Maine poll shows wide support. More than 60 % of voters in most age groups including 18 to 34 year old & 55 to 64 year olds said they would vote yes if the election were held now. Those 65 & older were split on the question with 44 % in favor & 43 % opposed. If voters approve the measure Maine will be the 8th state to legalize marriage equality. In New England that would leave Rhode Island as the only state that does not have gay marriage but it looks like next year that may change. Updates to Come…:)
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