After DOMA Immigration Forum

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is sponsoring a free forum for the LGBT community entitled “LGBT Immigration in a Post-DOMA World.” No one may have been waiting more anxiously for the end of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) than bi-national gay & lesbian couples. DOMA made it dangerous for many of these couples to marry. If they did marry, they were unable to sponsor a non-citizen spouse for permanent residency, like heterosexual couples could. The recent Supreme Court ruling striking down DOMA means that for many couples marriage can now provide a way for them to permanently live together in the United States. The free forum “LGBT Immigration in a Post-DOMA World” will be held on Wednesday, July 24th from 5:30 to 7:30P at Northeastern University Room 240, Dockser Hall, Northeastern Law School, 65 Forsyth St. Boston, MA. Participating panelists will be Richard Iandoli, Iandoli & Desai, P.C., Janson Wu, GLAD, Tom Plummer, Immigration Equality  & Sara Fleming of Ross Silverman LLP. Co-sponsors for the forum are Northeastern Law School Queer Caucus; Hispanic Black Gay Coalition; Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition; The Network La Red; MassEquality; Family Equality Council; Boston Pride; & Northeastern Law School Black Law Students Association. This event is free & open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
For Info & To RSVP: glad.org 
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Omar Sharif Jr. Hosts CRI Event

Gay activist & actor Omar Sharif Jr. will host Community Research Initiative (CRI) Provincetown Summer Party: Red Hot Jazz at the Red Inn this Saturday, July 20th from Noon to 3P. Sharif is the GLAAD National spokesperson who was recently named to the 2013 World Pride Power List published by the Guardian UK. The nominations were gathered from across the globe in an effort to categorize the most influential LGBT people in the world. Omar came out over a year ago by writing an article in The Advocate detailing his fear of coming out as gay & half Jewish & worried about being welcome in his homeland of Egypt. He felt his voice was needed for change in a society that he feared was "moving backward". You can meet Omar Sharif Jr. in person this Saturday to hear more about his story & why HIV & Hepatitis C research is so important to him. Community Research Initiative (CRI) is an independent, nonprofit, community-based organization in New England dedicated to HIV & Hepatitis C clinical research, treatment education & financial assistance for approved drug treatments & health insurance coverage.
For Info & Tix…. 
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Laverne Cox LGBT & Black

With the horrendous not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman murder case causing the entire country to erupt over the unjust racist decision, this month The Advocate examines what it is like to be black & gay in America today. Advocate contributor Darnell L. Moore who also works at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, shares how his life has been shaped by the multiple identities that mark his life & how as a black, gay man, his personal experiences are often missing from narratives of gay progress. Additionally essays are provided on the black LGBT experience in America by CNN Anchor Don Lemon, Actress Laverne Cox, Aaron Walton, Doug Spearman & Janora McDuffie. Laverne Cox transgender actress stated, “When I was perceived as a black man I became a threat to public safety. When I was dressed as myself, it was my safety that was threatened. It was usually other black people who policed my gender, called me out, or made fun of me on subways, street corners & in delicatessens. I believe it is because I am also black that I became their target. These same folks would often ignore white trans & gender nonconforming folks in the same spaces, even those who passed even less that I did at the time. Systemic racism not only encourages the state & non-black individuals to police & monitor black bodies, white supremacy encourages other black folks to do so as well.”  
Read Full Article…
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Gay Marriage Passes UK House

UPDATE: Britain legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval clearing the way for the first same-gender weddings next summer....:)

The U.K. House of Lords just approved via voice vote, the Marriage (Gay & Lesbian Couples) Bill. The bill will allow gay & lesbian marriages in England & Wales. The Church of England & Wales are prohibited from performing marriages by the bill. The legislation has already been passed by the Commons but will now return there for amendments introduced by the Lords will be considered. If they’re accepted, the bill will be sent to Queen Elizabeth II for her signature (Royal Ascent) before becoming law. It is expected to receive royal ascent within days. The first gay marriages are expected to take place in the spring of 2014. Since 2005 UK gay couples have been allowed to enter into civil partnerships a separate union which provides the same legal rights & protections of marriage except for the use of the word marriage. This was the compromise our UK LGBT community made in 2005 in order to provide the equal rights & protections that heterosexual Brits receive. Now if passed & signed by the Queen the word marriage will included the LGBT community. Hopefully becoming a grandmother for the first time The Queen will sign the Bill into law. Has Queen Elizabeth II ever uttered the word gay or lesbian in public? I can’t recall….Updates to Come…:)
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Gay Marriage Funding Campaign

A new crowd-funding campaign has been launched to raise $25,000 or more for the nonprofit Freedom to Marry. They have until August 5th to achieve their goal & four LGBT owned & operated companies are donating gift incentives depending on what level your contribution is. The four companies are: Wolfe Video - The largest exclusive distributor of LGBT films in the world, Lesbian.com - The online hub dedicated to enriching & empowering the global lesbian community, OneGoodLove.com - The first online dating site for relationship-minded gay & lesbian singles, & Sweet - The eco-friendly lesbian travel site. Freedom to Marry is pursuing its Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage & end marriage discrimination. Freedom to Marry partners with individuals & organizations across the country to end the exclusion of gay & lesbian couples from marriage & the protections, responsibilities & commitment that marriage brings. Evan Wolfson, Founder of Freedom to Marry stated, “Despite the Supreme Court ruling that strikes down a central part of the Defense of Marriage Act, some federal programs are now based on where couples live — not where they were married. Until the Obama administration & Congress do their parts to implement the court’s ruling, applying the time-honored “place of celebration” standard that respects lawful marriages by states like New York, the United States will remain a patchwork & marriages will sputter in & out like cellphone service. And, of course, though the Supreme Court’s other marriage decision restored the freedom to marry to couples in California — along with the 12 other states that we’ve won — 37 states still refuse to issue marriage licenses to loving & committed gay & lesbian couples.”
For More Info & Donate To Campaign: yeslgbt.com 
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Gay Ally Cory Monteith Dies

Sad news from Vancover that Glee star Cory Monteith was found dead at the Pacific Rim Hotel of an apparent drug overdose. Melissa Kates Cory's publicist stated, "We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate. We are in shock & mourning this tragic loss." Glee executive producers, producers 20th Century Fox Television & Fox Broadcasting Co. said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Cory was an exceptional talent & an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with & we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family and loved ones." Cory had openly spoken about his addiction issues as a teenager. He told Parade magazine in 2011 that he began using drugs at 13 & by 19 went into rehab after his mother & friends intervened. He suffered a relapse earlier this year & checked himself into rehab again in April. Cory Monteith was a fierce gay ally & last year he hosted the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York with Glee co-star Naya Rivera. We were at the event & Cory was absolutely fabulous raffling off kisses to support GLAAD. This is so sad to have someone so young & talented die so young. He will be missed. Cory Monteith was 31.
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Not Just Another Drag Queen

Here TV America’s only gay TV network debuts a brand new episode of the hit variety series “She’s Living for This”. The upcoming episode hosted by drag sensation Sherry Vine features the wildly hilarious Pam Ann, a special guest appearance by the one-and-only Bianca Del Rio & musical guest Miss Guy. “She’s Living for This” provides a unique, modern update the classic TV variety show standard set by the likes of Sonny & Cher, Carol Burnett & Benny Hill. Sherry is delighted to welcome the outrageous Pam Ann to this week’s episode. Highlights from this week’s episode include Miss Guy’s supersonic song “Dumb Blonde,” & we all ‘get schooled’ by the mad mistress of the air in “Pam Ann’s Flight School.” When asked what her commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Vine stated, “I believe that I have a daily commitment to LGBT rights. First of all just by being openly gay & second of all performing in drag. I think a lot of people don’t realize that drag is a political act in itself because of what you have to go through just the minute you walk out the door. I mean people for some reason see it as an open invitation to be very hostile & abusive or weird. Not always, people can be very cool & funny and nice but it’s dangerous, especially for people who don’t live in a big city. Taxi’s will just fly right by you. You know I vote, I do a lot of benefits for different organizations, so I just try to be as involved as I can.”
Listen To Sherry Vine’s Audio Interview
For More Info: heretv.com/sheslivingforthis 
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