I am a documentary filmmaker, gay, and have just completed a film called STRAIGHT LINE CURVE. It showcases seven successful gay men of the USA Southwest who do not fit the stereotypes often associated with homosexuality. Each man has a high profile and is fulfilled, optimistic, inspirational and proud.

I believe this film offers the world a wonderful and motivational look at the gay journey, which few people in the general populace knows exists...but it does! This 32-minute film is available on DVD.

Ed Breeding, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
email: breeding4051@comcast.net
www.ed-breeding.artistwebsites.com

I'm gay from Egypt and I hate my life here and I am always thinking of suicide, I can not live here because I gay and touch upon the persecution of every day, but they do not understand I have no guilt I am gay has lost a future in Egypt because I did not I can not teamed in my studyin Egypt because of persecution in the school of my colleagues
Because they were calling me gay and was beating me and you hate to go to school and I live alone, without friends and I want out of this place, who reigns by ignorance, and I want to get freedom outside this country really I hate this place and wanted to help me Facebook
moz.smsm@yahoo.com
moz_dodo@yahoo.com
moz_doda@yahoo.com

I'm a openly homosexual male, currently studying to become a teacher (ages 16-19) in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. I have been adviced by other students to not make my sexual orientation public in my profession.
I feel that teachers are seen as heterosexual until proven otherwise. Does that meen I need to go back into the closet as long as I'm a teacher? I want to be free to say things like: "I was discussing the topic of corrective eye surgery with my boyfriend last week and he told me that..." and not having it be a big deal (which it is as long as teachers are kept in the closet.

ILGA is an education in homofascism. ILGA discriminates against people based on sexual orientation - the ultimate hypocrisy. ILGA sucks.

To whom it may concern.
We, aware people of Polish society are writing to you, looking for help with our national issue. Last few days have shown us that Polish government and some politicians cannot see all of public needs, which especially nowadays become very necessary. On Thursday and then on Friday, January 25 and 26 in our Seym took place a reading and also voting about Civil Partnership Act. To our surprise, the law made ​​by the ruling party have not only been implemented, but also denied even the right to be the subject of the debate. This prompted us to take matters into our own hands and seek help from LGBT organizations in the world and among the foreign media.
From the beginning - it was the first time in Poland, when this kind of social problem was analyzed in the parliament. To the Polish Seym were given three projects of acts, which could change life of thousands LGBT people in this country, but it would be helpful for lots of heterosexual people, living in partnerships as well. But all projects had to face themselves as rejected. Why? Because of personal opinions, poor knowledge, biases, and hate of our politicians, what they have been showing since anyone had the audacity to say something about homosexual people law. One day before voting took place a debate, which was straight signal how our representatives of the authorities (do not) care about society.
The main argument to reject all of the three acts was that, it is allegedly inconsistent with polish constitution, especially 18th article, which exactly says: Marriage as relationship of one man, and one woman, family, maternity and parenthood are protected by Poland. But why Civil Partnership is disobeying this act? Answer for this question was given by Krytyna Pawłowicz (one of our politicians, party: Prawo I Sprawiedliwość): ‘From homosexual relationships we cannot expect prolongation of existence, because they are not geared to procreation. Homosexuals are completely useless, because they do not any procreation.’ What does it mean? We should not allow infertile people to get married, because they bring no procreation, and should be canceled from society. What is scary that politicians can say such things as these without any trouble during debates about law important for many people in our country. Mrs. Pawłowicz was asked by one reporter that, what would she do, if her son had told her, he is gay. She said, she would bring him for the therapy, because psychiatrists can cure it, and such a trouble must be cured! (in fact, there is no doctor after medical studies, who would try to cure homosexuals). And it was told to Mrs. Pawłowicz, that The World Health Organization stopped regarding homosexuality as a disease many years ago, but she replied, they are against people, and they lie, so she will never listen to them. In the day of voting she said again that the projects are the attack on the family, marriage and the Constitution.
However, article 2nd says that Poland is democratic country, existing with all rules of the social justice. So where is the justice here? Article 32nd : ‘All the people in Poland are equal’. So why some of them cannot legalized their relationship? In this case the lack of Civil Partnership Law is disobeying the Constitution!
‘Homoerotic relationships (whatever it means) in all their unnaturalness are just the expression of hedonism, and they are nothing good for Poland’ said Tadeusz Woźniak (party: Solidarna Polska). And he said such thing straight before voting.
Next politician voting for leaving all the acts before works have been started was Tomasz Latos. He said that being gay is only about to pray for changing that “awful situation”, and if someone has no faith in God, should just keep himself in hope, that it is going to change. In fact, there is no scientifically confirmed episode of changing sexual orientation. Politicians can lie, and talk whatever they want, without any consequences!
And people as them, with no knowledge, with no competences to talk about homosexual people, and full of biases (religion, society, upbringing, and manners) are allowed to decide about people for whom Civil Partnership is only way to have better life. Without it two people after twenty years of being together are totally strangers to each other in law. So they have no possibility to get information about the partner in hospital, in the case of death, they cannot decide about funeral of the partner, inheritance is like for strangers so partner will get his part of property, but with the biggest tax. There is also no possibility to get life annuity after partner’s death, and no chance to have common property(if they live together, the house belongs to only one of them. So when owner-in-law dies, his partner is forced to pay for this house if his partner gave it to him in his testament. If not his family(parents for example), can tell him to move out, and he has no chance to stay there because in law it is not his house.).
But it is not the only problem for Homosexuals. There are many Heterosexual pairs for which Civil Partnership would be helpful. For example when two people are in love but they do not want to get married and also want to live together with protection in many cases. This can also bring some help for friends, when they live together (in the other side of country, far away from hometown), and take care of each other. They could use this law to have easier life. To pay taxes for home together, get information in the hospitals, as close first contact.
This is a great solution for all the people who live together, but cannot, or just don’t want to get married.
We decided to write to you because we cannot stand this horrible way of treating our social problems as ‘way of hiding things that have a real matter’, how it was said in parliament three days ago. Talking in our country is going to change nothing. Please publicize this fact in your country. We are full of hope, that you might help just a bit or at least will not let members of the Government talk something unreal, wrongful, and prejudicial things without any consequences.
Your faithfully,
Konrad Kwiecień
Krzysztof Piszczek

Help us to map the right to education for LGBT

After publishing the Guide to Advocate for Sexual Diversity Education, GALE starts to map the right to education worldwide. On the GALE website, the GALE Checklist is now available. This short survey helps GALE to make an overview of how the right to education is respected and implemented for LGBT people in your country. The results will be used to create a map of denying, ambiguous and supportive states.

The survey consist of 21 questions. Our questions focus on the role of the State to secure these rights, but you can also add information about what happens in practice. If you do not add additional information, the survey will take just 5 minutes to finish.

At the end of the survey you will be asked if you would like to become a GALE reporter. We would like to find interested supporters in each country to keep on monitoring the right to education, and to stimulate both LGBT and mainstream organization to do the right thing. This could be to develop training and materials, but even better would be to first assess what the country needs and which types of strategy and interventions will be most feasible and effective. The GALE Foundation will support reporters to act on this, for example by helping to organize strategic workshops or some research.

Sorry for my bad English. There are violations of LGBT rights in Serbia. Anti-Discrimination law are fictitious. LGBT people suffer psyche violence in their family in school, college,university, job. Psychiatrist not accept a fact that homosexuality is no longer considered a form of mental illness. Students at the university (university of psychology, sociology, law) books learn that homosexuals are delinquents, disrupted, sick. Academic professor they have "Doctor of Science" title, lecture their students that homosexuality IS MENTAL ILL.

As a gay person that lived in Canada for about 7 years I can see why lots of gay people in Saudi are lost you never know what to do people keep asking when are you going to get married and have kids it just makes me feel that getting married is going to solve all the problems which is not true at all
I have tried to get back to Canada with no help at all not even from the Canadian embassy
Everything has to be a secret finding someone that you can talk to or even someone that you can share good moments and feelings with is totally hard
Not knowing what to do or what to say keeping everything inside is just not the answer
I am still trying to find way to be able to leave this country and live in a place where I can be free and be judged by my options or even the way I look and express myself

I moved to London 7 years ago, only 6 months after moving here I came out to myself and others as a lesbian. Now being here and feeling free about who I am, I now look back in horror of how closeted Latvian LGBTI community has to be to survive. I remember Gay pride in Latvia couple years ago when I was visiting. Protestors would throw eggs at pride’rs, not to mention gay bars being monitored by straight no-lifers ready to unleash their anger and confusion onto people who just want to be themselves. There is no mention of LGBTI in school systems and most of grownups see being gay as lifestyle choice, as some kind of perverted lifestyle; if anything kids there might live most of their lives feeling that there is something wrong with them for years, simply because there is no guidance. Exploring your sexuality is considered as something perverted even with straight couples. I think Latvia needs a big massive rainbow slap :) I think it is getting better as Latvia now is more and more influenced by Europe and it is getting more and more diverse. So there is sunshine behind that rainy cloud which hopefully then creates an amazing rainbow :)

ILGA is fascist.

We'd like to share a variety of experinces articulated in Digital Stories on the www.rainbowfamilytree.com project! Let us know what you think about sharing everyday stories for social change ; )

Hello,im Daniela,im fron Albania.i was a student when i felt in love with a student,im muslim but in my religion its unacceptable being a lesbian or gay.etc.neway when everybody discover that me and that girl we had a relation they start making fun,spill on our face,in my final exams they didnt accept me,and i was one of the best students,to the library the students kick us out,so i went back to my small city,i said everything to my parents about me,i coudnt hide it anymore,and they couldnt believe it ,it was unacceptable,so my mom she decide to apply to Humber college,she send all the documents for me,and i got accepted,peoople they abused me,they puntched me because of the fact that im lesbian,right now im in Canada,i didnt know whats the mean "FREEDOM"but now i know that i can be my self.

Just Published: "An Orphan No More...the true story of a boy" written by Jerry and Jordan Windle. Jordan is Jerry's 13 year old son. Adopted from Cambodia when he was only 18 months old. Jordan is now the youngest Diver to qualify (at age 12) for the USA Diving Olympic Team Trials in Seattle, Washington. Order this wonderful Children's Book with the foreword written by 4-time Olympic Diving Gold Medalist, Greg Louganis. www.anorphannomore.com or www.jordanwindle.com
This story celebrates the ideal that Love is Love!

SORRY. TRY THIS ONE:


Cast the Last Stone
or
I Got Your Civil Union Hangin’

Do you take this man and this woman
Do you take this woman and man
To love and to honor and cherish
The way only a good Christian can

Will you throw a few stones at the heathens
Will you tell ‘em all where they can go
Will you hate everyone who’s not like you
For the Bible tells you it’s so

Or will you listen to that old hippy Jesus
Who said Leave all the bullshit behind
And let two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Enjoy all the love they can find

{chorus}

I’ve always loved you
And you’ve always loved me
You’d think love would be easy
In the land of the free
In a world full of bitterness
Hatred
And stone
Why don’t you leave all the lovers alone?

The love police say we can’t marry
The thought police say we can’t think
While the lawmakers locked in the closet
Say we can’t watch them buy the boys drinks

I love you like your soul is my soul
I’ll stay till the end of the world
But the minister ran from the altar
When he found we’re a couple of girls

Tradition can be a real mother
Those weren’t cruise ships in the triangle trade
And the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know it’s time to make history fade

{chorus}

Money is nice if it’s decent
And handy when push comes to shove
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know everything’s lost without love

They say Jesus he died for the sinners
And he fought so that true love will win
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Were told they should read the small print


Charlie Manson can legally marry
Any woman that’ll give him the time
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Were told that their love is a crime

{chorus}

Yeah, Charlie Manson can legally marry
Any woman that’ll give him the time
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
THEY KNOW THAT THEIR LOVE IS SUBLIME

hank ezralily@ca.rr.com 714 915 5814

Cast the Last Stone
or
I Got Your Civil Union Hangin’

Do you take this man and this woman
Do you take this woman and man
To love and to honor and cherish
The way only a good Christian can

Will you throw a few stones at the heathens
Will you tell ‘em all where they can go
Will you hate everyone who’s not like you
For the Bible tells you it’s so

Or will you listen to that old hippy Jesus
Who said Leave all the bullshit behind
And let two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Enjoy all the love they can find

{chorus}

I’ve always loved you
And you’ve always loved me
You’d think love would be easy
In the land of the free
In a world full of bitterness
Hatred
And stone
Why don’t you leave all the lovers alone?

The love police say we can’t marry
The thought police say we can’t think
While the lawmakers locked in the closet
Say we can’t watch them buy the boys drinks

I love you like your soul is my soul
I’ll stay till the end of the world
But the minister ran from the altar
When he found we’re a couple of girls

Tradition can be a real mother
Those weren’t cruise ships in the triangle trade
And the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know it’s time to make history fade

{chorus} Charlie Manson can legally marry
Any woman that’ll give him the time
Money is nice if it’s decent But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
And handy when push comes to shove Were told that their love is a crime
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know everything’s lost without love {chorus}

They say Jesus he died for the sinners Yeah, Charlie Manson can legally marry
And he fought so that true love will win Any woman that’ll give him the time
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Were told they should read the small print THEY KNOW THAT THEIR LOVE IS SUBLIME

hank ezralily@ca.rr.com 714 915 5814

Cast the Last Stone
or
I Got Your Civil Union Hangin’

Do you take this man and this woman
Do you take this woman and man
To love and to honor and cherish
The way only a good Christian can

Will you throw a few stones at the heathens
Will you tell ‘em all where they can go
Will you hate everyone who’s not like you
For the Bible tells you it’s so

Or will you listen to that old hippy Jesus
Who said Leave all the bullshit behind
And let two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Enjoy all the love they can find

{chorus}

I’ve always loved you
And you’ve always loved me
You’d think love would be easy
In the land of the free
In a world full of bitterness
Hatred
And stone
Why don’t you leave all the lovers alone?

The love police say we can’t marry
The thought police say we can’t think
While the lawmakers locked in the closet
Say we can’t watch them buy the boys drinks

I love you like your soul is my soul
I’ll stay till the end of the world
But the minister ran from the altar
When he found we’re a couple of girls

Tradition can be a real mother
Those weren’t cruise ships in the triangle trade
And the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know it’s time to make history fade

{chorus} Charlie Manson can legally marry
Any woman that’ll give him the time
Money is nice if it’s decent But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
And handy when push comes to shove Were told that their love is a crime
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Know everything’s lost without love {chorus}

They say Jesus he died for the sinners Yeah, Charlie Manson can legally marry
And he fought so that true love will win Any woman that’ll give him the time
But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers But the two dear sweet lesbian lovers
Were told they should read the small print THEY KNOW THAT THEIR LOVE IS SUBLIME

hank ezralily@ca.rr.com 714 915 5814

Dear friends,I'm from Ukraine, Lviv and I was going to attend your upcoming forum in Roma , in december 5.2011.Fist the organiser Alessandro Valera told me I was wellcome to attend, but later on Monday they refused me to atend this forum, telling me they don't have enough fund for my travel.Can you help me to attend this event as I'm doing aresech on LGTB in Ukraine and I'm going to create an organisation here in Ukraine.
Regards
Volodymyr Sadnytskyy

I would like to point out the contradictory statements found in the ILGA 2008 and 2010 reports entitled "State-Sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults."

In their 2008 report the ILGA states on page 10: "Penal Code of 1996: Article 88: 'Anyone who commits an indecent act or an act against nature with an individual of the same sex will be punished with 1 to 3 years prison and a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 francs.'"

Whereas in the 2010 ILGA report we find on page 44: "Note that same-sex activities never have been criminalised in Benin...."

I am a currently serving US Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin and my supervisors go by the same information found in the ILGA's 2008 report. However, an acquaintance at the US Embassy in Benin seems to believe the law against homosexuality has been repealed as is evidenced by Benin's approval of his and his husband's visas to serve at the US Embassy here as diplomats; their visas were denied by the Cameroonian government when they applied as a married couple to work at the US embassy there. Additionally, an American lesbian diplomat couple's visas were recently approved by the Beninese government and the women will be arriving in the coming weeks. This is progress and indicative of a change in an official change in stance on homosexuality on the part of Benin (and the US State Dept. who fought for these two couples).

Regardless of what is codified, homosexuality here is very unacceptable. The respect for the rule of law in Benin is weak (and weaker the more rural you endeavor) and people cling to traditional customs and often fear strong changes like an acceptance of homosexuality, even though such changes are towards a recognition of basic human rights. Just as in most African countries, Beninese find homosexuality to be a Western phenomenon that might be infiltrating the country but is nonetheless un-African, un-Beninese. However, most Beninese are extremely undereducated and do not know what critical thinking is--let alone how to implement it in their daily lives. Thus, there is hope for homosexuality in Benin, but not until the institution of secular education is strengthened and made free and made as mandatory as for children in the West.

I might add that here in Africa in general but Benin in particular (and Zambia, as my experience there allows me to comment) some men will engage in same sex acts but will not define their acts or themselves as homosexuals. I have even heard of some men seeing only anal penetration as characteristic of homosexuality, but actions less "invasive" are not. Furthermore, Westerners like to attach labels to what they observe. An American who just stepped off the Brussels Air flight will look around and might see a bunch of queer men: men here hold hands as a sign of friendship and will even be quick to call another man beautiful/handsome. The continuum on which an American perceives a person's actions as heterosexual, questionably homosexual, or blatantly homosexual will be different from that of a Beninese continuum with respect to the area in between the two extremes (heteronormative behavior and blatantly homosexual activity).

Regardless of being able to hold hands with another man, hold his waste, and embrace him (here, assuming he is my boyfriend), openly expressing that we are a gay couple would put his and my personal safety at risk; violent reprisal is a real danger.

Benin is in high need of strong willed, well educated, tactful citizens to form an organization without Western leadership (so as to be viewed as more organic) that will conduct outreach to raise awareness about the existence of homosexuals--and their right to exist--and how such a change in cultural views will not entail an eroding of personal values or morals. As I like to say: homophobia exists in Benin, but homophobia does not make a Beninese a Beninese.

Ah, Jordan, homophobia to its fullest. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is anonmous, and Im a 14 year old straight boy living in Amman, capital of Jordan. Now lately ive been interested in guys so i guess Im Bi-Curious? Anyway, Ive been living here all my life, except for a couple of years I lived in the states for. And being gay, lesbian, trans, inter, is not anything to be in Amman. There is no law about it, so yes its not illegal, but if you are found out to be any of the above, expect to possibly be: Hated on, harrassed, physically hurt, maybe killed. In Jordan, an islamic country, being gay is forbidden in there religeon, so its not gonna be cool for the people is it? Th funny thing is, if you are caught with your girlfriend dating somewhere public, you will be mocked, but Ive seen guys hold hands, embrace and even kiss on the cheek randomly and no one says anything about that.... Help me.

ok last year in my school me n a group a friends (gay lesbian and straight) wanted to make a gay club we did everything possible to make it happen but our principle just kept saying no what can we do? i dont want to give up i want to have a gay lesbian club in school to support us i personally have gone threw bullying in this school n i want it to stop im tired to hear ppl yell at me look at the lesbian n tell me mean things everytime i walk around...it isnt fair...help me plz

What is "normal"? Its a relative term. Be enlightened and educated abotu the existence of varied sexualities and gender orientations. To each, one's own.

BE STRONG AND STRONG WILLED. BE PROUD OF YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. NO BODY CAN ERASE YOUR SENSE OF WHO YOU ARE, OR YOUR PRIDE IN YOUR GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. I AGREE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY HOMOPHOBES IN INDIA (IT IS NOT AS IF ALL IS WELL IN OTHER PLACES, EVEN IF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE LAWS SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF ALL SEXUAL MINORITIES.) JOIN A LOCAL QUEER/LGBTI GROUP IN YOUR AREA IF U CAN. YOU WILL SURVIVE BEING QUEER IN INDIA.

Please help each other spread love not hate!
I am begging everyone on this site, everyone that posts here with their stories
Or perhaps comes seeking advice. Please don't hate spread love. We need to unite
As LGBT people! We need to come together. I've read some heartbreaking stories
Of hate and violence towards people on here and my heart breaks. No one should
Be told that they are garbage nor should anyone be treated violently because of their sexual
Orientation. Love your family and friends and cherish each day. You are who you are and we are
All unique individuals and we are all special. Sending everyone hugs. jadesama@gmail.com is my email
Address I want to open my email to other LGBT people so we can help one another
I am new to this but I would love to make friends from around the world and lend some support
To the LGBT community. ( : Feel free to drop me an email!

Velvet Milestones:

2008- Conceptualization of Velvet to create a safe space for LBT community which was absent in kolkata specially. People needed a friendly environment with privacy and security where they can discuss their day to day life and ask for help if needed.
2009- Velvet Facebook group launched. Base shifted to Delhi. More than 300 members joined. Regular nteraction, discussion and exchange of ideas started actively on facebook.
2009- Took part in Delhi Queer Pride 2009
Organized community based programs
Active participation in queer scenario of Delhi
2010- Took part in Delhi Queer pride 2010
2011- Networked with Mumbai queer community actively
Back to kolkata to focus dedicatedly on VELVET along with Alka Kedwal
Actively participated in KOLKATA RAINBOW PRIDE FESTIVAL 2011
Introduced LBT participation in Kolkata Pride walk 2011, 17th july for the
first time.
Velvet Became support group for LGBT
Velvet became recognized by ILGA
Started personalized counseling for LBT community
Started close interaction with Sangini to have them as Mentor to Velvet
Sonali and Alka came out in FEMINA ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 14th October
2011 as lesbian couple
Took part in IBN7 Zindegi Live talk show as Lesbian couple- to be aired on
November 2011
More than a dozen individual ongoing cases handled and still getting requests
everyday.
Creating Network between LGBT community in Kolkata to fight loneliness
among queer population
FUTURE PLANS:
To register Velvet as a trust by January 2012.
To start mainstream activities to build and spread awareness and eliminate Homophobia

Madurai throbs with more than 3700 gays &
we the Srishti first Gay friendly LGBT circle of Madurai is here for gathering all Bisexuals & gays in & around our city

Srishti works for creating awareness among all college students in madurai through NSS

we arrange progrms on Sexual orientation

our people counsel the uneducated community abt homosex

we conduct seminars with our officials from delhi, mumbai, chennai for teaching college students by conveying them homosex is not a sin or
it is not a disorder or gay are not transgenders
or its not unnatural task with human


we fight for LGBT rights in madurai & trying to make madurai as a comfortable place for Gays & Lesbians.

we works with TamilNadu Govt Aids awareness progs in madurai

planning to conduct the LGBT rainbow festival in madurai on 2012.

plz refer wikipedia about LGBT & Homosexuality in India

you can be a supporter for gathering all Homosexuals under one roof in madurai.

if u like to volunteer our progrms contact Sarva 9092282369

come & join with Srishti

In Central Wisconsin, two teenage girls (15 yrs.) were advised to break up, because "it's not something the school likes seeing". I understand PDA restrictions, no one wants to see man and woman, nor man and man eating face in the hallways, it's inappropriate. If the principal simply reminded the girls of the PDA rules and it will not be tolerated in school from either sexuality, that would've been completely okay. But, when a Principal of a "Class A" school is advising teenage girls that their orientation is not acceptable at a PUBLIC school, that is wrong. It is neither this Principals job, nor personal business to get involved with. These two girls should be not only accepted, but encouraged for having the guts to come out and be who they really are. I support you two girls, and any other GLBT. Do not let ridiculous "leaders" like this Principal treat you like that. STRENGTH <3

VULNERABILITY SPECTRUM

BACKGROUND: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces was carried out in 10 regions of Uganda.
OBJECTIVE: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces where inquiry into who MARPs are, what MARPs need, who provides services, what is demanded, what are the behavioural characteristics unique to MARPs and other contexts influencing issues of MARPs that was conducted between July 2010-August 2011.
DESIGN: Conduct Review of literature, Interviews, structured conversation and focus group discussions. Respondents were drawn from; 150 farmer groups, 220 hair salons, 27 landing sites, 27 police posts, 110 cattle/village markets/social spaces, 225 major RH/FP/MH/CS/Health Services organisations, with leaders and members of 100 FBOs/2200 CBOs/CSOs/Community Groups, 2,550 lower level governments and communities, with members of 3,000 men/Women groups/settings, in 19,174 trading and urban spaces (Artisanry marts, car dealerships, repair garages, washing bays, food vending kiosks, video kiosks, shopping malls, recreational spaces) along 6 major trunk roads and 25 other roads leading to rural districts, 250 educational institutes (higher institutions of learning, colleges, senior/primary schools), 100 minorities’ spaces, 72 fresh foods markets, 200 hotels/lodges, 25 housing estate areas ( e.g. Jinja industrial area, Kampala, Gulu, Mbarara, Kasese, Tororo, Mbale), 170 ludo/snooker points, 1,700 storage and parking bays/car-park/boda/lorry/bus-parks in urban settings.
SETTING: Uganda was divided into operational regions: Central, Northern, Eastern, North Eastern, Mid-Western and south-Western where 30,000 were identified and these included: Lower level governments, urban centers, municipalities, towns, market areas, boarder points, social-meeting places, recreational spaces, food vending areas, film kiosks, shopping malls, parks, washing bays, road stop spots, educational institutions and CSOs. 5 lakes were visited to generate understanding of fisher folk communities.
RESPONDENTS: We used groups and individual key informants that way 30,000 Key informants were mobilised to include; leaders, community members, PLHIV, MSM, Substance users, sex-workers, fisher folk, key persons at road stop spot, bar-owners, informal sector, car-parks, bus-parks, work-place-exit points, school leaders, out-door games’ organizers, and uniformed services.
INTERVENTIONS: The police and criminal justice system are points for violence redress. Other forms of Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: MARPs character and vulnerability spectrum in Uganda.
RESULTS: At community of residence level right through the Criminal justice system, substance users, MSM, Sex-workers and PLHIV still face stigma and violence. Sex-work (female, male and child sex-work) is rampant along all major road trunks and in major destination towns towards Uganda’s boarders. Education and housing areas have high prevalence of male/female sex-work, same sex practices and substance use. Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs. Key affected populations such as MSM and substance users being criminalized still lack focused programmes targeting them. Communities still do discriminate and stigmatize Key affected populations such as PLHIV, MSM and substance users. There is a tendency to box MARPs issues into HIV Programmes and this has influenced the approach to most programming. Messaging to eradicate risks to HIV should factor in fact that substance use, unprotected anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work, child sex-work are interconnections in sexual networks
VULNERABILITY:
CENTRAL REGION: These included; Buganda, Busoga sub-region, Bugwere and Bugisu. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, sexual practices, gendered sexual beliefs and the gap between haves and have nots.
NORTH-EASTERN REGION: These included; Karamoja sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, displacements arising from searching for pasture and child neglect
MID-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kasese, Hoima, Buliisa and Fort Portal. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, Indigenous Tribes, male/female sex-work around mining and cement industry, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; perceptions of men about mid-Western Uganda females, quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, gap between haves and have nots.
SOUTH-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kabale and Ankole Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
WEST-NILE REGION: These included; Arua and Madi Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts, and inter-cultural social experiences.
NORTHERN SUB REGION: These included; Acholi and Lango Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS:
“As a town dweller, I do know of substance use, anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work and child sex-work in this town and many others. The clients include professional persons, odd-jobs workers, artisans, students and non-school young people”. Ashraf (Wandegeya), Florence (Nansana), Grace (Kawempe), Jerome (Migyeera), Cosma (Nimule) and Rashid (Mbale).
“Am a male sex-worker since 2007, my kind of clients have my phone contacts and book in different hotels in different towns of Uganda. They send me a text message and we meet for sex. Most times they also ask me to bring other friends when they are many. Some of our clients do use substances, especially they smoke marijuana”. Crystal (Kampala).
“We want to be trained in skills to start up alternative businesses besides depending on Fishing”. Bukenya (Kyamuswa, Mazinga, Kalangala Islands of Lake Victoria), Arthur (Lake Albert), Ogwer (Lake Kioga).
“Yes, there are programmes on HIV and Human Rights as part of the prison services, hopefully this will be a big step in improving prevention practices”. (Key informant).
“Am interested in two things now that we have met. How your organisation can help us “handle” MARPs since we are increasingly working in that area” . (Key informant from a leading health organisation).
“ What is that nonsense? Every one is a MARP!” ( Key informant and district official).
“ The issues such as stigma, dialogue around discrimination and their relation to HIV are points to start with in starting and driving conversation around MARPs issues”. (Key informant and Community Development Officer).
“Am a trans-woman and I feel so insecure. I have to keep in-doors and only get out at night or make sure I put on long coats and a cap if am to conduct outreach services for other trans-women in Uganda”. (Leader of Trans-Women Bureau Uganda).
“ I am a transgendered male to female person and my parents are aware of my sexuality and gender identity. I wonder why we do not have seminars targeting parents and families. Our families are the first points of insecurity for many of the gay people.” (Leader of Young MSM Club in Uganda).
“ We are ready to conduct community campaigns against “mob-justice” as this is one very unjust way communities deal with what they disagree with. Communities should learn to use the justice system and believe in it. Other reported complaints are evictions, black-mail, extortion and deliberate hostility actions”. (Key informant from law and order section).
LIMITATION: This exercise was conducted to generate vulnerability before testing and it explored issues around visibility of various MARPs.
CONCLUSION: Contexts ranging from Policy, programmes, public and private settings form and influence actions targeting MARPs issues. HIV risk is one major issue most organisations target. However, before testing or accessing an HCT service MARPs need to be looked at as vulnerable and that vulnerability is disproportionate. Criminalization, Stigma and violence form a barrier that silences MSM, Sex-workers and substance users and it may cause them to go underground. This may not be the case for fisher folk, Long distance truckers or uniformed services. MARPs issues include demand for skills training to access anti-poverty programmes such as social grants. Public and private settings have all the basics in place to provide redress to all issues of MARPs. However, they are also points of violence to some MARPs.

Sometimes the best action is no action;other times the best action is teaching by example. If one is oppressive then one is oppressed. Do we fight, do we flight? Out the oppressor if you want to be Out; report the security guard, write an editorial, publicize the employer. It may make no difference then again it may. Recommended reading: Long Walk to Freedom (Nelson Mendela biography). Recommended film; The Accused (based on a true story)

As an ESL/EFL educator, I yearned to create a safe education environment, to deliver curriculum inclusive of GLBT global culture. While Canada as a whole is making progress in this area, smaller less urbanized less culturalized communties are still oppressed thus discriminate GLBT teachers, students and incorporation of related curriculum. While teaching in a rural Canadian public university, I felt extremely oppressed, fearful for my job and my students. My goal is to teach, to educate through example. Canada's laws and legislated policies exists to protect all yet falls short of their true mandate. All human rights and equality depend on education, hope and courage. We,the educators and learners need to feel safe in our educational environment,need to feel free to experience a safe education in a fair playing field. Rather than wait, rather than fight, I have adopted a holistic approach to ESL/EFL -a virtual global teach and learn community that is accepting, fosters choice and embraces differneces among All People from All Nations. We must make it better, we must erase hate, we must advocate, we must EDUCATE; ours is the legacy that we leave to the future.
"The measure of oneâ&euro;&trade;s character is not what they get from their ancestors,but what they leave their descendants." ~ AU

Its better you try to get help from some LGBT communities in Tanzania.I understand the situation you are going through its unfair for you to work and then pay someone how is taking advantage because of you being a homosexual and i know our situation in Africa concerning with homosexuality.Let us come out and condemne such acts.We should request to decriminilse homosexuality in East Africa like in Rwanda
Steven kasiko

As part of its work to combat discrimination, Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is privileged to present this story from the Spectrum of Korey Chisholm, a 20 year old man who lives in Guyana.
Who are you?
I am a young person who is interested in community development, especially working with young people and children. I have done training as an HIV peer educator, and I am working on some other courses in youth leadership so as to become better informed to take up a leadership role. I am active in a few youth groups, and I am grateful for all the training I have received. I am currently working in trying to ensure that orphans and children vulnerable to HIV are getting care. My role models are two young men and a young woman who have mentored me and allowed me to be open with them. I have recognised that there is a need for leadership within sections of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, in terms of identifying important values so that we could support ourselves and not be self-destructive.
What is your sexual orientation?
I am gay, I am attracted to other men. I have had good relationships with girls when I was younger but after awhile, I have recognised and accepted that I am gay. For me, being gay means having some feminine qualities and sometimes I think like a woman.
Do you want to be a woman?
I would like to be a woman so that I could feel like a woman, but I do not have the desire to go through a sex change operation. I am comfortable with my body, and my genitals. I like dressing in drag , and I used to do it quietly at home, in front of the mirror. However, recently I took a major step, and participated in the Miss Gay Glory pageant.
What was it like to participate in the Miss Gay Glory pageant?
I wanted to help the organisers in terms of training and to make the pageant a success. I think it was important to give gay people a chance to be themselves and also to look at other things like intelligence and talent. I ended up participating in the pageant. The experience was very good for me in that I felt that I came out more to myself. I wanted to have fun, but there was serious aspects for the contestants to train and learn about their platforms, which were social issues. I felt that the makeup and the clothes would be a disguise, and that no one would know me. However, some people recognised me and shouted my name, not maliciously. I have been out a few times, dressed in drag, and had a good time in places where the owners are tolerant. I sometimes think of the risk, but I think that I want to be myself and sometimes I get tired of pretending. At work they ask about girlfriends, but I donâ&euro;&trade;t say anything. On the night of the pageant, there were some people from my church who were in the audience.

Are you religious?
Yes, I am religious. I follow Christian principles. I am active in the church, and I love working in the different groups, especially with children and young people. I like music and singing. I find that that gospel music is uplifting, and for me, the songs when I sing them, they make me feel good especially when I am down. I know that if the church elders find out about me, that I could be dis-fellowshiped. I am at a stage of my life, where I would not have any problems with that, because I am comfortable without the church and I know that I could worship God on my own. I think many gay people are spiritual. At the pageant, we included gospel and a prayer which all the contestants had written. The other people from my church who were there, some are gay and some are not, they are supportive. I took pictures with them
How do you feel about HIV and gay men?
I am glad for the knowledge I have and I want to make sure that the LGBT community is informed and has access to services. I know that HIV is still a big risk to gay men. I always practice safe sex. I believe in monogamous relationships and even then, I will practice safe sex. Sometimes, people will say that they love me, and want to have sex without condoms. It is difficult to imagine, but this is still happening.
What is in the future for you?
I have to further my education while I make a living. I have to get some qualifications. In five years time or so, I hope to have my degree and be in a position to continue the work in community development. There are many options for me â&euro;&ldquo; community health, governance, working on leadership development. In terms of family, I know I cannot have children of my body. I think I will adopt when I am settled. There are many children out there who need care and I believe I am a fit person to look after them.

Gay Bashing In Georgetown, Guyana - A Gay Man Shares His Experiences
Homosexual men in Guyana are still finding it difficult to live free from fear of stigma and discrimination as the World celebrates another AIDS Day today. These are everyday parts of their lives whether at school, work or accessing services from hospitals or transportation service providers. Korey, a young openly homosexual man, said his first experience with stigma and discrimination goes way back to his childhood when he was bullied and harassed. `Being in school, having persons tell you or trouble you and you would have to shift to doing certain things.` He explains some of the shifts he is forced to make to avoid the harassment. `If I see a set of guys lining at a corner I would walk around or take the longer route if that was the shorter route [to avoid passing there].`…If I go back home right now to where I am from in Berbice I would experience a great deal of stigma in terms of verbal words. Most of the stigma that I receive is verbal words,` he said. Korey said that although he has overcome being affected by words, some people take their attacks further than that. He said that up to the day before (being interviewed) while he was speaking on his cell phone, five young men were passing and one of them picked up a bottle to toss at him.
‘I stop at the time and I stand up, waiting to see if they were going to shy (hit) me with the bottle. When they realized that I am standing up there they start to say, `Oh, I am getting brave,` and that sort of thing,` he said. He added that the day prior to that incident, he was actually pelted with a bottle by another set of 20-something year old young guys. He said that most of the harassment that he receives would be in the form of people smiling in a mocking manner or nasty comments from older people. Korey works in a health facility. He says a lot of people know who he is. He thinks that because of this, he is able to access services quite comfortably, despite the occasional gesticulations from persons. But, the worst forms of discrimination come when he seeks access to public transportation.
`You find that bus conductors and drivers may not stop to pick you up, or upon discovering the person`s orientation may not want that person in the bus. I go to shop and I get sold, I get [attended to]. But even the taxi drivers, you have a big issue where they might not want to pick you up. They may slow down when flagged down but when they see who you are they drive away,` he said. He said that he has never confronted a transportation provider to know why he was asked to exit the bus. Instead he would simply comply with the demand to leave the car or bus. But there was one time when the minibus operator objected to him being in the bus and other passengers in support exited the bus also. Korey said that the problem has been escalating of late and it has been costing him money to move around. Openly gay men have more difficulties when it comes to employment. According to Korey they sometimes have to be somebody else before they are given employment because of employers` requirements for dress code.
`Lots of young gay flamboyant men are unemployed because of this, and this may lead to them engaging in transactional sex. They may not go out there at night, but engage in it right in their homes. In their minds it is not sex work. They do it occasionally to get income to [supplement] support from family,` Korey explained. Gay men do experience sexual assaults. Relating to an incident earlier in his life, Korey said that when he was gang-raped, he could not go to the Police nor could he tell his parents, because of the fear of stigma and discrimination. `When I got home I didn`t tell my family anything, I just told them I got robbed and dropped the matter,` Korey said. `The same is about telling the story over and over…and then to get the reaction from the Police, a laugh or a smirk or a smile, and the questions that they ask,` he said.

Today, Korey is part of the Guyana Rainbow Foundation and is also affiliated with the
Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD). He also has a youth community based organization called Diverse Youth Movement which looks at issues in the younger Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community. His organisation looks at personal development and capacity building for young persons. He said that because the Guyana Rainbow Foundation is fairly new, they have not approached agencies for assistance with funding to look at social cohesion and conflict resolution. `I am now finishing the governance manual for the organization and once that is off, [we will be moving ahead]. We are registered with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. Now we are starting the work, we are doing some personal work,` he said. According to Korey the Ministry of Health has been greatly involving the youth group in its programmes and initiatives in terms of HIV and AIDS in Guyana. Director of the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr. Shanti Singh, said that the agency works with groups like Korey`s, providing funding for advocacy and training. There is also a coordinating committee at the national level that brings together all the NGOs that work with commercial sex workers and with men who have sex with men – once every quarter – to discuss with them whether things are going well. `Groups that have a focus on the LGBT community have been able to benefit from funding under the project to be able to do work among their members,` she said, noting that this is done through an arrangement similar to the groups that work with the female commercial sex workers. Dr. Singh said that from a health sector perspective it is very difficult for NAPS to infiltrate those communities and hence the use of the NGOs whose members may have the trust of the community that they are working with. Korey is trying to make a difference through his group`s advocacy work because of his experiences and those of people he knows in his community. `We want to work in the schools and homes because we have young men who have been placed out of their homes because of their status…people don`t want to come out because they are afraid of the stigma,` he said. - By Elan Era John, Panos Global AIDS Programme

The Honolulu Pride Festival Foundation is starting to kick off this years 2011 Hawaii State Pride Fest hosted in beautiful Honolulu Hawaii September 15 - 17, 2011 and encourage all to come and participate as this year we strive to bring PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD!

As Hawaii and the rest of the United States takes pro-active choices in sharing in the equality and justice for all with long roads ahead the little steps we take will lead to bigger victories for all of our LGBT brothers and sister who do not have the same freedoms we do in America. Help our politicians to understand that PRIDE is one way of showing that we are equal and we do not have to fear the hate and discrimination from the world around us which view us as a minority community who is filled with so called "Sinners". Take a stand and support all of your PRIDE organization around the world as we work hand in hand to creating peace, equality and justice for all!

I am Shame to be from Barbados... Read this article http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/too-much-sex-on-television/

I Am a boy. but I like and I have a experience with girl, uncle, Aunt with sex... and now i like to joint with bisexual thing... but still i can't find a bi sexual persons... anyone like, pls send me a massage. I always like little, young, old women, uncle, couple... but that should be secrets... pls send me hurry.... I allready to done any sexual thing with them... but i dont like to act films.
my mail address is lwasanjaya@yahoo.com..... i am hope fully and waiting for you........

There are lesbian, gay, and trans student groups allowed in TURKEY, they are univercity clubs and some other civil clubs. Heterosexuals in TURKEY believe ( not all of them but most of them ) being gay is a problem, kind of sin and not a thing that thay can acept. Being lesbian doesn't caunt as a homosexuality. People usually ( especcially homophobics) believe that LGBT is a choice and a way to have attantion or the way which you can make people away with it..

Dear Partners!
We want host an European Volunteer within the Youth in Action programme. For more info on YiA;http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc82_en.htm

BROSLÄTT YOUTH CENTRE: GENDER/EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES VOLUNTEER

GENERAL INFORMATION
Dates: September 2011 until July 2012
Duration: 10,5 months
Living arrangements: Rented house or rented rooms in vicinity of the work place.

We want to host a volunteer with Gender/Equal opportunties theme. We want the volunteer to have group activities with youngsters age 13-15 and the youngsters will come from the 3 different youth centres in our unit (Grevedammet, Balltorp, Broslatt). This means the group will also be a way for young people to integrate, and find friends from other areas and break down predjudism and work for anti-racist and human rights values. We also want to adress the homophobia that is a usual problem with young people at
our youth centres. The volunteer will work 2,5 evenings and some day time planning time, maximum 35 hrs /week. There will be opportunity to be part of the "Human rights/Gender equality interest network" within KEKS and there will be possibilty to develop the project in the interest and ability of the
volunteer.

The volunteer will have its base on Broslätt youth centre in the centre of Molndal, twin city of Gothenburg in west Sweden. The volunteer will be in a team of 8 international volunteers within Mölndal and our network KEKS,share accomodation with some of them.

The volunteer should be minimum 22 years old (because of our target group at the youth centres are 13-19). Preferable the volunteer should have some eduacation/experience or at least high interest in the Gender studies field. The volunteer must also have a high motivation in working with teenagers and be out going, sociable and have easy to make contact. A plus is to have
additional competence such as music skills, creative skills, theatre or dance. We of course welcome volunteers in the project with "fewer opportunities", regardless of religious background and in this case especially welcome LGBT applicants.

TO VOLUNTEERS: To apply send your application- CV+Motivation letter to; sara.lesch@molndal.se Important write "Gender volunteer" as subject. The deadline is June 1st.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Best regards
Sara Lesch

International Coordinator/
Youth Leader
Culture & Leisure Dep.
City of Molndal/KEKS
Sweden

I can't tell anyone that i'm homosexual,because in Turkey,heterosexual people reject homosexual people.they think that being homosexual is illness! nevertheless there are institutions which work to protect lgbt rights and which try to change people mind..

I am a homosexual male, living in Australia. I have been fortunate to live in a country where I can be as open about my sexuality as I like. Reconcilling this with my faith, however, has not been easy. Not only do I consider myself gay, but also deeply religious. My Christian faith has been my strength in times of despair and worry, and I cannot imagine ever not believing. What breaks my heart is that less and less people are practicing their faith these days, or even HAVE faith. Is it really becoming that foreign or strange, or even corny, to believe in God and sing His praises in church every Sunday? Of course, practicing one's faith isn't just a once-a-week thing, it's an all-the-time thing. Making such a huge commitment is a scary thing, but I think it's one we all need to make. There are so many gay christians out there who are comfortable about practicing their faith. So go on... take that leap of faith today!

The producers of the Gay Talk segment of the Charlie Spice Show is looking for interesting personalities from the Gay/Lesbian community to be guests on the show.

Guest must have interesting stories and experiences to share and discuss with the host, other guests and the audience.

For information on becoming a guest on the show, please go to http://charliespice.ning.com

The Gay Talk segment of the Charlie Spice Show was launched successfully on 13th Feb 2011.

Gay Talk is a show where the hosts engages the guests and the audience in open, lively and compelling discussion on the challenges faced by the members of gay and lesbian communities around the world.

The Charlie Spice Show is a weekly radio broadcast on the Internet. The show is a forum for the audience to address delicate, sensitive, controversial or taboo topics, which tend to be marginalized, ignored and swept under the carpet as a result of moralistic views, political expedience and hypocrisy.

The objective of the show is to offer an in-depth, unbiased look at the difficult issues as we seek to uncover the truth and take the audience beyond the speculations, misconceptions, lies, myths, stereotypes and hypocrisy about these taboo subjects, which continue to intrigue the masses on all sides of the fence.


The show is the brainchild of its host Charlie Spice, who is a former sex worker and sex trade operator with over 26 years experience in the Sex Industry. During his tenure,Charlie worked all sectors of the industry in the USA, UK, Europe and the Caribbean, before retiring in 2006/7 to pursue other ambitions such as his own Radio and TV talk shows.

Since retiring, Charlie has been using his knowledge and expertise to offer services as a Sex Industry Consultant, Guest Lecturer and Engagement Speaker on topics and issues related to the sex trade. He has done work with NGOs, Government Organisations, Health Organisations, HIV/AIDS Organisations and Universities. More bio information at http://charliespice.ning.com.

Charlie stated, "Launching my own radio talk show has been a compelling ambition for many years. But it was extremely difficult for me to achieve this goal with mainstream media because of my background in the sex industry.The decision makers of media organisations were always concerned about their audience's hypocritical conservativeness."

"My intention was to produce a show that was unbiased and tackled the difficult issues head on, without being marginalized by moralistic views, political expedience and hypocrisy."

With obvious passion and conviction, Charlie further emphasized, "It was also important that my show was produced to uncover the truth and take the audience beyond the speculations, misconceptions, lies, myths, stereotypes and hypocrisy about these taboo subjects, which continue to intrigue the masses on all sides of the fence.

"Therefore it became necessary for me to produce and launch my own show on the Internet, where I am able to set my own boundaries."

Even without prior experience in media production, the pilot episode "Gay Talk" was a success and has now set the stage for what promises to become a powerful voice for the Gay and Lesbian communities around the world. Charlie Spice has made their mark in the media arena and certainly in the minds of the gay and lesbian communities.

Gay Talk episodes can be heard at http://BlogTalkRadio.com/charliespice

Hello everybody,

there are information about our 8days meeting in Prague about minorities. We are NGO from the Czech republic and we organised meeting for students from the Czech republic and Slowakia. Two days were about lgbt. And they were the best according to the participants. There were 15 young people from our country and 13 from Slowakia. People from our country are mainly participants of lgbt community (8 of all Czech participants). And young people from Slowakia met never gay and lesbien before. It was great action for them. They can spend 8 days with gay, lesbien and bi and see, that we are normal too :) They were very surprise. Students not only from Slovakia told us that this event was great cause homosexuality is still tabu in their country. But we have problem with schools in the Czech rep. too. Managers of schools are not the right for support of better position not only of lgbt. They are sometimes so stupid. But we are very happy that we can organise our winter / summer school of minorities without managers but only for students :)

Conclusions
- Slovak students can support gay and lesbien in their country
- next months will be meeting in Slovakia - in 2 high schools and 1 basic schools to inform young students about our project and about life of lgbt in their country, the Czech rep. and world
- one boy from Slowakia wrote me in questionary: I hate gay before my participation in your event. Now I will support them... it is very good for us...
- one boy from Slovakia said during our meeting to all participant that he is gay...our action gave him information that it is normal

And now we are looking for partners abroad, not only in the Czech rep. and Slowakia. So let's contact us !!!

Do you want more info?
email: info_minorita@centrum.cz
facebook: Minorita Vs Majorita

We are looking forward to your contact :)

I just signed the petition "Gay Suspended february 3, 2011 Without Pay Ontario, Canada for defense of Gay Rights MONTFORT HOSPITAL " and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 700 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/gay-suspended-without-pay-ontario-canada-for-defense-of-gay-rights

Thanks!
For Team Change

Dear Sir/Madam,
We have just updated our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) guide to resources and support groups available online to be re-launched for the upcoming Tower Hamlets LGBT History Month in the United Kingdom.

Your organisation is featured in this guide.
http://www.absoluterelaxation.co.uk/LGBT

The guide aims to help Teachers, Parents and Students understand and support Young People with LGBT issues.

It contains helpful resources and a wide range of of support groups and links to help those students who are gay, think they might be or for Young People who would like a better understanding of LGBT issues.

Teachers will also find helpful resources to tackle homophobia and bullying in schools.

The pages include lists of support groups and information of LGBT History, Employment Issues, Religion, Health, Parenting, Books and Resources.

Kind regards,
Bernard Hazell
Michael O'Meara
Absolute Relaxation Ltd


"I'm thrilled that Tower Hamlets has compiled this comprehensive and stunning resource"
Sue Sanders, founder LGBT History Month


"It's great to see young people in Tower Hamlets
having access to such a useful resource.
I wish I had been given this information when I was at school.
It's a really cool website."
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights campaigner

A young man aged 24 was aresited by policemen while in a hotel with his sex partner and he was badly beaten just because of his sex orientation

Below is my letter to South Carolina's Senator Jim DeMint, sent in protest of his statements that gay people should not be allowed to teach school.

November 16, 2010

Senator Jim DeMint
340 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Senator DeMint:

This regards your repeated remarks that gay people should not be allowed to teach school. I object to them because that kind of discrimination against a minority violates the Pledge of Allegiance’s promise of liberty and justice for all.

I hereby challenge you to face me on national television and explain why I shouldn’t be allowed to teach. I studied at Master’s level at Harvard University and speak German, French, Spanish and Italian. I have published two novels. The phrase “By Scott Rose” has appeared in over 1,000 venues including Strings, (a publication for *students* of string instruments), The World Scholar (a publication for *students*), Bon Appétit, The Journal for the Study of Anti-Semitism, ShowBoats International, Decanter, Opera News, the New York Blade, Girlfriends, Caviar Affair, the Advocate, Relish’s The American Table and Mia/Enas, a magazine for Greek Americans. I have taught with conspicuously positive results. I have for example guest lectured on the arts in journalism at Brooklyn College. The students loved me. I gave them pointers on how to break into journalism and subsequently learned that some of them have done so.

When you demonize minority members of American society, saying they should not be allowed to teach school, you contribute to the terroristic atmosphere of hatred that results in gay students and teachers living in angst and in some cases even committing suicide. It is therefore most ironic that you of all people have served on a U.S. Senate Subcommittee for human rights. Recently in Tennessee, a lesbian couple found their house burned to the ground and the word “Queer” spray-painted on a remaining adjacent structure. Your demonizing of gay Americans contributes to the ongoing occurrence of such hate crimes. Do you intend to behave responsibly to stop the hate?

In addition to facing you on national television, I intend to organize a group of GLBT teachers from around the country to meet with you in Washington. I will not rest in my campaign to reverse your bigotry until you 1) retract your statement; 2) apologize for it and 3) commit to fostering atmospheres of diversity and acceptance in U.S. schools nationwide.

Sincerely,

Scott Rose


CC: Barack Obama, Rachel Maddow, Anderson Cooper, Charlie Rose, Keith Olbermann, Kenneth B. Mehlman. R. Clarke Cooper, Tony Ortega, Steven Thrasher, Matt Taibbi, other community members

"Welcome to the 21st Century" by Reinaldo J. Rendon
Oct.04 2010

It hasn’t been too long since the recognition of civil rights for women and our black brethren has allowed their successful integration into what has become a more tolerant, even welcoming society to those that were originally oppressed by outdated laws, and fearful politicians. Although society and laws are still adapting to these modifications, their success has depended mostly on the efforts of those who saw conservation of unnecessary old customs as misguided way to conceal inconvenient or uncomfortable truths. By truth I refer to something universal, unaffected by our perceptions; by truth in this case I refer to equality and freedom.
Thousands of years have passed since certain flawed corrupted/outdated values of the church began to persecute "the wicked", from witches to demons as its doctrine spread through all corners of the Earth. Meanwhile, science has been evolving alongside human civilization and society. Although our knowledge and justice systems have supposedly evolved to the point where we understand all capable humans as equals, (and those not fully capable, as still human…sometimes more), we still don’t have laws that protect and grant gay citizens the same rights, protections, and benefits as our heterosexual counterparts.

Greater understanding of the human mind has been achieved since the consolidation of psychology as a social science. No longer “witches”, nor possessed, we understand mentally ill patients and their conditions; we create treatments to aid them, and structure adequate processes to integrate them into society in a way that they can successfully “fuse” with the system. With the progress of science, and its imminent exposure of the truth, many conservatives have come to re-awaken to the idea that Christianity promotes love and tolerance, not hate nor discrimination. I remember a great quote from a great man who once said “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” with a hooker-made-apostle lying at his feet. Although we now frown upon societies that throw stones as ways of punishing their “criminals”, many still throw verbal/mental stones at those who are different simply because they were not educated properly and laws haven’t progressed rapidly enough to protect those in need.

“In recognition of the scientific evidence, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the DSM in 1973, stating that “homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities.
After thoroughly reviewing the scientific data, the American Psychological Association adopted the same position in 1975, and urged all mental health professionals “to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with homosexual orientations…Thus, mental health professionals and researchers have long recognized that being homosexual poses no inherent obstacle to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life” (American Psychiatric Association, 1975).

This is true in every sense but the legal one, for denying homosexuals the right to benefit from social/financial unions such as marriage deprives them of certain benefits such as tax-breaks, insurance coverage, or even to be treated as a family member at the time of an accident. The right for a gay American to marry their foreign lover in order to live happily in their free country is impossible; their relationship has no option but to end the moment their foreign “life-partner’s” Visa expires.

Furthermore, the absence of laws that prevent the hate word “faggot” being as commonly used as the hate word “nigger” was before the creation of civil laws that protected the blacks, prevents the social boundaries that allow proper growth of youths in a non-hostile environment. Evidence of this are the (now due to the increasing growth of general acceptance, as the next generation of straight and gay citizens whose education has been updated steps up to the plate) recently public wave of juvenile suicide cases...that are sadly, and ultimately, nothing new...
The point is that people’s lives are still ticking away while bureaucrats place the issue on the back-burner generation after generation, refusing to accept that gay people are equal, and therefore deserve the same rights as everyone else. While most other developed nations in Europe, and even Latin American (Colombia, Argentina, Mexico currently debating it) permit civil unions between homosexuals with equal recognition of all their rights, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” continues to ignore the silent screaming of a small, but definetly existent percentage of their population that seeks nothing more but an equal opportunity at happiness. If the constitution and even the declaration of independence place us all as equals, defining America as a nation ruled by majority, that protects minorities…then how can we allow our rights to freedom, financial prosperity, protection of our nation, and even to live safely in peace without being forced to deny who you are slip away from us.

Is there not a separation between Church and State? Does scientific evidence hold any value over social struggle against the conservation of ignorance? Aren’t we all guaranteed the same protections and rights regardless of our race, gender, sexual orientation, or favorite ice-cream flavor? Do societies evolve or change on their own?

Gay (much like “straight” or “bi”) is also not a choice, but it is something that affects everyone, regardless of their race, gender, or religious preference across the globe since the beginning of civilization. Even animals may choose a same-sex life partner as evidenced by the study of the University of Oslo, that states “More than 1500 species where homosexuality have been observed” (“Against Nature? Oslo). Gay should not be a taboo. Gay is not an illness that can be prayed nor drugged away. You can attempt to brainwash someone into becoming straight, but then you would just be hindering their potential to fully experience their lives, and their rights to explore themselves as human beings without hurting anyone.

Would you want your children, or a loved one's child to live unhappily repressed simply because God/Genetics made them in a certain way that the world hasn’t updated fast enough to fully accept them as people? In a world of repression and lies, it would not be difficult for one to marry someone that is secretly gay, and refuses to come out simply out of lack of courage that it takes to live under such different conditions...do you think that could truly be a happy and honest marriage? Think about the children caught within the parental struggle to stabilize their personal mentality and sexuality and their mental health compared to those that grow up in open and caring environments.

With Florida being one of the many states that recognizes gays’ right to adopt (instead of permitting an vast number of children stuck in orphanages or foster homes relying on state budget/care), we join many developed nations who understand the full personal/economic value of all its tax-payers without any form of discrimination. Furthermore, if the violation of the sanctity of marriage is in question, then know some consider divorce a far greater offense, for it breaks an oath made in front God and the State (perjury?)...but it was still implemented into law due to the social necessity that so many people required in order to find financial and personal stability in their lives.

To simplify the concept a bit more:
If Gay-Joe and Gay-Jane were perceived as “people” instead of “gays” by the majority, our society would improve a lot more having provided every normal human being the rights and protections they deserve. People shouldn’t be perceived legally or socially by who they are biologically, but by what they hope to do for the world around them. This would promote a more accepting co-existence between all members of American society, as well as monogamy and general honesty.

Most conservatives that still discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation are mostly misinformed, or choose to ignore truth simply out of the comfort brought on by tradition or some form of profit. Others are closeted gays who envy the freedom, while others are simply out to hate on someone for what they’ve been taught as “sins” to feel a little better about their own faults; however they’re not the ones we allow to write our academic texts, nor are they the knowledgeable authorities we quote when we teach facts in our schools. Also, if gays were allowed to formally unite under the state, and their individual interpretation of God (we all see our Creator differently, we have a right to do so), that alone would promote monogamy and prevent sexually transmitted diseases among all groups (not that gays are statistically in the lead anymore; now replaced by African-American men). This would also allow more people to reconcile with the bonds that have been severed by temples that promote hate and discrimination, instead of providing help to those in need, or uniting the children of God without casting any stones (if they truly do see him as the supreme judge).

I invite you all to re-examine your definitions of justice, violence, and empathy for we are forging today the world of tomorrow, and as we do, we must do so carefully given how this nation has remained the center-stage of the world (at the very least in terms of democratic ideals) for a couple centuries. It shouldn't take global calamities, waves of pestilence, the bloody (in a term familiar to most: expensive) aftermath of riots and wars, or financial meltdowns for people to focus more in building the bridges and crumbling the walls that separate us, before they become bars in the dawn of an age with diminishing natural resources, and the decaying socio-political values that impede people from realizing how much influence they have lost over the basics of their democratic principles. We are all still working on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream to make this nation “rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal”…and that no one should be judged by the color of their skin (or the way God/Genetics brought them into the world).

We shouldn’t wait for it to “get better”, it should be “alright” for all who support and believe the democratic spirit of America, a nation conformed of different states that in spite of being slightly different in their ideology, most stand united as those who wish to protect freedom and peace.
Remember, America is “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”.

so far, my experience as a gay, which can also be spelled transsex in Indonesia, still free, still a lot of pressure that I've got. I wish I could join you all to be able to fight for gay equality. thanks.

Sou o Rev.Cristiano Valério, tenho 34 anos de idade, Pastor da Igreja da Comunidade Metropolitana de São Paulo e Coordenador de Desenvolvimento das ICMs no Brasil atualmente, nove comunidades no Brasil, vivendo o desafio de ser um abrigo a Cristãos e Cristãs LGBTs. Este desafio tem sido muito enriquecedor nos pocibilitando a vivencia religiosa numa visão libertária e radicalmente inclusiva. Somos uma comunidade de pessoas que compartilham do desejo de viver a mensagem de Jesus de forma a incluir, e não excluir; curar, e não ferir; pacificar, e não guerrear; encorajar, e não desanimar; libertar, e não aprisionar; incentivar a liberdade e criatividade de pensamento. A Igreja da Comunidade Metropolitana é uma comunidade global que está derrubando muros e construindo esperança! Ao redor do mundo, a ICM molda a integração saudável da sexualidade e da espiritualidade para que gays, lésbicas, bissexuais, transsexuais, heterossexuais e questionadores possam viver com integridade como pessoas de fé.
Rev.Cristiano Valério
Igreja da Comunidade Metropolitana de São Paulo
Rua Sebastião Pereira, 231 Santa Cecilia - São Paulo - SP
Tel 55 (11) 2801 7574
55 (11) 2737 3998
Cel. 55 (11) 6391 3998
www.icmsp.org

Inspired by the article I read today about Karel De Gucht being slammed by EJC for "anti-Semitic" comments made in radio interview, I've decided to post this. If you think about it, the word "anti-Semitic" is a particularly powerful word when you consider the amazing damage it can do to the public, professional, and/or political images of anyone accused or perceived as being "anti-Semitic" - a word that reminds people of WWII, Hitler, and the many atrocious crimes that were committed by "anti-Semitic" people.

It would be wonderful if there were a word just as powerful that the LGBTI community could use as a weapon to defend themselves and attack as well in the same way to get the same powerful results as were achieved by EJC in getting Karel De Gucht to publicly apologize once he had been successfully accused publicly by different parties as being "anti-Semitic". Unfortunately "anti-gay" or "anti-LGBTI" don't have that effect.

Maybe it's time to coin a new word, one that would get attention, be acceptable to the main stream world and obtain the kind of naming and shaming that the term "anti-Semitic" achieves.

One detail that should never be forgotten and which I personally feel gets completely overlooked or forgotten my most is that during WWII, LGBTI people were rounded up, put in concentration camps, tortured, abused, and killed just as cruelly as were the Jews, although, granted, not in nearly the same numbers.

Ideas:
1. Develop and promote positive role models and archetypes within the LGBTI communities - we are people and we bring positive value to the societies we are born into, live among, and/or work with.
2. Develop sound arguments to promote a positive image of LGBTI individuals somehow in main stream media and communications.
3. Get more laws passed to protect LBGTI from being targetted in any jokes or dialogues in mainstream media - even better make it a crime punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Just some ideas.