02.12.06
Posted in Gay Rights at 1:59 pm by pikapp44
Christopher Curtis, PlanetOut Network
published Thursday, February 9, 2006
Forty-five members of Congress are demanding answers from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the U.S. vote that prevented two LGBT organizations from participating in the U.N. Economic and Social Council.
In a letter sent Tuesday, the members of the House of Representatives called the Jan. 23 anti-gay vote at the United Nations a “drastic reversal” of Washington’s previous stand on the issue.
The letter noted that in voting to block the gay groups from the U.N. panel, “the United States joined some of the world’s most oppressive regimes, among them China, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe,” and demonstrated “a reprehensible inconsistency” in protecting LGBT individuals.
The lawmakers signing the document included Democratic Reps. Eliot Engel of New York, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Tom Lantos of California, Rahm Emanuel of Illinois and Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.
Last week the State Department defended its vote against the Belgium-based International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians, claiming one of the organizations supported pedophilia.
ILGA expelled the North American Man Boy Love Association from its ranks in 1994. In 2002, when the United States actually voted for ILGA’s inclusion in the U.N. organization, the U.S. representative noted that ILGA did not condone pedophilia and was crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Despite U.S. support in 2002, the group did not get enough votes to win consultative status in 2002. The 2006 vote had been its first chance since then to try again.
Last month, the United States abstained on a vote denying a hearing for the two groups, and then voted in favor of Iran’s proposal to deny their applications. That vote carried, 10-5, with three abstentions.
German envoy Martin Thuemmel told Reuters that the committee decision “will haunt us for a long time,” since it sends a message that discriminating against LGBT people is acceptable.
John Marble, spokesman for the National Stonewall Democrats, told the PlanetOut Network that the letter will help “draw attention to actions done by the administration” and ensure that other countries pressure the White House when it comes to LGBT issues.
“It’s a process of moving the football across the field,” Marble said.
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02.10.06
Posted in E's Thoughts at 10:06 am by pikapp44
Gay Jews the Qjew site is a brocheh (a blessing). The qjew slogan: “Like mom always hoped for … sort of.”
Qjew is the world’s premier dating site for nice Jewish gays and lesbians…seeking same. Here you’ll find a community of like-minded Heebs looking for someone to take home for the holidays. It’s free to post a profile, send e-mails, and chat.
Take a look around and see what unscrolls your Torah.
www.qjew.com, is the brainchild of 25- year-old Justin Shubert. Already, his efforts have paid off. Shubert said he is currently in his first serious relationship — with a man he met on the site. He brought Shubert home to meet his parents for Pesach. Shubert said he hopes the project will work as well for others.
Users can post their photos and profiles on the Web site, and search for potential matches by ZIP code. Then they can send each other e-mail or instant messages, as well as alert their friends about the prospects they might find. “I was tired of the Los Angeles bar scene,” says qjew.com founder Justin Shubert, 25, an Ivy League graduate and New York native who initially moved west to work in the entertainment industry. “I was looking for something more, looking to meet a better crop of people, hoping to find someone I could connect with.”
The site was born out of conversations with other gay Jews similarly looking for love. “I’d been on dating websites before,” Shubert says, “but most seemed to cater towards short-term relationships. So I started qjew.”
As a testimonial to the success of the site so far, Shubert met his boyfriend on QJew.
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02.04.06
Posted in E's Thoughts at 9:59 pm by pikapp44
So I was surfing for some new resources and I came across a really great site - Queery.com
Queery.com is one of the most popular gay and lesbian web portals in the Internet. In addition to bringing users the latest GLBT news on a daily basis, Queery.com is also the host of such unique features as Gay M.I.A (Missing in Action), Gay on this Day, Said OUT Loud, Madame Jessie Horoscopes, and the much talked about TV Gay Guide, which is featured on numerous web sites including the GLAAD web site, and was recently written about in the Orlando Sentinel.
Since 1997, Queery.com has donated its services to build web sites, online auctions and live webcasts for worthy causes within the GLBT community. Queery.com has hosted the GLAAD Media Awards CyberAuction, and in 1997, helped the Academy of Friends raise over $50,000 with secure online ticket sales and a CyberAuction. In addition, since1997, Queery.com has brought the S.F. Pride Parade, the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival in the world, online with a dynamic web site, and even hosted two live Webcast’s of the event around the world.
I highly recommend you check it out!
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