Showing posts tagged lgbtq
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

medusalaughs:

As a queer transperson who lives in an urban, low income environment, it is difficult to fully express my identity and do as I please without opening myself up to danger. My friend has used me as a subject for her Visual Anthropology class. Here is the finished product. 

(Reblogged from medusalaughs-deactivated2011111)

While I appreciate the It Gets Better campaign, I cannot respect Dan Savage.

villiljos:

laurenfelton:

Even his campaign is problematic if you ask me. I’m more fond of the “MAKE it better” campaign created in response to it…

I’m really out of the loop here. What has he done to earn disrespect, and what is the problem with the campaign? I’ve only seen a couple of videos, but I thought they were quite moving, and with a positive message.

I dislike him largely because of his unrepentant racism, transphobia, misogyny, and white, male, gym-body privilege — qualities that are hardly redeemed by this campaign. While there are people out there who find the videos inspiring, the ones I most appreciate are coming from those who recognize that “it” DOESN’T get better — especially not for those who lack the white, male, middle-class, gym-body privilege that “good gays” like Dan Savage have. The fact that he’s preaching to us that “it gets better,” all the while remaining defensive of his biases and oblivious to his own privilege demonstrates exactly what’s wrong with this campaign and gay rights causes in general: same-sex marriage and the repeal of DADT doesn’t mean that it’s getting better — all this means is that our community is hindered by the same problems evident in social movements throughout history: black people were left out of the women’s suffrage movement and gays were left out of the Civil Rights Movement in the same way that people of color, trans people, working class people, and others are left out of the LGBTQ movement. 

In my opinion, it doesn’t just get better. Through the tools of social action, political organizing, and community building, we have the power to make our society better, and in the process, we get better. But as long as there is racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of prejudice in the world, no member of our community is free, and “it” hasn’t gotten better. Queer liberation will not happen until we see human liberation — until we stop meeting homophobia with racism and classism, until women are no loger blamed for being sexually assaulted, until our country stops fighting these endless wars, until Palestinians have stood at their very last checkpoint, until trans people are no longer cheated by organizations HRC, until intersex infants are no longer mutilated, until queer youth stop turning up dead… this campaign doesn’t address any of that. It simply suggests that somehow, magically, it gets better all on its own, despite the fact that we continue to live in an unequal society. 

Here’s one of my favorite “it gets better” videos — from a woman of color who points out that the campaign videos are well-intentioned, but problematic: 

(Source: bi-in-alberta)

(Reblogged from villiljos)
felldowntherabbithole: June 2, 2000 What does that day, month and year mean to you? President Bill Clinton used that particular day to declare ”Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. Nine years later, on June 1st, President Barack Obama spoke to incorporate an even wider group. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered citizens alike could all have this month for recognition, respect and appreciation. However, I am aware that not all minds meet equally about the rights and respect that we should pay to others. As each generation leaves their footprints, and paves the way for what is to come…to some, change is an impossible idea or action to put in motion. You know what? Often, this unfortunate reality is because of learned behavior! As much as we may often preach that we like to speak for ourselves, or outside the box, how many times have you caught yourself, or someone you know repeating the thoughts of another before them? Sometimes without proper information? And how many times have you felt that perhaps further knowledge on an issue or subject matter might result in a different voice, a different understanding? Perhaps even going against the ideas they’ve learned, heard, or grown up around? We have the ability to fly planes, send astronauts into space, develop technology such as cellphones! Things that once were unfathomable. I can sit at this small computer and type this message. Once I push send, this message can be seen by anyone who’d like to engage, all across the WORLD.  As many of you know, we (the Glee cast) have been storming the country at whirlwind speeds to put on a forty-two show, month-long tour. It has been a constant reminder of why we do this. We’ve witnessed the impact our show has had, from the very beginning, to these moments, three years later. You LOVELY & AMAZING fans! Just indescribable. The love, affirmation, and dedication you provide! We see it all, value it all. Trust me, we do! On stage, the excitement that we absorb from your ball of energy brings our adrenaline levels to highs that often-times, we aren’t sure we can reach. Bottom line, we love you guys. And our crew! Without this diverse group of hard-working people, this venture would be impossible.  Yesterday was June 11th, and we were tackling our newest location, Toronto! We had finished our first concert of the day, and I was about to take a moment to relax before the second. On the way to our dressing rooms, I passed a stack of shirts lined up on the merchandise tables. The white T’s were modeled after shirts we wore in a performance set to Lady Gaga’s, “Born This Way.” In case you are not familiar here are the lyrics: [Verse:]My mama told me when I was youngWe are all born superstarsShe rolled my hair and put my lipstick onIn the glass of her boudoir“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”She said, “‘Cause he made you perfect, babe”“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,Listen to me when I say”[Chorus:]I’m beautiful in my way‘Cause God makes no mistakesI’m on the right track, babyI was born this wayDon’t hide yourself in regretJust love yourself and you’re setI’m on the right track, babyI was born this way Beautiful. True. Words to remind yourself, words to live by. Doesn’t matter if you’re not a Gaga supporter, or one of her “Little Monsters” as she lovingly refers to her fans. Kindness moves mountains. Acceptance opens doors, makes room for change, diffuses misunderstanding. Every day, people commit hate crimes because of misunderstandings. Hate effects the target, and consumes the person behind the gun. It is crazy to realize that we have been in war for almost our entire existence on this planet. Many times for reasons of greed and hate. Anyone that has experienced the death or abuse of a loved one can tell you that, “IT HURTS BEYOND EXPLANATION!!! AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE ANY CHANGE POSSIBLE.” Raise your hand if you’ve spent nights crying yourself to sleep, raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather hide in bed all day than face the people that make you feel small or powerless! Raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather lie to people than tell them the truth about who you really are, because at least you wouldn’t be the victim of hateful behavior or prejudice! And raise your hand if lying feels almost as bad.  I was not raised in a family that accepted prejudice or hatred. For that, I thank my Mom and Dad each and every day. Look, we are human, we make mistakes. I will gladly shout from the rooftops that I AM NOT PERFECT. Nor will I ever be. But I can happily say that to my knowledge, I do not ever intentionally cause people pain. I love my family, my friends, my co-workers…and they all consist of girls AND boys. I do tell them that I love them. Yesterday, during our second show,  Instead of wearing my usual shirt during “Born This Way” I decided to wear one that said “Likes Girls”. It should actually have read, “Loves Girls”, because I do. The women in my life give me things that the men in my life can’t. And vice-versa. No, I am not a lesbian, yet if I were, I hope that the people in my life could embrace it whole-heartedly. And let me tell you, I can easily spill (quite comfortably) what I admire, respect and think is beautiful about any of the women in my life. Piece of cake!  Last night, I wanted to do something  to show my respect and love for the GLBT community. Support that people could actually see. Which is why I decided to change my shirt for the show. I happened to read a few comments that were posted on twitter. Many of you asked, “why?” This is my response. I am not asking for you to agree with what I am saying, but if you are listening, thank you. That is all I can ask. And a step further would be to take a moment to (honestly) answer the questions that I have raised. We can’t always put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But we can try. I am lucky to live in a place where I can wear almost anything that I want to express myself, and that jail is not a probable consequence. Which makes me feel as if I should exercise my right to do so every now and then. Think of the people that have died because of their passion and heartfelt hopes of change? So many good men and women. All because of an inherent wish for tolerance, love and support.  Our show celebrates the GLBT community. We are proud to be a part of something that embraces an often avoided topic. Hate is terrible, especially when we pass it down to a new generation of innocents. Recently, I heard a lament about San Francisco. How SFO just didn’t sound like a fun place to be, or visit, because that person wasn’t gay. Wait, really???? I wanted to laugh! But that would have been a response that wouldn’t have encouraged that person to be open-minded. To see that perhaps, their statement was foolish? Why won’t San Francisco be fun for you? Do you think the whole city is gay? Do you think they will judge you? Won’t feed you good food?  Perhaps they won’t let you have fun, the way THEY have fun?  Sadly, we’ve gotten letters from people who explain that they love the show but hate the gay story-lines. That we shouldn’t be polluting their children’s heads. To this I’d sometimes like to sarcastically reply, would you also like us to tell them that a stork is dropping off our offspring? That the sky is purple? That it is not practical to be true to yourself, because there are mean people in this world that will make them feel wrong for being honest? That instead of embracing themselves, they should lie to the world? THEY should be the ones being untrue and unhappy?  I believe that if you are bringing a child into the world, you should be willing to accept them in any reality. Whether they are Black, White, Asian, have four fingers, are disabled, gay….that the only wish should be for a happy and healthy baby. We are each other’s children. Unless someone has committed a violent or hateful act, why should we judge? We can so quickly resort to anger, often, the product of a whole other issue. Most often, an issue with our own self. I understand that I am sitting behind the protection of this computer screen, in this hotel room, and to many I might sound “preachy”. Especially now that I have written an essay. I hope my intentions sound pure, and just. I speak, because I am passionate. I write with this passion because I know how it feels to be hurt, to be depressed, to not value yourself, or your feelings. If any of this has inspired or moved you, even just made you think….I encourage you to tweet or reblog a picture, quote, anything that you feel will continue to spread the love. And if any are interested in tracking the chain, perhaps visualizing the greater collective, include the hatch tag, #letlovein. Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. - C.S. Lewis  Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu  Fortune and love favor the brave. - Ovid AND remember that sometimes…. People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. - John Harrigan To thine own heart be true. Many thanks for your time, your love, and the gift you’ve given me. Sincerely, Dianna Elise Agron Thank you for sharing this with fans of the show! I’ve never had a problem with the “gay” storylines, with the exception of them not being progressive ENOUGH (believe it or not…) for queer people like me. Glee tackles a lot of issues that other shows are unable or unwilling to do, and for that, I really respect the show. However, there’s more to the queer community than gay men or even lesbian and bisexual women. Too often, political moves intended to be supportive of the LG (sometimes) B (rarely) T (never) Q community ignore a large part of our diversity and the struggles we face. That said, I squealed with joy when I saw Dianna Agron (the actress who plays Quinn on Glee) wearing this shirt, and this is in no way a critique of her as a person - more of an overall critique of the way media and even mainstream “LGBTQ” (translation, once again: L, G, sometimes B, rarely T, never Q) organizations treat queer issues. Why, for example, all the focus on same-sex marriage in NY? Where is the critique of marriage as a privileged institution used to validate and invalidate certain relationships? We, as queer people and activists, don’t need to assimilate to this system of privilege—we need to focus on de-privileging an institution rooted in a racist, sexist, homophobic, and classist history—and one that still perpetuates these attitudes, regardless of who is now allowed to marry. From local gay and lesbian organizations, I’ve seen nothing along the lines of political action with respect to anything outside of DOMA or DADT. Translation: any issues that reach beyond the focus of privileged, white gay males never enters the picture. What about queer, working-class people? And queer people of color? And trans people? Why aren’t we focusing our energies on youth homelessness—many of whom identify as queer—or HIV/AIDS and health care needs? What about attacks on womyn and trans exclusion (e.g. ENDA). What about gentrification and racism and the epidemic of queer youth suicide?  TL;DR version: there’s more to the LGBTQ community than L and G. While more widespread acceptance of gays and lesbians is certainly a wonderful thing, like in any social movement, may of us have been left behind. Progress for gay-identified people should not come at the expense of every other letter of the acronym—or those who do identify as gay but face a form of interlocking oppression due to racism, sexism, insufficient healthcare, poverty, etc. These are ALL queer issues—because progressive queer politics extend beyond L and G. It’s about HUMAN rights as a whole. Again, this isn’t a direct response to the post I’m reblogging, and I fucking adore Dianna Agron. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about with respect to issues highlighted both on the show Glee and elsewhere, given my experience in local queer groups, the political organizing in NY around the issue of same-sex marriage, and so on.

felldowntherabbithole:

June 2, 2000

What does that day, month and year mean to you? President Bill Clinton used that particular day to declare ”Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. Nine years later, on June 1st, President Barack Obama spoke to incorporate an even wider group. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered citizens alike could all have this month for recognition, respect and appreciation. However, I am aware that not all minds meet equally about the rights and respect that we should pay to others. As each generation leaves their footprints, and paves the way for what is to come…to some, change is an impossible idea or action to put in motion.

You know what? Often, this unfortunate reality is because of learned behavior! As much as we may often preach that we like to speak for ourselves, or outside the box, how many times have you caught yourself, or someone you know repeating the thoughts of another before them? Sometimes without proper information? And how many times have you felt that perhaps further knowledge on an issue or subject matter might result in a different voice, a different understanding? Perhaps even going against the ideas they’ve learned, heard, or grown up around? We have the ability to fly planes, send astronauts into space, develop technology such as cellphones! Things that once were unfathomable. I can sit at this small computer and type this message. Once I push send, this message can be seen by anyone who’d like to engage, all across the WORLD. 

As many of you know, we (the Glee cast) have been storming the country at whirlwind speeds to put on a forty-two show, month-long tour. It has been a constant reminder of why we do this. We’ve witnessed the impact our show has had, from the very beginning, to these moments, three years later. You LOVELY & AMAZING fans! Just indescribable. The love, affirmation, and dedication you provide! We see it all, value it all. Trust me, we do! On stage, the excitement that we absorb from your ball of energy brings our adrenaline levels to highs that often-times, we aren’t sure we can reach. Bottom line, we love you guys. And our crew! Without this diverse group of hard-working people, this venture would be impossible. 

Yesterday was June 11th, and we were tackling our newest location, Toronto! We had finished our first concert of the day, and I was about to take a moment to relax before the second. On the way to our dressing rooms, I passed a stack of shirts lined up on the merchandise tables. The white T’s were modeled after shirts we wore in a performance set to Lady Gaga’s, “Born This Way.” In case you are not familiar here are the lyrics:

[Verse:]
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars

She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “‘Cause he made you perfect, babe”

“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”

[Chorus:]
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Beautiful. True. Words to remind yourself, words to live by. Doesn’t matter if you’re not a Gaga supporter, or one of her “Little Monsters” as she lovingly refers to her fans. Kindness moves mountains. Acceptance opens doors, makes room for change, diffuses misunderstanding. Every day, people commit hate crimes because of misunderstandings. Hate effects the target, and consumes the person behind the gun. It is crazy to realize that we have been in war for almost our entire existence on this planet. Many times for reasons of greed and hate.

Anyone that has experienced the death or abuse of a loved one can tell you that, “IT HURTS BEYOND EXPLANATION!!! AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE ANY CHANGE POSSIBLE.” Raise your hand if you’ve spent nights crying yourself to sleep, raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather hide in bed all day than face the people that make you feel small or powerless! Raise your hand if you’ve felt as if you’d rather lie to people than tell them the truth about who you really are, because at least you wouldn’t be the victim of hateful behavior or prejudice! And raise your hand if lying feels almost as bad. 

I was not raised in a family that accepted prejudice or hatred. For that, I thank my Mom and Dad each and every day. Look, we are human, we make mistakes. I will gladly shout from the rooftops that I AM NOT PERFECT. Nor will I ever be. But I can happily say that to my knowledge, I do not ever intentionally cause people pain. I love my family, my friends, my co-workers…and they all consist of girls AND boys. I do tell them that I love them. Yesterday, during our second show,  Instead of wearing my usual shirt during “Born This Way” I decided to wear one that said “Likes Girls”. It should actually have read, “Loves Girls”, because I do. The women in my life give me things that the men in my life can’t. And vice-versa. No, I am not a lesbian, yet if I were, I hope that the people in my life could embrace it whole-heartedly. And let me tell you, I can easily spill (quite comfortably) what I admire, respect and think is beautiful about any of the women in my life. Piece of cake! 

Last night, I wanted to do something  to show my respect and love for the GLBT community. Support that people could actually see. Which is why I decided to change my shirt for the show. I happened to read a few comments that were posted on twitter. Many of you asked, “why?” This is my response. I am not asking for you to agree with what I am saying, but if you are listening, thank you. That is all I can ask. And a step further would be to take a moment to (honestly) answer the questions that I have raised. We can’t always put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But we can try.

I am lucky to live in a place where I can wear almost anything that I want to express myself, and that jail is not a probable consequence. Which makes me feel as if I should exercise my right to do so every now and then. Think of the people that have died because of their passion and heartfelt hopes of change? So many good men and women. All because of an inherent wish for tolerance, love and support. 

Our show celebrates the GLBT community. We are proud to be a part of something that embraces an often avoided topic. Hate is terrible, especially when we pass it down to a new generation of innocents. Recently, I heard a lament about San Francisco. How SFO just didn’t sound like a fun place to be, or visit, because that person wasn’t gay. Wait, really???? I wanted to laugh! But that would have been a response that wouldn’t have encouraged that person to be open-minded. To see that perhaps, their statement was foolish? Why won’t San Francisco be fun for you? Do you think the whole city is gay? Do you think they will judge you? Won’t feed you good food?  Perhaps they won’t let you have fun, the way THEY have fun? 

Sadly, we’ve gotten letters from people who explain that they love the show but hate the gay story-lines. That we shouldn’t be polluting their children’s heads. To this I’d sometimes like to sarcastically reply, would you also like us to tell them that a stork is dropping off our offspring? That the sky is purple? That it is not practical to be true to yourself, because there are mean people in this world that will make them feel wrong for being honest? That instead of embracing themselves, they should lie to the world? THEY should be the ones being untrue and unhappy? 

I believe that if you are bringing a child into the world, you should be willing to accept them in any reality. Whether they are Black, White, Asian, have four fingers, are disabled, gay….that the only wish should be for a happy and healthy baby. We are each other’s children. Unless someone has committed a violent or hateful act, why should we judge? We can so quickly resort to anger, often, the product of a whole other issue. Most often, an issue with our own self.

I understand that I am sitting behind the protection of this computer screen, in this hotel room, and to many I might sound “preachy”. Especially now that I have written an essay. I hope my intentions sound pure, and just. I speak, because I am passionate. I write with this passion because I know how it feels to be hurt, to be depressed, to not value yourself, or your feelings. If any of this has inspired or moved you, even just made you think….I encourage you to tweet or reblog a picture, quote, anything that you feel will continue to spread the love. And if any are interested in tracking the chain, perhaps visualizing the greater collective, include the hatch tag, #letlovein.

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. - C.S. Lewis
 

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu
 

Fortune and love favor the brave. - Ovid

AND remember that sometimes….

People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. - John Harrigan

To thine own heart be true. Many thanks for your time, your love, and the gift you’ve given me.

Sincerely,

Dianna Elise Agron


Thank you for sharing this with fans of the show! I’ve never had a problem with the “gay” storylines, with the exception of them not being progressive ENOUGH (believe it or not…) for queer people like me. Glee tackles a lot of issues that other shows are unable or unwilling to do, and for that, I really respect the show. However, there’s more to the queer community than gay men or even lesbian and bisexual women. Too often, political moves intended to be supportive of the LG (sometimes) B (rarely) T (never) Q community ignore a large part of our diversity and the struggles we face.

That said, I squealed with joy when I saw Dianna Agron (the actress who plays Quinn on Glee) wearing this shirt, and this is in no way a critique of her as a person - more of an overall critique of the way media and even mainstream “LGBTQ” (translation, once again: L, G, sometimes B, rarely T, never Q) organizations treat queer issues. Why, for example, all the focus on same-sex marriage in NY? Where is the critique of marriage as a privileged institution used to validate and invalidate certain relationships? We, as queer people and activists, don’t need to assimilate to this system of privilege—we need to focus on de-privileging an institution rooted in a racist, sexist, homophobic, and classist history—and one that still perpetuates these attitudes, regardless of who is now allowed to marry.

From local gay and lesbian organizations, I’ve seen nothing along the lines of political action with respect to anything outside of DOMA or DADT. Translation: any issues that reach beyond the focus of privileged, white gay males never enters the picture. What about queer, working-class people? And queer people of color? And trans people? Why aren’t we focusing our energies on youth homelessness—many of whom identify as queer—or HIV/AIDS and health care needs? What about attacks on womyn and trans exclusion (e.g. ENDA). What about gentrification and racism and the epidemic of queer youth suicide? 

TL;DR version: there’s more to the LGBTQ community than L and G. While more widespread acceptance of gays and lesbians is certainly a wonderful thing, like in any social movement, may of us have been left behind. Progress for gay-identified people should not come at the expense of every other letter of the acronym—or those who do identify as gay but face a form of interlocking oppression due to racism, sexism, insufficient healthcare, poverty, etc. These are ALL queer issues—because progressive queer politics extend beyond L and G. It’s about HUMAN rights as a whole.

Again, this isn’t a direct response to the post I’m reblogging, and I fucking adore Dianna Agron. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about with respect to issues highlighted both on the show Glee and elsewhere, given my experience in local queer groups, the political organizing in NY around the issue of same-sex marriage, and so on.

(Reblogged from felldowntherabbithole)

roberttobrien:

Just so we’re QUEER:

I do not give a fuck that I now have the same rights as other bourgeois, privileged fucks to join an institution that is oppressive. Nor do I want the right to go and serve an imperial power, fucking over some other oppressed group of people so that I can have the “equality” to be an oppressor in this way.

Marriage is STILL not the right answer. It’s not even the right fucking question. The right question is: “Why do people think that supporting the rights of (well-behaved, cis-gender, monogamous, bourgeois, mostly white) gay people makes them (or “gay” people) progressive?” The right question involves remembering how we got here — through intersectional politics that recognized that oppression on the basis of sexuality, gender, class, race, abled-ness, nationalism, etc. was WRONG and both the gay liberation and lesbian feminist movements knew this. Don’t piss on the rest of those who still struggle for “equality” and tell them it’s raining men (hallelujah), find a queer political organization and do something that actually fucking matters.

Yes, I’m saying “fuck” a lot because I’m pissed. But I also like fucking: I like fucking men. I like fucking women. I like fucking gender-queer folk like myself. And my heart and my social life are both large enough to love and make love to all kinds of people as well.

So, fuck, NYC! Fuck a lot! Fuck the whole state, if it’s consensual! Practice safer sex, but fuck. And, fuck, Mr. Obama. You’re such a Republican in Dem clothing (just like Bill Clinton, our greatest Republican president), that you must have an intern or a wide stance or an Appalachian trail that you’re interested in trying out.

No one is “equal” — or free — so long as it is only possible because others are oppressed.

We’re here! We’re QUEER! And we ain’t done yet!

(Source: illprofessorspcr)

(Reblogged from illprofessorspcr)

Gays in Egypt join anti-gov’t protests

projectqueer:

A large number of LGBT Egyptians have joined the massive street protests in Cairo and other cities and are in full solidarity with calls for the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the creation of a new democratic government in Egypt, according to a gay human rights activist.

Scott Long, former LGBT coordinator for Human Rights Watch, an international human rights group, said he has been in contact with gay Egyptians over the past week.

Many have informed him that LGBT people are among the hundreds of thousands who have assembled in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to demand an end to what they view as an oppressive government that has persecuted a diverse segment of the population, including gays, lesbians and transgender people.

“There are LGBT people marching and joining the protests, not as LGBT people,” Long said. “They’re not marching under a rainbow flag. But certainly friends of mine are out there.”

Long said at least two gay men he knows were arrested in the first street protest in Cairo on Jan. 25 — not for being gay but on a charge of disturbing the peace. Authorities arrested protesters on that charge in an initial attempt to stop the demonstrations last week before determining they were too large to control.

“I’m impressed by the bravery of everyone in Egypt,” he said. “But also by the bravery of LGBT people who are standing with the rest of the opposition. And beyond that, I don’t think anybody knows what will happen in the future.”

Long currently serves as a senior fellow at Columbia University School of Law’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Law.

In 2004, while with Human Rights Watch, he was the principal author of a lengthy report on anti-gay persecution in Egypt that the group published in English and Arabic. The Arabic edition of the report received 80,000 individual visits on the Human Rights Watch website in the first year it was released, Long said.

Among other things, the report said well over 1,000 gay men had been arrested in cities and towns throughout Egypt between 2001 and 2004 in a crackdown against LGBT people.

“We documented hundreds of arrests,” Long said. “I would say that probably thousands of people were arrested in raids on private homes and through entrapment over the Internet.”

Long and others monitoring the rapidly changing developments in Egypt this week have said the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic organization considered to be the most organized opposition group to the Mubarak government, bills itself as a fundamentalist faction that would never embrace LGBT rights.

But Long said the Muslim Brotherhood is not an extremist entity like the Taliban is in Afghanistan and is expected to join a coalition of mostly secular factions to form an interim government should Mubarak agree to resign.

“The Brotherhood joined the opposition movement late,” he said. The opposition on the streets is being led by young secular leftists. I don’t think the Brotherhood can stake a claim to being the leader of this revolution.”

Pro-Democracy activists in Egypt have been pushing for Egyptian Nobel Peace Prize winner and former International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei to become the head of a transition government.

“ElBaradei, who everyone hopes will become the transition president, is a secular, liberal figure,” Long said. “I think he’s a good man.”

President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have spoken out in the past for human rights protections for LGBT people throughout the world. It could not be immediately determined whether the Obama administration would push for human rights protections for LGBT people in Egypt as part of his behind-the-scenes effort to persuade Mubarak to resign and his call for immediate democratic reforms in Egypt.

The 2004 Human Rights Watch report said authorities charged the mostly gay men ensnared in the anti-gay crackdown with violating a provision in Egypt’s anti-prostitution law that prohibits the “habitual practice of debauchery.”

According to Long, Egyptian courts interpreted the sweeping law to cover consensual, non-commercial sexual relations between people of the same sex. He said police used the law to arrest gays, even though it was clear that the men charged were not engaging in prostitution.

The report also documented widespread use of torture against the gay men arrested in the crackdown, with many of them sent to the same police detention centers known for physical abuse of political prisoners that Egyptians participating in the past week’s protests have denounced.

Following a 2004 news conference in Cairo called to release the Human Rights Watch report, the anti-gay crackdown stopped, Long said. He said “debauchery” related arrests of gays resumed to a lesser degree in 2008 after authorities alleged that gay men with AIDS were endangering the public by engaging in promiscuous sex. Long said those arrests subsided a short time later.

“I think the accounts of torture we gave in the report really did have an effect on average Egyptians’ perceptions of homosexuality,” Long said. “We made a very deliberate decision to frame it as a report about part of the ongoing torture crisis in Egypt. They understood that gays are people like them, subject to similar fears of police brutality and arbitrary state actions.”

Long said that although the anti-gay crackdown begun in 2004 was precipitated, in part, by pressure from Islamic leaders to curtail homosexuality, he said sources familiar with Egyptian politics believe Mubarak himself started the crackdown in an attempt to go after an opposing political faction.

“I’ve never gone on the record with this before but will now,” Long said. “There were widespread rumors that Gamal Mubarak, Mubarak’s son whom he was trying to anoint as his successor, was gay. And the first people arrested in the crackdown were relatives of another leading family in Egypt whom the Mubaraks suspected of having spread this rumor.”

Long noted that the rival family members arrested on homosexuality related charges were on board the Queen Boat, a commercial entertainment vessel on the Nile River that was known to host gay parties. The so-called “Queen Boat” raid marked the start of the 2004 crackdown against gays in Egypt.

“I think the whole thing started as a kind of political ploy to send a message that you don’t insult Gamal Mubarak,” Long said. “And after that, police officers across the country got the message that, well, cracking down on these people is a good thing to do. It’s good for your career, and so the crackdown spread.”

View Source at Washington Blade – Gay News

(Reblogged from projectqueer)
“
I felt respected today. I nearly cried. Is this what other people feel all the time?

(via Genderfork)

Next time the students in my diversity class try to deny their privilege, I want to show them this quote. It’s easy to overlook other people’s experiences when you’re treated like a human being every day and don’t know any different.

“
I apologize for saying transgender is “a type of birth defect,” not because I didn’t mean it the right way, but because I should have known how easily it could be misinterpreted. It’s actually something I heard a transgender person say, and I may have quoted it badly. What I intended to say is that a person like Frank, who wants to transition into being male, feels his body is in error, not his inner self. It’s the fact that he was born female that’s the “defect,” not the person.

Um. What “right way” is there to say “transgender is a type of birth defect”?

You can read the rest of Hyde’s bullshit response to Leslie Feinberg here: http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/blog/2011/1/14/in-response-to-a-recent-issue.html

Leslie Feinberg: While a hostile relative re-writes my life: ‘Who is, and is not, my family’

“
The murder of women, especially transgender women, has been on the rise following the June 28, 2009 coup. According to the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, prior to the most recent murders, there have been 31 deaths of LGBTI people in Honduras in the last year and a half.
http://vivirlatino.com/2011/01/13/violence-targeting-transgender-women-in-honduras-continues.php (trigger warning: extreme violence and assault)

Transgender woman to be sworn in as a judge

pansexualpride:

On Tuesday Victoria Kolakowski will be sworn in as asuperior court judge in Alameda County, CA. Kolakowski is a transgender woman, the first out trans person to become a judge in the US. She was elected this past November.

Having a trans woman in this position is important, for visibility and recognition and also for the treatment of trans folks under the law. The legal system often fails to treat trans folks justly, or to even accept our gender identities as real and worthy of respect. Kolakowski spoke to what she will be able to do in her new role in November:

“No, I am not going to be able to get you out of things,” she said jokingly to an audience of transgender advocates on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, two weeks after her upset victory over deputy district attorney John Creighton in November.

“But if you come into court and they call you names or the wrong pronoun, then that’s something we can take a look at,” she told the crowd …

Instead, she said she finally found the opportunity she had been waiting for. “I had a chance to serve. If my being visible helps a community that is often ignored and looked down upon, then I am happy. If not me, then who?”

Congratulations to Vicky Kolakowski on her historic victory!

(Reblogged from anarchofeminist)