Press Releases

20 04 2011

The Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) recent press release about Kobe Bryant and his homophobic slur acted as a direct quote.

HRC’s post was newsworthy because it dealt with prominence. Had anyone else but Kobe Bryant said the words used at last week’s game, there likely would have been no story. However, because Bryant is essentially a household name, people noticed his use of the slur.

As a leading group for LGBT rights, the HRC felt it necessary to comment on Bryant’s homophobia through a press release. The release is a well-written three grafs and is in an news-story layout. AP style is followed.

The final graf of the release was a direct quote from the HRC :

“We applaud Commissioner Stern and the NBA for not only fining Bryant but for recognizing that slurs and derogatory comments have no place on the basketball court or in society at large, “ said Joe Solmonese, HRC President. “We hope such swift and decisive action will send a strong and universal message that this kind of hateful outburst is simply inexcusable no matter what the context.”

ESPN’s coverage of the Bryant story uses that exact graf almost verbatim. The only thing that changed was the specifics of Joe Solmonese’s title.

However, ESPN has a much longer story that was focused on more than just the HRC, even though a direct quote was taken from their press release. As a sports news outlet, ESPN called more attention to the events of the game that lead to Bryant’s actions and the consequences of those actions.




Multiple Fathers Remain Unlisted on Birth Certificate

13 04 2011

Two gay men hoping to adopt a Louisiana born child from New York were denyed rights to have both of their names printed on the birth certificate after their court appeal lost on Tuesday.

Floridians Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith appealed to a federal court after their original permission to list both of their names on the birth certificate was repealed by the state of Louisiana.

The men claimed that refusal to list them both as father will call for different treatment by the govermnent for themselves as well as other unmarried adoptive couples. However, the Associated Press reported that “a Louisiana registrar’s insistence that only one father’s name can go on the certificate does not violate the child’s right to equal protection under the law; nor does it deny legal recognition of the New York adoption by both men.”

State law of Louisiana does not allow adoption by unmarried couples. Since same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Louisiana, the law applies to Adar and Smith’s adoption.

Lambda Legal, the legal group representing the men, said that they will analyze Tuesday’s decision before deciding to issue another appeal. If an appeal is made, the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more from the Advocate.




People On the Street

6 04 2011

Like many Americans, most Bowling Green students seem increasingly accepting of same-sex marriage.

Politico.com reported that within the last five years, the Washington-Post ran a poll that asked about Americans’ opinions of same-sex marriage two separate times. The results of the poll from 2006 showed that 34 percent of Americans were in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage. Polled again last month, 51 percent of Americans were in favor of same-sex marriage.

“I think everyone should have the right to express their love in the form of marriage,” said Billy Gruber, a freshman world music major from New Carlisle, Ohio.

Some students, like sophomore Sam Kirsch, a communications major from Perrysburg, said that they have no problem with same-sex marriage, even though their religion traditionally thinks otherwise.

Others felt indifferent to the issue, but felt it had no direct impact on their lives.

“I could care less if a gay or lesbian couple were to get married because it’s not bothering my life,” freshman telecommunications major Tom Bigley said.

As for why the poll has shifted, Bigley and other students feel like the media has a part in higher social acceptance.

“We see Ellen, Glee, and other things in the media showing that people who prefer the same sex aren’t monsters,” Bigley said.

Megan Larkin, a freshman psychology major, said she felt like people are realizing that they don’t have a say in other people’s marriages.

So what would happen if same-sex marriages were nationally recognized? Most students, like Leah Troller, a junior art major from Port Clinton, said that the only change would be the amount of people getting married each year. Stacy replied that she felt like there would be opposition, as there is with any national scale change, but laughed as she said :

“People would have to get over it!”




2011 GLAAD Awards Held in New York

22 03 2011

The 22nd annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards honored celebrities, both gay and straight, in New York on Saturday night.

Tina Fey recieved a GLAAD award on Saturday night for an episode of 30 Rock that dealt with LGBT issues. (AP)

According to the Huffington Post, the GLAAD awards honor those in all media who promote and support equal rights for the LGBT community. Actress Tina Fey, and rapper Russel Simmons were those receiving some of the night’s awards for both personal and professional advocacy.

However, it was 90s pop-sensation Ricky Martin that took home the night’s highest honor. Martin was given the Vito Russell award for increasing awareness of LGBT issues during the past year. During his speech, Martin said that his coming out process was “intense” but that the feeling of being completely honest in his identity is an amazing feeling.

For a full list of those honored this year, go to GLAAD.org.




Iowa Grandmother Voices Opinion on Gay Marriage

15 02 2011

A mother of an openly gay Iowa man videotaped her concern of gay issues in politics after being inspired by videos she had seen on YouTube. According to advocate.com, 80-year-old Jean Argus said that she feels politicians, particularly in her home state of Iowa, are using gay rights as a platform to further their political careers.

Argus went on to say that even though her son’s coming out to her made her angry, and question her performance as a mother, she loves her son and he is “precious” to her. In 2006, Argus even signed as a witness of her son’s marriage to his partner of over 30 years. In her video, Argus additionally encouraged those related to gay rights issues to realize that their children and fellow citizens are more than an issue, but are people just like everyone else.

You can watch Argus’ video below, and read more on the story from The Advocate.




Young Marriage Equality Advocate Makes Donation

8 02 2011

Have you done anything to help the world lately? According to advocate.com a 7-year-old boy named Malcolm did his part, and getting a lot attention for it.

After hearing a story on the radio about the mistreatment of gays and lesbians, the seven-year-old chose to make a donation to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Human Rights Campaign. Malcom’s parents had given  him $140 and the choice of the charity that would receive it. Their hope was that Malcom would learn the importance of helping make the world a better place.

Malcolm’s mother included a letter in the donation to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. She challenged the Center to raise $27,000 and make a donation in her son’s name. The Center accepted the challenge and said they would send Malcolm a “big thank you note” after the donation was made.

Read the full story at the Advocate.

7-year-old Malcolm and his note that reads “I am sending you this money because I don’t think it’s fair that Gay people are not treated equally.”




Ugandan Gay Rights Activist Murdered

1 02 2011

(AP) A cover of "Rolling Stone" with Kato's picture on the cover.

David Kato, a prominent gay rights activist in Uganda was found beaten to death by a hammer in his home last Wednesday (1/26).  According to friends and those close to him, Kato had recieved numerous threats in the months leading up to his death. More threats followed after Kato’s picture was shown on the cover of a newspaper under a headline that read “Hang Them”.

This is not the first incident of its kind involving that particular publication. “Rolling Stone” (no connection to the U.S. music magazine) listed the names, photos and addresses of over 100 gay and lesbian citizens of Uganda and accused them of raiding schools to recruit children. Kato himself and several other activists have sued the paper in the past. That case ended in Rolling Stone paying hundreds of dollars in damages and promising to cease the publication’s anti-gay lists.

Giles Muhame, Rolling Stone’s managing editor, did not see a connection between his publication and Kato’s murder.

“There is no need for anxiety or hype . . . we should not overblow the death of one,” Muhame said.

Homophobia has been running rampant in Uganda since a U.S. group of evangelicals visited the country. The group insisted “the gay movement is an evil institution” and gay people could, and needed to be, turned straight.

So far, police investigation has listed Kato’s death as connected to a robbery. Nikki Mawanda, a friend of Kato’s, said that it is a clear sign of a hate crime.

Read more from the New York Times




San Diego Hate Crime

26 01 2011

An LGBT center in San Diego was one of three places attacked in a drive-by paintballing spree on Monday night (1/25). According to witnesses, a dark sedan drove by the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center at 9:30 p.m. and fired paintballs at people standing outside. The suspects involved were yelling anti-gay slurs at the time of the attack. No one was seriously hurt, but two people were hit with paintballs. As of now, only one of the three attacks from Monday is being investigated as a hate crime.

One victim said that the experience was the worst he’s personally seen. (Courtesey of NBC)

Read more from NBC here




Meet the Press

21 01 2011

My name is Jess Sands. I’m a 19 year old sophomore at BGSU. Right now, I am a telecommunications major with a double journalism/popular culture minor. When I’m not at school, I live in Dayton and generally gallivant around the city with my friends (:

I chose to blog about LGBT news because I’ve always been surrounded by friends and peers who are LGBT. For as long as I can remember, their rights, happenings and interests have always been a very important part of my life. Additionally, I joined a roller derby league over summer. The sport is well known for being all-inclusive, so a lot of my teammates were LGBT as well. Lastly, a lot has been said about LGBT news recently. Specifically, a lot of DADT has been thrown around and its repeal has opened up a lot of doors for newsworthy progress. Basically, I just see myself as very liberal and tend to get really happy when I see people becoming more equal to the rest of society.

This is literally the one of the only pictures I have where I'm not making a ridiculous face.