AQUA GIRL
For Women Who Love Women, May 2
through 6. Now in its eleventh fabulous
year, Aqua Girl™ continues to attract
women from all corners of the country,
the Americas and around the globe. The
week continues to grow with an everexpanding
variety of events that enhance
its appeal and have created what is now
one of the hottest Women’s festivals in the
country. From dance parties, to comedy
shows, to live music, to pool parties,
to a bowl-a-thon, jazz brunch, dineout
event, VIP reception, art show, and
celebrity meet-and-greets and so much
more. Having so much fun never did so
much good, with 100% of the proceeds
from Aqua Girl benefitting the Aqua
Foundation for Women, a not-for-profitfoundation
whose primary mission is to
promote the equality, strength, health,
and visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender women. Monies raised
during the Foundation’s signature
week, as well as through individual
and corporate donations go directly to
educate, empower and foster the lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender women’s
communities throughout South Florida.
For more information, visit aquagirl.org.
On Sunday, April 22, thousands will
descend upon Miami Beach for the 24th
Annual AIDS Walk Miami, which begins
on the west side of the Miami Beach
Convention Center. Registration starts at 8
a.m., with the walk starting promptly at 9
a.m. rain or shine.
The AIDS Walk Miami benefits Care
Resource, a 501[c](3) non-profit,
multi-cultural, community-based HIV/
AIDS service organization. The agency
provides education, prevention and early
interventions services, information and
referrals, primary medical care, clinical
trials, psychosocial services, and community
outreach, to men, women and youth in
Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
For sponsorship opportunities, booth
rentals, and entertainment, please contact
Steve Beko, Events Coordinator, at
305-576-1234, Ext. 258 or by email at
sbeko@careresource.org.
AQUA GIRL
For Women Who Love Women, May 2
through 6. Now in its eleventh fabulous
year, Aqua Girl™ continues to attract
women from all corners of the country,
the Americas and around the globe.
The week continues to grow with an everexpanding
variety of events that enhance
its appeal and have created what is now
one of the hottest Women’s festivals in the
country.
From dance parties, to comedy
shows, to live music, to pool parties,
to a bowl-a-thon, jazz brunch, dineout
event, VIP reception, art show, and
celebrity meet-and-greets and so much
more. Having so much fun never did so
much good, with 100% of the proceeds
from Aqua Girl benefitting the Aqua
Foundation for Women, a not-for-profitfoundation
whose primary mission is to
promote the equality, strength, health,
and visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender women.
Monies raised during the Foundation’s signature
week, as well as through individual
and corporate donations go directly to
educate, empower and foster the lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender women’s
communities throughout South Florida.
For more information, visit aquagirl.org.
On Sunday, April 15, Miami Beach will be
more fabulous and extraordinary than
ever! The city celebrates the annual Miami
Beach Gay PRIDE parade and festival, a
celebration of the extraordinary strength,
beauty, and contributions of South Florida’s
LGBT community, and an exciting allday
event that features a parade, a festival
with exciting celebrity presentations and
musical performances, and an Expo with
LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses,
refreshments and food, including a family-friendly
playzone.
Lesbian. Gay. Bi. Trans. Straight. PROUD.
Miami Beach Gay Pride is an extraordinary
celebration that brings out the best in us all.
Last year’s pride event brought OUT
over 35,000 people from all walks of
life and cities from across Florida– and
across the world– making Miami Beach
Gay Pride the city’s largest one-day
event. This year will be even better!
For more information, miamibeachgaypride.
org.
AQUA GIRL
For Women Who Love Women, May 2
through 6. Now in its eleventh fabulous
year, Aqua Girl™ continues to attract
women from all corners of the country,
the Americas and around the globe. The
week continues to grow with an everexpanding
variety of events that enhance
its appeal and have created what is now
one of the hottest Women’s festivals in the
country. From dance parties, to comedy
shows, to live music, to pool parties, to a
bowl-a-thon, jazz brunch, dine-out event,
VIP reception, art show, and celebrity
meet-and-greets and so much more.
Having so much fun never did so much
good, with 100% of the proceeds from
Aqua Girl benefitting the Aqua Foundation
for Women, a not-for-profitfoundation
whose primary mission is to
promote the equality, strength, health,
and visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender women. Monies raised
during the Foundation’s signature week,
as well as through individual and corporate
donations go directly to educate,
empower and foster the lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender women’s communities
throughout South Florida.
For more information, visit aquagirl.org.
NORTHFIELD, VT – The military academy from which graduated America’s original ROTC cadets is celebrating another groundbreaking first: The Norwich University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Allies Club (NULGBTQA) is hosting the school’s first gay pride week.
The weeklong commemoration, which began on Monday, will culminate on Saturday with the school’s first Queer Prom, which will be attended by Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Army Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan. Morgan publicly announced she was gay on Sept. 20, 2011, the day the federal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law was repealed. It was also the day Norwich students formed the NULGBTQA.
In a statement, Joshua Fontanez, the president of NULGBTQA and the third-highest-ranking member of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets, said that the weeklong commemoration is meant to highlight patriotism and equality, and to try to educate the public about the challenges and issues faced by LGBT persons, including bullying, harassment, HIV and bias, based upon sexual identity.
The NULGBTQA was the first LGBT group founded on a military campus. The week of events at Norwich University, which was founded in 1819 as the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, also features a day for celebrations or issue discussions for each of the six colors on the gay pride rainbow flag. Norwich is also the birthplace of the nation’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. The school was also among the first to admit women and African Americans into its Corps of Cadets.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was the policy prohibiting gay and lesbian military service members from openly declaring their sexual orientation.“The repeal [of DADT] is bringing a new wave of equality, a new wave of rights that so many generations have been waiting for,” Fontanez, from Brown Mills, New Jersey, told Vermont Public Radio [VPR]. The Norwich senior said that schoolmates didn’t know he is gay until after the repeal of DADT. The policy prohibited gay servicemembers from declaring their sexual orientation without the fear of official reprisals.
Fontanez, 22, plans to be commissioned as a U.S. Army infantry officer in May. He told VPR that he had always wanted to serve his country, but believed he would have to hide his sexuality. “It’s something I feel I was truly called toward and truly loved, so it’s great that I don’t have necessarily to make that sacrifice,” Fontanez said.
In addition to the participation of Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, Fontanez anticipates the return and support this week of many school alumni. “They are truly saying, ‘we’re proud to come back home. This is something we wish that happened when we were here,’” said Fontanez.
The future officer says that 30 to 35 members attend the club’s meetings- -about three-quarters of them from the school’s Corps of Cadets.
Approximately 115 of the 200 graduating Corps of Cadets members plan to be commissioned in the U.S. armed forces through ROTC.
]]>On Sunday, April 15, Miami Beach will be more fabulous and extraordinary than ever! The city
celebrates the annual Miami Beach Gay PRIDE parade and festival, a celebration of the extraordinary
strength, beauty, and contributions of South Flori- da’s LGBT community, and an exciting all- day
event that features a parade, a festival with exciting celebrity presentations and musical
performances, and an Expo with LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, refreshments and food,
including a family- friendly playzone.
Lesbian. Gay. Bi. Trans. Straight. PROUD. Miami Beach Gay Pride is an extraordinary celebration
that brings out the best in us all.
Last year’s pride event brought OUT over 35,000 people from all walks of life and cities from across Florida– and across the world– making Miami Beach Gay Pride the city’s largest one-day event. This year will be even better!
For more information, miamibeach-gaypride.org.
AQUA GIRL
For Women Who Love Women, May 2 through 6. Now in its eleventh fabulous year, Aqua Girl™
continues to attract women from all corners of the country, the Americas and around the globe. The
week continues to grow with an ever- expanding variety of events that enhance its appeal and have
created what is now one of the hottest Women’s festivals in the country.
From dance parties, to comedy shows, to live music, to pool parties, to a bowl-a-thon, jazz brunch, dine-out event, VIP
reception, art show, and celebrity meet-and-greets and so much more. Having so much fun never did
so much good, with 100% of the proceeds from Aqua Girl benefitting the Aqua Foun- dation for Women,
a not-for-profit- foundation whose primary mission is to promote the equality, strength, health,
and visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. Monies raised during the
Foundation’s signature week, as well as through individual and corpo- rate donations go directly to
educate, empower and foster the lesbian, bisexu- al, and transgender women’s communi- ties
throughout South Florida.
For more information, visit aquagirl.org.
]]>Lesbian. Gay. Bi. Trans. Straight.
PROUD. Miami Beach Gay Pride is an
extraordinary celebration that brings
out the best in us all.
Last year’s pride event brought out
over 35,000 people from all walks of life
and cities from across Florida– and
across the world– making Miami
Beach Gay Pride the city’s largest oneday
event. This year will be even better!
Thanks to Miami Beach Mayor Matti
Bower, the most famous sandbar in the
world has joined the ranks of world
class cities like Sao Paulo, San
Francisco, New York, Chicago, and
Madrid that officially honor the gay
and lesbian community.
For more information, visit
www.miamibeachgaypride.com.
AQUA GIRL
For Women Who Love Women, May 2
through 6. Now in its eleventh fabulous
year, Aqua Girl™ continues to attract
women from all corners of the country,
the Americas and around the globe.
The week continues to grow with an
ever-expanding variety of events that
enhance its appeal and have created
what is now one of the hottest Women’s
festivals in the country. From dance
parties, to comedy shows, to live music,
to pool parties, to a bowl-a-thon, jazz
brunch, dine-out event, VIP reception,
art show, and celebrity meet-and-greets
and so much more. Having so much fun
never did so much good, with 100% of
the proceeds from Aqua Girl benefitting
the Aqua Foundation for Women, a
not-for-profit-foundation whose
primary mission is to promote the
equality, strength, health, and visibility
of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender women. Monies raised
during the Foundation’s signature
week, as well as through individual
and corporate donations go directly
to educate, empower and foster the
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
women’s communities throughout
South Florida.
For more information, visit aquagirl.org.
]]>GAY PRIDE
On Sunday, April 15, Miami Beach will be more fabulous and extraordinary than ever! The city celebrates the annual Miami Beach Gay PRIDE parade and festival, a celebration of the extraordinary strength, beauty, and contributions of South Florida’s LGBT community, and an exciting all-day event that features a parade, a festival with exciting celebrity presentations and musical performances, and an Expo with LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, refreshments and food, including a family-friendly playzone.
Lesbian. Gay. Bi. Trans. Straight. PROUD. Miami Beach Gay Pride is an extraordinary celebration that brings out the best in us all.
Last year’s pride event brought out over 35,000 people from all walks of life and cities from across Florida– and across the world– making Miami Beach Gay Pride the city’s largest one-day event. This year will be even better!
Thanks to Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower, the most famous sandbar in the world has joined the ranks of world class cities like Sao Paulo, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Madrid that officially honor the gay and lesbian community.
For more information, visit www.miamibeachgaypride.com.
WINTER PARTY
It may be called the Winter Party but that doesn’t mean you’re in for a chilly time. Dance your heart out at five full days of jam packed parties. From club nights to mixers to beach parties, Winter Party is a veritable thrill ride of sight and sound. A multitude of eye candy is a safe assumption, as are thousands of groggy travelers once the music stops. February 29 through March 5. For more information, a full schedule and tickets, visit www.winterparty.com.
MIAMI, FL – The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced that straight rugby star Ben Cohen will receive its Humanitarian Award on October 15th, at the 15th annual Miami Recognition Dinner at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Cohen is the first straight sports star to dedicate his philanthropic efforts to the benefit of LGBT people. One of the world’s greatest athletes, Ben recently founded and serves as chairman of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness about the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and raising funds to support those who are doing work to stop it.
The Miami Recognition Dinner is the premier annual celebration of South Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force produces the event and donates the majority of the net proceeds to other nonprofit organizations serving the Miami-Dade LGBT community.
Pride Center Expands Efforts to Reach GBTQ/MSM with Addictions
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The Pride Center at Equality Park, in association with Lambda Men’s Brotherhood, have created a new social networking program
called Youth Gay Meth Free (YGMF). YGMF caters to the young GBTQ men in South Florida who struggle with crystal methamphetamine addiction – commonly known as “Crystal,” “Tina” or “Ice” – along with other substances.
YGMF is currently available on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, with the goal of grabbing the attention of young GBTQ males with these tragic addictions.
“I’m very excited about this new program because there are so many young men struggling with additions,” said Mitchell Jerus, Youth Coordinator running the YGMF Program. “We already have much of our online social networking programs in place and very soon we will have a peer counseling program both online and offline.
“These young men often feel alone with no one to talk to about their problems,” continued Jerus. “That’s why we’re here, so they know they’re not alone and that someone is there to help. We anticipate this program will be very successful and we’re using the slogan ‘Get Your Shine Back’ showing these young men that they can emerge from their dark places.
“Numerous indicators confirm problematic crystal methamphetamine use among some sexually active men who have sex with other men. GBTQ/MSM young people’s questions regarding sexual identity and sexual behavior need to be addressed. These young men need skills to address and resist using substances as they become exposed to new behavioral options in the gay community.”
“In my experience catering to LGBTQ youth and their families, many of the young men I’ve met that use crystal meth are young sex workers: dancers, go-go boys, adult film performers, escorts, etc.,” said Listron “Blue” Mannix, Expanding Testing Initiative Manger overseeing the YGMF program.
“We’re reaching out to other organizations that can help this program flourish and become the hope for a better future to others that it’s supposed to be,” concluded Jerus. “We feel that by collaborating with programs such as Meth and Men, the Sunserve Youth Group, MProject and other treatment centers, that young men struggling can get the help that they need and deserve.”
The core of this program is located at the Pride Center at Equality Park on Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors, or by going online to Facebook and looking for “YouthGay MethFree”.
For additional information, email youthmethfree@pridecenterflorida.org or call (954) 463-9005.
Johnny’s Plans Entire Labor Day Weekend Schedule
FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI, FL – Both locations of Johnny’s is planning a Labor Day Weekend schedule. What a way to end the summer!
Paolo Pincente Named Executive Producer Miami Beach Gay Pride
MIAMI BEACH, FL –Veteran event director and producer Paolo Pincente has been named executive producer of the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival for 2012, announced Babak Movahedi, president of the Pride Board of Directors. “Miami Beach Pride is fortunate to have someone of Paolo’s diverse background and experience as next year’s executive producer,” Movahedi said. “In three short years, Miami Beach Pride has grown from a hometown celebration to one that captures national, if not international, attention.
For the fourth event, we look forward to having Paolo add his distinctive touch and take Pride to a whole new level.”
In his new role, Pincente will help plan and oversee all elements of next year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride event as well as related activities leading up to Pride. Now in its fourth year, Miami Beach Gay Pride will take place Sunday, April 15, 2012, along Miami Beach’s famed Ocean Drive.
In addition to his responsibilities for Pride, Pincente currently works and produces events for top-tier venues and well-known brands including, Space Nightclub, Miami, as general manager; Mova Lounge, Miami Beach, as operations and marketing consultant; Svedka Vodka, throughout Florida, as event producer; Source Events, Miami, as event manager; and the Surfcomber Hotel, Miami Beach, as event producer. His previous experience in the hospitality industry has also included Crobar Nightclubs in New York City, Chicago and Miami Beach; Mia Biscayne, Miami; Exit 66 Nightclub, Ft. Lauderdale; and Cameo Nightclub in Miami Beach, where he has served in diverse operations, management, marketing, training and event-related capacities.
The mission of Miami Beach Gay Pride is to bring together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their friends, allies, and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBT community by producing free, safe, quality mass-appeal events that are open to all, including the Parade, Festival and allied Miami Beach Pride sanctioned events. For more information; www.miamibeachgaypride.com.
Teacher Suspended for Being Gay Porn Star
MIAMI, FL – In January, Shawn Loftis, a Miami-Dade County substitute teacher, was suspended from his position. In April, Loftis’ teacher’s certificate was revoked despite his insistence that his porn days were over.
Loftis also worked as a citizen reporter for CNN.
Loftis, who went by the stage name Collin O’Neal, resigned his porn career in 2010 but is still widely known for his porn work. His video work included Mirage, Lord of the Jungle, Humping Iron, Crossing the Line, Rising Sun, Desperate Husbands, Scorched, The Hard Way, Mo’ Bubble Butt, Perfect Fit and Skuff II: Downright Filthy.
However, Loftis/O’Neal also produced and directed his own series, known as “World of Men,” where, as O’Neal, he visited various exotic locations looking for sex. These locations included London, Lebanon, São Paulo, Miami, Spain, Edinburgh, Berlin and Serbia. O’Neal’s videos not only served as sex films, but were also travelogues showing some of the famous sites in the various cities. It is from these locations that, as Loftis, he submitted some of his iReport segments for CNN.
O’Neal’s hard-core performances won him several awards. The “World of Men” series has been nominated many times for awards and World of Men: Lebanon has won a GayVN Award for Best Pro/Am Release and a Grabby Award for Best Videography jointly for Collin O’Neal and Dan Fox, again for Lebanon.
O’Neal said that CNN knew about his porn past and didn’t have a problem with it, but can’t believe that the Miami-Dade School Board would, since he gave up the business.
Symposium on Aging
MIAMI, FL – The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) will hold a Symposium on Aging with the objective to educate and explore the needs of the LGBT community. The Symposium will be held on Saturday, September 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 SE 2nd Avenue in Miami.
The Symposium on Aging seeks to open a discussion and create an understanding of the needs and expectations of this powerful and growing segment of the LGBT community.
The fee for admission, which includes seated lunch and refreshments throughout the day, is $35 for members of the MDGLCC and $55 for non-members. The event is open to the public. Limited space is available. RSVP required.
For complete details, visit www.gogaymiami.com (“Symposium on Aging” tab), call (305) 673-4440 or email mdglcc@bellsouth.net.
Jon Peterson to Appear at Miami Beach Stage Door Theater
MIAMI BEACH, FL – Starting on Saturday, September 10th, the Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre presents “Song Man Dance Man,” a one-man show about one-man shows created and performed by Jon Peterson, emcee from Broadway’s revival of “Cabaret” and Drama Desk Nominee for the title role in the off-Broadway production “George M. Cohan Tonight!”
“Song Man Dance Man” is about seven performers who captured the eyes, ears and hearts of their audiences. They are Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, whose unique styles transformed the movie musical; Donald O’Connor and Sammy Davis, Jr., both geniuses who had to struggle for appropriate recognition; Bobby Darin, who made the leap from ‘50s pop-star to sophisticated concert artist; the eccentric, brilliant Anthony Newley, whose pulsating, emotional style reverberated throughout the musical theater world; and, of course, George M. Cohan, who invented the song and dance man.
“I wanted to remind people of just how good it can be; of how magical the world of show business was in those golden days because of these performers,” says Peterson about why he was motivated to create the one-man show. “The dazzling talent and charisma of these artists inspire life-changing devotion.”
“Song Man Dance Man” Performances: Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. on September 10, 17 and 24. Tickets are $38 for the matinee and $42 for the evening performance and are available at the box office at Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre at the Byron Carlyle, 500 71st Street, Miami Beach, by calling (305) 397-8977 or purchase online at www.stagedoorfl.org.
Hamilton Gallery to Host GLBX After Hours
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Hamilton Gallery at 615 East Las Olas Boulevard will be hosting the Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange (GLBX) After Hours Networking event on Thursday, September 22, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. GLBX is a Council of The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Exchange events are free for members.
“We plan our socials at various members’ businesses so we can enjoy a variety of venues and also give everyone the opportunity to learn first hand about that member’s business,” said Julian Cavazos, GLBX Chair. “We’re looking forward to meeting at Janice Hamilton’s Gallery.”
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce is the first Chamber in the State of Florida and one of the first in the nation to recognize the LGBT community as a major component of their membership. “The contributions of the Gay and Lesbian Community within our city and surrounding area is major driver to our local economy. The mission of the Chamber is to drive economic growth for the Greater Fort Lauderdale community; it was recognized that the Gay and Lesbian Community needed to be included in a manner to unite and connect, giving an inclusive voice to continue to attract new Gay and Lesbian businesses,” Mr. Cavazos explained.
For information or reservations, contact Drew Miller at (954) 462-6000 ext 8775.
South Florida Cities Rank Highest LGBT Households Concentrations
OAKLAND PARK, FL – Both Wilton Manors and Oakland Park ranked in the top-ten nationwide in the concentration of same-sex households in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Wilton Manors ranked second in the nation with, 140 same-sex households per 1,000, and Oakland Park ranked tenth in the nation with 8.8 same-sex households for every 1,000. Provincetown, Massachusetts, came in first place, in front of Wilton Manors.
Sidelines Announces 3rd Round Cook-Off Winners
WILTON MANORS, FL – Sidelines Sports Bar held its last round of their Summer Cook-Off Competition before the Finals. The category for this round of the cook-off competition was Summer Salads.
The recipes included a candied pecan salad tossed with greens and a homemade dressing, a cauliflower and chicken salad, a couscous salad, a chicken salad with grapes and apples, to name just a few. However, Randy Harmon’s black-eyed pea pasta salad earned him first-place; John Woodward came in second-place and was also awarded the People’s Choice honor; Sonia Aguero came in third for her “Mama’s Potato and Chicken Salad”.
The top three winners are now eligible for the “Finals Challenge,” scheduled for Sunday, September 4th (Labor Day Weekend), at 5:00 p.m.
WIN to Hold “Metaphysical Fair”
WILTON MANORS, FL – Women in Network (WIN) will be holding a Metaphysical Fair on Wednesday, September 7, at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Here’s your chance to ask what you never dared to ask before and your chance to learn more and speak to people who are experts in reiki, psychic ability, yoga, acupuncture and more. Admission is $5 for WIN members and $10 for non-members.
Rescue & Rejoice
WILTON MANORS, FL – Abandoned Pet Rescue will be holding Rescue & Rejoice, an event to raise funds since the organization is run solely on donations they receive. The fundraiser will be held at Allied Kitchen and Bath on September 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., and is co-sponsored by The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa.
Abandoned Pet Rescue takes abandoned pets off the streets of South Florida and gives them veterinary care and places them in permanent, loving homes. APR is the only “no kill” shelter in Broward County and all contributions made are tax-deductible and all the proceeds go towards the shelter.
Suggested donations include gift certificates and other merchandise that will hold a value in an auction environment.
For more information on the Rescue & Rejoice event, or if your donation is something that needs to be picked up, please call Geri at (954) 581-6423 or send email to apr954@aol.com.
Florida Teacher in Trouble for Anti-Gay Facebook Posts
MOUNT DORA, FL – Jerry Buell, a Florida-based teacher, was suspended from the classroom while the Lake County School Board investigates Facebook messages in which he said he “almost threw up” when he heard about New York’s marriage equality, which he said was also part of a “cesspool”. Buell had been Mount Dora High School’s “Teacher of the Year”.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Buell told them that his posts, which were visible to his friends and his network only, were not made out of hate but instead on how he interprets things.
]]>
Conservative religious activists in Pakistan have condemned and protested a gay rights event last week sponsored by the US embassy in Islamabad. Over 75 people attended the meeting, which was co-hosted by the Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies, the embassy said. The crowd included U.S. Embassy officials, military representatives, foreign diplomats and leaders of Pakistani LGBT advocacy groups.
The Islamic officials demanded the Pakistani government arrest the participants under the country’s laws and said the meeting was “tantamount to stabbing the Muslim world in the chest.” At the “gay pride” event at the embassy, the US deputy ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Hoagland, said Washington was committed to gay rights in the country.
“I want to be clear: the US embassy is here to support you and stand by your side every step of the way,” the embassy said in a statement.
In a statement issued by the US?Embassy, it stated “This gathering demonstrated continued US Embassy support for human rights, including LGBT rights, in Pakistan at a time when those rights are increasingly under attack from extremist elements throughout Pakistani society.” Members of Pakistan’s largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), described the event as a form of “cultural terrorism.” “Such people [homosexuals] are the curse of society and social garbage,” JI said.
“They don’t deserve to be Muslim or Pakistani, and the support and protection announced by the US administration for them is the worst social and cultural terrorism against Pakistan.” Protesters in Karachi called the event “an assault on Pakistan’s Islamic culture.”
According to Dawn, an English-language Pakistani daily, Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, a top official with JI, told a rally: “We condemn the American conspiracy to encourage [bisexuality] in our country. They have destroyed us physically, imposed the so-called war on terrorism on us and now they have unleashed cultural terrorism on us.” Mehnati added: “This [event] shows [how] cruel America has unleashed a storm of immoral values on our great Islamic values, which we’ll resist at all costs.” In Islamabad, the youth wing of JI burnt a US flag and shouted “we are ready for jihad against the US.” A placard at that rally read: “Americans, we will not allow you to spread your vulgar and ugly civilization in Pakistan.” A spokesman for the group, Noorul Bashar, told Pakistani media: “Through our peaceful rally, we want to give the message through the media that we will not allow these people (gays) to live here and they should be immediately deported out of Pakistan.” While Pakistan’s constitution does not even address homosexuality, under the strict laws of Islamic Shariah, such acts are regarded as immoral and evil and can result in brutal punishment, including whipping, prison and sometimes death.
Just when it seemed relations between the US and Pakistan couldn’t get worse, this new wrinkle has developed.
Conservative religious groups in Pakistan have sharply criticized the US Embassy and described the event as the second most dangerous attack on the country by the US after the drone and missile strikes that have that have killed civilians in addition to their intended insurgent targets.
Hoagland reaffirmed US commitment to a proclamation signed by President Barack Obama May 31 that, “we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” There has been no comment on the event by Pakistan government officials, but the furor could fuel public resentment of US dealings in the country. The two governments already are at odds over fallout from the secret US attack in Abbottabad in which Al Qaeda mastermind Osama Bin Laden was killed May 2, as well as civilian deaths from unmanned Predator drone aircraft and missile attacks in remote areas where Al Qaeda and other insurgents are hiding.
Whether the criticisms over the gay rights celebration will gain traction with the Pakistan public remains to be seen. Already it has generated debate on Internet blogs. Islamist groups held rallies in major cities Monday, at which US sponsorship of the event was denounced.
Nonetheless, the country seems to be softening some of its official treatment of homosexuals. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled to allow a third gender category on national identity cards.
“Previously, we were having two categories, male and female, for registration,” Brigadier Ehsan ul-Haq, who manages the national database in Karachi, said at the time. “This (homosexual) community agitated for a separate identity of their own. They went to the Supreme Court, the court agreed and we will implement it.” Pakistan does not, however, recognize marriage or civil unions by homosexuals, and homosexually is socially and religiously ostracized in most areas of the country.
The Obama administration’s projection of its philosophy on homosexuality in Pakistan comes at a time when the US itself is wrestling with questions of rights for homosexuals. States are debating whether to recognize same sex marriages and the military is divided on whether homosexuals should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces.
Only seven states and one district currently allow same sex marriages. Other states recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and some states offer civil unions of same sex couples that afford some of the legal benefits and protections of marriage.
In addition, twenty states outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation while twelve others prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression.
wing Indiana Family Institute were upset when they found out that, for the first time, the Indiana police force will march in the city’s gay pride parade.
According to television station WXIN FOX-59, Ryan McCann of The Indiana Family Institute warned:
“The majority of Hoosiers and probably the majority of folks in Indianapolis if they actually went to the gay pride parade and see the activities that goes on there would be shocked to see our taxpayer dollars going to have our men and women in uniform through the police and fire department march in that kind of a parade.”
IMPD spokesperson Linda Jackson says the department doesn’t think having officers march in the parade is controversial. “I don’t think it’s an issue of the politics or an issue of anything like that. This is a parade that we would participate in.”
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