Opinions

COMMENTARY: Haiti’s LGBTQ accepting Vodou societies

The Rev. Irene Monroe - SDGLN Contributor
February 7th, 2013

As I celebrate Black History Month I’d like to recognize one of my indigenous West African ancestral religions that's not homophobic — even if some of the practitioners are.

To the disbelief of many — it's Vodun.

Haitian Vodou is an ancestral folk religion whose tenets have always been queer-friendly, accepting people of all sexual orientations and gender expressions.

It’s just one of the religions brought to the New World by the African Diaspora, but there is no religion that frightens and fascinates the world over as much as Vodou.

Bad news for the Religious Right: There already are gays in the Boy Scouts

Drew Courtney - Director of Communications, People For the American Way
February 6th, 2013

(Editor's note: This was submitted to SDGLN after first appearing on the Huffington Post, one of our media partners.)

As the Boy Scouts of America move towards finally loosening their organizational policy of forbidding openly gay scouts and leaders, Religious Right activists have been busy trying to top each other with their usual outraged hyperbole.

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COMMENTARY: Given the chance, would you or could you “out” someone?

Barb Hamp Weicksel - SDGLN Contributor
February 5th, 2013

There was a whole lot of discussion in our home this week about whether or not we have the right – or as some would say – the responsibility -- to “out” someone. Is this something we in the gay community are required to do? And are we especially required to do it when the person in question is a closeted gay and works against the gay community?

Ed Koch and the cost of the closet

Richard Kim - The Nation
February 4th, 2013

The instant beatification of former New York City Mayor Ed Koch has a lot of folks itching to do some grave-dancing. Leftists will denounce Koch because he was one of the original neoliberal mayors, ushering in a regime of gentrification and finance-driven inequality that defines the city to this day. Minorities regard him with suspicion because he marginalized the city’s black and Hispanic leadership and inflamed racial fault lines to corner the white vote, presaging the Sister Souljah moments that would come to afflict the national Democratic Party.

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COMMENTARY on Jamie Kuntz: Was it all about telling a lie or being gay?

Kit-Bacon Gressitt – SDGLN Contributor
February 4th, 2013

In September 2012, 18-year-old Jamie Kuntz was a football scholarship student at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS).

Today, Kuntz is the object of debate between those who insist he was ousted from the NDSCS team for lying to his coach and committing actions that were detrimental to the team, and those who insist he was ousted for being gay.

Colorado pastor: Civil unions will lead to pedophilia, gays will burn Christians at the stake

Miranda Blue - Right Wing Watch via LGBTQ Nation
February 1st, 2013

Kevin Swanson of Generations Radio has a dark view of what will come if Colorado passes a bill allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.

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LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY: #BeingLOVEDIs charity event is a big success

Jennine Estes - Founder of #BeingLOVEDIs
January 31st, 2013

On Friday, Jan. 18, I asked the San Diego community to come together at 1202 nightclub in Hillcrest to help me support Christie’s Place. I could not be more grateful, because the event was a huge success!

We raised over $2,000 for a great charity, and so many people came out to help pull it all together.

My favorite San Diego photographer, Sean Capshaw (owner of Resolusean), took pictures in the BeingLOVEDIs Photo Booth. We got so many great shots and creative responses!

LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY: Forward with Pride

Dwayne Crenshaw - Executive Director, San Diego LGBT Pride
January 31st, 2013

Tomorrow, I begin a leave of absence as executive director of Pride to pursue a personal endeavor, which will continue to engage me in the fight for civil rights and full equality for all people. As I do so, I am encouraged that planning for the 2013 San Diego Pride Celebration, July 12 -14, 2013 is already well underway and quickly shaping up to be one of our best ever. San Diego Pride's Board of Directors, staff and hundreds of volunteers have "got Pride" and will move forward in producing an amazing event!

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COMMENTARY: Jadin Bell, the lynching of a butterfly and the modern mob

Rob Watson - via LGBQ Nation
January 30th, 2013

(Editor's note: Rob Watson is Director of Partners and Alliances Communication for Hitachi Data Systems and blogs on evoL = . He has served as the president of the board of directors for Santa Cruz AIDS project and is a dedicated activist for the LGBT community. He was a foster care parent and became the adoptive parent of his two sons. They reside in Northern California. His commentaries appear regularly on LGBTQ Nation, a media partner with SDGLN.)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: What about those who were out, loud and proud?

Billy Glover - tangentgroup.org
January 28th, 2013

(Editor’s note: In her weekly opinion piece on SDGLN’s Commentary page, Contributor Barb Hamp Weicksel wrote about this topic: ”The out, loud and proud myth of the gay community” in which she argues that times have changed for the LGBT movement and that some people now live by example instead of by confrontation. Needless to say, not everyone agrees with her point of view.)

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