Queer Theater! This Saturday @ Towson Univ.

Check it out: some queer theater at Towson University!!

Walk Like A Man - The Play
Saturday, November 3, 2007 on the Mainstage at Towson University Center for the Arts
8000 York Road, Towson, MD.
Showtime is 7:00 p.m.

"With a mission to educate and promote diversity through theatre, Positive Scribe Productions uses spoken word and dramatic monologues to bring to life everyday realities in the gay community. The scene “Dress Right Dress,” helps the audience understand the ramifications of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” when they witness two older lesbians who finally find the love for which they have been searching. But when one dies as a casualty of war, the other has to maintain the façade of “just a friend” to protect her deceased partner’s secret. Other scenes portray couples dealing with emotional infidelity, same-sex domestic violence, gender identification, homophobia at work, homosexuality and religion, the joy of new love and the loss of an old one."

"But be warned, this is groundbreaking theatre that dares to tackle labels, issues, and stereotypes commonly faced in the LGBT community."

Body, Sexuality and Society Presentations

Passing along:

The Department and Program of American Studies at University of Maryland, College Park are proud to present the fourth installment of the American Studies Fall 2007 Colloquium Series:

Body, Sexuality, and Society Graduate Student Presentations
Introduced by Dr. Nancy Struna

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 12—2 pm
1108 Holzapfel Hall, UMDCP Campus

The following graduate students will read their research papers from the Body, Sexuality, and Society seminar.

Robert Choflet — "Neoliberal Healthcare and Maryland's Carceral Spaces"

Kenyatta Graves — "Girl, How Can You Tell?: The Down-Low and Di(ck)straction in Black Communities"

Christopher J. Pérez — "Scripting Trauma / Tran-Scripting Trauma: The 'Body' of Evidence and Interviewers' Roles in Political Asylum"

Kristen Williams — "Stuffed Shirts and Talking Heads, or The Body as Marginalia in Political Performance"

For more information about the American Studies Colloquium Series, contact Mary Corbin Sies: marycorbinsies@yahoo.com

(Brown Bag Lunch — Light Refreshments Will Be Served)

Gay men earn less

As reported by Reuters Life! today:

"Gay men, but not lesbians, face discrimination at work, earning up to 23 percent less than married men in some jobs, according to a new study."

Check out the full story here.

A New Gay Icon?

There is now a gay icon in schools across the world. Dumbledore is gay!

Long live J.K. Rowling and her books.

Colloquium on "The Construction of Risk in Gay Neighborhood History"

Passing on the message:

The Department and Program of American Studies at University of Maryland, College Park is proud to present the third installment of the American Studies Fall 2007 Colloquium Series :

Dr. Christina Hanhardt, Department of American Studies and Program in LGBT Studies

"Safe Bet?: The Construction of Risk in Gay Neighborhood History"

OCTOBER 23, 12:30-2pm, 0142 Holzapfel Hall

For more information about the American Studies Colloquium Series, contact Mary Corbin Sies: marycorbinsies@yahoo.com

Our Opponents (The "Frightful" Ones)

Check out the QUEERTY list of "The 20 Most Frightful Anti-Gay Activists."

An interesting read. Click here.

My favorite Rally speakers!

Yesterday, on National Coming Out Day, many wonderful speakers reiterated the need for domestic partner benefits at the University of Maryland.

Check out The Diamondback's story on the event here.

Here are some pictures of my favorite speakers:

Elbridge James (President of Progressive MD, Former President of NAACP MD):
"One Maryland!"




Phil Nash (Asian American Studies Department): A straight ally!



Marilee Lindemann (Director of LGBT Studies Program): Benefits now!

National Coming Out Day

Tomorrow is National Coming Out Day!
Thursday, Oct. 11

EVENTS at UMD:

"Minorities Within the GLBT Minority - Scratching the Surface at the Intersections of Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation."

w/ Cuc Vu, Chief Diversity Officer & Che Juan Gonzales Tabisola, Manager, Research Center, Human Rights Campaign

Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Multipurpose Room, Nyumburu Cultural Center

RALLY for Domestic Partners!!

4:00 p.m.
Nyumburu Amphitheater

*see post below for details

In the News

The Washington Blade yesterday announced the domestic partner benefits rally to be held at the University of Maryland's Nyumburu Amphitheater Thursday.

Check it out here.

Also, on the front page of today's New York Times, there is a very important story on elderly LGBT people facing discrimination - and the efforts to change that - titled, "Aging and Gay, And Facing Prejudice in Twilight."

The story is heartbreaking, precautionary and informative.

Read the story here.

In the News

Today, The Chronicle of Higher Education published a story titled "Domestic Partners Got Health Benefits at More Colleges This Year, Survey Finds."

"According to the survey," the article states, "40 percent of colleges and universities now offer health coverage to same-sex partners, compared with 38 percent last year."

To read the whole story, click here.

Personal thoughts on ENDA

Gay, lesbian and bisexual people who think it acceptable to pass a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that leaves out transgender people should take a refresher course in gay history.

Maybe then they would realize the 1969 riot at the Stonewall Inn so often credited with instigating the gay rights movement would never have had the impact it did were it not for the drag queens who stood up to the New York City police.

They should also read the Human Rights Campaign’s 2008 Corporate Equality Index, which reports 98 percent of rated employers “provide employment protections on the basis of sexual orientation,” while only 58 percent provide protections on the basis of “gender identity.”

A trans-exclusive ENDA only leaves the members of the LGBT community most vulnerable to workplace discrimination more isolated. Any gay, lesbian or bisexual people who think otherwise should understand their opinion reeks of the same sour smell effused by early feminists who disregarded lesbians, early white activists who disregarded the existence of non-white gays and lesbians and all of those people who still think the military operates without the valuable services of LGBT people.

Neat GLBT History Month Website

October is GLBT History Month.

As part of this year's celebration, organizers have developed a website full of interesting information on 31 icons of GLBT history.

Click here to go to the interactive website. It is really interesting.

Also, check out the Washington Blade's story on the month here.

OCT 11 RALLY ON CAMPUS!!

From the University of Maryland Pride Alliance:

Rally to Support President Mote's Domestic Partnership Proposal

October 11th, 2007 at 4:00pm
Nyumburu Amphitheater

In 1994, the University of Maryland's University Senate voted by a large margin in favor of domestic partner benefits; yet despite repeated attempts to move forward, off campus forces have prevented implementation. On April 16, 2007 President Mote submitted a proposal to Chancellor Kirwan.

The proposal requests that the University of Maryland, College Park be permitted to use existing funds to implement Domestic Partnership Benefits.
The Pride Alliance understands that government agencies are reviewing the President's proposal, yet it is far past time to move forward on Domestic Partnership Benefits.
We are urging Governor O'Malley, Chancellor Kirwan, and the Board of Regents to make President Mote's proposal a reality.
The Pride Alliance invites you to attend our rally and show your support for Domestic Partnership Benefits.

Confirmed Speakers:

Dr. Phil Nash (Asian American Studies Dept.)
Delegate Mizuer (MD District 20)
Delegate Pena-Melnyk (MD District 21)
Senator Raskin (MD District 20)
Senator Madaleno (MD District 18)
Pat Wojahn & Dave Kolesar (Plantiffs in MD Marriage Court Case)
Doug Duncan (Former Montgomery County Executive, VP of Academic Affairs UMD)
Elbridge James (President of Progressive MD, Former President of NAACP MD)


For more information, please contact VP.Pride@umd.edu or 301.405.0755

Kudos to the Pride Alliance. I know all its officers have been working very hard. This is exactly the type of event needed. If you can make it, make it. Numbers mean a lot.

Update and News

I haven't posted in a few days because I have been quite busy. At the end of last week I rejoined The Diamondback staff as one of two Opinion Editors.

I will continue to pen this blog, and acknowledge my doing so in full disclosure if and when I decide to write opinion columns.

I did so today.

There has been much talk surrounding two recent hate crimes at the University of Maryland - one a noose hung near the university's Nyumburu Cultural Center, and the other a swastika spray-painted on a car outside of a fraternity.

In light of those crimes, my column today questions a fraternity whose brothers denounced "homosexuality" last week in a step show at Nyumburu. It aims to remind people that LGBT people were persecuted by Nazis and their swastikas as well, and that two young men in Iran were just hung with nooses for, many said, being gay.

Click here to check it out.

Also, the Washington Blade reported yesterday on an alleged anti-gay assault at nearby Georgetown University.

To read the Blade's story, click here.

In the News

The Diamondback ran another opinion column today on same-sex marriage.

Click here to check it out.