Today, the Boy Scouts of America voted to allow OPENLY gay boys as members. However, bad news, the ban on LGBT Scout leaders in still in place. (booo!!)
It was reported that local Scout leaders at the annual meeting in Texas voted in favor of this change by more then 60%. I think the fact the vote that led to this change happened in Texas is pretty awesome. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Texas. It's just that in equality polls, Texas is usually one of the states that seems furthest from legalizing same-sex marriage.
On top of support from religious and corporate groups as well as individuals and Scout families, GLAAD was a big supporter of this movement within The Boy Scouts of America. This is the statement they made after the decision was announced.
"Today's vote is a significant victory for gay youth across the nation
and a clear indication that the Boy Scouts' ban on gay adult leaders
will also inevitably end," said GLAAD spokesperson Rich Ferraro. "The
Boy Scouts of America heard from religious leaders, corporate sponsors
and so many Scouting families who want an end to discrimination against
gay people, and GLAAD will continue this work with those committed to
equality in Scouting until gay parents and adults are able to
participate."
Many conservative groups are now upset and disappointed with the Boy Scouts, believing this change will cause the organization to lose many members. I don't agree. I think that they might lose some due to conservative and bigoted families, but many will stay and even more will join knowing they can be themselves openly and without shame. This change will actually help the Boy Scouts on their mission to turn young boys into good men because they will be helping them learn acceptance and that there is nothing wrong, or unmanly, with being gay.
The fact that the ban on LGBT Scout leaders is still in place dampens this news a bit. However, I'm confident this notable victory within the organization, as well as all the support in favor of this change, will help get that ban lifted.
To read the article on this victory from NPR's website visit the link posted below.
XOXO
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186344972/boy-scouts-vote-to-admit-openly-gay-members
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Perfect LGBT Anthem Song
To continue today's theme of music, here is another LGBT music related post!
In recent years, popular music has seen an increase in songs supporting marriage equality, the LGBT community, and being who you are. Songs such as "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera (2002) "Raise Your Glass" by P!nk (2010), "Firework" by Katy Perry (2010), and "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga (2011) - just to name a few - have shown LGBT support either in their lyrics, videos, or both.
A few days ago, a friend shared a link on my Facebook page for a music video she knew I'd love that goes with the other ones I mentioned. The video was for the song "Same Love" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. I'm not sure how I've been oblivious to this video so far since it was posted on Youtube back in October, but it is another to add to the list of amazing LGBT supportive songs. Frankly, I think it might just surpass other LGBT support songs in terms of being a real world LGBT anthem (Please don't throw stuff at me for saying that!) just simply because it talks about issues that are very real to people in the LGBT community, both youth and adults.
The video itself made me choke up a bit, and then completely bawl my eyes out at the end. I really hope you'll check it out if you haven't seen it already.
xoxo
LGBT Supporters in Country Music
Music is something every person on the planet seems to have in common. Now, for me, I listen to all kinds - Pop, Hip-Hop, 80's, Rock, Alternative, R&B, Punk - most everything. However, the music I was raised on, that my parents listened to, was Country. So when I admitted to myself how important LGBT rights were and started finding support for the community all over the place, I was a bit disappointed to see very little support coming out of the Country music industry, even after artist Chely Wright came out as a lesbian in 2010.
Unfortunately, Country music and its artists are often stereotyped as being conservative and not LGBT friendly. So, you can imagine my excitement when I ran across an article on The Advocate's website from June 2012 entitled "Country Entertainers Who Support LGBT Equality".
The people included on this list include:
Finding articles like this one give me a bit more hope in humanity each time I run across them.
To read the article in its entirety and what was said about each artist on this list, please visit this link:
http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2012/06/21/country-entertainers-who-support-lgbt-equality?page=0,0
Thank you all for sticking with me and checking back as often as you do. I love you all!
<3
Unfortunately, Country music and its artists are often stereotyped as being conservative and not LGBT friendly. So, you can imagine my excitement when I ran across an article on The Advocate's website from June 2012 entitled "Country Entertainers Who Support LGBT Equality".
The people included on this list include:
- Garth Brooks
- Laura Bell Bundy
- Dixie Chicks
- Wynona Judd
- Toby Keith
- Martina McBride
- Reba McEntire
- Tim McGraw
- Faith Hill
- Lorrie Morgan
- Willie Nelson
- Dolly Parton
- Rascal Flatts
- LeAnn Rimes
- Blake Shelton
- Taylor Swift (but come on she's barely country lol)
- Sugarland
- Carrie Underwood
- Chely Wright (Obviously! the lovely lady did come out in 2010!)
- Trisha Yearwood
Finding articles like this one give me a bit more hope in humanity each time I run across them.
To read the article in its entirety and what was said about each artist on this list, please visit this link:
http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2012/06/21/country-entertainers-who-support-lgbt-equality?page=0,0
Thank you all for sticking with me and checking back as often as you do. I love you all!
<3
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
New Follow Button!
Hello Lovelies!
Guess what?! You can now follow us by email! The top of the right sidebar now has a section where you can input your email address and hit submit. Then, whenever we post something new you will know automatically! I hope you'll take advantage of this new feature.
As always, I really appreciate all your views and support!
<3
Guess what?! You can now follow us by email! The top of the right sidebar now has a section where you can input your email address and hit submit. Then, whenever we post something new you will know automatically! I hope you'll take advantage of this new feature.
As always, I really appreciate all your views and support!
<3
Monday, April 1, 2013
New Ace Support Page
Lately, I've noticed that, while there are many pages on Facebook for the LGBT community as a whole or for subgroups of it, there are very few pages for Asexuality. So I created one!
This page is extremely brand new, but I will be working on building it up just as I am with this blog's Facebook page. I really hope you will check it out, give it a like, and share it with all your friends.
The support means a whole lot to me and other Aces like me. <3
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Asexual-Love/353249348109027?ref=hl
This page is extremely brand new, but I will be working on building it up just as I am with this blog's Facebook page. I really hope you will check it out, give it a like, and share it with all your friends.
The support means a whole lot to me and other Aces like me. <3
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Asexual-Love/353249348109027?ref=hl
Thursday, March 21, 2013
US Pediatrics Support Marriage Equality
Hello beautiful people! I'm finally back! I'm sorry for being MIA for so long, I had some computer issues (turns out you shouldn't sneeze coffee on your laptop's exposed motherboard! Who knew right? =P ) and then I just wasn't sure what to post about. However, inspiration has finally struck, and I have a rather fascinating and exciting story I read on The Advocate's website to share with you all.
This week, just in time for the US Supreme Court to consider it next week, the influential American Academy of Pediatrics publicly issued its support for marriage equality for the very first time. They argue that scientific studies prove children thrive in stable and secure environments which are best created through marriage. They go on to say, "Scientific evidence affirms that children have similar developmental and emotional needs and receive similar parenting whether they are raised by parents of the same or different genders." So science proves it. Same-sex parents are JUST AS GOOD as straight parents.
Along with the policy change, the American Academy of Pediatrics also released an online report that states it has 30 YEARS of scientific research to back up its stand point that children are in no danger if they are raised by same-sex parents. The research also supports the idea that children are better off if their parents are LEGALLY married, whether they are same-sex or not.
Having an organization as huge and as influential as the Academy of Pediatrics supporting marriage equality and same-sex parents is a big leap forward for the LGBT community and the US as a whole. It seems like the first quarter of 2013 has shown how far the US and the world has come in the fight for equality. Let's hope this pattern continues throughout the rest of the year!
<3
If you want to read the article in full, here's the link http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/03/21/american-academy-pediatrics-backs-marriage-equality-best =)
This week, just in time for the US Supreme Court to consider it next week, the influential American Academy of Pediatrics publicly issued its support for marriage equality for the very first time. They argue that scientific studies prove children thrive in stable and secure environments which are best created through marriage. They go on to say, "Scientific evidence affirms that children have similar developmental and emotional needs and receive similar parenting whether they are raised by parents of the same or different genders." So science proves it. Same-sex parents are JUST AS GOOD as straight parents.
Along with the policy change, the American Academy of Pediatrics also released an online report that states it has 30 YEARS of scientific research to back up its stand point that children are in no danger if they are raised by same-sex parents. The research also supports the idea that children are better off if their parents are LEGALLY married, whether they are same-sex or not.
Having an organization as huge and as influential as the Academy of Pediatrics supporting marriage equality and same-sex parents is a big leap forward for the LGBT community and the US as a whole. It seems like the first quarter of 2013 has shown how far the US and the world has come in the fight for equality. Let's hope this pattern continues throughout the rest of the year!
<3
If you want to read the article in full, here's the link http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/03/21/american-academy-pediatrics-backs-marriage-equality-best =)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Extra Bit Of NFL Ally News
Hi all! I know I already posted today about Brendon Ayanbadejo, which was a bit of a read so thank you so much to all that read it! However, I stumbled upon a web article earlier and wanted to share it with you.
Last week, before the Super Bowl, San Fransisco 49ers' cornerback Chris Culliver made anti-gay comments when doing a podcast. When asked about gay players, Culliver responded with "I don't do the gay guys, man. I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah … can't be … in the locker room, man. Nah." He also said that players should wait 10 YEARS after retiring before coming out. He later apologized and recanted his comments, but, it's still a bit skeptical to many that it him being honest and not someone writing out his apology for him.
The article I found includes various statements from both the Baltimore Ravens and the San Fransisco 49ers in regards to the anti-gay comments made earlier this month by Culliver.
Here are a my favorite statements from the article.
"On this team, with so many different personalities, we just accept people for who they are. We really don't care too much about a person's sexuality. You know who you are, that's who you are, and we accept you for it."
-- Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs
"I don't think we should tear a man's head off or a woman's head off just because of their sexual preference. I think we're all good people. I really believe we should be able to look beyond that in this day and age. It's here in our world, it's not like it just came yesterday. So for us to act like, oh my god, this is like a bad disease that just hit our country, it's not."
-- 49ers receiver Randy Moss
"If people hear you say those things, regardless of whether you mean them or not, they're going to fry you for it if it's in a public arena, and your whole reputation is going to be roasted for it. He apologized and hopefully he'll learn. I think he's going to learn and he's going to grow from it and he's going to be a better person for it.''
--Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayenbadejo
"Who knows, there could be someone who's gay in our locker room right now that's scared to come out, which he has a right to be if he is because of all of this and how other teammates might feel. I feel like anybody can be who they want to be as long as you don't disrespect other people and go about your business in your own way. "
-- 49ers safety Donte Whitner
If you have a moment, check out the whole article. The statements are pretty interesting. =)
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_22494882/
Last week, before the Super Bowl, San Fransisco 49ers' cornerback Chris Culliver made anti-gay comments when doing a podcast. When asked about gay players, Culliver responded with "I don't do the gay guys, man. I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah … can't be … in the locker room, man. Nah." He also said that players should wait 10 YEARS after retiring before coming out. He later apologized and recanted his comments, but, it's still a bit skeptical to many that it him being honest and not someone writing out his apology for him.
The article I found includes various statements from both the Baltimore Ravens and the San Fransisco 49ers in regards to the anti-gay comments made earlier this month by Culliver.
Here are a my favorite statements from the article.
"On this team, with so many different personalities, we just accept people for who they are. We really don't care too much about a person's sexuality. You know who you are, that's who you are, and we accept you for it."
-- Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs
"I don't think we should tear a man's head off or a woman's head off just because of their sexual preference. I think we're all good people. I really believe we should be able to look beyond that in this day and age. It's here in our world, it's not like it just came yesterday. So for us to act like, oh my god, this is like a bad disease that just hit our country, it's not."
-- 49ers receiver Randy Moss
"If people hear you say those things, regardless of whether you mean them or not, they're going to fry you for it if it's in a public arena, and your whole reputation is going to be roasted for it. He apologized and hopefully he'll learn. I think he's going to learn and he's going to grow from it and he's going to be a better person for it.''
--Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayenbadejo
"Who knows, there could be someone who's gay in our locker room right now that's scared to come out, which he has a right to be if he is because of all of this and how other teammates might feel. I feel like anybody can be who they want to be as long as you don't disrespect other people and go about your business in your own way. "
-- 49ers safety Donte Whitner
If you have a moment, check out the whole article. The statements are pretty interesting. =)
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_22494882/
Ally In The NFL
This last week in the world of LGBT News the name Brendon Ayanbadejo has been quite prominent. Now, if you are like me and not a fan of football, you haven't heard this name before and aren't familiar with this person. Brendon Ayanbadejo is a linebacker for, recent Super Bowl winners, the Baltimore Ravens. He is also a very big advocate for LGBT Rights and Marriage Equality.
Unfortunately, pro-athletes, in sports like football, in the past have been generalized as being against LGBT rights and gay players. However, thanks to players like Brendon Ayanbadejo that stereotype is starting to change for the better.
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California (about 1 1/2 hours south of San Fransisco), Brendon has been an advocate for marriage equality since 2009. His support became more publicly known earlier this year when Maryland, the state he plays football for, put same-sex marriage on their voting ballot. He has also credited his marriage equality support as one of his biggest accomplishments. In the weeks preceding the Super Bowl, Brendon took part in a photo shoot for the NO-H8 Organization to show his support for the LGBT community.
Unfortunately, pro-athletes, in sports like football, in the past have been generalized as being against LGBT rights and gay players. However, thanks to players like Brendon Ayanbadejo that stereotype is starting to change for the better.
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California (about 1 1/2 hours south of San Fransisco), Brendon has been an advocate for marriage equality since 2009. His support became more publicly known earlier this year when Maryland, the state he plays football for, put same-sex marriage on their voting ballot. He has also credited his marriage equality support as one of his biggest accomplishments. In the weeks preceding the Super Bowl, Brendon took part in a photo shoot for the NO-H8 Organization to show his support for the LGBT community.
However, thanks to his team's recent Super Bowl win, his platform has garnered more media attention then ever. On February 5, 2013, a video was uploaded onto CNN.com of an interview with Brendon Ayanbadejo on his support of the LGBT community and marriage equality. This video is only a little over 7 minutes, but it is one of the most powerful things I've seen in awhile.
The first thing he says is, “Well I don't really call it Gay
Rights, I just call it Rights. Everyone deserves to be treated
equally.” I love this quote because it is very true. It should just be rights as everyone is the same regardless of who they love or are as a person. That right there made me a Brendon Ayanbadejo fan immediately. He goes on to make a very good point.“Everyone's been talking to gay
people our entire lives, whether we know it or not.” This is something I don't think a lot of people realize or think about. You can't just look at a person and know that they are gay, straight, bi, etc. As Brendon also mentions, it shouldn't matter if a person wears clothing of another gender, or they feel inside they are one gender but physically another. People are just people.
When the Raven's Super Bowl win against the 49ers was mentioned, Ayanbadejo said something I found surprising and extremely refreshing. “And you ask why did the Ravens win
the Super Bowl this year? Because we loved each other more then the
49er's loved the man next to them. So I love the man next to me. My
teammates love me. The coaches loved us, and we won this football
game because of love. We didn't win because we are tougher or more
macho or anything like that. We won because we loved each other more, and
we're gonna do anything for the man next to us.” This is the first time I've ever heard of a team basing their win on the love between the team and not their physical strength or hard work.
Brendon Ayanbadejo was also asked about his opinion of the possibility of having gay players on the Ravens and other NFL teams as well as his reaction to the anti-gay comments made earlier this month by Chris Culliver (San Fransisco 49ers). He responded with, “Everybody's the same. We're all
equal. It doesn't matter. if you put your minds together, no
matter what that person's background is or their orientation is that
we can make change and do positive things.”
The last quote I wanted to share from this interview was something Brendon said near the end. He mentioned the US Constitution and how it ties in with LGBT Rights. “Someone's rights are not your
opinion. Someone's rights are granted through the constitution.” This is a lesson that needs to be shared and taught.
Other people he mentions that are also LGBT Allies in the NFL world include Chris Kluwe (Minnesota Vikings), Scott Fujita (Cleveland Browns), and Connor Barwin (Houston Texans). He also mentions a group called Athlete Ally, which is an organization dedicated to supporting athletes of all orientations.
If you can spare a few minutes out of your day, I strongly suggest clicking the link below and watching the whole interview. Brendon Ayanbadejo makes so many good, strong points that it's impossible to include them all in this post.
http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/02/05/exp-brendon-ayanbadejo-talks-nfl-gay-rights.cnn.html
http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/02/05/exp-brendon-ayanbadejo-talks-nfl-gay-rights.cnn.html
“People are born gay so why treat
them any differently? It's time we treat everybody fairly. And not
only are we trying to dictate who people should love, but dictate who
people should be. If a woman wants to wear man's clothes, if a man
wants to wear woman's clothes or if you feel like you are really a
woman on the inside and you're really a man, who cares? Let's just
treat everybody equally. Let's move on. Let's evolve as a culture, as
a people.”
- Brendon Ayabadejo
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Identifying As Asexual
So I've decided the time has come that I finally (wo)man-up and tell you all something that I haven't shared with really anyone yet. Not even my family. After spending about a year of researching and wondering, I finally admitted something to myself. I'm asexual.
To be put simply, being asexual means you don't experience sexual attraction. Unlike celibacy, it is not a choice; it's a type of sexual orientation, same as being bisexual or pansexual for example.There are many degrees of being asexual. Some, like me, have no desire in ANY intimacy. I enjoy people' s friendship and conversation, but I'd much rather share hugs and my sleeping space with my dog :) Then there are some that are just fine with holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, or a variation, with another person except they have no desire in sex. There are also Asexuals that are more toward what is called the "gray scale". These people still identify as being an Ace (fun term for Asexuals :D) but they might not mind being fully intimate with another person if they have been with them for a certain length of time or with just a certain person.
So you see there is no one solid version of being an ace. Some are like me and at one end of the scale while others are at the opposite end of the asexual scale. I hope that makes sense... Contrary to some people's opinions Aces are very much capable with having relationships just like anyone else, with both other Aces and with sexuals. Being asexual in no way means you hate people that are sexuals.
Only in recent years has asexuality been accepted as a branch of the LGBT community. So if you haven't heard this term much or at all, don't feel bad. Only about 1% of the world's population is asexual.
If you would like to learn more, as I know some of this is confusing at first, there's a great online network to find answers to all your questions, doesn't matter if you think you are an Ace or not!
The Asexual Visibility Education Network, or AVEN, has really helped me with my questions and has helped me accept myself, as I hope all of you will.
xoxo <3
http://www.asexuality.org/home/
To be put simply, being asexual means you don't experience sexual attraction. Unlike celibacy, it is not a choice; it's a type of sexual orientation, same as being bisexual or pansexual for example.There are many degrees of being asexual. Some, like me, have no desire in ANY intimacy. I enjoy people' s friendship and conversation, but I'd much rather share hugs and my sleeping space with my dog :) Then there are some that are just fine with holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, or a variation, with another person except they have no desire in sex. There are also Asexuals that are more toward what is called the "gray scale". These people still identify as being an Ace (fun term for Asexuals :D) but they might not mind being fully intimate with another person if they have been with them for a certain length of time or with just a certain person.
So you see there is no one solid version of being an ace. Some are like me and at one end of the scale while others are at the opposite end of the asexual scale. I hope that makes sense... Contrary to some people's opinions Aces are very much capable with having relationships just like anyone else, with both other Aces and with sexuals. Being asexual in no way means you hate people that are sexuals.
Only in recent years has asexuality been accepted as a branch of the LGBT community. So if you haven't heard this term much or at all, don't feel bad. Only about 1% of the world's population is asexual.
If you would like to learn more, as I know some of this is confusing at first, there's a great online network to find answers to all your questions, doesn't matter if you think you are an Ace or not!
The Asexual Visibility Education Network, or AVEN, has really helped me with my questions and has helped me accept myself, as I hope all of you will.
xoxo <3
http://www.asexuality.org/home/
Sunday, January 13, 2013
You Should Stop By And Say Hi!
I thought I'd take a second to let you all know that our blog's Facebook page is now up and running! I should have posted this earlier, but somehow I forgot! The page is all about LGBT Support, Rights, News, and Marriage Equality. I don't want you to worry that I'll only focus on the page, and this blog will stop being updated all together. This blog is totally still the main focus. The page was created to try and get the blog out there a bit more. It generally has more posts then the blog just because I like to share little tidbits I find there.
However, the FB page is also a great way to keep track of when the blog is updated!
This is the link to the page -
www.facebook.com/WallysGayWorld
If you look at the top left hand part of the blog's screen, you'll also see "Follow Us On Facebook Too!" in pink letters. Clicking that will also lead you right to our Facebook page! Convenient right?
I really hope you'll come by and check it out, maybe give us a like or share us with your friends. =)
However, the FB page is also a great way to keep track of when the blog is updated!
This is the link to the page -
www.facebook.com/WallysGayWorld
If you look at the top left hand part of the blog's screen, you'll also see "Follow Us On Facebook Too!" in pink letters. Clicking that will also lead you right to our Facebook page! Convenient right?
I really hope you'll come by and check it out, maybe give us a like or share us with your friends. =)
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