Out in America Features» LGBT

Cyndi Lauper Unhappy “True Colors” Used in Romney Attack Ad

OIA Staff — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:39:32 +0000

Iconic entertainer Cyndi Lauper, whose song “True Colors” has become synonymous with the advancement of LGBT equality, is unhappy about its unauthorized use in a negative political campaign ad. via. Read the full article @ Cyndi Lauper Unhappy “True Colors” Used in Romney Attack Ad Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on FacebookFollow [...]

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Watch Hillary Clinton’s Speech to the UN on LGBT Rights

OIA Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:05:33 +0000

Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence [...]

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GLBT History Month 2011 – Updated Daily

OIA Staff — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:00:01 +0000

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Read the full article @ GLBT History Month 2011 – Updated Daily Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

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Proclamation signed by the President regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

OIA Staff — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:08:32 +0000

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2011 - – - – - – - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The story of America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, andTransgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers andsons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighborswho continue the task [...]

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Obama’s LGBT White House bash

OIA Staff — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:05:32 +0000

“We’ve got a lot of hard work we’ve still got to do,” US President Obama has told a gathering of key LGBT movers-and-shakers at a White House reception to mark Pride Month… [ via SameSame.com.au ] Read the full article @ Obama’s LGBT White House bash Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on [...]

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Ashland University Won’t Form a LGBT Group Because It Focuses Too Much On LGBTs

OIA Staff — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:25:09 +0000

Ashland University, the Christian-based liberal arts school outside Cleveland, allowed student William Cochran to form Respect, an official student group to “provide a safe space for LGBTQ students, faculty, staff, and their allies, and … work to educate and raise awareness of issues relating to LGBTQ people.” Unless Respect changes its mission from “LGBT diversity” to [...]

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Lutheran Church Abolishes Antigay Policies

OIA Staff — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:25:22 +0000

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted without dissent recently to abolish all antigay policies, effective immediately. The Rev. Dr. Cindi Love reports on the welcome change at the Huffington Post. After twenty-five years of deliberation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Church Council has abolished its anti-gay policies, effective immediately. Following from discussions [...]

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Cyndi Lauper Wins Celebrity Apprentice Cash for LGBT Equality

OIA Staff — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:07:24 +0000

The Women’s team on Celebrity Apprentice beat the men out, and because Cyndi Lauper was Project Manager for the winning team, Donald Trump’s production will fork over $20,000 to Cyndi’s chosen charity, which is her True Colors Fund Project – to advance LGBT equality and involve straight allies. In addition to the win Trump informed [...]

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Facebook, Twitter, and Google are out to screw LGBT privacy

OIA Staff — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:37:22 +0000

We already know that researchers can tell if you’re gay using Facebook, use that info to advertise gay hook-up sites to you, and that every new social networking tool can wreak havoc on the queers because of their ultra-laissez privacy settings. [ via Queerty | dotrights.org ] Read the full article @ Facebook, Twitter, and [...]

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Cleve Jones open letter to Speaker Pelosi urging ENDA vote

OIA Staff — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:39:30 +0000

We would like to share with you this open letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Cleve Jones, a pioneering equal rights activist featured in the film “MILK,” creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and Senior Advisor to the Courage Campaign. Dear Speaker Pelosi – I would like to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for [...]

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At Prayer Breakfast, Obama Speaks Briefly About Uganda, LGBT Rights

OIA Staff — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:42:04 +0000

Today, President Barack Obama spoke before the annual National Prayer Breakfast held by the The Family. He spoke regarding the different faiths that each person has and how each religion speaks to the need for people to heal the crises of people’s lives such as in Haiti. He talked also about how society has become [...]

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Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2010 Introduced in U.S. House

OIA Staff — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:38:17 +0000

Measure would prohibit discrimination against public school students on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Today the introduction of the Student Non-discrimination Act of 2010 (SNDA), H.R. 4530, which would prohibit discrimination against any public school student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, the SNDA [...]

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First Black Lesbian State Legislator Elected in Georgia

OIA Staff — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:13:30 +0000

Some history made in Georgia yesterday, via The Victory Fund. The first openly gay African American lesbian state lawmaker was elected in the state, and Atlanta voters elected the first gay Asian American to the city council: “Simone Bell, a Victory Fund-endorsed candidate, won a runoff election to represent Georgia State House District 58. She [...]

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Bea Arthur Estate Leaves 300K To Homless LGBT Youth

OIA Staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:43:48 +0000

The Ali Forney Center received a gift of $300,000.00 today from the Estate of legendary actress Bea Arthur. The Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth, announced at Bea Arthur’s Memorial Service on September 14th that they planned to purchase a building to house 12 youths and name it her [...]

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WTF: Military’s Own Research Concludes Gay Soldiers Are OK

OIA Staff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:18:15 +0000

While the Pentagon loses millions by dismissing well-trained gay soldiers because of their sexuality, they’ve also been spending money — since 1957 — researching whether gay soldiers have any effect on military preparedness. And the resounding answer? From the military’s own research? NO… [ Queerty ] Read the full article @ WTF: Military’s Own Research [...]

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Gay Rights Advocates Debate Obama Speech

OIA Staff — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:38:14 +0000

Four LGBT advocates discussed (debated) the Obama speech on CNN Saturday night. Watch and decide… [ CNN Video ] Read the full article @ Gay Rights Advocates Debate Obama Speech Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

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5 Relationship Myths (and How To Break Them) – life beyond therapy

OIA Staff — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:40:17 +0000

In the interest of furthering happy and healthy LGBT relationships, I’d like to share with you five long-held relationship myths and why it’s psychologically healthy to break them. Despite the hundreds of self-help books out on the shelves, there’s a lot of impractical and impossible advice given by the “experts”. After years in this business [...]

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Tammy Baldwin: Why You Should Care About the Health Care Debate

OIA Staff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:27:39 +0000

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (via the National Stonewall Democrats) posted a very informative YouTube video today discussing why LGBT Americans should be following the health care debate. [ Towleroad ] Read the full article @ Tammy Baldwin: Why You Should Care About the Health Care Debate Read more articles @ our blogBecome a fan on FacebookFollow [...]

Read the full article @ Tammy Baldwin: Why You Should Care About the Health Care Debate

“Do I Drink Too Much?” – life beyond therapy

OIA Staff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:40:41 +0000

When I first meet a new client, one of the questions I ask him/her is “how much do you drink?” Over the years, I have gotten some pretty amazing answers. Some of the more memorable ones include, “Just enough until I black out so I can sleep” and “Not very much, just a bottle of [...]

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Meditation Made Easy – life beyond therapy

OIA Staff — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:58:21 +0000

It’s trendy to meditate. Movie stars do it, the Dalai Lama does it, even your next-door neighbor does it. But what is it? Meditation is about taking time out from your day, stopping your activities and doing nothing but being with yourself. There’s nothing mystical or magical about it. If you’ve ever sat quietly under [...]

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Six LGBT Americans named to lead Democratic Party

OIA Staff — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:36:37 +0000

Six more openly LGBT Democrats are on track to join the 447-member Democratic National Committee as at-large members, including two Victory Fund-endorsed elected officials and two other individuals affiliated with the Victory Fund and Leadership Institute. [ GayPolitics.com ] Read the full article @ Six LGBT Americans named to lead Democratic Party Read more articles [...]

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Poll says gays are more optimistic about the future then straights

OIA Staff — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:51:52 +0000

A new poll is showing that nearly two-thirds of adults say that things in the country are going in the right direction. According to the national survey conducted online in mid-August by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive, adults also appear somewhat more confidant then their straight counterparts when it come to how they see the [...]

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Chicago non-profit denies benefits to LGBT officers

OIA Staff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:15:55 +0000

IF you’re a LGBT Chicago police officer, firefighter or paramedic and you die on the job, your partner will not receive any help from the Hundred Club of Cook County. Find out why… (Of course it’s ridiculous.) [ lgbtnews ] Read the full article @ Chicago non-profit denies benefits to LGBT officers Read more articles [...]

Read the full article @ Chicago non-profit denies benefits to LGBT officers

Slower Is Better

OIA Staff — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:00:13 +0000

Are you afraid to slow down? Do you think only stupid people go slowly? You’re not alone. Why do we rush so much? What do we think we’re achieving? Is happiness basically a numbers game – whoever does the most stuff wins – or a matter of quality? Have you ever rushed yourself so much [...]

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Statement by the President on the Smelt v. United States Brief

OIA Staff — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:09:53 +0000

Today, the Department of Justice has filed a response to a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged. This brief makes clear, however, that my Administration believes that the Act is discriminatory and should be repealed by Congress. I have long held that DOMA [...]

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Do Signs point to a gay-friendly Sotomayor?

OIA Staff — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:34:05 +0000

“[G]ay legal experts — having sifted through her rulings, statements, civil rights advocacy and comfort around gay clerks and friends — are cautiously optimistic that she will help gay men and lesbians finally secure legal protections that other Americans can take for granted,” she noted. “Let’s hope the nation’s first Hispanic justice will turn out [...]

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Sandra Bernhard Will Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ for Truth

OIA Staff — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:49:03 +0000

Sandra Bernhard isn’t one for conversational detours or verbal frills. This may not surprise many. Bernhard needs not a garden of adjectives and imagery from which to pick; she’s got a pocket full of ammunition in the form of pointed observations. And let it be known: she’s got rapid fire. What may come as a [...]

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Tens of Thousands Attend Tel Aviv Rally for Gay Shooting Victims

OIA Staff — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:44:29 +0000

At least 25,000 and perhaps as many as 70,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square this evening for a rally in solidarity with Israel’s LGBT community in honor of the victims of last weekend’s shooting at a gay youth center in the city. [ Towleroad ] photo: Towleroad Read the full article @ Tens [...]

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Feingold is courted to push bill to overturn federal marriage ban

OIA Staff — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:12:48 +0000

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Constitution Subcommittee, is considered a prime candidate by Human Rights Campaign to sponsor the Senate version of a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Feingold, whose panel has jurisdiction over DOMA, was one of 14 senators not to vote in favor of the [...]

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Nadler Says DOMA Repeal Bill Will Not Include DP’s or Civil Unions

OIA Staff — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:44:55 +0000

In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter this weekend, New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler said that he plans to introduce legislation either this week or once Congress returns from its August recess to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, but that bill will not include extending rights to LGBT couples in domestic partnerships or [...]

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Dangerous world for LGBT people

OIA Staff — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:38:51 +0000

THE WORLD IS becoming more dangerous for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The 2008 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Hate Violence Report, recently released by the National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs, documented a 28 percent increase in bias-related LGBT murders. [ Washington Blade ] Read the full article @ Dangerous world for LGBT [...]

Read the full article @ Dangerous world for LGBT people

The Peter Pan Syndrome

OIA Staff — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:20:00 +0000

The longer I practice psychotherapy, the more I hear phrases like, “Only young guys turn me on”, “men my age aren’t attractive to me” or “being with someone older and more successful than I am terrifies me.” These phrases typically fall from the lips of mid-life gay men; I rarely hear them from guys in [...]

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All Hands on Deck in the Prop 8 Litigation

OIA Staff — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:50:42 +0000

On July 8, our leading national LGBT legal organizations — Lambda Legal, the ACLU, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights — filed a motion to intervene with the federal district court that is hearing the constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, the case that was begun in May by high-profile lawyers Ted Olson and [...]

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Out of the Office Closet

OIA Staff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:55:06 +0000

If you’re gay or lesbian and you’re closeted at your office, you’re not alone. Despite major strides in acceptance over the last 15 years, many still struggle with the decision to come out at work. A recent Harris poll conducted with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs Communications indicated that 44% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and [...]

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