Author: Randy Slovacek

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St Patrick’s Day parades continue to exclude LGBT groups

Most of the St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York continue to keep Irish LGBT groups out, including the big one on Fifth Avenue on March 17 that is boycotted by most people who respect LGBT rights.

That’s why Irish gay activist Brendan Fay and Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy put together a St. Patrick’s parade in Queens that welcomes everyone.

The 13th Annual St. Pat’s for All Parade was held on March 4 in Sunnyside, Queens — a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough. The Irish-Americans there have broadly welcomed the parade since it began, and it has become a popular secondary walk for politicians wishing to play to two of city’s most powerful and visible constituencies: the Irish and the LGBT community.

New York City isn’t the only metropolitan to ban its LGBT citizens from the festive gathering. Organizers of Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade prohibited the gay rights organization, MassEquality, from participating in the event as well. Kara Suffredini, the organization’s executive director, said in a statement. “Public rejection by parade organizers is significant in that it’s emblematic of the more life-altering rejection our community members face every day.”

At a time when gays and lesbians have the right to serve openly in the military defending the country they love, and the right to marry in the two states listed above – Massachusetts and New York – it’s very backwards thinking to imagine that LGBT Irish Americans can’t participate in a celebration of their heritage.

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Equality Nevada’s Lauren Scott files to run for NV Assembly

Northern Nevada business consultant and community activist Lauren Scott has filed to run as a Republican candidate for Nevada’s Assembly District 30.

Scott works as a consultant to government and private industry, focusing on business development and renewable energy issues. Lauren is also the executive director of Equality Nevada and is a leading advocate for civil rights issues in Nevada.

Formerly a Democrat, Scott registered as a Republican for the first time last year. She decided that as a Republican she can more effectively work to overcome the gridlock in Carson City.

If elected, Lauren would be the country’s first openly transgender person to serve as a state legislator.

Scott was as an active-duty member of the US Air Force for nearly seven years. She was awarded two Achievement Medals and a Commendation Medal for her service during Operation Desert Storm. She received an honorable discharge in 1994.

Last year Scott worked for the successful passage of the Nevada Assembly’s bill to outlaw discrimination against transgender people.

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President Obama releases statement opposing anti-gay Amendment One in North Carolina

President Barack Obama today came out against the proposed constitutional amendment on North Carolina’s May 8th ballot banning same sex marriages and civil unions, weighing into a fight in a key battleground state.

His campaign issued a statement saying the amendment was discriminatory.

“While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples,” said Cameron French, his North Carolina campaign spokesman. “That’s what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do – it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples – and that’s why the President does not support it.”

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George Clooney arrested outside Sudanese Embassy

From The Advocate: George Clooney and his father Nick are among several men who have been arrested for participating in a staged protest outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C.

According to a report by the Associated Press the actor and his father were handcuffed and arrested along with U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (Dem.) of Virginia, and NAACP President Ben Jealous, among others. All were placed in a Secret Service van.

The protesters demand immediate action to stop Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, from blocking of food and other humanitarian aid, reports USA Today. Authorities had warned the men three times to leave prior to the arrest, but before being taken away Clooney said, “This is for the government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women and children. Stop raping them and stop starving them. That’s all we ask.”

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sing-a-long with Donny Osmond

Via press release: NCM Fathom and Omniverse Vision bring one of the world’s favorite shows, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond to movie theaters nationwide in a special sing-along event LIVE on Monday, March 26 at 8:00PM ET / 7:00PM CT / 6:00PM MT / 8:00PM PT tape delayed and again on Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00PM (local time).

The filmed version of this fully staged production, originally captured during its acclaimed run at London’s famous Pinewood Studios and specially remastered for this in-theater event, stars Donny Osmond playing the title role of Joseph.

Presented in an exclusive never before seen sing-along version with subtitles for audiences to join in, this event also features an introduction with Osmond LIVE from Salt Lake City, plus a never-before-seen animated opening sequence which features an 80-piece orchestral overture. Following the production, Donny will be back for a LIVE Q&A session with questions submitted from fans from all over the country.

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Rutgers Dharun Ravi found guilty in Tyler Clementi case

A former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate’s love life was convicted of all counts Friday in a case that exploded into the headlines when the victim of the snooping committed suicide by throwing himself off a bridge.

Dharun Ravi, 20, shook his head slightly after the guilty verdicts were read for all 15 counts, including bias intimidation — a hate crime that was based on the victim’s sexual orientation — and invasion of privacy. He was also found guilty of tampering with evidence,witness tampering and hindering prosecution.

The most serious charges in the Rutgers case centered on whether Ravi’s actions had constituted bias intimidation, meaning that he was motivated to inspire fear in the Ridgewood, New Jersey, native because of his sexual orientation. Those charges carry jail time of up to 10 years and possible deportation back to India.
(source)

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Rick Santorum says he will ban pornography

Rick Santorum said that “America is suffering from a pandemic of harm from pornography,” and accused the Obama administration’s Justice Department of favoring “pornographers over children,” in a statement on his campaign website.

The former Pennsylvania senator argues that “current federal ‘obscenity’ laws prohibit distribution of hardcore [obscene] pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops and through the mail or by common carrier.”

The statement said that if elected, Santorum would appoint an attorney general who would vigorously enforce federal obscenity laws.

“The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to those who wish to preserve our culture from the scourge of pornography and has refused to enforce obscenity laws,” the statement read in part. “While the Obama Department of Justice seems to favor pornographers over children and families, that will change under a Santorum administration.”

“A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in widespread negative consequences,” the statement noted.
(source)

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Melrose Place vet to play Mark Salling’s father on GLEE

Melrose Place vet Thomas Calabro will play the estranged father of Mark Salling‘s underachiever in this season’s 18th episode, which is slated to air in April.

Family reunions have been a major theme of Glee‘s third season, during which we’ve met the parents of Rachel, Mike, Sam and Emma.