Tag: openly gay

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Photography: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo

Chute Dogging, Phoenix, Arizona, 1989, Blake Little

First you start with “who doesn’t think cowboys are sexy?”

This February, Indianapolis’ Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will play host to a new exhibit celebrating life at the gay rodeo — Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo.

Via Gay.net:

The Los Angeles-based artist, who’s photographed everyone from Tom Cruise to Jane Fonda to Jane Lynch, captured the grit and glamour of the gay and lesbian rodeo circuit in the ’80s and ’90s. The gay cowboys and cowgirls challenged gender roles and reveled in competition and comraderie.

The exhibit, curated by Johanna Blume, opens February 1 and will be at the Eiteljorg until the summer Pride season.

“This exhibit also explores the diverse and complex natures of individual and community identity in the West,” Blume says. “Many of the people in these photos were LGBT men and women from rural backgrounds and the gay rodeo circuit gave them a place where they could embrace and celebrate their full identities.”

Rodeo Partners Gene Hubert and Rick Ferreira, Sun Valley, California, 1991, Blake Little

The Prayer, Rick Simmons, San Diego, California, 1991, Blake Little
Los Angeles Cowboys, Hollywood, California, 1990, Blake Little
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Boy Scouts to begin admitting gay scouts January 1st

Beginning January 1st, the Boy Scouts of America will begin admitting openly gay scouts:

The new policy was approved in May, with support from 60 percent of the 1,400 voting members of the BSA’s National Council. The vote followed bitter nationwide debate, and was accompanied by an announcement that the BSA would continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership positions.

Under the new membership policy, youths can no longer be barred from the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or coed Venturers program solely on the basis of sexual orientation. However, gay Scouts will face some limitations.

“Any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting,” says one BSA document. “No member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda, including on the matter of sexual orientation.”

While the new policies gained national attention earlier this year, Brad Haddock, a BSA national executive board member who chairs the policy implementation committee, says there been little fallout since the announcement.  “If a church said they wouldn’t work with us, we’d have a church right down the street say, ‘We’ll take the troop.'”

(source)

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Olympic champion Brian Boitano comes out in a statement on being appointed to Olympic delegation

Brian Boitano, Olympic champion, came out in a press release regarding his appointment to the Sochi Olympic US delegation

“I am currently skating in Europe but want to provide a statement regarding my appointment to the Olympic delegation. I have been fortunate to represent the United States of America in three different Olympics, and now I am honored to be part of the presidential delegation to the Olympics in Sochi. It has been my experience from competing around the world and in Russia that Olympic athletes can come together in friendship, peace and mutual respect regardless of their individual country’s practices.

“It is my desire to be defined by my achievements and my contributions. While I am proud to play a public role in representing the American Olympic Delegation as a former Olympic athlete, I have always reserved my private life for my family and friends and will continue to do so. I am many things: a son, a brother, and uncle, a friend, an athlete, a cook, an author, and being gay is just one part of who I am.

“First and foremost I am an American athlete and I am proud to live in a country that encourages diversity, openness and tolerance. As an athlete, I hope we can remain focused on the Olympic spirit which celebrates achievement in sport by peoples of all nations.” – Olympic champion Brian Boitano

(via press release)

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Openly gay Pennsylvania teacher fired for applying for marriage license

Michael Griffin, an openly gay teacher at the Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Pennsylvania for 12 years, was suddenly fired from his job yesterday – the same day he and his long-time partner applied for a same-sex marriage license.

From WPVI:

Michael Griffin says he emailed the principal of Holy Ghost Prep earlier in the week saying he may be late Friday, that he was applying for a marriage license.

After an in-service day he says he was called into the office of School President Father James McCloskey, along with Principal Jeffrey Danilak. Griffin explains, “He said, ‘It’s not really a secret here that you’re gay.’ I said, ‘Correct.’ He said, ‘I assume this is a same sex marriage.’ ‘Yes.’ He said if I go through with it, he had no choice but to terminate my position.”

In tears, he left. His over a decade-long tenure at Holy Ghost was over. “I really didn’t think that it would happen. At our school we talk about it’s a community our motto is ‘One heart, one mind.'”

His partner, Vincent Giannetto, tells Action News, “We applied this morning and on the same day he’s fired from his job. So it kind of flipped things upside down for us.”

Holy Ghost is an all boys Catholic high school located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

(via Towleroad)

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Thomas Roberts condemns Russia’s anti-gay laws on red carpet of Miss Universe

Thomas Roberts on the Miss Universe Pageant Red Carpet with husband Patrick Abner

Speaking on the red carpet of the Miss Universe Pageant in Russia before his hosting duties, MSNBC News anchor Thomas Roberts addressed the anti-gay laws and legislation taking place in Russia:

“I know the law is very vague and still hard to interpret for many people,” Roberts stated. “But it is discrimination and that’s definitive. And I don’t think that the LGBT population in Russia or anywhere should be marginalized to that degree. We are not asking for special protection. We’re just asking for equal respect.”

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Washington: Seattle elects first openly gay mayor Ed Murray

Openly gay legislator Ed Murray was elected mayor of Seattle

From the Advocate: Seattle elected the city’s first openly gay mayor when state senator Ed Murray defeated current Mayor Mike McGinn with 56% of the vote Tuesday night.

Murray was instrumental in bringing marriage equality to Washington in 2012 as a state senator.

According to the Seattle Times, Murray’s campaign embraced and even touted his marriage equality efforts as his signature legislative accomplishment.

When addressing supporters Tuesday night, Murray, 58, was joined onstage by his husband, Michael Shiosaki. The two wed over the summer.

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Michael Musto interviews Steve Grand for OUT

Out singer/songwriter Steve Grand

Michael Musto interviews “All-American Boy” Steve Grand for OUT, where he talks on being kind of “weird” in high school, his famous first music video and more. Here’s just a bit:

Did conversion therapy scar you for life?

I want to make it clear that it’s been misrepresented that I went through what most people know as conversion therapy. I saw a Christian therapist who, among many other beliefs, believed I’d be happier in a straight life. He didn’t shame me for being gay. Most of the focus, we weren’t even talking about my sexuality. But certainly his belief that I’d be living a happier life as a heterosexual was indeed harmful. In no way, shape, or form—I can’t even believe I have to clarify this—do I condone ex-gay therapy. I think it’s a horrible practice. There’s no scientific basis for it. A person’s sexuality is a part of who they are. And I certainly suffered for not having my sexuality affirmed.

Can you be a happy gay within the church?

We need to learn to applaud the gradual changes. The church has been around for thousands of years. Like it or not, they’re gonna be here for a long time. One of the great ways to make a change is showing we’re just like everyone else and we love the same and we’re just as diverse as the straight community. By having more visibility within the church, that can only be a good thing. I certainly don’t support the church’s stance on gay issues as they are right now. They have a long way to go. But I think there’s a great power to being present—to having openly gay people in church and having the congregation witness and embrace. I got up in front of a congregation and said I was gay and I believed there was nothing wrong with that, and I was applauded for that. There’s a quiet majority that’s growing that wants to say, “Hey, these are our brothers and sisters too. Make sure we’re sending the message that all are welcome.”

Read the whole exchange with the hunky singer at OUT.com

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Derek Schell becomes first openly gay NCAA Division II basketball player

Derek Schell courageously comes out as the first openly gay NCAA basketball player
Derek Schell

Talk about a world-class essay on coming out and owning your life.

On the eve of National Coming Out Day, (this Friday) 22-year-old Derek Schell has become the first openly gay NCAA Division II basketball player.

He published a moving essay today on OutSports.com about his coming out experience and the internal struggles he faced as a gay athlete at a conservative college:

“The beginning of my sophomore year of college, the only way I felt comfortably being myself was online,” Schell says. “I met the person that I care for most in this world, my boyfriend Kevin. We have been together for two years. I began to realize that my life was my own. There was no more time for living in the hopes of pleasing others and living up to any one person’s or any societal expectation.”

[snip]

Sometimes the darkest times in life are only doorways to the best moments of your life, the ones you were meant to experience and live to see. I wanted to do this so that the generations to follow have an example; so that the younger LGBT youth who live afraid of who they are becoming can know they have nothing to fear and they are perfect the way they are. My challenge to you, whoever is reading this, is to be honest with yourself and how you’re feeling. God doesn’t make mistakes. Don’t keep saying you’re fine. You can be who you are and still be an athlete. You can do all the things you want to do and live a beautiful life that you’ve imagined for yourself. Find your peace of mind knowing you are giving your best self to the world. Be brave. Be love. But most of all, be you.     

All I’ve got is: Congratulations Derek for being you, loving yourself and finding your inner passions for sport, life and who you are.

Your essay will do a LOT for untold young people out there who feel exactly as you did.

Hero.

Forward.

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Army Ranger Ken Yasger Invites Katy Perry to the 2013 Ranger Ball

Army Ranger Ken Yasger invites Katy Perry to the 2013 Ranger Ball

I think this is so sweet.

What our musical heroes do for us and our lives is hard to quantify. The impact, the lift, how they help us carry ourselves through the days.

I applaud Army Ranger Yasger here. Honest, direct and open-hearted. I’m keeping my fingers crossed he gets a response from Katy Perry.

From International Business Times:

In a new video uploaded by Yasger, the first openly gay Ranger in his unit, he requests the company of “Roar” singer Katy Perry at his Ranger Ball later this month.

“Katherine Elizabeth Hudson, I would like to formally invite you to the Ranger Ball October 10, 2013. Katy Perry, will you please go to the Ranger Ball with me?” said Yasger in the two-minute clip, all the while blasting Perry’s single “E.T.” in the background.

According to Yasger, Perry’s three studio albums and film “Part of Me” have been his solace while serving overseas. He tells the singer that her music speaks to him in a way no other artist’s does. “Katy, you’re an inspiration to me in a lot of ways, and this is what this video is for. This is the reason I’m inviting you and no other celebrity,” he said, adding his struggles with being an openly gay soldier have been helped through listening to her singles, specifically the 2012 hit song “Wide Awake.” “Your music really helped me get through it. I had family, friends, they helped me also, but I’d wake up in the morning and I’d been feeling really down… I’d listen to it while I got ready in the morning. No matter how down I felt, I would listen to that song and it would really help me get started for the day,” he said.

At this writing, the YouTube video has almost 20,000 views.

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Todd Hughes – first openly gay judge confirmed to Federal Circuit Court

Today, Todd Hughes made history in his confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

By a vote of 98-0 (unanimous!), Hughes becomes the nation’s first openly gay circuit judge. He has been a deputy director in the civil division of the Justice Department since 2007.

“I am proud that today the Senate is finally taking this critical step to break down another barrier and increase diversity on our Federal bench,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said in a statement after Tuesday’s vote.

(source)