Queer Youth Updates: Dec 25 - Happy Holidays!
1. Fun: The 12 Gays of Christmas
2. Seasons Greetings From National Youth Advocacy Coalition
3. Twitter to Support Queer Youth
4. News/Blog: "Homophobia Is Wrecking My Holidays" + Update
5. Santa Cruz Teen Musical "RENT" seeking Teens Actors, Singers & Dancers
6. News: Washington, D.C. City Council Passed Marriage Equality
7. Mexico City Approves Gay Marriage
8. News: Charting A Decade Of Progress In Gay Rights
9. News: Martha Stewart's "Weddings" Features First Same-Sex Wedding
10. News: U.S. Senate Health Insurance Bill Keeps "Gay Tax" on Benefits
11. News: Coming Out Late in Life
12. Save-the-date: Social Equity Through an LGBT Lens: Jan 28
13. Resource: Trevor GLBT 24-Hour Crisis Line
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1. Fun: The 12 Gays of Christmas
Superb dancing, though you can't hear the audio all that well. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSedhEoutP0
2. Seasons Greetings From National Youth Advocacy Coalition
"Perhaps you're packing up your Menorah, basking in your bounty after a morning of opening presents, preparing your Kinara or perhaps just using the holidays to take a break from it all. Regardless of your religious practices - or decision not to participate in them - we all share some things in common - our humanity and our belief that all people deserve true equality." To read the entire Greeting, see the end of this email.
3. Twitter to Support Queer Youth
There's still time to use Twitter to help the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) to raise some funds this year - just check out http://sqy.nyacyouth.org for more details - or just tell your friends why you support LGBTQ youth and be sure to include the hashtag #SupportQueerYouth.
4. News/Blog: "Homophobia Is Wrecking My Holidays" + Update
Since this blog post and comments on dailykos.com has gotten quite a bit of attention, we thought we'd share it with Queer Youth Updates. It begins:
"I'll be separated by geography from my boyfriend of two years on Christmas. I blame homophobia. I've been seeing my boyfriend, Paul for two years now. He is out to his friends and colleagues and to his family. He is a doctor and hasn't experienced a great deal of on-the-job discrimination. He is not alone, his resident class had a handful of out gay residents. The new generation seems to be heralding a change in the medical profession. ... Paul is also very brilliant, having secured a full-ride academic scholarship to prestigious medical school, he has an MD PHD. So perhaps that has afforded him a little luxury from such unpleasantries. The elite do enjoy special accommodations. But, when it comes to his family, there is no such pass."
To read the blog post and comments, visit: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/22/817992/-Homophobia-is-wrecking-my-holidays-+-Update
5. Santa Cruz Teen Musical "RENT" seeking Teens Actors, Singers & Dancers
Phoenix Rising, a non-profit children's theater company in Santa Cruz (the Teen Division of "Kids On Broadway), is seeking teens interested in Acting, Singing, Dancing, and are comfortable playing Gay characters... They especially need 3 Male Teens. They are producing a Teen Musical Production called "RENT" and they are looking for Teens who would be interested in participating. "RENT" is about seven friends who live in New Yorks East Village, who deal with Drug addiction, AIDS, & Gay issues. For more information, contact Mary Lundberg, Kids On Broadway, (831) 334-9092.
6. News: Washington, D.C. City Council Passed Marriage Equality
"The nation's capital city took a major step Friday toward legalizing same-sex marriage. District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty signed a measure recognizing such marriages as legal. The district council overwhelming passed the bill Tuesday, following a similar vote December 1. Fenty signed the measure at All Souls Church, a Unitarian Universalist house of worship in the northwest part of the district that is known for its diversity and for the welcoming of same-sex couples. The measure now goes to Congress for a 30-day review period, but it's considered unlikely that the Democratic majority on Capitol Hill would block the bill. By law, Congress has the right to review and overturn laws created by the District of Columbia's council. If the measure becomes law, the district will join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa in legalizing same-sex marriages. A law legalizing such marriages in New Hampshire takes effect January 1." To read more, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/18/same.sex.marriage/index.html
7. Mexico City Approves Gay Marriage
"Mexico City lawmakers have voted 39-20 to legalize same-sex marriage. City legislators passed the bill ... and Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is widely expected to sign the decision into law." "Very soon, same-sex couples can get married in all of the capital cities of the three North American countries. Canada's capital, Ottawa, has had marriage for years. Last week, D.C. passed its law. And, this week, Mexico City." Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/mexico-city-approves-gay_n_399797.html
8. News: Charting A Decade Of Progress In Gay Rights
"While gay rights advocates remember 2009 for its political setbacks and frustrations, the movement has made remarkable progress in civil rights in the past decade, according to a report released today. More states have anti-discrimination laws, more top corporations protect workers based on sexual orientation, and gay youth are finding more support in school, according to findings from a study by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and the Movement Advancement Project..." By Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer, December 16, 2009 (SF Chronicle). To read the complete article, please visit: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/15/MNML1B484M.DTL
9. News: Martha Stewart's "Weddings" Features First Same-Sex Wedding
Jeremy Hooper and his husband, Andrew Shulman, are featured in Martha Stewart Weddings -- Winter 2010 (15th Anniv.) issue. The piece has some great photos from their wedding, which took place last June in Connecticut. Jeremy notes, "It's one time you won't hear us complain about our love being turned into an issue." To view a preview of the feature, visit: http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/12/as-goes-martha.html To view additional photo's of their wedding, visit: http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/07/61309.html
10. News: U.S. Senate Health Insurance Bill Keeps "Gay Tax" on Benefits
"The version of health care legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives would eliminate this "gay tax." H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, contains a provision, section 571, that would broaden the tax exemption to include anyone designated as a dependent under an employer's insurance plan, including same-sex spouses and partners. The version of health care legislation formulated by U.S. Senate Leader Reid and endorsed by all 60 Senate Democrats, in contrast, contains no provision to eliminate the "gay tax." -- http://gay.americablog.com/2009/12/senate-health-insurance-bill-keeps-gay.html To read more, visit: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14571/reid-and-senate-democrats-to-keep-gay-tax-on-health-benefits
11. News: Coming Out Late in Life
Though some queer youth are now coming out in their teens, some elder Americans are coming out later in life. CNN takes a look at the issue of Gay Seniors in "Coming out late in life complex but not unusual," By Elizabeth Landau, CNN, December 11, 2009. "(CNN) -- Howard Selekman knew he had been attracted to men since he was 8, but in his 20s he still planned to marry a woman and have children with her..." To read the complete article, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/11/coming.out.late.life/index.html
12. Save-the-date: Social Equity Through an LGBT Lens: Jan 28
Featuring the Academy Award Winning Film, “Freeheld” and Guest Speaker, Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). Jewish Community Center, Aptos, 7 - 9 pm. Sponsored by The Diversity Partnership of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. Co-sponsors (preliminary list): Center for Justice, Tolerance and Community, UCSC, The Diversity Center, Equality Action Project, GLBT Alliance, Leadership Council, Lionel Cantú Center, UCSC, Out in Our Faith, Temple Beth El, & Queer Youth Task Force.
13. Resource: Trevor GLBT 24-Hour Crisis Line
A hotline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered youth, for youth who are questioning their sexual identity, and for youth in crisis. Trevor 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 850-8078.
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Seasons Greetings From National Youth Advocacy Coalition
Greeting Message from: Gregory Varnum, Executive Director, NYAC
December 2009
Perhaps you're packing up your Menorah, basking in your bounty after a morning of opening presents, preparing your Kinara or perhaps just using the holidays to take a break from it all. Regardless of your religious practices - or decision not to participate in them - we all share some things in common - our humanity and our belief that all people deserve true equality.
As my partner and I join my family here in Michigan in decorating my Mother's Christmas tree I'm mindful both of how fortunate we truly are and the irony that the very thing we are celebrating today is often used divisively to further our treatment as second class citizens. As a person of faith I'm disgusted at the deplorable tactics the anti-queer industry uses in the name of the same God I pray to. But as a US American I'm proud that the lies and false dogma used to deny our rights aren't holding up as well as they once did. People in this country recognize that these lies are not representative of the values or beliefs we hold dear. I'm also mindful that to some people reading this, the idea of being both queer and a person of faith is something of an oxymoron.
Regardless of what you believe and how you're celebrating this holiday season, we all have something to be thankful for this year. The LGBTQ community has seen some important advances in our struggle for equality this year. I am truly thankful to each and every one of you for your contributions in making these important advances a reality. Your work and support of organizations like NYAC have and continue to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth and adults across the country.
I hope that your holidays have been enjoyable and that the remainder of this season brings you happiness. From your friends and family at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, thank you for your many blessings this year and we look forward to working with you on an even more accomplishments next year.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa and best wishes for a relaxing holiday season!
-- Gregory Varnum, Executive Director, NYAC, www.nyacyouth.org
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