On Dec. 3, the first business day following World AIDS Day, Google will be hosting a How to Survive a Plague Google+ Hangout from its New York City headquarters.  The live interactive hangout at 8:00pm EST will feature director and producer David France as well as HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley and singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo.

During the hangout, you can tweet questions about ACT UP, social justice activism and HIV/AIDS, using the hashtag #howtosurvive.  Find out more here.

How to Survive a Plague is an unflinching and powerfully moving look at how the activists behind groups like ACT UP forced the medical establishment into action following its tragically stunted response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.  The film made a big impact at its Sundance Premiere earlier this year, and opened in theaters last September.  Watch the trailer below.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.

1) Director Marialy Rivas’ film Young and Wild (Joven y Alocada) was released through Video on Demand and at the IFC Center in New York City today. The story is loosely based on the true account of a seventeen year old bisexual girl in Chile who hides her true self from her evangelical family. She takes to her blog to express her sexual desires while simultaneously trying to reconcile her own beliefs and juggle two possible romances. Watch the trailer below, and if you are in New York, check out the showtimes here.

2) The group Trans Comedy is partnering with BBC writersroom to find a new sitcom, comedy-drama, or sketch show that portrays transgender people and the transgender experience in an affirming manner. The opportunity is called the Trans Comedy Award, and is open to any writer. Submissions will be accepted starting January 14^th with a deadline of February 28^th. Click here for more details.

3) Fans of the X-Men films will be excited to hear that Patrick Stewart and out actor Ian McKellen will reprise their roles in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Partially based on a classic X-Men comics storyline involving time travel, the new film will be helmed by out director Bryan Singer, who also directed the first two films of the original triology.

4) Neil Patrick Harris will serve as the master of ceremonies for the 90^th annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree on December 6^th. Jason Mraz, a strong ally of the LGBT community, will also be at the ceremony to perform holiday music. The event will take place just south of the White House on the Ellipse, and will air on broadcast television. There will also be a live stream of the ceremony starting at 4:30 pm on December 6^th.

5) The debut novel of GLAAD’s very own Director of Spanish-language Media, Monica Trasandes, was released this week. Published by Thomas Dunne Books, Broken Like This follows Kate Harrington, who lies comatose in Spain at the beginning of the book and is two months pregnant, unbeknownst to anyone. Kate has been an extraordinary presence to Angela Agnelli and Louis Ross, who both fly to Spain to be by her side. Publishers Weekly called it “[A] transcendent debut… It’s rare to root for all sides of a love triangle, but the author’s depth of insight into her characters makes this a wonderfully accomplished first novel.”  You can get your own hardback or Kindle copy on Amazon here.

6) Producer/Editor Elizabeth Stonecipher-Cox is developing a documentary about the difficulties transgender people face coming out to their parents. Though it’s not always the case, it is true that a large number of transgender teens face prejudice from family members and may even be kicked out of their homes. Titled Transgendervention, the project is still in the development process. Check out their Indiegogo campaign here.

Ryan Andresen, the 18-year-old who was expelled from his local Boy Scout troop due to his sexual orientation, is scheduled to be honored by the California Assembly.

Ryan will be recognized on Monday by openly gay California Assembly Speaker John Perez, and will attend meetings with public supporters of the campaign such as Assemblywoman Karen Skinner, State Senator Leland Yee, and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.

Ryan was unfairly denied his Eagle Scout medal, despite having served the troop for more than 12 years, after completing every necessary requirement to become an Eagle Scout.

Karen Andresen, Ryan’s mother started a Change.org petition to garner support for her son and overturn the decision. She stated,

“My son Ryan is my hero. He’s so incredibly brave, smart, and talented. It hurts me so much to watch Ryan suffer for being who he is, because to me, he's perfect.” She continues, “Ryan has worked for nearly 12 years to become an Eagle Scout, and nothing would make him more proud than earning that well-deserved distinction.”

In October, Ryan delivered more than 400,000 Chnage.org petition signatures to Mt. Dialbo-Silverado Boy Scout Council in Pleasant Hill. 

Ryan and his mom appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Watch the videos below! 

In April, GLAAD first shared the story of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted as leader of her son's Boy Scouts troop because she's gay. Since then, GLAAD has been working to get the Boy Scouts of America to end its long history of discrimination against LGBT youth and parents. Join us and take action!

Today marks the 24th anniversary of World AIDS Day, an international observance in support of those living with HIV/AIDS and in memory of the lives lost in the epidemic.  In honor of  World AIDS Day, GLAAD has put together a resource kit to provide you with more information around HIV/AIDS. 

In the United States, 1.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. 1 in 5 remains unaware of their positive status. Approximately 50,000 US Americans are newly infected with HIV each year. Worldwide, an estimated 34 million women and men are living with HIV/AIDS, 22.5 million of them citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa—where 3 people die every minute from complications related to HIV/AIDS.

While the situation remains dire, progress continues to be made and international solidarity deepens each year.

Notably, 2012 marked the first time in 22 years that the International AIDS Conference was hosted in the United States. On Thursday November 29, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring December 1 World AIDS Day. On December 3, the first business day after World AIDS Day, Google will be hosting a How to Survive a Plague Google+ Hangout from its New York City headquarters. And many organizations and individuals around the world continue to advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Formed in New York in 1985 to protest the New York Post's grossly defamatory and sensationalized AIDS coverage, GLAAD for its part has continued its work to ensure that the lives of LGBT people affected by the virus are not defamed in the media. And while we can acknowledge that progress has been made in the conversation around HIV/AIDS that now reflects a more humanizing tone, there remains significant work to be done around the criminalization of the infection, both in the media and within the public's perception. 

GLAAD encourages media outlets to continue to highlight the stories of the individuals affected by the epidemic (like Philip Kucab)  while lending their editorial influence to denounce the criminalizing of people currently infected with HIV/AIDS.

Follow World AIDS Day on Twitter using hashtag #WAD2012 and find more information on our World AIDS Day resource page.

Tonight, viewers in a number of cities can catch the television premiere of We Were Here, a documentary about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, on PBS.

What to Watch: Monday, December 3

10:00pm: Independent Lens: We Were Here, PBS (1 hr) NEW

Tonight a number of PBS markets will premiere We Were Here, a powerful documentary about the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco.  This deeply moving film interweaves interviews with the stories of five people who found themselves at the forefront of the crisis thirty years ago, and provides an intimate look at the fear, emotional devastation and collective determination that manifested in the virus' wake. Watch a sneak peek below, and check your local listings to see if your city is included.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and recurring gay characters Sonny and Neil.

_____________________________

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com. 

Marriage equality is nearly a reality in Maryland. On January 1, 2013 Maryland will begin issuing marriage licenses to loving and committed gay and lesbian couples! Maryland typically has a two-day waiting period, which will be waived so the first marriage ceremonies can take place on January 1.  It will be an historic day and a milestone for the movement for full equality. 

No doubt, media outlets from across the state and across the nation are planning to capture all the excitement of the first days of marriage equality, so this presents Maryland couples (or couples from neighboring states who plan to marry in Maryland even if their own state won't recognize it) with an incredible opportunity to share their stories of love and commitment!

If you and your loved one plan to wed on the first days of marriage equality in the state and are open to sharing your love story and wedding plans with the media, GLAAD really wants to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to let us know about you as a couple and your lives together. We’ll be in touch with you as media opportunities present themselves. The more information you’re able to provide us with the better!

To share your love story & wedding plans with GLAAD, go to: http://www.glaad.org/vote/couples.

We will contact you if we receive media requests for which you and your significant other would be appropriate.  In the meantime, please be sure to share your great news with family, friends and your local newspaper – by sharing the most significant moments of our lives that we underscore our commonly-held values with the communities of which we are a part.

Thanks in advance for your willingness to speak with the media about your relationship and for taking the time to submit your story and image.  By sharing your story as a couple, you help us promote understanding, increase acceptance and advance equality.  We couldn't do our work without you!

Marriage equality is nearly a reality in Maine. On December 29, 2012 Maine will begin issuing marriage licenses to loving and committed gay and lesbian couples! Because Maine has no waiting period, the first wedding can take place the same day marriage licenses become available.  It will be an historic day for the state and a milestone for the movement for full equality. 

No doubt, media outlets from across the state and across the nation are planning to capture all the excitement of the first days of marriage equality, so this presents Maine couples with an incredible opportunity to share their stories of love and commitment!

If you and your loved one plan to wed on the first days of marriage equality in the state and are open to sharing your love story and wedding plans with the media, GLAAD really wants to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to let us know about you as a couple and your lives together. We’ll be in touch with you as media opportunities present themselves. The more information you’re able to provide us with the better!

To share your love story & wedding plans with GLAAD, go to: http://www.glaad.org/vote/couples.

We will contact you if we receive media requests for which you and your significant other would be appropriate.  In the meantime, please be sure to share your great news with family, friends and your local newspaper – by sharing the most significant moments of our lives that we underscore our commonly-held values with the communities of which we are a part.

Thanks in advance for your willingness to speak with the media about your relationship and for taking the time to submit your story and image.  By sharing your story as a couple, you help us promote understanding, increase acceptance and advance equality.  We couldn't do our work without you!

On Saturday, the American Psychiatric Association’s board of trustees approved changes to the latest version of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM-V) that removed the term “Gender Identity Disorder” (GID) which has historically been used by mental health professionals to diagnose transgender individuals. Simultaneously, the term “Gender Dysphoria” will now be used to describe emotional distress over “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender.”

Some transgender advocates see this change in the DSM-V as an important step to removing stigma against transgender people based on false stereotypes about gender identity and expression, as well as the word "disorder." Transgender people are no longer subject to a lifelong default diagnosis of their mental health. This change follows previous statements from the APA on mental healthcare for transgender people. However, other transgender advocates note the barriers this change may create to accessing health insurance coverage for trans-related medical care, which could already be prohibitively expensive even before the change.

It is important that journalists and others in the media be aware of this historic change in the DSM-V and acknowledge that "Gender Identity Disorder" (GID) - as well as the idea that trans people are automatically "disordered" - are now antiquated ideas among healthcare professionals. As has always been the case, it is still unacceptable for media outlets to lend credibility to anti-transgender activists who continue to draw false connections between being transgender and certain behaviors. Additionally, it is crucial that journalists realize the limitations of reporting that focuses on issues of importance to the transgender community, such as this change to the DSM-V, without seeking input from transgender people themselves. 

JET Magazine, the nation’s preeminent African-American biweekly magazine, in its December 10th issue, featured Dr. Ravi Perry and Paris Prince as part of its December JET LOVE wedding series.

Ravi, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Mississippi State University, and Paris, a licensed real estate broker and anti-discrimination compliance expert, were married in August at their home in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The biweekly feature, which traditionally showcases straight couples, includes a short bio of the couple and explains how the couple fell in love. 

"We are excited and honored to have our wedding featured in the historic yet ever-current JET Magazine.  Long the hallmark in publishing news, culture, and events pertaining to the Black American experience, Jet's publishing of our union is historic" said Ravi and Paris. 

 As part of our year-round work to raise visibility of LGBT people of color in the media and to grow acceptance of LGBT people in these communities, GLAAD worked closely with Ravi and Paris to help them shape their story and also worked with JET to feature the couple. 

Over the years, GLAAD has highlighted the work of JET Magazine, including drawing attention to their coverage of LGBT stories such as their feature on Kye Allums, a former George Washington University student who made history as the first Division I college basketball player to come out as transgender while competing, and  applaud JET Magazine for continuing to recognize that all loving and committed couples deserve respect. Last year, JET Magazine featured its first lesbian wedding, telling the beautiful story of Nyema Vernon and Dr. Tenika Jackson.

“JET Magazine has an extensive legacy of covering the lives of LGBT African-Americans,” said Herndon Graddick, President of GLAAD.   “This is yet another opportunity to applaud JET Magazine for continuing to highlight the diversity of the African-American community and to urge other media outlets to recognize that it’s these stories that help grow acceptance of our community and give a voice to LGBT people of color who are too often invisible in the media.”

In 2011, GLAAD worked with Essence.com on its profile of Aisha and Danielle Moodie-Mills, a couple that was among the first to apply for a marriage license after the capital became the sixth jurisdiction to legalize marriage. GLAAD was on the ground in March of 2011 training these couples to share their stories of lifelong commitment with America through the media.  Aisha was one of the community leaders at the forefront for securing marriage equality in the district.

Leave your best wishes for Ravi and Paris below!

Tonight catch all new episodes of Happy Endings, Go On, Emily Owens, M.D., Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, The New Normal and Underemployed.

What to Watch: Tuesday, December 4

9:00pm: Happy Endings, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Penny meets a new guy she really likes, but her attempts to hide her concussion helmet limits their romance. Meanwhile, Jane tries to break into the "old boys club" at the car dealership by enlisting Brad to be her "trophy wife," and Max and Dave's fist bump issues bring back childhood insecurities.

9:00pm: Go On, NBC (30 mins) NEW

Anne accompanies Ryan and Steven on their annual trip to wine country. Meanwhile, Lauren worries that her boyfriend may be preparing to propose and the group's holiday party happens to fall on the day Mr. K believes will be the end of the world.

9:00pm: Emily Owens, M.D., CW (1 hr) NEW

Dr. Dupre tries to fix things with Tyra following her coming out, but turns to Emily for help when he and his daughter clash. Meanwhile, Emily works to diagnose the hospital's flower deliveryman and she and Will find it difficult to offer unbiased care to a sick prisoner.

9:30pm: Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, ABC (30 mins) NEW

June lands a dream job offer through Chloe's connections, but when she realizes just how many strings are attached, she must make a tough decision. Meanwhile, James' worst nightmare comes true when when he is paired with the worst pro-dancer on Dancing with the Stars.

9:30pm: The New Normal, NBC (30 mins) NEW

David hires Carla (guest star Cheri Oteri) to baby proof the house, but she ends up driving a wedge between David and Bryan. Meanwhile, Bryan and Jane attend a party at the home of a famous realtor (guest star Marlo Thomas) and it may just be the boost Jane needs to start her California career. Watch a sneak peek below.

10:00pm: Underemployed, MTV (1 hr) NEW

Raviva books her first gig post-pregnancy and Lou is upset when he finds out Jamel helped her set up the show. Meanwhile, Daphne is concerned about Todd's controlling streak and Miles and Sophia consider new girls in their lives. Check out a preview below.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and Sonny.

____________________________________________________

About TV Gayed

Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com. 

The Ali Forney Center, which provides housing and other services for homeless LGBT youth in New York City, has released a new video in its annual fundraising series, Homeless for the Holidays. The series draws attention to the struggles of homeless LGBT youth in New York City, who will be spending this holiday season much differently from many of their peers - without support from their families or a place to live, just because of who they are. The first video of the 2012 series features Rigo, who talks about combatting hopelessness after being thrown out of his home at age 14 and spending nights sleeping on the subway. Rigo also served in the military, where he says he had to hide his sexual orientation in order to avoid violence from fellow soldiers. Upon completing from his frist deployment, Rigo notes he was the only one in his unit without a home or family to return to, and so he continued sleeping on the subway. Rigo was only recently admitted to veteran housing.

Rigo was one of roughly 3,800 homeless youth in New York City, almost half of whom are LGBT. However, with only 250 homeless shelter beds provided by the city, most homeless youth are left to survive on the streets. Additionally, homeless LGBT youth are more likely than their straight peers to be subjected to violence on the streets and in the homeless shelter system. The Ali Forney Center's capacity to assist these youth was recently compromised by Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed the organization's lower Manhattan drop-in center that provided food, showers, clothing, medical care, HIV testing and treatment, and mental health and substance abuse services to homeless LGBT youth. You can donate to the Ali Forney Center online here and help the many homeless LGBT youth in New York City. To find out more about the work of the Ali Forney Center and ways to get invovled, visit www.aliforneycenter.org.  

Scouts for Equality founder, Zach Wahls, has launched a Change.org petition calling on Verizon to stop donating to the Boy Scouts until the group ends its policy banning gay scouts and leaders. The Intel Foundation and UPS Foundation have already dropped their financial support of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) because of the discriminatory policy.

On its website, the Verizon Foundation states that only those organizations which "serve the community without discrimination," including on the basis of sexual orientation, are eligible to receive funding. Yet, Verizon gave more than $315,000 in grants to the Boy Scouts in 2010, despite the BSA's anti-gay policies.

“Sensible corporations like Intel and UPS have already paused their funding until the BSA ends its exclusionary policy, and now it’s time for Verizon to do the same,” said Wahls. “As far back as 2001, the American Medical Association has been urging the Boy Scouts to end its anti-gay policy because of the psychological trauma it could cause young people. Does Verizon really want to be responsible for funding this hurtful and potentially dangerous policy?”

"Corporate leaders like Verizon know that discriminating against LGBT people is wrong for their customers, employees and business," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "Our conversations with other leaders in corporate America have sent a message that the Boy Scouts' discriminatory policy hurts young gay people and needs to change. Verizon's silence is heard throughout the community and the time is now for them to join their peers in standing up for gay youth in scouting."

In April, GLAAD first shared the story of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted as leader of her son's Boy Scouts troop because she's gay. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Americans have joined GLAAD to urge the Boy Scouts of America to end its long history of discrimination against LGBT youth and parents. Join us and take action!

The recent passing of LGBT activist and writer Brandon Lacy Campos in November left many in the community reeling. To honor his memory, Campos’ family will be holding a “Celebration of Life and Light” this Sunday, December 9, starting at 7 pm in Brooklyn, New York. The event, which also doubles as a fundraiser for his family, will be held at Galapagos Art Space and will feature performance art, live music, poetry readings and dancing. Admission is free, but to cover the cost of renting the space, the family is asking guests to purchase two drinks.

Guests are also invited to wear brightly colored attire in solidarity, as Brandon loved bright colors. The space will also feature an altar, where his friends and those inspired by him can bring items or pictures to share. In the event description, his family notes:

Brandon’s life as an activist, poet, novelist and friend left a legacy of love and passion. Brandon’s belief in justice, love, truth honesty and his belief-based actions brought everyone who knew him closer to truth and light. In his honor, we will sing, laugh and dance in the space created by Brandon’s spirit.

Brandon began his activism work early in his life, becoming the co-chair of the National Queer Student Coalition at age 20. He also served as the co-executive director for Queers for Economic Justice. In addition to numerous articles in both print and online media, Brandon also penned book of poetry called It Ain't Truth If It Doesn't Hurt and also contributed to last year's anthology, From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction.

Details for the events can be found below and on the Facebook page.

Date: December 9, 2012 Time: 7:00pm – 11:00pm; ages 21+

7:00pm – 9:00pm – Performances

9:00pm – 11:00pm – Dancing

Place: Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY

For those who cannot attend, donations can be made via Paypal to celebrationofbrandon@gmail.com OR by mail to Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, 102 North Jefferson Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901 (Please indicate that the donation is for the Lacy Service).

USA TODAY Sports profiled Mission College athlete Gabrielle Ludwig, who is transgender and plays on her school's women's basketball team in California. Though the artiicle falls into some familiar tropes of transgender media representation - focusing intensely on Gabrielle's past, using pronouns that she does not go by, and giving attention to the offensive comments of some local college sports fans - it also highlights the overwhelming support that Gabrielle has recieved from her family members, her coach and her teammates.

Mission College athletic director Mike Perez, who worked with the California Community College Athletic Association to ensure that Gabrielle could play on the team, said, "This is a student-athlete who is really opening up to what is going on in her life. What we can do is support her, as I would any student-athlete…" Gabrielle's teammate, Felicia Anderson, expressed support for her as a fellow player on their team, saying, "We've been discriminated against for different reasons. We're used to it. So to have someone come with us, you're discriminated against too. You are a part of our family as well. It's the common bond."

Speaking about herself as a transgender athlete, Gabrielle said, "People are afraid of what they don't know. I am willing to put myself out there. It was not like that before. It was just about playing basketball. It's about more because I see an injustice."

Gay and lesbian couples in Washington can start applying for and obtaining marriage licenses at 12:01 AM on December 6. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire will certify the November 6 election results today, December 5, in order to begin the process of releasing marriage licenses to all couples.

In preparation for all of the couples who would like to marry, county auditors’ offices have updated their forms and their websites.  King and Thurston counties will open at midnight, Pierce at 6:30 a.m. and Clark and Island counties will open their doors at 8 a.m.

The Seattle Lesbian has provided a handy guide for couples who are planning to get married, so that all the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted.

Washington law requires a three day waiting period, so actual weddings will not begin until Sunday, December 9. But when that day comes, there will be a grand celebration!

Washingtonians are getting into the wedding spirit! There are wedding celebrations being planned at Seattle City Hall, Lake Union Café, and First Baptist Church, among other places. Hotels and bars are offering special deals for couples with new wedding licenses.

Already, several Washington media outlets are profiling couples to be married. The Spokane Spokesman Review profiled Retired Air Force Major Margaret Witt and Laurie Johnson will be first in line to get married. Major Witt is a decorated military veteran who fought for years to help topple the nation’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy so that lesbian and gay service members could serve their country in the military.

The Seattle Times told the story of Paul Harris and James Griener, who have been together for nearly 40 years.  Paul, age 64, has been processing marriage licenses for the Clark County Auditor for over 27 years.  “After decades of giving other people marriage licenses, I’m overjoyed to be able to get one myself and finally marry my partner of nearly 40 years,” Paul says.

Marriage news is currently happening across the country. For same-sex couples in Maine, Maryland and Washington, marriage equality became a reality through the ballot box. These three states are the first to support marriage equality through a public vote. If the U.S. Supreme Court decides to deny review of the Proposition 8 case, marriage equality will resume in California. GLAAD is working to share the stories of couples in these states in an effort to show others that marriage is about love and commitment.

The Bronx Documentary Center in New York City is hosting a free screening of United in Anger: A History of ACT UP on December 7 at 7:30 PM! The film, a documentary about the birth and life of the AIDS activist movement from the perspective of the people in the trenches fighting the AIDS epidemic, will be followed by a Q&A session with its editor, Ali Cotterill, and its director, Jim Hubbard. You can RSVP for the event at events@bronxdoc.org

United in Anger Trailer from United in Anger on Vimeo.

"UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP is the first feature-length documentary about how ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), a small group of men and women of all races and classes, came together to change the world and save each other’s lives. The film takes the viewer through the planning and execution of a dozen exhilarating major actions including Seize Control of the FDA, Stop the Church, and Day of Desperation, with a timeline of many of the other zaps and actions that forced the U.S. government and mainstream media to deal with the AIDS crisis. UNITED IN ANGER reveals the group's complex culture – meetings, affinity groups, and approaches to civil disobedience mingle with profound grief, sexiness, and the incredible energy of ACT UP."

Learn more at Bronx Documentary Center website and at the United in Anger: A History of ACT UP Facebook page.

FREE SCREENING + Q&A with Director Jim Hubbard of UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP
Friday, December 7, 7:30 PM
Bronx Documentary Center
614 Courtlandt Ave. (@151st St.) Bronx, NY 10451

A vote on Uganda’s dangerous and deplorable “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” is looming, with the Speaker of the Parliament promising its passage, as “a Christmas gift,” prior to the chamber’s December 15 holiday recess. Originally introduced in 2009, the controversial measure has also been dubbed the “Kill the Gays” Bill as it includes the possibility of a death sentence for "aggravated homosexuality." Life in prison is the punishment for the “offence of homosexuality,” which includes merely touching someone of the same-sex “with the intention of committing the act.” A vote could occur at any time up from now until the last day of the legislative session on December 15, five days after International Human Rights Day on December 10.

There has been mounting pressure on the Ugandan Parliament to reject the bill, which would also introduce harsh prison sentences to those support gays and lesbians. International donors have threatened to cut off aid to the impoverished African nation, and Western leaders have not minced words when condemning the legislation.

Pressure has also shifted to include banks that operate subsidiaries in Uganda, including both Citibank and Barclays, which have both supported protections for LGBT employees in the past. A change.org petition that has garnered over half a million supporters asks the banks to publicly condemn the bill, which would “send a loud message to Ugandan legislators that criminalizing homosexuality with lifetime prison sentences and the death penalty won’t be supported by major international businesses.” Opponents of the proposed "Kill the Gays" Bill have also launced a SumofUs.org petition against soft-drink bottler Pepsi, which has been named as one of the largest bottling companies in Uganda. 

A spokesperson for Barclays recently divulged that they “are engaging at appropriate levels of the Ugandan Government to express our views” about the bill, but stopped short of fully condemning its passage. An official at Citibank said “While the laws and cultural norms in some countries where Citi operates differ from commonly accepted global standards for human rights, Citi supports equality without regard for, among other personal characteristics, race, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, nationality, or sexual orientation.”

Frank Mugisha, who has been Uganda’s most visible gay rights advocate since the death of David Kato last year, has been travelling outside of his home country and raising international awareness about the likely passage of the bill, which could potentially put 500,000 Ugandans behind bars for “violations.” Mugisha, the Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award last year for his activism in the movement. In addition to an op-ed in the New York Times, Mugisha also recently appeared on MSNBC with Thomas Roberts to discuss the increasingly dire situation in Uganda. “The chances [the bill] will pass are very high,” he said, in which case he would definitely be subject to “either life in prison or sentenced to death.” 

International Human Rights Day is this Monday, December 10 and GLAAD urges all supporters to sign the petition in a show of solidarity with the Ugandan LGBT community and urge the banks to publicly denounce the bill.

Obviously we disagree with any view that says homosexuality is something that can or should be "cured." But in this first clip, listen to the measured way in which Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver addresses the subject. While on mainstream television, he makes it sound like this is all about freedom, denying that there is any effort afoot to stigmatize gay people:

But now get this. On the very same day, wearing the very same shirt and tie (sans jacket), Mat Staver made another appearance on his very own web radio show, alongside regular partner in hostility Matt Barber. In this one, he flat-out calls homosexuality "abnormal" (at 8:30), drops the name Jerry Sandusky (at 7:40) to suggest that homosexuality can be created by abuse, uses the word "doomed" (at 7:52) to refer to someone who might be brought to terms with his or her homosexuality, decries the generalized counseling belief that homosexuality is "good and normal" (at 9:40), and then promotes his overtly hostile book (at 9:57) titled Same-sex Marriage: Putting Every Household at Risk. Stigmatization is the order of the day:

But wait, there's more! On this very same day and still wearing that very same blue shirt and red tie, Mat made another one of these Liberty Counsel videos, focused on the same subject of "ex-gay" so-called therapy. In this one, Staver first sits back and lets cohost Barber position gays as both molested and molesters (with another Sandusky mention), incorrectly suggesting that pedophilia is a sexual orientation (it's not; it's a paraphilia). Then Staver takes the ball and runs with it, dedicating the next many minutes to pretending that measures geared toward "ex-gay" junk science are opening the door to laws that protect pedophiles. This one is almost too unbelievable for words:

This is the perfect example of what we have been saying for the past nine months here at GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project. When these commentators appear on networks like CNN, they try as hard as they can to button it up and play the role of the nice, sweet conservative voice. But those of us who listen to the rest of it know the real story.  We know that on their own channels, they speak the full-throated anti-LGBT condemnations that undergird every aspect of their movement.

It's time for mainstream media to get even better about reconciling the two voices.  The Mat Staver who appeared on the openly gay Anderson Cooper's show is the very same man who, earlier in the day, worked as hard as he could to portray people like Anderson as at least somewhat akin to pedophiles.  It's not activism to report that truth: it's news!

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has spoken out in opposition to Uganda’s “Kill the Gays Bill.”

Speaking at the All Africa Conference of Churches meeting, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate said, “I am opposed to discrimination, that is unfair discrimination, and would that I could persuade legislators in Uganda to drop their draft legislation, because I think it is totally unjust.”

This statement makes Archbishop Tutu the most prominent faith leader to speak out against the draconian bill being considered in the Uganda parliament.

First proposed in 2009, the impact that the bill could have on the Ugandan LGBT population is devastating. Details of the bill are murky, with little reliable information being released. It criminalizes homosexuality—making it punishable by long-term jail sentences with manual labor, and—most tragically—death. Poised to become law in 2009, the bill was momentarily abandoned after intense international outcry—including that of prominent religious leadership. The bill returned earlier this year, and when it was recently passed through committee

Groundswell has started a petition aimed at clergy members to show widespread disapproval of the bill from faith leaders with over 3000 signatures. It is hoped that signatures on the petition will influence major denominational leaders to speak out in opposition to the bill.

Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service, wrote a letter condemning the bill as, “an abhorrent violation of human rights against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and a grave threat to civil society in Uganda.” Jim Wallis’ evangelical organization, Sojourners, also released an article this week decrying what they called the, “draconian anti-LGBT bill.” 

Other faith leaders have condemned the bill in years past, but have remained silent this time around. In 2010, televangelist Joyce Meyers came out in opposition of the bill. HRC has publically called on influential faith leaders like TD Jakes, Joel Osteen, and Rick Warren to speak out against the bill. Wayne Self, Publisher of Owldolatrous Press, drafted an open letter to General Linda Bond, the head of the Salvation Army, an organization with a sizable African presence, asking for a public denunciation of the bill.

It is hoped that Archbishop Tutu’s voice and influence will lead other prominent faith leaders to speak out. There is renewed urgency, as Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s notoriously anti-LGBT parliamentary speaker, was quoted saying, "Ugandans want that law as a Christmas gift. They have asked for it and we'll give them that gift." 

Earlier this week, Rev. Nancy Wilson, Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post calling out Rick Warren for his CNN interview in which he compared being LGBT to wanting to “punch a guy in the nose”, yet remaining silent about a bill that would imprison or execute roughly 500,000 LGBT people in Uganda and those who know, love and support them. Rick Warren did speak out against the bill in 2009, but has remained silent as the bill was reintroduced in recent weeks.

Take action now

Ask Rick Warren to take a lesson from Archbishop Tutu, and reiterate his opposition to the bill. Tweet the following:

@RickWarren Follow Archbishop #DesmondTutu in condemning the #KillTheGaysBill in Uganda.

If the name Alan Turing doesn’t mean anything to you, it should.  One of the most influential figures of the 20^th century, Turing was a WW2 codebreaker considered by many to be the father of modern computing.  Turing was also criminally prosecuted for being gay, when he should have been celebrated as a national hero.

Directed by Clare Beavan and Nic Stacey, the film Codebreaker combines testimonials from historians and experts about the life of Alan Turing with reenactments of Turing’s psychiatric sessions with Dr. Franz Greenbaum in which he discussed on his own life events.  Well-acted and well written, Codebreaker sheds light on of the most important historical figures, gay or otherwise, of the past century.

Tomorrow, December 6^th, interested audiences in New York, DC, Chicago, and Pittsburg will have the chance to catch a screening of the film at one of the below engagements:

Washington, DC

AMC Loews Georgetown

7:30pm

3111 K Street, NW

Tickets

New York, NY

Empire 25

7:30pm

234 West 42nd Street

Tickets

Chicago, IL

AMC Loews North Michigan 9

7:45pm

600 N. Michigan Avenue

Tickets

Pittsburgh, PA

AMC Loews Waterfront

7:40pm

300 Waterfront Drive W., Homestead, PA

Tickets

You can watch the film’s trailer below: