Editor's note: As part of GLAAD's mission to raise visiblity around LGBT people, we encourage everyone to submit the names of trans individuals who have impacted your life and community.
By Noah Alvarez and Jen Richards
We Happy Trans and This is HOW are calling for submissions to the first ever Trans 100, an annual list the acknowledges the service of trans activists in communities across the country.
As the trans community seeks to celebrate their own,The Trans 100 is a collective recognition of the many activists working to improve the conditions and lives of trans people.
The Trans 100 List is also a direct effort to combat the harmful images of Trans* people in the media as well as a celebration, and lifting-up of our community heros. WeHappyTrans.com and ThisIsHow.org have teamed up to provide an opportunity for people within the community and all people affected by LGBTQ issues to publicly affirm their community mentors, organizers, activists, educators, and friends who are transgender. We want the world to know the beautiful, powerful forces behind the trans move toward equality. Without the people who are doing the work every day to inspire and effect change for all trans* people, we would not be able to move forward as a collective whole.
We encourage community members to nominate individuals, particularly persons of color, those working quietly behind the scenes, and the otherwise unsung heroes. All the nominees will be listed for a 2nd round of community voting, with the final 100 list published early in the new year. The Trans 100 is not a contest: the list will be unranked, and the vote tally will not be publicized. It is intended to applaud the hard work of those in our community, and as a resource to showcase the breadth, depth and diversity of our activism.
The form for submitting nominating the forms can be accessed here. All questions should be directed to For more on the origin of the idea, see Toni D’Orsay’s blog here.
Update: we intend to publish the final list on or just before March 31, 2013, in conjunction with Transgender Day of Visibility.
I suspect most of you have seen the charming video in which young Selena Leffew sings of her love for here two fathers, Bryan and Jay. If you haven't, here it is again:
It's super sweet. What's not to like?
Well, leave it to Focus on the Family to find something. In two different spots on the internet, Focus' Director of Family Formation Studies, Glenn Stanton, has pecked out some words for the exclusive purposes of (1) making this family seem inferior and (2) making the fathers seem like negligent parents for allowing their daughter to engage in this creative expression of love for her family. Because that's what "family values" folks do—right?
On his personal blog, Stanton writes:
I have a new post over at National Review Online on a one-part shameful / one-part manipulative video by two gay dads explaining how their family is just like any other family. They put their beautiful daughter Selena front and center in this high-octane, divisive social debate to deliver a political/social lecture, dressed up as a cute child’s song. Of course, these men have every right to make the best case they can for their experimental family. But enlisting your young daughter into the center of this tumultuous debate is not good parenting.
Shameful and manipulative? Harsh claims, I would say. Most would say, I believe.
So why might Stanton feel so strongly about the need to publicly disparage a family he doesn't know? We turn to the referenced piece that he wrote for National Review Online—which, I should remind you, is considered a very mainstream site for conservative commentators—where this Focus on the Family employee explains what, exactly, he finds so objectionable:
But it is not just a song from a precious little girl telling us about how much she loves her family, a song you want every little girl to be able to sing. It’s a sharply crafted social statement to influence the public debate on the nature of family, drafted to explain to us how special it is for Selena and her brother to “have two fathers, two real fathers.” For her — if we are to believe the song comes straight from her heart in her own words — her family is special for the very reason that she has two fathers. And she also wants us to know that, as her song says, “if they ever have to, they both can be my mom.” They do sound like two very special and talented fathers, even if they’ve positioned Selena to the front of the culture war as a gay-family apologist.
...
If their family is just like any other family — a normal day-in, day-out family just like yours — then why is their series called “Gay Family Values” and not just “Family Values”? You see, while they want us to see them as a normal family, they don’t want us to see them as just like any other family. And they are quite proud of that. That’s the whole point of the video.
This is completey faked curiosity on Stanton's part. Glenn Stanton has been fighting this so-called "culture war" for many years now, regularly debating LGBT thinkers on any number of subjects. He knows that most LGBT families would like nothing more than to blend in with all of the other families with the lack of controversy that we deserve. Glenn also knows the very reason that such blending is impossible: because organizations like the one that pays his bills dedicate considerable time and resources to stigmatizing, alientating, and legally denying LGBT families in any number of ways. The only reason why activism on behalf of our families is necessary is because the attacks on the other side are unrelenting. And the only reason why anyone would see a sweet song as political is because certain groups have turned certain citizens' lives into political issues.
Stanton is one of the worst offenders. If you look at his CAP profile, you will learn that this is a man who has, quite literally, called homosexuality "a particularly evil lie of Satan." Let's pause and reflect on that. Not only does this assert that this young child's parents are living a false life—it says that the fathers she loves are actually "particularly evil." And of Satan. That's not a minor criticism. AIs there any wonder why a child who knows better might want to stand up and defend her loving parents? Is there any wonder why parents like Jay and Bryan might want to step up and show America a real portrait that cuts through Stanton's dehumanizing language? I think not.
Stanton goes on to wonder:
If their family and situation is normal, then why make the video? No two families are entirely the same. Imagine the television family, the Waltons, making a similar video with youngest daughter Elizabeth singing to us, “Sure we have lots of kids. My mom and dad work at home and our grandparents live right here with us. And if they ever have to, they can be our mom and dad too.” Or the one of the Douglas family from My Three Sons. Or the Partridge family. Or the Brady family. Or Opie from the Andy Griffith Show.
When a family has to explain that they are just like any other family, it is a strong sign they are not. And those who feel compelled to explain probably don’t even believe it.
First I have to note the particular silliness of comparing an actual American family with a string of fake TV broods. That would actually seem to say something about how Stanton sees families like the Leffews, suggesting that he looks at them as some sort of a sitcom for his pontification and/or amusement rather than as a part of America's actual fabric. But I digress.
What I really want to focus on here is Stanton's closing couple on lines, in which he takes another swipe at this family and cites the video as some sort of evidence that even they themslves don't believe in their "normalcy." For that, let's again turn to Stanton's CAP profile, where we can also reminisce about the time that he, in a branded Focus on the Family document, accused gay parents of turning their children into "human guinea pigs." When presented with claims like that, what are families like the Leffews to do? If they sit back and let others define them, then who is to deny that our America could become filled with a majority of citizens who see us in this same way? After all, isn't the primary reason why a social commentator speaks so that he or she can shape public opinion? So how dare Mr. Stanton so callously chide this family for standing up and defining themselves when he is someone who (mis)defines families like the Leffews for his career?! How dare he say that theirs is the act of political overcompensation when he has been so over compensated for his own job playing politics with LGBT families' welfare?!
Look, the very idea that someone like me would have to defend a family like the Leffews from the attacks they face for simply posting a cute internet video will someday seem like the utter nonsense that it already is. We know this. But for now, we still live in a world where knocking LGBT families for sport is considered to be mainstream commentary in certain circles. As long as this is true, then our families have no choice but to step up and represent the truths that we know by virtue of our day-to-day realities.
Mr. Stanton, on the other hand, does have a choice. Sadly, time after time he chooses discrimination. He chooses stone-casting. And with this latest round, Glenn Stanton chose to take it a step further and pile on the children of the adults he has built his career around attacking, simply because that family refused to be buried under his mountain of misrepresentation. It's not just commentary—it's a form of bullying, really.
Because of your support, GLAAD has been able to share impactful stories and positively shape the media narrative when big headlines—like this year’s marriage equality victories, or the Chick-Fil-A controversy—pop up. We want to be able to provide this rapid response work for 2013 too, but we can't do it without your help! So, donate $50 for the holidays, and get a gift from Here Media!
GLAAD sincerely mourns the loss of Spencer Cox, a noted activist in the fight against AIDS who passed away Tuesday morning at New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Hospital of causes related to the disease. He was 44.
Born in Decatur, Georgia, Spencer Cox had been involved in AIDS-related activism for over two decades, beginning as an intern for amfAR while attending Bennington College in the 1980’s and eventually becoming their Director of Public Affairs. Shortly after moving to New York in 1989, he was diagnosed with HIV. He then became a spokesman for the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP) and sat on their Treatment & Data Committee. Later, he co-founded the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and established himself as a “citizen expert” of the basic science of the virus. From 1994 to 1999, he was the Director of the HIV Project at TAG, where he revolutionized the drug trial design in AIDS research.
Mark Harrington, the Executive Director of TAG, says “Spencer single-handedly sped up the development and marketing of the protease inhibitors, which currently are saving 8 million lives… He was absolutely brilliant, just off the charts brilliant.”
Cox was also a co-founder of the Community Research Initiative on AIDS (now the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, ACRIA) where he handled public affairs and oversaw all publications. After the drug revolution transformed the treatment of AIDS patients, he also founded a think-tank named the Medius Institute for Gay Men’s Health, which focused primarily on addressing the emotional heath of gay men who had survived the epidemic.
In his final piece of writing published on POZ, Cox wrote of his experience watching David Fance’s documentary “How to Survive a Plague,” for which he was also interviewed. In it, he wrote “If I have one piece of advice for young, aspiring activists, it is to always hold on to the joy, always make it fun. If you lose that, you have lost the whole battle.”
Below is a tribute to Spencer made by David France using outtake footage from his interview in the documentary “How to Survive a Plague.”
Tonight watch Andy Cohen host the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, Melissa Etheridge performs on A Home for the Holidays, plus all new episodes of Chicago Fire, Happily Divorced and Top Chef.
Shay is reaching the limits of her frustration with Severide. Meanwhile, several firefighters are under investigation when an expensive necklace goes missing from a scene, Dawson invites Casey to her family's holiday party and Cruz's brother Leon finds himself in the middle of a gang war. Catch a preview below.
One challenge has the chefs battling head to head and another has the chefs tested when they come up against an entire pantry wrapped in aluminum foil. Former contestant Stephanie Izard returns to guest judge. Watch a sneak peek below.
Fran fills in for Peter as Joan's assistant, but she manages to get both Peter and his boss in trouble with a big name director. Check out a sneak peek 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.
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 media has recently placed considerable focus on Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's comments equating being gay with murder. This renewed focus is for good reason, of course. It's shocking that anyone in the year 2012 would make (and defend) such an offensive links, let alone a member of the nation's highest court. This focus needs to continue as we head into the historic marriage cases that will come to the high court in 2013.
However, there's another element of the story that deserves equal scrutiny, at least. In fact, I would argue that this other element deserves even more mainstream attention than the more obvious "murder: comparison.
First some background. Within the Catholic church, there is an operation known as "Courage." Courage is kind of like the other "ex-gay" or "reparative therapy" movements that are popular within the evangelical world, except that Courage doesn't so much try to "change" gay people to straight, it merely tries to make us celibate. Whereas the "former homosexual" movement purports to "convert" us through prayer, counseling, or sometimes pillow-beating, Courage just tells gays that we are called to live a chaste life. It's all about denial. Ross Murray, Director of Religion, Faith and Values at GLAAD, has more on Courage in this post.
Two things pertaining to both this Courage program and Antonia Scalia recently came into light. First the biggie: the revelation that one of Justice Scalia's sons, Paul Scalia, is deeply involved with the Courage organization and has written and spoken extensively on that program's supposed virtues. Paul goes around telling people that they should detach gay people's attractions from our identities, something that is a key element of the Courage message. Like with most "ex-gay" programs, Paul Scalia has placed particular focus on vulnerable parents of even more vulnerable LGBT kids, with the overall message being that moms and dads are to love their children but not their sexual orientations. Check out Zack Ford's extensive post for more on the younger Scalia's teachings.
Now, of course the son is not the father, necessarily. Which brings us to the other concerning element that recently came to light—one that does, in fact, connect dad to kid.
Ya see, it turns out that Antonin Scalia's own church, St Catherine of Siena (the same Opus Dei-affilliated church that prominent D.C. conservatives from Rick Santorum to Brian Brown have made their ministerial home), has promoted these very same Courage programs. In multiple church bulletins, the church promoted Paul Scalia's own events on how to handle "same-sex attractions." Presumably, the elder Scalia was himself sitting in the pews receiving these bulletins. Presumably the elder Scalia also subscribes to many (if not most or all) of his church's beliefs. Does he share the church's demonstrated view on this topic? Does he encourage his son's outreach work? Does he think gay people are - not just able to, but literally called by God to deny our capacities for love?
We obviously don't know the concrete answer to those last questions, which is precisely why the media needs to ask them in 2013. We need answers to questions like: Is one of the nine members of the high court, who self-admittedly has an unfavorable view of LGBT people, himself affiliated with the Courage program? Leading to the obvious followup: Are these connections enough of a conflict when it comes to his determination on LGBT cases? Even if we do not get clear answers from Justice Scalia himself, we will at least get closer to pertinent discussion.
I say that these questions are more relevant than even the ones linking homosexuality to murder because whereas those crude analogies might constitute deep and obvious animus, they still don't create the same set of presumptions that a confirmation of his belief in the Courage mindset would itself solidify. It's possible to see how even an Antonin Scalia could put forth arguments about homosexuality (a "reduction to the absurd," he calls his murder comparisons) yet still apply a fair read of the constitution. Theoretically, I can understand how even a judge who is publicly hostile to LGBT rights could still rule in favor of them. And considering what Justice Scalia himself said in his Lawrence v. Texas dissent, I could even see how he might feel forced to decide in favor of civil marriage equality. Again, theoretically.
It's more difficult to see how a judge who believes, at his core, that any non-heterosexual orientations don't really exist, and that gay people called by God to ignore these "attractions," could ever have an open mind on the constutional claims that the Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act cases will bring before the court. If that judge is not even willing to entertain that my sexual orientation is as much a part of my identity as any number of characteristics are to other groups, then how can he possibly be open to applying the "heightened scrutiny" that would get to the heart of the unfair treatment of LGBT people? If the judge believes that my life's calling is to give myself to celibacy, then how can he possibly support my marriage? If the judge is guided by a deeply held faith view that tells him to separate my "attractions" from my in-born capacity for love in a way that separates me from my heterosexual counterparts, then why wouldn't he want to distiniguish my placement within civil society from those who he views as living a life of procreative normalcy? We need to at least alk about this.
When it comes to commentator accountability, we must not focus exclusively on keeping anti-equality voices in check whenever they themselves speak to the media. We must also ensure that our pro-equality pundits, objective journalists, Op-Ed writers, and everyone else with a platform is raising the kind of discussion that gets to the heart of these issues. Sure, these questions about commanded celibacy and a judge that seems to leave little separation between himself and that demand might not be as media "sexy" as the stories that get to use both gays and murder in the same headline. But these are the questions that court watchers should be asking. At the very least, they must be part of the discussion.
I can assure you I would say the very same thing if a Ruth Bader Ginsburg had such close connections to a program that called for a similar form of suppression.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Co-Chairs Lauren Foster, Marysol Patton (pictured above) and Sarah Arison, GLAAD has launched a volunteer leadership council in Miami.
As part of her work with the Miami Leadership Council, transgender model Lauren Foster will be working with GLAAD to raise visibility for transgender Americans throughout next year. Earlier this month, she filmed a PSA for the Trans People Speak video series, a project of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition which is sponsored by GLAAD. The PSA, which will be released in 2013, also features Foster's friend Marysol Patton, star of BRAVO's Real Housewives of Miami.
"Lauren is a passionate and smart woman who has not only helped our organization, but our entire community," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "We are thrilled to work with her going forward in an effort to raise visibility for transgender people."
Lauren Foster (pictured left in a photo by Greg Gorman) is a South African model. She is one of the world's most recognized trans women, having been the first to be featured in a fashion editorial in VOGUE Mexico. In 2000 and 2001 she worked with the iconic performer, Grace Jones. Foster has counseled juvenile runaways facing questions on gender identity. This year she became the first transgender woman to appear on the Real Housewives franchise, recently appearing in two episodes of The Real Housewives of Miami. She has a successful career in public relations at the prestigious MIAMI Institute for Age Management & Intervention located in the Four Seasons in Miami's Brickell district. Earlier this year she participated in a popular discussion on Huffington Post with transgender musician Alex Davis.
Sarah Arison and Patton will work with Foster to plan upcoming events in the Miami area to support GLAAD's work to change the culture in support of LGBT equality.
"Allies like Marysol and Sarah are crucial to growing support and understanding for transgender people and the entire LGBT community," said Herndon Graddick. "With their help, we know we will be able to have a successful and impactful role in helping LGBT people in Miami and around the country feel supported and loved."
Arison is a native of Miami, Florida who relocated to New York City four years ago after graduating Emory University to begin a career with W Magazine. She is currently working as a film producer and participates in various local charities and organizations.
"I am surrounded by so many wonderful friends and family who are part of the LGBT community. I'm honored to be able to work with GLAAD to grow acceptance and build support for them in our community" said Arison.
Since 2002, Miami native Marysol Patton has run one of the strongest and most respected public relations firms in the country, The Patton Group (TPG). She was nominated as the Miami Chapter of the American Cancer Society's Most Dynamic Woman of the Year in 2003 and has served as Honorary Chair of the Make-A-Wish Gala, Board of the Vizcayans, Viscayan Gala Co-Chair, Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon Chair, Lucky Brand Gala committee and Saks Fifth Avenue's "Key to the Cure" committee, among others.
The GLAAD Miami leadership council is comprised of volunteer leaders who provide critical on-the-ground support and leadership for GLAAD in the Miami area. We are thrilled to have such amazing voices as a part of GLAAD!
GLAAD’s Religion, Faith & Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media. To find out more, visit www.glaad.org/faith. For additional religion and faith updates, be sure to subscribe via our online registration form. We welcome suggestions at faith@glaad.org.
And yet—there’s still hope: some Anglican vicars have promised to defy the ban on marriage equality and marry couples anyway. An Episcopal minister in San Francisco released the first gay-friendly Bible, cleverly titled the Queen James Version. A new organization for LGBT Jews and their families has emerged to offer support. The Unitarians held a summit for marriage equality.
As families across the country gather to celebrate the holidays, it’s important to remember the many people, particularly LGBTQ-identified youth, who are without a permanent home or family simply because of who they are and love.
In fact, a census conducted by the Empire State Coalition and released by the New York City Council in 2008, found that of the 3,800 homeless youth in New York State, 40 percent – more than 1,600 –identify as LGBTQ. Even more, the same report found that LGBTQ youth are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than heterosexual youth, mostly because of family rejection.
To address the growing pandemic, the Ali Forney Center launched the Homeless for the Holidays 2012 project, a video campaign that features LGBTQ youth discussing their experiences with living on the streets of New York City.
“[S]tatistics don't adequately express the horror of what these youths endure. They don't express the suffering these kids go through; the psychological torment of being rejected, feeling unloved, alone and terrified, or the physical torment of the cold, exposure to the elements, hunger and chronic sleep deprivation.
I want to wake our city up to this atrocity that goes on in our midst, of these thousands of kids left out alone on the streets without shelter beds.So I have been spending time with these youths, photographing them in the spaces where they try to make it through the nights, listening and recording them tell of what they suffer. Allowing them to show us and tell us what they go through.
The Ali Forney Center has joined a number of other LGBT advocates and providers in creating The Campaign for Youth Shelter, which calls on the City to commit to a plan to add 100 youth shelter beds per year until such time as there are no longer waiting lists at the youth shelters. Alas, our Mayor refuses to discuss this; instead he tries every year to cut the few shelter beds. In 2012 he proposed reducing the number of youth shelter beds by 60%, forcing the New York City Council to fight to restore the few beds available.”
Tonight catch an airing of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Starz.
What to Watch: Thursday, December 20
9:00pm: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Starz (2 hrs) REPEAT
The first English language adaptation of the blockbuster mystery novel series and depicts a disgraced journalist trying to solve a decades old murder with the help of an antisocial, bisexual, and brilliant investigator named Lisbeth Salander. Actress Elodie Yung portrays one of Lisbeth’s love interests in the film, and you might catch a glimpse of her in the trailer 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.
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 bridal party are fed up with the bride's bossy attitude towards them, especially because she can't decide on colors. Meanwhile, another bride is too hands off and is worried about hurting her bridesmaid's feelings.
A bride's decision to have her future stepdaughter model dresses upsets her own 19-year-old daughter.
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.
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.
2012 saw a new generation of religious voices speaking for LGBT equality. Some are new, and some have been around for a while. All of them have helped to change the religious landscape concerning LGBT people. Below, we’ll list for you ten of the most significant religious voices from 2012
The Revs. Sue Gabrielson, MacArthur Flournoy, Grant Stevenson, and Debra Peevey
You may not have heard of these four names, but their work was all over one of the biggest stories of 2012. They are the faith directors for the successful marriage campaigns in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington, respectively. CNN highlighted how faith leadership in state campaigns and national organizations like GLAAD, will inform how marriage equality campaigns go forward in the future.
Matthew Vines
His YouTube video, posted in March has been viewed nearly half a million times, and he is becoming a voice of authority for evangelical Christians. When he visited New York, GLAAD created an event at Marble Collegiate Church that gave Matthew the opportunity to expand on his comments in his video. The event landed Matthew on the front page of the Style Section of the New York Times. Since then, Matthew has been giving interviews to everyone from the Christian Post to the BBC.
Pastor Joseph Tolton
Pastor Joseph Tolton enjoyed a dynamic year on multiple fronts. Joseph has been a leading advocate for LGBT people around the world, particularly in Uganda. His work has petitioned US faith leaders to speak out against the "Kill the Gays Bill" in Uganda. He also organized NoWedge2012, leading several prominent Black faith leaders to speak out in support of marriage equality and for those were not ready to speak out, avoid letting marriage equality become a wedge issue for the African-American community.
Barbara Johnson
While Barbara Johnson was grieving the loss of her mother, the presiding priest stated, “I can’t give you Communion because you live with a woman, and in the eyes of the church, that is a sin.” This blatant lack of pastoral care to an LGBT person captured the attention of the nation.GLAAD worked with Barbara to tell her story and to shine a light of the Roman Catholic hierarchy’s internal persecution of LGBT people.
Dominic Sheahan Stahl & Sacred Heart Academy Class of 2012
When Dominic Sheahan Stahl was uninvited from speaking at the Sacred Heart Academy graduation for being gay, the graduating class, which included his younger brother, rallied around him. They formed #LetDominicSpeak and worked with GLAAD to express their support for the alum. They formed an inclusive graduation event, in which the entire graduating class, as well as 600 people listened to Dominic give his speech, of which, GLAAD produced a video. Dominic has gone on to establish a “Live Through Love” foundation to raise scholarship money for LGBT students.
Sister Jeannine Gramick
Nuns were a big deal in 2012, and the LGBT community had a great ally in Sister Jeannine Gramick. She was one of the most visible pro-LGBT Catholic voices as Maryland adopted marriage equality and through the ballot process. She spoke about Roman Catholic hierarchy to MSNBC, and created a video series on The Daily Beast to discuss faith and life, including LGBT issues.
Rev. David & Deborah Weekley
After coming out in 2009, Pastor David Weekley has continued to be a voice for LGBT inclusion in the United Methodist Church. Despite not changing denominational policy, David continues to use his own story to advocate for change. For Transgender Awareness Week, Deborah shared with GLAAD about being the spouse of a trans clergy man. David was honored as the 2012 Man of the Year by the Northwest Gender Alliance.
Bishop Gene Robinson
Bishop Robinson is set to retire at the end of 2012, but he isn’t slowing down. He started the year at Sundance in the award winning film “Love Free or Die” and talked with GLAAD about the impact of the film. His denomination, The Episcopal Church made significant strides to LGBT inclusion, including blessings for same-sex couples and non-discrimination policies for transgender people. He wrote a new book, God Believes in Love. And he ended 2012 with John Stewart, talking about LGBT life in the church.
Chaim Levin
Chaim Levin was raised in an Orthodox Jewish community and now identifies as both gay and Orthodox. He has been outspoken about the harm he endured in a so-called “ex-gay” program. Levin joined three other plaintiffs to sue his “ex-gay” program for consumer fraud, detailing the degrading and outrageous things “therapists” had them do to try to change their sexual orientation.
Carrie Underwood
The American Idol superstar saw her star rise a little more when she spoke out in favor of marriage equality, and named her faith as a reason for her LGBT support. "Our church is gay friendly," she said in the interview, "Above all, God wanted us to love others. It's not about setting rules, or [saying] 'everyone has to be like me'. No. We're all different. That's what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It's not up to me to judge anybody."
BONUS: President Barack Obama
While most people are aware that President Obama finally endorsed marriage equality, and won reelection after doing so, fewer people might be aware that he invoked his Christian faith and his role as a father to do so. “When we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a as a dad and a husband and, hopefully, the better I'll be as president.”
Richard Adams, one half of the first gay couple to file a marriage equality lawsuit against the federal government, died on Monday at age 65. Adams and his Australian-born partner Tony Sullivan were legally wed in Colorado by a Boulder city clerk in 1975. When Adams filed a petition with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to make Sullivan a permanent resident as a spouse of a U.S. citizen, the couple was denied because the federal governemnt did not recognize their marriage.
Shortly after, the couple filed a federal lawsuit, Adams v. Howerton, calling for their marriage to be recognized. Though they did not with their case, Adams and Sullivan were relieved when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it would avoid deportation in the cases of binational same-sex couples. Throughout his life, Adams worked to advocate for LGBT equality and was involved with efforts to end apartheid, nuclear war, and the United States' intervention in Central America. Adams and Sullivan are featrued in the documentary, Limited Partnership, which tells of their life as a binational couple advocating for equality. You can watch the trailer below.
With over 50 million Latinos in the U.S. increasingly showing strong support for LGBT equality, now seemed to be the perfect time to ignite momentum among the Latino LGBT movement for full equality.
Yesterday, December 20, Latino LGBT and ally advocates announced the launch of Unión=Fuerza, the first Latino Institute at Creating Change, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual conference that brings LGBT people and allies together for workshops and discussions about the work being done to advocate for LGBT equality. This year, Creating Change will take place from January 23-27, 2013 in Atlanta, GA.
By bringing together diverse groups of LGBT Latinos and allies from across the country to foster supportive relationships and build capacity, the Unión=Fuerza Latino Institute aims to strengthen and unify the LGBT Latino community’s voice and advocacy. “While many out LGBT Latinos are at the forefront of social justice movements, there is still much untapped growth to develop in order to reach our community's full potential and more effectively address issues facing LGBT Latinos and their friends and families,” said David M. Pérez, co-lead Unión=Fuerza organizer, Director of Development at League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and President of the Latino GLBT History Project.
Study after study shows that Latino support for LGBT people and issues is strong and ever growing:
This is great news. Yet as with all communities, there is still a lot of work to do to achieve full equality. This includes educating the community about the importance of family acceptance and the harm that rejection of LGBT family members causes to entire families. Equally important will be to advocate for issues that impact all Latinos, including the LGBT members of the community, including access to quality health, affordable housing, education, employment, as well as advocating for immigration reform.
GLAAD is proud to be a community partner of the Unión=Fuerza Latino Institute and honored to work with its organizers to ensure its success. For a list of community partners or to sign up as a community partner, click here.
Good Morning America's Sam Champion said 'I do' to partner Rubem Robierb today, ABC News reports. (Photo credit: Ida Mae Astute/ABC)
The couple was wed in an intimate ceremony at Champion's New York City apartment in the company of family, friends and fellow GMA anchors.
N.Y. State Supreme Court Justice George J. Silver conducted the ceremony, and GMA frontwoman Robin Roberts shared a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Champion and Robierb were on hand at GLAAD Art Auction last month to celebrate their engagement. Check out another photo from the wedding, as well as photos from the engagement celebration, below.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
Photo credit: Ida Mae Astute/ABC
Sam Champion (R) and Rubem Robierb toast to marriage equality at GLAAD Art Auction in November 2012.
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick joins Sam Champion and Rubem Robierb at GLAAD Art Auction in November 2012.
Sam Champion and Rubem Robierb speak about GLAAD's work to secure marriage equality at GLAAD Art Auction in November 2012.
It's been a banner year for the LGBT community. Check out these 8 videos that helped push equality forward in 2012.
Republican State Representative Maureen Walsh discusses her love for her daughter and the importance of marriage equality in her home state of Washington.
Shane Bitney-Crone shares the heartbreaking loss of his partner, Tom, and the harms of marriage discrimination.
The employees of Google lend their support to the marriage equality votes in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.
Music legend Cher joins Republican Representative Mary Bono Mack on stage at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards to talk about her undying love for her son Chaz and her support for the transgender community.
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) On the Road hits theaters in limited release today. The film based on Jack Kerouac’s novel follows Sal Paradise, a young writer whose life changes when he meets free-spirited and fearless Dean Moriarty and Dean’s wife, Marylou. The group travels across the country in hopes of finding themselves. Find a showing in your area and watch the trailer below.
2) The 1984 Oscar-winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk by Rob Epstein was chosen this year to be one of 25 films selected for preservation by the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. The film chronicles Milk’s political career. Watch the trailer below.
3) Lee Hirsch’s documentary Bully, which takes an uncompromising look at the issue of bullying as it affects school children in the U.S. today, has been awarded the Producers Guild of America’s Stanley Kramer Award to recognize the film for raising public awareness on an important issue. The MPAA caused controversy earlier this year when they gave the film an R rating. Openly gay high school student Katy Butler traveled from Michigan to L.A. to hand deliver over 500,000 signatures from her Change.org petition asking for the rating to be lowered. Distributor The Weinstein Company decided to release it as unrated instead and Weinstein Company chairman Harvey Weinstein presented a special recognition award to Katy at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York.
4) HBO has ordered to pilot an untitled comedy from executive producers David Marshall Grant (Brothers and Sisters) and Sarah Condon (Bored to Death) about a group of three gay thirty-something friends living in San Francisco. The project will revolve around the trio as they deal with the complexities of life, love the modern gay experience.
5) Sean Hayes adds one more show to his already extensive list of currently airing series he produces (NBC’s Grimm, TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland and Soul Man) with the eight episode order for his new reality show. NBC has picked up the hour long game show, Hollywood Game Night, which features contestants playing games in a cocktail party atmosphere with celebrities. Hayes will also make his return to television acting as the star of an untitled NBC father-daughter comedy pilot.
6) A new Doctor Who Christmas minisode “Vastra Investigates” has been released from BBC America. The clip, set up as a prequel for Tuesday’s Christmas special “Snowmen,” shows Vastra and her partner Jenny assisting on a case for Scotland Yard, who shock the Victorian inspector when they reveal the true nature of their relationship. Watch “Vastra Investigates” below.
7) Lady Gaga announced Thursday that the Born Brave Bus Tour will be part of the U.S. leg of her upcoming Born This Way Ball Tour. The bus will provide a space for 13-to-25-year-olds to learn more about local resources for anti-bullying, suicide prevention and mental health services. Gaga’s own Born This Way Foundation will assist on the bus, as well as The Trevor Project, Campus Pride and the National Association of School Psychologists. The Born Brave Bus will be open a few hours before each show and participants do not have to have a show ticket to partake. The tour kicks off in Tacoma, WA. on January 14.
8) Cheyenne Jackson released the music video for his new single “Don’t Wanna Know” this week. The video features cameos from several of his Broadway friends including Nick Adams from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The single is available for purchase on iTunes, watch the video below.
9) Sistah Sinema, a monthly event dedicated to screening LGBTQ women of color cinema, is looking for funding help to create an LGBTQ women of color video on demand channel (Sistah Sinema-Online) on LGBT independent video website BuskFilms.com. The organization hopes that creating the portal channel will make these films easier to find and watch and allow the site to support those creators with film rental revenue. Learn more at Sistah Sinema’s indiegogo page and watch the creators below talking about the importance of LGBTQ women of color cinema and the need for an organized access system.
Our straight allies can be some of the most effective and powerful voices in the LGBT movement. Particularly for those in the public eye, allies can lead by example to help others understand that the LGBT community is just as deserving of equality, fairness, acceptance and mutual respect. And in 2012, quite a few famous faces came out as allies of the LGBT community to tremendous effect. Here are ten of our favorite notable quotes from celebrities and public figures that spoke up for LGBT equality in 2012.
If there’s one person whose voice did the most to further equality this year, it was undoubtedly President Barack Obama. In a historic move, President Obama announced his support for full marriage equality in a May 9 interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts when he said, “[…] at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." In doing so, he became the first acting President to voice support for marriage equality. He didn’t stop there, however. Obama further announced in a White House statement to the Washington Blade in August that he “[…] opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation” in regards to the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and leaders. Watch the video of his Good Morning America interview below.
Country music star Carrie Underwood announced her support for marriage equality in a June interview with the U.K.’s The Independent. She said, “As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love and want to marry. I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.” Following some fan backlash GLAAD launched the #supportcarrie Twitter campaign to show support and thanks for speaking out.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has been a vocal supporter of LGBT equality for years, but received national attention for it this fall when he participated in the Maryland campaign for marriage equality and Emmett C. Burns, a member of the state’s House of Delegates, asked the Ravens owner to silence Ayanbadejo. Minnesota Viking punter Chris Kluwe, also an outspoken advocate who worked with Minnesotans for Equality to defeat a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage for gay couples, responded to Burns in a letter that went viral, saying, “[…]You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails.”
Grammy Award-winning rapper Jay-Z spoke out in favor of marriage equality in a May interview with CNN, during which he praised President Obama’s support. He described the president's stance on marriage equality as “the right thing to do as a human being,” and said that to deny marriage to same-sex couples is “discrimination, plain and simple.” Speaking about the fact that marriage for gay and lesbian couples is not currently recognized nationwide, he said, “I’ve always thought it as something that's still holding the country back.” Jay-Z traveled to several campaign stops with Obama to raise support for his re-election and he and wife Beyonce held several fundraisers to benefit the campaign. Watch his CNN interview below.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen also threw his support behind Obama this year and performed at campaign stops in Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin. Springsteen allowed his 2009 blog post supporting marriage equality to be used in social media content for The Four 2012, an organization dedicated to supporting marriage equality ballot measures in Washington, Maryland, Maine and Minnesota. In the original post Springsteen said, “I've long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same-sex couples and fully agree with Governor Corzine when he writes that, 'The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is -- a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law.' I couldn't agree more with that statement and urge those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now.”
Breakout TLC reality star Alana Thompson, better known as Honey Boo Boo, said on her showHere Comes Honey Boo Boo, “Ain’t nothing wrong with bein’ a little gay. Everybody’s a little gay.” Thompson’s out Uncle Lee Thompson (“Uncle Poodle”) and the rest of the family participated in Spirit Day on October 19. GLAAD posted an exclusive video of Lee speaking about being bullied for growing up gay in the South and Alana posted a picture to the official Honey Boo Boo Facebook captioned, “You can’t change the way you are or who you fell in love with… we support Uncle Poodle and all the other poodles in the world too.”
First Lady Michelle Obama answered Twitter fan questions in a YouTube video posted this June and addressed the issue of marriage equality. She affirmed her husband’s support and added, “For Barack and me, it really comes down to the values of fairness and equality that we want to pass down to our girls. […] And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn’t right.” Watch the video below.
Josh Hutcherson, star of The Hunger Games, was honored this year as the youngest person ever to receive GLAAD’s Vanguard Award, which is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. He is the co-founder of ally organization Straight But Not Narrow and co-starred as the son of a lesbian couple in The Kids Are All Right which received a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release in 2010. “I think that the most beautiful thing a human being can do is just be who you are inside,” Hutcherson said as he accepted the award in Los Angeles, “So please, everybody, just be yourselves and encourage everyone else to do the same.” Watch Hutcherson’s full acceptance speech below.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke out about his support for marriage equality in a May interview with NBC’s Meet the Press. He said, “ […]I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men marrying women are entitled to the same exact rights... I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has done so far.” Check out the clip of Biden speaking below.
Those are a few of the names who will have well deserved reputations as allies of the LGBT community moving forward, but there were also a number of longtime celebrity allies that reaffirmed their support this year as well. Spirit Day saw millions of people going purple to a stand against bullying and stand up for LGBT youth including Spirit Day ambassadors Dianna Agron, Avan Jogia, Wendy Williams, Maria Menounos, Shaquille O’Neal and Shay Mitchell, Max Adler, Ben Cohen, Bernadette Peters, William Shatner, Joan Rivers, Reba McEntire, Henry Winkler, the casts of ABC’s Malibu Country, CBS’ Elementary, TeenNick’s Degrassi and all major sports leagues. Zac Efron, Madonna, Daniel Radcliffe and Adam Levine all spoke out in support of marriage equality. The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) held a star-studded one-night-only production of Dustin Lance Black’s 8, a play that tells the story of the historic Proposition 8 trial, in Los Angeles that featured allies such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Matthew Morrison, John C. Reilly, Kevin Bacon and Christine Lahti. The entire play is available to watch on the AFER YouTube channel. Sally Field received the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award and gave a touching speech about her son. And previous HRC Ally Award recipient Anne Hathaway donated proceeds from the sale of her wedding pictures to marriage equality organizations. Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal), longtime ally and recipient of GLAAD's Golden Gate Award for being a media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBT equality, recently responded to a fan who asked why she features LGBT characters and stories on her series. Rhimes said, "[...]As long as we are willing to sit by while one person is not free, none of us are free. And FINALLY: because as long as someone feels like it is okay to ask the question "why all the gay people on your shows", then there is still a HUGE problem that needs to be solved." GLAAD thanks allies, old and new, for adding their voices to the conversation and recognizing the importance of equality.
This GLAAD Media Award nominated family comedy stars Tyrone Giordano as gay deaf architect Thad Stone and Brian White as his partner, Patrick. Watch the trailer below.
Neil Patrick Harris stars in this 1997 film as Col. Carl Jenkins, best friend to the lead character Johnny Rico. The film follows Rico's military career as war rages between mankind and an insectoid species known as "Bugs". Watch the trailer 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.
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.
Since Ellen DeGeneres came out 15 years ago, out LGBT stars have continued use the stage, screen, and airwaves to shape the representation of LGBT people and communities.
This year, notables such as CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who discussed his sexual orientation via an email to friend Andrew Sullivan in July, and six-time Grammy nominee Frank Ocean, who recounted on Tumblr his tale of unrequited love with another man, shared theirs stories for the first time. And British pop singer Mika also addressed his sexuality after the release of his third album in August, telling Instinct magazine, saying: “If you ask me am I gay, I say yeah. Are these songs about my relationship with a man? I say yeah.”
A number of Hollywood actors and actresses also came out as this year as lesbian, gay or bisexual, a signal that being out is no longer the career-ender it once was. Jim Parsons, an actor on The Big Bang Theory, revealed in a New York Times profile that he was gay and in a long-term relationship, two things that he said resonated with him when preparing for a role in the play The Normal Heart. In an acceptance speech at the Stephen Chase Humanitarian Awards in February, Matt Bomerthanked his partner Simon Halls and their three children, the first time they were publicly acknowledged. Andrew Rannells, who stars in two television shows (Girls and The New Normal), revealed in an interview in New York Magazine that he related to the characters he portrays because he is also gay. Former star of The X-Files, Gillian Anderson, told Out in March that she had previously had relationships with both women and men. Ezra Miller, who starred in We Need to Talk About Kevin and The Perks of Being a Wallflower also spoke with Out and declared “I’m queer.” Retired actress Kristy McNichol released a statement ahead of her 50th birthday declaring she was happily living with her partner of more than 20 years. The Bold and the Beautiful star Joanna Johnson told TV Guide in May that she was a lesbian, making her the only the only out actress in daytime soap operas.
Laura Jane Grace, lead singer of Against Me!, revealed to Rolling Stone in May that she was transitioning from male to female. Acclaimed director Lana Wachowski (The Matrix, Cloud Atlas), also revealed this year that she is transgender.
Sam Champion, weather anchor on Good Morning America, announced his engagement to partner Rubem Robierb in October, marking the first time he had publicly commented on the matter.
GLAAD commends all those who bravely stepped out of the closet this year. Each liberating announcement is crucial in decreasing the stigma still attached to being LGBT. We also recognize the courage of Azealia Banks (rapper), Wade Davis (former NFL player), Todd Glass (comedian), Jaymi Hensley (singer), Denis Ho (singer), Paul Iacono (actor), and Jason Somerville (professional poker player). In the political world, Pennsylvania State Rep.Mike Fleck came out as gay and Wisconsin State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa revealed she was bisexual.
