Toyota has launched a Japanese ad campaign for its new Auris hatchback featuring Stav Strashko, a transgender, 19-year-old Ukrainian-born model.
Click here to read more at RocketNews24.
Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry criticize GOP for draft anti-gay platform language
The Republican National Committee reportedly has approved draft language for its 2012 platform that continues to oppose marriage equality for same-sex couples.
The website BuzzFeed reported earlier this week that the platform would include language about "respect and dignity" for gay people, but that Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made clear the party's position on gay marriage.
“You should read the entire plank on marriage, which I wrote. I feel very happy about it. I feel pretty optimistic about the outcome here,” Perkins told BuzzFeed on Monday.
Tuesday, the gay-rights group Freedom to Marry released a statement from the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry:
Washington, DC - The Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry have released the following statement in response to the language on marriage approved by the platform committee of the Republican National Convention today:
“As conservatives supporting the freedom to marry, we understand there are divergent opinions on marriage among conservatives and within the Republican Party. Even so, there are a number of things we all agree on.
"We all share the belief that the 'institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society' and that its 'success as an institution will determine our success as a nation.'
"We also share the belief that the 'success of marriage directly impacts the economic well-being of individuals,' that it 'affects freedoms,' and that the 'lack of family formation leads to more government costs' and 'more government control over the lives of its citizens in all facets.'
“Given these shared beliefs about marriage, we are very disappointed the Republican platform includes specific language that opposes marriage for same-sex couples.
"Despite that disappointment, we are undeterred and will continue to fight for all Americans to 'be treated with respect and dignity.' We will continue to engage our fellow conservatives in discussions about marriage and encourage them to extend that 'respect and dignity' to everyone, including same-sex couples. And we will continue to encourage our fellow conservatives to support the repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
"As conservatives, we believe that the freedom to marry is directly in line with the core ideals and principles of the Republican Party - less government, more individual freedom, personal responsibility and the importance of family.
"Personal freedom is the foundation of the Republican Party, which, as the party of Lincoln, has a proud tradition of expanding liberties.
"It is that legacy that we hope Republicans will continue to build upon long into the future."
Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry is a campaign to highlight and build support for the freedom to marry among young conservatives across America. They represent the rapidly growing numbers of young conservatives across the country that agree all Americans should be able to share in the freedom to marry.
Chris Verdugo, originally of Miami, named Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles executive director
Miami-born Chris Verdugo (brother of gay former Hollywood cop Mikey Verdugo) has been named executive director of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles.
From publicist Stephen Lucin:
For many years Chris has been a part of the LGBT choral movement. Now, later in life, he will continue with his dedication to music and equal rights in his new leadership role with GMCLA, which is renowned for its musical talent and charity work that is both local to Los Angeles and national in scope.
Here's the news release announcing Chris Verdugo's appointment:
(LOS ANGELES - AUG. 21, 2012) - With an impressive career in non-profit fundraising and event production, and following his role as Interim Executive Director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), Chris Verdugo was recently appointed as the Chorus’s Executive Director.
“The Board of Directors of GMCLA unanimously selected Chris Verdugo,” said GMCLA Board Chairman, Hon. John J. Duran. “His enthusiasm for music, culture and LGBT advocacy makes him the perfect fit to lead the Chorus through its next chapter of Los Angeles and LGBT history.”
Chris Verdugo was introduced to the gay choral movement at the age of 18 when he joined the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. Throughout his career in South Florida, and following his relocation to Los Angeles in 2003, he worked with international event production companies and various non-profits, including The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Equality California (EQCA), GLAAD, the Queer Lounge @ Sundance and GMCLA, which were all closely aligned with his own personal values. In July of 2011, Verdugo formally joined the GMCLA as its Director of Development and Marketing and was installed as its Interim Executive Director in April of this year.
“I’m grateful and humbled to assume the role of Executive Director of GMCLA, an organization close to my heart and with whose mission I deeply resonate,” expressed Verdugo. “It’s an honor to continue the work of GMCLA in Los Angeles and across the country with our music education and anti-bullying projects which further the Chorus’s vision of changing hearts and minds through the power of music.”
GMCLA launched its 34th Season on August 14th with a lineup of amazing performances and mission-driven work. On December 15th and 16th, GMCLA will host its annual Holiday Spectacular in collaboration with the rising stars of Creative Planet School of the Arts at The Alex Theatre in Glendale; on March 16th and 17th GMCLA will be joined by Vox Femina and the debut of a newly-formed youth ensemble, which is a partnership between GMCLA and LifeWorks, for their feature “Awakenings,” an offering of choral sounds which will be performed at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles; and June 22nd and 23rd will feature the music of Stephen Schwartz in “Not Entirely Wicked” at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.
GMCLA’s 34th Season program also includes ‘Soundtracks: A Sing-Along Screening of Moulin Rouge’ presented by Hollywood Forever and Fred and Jason on August 24, 2012. Tickets for the sing-along are available for a general admission donation ($15) or a VIP donation ($100) at www.gmcla.org.
For more information on Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), or to become a subscriber for the 34th Season, please visit www.gmcla.org.
Longtime GOP Congressman C.W. Bill Young chided for role in anti-gay Johns Committee
Democrat Jessica Ehrlich is running for U.S. House in Florida's 10th Congressional District (Pinellas County) against longtime incumbent Republican C.W. Bill Young.
Today, Ehrlich's campaign has resurrected Young's involvement a half-century ago in the infamous Johns Committee, which persecuted civil rights groups and gay Floridians in the late 1950s and early '60s.
From the Ehrlich campaign:
John's Committee Timeline John's CommitteeAs a new member in the Florida State legislature in 1962, Bill Young participated in one of the darkest moments in Florida state history. Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL-10) is the last living member of the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee. Better know as the “John’s Committee,” the Committee was based on the notorious McCarthy Panel and functioned as a State-sponsored, fear-driven hate group that investigated and persecuted homosexuals in the 1950’s and 60’s. Led by, FL State Senator Charley Eugene Johns, then State Senator Bill Young served on the Committee in Tallahassee from 1962-65, until its funding was cut.
Young was an active member of this disgraceful time in Florida state politics. In 1964, the Committee published and distributed a notorious report entitled, Homosexuality and Citizenship in Florida, widely known as the “Purple Pamphlet.” The Committee’s records were sealed until 2038 but opened in 1993, the “Purple Pamphlet” and photographic evidence are now in circulation. To this date, not one member of the Committee has publicly apologized or been held responsible for the hundreds of teachers, administrators and students who were fired, expelled or intimidated as a result of the Committee’s purges.
Young has continued his hateful ways to this day. Voting in lock step with the most conservative members for backward thinking and ignorant pieces of legislation. He has voted for the Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage, opposed expanding the federal hate crime law, against repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and supported the Defense of Marriage Act.
St Petersburg and Pinellas County have a strong and proud LGBT community and should be represented by someone who stands with them and their issues. Jessica Ehrlich has been endorsed by eQuality Giving and the Pinellas County Stonewall Democrats because of her staunch support of LGBT issues.
Gallery | Broward Bares It III, an HIV/AIDS fundraiser for Broward House
A capacity crowd Friday night filled Paradise Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for Broward Bares III, an annual fundraiser for Broward House in Fort Lauderdale.
Emcees were Dame Edna, Nikki Adams and Nikki Ramirez of 101.5 Lite FM.
Performers included comedian Lois Bromfield, Electra, Tiffany, Phillip Alexander, Derrick, Ryan Dixon, Jennifer, Bambi and dancers from The Boardwalk.
Broward House, founded in 1988, provides care and support services for Broward County individuals who are HIV positive.
Click here to view a gallery from Friday's Broward Bares It III fundraiser. All photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff.
Cuba-to-Florida swimmer Diana Nyad pulled from water after being battered by rough night
BY MATT SEDENSKY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nyad emerged from the water at 7:42 a.m. A team member, Vanessa Linsley, said the swimmer was battered by a rough night and was unsure if she would be able to finish the 103-mile crossing.
"Instead of getting hit with one doozy they got hit with three," Linsley said, "They got hit with the weather, they got hit with the jellyfish and they got hit with the sharks all at the same time."
She continued: "They are discussing with Diana as to how she wants to proceed."
Nyad, who turns 63 on Wednesday, was making her third attempt since last summer to become the first person to cross the Florida Straits without a shark cage. She also made a failed try with a cage in 1978.
Rosie O'Donnell: 'Saved' by aspirin after suffering heart attack at home in New York
From New York, Rosie O'Donnell has posted a message to her blog readers about 'my heart attack.'
After she suffered body pain and nausea, the comedian thought:
maybe this is a heart attack
i googled womens heart attack symptoms
i had many of them
but really? – i thought – naaaai took some bayer aspirin
thank god
saved by a tv commercial
literally
