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Aqua Foundation for Women celebrated its annual fundraising Aqua Affair Saturday night at the Shore Club hotel in Miami Beach.
Aqua Foundation's mission is to serve as the funding catalyst for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender wellness and equality in South Florida through grants, scholarships and initiatives.
Click here to view more pictures. All photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff.
California has become the first state in the country to ban controversial therapy practices that attempt to change the sexual orientation of minors after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to outlaw them Saturday.
Gay activists are cheering the new law.
From the National Center for Lesbian Rights:
(San Francisco, CA, September 29, 2012)—California Governor Jerry Brown made history today by signing a landmark bill that will protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth from psychological abuse by deceitful mental health professionals who falsely claim to be able to change their sexual orientation or gender expression. With Governor Brown’s signature, California becomes the first state in the nation to protect LGBT young people from these dangerous practices, including the use of shame, verbal abuse, and aversion therapy, that place youth at high risk of depression and suicide. The law, which goes into effect January 1, 2013, prohibits state-licensed therapists from engaging in these practices with minors.
Authored by Senator Ted Lieu, Senate Bill 1172 was co-sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Gaylesta, Courage Campaign, Lambda Legal, and Mental Health America of Northern California, and supported by dozens of organizations.
“Governor Brown today reaffirmed what medical and mental health organizations have made clear: Efforts to change minors’ sexual orientation are not therapy, they are the relics of prejudice and abuse that have inflicted untold harm on young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians,” said Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California board president. “We thank Senator Ted Lieu and Governor Brown for their efforts in making California a leader in banning this deceptive and harmful practice.”
Added NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell: “Governor Brown has sent a powerful message of affirmation and support to LGBT youth and their families. This law will ensure that state-licensed therapists can no longer abuse their power to harm LGBT youth and propagate the dangerous and deadly lie that sexual orientation is an illness or disorder that can be ‘cured.’”
Ryan Kendall, a survivor of the practice who testified in the Perry v. Brown legal challenge to Proposition 8, described his experience earlier this summer to the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee: “As a young teen, the anti-gay practice of so-called conversion therapy destroyed my life and tore apart my family. In order to stop the therapy that misled my parents into believing that I could somehow be made straight, I was forced to run away from home, surrender myself to the local department of human services, and legally separate myself from my family. At the age of 16, I had lost everything. My family and my faith had rejected me, and the damaging messages of conversion therapy, coupled with this rejection, drove me to the brink of suicide.”
This victory would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of dozens of organizations and individuals, many of whom—such as survivors Kendall and Peter Drake—opened their lives and sacrificed their privacy to share the damage they suffered as a result of these abusive practices. In addition to the SB 1172’s sponsors, the bill was supported by dozens of organizations, including a number of mental health organizations, including: The California Psychological Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (California Division), the National Association of Social Workers (CA Chapter), the California Latino Psychological Association, and the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies.
From Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out:
Burlington, Vt. -- Truth Wins Out praised California Gov. Jerry Brown today for signing a bill into law today that prohibits minors from being subjected to an abusive form of treatment known as ‘reparative therapy.’ The law goes into effect January 1, 2013.
"This bill bans non-scientific 'therapies' that have driven young people to depression and suicide. These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery," Brown said in a statement to The San Francisco Chronicle.
“This is a historic day that protects LGBT youth from child abuse disguised as genuine therapy,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We thank Gov. Brown for signing legislation that can serve as a model for similar bills across the nation.”
Senate Bill 1172 was authored by Senator Ted Lieu and co-sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Gaylesta, Courage Campaign, Lambda Legal, and Mental Health America of Northern California, and supported by dozens of organizations including Truth Wins Out.
"Governor Brown today reaffirmed what medical and mental health organizations have made clear: Efforts to change minors' sexual orientation are not therapy, they are the relics of prejudice and abuse that have inflicted untold harm on young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians," said Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California board president. "We thank Senator Ted Lieu and Governor Brown for their efforts in making California a leader in banning this deceptive and harmful practice."
Added NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell: “Governor Brown has sent a powerful message of affirmation and support to LGBT youth and their families. This law will ensure that state-licensed therapists can no longer abuse their power to harm LGBT youth and propagate the dangerous and deadly lie that sexual orientation is an illness or disorder that can be ‘cured.’ ”
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
Hakimian preaches that gays "can repent, they can through the spirit of God subdue their tendencies"
Shortly after a news conference -- and after consulting with School Board lawyers -- Carvalho revised his decision and allowed Hakimian to continue teaching in leased space at North Miami High.
“People of Faith everywhere are pleased that Miami-Dade County school officials acted responsibly and publicly acknowledged the rights of Christians to uphold Biblical moral values and traditional Christian teachings," said Anthony Verdugo, founder and executive director of the Christian Family Coalition. “While the outcome is a victory for people of Faith, it is unfortunate that this fundamental human right was attacked and threatened in the first place.”
I Stand Corrected, a documentary about transgender musician Jennifer Leitham, will be screened Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. A jazz brunch precedes the screening. Here are the details:
Sunday, October 7 at 3:00 pm
Director: Andrea Meyerson
Runtime 2011
USA 2011
Gateway Theatre - 1
Screening Sponsor: Aetna, Dapur
Community Sponsor: Tery
Over the course of more than two decades, John Leitham built a successful career as a jazz musician. Working in an overtly homophobic industry, he led a fractured life knowing that deep down, he wasn’t John, he was Jennifer. After being served divorce papers, John started hormone therapy to reassign his sexuality from John to Jennifer. This documentary chronicles the transition that John made into Jennifer and the risks that she took to actualize her female identity and maintain her status as a top musician.
DIRECTOR: Andrea Meyerson and SUBJECT: Jennifer Leitham to attend film screening
PRECEDED BY: MILA CAOS
Jazz Brunch will be held at Dapur. Address: 1620 North Federal Highway; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
HONG KONG -- The daughter of a flamboyant Hong Kong tycoon who has offered $65 million to any man who can woo her away from her lesbian partner said she's not upset with her father. Still, it's unlikely she will be accepting any of the marriage proposals flooding in.
Cecil Chao made world headlines this week when he offered the 500 million Hong Kong dollar marriage bounty after learning that his daughter, Gigi Chao, had eloped with her partner to France.
"I'm actually on very, very loving terms with my father. We speak on a daily basis. He just has a very interesting way of expressing his fatherly love," the 33-year-old told The Associated Press.
News release from Immigration Equality:
Washington, DC –Immigration Equality today praised the Obama Administration, and specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for new, written guidance that will extend discretionary relief to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) immigrants with U.S. citizen spouses and partners. The new written directive, which was announced in response to a Congressional letter spearheaded by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), marks one of the very first times LGBT families have been recognized within federal immigration policies. The guidelines, which are expected to be distributed soon to field offices across the country, will instruct officers and field agents to recognize LGBT families for purposes of relief as defined by a June 2011 memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton.
“This is a huge step forward," said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. "Until now, LGBT families and their lawyers had nothing to rely on but an oral promise that prosecutorial discretion would include all families. Today, DHS has responded to Congress and made that promise real. The Administration’s written guidance will help families facing separation and the field officers who are reviewing their cases.”
In the June 2011 memo from Director Morton, the Department of Homeland Security spelled out factors ICE officers should consider when deciding which immigration cases are classified as “low priority” for removal. Those guidelines included family ties to a U.S. citizen. DHS stated verbally in August of last year that it intended for the “family” guidelines to be LGBT-inclusive, but it had not previously distributed written guidance codifying that intent to field offices. In a letter yesterday to the 83 Members of Congress who demanded written guidelines, the Administration said it intends to do so.
“In an effort to make clear the definition of the phrase ‘family relationships,’ I have directed ICE to disseminate written guidance to the field that the interpretation of the phrase ‘family relationships’ includes long-term, same-sex partners,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote.“The new guidelines will put in writing a commitment the Administration has expressed over the past year,” said Tiven. “Now, the courts and Congress should act to make relief permanent, and provide access to green cards for all LGBT families.”
# # #
Immigration Equality is a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive individuals.
From our sister paper, The Sacramento Bee:
More than a year after his conviction, a one-time gay porn star who beat his former girlfriend over the head with a toilet tank lid has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison for attempted murder.Sacramento Superior Court Judge Troy L. Nunley imposed the term Wedneday on Marc Anthony Donais, 46, who established a reputation in the 1990s as one of the top stars in his genre under the name of Ryan Idol.
According to the victim's testimony at trial, Donais entered the woman's apartment the night of Sept. 5, 2009, and told her, "I came over here to kill you." The two had been involved in a relationship, but the woman -- whose name is being withheld because she is a domestic violence victim -- said she cut it off when she caught him having sex with his male lover.
From Jeff Ronci and Juan Talavera:
Voters in four states will choose this November whether to advance, halt, or even roll back marriage equality for same-sex couples. Freedom to Marry is at the forefront of campaigns to promote marriage equality there, in every state, and at the federal level.
InvitationThat’s why we are hosting the Miami anchor event for Freedom to Marry’s Oct. 13th National Engagement Party.
We hope you’ll join us. Take a look at the attached invitation and make your commitment today!
For more information about Freedom to Marry, visit http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/about-us.
For more information about the National Engagement Party, visit http://www.freedomtomarry.org/nep.
News release from nohomophobes.com:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Since July 5, 2012 “faggot” and variations of this word have been tweeted over 2.4 million times on Twitter. This number was announced today with the unveiling of a new website called nohomophobes.com by the University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS).
The website, designed to serve as a “social mirror,” captures the homophobic language that exists in Twittersphere and counts tweets that use the terms: “Faggot” (2.4 million), “So Gay” (800,000 tweets), “No Homo” (800,000 tweets) and “Dyke” (300,000 tweets).
“We never imagined the scale of casual homophobia that actually exists on social media,” says Dr. Kristopher Wells, the Institute’s Associate Director. “The use of homophobic language remains one of the few socially acceptable forms of discrimination in our society and make no mistake, leads to isolation, bullying, beatings, and tragically youth suicide,” says Wells.
Homophobic language is still prevalent and can be heard everywhere in our society. Whether it is used directly as a weapon against sexual and gender minorities or passively as a pejorative term, the prevalence of “casual homophobia” persists. It continues to grow and reinforces a belief in our society that it’s okay to use this kind of discriminatory speech with friends, in school, at work, and in the locker room.
The site, which was launched today, will be supported by a variety of advertising tools including transit advertising, posters, and a television commercial.
“Our Faculty sees the impact of homophobic language and bullying first hand and educators everywhere should be committed to creating safer schools and communities for young people,” says Dr. Fern Snart, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. ”The use of homophobic language only serves to hurt, stereotype, and further isolate sexual minority students and we need to take a stand; ignoring such language is not an option.”
“Our use of casual homophobia must end. We are all responsible to put a stop to it. The lives of our youth, and the humanity of our society depends upon it,” says Dr. Wells.
We encourage people to use the #nohomophobes hashtag when they see or experience casual homophobia on Twitter, and challenge their friends, colleagues, or family members who use it. It’s time to break the silence that surrounds homophobia in our society. We all have an important part to play.
Witness the live tweets here: www.nohomophobes.com
BearCity 2: The Proposal premieres in South Florida on Sunday, Oct. 7, part of the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
"Think Sex and the City with Bears," says Tony Lima, who is producing several Bear Nation events to coincide with the film's premiere.
Click here to buy tickets or for more information about the film and festival.
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