Bay Windows
Let the sun shine in
It’s another damp New England day when I speak on the phone to Lori Michaels. She counsels me to hang on. "We’re bringing the sexy sunshine to P’town," she promises. "That’s a special type of sunshine, darling!"
Governor, House Speaker and Senate President address marriage equality rally
In a clear sign of the growing momentum to defeat an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment at next month’s constitutional convention (ConCon) Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Sal DiMasi came out forcefully against the amendment during unscheduled appearances at a May 17 State House rally sponsored by the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry (RCFM).
Women of color get a weekend in P’town
Provincetown regularly plays host to some corner of the diverse LGBT community. There’s Bear Week, Family Week and Leather Weekend, Women’s Week and Single Women’s Weekend. Gays for Patsy hosts the "Spring Stomp Weekend." Sober queers head to the Tip of the Cape for the annual gathering known as Serenity by the Sea. Hell, even the gay car enthusiasts get a parade, courtesy of the Yankee Lambda Car Club. And this year, for the first time, lesbians of color are staking out their turf with the Women of Color and Allies Weekend May 18-20.
MassEquality takes anti-amendment message to the airwaves
With a second and final legislative vote on an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment looming, MassEquality unveiled an ad campaign May 16 that emphasizes the impact a public referendum on marriage equality would have on LGBT families.
Rainbow smiles on Youth Pride
Talk about timing. As Youth Pride 2007 got off to a start, coordinator Kelly Lydon looked up to the sky. "Oh my God, it’s a rainbow!" shouted Lydon, as the crowd exploded into cheers and applause. "Wow! Wow! I think I’m going to cry."
Talking politics at Latino Pride
A small crowd of about 10 made for a lively discussion of the intersection of Latino heritage and LGBT identity on the political landscape at a May 15 panel discussion titled "Elections 2008: Inclusion and Democracy! Is the Latino GLBT community included?" at The MALE Center in Boston’s South End. The event was organized by Somos Latinos LGBT as part of this year’s Latino Pride festivities.
High rates of harassment of LGBT Asians
LGBT Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) report high incidences of harassment and discrimination based on their sexual orientation and their race/ethnicity, according to a study released May 10 by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
Trans lobby day gets 120 participants
One of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s (MTPC) goals for its first lobby day at the State House, held May 15, was to show Beacon Hill that there is a large constituency that supports the transgender non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation.
James St. James on "Freak Show"
High school can be hell. I’m sure every reader remembers the hormone-fueled drama of feeling like a square peg in a round hole, yearning to be one of the popular kids, and fretting over whether your outfit hits exactly the right combination of Sigmund the Sea Monster and swamp slut. Okay, that last one might not be a universal experience, but it’s exactly the sort of dilemma faced by Billy Bloom, the young protagonist of the new novel Freak Show.
MA Attorney General pledges support for Goodridge
Pledging to do "whatever I can personally and in my office" to ensure that marriage equality remains the law of the land in Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley" told attendees at the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association (MLGBA)’s annual dinner on May 11 that she would support an effort to challenge the constitutionality of a proposed anti-gay marriage amendment should it pass at the ballot box in 2008.
Presidential Influence
Would a statewide ballot campaign on marriage rights in Massachusetts impact the 2008 presidential election? Marriage equality advocates say it would.
Bay State to see first-ever lobby day for trans equality
On May 15 the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) and the Gay and Lesbian Labor Activist Network (GALLAN) and their supporters will converge on Beacon Hill to ask lawmakers to support the transgender employment non-discrimination and hate crimes bill.
Courting equality
When Pat Gozemba and her spouse Karen Kahn were forced to raise funds to defray publication costs of their book Courting Equality, the ACLU of Massachusetts stepped up.
Thom Filicia on "Decorating from the Floor Up"
If one of the Fab Five from Bravo’s hit makeover show Queer Eye could be said to be the hardest working, it would have to be interior designer Thom Filicia. While the rest of the cast went out for shopping and spa visits, Filicia stayed behind to make over a home on a tight schedule. Now he comes to Boston, and chats about his upcoming talk here, the magic carpet ride of fame and the importance of good lighting.
Cirignano back in court, rally videos on the web
Larry Cirignano, former executive director of Catholic Citizenship, was back in Worcester District Court May 1 for a further arraignment on charges of misdemeanor assault and battery and civil rights violations, following his plea of not guilty April 11.
Wing nuts turn out for anti-bullying hearing
Are anti-bullying laws one more tool of the gay agenda? That seemed to be anti-gay activist Brian Camenker’s argument at a May 1 hearing before the legislature’s Joint Committee on Education, which heard more than two hours of testimony on a series of bills focused on requiring school districts to develop plans to address bullying.
Activists strategize for May 15 trans bill lobby day
In the run-up to its first lobby day, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) held a meeting April 23 at the Democracy Center in Cambridge to talk to supporters about the pending legislation to make the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes statutes trans-inclusive and to train them to lobby in support of the bill.
Section 8 housing for families living with HIV/AIDS
JRI Health received 98 new vouchers for Section 8 housing to be given to individuals or families with a person who is disabled due to HIV/AIDS.