Gay Couple Attacked in SoHo, Hours After Thousands Rally Against Hate Crimes
THUS IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN!
Members of the LGBT community and their supporters gather to speak out after a string a bias attacks.
A gay couple was attacked early Tuesday in SoHo, hours after thousands marched to protest the killing of a gay man and several other bias attacks that have shaken the community, NBC 4 New York has learned.
Police are also investigating a beating in the East Village as another possible bias attack, sources said.
In the SoHo assault, law enforcement sources said the two men, 41 and 42, were walking on Broadway between Prince and Houston streets at about 5 a.m. when two men started yelling anti-gay remarks in English and Spanish. The victims are Hispanic.
The men were both punched, and one suffered an eye injury, sources said.
Police said two men, 32 and 33, were arrested and face a charge of assault as a hate crime.
In the wake of the violence, officials said Monday that police would increase their presence there and in nearby neighborhoods through the end of June, Gay Pride Month.
Police say there has been a rise in anti-gay crimes overall so far this year, to 24 from 14 during the same period last year.
Magic Johnson's Son EJ Speaks: I Want to Set a "Good Example for LGBTQ people"
EJ! Magic Johnson's 20-year-old son Earvin Johnson III, known as EJ, recently became an accidental celebrity in his own right when he was photographed (in an unforgettable ensemble) holding hands with his reported boyfriend Alessandro Monetti, 21, in West Hollywood April 1. The photos served as EJ's moment to publicly come out as gay, and his basketball legend father quickly pledged his support and unconditional love in a moving TMZ interview.
"I always wanted to come into the spotlight," EJ, a New York University student studying event management and design, said in a Tuesday, April 6 YouTube interview. Talking with Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman for the talk show "Gwissues," EJ admitted his coming out was a little sooner than anticipated. "I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image, so it came a little sooner than I thought it would, but this is still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience."
Many fans and observers joined Magic, 53, in applauding EJ -- although he admitted others wrote "nasty things about me and what I'm doing" online.
"It's almost like they're attacking me for being me and so to that I can only say, 'Well, I can only be myself, so I don't know really what you want me to do,'" EJ continued. His famous father has long been an ally of the LGBT community; Magic announced he was HIV positive in 1991, and has been an activist for AIDS awareness, safe sex and tolerance ever since.
"I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do," said EJ. His father and wife Cookie are also parents to adopted daughter Elsa, and Magic has an older son, Andrew, from a prior relationship. "My parents have always been super supportive. My sister and I have always been really close and she's been really supportive as with my brother. When it was time to come out, I was, obviously, scared as most people are. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess."
EJ first came out to his mother when he was 13 or 14 -- broaching the topic with his father about a year later. "Everyone has to get used to it. No parent is prepared 100 percent and fully for something like that," he admitted. "We all had to work and move forward."
WATCH:
His future plans? Perhaps his own talk show. EJ mused he'd love to be "the voice for young gay people who need someone to be on TV or wherever else to talk to them and talk about all kinds of issues that all of us face and not just homosexual issues but all kinds of issues . . . I definitely want to set a really good example." And the best of luck to him!
Hillary Clinton NOW support Marriage Equality! It Took long Enough!
Via HuffPo: Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her support for gay marriage Monday, putting her in line with other potential Democratic presidential candidates on a social issue that is rapidly gaining public approval.
Clinton made the announcement in an online video released Monday morning by the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. She says in the six-minute video that gays and lesbians are "full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship."
"That includes marriage," she says, adding that she backs gay marriage both "personally and as a matter of policy and law."
Clinton's announcement is certain to further fuel the already rampant speculation that she is considering another run for president in 2016. Other possible Democratic contenders – including Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley – all back the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Polls show that public opinion on gay marriage has shifted perhaps more rapidly than on any other major issue in recent times. In Gallup polling last November, 53 percent of adult Americans said same-sex marriages should be granted the same status as traditional marriages, while 46 percent felt they should not be valid.
In 1996, when Gallup first asked about gay marriages, 27 percent felt they should be valid.
The shift among the major political parties has been equally swift. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton and rival Barack Obama both backed civil unions for gay couples, but not same-sex marriage. In the lead-up to the 2012 election, Obama announced his support for gay marriage and Democrats backed the right of same-sex couples to wed in their party's official platform.
The White House welcomed Clinton's announcement, saying it meant Clinton's views on the issue were now in line with Obama's.
"The president believes that anytime a public official of stature steps forward to embrace a commitment that he shares to equality, he thinks it's a good thing," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
The GOP officially opposes gay marriage, though several high profile Republicans have publicly backed the right of same-sex couples to wed. On Friday, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the first Republican senator to announce his support for gay marriage, saying he had a change of heart after learning that his son is gay.
More than 100 Republicans also submitted a "friend of the court" brief to the Supreme Court asking the justices to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. The court will hear oral arguments on California's Proposition 8 measure next week.
Justices will also hear arguments in a related case concerning the constitutionality of a provision in the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. President Bill Clinton signed the act into law in 1996, but said earlier this month that he now believes it is unconstitutional and should be overturned.
Despite holding back in supporting same-sex marriage, Hillary Clinton was a strong support of gay rights, both in the U.S. and abroad, during her tenure at the State Department. Under her watch, the U.S. government made it official policy to promote gay rights around the world.
I’m sure you are wondering why my Title says “It Took long Enough!” Well it has and even though she gave a great speech in Geneva Switzerland for the rights of all. Lets not forget something. While she was still Sec of State she granted an interview with The Advocate’s Kerry Eleved that was interesting.
From The Advocate:
Clinton soon after declaring that “human rights are gay rights, and gay rights are human rights, once and for all” at the State Department’s pride celebration, Clinton began clarifying the department’s LGBT human rights policy to U.S. embassies around the globe. “There is this rising global tide of violence against the LGBT community around the world,” Clinton says, “and we are taking the lead in confronting the dangers of the lives and the livelihood of LGBT people as they go about their daily lives.” Still, Secretary Clinton remains unchanged on the issue of full marriage equality. Clinton, recently caught off guard during a recent inquiry on the topic during a visit to Australia, supports civil unions but not full marriage equality. Despite her husband’s recent announcement that he supports full marriage equality, having many committed gay couples among his friends, Clinton says, “Well, I share his experience because we obviously share a lot of the same friends, but I have not changed my position.” Nevertheless, Clinton aims to stomp out inequities in her own federal agency and worldwide. “I just really have a strong negative reaction to prejudice, discrimination, hatred, violence–anything that tried to delegitimize or marginalize any of our fellow citizens,” she notes. “So it fits into my long-term and personally felt commitment to expanding the circle of human rights for everyone.”
As for that Australia trip and her comments about Civil Unions over Marriage watch below at the 2:45 mark and HEAR it for yourself.
The LGBTQ Community (in general) has always been a supporter of her in spite of her not believing in Marriage Equality. Whereas they cast ALL HELL at President Obama over his support for Civil Unions and not Marriage via The LGBTQ Blogs they called this man everything but President Obama and vociferously talked about The African American Community while she (Hillary) still did not support it but yet they “overlooked” that. And must we not forget Dan Savage telling President Obama to SHUT THE F*CK UP! Do you think Dan would tell Bill or Hillary that?
From the bottom of my heart Hillary I truly say THANK YOU for endorsing FULL EQUALITY and keeping the discourse on HUMAN RIGHTS, including the rights of LGBTQ humans, on the forefront and will surely support you in 2016!
SNOWFALLS ON THE SAHARA! R.I.P SAHARA DAVENPORT OF Drag Race!
Several news sources are confirming that Sahara Davenport, who competed on the second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” has died. Various sources listed her current age as 27, but a New York Times profile had her at 29 in 2009.
The performer whose real name was Antoine Ashley, finished seventh on the series, behind eventual winner Tyra Sanchez and favorites Raven, Jujubee and Pandora Boxx.
Ashley began a drag career in Dallas while attending Southern Methodist University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in dance. He released several dance singles as Davenport, including “Pump With Me” and “Go Off.” He was in a long-term relationship with fellow drag performer Manila Luzon, another “Drag Race” diva.
Manila Luzon and Sahara Davenport.
“Sahara Davenport” has also been trending on Twitter. Fellow “Drag Race” contestants have posted condolences on their Facebook pages:
Stacy Layne Matthews: Just lost one of my Drag Race sisters….. RIP Sahara Davenport!!!!!!! I love you sis!!!!!!
Jujubee: A beautiful angel has been added to Heaven. Rest in peace my sweet friend. We will miss you, Sahara Davenport.
Tatianna: I’m at a complete loss for words. Rest in peace Miss Sahara Davenport. You were a beautiful person, performer, and sister. I will never forget you or the experiences we had together. Love you always.
Michelle Visage (“Drag Race” judge): It’s true and I have no words. Have to sign off for now kids, can’t handle this. XOXO
Luzon posted a single, simple status Sunday night. “I love him so much.”
Davenport and Luzon appeared at F Bar in Houston earlier this year.
Now I have been sitting on this for a few days debating about posting on this fool! So I will. Chick Fil-A has been catching some heat here lately and deservedly so. After consumers found out that their owner Dan Cathy is homophobic and funds Anti Gay groups. The LGBTQ Community and supporters have declared war against the company. While many of you have marked waffle fries and banana pudding milk shakes out of your Mint.com budgets, Antoine Dodson is saying F all that.
In his initial video, he talks about the great food and customer service that he’s received as a customer at Chick Fil-A, and says that even though the company doesn’t respect him as a person, they still treat him as a valued customer. He also says that if we boycott places like Chick Fil-A, we’re hurting those who need jobs. Listen to this crazy queen below!
The after the backlash the queen goes on to say this: Miss Antione…….YOU DUMB B*TCH! What is your issue Queen? If this was a KKK person owning a chain McDonalds would say the same???
Gay Youth of Color Complain of West Village Stop and Frisk
Tamir Tanner (above) was among the youth who complained of NYPD harassment in the West Village. Sitting on the West Village piers on a sunny afternoon, Tamir Tanner scowled when the New York City Police Department (NYPD) practice of stopping and frisking was mentioned.
“It’s just not fair,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s really not fair to anybody to be stopped and frisked.” Tanner estimated that he had been stopped by police in the Sixth Precinct, which patrols Manhattan’s West Village, about 10 times in July of last year. “They rolled past,” Tanner said. “I guess I looked suspicious to them… I started to feel like they had a problem with me.”
According to a report by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), police stopped and frisked 685,724 people citywide in 2011. Fifty-three percent of those stopped were African-American and 34 percent were Latino. They were also disproportionately young and male. Police stopped and frisked 97,296 people in 2002. While there were relatively few stops and frisks in the Sixth Precinct in 2011 — just 2,954 — 76.6 percent of those stopped were African-American and Latino. Just eight percent of the residents in that precinct are African-American or Latino, so it is apparent who the police are stopping — the queer youth of color who enjoy hanging out in the West Village and who have been the subject of complaints by some residents there.
“We do know that a lot of our constituency… are stopped in the West Village,” said Ellen Manny Vaz, the communications director at FIERCE, a group that organizes among LGBT youth of color. “These numbers are not surprising. They definitely coincide with what our members are reporting.” The NYPD, which did not respond to an email seeking comment, has argued that stop and frisk is a necessary anti-crime strategy that has contributed to New York City’s low crime rates. Part of the police rationale for the practice is that it deters those who may carry a weapon because they fear that weapon will be found during a stop and frisk. The NYCLU report found that the tactic is producing diminishing returns. In 2003, police recovered 604 guns after stopping and frisking 160,851 people. Stops grew by more than 300 percent in 2011 over 2003, but police recovered 780 guns last year. At 176 more guns than in 2003, that is a 29 percent increase.
The report did not say if any guns were recovered in the Sixth Precinct as the result of stop and frisk. The NYCLU press office could not answer that question. That stop and frisk is being used in the Sixth Precinct is odd. It has been and remains a low-crime precinct. There was one murder in the Sixth Precinct last year compared to 515 citywide. That precinct reported six rapes in 2011 compared to 1,414 citywide, 44 robberies compared to 19,752 citywide, and 38 felony assaults compared 18,579 citywide. Opponents of stop and frisk say that beyond violating the rights of those who are stopped, it also alienates people in the communities where it is practiced. There is some evidence of that in the West Village.
“I hate it, I hate it,” said Eliezer Pardo,(above) 32, who was passing time with a friend on one of the West Village piers that jut into the Hudson River. “It makes a lot of us stop coming out here… They don’t treat straight people the way they treat gay people. They harass gay people.” FIERCE’s Vaz seconded that saying, “It’s not really helping to create safer communities. In fact, it causes negative relationships.”
Pardo said he has prior arrests, and he added that some of the youth who hang out in the West Village do break the law, but, in his view, that does not excuse the NYPD’s use of stop and frisk.
“To be realistic, I can’t blame it all on them because a lot of the people out here, they don’t act right,” he said. “I understand why they do their job, but they take it overboard.” West Village residents have for years been complaining about the young people of color who hang out there. Efforts to reach an accommodation in 2005 and 2006 made at the local community board were unsuccessful. However they were successful in getting the bar Chi Chi's closed and now they're trying to do the same with Club Escualita's in Midtown too!
Its bad enough they experience racial and class issues within from some in the Gay Community as well as society. Now unfortunately this too!
Queen Latifah; CHILD BYE, I did NOT Come out! On May 19, actress/rapper/HSN mogul Queen Latifah performed at the 2012 Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Event. And , of course, folks around the net assumed this was her way of "coming out of the closet."
Now, she's addressing the rumors that she "came out" during her performance. She told Entertainment Weekly,
“That definitely wasn’t the case. I’ve never dealt with the question of my personal life in public. It’s just not gonna happen.”
But don't take Queen's statement as a diss to the LGBT community. She continued,
“To me, doing a gay pride show is one of the most fun things. My first show that paid more than $10,000 was in a gay club on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco. Tupac happened to be in town, so he came to kick it with me. This was the early ’90s. And the boys were like, ‘Take your shirt off, Tupac!’ He wasn’t doing that. But we had a blast in there.”
Queen also addressed the bullying that many people in the community experience, saying,
“I know that the most important thing and the only thing I have to give is love. When people are going through hatred and bullying, the biggest thing to fight that is love. So that’s all I encouraged my audience to do that night: to share their light and share their love. Period.”
So there you have it. And besides what is the big deal if she does, or does not. How does this impact your Life?
Less than two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his public support for gay marriage, a prominent African-American civil rights organization is following suit.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's board of directors voted to endorse gay marriage on Saturday, according to a tweet from NAACP officer
The NAACP Board of Directors has just endorsed marriage equality unequivocally. Only two opposed!
Metro Weekly procured the full resolution from the 64-member unit, which is highlighted by an affirmation of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause: "The NAACP Constitution affirmatively states our objective to ensure the 'political, education, social and economic equality' of all people. Therefore, the NAACP has opposed and will continue to oppose any national, state, local policy or legislative initiative that seeks to codify discrimination or hatred into the law or to remove the Constitutional rights of LGBT citizens. We support marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Further, we strongly affirm the religious freedoms of all people as protected by the First Amendment."
The NAACP decision comes at a time where diverse opinions on same-sex marriage are present within black churches. Following Obama's announcement, Bishop Timothy Clarke of the First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, summed up his congregation's mixed feelings on the issue.
"No church or group is monolithic," Clarke told USA Today. "Some were powerfully agitated and disappointed. Others were curious -- why now? to what end? Others were hurt. And others, to be honest, told me it's not an issue and they don't have a problem with it."
From the government end of the spectrum, dozens of politicians have paralleled Obama's words since the May 9 announcement. GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stands on the other side of the issue, telling KETV-TV on May 10 that "as a society, I think we're better off if we encourage the establishment of homes with a mother and a father."
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey released a statement acclaiming the NAACP's decision as a "truly historic moment." More from Carey:
"We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the NAACP working together on the many issues that affect all of our lives. Whether it be fair access to education and jobs, an end to voter suppression and racial profiling, the right to love and be who we are free of discrimination -- these issues affect all of us, our families and our country. Today the NAACP did what it does so well -- inspires and affirms our common humanity."
This is a BIG STEP. I just now hope that many in the LGBTQ Community who still have their issues with African Americans "ahem RACE...YES I SAID RACE!" come off their HIGH HORSE and realize an entire RACE isn't homophobic nor do African American lawmakers have NEVER wrote one bill that harmed the LGBTQ Community. It's time to seriously come together!
POT CALLING KETTLE?, Pastor Jamal Bryant: Obama Better Get To Black Churches Soon To Explain Himself on Gay Marriage
Pastor Jamal Bryant did an interview with the Tom Joyner Morning Show about President Obama’s support of gay marriage and seemed to indicate that President Obama has some damage control to do in the black church.
Pastor Jamal Bryant.
“I absolutely, vehemently disagree with the president,” Bryant said. “I agree with his presidency, but with this policy, I do not agree. Marriage is the original institution of the church.”
Asked if he would switch over and vote for Mitt Romney, Bryant said, “I think, given the option I’ve got, which is Mitt Romney, I’ve got no choice.”
“Black people are not going to switch over to the Republican party or put Romney signs on their front lawn. The critical concern is whether they will vote with apathy and not show up at the polls,” Bryant said.
“The reality is, President Obama better be in some black churches real soon clapping his hands, singing Amazing Grace and waving that right hand because the black vote is going to be very critical and apathy may win this election if we don’t get on the ground,” Pastor Bryant warned.
Do you agree? I DON'T! He's The President NOT a Presiding Prelate! And this from a Man who couldn't even obey they sanctity of Marriage himself!
Does President Obama need to go to black churches and explain himself?
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! Was President Obama WRONG or RIGHT about Gay Marriage?! Now I really wasn't going there since everybody else did...But hey, why not!
President Barack Obama after much debate for years on how Mr. President would and should address the issue, even after endorsing "civil unions" during his Presidency, he said today he personally endorses same sex marriage.
In an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts, which will aired in full today on "Good Morning America," President Obama finally spoke with conviction about the hot button issue of same-sex marriage. While approximately 30 states have laws that actually outlaw same-sex marriage, Obama has taken his pro-civil union stance one step further to endorse the legalization of same-sex marriage.
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that 'don't ask, don't tell' is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, 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," Obama told Roberts in an interview to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday.
The President mentioned Sasha & Malia's role in forming his opinion.
After sitting around the dinner table with his young daughters, and hearing them speak about their school friends who have same-sex parents, it was a normal occurrence for them that was part of their everyday life. It was easy to see that the same sex opposition was possibly even generational:
"It's interesting, some of this is also generational," the president continued. "You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same-sex equality or, you know, sexual orientation, that they believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we're talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently. It doesn't make sense to them and, frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."
And on whether First Lady Michelle Obama and faith were instrumental in his decision:
"This is something that, you know, we've talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, 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."
But lets be clear about this issue.He says endorses that EVERYONE Hetero and Homosexuals Should be able to get married. HE DID NOT SAY LEGALIZE IT, or he did not demand it should be as it is being said on the net.
So...what are your thoughts? Do you agree with the President? Will this affect his re-election come this November from either direction?
Lets have a conversation. Comment here, or via my facebook page.
