Today, 500,000 students from about 4,000 schools across the U.S. will take part in this year's Day of Silence.

These half a million students will stop talking today to protest the bullying and harassment felt by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. This day is called The Day of Silence.

The Day of Silence is organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and is being supported by Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and other co-curricular student clubs.

Why have the Day of Silence?
A GLSEN commissioned survey, From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America conducted by Harris Interactive, found that sexual orientation and gender expression are among the top three reasons teens report that students are harassed at their schools. GLSEN's 2003 National School Climate Survey found that 4 out of 5 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.

Here in Portland there are a large number of students taking part. Later today after school there will be a "Night of Noise" ceremony. It has been in Pioneer Courthouse Square perviously - though I cannot find where it will be this year, so I am going to assume it is in the same spot.

-GS

Below is a letter from Jeff Whitty, creator of 'Avenue Q', to Jay Leno of "The Tonight Show".

From The Advocate

Dear Mr. Leno,

My name is Jeff Whitty. I live in New York City. I'm a playwright and the author of Avenue Q, which is a musical currently running on Broadway. I've been watching your show a bit, and I'd like to make an observation:

When you think of gay people, it's funny. They're funny folks. They wear leather. They like Judy Garland. They like disco music. They're sort of like Stepin Fetchit as channeled by Richard Simmons.

Gay people, to you, are great material.

Mr. Leno, let me share with you my view of gay people:

When I think of gay people, I think of the gay news anchor who took a tire iron to the head several times when he was vacationing in St. Martin. I think of my friend who was visiting Hamburger Mary's, a gay restaurant in Las Vegas, when a bigot threw a smoke bomb filled with toxic chemicals into the restaurant, leaving the staff and gay clientele coughing, puking, and running in terror. I think of visiting my gay friends at their house in the country, sitting outside for dinner, and hearing, within hundreds of feet of where we sat, taunting voices yelling "Faggots!" I think of hugging my boyfriend goodbye for the day on 8th Avenue in Manhattan and being mocked and taunted by passing high school students.

When I think of gay people, I think of suicide. I think of a countless list of people who took their own lives because the world was so toxically hostile to them. Because of the deathly climate of the closet, we will never be able to count them. You think gay people are great material. I think of a silent holocaust that continues to this day. I think of a silent holocaust that is perpetuated by people like you, who seek to minimize us and make fun of us and who I suspect really, fundamentally wish we would just go away.

When I think of gay people, I think of a brave group that has made tremendous contributions to society, in arts, letters, science, philosophy, and politics. I think of some of the most hilarious people I know. I think of a group that has served as a cultural guardian for an ungrateful and ignorant America.

I think of a group of people who have undergone a brave act of inventing themselves. Every single out-of-the-closet gay person has had to say, "I am not part of mainstream society." Mr. Leno, that takes bigger balls than stepping out in front of TV-watching America every night. I daresay I suspect it takes bigger balls to come out of the closet than anything you have ever done in your life.

I know you know gay people, Mr. Leno. Are they just jokes to you, to be snickered at behind their backs? Despite the angry tenor of my letter, I suspect you're a better man than that. I don't bother writing letters to the "God Hates Fags" people, or Donald Wildmon, or the pope. But I think you can do better. I know it's The Tonight Show, not a White House press conference, but you reach a lot of people.

I caught your show when you had a tired mockery of Brokeback Mountain, involving something about a horse done up in what you consider a "gay" way. Man, that's dated. I turned the television off and felt pretty fucking depressed. And now I understand your gay-baiting jokes have continued.

Mr. Leno, I have a sense of humor. It's my livelihood. And being gay has many hilarious aspects to it—none of which, I suspect, you understand. I'm tired of people like you. When I think of gay people, I think of centuries of suffering. I think of really, really good people who've been gravely mistreated for a long time now.

You've got to cut it out, Jay.

Sincerely,

Jeff Whitty

New York, N.Y.

Posted by Ace

In the most recent issue of Just Out, the cover is dedicated to Diane Linn. It reads, "For better, or for worse".

In a recent letter to the editor to Just Out, Judy Shepard, mother of the slain Matthew Shepard, speaks out on behalf of Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn.

I strongly urge you to commit one of the most important civil rights acts of your lives. By May 16, fill out your ballot and vote for Diane Linn. Vote to re-elect a government official who unquestioningly upheld the humanity, dignity and equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people by granting you the right to marry.

For almost a decade I have dedicated my life to the memory of my son Matthew by helping create a society free of hate-where everyone is treated as equal and diversity is not just tolerated but cherished. As long as our legal systems discriminate against the GLBT community, the rest of society will, too. Legal discrimination reinforces fear, bigotry, hate and violence.

Linn made national news by taking a courageous risk to grant GLBT people basic legal rights. As a result, she endured vicious criticism, political and media backlash and even death threats. Those who are threatened by our work for justice and equality have promoted a strong, negative campaign aimed at unseating Linn for her dedication to human rights.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that we stand together against the forces that seek to perpetuate hate and undermine equality. Linn has proven that she is a champion for GLBT rights. The GLBT community must now prove that we stand behind our champions and heroes and that their sacrifices are not made in vain.

Another letter:

Reading Just Out recently, I noticed frustration with the decision by Basic Rights Oregon to not give Ted Wheeler a "green light" in his campaign for Multnomah County chair ["BRO Changed the Rules," April7].

An endorsement was given to Diane Linn, and some Ted Wheeler supporters expected at least a "green light" recommendation for their candidate.

BRO also didn't give a "red light" to Wheeler, which would have been a recommendation to not vote for him. I'm not familiar with the inner workings of how BRO determines its "light" system, but in this instance it seems to make perfectly good sense. The non-light for Wheeler is simply a statement that his documented record, or lack of it in regards to GLBT issues, is still relatively unknown.

The facts show that Wheeler did not begin supporting BRO until October 2005 when he attended its annual dinner. He joined the Human Rights Campaign in January 2006. I'm sure both organizations now welcome his support. The facts also show that he has not donated money or time to any campaign to defeat any anti-gay ballot measures, including the recent Measure 36 campaign.

Wheeler does have a record of offering domestic partner benefits at his company. This is respected but does not in itself demonstrate a clear record of support for GLBT issues. If he would have been able to show a history of broader support on these issues, I'm sure BRO might have had a tougher time justifying its decision.

Weighing the records of the two candidates on GLBT issues shows a clear and significant difference between Linn and Wheeler. Using the word "supportive" for Linn's record doesn't begin to give it justice. Whether or not you agree with everything she has done as county chair, you can certainly say her support for equal rights for all citizens of Multnomah County has been groundbreaking.

She is the only candidate in this race who deserves an endorsement and a green light from BRO. Its decision to not give her opponent a green light is not a slam against him. It only reflects what his current record shows.

So you see... I have a problem with those gay and lesbians in Multnomah County who are acting as if the gay marriage issue should be a non-issue, yet at the same time that is the only issue they are talking about. The fact of the matter is that for an elected official to go above an beyond the call of duty for civil rights, our loyalty should be firm with Diane Linn--she's got the record to back it up, whereas Wheeler starts courting the GLBT community only when it is time to run for office and has absolutely no record on GLBT issues.

The Breakdown:
Amount of money Ted gave during the No on 9 (in 2000) campaign: $0
Amount of money Ted gave during the No on 36 campaign:$0
Number of hours Ted volunteered during any of those ballot measures: 0
Watching him make a fool of himself by claiming he supports the gay community simply by giving to Cascade AIDS Project: Priceless

Does anyone else see a problem with his campaign saying that, "He was not active in those campaigns" BUT "he did give money to the Cascade AIDS Project"? Of course I think that the Cascade AIDS Project is a very important organization-though I guess Ted and his campaign think gay equals HIV/AIDS.

From Gay.com

A high school student fighting for the right to wear an anti-gay T-shirt has lost another legal round, this time before the 9th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

In a 2-1 decision, the appellate panel refused Thursday to approve a preliminary injunction against Poway High School outside San Diego, where sophomore Tyler Chase Harper was pulled out of class two years ago for sporting a shirt that read: "Be Ashamed, Our School Embraced What God Has Condemned." On the back, Harper's shirt added, "Homosexuality Is Shameful, Romans 1:27."

The teen wore the handmade shirt the day after students took part in the annual Day of Silence, a nationwide student protest of the ill effects of campus prejudice against gay youth.

Posted by Ace

The arts have the power to build and transform a community. How has art influenced the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and its straight allies? What is queer art?

Tonight Portland's very own Q Center will be having a very cool (FREE) event...

Q Center will showcase visual and performance art, as participants explore these questions and the possibilities for arts and culture programming at Q Center. Join us for an evening of film, dance, music, art and theater led by some of Oregon’s most dynamic artists.

Click here for more information at the Q Center website. It is from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

The Q Center is located at:
1028 SE Water Ave, #145 (street entrance on SE Taylor)
Portland, Oreogn

A Virginia State Senate committee will review "persuasive" language in a gay marriage amendment draft. Virginia law dictates that the language in the amendment should be neutral. Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell is behind the sneakiness.

From 365Gay

Gay rights advocates say the draft explanation - which will eventually appear in registrars' offices and newspapers statewide - violates state rules of neutrality by adding a paragraph explaining what the law doesn't do.

While gay marriage already is illegal in the state, residents will vote on an amendment proponents say will ensure that Virginia doesn't have to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Opponents have argued the amendment's broad language could have unintended effects for all unmarried couples.

State law requires a neutral explanation of any proposed amendment be distributed to voters at least 90 days before it goes to the ballot. That explanation is crafted by the Division of Legislative Services working with the attorney general.

The Senate Privileges and Elections committee Wednesday received a copy of a draft including revisions made by Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell. It includes the addition of a single paragraph that explicitly limits marriage to one man and one woman and specifies that the state won't create a legal status mimicking marriage or recognize any such status created elsewhere.

Read the entire story at 365Gay

Previously: Virginia gov refuses to sign marriage amendment...

Posted by Ace

Fellow Oregonians, you only have six days left to register to vote or change/update your registration info.

As we all know the 2006 election cycle is a huge chance to take back the power and real opportunity to create lasting change. If we can get the right people elected, we will have the votes to pass legislation of equality. So if you have moved since you last voted, or if you need to change anything on your voter registration card--DO IT NOW!

The 2006 election cycle is going to be a fierce one and we need everyone to vote. Let's rid the Oregon House of its nastiness and pack it full of fair-minded officials who will actually push Oregon forward... not backwards.

It couldn't be easier to do. Here's how:

Step One: Click here to download the voter registration pdf (you can fill it out online)
Step Two: Put a stamp on it.
Step Three: MAIL IT!

Do not "DeLay". No procrastination. No excuses. Fill out this form, stamp and mail it before the end of this week.

The always funny folks of FakeGayNews.com are reporting that the sacred 2006 Gay Agenda has been LOST. An intern for HRC has been blamed, an subsequently shot for his mistake. A photo of the 2006 Gay Agenda has been released, and is shown below.

FakeGayNews reports:

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender political organization is facing harsh criticism from other gay rights groups over the apparent loss of the 2006 Gay Agenda.

HRC spokesperson, Steven Fisher, broke the news yesterday at a press conference in New York. "We had this year's final gay agenda drafted. We sent one of our interns to make copies, and he inadvertently left it on a crosstown bus on his way to Kinkos."

The highly sensitive document, a political playbook of sorts for homosexual activists, was to be distributed to a select group of high-ranking gay rights leaders next month at the annual Lavender Law conference and Tea Dance.

When asked why HRC kept no backup copies, Fisher went on the defensive. "You can't have multiple copies of the Agenda just floating around. As in prior years, we maintained only one copy of the 2006 Agenda to make certain it didn't fall into the wrong hands. Obviously, conservative Christian groups would love to get an advance peek of what we're up to. Secrecy is vital! Our continued, successful assault on traditional family values depends on the element of surprise."

Well now what? Where do we go from here? No playbook, no progress? *wink*

Read the entire piece over at FakeGayNews.com

-GS

Gays and guns. Quite an interesting concept. A group in Philly who call themselves "The Pink Pistols" are exercising their second amendment right. One of the main reasons is simply protection. The cover of the current Philadelphia Weekly reads, "Bash Me and You're Dead".

The Pink Pistols were founded in July 2000 on a lark.

Doug Krick, 35, a former Libertarian candidate for state representative in Massachusetts, had a few friends with whom he liked to go shooting. He knew that being gay and a gun enthusiast was a combination that messed with people's minds. He decided to form an organization that would erode the common stereotypes of the queer community. "It was all done tongue-in-cheek," he says from his current home near Chicago. "I wasn't looking to start a national thing. We just wanted to bring some attention to the queer perspective on guns."

He and his friends formed a Pink Pistols club in Boston, where he was living at the time. They created a website and word began to spread. Soon a chapter started in Virginia. And within a few months there were 20 chapters across the country.
There are now 42 chapters in the United States and Canada with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 members. Every month some 500 to 800 members visit shooting ranges across the two nations.

[...]

"Being a Pink Pistol means you've decided to take responsibility for your own safety," she says. "I'm basically a nice, gentle person. But if they try to harm me or her ... "

She turns toward Leber, her partner.

"I will shoot them."

Who knew? Check out the entire article at Philadelphia Weekly.

-GS

That's right ladies and gentlemen, one year after starting Gay Rights Watch, I've made the decision to hand over the keyboard to a new blogger(s). I have been hired as the Communications Coordinator for Basic Rights Oregon, Oregon's largest statewide GLBT advocacy organization. Therefore to avoid a conflict of interest, I will no longer be a contributing writer to GayRightsWatch.com, as I have been for the past year.

Running this blog has been a very rewarding experience. From covering the struggle across the nation--to closely observing and bringing up-to-the-minute news on Oregon's Legislative Session in 2005... I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything.

I have handed over the reigns to some great bloggers in Oregon, as well as California and North Carolina.

Here's to the future.

Respectfully,
Bryan Harding Boyd

Our friends over at The Big Gay Picture have an interesting story...

What exactly do conservative Christians want? According to the Los Angeles Times, they want the right to loudly and publicly condemn homosexuality, and criticize and harass GLBT people and organizations, even in public school settings. Anything less amounts to harassment and discrimination against them, the result of a world that is "anti-Christian" and intolerant of their version of Christianity.

In other words, next stop, the Twilight Zone.

The Times' article gives some fascinating examples of this "war" on Christianity: a middle school student was told not to wear a T-shirt that proclaimed: "Homosexuality is a sin! Islam is a lie! Abortion is murder!" In another case, the Georgia Tech Republicans were reprimanded for sending the campus gay group an insulting letter, calling them a "sex club," among many other things.

Read Brent's entire story at The Big Gay Picture - click here.

Virginia gov refuses to sign marriage amendment
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, has refused to sign a measure that puts an anti-gay marriage amendment on a statewide ballot this November, a move his spokesman called "symbolic and relatively rare." The governor, who was not able to veto the legislation, urged voters to reject it, saying the amendment's "broad wording" goes far beyond simply limiting marriage rights to heterosexual couples.

Read entire story >>

Pentagon Admits Spying On Gay Groups
After months of silence the Department of Defense has confirmed that it spied on groups opposed to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members.

Read entire story >>

LOGO, nation's first full-time gay cable network rejects pro-gay ad from United Church of Christ
It was controversial when the nation's major television networks rejected a pro-gay ad from the United Church of Christ because it was "too political." But what about rejection by the nation's first full-time gay cable network?

Read entire story >>

When I got the news Wednesday that BRO was filing this lawsuit, my heart started beating faster and tears welled up in my eyes. After many years in the movements for equal rights for LGBT people and women, I was a bit surprised to feel myself responding so emotionally to a press release. It takes a certain dogged determination to stand up for justice day after day, year in and year out. I imagine I'm not alone in developing a sort of armor against the fact of my second class status. I don't sit around and weep about it all day long - I carry my head high and move through the world as if I was afforded the same power and rights as the U.S. Constitution was designed to give me.

But every now and then, the full force of the discrimination against us hits me. Like yesterday. What the plaintiffs K.D. and Jeana must have felt when Jeana's name was scratched off their son's birth certificate! Did the hospital administrator who crossed Jeana out have any idea how dehumanizing the stroke of that pen would be? You don't count, the message came across loud and clear.

I feel admiration for Jeana and K.D.'s courage to put themselves out there publicly for the betterment of all our lives. Some of my tears were tears of gratitude. I'm also grateful for an organization like BRO that continues to strategize and fight for LGBT rights, no matter the setbacks. Even though I no longer live in Oregon, I follow BRO's work because I'm convinced it will dramatically and positively impact the national LGBT rights movement.

The State of Oregon would do well to follow my new home state California in its family law pertaining to female couples. The following information is excerpted from the National Center for Lesbian Rights website:

"Starting January 1, 2005, when a lesbian couple who are registered domestic partners has a child through artificial insemination, both partners can be included on the child's original California birth certificate... Gay men who are using a surrogate, however, will need to obtain a court judgment of parentage before both partners can be included on the child's birth certificate, which is also true for a heterosexual married couple who uses a surrogate. Because surrogacy is a complicated area of law, we strongly advise couples who are considering using a surrogate to speak to an experienced attorney."

Written by Meg Daly

Meg is a freelance writer, newly transplanted to San Francisco. She is the former features editor at Just Out, Portland's queer newsmagazine. Her articles have appeared in national and regional press, including Tikkun, Grist online magazine, Punk Planet, Portland Monthly, Oregon Business, and Willamette Week. She is the editor of two anthologies on women's friendships, including Surface Tension: Love, Sex, and Politics Between Lesbians and Straight Women.

Photo Credit: WillametteWeek.com

Basic Rights Oregon filed a lawsuit today against the State of Oregon claiming that the state has failed to meet it's obligation to recognize domestic partnerships end discrimination based on sexual orientation in the provision of state benefits, services, privileges and immunities as decided in the 1998 case Tanner v. OHSU.

The specific suit stems from the state's denial to list Jeana Marie Frazzini as a legally recognized parent to Emmett Rocco Parman. Emmett Parman is now 2 years old and is the biological child of Kristan Dene Parman. Frazzini's name was included on the initial application for a Emmett's birth certificate, but was allegedly crossed off by a hospital administrator. They hope to include Frazzini as a legal parent without having to go through the lengthy and expensive process of a formal adoption. a process that married heterosexual couples need not go through even if one recognized partner is not a biological parent.

Additionally, the Tanner decision regarding sexual orientation and sex discrimination means that the state should have modified many of its administrative procedures to comply with the Oregon Constitution. Tanner specifically says that benefits cannot be extended by the state to married couples if certain citizens are prevented by law from marrying. This case seems to apply directly to what the decision in Tanner.

Specifically named in the suit are Governor Kulongoski, Department of Human Services Director Dr. Bruce Goldberg, and State Registrar Jennifer Woodward. (all are included in their official capacities)

From BRO's Blog:

"The State of Oregon has a responsibility at all levels to treat each of its citizens in accordance with the Oregon Constitution," said Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Roey Thorpe. "To do anything less sends a message that some Oregonians are more deserving of equality under the law than others."

"Unfortunately," Thorpe continued, "The more than seven-year failure of the state to voluntarily comply with the Court of Appeals decision in Tanner has left us with no other option than to go back to court."

A copy of the complaint.
Background on Tanner, courtesy of BRO.

Quick, true and quite humorous.

In an interview with Tim Russert, Al Franken was discussing the topic of gay marriage. It went like this:

FRANKEN: I was talking to Newt Gingrich the other day, and I said to him, 'Newt, don't you want for a gay couple what you had with your first wife?

Don't you want what comes with that--that bond of fidelity that you had with your second wife? Don't you want...'

RUSSERT: When did this conversation take place?

FRANKEN: In Washington.

RUSSERT: Is that the truth or is that a lie?

FRANKEN: It's a lie. 'Don't you want what comes with that--that--that pledge of a life--that life-long bond that you may or may not have with your third wife?'

The threat to marriage isn't gay couples getting married. The threat to marriage is divorce and infidelity. That's the threat to marriage.

A Worcester pastor is suing the city accusing it of violating his constitutional rights after police sent him a bill for the cost of providing security for a "Mr. Heterosexual Contest".

Rev. Thomas Crouse - who preaches that homosexuality is a sin - organized the contest to promote the heterosexual lifestyle.

"Mr. Heterosexual 2006 - A Celebration of God's Design" drew heavy criticism from LGBT civil rights groups, local politicians and the Human Rights Commission.

I guess what he's saying is that only heterosexuals are God's creation? We'll also just assume that he means Christian heterosexuals.

As opposition mounted Crouse asked for five police officers to provide security, but after Police Chief Gary J. Gemme met with Norma Sandison, executive director of Mechanics Hall the security detail was beefed up to 20 officers.

A handful of protesters demonstrated outside the hall on Feb 18 as the event went on and the number of people inside the hall was reportedly sparse.

When Rev. Crouse got the bill for the police detail he decided to go to court.

Supported by the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona legal group that fights against LGBT issues across the country, Crouse says in his lawsuit that his constitutional right to free speech was violated by the heavy police presence. Crouse also claims that police were responsible for the low turnout at the event.

via 365gay.com

In March of 2005, Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass, introduced legislation that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays, lesbians, and bisexuals serving in the military. The legislation, known as H.R. 1059, is gaining momentum in the House of Representatives.

From EDGE New York City

Republican Sherwood Boehlert of New York and Democrats Cynthia McKinney of Georgia, Julia Carson of Indiana and Michael Doyle of Pennsylvania have joined 110 others in Congress in calling for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Boehlert is the fifth Republican co-sponsor and McKinney joins nine other members of the House Armed Services Committee who are also co-sponsors of the bill (H.R. 1059). In all, 114 Members of Congress now support the legislation,

Also, a new poll by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press shows that a sizeable majority of Americans do not support the ban.

According to Pew, a majority of Americans across political, geographic and religious lines now favor allowing gays to serve openly. A majority of moderate Republicans (62 percent), liberal Democrats (85 percent), Catholics (67 percent), Protestants (53 percent), those in the Northeast (66 percent) and those in the South (58 percent) support allowing gays to serve openly. The results, Pew reports, "represent significantly broader support for [lifting the ban] than in 1994," when the military's current law was first implemented. Overall, the Pew poll showed "two-to-one" support for repealing the ban.

Posted by Ace