Erie Gay News
Homosexual Exorcism
I attended a church-related college which required every student to take a freshman course in introduction to Christianity. It was called something like Religion 101. The professor was an older man who was strict and dogmatic in his religious beliefs.
Author: Rev. Richard Moyer
My Girlfriend loves me- and another girl!
Nyya, do you work with polyamorists? My girlfriend warned me she was poly when we met three years ago, and I said I was fine with it- I’m quite open minded- but now that she’s in love with a co-worker and wants us both, I’m finding it harder to accept than I thought I would.” B.D.
Author: Crystal Nyya Hites
Country singer Chely Wright comes out
Noted country singer Chely Wright recently came out as a lesbian, a first for a performer in that genre. Check out the interview below. Also, Chely Wright sings "Like Me" from her new album,. "It’s clear in this song that it’s about me in a relationship with a woman," she told Ellen DeGeneres. She calls it "the musical centerpiece of all these songs we’ve been working on."
See the Video Gallery.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates names finalists for 2010 Workplace Awards
On Thursday, October 7th, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates will host the 11th annual Out & Equal Workplace Awards Dinner at the Los Angeles Convention Center as part of this year’s Out & Equal Workplace Summit. The “Outie” Awards recognize individuals and organizations for exceptional achievements on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Remarks at Event Celebrating LGBT Month
“I know that when you’re in the midst of a great movement of change it seems like it is glacial, but any fair assessment, from my perspective, having lived longer than at least more than 75 percent of you that I see in this room, is that it is extraordinary what has happened in such a short period of time.”
– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at her official “LGBT Month” event, June 22.
Read the full speech here
Equality Forum Announces GLBT History Month 2010 Icons
For the only community worldwide deprived of its history at home, in public schools and religious institutions, GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community, and celebrates our extraordinary contributions. Each day in October 2010, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. The resources for GLBT History Month 2010 Icons will be available at www.glbtHistoryMonth.com. The 124 Icons with resources for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are archived on the site.
Task Force: Pay equity and workplace fairness are critical to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
WASHINGTON, July 20 — The White House Middle Class Task Force and Council on Women and Girls today unveiled recommendations from the Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force aimed at ending pay inequity and discrimination. The recommendations are related to the 2009 passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps women who face wage discrimination recover their lost wages. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey joined leaders of women’s and labor groups for the release of the recommendations, which include ways to better inform employees about their rights and improve coordination among enforcement agencies. Advocates and officials also urged the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will help ensure people who do equal work receive equal pay.
I'll Get Hurt
Have you ever met anyone whose heart had never been broken? Me neither. And yet, some people are terrified to date, socialize or fall in love because “I’ll get hurt”.
Author: Michael Kimmel
Servicemembers United Executive Director Testifies as Lead Witness in DADT Trial
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, announced that its founder and Executive Director, Alexander Nicholson, will testify today as the lead witness in the lawsuit brought by the Log Cabin Republicans to challenge the constitutionality of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. The case, which is being tried in federal court in Riverside, California, seeks to have the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law declared unconstitutional and all discharges under the law enjoined.
Mississippi School Agrees To Revise Policy And Pay Damages To Lesbian Teenager Denied Chance To Attend Prom
ABERDEEN, MS – Itawamba County School District officials agreed to have a judgment entered against them in the case of a recent high school graduate who sued her school for canceling the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. The agreement ends a precedent-setting lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of 18-year-old Constance McMillen, who suffered humiliation and harassment after parents, students and school officials executed a cruel plan to put on a “decoy” prom for her while the rest of her classmates were at a private prom 30 miles away.
Worldwide Pop Sensation Kylie Minogue to Host 100th Episode of Logo's 'NewNowNext PopLab'
NEW YORK, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Logo, the entertainment network for gays, lesbians, their families and friends announced today that pop icon Kylie Minogue will host the 100th episode of NewNowNext PopLab, the destination for up-and-coming party music in all its forms, on Tuesday, August 3 at 7/6C.
Showdown at the State House in Trenton Over Marriage for Gay Couples
TRENTON, N.J., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In a state where the Governor and several conservative activists have endorsed the civil union law as a way to avoid marriage equality - saying the civil union law already provides equality to New Jersey's same-sex couples - Garden State Equality has just released a damning two-and-half-minute video in which state Senators who voted against marriage equality confess that the civil union law has failed.
See the Video Gallery.
Win a pair of tickets to Rent at The Erie Playhouse
Win a pair of tickets to Rent at The Erie Playhouse. We are giving away 4 pairs of tickets to the Erie Playhouse premiere of this rock musical. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from July 20 through August 3. Winners can pick up their tickets at the Erie Playhouse box office at 13 W 10th St.
Study: Kids of lesbian parents more well-adjusted
From ACLU Blog of Rights: Pediatrics, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has published online a groundbreaking study from a research project that has measured the psychological health from conception to adolescence of children raised in a cohort of lesbian families. It is the largest and longest running longitudinal study of the children of lesbian parents, and will continue until the children reach adulthood. In U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Psychological Adjustment of 17-year-old Adolescents, lead author Nanette Gartrell and coauthor Henny Bos report that the children in the study were rated significantly higher (using a standardized survey instrument) than an age-matched national sample on the following measures: social, school/academic and total competence. In addition, they were rated significantly lower in social problems, rule-breaking, and aggressive and externalizing problem behavior. Read the study as a PDF.
Out in the Silence
Various upcoming regional screenings of Out in the Silence.
Summer Camp for Queer Youth and their Straight Allies
Dreams of Hope is hosting an overnight arts camp from August 17 - 20th for LGBTA youth ages 13-17. The camp will be held at the Emma Kaufmann Camp on Cheat Lake near Morganton, West Virginia. Cost is $500 per camper, which includes: Three meals a day plus snacks, all camp activities (ropes course, swimming, water skiing, arts and crafts, special Dreams of Hope workshops and more!!!), round-trip transportation from Pittsburgh to camp and memories that will last a lifetime. You can register here.
Need based scholarships available upon request. For more information or to register go to http://dreamsofhope.org/camp.aspx. Registration deadline Aug. 1, 2010.
Special Thanks to our individual donors, MUKTI Fund and Persad Center for your support!
GLBT table at Erie Blues and Jazz Festival August 7 & 8
Last year, we had an info table at the Erie Jazz and Blues Festival, held in Frontier Park (by W 8th and Bayfront Parkway), Erie PA. The festival is held the first full weekend in August and this year that is August 7 and 8. You can see more about the Blues and Jazz Festival at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/performances/bj_fest/index.html
Author: Michael Mahler
4th of July Parade sets record
Over 20 people marched as a part of the GLBT community in the Millcreek 4th of July Parade, which was held on Saturday, July 3. Although this was the fifth year that there was a GLBT presence, previously, we had marched as part of the peace and justice contingent. The organizers for the parade were unfailingly gracious and supportive. Quite a few groups were represented, including Erie Gay News, LBT Women of Erie, PFLAG - Erie and Crawford Counties, Erie Gay Pride, and members, friends and supporters of the community.
Author: Michael Mahler
See the Photo Gallery.
You Belong (in your legislators office!): A Town Hall Forum and Training Session recap
On July 8th, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh visited Craze nightclub in Erie for a town hall and training session about working with elected officials on Pennsylvania LGBT rights issues.
Author: Jason Crighton
Submissions sought for Ashtabula Coming Out Anthology
If you are interested in sharing your story, please send your submission to the address listed below. By submitting your story, you agree to have your story published and also that you allow us to use the information in the anthology as a tool. No monetary royalty will be given to those who have submitted stories. The AGLBTOA Anthology Committee reserves the right to edit for spelling and grammatical errors. We also reserve the right to withold stories that we do not feel are fit for the audience of the anthology from the book.
