All posts filed under: Current Affairs

Jodie Foster's Golden Globe Speech

Published by thequeerav

Jodie Foster’s sexuality is a trending topic after her recent Golden Globe coming out speech. Her sexuality has been assumed for years, though on Sunday January 13 when accepting her Cecil B. De Mille Award at the 70th Golden Globe Awards, it was confirmed. “So while I’m here being all confessional and I guess I just have a sudden urge to say something that I’ve never really been able to air in public, so a declaration that I’m a little nervous about,” said Foster “I’m just going to put it out there, right? Loud and proud, right? So I’m going to need your support on this. I am single. I hope that you’re not disappointed that there won’t be a big coming out speech tonight because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age in those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family, co workers and then gradually, proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met.” She …

Living Proud – A Perth Suicide Prevention Initiative

Published by thequeerav

(As published on the Living Proud Website) By Stephanie Lane Living Proud is a new suicide prevention initiative for the LGBTI* community in Perth with a number of successful community involvement opportunities already completed for 2012. From community picnics and gender diversity forums to a large presence in this year’s Pride events, Living Proud is definitely becoming a well known name within the Perth community. Coordinated by Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS), it is part of the One Life WA Suicide Prevention Strategy which has community action plans in place across the state. According to Living Proud community coordinator Tamara Bézu, the community approach the One Life Suicide Prevention Strategy has used is a useful way to look at suicide prevention. “Suicide prevention is everyone’s issue, it affects everyone in the community,” she said.  “It’s important to be able to bring people together to discuss this, and to create safe environments where people are comfortable talking about how they feel.” According to Ms Bézu, homophobia is still prevalent in society despite popular belief.  Suicide within the …

Perth Rally for Marriage Equality

Published by thequeerav

Crowds gathered at Stirling Gardens in Perth on Saturday August 11 for the eighth annual Marriage Equality Rally. That’s right! It’s been eight years since the ban on marriage equality in Australia. The event, organised by Equal Love WA included speakers Lynn Maclaren (Greens), Louise Pratt (Labor), Bec Leighton (National Union of Students), Owen Bandura (regional high school student speaking out against homophobia in schools), Amber Maxwell (Equal Love WA) and Sam Cavallaro (Curtin University Queer Officer). For further information about Equal Love WA click here. But for now, check out these photos!

Obama, First to Come Out

Published by thequeerav

President Obama is the first acting president to come out in support of marriage equality! He made his opinion known in an interview today, which he explained stemmed from his experience with gay staff in committed relationships and discrimination against gay service members. “I’ve stood on the side of broader equality I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient. But 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 …

Bully – A Documentary with an R Rating

Published by thequeerav

I think it’s safe to say everyone has experienced bullying in one way or another. Whether you were being bullied, you were the bully or you were someone on the sidelines.  In the past and even in present times we’ve seen this being attributed to maturity, child’s play or that ‘boys will be boys’ sentiment, but why? Is it really ok for a kid/s to taunt, tease and bully another kid simply because of their age or their maturity level? And what about the effects of bullying? Does the name Tyler Clementi sound familiar to you? What about Seth Walsh or Rafael Morelos? The list could go on and on, and it’s a list of teens who have committed suicide because of bullying. The idea that bullying is just a part of life has to be stopped. It shouldn’t be the deaths of our youths that work as a wake up to us all. We should all be doing something before it gets to this stage. I was watching a clip from the Ellen Degeneres …

Gillard Says Gay Marriage is Inevitable

Published by thequeerav

Three same-sex couples dined with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the Lodge last night to talk about same-sex marriage.  Gillard spoke of the increasing pressure on politicians to legalize same-sex marriage world wide. Sandy Miller and Louise Bucke brought their sons Matthew Miller, 12, and Dylan Miller, 9, to the dinner, who  expressed their concern as to why their mothers and other same-sex couples can’t get married. “I don’t know really why I am here,” Matthew said. “To me, it is simple and this argument should have been settled long ago. People should be allowed to marry the person they love and to be accepted by all society.” Dylan had previously written to the Prime Minister on the issue but was glad to be able to express his feelings in person. “I just want her to have a think how much it would hurt her if she couldn’t marry the person she loves most in the whole world,” he said Ms Miller added that although Gillard is still against same-sex marriage, the meeting itself was a positive …

Equal Marriage Rights in Washington: Senate Approves Bill

Published by thequeerav

The Washington State Senate Passed a bill on Wednesday that will legalize same sex marriage. Gov. Chris Gregoire supports the measure and has agreed to sign it into law when it gets to the House. Applause broke out in the public galleries when the Senate passed the measure, a 28-21 vote. Democratic Sen. Ed Murray, a gay lawmaker from Seattle, and the bill’s sponsor believes those who vote against gay marriage should not be accused of bigotry nor should those who vote for it be accused of “undermining family life or religious freedom.” “Marriage is how society says you are a family” he said. Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester argued against same sex marriage saying it will change the definition of marriage and “will lead to the silencing of those who believe in traditional marriage.” A referendum clause has been rejected, meaning opponents will have to wait to file a challenge once the law is passed. If opponents aren’t able to gather enough signatures, same sex couples will be able to get married starting June. For further information click here.

“Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman" says Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu

Published by thequeerav

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu believes that marriage should stay between a man and a women and centuries of tradition should not be overturned by gay marriage.  Sentamu, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England doesn’t however, object to Civil Partnerships but in an interview with the Telegraph recently referred to them as being ‘friendships.’ “We supported Civil Partnerships because I believe that friendships are good for everybody” he said. “If you genuinely would like the registration of civil partnerships to happen in a more general way, most people will say they can see the drift. But if you begin to call those ‘marriage’, you’re trying to change the English language.” Peter Tatchell, the co-ordinator of the Equal Love campaign disagrees with Sentamu’s opinions. “It is not a Christian value to demand legal discrimination against gay couples and to treat them as inferior, second-class citizens with fewer rights than everyone else.” For the further information on the story visit The Telegraph and The Gaurdian.

Starbucks: A Supporter of Gay Marriage Legislation

Published by thequeerav

Starbucks published a statement January 24 showing their support for gay marriage legislation in the state House and Senate, Washington, DC. The growing list of Corporation support also includes Microsoft. Such support is aiding in the attempts for full marriage equality in Washington. The Starbucks statement reads as follows: To: U.S. partners Date: January 24, 2012 Re: A Message from Kalen Holmes: Starbucks Supports Marriage Equality Dear partners, Starbucks is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Starbucks strives to create a company culture that puts our partners first, and our company has a lengthy history of leading and supporting policies that promote equality and inclusion. This important legislation is aligned with Starbucks business practices and upholds our belief in the equal treatment of partners. It is core to who we are and what we value as a company. We are proud of our Pride Alliance Partner Network group, which is one of the largest Employer Resource Groups for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender …

Gay Australian Couples Now Able to Marry Overseas

Published by thequeerav

The Federal government is now allowing gay couples to marry overseas where ‘gay marriage’ is legal. A ban has been lifted, allowing the couples to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to marriage (CNI), a form which was once only granted to ‘straight couples.’ This form informs other countries that those applying to marry are of age and not already married (or bound by any other obstacles). The announcement came from Attorney-General Nicola Roxon recently stating that as of February 1, the ban would no longer exist. “This important change will allow same-sex couples to take part in overseas marriage ceremonies, and be considered married according to the laws of that country,” Ms Roxon said. Whilst any overseas marriage is not acknowledged as such in Australia, it can be used as evidence of a de facto relationship for the purposes of federal and state laws. Many have welcomed this decision including Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich. “It’s already painful enough for same-sex partners to have to marry overseas, away from family and friends, without the Australian Government …