OP-ed - an OutProfessionals blog

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“Gay milestones” are crumbling: Report

michaelkaminer — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:09:59 +0000

Two of Philip Johnson’s most famous buildings are moldy and crumbling, Bloomberg reports today. Why should you care? They’re “a milestone in gay history”, says a caretaker. The properties “represented Philip’s dual life — the transparent Glass House side where social gatherings took place, and the private Brick House side where he could feel comfortable with his homosexuality.” Read more.

“Transitioning Genders: The Anatomy of a Breakup”

michaelkaminer — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:32:31 +0000

Gripping account this morning of a relationship’s dissolution after one partner undergoes gender reassignment surgery. More in The New York Times.

HRC will spend $150,000 to counter Target’s right-wing contributions

michaelkaminer — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:51:38 +0000

Go, HRC. “The Human Rights Campaign will give $100,000 to WIN Minnesota, a political fund backing Democrat Mark Dayton; $20,000 to the gay rights group OutFront Minnesota to mobilize voters; and $30,000 to state candidates, including Dayton. The group announced its plans to give the money last month after Target declined to match its initial donation with another donation to help candidates who support gay rights.” More at the Associated Press.

Was city’s crusade against Christopher St. bar motivated by racism and anti-gay discrimination?

michaelkaminer — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:13:10 +0000

ChiChiz, which bills itself as “the Only Black Gay Bar in New York City”, has accused the police of discrimination. A judge agreed that its lawsuit should proceed.

From Gay City News:

“Citing the complexity of a nuisance abatement lawsuit brought by New York City against Chi Chiz, a Christopher Street gay bar that serves a predominantly African-American clientele, a judge put off hearing part of that case until November and told the bar to move forward with its own lawsuit that charges that the city was motivated by racial and anti-gay animus when it sought to close the bar.

“I do think the defense here is offered in good faith,” said Judge Martin Schoenfeld on August 26. “I can’t help but be concerned about the allegations of discrimination… There is, at the very least, some basis for further investigation.”

Coming out story of the week, XXXVIII: UK prisons minister announces he’s gay and leaving wife

michaelkaminer — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:23:40 +0000

Another day, another coming-out story!

Crispin Blunt, the UK prisons minister, has announced he’s separated from his wife so he can “come to terms with his homosexuality”. Seems like everyone’s doing it these days.

“He has been married to Victoria for almost 20 years and the couple have a son and daughter. Long-standing colleagues said they were surprised by the announcement,” reports the Telegraph.

“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” actor: I was harassed for being gay on-set, considered suicide

michaelkaminer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:27:56 +0000

First, Ken Mehlman. Now, Blue Ranger of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Our world’s been turned upside-down!

From TMZ: “The guy who played the Blue Ranger on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series has just revealed that he’s gay — and dropped a huge bombshell … that he quit the show because he was harassed over his sexuality.

“Actor David Yost — who played the B.R. from 1993 to 1996 — just gave an interview to blog NoPinkSpandex — and explained, “I was called ‘f*ggot’ one too many times [by the show's] creators, producers, writers, directors.”

That asterisk isn’t an e, i, o, or u, people.

Yost added he considered taking his own life because of the stress.

The Advocate sits former GOP chief Ken Mehlman down for Q & A after coming-out news

michaelkaminer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:04:50 +0000

The Advocate today got the second post-coming-out interview with former GOP party chief Ken Mehlman.

Read it here. And don’t overlook the emotional comments from readers.

Christine Quinn: City Clerk must tell lesbian and gay New Yorkers which states offer marriage equality

michaelkaminer — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:41:44 +0000

From GothamGazette.com:

Now that the State Senate has blocked the approval of same-sex marriage, Christine Quinn, the City Council’s first openly gay speaker, is making sure gay New Yorkers who want to tie the knot know where to go.

Under legislation (Intro 260) approved by a vote of 47 to1, the City Clerk’s office will be required to post on its Web site and hand out at its office information on where gay New Yorkers can get married, including states and international destinations. It will also have to provide couples information on what rights they are entitled to here in the Empire State.

“I hope it’s a message to the State Senate of how sick and tired we are of waiting for marriage equality,” Quinn said.

The only member to vote against the bill was newly minted Councilmember David Greenfield of Brooklyn.

Currently, five states allow same-sex marriage: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“Hidden” gay cadets are put in the spotlight at West Point: Report

michaelkaminer — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:18:21 +0000

“The resignation this month of Katherine Miller (above), a top cadet who blogged anonymously about her lesbianism, has turned a spotlight on the hidden gay culture here and revived debate on campus about “don’t ask, don’t tell,” at a time when Washington is also focused on the issue.”

“Ms. Miller, who wrote under the name “Private Second Class Citizen” about enduring gay slurs and faking a heterosexual dating history, is transferring to Yale University this fall and has become something of a media celebrity, appearing on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC and on ABC News.”

Question: Is “lesbianism” a real word?

Anyway, more in today’s New York Times.