Tag Archives: heroes

SAINT PETERSBURG: Activists Arrested At Protest Over “Gay Propaganda” Ban

Via email: LGBT human rights abuse under the new “homosexual propaganda” law continues in St. Petersburg. Today 11 LGBT activists of St. Petersburg were arrested for carrying rainbow flags as part of the May 1st civil rights and freedom march on Nevsky prospect, city’s main avenue. This year’s May 1st march is a peaceful demonstration, permitted by the city administration. …

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#CoryBookerStories

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Mayor, LGBT Ally, Firefighting Hero

Not only is Newark Mayor Cory Booker an outspoken ally in the battle for LGBT equality, he’s now being hailed as a firefighting hero. Booker arrived home last night to discover his next-door neighbor’s house on fire, and rescued a young woman trapped upstairs by carrying her through the flames, suffering second-degree burns in the process. The mayor’s security team …

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Lawrence Vs. Texas Plaintiff Dies At 68

John Geddes Lawrence, the man whose court battle resulted in the decriminalization of gay sex, has died at the age of 68. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly: In the facts underlying the Supreme Court case, Lawrence v. Texas, Lawrence and Tyron Garner were arrested under Texas’s Homosexual Conduct Law after police entered Lawrence’s home on Sept. 17, 1998, and …

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Home Of Gay Rights Pioneer Frank Kameny Listed On Nat’l Register Of Historic Places

The Washington DC home of the late gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny has been listed with the National Register of Historic Places. Kameny died last month at the age of 86. Via press release from the National Park Service: “Dr. Kameny led a newly militant activism in the fledgling gay civil rights of the 1960s,” said NPS Director Jonathan B. …

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Frank Kameny Funeral Fund

Donations are being sought for the funeral costs of Frank Kameny, the legendary LGBT rights pioneer who passed away last year at the age of 86. Longtime Kameny friend and gay rights advocate Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, said friends and activists who have known Kameny for many years are developing plans for a Kameny funeral that they hope …

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Smithsonian Remembers Frank Kameny

Today the official blog of the Smithsonian remembers late gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny and provides a link farm to his donated items and his papers on file at the Library of Congress.

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Rachel Maddow On Frank Kameny

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Rights Groups React To Kameny Death

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force “The death of Frank Kameny is a profound loss and he will be greatly missed. No Washington LGBT event or White House meeting was complete without Frank. Yet, he never slowed down in demanding what should be, showing us what was possible and pushing for the very equality and liberation we are still fighting …

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Gay Pioneer Frank Kameny Dies At 86

The Washington Blade is reporting on Twitter that gay rights pioneer and Mattachine Society co-founder Frank Kameny has passed away at the age of 86. I’ll have more details when they become available. In the meantime, please read Kameny’s Wikipedia entry. We all owe Kameny our deepest gratitude for a life lived well. UPDATE: Some details from the Blade. Franklin …

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Photo Of The Day – Jack Layton Tribute

In Toronto’s Phillips Square, hundreds of residents have created chalk tributes to the late progressive leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer last week at the age of 61. Layton was considered Canada’s most passionate and effective ally of the LGBT community and his passing has affected the gay political world like nothing in recent memory.

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NORWAY: Lesbian Couple Saved Dozens Of Campers During Terrorist Attack

JMG reader Homer sends us this story I missed earlier in the week: Hege Dalen and her partner Toril Hansen were eating supper in the camping area opposite Utoya [sic.] island when they started hearing gunshots and screaming. Dalen and Hansen drove their boat to the island, and fished out of the water people who were in shock and young …

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Calls Undecided NY State Senators On Marriage Equality

Gillibrand’s phone campaign comes after Gov. Cuomo hinted that he would not call for a vote on the issue unless he became convinced that passage was guaranteed in the Senate. And I remain ashamed about blogging my skepticism when Gillibrand was first appointed to replace Hillary Clinton. (Via – Towleroad)

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Google Airs Fantastic “It Gets Better Project” Ad During Glee

Major whopping props to Google for airing this amazing ad during tonight’s episode of Glee. Somebody hand me a tissue.

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MINNESOTA: Democrat Slams Haters On Proposed Constitutional Marriage Ban

JMG reader Brian tips us to the below clip of yesterday’s Minnesota hearing on the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, where state Rep. Steve Simon (D) asked: “How many gay people must God create before we accept that he wants them around?” The bill advanced anyway along party lines. Watch Simon’s commentary below.

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U.S. Senate Honors Elizabeth Taylor

The U.S. Senate has passed a Boxer/Feinstein-sponsored resolution honoring Elizabeth Taylor. It reads, in part: Whereas Elizabeth Taylor used her fame to raise awareness and advocate for people affected by HIV/AIDS;Whereas, at a time when HIV/AIDS was largely an unknown disease and those who were affected by HIV/AIDS were ostracized and shunned, Elizabeth Taylor called for and demonstrated compassion by …

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Liz Taylor Leaves Estate To AIDS Charities

Most of Elizabeth Taylor’s massive fortune will go to the two AIDS charities with whom she was most famously associated. Screen queen Elizabeth Taylor has left behind a fortune worth at least $600 million, much of which is expected to go to the AIDS charities she championed for decades. Her famous jewelry collection, valued at an eye-popping $150 million in …

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Elizabeth Taylor’s Funeral Is Today

Perhaps to thwart the Westboro Baptist Church, who yesterday vowed to picket her funeral, Elizabeth Taylor will be buried today at the famed Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the final resting place of many Hollywood stars. I just checked the Twitter feed of Margie Phelps, who doesn’t yet seem to be aware of the speedy service. Story developing… UPDATE: E! Online …

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amfAR’s Tribute To Elizabeth Taylor

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Elizabeth Taylor: Early AIDS Hero

Good As You posts the above 1985 news clipping as a reminder that Elizabeth Taylor was among the first and most vocal celebrities to demand funding for AIDS research, a move she made at great risk to her career, considering the tenor of those dark, dark days. Taylor went on to cofound the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and …

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