Lawmakers Urge Geithner to Safeguard Against International LGBT Abuse
In an unusual display of LGBT advocacy partnership, Democratic Rep. Barney Frank and Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus co-authored a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner promoting awareness of a recent amendment supporting a crackdown against LGBT persecution in foreign governments receiving multilateral development financial aid. According to the Washington Blade, the letter, dated March 30,…
LGBT Congressional Staff Association President Dies at 29
Christopher Crowe, 29, passed away Wednesday due to complications from a staph infection that inflicted damage on his heart. Crowe was the president of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association and worked with Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). Earlier in his career, Crowe served as an intern with the Victory Fund in 2005. In response to…
Congress Reintroduces ENDA for Debate
The Washington Blade reports that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced that he will reintroduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act for the 112th Congress after he has finished lining up additional co-sponsors of the bill. Frank explained that the upcoming introduction of the bill will help inform lawmakers and the public alike. However, he also expressed some…
Will Genetic Sexual Attraction Advocates Endanger Marriage Equality Efforts?
The Irish edition of tabloid news magazine The Sun recently covered the story of Penny Lawrence, a 28-year-old woman suffering from Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA) who is now pregnant with her father’s child. Now, Carolyn Castiglia, a blogger for Babble.com, argues that while empathy for such a condition is important, it may also confuse the…
Gay Glee Viewers Ask: “Is Blaine a Unicorn?”
A college-age gay fan of the popular musical TV show Glee wrote in to AfterElton.com’s advice column after a recent episode to ask a question that, apparently, is on the minds of many gay viewers: Is Kurt’s romantic, sensitive boyfriend Blaine a figment of pure, unattainable fantasy? The fan wrote, “I just watched Kurt and…
Friday Marks Anniversary of First Legal Gay Marriage
The UK Gay News reports that Friday, April 1 will mark the tenth anniversary of the world’s first legal gay marriage. On the same date in 2001, four couples – one female and three male – tied the knot in Amsterdam in a joint ceremony presided over by the city’s Mayor, Job Cohen. The ceremony…
A Too Buff Thor Tones Down for New Film
Chris Hemsworth, the 27-year-old Australian actor starring in the latest Marvel comic adaptation, went out of his way to bulk up in preparation for a stint as the Norse mythology-inspired action hero Thor. Unexpectedly, he went a little too far: upon trying on his costume immediately before shooting was due to commence, Hemsworth found the…
Swedish Soccer Star Comes Out Despite Traditions of Homophobia
Anton Hysén, son of Swedish soccer legend and former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysén, has become the second openly gay high-level soccer player in the world. Hysén, who plays left-sided midfield for Sweden’s Utsiktens BK club, claims that he is confident in his decision to come out despite the rampant homophobia present in traditional European soccer…
A Gay Disney Movie? One Animator Says It’s Only a Matter of Time
A veteran animator for the Disney corporation stated recently that the company is open to the idea of homosexual characters in their animated feature films, provided the story and concept fit the bill. Andreas Deja, an animator interviewed for the Australian website News.com.au, expressed the belief that Disney films featuring homosexual families are a realistic…