Monday, April 23, 2007
Domestic Partnerships in Washington State
Monday's News
Teacher's Job on the Line for Expressing Tolerance Toward Gay Students
English teacher and faculty advisor of a student newspaper distributed to Indiana junior high and high school students published a student-written column that expressed tolerance for gays as so:
'I can only imagine how hard it would be to come out as homosexual in today's society,'' she wrote. ''I think it is so wrong to look down on those people, or to make fun of them, just because they have a different sexuality than you. There is nothing wrong with them or their brain; they're just different than you.''
Somehow, this small quote has raised hell in the Indiana school district, and this English teacher is at risk of losing her job for publishing a student's small plea for acceptance and understanding.
English teacher and faculty advisor of a student newspaper distributed to Indiana junior high and high school students published a student-written column that expressed tolerance for gays as so:
'I can only imagine how hard it would be to come out as homosexual in today's society,'' she wrote. ''I think it is so wrong to look down on those people, or to make fun of them, just because they have a different sexuality than you. There is nothing wrong with them or their brain; they're just different than you.''
Somehow, this small quote has raised hell in the Indiana school district, and this English teacher is at risk of losing her job for publishing a student's small plea for acceptance and understanding.
Friday, April 20, 2007
In the News
A Bentonville, Arkansas man demands $20,000 for the "pain and suffering" of his 14 and 16 year old sons after they read a book on lesbian sex from the public library.
Meanwhile...
In Fresno, a trans student runs for prom king.
Meanwhile...
In Fresno, a trans student runs for prom king.
"It's not like the stereotype where the king has to be a jock and he's there with the cheerleaders anymore," said Reyes, a senior. "We live in a generation now where dudes are chicks and chicks are dudes." (Quote from article)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Congratulations New Hampshire!
Governor of New Hampshire OKs Civil Unions
"I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination," Lynch told The Associated Press.
New Hampshire would become the fourth state to adopt civil unions, following Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey. Massachusetts established gay marriage.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
International Study Shows Widespread Dislike for Gay Neighbors
Are we too loud?
Click Here to Read the Published Study
Are we too loud?
Click Here to Read the Published Study
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
On a Personal Note
Well, I've gone and done it...I submitted a book proposal to the Collection Management and Development Section (CMDS) of ACLTS (Association for Library Collections and Technical Services), a section of American Libraries Association, and it passed muster. I will be writing a collection development manual / selection tool for public and academic librarians who must select LGBTIQ materials for their collection. The manual will be part of a series called "Sudden Selectors", which will orient librarians with specialized subjects and where/how to select appropriate materials for their collection/user population within those subjects.
Today's News
Here is the latest on anti-discrimination and same sex unions across the United States:
Two Oregon Gay Rights Bills Head to Vote in the House
One of the bills proposes that same sex couples can form "legally recognized partnerships".
Iowa Pastors Call for Passage of Gay Civil Rights Law
More than a dozen church leaders support gay civil rights...unfortunately, Iowa Democrats and Republicans may not be in agreement.
Gay Bishop Urges Approval of Civil Unions in New Hampshire
Compare Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson's arguments in favor of civil unions to those of Diane Murphy Quinlan, Roman Catholic chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester. Who wins?
In any case, New Hampshire is nearly surrounded: same sex unions are legal in Massachussets, Vermont, and Quebec, and all New England states have passed comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation. Time to get with the program.
Two Oregon Gay Rights Bills Head to Vote in the House
One of the bills proposes that same sex couples can form "legally recognized partnerships".
Iowa Pastors Call for Passage of Gay Civil Rights Law
More than a dozen church leaders support gay civil rights...unfortunately, Iowa Democrats and Republicans may not be in agreement.
Gay Bishop Urges Approval of Civil Unions in New Hampshire
Compare Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson's arguments in favor of civil unions to those of Diane Murphy Quinlan, Roman Catholic chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester. Who wins?
In any case, New Hampshire is nearly surrounded: same sex unions are legal in Massachussets, Vermont, and Quebec, and all New England states have passed comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation. Time to get with the program.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Banning The Chocolate War
Maryland School District Removes The Chocolate War from Curriculum Over Gay References
I read Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War twice, and watched the movie three times. This classic YA novel does not stick out in my mind as a hotbed of homophobia. It is a story about a kid who decides not to sell chocolates to raise money for his Catholic school, and what happens to him because of his decision.
I read Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War twice, and watched the movie three times. This classic YA novel does not stick out in my mind as a hotbed of homophobia. It is a story about a kid who decides not to sell chocolates to raise money for his Catholic school, and what happens to him because of his decision.
Monday, April 09, 2007
NEW: Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth
The Journal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth is a brand new scholarly journal published by Haworth Press. It is a quarterly publication, with its first issue to be out this summer. According to its Associate Editor Kristopher Wells:
"The Journal of LGBT Youth is committed to advancing knowledge about, support of, and quality of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Publishing scholarly articles, practicioner-based essays, policy analyses, and narratives from young people, this peer-reviewed journal envelopes an array of queer youth contexts, including: formal and non-formal education; the family; peer culture; the media, arts, and entertainment industry; religious institutions and youth organizations; health care; and the workplace."
Book reviews will also be a large component of the publication.
For submission guidelines, or any other questions related to this journal, please contact Kristopher Wells at kris.wells@ualberta.ca.
"The Journal of LGBT Youth is committed to advancing knowledge about, support of, and quality of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Publishing scholarly articles, practicioner-based essays, policy analyses, and narratives from young people, this peer-reviewed journal envelopes an array of queer youth contexts, including: formal and non-formal education; the family; peer culture; the media, arts, and entertainment industry; religious institutions and youth organizations; health care; and the workplace."
Book reviews will also be a large component of the publication.
For submission guidelines, or any other questions related to this journal, please contact Kristopher Wells at kris.wells@ualberta.ca.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Disney Has a Change of Heart
