Portugal comes out as the next nation to legalize gay marrigae

So the winner for next gay friendly country goes to Portugal. Congratulations to Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao who are the first same sex married couple in Portugal. With more and more places are accepting gay marriage, when do you the the entire U.S. will get with the program?



Article after the break...

White House Meeting on Black Men and HIV on CSPAN3

So today the White House is having a meeting on black men and HIV. This is a very big meeting and fortunately I have found out it is being broadcast on CSPAN-3.  If you are interested, you can find it here:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN3.aspx

FYI - It’s on right now!

Happy Memorial Day! (a day late ofcourse!)

So in honor of memorial day, which was yesterday, I figured now would be a great time to talk about Don't Ask Don't Tell. Don't Ask Don't Tell was Clinton's resolution to the ban on gay's joining the military. It roughly states that anyone regardless of there sexual preference is allowed in the military as long as they don't tell anyone what there sexual preference is. While it was a step forward at the time, many feel that it was still discriminatory against homosexuals. The reason this is coming up in the news now is because a senate committee and the House of representatives have now voted to repeal the dadt bill. While this is a great step forward there are still a few more steps that must be taken before the bill is removed, so it's not in the clear yet. We will see what happens but until then what do you think about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?

full article after the break

Your Unzipped Tip for The Weekend

“Condoms don’t fit me.” “They’re too tight.” This old excuse is not worthy of you putting yourself at risk. In condom demonstrations, educators have put condoms on over their shoe, their head, and their forearm without breakage, showing no man is “too big” for a condom.  

For more safe sex tips check out mproject954.com

Catholic School Deny Entry to Kid of Gay Parents

So yet another Catholic school, this time in Boston, has denied the rights of a kid who happens to have gay parents from going to there school. The school defends it's decision by saying "If a child of gay parents comes to our school, and we teach that gay marriage is against the will of God, then the child will think that we are saying their parents are bad. We don't want to put any child in that tough position". Which in all honesty is a very valid point. But should it be enough to deny schooling to a the child of gay parents? What do you think?

article after the break...

Your Unzipped Tip for The Weekend

Water based lube only when using latex condoms! Think, “Hell no, if it’s not H2O!”

for more safe sex tips check out mproject954.com

One step forward and then one step back for China

 So China has taken one step forward but yet another step back when it comes to people living with HIV/AIDS. China just recently removed the ban on people with HIV/AIDS coming into China, which seemed like a step in the right direction for the acceptance of people living with AIDS but now it seems that the pressure the put on AIDS Activist has caused the man and his family to flee to the U.S. 

 

article after the break

Another Anti-gay Activist Outed

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Ludacris promotes "Living Large" with new Magnum Condom Campaign

 So here is an interesting new ad campaign promoting safe sex. Ludacris has joined forces with Magnum condoms to promote safer sex by "living Large". This ad campaign is targeting guys ages 15-30 who are into the hip-hop and rap scene. While I think the safe sex message is great, and it's always good to see more celebrity support I can't help but to think that this is more of a way for Ludacris to brag about his "package". As I tell everyone that comes to me asking for Magnum condoms: While Magnum condoms proclaim to be for the larger men out there, most condoms can fit your entire arm. What do you think about this ad campaign?

Full article after the break

NYC Council Weighs in on MSM Blood Donation Ban

Yet another group is speaking out against the blood ban. New York City Council has passed a resolution asking the FDA to repeal it's ban on gay men donating blood. For those who don't know in 1983 the FDA placed a ban against MSM (Men Seeking Men). Keeping any man who had ever had sex with another man from donating blood. At the time the intention was to keep HIV/AIDs out of blood banks. Unfortunately, while the technology and procedures for testing blood have grown tremendously we are still stuck with this archaic law. What do you think?


Full article after the break...

University of Miami Adopts first Gay friendly Fraternity

Here’s some great news for all of our gay and bi-sexual men who wanted to be a part of a fraternity at University of Miami.  UM has added its first Gay and Bisexual friendly Fraternity to their Inter-fraternity council, identifying it as a valid member of the fraternities on University of Miami’s campus. I think this is a great step forward for the stereotypical heterosexual view of fraternities and it’s great that it was approved 10 to 2! So the question is… if a gay friendly fraternity was available at your school would you join?

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Gay, bisexual-friendly fraternity adopted

Posted April 25, 2010 at 9:03 pm

By Colleen Dourney // Contributing Writer

The college Greek stereotype typically isn’t compromised of gay and bisexual men, yet fraternities at the University of Miami chose to defy that image.

Last week, by a vote of 10-2, the university’s fraternity presidents approved the adoption of Delta Lambda Phi, a gay, bisexual and progressive male fraternity, into its ranks.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) affords every fraternity one vote in deciding whether to allow another fraternity to colonize or not. Each fraternity president is given the power to vote.

South Africa's President Leads by Example

So President Zuma of South Africa has been working on a large initiative to get all the people of South Africa tested for HIV. He has started this initiative by disclosing his own HIV status. I personally think it’s great that President Zuma is leading by his own example. Hopefully this will help his initiative reach it’s goal.

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Zuma launches health campaign by disclosing HIV status

From Karen Smith, CNN

April 26, 2010 -- Updated 1018 GMT (1818 HKT)

 (CNN) -- President Jacob Zuma launched a program to combat AIDS in South Africa by making a public announcement that he is HIV negative.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to share my test results with South Africans," Zuma said Sunday. "The purpose is to promote openness and to eradicate the silence and stigma that accompanies this epidemic."
The president's sex life has been a controversial subject in the country of 49 million.

Elton John writes letter to Ryan White, 20 years later...

This is a great letter written by Elton John to Ryan White. For those who don’t know Ryan White was a young boy who was kicked out of his middle school for being HIV positive. He soon became the poster boy for HIV and because of his advocacy the Ryan White care act was initiated shortly after he passed away. The Ryan White Care Act provides care to over 500,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States.

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 Elton John's letter to Ryan White, 20 years after his death from AIDS

By Elton John

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Twenty years ago this month, you died of AIDS. I would gladly give my fame and fortune if only I could have one more conversation with you, the friend who changed my life as well as the lives of millions living with HIV. Instead, I have written you this letter.


I remember so well when we first met. A young boy with a terrible disease, you were the epitome of grace. You never blamed anyone for the illness that ravaged your body or the torment and stigma you endured.
When students, parents and teachers in your community shunned you, threatened you and expelled you from school, you responded not with words of hate but with understanding beyond your years. You said they were simply afraid of what they did not know.


When the media heralded you as an "innocent victim" because you had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, you rejected that label and stood in solidarity with thousands of HIV-positive women and men. You reminded America that all victims of AIDS are innocent.

Archie Comics Moving Forward

So looks like the Archie Comic’s are finally moving forward. What do you think about them adding a gay character to the mix? I personally feel that the way they have chosen to portray the community’s acceptance of this new gay character is great! Full article below

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Archie Comics to introduce gay character, cartoonist says

Posted on April 21, 2010 - 06:09 PM by Kevin Melrose

Archie's relationship with Valerie was only the beginning of the changes coming to Riverdale, apparently.
In an interview at C2E2 with gay podcast Feast of Fun, longtime Archie Comics cartoonist Dan Parent casually revealed that September's Veronica #202 will feature the introduction of a gay character named Kevin Keller.

"The plotline is that Veronica's got the hots for this guy and can't understand why he's not interested in her," Parent said, "and ... he's gay."
The cartoonist said that while readers shouldn't expect any of the regular characters to come out of the closet, we shouldn't look for residents of Riverdale to make a big deal about Kevin's sexuality, either. "The reaction is going to be, there isn't going to be a reaction -- it's just going to be acceptance," he said.

In the interview, Parent also discussed Archie's new relationship with Valerie, which he said will continue.
"They're a great couple, which is why we're going to be continuing the stories with them because, y'know, they just make a great couple," he said. "I mean, the interracial aspect is there, of course, but the main thing is to do a good story with good characters."

Annie Lennox Speaks Out Through Her Shirt

Did anyone else notice the amazing shirt Annie Lennox was wearing on American Idol last night? The shirt read "HIV Positive" and was a statement towards the stigma that comes with being an HIV positive person. What a great message for those who are living with HIV! An article explaining the shirt is below.

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Annie Lennox explains her 'HIV Positive' t-shirt

by Mike Bruno

A lot of heads were turned last night when Annie Lennox showed up on “Idol Gives Back” wearing a t-shirt with the words “HIV POSITIVE” emblazoned on the front (she also wore the shirt to events last year, including the 2009 Edinburgh Festival of Politics and the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert in New York last October). The good news is she herself is not HIV positive, but simply showing solidarity with the millions of people who are.

In the video below, which was actually created last November, Lennox explains that she first saw someone wearing a bold “HIV POSITIVE” t-shirt in South Africa in 2004, and she thought it was such a “clever, brilliant” idea, she decided to run with it herself. “In a country like South Africa, where HIV is so prevalent, and yet you have stigma where people are afraid to openly come out and say that they’re HIV positive,” she says, ”this t-shirt, whoever wears it, is making a statement of solidarity, and they’re saying, ‘We’re coming out from behind the shadows. We’re trying to normalize what is a preventable thing. It doesn’t need to have the stigma.’”

Video after the Break...