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?

__________________________________________________

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.

 _______________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________________

 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

_____________________________________

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.

__________________________________________________

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...