This is a very gay announcement

Thinkbeforeyouspeak.com has released its new campaign on the issue of teens experience homophobic remarks and harassment.

” This campaign aims to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America’s schools. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens. The campaign also aims to reach adults, including school personnel and parents; their support of this message is crucial to the success of efforts to change behavior.”

I’d say this helps a lot more people than teens, really, many adults are still acting like a kid.

They have also enlisted Wanda Sykes and Hillary Duff to appear in two PSAs that draw attention to the phrase “that’s so gay” and its interpretations.

International Day Against Homophobia Rally 2008

Homophobia is a crime and over 300 peoples rallied in a busy street of Causeway bay in Hong Kong on May 18 to mark the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). The rally was full of songs, story telling and even a “die-in” action to protest against homophobia and fight for equal rights for sexual minorities. The SO-U.TV team filmed the joyful protest.

Interestingly, these included several liberal religious bodies, amongst them the Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship, the Hong Kong Christian Institute and the Spiritual Seekers Society, who led the meeting at one point in singing and in testifying that many Christians support the struggle against discrimination based on gender.

International Day Against Homophobia

The cause for the International Day Against Homophobia, its central topic of interest, the common theme that provides information for each of its endeavours remains a universal, multi-faceted and historical phenomenon: homophobia. To show support, wear rainbow or red to show your pride on may 17th.

In Canada, recognition, for lesbian and gay communities, has been first and foremost a judicial acceptance brought about by the adoption of the Charter of Human Rights. However, judicial advances will remain only that until a complete, unlimited social acceptance of homosexuality is achieved and homophobia wiped out. To achieve this goal, the Fondation Émergence proposed in 2003, along with partners, to hold each year a special day dedicated to the social recognition of homosexual experience.

If you want to do more for the cause go to www.homophobiaday.org

Michael Stipe has something to announce: Fog?

Not long after he came out from the closet, Michael Stipe is declaring something on his band mates’ behalf. My immediate reaction: “LOL”

Everybody flirts?
R.E.M.’s new record Accelerate is out April 1
Pre Order: http://tinyurl.com/2e8gpe

Which R.E.M. member is gay?

This may not come as a surprise, but Michael Stipe, the lead vocal of R.E.M. is indeed gay. He talked to Spin Magazine about his coming out story.

“It was super complicated for me in the ’80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious. Now I recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.”

Yeah, who’d knew?