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Wednesday, January 9, 2008
THE ULTIMATE DILDO SEX TOY REVIEW GLASS SEX TOY SEEN ON HBO REAL SEX
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Gay men no longer allowed to donate organs
A number of organ donation groups said Monday that they are unaware of new Health Canada regulations that mean sexually active gay men, injection drug users and other groups considered high risk will no longer be accepted as organ donors.
CALIFORNIAS BEST GAY AND LESBIAN BARS AND CLUBS
Los Angeles/WEHO/Santa Monica/Hollywood
(Jewel’s) Catch One
4067 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 734-8849
Circus Disco
6655 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 462-1291
Club Coco Bongo
3311 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90007, (213) 748-2682, Fri., Sat. and Sun.
Girl Bar
At the Factory 652 N Lapeer Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90069, (310) 659-4551
Isis
Every Tuesday at Club 7969, 7969 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 654-0280, hotline (562) 591-2032
The Palms
8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-6188
Shotgun at Gauntlet II
4219 Santa Monica Blvd., Silverlake Every Wednesday
The Treehouse at Overlook
1745 Vermont Ave., Los Feliz Doors open at 9 PM
South Bay
The Dolphin
1995 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach (310) 318-3339
Long Beach
Club Broadway
3348 Pacific Coast HWY, (562) 438-7700
The Executive Suite
3428 Pacific Coast HWY, (562) 597-3884
Flaunt at Mick and Mack’s
Every 2nd Saturday, 740 E. Broadway www.clubflaunt.com (562) 983-7001
S.F. Valley
Club Sabor Latino
Every Saturday at The Oxwood Inn, 13713 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, (818) 997-9666
Moonshadow
10437 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 508-7008
Oil Can Harry’s
11502 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 760-9749
Oxnard Inn
13713 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, (818) 997-9666
La Victoria
19655 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91135, (818) 998-8464
Orange County
Feline Club at Quan’s Rockin Sushi
1107 Tustin Ave., Orange, CA 92869, (714) 532-6311
Shady Nook
151 S. Kraemer Blvd., Brea, CA (714) 672-9440
The Boom Boom Room
Thursday nights, 1401 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-7588
Kern County
Paradise
902 19th ST, Bakersfield
The Casablanca
1825 N. St., Bakersfield, (661) 324-0661
Pomona
The Hook Up
1047 E. 2nd St., (909) 620-2844
Robbie’s
390 College Plaza East, (909) 620-4371
Riverside
Hunters PS
Sunday 3-8PM at Hunters Video Bar, 302 E. Areans Road, Palm Springs, (760) 323-0700
San Bernardino
The Lark
917 Inland Center Dr., San Bernardino ( 909) 884-8770
The Westside 15
16868 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville, (760) 243-9600
San Diego
Six Degrees
3175 India St., San Diego, (619) 296-6789
Kickers
308 University Ave., Hillcrest, (619) 491-0400
Ventura County
Paddy McDermott’s
2 W. Main St., Ventura, (805) 652-1071
Rumors
Friday and Saturday www.rumorsnightclub.com 281 W. Main St., Ventura, (805) 643-9378
San Francisco Bay Area
Cabel’s Reef
2272 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 451-3777
The Café
2367 Market St., San Francisco, (415) 861-3846
Cherry Bar and Lounge
917 Folsom street @ 5th. A seven day a week lesbian dance club. ( 415) 974-1585
D.J.’s Piano Bar
1535 Olympic Blvd., Walnut Creek, (925) 930-0300
El Rio
3158 Mission Blvd.
THIS MONTHS GAY HOROSCOPES
ARIES (March 21-April 20):
The New Year brings big business, Aries, as early January finds the Sun and Mercury at the top of your chart! January 4th sparks learning & travel as the Moon & Venus favor your sign. January 8th’s New Moon suggests you use intuition for new professional plans. January 22nd’s Full Moon at the Saturn/Mars midpoint can bring a serious romantic interest. Late January through early February finds beneficial Venus, expansive Jupiter, and powerful Pluto enhancing your big business picture!
TAURUS (April 21-May 21):
Talk it up, Taurus! Starting January 7th, communicative Mercury at the top of your chart is a real business builder! January 18th-22nd offer big financial developments as “big shot” Jupiter joins forces with bottom-line Saturn. January 22nd’s Full Moon at the Saturn/Mars midpoint brings an overhaul at home. A simultaneous Mercury/Neptune contact advises you to get facts in detail & in writing.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21):
A roaring start to your New Year, Gemini, so rev those twin engines! Powerful partnerships surface as January 1st & 2nd find Pluto aligned with Mars in your sign! January 5th & 6th’s Venus/Saturn contact helps harness all that energy and direct into conservative and practical channels. The 11th & 12th find you innovative & exciting as Venus & Uranus align. Power is yours for the taking. Passion is yours for the making!
CANCER: (June 22–July 23):
Here comes the Sun, Cancer! And Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Pluto! You’ve got a planetary bonanza in your partnership sector with half the solar system on the scene! Mercury, active through January 7th, suggests you capitalize on writing & communication skills. January 8th’s New Moon can bring an important new relationship. Late month finds the “love & money” planet Venus joining beneficial Jupiter. Powerful partnerships are the norm!
LEO: (July 24–Aug. 23):
Look homeward, Angel! An idealistic viewpoint is likely this month with Mercury & Neptune in your partnership sphere. Compassion and intuition are at an all-time high, but are best balanced by consistent action and practical measures. Check the facts and don’t believe everything you hear. Matters of heart & home are particularly strong on the 22nd with the Full Moon in your sign!
VIRGO: (Aug. 24–Sept. 23):
Rewards for past efforts arrive, Virgo, as almost half the solar system cozies up to your sign! You walk a line on intensive home and business matters on January 1st & 2nd as Mars & Pluto align. The 5th & 6th can bring valuable home & family restructuring or commitments as Venus activates Saturn in your sign. The 8th’s New Moon favors artistry, pleasure, and romance. Major commitments are best before the 28th when Mercury slows for a 2.5 week retrograde. Pleasure empowers productivity.
LIBRA: (Sept. 24–Oct. 23):
Come on ‘a my house! Some house party, Libra, with half the solar system in your domestic sphere! Social, intellectual, and communication skills are strong as January 7th finds Mercury starting a 9.5-week activation of your sign. New developments on the homefront are encouraged by January 8th’s New Moon. Late January-early February’s Mercury/Neptune alliance heightens artistic & romantic inspiration. Don’t be swayed. Do swoon!
SCORPIO: (Oct. 24–Nov. 22):
Check the checkbook, Scorpio! Positive financial options arise as January 4th finds the Moon and Venus conjoined in your money sector. Don’t get overextended on the homefront as late January through early February finds Mercury & dreamy Neptune conjoined in your domestic sector. Make home a sanctuary or place for spiritual renewal. Take care with reputation and career during the 22nd’s Full Moon. Integrity is essential.
SAGITTARIUS: (Nov. 23–Dec. 21):
Now that’s “horse power,” Sag! Your New Year’s blast from the past intensifies your future as January 1st & 2nd finds passionate Mars & powerful Pluto aligned. Benefits through home, family, or women are likely on the 4th as the Moon & Venus align. Quirky Uranus makes the 11th & 12th exciting, but unpredictable. Significant financial & romantic opportunities continue until the 24th with the “love & money” planet Venus in your sign!
CAPRICORN: (Dec. 22–Jan. 20):
Fortune now smiles on you, Capricorn, with the “good luck” planet Jupiter spending until early January 2009 in your sign! New Year’s 2008 finds confidence & communication strong until January 7th as the Sun & Mercury join forces in your sign. New personal & professional partnership directions are encouraged by January 8th’s New Moon in your sign. Late January through early February enhances both romance & finance as Venus & Jupiter meet in your sign!
AQUARIUS: (Jan. 21–Feb. 19):
Angels in America are now looking, Aquarius, to your sign! On January 7th, planetary messenger Mercury begins a 9.5-week passage through your sign. Significant personal & professional partnerships come to the fore with January 22nd’s Full Moon in your relationship sphere. A Mercury/Neptune alignment from late January through early February finds inspiration, idealism, and intuition on the rise. Be practical. Face all facts to prevent surprise.
PISCES: (Feb. 20–March 20):
A splashy start to your New Year’s, Pisces! Passion and power are strong as January 1st & 2nd find Mars & Pluto both activating your sign. Take constructive action to overhaul both home and career. January 4th’s Moon/Venus contact brings benefits from family & home. The 5th & 6th’s Venus/Saturn contact encourages a practical accounting. The 11th & 12th’s unpredictable Venus/Uranus contact can bring excitement or innovation in both finance and romance. Mars, “direct” on the 30th, adds stability to home. Smooth waters. No foam!
TEN THINGS LESBIANS SHOULD DISCUSS WITH THEIR DOCTORS
Most commonly of concern for lesbians. While not all of these items apply to everyone, it’s wise to be aware of these issues.
1. Breast Cancer
Lesbians have the richest concentration of risk factors for breast cancer than any subset of women in the world. Combine this with the fact that many lesbians over 40 do not get routine mammograms, do breast self-exams, or have a clinical breast exam, and this cancer may elude early diagnosis, when it is most curable.
2. Depression/Anxiety
Lesbians have been shown to experience chronic stress from homophobic discrimination. This stress is compounded by the need that some still have to hide their orientation from family and colleagues at work, and by the fact that many lesbians have lost the important emotional support most others get from their families due to alienation stemming from their sexual orientation.
3. Heart Health
Smoking and obesity are the most prevalent risk factors for heart disease among lesbians; but all lesbians need to also get an annual clinical exam because this is when blood pressure is checked, cholesterol is measured, diabetes is diagnosed, and exercise is discussed. Preventing heart disease, which kills 45 percent of women, should be paramount to every clinical visit.
4. Gynecological Cancer
Lesbians have higher risks for many of the gynecologic cancers. What they may not know is that having a yearly exam by a gynecologist can significantly facilitate early diagnosis and a better chance of cure.
5. Fitness
Research confirms that lesbians have higher body mass than heterosexual women. Obesity is associated with higher rates of heart disease, cancers, and premature death. What lesbians need is competent and supportive advice about healthy living and healthy eating, as well as healthy exercise.
6. Tobacco
Research also indicates that lesbians may use tobacco and smoking products more often than heterosexual women use them. Whether smoking is used as a tension reducer or for social interactions, addiction frequently follows and is associated with higher rates of cancers, heart disease, and emphysema — the three major causes of death among all women.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol use and abuse may be higher among lesbians. While one drink daily may be good for the heart, more than that can be a risk factor for cancer or osteoporosis.
8. Substance Use
Research indicates that lesbians may use illicit drugs more often than heterosexual women. This may be due to added stressors in lesbian lives from discrimination. Lesbians need support from each other and from health care providers to find healthy releases, quality recreation, stress reduction, and coping techniques.
9. Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is reported to occur in about 11 percent of lesbian homes, about half the rate of 20 percent reported by heterosexual women. But the question is where do lesbians go when they are battered? Shelters need to welcome and include battered lesbians, and offer counseling to the offending partners.
10. Osteoporosis
The rates and risks of osteoporosis among lesbians have not been well characterized yet. Calcium and weight-bearing exercise as well as the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol are the mainstays of prevention. It is also important to get bone density tests every few years to see if medication is needed to prevent fracture.
HOW TO HAVE SAFER GAY SEX
SAFE SEX & AIDS: AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. HIV can be spread by four body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. You cannot get infected unless the virus in one of these fluids reaches your bloodstream. Saliva alone cannot spread HIV.
Safe sex, as it applies to HIV, is any type of sex which does not let one person's blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk get inside another person's body. Below is a useful set of guidelines produced by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. These guidelines are useful in preventing transmission of other STDs as well.
Wet Kissing: is safe unless either of you has a cut or sore in your mouth, or bleeding gums. (After you brush or floss your teeth, wait at least 1/2 hour before kissing.) Blood, not saliva, contains the virus.
Touching your lover's breasts is safe. You can lick, suck, kiss and bite them too-as long as there's no blood or breast milk. Massage, dry kissing, masturbation (touching yourself), and body-to-body rubbing are all safe.
Putting your fingers inside her can be risky. To be safe, wear latex gloves. If you use a lubricant, be sure it is water-based. (Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline and hand lotion will damage the latex.)
Sores or cuts on your fingers, mouth or vagina, or on her's, increase the risk. Sores and cuts can provide a way for the virus to get inside you. If you touch her vagina and then touch your own (or vice-versa), you could spread the virus. Be sure to use gloves in between!
Contact with menstrual blood is very risky. If she is infected, her menstrual blood (like other blood) will have a lot of virus in it.
Oral sex on a woman is risky, especially when she has her period. To make it safe, cover her vulva (genital area) with a piece of plastic wrap. This will keep her fluids out of your mouth. Latex dams-also called "dental dams" - are safe to use for oral sex too.
Sex toys are safe by themselves, but it is risky to share them. If you share dildos or vibrators, cover them with a condom and put on a fresh one every time it is used by a different person.
Getting pregnant can be risky. If you have sex with a man or have a man donate sperm to you, make sure he tests HIV negative at least 6 months after his last possible risk. (All licensed sperm banks test their donors carefully.)
SM activities are safe if there is no blood involved. If you are piercing each other, clean the needle with bleach between users. Use different razors if you shave each other. Don't let urine or feces of another person get inside your body.
HOW TO HAVE SAFER GAY SEX
SAFE SEX & AIDS: AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. HIV can be spread by four body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. You cannot get infected unless the virus in one of these fluids reaches your bloodstream. Saliva alone cannot spread HIV.
Safe sex, as it applies to HIV, is any type of sex which does not let one person's blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk get inside another person's body. Below is a useful set of guidelines produced by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. These guidelines are useful in preventing transmission of other STDs as well.
Wet Kissing: is safe unless either of you has a cut or sore in your mouth, or bleeding gums. (After you brush or floss your teeth, wait at least 1/2 hour before kissing.) Blood, not saliva, contains the virus.
Touching your lover's breasts is safe. You can lick, suck, kiss and bite them too-as long as there's no blood or breast milk. Massage, dry kissing, masturbation (touching yourself), and body-to-body rubbing are all safe.
Putting your fingers inside her can be risky. To be safe, wear latex gloves. If you use a lubricant, be sure it is water-based. (Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline and hand lotion will damage the latex.)
Sores or cuts on your fingers, mouth or vagina, or on her's, increase the risk. Sores and cuts can provide a way for the virus to get inside you. If you touch her vagina and then touch your own (or vice-versa), you could spread the virus. Be sure to use gloves in between!
Contact with menstrual blood is very risky. If she is infected, her menstrual blood (like other blood) will have a lot of virus in it.
Oral sex on a woman is risky, especially when she has her period. To make it safe, cover her vulva (genital area) with a piece of plastic wrap. This will keep her fluids out of your mouth. Latex dams-also called "dental dams" - are safe to use for oral sex too.
Sex toys are safe by themselves, but it is risky to share them. If you share dildos or vibrators, cover them with a condom and put on a fresh one every time it is used by a different person.
Getting pregnant can be risky. If you have sex with a man or have a man donate sperm to you, make sure he tests HIV negative at least 6 months after his last possible risk. (All licensed sperm banks test their donors carefully.)
SM activities are safe if there is no blood involved. If you are piercing each other, clean the needle with bleach between users. Use different razors if you shave each other. Don't let urine or feces of another person get inside your body.
I have a recurring tiny white hard itchy pimple on my vulva. What is this?
A:
It's impossible to say without examining you, so I suggest you seek care from a knowledgeable provider with experience in women's health and genital complaints. Many conditions can do this, ranging from bacterial folliculitis to genital herpes to a blockage of a pore or gland.
CAN I GET HERPES IN THE MOUTH LESBIAN STD QUESTIONS
Q:
I have been sexually active with a woman who has herpes type2. My question is since she has no breakouts, whats the odds that I can get it from genitals to mouth??
A:
Actually, most transmission of HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type-2) from one person's genitals to another person's genitals occurs during times when the infected person has no symptoms. This is because the virus is shed from the genitals even when ulcers or sores are not present (unfortunately). So, while the odds of transmitting it in a given sexual encounter are usually low, over time, they increase. As far as transmitting HSV-2 to the mouth, this can occur, but it doesn't seem to happen very often in adults, at least in a way that ends up in symptoms in the mouth or throat.
LESBIAN STD QUESTIONS
Q:
Recently I had oral sex preformed on me and another woman at the same time, by a man. Is it possible to spread any std's this way? He penetrated her, but not me, but gave both of us oral sex and inserted his fingers into her and then into me. Should I be worried?
A:
Several STD's can be transmitted through oral sex alone (from an infected person's mouth to the recipient's genital area), including herpes (type 1, in particular) and gonorrhea (primarily for the person who performs oral sex on a penis). Moreover, if the male partner in your threesome transmitted vaginal fluid from your female partner to you, any infection she had in her vaginal fluid (including trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea) could conceivably be transmitted into your vagina as well.
Can women give other women STDs?
Yes!!
There is a misconception among health care providers and women themselves that lesbian and bisexual women have little or no risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This myth is fueled by the lack of reliable studies of STD transmission in these communities.
In fact, the risk of STD transmission between women varies significantly depending on the STD. Herpes, HPV (genital wart virus), and bacterial vaginosis are transmitted fairly easily between women during sex. HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are much less likely to be transmitted--the risk is low but it is still possible.
The majority of lesbian and bisexual women have (or have had) sex with men, and all STDs are easily transmitted from men to women during intercourse. Often STD do not have symptoms, so it is possible for a woman to have become infected years ago and to still harbor the infection.
It is important that you share your particular sexual history with a GLBT-friendly health care provider who can advise you of the appropriate STD screening tests for you. All women, including lesbian and bisexual women, need to receive regular Pap tests.
HIV
Often people worry more about HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) than about any other STD. HIV is transmitted when infected sexual fluids or blood enter another person's bloodstream.
There are little research specifically concerning woman-to-woman transmission of HIV. It has been documented in several studies that women who have had sex only with other women, and have not used intravenous drugs, are at low risk for HIV. Although there are case reports of woman-to-woman transmission through oral sex or shared sex toys, this is an uncommon transmission route. The risk of exposure to HIV in menstrual blood is not known, but could provide another means of transmission between women.
Women who have had sexual contact with men, which includes the majority of women who identify as lesbian, have a higher risk for HIV. Women who have had unprotected sex with gay or bisexual men, or men who have injected drugs, are at an especially high risk.
Herpes and HPV
Genital herpes and the human papillomavirus (HPV) are more likely to be transmitted between women than HIV is because they can be transmitted by skin-to-skin, genital-to-genital, or mouth-to-genital contact.
In addition, because these viruses are not curable and stay in the body, a woman could acquire herpes or HPV from a male partner and later pass it on to a female partner. Case studies and recent research support this possibility. As HPV can lead to cervical cancer, lesbians and bisexual women need Pap tests on a regular basis, just as heterosexual women do.
Bacterial STDs
While chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are less likely to be transmitted between women, it does happen rarely. One study found that four of 241 lesbians had one of these infections. An April 2000 article in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports of two lesbians diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is usually caused by untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. These studies show that lesbians are at a low, but not nonexistant risk for bacterial STDs, reinforcing the need for providers to obtain full and complete sexual histories.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Researchers are especially interested in bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women both because it occurs frequently among lesbians and because the cause and transmission of BV is not clearly understood. In one study over half of the lesbians had BV and BV was diagnosed even in the absence of sexual activity with a man in the previous year. Additionally, there was a high likelihood that if one partner in a monogamous couple had BV her partner would as well.
It is important for both providers and lesbian and bisexual women to remember that orientation and identity are not enough to assess risk of STDs. A woman's history--particularly her sexual activity with men--and her sexual behaviors are more reliable and comprehensive indicators of risk
What is the difference between a gay hate crime and any other crime?
What sets hate crimes apart from other acts of violence is the psychological damage that they leave behind. Although any type of victimization carries with it psychological consequences, certain types of emotional reactions are more frequent among survivors of hate crimes. These feelings include depression, anxiety, fear, stress and anger. The American Psychological Association has determined that victims of hate crimes suffer the symptoms of post-traumatic stress for up to five years, in comparison to two years for victims of non-bias-related crimes.
Hate crime laws are laws that enhance the penalties imposed by the courts for individuals convicted of acts of bias-related violence. These laws, although controversial, are designed to act as a deterrent by punishing hate crime perpetrators more severely than those who commit similar types of violent acts that are not motivated by hatred. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia have laws against hate crimes. Of those, 21 include sexual orientation in categories protected. Washington State law protects victims of hate crimes based on sexual orientation.
Finally, survivors of hate crimes are less likely than victims of other types of violence to report attacks against them to the police. It has been estimated that up to 80% of bias-crimes are never reported to the authorities. There are many reasons for this. Minority groups, including GLBT communities, have historically had strained relations with law enforcement and fear that crimes against them will not be taken seriously or that the police reaction will be unsympathetic or hostile.
In addition, survivors of anti-GLBT hate crimes may also be concerned that reporting attacks against them may expose them to increased risk by being "outed" to families and communities as a sexual minority. In many parts of the country (though not in King County, WA), individuals can be fired from jobs or evicted from their rental homes just for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Many hate crime survivors suffer the trauma of victimization in silence rather than to expose themselves to these forms of "secondary victimization."
What to do if you are the victim
Almost any reaction to being a hate crime victim should be considered normal. Emotional reactions can include denial or trying to forget that the crime ever happened. Anger, fear, depression, and anxiety are also common. Survivors of violent crime may also experience physical problems that seem unrelated to an assault. Such symptoms can include headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, change in appetite, irritability, withdrawal and sexual difficulties.
The most important thing to do is to find someone safe you can tell about the incident. Talking about the experience to supportive friends, family members and loved ones can help you to begin the process of understanding what happened to you and recovering from the assault.
Remember that being a hate crime victim is NEVER your fault. Members of the GLBT community have every right to be who they are, wherever they want, whenever they want.
Other important things to do if you are the victim of a hate crime include:
Get medical attention. If you were attacked, go to a health care provider or hospital emergency room, even if you do not believe that you have been seriously injured. Do this as soon after an assault as possible. If you were raped as part of the crime (and rape is a common form of hate crime), make sure that emergency room staff know this and collect the appropriate evidence.
Document the incident. Write down everything that was said and done by the perpetrators, including the time and location of the incident. If you are harassed over the telephone or email, keep a log of harassing phone calls and copies of voice mail messages or emails, if available. Document physical injuries with photographs. (Remember that bruises often will not appear until several days after an attack.) Keep any notes or other written harassment.
Reporting harassment and violence at school to school staff
If you are verbally or physically attacked at school, or you are threatened or otherwise harassed, you may want to report it to staff. If you do, choose the person you expect to be the most respectful, whether that is a security guard, a particular teacher, or another adult you trust.
Schools can and should make changes to protect you from harassment. Some changes that schools have made, and which you can request, include:
for an adult to be assigned to the particular place and time of day when and where the harassment is worst
to be allowed to use a faculty bathroom, because the student bathroom is unsafe
for the offenders' class to be changed (the class you share)
for the offenders to be barred from finishing the season (if they are your teammates)
for the teachers to have an in-service workshop to learn how to intervene
for Mr. or Ms. X (the staff person who has witnessed the bullying in silence) to be warned that if they don't intervene, they will be disciplined
to be allowed to drop the class in which the bullying is happening or to be given home-study assignments so you can finish it safely.
If the adult to whom you go is not supportive, or if they don't take action, consider involving your parent or guardian or another trusted adult from outside the school.
Reporting crimes to the police
There is no requirement that you report a crime to the police. This decision is yours as the survivor of a crime.
There are some good reasons to consider reporting the hate crime against you to local law enforcement authorities. In the eyes of the law, an unreported crime is a crime that never occurred. Reporting incidents against you may not only help you feel better, but may also result in the identification, arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. Hate crime reports can also help the police to identify patterns of crimes that are targeting the GLBT communities.
If possible, take someone with you when you go to the police to provide support and to help communicate the specific details of the crime. Be prepared emotionally for the possibility of an unsupportive or hostile response by the police. Despite what some unsympathetic law enforcement officers may say to you, remember that the crime against you was not your fault.
If you decide to report the crime, here are some tips:
1. Stress that the crime was motivated by hate based on perceived sexual orientation. You do not have to reveal your sexual orientation to report the crime and you should not be asked to. It is the perpetrator's perception that matters. Whether or not the perception is correct is irrelevant under the law.
2. Describe in detail the hate or prejudice that was expressed and what caused you to fear harm. Examples:
"They approached in a menacing manner, called me 'Faggot!' in an angry voice, and then threatened to kill me."
"They drove by us as we walked down the sidewalk, shouted 'Dykes!' out the window and hurled a beer bottle at us."
3. If you have any physical pain at all, insist that it be recorded on the police report. By law, this is required of the officer even if you decline medical attention at the scene.
4. Get the incident number from the responding officer.
5. Ask how to get a copy of the police report.
6. Get the officer's name and badge number.
Safety tips
Violence and harassment against the gay community is real. Not every attack can be prevented, and it is never your fault if you are attacked or harassed. There are things you can do reduce your risk. Your primary consideration should be your personal survival.
Stay alert. Awareness is your best self-defense; know what is happening around you. Be especially careful if you are alone or have been drinking. Watch where you are going and what is going on around you.
Plan a safe walking route. Use well-lit, busy streets. Keep a safe distance between you and others, and always have an out (somewhere you can turn to run if you feel threatened).
Walk with friends or a group. When you are out late at night, have a friend accompany you - don't go alone. If you feel uneasy, trust your instincts and go directly to a place where there are other people.
Project confidence. Walk as if you know where you're going. Stand tall. Walk in a confident manner, and hold your head up.
Carry a whistle. If you feel threatened, blow your whistle, bang garbage cans, honk your horn, or shout to attract attention. Noise may be your most effective defense.
Take action if you feel threatened. Cross the street, change direction, run to a place where there are other people, or walk closer to traffic. Step out in the street on the other side of parked cars.
If you are being followed in a car, turn around and walk quickly in the opposite direction. Get the license plate number and a description, if possible.
If you are being followed on foot, turn around to let the person know that you have seen them. Immediately cross the street or run toward a place where a number of people will be.
If you decide to bring someone home, introduce him or her to a friend, acquaintance or bartender so that someone knows who you left with. Let your date know you spread the word about him or her.
Are your homosexual behaviors wrong?
Most people who have same-sex attractions or who have had sex with others of the same sex don't see these feelings and behaviors as problems, nor do they wish they were heterosexual. In one study, only 15% of gay adolescents and adults had not achieved a sense of "positive" identity; 85% were proud or at peace with being gay. In his book, "Familiar Faces; Hidden Lives" Dr. Howard Brown notes three reasons why some same-sex oriented people have felt that their "condition" (same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior) was a problem: First, some (certainly not all) religions have condemned homosexuality as immoral and have refused them the recognition and services provided to heterosexual members; second, some societies have passed laws prohibiting homosexual behaviors and some of these are still "on the books"; and third, some systems of medicine have made homosexuality a diagnosis to be treated. Of these three areas of possible difficulty for homosexuals, Dr. Brown believed making homosexuality a diagnosis, presumably based on science, was the most damaging.
Myths about same-sex domestic violence
MYTH: "Violence between two men or two women is a 'fight' between equals."
Truth: Domestic violence is not the same as a consensual fight, no matter who is involved. Loving, healthy relationships do not include physical fighting. Domestic violence is about control and domination of one person by another; either person could be male, either person could be female. Batterers do not have to be bigger or stronger than the person they abuse.
MYTH: "If you fight back, then it's not abuse."
Truth: Fighting back is not abuse, nor does it make the relationship "mutually abusive." Survivors have used violence for many reasons, including self-defense, desperation, anger, and to try to stop the abuse. When survivors use violence the results can be complicated. Police are often confused by same-sex domestic violence and may arrest the wrong or both parties. Friends may disbelieve the survivor. Using violence to survive is a sign that something is wrong -- making a plan to get support is important.
MYTH: "Women are not violent."
Truth: There is ample evidence that both genders have capacity for violence. Some women abuse other women, men, and children. Abusers and their victims come from all genders, races, classes, religions, and regions.
MYTH: "Lesbian relationships are based on equality - lesbians have ideal, loving relationships."
Truth: Lesbian relationships are just as good and as bad as all other relationships and have most of the same problems. The myth that lesbian relationships are perfect leads to silence among lesbians who are abused.
MYTH: "Domestic violence primarily occurs among GLBT people who hang out at bars, are poor or are people of color."
Truth: Abusers and their victims come from all genders, races, classes, religions, and regions. Racist and classist stereotypes around domestic violence are common not just in the GLBT community, but also in the dominant heterosexual culture.
MYTH: "The law does not and will not protect victims of same-sex domestic violence."
Truth: Although many law enforcement professionals and court systems are still confused about same-sex domestic violence, there have been many constructive changes in recent years. In many jurisdictions, mandatory arrest policies require the police to intervene and arrest the person they perceive to be the batterer. Although many police remain confused when attempting to sort out incidents involving same gender couples and may end up arresting the wrong or both parties in a battering situation, opportunities to educate and train the police and courts about the realities of domestic violence in same-sex relationships are increasing.
Differences between same-sex and opposite-sex domestic violence
Although domestic violence is largely the same in heterosexual and homosexual relationships, gay, lesbian and bisexual victims of domestic violence have some additional problems.
Are lesbian and bisexual women at greater risk for cervical cancer?
We do not have enough information to know for sure. Lesbians and bisexual women may be at less risk of acquiring HPV if they have less sexual intercourse with men. However, many lesbians and bisexual women do or have had sexual intercourse with men. Furthermore, HPV is transmitted between women during sex.
There is evidence that lesbians and bisexual women are less likely seek routine health care because of the discomfort of coming out to health care providers and less access to health insurance. Additionally, because lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to need birth control, they are less likely to have regular gynecological check-ups and Pap tests. For these reasons, lesbians and bisexual women may be at greater risk for cervical cancer as precancerous cervical cell changes would be less likely to be detected at earlier, more treatable, stages.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include spots of blood on your underwear, pain during or bleeding after penetrative sexual activity and unusual vaginal discharges. Sometimes there are no symptoms until the cancer has progressed, underscoring the importance of regular Pap tests.
Diagnosis
The Pap test is simple, quick and usually not painful, although it may be uncomfortable. Your health care provider uses a speculum to hold open the vagina while swabbing the cervix to collect a sample of cells. These samples are then smeared on glass slides and sent to be examined under a microscope. Results are generally available in 1-2 weeks.
If your Pap test comes back with abnormal results, your doctor may perform a colposcopy (your cervix is examined through a device called a colposcope that magnifies the view of the cervix) and/or a biopsy. If these tests show cancer, further tests are necessary to determine if the disease has spread to other organs.
Treatment
Cervical cancer is treated primarily by surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. If the cancer is only on the outer wall of the cervix, doctors can often remove the area surgically with relative ease. If it has spread to the uterus or other organs, a hysterectomy or other surgery may be necessary. Radiation can also be very effective. Chemotherapy may be part of the treatment, if the cancer has spread.
How to reduce your risk for cervical cancer
Have a Pap test at age 18 (or when you become sexually active, whichever comes first) and every year for three years. If you have had three negative annual Pap tests in a row, your health care provider may recommend that you have it somewhat less often (every 2-3 years) depending upon your risk.
Try to limit your risk of contracting HPV, a virus that can cause cervical cancer, by limiting the number of your sexual partners and by delaying the age at which you become sexually active.
Don't smoke cigarettes.
Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat.
Health information for lesbian and bisexual women
Your health and safety are extremely important. Lesbian and bisexual women are as diverse as the entire community. Like the general population, lesbian and bisexual women vary in terms of age, income, cultural background, affiliation with the lesbian community, and education. Also like the general population, lesbian and bisexual women are varied in their physical activity levels, sexual behaviors, diet, health history, genetics and other factors that affect overall health.
The following general health recommendations for lesbian and bisexual women (and all women) help promote health and prevent disease:
Not smoking and avoiding smoky places.
Eating a healthy and varied diet that is low in fat and high in fiber.
Drinking only in moderation.
Regular health exams and screening for STDs.
Regular Pap tests and STD exams.
Regular breast exams and mammograms after age 40
Tetanus immunization booster every 10 years.
30 minutes of aerobic activity 3-4 times per week.
Some lesbian and bisexual women also have particular health concerns, such as increased risk of hate crimes and breast cancer.
Are lesbian and bisexual women at greater risk for breast cancer?
Being a lesbian does not increase your risk for breast cancer, but having one or more of the risk factors below might. A lesbian or bisexual woman without these risk factors is at no greater risk than a heterosexual woman.
Lesbians are less likely to seek routine health care because of the discomfort of coming out to health care providers and less access to health insurance. With fewer doctor visits, lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to have mammograms and professional breast exams. Studies also show that lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to perform breast self-exam regularly. For these reasons, lesbians and bisexual women may be less likely to have cancers detected at earlier, more treatable, stages.
Lesbians are less likely to give birth by age 30 if at all, which increases risk.
Some studies indicate that lesbians may use alcohol more and have higher body weight, both of which may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.
What causes Homosexuality/Heterosexuality/Bisexuality?
No one knows what causes heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. Homosexuality was once thought to be the result of troubled family dynamics or faulty psychological development. Those assumptions are now understood to have been based on misinformation and prejudice. Currently there is a renewed interest in searching for biological etiologies for homosexuality. However, to date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality. Similarly, no specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse. Sexual abuse does not appear to be more prevalent in
children who grow up to identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, than in children who identify as heterosexual.
Is It Possible To Change One’s Sexual Orientation
There is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of “reparative therapy” as a treatment to change one’s sexual orientation, nor is it included in the APA’s Task Force Report, Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. More importantly, altering sexual orientation is not an appropriate goal of psychiatric treatment. Some may seek conversion to heterosexuality because of the difficulties that they encounter as a member of a stigmatized group. Clinical experience indicates that those who have integrated their sexual orientation into a positive sense of self-function at a healthier psychological level than those who have not. “Gay affirmative psychotherapy” may be helpful in the coming out process, fostering a positive psychological development and overcoming the effects of stigmatization. A position statement adopted by the Board in December 1998 said:
The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as “reparative” or “conversion” therapy, which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder, or based upon a prior assumption that the patient should change his/ her homosexual orientation.”
What Do the Parents of Gay Men/Lesbian/Bisexuals experience?
When a person “comes out “ to their parents, it can be a very emotionally trying experience for all involved. Most parents are concerned for the welfare of their children, recognizing the difficulties posed by being a member of a stigmatized group. Often parents also fear rejection by their own family, friends, religious, or social groups. Fortunately, support exists for parents who are struggling to come to terms with their child’s homosexuality. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is an organization comprised of the families of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals that provides information and assistance to parents and families. Family or individual psychotherapy can be very helpful in dealing with questions and concerns about a gay child
How Do the Children of Gay/Lesbians Parents Fare?
Many gay men and women are parents. For example, estimates of the numbers of lesbian mothers range from 1 to 5 million and with the number of children ranging from 6 to 14 million. Most gay parents conceived their children in prior heterosexual marriages. Recently an increasing number of gay parents have conceived children and raised them from birth either as single parents or in committed relationships. Often this is done through alternative insemination, adoption or through foster parenting. Numerous studies have shown that the children of gay parents are as likely to be healthy and well adjusted as children raised in heterosexual households. Children raised in gay or lesbian households do not show any greater incidence of homosexuality or gender identity issues than other children. Children raised in nontraditional homes with gay/lesbian parents can encounter some special challenges related to the ongoing stigma against homosexuality, but most children surmount these problems.
LINDSAY LOHAN SAYS I AM NOT A LESBIAN
Lohan attended a housewarming party at the Los Angeles home of "Power Lesbian" Jeanette Longoria with Semel, the daughter of Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel,.
The duo refer to themselves as roommates, and one Hollywood insider claimed they've been living together in a house in LA for about a month.
"Lindsay came with Courtenay to the party around midnight and they stayed for an hour,". "The girls held hands and were with each other the whole time.", "Every time I see Lindsay, there's Courtenay. They are always together." say's those in the know.
A rep for Lohan says, "The two are good friends, nothing more."
Also at the party were Diana Ross' son, Evan Ross, and Lohan frenemy Brandon Davis. "Lindsay seemed really nervous," said the source. "It was the first time she's seen a lot of people from her past life and she seemed socially awkward - like she was sticking by Courtenay for support." The close pals left together, and were spotted the next day shopping in Beverly Hills.
TAXI DRIVER RAPES LESBIAN AND CALLS IT CONSENUAL SEX
A Sydney taxi driver charged with raping his passenger claims the sex was consensual, despite a Sydney court being told the alleged victim is a lesbian.
MD Kowsar Ali, 23, appeared in the NSW Supreme Court to make a fresh application for bail over the November 3 incident that he claims involved consensual sex with an 18-year-old woman who had hired his cab.
"The allegation is the applicant removed the victim from the front seat to the back seat, violently removed her clothing and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent," Justice Ian Harrison said.
"The victim has given evidence to police that she was a gay woman and has not otherwise had sex with a man."
Justice Harrison denied bail, saying evidence found in the cab, teamed with the woman's sexuality, formed compelling parts of the prosecution's case.
The driver is charged with sexual intercourse without consent and aggravated robbery including deprivation of liberty.
Lesbian kills herself after a break-up
A woman who committed suicide Thursday at a hardware shop in Neihu District, Taipei, yesterday proved to be a lesbian who had allegedly killed herself after a break-up.
The student, 20, identified as Lin Hsiao-chun, was a junior in Chinese Culture University's Department of History,.
Lin entered a hardware shop on Cheng Kung Road in Neihu District, claiming that she wanted to buy a fruit knife. But immediately after taking a sharp knife from the rack, Lin stabbed the knife herself in the chest several times, and died while the shopkeeper was calling police.
Yesterday, a group of students went to the Neihu Police Precinct, suspecting the woman in question was their classmate. They positively identified her, and hinted to police that she had recently experienced romantic difficulties.
After further investigation, police found out that Lin was a lesbian, who had a girlfriend, surnamed Hsu.
Hsu told police she met Lin in September, and began seeing each other. But more than one month later, they reached an agreement to separate.
Hsu continued that she met with Lin Thursday morning for the last time on Cheng Kung Road in Neihu District, but Lin unexpectedly killed herself Thursday afternoon.
Social disapproval of lesbians is far greater even than that faced by homosexual or bisexual men
A study carried out by journalists in Cuba early this decade found that social disapproval of lesbians is far greater even than that faced by homosexual or bisexual men. Lesbians or bisexual women have greater difficulties coming out of the closet, in their families or in society, because of the traditional roles assigned to women and mothers.
Lesbians even come across incomprehension within the gay community, which is itself affected by the dominant machista culture. A man may do as he wishes with his life and his sexuality, according to many homosexual and bisexual men, but women are not accorded the same freedom.
Who is the most annoying celebrity?
Parade Magazine has released its 2007 Year-End Pop Culture Poll Results. Among the more notable results: Who is the most annoying celebrity?
Rosie O'Donnell -- 44% Paris Hilton -- 24% Ann Coulter -- 16% Heather Mills McCartney -- 12%
Miley Cyrus Defends 'Lesbian Pics'
They're no 'big deal', says the Hannah Montana star...
Miley Cyrus has spoken out over photos circulating the Internet that show the Hannah Montana star and a female friend in a series of mildly suggestive poses.
In the candid pics, Miley and a pal are shown romping around a hotel room floor and sharing a piece of candy.
However, the actress/singer says that the leaked shots are perfectly innocent and simply depict “two girls at a sleepover.”
They're nothing bad! At first, I was really upset. It really sucks.
"It's not something I'm going to let slide," she continued. "I'm really upset about it, 'cause it was, like, not even a big deal."
Miley describes the blonde with her in the shots as "a friend of mine that's a normal girl...That's one of my best friends. I have all these girls who I hang out with all the time."
She insists: "It's two girls at a sleepover, and if all of a sudden that's bad, then what is the world coming to?" You tell em' girl!!
83 YEAR OLD LESBIAN GOES PUBLIC
Loraine Barr placed the typed, four-page essay in an envelope, sealed it, and then, for three days, wondered if she had the nerve to send it.
"Am I really ready for this?" she thought.
Barr's essay was about a 44-year love affair she had kept from her parents, her relatives – even her dearest, closest friends.
"For heaven's sake," Barr said, recounting that day in May when she finally decided to mail off her essay. "I'm 88 years old. What difference does it make to anybody? It doesn't make a difference to anybody now."
Barr's essay appears in the current (Sept. 3) edition of Newsweek.
All week, the calls have been coming in – several dozen messages of overwhelming support from friends, relatives and strangers who looked up Barr's listed telephone number.
She didn't write the essay for her friends or relatives.
She didn't write it for strangers.
She didn't even write it for her lifelong partner, who died nine years ago.
She wrote it for herself.
FORBIDDEN LOVE
To the outside world, they were roommates – keeping separate bedrooms for appearances.
To each other, Barr and Mary Frances Piercey were the loves of each other's lives.
They felt incredibly grateful to have found each other, and incredibly lucky to have spent more than four decades together.
Barr and Piercey also felt that theirs was "the love that dare not speak its name."
Both grew up at a time when people didn't talk openly about their sexual orientation. "Coming out" as a lesbian just didn't happen back then, Barr said.
So she and Piercey never talked about their relationship – and no one asked.
"It was not an issue," Barr said. "It wasan issue, but it was buried deeply."
Some people knew the nature of their relationship – but nothing ever was verbally acknowledged.
"I dated men a lot; I wanted to be popular," Barr said. "But it was never fun."
Barr's mother hoped she would marry and have children.
Sometimes, she would show friends a picture of Loraine holding a male doll and say, "That's my grandson."
Tasha from L Word is investigated for homosexual conduct under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy
"Attitude? There's a lot more to Tasha than her `attitude,'" Rollins says of the smoldering, secretive soldier she plays on "The L Word."
Then Rollins laughs loudly, passionately.
It's a laugh that may well be in short supply on the upcoming fifth season of the Showtime series, premiering 9 p.m. EST Sunday, when Tasha is investigated for homosexual conduct under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
"Tasha definitely comes to a crossroad," Rollins says during a location shoot at Venice Beach. "She will have to re-evaluate her life."
A captain in the Army National Guard and a decorated Iraqi war veteran, Tasha has remained in the closet throughout her military career.
"Her chances of staying in the military are not good," says executive producer Ilene Chaiken. "The only way someone like Tasha can stay in the military, under the `don't ask, don't tell' policy, is to be completely closeted and say, `No, I am not gay. These are lies being told about me.' And once charges have been brought, it becomes harder and harder to prove that (they're lies)."
Tasha quickly fell for out-and-proud Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), who runs a lesbian Web site, after accidentally injuring Alice in a brawl.
As the relationship deepened, Tasha was cautioned by her commanding officer for openly engaging in homosexual conduct. Meanwhile, Alice and Tasha argued bitterly about the war.
On the season premiere, Tasha begins the process of being discharged from the military.
As the season progresses, Alice is used as evidence against Tasha in a two-episode arc featuring Kelly McGillis ("Witness," "Top Gun") as Col. Gillian Davis, a by-the-book military lawyer.
"Alice ends up on the stand (at Tasha's hearing)," Hailey says. "That's when you see Alice in her full glory. She's not ashamed to speak out. She's not afraid to put her foot in her mouth. She's not afraid to be out of the closet."
As always, stormy relationships drive "The L Word" this season, from Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Jodi's (Marlee Matlin) contentious love connection, to Shane's (Katherine Moennig) infamous hook-ups.
A former model, Rollins never had qualms about playing the tough girl on "The L Word."
"It's my comfort zone. I hold a lot of things in. I'm careful with what I say, especially to people who don't know me well. I will seethe, I will boil, and then I will explode — if needed," she says. "And I think Tasha has a lot of that. But I am a pretty level-headed person overall and so is my character."
Ask Rollins what the future holds for Alice and Tasha and she laughs her signature lion-roar: "Does anyone not see the connection between the two of us?"
"Alice gets me to loosen up," Rollins says. "She aids me in realizing what it is I'm fighting for — not the soldier but Tasha as a woman, first. When you don't think we stand a chance, maybe we do. It is a good relationship."
Penélope Cruz and Her Sister Up in A Tree K*I* S* S* I* N*G
Penélope Cruz and her sister, Mónica, making out in their younger brother’s new music video are false.
Media outlets in Europe reported that singer Eduardo Cruz convinced his sisters to swap spit in the music video for “Cosas Que Contar,” the title track of his debut album. The story quickly spread through the blogoshere with headlines such as "Faux-Dyke Out" and "Cruz Incest Caught on Tape."
But I've got the real story. I can exclusively tell you the gal whom Penélope is smooching is actress Mía Maestro!
While Mónica and Penélope appear in the video as two beauties dubbing a lesbian porn flick into Spanish as well as bathing-suit-clad guitar players, Penélope’s rep tells me there was absolutely no lesbian lip-locking screen time between the two.
The 29-year-old Maestro and the Cruzes have been friends for years. The Argentinean starlet is best known in the U.S. for her work on TV’s Alias, playing Sydney Bristow's half-sister. But you can see how the rumors got started. Just look at the pics on the left. That's Mónica on the left and Maestro on the right,but hey it's still hot.
Active member of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign gay Houston city council member Sue Lovell to serve as Houston's vice mayor
Openly gay Houston city council member Sue Lovell was nominated and unanimously voted by her fellow council members to serve as Houston's vice mayor pro-tem on January 2, according to a press release from Lovell's chief of staff.
Council Member Lovell is currently beginning her second term as a member in At-Large Position 2.
Lovell is endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization that seeks to elect openly gay candidates to public office.
Lovell is also an active member of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
L WORD SHOWTIMES POWER DYKES WHAT LIES AHEAD
blogs are going crazy in anticipation of Sunday's 9 p.m. season-five Showtime premiere), and you'll find posters debating whether power dyke Bette should dump famous artist Jodi and get back together with movie producer Tina. And whether Tina should move on or go back to Bette, who, after all, is her baby's other mother.
As the first television show to tell the story of out, urban lesbians, The L Word has helped empower real gay women who had never before seen their lives so positively reflected in the media. And it has helped pave the way for more gay programming, including Exes & Ohs. A comedy series about a group of lesbian friends who hang out in a Seattle coffee house, it was launched last year by Logo, the gay and lesbian television network introduced by MTV Networks in 2005. (Logo has not decided if it will renew the series but later this year will air the first two seasons of The L Word, cleaned up to meet basic cable standards.)
The femme has always been overrepresented in films, says Jaime Babbit, a lesbian film and television director whose credits include the 2007 indie film Itty Bitty Titty Committee and a couple of episodes of The L Word, including the new season's second episode.
It's been great to have a show that at least is in the ball park in terms if how real lesbians live their lives,. ``In five years, the show has had enormous cultural significance. You just have to listen to Latino and African-American leaders and how they bemoan the absence of enough actors of color in TV and films. To be represented is to gain legitimacy.''
Plus, is it really so wrong to have some sugar-coated, girl-on-girl fun on TV? Even Kendell gets into the Bette and Tina fray. ``I think Bette and Tina are bad for each other. I don't get the spark. I know there are people who desperately want them to get back together. But I think they're a yawner as a couple. I think Bette and Jodi [Marlee Matlin] seem better matched.''
So will it be JoBette or TiBette?
Bette and Tina just have incredible chemistry together,since season one, the show has gotten endless flak for breaking up the one couple on the show that seemed to have a happy, long-term relationship. ``We knew we had to find ways for them to engage this season, whatever happens in the end.''
So far, Showtime is not saying whether this season is the end. But, 'because of the writers' strike, this could be the last year,``My guess is if we're lucky, we'll get another season,''
Clearly, this year Showtime is banking on fans' tuning in for a TiBette fix. It recently announced that Holloman and Beals will host tonight's premiere on camera. But, Beals cautions, none of the hoopla, not even the cable and Internet promos that offer a glimpse of TiBette in a liplock, confirms that the couple will ride off into the sunset together.
First, Bette and Tina would have to deal with everything that made them fall apart.
DOES THE L WORD GLAMORIZE LESBIANS?
Carol Coombes, director of the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, complains that The L Word presents a way-too-glamorous picture of lesbians. `Even when they're trying to play butch, they're very glamorous,' she says.
Religious scholars in Egypt are outraged by a lesbian scene in a new movie
Preacher and Islamic Studies professor at Cairo University, Dr. Abdel-Sabour Shahin has been telling audiences to stay away from the sinful flick and calling for the director and actresses to be prosecuted for spreading homosexuality and promoting debauchery.
He called on authorities to prosecute the director of the movie and the two actresses, Ghada Abdel-Razeq and Sumaya Al-Khashab, who enacted the lesbian encounter on the big screen.
The film Heena Maysara – which also translates as "Till things get better" in Egyptian slang – is set in a Cairo shanty town and tackles the issues of poverty, crime and physical and sexual abuse, among others.
In the controversial scene, Abdel-Razeq, who plays a lesbian, tries to seduce Khashab. The scene shows Abdel-Razeq hitting on Khashab – who plays a prostitute called Nahed -- and kissing her.
Shahin claimed the movie is part of "a Zionist and American conspiracy" which uses this sort of movie to destroy the moral fabric of society.
Lesbian couple conceives child through anonymous sperm donation demands joint recognition
A lesbian couple, who together conceived a child six months ago, is now demanding that the Interior Ministry jointly register them as the child’s biological parents, rather than having to undergo an adoption process as has been the case with same- sex couples to date.
The Family Court has set precedent for such a request, by allowing one of the partners to act as a surrogate for the other, and now the couple also wants formal recognition as their son’s biological parents.
The two women have lived together for over 10 years, and were even married by a Conservative rabbi three years ago, indicating their emotional and fiscal commitment to one another. No word yet as to what the outcome will be, but it doesn't look good for the couple.
The U.S. Supreme Court Rules On Dykes On Bikes
The U.S. Supreme Court says a lesbian motorcycle group that leads the annual Gay Pride parade in San Francisco can keep its trademark — Dykes on Bikes.
The high court today refused to hear an appeal from East Bay lawyer Michael McDermott, who claimed the name was "scandalous and immoral" and disparaged lesbians and men, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He challenged a January 2006 decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that granted the San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent exclusive rights to the name it has used for more than 30 years.
