Queer Landia

Real Minnesotans Voting No

Nathan Simpson — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:13:43 +0000

For more information click here!

LA Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties until there is Equal Marriage

Nathan Simpson — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:03:29 +0000

What some call “the best gay bar in the world,” West Hollywood’s The Abbey has anounced they are banning bachelorette parties because of recent Marriage Equality setbacks like North Carolina’s Amendment One. From their press release:

“Every Friday and Saturday night, we’re flooded with requests from straight girls in penis hats who want to ogle our gogos, dance with the gays and celebrate their pending nuptials. They are completely unaware that the people around them are legally prohibited from getting married. Over the past 22 years, The Abbey has been a place that accepts everyone, gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and everything in between. We love our straight girlfriends and they are welcome here, just not for bachelorette parties. It has long been a policy at The Abbey to deny admission to groups in costume, including Bachelorette regalia. Bachelorette parties had previously been allowed inside if they removed their costumes.

The Abbey’s Bachelorette Ban comes on the heels of a ban on Gay Marriage in North Carolina and a number of other states across the south. The Abbey encourages other gay-owned and operated establishments to institute their own bans as a sign of solidarity until Marriage is legal everywhere for everyone.“

The reasoning makes a lot of sense. It’s essentially saying “we don’t want you to throw this in our face,” which I think everyone can respect. Do any of you readers know other clubs or bars that do this?

UMG shuts down pro-gay rapper’s music video, he remixes without Jackson’s original music

Jim Reeves — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:23:30 +0000

Adair Lion, a rap musician from Texas, recently released a pro-gay video that included an intro remix of Michael Jackson’s “Ben”. UMG (Universal Music Group) decided, after 13 days and 156 thousand views, that Lion needed to pay large royalties for the few seconds of the Jackson song. Since the rapper wasn’t actually making any money from the video, but WAS making a big splash in the music world, he re-did it, without the original MJ track.

Adair has posted the altered video, with his own, original version of Ben. It’s still a powerful message for a traditionally homophobic genre.

Making History: Air Force Academy Graduates First Openly Gay Cadets

Nathan Simpson — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:56:36 +0000

Via Getty Images

Devin Dwyer at ABC gives us a fantastic story about the first openly gay cadets graduating from the Air Force Academy.

“It’s just been really open, a lot of acceptance. I haven’t heard anyone say, ‘I hate this. I can’t serve in the military with this,’” said 3rd Class Cadet Kevin Wise, a second-year management major. “It’s a sense of ‘OK, this is their lifestyle, but they’re still the person I’ve spent 21 credit hours a semester next to or I’ve gone through this with,’” he said.

Wise said he knew several classmates who chose to come out in the past few months. “Honestly, for me, it was, ‘Oh well, I kind of had a suspicion since I’ve known you for two years now, but you just move on,” he said.

“There wasn’t any sort of repercussion against them or anything,” said 2nd Lt. Jenny Kavalstan of her gay classmates who graduated with her today. “I thought of them the same way I did before; most people do.”

Video after the jump!

New Zealanders Say WTF to Homophobia

Nathan Simpson — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:37:31 +0000

In a new campaign from New Zealand people are saying WTF to homophobia and asking for support to keep the LGBT supportive organisations running. You can help by donating and sharing the video with all you know. Check out their website for more info!

Bonnie Raitt Gets it Right (Down The Line)

misterstewardess — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:35:55 +0000

Because this has always been one of my all-time very favorite songs; and because Bonnie Raitt is a legend, a genius, and by far the awesomest celebrity whose acquaintance it has ever been my pleasure to make; and because I think as many people as possible should see and rejoice in this beautiful, queer-positive video, here’s this:

Target jumps on Pride T-Shirt bandwagon

Nathan Simpson — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:01:20 +0000

It seems the Target Corporation doesn’t know what to do with the issue of marriage equality. On the one side, the Minneapolis-based retailer has partnered with the Family Equality Council, donating all the proceeds from their Pride shirts up to $120,000. Now $120,00 is nothing to shake a stick at. However, back in 2010 Target donated $150,000 to the Republican PAC MN Forward, which backed anti-gay canidate Tom Emmer. So all things being equal, the pro-LGBT side of target is still owed $30,000.

Also something to note is the T-shirts are only being sold online, not in the stores.

As the Star-Tribune reports, Target hasn’t taken a stance on Minnesota’s amendment to define marriage as one man and one woman. ”In a statement, the company notes its “long history” of supporting the LGBT community but acknowledges “there is a broad range of strongly held views on the [Minnesota] Marriage Amendment.” The company goes on to encourage employees to exercise their right to vote.“

While I think it’s great target has partnered with the Family Equality Council, I still think Target needs to add words to (some) of their actions.

And to steal Joe.My.God.‘s vernacular, I’m sure we’ll see some sort of response from the hage-group One Million Shrews.

Jack Antonoff For Marriage Equality

Nathan Simpson — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:03:44 +0000

Qucik, who is Jack Antonoff? Here’s a hint.

The Obama Campaign launches web site and posts video on the fight for LGBT rights

Jim Reeves — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:20:17 +0000

LGBT Americans for Obama, a site by the Obama campaign, has posted this video,

President Obama and the fight for LGBT rights

Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, says “It Gets Better”

Jim Reeves — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:46:22 +0000

Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, has made a “It Gets Better” video. Milan came to the United States poor and unable to speak English. He even lived on the street for two months. Things have changed for Milan, and he reminds us to go with our gifts, and we each have them, and things will get better.