Martha Stewart Weddings Features Same-Sex Couple for First Time in Magazine’s History
December 30, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
Martha Stewart Weddings featured the magazine’s first same-sex couple in its 15th anniversary Winter 2010 issue.
Jeremy Hooper and Andrew Shulman shared their vows with family and friends in Litchfield, Conn. this past June in what Weddings called “an every-detail-counts affair that blended haute elements with down-home whimsy.”
Martha Stewart Weddings’ editor in chief Vanessa Holden told The Advocate that it was Andrew and Jeremy’s personal take on the wedding that really caught the magazine’s eye:
“We have thousands of submissions, and we look for a very particular kind of wedding. We liked [Andrew and Jeremy’s] personal style, their take on how they wanted to celebrate their union. It was a very nice, well-executed, tastefully done celebration of two people’s unions.”
Hooper, a well-known blogger who founded GoodAsYou.org in 2005, seemed quite impressed with the magazine’s tact in its feature of the wedding:
“It was 100% about the aesthetics, there was no attempt on their part to make it political. There are three couples in the magazine … two straight couples and us. You’re flipping the pages and you see us, which is exactly the way it should be.”
GLAAD encourages you to follow Jeremy and and Andrew’s lead in announcing your equality by sharing the celebrations and milestones in your life with various media, including office newsletters, union periodicals, church bulletins, or Facebook and YouTube. Submit a wedding announcement to your local paper or a national publication. Start a blog. Or even share your story on a radio call-in show.
For tools and samples, visit GLAAD’s Announcing Equality page here.
Congratulations Jeremy and Andrew!
Related Posts:As 2009 Becomes 2010, Marriage Equality in New Hampshire Becomes a Reality
December 30, 2009 by Anna Wipfler, GLAAD's Transgender Advocacy Fellow
Six months after New Hampshire became the fifth state to approve a marriage equality bill, same-sex couples will be able to wed beginning at 12:01am New Years Day.
On Tuesday, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported that 39 same-sex couples had applied for state marriage licenses to use in the new year.
“On New Year’s Eve, the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition has organized a celebration ceremony for a group of same-sex couples scheduled to be the first in the state to wed,” they wrote on their website.
GLAAD is on the ground working with the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, media training couples, coordinating press interviews with local and national media and Tweeting updates beginning this afternoon and continuing through the New Year’s Eve wedding celebrations.
NHFTM invites you to:
Join us New Years Eve at the State Capitol in Concord as we celebrate equality and witness history taking effect as the first gay and lesbian couples get married in New Hampshire at 12:01 A.M.
If you want to get married or volunteer, e-mail info@nhftm.org.
Various media outlets have published editorials praising New Hampshire’s embrace of marriage equality and heralding 2010 as a year that will bring more cause for celebration.
GLAAD will continue to keep you updated on this historic moment in New Hampshire, detailing our work with local advocates on the ground, our outreach to state and national media and our analysis of the news coverage.
Related Posts:GLAAD’s Senior Director of Media Programs Appearing Tonight on the Derek and Romaine Show
December 28, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
GLAAD’s Senior Director of Media Programs, Rashad Robinson, is scheduled for a phone interview with Derek and Romaine of Sirius XM Satellite Radio tonight, Monday, December 28 at 7:05 pm ET to discuss GLAAD’s Buju Banton campaign.
Rashad Robinson
The interview will last about 10-15 minutes, and will broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio channel OutQ, Sirius 109 and XM 98. Listeners and fans are welcome to participate by calling 866-305-6887. For those who don’t subscribe to Sirius, a free online trial is available here. And if you haven’t already, please sign GLAAD’s petition protesting the Grammy nomination of Buju Banton here: http://www.glaad.org/bujubantonpetition. GLAAD began this initiative because Buju Banton continues to advocate violence against gay people through his defamatory lyrics.
Related Posts:What to Watch: This Holiday Season
December 25, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
Happy Holidays to all TV Gayed readers out there! This week we’re bringing you your LGBT listings in a mega-post covering everything from Christmas to New Years Eve!
Friday, December 25
Merry Christmas! Step away from the TV and drink some egg nog with your loved ones!
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Saturday, December 26
11:00 pm The Wanda Sykes Show, FOX (1 hr) REPEAT
Move over Leno! The queen of funny is taking over with her own late night talk show! Don’t miss Wanda comment on everything from news, politics, sports, and pop culture mixed with field pieces, comedy segments, and panel discussions.
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Sunday, December 27
Rock those musical hills Ms. Andrews!
7:00 pm The Sound of Music, ABC (4 hours) CLASSIC MUSICAL
Put on your lederhosen and gather your friends as you sing along to one of the most beloved musicals of all time! The hills are alive, with the sound of muuuuuusic!
8:00 pm The Simpsons, FOX (30 min) REPEAT
The impressionable young minds of Springfield’s boys are at risk as The Ultimate Punch, Kick, and Choke Championship comes to town. Marge of course sets out to ban the sport and the founder decides to take her on! What will her sisters Patty and Selma think? Maybe they can be her tag team!
9:30 pm American Dad, FOX (30 min) REPEAT
Omnisexual alien Roger, always around to help clean up Stan’s messes, agrees to act as dictator of a small island nation after Stan kills the real one. But once Roger starts getting used to his new role, will he give up the power?
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Monday, December 28
10:00 pm Chef Academy, Bravo (1 hr) REPEAT
It’s all about bread tonight as the students try to keep the tension down. Plus student Suzanne throws a baby shower for Chef Novelli’s fiancé and looks to her fellow students to help make the food.
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Tuesday, December 29
9:30 pm Better Off Ted, ABC (30 min) NEW
Veronica’s sexy magician boyfriend is distracting her from her work forcing Ted to interfere to get her back on track. When Lem is given a red lab coat while everyone else has white, he believes a conspiracy is a foot. Out actors Portia de Rossi and Jonathan Slavin star.
10:00 pm Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, Bravo (1 hr) REPEAT
Salon owners beware! Tabatha is back with a new season of her Salon Takeover. Watch as she magically turns salons around making them beautiful and habitable places once again.
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The outrageous cast of The Real World: D.C.
Wednesday, December 30
9:00 pm Modern Family, ABC (30 min) REPEAT
It’s a big day for everyone as the kids face the first day of school. Phil and Claire miscommunicate on the meaning of their empty house, Jay and Gloria don’t agree on Manny’s outfit, and Mitchell and Cameron turn Lily’s minor incident into a major issue.
10:00 pm The Real World: Washington D.C., MTV (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE
The 23rd season of MTV’s long-running reality series kicks off tonight and takes the action to our nation’s capitol. Among the season’s outgoing personalities are two members of the bisexual community: Mike, the All-American jock from a devoutly Christian family, and Emily, President Obama’s biggest fan.
10:00 pm Launch My Line, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
The fabulous out twins of Dsquared2 come to the aid of designers and artists dying to have their own fashion line. Can these random duos get past their egos and make it work? Watch and see!
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Don't worry this Desperate Housewife will be back in the New Year, but catch her tonight on Billboards NYE special!
Thursday, December 31
10:00 pm New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly, NBC (2 hrs)
Join Carson Daly as he rings in the New Year from Time Square with performances by the Broadway cast of Hair, Rihanna and Green Day.
11:00 pm Billboard’s New Year’s Eve Live, FOX (1 hr and 30 min)
Carmen Electra and Eve Longoria Parker join Billboard in taking over Fox for this 2010 New Years celebration in Las Vegas and Times Square. Watch as Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta and Sean Kingston perform. Plus the opening of Eva Longoria Parker’s new Vegas restaurant and club!
11:30 pm Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, ABC (2 hrs)
Watch as Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest ring in the New Year in Times Square while Fergie reports on the festivities in Las Vegas.
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What to Watch: Thursday
December 24, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
There not much LGBT TV on this Christmas Eve so enjoy these repeats of a pair of soon-to-be classic holiday episodes from Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy.
Thursday, December 24
Mitchell and Cameron on Modern Family
9:00 pm Modern Family, ABC (30 min) REPEAT
It’s bye, bye Christmas if the kids don’t confess to Claire and Phil about a little couch burning incident. Plus Jay is unhappy with incorporating his new family’s Colombian traditions into his own and Mitchell and Cameron take Lily for her first picture with Santa.
10:00 pm Grey’s Anatomy, ABC (1 hr) REPEAT
The holidays tend to bring stress, which is what happens at the hospital. Bailey’s father visits for the holidays, disapproving of her life choices while Mark’s past complicates things with Lexie.
What to Watch: Wednesday
December 23, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
Things are really heating up on Launch My Line. Who will Dsquared2 deem unworthy this week? Better watch and find out!
Wednesday, December 23
Out twin brothers of Dsquared2
9:00 pm Modern Family, ABC (30 min) REPEAT
Jay finally agrees to take Phil out to fly his new model airplane, which ends disastrously. Gloria takes Manny to play with Luke, but ends up a hilarious heart-to-heart with her much younger, but very mature stepbrother.
10:00 pm Launch My Line, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
The fabulous out twins of Dsquared2 come to the aid of designers and artists dying to have their own fashion line. Can these random duos get past their egos and make it work? Watch and see!
The New York City Anti-Violence Project Joins GLAAD in Protest of Buju Banton’s Grammy Nomination
December 22, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
The New York City Anti-Violence Project announced today that it stands with GLAAD in our petition drive and advocacy work protesting the recent Grammy nomination of reggae singer Buju Banton’s album “Rasta Got Soul.” Banton has a long track record of advocating the killing of gay people.
New York City Anti-Violence Project Executive Director Sharon Stapel released a strong statement in support of GLAAD’s campaign:
“At the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), we know that hate violence has a devastating effect on individual victims and the communities it targets. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities have seen a dramatic increase in anti-LGBTQ violence, including the highest reported murder rate in a decade, in the past year and this violence does not appear to be abating. ”
“Buju Banton’s lyrics, which directly target the LGBTQ communities for violence and murder, contribute to this culture of hate and cannot be tolerated. It is unacceptable to honor this violent message targeting the LGBTQ communities, particularly in a year where so much brutal violence has occurred against LGBTQ people throughout the U.S. and the world.
“AVP knows that none of us can condone violence based on our identities because if we do, we are all vulnerable. AVP urges all people to condemn all forms of anti-LGBTQ violence - and any violence that targets someone because of who they are or who they love.”
GLAAD thanks AVP for its support and urges community members and allies to protest Buju Baton’s Grammy nomination. Tell the Recording Academy members NOT to support his nomination. The petition can be found at http://www.glaad.org/bujubantonpetition.
Related Posts:North Carolina County Passes Domestic Partner Benefits Despite Defamatory Comments From Commissioner Bill James
December 22, 2009 by Daryl Hannah, GLAAD's Media Field Strategist
The Mecklenburg County Commissioners, last Tuesday, passed a domestic partner benefits policy, extending benefits to the spouses of LGBT city employees and making it the seventh North Carolina county to do so. The new policy will take affect next fall during the open enrollment period.
According to WCSC, the 6 to 3 favorable vote makes “a Mecklenburg County employee who is in a same-sex relationship where both partners live together and share financial responsibilities eligible to receive county benefits for their partner as long as one of them is a county employee.”
Many Mecklenburg County residents and allies said passing the law was about basic equal rights.
“I’m not gay but I believe they have [the] right to feed their family,” said George Dunlap, who continued saying that by not passing a benefits package, it promotes bias and says Charlotte is not progressive, he told reporters.
While the board was split on the policy, the most vocal opposition in the media came from Commissioner Bill James. Commissioner James was quoted calling co-Commissioner Vilma Leake’s deceased son, who was gay, a “homo” and accused Commissioner Leakes of pushing her “agenda.”
The Miami Herald’s Steve Rothaus, reported that Commissioner James even sent e-mails to the local FOX affiliate, in which he defended his defamatory language.
“In justifying her position last night in public, she used her son’s ‘lifestyle’ and his death from HIV-AIDS to justify voting for benefits to allow individuals to use tax dollar to engage in the same behavior that resulted in her son’s death.”
According to 365Gay, Leake’s son was gay and died of AIDS.
Last week, the Mecklenburg Commissioners chair Jennifer Roberts said that her colleague Bill James should apologize for his rants but Commissioner Leake said she doesn’t suspect Commissioner James will.
Journalists have been fair and accurate in reporting on this story and GLAAD will keep monitoring this situation. We urge media to continue shining a spotlight on Commissioner James’ outrageous anti-gay comments.
Related Posts:What to Watch: Tuesday
December 22, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
What is this? Dr. Bhamba and Lem’s mom, together?! Watch the insanity unfold on an all new Better Off Ted, starring Portia de Rossi and Jonathan Slavin.
Tuesday, December 22
The fabulous Ms. Portia de Rossi
9:30 pm Better Off Ted, ABC (30 min) NEW
Dr. Bhamba begins an affair with Lem’s mother when she comes by for a visit. Plus Linda crushes Ted after suggesting he improve his project by making a light bulb that never burns out. Out actors Portia de Rossi and Jonathan Slavin star.
10:00 pm Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, Bravo (1 hr) REPEAT
Salon owners beware! Tabatha is back with a new season of her Salon Takeover. Watch as she magically turns salons around making them beautiful and habitable places once again.
Viva Mexico! Mexico City Passes Marriage Equality Legislation
December 22, 2009 by Monica Trasandes, GLAAD's Director of Spanish Language Media
On December 21 Mexico City took a step toward becoming the first Latin American city to legalize same-sex marriage. The city has had civil unions for same-sex couples since 2007 but Monday’s decision will give gay couples more rights, including the right to adopt children, which some had tried to strip from the measure.
The bill passed the capital’s local assembly 39-20 to the cheers of supporters who yelled: “Yes, we could! Yes, we could!” Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is widely expected to sign the measure into law.
Mexico City activist Antonio Medina told GLAAD that LGBT community is very happy with the outcome and that media coverage, thus far, has been respectful.
The bill calls for changing the definition of marriage in the city’s civil code. Marriage is currently defined as the union of a man and a woman. The new definition will be “the free uniting of two people.”
Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital was the first Latin American city to legalize same-sex civil unions in 2002. Four other Argentine cities later did the same, and as did Mexico City in 2007 and some Mexican and Brazilian states. No Latin American nation allows same-sex marriage although Uruguay passed a national civil unions law and recently passed a law allowing same-sex couples to adopt.
“This is a joyous day for Mexico City as it recognizes that loving and committed gay and lesbian couples should be treated equally under the law,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. “GLAAD applauds the steadfast and tireless efforts of Mexican activists to make this historic legislation possible. We strongly encourage journalists to highlight the rich stories of Mexico City’s same-sex couples who will now have the same opportunity to take care of and be responsible for each other. Their lives are at the heart of this decision.”
Viva Mexico!
El 21 de diciembre la ciudad de México tomó un paso para convertirse en la primera ciudad latinoamericana que reconoce el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. La ciudad de México cuenta con Ley de Sociedades de Convivencia desde el 2007 pero esta nueva ley ofrecerá más derechos, incluyendo el de adoptar hijos. Algunos quisieron prohibir este derecho.
La reforma fue aprobada por el pleno de la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal con 39 votos a favor, 20 en contra y cinco abstenciones. Mientras ocurria el voto, personas celebraron esta iniciativa al grito de “¡Sí se pudo!” Estos cambiosserán ratificadas por el alcalde capitalino Marcelo Ebrard.
El activista Mexicano Antonio Medina le conto a GLAAD que la comunidad se siente muy feliz por el logro y que la cobertura en los medios, hasta ahora, ha sido muy respetuosa.La iniciativa cambia la definición de la palabra matrimonio para que en vez de ser “la unión libre entre un hombre y una mujer,” sea la unión libre de dos personas.”
Buenos Aires, la capital Argentina fue la primer ciudad en América Latina que permitió las uniones civiles. Cuatro más ciudades Argentinas han hecho lo mismo i la ciudad de Mexico en 2007 y también algunos estados mexicanos y brasileños. Ningun país de América Latina ha legalizado el matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo. Uruguay tiene una ley de unión civil a nivel nacional y también recientemente legalizó la adopción por parte de parejas del mismo sexo.
“Este es un día feliz para la ciudad de México a lo que se reconoce que parejas del mismo sexo deben de ser tratadas iguales que otras parejas que comparten amor y un compromiso,” dijo Jarrett Barrios, el presidente de GLAAD, la Alianza Gay y Lésbica Contra la Difamación. “GLAAD aplaude esta decisión histórica. Sugerimos a los periodistas que se enfoquen en las historias conmovedoras de las muchas parejas de la ciudad de México quienes ahora tendrán las mismas oportunidades que otras para cuidarse uno al otro y ser responsables uno por el otro. Las vidas de ellos están al centro de esta decisión.”
Related Posts:“I Kissed A Girl” Singer Katy Perry Ridicules Transgender Community on Twitter
December 21, 2009 by Taj Paxton, GLAAD's Director of Entertainment Media
On December 6th, singer Katy Perry (“I Kissed a Girl”) posted a nude picture on her Twitter page of what appears to be a transgender man. She tweeted: “http://twitpic.com/sdf45 – NSFW! I knew those little white last week of the birth control pills would still have an effect on your body! FU.”
The photo posted on Twitpic (photo blurred by GLAAD):
Perry is referring to the last week of birth control pills that are typically taken as a placebo but largely thought to not have any effect on the body.
Making fun of transgender people’s bodies is deeply offensive. Perry’s ridicule dehumanizes this person and ignores the courage and resolve it takes to live within a transphobic society.
Some of Perry’s transphobic fans responded immediately with more crude jokes at the expense of the transgender community. On Sunday, the LGBT community began its response, calling Perry out for her exploitation.
While it appears the pic was removed this morning, we urge those offended to tweet Katy Perry directly and educate her about how jokes like this contribute to a climate that puts transgender people in harms way. If you’re on Twitter, please post this tweet to Katy Perry:
@katyperry Ridiculing a photo of a #transgender person is never OK. Pls educate yourself. (Pls RT!)
Related Posts:International Rugby Legend Gareth Thomas: ‘I’m Gay’
December 21, 2009 by Seth Adam, GLAAD's National News Fellow
International rugby legend, Gareth Thomas, revealed that he is gay in an interview published in the UK-based Daily Mail on Saturday.
“It’s been really tough for me, hiding who I really am,” Thomas told the Mail. “And I don’t want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play rugby, or some frightened young kid. I don’t know if my life is going to be easier because I’m out, but if it helps someone else… then it will have been worth it.”
Thomas said he came out to close friends in late 2006.
Thomas is the first top-level rugby athlete to reveal that he is gay, according to CNN.
Of Thomas’s accomplishments, Reuters noted that he is Wales’s “most capped player with 100 appearances who has scored 41 test tries to place him ninth on the all-time list.”
“I’m proud of who I am,” Thomas says. “I feel I have achieved everything I could ever possibly have hoped to achieve out of rugby, and I did it being gay.”
CNN’s original story about Gareth Thomas’ decision to come out publicly as a gay man contained three problematic phrases that included the words “admitted,” and “confessed.” GLAAD called the network to voice concerns and explain that such words are highly offensive and suggest that being gay is somehow shameful or inherently secretive.
CNN listened and changed the story immediately; replacing the terms with appropriate words like “revealed,” “discussed,” and “came out.” GLAAD commends CNN for bringing this story in line with the most fair and accurate standards.
We will continue to follow the media’s coverage of international rugby champion Gareth Thomas’s coming out story. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:What to Watch: Monday
December 21, 2009 by Callan Koenig, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Fellow
In case you missed the beginning of How I Met Your Mother or Chef Academy, now’s your chance to catch them!
The crazy kids on How I Met Your Mother
Monday, December 21
8:00 pm How I Met Your Mother, CBS (30 min) REPEAT
In case you missed it be sure to catch the season five opener when it is discovered that Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin are actually a couple. Plus Ted freaks out over his first lecture as a Columbia professor.
10:00 pm Chef Academy, Bravo (1 hr) REPEAT
It’s all about vegetarians tonight as the students try to learn the art of meatless cooking. Alliances are made and tested as one lucky student wins a dinner prepared by Chef Novelli himself.
Actress Bai Ling Discusses Her Bisexuality
December 18, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
Actress Bai Ling, who has been open about her bisexual identity for a long time, discussed her sexual orientation in detail in an interview with Entertainment writer Mike Szymanski earlier this week.
Ling has never hid her bisexual identity from the media, even if at first it seemed like an accident. Ling told Szymanski:
“[A]t first when I was in the United States I didn’t always have an interpreter in interviews and I didn’t speak English so well. There was some confusion. My name is pronounced “bi,” so when I was asked, “Are you bi?” I said, “Yes, I am Bai.” Do you like men? “Of course!” Do you like women? “Why yes!” And later I found out what that means and I said, “Sure, I am bi!” But I think the interpreters and the reporters thought that I didn’t know what I was saying because I was so open about it. They were uncomfortable about it. Such a thing is not important for me.”
Please see parts 1 and 2 of the interview, click here for a transcript or visit Bai Ling’s official website for more information.
Related Posts:Bi The Way, a Documentary on Bisexuality, Now Available on DVD
December 18, 2009 by Amanda Morgan, GLAAD's Digital Initiatives Fellow
Bi The Way, a feature length documentary on bisexuality, and winner of the 2008 Alternative Spirit Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, has just been released on DVD.
The movie follows co-directors Brittany Blockman and Josephine Decker as they hit the road in search of young people who are challenging established assumptions about sexual orientation. The stories of the five are interspersed with the opinions of biologists, psychologists, anthropologists and everyday people.
View the Trailer here:
