Hey Heterosexuals, Come Out of the Closet!

 

Yes, that’s right! Because it is so difficult for heterosexual people to find support, advocacy, and information about their sexuality, Texas has decided that if colleges or universities fund LGBT awareness programs, they must also provide an equivalent program that promotes “traditional moral values”. This means that if your school has an Ally or other diversity training, they will have to provide an equivalent program to train people about what it means to be straight. I mean, there are certainly no relationship models for straight people anywhere in pop culture, media, politics, academia, religion, business, or any other facet of society, so it is obvious that we need dedicated, focused outreach to really help educate Americans about what it means to be straight.

“Republican Representative Wayne Christian’s budget amendment was approved with a lopsided 110 to 24 vote, The Dallas Morning News reported. The amendment would force state colleges and universities using state funds to promote diversity programs based on sexuality or gender to spend an equal amount of money to promote “family and traditional values.”” Read the rest of the article.

Fight Fire… With Boobies!

Thanks, Huffpost, for the highlight of my day if not my whole adult life, ever!

How you like THEM apples, churchladies? Hrm... not so much apples as ... you know what, I got better places for my foot than my mouth.

When the local church down your street makes a point of protesting your gentlmen’s club all the time, take down people’s license plates, and stalk them with questions about “does your family know you come here?”, you could cower and close shop.

Or you, as a gainfully and legally employed individual can tell them to go to the same hell they think anyone but their narrowminded asses is headed for. My favorite part about this story is how sympathetic even some of the congregation is and brings the ladies cookies! Even the church further up the road thinks their brethren and sistren are outta line here.

One Battle Down and a War Yet to Win

This little witch just hopped off her broom after a trip to the 2010 Desiree Alliance conference in fabulous Las Vegas! If you’ve never been a sex positive person surrounded by hundreds of people of like mind and spirit, overflowing with love and the zeal of activism against the forces of oppression, then honey, you ain’t lived.

And maybe you don’t know, or think it’s buried under all the hatemongering out there, but there are MANY organizations in this great country working for the rights of consenting adults. You probably know the big ones like the ACLU, but do you know about HIPS? Do you know about the St. James Infirmary?

Can’t find a SWOP chapter near you to support? Then by hell start one. I am.

The fight is long, but we’re in it to win it. New Zealand managed to decriminalize, and they’re also winning against the misinformation campaigns, relying on hard evidence and the testimony of real sex workers.

But here, we often have to take the small victories as inspiration. So here’s one:

AVN reports that the federal government just lost its first obscenity trial in decades against porn icon John Stagliano.

The report tells the story in great detail, with good humor to boot, so my job is pretty much already done. Go read it and give thanks that perverts are still assured of their right to name themselves “Buttman” and film themselves doing filthy shit with tons of willing men and women for stacks of filthier money ❤ ❤ ❤

Free tickets to the Glory of Rome!! Limited time!

 

In case you haven’t heard already, one of SiP’s favorite charities, the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, is this year’s beneficiary of the NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar. As if that isn’t cool enough, I actually am a pin-up in the calendar (so you KNOW you’re gonna buy one!). One of the things I love about the calendar is that you can buy one of the days and have it printed with whatever message you want. So, you can write a birthday greeting for your sugarpie, advertise your business (maybe even a discount code good on that day?), or just say whatever is on your mind.

The days are $25 each, or you can buy 5 days for $100.  This is a really small price to pay for some great advertising, and it all goes to support WFF, which is even better!  Visit their website to buy a ticket (there’s a paypal button on the site), or email NYCSexBloggersCal@gmail.com. 

To help spread the word about the calendar days for sale, Dallas’ own Gloryhole Productions is offering a special incentive. For a VERY limited time, if you purchase a day on the calendar, you will also receive a free ticket to the Glory of Rome party on August 28th (check out the details on their site).

This offer is only good for a very short time!  Please put “Glory of Rome” or “Sex in Power” in the comment box. When you get your confirmation email, forward it to gholeproductions at gmail .com and we’ll hook you up with a ticket. Limited to two tickets per person.

Yellow Vest is the new Pink Triangle

The Advocate reports that Fernando Gallardo, a seasonal worker at a Walmart in Vegas, was forced to wear a yellow vest because he is gay, enduring humiliation and alienation from his co-workers. Pink triangles, anyone? Read the story here.

Get ’em while you’re hot…

This is a great way to show your love,  wish someone a happy birthday, or advertise your business!  Buy a personalized date on the 2011 NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar (in which I am a pin-up girl!) and you’ll get to say whatever you want (oh yeah, even dirty stuff!) and support the Woodhull Freedom Foundation at the same time!

In case you were wondering, my birthday is 8/25 and Vega’s is 3/27

Support bondage, because it supports you!

Our good friend Master Olivier (executive co-producer of ILSb/ICBB) just got his magnetic bondage ribbon! Way to support your community, Sir!

NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar

Great news for SiP lovers – our very own girlonpiano is going to be featured in the NYC Sex Bloggers Calendar! The release party will be the first weekend in October, so mark your calendars and get ready to have some of the hottest sex bloggers, sex activists, and sex workers hanging out with you throughout the year. Keep up with calendar and party updates on their website, or add them on twitter @nycsexblogcal.

Congrats to all the other featured bloggers – be sure you check out their websites:

Bad Bad Girl

Brandon B

Coy Pink

Dangerous Lilly

Essin’ Em

Gloria Brame

Jiz Lee

Luna

Matthew Lawrence

Max Lagos

Mollena Williams

Nina Hartley

Radical Vixen

Sexy Sadie

Sovereign Syre

Monday is International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO)

To mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), which is officially Monday, May 17, at least 6 US cities as well as other cities worldwide  will celebrate with the “Great Global Kiss-In” this weekend.  IDAHO wants you to participate and send them a video. Find out more here:

LGBT Action Alert!

Action Alert from the National Coalition for LGBT Health

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is currently circulating a letter in the Senate, requesting funds for the addition of a question about sexual orientation and gender identity to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the federal government’s most comprehensive and influential survey. This question is vitally important for gathering the information needed to understand and address the health disparities affecting the LGBT community.

Please call your Senator today and urge them to sign on to Senator Whitehouse’s letter. To contact your Senator, please dial the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121, give your state, and ask to speak to your Senator. When you are connected to your Senator’s office, ask to speak to the staff member who works on Health and Human Services Appropriations. Tell them you are a constituent who supports appropriating an additional $2 million for the National Health Interview Survey and that you would like them to sign on to Senator Whitehouse’s letter.

In order to sign on, they must contact Nick Bath in Senator Whitehouse’s office and enter their request in the Appropriations Committee’s database. If they have any questions, please have them contact Rebecca Fox at 202-558-6828 or rebecca@lgbthealth.net