OTTAWA — Gay and lesbian activists say Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s refusal to refer to gay rights and same-sex marriage in the Canadian Citizenship Guide was an effort to rewrite Canadian history.
Openly gay NDP MP Bill Siksay called it “an unbelievable insult for gay and lesbian Canadians” and said Kenney should apologize.
Helen Kennedy, executive director of the gay-rights group Egale, said the minister assured her in December the omission was “an oversight” and would be fixed.
“I want an explanation. The community is entitled to an explanation. This is not OK,” Kennedy said. “This is a significant part of Canadian history, whether they like it or not, it happened. You can’t change history.”
Kenney said he rejected proposals to discuss gay rights and gay marriage because marriage was not discussed in the previous guide.
“Frankly, if we had accepted every suggestion, the document would have been well over a hundred pages. We had to keep the content fairly brief because it is a study guide for newcomers. We did decide to recognize, for instance Mark Tewksbury — he is a great Canadian and a prominent gay rights activist,” Kenney said on CTV’s Power Play Tuesday.
Joe Varnell, who with his partner were the first same-sex Canadians to be wed, said Kenney’s actions were consistent with the Conservatives’ effort “to push their ideological agenda on the public” and “not surprising.”
“It doesn’t take very long to indicate that gays and lesbians and bisexual and transgendered individuals enjoy equal status and equal rights in this country,” Varnell said.
Charles McVety, the president of Canada Christian College and an opponent of same-sex marriage, supports Kenney’s action.
“The gay and lesbian community is trying to force themselves on all new Canadians. I don’t see that as positive, I see that as negative. I don’t see how that is constructive to building a country that respects everyone,” he said.
Kenney’s action came to light after documents were obtained by the Canadian Press through an access-to-information request.
I love Love and Pride gay and lesbian jewelry but I wish they could have more pieces like this transgender necklace. Even a site as dedicated to equality almost no jewelry for those who choose to wear their trans pride just like any other member of the LGBT community. At least this online jewelry store has at least one necklace.
It would be amazing for them to design a whole line of transgender jewelry, it would rock! You know it would because everything else from Love and Pride rocks.
2 sides file pile of paperwork in Prop 8 court case
Opposing sides in the legal battle over same-sex marriage in California have laid out their cases in writing to a federal judge, disputing the status of gays and lesbians in society, the nature of marriage, and the motives behind the ballot measure that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
Their opponents, representing two same-sex couples and the city of San Francisco, said those purported goals of Prop. 8 were contradicted by overwhelming evidence at a 12-day trial in January that allowing same-sex couples to wed would benefit their children and the institution of marriage. Regardless of the intentions of individual voters, they argued, the Prop. 8 campaign was designed to appeal to fear and deep-seated prejudice.
“The evidence demonstrates that Proposition 8’s actual motivation was moral disapproval of gay and lesbian individuals,” said the measure’s opponents, plaintiffs in the federal court case. They said the ballot measure “sends a message to gay and lesbian individuals that they are not welcome in California.”
The two sides filed hundreds of pages shortly before a midnight deadline, containing sharply contrasting summaries of the evidence presented at last month’s trial, the first ever held in federal court on same-sex marriage.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, presiding over the nonjury trial, plans to review the material before hearing lawyers’ final arguments, which have not yet been scheduled. Walker has indicated that his ruling will include detailed findings on the purposes and effects of Prop. 8, assessments that could hold the key to the measure’s fate in appeals likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Prop. 8, approved by 52 percent of the voters in November 2008, amended the California Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, overturning a May 2008 state Supreme Court ruling that extended marital rights to gays and lesbians. The state court upheld the initiative last May while also upholding 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in the state before Prop. 8 passed.
Because Prop. 8 eliminated rights that the California court had granted, plaintiffs in the federal suit want Walker to put it in the same category as a 1992 Colorado initiative that overturned local gay-rights laws and prohibited future anti-discrimination measures. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Colorado initiative in 1996 and said its sole purpose was to harm a disfavored minority.
Prop. 8’s “express and stated purpose … was to strip gay and lesbian individuals of constitutional rights” they had won in the state court, plaintiffs’ lawyers said. They said Yes on 8 campaign messages “echoed fears that children must be ‘protected’ from gay and lesbian people.”
Imbalance of evidence
The measure’s sponsors, a conservative religious coalition called Protect Marriage, argued that subjective purposes were irrelevant and that Prop. 8 should be judged by its text: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” They also invoked President Obama – who said he opposes same-sex marriage for religious reasons, while also opposing Prop. 8 – as evidence that support for traditional marriage is not based in bigotry.
Friday’s filings reflected, to some degree, the imbalance of evidence at the trial. Opponents of Prop. 8 presented 16 witnesses, including the individual plaintiffs – two gay men from Burbank and two lesbians from Berkeley – and a procession of university researchers to make the case that marriage is a historically evolving institution, that anti-gay discrimination is persistent and same-sex marriage would not affect heterosexuals.
Extending marital rights to gays and lesbians “strengthens the institution of marriage for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples,” plaintiffs’ lawyers declared, citing their witnesses’ testimony. Despite some recent progress, they said, gays and lesbians “lack political power to defend their basic rights,” are not protected from discrimination by federal laws or the laws of most states, and are the disproportionate targets of hate crimes and of ballot initiatives like Prop. 8.
Witnesses withdrawn
Protect Marriage withdrew four of its six scheduled witnesses at the start of the trial – saying they feared television coverage, which the Supreme Court had blocked – and presented two witnesses, political science Professor Kenneth Miller and the president of the Institute for American Values, David Blankenhorn.
The Prop. 8 sponsors cited research works, but no witness testimony, for one of their central assertions Friday: that “extending marriage to same-sex couples would result in a profound change to the definition, structure, and public meaning of marriage.” Their opponents urged Walker to disregard such assertions, saying they contradict most academic studies and were never tested in court.
Citing Miller’s testimony, Prop. 8’s backers said gays and lesbians have strong political allies, particularly in California, and “have achieved the power they need to effectively pursue their goals through democratic institutions” without judicial intervention.
They cited Blankenhorn and the writings of conservative scholars for the conclusion that marriage is universally defined by “maleness and femaleness” and that one of its central purposes is “the encouragement of procreation under specific conditions” – a purpose best served, they argued, by limiting marriage to a man and a woman.
Pierced ears have been seen for tens of thousands of years. In fact piercings are one of the first known types of body modification. You can still see Persian carved images showing soldiers wearing earrings. In just about any culture you will find earrings worn by royalty, it’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
Today we have a wide array of choices when we want to buy earrings. Studs have been and always will be a good choice. They are one of the most versatile styles of earrings and while one might think all studs look the same, nothing could be further from the truth.
You can get stud earrings that are solid gold, twisted silver, carved birthstones, brilliant diamonds, I could go on and on, the possibilities are endless. They are great affordable gift ideas too!
I am not a big fan of bugs in general, but like most people I think butterflies are plenty pretty, especially when they are either fake or at a safe distance. I was reading recently about how Mariah Carey is big on butterflies and I thought I would see if I could put together a post that even she could drool over. I’ve found some great rings and other jewelry that I feel are really amazing and worth sharing. I’ve chosen butterfly rings that showcase a wide range of prices too.
Here is an affordable butterfly ring that’s pretty spectacular. This diamond ring is made with sterling silver, platinum and diamond chips. It’s fun, lively and while it looks expensive it’s actually wonderfully cheap.
This is another gold butterfly ring that is sure to garner plenty of attention. The open gold bands have two exquisitely carved butterflies resting on them with flecks of amethyst and citrine chasing them like bright fireflies. The carved butterflies are made of amethyst and citrine and are the perfect addition to any sundress or bikini.
This is definitely the kind of diamond butterfly jewelry ring that would get Mariah Carey in a tizzy. I love the design, it is just so unique! And the fact that it has diamonds and sapphires, well that says it all in my book and I adore two toned jewelry pieces like this gold butterfly ring.
This too is a hot piece of diamond butterfly jewelry. I love the simplicity of it, the purity. I like the diamonds in the center of the body and the way that the wings of this butterfly ring jewelry are hollow, simply outlines rimmed with yellow gold. All of these glorious stones are set in white gold so that they have maximum sparkle and shine. It is almost, almost as hot as any Mariah Carey butterfly ring.
Drew Barrymore To Be Honored By Gay And Lesbian Alliance
From: Look To The Stars
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced that Golden Globe Award-winning actress and producer Drew Barrymore will receive the Vanguard Award, and Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
The GLAAD Media Awards elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to bring stories of LGBT people and issues to Americans.
Actress Drew Barrymore will receive the Vanguard Award which is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. In 2009, Barrymore took on the role of the lesbian daughter of a widower played by Robert De Niro in Everybody’s Fine, nominated for Outstanding Film – Wide Release at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, and in 1995 starred in Boys on the Side which won the Outstanding Film award at the 7th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. She also joined thousands of marriage equality advocates in the streets of West Hollywood when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, which eliminated marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Past recipients of The Vanguard Award include Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg.
“I was born, bred and raised among diversity, it has defined me and made me the person I am today,” Barrymore said. “I’m honored and humbled to be receiving this award.”
Comedian Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. In November 2008, Sykes decided to come out at a Stand Out for Equality rally of over 1,000 people in Las Vegas and announced that she legally married her wife in California. She has spoken out about LGBT issues by appearing in LGBT PSAs, performing at LGBT fundraisers and as a Board Member for the Equality California Institute. The Emmy Award-winner became the first openly gay and first African American woman to be the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2009 and last year debuted her own late night talk show on FOX. Previous recipients of the Stephen F. Kolzak Award include Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Alan Ball, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sir Ian McKellen.
“I am truly honored to receive the Stephen F. Kolzak award,” said Wanda Sykes. “I greatly appreciate the work that GLAAD continues to do, promoting equality, fair representation and tolerance for our LGBT community. I just pray that I don’t ruin what GLAAD has achieved with all of my shenanigans.”
Colors of Calcedony: The beauty of this unusual gemstone is that you can find it in a wide array of colors ranging from yellow to red to blue chalcedony and green, even orange and purple are popular.
They are generally pale in color with a somewhat cloudy tint to them. This gives them a luminous glow that other gemstones can’t match in terms of uniqueness. They are almost always presented as cabochon stones in pendants, rings and even bracelets and earrings.
Description: Chalcedony is a fine fibrous quartz that forms fantastically rounded crusts, rinds, or stalactites in volcanic and sedimentary rocks.
This unique gemstone is a precious stone that occurs in many forms. Turns out that this is an umbrella range of stones that go by many different names such as:
Calcedony
Agate
Jasper
Bloodstone
Cornelian
Onyx
Chrysoprase
Caring for Calcedony: Protect chalcedony from scratches the best you can and do not clean the stones with harsh chemicals. Try plain water and a soft cloth that will not scratch the finely polished finish. This probably goes without saying but you might want to avoid hitting your blue chalcedony jewelry (or other color) with a hammer because guess what? That can damage the stone.
History of Chalecedony:
In the times of the Romans these unique and luminescent gemstones were prized as seals.
Victorian artisans carved them into beautifully haunting cameos and intaglios.
During the Renaissance they were commonly used in magic for health and protection.
In many different cultures it has been used in carvings, it still is today. In Florence in the last 16th century they were used in in commesso, or a florentine mosaic. They use this technique of creating pictures with thin cut to shape pieces of various colored gemstones. This art form is still practiced today. It can be used as tabletops or wall panels.
Collectibility: More and more people are getting familiar with this unique gemstone. There are many collectors of chalcedony in it’s entire rainbow of colors. You can find it in virtually any type of jewelry and it is a well wearing stone.
Healing Powers: This glowing stone is long believed to banish fear, hysteria, depression, mental illness and sadness. Some claim that it will even reduce fever in the ill.
Mystical power: Chalcedony prevents from touchiness and melancholy. Worn by many to promote calm and peace. Chalcedony also stimulates creativity.
Where Chalcedony is Found: The most sought after chalcedony is found in:
India
Madagascar
Burma
Brazil
Mexico
USA
If you are looking for a piece of jewelry that is like no other on the market then you want to take a good long look at chalcedony jewelry, whether you choose blue chalcedony, red, green, yellow or brown, they are all unique and bold.
Dick Cheney was most recently the vice president of the United States. Before that, he was secretary of defense. Which gives him a vantage point few people — whether civilians or military officers — will ever enjoy. We’d be saying that even if Cheney, on This Week this morning, did not say it’s time to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. But that’s just what he did. Now how can everyone fuck this up?
“I think that society has moved on,” Cheney says. “It’s partly a generational question.”
It adds Cheney’s name to a list that not only includes top military officials like Sec. Gates and Adm. Mullen, but also Colin Powell, a Bush administration official with direct knowledge of military readiness. It also puts Cheney’s views in line with, shock of all shocks, the majority of Americans (and 64 percent of Republicans). But Cheney, influenced by raising a gay daughter, has always been the conservative outlier with gay issues.
This is an excellent development (albeit not a new one; Cheney has long opposed bans on gays in the military). It’s a ripe opportunity for even more momentum on repealing DADT. So why do we get the feeling this opportunity to push efforts into a snowball effect will fall short? With the Pentagon’s “review” underway, we’re looking at a multi-year timeline before gays are finally allowed to serve openly.
It shouldn’t have to take that long. But it will, if Democratic leadership on a repeal is allowed to stand, or Obama’s hands-off approach to killing DADT continues to be blessed by weak Gay Inc. leaders.
It shouldn’t have to take that long. Not when the White House and lawmakers have so many pieces in place to push this through. Yes, “controversy” remains over homosexuality, but with the most senior military and executive branch officials (both former and current) on board, to not push for full repeal, in the immediate, is an opportunity lost.
It shouldn’t have to take that long. Sen. John McCain represents the past. So, too, does Sen. Jon Kyl,, McCain’s Republican peer from Arizona, telling CNN (see video below) he sees no reason to kill the policy. These men are increasingly on the outs with American views; moreso, they’re on the outs with the views of Republicans.
It shouldn’t have to take that long. Not often is there so obvious a stance lawmakers should take, simply because it is the right thing to do, but this is one of them. The ball isn’t just in Democrats’ hands; it’s about two inches from their hoop, and they still aren’t sure how to sink it.
I see there are some great new pieces at the online Love and Pride gay and lesbian jewelry store. Just in time for Valentines Day too which is awesome if you ask me. And all of the pieces featured in this post are under $100 in price.
I am going through them all now and will pick out a few of my faves to shrae with you, hopefully they will inspire you to get the perfect gift for the one who means the most to you this holiday. It’s all about love after all and keep in mind it doesn’t even have to be romantic love. In my opinion Valentines Day is a celebration of all love whether it be romantic, brotherly, motherly just plain friendly. Why be so narrow right?
Ooooh I like this flower pendant, very unique! Love the way the chain weaves through like that, super cool. The best part is that it’s made of stainless steel and cubic zirconia so you get the look of diamonds without the hefty price tag. It’s $65 right now and they have sales all the time so by the time you read this it could be selling for even less! LOVES IT!
This is the perfect gift for him. You know, the him you can’t stop thinking about? I know how hard shopping for people can be but this titanium ring with the black cable is great because it’s simple with clean lines but without being stuffy. It can hold it’s own in the style department and will be able to do so for many years to come. It’s super durable too, definitely a ring that he will be able to wear each day and cherish for a very long time.
Dunno about you but I am a huge fan of the True Blood TV show and the fact that this gay jewelry store has a whole line of juicy, sexy, vampire jewelry is pretty freakin’ mind blowing. I would buy every single piece of jewelry in that line, it is all so edgy, fashionable and just plain rockin’. Most of it is pretty unisex which leaves you with so many wonderful options when you are gift shopping.
With this stainless steel necklace you have the fangtastic closure and it is 22″ in length. God I love True Blood, can’t wait for the next season to start! Ugh!
Okay, this one piece isn’t under $100 but I had to include it. I spy with my little eye a brand new addition to the Love and Pride line of A Time For Peace gay and lesbian watches. This one is pretty, I love the light blue strap with the yellow stitching details and am a sucker for a mother of pearl face. This one is black to so that adds plenty of drama while still keeping it sleek and classy.
