PROTEST: Critics want Bert and Ernie to Stay Single!

An online petition by Change.org to have Bert and Ernie get married on Sesame Street is generating lots of buzz but also plenty of criticism—including from those who support same-sex marriage:

• Nicole Fabian-Weber, the Stir: "Utterly stupid idea." Why? "They're puppets. They bicker, sing songs, and teach kids how to count. They—and the rest of the characters on the show—shouldn't be marrying anyone, girl or boy." (Whitney Jefferson at Jezebel has a similar gripe.)

• Tracy Clark-Flory, Salon: "They're close buddies who happen to be lifelong roommates—and in a preschooler's universe this is totally appropriate! It's only in the adult world of defensive, 'no homo' heterosexuality that their cohabitation becomes problematic and laughable." How about we push for more gay celebrities to appear on the show "and leave the absurdity of debating puppets' sexuality to the homophobes."

UPRISE: London Calms, But New Riots Splinter England!

Looting and arson spread to several cities in central and northern England today but calm prevailed in London, where thousands of extra police officers patrolled the streets. The most serious unrest was in Manchester, which had sent 100 officers to assist in London, the Guardian reports. 

Hundreds of young people went on the rampage in the city center, looting stores and hurling missiles at police. Birmingham saw a second night of unrest and rioters in Nottingham hurled firebombs through a police station window. Prime Minister David Cameron, who cut his vacation short to deal with the crisis, described the violence as "sickening" but stopped short of calling for tougher measures like calling in the military to restore order, AP reports. Other lawmakers who visited riot sites in London yesterday were heckled by angry crowds.

UPRISE: London Neighborhood Burned As Vigil Turns To Riot!

Hundreds of protesters gathered in London's Tottenham neighborhood Saturday night to protest the Metropolitan Police's fatal shooting  of a 29-year old father of four named Mark Duggan last week.

But what began as a peaceful vigil for Duggan, whom cops say was killed in an exchange of gun fire, soon devolved into a riot, resulting in 42 arrests, at least 26 police injuries and the torching of two police cars, a double-decker bus and a building. There was also looting of local stores and merchants, according to reports.

Police are calling the incident "distressing" and described the scene as a "war zone," while protesters insist Scotland Yard got what they deserve. "[We're] here to tell the police they can't abuse us, harass us. We won't put up with it, this is just the beginning, this is war, and this is what you get — fire," said one participant during the late night demonstration.

Tottenham is one of London's most economically depressed neighborhoods, and has some wondering whether last night's incident isn't the prologue to more protests ahead of the city's 2012 Olympic Games next summer. 

A-MEN: More GetEqual Protests And Breaking Fast At Rick Perry's Prayer Event!

The pro-LGBT activists from GetEqual Texas braved the Houston sun yesterday to protest outside Reliant Stadium, where Governor Rick Perry and thousands of Evangelicals were holding an unabashedly political "day of prayer," "The Response."

Yesterday I posted video from GetEqual's faux funeral procession for people who have lost their lives to homo-and-transphobia, but the group posted some more videos of their protest that you might enjoy watching. Think the prayer event's anti-gay organizers, like the American Family Association and Family Research Council, got the message?

Also, on a related note, Joe.My.God shared some video from the local Texas Tribune's report, which includes some interesting information: though event participants were meant to fast, many of them snacked on nachos and hot dogs at the stadium's foot courts.

Oh, and Governor Perry had dinner plans later in the night, but vowed to keep his "fast" through the gathering.

(Into the Light Walk) Update: June 22 – July 7!

by Alan Bounville

What a past few weeks! It really is getting harder and harder to crystallize the myriad experiences that happen each day into posts that capture the true essence of a walk like this. I say each day because literally each day something to remember takes places. Each day I am walking my body, mind and spirit experience extreme highs and lows. Each day someone inspiring comes into my life. Each day I learn how important it is to get our messages out there to all people with whom we come into contact. Below are two vigils along with photos and descriptions of just a few of the moments that define this journey. PS – there are three more Portland area vigils I’m finishing up, so those videos will be uploaded soon.

Vigil held for Brad Forkner and Christopher Rosevear, two men holding hands on the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon on May 22, 2011 who where beaten on the bridge by a group of males.

PROTEST: Gay Activists Attacked In Russia!

Gay rights participants who were taking part in an unapproved pride parade in Saint Petersburg, Russia today were attacked by a group of anti-gay protesters. 14 LGBT activists were arrested as were some of the anti0gay attackers. Russia's most highly visible gay rights advocate (and OUTview Fan) Nikolai Alekseyev was one of the jailed but was released soon after.

The AP reports: "I've seen a lot of things in six years of holding such events in Moscow, but I've never seen such cynicism in St. Petersburg," said Nikolai Alekseyev, Russia's highest profile gay rights activist, who was himself briefly detained.

Activists held their protest beside a monument to city founder Peter the Great, "because Peter the Great founded a city with European values," Yuri Gavrikov, head of the Equality group said Friday. President Dmitry Medvedev has insisted Russians share European values today.

UK Gay News has lots of detailed information on the attacks. The photo to the right captures the moment right gay activist Alexander Sheremete was attacked by an hateful anti-gay protester. Sheremete reportedly suffered head and lips bruises.

UPRISING: NYC Gay Bar Raided As Patrons Celebrated Marriage Equality Vote!

The New York City police department is receiving heat for what many are calling a raid on one of the city's gay bars, the Eagle, which took place at the very same time that the state Senate voted to introduce marriage equality to New York Friday night. Police claim this was a routine inspection. Whether that's true or not, the timing of this operation was remarkably insensitive. About 100 people were at the Eagle at the time.

The NYT reports: Allen Roskoff, 61, a veteran gay-rights activist who was not at the Eagle, said, “In typical New York City Police Department fashion, the N.Y.P.D. demonstrated its disrespect for the gay community by raiding the Eagle mere moments after the passage of most important piece of gay rights legislation in history.”

But some accounts of the inspection diverged significantly, in places, from what the police described. For instance, (Eagle owner Robert Berk) said the inspection lasted about two hours, while (Police Department’s chief spokesman David Browne) said it was completed in about 45 minutes.

Along with flashlights being shined in people’s faces, lights were turned off and patrons were forced to empty their pockets “without probable cause,” Mr. Shevlin said.

A reader of Kenneth in the 212 writes: "yes, i was there and they definitely raided it. i argued with the police there for an hour over the outrage and eventually left. i am going to try to organize a response, like i did after the raids 3 years ago after pride."

Glittering: trendy new tactic for some activists!

(AP) Many VIPs have gotten a pie in the face from protesters: Bill Gates, for one, and years earlier, Anita Bryant. President George W. Bush dodged a shoe hurled at him. This year, for some liberal activists, the guerrilla tactic of choice is a shower of glitter tossed from close range.

So far, three Republican presidential candidates – Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann – have been targeted by the so-called glitterati, primarily because of their opposition to various gay-rights causes.

Among the public, there’s been lively online debate about whether the tactic is refreshing and effective, childish and rude, or even worse. Some critics wanted the perpetrators manhandled, Tasered and jailed.

Among gay activists, the question is whether to extend the glittering campaign or call it off.

“I think some glitter brings some magic into the debate,” said Michael Mitchell of Stonewall Democrats, a network of gay and lesbian Democratic clubs. “But it has to be done strategically and backed up by effective messages.”

BIAS: Campaign Calls Oregonian Out for Ignoring LGBTQ Community!

When local LGBTQ organizations mobilized more than 4,000 people in fewer than 72 hours to hold a demonstration protesting a recent incident of anti-gay violence, most major Portland media outlets covered the event, reports Just Out.

But someone was notably absent from the party. (We’ll give you a hint. It starts with an “O” and it’s not Oprah. We can forgive her for not making it.)

Progressive Oregon has created a petition asking The Oregonian to give equal coverage to the entire community, pointing out the double standard that seems to apply for news coverage.

“Our state’s largest media outlet, The Oregonian, failed to cover this 4,000-person rally at all. This is the same paper that reported on a 15-person Tea Party protest in Portland!” Progressive Oregon wrote.

UNITED: 4,000 People Hold Hands Across Portland Bridge in Epic Show of Solidarity!

On Sunday night, more than 4,000 people showed up to a Facebook-organized demonstration against last week's anti-gay hate crime in Portland and held hands across the Hawthorne bridge where the attack occurred.

Just Out reports: Demonstrators packed into the space beneath the west side of the bridge at about 7:30 p.m., spilling over onto the ramp and stairs to hear from the attack’s survivors, Brad Forkner and Christopher Rosevear. Afterward, the crowd filed down both sides of the bridge with hands held. Despite being tightly packed together, some attendees could not fit on the bridge.

Just Out reported the crowd was 4,000 people strong. The protest was organized by BRO, Q Center, Cascade AIDS Project and Pride Northwest. Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini, Mayor Sam Adams, and the couple who was attacked were among those who spoke at the demo.

(Into the Light) Begins NOW: A 6,000-Mile Walk to End Gender and LGBTQ Discrimination!

Today, Alan L. Bounville embarked upon a journey from Seattle, Washington, walking 6,000 miles to Washington DC. While he walks, Bounville will be highlighting the need for equality based on gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. The walk will begin in the Capitol Hill area where a brief candle light vigil will mark the beginning of the walk.


In the United States of America we are required to declare a gender and that it 'match' archaic beliefs about maleness and femaleness. Our existing social and governmental structure expects that our declared gender align with the roles hegemonic forces believe we should embody in that gender. Because of this rigid binary, inequalities abound in employment, health care, voting rights, marriage, social services, religious practices, parenthood, public restrooms, housing and social respect. And worst of all, gender related discrimination leads to murder and suicide.

"A person's gender identity and gender expression should be decided not by predetermined expectations, but by each of us as individuals. Until that is the accepted norm, we will continue to live in an imbalanced world where people who are transgender are beaten, murdered and refused jobs, where women are paid less than men for the same amount of work, where men aggress against each other, where lesbian, gay, bisexual and all people are judged not on the quality of who they are as people, but on how 'masculine' or 'feminine' they are perceived to be - and that's just the beginning," says Bounville.

GLAM SHOCK: Adam Performs In Moscow, Reacts To Violence at Gay Rally!

Lambert performed at the Maxidrom Festival in Moscow yesterday, the same day that Dan Choi and 17 other gay rights activists were attacked and arrested near the Kremlin.

He tweeted: "So shocked that this happened today at the same hour and same city as I was performing in."

Choi saluted Lambert via Twitter today.

SILENCED: More than 30 arrested at Moscow gay rights demos!

(AP) — Moscow police arrested more than 30 people trying to hold two unauthorized gay-rights demonstrations in the capital on Saturday.

Opponents of gay rights scuffled with the demonstrators and with police. A police spokesman, Maxim Kolosvetov, told Russian news agencies that 18 gay activists and 14 opponents were arrested.

Moscow authorities routinely ban gay rights demonstrations. Although homosexuality was decriminalized in post-Soviet Russia, anti-gay sentiment is high and authorities justify the bans on the grounds of trying to prevent fights.

Activists tried to hold a demonstration at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin and later outside the mayor's office.

The attempted demonstration at the first site appeared aimed at connecting gay rights with the Soviet Union's stand against Germany in World War II, which remains a cornerstone of Russian national pride.

The demonstration ban "is particularly shocking because during the Second World War, Muscovites stood against the Nazis who thought to exterminate Jews, homosexuals and Communists, but now the mayor of Moscow is colluding with new-Nazis," said Peter Tatchell, a British gay rights activist who has taken part in several demonstration attempts in Moscow.

Russian Activist Nikolai Alexeyev Storms Off Live TV Show During Homophobic Debate

Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev stormed off the stage of a TV show after an unfair debate stacked against him with Russia's version of Maggie Gallagher and a homophobic host.

Here's some of Chicago activist Andy Thayer's first-person account: Alekseev was debating Alexander Hinstein, a deputy in the State Duma (parliament) and member of Vladir Putin’s United Russia Party. The last straw was when Solovyev, host of the nationally broadcast show, Poednivo (roughly “The Dual” in English), called on an audience member who accused gays of physically threatening her young daughter.

Alekseev tore off his microphone and walked off as the cameras rolled. Shortly thereafter, the LGBT members of the audience also walked out.

ATTACK: Pro-Gay Rally In Australia Ends In Violence!

A peaceful protest by marriage equality advocates in Adelaide Australia on the International Day Against Homophobia ended in violence yesterday after members of the Adelaide Christian Street Church disrupted the demonstration.

Same Same has details: Around 200 people met yesterday at Victoria Square, before the rainbow flag-waving procession moved off to Parliament House.

South Australian Legislative Council member Ian Hunter addressed the crowd, along with queer youth workers who said youth health and welfare was being threatened by the closure of service projects. Lesbian and Uniting church minister Reverend Sue Wickham conducted a marriage ceremony for ten couples.

Along the way, several members of Adelaide Street Church marched ahead of the colourful crowd, wielding huge signs saying ‘God hates sinners’ and quoting the Bible. They also attempted to drown out the marriage rally with their own announcements via loudhailer.

(NEW SERIES): Into the Light Walk: Step One: Decide to Be Active!

by Alan L. Bounville
intothelightwalk.com

I've been asked to write for this publication about the LGBTQ social movement and sub-movements and about social movements overall. I do a lot of freedom fighting as it appears. And because of that, the publishers feel I might have something to say. Truth is, I'm not sure what I should say. What is interesting to you, the reader? What is helpful? Why do I deserve this platform over the next person? We are all at different points along this journey, so it is foolish for me to think I know more than you about what it will take for us to live in the world of our dreams - and for queer people specifically, to be fully equal under the laws of our country and treated as such by our families and neighbors.

All I know is that I see myself as a person who actively engages in finding solutions through my own actions to the problems we face from day to day. So, maybe I'll start there. In regard to the LGBTQ movements, I am active because I believe the more I get involved in the fight for my rights or the rights of others, the sooner it will be when those rights are concretized in the law and the sooner it will be my family and neighbors will treat me as an equal. So, Be. Active.

Many would say my decision to be active makes me an activist. The word 'activist' I feel puts a label on people that separates us. We are all equally empowered to shape our world. So, titles in a peoples movement, I feel are counterproductive to empowering people to become active, which at my core is my ultimate goal. So, I only believe in the idea of active and passive people.

(NEW SERIES): Into the Light Walk: Step One: Decide to Be Active!

by Alan L. Bounville
intothelightwalk.com

I have been asked to write for this publication about the LGBTQ social movement and sub-movements and about social movements overall. I do a lot of freedom fighting as it appears. And because of that, the publishers feel I might have something to say. Truth is, I'm not sure what I should say. What is interesting to you, the reader? What is helpful? Why do I deserve this platform over the next person? We are all at different points along this journey, so it is foolish for me to think I know more than you about what it will take for us to live in the world of our dreams - and for queer people specifically, to be fully equal under the laws of our country and treated as such by our families and neighbors.

All I know is that I see myself as a person who actively engages in finding solutions through my own actions to the problems we face from day to day. So, maybe I'll start there. In regard to the LGBTQ movements, I am active because I believe the more I get involved in the fight for my rights or the rights of others, the sooner it will be when those rights are concretized in the law and the sooner it will be my family and neighbors will treat me as an equal. So, Be. Active.

Many would say my decision to be active makes me an activist. The word 'activist' I feel puts a label on people that separates us. We are all equally empowered to shape our world. So, titles in a peoples movement, I feel are counterproductive to empowering people to become active, which at my core is my ultimate goal. So, I only believe in the idea of active and passive people.

CULTURE: Gaga Smacks Ariz. Crackdown!

Gay rights champion Lady Gaga is now taking on illegal immigration and Arizona's controversial crackdown in particular: The singer, in Mexico City for two shows, smacked the law saying, "I don't stand by many of those unjust immigration laws in my country." She said she wrote "Americano" as a response, reports the AP. Gaga next heads to American Idol, reports the New York Post, where she'll mentor the remaining four contestants on Wednesday's show.

SOAP Q: Fans protest at ABC's offices over cancellation of CHILDREN and LIFE!

Daytime television buffs rallied in Midtown Tuesday to let ABC know that without their soaps, they'll have no lives to live, reports We Love Soaps.

A distraught group of 30 soap opera fans gathered outside ABC studios to protest the imminent cancellation of iconic soaps ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

"These Soap Operas are our lives," said Danielle Pope, 25, a child care provider from Brooklyn. "I grew up watching these soaps. These characters are like family. When they marry we celebrate. When they die, we mourn."

PROTEST: More Great Video from London's 'Kiss-In' Protest on Friday!