(MATT BAUME) Do All Kids Need a Mother and Father?

You hear the claim all the time from anti-gay groups: children deserve a mom and a dad. But is it true? What does the science ACTUALLY say about same-sex parents? How do they compare to straight parents? And are they as statistically likely to have embarrassing taste in music?

(Out on the Red Carpet) (Role) Model Behavior!

Gender Model, Rain Dove

The GLAAD Media Awards was 2 weeks ago, but the coverage continues!

Our NY Corespondent, Damon Jacobs chats with Gender Models Cory Wade (from ANTM) and Rain Dove.

Special Thanks to NY based Photographer, Oswald Thomas!

(INTO THE LIGHT) Coming Full Circle! What's Next?

Above: Reading names of TBLG related hate crime and suicide victims at the White House.

Surreal – that’s what it felt like to arrive at the White House, walking the last three miles of this more than 6,000-mile step-by-step journey with over thirty people from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Members of my birth and acquired family were there. People I just met that day were there. All of us gathered together to demand the same thing – full equality for people based on their gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.

We marched together. We shared our experiences together. We chanted together. At the end of the rally, we walked up to the lawn of the People’s House and screamed the names of so many queer and perceived queer folks we’ve lost due to hate. And at the climax of the whole experience we chanted for the world to hear, “Full Equality Now! Full Equality Now! Full Equality Now!”

(INTO THE LIGHT) Getting Closer!

by Alan Bounville

This is the mock up of the main signs and banner we will have with us as we walk up to the White House on Feb. 23rd. There will also be hand-held American flags for people, light-up rings that we will use as our vigil candles (no open flames allowed), and print-outs of victim faces/names for people to hold while we are walking (similar to the big victim signs seen here).
RSVP for the Final 3 miles and Rally/Vigil at the White House here: https://www.facebook.com/events/325883617526117/?fref=ts

(OUTVIEW @ 4) Coverage that led to Change!

Adams at City Hall (2009)                Scott

Going Back to OUTview's first year in 2009, we focused on issues that we cared about and one by one change was happening. Our first Podcast on January 31, 2009 happened a month earlier than planned and MK had to jump through hurdles to get this special completed. This was the week that Portland was going through a firestorm with the Scandal of Mayor Sam Adams and his relationship with former intern, Beau Breedlove. It was revealed that Adams had lied during his Mayoral Campaign in 2007 about his relationship with Breedlove. Many (Including Oregon's Gay Publication, 'Just Out') was calling for Adams to resign. One Man, Elliot Young, Professor at Portland’s Lewis and Clark College, was one of the first to start the ‘Support Sam’ campaign. Young spent several days being interviewed by the local media and graciously accepted the invitation to chat with OUTview. Adams didn't resign, and after 2 failed Recalls, left City Hall feet first in December 2012.

(INTO THE LIGHT) Nadia’s Letter!

Nadia pushing Equality Cart between Orlando and Cocoa Beach in the middle of August, 2012

A dear friend, Nadia Stone, wrote the following letter that she is sending out to media outlets to generate attention for the walk and the final vigil and march we are doing in Washington, DC on February 23rd.

(POP NEWS) GOLDEN LUV; Inouye; Mayan; Naked; Target; Neutral; Gay Apparel!

• LUV: Golden Retrievers Sent to Ease Pain in Newtown!

• ELDER: Sen. Inouye of Hawaii Dead at 88!

• GAG ORDER: China Arrests 500 Over Mayan Apocalypse Rumors!

• NAKED IN OZ: ScarJo Nude-Photo Hacker Gets 10 Years!

• TARGET: Son of Michael Douglas Badly Hurt in Prison!

• NEUTRAL: Teen Wins Fight for Less 'Girly' Easy-Bake Oven!

• GAY APPAREL: Church Billboard; 'Time for Jesus to Come Out'!

(POP NEWS) The Voice; Wood; Diva; Rosie; Ripa; Tomcat; Nyad; Truth; Hero Hook-up!

• THE VOICE: Lost MLK Interview Discovered in Attic!

• QUESTION(S): Coroner Alters Natalie Wood's Death Certificate!

• DIVA ALERT: First look at Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine facing off in “Downton Abbey”!

• HEALING: Thankfully, Rosie O’Donnell on the mend!

• FRUIT-FLY: Kelly Ripa’s dream TV partner is Anderson Cooper!

• END GAME: Holmes, Cruise Officially Kaput!

• SO CLOSE: Nyad Ends 4th Cuba-to-Florida Quest!

• UGLY TRUTH: Lesbian Staged High-Profile Hate Crime!

• BIAS: Guy Sues Napolitano for Gender Discrimination!

• SELL OUT: Facebook's Problem Isn't Zuckerberg, It's Peter Thiel!

• TYPE: Jonathan Groff Says 'Playing Gay' is in the Eye of the Beholder!

• MATCH: Superman And Wonder Woman To Hook Up?

(Into the Light Walk) Leaving Texas!

by Alan Bounville

The time has come to say goodbye to Texas and hello to Louisiana! Here are photos and captions from Austin, TX to the Louisiana border. It’s sad and exciting to be leaving Texas.

Sad because I keep meeting such wonderful, supportive people to whom I must say ‘goodbye’.

Sad because there were so many people in Texas who we’ve lost due to TBLG related hate. (More vigil videos from San Antonio and Austin will be uploaded soon.)
Sad because I’m now just about at the halfway mark in this 6,000 mile trek.

Exciting because after about five months of being in Texas I’m finally in a new state.
Exciting because things are getting greener and wetter – both things I’ve missed.
Exciting because I’m now just about at the halfway mark in this 6,000 mile trek.
Enjoy! And as always – thank you everyone who helps keep me walking!

(Into the Light Walk) Into the Light Walk Reaches the Gulf of Mexico!

 

by Alan Bounville

Almost 3,000 miles since stepping off in Seattle, I’ve made it to the gulf waters! The journey has been a roller coaster of emotions and physical states of being. And each day brings with it the magic of the unexpected.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who has helped me get further down the road so I can continue sharing the demand for full equality for TBLG folks. Each person we talk to about why we need full equality is another potential ally. Each closeted TBLG person we encourage to step out of the shadows is a potential life ripe for transformation. Together, we are changing the world, one step at a time.

Into the light we go!

(Into the Light Walk) Reflection: A Short Story on a Long Journey!

by Alan Bounville

Each day that I walk thousands of steps for gender and sexual orientation equality – I think. That’s millions upon millions of steps so far – thinking. Sometimes I think about what’s around me – the scenery, the weather above me, the cars whizzing by. ‘Am I as far off of the road as possible?’ ‘What’s that new plant I see over there?’ ‘What smells like death? Oh, that would be a dead animal in the brush.’ And a lot of the time I think about my past, my childhood mostly. Growing up I presented myself as open, gregarious, and affable. I tried to make people laugh because it made me feel accepted. And acceptance meant the world to me.

(Into the Light Walk) Lost in Texas!

My Lubbock, TX host, David Liles

by Alan Bounville

It’s hard to believe I’ve been in Texas so long! Since early December I’ve made my way step-by-step through this vast state! I’ve been freezing, drenched, made to scream at the nagging 25+ mile an hour persistent wind, exhausted by the never ending distances between towns – and enriched every step of the way by the wonderful people I’ve met here. This is a long photo/caption post. But hopefully you will enjoy it. The post starts outside of Lubbock, TX and goes through my final days in Austin, TX. For the next post I will pick up with me leaving Austin heading east towards Houston. As always, thank you to everyone who is supporting this 6,000 mile walk across the USA! It’s hard to believe I’ve walked over 2,700 miles so far! I’m almost half way there!!!

(Into the Light Walk) My response to Huffington Post article about full TBLGQ equality bill!

by Alan Bounville

Below is my extended response to the article titled “The LGBT Grassroots vs. HRC: Fighting for a One-Bill Equality Strategy (And Our Lives)” posted on February 12, 2012 by Todd Fernandez on The Huffington Post. (Huffington limits responses to a certain character count, which was well under the characters I used in my response.)

Every action each of us takes is another step towards the day when we will be equal under all the laws and seen as such by everyone. Though full equality is never actually achieved by any act of legislatio n, dreaming big, which a single bill allows us to do, both simplifies and humanizes TBLGQ and allied people in this struggle. Pragmatism will not galvanize. Simplicity will. So I say, lets simplify the message around one bill, one call for full equality and see those who want to compartmen talize our struggle to acronyms like DADT, DOMA, ENDA have to defend the belief that we are only worth one piece of equality at a time.

(POP NEWS): Casiraghi Injured in Cat Fight; Emma's a Lez?; 'Family' Wins; Aretha respects Whitney; Takei Lusts after Lou!

CAT KING: Monaco Prince Hospitalized in Fight Over Supermodels!

SUSPECTED: “Harry Potter” star Emma Watson says her short haircut led to some speculation about if she had become a lesbian!

CAMP: “Modern Family” wins two more WGA Awards!

FAITH: Aretha Franklin pays tribute to Whitney Houston!

BASIC: Students Calculate Price of the Death Star!

TRANS-TOT: What It's Like to Have Gender Identity Disorder ... at Age 4!

RIPPED: George Takei Has Eyes for Lou Ferrigno!

 

(Into the Light Walk) A Vigil in San Antonio Part 2

Vigil for 37 year-old David Edward Wigley, murdered on November 8, 1993. David was wearing feminine attire when found stabbed repeatedly in the chest and stomach. In the arms of a good Samaritan, David said, "Help me, help me," and recited the Lord's Prayer.

(Into the Light Walk) A Vigil in San Antonio!

 by Alan Bounville

Here is the latest vigil I did with the family of Troy Martinez Clattenburg, a gay man who was shot execution style in the back of the head inside his home in San Antonio just under two years ago. Here, Troy's family, friends, and local San Antonio residents join me outside Troy's home where the murder took place.

GENDERED: Critics Bash Sexist 'Girly' Legos!

A new line of Legos made especially for girls just doesn't stack up for critics who complain the Lego Friends' line is needlessly gender-biased, reports the LA Times. With bright colors, stylish clothes, and slim female figurines, Lego Friends is facing online petitions and strong words from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

The new Legos are "devoid of imagination and promote overt forms of sexism," complains the association, and send girls a message "that being pretty is more important than who you are or what you can do." The Denmark-based toy company, however, says it is only responding to customer demand. "We heard very clear requests from moms and girls for more details and interior building, a brighter color palette, a more realistic figure, role play opportunities and a story line that they would find interesting," says one Lego exec, who says that the Friends line was not just for girls. "We know that many girls love to build and play with the wide variety of Lego products already available."

STAND UP: Girl's Rant About Gender Roles and Marketing Goes Viral!

CNN's Ali Velshi takes a look at a recent viral video, a little girl's rant about gender roles and marketing.

KICK ASS: Trans Woman Beats Subway Rider for Calling Her a Man!

A video posted to YouTube shows a trans woman pursuing and then kicking and beating a man after he reportedly made a remark about her gender.

Writes the uploader of the video, titled 'TOSSED LIKE A RAG DOLL FOR TRYING IT!!!': "Morning after xmas on the nyc subway train, me and my girlfriends was walking to the train, dude shouted out 'thats a man' to my home girl and this is what happens when u disrespect a tranny in public".

Writes blogger TransGriot: "How many times have I warned you cispeople not to frack with transpeople?  It's not a good idea to get someone pissed off at you who not only has a little more strength than the average cis female, but is an estrogen based lifeform to boot. You also don't know how much bull feces that transperson may have gone through just trying to get through her day. Your attempt to make fun of them or disrespect them to prop up your own flagging self esteem may be the last straw that sets the transperson off and the next thing you know they're either reading you like a cheap novel, pulling out a can of whoop ass with your name on it or are doing both at the same time..."

PRETTY: Tennessee Principal Suspends Gay Teen for Wearing Make-Up!

Lexington High School Principal Steve Lindsey suspended gay student Kasey Landrum for wearing make-up, and now Landrum and his mother are speaking out, WBBJ reports:
"I'm very upset about it because he can't be who he wants to be," said Shelly Maness, Kasey Landrum's mother. "When I went to register him, about the make-up, he (Lindsey) reminded us Kasey was not to be wearing any," she adds.

The suspension form obtained by Maness cited her son was suspended on the basis he violated the school's dress code which states: "When a student is attired in a manner, which is likely to cause disruption or interference with normal operation of the school, the administration will take the appropriate action. In matters of opinion, the judgment of the teachers and administrators will prevail."