Los Angeles: The Alliance for Women in Media is holding its annual event honoring the most realistic and faceted portrayals of women in the media. This year’s “Gracie” winners include Alfre Woodard, Claire Danes, Betty White and the Rachel Maddow-hosted special “The Assassination of Dr. Tiller.“May 24-25, The Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, […]
Author: Matthew Burgoyne
We Heart: Westboro Baptist Church (Not Really)
The Westboro Baptist Church, infamous for picketing funerals among its other anti-gay activities, is donating $50,000 to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). Sort of. After comedian and gay rights activist Lisa Lampanelli heard that Westboro congregants were going to protest at her upcoming show in Topeka, Kan., she came up with a plan: For […]
Yale Bans “No Means Yes” Fraternity For Five Years
Yale University has suspended the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity chapter for the incident last fall when its pledges paraded around campus chanting “No means yes! Yes means anal!” The fraternity will not be allowed to conduct any activities on campus for five years, including recruiting. It also has been banned from using the Yale bulletin […]
Alleged Rapist Resigns as UC Student Regent
University of California Student Regent Jesse Cheng, who allegedly sexually assaulted and battered a UCLA graduate student, officially resigned from his post on Friday. Since October, the alleged victim, known as “Laya,” and the feminist Justice for Laya Coalition have sought the removal of Cheng from the position. As Student Regent on the UC Board of Regents, […]
Today is the 2011 International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia
Today marks the 4th annual International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia, spearheaded by Quebec-based organization Fondation Émergence. The holiday commemorates the date–May 17, 1990–that the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. The years since have been an up-and-down battle for LGBTQ folks on the international level, with the criminalization […]
Mother Loses Custody Battle For Having Breast Cancer
Judge Nancy Gordon of North Carolina ruled last month that Sofia, 11, and Bud, 5, should be raised by their father, Kane Snyder, rather than their mother, Alaina Giordano. The main reason? Giordano has stage four breast cancer that, though currently stable, has metastasized in her bones. Giordiano’s breast cancer was not the only concern–Giordano […]
We Spleen: The Vatican
No, it isn’t because of religious convictions. We Heart many Christians (like those at Douglass Boulevard Baptist Church). But We Spleen injustice, and the Vatican is guilty of this through its treatment of Australian Bishop William Morris. Pope Benedict XVI unseated Bishop Morris on May 2nd for “defective pastoral leadership.” And how was he defective? […]
Uganda Delays “Kill the Gays Bill” Until Friday
Amid an international outcry, the Ugandan parliament has delayed today’s scheduled vote on its controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill until Friday. The proposed legislation, nicknamed “Kill the Gays” Bill, does just that–those found guilty of repeat “homosexual conduct” can receive the death penalty. Other provisions include a 7-year stint in prison for anyone who “aids or abets” […]
Eman al-Obeidi Flees to Tunisia
After weeks of ridicule, harassment and uncertainty over her safety, the Libyan survivor of an alleged multiple rape, Eman al-Obeidi, told CNN she has fled her homeland. With the help of a Libyan military officer and his family, al-Obeidi was driven along mountain roads over the border into Tunisia, with the military officer using his […]
We Heart: Minnesota Rep. Steve Simon
How many gays must God create before we accept that he wants them around? Amen. Rep. Steve Simon (D-St. Louis Park) posed this question to his peers at a Capitol hearing on May 2 in a speech against a bill banning gay marriage in Minnesota. The bill (HF1615) would define marriage as a union between one […]