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Soldier of Change: From the closet to the forefront of the gay rights movement
I really hated my life. I hated living like I was in prison. It was hurting my relationship. And it was all so fucking stupid. Was this a “special privilege”? Was this about sex? I was not asking to have sex in the military. If given the chance of a rebuttal after Mr. Santorum answered my question with his “sex has no place in the military” and “gay people want special privileges” rhetoric, I would have told him that story.
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A letter to the ‘Christian’ grandmother advocating homophobic books for teens
Laurie Higgins is a Christian grandmother with a limited professional background (according to her bio). She has worked as “cultural analyst” for The Illinois “Family” Institute for six years, and before that was employed in the “writing center” for a high school. I am not exactly sure what the job qualifications are to be a “cultural analyst” but whatever they are, they have not won Ms. Higgins many friends…
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Former Vt. governor Jim Douglas’ memoir tackles same-sex marriage veto
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Former Gov. Jim Douglas says he was acting on conscience in 2009 when he vetoed a same-sex marriage law that had been passed by the state Legislature. In a frank new memoir being released Wednesday, the 63-year-old Douglas said that he had no objection to same-sex couples forming relationships and that he and his wife Dorothy have gay friends.
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Nation’s oldest gay bookstore to reopen in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — The nation’s oldest gay bookstore will reopen next month in Philadelphia after closing three months ago due to financial problems. Philly AIDS Thrift says it’s taking over the shop called Giovanni’s Room. It had closed in May after 41 years, citing competition from online outlets. Philly AIDS Thrift already operates a secondhand store whose proceeds …
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Del. school district cancels reading list to avoid lesbian-themed novel
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — A Delaware school district has eliminated a summer reading list for incoming high school freshman over a challenge to the list’s inclusion of book whose main character is gay. The Cape Henlopen School Board initially voted to remove the novel “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” by emily m. danforth (the author uses all lower case letters…
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In Todd Parr’s world, it’s OK to make mistakes, be yourself
NEW YORK — In Todd Parr’s world, it’s OK to wear your undies on your head, spill your milk or eat mac and cheese in the bathtub. Most of all, it’s OK to be yourself. Inclusion and acceptance are Parr’s mainstays in more than 30 quirky picture books for young kids, including “It’s Okay to Make Mistakes,” out this month from Little, Brown and Co.
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Singapore won’t destroy two gay themed books, titles to return to public libraries
SINGAPORE — Two children’s books dealing with gay subjects won’t be destroyed after all and will be restored to Singapore’s public libraries, an official said Friday. Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim had said in mid-July he supported the state-run National Library Board’s decision to pulp three books deemed to have inappropriate …
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Archie to be shot saving gay best friend in comic book series conclusion
LOS ANGELES — Archie Andrews will die taking a bullet for his gay best friend. The famous freckle-faced comic book icon is meeting his demise in Wednesday’s installment of “Life with Archie” when he intervenes in an assassination attempt on Kevin Keller, Archie Comics’ first openly gay character. Andrews’ death, which was first announced in April, will mark the…
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Singapore backs call to destroy gay-themed books
SINGAPORE — A children’s book inspired by a real-life story of two male penguins raising a baby chick in New York’s zoo has been deemed inappropriate by state-run Singapore libraries, and the conservative city-state’s information minister said he supports the decision to destroy all copies alongside two other titles. The National Library Board, which runs 26 public libraries in Singapore…
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Joan Rivers officiates gay couple’s wedding at NY book signing
Comedian and author Joan Rivers on Monday officiated an impromptu wedding of a same-sex on at a book signing in New York City. Rivers, 81, was taking questions from her fans when Jed Ryan and Joe Aiello, a couple of three years, raised their hands and ask if the comic – who is an ordained minister capable of officiating weddings – would marry them …