Lesbian Bloggers' '8 Against 8 Campaign' Exceeds Goal in Battle to Defeat Gay Marriage Ban

By Lianne Stokes

A grassroots online fundraising campaign against Proposition 8 by eight lesbian bloggers has already shattered its fundraising goal less than midway through the campaign.

Three days ago, eight lesbian bloggers set out to raise $8,000 in eight days to help defeat Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that seeks to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in the State of California.

Bloggers Grace Chu and Grace Rosen of Grace the Spot, Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend, Dorothy Snarker of Dorothy Surrenders, Lori Hahn of Hahn At Home, Kelly Leszczynski of The Lesbian Lifestyle, Sinclair of Sugarbutch Chronicles, Riese of This Girl Called Automatic Win, and Renee Gannon of Lesbiatopia formed the 8 Against 8 Campaign to call on the public to donate to the "No to Prop. 8” campaign and help defeat the anti-gay marriage measure come Election Day, which if it passes, will nullify thousands of now legal same sex marriages and make it illegal once again for lesbian and gay couples to marry in California.

What happened next exceeded their expectations.

Donations started rolling in by the thousands of dollars per day. Less than three full days into the campaign, the eight bloggers against Prop 8 reached their initial goal of $8,000.

“I am still in shock at how quickly and effectively the community responded to the 8 Against 8 campaign,” said Renee Gannon of www.lesbiatopia.com. “The money donated and the excitement generated in three short days have far surpassed what I ever could have imagined that we would accomplish in eight days, never mind three.”
The eight bloggers intend to continue raising money for No on Prop 8 through the “8 Against 8” campaign, expressing the urgency of fighting Proposition 8.

“We’re going to keep ‘8 Against 8’ going for the full eight days,” said Grace Chu of www.gracethespot.com and www.afterellen.com.

“Equality California’s No on Prop 8 campaign needs every cent they can get to defeat this atrocious ballot initiative,” she continued. “We cannot afford to lose our momentum in this crucial time leading up to the election. We’ve smashed our goal of $8,000. Now let’s keep the donations coming in to smash Proposition 8.”
Dorothy Snarker of http://dorothysurrenders.blogspot.com and www.afterellen.com echoed Chu’s sentiments. "Reaching our goal in three days is amazing and a testament to the generosity and passion of all of our readers,” said Snarker. “But just because we reached $8,000 doesn't mean we should stop pushing for more. Polls show the 'Yes' and 'No' votes are almost dead-even. We can't let intolerance win because we couldn't afford to fight hatred head-on."

L. A. Vess, Managing Editor of GayWired Media, which includes the lesbian-oriented site SheWired.com, stated: "The fight to defeat Prop 8 and other initiatives like it across the country now and in the future truly has to begin at the individual level. These bloggers are doing what we should all do when we are moved by a cause and see our human rights in danger -- get out on the front lines and make things happen. Sitting on the sidelines just isn't going to cut it anymore. I applaud these extraordinary women for their dedicated efforts to protect equality for all."

The 8 Against 8 fundraising effort continues through October 27th. Donations can be made at the following URL: www.8against8.com. 100% of all donations made through “8 Against 8” goes directly to Equality California’s No on Prop 8 campaign.

* With additions by Ann Turner

Originally published by gaywired.com

Top Gay Activist Blogger Goes Public with Investigation Into Senator Mitch McConnell

Mike Rogers, Founder of Proud of Who We Are, Calls on Senate Minority Leader to Produce Undisclosed Documents About His Abrupt Military Departure

WASHINGTON, Oct 23, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- America's top gay activist blogger, Mike Rogers, went public today with his investigation into Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY). Rogers called on the Senator to release his military records -- including documentation of the reason McConnell was discharged from the Army in the midst of the Vietnam War -- one day after the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Kentucky's former Attorney General Greg Stumbo came forward with questions of his own for McConnell.

Rogers has made a career of investigating suspected, closeted, anti-gay public officials, including Senator Larry Craig (ID) and Reps. Mark Foley (FL) and Ed Schrock (VA). He is the founder of Proud of Who We Are, an organization that encourages closeted, anti-gay politicians to serve proudly as gay Americans, regardless of their political party.

Rogers has taken six trips to Kentucky in the last several months to investigate long-standing questions about McConnell's military service. Rogers has visited numerous towns, spoken with dozens of people, and spent hours pouring over archived public records.

Rogers has discovered inconsistencies in McConnell's public Army records and is the first investigative reporter to note the differing answer to a section of the records titled "Transcript of Court Martial." While every other section of McConnell's records without information states "n/a," this particular section uniquely states, "not on file." "Alone," said Rogers, "this court martial information may be insignificant, but it warrants further investigation when coupled with my other research."

"I've investigated enough to conclude that there are serious questions surrounding Senator McConnell's military service, and I think Kentuckians deserve answers," Rogers continued. "It's worth noting that next month Senator McConnell could become the highest-ranking Republican at the federal level. To have an anti-gay politician as the standard bearer of his party when there are unanswered questions about his military service is something I think the American people simply will not tolerate. After all, this is the same man who threw Larry Craig under the bus while supporting confessed adulterer David Vitter. Suspicions about McConnell were raised then, and he's yet to answer them."

The records Rogers has been able to obtain indicate that McConnell enlisted in the U.S. Army in March of 1967 and was abruptly discharged four months later for a minor medical condition. His discharge was expedited by the claim that he needed to be released quickly to attend New York University. NYU records indicate that McConnell never applied to the school, and at the time of his discharge he had already earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky.

Rogers has also reviewed phone records showing a flurry of calls from the office of McConnell's patron in the U.S. Senate at the time, Senator John Sherman Cooper, in the days immediately preceding McConnell's discharge. The calls abruptly stopped shortly before McConnell was discharged.

In addition to repeatedly refusing to publicly address his military record, Senator McConnell makes no mention of his time in the service on either his Senate or campaign websites.

"Senator McConnell's story just doesn't add up," said Rogers. "I encourage him to consider facts and the truth his allies, not a problem. A speedy release of his records and openness with the public is the only thing that will help clear this matter up once and for all."

The Human Rights Campaign has given McConnell a zero rating for his anti-gay rights voting agenda in the Senate. His uneven treatment of the sex scandals of Republican Senators Larry Craig and David Vitter received a great deal of attention last year. The New York Times reported that McConnell threatened Craig with a far-reaching ethics committee investigation and embarrassing public hearings about his sexual encounters if Craig refused to resign. McConnell also stripped Craig of his positions on powerful Senate committees. Vitter, who paid for services from a female prostitute, faced no similar reprimands from the Senate Minority Leader.

SOURCE ProudofWhoWeAre.org
http://www.proudofwhoweare.org

Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Positively Aware magazine releases special World AIDS Day edition

Chicago, Illinois – October 23, 2008 – In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the November/December issue of Positively Aware magazine takes a look at some of the individuals who are making a difference in the fight against HIV. World AIDS Day takes place every year on December 1, with leadership as this year’s theme.

PA hears from three individuals working in the HIV community about what leadership means to them, including Stephen Lewis, author and co-director of AIDS Free World and former United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa; Julie Davids, the founding executive director of Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP); and Heidi Nass, a national HIV treatment advocate and woman living with HIV.

“Although it’s easy enough to be a self appointed leader, I believe the HIV/AIDS movement needs leaders who are effective in two ways,” says Davids, “by their actions, and by their commitment to bringing out the leadership in others.”

The issue also features a profile of YouthAIDS ambassador Seane Corn, who’s featured on the cover. Corn, a nationally celebrated yoga instructor known for her passionate, dynamic, and inspirational style of teaching that incorporates both the physical and spiritual aspects of the yoga practice, has made it her mission to educate others on the HIV/AIDS crisis, and to help reduce the fear, ignorance, and discrimination often associated with HIV/AIDS.

Also in this issue: an update from the XVII International AIDS Conference, which took place in Mexico City earlier this year; a report on what’s known—and not known—about cardiovascular disease in HIV; and a closer look at the controversy, raised by a recent statement issued by a panel of Swiss experts, on whether having undetectable HIV viral load translates to a significant reduction in the transmission of HIV.

Positively Aware is an internationally known and respected magazine devoted to HIV treatment and health. Positively Aware has a circulation of 85,000, and is published bi-monthly by Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) in Chicago. Founded in 1987, TPAN is Chicago’s oldest peer-led AIDS service organization and specializes in peer-led treatment information and support services. Visit www.tpan.com.

A Hint of Homosexuality Wins Top Publishing Honors; Book Chronicles 'Gender Ambiguity' in American Advertising

RACINE, WI (10-22-08)--Professor Bruce H. Joffe's book A Hint of Homosexuality? Gay and Homoerotic Imagery in American Print Advertising (Xlibris: 2007) has been named "Winner" and best book in the Gay/Lesbian: Non-Fiction category of The National Best Books 2008 Awards competition sponsored by USA Book News.

Earlier this year, the title was honored as a Bronze Medalist in the Gay/Lesbian category of the 12th annual (2008) IPPY Awards Competition. Featuring reproductions of classic print advertisements and Joffe's tongue-in-cheek commentary, the book asserts that ideas about homosexuality can be traced in print advertisements appearing in American periodicals from as far back as a century ago.

The author examines trends, themes and advertising campaigns that, he contends, support a basis for believing romantic and/or sexual interest between members of the same sex appeared in ads published by American newspapers and magazines.

Explicit or implied, impressions of homosexuality in more than 225 advertisements published by major manufacturers, retailers, companies and well-known brands over the past hundred years or so are depicted and assessed.

Some same-sex ads are "strangely erotic while others may be silly caricatures, more burlesque than bizarre," holds Joffe. By and large, however, he says, "most tend to be snapshots of the male (and, to a lesser extent, female) convivial spirit observed in intimate conditions and circumstances."

A professor of communication at Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee, WI), Mary Baldwin College (Staunton, VA), and earlier at George Mason University (Fairfax, VA), who's focused on gay and lesbian studies, Joffe says that he has tried to temper his academic research with a more popular voice.

A Hint of Homosexuality? (Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-4257-6466-1; also published in hard cover: ISBN 978-1-4257-6510-1) is available from all online booksellers.
Author royalties from this book benefit the Commercial Closet Association, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization working to influence the world of advertising to understand, respect and include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) references to achieve a more accepting society while achieving successful business results.

An excerpt is posted at www.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=40500. Review copies are available from the author. Contact: Bruce H. Joffe,
Telephone: 262-456-2740, E-Mail: bjoffe@mbc.edu