Hope for LGBT Equality

Hope—Shepard Fairey showed us the power of that four-letter word, paired with a simple image back in 2008. The portrait that galvanized Americans during the presidential election still serves as an emblem of all of those that rallied behind him. Although that momentum carried its way into the booths to elect President Barack Obama, that same day was also a step back for Californians and Americans alike.

Proposition 8, narrowly passed by the majority of Californians, left same-sex couples without the right to marry. And now, artists are again flexing their creativity to rally behind equality for all. Manifest Equality, an event produced by the same Yosi Sergant of Manifest Hope, is calling for all artists to submit their work for a contest, aimed at uniting all those who want to see a country with rights, equal for all.

Find out how to enter and read more at: Take Part!

The Bitchy Old Queen Speaks OUT on BTR!

Every Wednesday night from 8-9 p.m. EST, your host James Hipps brings you the latest in LGBT news and topics with special guest.  This week’s guest was the mind behind Bitchy Old Queen, “The News Magazine 60 Minutes Wishes it Could Be”, Lyndon Evans.

Missed the show?  No worries, you can listen on the player below, but make sure you check in next week (by clicking here) or going directly to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Hipps and feel free to call in with comments or questions @ 646-929-0506 or join us live in the chat room.  Mark your schedule now and make sure you join in!

What’s your agenda?

Who’s Lyndon Evans? According to Focus on the Rainbow:

Lyndon Evans, has had several “careers” but is best known for his work in radio broadcasting.

His first round in radio was in 1977 when he joined Danbury’s radio stations WLAD/WDAQ as sports director, reporter and anchor.

During his tenure he was sports director, producer of all live local sporting events and oversaw studio production on the local end during such events as coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament broadcast live from England.

Besides doing several daily sports reports on both stations, he also produced and hosted a weekly sports program.

During the 1980 Winter Olympics from Lake Placid, NY, Evans produced and voiced over 70 reports utilizing AP Wire Service and AP Radio.

Aside from his sports reporting, he would on occasion anchor the hourly newscasts and also do street reporting.

Each year he was at WLAD/WDAQ he was the anchor/reporter at Democratic Headquarters in Danbury during the station’s election night coverage.

He was asked by Danbury Democrats if he would consider entering politics based on his local popularity and said, “thanks but I would rather be reporting political news than be making political news”.

He was a contributor to the AP Wire Service and AP Radio, did stringer work for WPOP-AM in Hartford which at the time was an all news station, did occasional stringer work for WCBS-AM in New York City and the ABC Sports Radio Network. Many of his reports for AP Radio and ABC Radio were heard around the United States.

For three consecutive years, 1977 – 1979, he was cited for his reporting by the Associated Press in Connecticut, reaching his highest honor in 1979 for providing Best Sports Coverage.

In 1981 he left radio broadcasting to pursue other interests.

20 plus years later he returned to radio broadcasting, this time behind the scenes when he went to work for CBS Broadcasting in 2003.

While with the CBS Radio Division he worked at the four station radio group in Hartford serving as continuity manager for all National advertising, paid and barter.

Unfortunately, in July 2006, he was among 100 plus CBS Radio employees who were downsized across the United States.

After the downsizing and as an effort to continue to use his computer and writing skills he began blogging in 2007.

He created and still does have several blogs which he manages under the banner of Artlyn Entertainment.

Regarding his entry into blogs for the LGBT community, he said, “I fell into creating LGBT blogs both as link sources and commentary. It has been a well chosen decision.”

He currently has two LGBT link sites. “LGBT Rainbow Links“, a link site to LGBT websites and blogs, and “The LGBT Newscenter“, an LGBT news link site which also features a Live Streaming news feed from CBS News. His original LGBT commentary blog is called FOCUS.

He also publishes “his favorite blog” the “news magazine blog”, Bitchy Old Queen which is an eclectic mix of humor, satire and news. “It’s the most fun to do, and actually the most time consuming. Much like producing and editing a radio program”.

One of his newer blogs, Cop Watch, features news stories about the men and women who are sworn to “Protect and Serve” but are derelict in their duties. This new blog has been well received by readers and is among the most read blogs which Evans publishes.

When asked if he would write a blog for CT/Hearst Newspapers based on his writings on LGBT issues and news, he agreed, “but wasn’t quite sure how it would be received. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the readership since it first began in July. Even more so that “Focus On The Rainbow” appears on all four websites of CT/Hearst Newspapers”.

Would Evans return to broadcasting ?

“Given the right opportunity, either behind the scenes or back on-air as anchor, reporter, host or as a commentator for radio and/or TV, the answer would be yes. Although I would have to honestly say I would have no interest going back into sports, however, news would certainly be something I would have to take a very serious look at”.

“But if it were to never happen again, I’ve had more than my share of 15 minutes of fame. After all, how many people can say Paul Newman took them for a ride in his race car ?”

Commentary: Gay is Not the New Black

In recent weeks, one would have thought the nation’s first black president was also the nation’s biggest homophobe. Everyone from Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black and radio personality Rachel Maddow to Joe Solmonese, the president of Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest gay advocacy group, seem to be blasting Obama for everything from “don’t ask don’t tell” to Adam Lambert not winning American Idol.

Read the rest of this post at CNN.com

Editor’s Note: The LGBT Community Does NOT Represent Me

OK, I’ve just about had it with the whining and crying. It’s bad enough we (the gay community) have people like Perez Hilton leading the example of what and how gay people are to the straight world, but now, even those who I thought may have a bit, just a bit of common sense have gone to the edge and apparently jumped.

I just read a post on Salon that was written by John Aravosis of AMERICABlog entitled, “President Obama betrays the gay community.” What a load of crap!

How has President Obama betrayed anyone? Oh, I’m sorry, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell hasn’t been repealed yet and neither has DOMA. I wonder if John Aravosis were in the White House if it would have been done yet either.

Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, these are laws. Laws can’t simply be repealed by one person. Last I knew, repealing a law took an act of congress. I would also venture to say that these laws should be changed by congress and not by mandate of the President.  The Right Wing nuts have already set their ground on how Obama is trying to turn the U.S. into a socialist country, so let’s let our elected lawmakers, not the executive branch, do the work and keep it a democracy.

I am also very curious how can anyone expect laws that have been in affect for well over a decade to just disappear overnight? I would also like to ask again, exactly how has the president betrayed anyone? He said during his campaign he would work to repeal these laws and for all of those who don’t seem to understand, he has been working to do so…it simply can’t happen overnight. Wake up people, it’s time for a reality check.

Let’s put McCain & Palin in the White House…do you think for one moment any progress would have been made?

I personally would like to thank President Obama for his efforts. I am educated enough to know that all things take time. There is opposition to overcome and there is protocol to be followed. For the first time in history we have a President who actually addresses LGBT issues from a standpoint other than that of Pat Robertson.

I am frustrated and I am embarrassed. Embarrassed by the whining and crying. Embarrassed by the way these self proclaimed “longtime gay rights advocates” have made the LGBT community look. I am embarrassed by the impatience. I am embarrassed to be associated with those who are screaming that President Obama has betrayed the LGBT community. Why weren’t they screaming this loud when the Bush regime was in office? Here we have a president who is advocating for equality and inclusion for the LGBT community, and the LGBT community turns into a bunch of sorry @ss crybabies who have done nothing but ostracize the first man in the white house to even try to help us.

The posts I’ve read criticizing the president obviously come from the most self-indulged, selfish, self-centered people in the world. What makes anyone think the world revolves around them is beyond me. If LGBT issues were the only thing that was on Obama’s plate, then I may have a little more compassion for those who don’t seem to understand how politics work. But, since we are engaged in two wars, a severe financial crisis, a global AIDS pandemic, a national health care crisis, all of which was created by the previous administration, I don’t have any.

I’ve lost my patience, but not with President Obama. He has not betrayed me. I’ve been betrayed by my own community. The LGBT people who just don’t get it!

GA Sounds Off on Blog Talk Radio!

What’s your agenda? Gay Agenda brings you the latest in LGBT news and issues on Blot Talk Radio every Wednesday night.

Last night, your host James Hipps sounded off on California, Marriage Equality, the Religious Right, Rush Limbaugh, and as much as he could fit into an hour.

Missed the show?  You can listen to it here, but please feel free to join us Wednesday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST to listen live and join the discussion by calling in or in the chat room.  Your voice is important…let it be heard!

Click the link that follows to visit us on BlogTalkRadio.

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