Archive for December, 2009

Parting Words …

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Tiny photo In my first blog post, I stressed the importance of LGBT visibility, specifically for people of color. Over the past two years on this blog, I’ve had a chance to share my personal views on a variety of LGBT issues and discuss the incredible work that organizations are doing to promote equality each and every day. Today, I bid farewell to you as I enter the next chapter of my life.

Being a part of this blog has been one of the most rewarding elements of my career. I’ve had the chance to work with colleagues and readers from across the globe in sharing our viewpoints on LGBT matters. When Ben, Steve and Eddy created this forum, they created an outlet for each of us to have a voice and make an impact on LGBT communications. I think I speak for all of us when I say that LGBT communications is an area of passion both personally and professionally. As a part of the LGBT community, we each have the power to impact change. It is up to us to ensure that the LGBT voice is as global and collaborative as possible, because when we do so, we are paving the way for the next generation of our LGBT sisters and brothers to experience greater acceptance, respect and compassion by the community at large.
As I bid farewell to you, I would like to reiterate the three points I discussed in my first post:

  1. See the Need — There is a lack of visibility, recognition, and representation.
  2. Inform and Educate Ourselves — Together, we need to see that generalizations and blanket statements will decrease our ability to touch this audience.
  3. Shape the Power of Words — We need to craft our language to be culturally sensitive and conscious when practicing multicultural communications and marketing. The opportunity of touching this segment lies in knowing how to talk to us and reach us.

If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me on Twitter (@LauraN546). I look forward to hearing from you there.

And to the blog – thank you. This blog has grown in size and captured a variety of opinions and insights. It has truly been such a rewarding experience being a part of this team and community. I will dearly miss the opportunity to share my views and learn about your opinions on the Out Front Blog, but look forward to reading the team’s posts!

| December 22nd, 2009 2 Comments »
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“The Seven Gays of Christmas”

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HolidayLights Festive Friday greetings to all! The countdown has begun– less than one week until I get gift cards from family members!! Oh, and there's that Christmas thing as well. No matter what you celebrate, I wish you a happy holiday season.

Due to a wonderful concept known as vacation, this will be my last posting in 2009 (pause for dramatic effect and weeping). I thought I would take a look back over this past year and give thanks to the "seven gays of Christmas"– those members of the LGBT community that were newsworthy (or made news) during 2009.

Sing with me now…:

  • On the seventh day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, Bruce Springsteen telling me I can marry.
  • On the sixth day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, Matthew Shepard helping us be hate crime free.
  • On the fifth day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, Houston electing a mayor that's LGBT!
  • On the fourth day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, Cleveland coming home with a Gay Games victory.
  • On the third day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, Administration on Aging Secretary Kathy Greenlee.
  • On the second day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, two lesbian anchors on primetime cable news TV.
  • On the first day of Christmas, my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner gave to me, my friends and colleagues in the Out Front family.

You have to give me credit for that, folks.

Seriously– it's been a pleasure blogging with you in 2009. I look forward to 2010 and what it is store for the LGBT community. Until next time, peace to all, and to all a good flight (get it? Good "flight" for those who are traveling over the holidays?!? I'll stop now.).

| December 18th, 2009 No Comments »
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Ally of the Year: Cyndi Lauper

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RainbowCyndi Lauper’s True Colors album was the second record I ever owned (the first being The Bangles, Different Light, which will always hold a special place in my child-of-the-80s heart). Let’s be honest, who hasn’t spent a night (or two…or four) emotionally belting out “Youuuu with the saaaad eyes, don’t be discouraged” along with her?

Being a huge fan, as well as an out-and-proud ally for the LGBT community, I was thrilled to see that Out.com named Lauper its 2009 “Ally of the Year,” recognizing her personal and professional commitment to the LGBT community. Her True Colors Fund “seeks to inspire and engage everyone, particularly the straight community, to become active participants in the advancement of LGBT equality to ensure a strong and vibrant LGBT community.”

Working with the True Colors Tours, which have featured performers like Regina Spektor and Rufus Wainwright, the non-profit organization has raised more than $200,000 for LGBT-supportive groups like the Human Rights Campaign and PFLAG. Monies raised by the tour, as well as the True Colors Cabaret series, have also gone to fund the True Colors Residence, the first permanent supportive housing facility for LGBT youth in New York State. Located in Central Harlem, the True Colors Residence will offer 30 new studio apartments, educational services and job training to homeless young people between the ages of 18 and 24.

To all my straight allies (and straight-allies-in-training) out there, while we may not have Lauper’s fame, money or incredible style, we do have one thing in common with her: a voice. It may not have won us Grammy awards, but it does give us all the ability to loudly and proudly vocalize our support for our LGBT brothers and sisters. As we approach the holiday season and say hello to a new year, I hope Lauper’s dedication, love and overwhelming generosity can serve as examples of the kind of allies we all aspire to be.

I’d also urge the LGBT community to take a moment and tell your straight friends and family how much their love and support means to you and to the LGBT cause. Please feel free to share your thankful thoughts in the comment section of this blog – I can’t think of anything more personally rewarding than helping to spread a little more love around. ‘Tis the season!

| December 17th, 2009 No Comments »
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Love Actually

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Ornament Every Christmas without fail, I watch the movie "Love Actually." I typically force friends, family and whoever else will partake to watch this great holiday romantic comedy that provides countless tales of honestly sharing love with special relationships. 'Tis the season of love and those we can't help but live without!

This year many gays and lesbians have seen love in the form of marriage come into their lives or have it snatched away by the popular vote. While the crucial federal recognition of marriage doesn't remove the love shared between two people, equal marriage rights is and continues to be a primary focus of many couples daily struggles and LGBT communication.

As we look ahead to 2010 and have some free time around the holidays, I wanted to turn your attention to a great communications campaign. From our friends at Queerty, I read about Love Takes Over, a week long opinion piece campaign to America's long standing influencer, the newspaper industry. For full details of the event, you can check out the organizer's Facebook page here.

We've written here on the Out Front Blog about the opinions and leaders of LGBT organizations and conservative groups on both sides of the marriage discussion. Instead of giving us an opportunity to dissect the communication successes and failures in this ongoing debate, Love Takes Over gives us all the chance to communicate the important message in a unified and amplified voice with our neighbors and communities.

I encourage you, as you reflect on the holiday season and the emotions it brings, to share your thoughts on love and marriage equality. Whether with friends or in a news opinion piece, whether in December or as part of Love Takes Over week, it's a season of sharing and being out front. If you have stories or write a piece for Love Takes Over, share your thoughts on love, family and marriage with us here at the Out Front Blog.

Because "Christmas is the time we tell the truth." (from "Love Actually")

| December 15th, 2009 No Comments »
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Grammy Nomination Creates Controversy

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I’ve always been intrigued by anti-artist and the need to disseminate messages of hate. In late August, I posted about Live Nation and AEG’s concert cancellation of Jamaican reggae artist, Buju Banton. Since then, Banton continues to gain much attention from the LGBT community.

Last week, two black LGBT organizations joined forces with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to protest the singer’s Grammy nomination. The National Black Justice Coalition and Gay Men of African Descent have developed a petition to against Banton’s nomination for Best Reggae Album.

The decision by GLAAD and its partners to petition Banton’s Grammy nod has created a spectrum of opinions even within the LGBT community. Some believe his album should be judged on merit alone, rather than the language it may or may not convey. Others state this nomination draws attention to his anti-gay antics.

"We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit of any of his work," said Jim Key, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center’s Chief Public Affairs Officer in an EDGE interview.  Banton isn’t the first to be protested by GLAAD, and he likely won’t be the last. 

On a side note, the AP reported that Banton was arrested this weekend on cocaine charges in Florida. 

Tell us what you think about homophobic lyrics and Banton’s Grammy nomination.

| December 14th, 2009 No Comments »
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