Melanie Nathan,  September 01, 2010

Martina Navratilova was introduced at the opening ceremony at the U.S. Open in New York  Monday evening and received a rousing welcome inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens;

Stating  “In 1981, I came out as a gay woman,”  to strong applause. “That was not a good thing to do back then. There were a lot of doors that were shut in my face because of that, but you know what, I could still play tennis, no matter what.”

She was amongst other honorees who were being honored for their ability to dream and inspire people.

“In a brief speech, the Czech-born Navratilova credited tennis and a positive attitude with helping her field some of life’s “nasty curve balls,” including her upbringing in a Communist country and her health battle. The 53-year-old was diagnosed with noninvasive breast cancer this year and underwent surgery and six weeks of radiation, returning to the court in June to win the Wimbledon ladies’ invitation doubles.,” Reports The Advocate’s Julie Bolcer.

Her famous on-court rivalry with friend Chris Evert is the subject of a new ESPN documentary, Unmatched, which will premiere September 14.



LezGetReal features two key LGBT events for the Month of September, the State of Balck Gay Summit and Out on The Hill:-

The 4th Annual STATE OF BLACK GAY AMERICA SUMMIT with SHARON LETTMAN Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition giving  the Keynote speech. This one day event  will include panelists Rep. Simone Bell, APD LGBT Liaison Patricia Powell, Sandra Lawson, Maurice Jamal  as well as others. It  will be held on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 11am-3pm, Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel, at the time when Atlanta enjoys a myriad of Pride events.

In October 2009, Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks became the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

Since 2003, NBJC has provided leadership at the intersection of mainstream civil rights groups and mainstream LGBT organizations, advocating for the unique challenges and needs of the African-American LGBT community that are often relegated to the sidelines.

NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully-empowered to participate safely, openly and honestly in family, faith and community, regardless of race, gender identity or sexual orientation. In concert with NBJC’s mission to eradicate racism and homophobia, her personal goals are to make the Black family the focal point of NBJC; to tell compelling stories about the Black LGBT community; and to see Black LGBT people understood, embraced and respected for their valuable contributions to society.

The National Black Justice Coalition’s First OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit.

September 15-18th in D.C.  – A gathering of the Black LGBT leadership during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 40th annual Legislative Conference.

OUT on the Hill convenes the nation’s top Black LGBT thought leaders, faith leaders, philanthropists and activists to participate in social action that empowers our communities while educating our Congressional leaders, the Obama Administration and federal agencies about our public policy concerns. We plan to come together annually to let the powers that be know that we exist, we are organized and informed, and we have the ability to move the masses towards an America that is more inclusive of Black LGBT people.

OUT on the Hill, September 15-18, features a Lobby Day, which serves as an opportunity for Black LGBT leaders to discuss important policy issues with their Members of Congress and Congressional Leadership; a White House Briefing, which will include presentations from key White House Officials and representatives from the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health & Human Services.

http://www.nbjc.org/outonthehill/NBJC-OUT-on-the-Hill-package_2010.pdf

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Rachel Maddow

Melanie Nathan; 08-11-10

Katie Miller, the West Point Cadet who resigned her career in the Military over the Don’t Ask Don’t tell Policy, participated in a series of interviews tonight, conducted by Rachel Maddow, raising questions about the Administrations handling of the DADT Policy.

Maddow conducted a powerful interview with Miller responsive and clear in her motivation;  here it is for our Readers to view and to comment on their impression.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Breaking News – Katie Miller will appear on Rachel Maddow tonight to talk about her decision to leave West Point, over the “Dont Ask Dont tell” policy that forces Gay and lesbian service members into the closet.

Miller, who is 9th in her class at West Point, is the West Point Cadet who because of DADT and its impact on her personally, is left with no choice but to turn her back on what could have been a remarkable future in the Military.

Miller has refused to sign the ten year contract required of Sophomores heading into the Junior year, that would committ her to the army for a ten year period. Her conscience, she says, will not allow her down this path for as long as DADT Policy is in place. She refuses to live as a soldier in the closet.

Here is a Video, by NYCLU provided to Lez Get Real .

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

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Justice Elena Kagan,  now officially bears the title, having been sworn in this morning by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

The Chief Justice administered the oath to the pants suited Justice Kagan, two days after her confirmation by the Senate. She is not expected to dramatically alter the ideological makeup of the court. However,perhaps that is a blessing in itself.  A Republican Presidential appointee would clearly have altered the ideology!

The swearing in can be seen on You Tube and at the site of LA Times

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Today at 1.00pm Lezgetreal was all set to post, to wit, Melanie Nathan and Bridgette LaVatoire at the helm and all we had to do was push “publish.” My article was prepared. I predicted the outcome and the exact result. How could it be any other way?  So whilst at a Diabetes Convention in San Antonio, I rushed up to the Press room, ready for the news.

Bang – Overturned.  My Helpers all around the Country were clicking and sending and face-booking – but before they had a chance www.Lezgetreal.com had posted two Articles.

In less than 10 seconds – we CRASHED!  All our prep and hard work went bye bye and from being almost to the top of google news we were nowhere to be found.  We were flabbergasted and flustered we began to investigate. Paula – She would know what to do – but alas was in the subway on her way home.

Well lo and behold we had become the victim of our  own popularity – our own rising star – a site that has in mere two years gained enormous visibility on many levels.  But over- marketing for a big event brought its own unique visitor – Mr. Perez Hilton.  Perez tweeted one of our posts to his 2 million plus fans and guess what – we crashed.

We LOVE Perez Hilton nonetheless – a Gay Ladies Man! We hope he visits often!

So that is our special story for Prop 8 a day of celebration. Recognition by a Federal Court and by Perez Hilton.  Go Gay Gals of Lez Get Real.

by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda
Join Lez Get real on Face Book

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A Landmark Victory for Justice and Our Families

Reposted by Melanie Nathan from NCLR Website – 08.04.10

Well, it’s official, Prop. 8 is history. Hopefully, for good. Today U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional and violates the United States Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection of the laws.

Given the roller coaster we have all been through with marriage in California and Prop 8, it is hard to put in words what this victory means. It is surely among the most personal and profound wins for our community. Judge Walker’s ruling eviscerates the baseless and empty arguments of our opponents. Walker found that there was simply no credible, rational, believable, or persuasive reason to take the right to marry away from same-sex couples. Our opponents had a team of very fine lawyers, and at the end of the trial, the evidence they presented in support of Prop 8 made abundantly clear that other than discomfort or hostility, there is no justifiable basis for excluding us from the same right to marry that’s enjoyed by every other couple in this country. This groundbreaking decision upholds the rights of liberty and equality that are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and affirms that the law cannot treat people differently based on who they love and that a majority cannot strip a minority group of its fundamental freedoms at the ballot box. But more than that, the ruling elevates the central reason same-sex couples wish to marry, because we are in love with a person special to us and with whom we want to share our lives, just like everyone else. So at its most basic, today’s victory is about humanity, dignity, and love. It is hard to accept that there is such fierce opposition to that.

But there clearly is, and while we should savor today’s victory, this is just another step in our journey to full justice and dignity for our lives and our choices—including the freedom to choose whether and whom to marry. We must continue to reach out and have conversations about our families and our lives with our friends, our loved ones, our allies. By sharing our stories, we win the hearts and minds of others who may not share our views, and create a world where all families are valued and respected as fully equal.

We need to show the federal courts that America is ready for LGBT people to marry. Everyone has a part to play in making that happen. Get involved in your own community. Engage your friends, co-workers, and family in conversations about what full equality means to you and your family. Contact your statewide LGBT groups to find out what you can do to advance marriage equality where you live. This is a victory we must preserve and keep. But you can wait until tomorrow to do that. For today, just be grateful, proud, and happy.

Sincerely,

Kate Kendell

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Posted by Melanie Nathan 7-21-10

Stoney Mae Productions. Cheryl and Javonne Release of Equality and Song of love “Always talk about getting married….and now I am hoping and praying you will marry me.”

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Constance McMillen, the famed and courageous overnight Lesbian Icon, n who sued her school district over its ban of same-sex prom dates has accepted an offer to settle the case.

American Civil Liberties Union attorneys representing Constance McMillen filed notice Monday in U.S. District Court to accept a judgment offer from the Itawamba County School District to pay $35,000, plus attorney’s fees.

“Back in March, we sued the public high school in Fulton, Mississippi, for canceling the school prom rather than allow Constance McMillen to attend with her girlfriend and to wear a tuxedo. You may remember that school officials then invited her to a “prom” that only Constance and a handful of students attended while the rest of her class partied at a secret prom several miles away. Quite a reminder of how cruel kids, and school officials, can be.

After getting an initial ruling from the federal judge that the school district had violated Constance’s free speech rights, we pressed ahead with the lawsuit. And yesterday, the school agreed to have judgment entered against it. This isn’t just a settlement, it means that the district is held liable for violating Constance’s rights — in other words: they caved.” (ACLU  Website)

As part of the agreement, the school district also said it would follow a policy not to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity in any educational or extracurricular activities.

The ACLU said the case is precedent-setting because the district is the first in Mississippi to implement a policy banning discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“I’m so glad this is all over,” McMillen said in a statement Tuesday. “I won’t ever get my prom back, but it’s worth if it changes things at my school.” (BBC  and  SHELIA BYRD
Associated Press Writer Reports)

A call to the school district in north Mississippi seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in March when the district canceled a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School after McMillen asked to bring her girlfriend to the event and wear a tuxedo.

The ACLU sought an injunction to force the district to hold the prom. U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson refused the demand, but he said in a March 23 ruling that the district had violated McMillen’s rights.

District officials said in the offer that they didn’t believe McMillen’s rights had been violated by anything they had done. The defendants in the case were district superintendent Teresa McNeece, Itawamba Agricultural High School principal Trae Wiygul and Rick Mitchell, assistant principal at IAHS.

The ACLU said McMillen was harassed by students after the prom was canceled. McMillen and the ACLU also said there had been a scheme in which she was sent to a “decoy” privately sponsored prom while her classmates attended a dance at another location.

“I hope this means that in the future students at my school will be treated fairly,” McMillen said.

McMillen eventually transferred from IAHS to a school in Jackson, Miss., to graduate this past spring.

Her case gained national attention and she was featured on television shows and served as a grand marshal for New York’s Gay Pride Parade, A guest on Ellen Show, who provided her with a $35,000 scholarship, an appearance at NCLR, San Francisco’s Annual Dance and anniversary often known as the Lesbian Prom  among numerous other events in which she participated.

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San Francisco;

The Kids Are All Right

We are a two mom family. We have daughters.  Tonight, together with a friend (who took her grand daughter) I took my thirteen year old daughter to see  the Annette Bening and Julianne Moore film, “The Kids Are All Right“  I was unsure if this would be a good idea, especially as it was restricted citing sexually explicit scenes. I was worried; but weighed up the importance of the film, the maturity of my child, and the fact that – at last – a feature movie provided a story line more profound in its normalcy that the concept of the lesbian family, itself.

That said, seeing the film in limited release amongst a San Francisco mixed audience was most telling.  The movie is a comedy coated with emotion and turmoil, as a family is disrupted by the children’s desire to locate their sperm donor.  Lesbians and gay patrons outnumbered the straights , and even in the dark, one could tell who was gay and who was straight by the reactions and laughter to different scenes and character comments.

My daughter loved the movie; as did her friend. The context of the sex scenes required their bold oddness,  to say the least, we walked out of there calling them acrobatics.   However the lesbian couple of long duration provided the audience with a sex scene between Benning and Moore, that only those experienced in the art of bed-death lesbian would understand as romance turned endurance – a very realistic depiction.

Sitting in the fourth row of a very full theater was a challenge, especially as it meant my daughter and I would be sitting that much closer to explicit sex.   I was not sure how to handle it.  Then came the first scene. I glanced over at my teenager – and lo and behold, she had covered her eyes.  She simply did not want to see.

The next such scene, I glanced over at my friends grand daughter and found that this time, the two kids had turned their respective young heads toward each other  sharing “ew yukee”  expressions,  clearly doing everything in the power to avoid looking.

I asked if they were embarrassed and they both said no that it was simply Odd.  Both made t clear that they were referring to scenes that involved men.  They were completely unaffected by the lesbian scenes.

The story is good – my recommendation, on second thoughts, don’t take your younger than 16 kid.  Too much explaining to do….

It was an endearing movie and loved by the audience evidenced by the loud applause at the end.  How refreshing a lesbian long term relationship, loving family, with all the normal accouterments of lifestyle and success – it was real and a great entertainment. Recommended for sure!  Note purposely not giving too much away.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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Melanie Nathan- "Finally a Benchmark"

This is a critical approach to win Equality. Equality cannot come to fruition without the Benchmark – something specific that carries forth a universal message.  Now that we have the wording and the Goal- we need the BILL.

Who ever says this is “Pie in the Sky or Bold” (Bilerco) – is marginalizing our entitlement and our rights.  To my way of thinking anyone who suggest we keep the backdoor approach as our only approach does not have our absolute interests at heart.  Selfless advocacy means going for the only benchmark that will bring full equality, and if we are going to have a movement then we need to have the movement regardless of how many votes we may or may not get in Congress.  They need to know that we are not fighting for legislation; we are fighting for our lives and to live our lives, happily,  like other Americans, and that means equally.    I for one, have a right to enter through the front door -  and that is why I have touted this plan for all this time.

Bold? No way – that is an insult! Its what our factual existence demands!

“At the same time, the piecemeal approach seems to have been a disaster. For example, ENDA was first proposed in 1996, and it is still languishing fourteen years later. Representative Jackie Speier last week said it would take another five years.” (Bilerco)  But that was the back door now we want the front door!

When I spoke to the Congresswoman back in 2009 about the Civil Rights Amendment approach, she agreed that would be the best approach to our Federal rights.

I spoke up in many an articles, speeches, meetings, phone conferences – but everyone seemed to have their head in the next fundraiser or the next “call to action.”  I have to say you are all still doing the same thing until you subscribe to this benchmark legislative amendment.

Thank goodness people are frustrated and angry enough to realize that this is an imperative stance that may turn out to be our only chance. Whether it becomes law or opens our eyes to what ought to become law – we have to do this.

Some may suggest that the African American Community may be concerned about ownership of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and such amendment may be offensive to the struggle – but this is a completely unfounded concern given the NAACP leadership and testimony provided by Julian Bond in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 03, 2009, at the UAFA hearing where he specifically stated that Gay(LGBT) rights is a civil rights issue.

Quite simply, the AEB amends ALL Existing Civil Rights Laws, starting with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”.

This ends discrimination in vast areas of life: employment, housing, credit, public places and facilities, and all programs operating with federal funding. It covers school discrimination and bullying, adoption, and all federal health programs.

The AEB would INCLUDE US EQUALLY in the Federal Non-Discrimination “GROUP POLICY” that now covers “race, color, sex, religion, and national origin”.

In whole, the passage of the AEB will make Non-Discrimination against us The OFFICIAL US Governmental Policy.

Working to file and pass the AEB will stimulate real conversation about our suffering under discrimination. This process will prepare us all for the Prop. 8 and DOMA cases already on their way to the Supreme Court.

LONG OVER DUE

Of course, Sexual Orientation – should have been included in 1964 when the Civil Rights Act first passed.

A gay black hero, Bayard Rustin (http://bit.ly/AEBrustin) was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington at which MLK gave his Dream Speech, which helped secure the ‘64 Act.

Then, we were shoved aside because of societal homophobia.

Now OUR TIME HAS COME. We have already won the de FACTO fight – the factual existence – we have won visibility – the fact that we are out and open, the fact that we have created controversy, the fact that we have children – the fact that we are shaking up DADT, the fact that Annette Benning is playing a lesbian – and many more such victories – now it has come time for De Jure – The Legal Victory!  It can Only be be done one WAY  and that is  this  CIVIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Now we need your support Grassroots Join us. More to come…

Civil Rights Act LBJ

FIVE Action Steps needed:

1. Sign Petition

2.  Join Face Book Page

3. Take Pledge  – http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gaycivilrights/

4. Write your representatives in House and Senate – via hand written  faxed letters, as well as the usual e-mails.

5. GO VIRAL anyway you know how!!!

DO IT NOW!

by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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Start a Petition »

7-6-2010  Melanie Nathan -

Soccer veils reality of South African poverty and homelessness – Grandstanding the Perpetrator while Victims are abused by a heartless system.

Melanie Nathan from San Francisco:-  Drawing attention to oneself is an act of courage and one that cannot be emphasized enough, especially if the victim is one whose rape is termed   “corrective rape” where the odds are ,that the victim could be re-victimized again and again. This term is used to describe what is truly a hate crime and slips unnoticed into the bigger picture of what also seems to be a disregard for the 500,000 rapes of  South African Township women each and every year.

Years ago, Lesbians would never have come forward to tell their stories, but now with the unrelenting support and loving assistance from an extraordinary human being, Ndumie Funda, a lesbian woman living in a South African Township, near Cape Town, women and lesbians are telling their stories, willing to be named, photographed and to stand up on our pages to say:- “This is what happened to me!”

Ndumie Funda ran a two room home for victims of ‘corrective’ rape through an unfunded non-profit, Luleke Sizwe  that has been named for the deceased partners of its founders, all who succumbed to AIDS related deaths, the merciless threat that this hate crime delivers its victims. Yesterday they were ALL evicted.

Each time there is a new victim, Ndumie shoots me an e-mail, here in the USA, and in some way I believe it helps her to know that maybe, just maybe if I publish their cry the world would hear. The question right now is “who is listening?

I woke up to this e-mail this morning -

“Meza, my sister, we are sleeping in the car because no money and we got evicted from the rooms. our furnisher is been keept by our neighbour. there’s lot of drama. we wish could get someone with good heart.al we need now is office space in a form of a house .house are available money to rest is what we need.i accomodate 6 gals plus me and partner so makes 8 people.i’m not giving up not matter what.”

This weekend we reported that Millie Gaika, the lesbian soccer player, raped in a third crime, will be testifying against her perpetrator after a date for trial is set on July 13th. The Perpetrator will receive a public defender and the best legal advice available. (Thanks to South Africa’s Bill of Rights!)  He will also remain in prison (he has yet to post bail) where he will be well treated, have a mattress and a bunk bed, a clean bathroom, and three decent meals a day.  If he does not feel well and aspirin doe not cut it, he will see a doctor. It is winter and it is cold. He will be warm enough too!

So as you hear the cheers and watch your TVs that much anticipated  World Cup Final, from whatever country for whichever team, remember you are cheering while the warm and comfortable perpetrator awaits trial in the comfort of his warm, albeit, prison shelter and the six victims of brutal rape huddle, freezing and hungry, with no money for medical help or food, sheltered in a vehicle, victim holding victim.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/04/corrective-rape-the-courage-of-south-african-lesbians/

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/07/sa-corrective-rape-accused-bail-set-at-68-00-as-soccer-masks-the-truth/

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Closing arguments have been made, and the buzz is that a verdict is coming soon in the Federal Trial of California’s Proposition 8. For what it’s worth, trial watchers predict a win for the plaintiffs, i.e. the striking down of Prop 8 and its ban on same-sex marriage in California.

“Victory or defeat, supporters of marriage equality will gather the day the verdict is announced in San Francisco, all around the country. Including  Dallas and cities across Texas.  Help get the word out.

Let us build a buzz for the Day of Decision. Access your Face Book and see who is doing what around the Country to prepare for this momentous day.

One example can be found at – http://eaaTexas.org/ for more info about Day of Decision actions in Austin, San Antonio, DFW and Houston. And Twitter-ers can post updates at #EAATexas.

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Portland Auditions for America’s Got Talent endured the hand whistling of 75 year old Sally; America the beautiful whistled in perfect pitch by the black pant suit clad somewhat “physically bent”  lady who upon entering the stage with her walker began her performance with a 3 inch wooden block placed under her right foot, to level her skewered body and hence ability to reach the mike.

Sharon Osborne was the first to beep her big red “X” but the old lady saw the tune through cupped hands to the very end.  Things looked like they were not going her way – when she pulled out a book from behind her walker citing “I wrote a book about hand whistling, You know.”  Howie Mandel keenly asked the price of the book, and pulled out the $12 and was handed the book.  There was Sally on the back of the cover, Whistling her hand cupped pose.

As it was time to vote her off – as that is what seemed her destiny- she announced “Oh by the way the Book is not ONLY about whistling. At which point everyone started yelling, presuming some naughty hand work perhaps, the thought driven by what may have been some phallic innuendos at the beginning of her entry on stage.

But low and behold Proud and loud she said “actually the book is also about my coming out story.” The crowd went crazy with their support. Chanting “Vegas Vegas Vegas”. It was as if the entire embrace was around her being so bold about being a lesbian and outing herself in a manner way beyond what the $12 book could accomplish.

So here at LGR we say Congratulations Sally – on your Vote to Vegas.  Whether it was your courage, your book, your whistling or your sense of humor we support you all the way.

Sally Cohn is the Wonderful Whistler…

MEET SALLY COHN, A HANDWHISTLER

I’ve been handwhistling with my cupped hands for nearly sixty years, starting when I was twelve. I discovered my unique whistling gift while attending a basketball game. This inspired me to try whistling tunes while playing Bing Crosby 78 rpm phonograph recordings on a Magnavox turntable (before LP’s, stereos, cassettes, CD’s or DVD’s). My first public performance was in 1950 at a huge athletic coliseum on a large college campus during a 4-H Club-sponsored talent show. That show was broadcast live by a local radio station, now an affiliate of NPR.

I didn’t really do much with my handwhistling gift until I was able to experiment and create three-part harmony layers on cassette tapes in the Sixties. That helped me to improve my whistling technique to the point where I felt it was suitable for public performance.

Over the last thirty years I’ve whistled in several Celtic bands, where I also play recorder, tin whistle, and washtub bass. I’ve also whistled in an all-women’s jug band, with Mitch Hider’s “Holiday For Lips” whistling festivals in Oregon, with several church choirs, and in more talent shows than I can remember. I competed in the Carson City, Nevada Whistleoffs and in the Eastbourne, U.K. whistling competition in 1992. My last competition whistling was done at the Edmonton, Alberta Millennium Whistling Championships. Since then, I have participated in three of Robert Stemmons’ Puckerama Festivals. At two of them, I conducted handwhistling workshops. I’ve also done those workshops for middle-school kids at a church camp.

I’m a retired state agency clerical specialist, but I did teach school in the Sixties and early Seventies and caught/discovered a number of middle-school-aged boys with ADHD tendencies who loved to use their whistling gift to disrupt class. I have never caught girls doing this, but I did turn several girls on to making music with their hands in my church camp workshops. I’m always very careful to caution these kids about where it’s okay to whistle and where it’s not okay, like in a classroom.

Britta is a Binational Lesbian, who marched alone this weekend in support of UAFA, to include binational couples in Immigration reform; Well, there were thousands of others, but no rainbow flags,

In June 2009, when I heard about Britta, she was being held in detention in a Florida Detention Facility; she had been caught in an ICE sweep and was unable to provide documentation of legal status in the USA and I was on my way to D.C. for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Uniting American families Act, that would provide immigration equality to LGBT spouses.

The blonde, blue-eyed beauty from ‘civilized’ Germany, such an unlikely candidate for detention, had indeed overstayed her US visitor visa.  When she was detained Britta  had been visiting friends in Florida, but never made it back to her home and partner, Carla, in New York City.

She lingered in detention for over three months, suffering emotional torture that ought to belie the conscience of any good American.  Britta has a big story to tell about her experience in detention and suffered in the same way as any other person, regardless of race or creed. She also has a big story to tell that would make her case for asylum.

What was different about Britta to others in detention is the fact that she had Carla, her permanent partner, with whom she had been living as a couple for the preceding ten years. Had Carla and Britta been an opposite sex couple, they would have married and Carla would have sponsored Britta for a green card. This plain, simple and inexpensive process available to straight spouses, a basic right for any American, yet not if you are gay or lesbian.

While Britta lingered in detention, with her asylum case pending, Carla did everything imaginable under the sun to find a way to have Britta released from detention. There simply was no help.

She called LGBT organizations – and was unable to get a single interview with any LGBT organization or group; each time she was told that because she was from Germany, she did not have a viable case. Yes, profiled by her own – profiled by an organization that purports to represent her minority community. Profiled as not fitting in even though her case, had it been reviewed, would be seen as absolutely with merit.

When Carla heard about the Shirley Tan case and my work on that, she contacted me. Cutting a long story short, Carla worked with the office of Jerrold Nadler, her Congressman in New York, and the Sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act, the very law that if enacted would have eradicated this awful inequity.  However at this time Britta remained detained despite all efforts by Carla.

After receiving the documents in the case, I realized that it was a good one, with merit and so I planned on speaking to Congressman Nadler on behalf of Britta, myself.  When I arrived at the hearing –   Congressman Nadler happened to be sitting in front of me.  I asked if we could talk and he agreed.

Congressman Nadler took Britta’s plight to heart, in fact he was horrified she was in detention, and proceeded to help effect Britta’s release, and also the transfer of her case from Florida to New York, on her own recognizance, where she could at least be with her partner, Carla, for the pending ordeal of an asylum hearing.

In the meantime, Britta was broken and had much work ahead of her to ensure her emotional. Shopping for an attorney to handle the case in New York with no money for a retainer is no picnic, especially since the couple has already exhausted their financial resources for lawyer fees and other expenses in Florida.

Britta met with many attorneys, but so far none will take the case pro bono; and no organizations in the LGBT community has provided any help with exception of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center in Manhattan.

When Britta returned home to Carla they went to Connecticut to marry legally, yet still Britta must face her impending asylum and Carla still cannot sponsor her for a green card. Heterosexual immigrants simply apply for adjustment of status when in court proceedings after they got married to an American citizen, and adjustment is granted by their Judge – case closed.

Britta had lived in the shadows of fear for so long and the last thing she would have thought was that from this harrowing experience she would turn activist. However, one night Britta and Carla attended a meeting with NYCLU and another event with Kristin Gillibrand, their Senator.

After being embraced in their plight by New York Civil Liberties Union, Britta has boldly stepped forward and is now appearing in some programs that are set to help UAFA and the possible inclusion of LGBT partners in Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

However, we cannot rest until we see a BILL to the point of passage that includes LGBT couples. Many are fearful that even if included, permanent partners will become the public option of Immigration Reform, and rejected even by center democrats.

This weekend, Britta attended an IMMIGRATION RALLY in New York and was disappointed in the lack of LGBT participation, providing Lezgetreal with the following statement:

“I am disappointed in the LGBT community; I attended the immigration rally with the NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union). While participating in the march I was looking for Immigration Equality representatives as well as some gay flags or at least some gay activists – I was standing alone holding up my sign to include LGBT binational couples in CIR. Except for NYCLU nobody else was apparently representing us. If we don’t show up, if we don’t take a stand in front of this nation and the world, if we don’t talk nor share our stories, how else can we ensure UAFA is included in CIR (Comprehensive Immigration Reform)? In the end majority & visibility counts! “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” (Martin Luther King Jr.), and today I remember the silence of my community while I am holding the fort fighting until the battle is won!”

Britta’s case for asylum will be heard in September – the Judge will not allow another continuance to find an attorney. She may have to represent herself in this daunting and complicated proceeding.

All Pictures may not be reproduced; Used on LGR with permission
copyright; Carla & Britta, via Private Courts, Inc.©

MEL  NATHAN’ s
LGBT Binational Immigration Column; Stories and UAFA

http://lezgetreal.com/?cat=5029

Melanie has authored a VISA – for Binational LGBT Permanent Partners,  fiance’s and spouses- as a stop gap measure to bring Bi-nationals back from exile and to help those currently facing unnecessary legal consequences. Please click her to support this much needed interim remedy. Immigration reform is a long way away for those who are either in separation or who are married to Americans yet still face deportation:

TO SIGN PETITION PLEASE CLICK HERE ;

http://immigration.change.org/petitions/view/special_visa_for_binational_lgbt_spouse-perma-partners

Melanie Nathan LGBT Advocate

By Melanie Nathan
binationals@privatecourts.com

@oblogdeeoblogda

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Rachel Wahba, Co-founder of Olivia Cruises and Resorts, is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco. She grew up stateless, an Egyptian -Iraqi Jew, born in India, and raised in Japan, before arriving in the United States.  Navigating diverse cultures and complicated emotions are her forte.

Rachel, an avid and talented photographer,  will be writing exclusively for Lezgetreal, in a column that will theme social and relationship issues, stories, and commentary through the eyes of this unique lesbian lens encapsulated in the context of lesbian history or histrionics…mmm.. let us see where it goes  .. The Editors at Lezgetreal know you are in for a treat.

Rachel’s first column will appear today – titled  ‘Lez-Talk  with Rachel’

Welcome Rachel

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Judge Marisa Demeo, one of President Barack Obama’s first openly LGBT appointees, was confirmed by the Senate last night for seat on the D.C. Superior Court.  D.C. and Demeo have waited for more than a year while her nomination was held up in an effort led by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C armed with  the   letter by the right wing group, Traditional Values Coalition, where  senators were urged to reject Demeo based on the fact that she is gay.

The letter, obtained by the progressive website ThinkProgress.org, was published Tuesday.

On Top Magazine reported that Demeo was the subject of a smear letter warning of her supposed radical lesbian agenda:

“As an open, radical lesbian, Demeo has openly condemned the effort to amend our Constitution to protect marriage as a one-man, one-woman union,” the group wrote. “Demeo supports gay marriage, claiming it is a constitutional right. She also claims that LGBT individuals are equal to racial minorities and can claim protection as minorities under our civil rights laws.”

The group went so far as to state that Demeo is  “dangerous to our nation” and would “destroy traditional marriage through her edicts.”

Demeo, who has advocated for both Hispanic and LGBT causes, has been a D.C. magistrate judge since 2007

President Obama has appointed more than 100 openly LGBT Americans to serve in his administration, including 25 to positions requiring Senate confirmation.  Five of those nominees are still waiting to be confirmed

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Lesbian Corrective Rape is a slogan attached to what is truthfully a brutal hate crime; the slogan is incongruous, yet reflects an abhorrent trend.

Drawing attention to oneself is an act of courage and one that cannot be emphasized enough, especially if the victim is one whose rape is termed   “corrective rape” where the odds are ,that the victim could be re-victimized again and again.  Years ago, Lesbians would never have come forward to tell their stories, but now with the unrelenting support and loving assistance from an extraordinary human being, Ndumie Funda, a lesbian woman living in a South African Township, near Cape Town, women and lesbians are telling their stories, willing to be named, photographed and to stand up on our pages to say:- “This is what happened to me!”

In 2007, Anelisa Mfo then a 23 year old lesbian mother from Emkonto, an informal settlement in South Africa, was walking in along a street in Nyanga when she was attacked by a man who pointed a gun at her yelling “slut ,bitch” –while he brutally raped her with a gun to her head.  Anelisa is agreeable to her name being published and story being told. There are many heroes in this story…

Anelisa together with two friends courageously identified and pursued charges and the perpetrator was caught and sent to prison for ten years.  After her HIV test proved negative in a country where HIV/AIDS is epidemic, Anelisa felt much relief even though still suffering from the cruelty of the crime.   While Anelisa was dealing with this trauma she had no idea that her five year old daughter was also raped in the Eastern Cape, by her sister’s boyfriend.

At the time Anelisa had no shelter, no employment, no money, no job, was disowned by her family because of her sexuality and a child who suffered so unimaginably.

In September, 2008, on the anniversary of her attack, Anelisa tried to kill herself. She poured paraffin over her entire whole body and set herself alight.

When LulekiSizwe LBT, Womyns Project, which had recently formed to help lesbian victims of rape, heard about her story the small unfunded group ran to the hospital in JOOSTER, where Anelisa lay clinging to life in an ICU, with no friends and no family to help.

“Because we don’t have resources yet we went to Triangle Project , they help us with counseling for Anelisa and her daughter pay for transport for Ndumie and Anelisa to travel to hospital and food parcel,” Ndumie Funda, founding Director of LulekiSizwe, informed Lezgetreal.  “We then approached IAM for a shelter and they were also a good help. Now the tough part comes who can look after her? There was no one, but I have looked her since that day,” said Ndumie the director of LulekiSizwe LBT volunteered herself to look after Anelisa.    “Like a nurse doing everything for her, feeding, cooking, washing Anelisa and her laundry- not to forget the good team of us that we have at LulekiSizwe LBT every day to relieve me.”

We received donations from the straight community at the time and so we could hire a nurse who was also helping with the dressings.

“Now,” says Ndumie, “Through prayers and care, Anelisa has recovered from her burns and has her daughter with her. We are currently trying to get some funding to get Anelisa and her daughter a home.”

Anelisa is breathing through a pipe – she cannot use her nose anymore – this is the very sad story of ANELISA.

Donations for LulekeSizwe to -

c/o Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Private Courts, Inc
P.O. Box  1108
Woodacre, CA 94973Related articles by Zemanta

Through the Work of LulekweSizwe, Ndumie Funda is LGR Lesbian of the Month together with Anelisa, Millicent, and all the others who are standing up for justice, telling their stories and giving their names!

• South African Lesbian Brutally Attcked In Corrective Rape (lezgetreal.com)
• Girls, 14, Forced To Marry In South Africa (news.sky.com)
• Annie Lennox “SINGS”! Asks for Help for Women and Children (lezgetreal.com)
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By Melanie Nathan, 3-11-10. Campbell Brown’s show on CNN featured a  brave young woman.  Coming out at 18 can be quite a call, one has parents to deal with who may not have such an easy time with the idea.    Having the courage to take your lesbian girlfriend to the Prom is yet another act of bravery, then when the PROM is canceled for all and one must face one’s school friends and peers – well that is yet another courageous event- however what could be more commendable than the 18 year old standing up for her rights on national TV?

Well that is what we saw this evening; the astounding resolve and confidence  of a young lesbian teen who willingly speaks for  her values and beliefs – she represents her most important value- simply “to be herself,”   as she told CNN. She is proud to be herself.  Such acceptance must start at home with Parents. This may be a lesson for all.  Truth iught never be feared.

This is a future leader and a poster person for equality.  Young and assured, our new-found hero, young Ms. Constance McMillen,  is presented by Lezgetreal as our current HERO and Lesbian of the Month.

Today Lezgetreal reached out personally by telephone and in a Blog / News Post to a variety of celebrities with the idea to host a PROM for all the Teens impacted by the cancellation by the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi.

We are waiting for answers from a few approached and are reaching out to our fans / readers for ideas, donations and support in general. Imagine a GAY and LESBIAN Prom in Mississippi- hey where are the Black Eyed Peas? Now THAT would be kewl. I have a Feeling about a GOOD- GOOD Time…

” Fans Call for Ellen to Organize Prom in Mississippi
(lezgetreal.com)

ELLEN’s Tweet – HS in Mississippi is canceling prom because of this. Come on, prom should be for everyone. http://su.pr/1qSBQU about 5 hours ago via web Retweeted by 15+ people

TheEllenShow

Ellen DeGeneres“

By Melanie Nathan, Lez-Get-Real,
Support or contact:

Melanie Nathan LGBT Advocate /Activist

By Melanie Nathan

LGR Prom Party
P.O.Box 1108
Woodacre, CA  94973
nathan@privatecourts.com

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Amy Johnson

By Melanie Nathan, 2-20-10:

Amy Johnson, Executive Director of Minnesota’s OutFront, is LGR’s new Lesbian of the Month.  Our attention was drawn to Amy’s work, when we reported on the Gender Neutral Marriage Act  hearing scheduled for tomorrow  in Minnesota.(article can be read here http://lezgetreal.com/?p=26743:

Amy has been active in political and civic work for the past twenty five years, with an emphasis on LGBT advocacy and community leadership.  She has served as President of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, Treasurer of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, and President of the Board of PFund Foundation, a philanthropic organization for the GLBT community, and serves as Steward of the Steven J. Schochet Endowment for GLBT Studies & Campus Life at the University of Minnesota.  Amy also served as a Commissioner on the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission, which promotes and enforces the city’s human rights policies.

Amy was an attorney in private practice for over 20 years. She helped GLBT families, businesses and individuals plan for the future within the construct of the laws.  She is a noted national and statewide lecturer on the topics of practical, legal and tax issues facing alternative families and unmarried couples.  Amy has always been active in her community, having served on the Board of Trustees of her Synagogue, as President of the Minnesota NARAL, President of the Kenwood Isles Neighborhood Association, as well as held many volunteer positions within her profession.

As Executive Director of OutFront Minnesota, Amy leads all aspects of the organization including vision and mission; programs; fundraising; personnel and operations.  This organization has a myriad of  programs and services, for the GLBT and allied community.  It provides programs and services in community organizing, public policy, anti-violence, legal, and education/training.

Amy has brought her skill and legal talents to helm an effort to secure marriage equality in Minnesota, a priority on her agenda.   LGR spoke with Ms. Johnson and noted her strategic and practical approach to tackling marriage equality.  Her philosophy is to work from the ground up, to create a strong base of acceptance, while at the same time to keep Marriage equality at the forefront of discussion and visibility.

LGR salutes Amy Johnson for her tireless efforts and and are delighted to present her as featured Lesbian of the Month.

http://outfront.org/donate

OutFront Minnesota’s Legal Program:

• Offers training and consultation on GLBT issues
• Provides referrals to legal professionals
• Assists attorneys on GLBT-related cases
• Represents the community in appellate courts
• Works with public agencies on GLBT-sensitive policies
• Helps strengthen state and local human rights laws

Posted by Melanie Nathan
contact nathan@privatecourts.com

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Posted by Melanie Nathan, San Francisco; 2.15 pm 1/13/10 -

George Chauncey is Professor of History   – and American Studies and chair of LGBT Studies at Yale University.  He is the author of Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 (1994) and Why Marriage?  Chauncey wrote about LGBT history and studies at a time when there was barely any literature on the subject. Hence there is great value in his experience and research.

The Plaintiffs are trying to show that the LGBT community is a minority community. That is the crux of the case. For Plaintiff to prove LGBT is a minority class and one that has then be targeted.

The Defense attorney Thompson, fought vigorously to hold back a video of one Mr.  Tam, a Prop 8 supporter; fortunately the Judge allowed it into evidence. When watching the video and hearing the words of Tam, we can see why Thompson did not want it into evidence.

In fact Chauncey was not deposed on the Video, yet the Defendant’s counsel had opened up a question that allowed the video to be used in evidence. “Stewart says Thompson opened the door on the subject by trying to argue there are non-bigoted reasons for supporting Prop 8. “ What an explosive piece it turned out to be.   

EXAMPLE – from 
VIDEO-  Per  Tam’s flyer -: “SF city government is under rule of homosexuals.  After legalizing same-sex marriage, they want to legalize prostitution.  What next?”   Tam confirms that he wrote it.  What does gay agenda mean to you, Mr. Tam?  “Do you believe that part of the gay agenda is the legalizing of sex with children?” Yes, says Mr. Tam.  Tam is the Executive Director of the Traditional Families Coalition — which advocated the passage of Prop 8.

Mr. Tam’s columns are published in Chinese Christian Herald.  And he wrote a book called “America, Return to God.”  In these columns, Tam said that “children would benefit the most” if Prop 8 passes, because the children would then have “both sexes” as parents which is “good role models.”  Kids adopted by gay couples (which will happen if Prop 8 fails) do not have “two genders” as parents.  Now, plaintiffs’ attorneys are showing Tam columns he wrote about “parenting.”

Therese Stewart has had her hand in Prop 8 litigation from day one. She is an astounding speaker and advocate. I had the privilege of speaking to her a few nights before the case at the swearing in ceremony of  Dennis Herrera SF City Attorney.  She is reserved and modest. To my way of thinking the entire LGBT community is on trial and let me say one thing – we are in the best hands imaginable.  She exudes confidence.  We decided that we would wait until after the trial for her specific comments. She has agreed to speak to Lezgetreal and we cannot wait. She is featured this Month as Lesbian of the MONTH!

Many thanks to Paul Hogarth and Courage Campaign for your live blogging.  

Posted by Melanie Nathan. nathan@privatecourts.com

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Image via

  10.00  PM – Houston and this is the Story -

Annise Parker,  The first openly Lesbian Woman has just been elected  Mayor of a large US City – in fact the  4^th largest city in the USA.   Parker,  prior City Controller,  ran a highly contested run-off race against fellow Democrat  Gene Locke,   a lawyer, touting tough on crime, who would have been the second  African American Mayor of Houston. One can only imagine who got the Republican vote.

Speaking to CNN while the votes were being counted in this  tightly contested race, Mayor Parker seemed distant from concern about the anti- LGBT rhetoric of the ads that added fire to  the race, and more focused on the job ahead, inferring that the best apt at the job has very little to with sexual orientation.  Although she did mention that she brings a positive global perspective to her City.

Per Mayor Parker’s Website just moments ago:

To my Friends, Supporters and all Houstonians,

In this campaign, I met many Houstonians. 

I met fathers worried about finding a good job. I met mothers worried about crime. I met young men and women who only want a chance for a good education. Families worried about taxes. Homeowners who just want to protect the neighborhood they love. Hear me: the city is on your side.

I learned about the problems and the needs and the hopes of our city at the neighborhood level, where families work and live. This election has changed the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, just as this election is about transforming Houstonians’ lives for the better.

Let us begin from this moment to join as one community, united in the goal of making Houston the city it could be, should be, can be and will be. That’s what this city will be about under my administration.

Houston is a city that invites entrepreneurs – and shelters evacuees. A diverse city. A city built on dreams powered by hard work, creativity, common sense and cooperation.

Public service is a noble calling, and I appreciate that Gene Locke was willing to answer this call. He is a man who has been deeply involved in our community for many years and I hope he will continue to serve Houston. I wish for him and his family the very best.

Let me close by saying that while this is an exciting night, it is also a humbling experience. Our citizens deserve our best effort and I pledge to give them an administration that values honesty, integrity and transparency above all else. My administration will be concerned with only one interest: the public good.

Thank you so much. Together, we will make a difference.

Blogged by Melanie Nathan.  Dear Melanie,

Maria Jean Trumpler and Kathryn Marie Dudley were married Monday by the Rev. Johanna Nichols at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury, Vt.

Ms. Trumpler (left) 48, is the director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies at Yale and a senior lecturer in women’s gender and sexuality studies. She graduated from Princeton and received a Ph.D. in the history of medicine and life sciences from Yale. She is a daughter of Irma and William Trumpler of St. Pete Beach, Fla.

Ms. Dudley, 50, is a professor of American Studies and anthropology at Yale. She is the author of “Debt and Dispossession: Farm Loss in America’s Heartland” and “The End of the Line: Lost Jobs, New Lives in Postindustrial America.” She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and received a Ph.D. in anthropology from Columbia.  She is a daughter of Jack Dudley of Racine, Wis., and the late Marcia Dudley, who lived in Guilford, Conn.

Congratulations to the Couple from Melanie Nathan and Lez Get Real.  Visibility is our true champion. Thank you.

Blogged by Melanie Nathan, www.privatecourts.com;
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com;
Contact Nathan@privatecourts.com

My mom blames California for me being a lesbian. “Everything was fine until you moved out there.” “That’s right, Mom, we have mandatory lesbianism in West Hollywood. The Gay Patrol busted me, and I was given seven business days to add a significant amount of flannel to my wardrobe.

~

via Speak Equal.

Coley Sohn started out as a theater actor in her native Washington DC and made her way west.

Other acting credits include recurring roles on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and 90210. Coley also writes, improvises, and has a penchant for real estate.

In fact, Coley says she bought the house BOUTONNIERE was shot in and flipped it post production to pay for the entire project.

Currently, Coley working on getting the feature version, SASSY PANTS, ready to shoot, as well as another screenplay she recently completed entitled DODIE AND CHERYL GET HITCHED.

A born and bred Brooklyn girl, New York City and Lesbians are both recurrent themes in her unique literature.

Natasia is also a full time event planner, bringing the same edgy energy to her events as she does to her writing.

Natasia currently lives in Queens with her girlfriend and their tiny yorkie. Natasia’s favorite hobby is shopping.

You can visit her on facebook, here: http://www.facebook.com/Natasiarose

Seen here with her girlfriend Yvonne (her girlfriend is on the right), Tanya is an in-home caregiver and enjoys spending time with her son and girlfriend when she has a day off.

Determined to do what she can to provide for her family, she is also the ‘Local Lesbian Avon Lady’.

You can usually see her driving around her community with a rainbow bumper sticker, dropping off Avon catalogs or delivering orders with her son by her side. Along with her efforts in her community she also maintains her own Avon website which can be found at youravon.com/tanyacolon.

]]> http://lezgetreal.com/2009/07/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-tanya-colon/feed/ 3 http://lezgetreal.com/2009/07/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-tati-santos/ http://lezgetreal.com/2009/07/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-tati-santos/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:08:35 +0000 ~Julie Phineas~ http://lezgetreal.com/?p=18533 Tatiana Santos is a 33 year old Brazilian who shares her life with her wife Carol (since 2000) and 4 dogs, since they chose to have dogs instead of  having kids.

Tatiana works in hotel management and also keeps her site meninadigital.com in her spare time. Her passions in life are: gadgets, the world wide web, pets, and green products.

Carol has been going thru chemo treatment for 3 yrs now, so life is not always easy for them, but Tatiana says that those are the moments when they are able to see how important it is to find a true love in life!

You can visit Tatiana Santos on meninadigital.com or on Twitter at twitter.com/tatigui.

English, writing, and rhetoric is her major.

She has been proudly open about her sexuality for a mere year and a half. Yet, she claims that time as being most influential thus far.

Mary Catherine enjoys lacrosse, crochet, reading, writing, coffee shops, shows, and spending time with her friends and family.

You can find out more about her from her profile here.

She is the founding CEO of PRIVATE COURTS a consulting firm specializing in conflict resolution, mediation for family and business, personal advocacy, multi-organization consensus building and strategy development. She is passionate about LGBT equality, especially immigration issues and was the lead advocate on the Shirley Tan deportation case. She writes about anything that tips the scales of justice.

Her full and complete bio can be found at www.visualcv.com/melnathan.

]]> http://lezgetreal.com/2009/05/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-melanie-nathan/feed/ 3 http://lezgetreal.com/2009/05/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-robin-mcgehee/ http://lezgetreal.com/2009/05/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-robin-mcgehee/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 06:00:18 +0000 ~Julie Phineas~ http://lezgetreal.com/?p=12679 Robin McGehee who resides in Fresno, California is a lesbian activist as well as an instructor at The College of the Sequoias.

Robin strongly believes strongly that “When we Speak, We Shape the World!”

Robin McGehee received her M.A. in Human Communication with an emphasis on public speaking and interpersonal communication from California State University, Fresno. In 2001, McGehee was honored with the Martin Luther King, Jr. award for her work with Youth Empowerment and currently works part-time for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network. She also works for Fresno REEL Pride as their Development Director handling sponsorships.

In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her wife of 11 years, Dr. Kathy Adams of Cal State Fresno, her 6 year old son, Sebastian, and 2 year old daughter, Jackson.

After being asked to resign as PTA President of Sebastian’s school in 2008, Robin has given her talents to organizations such as Meet in The Middle for Equality and California Prop 8’s Day of Decision.

She married twice and decided to head for greener pastures. She came out right after September 11th because that incident made such an impact on her, and she really realized what was important and what was not. She didn’t want to live a lie, so she let the whole world know she was a lesbian. She always tells people that she didn’t just come out of the closet, she ran up from the basement broke through the door and went up to the roof top to proclaim her new found freedom to the world! Joanie loves plants, outdoors, meeting friends, helping people look for resources that are needed, and she hates injustice.

She is also one half of the couple that brings us the Lickalotta Fest and Camp Lickalotta.

Melanie’s work explores one’s identity, what makes someone who they are, and why?

Melanie believes that identity can be a role or stereotype. She says that there are identities that are imposed on us and ones we create for ourselves. These identities start when we are young, “what will you be when you grow up?” We incorporate these identities into fairy tales or we see them in the role models that we follow … they shape us into the people that we are or are yet to become.

Melanie has been exhibiting her work since 2001. Currently she is an artist member/volunteer at Gallery X, a cooperative art gallery in New Bedford.

You can see her work at Superfluous Designa online here.

Nancy has been a RN 20+ years and has seen about everything you can imagine a RN would see. She loves the arts…music, paintings, plays, etc.; and enjoys sitting around a campfire conversing with friends and enjoying a social beverage.

Nancy is a big activist and likes to get active in campaigns where she can make a difference in the world.

She is one half of the couple that brings us the Lickalotta Fest and Camp Lickalotta. Nancy says that Camp Lickalotta (formerly Bushstock) is about bringing our whole community together for love, laughter, and life; in hopes of one day having a place of our own where people can congregate for years to come. Nancy also loves to ride ATV’s, look at tattoos, enjoy bands, motorcycles, old cars and loves the art world.

Inspired by pop artists like Michael Jackson, Mallorie has used her newest song, entitled “One Love”, to spread the message of equality in response to California’s Proposition 8. Other songs by Mallorie such as “There She Goes” and “Just You” have earned her the title of ‘Sapphic Songstress’ by Spaz Talk Radio. In an interview with the lesbian podcast, Mallorie says that her music is for everyone, and she hopes that she can open the door for other out lesbians in the music industry who might have previously had the door shut in their face. You can listen to Mallorie’s music on her MySpace page here, and watch her videos on YouTube here.

Kayla recently graduated from high school and is currently deciding on whether to go to college for carpentry or cooking as these are two of her passions. Kayla also writes for LezGetReal and is happily taken by her lovely girlfriend of over two years who she hopes to marry soon. They recently got their own place to live together and are very happy about that.

Kayla loves the outdoors and skateboarding, and also enjoys reading books “especially Queer Lit”.

She collects anything with Spiderman on it, she loves fruits and vegetables but can’t say no to a steak or a burger once in awhile.   Kayla  loves to wear shorts so when you see her in jeans it must be a special occasion. You can read more about Kayla Tate on her Deviant Art page here.

During her younger days she wrote short stories, plays, poems, and she kept a diary. When her elementary school started a newspaper she was ecstatic and that is what caused her to gain interest in journalism. She attended University of Florida’s Summer Journalism Institute during her junior year of high school and that made her realize that even though she loves writing, she is a journalist at heart.

During her writing career Glennisha has interview people like Chester French, Deborah Cox, Bobby Valentino, Kaira Akita, and Miss Rap Supreme’s Byata.

Glennisha currently contributes to Clutch Magazine and ThinkGirl.net, aside from Lez Get Real. She is also a regular blogger for Milkshake Kicks. In addition, Glennisha maintains a blog that she created exclusively for female Emcees called The Fembassy. You can find out more about her, and her writing services, at Glennisha the Writer.com.

Out, proud and happily taken by Lez Get Real’s own Kayla Tate, she enjoys reading, drawing, exploring, playing video games, spending time with close friends, and of course, her morning coffee.

Writing has always been a passion of Daryl’s. She recently began posting her writings online here. Along with writing, another one of Daryl’s favorite past times is photography. Her gallery is slowly filling up with some truly great photos. You can view her gallery online at deviantart.com here.

Nicole LeFavour grew up in rural central Idaho and has been elected twice to the Idaho Legislature.

Nicole worked for many years as a writing teacher for at risk youth in Boise classrooms. Now she works hard to improve public transportation,  preserve farm lands and open space, and to make sure Idaho’s rampant growth pays for itself.

She is dedicated to protecting Idaho families and small businesses from tax shifts, air and water pollution and increases in the cost of medical care and insurance. She strives to create policies which will lead to greater energy independence and security for Idaho. You can read Nicole Le Favours observations from inside the Idaho Legislature at her blog http://notesfromthefloor.typepad.com. ]]> http://lezgetreal.com/2009/03/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-nicole-lefavour/feed/ 3 http://lezgetreal.com/2009/03/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-bridget-mcbride/ http://lezgetreal.com/2009/03/featured-lesbian-of-the-week-bridget-mcbride/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:00:28 +0000 ~Julie Phineas~ http://lezgetreal.com/?p=5042 Bridget is a trans-lesbian who lives in Vermont.

She has a BA in history and is working towards her masters degree. Bridgette enjoys sci-fi, fantasy, manga, anime, cartoons, action movies and video games. She loves to write and has a strong passion for LGBTI rights, and puts that love and passion into writing here on LezGetReal.

For now, Bridgette is single, as she plans to wait until she is further into the transition process to date. You can read all about the unique experiences of being a trans-lesbian from Bridgette’s perspective right here on LezGetReal.com, or visit her on her profile on our social network here.

“I’m the beginning and the dawn of a clean day,
I am my work.
I’m a bit of everything I’ve read
and a lot of what my friends are.
I am my thoughts.
I am mine.”

Kenia is a Philosophy and English teacher living in Brazil. In her free time she likes reading, writing, blogging, listening to music, and going to the movies. Kenia, aka Lezzie, is also a writer for LezGetReal.com. When asked to describe herself she says, “I do craftswork as a hobbie. I LOVE sunflowers but there are days even they can’t make me happy. I prefer rainy days to sunny ones. I love photography. I can’t dance.”

You can learn more about Kenia, aka Lezzie, from her profile here.

She says, “I do my best to reach out to my beautiful (lesbian) community via pod cast, blog, and even some You Tube videos. I believe we can start changing this world and I’m working on it through the gift of gab and involvement.” Look for Spaz online at Spaz Talk Radio, where she talks about hot topics like ‘The L Word Sexcapades’ and ‘Lezbonics’. You can also find her sharing her views on YouTube and reaching out to lesbians online via MySpace and her Spaz Talk Blog.

“I am on the infinite endeavor towards the concept of I.”

Nicole Terry is a creative artist in Pennsylvania. She takes interest in permaculture, sustainable agriculture, freedom, alternative energy, painting and writing. Her website Nicole Terry Creates showcases her art in the form of writing, poetry, paintings, drawings, motion art videos and more. She lives by the words “I am not afraid. I am not in fear. I am not a Label or Role or Personality or Identity. I am alive and I will to live free.”

Andi Marquette is western-born and bred.

She escaped a life of academia and instead opted to go the wordsmith/starving artist route for a while even as she hopes her tinfoil hats don’t mess up her fabulous bouffant. Her most recent release is Friends in High Places available now through Bedazzled Ink. For more Andi you can visit her website at andimarquette.com.
 

Niki is a geek trapped in a sea of geeks in Silicon Valley.

Raised in OC, she escaped from the Orange Curtain in 2005 to the safety of the Bay Area where she lives with her partner and their 12 year old Son. Niki is also half of the DykeDrama duo. DykeDrama – The Podcast can be listened to here.

Kathy Young is an activist, martial arts instructor and blogger from Arizona.

She is a regular contributor to LezGetReal.com and is living an All American life – two kids, a girl and a boy, a dog and a wonderful partner to share it with. She has been practicing Taekwondo for over 20 years and is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor. She is a Board of Governor for the Human Rights Campaign and an LGBT activist. Her political & media commentary has appeared on C-Span, and CSPAN.org.

You can read more by Kathy Young on her personal blog, Thoughts from a Lezzy Mom.

Stacy Schrack is an award-winning art director and creative consultant specializing in corporate branding for the past 14 years.

Stacy and her partner of almost 10 years, Staci (yes, they share the same name) reside in Orlando, Florida with their daughter, Bean and their three rescue dogs. Stacy participates in Central Florida’s LGBTQ family organizations, protests, parades, and awareness campaigns. In 2008, this designer-mom was inspired to create Grow By Love to enrich, support and celebrate all families. Currently, Stacy and her partner are diligently working on developing apparel and other products for Grow By Love. You can find out more from her Grow By Love Blog.

In her career of 18-plus years, the decorated operating room and flight nurse from McChord Air Force Base earned stellar reviews for her work, which included helping to evacuate the nation’s wounded troops and humanitarian missions to aid civilians. In 1993, Maj.Witt was a poster woman for the Air Force’s flight nurse recruiting program. In 2003, she was awarded the Air Medal for her Middle East deployment and, later, the Air Force Commendation Medal, for saving the life of a Defense Department worker.

Less than a year later, after an Air Force investigation, Witt, a reservist, was drummed out of the Air Force. Her offense: a committed relationship, with another woman, a civilian, from 1997 to 2003 in their home, miles from any military base. In 2006 she filed a lawsuit challenging her suspension as a violation of her rights under the Constitution’s “equal protection” clause. You can find out more about Major Witt and her heroism here.

Jenime, formerly a NYC private investigator, now dedicates her penetrating gaze to the success of our Civil Rights movement.

She lives, fights, and loves in the SF bay area while striving to create art that makes me people sit up, and realize that they are alive in the most exciting time in human history. She’ll stand beside you no matter what is coming, and hopes you’ll do the same. You can watch her musings and ravings any time by visiting her channel on YouTube @ youtube.com/Jenime.

Julie Phineas is a lesbian mom living in Southern California, and an Executive Editor of LezGetReal.com.

She divorced from her children’s father in 2003 and is now in a committed lesbian relationship with her wife, Gina. She is also considered a Blog Author and an Online Socialite, and wrote the book “How to Work from Home Online”. Most of her time is devoted to her family and her interests include self improvement, working from home, spirituality, health & wellness, fashion & beauty, and socializing online. Feel free to visit her profile on Blogger for links to all of her blogs, or visit her main site at www.juliephineas.comto learn more about her.

Paula “The Surf Mom” Brooks lives in the Outer Bank of North Carolina with her partner Debbie, their twin daughters Halie and Kyma and her hearing helper dog Sammy, where they own and operate a vacation home rental business.

She has been an Internet publisher for over 5 years. Paula, who is hearing impaired, is also an educator for the hearing impaired and a tireless campaigner for LGBT rights and Gay Marriage. A life long Surfer Girl, who currently owns no less then 12 surfboards, Paula has traveled the world looking for the perfect wave and that search has taken her as far as Bali, South Africa, The South Pacific, Hawaii, and Europe. Paula is also an Executive Editor for LezGetReal.com.