The AFA has created a comprehensive fact sheet complete with an informational video on transitioning from In vitro Fertilization to donor egg IVF cycle. The fact sheet is suppose to help lessen the burden on patients by providing medical, psychological support and legal information on the aspects that come with choosing an egg donor.

Susan Bloom, Director of Donor Recruitment for The Fertility SOURCE Companies, “The educational information included in this video and fact sheet is invaluable to our intended parents transitioning from a traditional IVF cycle to an egg donor. The best ammunition we can give our intended parents is knowledge and education about the process they are about to undertake, along with the resources to have all their medical and legal questions answered. At Fertility SOURCE Companies, we pride ourselves in the guidance we give our intended parents every step of the way, from matching them with a donor to their IVF transfer.”

Ken Mosesian, Executive Director for the AFA “Because of the generous support of Fertility SOURCE Companies, The AFA is able to continue to provide first-rate education for infertility patients. The family-building journey has many inherent challenges, and our goal is to provide educational support to intended parents so they can make informed decisions with confidence.”

The AFA continually provides updates its educational material and has outreach events on infertility prevention, reproductive health, and family building. Their website has an extensive library of newsletters, webinars, and a toll-free help line.

Source

Melanie Nathan; 8-18-10

Almost 50 at the time, back in In 2007 tennis great Martina Navratilova signed with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as the group’s Health & Fitness ambassador.  Navratilova continues in this capacity, where she makes appearances at AARP events and offers online tips for AARP members on things like diet and fitness for the senior (that word?) crowd.

Navratilova, has won 59 grand slam tennis titles (the last one six weeks shy of her 50th birthday). Martina has been named “Tour Player of the Year” by the Women’s Tennis Association, “Female Athlete of the Year” by the Associated Press, and one of the “Top 40 Athletes of All Time” by Sports Illustrated.

“Because I’m in my 50s, I’m very concerned about flexibility. I know how much it helps me recover from tough matches or workouts and prepare for exercise the next day. And there are other benefits, too. Staying flexible can help you prevent injury, as well as avoid muscle knots and tightness brought on by daily activities. It improves your posture, reduces stress, and generally keeps your body feeling youthful and agile.” asserts Martina on site in one of many articles available to non members as well.

Here is a Video from the AARP website showcasing an example of the health and fitness advice offered
by the now over fifty ambassador.

http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-08-2010/martina_stretching.html

Navratilova will be at the AARP Orlando@50+ in Orlando, FL: September 30 – October 2, which thousands of AARP members and their friends are expected to attend

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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On August 21, 2010, Fifty Master Level Swimmers will plunge into the Great South Bay to swim from Sayville to Fire Island Pines,   to raise funds to benefit the Stonewall Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Those sponsoring the swimmers and friends from all walks of life will be on hand to cheer them on as they make their way through the 5 K open water route, and to congratulate them as they emerge at the Swim’s endpoint in The Pines in the 2^nd Annual Stonewall Swim.

“The inspiration for many of us lies in combining our passion for swimming and sport with our desire to benefit a group like Stonewall that provides grants to so many LGBT community organizations,” said Bradley Matthews, a Stonewall Swim participant and donor.

Last year, the Stonewall Swim raised $100,000 for the Foundation’s vital work.  This year, the swimmers and organizers hope to double their fundraising effort.

“The Stonewall Community Foundation is  committed first and foremost to building community and giving all who care about strengthening the LGBT community a chance to contribute to that goal,” said Paula Ettelbrick, Stonewall’s Executive Director.

The Swim will start at 9:00 am, with the first swimmers reaching The Pines around noon.

About the Stonewall Community Foundation

Since inception in 1990, the Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in grants to more than 400 organizations.

Stonewall Community Foundation develops leadership in the NYC LGBTQ community and works with like-minded donors to fund and incubate emerging organizations serving an evolving set of issues.  The Foundation’s Stonewall Institute formally trains organizations and key individuals on mission critical skills for running and growing their organizations and offers programs to inspire community members to personal and financial commitments to organizations.  Our Stonewall Quarter Share engages and develops the largest young donor group training them on community needs and helping them learn about grantmaking and leadership development and Stonewall Out in Front will annually develop 40 next generation board leaders for the movement.

The following individuals are available for interviews about The Stonewall Community Foundation, Stonewall Swim 2010 and the LGBTQ community.

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So you just finished your eye exam or arrived at the mall’s sunglasses boutique and you are now scanning the room for that perfect sexii pair of frames that compliment your face in all the right places as well as show off all of your delicious features. Your first thoughts are probably something along the lines of “So many shapes, so many colors, Where the heck do I start?!” @__@ Not to worry my dears I am going to break down this whole Glasses search into a step by step guide on how to find the perfect frames for your face.

Step 1: Find Your Face Shape

In order to find your face shape you’re going to have to be vain for a few minutes and admire your gorgeous self in the mirror hee hee. If you have long hair pull it back in a tight bun or ponytail so that you can examine the outline of your face, if you have short hair you may want to wet your hair or take a shower first to make finding your face shape a little easier.

Face Shapes

The Square Face: Mainly made up of right angles. Generally it’s as long as it is wide with a prominent jaw line and broad cheekbones giving a square like appearance.

The Oval Face: For the most part is exceptionally proportional, with a chin that is only slightly narrower than the forehead and typically has a higher cheekbone structure.

The Heart Face: Tends to be broader on top with a wide forehead and cheekbones that taper down to a narrow chin.

The Round Face: Has beautiful full cheeks and tends to be as long as it is wide. No prominent angles and is made up of curvilinear lines.

The Oblong Face: Narrow shape that’s longer than it is wide. Angular features with high cheekbones

The Triangle Face: Has a narrow forehead that widens at the cheeks and chin.

The Diamond Face: Is small/ narrow at the forehead and chin with high dramatic cheekbones.

Now ladies if your face doesn’t seem to dramatically fit one of these face shapes figure out where your wide points are and find the shape you think is the best fit

Step 2: Finding what works for your face

Now that we know what shape our faces are we need to know what frame shapes work for us. We want our Glasses to compliment our best features after all J and our glasses should play against our facial contours. For example if your face is on the boxie side you would be best staying away from a hard lined rectangle frame, Instead something rounded at the bottom will soften up the angles of the face giving it a smoother appearance and taking away attention from the jaw line. Same thing with colors, If you have brown eyes it may be best not to pick frames that match your eye color instead choose a color that will compliment your eyes like going a shade lighter.

Square Faces

Glasses: We want our glasses to contrast the features of our faces. So for my ladies with gorgeous square shaped faces you’ll be looking for frames that soften those strong sexii angles, giving a little bit of a round appearance to those straight lines.

What Works

• Curved bottom rims
• Bold upper edges divert attention away from chin and jaw line
• Round or Oval frame
• Curved narrow styles
• Subtle rimless frames with soft edges add contrast and visual interest to a strong, square face

What to Avoid

• Flat / straight bottoms will mirror the image of the face giving it a harsher appearance.
• Thick square/rectangle frames make square faces look boxie

Sunglasses: Much like with eye glasses when you pick your fabulous sunwear you’re looking for frames that soften your jaw line and compliment your amazing features. Following the guidelines for glasses with a few add-ons will lead you to the perfect movie star sunglasses <3

What Works

• Big Fabulous slightly rounded / round frames seem to be a perfect fit
• A nice thin frame with rounded bottom rims
• Lenses that fade from dark at the top to light at the bottom help down play a strong jaw line
• Frames that have more width than depth
• Aviators

What to Avoid

• Square/rectangle Frames

Oval Faces

Glasses: Lucky for my Oval ladies you have a wide variety of frames and styles to choose from, Because of your proportionate faces almost every frame is The Frame for you.

What Works

• Most
• It is recommended to look for frames which are wider (or as wide as) the broadest part of your face.

What to Avoid

• People with oval faces often have smaller features, so make sure your frames are in proportion and don’t overpower your face
• Ultracircular Frames

Sunglasses: Anything you find Fabulous should do just fine

What Works

• Same as Eye Glasses

What to Avoid

• None

Heart Faces

Glasses: My wonderful heart shaped girlies have interesting proportions, we’re looking to down play the wide forehead and narrow chin so we want to contrast with frames that even out those heart shaped features.

What Works

• Butterfly / Cat’s eye
• Rimless
• Round

What to Avoid

• Frames that are dramatic or decorative at the top of the frame
• Wide tops with thinner bottoms

Sunglasses: Sunglasses for my heart shaped chicas should be like the eyeglasses, draw attention away from the narrow chin and wide forehead.

What Works

• Softly Curved
• Wrap arounds
• Rounded upper corners
• Square bottoms
• Aviators

What to Avoid

• Circular
• Square frames

Round Faces

Glasses: Round face lezzies want their glasses to give their face a longer, slimmer appearance. Round faces have very soft curves and few angles and since a balanced face is always best we’re looking for angular frames to sharpen and add definition.

What Works

• Inclined Frames (butterfly, Cat eye)
• Rectangle Frames
• On the narrower side
• Angular
• Bold Frames

What to Avoid

• Circular
• Frames that are more vertical than horizontal
• Rimless

Sunglasses: Rounded faces are looking for sunglasses that will make the face appear thinner and less circular.

What Works

• Big Rectangles/squares
• Bold frames
• Decorative temple pieces
• Straight top with curved bottoms

What to Avoid

• Circular
• Thin frames
• Rimless

Oblong Faces

Glasses: oblong faces are much like an extended oval. If you have an oblong face you’re looking for you glasses to give your face a slightly shorter appearance as well as add a little width.

What Works

• Tall Vertical Frames
• Broad
• Accented tops
• Decorative temple pieces

What to Avoid

• Small Horizontal Frames
• Short Frames
• Narrow Rims

Sunglasses: For your sunglasses you’re going to want frames that fill the center of your face by down playing the length.

What Works

• Deep Frames
• Embellishments on temple pieces

What to Avoid

• Frames that extend the widest part of the face
• Short
• Narrow
• Small

Triangle Faces

Glasses: If you’re one of my triangle faces girls you’re going to want your glasses to deemphasize your wide chin and narrow forehead. Finding a frame that gives the top of your face some width and making the jaw line narrow out would be ideal.

What Works

• Square
• Cat Eyes
• Metal Frames with rimless bottoms
• Thin Rimmed Frames
• Semi-rimless
• Bottom frame angled inward

What to Avoid

• Narrow out of proportion frames
• Low-set temple pieces

Sunglasses: Your sunglass criteria are going to be the same as with your eyeglasses. You’re looking to Widen the forehead and soften the jaw line.

What Works

• Thick Square Frames
• Semi-rimless

What to Avoid

• Over sized sunglasses

Diamond Faces

Glasses: For diamond lesbians we want our glasses to highlight the cheekbone structure and enhance the eyes. The frames should draw more attention to our Gorgeous eyes and avert attention from the thin forehead and jawline. It’s all about proportions so you’ll be looking to balance all of your fabulous features and bring them together to make the perfect smart and sexxi look.

What Works

• Square
• Curved Bottom Frame
• Slightly curved
• Softly curved square
• Rimless
• Decorative / Dramatic top frame

What to Avoid

• Frames that are wider than cheekbones
• Narrow Frames

Sunglasses: When it comes to sunglasses diamond ladies are looking for a frame to fill the center of the face and soften the cheekbones, drawing attention away from the harsh contour of a diamond face. Not too over whelming but a delicate balance to even out that facial scale

What Works

• Oval Sunglasses
• Curved bottoms
• Aviators
• Rimless
• Softly Curved Square Frames
• Ray Bands
• Decorative Top Frame

What to Avoid

• Frames that are wider than the broadest parts of your face

Following these guidelines should make finding the perfect pair of shades or sexii specs way more fun and manageable then going in unprepared and it’s always a good idea to go shopping for these hard to buy items with your very best friends!! Get lots of opinions and make sure that you’re comfortable with your decision always remember ladies that the most important part of any fashionable look is being confident. No matter what frames you decide to buy make sure they make you feel like the super star that you are. Good Luck Girlies!!

Love,

KitCat
Fashion, Express yourself <3

By Melanie Nathan,   8-09-10

The Long awaited Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 (SB 3307) has passed the Senate, after a push by the ADA membership and other advocates, urging Senators to get the job done!  The Act, which passed the Senate unanimously now moves to the House where it is expected to pass.

This now makes a strong investment in our children’s future. It will provide local school districts with resources to improve the quality and nutritional value of meals served to students; require the USDA to strengthen nutrition standards for foods sold in vending machines, a la carte lines and school stores; and require the USDA to implement standards based on current nutrition science.

“If current trends continue, one in three children born since the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. In order to curb this epidemic, we need to promote healthy lifestyles at school, where our children spend a large part of their day. The passage of the Act has indeed put us that much closer to putting a stop to this dangerous epidemic. “  www.diabeteshealth.com

The Full Text of the Act can be found here:- http://ag.senate.gov/site/legislation.html and http://ag.senate.gov/site/ComLeg/s3307.pdf

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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One Tree Hill star and Chad Michael Murry ex Sophia Bush is boycotting Urban Outfitters. Bush is upset over a shirt the company is selling that says “Eat Less,” the actress is outraged that they would promote anorexia so blatantly. Bush wrote an open letter to the store to raise awareness of the problem.

“I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I’m through.”

“I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called “Zero Is Not A Size” and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD (sic) who have body image issues brought me to tears.”

“To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.”

“You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organisation that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better.”

“I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or ’snarky in a cool way’, that you re-think your decision.”

[Source]

Due to the controversy, Urban Outfitters has removed the shirt from their website and hopefully, from their stores. This is not the first time Bush has shown her socially responsible side, she recently visited the Gulf Coast to survey the damage done by the BP Oil Spill and help raise awareness and donations to the clean up efforts. How awesome is she? I’m totally down to boycott Urban Outfitters. I had no plans to wear a lace bra top or tee shirts with ironic sentiments on it this summer anyway

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He made the statement at the FDA’s Blood Products Advisory Committee hearing. The current policy bars men from donating blood if they have had sex with another man since 1977; however, the same policy allows heterosexual men and women from donating blood if they have had sexual contact with an HIV-positive partner after one year.

Not only has there been an advancement in the ability to understand what sexual behaviors are risky, but it is also become easier to detect the disease. John Kerry was the 2004 Democratic nominee for President. He is the senior Senator from Massachusetts.

Source

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From a pale hotel room in Cambodia, they tell their story.  From a low-rent apartment in San Diego, they tell their story.  From a couch in East Berlin, they tell their story.  It turns out that they aren’t so average after all. They are gay, yes, but unlike most couples, their life together is threatened because they are from two different countries. Tony is American and Thomas is German. As a gay couple, they are excluded from immigration rights in the US. And in this exclusionary law, their story begins.

They met and fell in love in 1993.  After a year and a half traveling through Africa and the Middle East together, their lives were joined.  Permanent.  Committed.  Both in their early twenties, they couldn’t imagine that equal rights for American gay men and lesbian women would be too long in coming.  So, they started stringing together temporary solutions to their immigration problem.

First, a student visa.  Thomas gave up his career in banking in Germany, and settled into a new life as a Community College student in San Diego.  To stretch out his time on the visa, he took class, after class, after class.  Seven long semesters, making a round-about path to an AA.  He was proud to graduate as Valedictorian when he finished his Associate’s Degree.  But that meant his time was up.

In the meantime, they have tried every possible avenue to allow Thomas to stay in the US legally.  They formed a gay and lesbian political organization to fight for rights for bi-national couples.  They tried to find a sponsor for a work visa for Thomas.  They entered Thomas in the Green Card lottery every single year. Sitting in their tiny apartment in San Diego in 2002, Tony and Thomas tell us about all of these failed efforts.

One thing they don’t tell us about is when, out of desperation, they considered a fraudulent marriage to a woman.  It is Laurelle, their long-time friend, who tells us about this.  She shares her willingness to marry Thomas, her devotion to her dear friends, to do anything to keep them in the country.  But the risks are great.  More daunting than facing prison, deportation, and enormous fines, if Thomas married Laurelle, they would all three have to live a lie.  Briefly, for a fleeting few weeks, these risks seemed like they might be worth it.  In the end, it is Tony who says no.

So, Tony and Thomas embark on their next strategy for staying together: moving to Germany.  But before they go, they have to say goodbye to their life in California.   Tony’s mom Freda and step-dad Ken are heartbroken.  But brave. We meet them in their living room and they tell us their story.  They too are a bi-national couple.

Torn from their family in California and battling to come home, they can only wait outside its borders, hoping for equal rights to be granted.  Now, at age 40, they live their lives as nomads, perpetually traveling the world.  They have little left but the road.  And an angry kind of hope. Follow their 16-year journey of immigration struggle and exclusion.

A Film chronicles this horrendous inequity and the journey of this couple; Directed by Prof. Lisa M Nunn, PhD Director/Producer of “Excluded” Professor of Sociology, University of San Diego. In a comment to lez Get real Professor Nunn said, “I am glad to hear that you think the movie might be a useful tool for education and advocacy.  Please do keep in touch. I know how much it means to Tony and Thomas to hear from people who truly understand their difficult situation.  Thanks for your encouraging words. ”

Watch the movie online for free at:  www.excludedthemovie.com
and follow Tony and Thomas on their travel blog as they roam the world:  www.contemporarynomad.com/blog

Per Melanie:

PLEASE Ask Congress and Obama to support UAFA  (The Uniting American Families Act) as a stand alone BILL in this small window of opportunity.  It is time to show why RELYING on being included in CIR is tenuous to say the least. There is plenty of evidence at this TIME to prove this…. Also please how about a special VISA -? See my Petition and SIGN. (Change.org – Melanie Nathan Special Bi-national Visa Petition)

By, Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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7/20/10-by Paula Brooks
Less than a year after a shooting at a Tel Aviv gay youth center that left two people dead, the city of Tel Aviv reaching out to the international gay and lesbian community with a new tourist campaign.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the Tel Aviv Tourism Association has kicked off a six-month outreach and is hoping to introduce gay communities around the world to the LGBT scene of that city.

The campaign labeled “Tel Aviv Gay Vibe,” will be geared primarily toward gay and lesbian traveler from Germany and France, and is offering discounted flight and hotel packages that begin at $500 for three nights. Through February, participants will also be eligible for four free tours of the city as well as a City Pass that provides discounts at restaurants and other venues.

The Israeli Tourism Ministry and the City of Tel Aviv are supporting the  nearly $80,000 dollar project   jointly.

Yaniv Weissman, an adviser to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and a representative of the gay community in Tel Aviv, while admitting that security remained a central issue, downplayed security concerns and noted that such concerns were not unique to Tel Aviv. “The gay community around the world is very strong. Even though we had this terrible murder in the youth center, it connects the communities even further,” he said.

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Image via Wikipedia

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Governor McDonnell announced his “Choose Commonwealth” initiative recently by asking business owners to feature locally grown, Virginia-produced foods and beverages in their day-to-day operations. “Virginia is known far and wide for our high quality food and beverage products and Virginia’s top-teir wines are gaining well-deserved recognition from wine connoisseurs around the globe,” McDonnell stated adding that he also likes to feature Virginia food and beverages at home and when hosting foreign dignitaries.

Of course, he has a long way to go before he begins to see any benefit. To begin with, most people outside the United States are going to think of the British Commonwealth before they think of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Vermont has been leading the charge on this kind of locally grown produce and beverages. The Rutland Farmer’s Market is now the largest in the state, and sells everything from locally crafted jewelry to locally grown corn on the cob. Vermont also has, thanks to Climate Change, a burgeoning wine industry. Local farmers are experimenting with growing shiitaki mushrooms as well, which many local restaurants are itching to get a hold of because of a firm commitment to locally grown produce. This includes many specialty items like emu meat, something that Governor McDonnell is not spotlighting at all with regards to his own state.

Of course, the bigger problem for Governor McDonnell appears to be his issues with the LGBT Community. Since he took office, there has been a lot of tension between his administration and the LGBT Community inside Virginia, many of whom moved to DC in order to get marriage rights. Of course, it should be interesting if Governor McDonnell should ever want to invite Robyn Deane to one of his locally grown Virginia dinner parties. The former spouse of McDonnell’s wife’s sister has recently gone full time, and having a transwoman as one of the governor’s family has certainly been a thorny issue. For McDonnell, the social conservatives in his state are costing him money that he is now desperately trying to make up with flashy slogans and a push to buy Virginian.

Unfortunately, people tend not to buy from states that they feel harbor intolerance. He can go ask Jan Brewer just how bad the economy in Arizona is today. If he can get a straight answer out of her about it.

With thanks to Miss New York Claire Buffie!

Guess what – you can be a beauty Queen and you can be Pro-LGBT rights. Yes You Can!  Move over anti-  Carrie Prejean is OUT , and the newest Miss New York, Claire Buffie is IN,  (well lezzies you may prefer it the other way around or ? Oh whatever! )

This is the first Miss America contestant, ever, to use LGBT rights as her contestant platform.

Her platform is “Straight for Equality: Let’s Talk”

Ms. Buffie tells The Advocate “that it’s really important to promote equality for all people, ‘all’ being the main word. As a straight ally, I think it’s so necessary to have that straight allies’ support for the LGBT community.”

Bringing equality to such a high profile platform is a courageous indictment of the hostility many straight people feel toward gay people, reminiscent of the Earlier Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s.  Twenty -50 years from now, if you are not carrying a banner “Straights for LGBT Right” you and your children will be ashamed.   If my Parents would not have carried their Pro Black Civil Rights Banner – today I would be ashamed.

So – That Said Thank you from Lez Get Real  and the pits of discriminatory hell to Claire Buffie – AND if you need any education as to what our movement in fact needs- have your peeps call us (Nathan@privatecourts.com) and we will tell you all about the new  GAY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT  – The American Equality Bill and Uniting Amrican Families Act.  It is not about gay marriage it is about Absolute and unequivocal  Equality.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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7/15/10-by Paula Brooks
In a heated debate that lasted almost 15 hours, today Argentina’s Senate approved a bill that would make the country the first in Latin America to legalize gay marriage and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has promised to sign the measure, which the Catholic Church strongly opposed.

Now in honor of that hard fought victory for marriage equality, Mexico City is offering a free honeymoon in that city to the first gay couple to wed in Argentina.

Mexico City’s tourism minister, Alejandro Rojas Rojas says the offer of the honeymoon was “in recognition of tolerance, but also to promote gay friendly tourism in Mexico City.”

According to Wietck Combs, a public relations and marketing communications services company specializing in the gay and lesbian consumer market, the LGBT community has a total economic spending power of more than $600 billion per year and 10% of all international tourists are gays and lesbians, who account for more than 70 million arrivals worldwide. We also spend 47 percent more than our straight fellow travelers.

Tourism authorities in the Mexican capital, which legalized gay marriage itself last year, are offering air tickets for the first couple to benefit from the Argentine law, and Rojas said his city was also seeking sponsorship from hotels and restaurants in Mexico City and Cancun to add to the honeymoon offer.

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Diabetes Mobile- iPod iTouch iPhone Applications

Nadia Al- Samarrie - Publisher of Diabetes Health

Jay Hewitt has traveled miles and miles and more miles in a nineteen year period, racing Ironman triathlons in Australia, Europe, the Carribean and all over North America, climbing and camping at the top of 14,000 foot Mt. Whitney, and of course dozens of family vacations and business trips.

Packing equipment and supplies for an Ironman triathlon and 3 weeks in Australia requires a bit of planning and preparation, but when you have diabetes you feel like you do that for just a weekend out of town.  Meters, strips, insulin, syringes, infusion sets, pump supplies, snacks . . . a simple weekend trip becomes a lunar expedition.

Who could be more qualified than Jay to provide traveling tips such as these and if you want to read more then I highly recommend DIABETES HEALTH Magazine where this article was first published and reprinted here with permission of King’s Publishing Inc.

“Here are JAY’s  top five tips for traveling with diabetes.

1. Bring Extra of Everything. Adopt the NASA triple redundancy system.  If one thing breaks or is lost, you have a back up, and another back up.  If I will be out of town two nights and will need to change my insulin pump infusion set once, I bring one set plus 3 extras.  I bring syringes for a day just in case the pump malfunctions or is damaged.
2. Keep Your Diabetes Critical Pouch Packed. My diabetes travel kit stays packed in my home with insulin pump infusion sets, syringes, alcohol swabs and other miscellaneous supplies.  I call this my diabetes “critical pouch.”  I periodically use and replace each item.  Life is too busy to remember to pack each thing every time you leave the house for a night.  I just grab that little pack and check the inventory and go.  I keep it in a quart size clear plastic freezer bag perfect for airport security and for me to see the contents, and keep it in my carry on bag.  I also bring several glucose meters as well.
3. Prescriptions at a National Pharmacy. Keep prescriptions for insulin, strips, syringes and any other supplies updated and on file with national pharmacies such as Walgreen’s, CVS, or other chain, even if you get your every day supplies from a local pharmacy or mail order.  When you live in Maryland and lose your insulin in Florida, those national chains can refill you there.
4. Pack Supplies in Separate Luggage. My diabetes critical pouch stays with me in my carry on bag on a plane and in the car.  This pouch contains my insulin so that it is not exposed to heat when my suitcase is left outside or in a car.  Packed in my suitcase with my clothes I keep extra supplies such as an extra meter and strips, pump supplies or syringes.  Now you are prepared if you get there, but your luggage does not.
5. Pack Travel Snacks. My briefcase or backpack always has at least 2 sport bars or other snack to munch on the plane or in the car when my blood sugar gets low.  I have extra sport bars packed in my suitcase, and even my glove box.  I like sport bars such as Clif Bar because they are packaged and sealed and travel easily in my bags.  I also keep a non perishable high carbohydrate drink in a plastic bottle in my car to sip when needed.

When flying across the country or internationally be sure to adjust the time on your insulin pump for your basal rate or injection of long acting insulin to correspond to that new time zone.  I make sure I have a bottle of juice or other carb drink in my hotel room.  Nothing is worse than waking in the middle of the night with low blood sugar and having to dress and roam the hotel halls for a vending machine.   When I travel alone I prefer to err a bit on the high side of normal blood sugar when sleeping because no one is in my hotel room to help if I have a severe low.

Traveling usually means eating different foods, and often at different times, so I tend to test more frequently on the road.  A little exercise on the road is always a great way to stabilize blood sugar and refresh your body and mind, especially on a business trip.  You knew I would recommend exercise, didn’t you!  I always pack my running shoes and clothes on a business trip with a packed schedule just so I can feel better, and enjoy a nice dinner.  I love to have dinner within walking distance of my hotel in major cities like Washington or New York so I can walk back and enjoy the conversation and post meal exercise.

A little planning will make for a good trip.  Have fun!  ( © Diabeteshealth.com 2010)”

Traveling with the  recently launch by Diabetes Health Apple Applications, by the California based King’s Publishing Inc. :- This could be a travel savior for those with Diabetes – Imagine being able to take  a compendium of Diabetes Related issues and TV broadcasts on your travels.  read more  at ……..   http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2010/06/29/6740/diabetes-health-is-the-first-diabetes-magazine-to-launch-iphone-and-ipod-touch-applications-dh-mobil/?isComment=1

Please let us know if you are interested in more health related articles here on LGR that specifically relate to lesbian interest ….In 1999, lesbians were identified as an underserved minority by the Institute of Medicine. Some health issues for lesbians are different from those of heterosexual women, and clinicians need to be aware of these differences in order to provide culturally-appropriate care, since at least 5% of their female patients are lesbian.

Articles of interest:
Abstract   Objective: This New Zealand study set out to measure the self-assessed health status of a snowball sample of lesbians in New Zealand, focusing on how lesbians use health services and perceived barriers to accessing health care.  In New Zealand-laws forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation have been in place since 1993, yet 5 years later this study suggests lesbians may have poorer health, and their delaying consultation requires further study. Conclusion: This study supports overseas research showing that lesbians delay seeking health care and find barriers to health care that are different from a random sample of women.  http://www.springerlink.com/content/g8501u5750t752lu/ Percentages were calculated on the general questions and a standardized set of questions and calculated scoring was used to measure the self-assessed health of respondents.

******

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/07/21/6285/gay-men-and-women-with-diabetes-find-a-voice-through-the-diabetes-and-gay-dang-foundation/

Posted by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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In June, Harris conducted a poll of 2,412 adults, ages 18 and over, of whom 341 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (271 as either gay or lesbian), Harris said. The firm said it over-sampled gay men and lesbians in order to allow for more detailed analysis of the groups.

The poll found that the LGBT groups seemed to be on par with heterosexual respondents a year ago. But in the time between May 2009 and June 2010, the number of LGBTs participating socially online jumped significantly in a few areas.

In 2009, for example, the number of gays and lesbians who said they used Twitter was 20 percent, versus 12 percent for heterosexuals. In 2010, that number of gays and lesbians using Twitter had jumped to 29 percent, versus 15 percent for straights.

Likewise, the number of gays and lesbians who said in 2009 that they checked social-networking sites once per week was 65 percent, versus 66 percent. A year later, that percentage climbed to 81 percent versus 71 percent. But 17 percent of straight respondents also said that they checked the social sites at least monthly, versus 11 percent of gays and lesbians.

Gays, lesbians, and straights preferred the same social-networking sites in the same order of preference, with Facebook then MySpace, LinkedIn, and Plaxo preferred by users. Gay and lesbian users clustered within Facebook and MySpace, with 55 percent and 43 percent claiming to be members of each. Forty-six percent of the straights Harris polled claimed to be members of Facebook, versus 30 percent that used MySpace.

In March 2008, Harris noted a quick jump in the number of gays and lesbians reading blogs versus straight respondents: 51 percent to 36 percent, versus 32 percent to 26 percent in Nov. 2006. By June, that gap had slightly closed, with 54 percent of gays and lesbians stating that they read blogs, versus 40 percent of straight users.

(source)

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According to the study, up to two-thirds of lesbians use to be straight and changed their sexual orientation sometime in their thirties. Unfortunately, according to Christan Moran, a researcher at Southern Connecticut State University, women who begin to identify as lesbian later in life are less willing to come out because of the problems that they face more social problems than they do remaining in the closet. Moran interviewed 200 married lesbians and she found that there was a “great potential for heterosexual women to experience a first same-sex attraction well into adulthood.” Additionally, if the woman is married to a man and has children, the problems may be compounded. Moran also stated “To leave a heterosexual marriage in favour of lesbian identity is to abdicate enormous and undeniable privilege.”

While the researchers who are studying this are talking about it being more about nurture than nature, their conclusions may not be accurate. It is possible that most women are genetically programmed to switch sexual orientations as they get older and past the prime age for bearing children. The older a woman is when she bears a child, the more genetic faults can creep in. Women who are older tend to also have fewer resources to give a child physically than those who are younger.

A study out of Utah University by Professor Lisa Diamond found that women’s sexualities were more fluid. She is a professor of psychology and gender studies. She followed 100 women over a decade and discovered that how they identified changed over time with some bisexual women identifying as lesbian later in life, some lesbians identifying as straight, etc.

Both studies are not large enough to give concrete conclusions since they are such small numbers, but they do offer some additional layers when it comes to female sexuality.

San Francisco: Breaking – For the past 15 years openly gay, renowned DJ, radio host, and creator of San Francisco’s longest running global dance radio show “House Nation, who goes by the name St John, has been a feature, honing his iconic talent and superstar ACT at the annual San Francisco LGBT Pride.

But this year something smells a little off.  Sources inform us, that the event which would usually pride itself on tradition has succumbed to the demands of one of its  corporate sponsors, CLEAR CHANNEL.   Clear Chanel (yes the very clear channel, air-wave home to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck,) and a major SF Pride 2010 sponsor has demanded the banning of ST. John and two other well known GAY Morning DJ’s; all three axed, shunned and rejected despite their years of entrenched relationship with the event.

St. John, described as  Superstar in the growing world of  mix was extremely popular at Clear Channel’s Wild 94.9 for 14 years, and then moved to CBS’s. Movin’ 99.7, KMVQ-FM.

St. John’s energetic style has made him a staple internationally from Brazil to Canada, and nation-wide from New York’s Limelight to San Francisco’s Ruby Skye. With multiple CD releases on major labels such as Thrive and UBL Recordings, St. John has sold over a quarter-million albums and in 2010 continues to work on exciting new projects.

The exclusion may be attributed to corporate wrangling and competitive venom between CBS and Clear Channel. Yet on wonders just how San Francisco pride fits into this mix of loyalty gone awry?

Since it was not only St John who made the move, but also other DJ’s and Michael Martin, once Program Director for Clear Channel and now Vice President of Programming for CBS RADIO San Francisco. The retribution could also be attributed to Martin who did not hide his excitement when St John left  Clear Channel to join CBS: “I am beyond excited to have him join MOViN!  His skill, passion, precision and drive to win are an inspiration to all who work with him and the detriment to those who try to compete against him,” said Martin.

Should we as a marginalized and discriminated against community stand behind our heroes? Or should we accept demanding sponsors who are giving SF Pride the profits off the  millions made and paid to the likes of homophobic and anti American  Limbaugh and Beck.

For St. John the feelings were mutual when he joined CBS; – “I’m thrilled to be reunited with programming legend Michael Martin. Together we’ve dominated ratings in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles and when St John moved asserted: “I can’t wait to work with him to do it again at my new home CBS RADIO San Francisco.”

Each year, Pride works with the event media partners, such as Clear Channel home to the likes of right wing lunatics – Limbaugh and Beck, to bring a televised and  radio broadcasts of the SF Pride Parade. SF Pride producers assert that they have been able to expand the coverage of the Parade to include a full-length, unedited online broadcast in addition to televised coverage the evening following the Parade’s conclusion.

Since St. John left clear channel, it is became apparent that punitive motives would follow the star, and that attempts would  be made to relegate his well earned reverence in the world of cool music and especially his vested platform at PRIDE.

St. John, clearly hurt by San Francisco Pride’s rejection of his talent, and his years of service was loathe to make any derogatory remarks at all either toward SF Pride or Clear Channel.

From my interview it was clear that not only is St John a good man, he is modest and is not willing to speak of  the enormous contributions he has made to fighting HIV/AIDS and helping those in need.

In furthering his career he is now being punished by his own community.  Not only is he a talent but he is an open voice to tens and thousands of a younger generation who hold him in the highest esteem, reaching across the gay- straight lines amongst the youngsters, where it really counts.

When asked for his comments  he told me: “Its been a long  journey with San Francisco Pride; I am proud  to have  been  apart of a great service to the community and hope that maybe I can find a way to continue to be so.”

I will say one thing and that is if Clear Channel tried to impose a ban on any gay performer of any kind with a history and credentials such as ST, John, I for one would rather risk their sponsorship!

The Organizers of San Francisco Pride were contacted for comment but no response was received.

Clear Channel Communications,  Inc.. (OTCBB:CCMO) is a global media and entertainment company specializing in mobile and on-demand entertainment and information services for local communities and premiere opportunities for advertisers. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the company’s businesses include radio and outdoor displays. More information is available at www.clearchannel.com.

By Melanie Nathan
Nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda
Get me on – FACE BOOK .

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The ban was instituted in 1983, to prevent HIV-AIDS from entering the blood donation supply. It officially prohibits any man who has had sex with another man since 1977 from donating. But recently a group of senators led by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., had called upon the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to lift the ban.

In his testimony to the blood advisory committee, Kerry called the policy discriminatory. “This lingering policy is responsible for turning away thousands of healthy donors from blood clinics across the country,” said Kerry.

The American Red Cross and other heath organizations have long advocated that this policy is medically unnecessary, due to the state of improved rigorous testing regimes. Technology currently in use by blood bank can detect HIV up to seven days after the individual has been infected and all available data also shows that the error rate for these tests is low.

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It’s only one week until the much hyped “Quit Facebook Day” arrives. One website reports that up to 60 per cent of users could quit Facebook in the near future over privacy concerns. Proponents of quitting Facebook point to a veritable laundry list of privacy violations. And you know what? They’re right. Facebook’s privacy policy is a disgrace of epic proportions.

You know what’s not going to get you your privacy back? Quitting. And here’s why.

First, we all signed up voluntarily and nobody forced us to post the results of the “Favorite Sex Positions Quiz”, even if we regretted it later when we realised our great-aunt and our boss now know that reverse cowgirl is how we like it. It was more disturbing later, of course, when we discovered we had that in common with our great-aunt, and the less said about the boss’ preferences, the better.

We don’t need more proof that Facebook is part of how we run our lives now, so IF everyone quits Facebook, something will rise up in its place, and there’s no reason to believe that a new Facebook will be any more concerned with privacy than the old one, and Facebook are 100 per cent unconcerned about privacy.

In July 2009, Sara Kennedy deleted and purged her Facebook account. She had many reasons and those included privacy concerns. She didn’t think about Facebook again until late in February 2010 when she started receiving strange emails that appeared to be from Facebook but were in a foreign language. Worried these emails were a phishing scam, she wrote to the only Facebook email address she could find: privacy@facebook.com.

She received no direct response to her query, but the situation just got weirder and weirder. Although she never actually heard from a person at Facebook, she eventually discovered herself that someone had used her email address to sign up to Facebook and had managed to log in and post some rather risque photos without access to her email account. Then, Facebook started recommending those who had been her friends on Facebook to the person who was using her email address. Ultimately, she put a stop to it herself by logging in and changing the password.

Facebook may be the immediate problem but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. While it seems like everyone is using the internet, many users are completely unaware of basic privacy safeguards and have never thought through the implications of posting their more personal vital statistics on a website that is owned by somebody else.

However, if individual users are naive when it comes to the internet, our countries and legislative bodies are positively blind when it comes to appropriate regulation for social network providers who control such volumes of sensitive information.

Private companies are in business to make money and will work in the interests of their customers — the advertisers — not in the interests of their non-paying users. Unfortunately the only way forward with this is legislation that enforces the kind of freedoms over our own information that the EFF have laid out in their Bill of Privacy Rights for Social Network Users.

And before you all start shouting — I’m no fan of regulating the internet. I am a fan of regulating for-profit private businesses who make money by sharing sensitive information without our informed, clear and explicit consent.

So, instead of quitting Facebook on May 31st, which will accomplish exactly nothing other than making it a billion times harder to keep up with your friends and families (and remember birthdays), fire off an email to your elected representatives, attaching a copy of the EFF’s Bill of Privacy Rights for good measure and share this post on Facebook so all your friends do the same.

Fight Facebook with Facebook. You know I’m right.

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05-09-10   Melanie Nathan

Making use of the services of Marriage Mentors, ahem, for my TAX Dollars – Wanna join me?

Anti-Gay Proponents invite Gays and Lesbians ( except they do not realize it …yet,) to join mentoring program;  Notice how matter of fact and polite my comments are. Not political simply factual.

Since I realized my right to the Marriage Matters’ mentoring services, (see Part 1) I decided to visit a second time.  I was feeling rather pensive and thought some marriage tips may help my mood. 

When I got to the site I clicked BLOG and found this note that I tried to relate to – by one, Amber DeYoung.

“My hubby has been out of town for almost 2 weeks now and has one week to go. We dated long distance (4 hours away) and got used to the phone and e-mail thing. However that doesn’t make it any easier. Business trips are a reality of the day so how do we keep in touch with each other and that makes keeping up good communication and a solid relationship tough. Heck its hard when you are both in the same house. Hubby and I are making good use of the technology around us, cell phones, pictures sent via e-mail, skype, blogs, e-mail and the like. Pictures are huge especially if you have children (or a fast growing silly acting puppy like we do.) They are a good way to keep them in the loop. Hubby is also doing a great job of letting me know he is out there by commenting on my blog (thus letting me know he is reading it) it honestly make me feel special to know that he is out there and paying attention. Also don’t forget to keep them in the loop, there are always everyday decisions that you can make on your own but don’t make the big decisions without them just because they aren’t there. Make sure you still discuss things so that you are on the same page. Lastly don’t forget the use of ’snail’ mail. What feels better than getting a care package or note in the mail from you loved one. Just ask their hotel how you can send it to them.  Amber”

My Comment- Amber, this is really good advice – I plan to relay it to my friend Phil who has been apart from his husband for about 3 years now.   This mentoring is so helpful to all married couples. Its a very sad situation; Phil is in Michigan and Rubio is in Spain.  The problem is Rubio cannot get a visa to come to the USA even though they are married. Can you imagine being apart for that long?   It’s really heartbreaking especially because Phil has a heart ailment and cannot travel away from his medical care to see hubby. So as you can imagine, being apart from your beloved for that long, and ill- and who knows how long to come, is a huge problem for any marriage.  So again thanks for the Skype tips and all that – let me pass it on to Phil – maybe it will be helpful considering the enormity of their hardship. Mel. http://www.healthy-marriage.com/index.php/our-blogs/Love-from-afar.html

Let us see how long my comment stays up – I bet Hubby will have something to say…

According to The Iowa Independent: A representative of the U.S. Healthy Marriage program (MARRIAGE MATTERS)   in Washington, D.C., told The Iowa Independent that certain overlap in spending might occur between the grantee (IFPC) and contractor programs (Marriage Matters), although not technically allowed. Marriage Matters is not registered with Iowa Secretary of State as a separate corporation, but rather as a registered trademark of the Iowa Family Policy Center. Mike Hartwig, Bryan English, Marriage Matters, The Iowa Family Policy Center and the IFPC Action PAC all share office space at 1100 N. Hickory Blvd. in Pleasant Hill, and Hartwig is paid a salary as vice president of IFPC.

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Take Note America

Locally businesses in D.C. are taking note;  of the fact that gay and lesbian couples are coming in droves to D.C. to marry.  From wedding ring collections to wedding planners, the market is set to explode, according to Forbes Magazine from $70 Billion per year by another $16 Billion.

D.C. Marriage office currently has a waiting list to June 2010.

Gay couples should have these rights in all the STATES of the USA.  Just think what the other States are missing out on.  Only 5 States and D.C. currently allow Gay marriage

This Video is a great reflection – This type of  industry boost is critically important to note because the more one sees of two women in bridal gowns atop a cake, the more acceptable that visual will become to mainstream America.

Mazeltov D.C.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center and veteran stage, television and film actor David Youse are joining forces with Oscar® and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey to present the historic, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer’s classic drama, The Normal Heart. This extraordinary celebrity reading, featuring some of the finest actors working today, will take place at Westwood’s Geffen Playhouse at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 17.

Proceeds from the one-night-only event will benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic, which provides quality, free or low-cost medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS (this event does not benefit the Geffen Playhouse). Tickets may be purchased at: www.lagaycenter.org/thenormalheart.

The cast features Emmy® Award-winner Lisa Kudrow, in the key role of Dr. Emma Brookner, Clark Gregg (The New Adventures of Old Christine) as Ben and David Eigenberg (Sex in the City) as Mickey. Additions to the cast will be announced in the coming days.

Among the countless highlights of Joel Grey’s nearly sixty-year career is his starring role in the original production of The Normal Heart, in which he played the central role of Ned, based semi-autobiographically on Mr. Kramer himself. This experience accords Mr. Grey an incomparable insight into the play, as well as a passionate commitment to the piece and to the issue it revolutionized: the AIDS epidemic.

The Normal Heart focuses on the terrifying early years of the AIDS epidemic in New York and the criminal silence of official America in dealing with it. First produced by Joseph Papp and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg for New York’s Public Theater, the play was a critical sensation and ran for 294 performances.   READ MORE …..

WHAT: THE NORMAL HEART
25th Anniversary staged reading

Written by Larry Kramer
Directed by Joel Grey

WHERE: The Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3021

WHEN: Monday, May 17 at 8 p.m.
Pre-performance reception at 6 p.m.
$50 (General admission)

Available on-line at www.lagaycenter.org/thenormalheart.

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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4-20-10- Melanie Nathan; The Women’s Conference® community is a global network of women who gather every year at the nation’s premier forum for women, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. For two full days, more than 100 internationally-acclaimed leaders, visionaries, authors, journalists and artists come together with more than 25,000 women from all walks of life to be educated, inspired and empowered to be Architects of Change in their own lives, within their communities and around the world.

Beyond the annual event, The Women’s Conference community gathers daily online at www.WomensConference.org and throughout the year at events that serve, support and strengthen the larger community. The mission of The Women’s Conference is to create Architects of Change – people who see a problem and seek to create the solution, be it in their homes, their communities, their states or the world.

The Women’s Conference has become a “must attend” transformational event and full day passes sell out in record-breaking time each year. In 2009, tickets sold out in less than two hours. In response to this surging popularity and demand, The Conference expanded the event to two full days with the addition of A Day of Transformation and Night at The Village.

May 14-16:      I Can Do It! San Diego Conference

The Mind, Body & Soul Retreat featuring dozens of your favorite speakers including Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Cheryl Richardson, Joan Z. Borysenko, Ph.D., Louise L. Hay, and many more workshops ranging from health to spirituality.

• San Diego Convention Center

For more information visit www.icandoit.net or call 800-654-5126

June 9:     The Women’s Conference Press Announcement

Two weeks prior to registration, The Women’s Conference 2010 announces conference events, speakers & ticket information. Information will be available at www.womensconference.org.

June 23:    The Women’s Conference 2010 Online Ticket Registration

(Please note: Date is subject to change.)

To learn more about The Women’s Conference 2010, click HERE.

**Check out The Great Giveaway for a chance to win 2 free Special Guest Passes to The Women’s Conference 2010.

September 10-12:    Best Buddies Challenge

JOIN TEAM MARIA on a cycling adventure along the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which also includes an optional 5K & 3K walk. For more information, click HERE.

October 10:     Pier del Sol

JOIN US at a family festival & fundraiser for Special Olympics, Southern California

• Santa Monica Pier & Pacific Park
• 10am – 2pm

October 25-26:     The Women’s Conference 2010

The Nation’s Premier Forum for Women

• A Day of Health, Wellness & Transformation and Night at The Village – Oct. 25
• A Day of Empowerment & The Minerva Awards – Oct. 26
• Long Beach Convention Center
• To learn more about The Women’s Conference 2010, click HERE.

**Check out The Great Giveaway for a chance to win 2 free Special Guest Passes to The Women’s Conference 2010.

December 7:    Season of Giving Event – Sacramento

The Women’s Conference supports a statewide holiday food drive and tree lighting event.

• California State Capitol, Sacramento

December 14:    California Hall of Fame Event – Sacramento

To honor legendary people who embody California’s innovative spirit.

• The California Museum, Sacramento
• Visit www.californiamuseum.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Women’s Conference 2010

October 25 & 26

Posted by Melanie Nathan

from Site of Womens Conference

In a move that is sure to insert the White House firmly into the national debate on same-sex marriage, today President Barack Obama issued an executive memorandum requiring any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding to allow gays and lesbians to have non-family visitors and grants their partners medical power of attorney.

“There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. In these hours of need and moments of pain and anxiety, all of us would hope to have a hand to hold, a shoulder on which to lean — a loved one to be there for us, as we would be there for them.”

“Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides — whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay. Often, a widow or widower with no children is denied the support and comfort of a good friend. Members of religious orders are sometimes unable to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions on their behalf. Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives — unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated,” said Obama

To ensure that hospitals respect the rights of LGBT patients to designate visitors, Obama has directed the Secretary Of Health And Human Services to make new rules stating “that designated visitors, including individuals designated by legally valid advance directives (such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies), should enjoy visitation privileges that are no more restrictive than those that immediate family members enjoy.”

He also called on the HHS Secretary to formulate rules that will “to guarantee that all patients’ advance directives, such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies, are respected, and that patients’ representatives otherwise have the right to make informed decisions regarding patients’ care.”

2010rightspatients.mem.final.rel

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• Obama Orders Hospitals to Grant Same-Sex Couples Visitation Rights and Medical Power of Attorney (towleroad.com)
• Obama orders same-sex hospital visits (msnbc.msn.com)
• Obama Orders Hospitals To Allow Gays, Lesbians Hospital Visitation & Power Of Attorney (oliverwillis.com)
• Obama bars discrimination against same-sex couples in hospital visitation rights (dailykos.com)
• Obama Orders Hospitals To Allow Same-Sex Visitation Rights (alan.com)

In 2007, just as Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond were about to depart from Miami on a family cruise with their three children, Pond suddenly collapsed. From the moment Langbehn and the children arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital, they encountered prejudice and apathy. Even though Langbehn held Pond’s durable health care power of attorney, the hospital refused to accept information from Langbehn regarding Pond’s medical history.

The hospital worker also informed Langbehn that she was in an antigay city and state and that she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family. A doctor finally spoke with Langbehn, telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Despite the doctor’s acknowledgment that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither Langbehn nor her children were allowed to see Pond until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

The hospitals decision got them hauled over the coals by gay rights advocates and in both the LGBT and mainstream press. It also got them sued by Langbehn.

Last September, a Florida judge ruled that no law required the hospital to allow Langbehn and their three children to see the dying Pond, and rejected that suit.

Even so, most people saw the hospitals actions as nothing but mean spirited asshattery, and the hospitals PR (and most likely it fundraising efforts) continued to take a serious dunk into the toilet. So since then, Jackson Memorial has issue a half hearted, second handed “oops we screwed up” to the Langbehn-Pond family through the press and began reviewing its policies concerning LGBT patients.

Yesterday, Lambda Legal, the outfit that sued the Hospital on behalf of Langbehn, and officials from Jackson Health System (JHS) released a statement announcing the hospital’s improved policies that are now a little more responsive to the needs of the LGBT community.

“Lambda Legal applauds Jackson Memorial’s work with the coalition to review and expand policies and training materials to help address the needs of same-sex couples and their families, but we urge the hospital to finish the job,” said Beth Littrell, senior staff attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, who was lead counsel on Langbehn v. Jackson Memorial.

Lambda Legal as well, urged Jackson Memorial Hospital to enact a full grievance procedure and also to issue an official apology to the Langbehn-Pond family.

“The hospital should issue an official apology to the Langbehn-Pond family and JHS should have a grievance procedure in the case of visitation denial that can be acted on quickly in an emergency situation,” she said.

“Jackson Memorial Hospital should have been able to provide immediate resources to Janice Langbehn when she wasn’t allowed to be with her partner Lisa hour after hour as she lay dying in the hospital. We don’t want the Langbehn-Pond nightmare to happen to another family.”

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• SAVE Dade: Jackson Health aligns policies with principles to be LGBT inclusive (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• Florida Hospital Changes LGBT Policies After Denying Lesbian the Right to Visit Her Dying Partner (bilerico.com)
• Gays and lesbians now assured hospital visitation rights by Jackson Health System (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• Jackson Memorial Health In Miami Facing Financial Collapse (lezgetreal.com)

“Like a virus, no one is immune from ignorance – no matter what their profession or even educational background might be.“

4-13-2010m; Posted by Melanie Nathan

Rambam Medical Center in Haifa on Tuesday will launch the first invitro fertilization unit in Israel for HIV carriers with fertility difficulties who are rejected from treatment by other hospitals.

Although Israel boasts one of the highest availabilities of fertility treatment in the world, it never before had the facilities to carry out IVF treatment for HIV carriers.

Today, an HIV carrier who receives treatment has almost the same life expectancy as the rest of the population, and certain medical treatment enables carrier to conceive and give birth to healthy children.

Following the Supreme Court appeal by the task force and six women, in 2006 the Health Ministry set up a committee to look into fertility treatments among carriers of HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

The committee recommended setting up a separate infrastructure for fertility treatment for such patients, despite the fact that in many Western countries carriers receive the treatment in ordinary clinics.  The multiple postponements of the opening led to the Health Ministry being sharply rebuked by the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee.

The unit,  located in a remote, discreet area of the hospital, to afford for maximum privacy for the patients, will also serve carriers of other viruses, and it already has a waiting list with several women waiting for treatment.

The Rambam unit opens just two days after the launch of a sperm washing institute at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, allowing men who carry the HIV virus to conceive healthy children together with non-carrier spouses.

The opening of the new unit at Rambam, which includes a number of labs and sub-clinics, has been postponed at least four times.

Yonatan Karni, director of the Israel AIDS Task Force, said Monday “I’m thrilled to cut the ribbon for the unit, but what will truly convince me this is really happening will be to cut the umbilical chord for the first child born as a result of the process.   To get to this day we had to go through the Supreme Court and four years of public battles. To my surprise the greatest obstacle was the obstinacy of the healthcare system. I found that just like with the virus, no one is immune to ignorance – no matter what their profession or even educational background might be.”

Original Source:- 4-13-2010 Ha’aretz

New hospital unit allows HIV carriers to conceive through IVF

By Fadi Eyadat

Melanie Nathan – nathan@privatecourts.com

A leading Australian In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) specialist is calling for Aussie men to lend a hand and  start donating more sperm because apparently our lesbian sisters from Down Under are  using it all up just about as fast as he can get it.

Accroding to Australia’s The Age.com, John McBain, a doctor at a Melbourne IVFclinic, said a campaign will begin today aimed at encouraging men to view sperm donation as an altruistic gift to others, similar to blood or organ donation.

”Our campaign, ‘A donation to us won’t save a life, hopefully it will create one’, will feature in online and print advertisements targeting the adult male population,” he said. ”It is aimed at appealing to men’s generosity as a donation can provide a couple or a single woman with the greatest of gifts – a family of their own.”

Dr McBain, who is also Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital’s head of reproductive services, said sperm donations had declined in recent years at a time when single women and those in same-sex relationships were given access to IVF programs for the first time.

”The new laws have to be welcomed as it means we no longer discriminate on the basis of sexual preference or marital status,” he said. ”However, it does mean that we will need more sperm donors in Victoria to cope with demand.”

So come on Aussie men…. give a hand and give some sperm.

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4-09-10; By Melanie Nathan, San Francisco

As millions of Americans file their income taxes, here at LGR, we are compelled to call attention to the tax inequities facing same-sex couples as a result of the state and federal laws that refuse to recognize or extend civil marriage protections to same-sex couples.

“Each tax season, same-sex couples sit at their dining room tables and are forced to live a legal lie by checking ‘single’ despite their decades together—arbitrarily dividing up their joint household’s income, expenses, and dependents,” states MEUSA Media Director Molly McKay. “Even in states with domestic partnerships or civil unions, we still have to check ‘single’ on our tax forms because our federal government doesn’t consider us a family.  Then we write checks to the IRS for higher social security taxes because we can’t file jointly, knowing that when we die our families will not even have access to any of the family ‘safety net’ benefits provided by our tax dollars in the form of social security survivor benefits, estate tax deferral, and other programs that we help fund with our tax dollars—but which only heterosexual married couples and their children will enjoy.”

Marriage Equality USA, is an all-volunteer, national non-profit organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Marriage Equality, Inc. began as an idea in 1996 with a handful of activists believing that same-sex couples should have the freedom and the right to civil marriage, and angry that the federal government wanted to pass a law barring LGBT people from this right. The organization was officially founded and formed February 12, 1998, on National Freedom To Marry Day. The New York chapter became so successful that activists in Los Angeles Oakland and San Francisco California, responding to that state’s 2000 anti-marriage referendum, began Marriage Equality California.

In the late autumn of 2000, the national organization, Marriage Equality USA was officially founded. Since then other chapters have formed across the country and are chapters are growing every day. The organization’s sole purpose and focus is to end discrimination in civil marriage so that same-sex couples can enjoy the same legal and societal status as opposite-sex couples.

Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) understands how critical it is for a greater number of voices to be heard and often works in tandem with other state and national organizations. With greater numbers of people working together towards ending discrimination in civil marriage, MEUSA hopes to accomplish in the foreseeable future what truly is the inevitable. civil marriages for same-sex couples.

Polls today tell us that 40 percent of the U.S. public approves of the basic civil right for gay people to marry. With the help of committed individuals and organizations, we are confident that that percentage will continue to grow. Only then can we shape the kind of social climate that will change public opinion embolden our courts to make fair decisions in winning the freedom to marry.

Whenever we protest in the Bay Area, you can be assured the event would not be the same but for  Molly McKay of Marriage Equality, who can always be recognized in her white wedding dress, always the voice for so many! Thanks Molly!

In past years MEUSA has held April 15 Tax Day Protest events,  …………

TAX DAY EVENTS

Sonoma County, California

When:  Thursday, April 15, 2010 3:30 -6:00 PM
Where: Santa Rosa Post Office, 730 2nd St.
What:    Come hold Marriage Equality signs and join us as we partner with members of the ACLU for our tax day raly.  More info is available at: http://aclusonoma.org/pdf/TaxDayDemonstration.pdf !

Yolo County, California

When:  Thursday, April 15, 2010 NOON
Where: Davis Main Post Office, corner of Poleline and 5th
What: Join with the Yolo County chapter of Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA)
and Northern California ACLU at the Tax Day Protest.

Bring yourselves and your signs. We will have signs you can use too.

NO TAXATION WITH DISCRIMINATION
EQUAL TAXES…EQUAL RIGHTS
TAX US? THEN MARRY US!
NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE
TAX US THE SAME…TREAT US THE SAME!
2ND CLASS STATUS IS A 1ST CLASS PAIN AT TAX TIME!

San Francisco & Alameda Counties, California

When: Thursday, April 15, 2010 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Where: Oakland Main Post Office 1675 7th St (1 block off the West Oakland BART Station)
What: Come hold Marriage Equality signs, get folks dropping off their Taxes to honk in support. We have fantastic, fun chants to get the message out!

Southern California:
Event Location:
U.S. Post Office™ – Airport Station
9029 AIRPORT BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009-9998
Time: 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Contact Person:
Jane Wishon or Wade Young, MEUSA  Los Angeles Chapter Leaders
ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org

Alternative: If you can’t make it – copy and print the text below and hand out to co-workers, friends, neighbors

An Explanation of Why We Do This:

Thank you for your willingness to take part in this tax day action in support of marriage equality and federal recognition for same-sex couples. In most states, we are denied equal access to civil marriage, and at the federal level, the Defense of Marriage Act excludes us from over 1,100 protections and benefits. Tax season is a frustrating time for all Americans; for same-sex couples, it is yet another reminder that while we pay income taxes and payroll taxes, we are treated as strangers under federal law—regardless of whether we are legally married under state law. In states where same-sex couples have marriage equality, tax day provides an opportunity to illustrate that although our families assume equal responsibilities and obligations, we are denied equal protection under federal law. With the new Obama Administration in place, we need share our stories and illustrate why the Defense of Marriage Act should be overturned and federal marriage equality granted.

For same-sex couples, tax season begins by having to check the box labeled “single” despite potentially being together for decades. Many tax preparers are unwilling to represent our families because our marital or lack of marital status greatly complicates how to complete our tax paperwork. In addition, many same-sex couples pay tax on their health insurance, and cannot file joint federal taxes even if they file jointly in their states. And although same-sex couples pay equally into Social Security, they are denied the safety net that it provides for their families. Same-sex couples are denied many federal rights and protections, including but not limited to:

• Social security survivor benefits are denied to surviving spouses of same-sex couples.
• Employer-provided health insurance, while tax-free for married couples, is considered income and taxable.
• The right to take time off to care for a sick or injured partner is denied under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

And while many people believe that granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act will end up costing taxpayers, the truth is this would not only generate millions of dollars for state and local governments and businesses (Source: UCLA Williams Institute – http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Econ-index.html), it will save the federal government $1 billion dollars (Source: Congressional Budget Office). When taxpayers learn that denying same-sex couples equal protections costs them money, they listen.lease check back soon for a complete listing of tax day events.

Information from MEUSA website

Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

Posted by Melanie Nathan,
Nathan@privatecourts.com

Picture was provided by 1stbras.com

Okay lets talk foundations. Girls are always asking me, how do you feel about this shirt? What about these pants? Does this color look good with my complexion? Those are very good questions ladies however, What about the garments that go underneath the cutest shirt you’ve ever seen in your life? Lets talk Boobies Ladies!! O:) it is estimated that around 80% of women are actually wearing the wrong size bra! This is so important girls, not only is it detrimental to your health but it can also make or break that perfect low cut top you’re so excited about sporting and for my masculine ladies the right bra with that sexii button down can make a world of difference.

Before we talk fashion lets talk about health. The majority of women don’t know that wearing the wrong bra can cause a series of health issues including chronic headaches, back pain, tingling sensation in the arms, restricted breathing, abrasions, rashes and breast pain! Oh my gosh is that not just horrible!? So wearing the wrong sized bra is not only very obviously uncomfortable but it’s also bad for your body! It’s very hard to be a sexii, vibrant and confident woman when your body is painful and unsupported. But how can you tell if you’re wearing the wrong size bra? Lucky for you girlies I’ve already made a list for you

How to tell if you’re wearing the wrong size:

• Do the ta tas fit?  If your ta tas are spilling over the top or sides of your bra then your bra is too small. You may need to go up a cup or band size.
• Does the center of your bra comfortably sit in the middle of your breastbone? The right size bra should fit snuggly and the center should rest right on your breastbone.
• Does the band on your bra ride up your back? The band of your bra should stay centered around your ribcage underneath your shoulder blades.
• Do your bra straps fall down or dig into your shoulders? If your bra straps slip down your arms then your bra may be too big or it might just be time for a new bra. Straps tend to stretch as the bra becomes worn out. You should replace your bras ideally every 4 – 6 months. If your bra straps are digging into your shoulders your bra may not be big enough to support your large breasteses.
• Does your band feel loose around your ribcage? Your band like the cups themselves should fit snuggly. When you buy a bra you should find one that is snug while fastened on the end hook. Bras stretch over time and following this rule extends the life and comfort of your bra. If it’s snug on the end hook, when it stretches you can move on to a shorter hook to make the band tighter.
• Is your bust in the right place? The right bra is supposed to support you. Your bust should be lifted and feel light on your chest. The cup should be holding up your bust and fit snuggly to your chest.

So we went through the list and lets just say you now know that you’re wearing the wrong size bra 0___0 Don’t worry ladies KitCat has you covered There are many different methods for finding your perfect bra size but remember girls that our breasts are all shaped differently so measuring to find a size does not substitute for trying on the bra. Every bra fits an individual differently. Measuring to find a size just gives you a place to start, whether or not it fits depends on how it feels to your body.  (Having someone else measure you will give you a more accurate result than measuring yourself.)

Finding your Band Size

1. Take a measuring tape and lay it flat on your skin around your rib cage directly underneath your breasts
2. Make sure the measuring tape is going straight across
3. If you end up with an odd number round up to the next even number
4. That is your band size

Finding your Cup Size

1. Take the measuring tape and wrap it around the fullest part of your bust with your bra on.
2. If your bra is too big or not supporting you, lift the straps so that your bust is where it should be while being measured.
3. Again make sure that the measuring tape lays flat and goes straight across your back and bust.
4. Take the number you get and subtract the band size. Take the difference and See Chart below for your estimated cup size

Now that we know if our bras fit lets discuss wrong bra + Fashion. Different tops require different bra styles and if you’re wearing a bra that’s too small you can end up with that ever so unflattering quadre boob interfering with your super cute outfit and if your bra isn’t supporting you it can actually make the dimensions of your waste appear bigger, visually adding weight to your mid section.

Styles

• Backless Bra – The backless bra is pretty self-explanatory, it has no back. It’s also possible to get a backless bra without straps. The backless bra works extremely well for backless and low back garments. If you’re a fan of off the shoulder tops having one of these will do wonders for your sexii look.

• Convertible Bra – The convertible bra is not only adorable but also very convenient. The straps are interchangeable to turn the bra from standard to a halter to backless to strapless! These nifty straps make the convertible bra a multiple style opportunity

• Demi Bra – The demi bra is mostly about cleavage. It’s design is made to push the breasts towards the center so create a firm showy look. The cup starts about an inch above the nipple so it’s great for low cut tops. 

• Full Cup Bra – The full cup bra is designed for women with larger breasts, it’s purpose is mainly to support. The full cup covers the whole breast in order to fully support and shape.

• Minimizer Bra – The minimizer like the full cup is for women with a larger bust, it’s purpose is to make the bust look smaller and smoother. It can also help prevent button bunching when wearing a blouse or button down.

• Push Up Bra – Unlike the minimizer the push up does just the opposite. The push up is made to give the illusion of bigger breasts it also extenuates the breast form and creates gorgeous cleavage for those sexy tops. 

• Sports Bra – Sports bras were made to reduce bounce during sporty activities, though many women wear them on the regular. Sports bras do not provide enough support to wear day in and day out, they also ware out very easily.

• Strapless Bra – Every femme should own one of these! Not only do they look great with a strapless shirt or off the shoulder sweater but also for evening wear. They really do work wonders.  For the larger breasted women like myself, these bras may be a problem. Unfortunately they don’t make them in my cup size but during prom season I found an awesome gadget called a corset bra. It uses your back and waist to support your breasts allowing you to rock that gorgeous strapless dress or shirt and they are surprisingly comfortable. Any prom or bridal store should have them

• T-Shirt Bra – The T-Shirt bra is designed to provide a smooth appearance under soft and thin materials, such as a T-shirt or sheer top. Very comfortable and sexii especially for the more masculine women. They look great under a polo or wife beater.

Although most women can find bras in any Arie, Victoria Secret or Department store women with an uncommon cup size or have a tiny rib cage with large breasts are going to have a harder time finding the right bra. Most cities have specialty stores specifically for lingerie and carry these bra sizes. Personally I like Blums on Long Island, they not only have large bust bras for girls with small rib cages but they also have specialty bathing suit tops! Do a little internet searching and I’m sure you will find a store that you will love!

Okay so before I end my Boobies rant I just want to give you a tiny tid bit of information on bra maintenance. Bras should really be hand washed and hung up to dry. They’re not cheap so you want them to last as long as possible and that is really the best way. If you do decide to wash them remember to wash on delicate and dry on air other wise you can warp the wires and ruin your perfect boobie holder So be gentle with your bras, have fun trying on and finding your perfect bra fit and remember to be comfortable being you. Please be good to your ta tas!!

Fashion, Express yourself

- KitCat

According to the Labor Department, the nation added 162,000 jobs in March, the largest one-month jump in job numbers in three years. But the unemployment rate still remained unchanged at 9.7 percent, the Labor Department reported.

The job growth last month was due in part to 48,000 temporary hires by the Census Bureau for the 2010 Census, jobs that will remain in place for the next few months. Nevertheless the private sector also added 123,000 jobs, surprising many analysts.

President Obama said the “worst of the storm is over,” and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis called the numbers an “encouraging sign.”

Solis credited the Recovery Act for the bounce back, citing numbers from the Congressional Budget Office that the Act created between 1 million and 2.1 million jobs through the end of 2009 and upped the gross domestic product by 1.5 percentage points to 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter.

“Today is an encouraging day,” said President Obama, addressing a town hall crowd in Charlotte, N.C. “We learned that the economy actually produced a substantial number of jobs instead of losing a substantial number of jobs. We are beginning to turn the corner.”

Obama added: “We have to be mindful that today’s job numbers, while welcome, leave us with a lot more work to do,” he added”there are some limits to what government can do. … The true engine of job growth in this country has always been the private sector.”

Secretary Solis also emphasized the need for additional job growth. “Fifteen million Americans are still unemployed, and 6.5 million have been looking for work for more than six months,” she said. To help out the situation, Solis encouraged Congress to extend the provision of COBRA health coverage and unemployment benefits.

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Melanie Nathan 4-4-10.  Celesbians galore,  a 7.2 magnitude  Earthquake,  a grand welcome to Salt-n-Pepa,  after a ten (yes) year hiatus (I call that coming back from the dead baby!) Hey lesbian sisters, what more could you want of California?

The Dinah gave it its all this 20th Anniversary and Meredith was there too – OMG !   We at Lezgetreal heard that you are all having an amazing time at the Dinah. In fact when the earthquake hot (I mean hit…sheez mel! ) we here at LGR were so concerned that we sent a dove to check up on you, her name is Blackberry;  you saw her flying overhead?

Guess what Mariah’s spokesperson told us?  We asked “Is anyone injured; are they scared?

Answer

no injuries,

everyone was WAY TOO DRUNK to be scared!”

Your interview on this Video certainly toils-the-tude™ (I get to trademark that one) of a classic 20th that only Dinah Dudes get!  Here goes some succinct comments out of the mouths of the Salty Peppery Two:-

“One big estrogen party;”

“After our ten year hiatus our following comes out….”  (kewl, thats purrfect for this performance); and they show us a

“Lot-a-love ” (Duh)

So in case you were not expecting it the World has changed and has not changed….  but undoubtedly if you attend a Mariah Dinah  now or 20 ago, you will have a blast and will never come OUT the same again!   Lotsa Love and Happy Anniversary MARIAH et al.

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KitCat

Hey Ladies!

My name is KitCat and let me just start by saying that I am SUPER excited to be the New Fashion Writer for LezGetReal.com! Okay so you’re all probably wondering, who is this Cat? What makes her a fashionista? How can her advice / Column help me? The answer is simple . . . Because I Am AMAZING hee hee just kidding but in all seriousness I should probably tell you a little bit about myself, my personal sense of style and what my plans are for this column before I begin addressing this years do’s and don’ts of the fashion world.

Okay so about me, I am the founder of TheLesbianConfidentials.com as well as a Pre-Vet student. Being a Pre-Vet student I am a broke friendly shopper, who is really good at name brand shopping affordably. A lot of my clothes are from places like Wet Seal, American Eagle, Aeropostale and when I can afford it my hand bags come from Coach. My fashion style tends to be very Elegant, Sophisticated Chic. My expression (as I’m sure you’ve guessed by my word mannerisms) is feminine. My favorite color is pastel pink so I end up wearing at least one article of pink clothing per day. I am a whopping 4 foot 9, Very tall I know hee hee, though my friends say that I am tiny and adorable, a must have.

Being that I am so familiar with the female form , one of my many talents is knowing what style, cuts and colors work well for an individual woman. Whether your self-expression be feminine, masculine or somewhere in between I can help you find clothes, accessories and style that not only fit your personality but extenuate your unique and adorable body. I consider myself to be very well rounded in the fashion world and I’m very familiar with the ins and outs of a wide variety of styles and trends. My specialties are matching up personality with style and then conforming the style to the specific individuals body type. My wonderful perception of shape, vivid imagination and understanding of personality / gender expression make it easy for me to cater to the feminine personality as well as the masculine. It is very important for someone who is giving fashion advice to be brand and style knowledgeable with the eye to match the right clothing to the right body.

Okay so now that you have this little tidbit of information you’re probably wondering how I plan on helping. I have a few ideas, though if you have more I’d love to hear them. First I would like to help people directly, as many as possible. Whether you need a new style, all new wardrobe, you’re confused about the cuts and colors that fit your body, you’re fashionly challenged hee hee or if you just need a second opinion on an outfit for a special day, I am here to give you my undivided attention and unbiased, fashion educated opinion. Feel free to send me pictures and as much info as you can so that I can give you the most accurate opinion possible. Then of course product reviews, hair/make up tutorials, random fashion segments, Dos / don’ts and Ins/outs. Sort of a fashion opinions and advice column

Well as much as I obviously love to ramble on it’s time to bring my first segment to an end. In closing I would like all of you to remember that regardless of style, looks, brand of clothing or gender expression You are all beautiful vibrant women. Let your natural beauty and glowing personalities define who you are, you are beautiful because you are you. Nothing is more beautiful then a confident woman who loves and respects herself. People express themselves through creativity and customization, what better way to show the world who you are and what you’re about then through what you wear.

Fashion, Express yourself

- KitCat

By a vote of 219 to 212, the House passed the bill after a day of tumultuous debate that echoed the epic struggle of the last year.

The vote is being touted as the single most significant piece of domestic legislation to be passed by Congress since Medicare in 1965.

“We will be joining those who established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“This is the civil rights act of the 21st century,” added Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the top-ranking black member of the House.

Sunday’s vote also ended well over a year of negotiations and setbacks, with a day of intense negotiations among Democrats and repeated procedural attempts to kill the bill by Republicans.

Even so, Democrats were still able to piece together enough votes to pass the bill by striking deals with two groups of Democrats who were on the fence: anti-abortion Democrats and Democrats concerned that the funding machinery for the bill was inequitable to certain states.

The final obstacle to the bill’s passage was cleared at mid-afternoon when Obama and Democratic leaders reached a compromise with anti-abortion lawmakers lead by Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak after The White House announced it would issue an executive order pledging that no federal funds would be used for elective abortion, satisfying Stupak.

In the end, not a single Republican voted for the bill and Republicans continued their attack on the bill even after its passage, still warning it would harm the economy while mandating a government takeover of the health care system. “We have failed to listen to America,” said Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio.

“The American people know you can’t reduce health care costs by spending $1 trillion or raising taxes by more than one-half trillion dollars. The American people know that you cannot cut Medicare by over one-half trillion dollars without hurting seniors,” said Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, adding “And, the American people know that you can’t create an entirely new government entitlement program without exploding spending and the deficit.”

In remarks after the completion of the House’s votes, Obama praised fellow Democrats for passing the legislation.

“We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things,” the president said in televised remarks. “We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people.”

Mr. Obama will now sign a bill that many of the people who voted for it say is flawed. Regardless of what happens next, that bill will become law when Obama signs it, perhaps on Tuesday.

The $940 billion bill will cover 32 million uninsured Americans, ban the denial of coverage for preexisting conditions, and usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid.

The insurance industry, which spent millions on advertising trying to block the bill, will now also come under new federal regulations and will be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions and from canceling policies when a policyholder becomes ill.

Parents will also be able to keep children up to age 26 on their family insurance plans and a new high-risk pool will offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems

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“A Great Unfinished Business, Until Today”; Now let us move on to CIR, Repeal of DOMA and DADT:

Melanie Nathan, 3-21-10 , 10.50 EST. Today an historic vote in the US House of Representatives will lead to Passage of  landmark Health Care reform.  When the votes hit 216, the House erupted and Speaker Pelosi walked elegantly into the history books, not only is she the first woman speaker, but THE speaker who got Health Care reform through vote and victory.

Today while  it seems as if the Immigration Reform March failed through little or no, albeit much deserved  TV coverage; there is a deep irony in such failure and that is what caused it to fail may hail its success – YES the day was usurped by visuals of the Congress hedging its bets on historic passage of Health Care Reform, and the fact that such was passed in the House and likely to pass in the Senate, yields a victory so enormous for President Obama, that he WILL now win Immigration Reform.  When The President’s message resounded through screens on the Mall, the people knew that they would be next. Today’s victory places capital and power sturdily in the hands of this US President.

The Republicans in the House called it ‘the arrogance of Washington’ and suggested  the Democrats  used trickery, speaking only about money and cost; the Democrats say this reform is imperative and spoke to the impact from an humanity standpoint.

My Congresswoman, Lynn Woolsey, California, spoke tonight, in the House,  with her  perfunctory  message, “ Being a woman IS a preexisting condition!” ( reiterated by Speaker Pelosi) That is going to change with this health care reform.  She reminded us that pregnancy could be a preexisting condition, that even injuries from domestic violence could be considered preexisting conditions.

What the Republicans seem to resent is the fact that the will of the people was to elect the democrats on the ticket that included health care reform. How could anyone in their right mind suggest voting no on the basis of “not good enough,” especially those that prompted the water down.

Those of you who voted NO will be held responsible when you are reminded in years henceforth of the positive impact of the changes, when lives are saved, and the preexisting amongst us survive and live longer to tell this tale.

Now enough – let us move on to more business – and let us realize that we MUST be partisan.  We must fight a partisan fight from day one on Immigration reform, on repeal of DOMA, DADT, and  enactment of ENDA. Bi-partisanship must now come from the Republican side. We should not chase them to get them on board. This is the only way they will hopefully come up with suggestions to forward legislation, rather than attacks to thwart it.

Recipe for success of future legislation:

Ingredients:

2 cup of –  Learn from mistakes

3 cups of  - forget the ideal of bipartisanship

1 cup of  - clarity through public outreach and education

3 cups of  - early explanation to American people

2 cups of – early talking points and Public Service Announcements

Instructions:

Obama, and Democrats mix all of the above from day one of the endeavor;

Push at the start and until the end; remain strong and resolute

Change the fairness doctrine in media broadcasting and revoke licenses of cable channels which term ‘news’ for talking point commentary, speculation and non sourced lies.

The Lesson: From the lesson of Health Care Reform, we have learnt that Bi-partisanship, in a climate of hate and greed is an oxymoron.
Republicans have the audacity to complain that this is not bipartisan legislation.   Lest we forget that there would be no legislation at ALL if it were to be bi-partisan.

Thanks to Partisanship no one is no longer un-insurable!
Thanks to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her extraordinary leadership
and To President Obama

Acknowledging Great Leadership of late Senator Ted Kennedy
“A Great Unfinished Business, Until Today”
Victoria Kennedy plans to issue a Statement tonight

Written to supporters – I am sure I am not the only one who received this letter at 2.00 am Eastern today.

Melanie — 3-22-10

For the first time in our nation’s history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.

Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:

Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.

Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.

But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.

It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.

It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.

And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.

This is what change looks like.

My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.

This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.

Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.

We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we’ve faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right — and actually create the change we believe in.

Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

by Melanie Nathan
Private Courts™
nathan@privatecourts.com
http://visualcv.com/melnathan

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3/18/10-by Paula Brooks
In a letter in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, three scientists from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia cite a small but significant portion of medical studies are excluding gays from taking part, and say it is happening many times without any apparent scientific reason.

Fox Chase biostatistician Brian Egleston, biologist Roland Dunbrack Jr. and Dr. Michael J. Hall, made the observations while overseeing enrollment of patients into clinical trials at the cancer center and say while there are sometime legitimate scientific reasons for excluding gays from certain studies, they found cases where the reason for excluding gays is all together not clear.

“When I first saw this, I thought it was a fluke. The second time, I thought I’d dig deeper,” Egleston said.

The group then did a spot check of a government database of thousands of studies and turned up more examples where LGBT’s are being excluded from medical test studies, most of them private-industry trials.

According to Egleston, one reason for this maybe while researchers seeking federal money for their work must explain why a study excludes a group based on gender, race or ethnicity, no explanation is needed for exclusion based on sexual orientation.

For whatever reason LGBT’s are being excluded from these studies, the researcher said these exclusions can become self-perpetuating, with researchers designing a study often with “cut and paste” participation criteria from earlier trials on a similar subject.

“It becomes the way it’s done,” and any bias gets repeated, Egleston said.

http://www.nejm.org

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Openly Gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin said today she doesn’t believe LGBT-specific provisions will make it as part of health care reform.

In an interview with the DC Agenda, Baldwin said senate rules will probably prevent most of the LGBT provisions included in the House version of the health care reform bill from being in the reconciliation package that will come before the U.S. Senate this week.

“Most of the provisions are not with budgetary impact and so — because of the Byrd rule and the rules of the Senate parliamentarian — are not eligible,” she said. (via DC Agenda.)

That would mean two major LGBT provisions in the House version of the health care bill; the elimination of the tax on health benefits received under employer plans for LGBT’s and allowing states to cover low-income people with HIV before they develop AIDS, will in all probability not be in the final version of the bill at makes it to President Obama’s desk.

However, on her Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligation Act, Baldwin was more optimistic.

“It’s cleared committee on both sides of the Capitol, and so I’m very hopeful that once we are done with the health care legislation and back to other matters that we’ll be able to move it quickly,” Baldwin said.

That not withstanding, Joe Lieberman, the sponsor of the Senates version of the bill, said he won’t allow the bill to come to a floor vote until the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides information on how to offset the legislation’s cost within the agency’s existing budget.

Baldwin said she’s expecting the information from OPM “any day” now and added “They’ve assured us that they can fully offset it within their global budget, but we want to see the specifics.”

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Wanna Repeal Prop 8? Yeah, There’s An App For That

3/16/10-by Paula Brooks
Passed by a slender majority in 2008, as we all know, California’s Proposition 8 eliminated the right for same-sex couples to marry.

Now Restore Equality 2010, the campaign working to repeal California Proposition 8 has until April 12 to collect just under 700,000 signatures to qualify ballot initiative for Prop 8’s repeal in November’s General Election.

Using an application developed by Verafirma, a Silicon Valley technology company, today the group announced that it would be collecting at least some of those signatures needed for that effort via iPhone.

Now California voters can now sign Restore Equality 2010 petition via their iPhone’s or iPod Touch’s.

Said Sean Bohac, Chair of the Restore Equality 2010 Statewide Advisory Panel, “California is known for being a state that leads change. Our team looks forward to using this revolutionary technology to augment our grassroots efforts and change the way campaigns are run.”

If you are a registered California voter, you can access the digital signature tool and instructional video at http://restoreequality2010.com/ipod.htm.

However, if you’re a California voter without access to an iPhone or iPod Touch you can still do it the old fashioned way and print out you’re own petition, sign it, and mail it in by accessing www.signforequality.com, or by going to www.RestoreEquality2010.com for more information.

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SHMIRSHKY: THINK INSIDE THE BOX- A SMALL BOOK WITH A BIG STORY Reaching out is IN. Suffering in silence is Out.

Got a vagina? Know someone who does? Chances are you have a wife, girlfriend, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, daughter, friend, mentor, coworker, or boss who has one. Whether you’re a forty-five-year-old woman in perimenopause or an eighteen-year-old guy who thinks his mom is in need of an exorcism, Shmirshky is for you.

Shmirshky is the first menopause book of its kind. Unlike other books that are dry and mired in confusing medical terms, Shmirshky is an intimate, humorous read—smart, fact-filled, and full of love. With the knowledge and compassion of a trusted girlfriend, author E serves up a soulful account of persevering through the difficult stages of perimenopause and menopause. Publication date: March 1, 2010. Hardcover, $25. For books and further information, visit shmirshky.com.

“Shmirshky” is a term you won’t find in any other menopause book. It comes from E’s unique, often hilarious vernacular: she calls the vagina (and anyone who has one) a shmirshky (pronounced shmersh-key). “Vagina is such an awkward medical term,” she says. “All the women I know have a pet name for it. My BFF Marcia called it shmirshky. I am a shmirshky, a shmirshky who has struggled with PM&M [perimenopause and menopause].”

Shmirshky is not your mother’s menopause book. “In fact, chances are she never had one. If you think menopause is a shitty experience, then Shmirshky is your pooper-scooper.”

Shmirshky is open and honest at a time when many women want to keep their feelings hidden. For some, the PM&M experience can be overwhelming and frightening. “You may feel like an alien swooped down, took over your body, and jumbled up your mind and personality—not to mention your hips, your boobs, and your waist,” E says.

Shmirshky had its beginnings as a simple journal. E’s initial writings were intended as a gift to her daughter. That journal morphed into a small book with a big story. Edited by her twenty-seven-year-old son (who now knows more about PM&M than he ever imagined!), Shmirshky affords readers an honest, personal connection that further squashes the stigma of PM&M.

Don’t hide your shmirshky under a bush! Shmirshky empowers women to take charge. E helps her readers learn how to interpret the symptoms of PM&M, research and interview doctors, understand the necessary tests, and reach out to loved ones for support. Treating the symptoms of PM&M is not a one-size-fits-all situation. As E says, “Too bad they can’t administer hormone therapy through a pair of heels.”

“Every woman needs to read this book,” says Dr. Joseph F. Kennedy. “With great humor, some of which had me howling with laughter, E concisely and intelligently illustrates some of the diverse experiences women may have during the perimenopausal and menopausal years.”

At Your Cervix! You can visit us at shmirshky.com for a sneak peek before the site goes live on March 1, 2010. Shmirshky.com readers can connect, comment, and share their own unique experiences as well as stay in touch with the shmirshky movement.

E is for everyone. E is not a doctor, scientist, or celebrity. “After all the women I’ve talked to and all the research I’ve done, I realized that this isn’t just my story, we all share pieces of the same story.” She says, “I hope this book brings women a little bit of the three L’s: love, laughter, and learning.”

Publication date: March 1, 2010, Hardcover with book jacket; 150 pages, Published by Shmirshky Universal / www.shmirshkyuniversal.com  Library of Congress Control Number: 2009908410 ISBN: 978-0-615-29455-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ELLEN SARVER DOLGEN

Ellen Sarver Dolgen is active in promoting health and wellness in America. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. She was a founding member of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, on the founding board of Angel Charity for Children, and on the board for San Diego Hospice. Ellen has served on boards, committees, and chaired numerous events for Brandeis University, the Heart Ball, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Brewster Auxiliary, and the Handmaker Home for the Aging. Ellen’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy through board representation, fundraising, and event organization continues with her founding of Shmirshky Universal and her goal to help women all over the world.

Ellen’s background includes public relations, fundraising for national political campaigns, legislative lobbying, investment advising, hotel operations, not-for-profit fundraising, and cultural and community leadership. In her prior professional life she was the National Deputy Treasurer of the 1980 Carter-Mondale reelection campaign; was a member of Berman and Associates, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm; served as National Finance Coordinator for U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson’s 1976 bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination; and worked for the national United Jewish Appeal in New York City. Ellen served on the National Finance Committee of Obama for America (2008 presidential campaign) and currently serves on the National Finance Committee for the Democratic National Committee. During her college years she worked as director of public relations for Interstate Motel Corporation in Tucson, Arizona, while attending the University of Arizona. She was subsequently a founding chairperson of the University of Arizona’s Office of Cultural Affairs Advisory Board and served on the Arizona State Workmen’s Compensation Fund Investment Committee.

Ellen is currently founder and president of Shmirshky Universal and is a principal of Dolgen Ventures along with her husband, David. Ellen lives in Coronado, California, and has two children, Sarah and Jack.

Shmirshky Competition: 

See You Tube:  Meet the author http://www.youtube.com/shmirshky

Write a no holds barred  250-500 word review of the Book “ Shmirshky” by E.

Submissions by 4/1/10  Results by 4/10/10 (Subject to extension depending on amount of entries.

PRIZES:
First: Amazon Kindle, Value $250.00
Second:Table Book Prize, Value $80.00

The first 4 to enter competition and commit to a review, receive a free Book.

Books can be purchased at http://www.shmirshky.com/

and use of code word  LEZGETREAL  will generate a 20% discount,

Judges shall be Announced at Time of competition result -announcement

Competition closed to Editors of LGR, Employees, friends and family of Published by Shmirshky Universal / www.shmirshkyuniversal.com and PR Professionals and Agents associated therewith.

Cut and Paste the following and then e-mail to Nathan@privatecourts.com:

“I the undersigned hereby commit to a 250-500 word review of the book “ Shmirshky”   If I am one of the first 4 entrants, I shall receive a free Book , Shmirshky by E, to review.

If I am not one of first four, then I shall decide whether or not to purchase a copy of the book whereupon I may or may not review the book Shmirshky.

Books can be purchased for a discount at AMAZON and using code word “lezgetreal “ will prompt discounted price.

Winning entry will be published and on Lez-Get-Real web site and may be used for oromotional purposes by Author of S or Publisher.  Copyright of review shall be owned by Lezgetreal.  The Author and Publisher shall also have the right to the use of quotations therefrom, upon agreement of Lez-Get-Real.  Participant hereby grants exclusive copyright ownership and full and unconditional right to print and publish competition entry to Lez-Get-Real, its agents and assigns, on line at www.lezgetreal.com and at any venue in the sole discretion of Lez-Get-Real.

I declare I am over 21 years of age.

Name: ________________________________________________
Address : _____________________________________________
E-mail __________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________

I am over 18 years of age : ______________
I agree to rules of Competition:__________________

I hereby Agree that the copyright to the review a  submitted  shall belong exclusively to Lezgetreal, and its assignees.”

Competition ends and last entry shall be post marked or e-mails  dated by April, 01, 2010, midnight.    Competition results shall be announced and winner reviews published on April 10, 2010. On site Lezgetreal.

All results shall be final.
Lez-Get-Real reserves the right t extend competition date/s’

Questions – email nathan@privatecourts.com

3/11/10-by Paula Brooks
In a 4-1 vote, Kissimmee, Florida City Commissioners have approved health and dental benefits for both same sex and opposite sex domestic partners of city employees.

The Kissimmee City Commission vote will also allow employees to take advantage of sick leave if the children of their domestic partners become ill.

Kissimmee City Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, said, “Benefits for domestic partners makes the city more competitive, when the economy bounces back and we’re looking to hire, this will be another feather in our caps so we can attract the best talent.” It was Grieb who lead the effort for the benefit extension.

With Tuesdays vote, Kissimmee became one of approximately two-dozen Florida governmental entities to extend health insurance benefits to all of its employees and their families

Florida Equality Field Director Joe Saunders said after the vote:

“I am so proud of Kissimmee City Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who led this effort. Mallory Wells, our Public Policy Director and I have worked side-by-side with Commissioner Grieb for months and she has never backed down from pursuing what is right. Even when anti-gay forces threatened to protest, Commissioner Grieb wouldn’t be bullied. With her guidance and leadership we began the slow and tedious task of drumming up support on the commission and in the community.”
via Equality Florida Blog: Victory in Kissimmee!.

The policy will go into effect within the next 30 days and employees can then add their partners immediately, without waiting for the regular renewal period.

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Photo-Gay Liberation Network

3/5/10-by Paula Brooks

According to a study released this month by Columbia University, gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens living in states with institutional discrimination, such as bans on same-sex marriage or gay adoption, are at greater risk of psychiatric disorders, then those who live in states that do not discriminate against them.

The Columbia researchers found a significant increase in the participants who lived in states that instituted constitutional amendments banning gay marriage following the 2004-2005 elections and noted the prevalence of mood disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders among lesbians, gays and bisexuals after the states banned gay marriage. The greatest increase, in excess of 200 percent, was seen in generalized anxiety disorder.

“Before this study, little was known about the impact of institutional discrimination toward lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals in our society,” senior author Deborah Hasin, an epidemiologist at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, said in a press release for Columbia. “The study highlights the importance of abolishing institutional forms of discrimination, including those leading to disparities in the mental health and well-being of LGB individuals.”

The Columbia study analyzed data from lesbians, gays and bisexuals who were interviewed in 2001-2002 and 2004-2005 for the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

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Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary of Policy Development and Research, together with John Trasviña, Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

HUD HOSTS TOWN HALL MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO ON HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBT COMMUNITY

By Melanie Nathan 3-1-10; San Francisco;

With thanks to a directive from President Obama, Secretary Shaun Donovan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, (otherwise known as HUD) is preparing to launch a ground-breaking national study of housing discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the sale and rental of housing.

Before designing this unprecedented research effort, HUD is conducting a national listening tour with public meetings such as that which began in San Francisco today, to follow with Chicago and New York. In addition, HUD will provide an opportunity for public comment for those living outside these metropolitan areas.

Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary of Policy Development and Research, together with John Trasviña, Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity hosted the fact finding/discussion Town Hall meeting at the San Francisco LGBT Center. The Assistant Secretaries travelled far to spend a precious three hours hearing from leaders of the LGBT and non-profit communities. The gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community was invited to explore the issue of housing discrimination and how it impacts individuals and the community.

In attendance were leaders and staffers including the offices of Congresswoman Jackie Speier, State Senator Mark Leno, Nick Panagopoulos, Mayor Newsom’s new LGBT community Liaison and Kenneth Stram, from the San Francisco LGBT Community Center.

I attended in my capacity as Vice President of Fair Housing of Marin, and had the great privilege of providing the Secretaries with a list of a few actual case situations that had been reported to our agency:

From the Fair Housing Notebook Housing Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation Housing Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal in California. Discrimination on the basis of disability, including HIV disease, is covered by federal and state law. Fair Housing of Marin investigates complaints of suspected discrimination, counsels victims, mediates with

property owners and makes referrals to government enforcement agencies and attorneys.

Our office has received complaints from gays and lesbians who were not considered the stereotypical “family”. Persons with AIDS have been shut out of housing because of unfounded fears of communicability. The following are a few case studies handled for gays and lesbians by our office.

• An apartment complex owner told our office that she would not rent to 3 men, one a minister with a child, because they might give AIDS to everyone in the complex.
• A professional man and his partner’s lease was not renewed after he told the resident manager he was HIV positive. This case was settled by HUD for an undisclosed sum.
• A gay man and his partner, managers of an apartment complex, were fired without notice by the owner of the complex after he learned that one of them had AIDS, thereby losing their housing as well as employment.
• A gay couple living in a 2 DR unit were denied the ability to move to an available I BR unit in the same complex, with questions by the managers as to how they would “manage”.

• A lesbian owner of a rental unit refused to rent to a heterosexual woman because she only wanted lesbians.

What prompted President Obama’s request according to Assistant Secretary Bostic and a common expression by participants, is the hope that TITLE 8 of the Fair Housing Code – to be amended to include sexual orientation. When participants started speaking about HUD redefining a family, to reflect the recognition of LGBT families, Mr. Bostic advised that this was already in the works with HUD “exploring a rule to broaden the definition of Family.”

A well rounded mix of speakers shared the sorry state of resources available to LGBT community and most surprisingly the revelation of the extent of poverty amongst gay men in the city. There is a dire shortage of affordable housing, access to resources a challenge, and a desperate need for improved conditions and increase in the number of Shelters.

The plight of gay youth – those who have been beaten and thrown out of their family homes, making their way to San Francisco, in the belief they are headed to gay safe haven, yet finding themselves amongst the 70% getting beaten up in shelters and many others remaining stuck on the streets.

Mr. Bostic also mentioned that Secretary Donovan had made a pledge to find a way to get rid of homelessness altogether, noting the complications that are derived from the variables involved.

Also of interest was to hear that the Department of Justice has established a new division – A Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. My concern is that many choose not to recognize gay rights as a civil rights issue.

While discrimination was the subject of the meeting, it soon became apparent that discrimination is tied into the needs of the LGBT community; the availability of resources, with affordable housing in San Francisco at critical levels. With San Francisco the bastion of LGBT culture, historically, politically and socially – it is critical to this LGBT community that they have resources to remain in San Francisco.

Local government has been required to step in where HUD has lost its funding for certain Programs.

One topic that drew interest was the aspect of questioning of LGBT people with disabilities by Landlords. When asking for accommodations for disabilities, the Landlord is entitled to ask for proof of the disability and thereby inquire into medical conditions. However it is clear from some of the stories that this has lent itself to abuse of the HIIPA laws. The Assistant Secretaries took particular note of the need for a rule limiting the extent to which Landlords can go in such inquiries. This invasion of privacy often leads to the HIV /AIDS related discrimination I described above.

Part of the regimen for catching landlord offenders of anti-discrimination laws is to “test” a facility. For example if Fair Housing Group receives a complaint that a person of color suspects discrimination, the Group will send testers. First a person of color will be sent and that person will fill out an application. Then would be told the rental had been taken or there were no available units. A white person would then be sent to the same premises and would be approved.

So how does one test a landlord for HIV/AIDS discrimination? This question was posed by the Department Assistant Secretary – the audience was well versed and able to respond with examples such as when a landlord learns there is a subsidy involved for a prospective tenant, a red flag is raised and the landlord then can presume that the tenant has HIV/Aids.

Certain participants were asked to e-mail Mr. Bostic with examples of that would help develop a testing plan to catch Landlords who are discriminating against tenants with HIV/AIDS.

We will soon feature a separate report about the discrimination suffered by married same-sex couples when applying for a mortgage. A mortgage consultant/ broker provided insight into the mishaps in Title caused by lender ignorance. We are planning an educational article for LGR to follow soon.

Of course, in conclusion how could I not have mentioned the bi-national plight – albeit seemingly out of place? But what the heck… three ears away from the President – I must speak. I referred to one of my Bi-national cases – the one published here about Nancy C. I expressed that when one has no Federal rights and when spouses like Nancy C. are impeded by DOMA, they suffer further untold discrimination. In Nancy C.’s case she experienced an enormous amount of difficulty with her landlord, when they tried to characterize her wife as a “visitor.” The lease terms stated that a visitor could only live at the premises for 14 days. Nancy’s wife would visit for a few months at a time, because Nancy does not have a federal right to sponsor her spouse for a green card.

Nancy and her wife received discriminatory treatment when they tried to put the spouse onto the lease. Of course I told this story in the hope that any forum on LGBT discrimination will always take cognizance of the big picture and the negative impact that DOMA has on all departments, codes and laws.

The ultimate banishment of discrimination must happen at every level.

The community were really grateful for the opportunity to participate and expressed its appreciation to the Secretary and the Department. So my friends, President Obama is working for change. Lets look forward to the results of this research and the ultimate changes that must be made.                     Note: Photo by Melanie Nathan©

Melanie Nathan

Posted by Melanie Nathan©                              all rights reserved to LGR and Melanie  Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com
Twitter me at: @oblogdeeoblogda
Civil Rights and Human Rights Advocate;
Owner Private Courts Inc.
Conflict Resolution & Personal Advocacy firm at
www.privatecourts.com
www.fairhousingmarin.org

Visit LGBT Bi-National Column for Immigration equality

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Now, all publicly accessible information capabilities and application available across the Internet in locations not owned, operated, or controlled by the Department of Defense are considered by the military to be integral to operations. This means all you military Facebookers, Twitter tweeters, YouTubers and blog readers can now access these services from non-classified government computers, as long as that access doesn’t compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites.

While saying the new policy recognizes the importance of protecting military networks and operations, Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defense For Information Management And Technology David M. Wennergren, explained, “The world of Web 2.0 and the Internet provides these amazing opportunities to collaborate, ” and said the new policy will promote what Wennergren calls “secure information sharing,” providing the balance needed to tap into the capabilities social media networking provides without compromising security.

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, who signed the policy, said it strikes a critical balance between the benefits and potential vulnerabilities of these applications. “This directive recognizes the importance of balancing appropriate security measures while maximizing the capabilities afforded by 21st-century Internet tools,” said Lynn.

Last June, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that the DoD was way behind the rest of the world in using social media, “This department, I think, is way behind the power curve in this; it’s an area where I think we have a lot of room for improvement,” said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, speaking to reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

“For leaders, it’s really important to be connected to [social-networking tools] and understand it,” said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noting that he has his own Facebook page. “I think communicating that way and moving information around that way — whether it’s administrative information or information in warfare — is absolutely critical.”

That’s not to say the DoD has been totally social media illiterate up till now. The DoD has at least 46 YouTube channels, 91 Twitter feeds, 35 Flickr streams, 46 blogs, and 106 Facebook pages.

However, the military has, until now, had a rocky relationship with social media, the Marines completely banned access to all public social networking sites in 2007, while the Army allowed access to only handful and then only to troops stationed in Stateside Bases and with this new policy, all those restrictions are now lifted.

That also means, that since Lez Get Real.com is not to the DoD’s list of contraband sites thus far, all you soldiers, sailors, marines and air people out there in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell underground can now read LGR from your work computer.

So here is what we’re going to do:

Lez Get Real To Launch Radio Free Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Beginning next week, we are starting a new feature for all you military types here on LGR, and will be featuring not only our regular lezzy fair and news items, but also news you can use as military people and will be covering, stories of interest to you from around the services, plus we will also have a wide variety of military career and DoD policy news.

To do this, we have enlisted the help of present and former LGBT members of the services to keep us current on what is happening in the Military Bases and on Navy Ships around the world.

So stay tuned… to LGR’s New… Radio Free DADT… Unidos Venceramos!!!!

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“The Resource Center will provide information, assistance and resources for both mainstream aging organizations and LGBT organizations and will provide assistance to LGBT individuals as they plan for future long-term care needs,” said Secretary Sebelius.

SAGE is the nation’s oldest and largest organization serving LGBT older adults. In creating the Resource Center, SAGE will forge a partnership with 10 organizations with expertise in a wide range of areas including mainstream aging, LGBT aging, culture change and competency and program evaluation. The Resource Center will engage, empower and support mainstream aging providers, LGBT providers and LGBT older adults to ensure that LGBT elders have the necessary and culturally appropriate supports and services to successfully age in place.

“AoA frequently turns to national organizations to support our national network of community- based aging organizations in their efforts to work with specific minority populations that are traditionally underserved,” said Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging who heads the HHS Administration on Aging (AoA). “AoA has traditionally funded national organizations to provide technical assistance on providing supports and services to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and Native Americans. LGBT older adults represent a community with unique needs that also must be addressed.”

Among other tools, SAGE plans to develop a comprehensive, web-based clearinghouse, which will include diverse resources, social networking tools, an “Ask the Experts” service, web-based trainings and other features.

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Dlugacz, President and founder of Olivia Companies, a lesbian-oriented vacation company, commented that “so many of our passengers have been touched by the destruction and poverty in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. It is important that as LGBT Americans, we come together to show our community’s solidarity and support for those living through this unimaginable disaster.”

Rachel Wahba told Lezgetreal that Olivia has a history of helping in disasters mentioning the time when she and Judy visited a Club Med in Mexico on an Olivia vacation, soon after a hurricane had caused devastation.   The guests arrived after the hurricane and raised a lot of money which was matched by a local bank.

American Red Cross Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Floyd W. Pitts stated “We are thrilled with this partnership with the LGBT community and we are delighted to be working with organizations which take such a strong interest in humanitarian response”.

The other cruise groups involved include Atlantis and RSVP cruises (a subsidiary of Atlantis), has also joined the effort.

According to PR-USA.dot.net.  Atlantis/RSVP have pledged $15,000 in matching contributions, Olivia has pledged an additional $7,500 for a total of $22,500. Olivia is also offering a limited number of free cruises to those who contribute $7,500 or more. They are urging all LGBT individuals and organizations to contribute and provide matching funds when possible. To contribute to the fund, visit: http://american.redcross.org/LGBT-pub

“Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands. I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today,” says Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia.

Olivia’s has featured headliners such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Heart and The Indigo Girls. Sports stars (Sheryl Swoops, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Rosie Jones, Diana Nyad) and comedians (Margaret Cho, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin) are no stranger to Olivia, either. Olivia also has amazing house entertainers—fantastic singers, comedians and other performers who have become part of the Olivia family.

Olivia has also recently rolled out its Sisters at Sea™ and Sisters at Play™ programs, which are designed for lesbians of color and their friends and provide special programming and activities onboard or at the resort. Olivia also has a solos/singles program so women traveling solo can meet up for meals, excursions and special parties and activities designed just for them.

In addition, Olivia has a strong online presence in the lesbian community, and Olivia.com boasts a vibrant community of women from around the world. Olivia.com was designed with the needs of the lesbian market in mind, and enables lesbians of all ages, cultures and passions to connect online. The site allows women to network, find out about Olivia and its lesbian-friendly partners, as well as plan their next trips. Olivia seeks to create memorable community experiences and Olivia.com is an extension of that mission.

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Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

 by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

01/14/2010-by Natasia Langfelder

 Well ladies, it was only a matter of time. The Daily Mail is reporting that a 47 second scene featuring Lohan and a “mystery” man is being shopped around LA.  It is said that the man is a waiter at a Carl’s Jr. chain and that he or his camp will eventually sell the tape offshore, rendering Lohan powerless to stop it’s release.

I know Lindsay is a hot mess, but I feel bad for her. I really do. She shouldn’t have been stupid enough to make sex tape and it’s possible that at this point in time she wants it to be released so she can stay in the public eye.  Even if this is something she thinks she wants, in the end it will only humiliate her and cause her to spiral further out of control. If this tape really is being released without her consent, then that is unequivocally wrong and there should be ways to better protect women’s privacy.

 Let’s hope the tape doesn’t make it offshore. I don’t think that any of us are rooting for Lindsay to end up like Casey Johnson.

Image by Aleksandr Slyadnev via Flickr

Hey Lezzies, Welcome back to “Ask A Femme.” I’m Natasia and I will be dishing out advice on love, dating, relationships, friendship, career, family and fashion issues. Are your friends tired of trying to come up with the solutions to your problems? Are your friends the problem? Did your mom surprise you with a date with the nice guy at her office? I’m here to help!

Dear Femme,

I’m 23 but I look like I’m no older then 15. Cause of my looks I have trouble attracting older women. I don’t wear makeup and I don’t want to change my appearance for anyone. I like myself and the way I look. Have any advice?

Not Jail Bait!

Hi NJB,

Thanks for writing in! I’m glad that you have confidence in yourself. I would never tell anyone to wear make-up or to change themselves to conform to our society’s definition of feminine. However, I get the sense from your email that you are holding yourself back a little. If you want to get the message across to women that you are of age, some kind of change will have to be made on your end.

Instead of changing your style, why don’t you try upgrading your style? If you love t-shirts, go for ones with a more vintage theme or sexier cut.  Victoria Secret has some great stretchy tanks and tees that look sexy and comfortable. If you love jeans, go for a darker wash and avoid embellishments like butterflies and flowers. Also, avoid clothing in bright, primary colors, those will make you look even younger. Have fun with it! Good Luck, NJB. I hope this helps and keep in touch.  

Dear Femme, 

I’m an Asian lesbian in my 30’s and I’ve been single for almost a year. I can’t seem to find that special woman who I feel physically and emotionally attracted too and who feels the same about me. I was always in a relationship in my 20’s and felt the need to be intimate with someone but in my 30’s. I no longer need to fullfill that sexual need. I also find it harder as I get older to find a partner. I moved to another state for a partner I trusted. But she left me for a man who was her best friend and whom I also believed was my friend. I believe lesbian relationships don’t last and have begun to feel jaded. I don’t like to feel lonely and hate sleeping alone but can’t seem to find a woman that I can feel intimate attracted too and safe with. Please help, thanks.

Azn

Hi Azn,

Thanks for writing in! There is a lot going on here. You have had a bad experience and I’m sorry for that. You placed your trust in the wrong person, changed your life for her and she betrayed you and it sucks. But you need to move on. Being single for a year isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you, it’s not even that long to be single! It seems as though you have already starting thinking about your internal needs and what you want from a partner. I’m going to suggest that you continue to learn about yourself and worry less about not having a partner. Put finding love on hold for a little while, go out and have fun. Don’t stay home and feel sorry for yourself, join a gym, take cooking or art classes, drink your coffee at a café instead of at home. While you are out doing things and learning to love being alone, the right woman will come along. But you won’t meet her if you are at home hiding under the covers and crying over someone who didn’t deserve you.  

Also, you should keep in mind that just because your former love left you for a man, not all women will do that to you. Lesbian relationships change and there is as much drama, betrayal, love, affection and longevity as there is in any relationship, gay or straight. Good Luck, Azn. I hope this helps and keep in touch.  

Have a question for me? Email askafemme@yahoo.com

01/13/2010-by Natasia Langfelder

 Logo, the only television channel aimed specifically at the LGBT community, is launching four new series for 2010. These include “The Robert Verdi Show starring Robert Verdi”, “RuPaul’s Drag U”, “The Arrangement” and “Kept.”

 With the possible exception of “The Arrangement,” which focuses on florists showcasing their talents in a traditional elimination style reality competition, all the new series are focused around gay men, not women. “Kept” follows in the footsteps of Bravo’s “Real Housewives” series, with a cast of gay men who are supported by their more financially solvent husbands. RuPaul’s Drag U teaches everyday straight women to release their “inner diva.” As a lesbian, I have no interest in seeing pathetic straight women try to follow the advice of drag queens in order to make themselves more conventionally attractive to straight men. Really Logo?

The most readily available explanation for the lack of picking up a new show that includes the L in LGBT is that gay men outnumber gay women and Logo’s best chance of building up an audience and making money for their sponsors is to focus on their male audience. However, it is worthwhile to take note of the noticeable lack of women in the new shows they are producing.

 There is some good news, Logo has also ordered new episodes of “The Big Gay Sketch Show,” which address the entire LBGT community and is produced by Rosie O’Donnell as well as the popular series “Exes and Ohs,” which is the first scripted series about lesbians on basic cable. The series is returning to the air after an extended hiatus.    

The tourism industry has suffered greatly since the recession hit. Many Americans are tightening their belts and lavish vacations are generally one of the first luxury items to go. However, NY1, New York City’s 24 hour news channel, is reporting that the LGBT community is the only market that is actually growing in the tourism sector.

“Data show that a gay couple spends $7,000 on a week’s trip, about $2,000 more than their heterosexual counterparts.”

NY1 goes onto report that the LGBT community is more likely to look for gay tolerant cities and high end spa facilities, restaurants and a thriving nightlife. It seems that the largest deterrent is places that have historically displayed anti-gay tendencies, such as Jamaica.

If peace and love towards one’s fellow man won’t help these countries fix their attitude towards gays, maybe the sagging economy will.

http://www.ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/111585/market-for-lgbt-travel-still-grows

Set up by a local anti-AIDS activist, Dr. Zhang Jianboto, with funding from Dali’s Health Bureau, as a way to attract gay men and then use it to distribute information on AIDS/HIV prevention, the bar was originally scheduled to open on December 1,World AIDS Day, however, Zhang had to delay the opening to protect the privacy of the volunteers and customers after the news of the bar opening attracted intensive media coverage throughout China.

More than 60 people, mostly gay men, attended the ceremony Saturday. Customers were given condoms free of charge.

While homosexuality has been documented in China since ancient times, it is still a sensitive subject in China. During the days of Mao’s Cultural Revolution gays were routinely arrested as “hooligans,” and sent off for “re-education.” Up to 1997 gay sex was illegal in China. Additionally, until 2001 the Chinese Governments Classification of Mental Disorders also considered homosexuality a form of mental illnesses.

Although in larger Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, gay clubs, bars, tea houses, saunas, and support centers are becoming more widespread, prejudice from the justice system and harassment from police, including detention and arrest nonetheless still occur, so most Chinese LGBT’s find it difficult to come out publicly.

Chinese LGBT’s also face societal and family pressures caused by the government’s one-child policy, which makes parents, rely on their only child to marry and produce grandchildren. All major religions in China also have some sort of codex, which have traditionally been interpreted as being against exclusive homosexuality when it interferes with continuation of the family lineage. So many marry and stay closeted.

China’s Ministry of Health recently admitted the country has an AIDS problem and estimates that China will have 560,000 to 920,000 living HIV carriers, with 97,000 to 112,000 AIDS patients by the end of 2009. The nations health minister also said sexual transmission has become the major cause of infection, accounting for more than 70 percent of all newly detected HIV/AIDS cases, and sexual transmission among gay men accounted for 32 percent.

According to China’s official newspaper, the China Daily, Dr. Zhang said he hopes that the bar can provide a platform to educate gay men about AIDS and would like to see the bar become a public gathering place for gay men, especially those from rural villages,who used to gather in a patch of woods near Dali.

“Starting from December 20, the bar will open nine hours every day, from 3 pm to 12 pm,” he said.

The minimum charge at the bar is a bottle of Coca Cola at 5 yuan (about .75 cents US), and tea and some snacks are free, he said.

“The charges are just for the need of bar operation, and we are not aiming for profits. Customers need not worry about that,” he added… (via China Daily )

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