ABC Nightline News has a good piece up on the Ugandan “Kill the Gays” Bill and the direct connection to the rabid anti-gay movement in the US.  They focus on Scott Lively- professional gay-hater, holocaust revisionist, and recognized hate group leader from the US who has traveled to Uganda to whip up anti-gay animus in the country, leading to the “anti-homosexuality” bill.  
The report is worth a watch, since it not only shows Lively, but also LGBT Blog Reading Pastor Martin “Show Porn in Church” Ssempa (who we have talked about extensively here on the Blend), as well as crowds in Uganda chanting for death to “homos.”  Keep a listen out for Ssempa comparing being gay to being a terrorist, saying homosexuality is “sexual terrorism.”

Notice how that Leviticus verse that we've talked about pops up on signs?  Ugh.  Much more after the jump… Here's a shorter version with more footage from the ABC nightly News:

It's so heart-wrenching to see gays and lesbians living in Uganda and the danger they face.  It's telling that they can personally trace the surge of anti-gay hate to directly after the American Professional Gay-Haters came to their country.  Even Scott Lively himself describes his visit as:
dropping a nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.
That nuclear bomb is the death penalty, life imprisonment, and other horrific punishments for not only being gay, but just knowing someone is gay and not “turning them in” and other barbaric practices.
It's also interesting how both Lively and Ssempa are quick to claim “racism” when people try to connect the dots between the American Extremist Movement and the Ugandan “Kill the Gays” Bill.  It basically boils down to arguing over whose idea it was to kill gays and promote mass murder first.
Ssempa and his supporters certainly existed and had these views prior to Lively, Rick Warren, and other American Anti-Gay Activists traveling to Uganda.  What can't be denied, however, is the amplifying effect and rallying cry that these US evangelicals gave them.  It has nothing to do with race to show the connections between the two groups- who share debunked anti-gay “research” and presentations.  Ssempa headlined  events with Lively and Warren in Uganda (as shown by those posters held up by the screaming crowds in the video), so the connection is well documented.
It is a symbiotic relationship of hate, which plenty of blame to go around to all of them.
Perhaps most telling is this tweet from ABC reporter Dan Harris:
Souvenir from the most homophobic place I've ever been.

We need more reports like this- many more reports, with more in-depth looks into the connections and consequences of stirring up such hate towards the LGBT community.  The “Kill the Gays” Bill isn't going away- and it's not the only one being considered or in effect around the globe.  We need to continue to shine a light on these extreme pushes for mass murder against our community.
Let's hope this report is just the beginning.
(h/t Good As You for the video)

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Hot:

I’m here today to tell you all that I can tell you about Billy Castro Does The Mission without distracting you from the review. This means I won’t be able to share my honest opinions with you about some things because apparently honest opinions about a product or film are not the stuff of reviews, but in fact the stuff of distractions.
So! Billy Castro Does The Mission is a porno.
It has five scenes.
Scene One:
Billy Castro masturbates alone in a weight room. I have no opinions about masturbation scenes. Billy gets a phone call inviting him to go see a movie. Billy puts on pants and leaves.
Scene Two:
Dylan Ryan steals Billy’s bike and leaves a ransom note. Billy follows Dylan to a strange place and finds her in a hot tub. Billy and Dylan have sex in the hot tub in many positions. Dylan gives Billy a blowjob. Billy uses his fingers, his mouth and his strap on dildo with Dylan. The sex is often rough and there is slapping. Dylan has an orgasm(s).
Scene Three:
Jiz Lee is playing video games. Billy visits Jiz. They play video games. Jiz wins. Billy wrestles with Jiz. They have sex. Billy is energetic with positions. Jiz squirts a lot. The sex is often rough. They are very active and assume many positions. This scene could have been longer.
Scene Four:
Akira Raine is near a U-Haul trying to put a mattress inside. Billy sees Akira and offers to help with the mattress. Billy and Akira take the mattress inside the U-Haul and fuck on it.
Scene Five:
Lorelei Lee is Billy’s girlfriend. Billy comes home. Lorelei has been worried, and is angry at Billy when he cannot explain where he has been. Lorelei punishes Billy. They have sex.
Conclusion:
Some scenes aroused me. Other scenes did not. I would tell you why, but I don’t want to distract anyone from the porn review with my thoughts and reactions to a porn performance. As a matter of fact, I have no opinions about any particular scene in comparison to any other scene. I have no opinions about the interaction of Billy with any other performer. I have no opinions regarding anyone’s actions or the sounds they make or the things they say. To voice an opinion about any performer’s sexual activities in a porn movie might seem overly biased or rude.
So, there you have it! Billy Castro Does The Mission. Available from Good Vibes. You can see the trailer here. The only opinion I will share with you guys is that if you like rough sex, strap on’s, fingering, oral, some slapping, squirting, queerness, hotties, and dirty talk then you’ll find something you like in Billy Castro Does The Mission. Because queer porn is amazing and should never be questioned or criticized. The simple fact that it exists should be enough for anyone.Similar Posts:

TLL Adult Review: Bordello
Gold Star Review: Good Dyke Porn
TLL Adult Review: Next Door Girls
TLL Adult Review: Rough Sex

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On Tuesday while lying in bed and cursing my uterus, on came a segment on The View on the history of menstruation.  Why, why you ask? I do not know. Wait, I do know – it was so Elissa Stein and Susan Kim could promote their new book Flow: The Cultural History of Menstruation.The segment did not provide any new information to tame the PMS monster, all it really did was make men in the audience uncomfortable and made me wince on more than one occasion.

They discussed the language we use when we refer to our periods (see the above title as quoted by Susan Kim).  They proceed to mention “the curse,” being “on the rag” and a few other euphemisms.  I am sure you all can come up with plenty of others all on your own.  Then the discussion took a turn I was unprepared for and still unable to describe exactly how I feel. Suffice it to say I am glad I was a wee tot in the 60s.
In 1912 The New York Times, you know the paper the “prints all the news that’s fit to print” wrote an editorial trying to prevent women from voting, because during their period they are emotionally unstable and unable to cast a rational ballot.
The discussion then took another turn that induced a super wince all the way down to my uterus.  During the 50s and/or 60s, an advertisement recommended that women douche with Lysol, YES the pine fresh scent LYSOL. Granted the Lysol to water ration was 2 teaspoons:2 gallons of water, but LYSOL. To any woman that actually did douche with Lysol, your right to vote has been revoked.  Just let the registrar know the next election.

The final turn in the discussion added some humor to a rather baffling segment, and I can only assume Elisabeth Hasselbeck came up with this idea. Before science got a grasp on female anatomy the uterus was thought to be “an autonomous creature searching for a baby.” Ridley, now I know what came busting out of you in Aliens.
Doctors also treated women using manual stimulation to treat hysterical paroxysms, but it would often take an hour or longer, and that is why the vibrator was invented. YAY for docs with no sense of direction or anatomy!
Now, this all got me to wondering why write about periods. I didn’t find the answer, but Elissa Stein and Susan Kim are not alone.  I went to powells.com and found 78 titles all about menstruation. Meanwhile, only 30 titles are about ejaculation and even less were about the female orgasm.  Below are a few of the actual titles of books written about our periods.

The Curse: A Cultural History of Menstruation – Janice Delaney

Prize Essay on the Corpus Luteum of Menstruation and Pregnancy – John Call Dalton  Wha? A dude won a prize writing about women’s periods?

Is Menstruation Obsolete? Elsimar M Coutinho. I sure wish it were for me.

PMS: A Guy’s Roadmap: In Case You Won’t Ask for Directions. The Secrets to Living with a Lady’s Cycle – Kay Christianson. I just like this title.

The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle – Rebecca Booth. Seriously?

Her Blood Is Gold Reclaiming the Power – Lara Owen. I wonder if we can take that to Cash for Gold.

Dragon Time: Magic & Mystery of  Menstruation – Luisa Francia. This isn’t some Dungeons and Dragons  game for girls, and I know I the only wings I have seen relating to periods are on maxi pads.

Island of Menstruating Men : Religion in Wogeo, New Guinea (96 Edition) – Ian Hogbin.  This I simultaneously want to see and so don’t want to see.

I choose to write about this because well, my misery should be shared. I promise on my magical mysterious uterus to never write about periods again, unless they are to end a sentence.

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Well I’ll start the story from the beggining. I’m 23, and up until now I have only dated guys. I’ve always found some other girls attractive and beautiful, but I’ve never felt the same full on attraction to one girl as I have before with guys I’ve been interested in… Until now of course!
A new girl started at my work about four months ago and we have become fairly good friends. The problem is I have fallen head over heels for her! It is very intense; I get totally hot and bothered sometimes when she is around because I find her so darn hot. I find myself daydreaming and fantasizing about her all of the time. I am also very confused about where she stands with me?
She is always kidding around with me, just being silly and stuff. I can’t really explain without sounding dumb… she will be very very touchy feely with me at times and it just drives me mad. I can’t figure out if she is flirting or if she is just that sort of a person.
She has also invited me out to a couple of lesbian bars and events over the Mardi Gras season. We had so much fun but both times she has kissed other girls and she always introduces me as “this is ……. , she’s straight” apparently, “so that all the girls wouldn’t hit on me”.
I crashed at her place one night and watching her sleep beside me was almost unbearable! I’m way confused. It’s just all the little things, like I said I was going to see a movie and her response was “and you’re going to take me right?”
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if she is interested and just unsure of where I stand with dating girls or if she really just enjoys having me around as a friend.  I’ve never experienced flirting with another woman and feel like a total novice with it all. Advice would be great… sorry about all the rambling! I’m a bit hot and bothered just writing all of this haha.

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There has been a lot of complaint over the weekend about Immigration Minister Jason Kenney specifically editing out references to gay rights the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969, protection on the grounds of sexual orientation, and legalization of same-sex marriage in the recently-updated study guide for new immigrants applying for citizenship in Canada.
“But Mr. Kenney, who fought same-sex marriage when it was debated in Parliament, ordered those key sections removed when his office sent its comments to the department last June.
“Senior department officials duly cut out the material - but made a last-ditch plea with Mr. Kenney in early August to have it reinstated. “

Of course, this is a government that appeared to have demoted a minister for announcing a stimulus package grant to the Toronto Gay Pride Festival (for which it had validly qualified).  So there appears to be some negative track history already, but it is still reprehensible to whitewash this factoid about Canada, and it demonstrates that some of our MPs continue to harbour prejudice, despite attempts to keep the more extreme elements hidden.
There is a subtext to this story.
This appears to be mostly an assumption of the media, but I'm seeing it stated in some articles that the government is glossing over the fact that LGBT people are protected from discrimination in Canada, and nobody is correcting them on it. The fact of the matter is that gay, lesbian and bisexual people are protected, but for trans folks, our protections are still subject to interpretation. Gender identity and gender expression are still not included in the Criminal Code of Canada or the Canadian Human Rights Act.
There may be an opportunity coming soon to fix that. A private member's bill that will add protections to both is still coming up for discussion in Parliament.  There is no date given for second reading as yet, but Bill C-389 did not perish when Parliament was prorogued, as many seem to believe, and is still pending.  There has been support pledged from people in all parties thus far.
This will be an excellent way for the governing Conservatives to turn around their reputation on the subject.  To Canadians: have you talked to your Member of Parliament, yet?
Crossposted to DentedBlueMercedes

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A few weeks ago, I covered the transphobic and homophobic scare tactics being used in the Gainesville, Florida Mayor's race. Craig Lowe was Chair of the successful campaign to stop the repeal of the Gainesville Human Rights Ordinance, which included sexual orientation and gender identity & expression.  He's now running another successful campaign to become the first gay mayor of Gainesville and the only openly gay elected official in North Florida.
A group called the “Concerned Citizens of Gainesville” already started a nasty and outrageous smear campaign, complete with trans panic bathroom scare flyers.
Well, the smears have continued as the race has heated up.  As early voting began in Gainesville and supporters like Equality Florida were phone banking for Lowe, a conservative talk show took homophobic shots at Lowe and the LGBT community.  One of the male hosts had received a call and said he didn't know why because he was not a “sexual deviant.”
Because anyone who gets a call about equality or cares about LGBT rights must be a “sexual deviant”?  Right?
Equality Florida has a little background on the show:
This same show has a history of radical, right-wing rhetoric and has made homophobic slurs in the past.
While their comments may not be surprising, it is clear the anti-equality forces are up in arms and still stinging after their defeat over the Human Rights Ordinance.  This a huge opportunity to gain a foothold in an area of the state that desperately needs it.
As the husband of an openly gay elected official and having gone through this kind of thing during our campaign, I know how important and reaffirming our community's support can be when you are under attack from anti-LGBT forces.
Craig Lowe needs our community's help to keep the forward momentum of Equality moving in Gainesville and all of north Florida.  Donate what you can to his campaign, follow him on twitter, and support him on Facebook.  He can accept donations through tomorrow (Thursday), so any little bit you can give would not only help the campaign, but show your support for an activist that has been there for the community.
Just in case you need any reminding about the battle that Lowe is in for, watch the horrific trans-panic commercial the opposition used during the HRO Campaign that Craig helped lead to victory:

We talk a lot as a community about holding elected officials accountable and targeted donation boycotts towards political parties that don't keep their promises to us.  The other side of that coin is supporting the people from our community, who have proven themselves as effective leaders and advocates for real political change for the LGBT community.
We defeated these anti-equality, fear-mongering forces before by rallying together and we can do it again!

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Confused? Traumatized? Not a bit.

(Via Truth Wins Out.)

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Hot:

Name: Anonymous
Age: 22
Location: N/A
Question: How, as a straight women can I express my interests to a lesbian? I do have a boyfriend.

Read the TLL Advice Panelists answers after the jump…

Lori Hahn

Dear Anonymous,
You chose not to share part of your story, but the answer lies within that information.  My guess would be that since you are already involved elsewhere, she’s cooled off.  Momma always told me to finish what I start.  Start there.  If you want to pursue elsewhere, you have to be brave enough to let go of what you have.  It might pan out after that and it might not.  It’s a risk you have to decide to take.  We all start somewhere.  Good luck!
Lori
Hahn at Home

Shanna Katz

Out of the office
Shanna
www.shannakatz.com

Dharma Kelleher

Dear Anonymous,
It’s not uncommon at your age to have unexplored sexual attractions (such as being a lesbian or bisexual). That said, if you have a satisfying relationship with your boyfriend, why wreck a good thing? However, if your attraction to women or even a particular woman becomes an itch that you just have to scratch, end the relationship with your boyfriend. Don’t go messin’ around on him, whether it’s with a girl or a guy. Cheating isn’t cool.
If you do end the relationship with your boyfriend and find yourself attracted to a woman, get to know her first as a friend. See if the two of you have emotional and sexual chemistry. Be open and honest about who you are. Have fun and be safe!
Peace out,
Dharma Kelleher
http://www.dharmakelleher.com/

Tina-cious

Hi,
I think first and foremost, let’s address the fact that you have labeled yourself as “straight”.    Straight women, by definition, aren’t attracted to other women.  So, that brings me to my next question:
Are you truly interested in this woman because you think you may be bi or bi-curious?  Or are you interested in this woman because you are bored with your boyfriend and she showed some sign of interest that may or may not have been your imagination?
I’m not asking that to be mean… however, I’ve seen wayyyyy too many of my lesbian sisters get their hearts ripped out by bored housewives who thought “hey, I think I’lll fuck a woman since my man is not paying enough attention/screwing me right/etc.”
I think before you do/say anything to her in an effort to explore some sort of intimate relationship, you need to first figure yourself out.   Not to mention, if you have a boyfriend, what’s your plan for him?  Do you plan to break up with him?  Invite him to join?  Cheat on him? What?
I’m not judging here… I’m just saying there’s more to this particular situation than just how to get her to know you’re attracted to her.
Maybe she’d be up for no-strings-attached sex… you never know… maybe in some random conversation you can bring up one-night-stands and see how she feels about them… but, honestly, I would strongly suggest you don’t start something you can’t finish.
Tina-cious

Kelly Leszczynski

Break up with your boyfriend. Then peruse her like you would anyone else. Get to know her, ask her out, tell her about your feelings. Most importantly, be honest with yourself and those you care about.
Kelly
Brain Clouds

Do you have advice you would like to give? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
Do you have a question you would like to pose to The Lesbian Lifestyle Advice Panelists? Find out more about the panelists and submit your question here.
* Please note that this advice should by no means be used as an actual diagnosis or therapy session. All of the panelists will be giving you their views from their own life experiences. If you have any further inquires please send them here.

Similar Posts:

TLL Q&A Advice Panel Installment #9
TLL Q & A Advice Panel Installment #53
TLL Q&A Advice Panel Installment #22
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Okay so I’ve known I was gay since I was 16. I told my mum a few months after I realised and she thought I was joking and didn’t believe me. I tried to come out again but the same thing happened. Since then I haven’t brought it up. But she always told me she would love me no matter what, even if I were gay or not. Last year for my birthday she brought me The L Word Box Set as a present, still whilst believing I wasn’t gay. I asked my nan what she thought about being gay, and she basically quoted the whole of the Bible to me and told me how bad it is, and how much of a sin it is. My nan’s pretty religious so coming out to her was a big no no… So I decided not to tell anyone, until I was 100% sure I was ready too.
Until today, when I had a real weird conversation with my mum. We were watching American Idol and she was asking me who Ellen was and I was telling her. A few hours later she was talking about girls she thought I might be into. I asked her if she thought I was gay, and she said she didn’t know. But thought I talked about girls more than boys, and wondered why I haven’t brought home a guy. Then she told me that she thought if I were gay that I wouldn’t tell her. Then she gave me 100 reasons why she thought I might be gay, and was joking around about me not giving her grandchildren. After a while she was like why are you interested in all this gay stuff?? And I asked her what she meant so she lectured me about the amount of gay relating things I know or have mentioned. In the end she told me that she’ll believe I’m gay when I bring a girlfriend home to meet her…
After the conversation I noticed she’s been a bit off with me. I know for sure I haven’t done anything wrong. Now I’m wondering if maybe she’s realised I’m gay and that’s why she’s been acting really distant? It’s been doing my head in, and I can’t work it out. I’ve been able to talk to my mum about a ton of things, but when it comes down to my sexuality I just don’t know how to talk about it.
So what do you guys think? Should I bite the bullet and talk to her about it, or just leave it as it is?

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We've discovered three more Beenie Man concerts in March 2010. Beenie Man is the infamous reggae dancehall performer who sings about hanging lesbians and slitting the throats of all gay men.  See “Dancehall Dossier” at http://tinyurl.com/2xax3b and  http://tinyurl.com/yg496r3
 
Here are the performances:
 
03/11/10 At The Imperial, 17 West 19TH St., New York, NY, (212) 352-2001 http://www.theimperialnyc.com/http://tinyurl.com/yka8coo
03/13/10 At Cotton Club, 112 N. 5TH ST, Richmond, VA,804-644-5777http://beenieman.eventbrite.com/
03/14/10 At Club Blakely's,414 Battlefield Boulevard South,Chesapeake, VA,(757) 546-7749http://www.blakelysva.com/
 
Polite phone calls would help. Contact your local LGBT group to let them know. Thanks!

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