Organizers of the Great Nationwide Kiss In understood the imporance of a kiss when they first decided to turn it into a movement. They repeatedly told the stories of: the two men in El Paso who were kicked out of Chico’s Tacos in El Paso, Texas for kissing; the two lesbians kicked out of Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio, Texas for kissing; and the two young mean forcefully detained for a kiss on a popular promenade is Salt Lake City which is now owned by the Mormon Church.

Here’s the Press Release for the Great Nationwide Kiss-In being planned nationally by the Davids (David Badash and David Mailloux) and Willow Witte. Please help spread the word:

“In response to recent events in three different U.S. cities, where gay or lesbian couples have been harassed, detained or arrested, for the simple act of kissing in a public place, two gay rights bloggers have joined forces with the national grassroots LGBT organization Join the Impact to create the Great Nationwide Kiss-In. Now, David Badash (of the New Civil Rights Movement), David Mailloux (of DYM SUM), and Willow Witte (Co-Founder and Director of Join the Impact) are seeking event coordinators throughout the United States to help organize these Kiss-In events.”

Chad Gibson had just gone to the bathroom. Police then raided the Stonewall Inn Rainbow Lounge to arrest some gays for public intoxication. As Chad exited the bathroom, he was “taken down” and suffered a severe head injury. He is still in intensive care.

The police claim that Chad fell down because he was so drunk. I suppose they would like to sell me a bridge to know where too. In spite of the lies, LGBT people and their allies are pulling together in a massive show of support. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, a candle light vigil will be held.

I received this plea for help from a friend in Baltimore asking that I accumulate some thoughts and information for her regarding the effects of heterosexism in the college environment. Please read below and feel free to email her directly, post your thoughts here or send them to me. This is a very important topic and your feedback and assistance will be invaluable.

“Greetings:

I’m a faculty member at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland, and this Friday, June 5, 2009, I will be giving a workshop to a group of my colleagues on heterosexism and straight privilege. This workshop is taking place within the larger context of a two-week-long workshop on culturally responsive pedagogy, in which participants (all faculty members) will be laying bare issues of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. The group is small, but they are influential within the college and will have the opportunity to touch many students’ lives over the course of their careers…”

Perhaps as if in response to the poll and post yesterday on jaysays and discussions during the 2009 Twitter Town Hall Meeting for LGBT Activists, the HRC released an action alert today which states…

So, a user-generated video – surely our community can come up with some fabUloUs ideas.  According to gays.com:
Check it out: http://gays.com/idaho
The Idaho Challenge is a community project by Gays.com to produce a user-generated video to be released 17 May 2009, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). While 67 countries have signed the new United Nations statement to decriminalise homosexuality worldwide, anti-gay discrimination remains a reality in many parts of the world. This year, with your help, we want to create a video that sends out the message that …

The California Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on the efforts to overturn Proposition 8 on March 5, 2009 beginning at 9:00 A.M. Pacific. Yes! on Equality will be providing LIVE video feed of the oral arguments between 9AM – Noon PST.

The power of the internet is being harnessed. Marriage Equality USA posted a request for donations in order to raise $30,000.00. The $30K was to be used for sound equipment and a jumbotron for March 5th’s California Supreme Court oral arguments.

After my last post describing my adventures in downtown San Antonio while attempting to gather signatures to the Open Letter to Obama, I took to the streets again. It was about 10:30 p.m. when I, along with three others, pulled into the parking lot near a local gay bar. The crowds were coming at full force and we could have used several more people to try to obtain everyone’s signatures. It was windy and cold, but our reception was warm and tender… for the most part.

The National DOMA Protest was conducted today. I made it to the rally point and met up with the handful of people that showed up. With letters in hand we took to the streets of San Antonio and began asking for signatures.