School Trippers Attend Lesbian Wedding

Recently, a group of first grade students at a San Francisco school took a school day field trip to attend the marriage ceremony of their lesbian teacher.

This, coming shortly before the November 4 vote on banning same-sex weddings in California, has caused a flurry of controversy.

The question to be answered has nothing to do with right to have or to attend same-sex weddings. Would children in their first year normally be present at the ceremony of a straight teacher? If the answer is no, then, as much as it hurts to say it, the field trip was mis-guided.

This sort of action plays directly into the homophobic hands of the Proposition 8ers. And that is a travesty.

British Minister 'Weds' Lesbian Partner

A British governmental minister has become the first female Member of Parliament to enter into a 'civil partnership' with her lesbian partner since legislation allowing such partnerships was enacted in 2005.

Angela Eagle, a Labour MP, and her partner Maria Exall, took part in the ceremony in London on Saturday.

Under UK law, a civil partnership gives lesbian and gay couples rights akin to those afforded to married couples, particularly in respect of employment, pensions and inheritance.

Sweet Lesbian Journeys Ahead

Sweet, a new lesbian travel company, today announced it has finalized an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line to charter the 1,972-passenger Norwegian Spirit.

The Sweet Caribbean Cruise, November 8-15, 2009, on board the Norwegian Spirit, is the company's first travel offering. Sweet will offer guests a pre-departure package in New Orleans including voluntourism programs in conjunction with a local Katrina relief organization.

In the evening, Sweet guests will enjoy entertainment events featuring popular performers such as comedienne Suzanne Westenhoefer; musical artist, Jen Foster; comedienne Erin Foley; and singer Edie Carey. Additionally, Sweet is working with the country's largest lesbian party promoter, Club Skirts, to host parties on board.

Founded in 2008, Sweet is a lesbian travel company whose mission is to provide fun-filled, eco-friendly, volunteer-oriented and empowering lesbian travel experiences.

For more information, please visit Sweet here.

EACH Launches New Online Reporting Service

EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia) a UK charity, has announced the launch of its newly refurbished website and online reporting service for targets of homophobic or transphobic incidents.

“With computer ownership and usage so extensive today, expanding our service into online reporting was a logical development for EACH’s Homophobic Incident Reporting Service,” explains EACH’s Executive Director, Jonathan Charlesworth.

All police forces are acutely aware that many more incidents of homophobia take place than are reported. With 68% of people nationally failing to report such incidents to anyone, and only 23% reporting to the police, initiatives like EACH’s online and freephone telephone reporting services complement the work of the police most effectively.

The recent YouGov national survey, commissioned by Stonewall into the reporting of homophobic crimes, reflects that although the police receive 23% of homophobic incident reports, 68% of the survey's respondents never reported an incident to anyone whilst 34% of respondents believed the police would not or could not do anything and 27% thought their report would not be taken seriously.

“These findings and our own records inform us that a target of homophobia is more likely to report an incident to EACH than a housing officer, social worker or council caseworker,” adds Jonathan Charlesworth. “It is no coincidence that our profile in the west of England and our organisation’s presence adds to people’s sense of safety. We want to build on that confidence by encouraging gay and heterosexual people to adopt a zero tolerance of homophobic incidents by clicking into our online reporting or calling our freephone Actionline, to report them, whenever they’re witnessed.”

More information at EACH.

Lesbian Adventure Club

DLSIJ Press has announced the release of the fourth book in the Lesbian Adventure Club series written by Rosalyn Wraight. "Loose Sleuths" joining "Scavengers," "Ledge Walkers," and "Savages," with book five set to be released later this year. Sales already indicate that readers are devoted to the storyline.

The tales revolve around five lesbian couples—from a variety of careers and at different stages in their relationships—who spend a weekend per month immersed in an adventure concocted by one of the couples. While the stories center upon the adventure, the foundation of each is built upon the gritty issues of friendship and trust between women. Told in first-person by character Kate Sutter, a local newspaper reporter, the writing is crisp, and yet, it utilizes her unique perspective and peculiar sense of humor, sending it between the extremes of sentimentality and outright hilarity.

The first three books in the series have received 5-star reviews from Rainbow Reviews. The reviewer writes, "Each time I start one of these stories I am thrilled to be spending more time with these characters that I have come to love. … I can't wait to spend more time with these characters and I hope we continue to be provided with wonderful stories from Wraight!"

Rosalyn Wraight has also published two lesbian mysteries, "Woman Justice" and "Secrets and Sins," which feature Detective Laura McCallister, a character in the Lesbian Adventure Club series.

Domestic Violence Reports Increasing

According to a Press Enterprise article by Jessica Logan, domestic violence in the lesbian and gay community is on the rise.

Reported domestic violence has moved from almost nothing 10 years ago to between 3%-4% now, not necessarily because the actual violence has increased, but more because people are willing to report it.

Less stigma attached to same sex relationships should mean that more persons who are victims of domestic violence are able to take advantage of the support services that are on offer. SHOULD mean.

Have you been involved in reporting a case of abuse, or were you the reported abuser? What was your experience? Were you treated fairly and with respect? Do you think your situation would have been dealt with differently if you were straight?

Talk to us.

When You Care Enough

The right wing American Family Association (AFA) is now sponsoring a petition against Hallmark cards - who have begun offering same sex wedding cards. [Link]

Lifted from the boycott petition -

"We’ve all given or received Hallmark Cards – remember their slogan – 'when you care enough to send the very best.' But promoting same-sex marriage for profit is not the very best for families or our nation."

"Hallmark is a private company obviously driven by greed. Let them know you do not appreciate Hallmark promoting a lifestyle which is illegal in 48 states. American Greeting Cards, Hallmark’s competitor, does not offer same-sex marriage cards."

The AFA calls Hallmark 'greedy'. Has American Greetings missed the boat? Does anybody really care?

Or is the real question why is same sex marriage illegal in 48 states?

Thanks jd foster

Our thanks to jd foster for suggesting the Videoblush website, which will be added to our Cinema Directory soon - like when we add the Cinema Directory! Which will be soon!

In the meantime, check it out with the link above. Enjoy!

Dykes and the City

An old friend has gone away.

I should have been aware sooner, but as I've said before, I'm lazy.

One of my occasional reads, Dykes and the City has met it's end. The shameful thing is that it went away in July, and I didn't realise it until recently. I am guilty. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

I hope there is afterlife. I hope that there is reincarnation. I hope it comes back.

Why Be Normal?

OK, so how many times have you thought that? Or the other side of the coin, usually from well intentioned 'friends', something like why aren't you/it isn't 'normal'. Yeah, right.

But what I'm talking about is doing the web thing backwards. Most of the people I know started with a blog and then went on to do a website. I started with a website and now I'm commencing blogging. Ah, why be normal?

The website was too static. I want something now that is dynamic, that reflects change as change happens. I will try to keep the directories that the old site had, but it will take me a wee while to rebuild them here, particularly as I'm about as lazy as they come.

And I'm not looking to do this on my own. If you would like to become a guest author just let me know and I'm sure we can get something set up.

Now I've got to go away and figure out how this normally hangs together. And that's about as close to normal as I think I'll get.