December 1, 2008 (World AIDS Day) -- Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Sports fans can bid on a meet and greet with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or a signed baseball from Cal Ripken, Jr.; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet & greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Estelle or Michael Feinstein; TV lovers can bid on tickets to see The Letterman Show followed by a meet & greet with Paul Shaffer; and Broadway fans can visit backstage with Hairspray star Harvery Fierstein. There's even a tour of the Howard Stern Radio Show studio to bid on! Proceeds benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry Fights AIDS to support its ongoing AIDS/HIV programs nationwide. Sponsors of this 10-day eBay auction include MTV and Borders.
LIFEbeat has amassed over 700 items for BID 2 BEAT AIDS. Items include: CDs autographed by Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Carly Simon, Jennifer Hudson, Bon Jovi, Lindsay Lohan, and Amy Winehouse; signed books by Madonna, Lance Bass, Tori Spelling, Ann Bannon, and Oscar De La Hoya; posters signed by Jake Gyllenhaal, Owen Wilson, Patti LuPone, Debbie Harry, Melissa Etheridge, Liza Minnelli and Matthew McConaughey; DVDs signed by Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, and Steven Spielberg; photos signed by Rufus Wainwright, Linda Evans, The Osbournes, Joan Collins, and other autographed memorabilia.
The centerpiece of the auction is a one-of-a-kind celebrity autographed "Lend-A-Hand to LIFEbeat" card series. Stars traced their hands on special paper, adding an artistic touch and signature. Cynthia Nixon, Gina Gershon, James Earl Jones, Natalie Cole, Bob Saget, Jack Klugman, Drew Lachey, Sean Hayes, Taylor Hicks, David Hyde-Pierce, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, Deborah Gibson, Jerry Mathers, George Wendt, Pete Best, Paige Davis, Faith Evans, Frankie Valli, John Lithgow, Alan Cumming, John O'Hurley, Maroon 5, Robin Thicke, Nathan Lane and over 100 others have participated in this unique project.
LIFEbeat- The Music Industry Fights AIDS, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention. LIFEbeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community. In 2007, LIFEbeat observed fifteen years in the fight against AIDS. For more information visit: www.lifebeat.org
Every item in BID 2 BEAT AIDS comes with a certificate of authenticity, and was obtained directly from the performers, their agents, or other professionals in the industry. Bidders can be assured that they're getting the real deal! For more information on BID 2 BEAT AIDS , including a complete list of participating artists and images of many of the items, visit www.Bid2BeatAIDS.com.
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GAYS, LESBIANS, TRANSGENDER, THEIR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS UNITE – LARGE SCALE NATIONAL PROTEST PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 15 Over the last week, tens of thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)community and their Supporters have taken to the streets of California to show their outrage with the outcome of California Proposition 8. Prop 8 provides for a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage rights; Similar amendments and propositions were passed in Arizona and Florida. The outcome of these propositions has angered the national gay community and their supporters. Many feel as if they are now second-class citizens, but, according to the No on 8Campaign, the fight is not over. The final statement released by the No on 8 Campaign stated,"Victory was not ours today. But the struggle for Equality is not over." > Full Story. [11/14/08]
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PRESIDENT URGES SUPPORTERS TO WAGE A STRATEGIC AND PEACEFUL BATTLE AGAINST PROPOSITION 8 THIS WEEKEND WASHINGTON- In advance of protests against California's Proposition 8 to be held in cities across the nation this weekend, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, has released the following statement calling for renewed commitment to coalition-building between all oppressed groups. HRC is the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization. Solmonese's statement, which also urges respect and civil behavior during the Join the Impact rallies, was sent to HRC's 750,000 members and supporters. Good afternoon, > Full Story. [11/14/08]
Be part of the next Civil Rights Movement - Be part of history - Join the National Protest / March for Equality on November 15th!
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a "community organizer"! Go to the website and post if you are willing to volunteer to help get out the word in your city. We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
This is not a California issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the website www.jointheimpact.com.]
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SATURDAY NOV 15TH -
10:30AM WEST COAST
11:30AM MOUNTIAN TIME ZONE
12:30PM CENTRAL TIME ZONE
1:30PM EAST COAST
PRINT OUT THE SIGNS - TAKE THEM TO THE PROTEST
Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family
I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still, Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pundits and bloggers alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge swell of support for equality elsewhere. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what? There is truth in each argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from mobilizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in 1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street, to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage, and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in ways this country had never seen before! And what happened? The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQUAL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends, families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
LOS ANGELES (AP) - On the first Sunday after a gay marriage ban passed in California, activists rallied in defiance, including hundreds of protesters outside an Orange County megachurch whose pastor brought Barack Obama and John McCain together last summer for a "faith forum." > Full Story. [11/11/08]
LOS ANGELES (AP) - On the first Sunday after a gay marriage ban passed in California, activists rallied in defiance, including hundreds of protesters outside an Orange County megachurch whose pastor brought Barack Obama and John McCain together last summer for a "faith forum." > Full Story. [11/11/08]
FLORIDA POLL: STRONG SUPPORT FOR EQUAL JOB RIGHTS FOR GAY FLORIDIANS (West Palm Beach, Florida) Despite laws prohibiting gay and lesbian Floridians from marrying their partners and adopting children, Florida voters overwhelmingly believe gay and lesbian Floridians should have the same rights as everyone else, according to a poll conducted at the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. > Full Story. [11/8/08]
ALL GAY RIGHTS SUPPORTERS IN FLORIDA LEGISLATURE RE-ELECTED (Tallahassee, Florida) Despite the passage of a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, all Florida legislators who sponsored or voted for gay rights legislation in 2008 were re-elected, according to Rand Hoch, President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. > Full Story. [11/6/08]
PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS INCLUSIVE ANTI-BULLYING POLICY West Palm Beach, Florida) At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, the School Board of Palm Beach County unanimously voted this evening to add "gender expression" as a protected classification in a comprehensive policy to protect students from bullying and harassment > Full Story. [11/5/08]
GAY MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OBAMA; LOOKS FORWARD TO DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY November 5, 2008, New York, NY - Today Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) expressed optimism in response to the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Throughout the campaign, President-elect Obama spoke out on issues of importance to the HIV/AIDS community. As can be seen in GMHC's Presidential Candidates report, President-elect Obama supports a number of GMHC's key federal policy priorities, including: > Full Story. [11/5/08]
STATEMENT BY GLAAD PRESIDENT NEIL G. GIULIANO ON 2008 ELECTIONS NEW YORK, November 5, 2008 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on the nation's media to examine the intersection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and issues, the results of the 2008 elections and the post-election landscape. > Full Story. [11/5/08]
SPORTS OUT LOUD CHANGES NAME TO COMPETE, THE GAY SPORTS MAGAZINE Tempe, Arizona-November 4, 2008-- Sports Out Loud, the world's only gay sports magazine, announced today that the groundbreaking magazine will re-launch as Compete, beginning with its January February 2009 issue. > Full Story. [11/5/08]
AMENDMENT 2 PASSES DESPITE WARNINGS MIAMI, Fla. (November 4, 2008) – Today, Florida voters approved Amendment 2, the so-called Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, in spite of warnings that the new amendment could have far-reaching, unknown consequences. > Full Story. [11/5/08]
TRAILBLAZING MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR ALLAN SPEAR HAS DIED WASHINGTON – Allan Spear, who served as a Minnesota State Senator for nearly 30 years, eight of them as president of the Senate, has died at age 71. Spear was the first openly gay state legislator and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the nation. > Full Story. [10/13/08]
PEPSICO, GOLDMAN SACHS AND WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR. RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP ON LGBT WORKPLACE EQUALITY AUSTIN, TX and SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 15, 2008 – PepsiCo, Goldman Sachs and New York City Comptroller and longtime ally William C. Thompson, Jr. received Out & Equal Workplace Awards (commonly known as "Outies") on September 12 from Out & Equal for advancing fair, safe and equitable work environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. > Full Story. [10/2/08]
