tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152952132024-03-12T22:27:47.728-04:00BlabbeandoBlabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.comBlogger1522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-7049672477389928812016-04-06T17:46:00.000-04:002017-01-31T22:34:49.869-05:00Mexican political party demands respect from Donald Trump... by calling him a faggot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier today a Mexican political party which bills itself as <a href="https://nueva-alianza.org.mx/historia/" target="_blank">the 4th largest in the country</a> launched a television spot demanding respect from U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump... by calling him a faggot.<br />
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In the ad a member if the <b>Nueva Alianza</b> party expresses frustration at how Mexicans are currently being portrayed worldwide and takes Trump to task by dedicating the following message to him: "Heeeeey puto!"<br />
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The phrase is commonly heard at Mexican soccer stadiums and directed at the opposing team and can be translated as "Hey faggot!"<br />
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Earlier this year the international soccer federation (FIFA) imposed fines on several soccer teams that participated in the last world cup <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=1/news=fifa-sanctions-several-football-associations-after-discriminatory-chan-2755350.html" target="_blank">for using the homophobic chant</a>.<br />
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Just last week the Mexican national team announced a new campaign <a href="http://fusion.net/story/286018/mexicos-soccer-team-tries-to-end-puto-chant-with-anti-discrimination-campaign/" target="_blank">to eradicate the chant from their soccer stadiums</a>.<br />
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Mexican soccer fans, on the whole, defend the "puto" chant as being innocuous, common place and that "puto" can have several meanings including "cowardly," "unmanly" or "spineless." But at the core of the insult is the intention of questioning a man's masculinity or making him feel less than a man.<br />
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The Mexican band Molotov has often run into trouble for their song "Puto" which they use to rile up fans at their concerts. This video is an excerpt from a documentary about the band in which the band, music critics and radio DJ's discuss the meaning behind the word.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Related: </b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2015/07/george-lopez-leads-crowd-in-homophobic-slur-laced-chant-against-donald-trump-watch/" target="_blank">Comedian George Lopez leads crowd in homophobic chant against Trump</a> (July 20, 2015 via Towleroad)</li>
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Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-86108992912880115472016-02-17T23:42:00.002-05:002017-01-31T22:52:17.248-05:00Gay professional boxer Orlando Cruz has a message for Manny Pacquiao<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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English is not his first language but openly gay professional boxer <b>Orlando "The Phenom" Cruz</b> has a message for boxing star <b>Manny Pacquiao</b> and his recent comments saying that <a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/02/15/manny-pacquiao-compares-marriage-to-sex-between-animals/" target="_blank">gays having sex is worse than animals having sex</a>.<br />
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Orlando says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hi, Manny: For you to say that homosexuality is like animal sex is irresponsible. I am a homosexual. Are you sure you hate me for my lifestyle? Jesus said about the adulteress woman: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her." </blockquote>
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Hear this first: God asked you to love one another unconditionally. I invite you to meet with me to get to know us as human beings first and I guarantee you will think differently. Maybe afterwards we can do a sparring session. Take care and I will be praying for you and your family. Thank you.</blockquote>
VIDEO (turn annotations on):<br />
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Orlando "The Phenom" Cruz next fight will be televised on Telemundo and will take place on Friday, March 4th.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE:</b></span> Orlando posted the following message on his Twitter account on Friday, February 19th. "Because he is my love and I love him despite what Manny Pacquiao may say. [Pacquiao's] words are like mud to me. Open your mind."<br />
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In the photo, Orlando is posing with his husband Jose Manuel.
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Por q el es mi amor y lo amo y diga lo q diga <a href="https://twitter.com/MannyPacquiaoTR">@MannyPacquiaoTR</a> Sus palabras para mi son como el fango abre tu mente. <a href="https://t.co/kVKU24Y9Jy">pic.twitter.com/kVKU24Y9Jy</a></div>
— The Phenom Cruz (@ElFenomenoCruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElFenomenoCruz/status/700698054018600960">febrero 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-38087576944612847772015-04-24T18:30:00.000-04:002017-01-31T22:52:46.622-05:00Former Dominican Republic president's anti-gay comments are disparaging and offensive: U.S. Ambassador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this month I did a series of blog posts on Dominican Republic ex-president <b>Hipólito Mejía</b> and comments he made in New York and New Jersey <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-faggot-for-poll-numbers.html#.VTqqxBeJAlY" target="_blank">opposing marriage equality and using the word "mariconcito" to refer to gays</a> as he brought a new presidential campaign bid to the East Coast of the United States [the English translation for "mariconcito" is "little faggot"].<br />
One of the things that bothered me so much about the comments and woke me up from my blogging slumber was that he seemed to feel it was perfectly good to make those comments while visiting the United States and get away with it. Thankfully, New York City council speaker <b>Melissa Mark-Viverito</b> caught wind of my blog post and released <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/nyc-speaker-appalled-about-homophobic.html" target="_blank">a stinging rebuke</a> which was then picked up by a number of media outlets.<br />
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By the time Mejía returned to the Dominican Republic three days later he was <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-apologize-if-i-insulted-anyone-but-i.html#.VTqtVxeJAlY" target="_blank">defending his usage of "little faggot" as a commonly used colloquial term</a> and extending apologies to those who might have "misinterpreted" his intentions.<br />
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Apparently my blog posts also caught someone else's eye: <b>Diario Libre</b> reports today that the openly gay U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic sent what seems to be <a href="http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/04/24/i1115191_embajador-enfrenta-hiplito-por-discriminar-los-gay.html" target="_blank">private correspondence on official letterhead directly confronting Mejía on his statements</a>.<br />
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"Your remarks in New York and New Jersey regarding homosexuality and gay marriage recently came to my attention," <b>Ambassador James 'Wally' Brewster</b> states in a missive dated April 10th, "Using words like 'mariconcito' are disparaging and dismissive of a
community to which I belong. I am specially shocked and disheartened by your recent insensitive dismissal of those who have different sexual orientation than you because we have spent time together in each others' homes."<br />
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The Ambassador goes on to explain how words like "mariconcito" can cause harm even if that might not be the intent and adds this: "It is particularly offensive that you chose to make your remarks in
the United States. President Obama has worked tirelessly to fight
discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
people and communities. Same-sex marriage is legal inmost of the United
States, including New York and New Jersey, and fighting anti-LGBT
discrimination is integral to our diplomatic advocacy for the protection
of human rights around the world."<br />
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It's unclear how Diario Libre got their hands on the letter or why the chose to publish it today - fifteen days after the letter is dated - but it comes two days before the Modern Revolutionist Party (PRM) decides whether Mejía will be chosen as their presidential candidate.<br />
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In the letter, Brewster also addresses Mejía's opposition to marriage equality on the basis of procreation calling them discriminatory: "In particular, your arguments surrounding marriage, as strictly for
reasons of procreation, not only discriminates against the LGBT
community but also eliminates a large number of people who either cannot
have children or choose not to procreate."<br />
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The Dominican Republic has a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage but, when asked about the Ambassador's letter this morning, it's the only topic Mejía addressed.<br />
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"On Friday, ex-president Hipólito Mejía said that his religious upbringing and Catholic beliefs prevented him from supporting legalizing marriages between people of the same gender," <b>El Nacional</b> <a href="http://elnacional.com.do/hipolito-ratifica-oposicion-a-los-matrimonios-gais/" target="_blank">reported</a>, "Nevertheless he said he respected people who had the valor and responsibility of expressing their sexual preference for people of their same gender."<br />
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He might be highlighting his position on marriage equality time and time again because it resonates among the people he wants to draw votes from and the religious groups in the island who have always warned that the United States sent Brewster to the Dominican Republic to force same-sex marriage on the population.<br />
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According to Diario Libre, the Ambassador's letter closes with this: "As an ex-president of the Dominican Republic and public figure, your comments reflect a negative view of your nation's dignity. There are many Dominicans here and in the exterior who fight for equality for all of God's creations, a fight I hope you value and lead."<br />
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Brewster added that his husband, <b>Bob Satawake</b>, was available to sit down with Mejía to have a dialogue.<br />
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Diario Libre only posted an image of the first page of the Ambassador's letter. Here is the excerpted text...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Honorable Hipólito Mejía<br />
Calle Juan Tomás Diaz #8<br />
La Julia<br />
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<br />
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Dear President Mejía,<br />
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Your remarks in New York and New Jersey regarding homosexuality and gay marriage recently came to my attention. Using words like "mariconcito" are disparaging and dismissive of a community to which I belong. I am specially shocked and disheartened by your recent insensitive dismissal of those who have different sexual orientation than you because we have spent time together in each others' homes.<br />
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Young people struggling with their identity listen to public figures and when you say "little faggot" it wrongly reinforces self-doubt and that they are seen as something less by the community. This isolates them from their family and can have terrible consequences, including suicide. Further, the use of pejorative terminology perpetuates bullying, discrimination against minorities, and encourages abuse throughout society. Even if you did not intend the words to be insulting they still had that effect.<br />
<br />
It is particularly offensive that you chose to make your remarks in the United States. President Obama has worked tirelessly to fight discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and communities. Same-sex marriage is legal inmost of the United States, including New York and New Jersey, and fighting anti-LGBT discrimination is integral to our diplomatic advocacy for the protection of human rights around the world.<br />
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In particular, your arguments surrounding marriage, as strictly for reasons of procreation, not only discriminates against the LGBT community but also eliminates a large number of people who either cannot have children or choose not to procreate. </blockquote>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Previously:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-apologize-if-i-insulted-anyone-but-i.html" target="_blank">I apologize if I insulted anyone but I am not a homophobe: Hipólito Mejía</a> (April 8, 2015)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/nyc-speaker-appalled-about-homophobic.html" target="_blank">NYC Speaker 'appalled" about homophobic statements made by former Dominican Republic president</a> (April 6, 2015)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-faggot-for-poll-numbers.html" target="_blank">I won't act like a faggot to win elections: Hipólito Mejía </a>(April 5, 2015)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/dominican-republic-apologizes-for-expresidents-birther-120697.html" target="_blank">Politico: Dominican Republic apologizes for ex-president Hipólito Mejía's 'birther" remark about President Obama</a> (April 16, 2012) </li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-7213189232065332882015-04-08T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-11T11:48:02.109-04:00I apologize if I insulted anyone but I am not a homophobe: Former Dominican Republic president Hipólito Mejía News portal <b>Acento</b> is reporting that former Dominican Republic president and current presidential candidate <b>Hipólito Mejía</b> is <a href="http://acento.com.do/2015/politica/8238171-hipolito-pide-disculpas-a-comunidad-lgbt-reitera-no-esta-de-acuerdo-con-matrimonio-gay/" target="_blank">pushing back against reports</a> first made by <b>Blabbeando</b> that he <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-faggot-for-poll-numbers.html#.VSWcfdzF91Y" target="_blank">used derogatory words against the gay community last week during a campaign stop in the United States</a>.<br />
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"I never meant to make fun or belittle human beings who have been marginalized and harassed," Mejía said in a statement. "If that was misinterpreted as an insult, I have no problem offering my apologies and reiterating that it was not, nor is, nor would be my intention; that's not how I behave."<br />
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Mejía was referring to the Spanish word "mariconcito" which translates to "little faggot" in English and which he used last week when he joking that a campaign consultant suggested he practice sitting down like a "mariconcito" when doing media appearances if he wanted his poll numbers to increase.<br />
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In today's statement Mejía defended himself by saying "mariconcito" was just a commonly used colloquial term which "activists" misinterpreted as being homophobic.<br />
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The comments caught wide-spread Spanish-language press interest in the United States last week and in the Dominican Republic this weekend after <b>New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito</b> <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/nyc-speaker-appalled-about-homophobic.html#.VSWm4NzF91Y" target="_blank">released an official statement deploring them and asking for an apology</a>.<br />
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LGBT groups in the Dominican Republic have mounted a campaign <a href="https://youtu.be/ooBRAxx8-IQ" target="_blank">asking people not to support Mejía in his new presidential bid based on the comments</a>.<br />
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In New York, well-known political commentator <b>Gerson Borrero</b> filed this blistering video op-ed on the Time Warner Cable's <b>New York 1 en Español</b> calling on New York City politicians of Dominican descent to stand up against Mejía's homophobia.<br />
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"I think there are Dominican politicians here in New York and in particular those who call themselves 'progressive' who should denounce that one of their presidents has shown up here to sow his hate," Borrero states, adding: "Did someone swallow your tongues? Or are you afraid of Hipólito? He who stays silent grants consent. Don't be cowards! Don't fear the pig! Or are you laying in the same pigsty?"<br />
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Last week Mejía also made comments opposing same-sex marriage during an interview with a local Univision affiliate and during a meeting with Latino reverends at the office of <b>New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.</b> in the Bronx - a leading opponent of same-sex marriage rights.<br />
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It's worth noting that at least one of the leading local Dominican politicians Borrero implicitly takes to task for not speaking up about Mejía was seen yesterday at Senator Diaz's office.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Meeting with a coalition of taxi based at <a href="https://twitter.com/revrubendiaz">@revrubendiaz</a>'s office with <a href="https://twitter.com/EspaillatNY">@EspaillatNY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcosCrespo85">@marcoscrespo85</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vpichardo86">@vpichardo86</a> <a href="http://t.co/yE2GBvHjcS">pic.twitter.com/yE2GBvHjcS</a><br />
— Luis Sepulveda (@LuisSepulvedaNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuisSepulvedaNY/status/585545044721008642">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
That would be New York State Senator <b>Adriano Espaillat</b> who would be a powerful voice against Mejía's homophobia but seems more beholden to Reverend Diaz these days.<br />
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At least one person in the Dominican Republic sees Mejía's attempt at an apology to be somewhat of a victory for LGBT rights in the Caribbean nation.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Creo que es la primera vez que un líder político de RD pide disculpas por sus declaraciones. <a href="http://t.co/PS8At1Bs39">http://t.co/PS8At1Bs39</a><br />
— Jose Carlos Nazario (@jcnazario) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcnazario/status/585924237652725760">April 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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"I think it is the first time that a political leader in the Dominican Republic says he is sorry about his declarations" tweeted Jose Carlos Nazario late this afternoon.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #1: </b></span>At least one Dominican LGBT rights organization is saying that the former president has apologized directly to them and wanted to meet with them on Friday. Here is what the organizers of the annual Dominican LGBT pride caravan tweeted tonight:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
El expresidente Hipolito hoy nos remitió disculpa y nos solicitó una reunión para este viernes darnos sus excusas a la comunidad LGBT<br />
— Orgullo_RD (@Orgullo_RD) <a href="https://twitter.com/Orgullo_RD/status/585985968982790145">April 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> "Ex-president Hipólito forwarded us an apology today and asked us for a meeting this Friday to explain his reasons to the LGBT community"<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #2: </b></span>Other Dominican presidential candidates are responding to Mejía's homophobic outbursts. Today during a radio interview <b>Luis Abinader</b> said that he was certain he would be his party's candidate for the presidential elections and that he would extend an invitation to Mejía to become one of his campaign consultants but he also said this...<br />
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"I believe we should respect the sexual orientation of all Dominicans. There cannot be prejudice, there cannot be any type of limitations or exclusions. That's where I stand."<br />
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In June of 2014 Abinader had already drawn fire from a prominent evangelical pastor for a letter he sent to LGBT organizations supporting their rights. <b>Rev. Paulino Moya</b> <a href="http://elnacional.com.do/cree-apoyo-de-luis-abinader-a-homosexuales-es-desafio-politico-electodesafio-politico-electoral-a-comunidad-cristiana/#.U6RtgLmtVjw.twitter" target="_blank">warned Abinader he could lose the Catholic vote if he continued supporting "sodomites."</a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #3: </b></span>In the wake of Mejía's comments at least one LGBT-rights organization in the Dominican Republic publicly expressed support for the former president. "Hipólito has no ill will towards lesbians and gays," said someone who identified herself as <b>Biemba</b> from the Santo Domingo North Homosexual and Gay Collective <a href="http://www.z101digital.com/mobile/article.aspx?id=153711" target="_blank">when interviewed by radio station z101</a>.<br />
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On Thursday, April 9th, Mejía was more than happy to appear at an unrelated protest surrounded with members of the organization carrying rainbow flags as their president asked gays and lesbians to forgive him<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/08/former-dominican-president-responds-to-anti-gay-slur-controversy/" target="_blank">Former Dominican president responds to anti-gay slur controversy</a> (The Washington Blade) </li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-92017356390608336962015-04-06T13:10:00.001-04:002015-04-08T12:11:08.020-04:00NYC Speaker "appalled" about homophobic comments made by former Dominican Republic president Hipólito Mejía<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=15295213" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The blog post I published yesterday has drawn <a href="http://council.nyc.gov/html/pr/040615hs.shtml" target="_blank">a strongly worded statement </a>from New York City Council Speaker <b>Melissa Mark-Viverito</b>:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">**For Immediate Release** <wbr></wbr> <wbr></wbr> <wbr></wbr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Re:
<a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-faggot-for-poll-numbers.html" target="_blank">
Homophobic Remarks By Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia During a Visit to NYC</a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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New York</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: small;">I
am appalled that a former Dominican Republic president and a potential
future presidential candidate has used a derogatory term that is
offensive, inappropriate and hurtful toward LGBT people. President Mejia
needs to apologize to the LGBT community in his
country and here in New York, where he made this unacceptable
statement. Leaders are called to unite people, not divide us. That
includes those who invited him here and stayed silent when
discrimination occured and even worse, laughed at it. I stand with the
LGBT community here, in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere, and I
will not be silent when bigotry shows its ugly face</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span>”<br />
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=15295213" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">During a
visit to New York City and New Jersey, President Hipólito Mejía made
several remarks against LGBT people, including saying that his campaign
handlers wanted to change several things about him
and tried to convince him to sit "the way a little faggot does." You
can read more about this from Blabbeando blog: <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-faggot-for-poll-numbers.html" target="_blank">http://blabbeando.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/2015/04/i-wont-sit-like-<wbr></wbr>faggot-for-poll-numbers.html</a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Thank you, Melissa!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reactions:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2015/04/candidate-for-dominican-presidency-i.html" target="_blank">Candidate for Dominican Republic presidency: I won't act like a faggot to win polls</a> (Joe.My.God.) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/07/former-dominican-president-uses-anti-gay-slur-during-u-s-appearance/" target="_blank">Former Dominican president uses anti-gay slur during U.S. speech</a> (The Washington Blade) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/dominican-presidential-candidate-disparages-lgbt-people-during-appearances-new-york" target="_blank">Dominican presidential candidate disparages LGBT people</a> (GLAAD)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.latinorebels.com/2015/04/06/former-dominican-president-tells-audience-he-wont-act-like-a-little-faggot/" target="_blank">Former Dominican president tells audience he won't act like a "little faggot"</a> (Latino Rebels)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.latinpost.com/articles/46374/20150406/dominican-republic-presidential-candidate-makes-homophobic-remarks-while-in-nj.htm" target="_blank">Dominican Republic presidential candidate makes homophobic remarks while in New Jersey</a> (Latin Post) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.eldiariony.com/hipolito-mejia-crea-polemica-por-comentarios-anti-gay?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_term=Autofeed#link_time=1428367896" target="_blank">Hipólito Mejía creates controversy over anti-gay comments</a> (El Diario La Prensa)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.telemundo47.com/noticias/local/polemica-por-comentarios-homofobicos-de-hipolito-mejia-4157102469001-video.html" target="_blank">Controversy over Hipólito Mejía's comments</a> (Telemundo 47) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/politics/former-dominican-president-hipolito-mejia-anti-gay-comment" target="_blank">Former president of the Dominican Republic under fire for anti-gay comment</a> (Latina) </li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>On Twitter: </b></span><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
sad <a href="https://t.co/uRyqr4sUiB">https://t.co/uRyqr4sUiB</a><br />
— guillermo diaz (@guillermodiazyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/guillermodiazyo/status/585562758223114242">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-707813957810407062015-04-05T17:20:00.003-04:002017-01-31T22:54:28.220-05:00I won't act like a faggot just to increase poll numbers: Dominican Republic presidential hopeful Hipólito Mejía<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week former Dominican Republic president <b>Hipólito Mejía</b> brought a new bid for the Caribbean nation's presidency to the United States. I hadn't paid much attention until <b>NY1 Noticias</b> played a clip of statements he made while in New York citing the Bible and saying he opposed same-sex marriage.<br />
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"I call bread 'bread' and wine 'wine.' The other day [<b>Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.]</b> asked my opinion regarding same-sex marriage," Mejia says, "Be fruitful and multiply? There is no way you can do it that way!" meaning gays cannot procreate and, hence, should not be able to marry.<br />
<br />
Neither the statements nor the setting were a surprise. Mejía enjoys a strong relationship with Senator Diaz, perhaps the leading Latino anti-marriage equality voice in the nation, and has allowed the Senator to host previous press conferences.<br />
<br />
For his failed 2012 presidential bid, you might remember Mejía questioning president Barack Obama's place of birth as Diaz laughed uproariously (<a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2012/04/nys-senator-ruben-diaz-sr-endorses.html#.VSGS3UaJAlY" target="_blank">NYS Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. endorses "birther" Dominican Republic presidential candidate</a>).<br />
<br />
But what may seem to be an impromptu response to an issue raised at the House of Diaz apparently is a campaign speaking point. Speaking to a much wider audience on the local NY/NJ Univisión affiliate Mejía reiterated his opposition to marriage equality using the same terms.<br />
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"There is no way you can impregnate your [same-sex] male partner, there is no way, or your female partner."<br />
<br />
At the Diaz event Mejía admitted he once confronted gay issues with overt homophobia. "In the past I used to have a have a deadly antagonistic stance [against gays]" he says, "Nowadays I can even laugh about it."<br />
<br />
If that was in the past, he seems to have forgotten about it the next day when he made a campaign appearance in New Jersey.<br />
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Standing before a campaign flag that promises "equality," Mejía doesn't mention same-sex marriage but jokes that his campaign handlers wanted him to wear a wig during media appearances if he wanted poll numbers to improve. Then he says: "There are people who can change everything about you, even the way you sit down" and says they tried to convince him to sit "the way a little faggot does." The place erupts in laughter.<br />
<br />
The fact is that the Dominican Republic is one of the few Latin American nations that bans same-sex marriage in its constitution so all this talk about being a bellwether against gays getting married is just pure political demagoguery. It is also something being used by religious forces in the Dominican Republic to rile up opposition to U.S. ambassador <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> who is openly gay and married.<br />
<br />
Late last month Ambassador Brewster <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/03/25/the-six-openly-gay-u-s-ambassadors-were-together-in-one-room/" target="_blank">spoke at a gathering of openly gay U.S. ambassadors in Washington, D.C</a>., and movingly described the attacks he and his partner <b>Bob Satawake</b> had received from Dominican evangelicals since their arrival. While the current government has been mostly mum on the issue, they certainly have backed and supported Brewster behind the scenes.<br />
<br />
But in freely raising the marriage equality issue during his campaign visit to the United States, Mejía is sending a clear message to Dominican religious conservatives: Vote for me and I'll make the gay go away.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Updates:</b></span><br />
<br />
New York City Council Speaker <b>Melissa Mark-Viverito </b>reacts:
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Truly disgusted. Que asco me da. RT: distancing@Blabbeando: Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/EspaillatNY">@EspaillatNY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GersonBorrero">@GersonBorrero</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ydanis">@ydanis</a> <a href="http://t.co/dEBOm7pPxz">http://t.co/dEBOm7pPxz</a><br />
— Melissa MarkViverito (@MMViverito) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMViverito/status/584900586501439489">April 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2015/04/nyc-speaker-appalled-about-homophobic.html#.VSNAZReJAlY" target="_blank">NYC Council Speaker "appalled" by comments made by former Dominican Republic president Hipólito Mejía</a> (Blabbeando) </li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reactions:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2015/04/candidate-for-dominican-presidency-i.html" target="_blank">Candidate for Dominican Republic presidency: I won't act like a faggot to win polls</a> (Joe.My.God.) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/07/former-dominican-president-uses-anti-gay-slur-during-u-s-appearance/" target="_blank">Former Dominican president uses anti-gay slur during U.S. speech</a> (The Washington Blade) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/dominican-presidential-candidate-disparages-lgbt-people-during-appearances-new-york" target="_blank">Dominican presidential candidate disparages LGBT people</a> (GLAAD)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.latinorebels.com/2015/04/06/former-dominican-president-tells-audience-he-wont-act-like-a-little-faggot/" target="_blank">Former Dominican president tells audience he won't act like a "little faggot"</a> (Latino Rebels)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.latinpost.com/articles/46374/20150406/dominican-republic-presidential-candidate-makes-homophobic-remarks-while-in-nj.htm" target="_blank">Dominican Republic presidential candidate makes homophobic remarks while in New Jersey</a> (Latin Post) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.eldiariony.com/hipolito-mejia-crea-polemica-por-comentarios-anti-gay?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_term=Autofeed#link_time=1428367896" target="_blank">Hipólito Mejía creates controversy over anti-gay comments</a> (El Diario La Prensa)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.telemundo47.com/noticias/local/polemica-por-comentarios-homofobicos-de-hipolito-mejia-4157102469001-video.html" target="_blank">Controversy over Hipólito Mejía's comments</a> (Telemundo 47) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/politics/former-dominican-president-hipolito-mejia-anti-gay-comment" target="_blank">Former president of the Dominican Republic under fire for anti-gay comment</a> (Latina) </li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>On Twitter: </b></span><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
sad <a href="https://t.co/uRyqr4sUiB">https://t.co/uRyqr4sUiB</a><br />
— guillermo diaz (@guillermodiazyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/guillermodiazyo/status/585562758223114242">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<ul>
</ul>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-59708229214006364892014-08-21T22:20:00.000-04:002017-01-31T22:55:06.068-05:00Miley Cyrus banned in the Dominican Republic for allegedly promoting lesbian sex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <b>National Commission for Public Performances in the Dominican Republic</b> announced today that they were banning a September 13th <b>Miley Cyrus</b> concert for, among other things, <a href="http://acento.com.do/2014/cultura/8167375-autoridades-dominicanas-prohiben-a-miley-cyrus-por-incitar-al-sexo-y-atentar-contra-la-moral/">promoting lesbian sex</a>.<br />
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"The National Commission for Public Performances in the exercise of the powers given by the Constitution of the Republic through Regulation 824 of Law Number 1951Article 4306 - the purpose of which is to prevent public performances that offend the morals, good customs and relationship between friendly countries - imposes this ban based on Miley Cyrus' common engagement in acts during her concerts that defy morals and customs in ways usually penalized by Dominican law," a statement reads.<br />
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They add that Cyrus "uses inadequate attire, corrupts language, uses perverse imagery and phrasing, uses phrases with double meanings, glorifies crime, violence and denigrating acts against civility and promotes sex, lesbian sex and the use of inadequate objects in public."<br />
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Being gay or lesbian is not a crime in the Caribbean island but religious fundamentalists have grown increasingly vocal in their opposition to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and have, as of late, targeted the openly gay U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b>.<br />
<br />
Dominican president <b>Danilo Medina</b> has so far offered veiled support to the U.S. Ambassador by appearing with him at public events and praising his work. But he has yet to use his huge popularity to push back against the rising tide of homophobia in the Dominican Republic and certain government offices including national police authorities that say that accepting gays in the police force would <a href="http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=378772">violate the Dominican constitution</a> and, now, this ridiculous step by the National Commission for Public Performances.ff <br />
The <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/08/21/miley-cyrus-concert-banned-in-the-dominican-republic/">New York Post</a> and the <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_DOMINICAN_REPUBLIC_MILEY_CYRUS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Associated Press</a> have already picked up the story. The National Commission for Public Performances in the Dominican Republic deserves every bit of international ridicule they receive as a result of today's actions.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reaction:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2014/08/dominican-republic-bans-miley-cyrus.html">Dominican Republic Bans Miley Cyrus Concert For Promoting Lesbian Sex</a> (Joe.My.God.)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2014/08/miley-cyrus-banned-from-dominican-republic-for-promoting-lesbian-sex-.html">Miley Cyrus Banned from the Dominican Republic for 'promoting lesbian sex'</a> (Towleroad)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2014/08/22/dominican-republic-bans-miley-cyrus-promoting-lesbian-sex">Dominican Republic bans Miley Cyrus for promoting lesbian sex</a> (The Advocate)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2014/08/22/dominican-republic-bans-miley-cyrus-promoting-lesbian-sex">Dominican Republic bans Miley Cyrus for promoting lesbian sex</a> (Bilerico)</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-miley-cyrus-banned-dominican-republic-morality-laws-20140822-story.html">Miley Cyrus tour banned in the Dominican Republic over all that sex stuff</a> (Los Angeles Times)</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-92014185522706858102014-07-20T22:04:00.002-04:002017-01-31T22:56:01.115-05:00Esteban Paulón gets married to Pablo Cirlini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the four years since Argentina became the first Latin American country to pass a marriage equality law 9,362 same-sex couples have decided to get hitched according to <a href="http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201407/71033-matrimonio-igualitario-ley-aniversario.html">the latest numbers released last week</a>.<br />
<br />
The law would not have become a reality without the years of patient and expert lobby work of the Argentine LGBT Federation (FALGBT) and this week the agency decided to mark the anniversary by <a href="http://www.infonews.com/2014/07/15/sociedad-153720-la-historia-de-dos-rusas-que-se-casaron-en-la-argentina.php">accompanying a Russian lesbian couple as they received their marriage license</a> (same-sex couples can get married in Argentina regardless of immigration status or nationality).<br />
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<b>Marina Mironova</b> and <b>Oxana Tamofeeba</b> are seeking political asylum in the South American country and news of their wedding came on the same week that Russian president <b>Vladimir Putin</b> arrived in the country to visit Argentine president <b>Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner</b>.<br />
<br />
Putin has been pillared as of late for his lack of action and outright defense of several so-called "anti gay-propaganda" laws that have flowered in Russia under his watch and as the relationship between Russia and the United States has increasingly deteriorated he <a href="http://rbth.com/international/2014/07/19/putins_latin_america_visit_proves_mutual_benefits_of_cooperatio_38349.html">has looked to left-wing governments in Latin America for support</a>.<br />
<br />
Last week alone he touched ground in Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil and Argentina and met their respective presidents <b>Raúl Castro</b>, <b>Daniel Ortega</b>, <b>Dilma Rouseff</b> and Cristina de Kirchner and also connected with <b>Evo Morales</b> of Bolivia, <b>Nicolás Maduro</b> of Venezuela and <b>Fidel Castro</b> as well. None challenged him on Russia's homophobic policies at least publicly.<br />
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In the meantime a more personal story was taking place behind the scenes. <br />
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Four years ago <b>Esteban Paulón</b> was single 32 years of age and fighting for marriage equality with the FALGBT as a volunteer. Yesterday at 36 and as president of the organization he married the love of his life <b>Pablo Cirlini</b>.<br />
<br />
As Argentine Senator <b>Rubén Giustiniani</b> put it yesterday <a href="https://twitter.com/rgiustiniani/status/490609485694926849">on Twitter</a> "When we passed the marriage equality law one of its principal advocates used to say 'I don't even have a partner!', today Esteban Paulón gets married. Congratulations!"<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Cuando sancionamos el Matrimonio Igualitario1 de sus principales impulsores decía:"yo no tengo ni pareja",hoy se casa.<a href="https://twitter.com/epaulonlgbt">@epaulonlgbt</a> Fecidades<br />
— Rubén Giustiniani (@rgiustiniani) <a href="https://twitter.com/rgiustiniani/statuses/490609485694926849">July 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
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In the days before the wedding the couple made the usual arrangements and applied for a marriage license. To their surprise - four years after Argentina passed their marriage equality law - the marriage license application they were given at the Santa Fe notary still listed spaces where a "husband" and a "wife" could sign the document.<br />
<br />
Esteban took to Twitter to say that it was <a href="https://twitter.com/epaulonlgbt/status/488686123703881729/photo/1">a little shameful that the local civil marriage bureaus had yet to update their forms</a> but said that having to sign the document as a "wife" was not going to keep the couple from getting married.<br />
<br />
Others shared similar stories: <a href="https://twitter.com/alejodip">@alejodip</a> also said that when he and his partner applied for a marriage license in
Santa Fe he also had to write his name in a line where the word "Ms." had been
penciled out and the word "Mr." <a href="https://twitter.com/alejodip/status/488718976881819648/photo/1">had been penciled in</a>.<br />
<br />
The Santa Fe government took no time to apologize to the couple on Twitter and <a href="https://twitter.com/GobSantaFe/status/488692693229633536">vowed to work with the FALGBT to modernize documents in the near future</a>.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day all three couples are legally married, Congratulations to all three couples.<br />
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<br />Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-44215053750799656702014-06-13T12:23:00.003-04:002014-06-15T12:48:03.824-04:00U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and husband celebrate LGBT Pride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viBAvkCfRXs/U5sg3vKTGaI/AAAAAAAAF5I/w4WQdxwrKVc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-13+at+12.02.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viBAvkCfRXs/U5sg3vKTGaI/AAAAAAAAF5I/w4WQdxwrKVc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-13+at+12.02.40+PM.png" height="350" width="640" /></a></div>
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Through <a href="https://twitter.com/EmbajadaUSAenRD/status/477427974052929536">a tweet sent this morning</a> on the official Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic ambassador <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b> sent this powerful message to all Dominicans in observance of the month of June as LGBT pride month.<br />
<br />
Since his nomination to the diplomatic post Brewster has weathered constant attacks from conservative and religious fundamentalist in the United States and the Dominican Republic and, in response, he has not shied away from engaging those attacks head on with dignity and, as this powerful video shows, strength.<br />
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"A message in light of LGBT pride month":<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2qMM8S69vcU" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/13/us-dominican-usa-ambassador-idUSKBN0EO25B20140613?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=574655">U.S. ambassador to Dominican Republic chides antigays</a> (Reuters)</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reactions:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2014/06/drpride.html">U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic and his husband male powerful 'LGBT pride' video</a> (Towleroad)</li>
<li><a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2014/06/dominican-republic-us-ambassador.html">U.S. ambassador celebrates pride month with husband, asks "isn't it time to stop hating?"</a> (Joe.My.God.)</li>
<li><a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2014/06/ambassador-wally-brewster-and-husband-send-lgbt-pride-greeting-from-dominican-republic.html">Ambassador Wally Brewster and husband send LGBT pride greeting from Dominican Republic </a>(Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida Blog - Miami Herald) </li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Previously:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/EmbajadaUSAenRD/status/477427974052929536">U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican republic and husband meet with Dominican President and wife</a> (March 24, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/dominican-republic-diplomats-boycott.html#.U5sjXS8Wc9A">Diplomats boycott event after husband of gay U.S. ambassador is asked not to attend</a> (February 19, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/diplomatic-row-brewing-over-us.html#.U5sj_C8Wc9A">Diplomatic row brewing over U.S. Ambassador's decision to meet with Dominican LGBT leaders</a> (February 14, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.U5skei8Wc9A">U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic and husband meet with Dominican LGBT advocates</a> (February 11, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/07/dominican-cardinal-has-no-problem-using.html#.U5sk2C8Wc9A">Dominican cardinal uses the Spanish word for "faggot" to refer to U.S. ambassador nominee</a> (July 2, 2014)</li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-75432656178247033042014-06-09T17:27:00.000-04:002014-06-11T10:02:12.973-04:00Sen. Ruben Diaz offers free rides to DC, doesn't mention anti-gay NOM rally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWJSeuBynck/U5YdQIXy7GI/AAAAAAAAF4M/-Jws2az3pxM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-09+at+4.46.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWJSeuBynck/U5YdQIXy7GI/AAAAAAAAF4M/-Jws2az3pxM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-09+at+4.46.11+PM.png" height="412" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
My friend <b>Scott Rose</b> brought this to my attention yesterday and I find it both desperate and hilarious.<br />
<br />
As the battle for marriage equality in the United States winds down and the anti-gay <b>National Organization for Marriage</b> slips into irrelevance, the organization has been desperately trying to rally participants for one last hurrah: The so-called "2014 March for Marriage" scheduled for June 19th.<br />
<br />
As in years past, NOM's president <b>Brian Brown </b>has turned to <b>New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.</b> as his savior having shown proven ability to rally thousands of people to previous anti-gay rallies.<br />
<br />
From one of Brian Brown's increasingly desperate newsblasts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0;">
I just recently got off the phone with my good friend, New York State
Senator, Rev. Ruben Diaz, who will be speaking at the March again this year. <b style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic;">He told
me that he plans to bring down over 100 buses to the March from the Bronx this year!</i></b></div>
<div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0;">
He is calling it the "Second Annual Bus Vigil to Washington." He plans to depart New
York at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1714828480" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">4:00 am</span></span>
in a spiritual convoy of activists coming to the nation's capital to
defend marriage! That's over 5,000 people — overwhelmingly
Latino and African-American constituents — that a single political and
spiritual leader wants to bring to Washington DC this summer!</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0;">
Diaz is calling it the "Second Annual Bus Vigil to Washington" because in his pitches for the rally he actually never mentions the NOM or the word "marriage" for that matter.</div>
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Excerpts:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'd like to invite you to participate in the "Second Vigil on Wheels to Washington." We will be traveling to Washington, DC - the nations capital - to testify and say that we are still a powerful church... We are offering any pastor or organization that wishes to accompany us to Washington a bus completely free of charge. Each bus holds 55 passengers and we will send the bus to any place you tell us to do so... The bus will pick you up there, will bring you to Washington and will bring you back to the same spot. And you won't have to pay for a single thing... Join us! Take advantage of the opportunity. Ask for your bus! Fill the bus! And let's go to Washington! Let's go on a trip! Visit the monuments in Washington and testify that Jesus heals and saves and is the King we await. </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That's right. Reverend Diaz is selling the free bus rides to DC as an opportunity for people to visit the various monuments throughout the city. A wonderful opportunity for members of Latino churches throughout the area who might not get a lot of chances to visit DC. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is not the first time Diaz has rallied people to anti-marriage equality demonstrations using deception. At previous rallies I have heard church leaders say that they had no idea they were being taken to such a rally and I have heard other religious leaders that they felt pressured to participate or risk losing the Senator's support.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But this is the first time Diaz has been caught at it so openly. Hilarious.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
By the way, as long as you can fill a bus with 55 occupants, Senator Diaz says he will send the bus wherever you want it to go and transport everyone to DC. All you need to do is call (718) 991-3161 and ask for Reverend Samaris.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Reaction: </b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2014/06/ny-state-senator-filling-march4marriage-buses-without-actually-mentioning-march-itself.html">NY state senator filling #March4Marriage buses without mentioning march itself</a> (Good As You)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2014/06/diaz.html">Ruben Diaz is busing people to NOM's anti-gay rally but not telling them the purpose</a> (Towleroad) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bilerico.com/2014/06/nom_surrogate_tricks_people_into_attending_anti-ga.php">NOM surrogate tricks people into attending anti-gay rally</a> (Bilerico) </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-76048992984954148502014-05-20T23:42:00.000-04:002014-05-21T10:41:50.913-04:00Chile: Hate messages spray-painted on the outside walls of LGBT-rights organization MOVILH<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmaIvAMb3xA/U3wdKbmp0BI/AAAAAAAAF20/DqpAOBfklUw/s1600/BoBORdZIAAARhJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmaIvAMb3xA/U3wdKbmp0BI/AAAAAAAAF20/DqpAOBfklUw/s1600/BoBORdZIAAARhJT.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo captured by Chilean web magazine <a href="http://northpress.tumblr.com/">NORTH</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This past weekend several of Chile's leading LGBT-rights organizations held a "unity" march in observation of the International Day Against Homophobia
and Transphobia which, by some estimates, drew as many as 50,000 people.<br />
<br />
The country recently elected president Michelle Bachelet on a platform that includes debating marriage equality although she has since put it on the back burner saying that the debate won't happen until at least next year.<br />
<br />
The country has also seen a series of vicious anti-gay attacks and murders in the last few years including Daniel Zamudio who was beaten to death in 2012 and whose aggressors carved swastikas on his body using broken beer bottles<br />
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Sometime during Sunday night or Monday before dawn someone
spray-painted a number of hateful messages outside the offices of the MOVILH, one of the leading LGBT-rights organizations in the country. The messages read: "Death to faggots", "AIDS-ridden faggots", "Put your marches up your
ass, fucked faggots", "More AIDS, less fags" and "Do me a favor AIDS,
and kill more faggots".<br />
<br />
There has been an outpouring of support for
MOVILH and international condemnation for the attack. The United Nation's Office of the High Commissioner released a statement in Spanish through it's South American Regional Office which they call on the state to investigate the crime and <a href="http://acnudh.org/2014/05/chile-declaracion-publica-de-acnudh-e-indh-por-ataques-homofobicos-contra-sede-del-movilh/">hold those who did it accountable</a>. The Chilean government under Bachelet has also responded quickly <a href="http://www.ilovechile.cl/2014/05/20/governmen-reacts-homophobic-attack-movilh/110586">sending a spokesperson to the site of the attacks to express strong support for MOVILH</a> and a commitment to address the crime.<br />
<br />
If you would like to express support for MOVILH, please
take a couple of minutes and drop a line or two on their facebook page: <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=243896388959610" href="https://www.facebook.com/movilh.chile">Movilh Chile.</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ilovechile.cl/2014/05/19/homophobic-attack-movilhs-headquarters/110547">Homophobic attack at MOVILH's headquarters</a> (I love Chile) </li>
</ul>
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Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-60746324774156828692014-03-24T21:04:00.003-04:002014-03-25T12:53:34.220-04:00US Ambassador James Brewster and husband meet with Dominican president and wife<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>L-R: </b>US Ambassador James Brewster, Dominican president Danilo Medina, his wife Cándida and Brewster's husband Bob Satawake (via <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidenciaRD/status/448207875455090688">Twitter</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Earlier today the new US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and his husband <b>Bob Satawake </b>were among several diplomats and their spouses who met with Dominican president <b>Danilo Medina</b> and his wife <b>Cándida</b> at a ceremonial diplomatic cocktail that had been previously postponed.<br />
<br />
The event sparked a diplomatic row earlier this year when Vatican envoy to the Dominican Republic <b>Jude Thaddeus Okolo</b> - in charge of the event - sent a private letter to all diplomats announcing that ambassador Brewster's husband would not be invited claiming that to do so would violate the Dominican constitution which bans same-sex marriages. Diplomats reacted in anger and <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/dominican-republic-diplomats-boycott.html">refused to attend the event unless Mr. Satawake was extended an invitation</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQhYpjCM4Zg/UzDBj-L2rAI/AAAAAAAAFwc/8jpXTF3keEk/s1600/BjhZ0YtIMAAawD8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQhYpjCM4Zg/UzDBj-L2rAI/AAAAAAAAFwc/8jpXTF3keEk/s1600/BjhZ0YtIMAAawD8.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vatican envoy Jude Thaddeus Okolo at today's diplomatic event.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Vatican envoy must have gotten the message because the event finally took place earlier today with the attendance of Mr. Satawake. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Dominican Vice President forced to withdraw homophobic 'Family Code' draft from consideration: </b></span>In the meantime the big news in the Dominican Republic last week was the swift introduction and removal of proposed changes to the island's 'Family Code' which would have championed 'traditional Catholic family models' into the Dominican legislature.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSpjoOlA4Ww/UzDQ5RBP-DI/AAAAAAAAFws/T7LgQhSbDYM/s1600/showimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSpjoOlA4Ww/UzDQ5RBP-DI/AAAAAAAAFws/T7LgQhSbDYM/s1600/showimage.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homophobic Dominican cardinal Lopez Rodriguez and the Dominican Vice President</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dominican Vice President <b>Margarita Cedeño</b> led the draft language committee and requested that the proposal be withdrawn almost as quick as it had been announced arguing that she now understood that it should have been first presented to the public for debate before being presented to the Dominican legislature for approval.<br />
<br />
The bill drew withering criticism from left and right with newspaper <b>7 Dias</b> calling it "a Trojan horse launched by the most extreme wing of conservative Dominican ideology.<br />
<br />
The paper said the proposed language championed <a href="http://www.7dias.com.do/elpais/2014/03/13/i159673_codigo-familia-modifica-causas-del-divorcio-saca-adulterio-incluye-homosexualidad.html">heterosexual marriages above all mentioning single parent households only twice and only when talking about welfare recipients</a>.<br />
<br />
Proposed changes to the family code would also have narrowed down and eliminated reasons why a couple should be granted a divorce except for one single expansion: In the case a partner demonstrates "homosexual or lesbian conduct."<br />
<br />
The proposed language also drew criticism from left an right for lowering the age at which someone was allowed to marry from 18 years of age <a href="http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/2014/03/14/i159773_codigo-familia-modifica-ley-para-adecuarse-derecho-canonico-catolico.html#.UyMQGHotNBz.twitter">to 16 in the case of boys and 14 in the case of girls</a>.<br />
<br />
No word from Bishop Okolo on whether he deems 14 year old girls ready for marriage. <br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>The Washington Blade visits LGBT advocates in the Dominican Republic:</b></span> Finally. in light of these developments my friend <b>Michael K. Lavers</b> traveled to the Dominican Republic a couple of weeks ago and gauged <a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/03/18/gay-ambassador-brings-hope-dominican-lgbt-advocates/">the impact of the arrival of the openly gay US ambassador to the Dominican Republic</a> for <b>The Washington Blade</b>. <br />
<br />
Many of those advocates were the only ones who spoke up for Ambassador Brewster before he took office and Brewster thanked them for it <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html">at a meeting that took place in February</a> which <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/diplomatic-row-brewing-over-us.html">also drew homophobic responses from the religious right in the island</a>.<br />
<br />
“We are defending a person who is homosexual, that is gay and has
come to occupy his country’s public position in the Dominican Republic,” said <b>Delvis Ventura</b> of the Dominican LGBT-rights and HIV prevention organization <b>Amigos Siempre Amigos</b>, “We are defending the right that we have to occupy public
positions equally as gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people. This is
why we are defending Wally.”<br />
<br />
Brewster had elicited some criticism from the Dominican religious right <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html">when he met with a number of LGBT-advocates in February as well</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reaction:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/03/25/gay-u-s-ambassador-husband-meet-dominican-president/">Gay U.S. Ambassador, husband meet with Dominican president</a> (The Washington Blade) </li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-3295212996680849312014-03-07T12:39:00.000-05:002014-03-09T12:52:18.236-04:00Three years after nude photo scandal Roberto Arango comes out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been almost three years since Cuban-born <b>Roberto Arango </b>resigned from the Puerto Rican Senate in the wake of a scandal over a number of nude photos from a Grindr profile were leaked to the press. Initially Arango denied he was the man in the photos and then he acknowledged some of the photos were his but alleged he had taken them to document his weight-loss under a new diet but he never admitted whether the photos came from a personal profile on the popular gay men's hook up app or whether he was gay.<br />
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The news became tabloid fodder in the United States and Arango is still listed on several lists of the top sexual scandals to hit any politician but behind the scandal also laid the past of a man who had previously voted to deny rights to the LGBT community in Puerto Rico and sided with some of the most conservative factions in the island.<br />
<br />
In 2004 he mocked a San Juan mayoral candidate during a political rally by implying he was gay and holding a plastic duck and making quacking noises when speaking against him ("pato" or duck in Spanish is a word often used as a slur against gays in Puerto Rico).<br />
<br />
In 2007 he embraced a conservative religious coalition and personally received thousands of signatures they had collected against same-sex civil unions as he vowed to defend so-called Christian values in the Puerto Rican senate and prevent changes to the civil code. That year he also led efforts to amend the Puerto Rican constitution to ban recognition of any unions that were not those between a man and a woman (the effort ultimately failed).<br />
<br />
And in 2009 he defended secret efforts by conservative colleagues in the Senate to pass a bill banning adoption rights for same-sex couples <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-wake-of-scandalous-resignation.html#.Uxn9mV7VhjM">as I documented in a previous post.</a><br />
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After resigning from the Senate Arango retired in the United States where he said he wanted to dedicate more time to raising a daughter from a previous marriage and concentrate on his personal life.<br />
<br />
And then last May he reappeared publicly to urge the conservative party in which he had served as a Senator <a href="http://www.noticel.com/noticia/141942/roberto-arango-sale-en-defensa-de-medidas-pro-derechos-gay.html">to back a number of measures to protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination</a> (the measures would pass).<br />
<br />
It was a welcome sign that Arango might have come around on his past efforts against the LGBT community.<br />
<br />
There were rumors that Arango might be paving his way to return to Puerto Rican politics but the scandal and the unanswered questions about his sexuality remained.<br />
<br />
Today, three years after the scandal, Arango finally came out in a radio interview with Noti UNO an excerpt of which was posted on YouTube...<br />
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Here is the exchange:<br />
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REPORTER: Following the controversy over the photos there was a lot of speculation about your sexual preference. Isn't it time for you to state whether or not you are a homosexual?<br />
ROBERTO ARANGO: Well, the day someone asks me I will give a reply. In that respect, I have nothing to hide.<br />
REPORTER: Are you a homosexual?<br />
ROBERTO ARANGO: Yes. And on top of that I am a businessman. On top of that I am a father, I am a brother, I am a son. On top of that I like doing community work and volunteering. On top of that I like helping different communities. I like it and I am someone who likes to bring changes and progress and to give opportunities to those who want it.<br />
REPORTER: When did you realize you were one.<br />
ROBERTO ARANGO: I think it happened when I accepted it and I may not be a psychologist or a specialist in that field...<br />
REPORTER: And did you accept it before your exit from the Senate?<br />
ROBERTO ARANGO: No. It was after. My exit from the Senate and the process itself was what led me to accept myself.<br />
<br />
Audio of the entire half hour interview in Spanish is available <a href="http://here./">here.</a><span id="goog_1536118321"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1536118322"></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #1:</b></span> Metro reports that Arango is preparing to launch <a href="http://www.metro.pr/locales/roberto-arango-aspirara-a-la-alcaldia-de-san-juan/pGXncg!jCOFuvHmMw9WY/">a campaign to become the mayor of San Juan</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #2:</b></span> Full 45 minute interview, in Spanish, as later posted by NOTI UNO:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reactions:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2014/03/puerto-rico-anti-gay-gop-pol-comes-out.html">Anti-gay pol comes out three years after Grindr scandal</a> (JoeMyGod) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2014/03/arango.html">Anti-gay Puerto Rican senator who resigned over Grinder photos comes out of the closet</a> (Towleroad)</li>
<li><a href="http://instinctmagazine.com/post/anti-gay-former-puerto-rican-senator-comes-out-gay">Anti-gay former Puerto Rican senator comes out as gay</a> (Instinct) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/after-years-being-anti-gay-puerto-rican-politician-comes-out-closet070314">After years of being anti-gay, Puerto Rican politician comes out of the closet</a> (Gay Star News)</li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-20324360705375978302014-03-03T21:24:00.001-05:002014-03-04T11:46:14.747-05:00Transgressive or regressive? Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin hook up in latest Wisin music video <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When two of the biggest Latino music stars in the world play lovers in a music video does the world pay notice? Particularly if one of the stars is known for a series of high-profile heterosexual relationships (<b>Jennifer Lopez</b>) and the other is known as the biggest Latino personality to have ever come out as being gay (<b>Ricky Martin</b>)?<br />
<br />
That's the case in a video released today as the lead single from Puerto Rican singer <b>Wisin'</b>s first solo album and titled "<b>Adrenalina</b>":<br />
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Wisin was able to pull this high-wattage stunt because he was part of one of the most successful reggaeton acts in the music industry over the last decade - <b>Wisin & Yandel</b> - and happened to be among the Latino music acts that supported Ricky Martin when he came out.<br />
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Ricky himself featured the duo in a cut from his first album after coming out called "Frio"...<br />
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That particular song also speaks of unrequited love from a man to a woman.<br />
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Both of these songs were launched as singles after Ricky's very prominent coming out in 2010 so they weren't necessarily covering up for his sexuality so the fact that he is still be considered to play up a heterosexual romantic role in videos like these might be transgressive in itself but it certainly stand out that Ricky has yet to release or participate in a music video that also highlights same-sex love. I raised this issue previously when it came to one of the most beautiful songs on his last album and one of its most homoerotic as well "Tu y Yo" (Spanish language lyrics <a href="http://youtu.be/gEWW689qWnw">here</a>),<br />
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And yet, last week in Chile at the Viña del Mar music festival Ricky didn't shy away from homoerotic play. Here is his performance of his hit "Shake Your Bom Bom"...<br />
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Full Viña performance <a href="http://youtu.be/A2VtQCnD504">here</a>.<br />
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Also, woof!...<br />
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<br />Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-42555899257767283542014-02-19T11:35:00.001-05:002014-02-21T22:13:44.915-05:00Dominican Republic: Diplomats boycott event after husband of gay U.S. Ambassador is asked not to attend<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgkMFH0NuiY/UwQy36UXatI/AAAAAAAAFr8/2UZXP9dUUGA/s1600/dr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgkMFH0NuiY/UwQy36UXatI/AAAAAAAAFr8/2UZXP9dUUGA/s1600/dr.jpg" height="439" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bob Satawake</b> and his husband <b>James "Wally" Brewster </b>as photographed by Dominican magazine <b>Ritmo Social</b>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just as it seemed a diplomatic row might have been averted last week when the Dominican Republic <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.UwQ84l5sh68">expressed full support</a> for out U.S. ambassador <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and denounced its own ambassador to the Vatican for publicly criticizing <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.UwQ84l5sh68">a meeting Brewster held with LGBT advocates</a>, a brand new diplomatic controversy has emerged over Brewster's marriage to <b>Bob Satawake</b>.<br />
<br />
As last week's controversy was playing out, reports have emerged that an earlier kerfuffle erupted over a cancelled January 22nd diplomatic event in honor of Dominican Republic president <b>Danilo Medina</b>.<br />
<br />
Organized by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the gathering was meant to be a private opportunity for diplomats and their spouses to honor the President but, as <b>Acento</b> reported yesterday, the Dean himself <a href="http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/166281/56/Suspenden-coctel-en-honor-de-Danilo-Medina-por-no-invitar-al-esposo-de-Brewster.html">raised objections about extending an invitation to Ambassador Brewster's husband and made a personal call to ask the Ambassador for his understanding and consideration</a>. <br />
<br />
From a private letter sent to all diplomats after questions were raised about the decision as translated from Spanish:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. Reasons why the partner of the U.S. Ambassador was not invited to the Diplomatic Cocktail in honor of the President of the Dominican Republic: The partner of the U.S. Ambassador is not accredited as a "wife" but, instead, as a "dependent" of the Ambassador. In the Constitution of the Dominican Republic, same sex marriages are not recognized. Thus the Dominican authorities cannot officially recognize him as his "wife." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2. This explains why he was not invited to accompany the Ambassador. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3. It would be incorrect and in some ways offensive to the entire Diplomatic Body to go against the Constitution and, worse yet, in front of the President of the Republic and in the presence of representatives from all the Diplomatic Missions accredited by the Dominican Republic. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
4. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps has spoken to the U.S. Ambassador regarding this impasse and has asked for his understanding regarding this question, particularly about its delicate nature as he well knows. We expect the Ambassador to accept this calmly and with due consideration. The use of prudence would insure a proper way to handle this issue. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
5. This does not imply any prejudice in the understanding, respect and tolerance the Colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps have towards the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. James W. Brewster.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
6. An authority from the Foreign Affairs Ministry called on Saturday, January 18th, to express that the "Foreign Affairs Ministry" has no objection regarding to the attendance of the partner of the U.S. Ambassador. Naturally, the responsibility then falls on the Diplomatic Body. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
7. Later, speaking to an authority from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, it was acknowledged that the largest obstacle still remained: The fundamental question raised by the Constitution. The Dean reaffirmed that it would be completely wrong for the Heads of the Missions to go against the Constitution in front of the President. The ministerial authority immediately recognized the severity of the circumstance and how local media might make an issue out of it.</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T1uM1rP0b8/UwTbe7XpfDI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/iFG55JrC4g4/s1600/Jude-Thaddeus-Okolo-Danilo-Medina-620x387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T1uM1rP0b8/UwTbe7XpfDI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/iFG55JrC4g4/s1600/Jude-Thaddeus-Okolo-Danilo-Medina-620x387.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archbishop Okolo with Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina.</td></tr>
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The letter was signed by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps which happens to be the new envoy from the Vatican to the Dominican Republic <b>Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo</b> originally from the African republic of Chad. <br />
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In October, Bishop Okolo replaced Polish Archbishop Josef Wesolowski after he escaped the Dominican Republic <a href="http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/pope-replaces-dominican-ambassador-amid-sex-probe">fleeing sexual abuse allegations</a>.<br />
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The Dominican Foreign Affairs Ministry was not the only one who expressed having no issue with showing Ambassador Brewster the respect of treating his husband as his spouse. As Acento reports, "several diplomats refused to attend and the event had to be suspended."<br />
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The Foreign Affairs Ministry was also the government entity that stepped up last week when the Dominican ambassador to the Vatican criticized Ambassador Brewster and <a href="http://sin24horas.sharedby.co/vfrmWM">expressed full support for the U.S. Ambassador</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3XWSmvZoNQ/Uwbh90gWe7I/AAAAAAAAFss/FTyVi8pIJJ0/s1600/1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N3XWSmvZoNQ/Uwbh90gWe7I/AAAAAAAAFss/FTyVi8pIJJ0/s1600/1000.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.K. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Steven M. Fisher.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update (Feb. 20th, 2014):</b></span> When Acento broke the news about the cancellation of the diplomatic meeting on Tuesday several conservative religious leaders immediately tried to spin the story by applauding diplomats for allegedly taking a "principled" stand against same-sex marriage and staying away from the event.<br />
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Unfortunately for them whoever is leaking internal diplomatic letters to Acento responded by <a href="http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/166557/56/Diplomaticos-rechazaron-la-invitacion-de-Okolo-que-discrimino-al-embajador-Brewster.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">disclosing a letter</a> <b>Steven M. Fisher</b> wrote to Archbishop Okole in response to the reasons given for not inviting Mr. Satawake to the event:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
His Excellency, I am writing to you regarding the e-mail you sent on January 20th of 2014 regarding the "reasons why the partner of the U.S. Ambassador was not invited to the cocktail organized by the diplomatic corps in honor of the president to the Dominican Republic." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I regret the very difficult situation in which this decision has placed me when it comes to my participation in the cocktail reception. I believe this decision unjustly discriminates against a member of the Diplomatic Corps in a way that is unjustifiable. Additionally, it is my understanding that these issues should have been discussed by the Diplomatic Corps with enough time for each ambassador to give their point of view. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I reiterate the suggestion I made via e-mail on January 18th to modify the invitation so it equally includes everyone. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In the case the decision remains the same by not treating everyone equally or shows disrespect for someone's civil status, I am afraid I unfortunately won't be able to participate in the cocktail.</blockquote>
In other words, Vatican envoy Jude Thaddeus Okolo was not only advised that the Dominican Foreign Affairs Ministry in representation of the government had no issue with inviting Mr. Satawake to the event but other diplomats clearly warned him they would stay away if he insisted in discriminating against him.<br />
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Don't blame the gays for this diplomatic fiasco. Blame the new Vatican envoy to the Dominican Republic and conservatives from the Dominican Republic who insist on treating the U.S. ambassador and his husband with such disrespect.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reactions: </b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://diplopundit.net/2014/02/21/meanwhile-in-santo-domingo-this-does-not-imply-any-prejudice-but-husband-of-gay-ambassador-is-not-invited/">Meanwhile in Santo Domingo: Ambassador Brewster's husband not invited 'cuz he's not a "wife"</a> (DiploPundit, Feb. 21, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/petermontgomery/7618/global_lgbt_recap__culture_war_claims_more_victims/">Global LGBT recap: Culture War Claims More Victims</a> (Religion Dispatches, Feb. 20, 2014)</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Previously:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/diplomatic-row-brewing-over-us.html#.UwTai15sh68">Diplomatic row brewing over U.S. Ambassador's decision to meet with LGBT Dominican leaders</a> (Feb. 14, 2014) </li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.Uv6VV_Zsh69">Gay U.S. Ambassador and husband meet Dominican</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> LGBT advocates </a>(Feb. 11, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/07/dominican-cardinal-has-no-problem-using.html#.Uv6VUPZsh68">Dominican cardinal uses the word "faggot" to refer to gay U.S. ambassador nominee</a> (July 2, 2013)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2007/10/dominican-republic-cardinal-calls-gays.html#.Uv6WWfZsh68">Cardinal calls Dominican gays "maricones"</a> (Oct. 30, 2007)</li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-30508783403452776802014-02-14T14:55:00.000-05:002014-02-17T14:25:25.455-05:00Diplomatic row brewing over U.S. Ambassador's decision to meet with Dominican LGBT leaders<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-riEKR0LaIeg/Uv1nhZzfP6I/AAAAAAAAFrQ/RMZjvK1Dydo/s1600/Ta3aOa9AS9hYFtnm_VKLHeO6WFhW3VXvrXR--R5UZ24QEVXzRVzWtGCfG2hfcJFyu9X6AJa5r5dfAg4Q3RJfu01HdICuiVZ08ZYplWHXo54Z46NXEWL_lk_nPEdiy56uvIg=s0-d-e1-ft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-riEKR0LaIeg/Uv1nhZzfP6I/AAAAAAAAFrQ/RMZjvK1Dydo/s1600/Ta3aOa9AS9hYFtnm_VKLHeO6WFhW3VXvrXR--R5UZ24QEVXzRVzWtGCfG2hfcJFyu9X6AJa5r5dfAg4Q3RJfu01HdICuiVZ08ZYplWHXo54Z46NXEWL_lk_nPEdiy56uvIg=s0-d-e1-ft.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambassador <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> with his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b> at the U.S. embassy quarters in the Dominican Republic as photographed by <b>Ritmo Social</b> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RitmoSocialRD/status/429279772477124610">shared on Twitter</a>.</td></tr>
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A diplomatic row might be brewing over <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.Uv1-JvZsh68">a meeting held this Tuesday</a> by openly gay U.S. ambassador <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b> with several Dominican LGBT leaders just a month after the new U.S. ambassador took office.<br />
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Messages and photos of the meeting were shared through the embassy's official social media accounts but no official statement has been posted on <a href="http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/">the embassy's website</a>: <br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Embajador Brewster y Bob Satawake se reunieron hoy con líderes de la comunidad LGBT en el país donde conversaron sobre los retos en <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23rd&src=hash">#rd</a><br />
— EmbajadaUSAenRD (@EmbajadaUSAenRD) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmbajadaUSAenRD/statuses/433251780512985088">February 11, 2014</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
"Ambassador Brewster and Bob Satawake met today with leaders of the country's LGBT community and discussed the challenges in DR"</blockquote>
Based on our report, the Washington Blade reached out to the embassy on Wednesday but <a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/02/12/gay-u-s-ambassador-meets-dominican-lgbt-advocates/">they did not reply</a>. And now we might have a reason.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUZxp1y-vn0/Uv2xy2jfOAI/AAAAAAAAFrg/lvCqaYqZW5I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-14+at+1.02.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUZxp1y-vn0/Uv2xy2jfOAI/AAAAAAAAFrg/lvCqaYqZW5I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-14+at+1.02.48+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Grimaldi</td></tr>
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Yesterday Dominican newspapers reported that the Dominican Republic Ambassador to the Vatican <b>Victor Grimaldi</b> sent <a href="http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2014/02/13/grimaldi-defiende-cardenal-deplora-reunion-embajador-con-gays">an open letter to the Pope</a> criticizing Brewster for the meeting.<br />
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In the letter to Pope Francis Grimaldi points out that a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was approved just four years ago with what he says was 99 percent of Dominican's approval and then takes a swipe at Brewster's marriage:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Just when the State Constitution of the Dominican Republic establishes that marriage is between a man and a woman here comes the new United States ambassador - "married" with a man - to meet with a gay and transsexual collective that has confronted the
Catholic church and alleges that the Dominican Republic is a secular
state. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A campaign to attack <b>Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Ródriguez </b>on these and other issues has existed for quite a while as they see the Archbishop from Santo Domingo as the head that needs to be dethroned. </blockquote>
The good Cardinal, of course, is the homophobe who has repeatedly referred to gay and lesbian Dominicans as "maricones" (faggots) over the years and used that same word when joking about Brewster's nomination in front of a number of reporters last year. He has since toned down his language and there are reports that a few weeks ago he asked church goers to respect the ambassador.<br />
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Brewster, on the other hand, has avoided any direct mention of the Cardinal.<br />
<br />
Those who were present at Tuesday's meeting do say that the topic came up and that the ambassador personally thanked them for defending his nomination last year in light of the attacks.<br />
<br />
"The pair of diplomats [Brewster and his husband] thanked the collective for the June 2013 campaign to defend him from the rejection expressed by some sectors opposed to his nomination as the country's ambassador" says <a href="http://www.transsadominicana1.blogspot.com/">a statement from the transgender-rights organization TRANSSA</a>.<br />
<br />
Grimaldi's letter to Pope Francis apparently drew strong private rebuke from <b>José Manuel Trullols</b>, the Dominican Republic's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.<br />
<br />
In a second letter sent to the press and <a href="http://listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/2/14/310746/Victor-Grimaldi-acusa-a-vicecanciller-de-amenazas">published today</a> Grimaldi says that the government official contacted him in what Grimaldi characterized as an attempt to intimidate him:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Excellent Minister: You have never called me on the phone before. And you threatened me for a letter I addressed to Pope Francis. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
After today's call I warn you that christian-phobia is a type of religious persecution contrary to the liberty enshrined in our Constitution, which I swore to defend and obey. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I reject your threats, even if I am sacrificed like John the Baptist for simply because as an Ambassador [to the Vatican] I obey the Constitution and as a christian I follow the freedom of thought.</blockquote>
It's not the first time that Grimaldi has used his Vatican credentials to vehemently defend the Cardinal. In December he wrote <a href="http://eldia.com.do/victor-grimaldi-rd-rechaza-las-groseras-insinuaciones-de-vargas-llosa/">another public letter to the Pope</a> slamming Peruvian Nobel Prize winner <b>Mario Vargas Llosa</b> for calling on the Vatican to remove the Cardinal from his position.<br />
<br />
Vargas Llosa, taking note of moderate statements made recently by the new Pope, called on the Vatican leader to remove "stone age" representatives of the church <a href="http://eldia.com.do/vargas-llosa-pide-al-papa-remover-arzobispos-de-santo-domingo-y-lima/">such as the Dominican and Peruvian cardinals</a>.<br />
<br />
The Cardinal's popularity in the Dominican Republic has taken a beating in recent years with people questioning his role in <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/01/11/vatican-former-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-covered-by-diplomatic-immunity/">a still expanding sexual abuse scandal</a> and, more recently, being <a href="http://youtu.be/shCi4jp_jOY">caught on camera</a> last week calling a Jesuit priest "shameless" and a left wing radical for daring to help needy undocumented Haitian immigrants [the Dominican Republic is <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/01/31/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-backs-controversial-immigration-plan/">currently embroiled in a debate on Haitian citizenship</a> after the Dominican Supreme Court retroactively stripped children of undocumented Haitian immigrants of their citizenship even if they were born in the Dominican Republic].<br />
<br />
Dominican citizens have taken to Twitter to demand the Cardinal be removed from his post using the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23destituciondelcardenalrd&src=typd&f=realtime">#destituciondelcardenalrd</a>.<br />
<br />
Among the LGBT advocates who attended the meeting on Tuesday are <b>Leonardo Sánchez</b> of Amigos Siempre Amigos, <b>Chris King</b> of TRANSSA, Reverend <b>Wilkin Lara</b> from the ICM Church in the Dominican Republic, transgender rights activist <b>Nairobi Castillo</b>, and LGBT-rights activists <b>Marianela Carvajal</b>. <b>Francis Taylor</b> and <b>Harold Jimenez</b>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #1:</b></span> Asked today by Dominican media about Grimaldi's letters and accusations of a plot against the Cardinal, Ambassador Brewster said "<a href="http://zdigital.do/app/article.aspx?id=119397">I don't usually respond to false accusations</a>."<br />
<br />
Also, at least one Dominican paper - <b>El Ortodoxo</b> - <a href="http://elortodoxo.webs.com/">is asking Grimaldi to resign</a> as a result of his attack against the U.S. Ambassador.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #2: </b></span>The Dominican government through the Foreign Affairs Ministry has released a statement that says that Grimaldi <a href="http://sin24horas.sharedby.co/vfrmWM">has not been authorized to speak about ambassador Brewster in the name of the government and says the statements made in the letters are purely personal in nature</a>. They also expressed support for the U.S. ambassador:<br />
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The Dominican government recognizes the work that ambassador James B. Brewster on an wide array of issues related to the bilateral agenda.</blockquote>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Update #3:</b></span> The Dominican Republic Foreign Affairs Ministry has tweeted their statement distancing the government from Grimaldi's comments.<br />
<a class="twitter-timeline" data-widget-id="434509247603175424" href="https://twitter.com/NoticiasLGBT/timelines/434507202204667904">Reaction to Grimaldi</a><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>RELATED:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2014/2/17/50571/US-gays-Vatican-Cardinal-scandal-reveals-Dominican-Republics-greenhorn">Scandal reveals Dominican Republic greenhorn diplomacy</a> (Dominican Today, Feb. 17, 2014) </li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>PREVIOUSLY</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/us-ambassador-to-dominican-republic-and.html#.Uv6VV_Zsh69">Gay U.S. Ambassador and husband meet Dominican</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> LGBT advocates </a>(Feb. 11, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/07/dominican-cardinal-has-no-problem-using.html#.Uv6VUPZsh68">Dominican cardinal uses the word "faggot" to refer to gay U.S. ambassador nominee</a> (July 2, 2013)</li>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2007/10/dominican-republic-cardinal-calls-gays.html#.Uv6WWfZsh68">Cardinal calls Dominican gays "maricones"</a> (Oct. 30, 2007)</li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-64961341970187601452014-02-11T21:05:00.001-05:002014-02-14T17:11:55.805-05:00Dominican Republic: U.S. Ambassador and husband meet Dominican LGBT advocates<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic <b>James "Wally" Brewster</b> and his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b> (center) meet with LGBT and human rights advocates from the Caribbean island (photo taken from the Ambassador's <a href="http://instagram.com/emb_brewster">Instagram account</a>) </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[For an update to this post click on "<a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2014/02/diplomatic-row-brewing-over-us.html#.Uv6UPvZsh68">Diplomatic row brewing over U.S. Ambassador's decision to meet with Dominican LGBT advocates</a>"]</b></span></div>
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<b>James "Wally" Brewster</b>, who is still listed as a member of the <a href="https://www.hrc.org/the-hrc-story/boards">board of directors</a> of the <b>Human Rights Campaign</b> and who gained national visibility as one of the gay men who raised the most funds for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has been on quite a charm offensive since he took the U.S. ambassadorship duties in the Dominican Republic a month ago.<br />
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This is a marked change from the silence he observed during the nomination process as a number of religious leaders in the Dominican Republic criticized the nomination of an openly gay man for the diplomatic post. Leading the charge was <b>Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez</b> <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/07/dominican-cardinal-has-no-problem-using.html#.UvqPdvZsh68">who called the then-nominee a 'faggot' on national television</a>...<br />
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...but once the nomination was secured Brewster faced the criticism head on and introduced himself to the Dominican public with a video in which he included his husband <b>Bob Satawake</b>...<br />
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Brewster and Satawake also became the first same-sex married couple to grace the cover of the Dominican high society magazine <b>Ritmo Social</b> in an exclusive interview <a href="http://www.ritmosocial.com/james-wally-brewster-bob-satawake/">published on January 25th</a>.<br />
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<b>Ritmo Social:</b> You have worked with the gay community and human rights. Can you talk about your experiences in those areas? </blockquote>
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<b>Brewster:</b> It's our belief that every person has the inherent right to to a dignified and transparent life without the far of being pursued or discriminated. We firmly believe that each person has value and that the entire world should have an opportunity to contribute to the common good. We have worked with different types of organizations who serve marginalized communities and grant them equal access and development opportunities. As people of faith we take into account our responsibility to bring growth opportunities to others as many other people have granted us both. </blockquote>
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<b>RS:</b> The Dominican Republic is, on the whole, a Catholic country and some people believe that it's not right to send a gay man - and on top of that an out activist - to represent the U.S. as a Dominican Republic ambassador. What is your opinion? </blockquote>
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<b>Brewster:</b> We both have felt welcomed by the Dominican Republic for many years and since my arrival as an ambassador that has not changed. I was nominated by President Obama to represent his government and the North American people as a reflection of our country, its diversity and its mission. I am committed to serve that ideal. President Obama was aware of our knowledge of the Dominican Republic and knew we would work diligently to advance the extraordinary relationship between our people and our countries. </blockquote>
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<b>RS:</b> Let's talk about your relationship with your husband Bob...</blockquote>
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<b>Brewster:</b> Bob and I met, as many other couples, when we were in our twenties. We have gotten older and shared our lives together learning from each other. We are very fortunate to have loving parents and, even though my mother is no longer with us, we treasure the love she gave us every day. Our parents have been extremely understanding and offered us great support all these years we have been together. In October we celebrated our 25th anniversary together and, thanks to the leadership of President Obama, we were able to legally marry in Washington, DC, surrounded by our families and many of our friends from the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. We live life day to day and we thank God every day for the blessings he has given us.</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Ambassador Brewster meets with Dominican LGBT leaders:</b></span> As the nomination process was taking place and as the State Department and Brewster himself kept quiet on the attacks he was receiving from conservative religious leaders in the island, some of his strongest supporters were members of the Dominican LGBT community who were thrilled about the nomination. But considering Brewster's privileged life in the United States I often wondered if the new ambassador would acknowledge their support or engage them in any significant way.<br />
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Today, just a month after taking the diplomatic post and in a sign that he will be a strong ally to the Dominican LGBT community he welcomed them to a reception at the embassy which included his husband.<br />
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Among the LGBT leaders who attended the reception were <b>Leonardo Sánchez</b> of <i>Amigos Siempre Amigos</i> (Friends Always Friends), <b>Chris King</b> from the transgender rights organization TRANSSA, LGBT rights advocate <b>Harold Jimenez</b>, and <b>Reverend Wilkin Lara</b> from the ICM Church in D.R.<br />
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There has been no official statement from the Embassy on the meeting nor a full list of attendees but photos of the meeting were sent out through <a href="https://twitter.com/EmbajadaUSAenRD/status/433251064289460224">the Embassy's Twitter account</a> and t<a href="http://instagram.com/embajadausaenrd">he ambassador's Instagram account</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Conservative religious leaders still fuming about nomination, get support from U.S.-based religious websites:</b></span> A small number of very vocal conservative religious leaders in the Dominican Republic remain furious that a gay man is now the U.S. ambassador.<br />
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On Friday, even before today's meeting with LGBT leaders, <b>Reverend Luis Rosario</b> staged a press conference to say that <a href="http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/161978/56/Sacerdote-dice-mal-ejemplo-del-embajador-Brewster-dana-a-la-familia-dominicana.html">the arrival of the new ambassador and his husband sent an "extremely negative message" to the Dominican people</a>.<br />
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"It's a very sad state of affairs we are living at this moment," Rev. Rosario added, "and it makes our nation seem like a great hospital for the sexually ill."<br />
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Last year right-wing U.S.-based religious sites such as <b>CNS News</b> <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/catholic-bishop-dominican-republic-obamas-gay-ambassadorial-nominee-will-have-leave">gave credence to homophobic threats warning Brewster would be forced to leave the Dominican Republc or else run the risk of being attacked</a>. CNN also picked up on t<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/28/world/americas/dominican-republic-gay-us-ambassador/">he so-called "Black Monday" protests against Brewster's nomination</a> which never actually materialized (those were also promoted to no avail by <a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/dominican-republic-black-monday-protest-against-obamas-homosexual-activist">conservative U.S. conservative sites such as LifeSite News</a>).<br />
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If anything it mobilized Dominican LGBT advocates such as <b>Giónver Castillo</b> who hung this rainbow flag outside his balcony to protest the calls for a "Black Monday."<br />
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During the 2012 Dominican pride parade Castillo was stopped several times by police authorities <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2012/07/caught-on-camera-police-disrupt-lgbt.html#.Uvuy3_Zsh68">for carrying a flag he made in which he changed the colors of the Dominican flag to resemble the rainbow flag</a>. Authorities threatened to stop the parade unless Castillo handed the flag over to them since they considered the rainbow colored Dominican flag an affront to the nation's patriotic symbols.<br />
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Parade organizers who were afraid that they would be forced to stop the celebrations before the evening's cultural events agreed with the authorities and distanced themselves from having any role in the creation of the flag. Castillo was not among the leaders who attended today's reception but some of the parade organizers did.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Cardinal López Rodriguez, who called Brewster a "faggot," asks Dominicans to be respectful of the new ambassador:</b></span> Nevertheless in a sign that religious conservatives are losing support for their vitriolic and homophobic language against the ambassador, on January 14th, just a week before Brewster took the diplomatic seat, it was Cardinal López Rodriguez - the same man who called Brewster a "faggot" last year upon hearing of the nomination - who urged church goers to <a href="http://telenoticias.com.do/el-cardenal-califica-como-un-proceso-de-maduracion-elecciones-en-el-pld/">show respect for the new ambassador</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Reaction:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/02/12/gay-u-s-ambassador-meets-dominican-lgbt-advocates/">Gay U.S. Ambassador meets with Dominican LGBT leaders</a> (The Washington Blade)</li>
</ul>
<i>Note: This is an re-edited version of the original post that went up on February 11th, 2014.</i><br />
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Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-90833375082722037762014-01-31T18:05:00.002-05:002014-02-03T20:40:01.034-05:00Venezuelan LGBT advocates and allies launch major marriage equality effort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Representatives of 47 Venezuelan LGBT organizations and their allies gathered outside the National Assembly in Caracas this morning and handed in 20,000 signatures asking legislators to consider a civil marriage equality bill in their next legislative session.<br />
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For months, LGBT organizations had canvassed for signatures throughout the country and earned the support of legislators affiliated with President <b>Nicolas Maduro</b>'s government - including former president <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/11/photo-of-day-brother-of-hugo-chavez.html#.Uuv_HPanljM">Hugo Chávez's brother</a> - as well as opposition party politicians.<br />
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Efforts to bring these signatures to the capital have received comprehensive coverage by tightly controlled official media channels including the <b>Venezuelan News Agency (AVN)</b>.<br />
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According to AVN several socialist party legislators <a href="http://www.avn.info.ve/node/218672">welcomed the signatures and vowed to process the request</a>.<br />
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"It is our obligation to accept the proposals the people bring to us and it is our obligation to hand these proposals to the [National Assembly's] executive committee for them to assign the matter to the appropriate legislative commission," said socialist party member <b>Elvis Amoroso</b>.<br />
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Amoroso added "Our commander <b>Hugo Chávez</b> as well as the President of the Republic Nicolás Maduro always expected us to attend to those who govern us - the people of Venezuela - and here before us is part of those people we represent."<br />
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That's not quite accurate. As president the late Hugo Chávez rarely discussed LGBT issues and when he was asked about same-sex marriage in 2009 he said <a href="http://youtu.be/htPE8PIfL7s">Venezuela wasn't ready for it</a> and he personally didn't see it as a "good thing."<br />
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Maduro, for his part, ran<a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/03/venezuelan-presidential-candidate.html"> one of the most homophobic presidential campaigns in recent Latin American history</a> even as he professed love for the gays and welcomed their votes.<br />
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But, at least rhetorically, there seem to be signs of an increasing willingness to at least consider addressing the needs of Venezuela's LGBT community.<br />
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Estimated at 300, the crowd that gathered outside the National Assembly this morning chanted "If the Pope were gay, [same-sex] marriage would already be legal" as heard in <a href="http://youtu.be/AjlekTiS_8k">this video clip from the AFP</a>.<br />
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Here is <b>Edgar Manuel Baptista</b> from the Pro-Inclusion political party addressing reporters about the importance of the proposed marriage equality legislature:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Pedro Zerolo sends his support from Spain:</b></span> There will be a day in which the untold history of how the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) and the Spanish National Federation of Gays and Lesbians (FELGBT) traveled to Latin America and planted some of the seeds for marriage equality in Argentina and Uruguay after securing passage of their own law in 2005. Those efforts were led by the Venezuelan-born attorney and Spanish councilmember <b>Pedro Zerolo</b> who never lost sight of Latin America despite living in Spain for more than two decades.<br />
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On January 7th, <b>El Pais</b> broke the devastating news that the long-time LGBT rights activist <a href="http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/01/07/madrid/1389098608_032552.html">had been diagnosed with cancer</a>. He has vowed to fight the illness but, amazingly and movingly, took time from his treatments to tape a message supporting these marriage equality efforts in Venezuela:<br />
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<b>Pedro Zerolo:</b> Dear friends, January 31st of 2014 will be a historic day in Venezuela. It marks the first step towards the recognition of LGTB men and women's equality and dignity. And I am specifically saying "dignity and equality" which means enjoying the same rights others do and with the same terminology. Friends, on January 31st a marriage equality bill will be presented before the National Assembly. A legislative bill properly vetted and supported by a social network that I am certain will make it a reality sooner than later. Why? Because love has to be legal. Love. Has. To. Be. Equal. Because it is a bill that does not attempt against anything or anyone but is in favor of a diverse Venezuela that has to recognize equal rights of all its citizenship. Because Venezuela belongs to all of us - including lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals. Friends, from Madrid, I send my full support. If we did it in Spain, we can also do it in Venezuela. Venezuela can and has to be on time with a rendezvous with equality. It has to recognize the equality of its citizens. I am certain we will be able to accomplish this. That's why, from Spain, I send all my energy, all my strength and the strongest of hugs.</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Same-sex couples with marriage licenses from Argentina ask the Venezuelan government to recognize their marriages:</b></span> In the meantime, a number of couples holding marriage licenses from Argentina are also taking a different route and have gone to the courts to ask that their marriages be recognized by the Venezuelan government.<br />
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A year ago in January <b>Roberto Di Giacomo</b> and <b>José Ramón Merentes</b> <a href="http://www.el-nacional.com/sociedad/parejas-mismo-exigen-reconocimiento-legal_0_136789194.html">went to court to ask that their partnership of 16 years be recognized as a civil union</a>.<br />
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On November 30th of 2013 that petition was dismissed along with those of two other couples on the basis that the Venezuelan constitution made it clear that <a href="http://www.el-nacional.com/caracas/Tribunal-reconocimiento-legal-parejas-mismo_0_309569249.html">civil unions and marriages were only allowed for heterosexual couples</a> (the petition handed to the National Assembly this morning asks that the constitutional language be changed to lift those restrictions).<br />
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But a week before their petition was denied Di Giacomo and Merentes were actually getting married in Argentina which allows marriages between same-sex couples from other countries (that's Mr. Di Giacomo and Mr. Merentes in the photo above receiving a marriage license from a judge in Buenos Aires on November 22nd).<br />
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Now they are joining two other couples who received marriage licenses in Argentina in challenging the government to recognize those marriages as valid.<br />
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The other two couples are <b>Raymer Diaz</b> and <b>Edwin Erminy</b> and <b>Migdely Miranda</b> and <b>Giniveth Soto Quintana</b> (pictured above at today's rally holding marriage licenses from Argentina).<br />
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On December 16th, a civil court <a href="http://piensagay.com/vernoticia.php?id=345#.UuwnKPanljP">turned down the petition by Ms. Miranda and Ms. Soto</a> but they are appealing that decision.<br />
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Speaking to a reporter for the National Assembly's website, Ms. Soto explained that her wife Migdely was three months pregnant and that she wanted to be recognized as a married couple <a href="http://www.asambleanacional.gob.ve/noticia/show/id/6449">to protect her wife and their unborn child</a>.<br />
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"We want the legislators of the National Assembly to recognize our child and our family," she said, "we are being forced to emigrate to other [South American] countries such as Argentina where these laws are recognized."<br />
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Ms. Soto also said she would be lobbying her uncle Fernando Soto Rojas, an influential member of the ruling socialist party and former president of the National Assembly to gather support for marriage equality among his colleagues.<br />
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More scenes from the rally...<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10319">Venezuelan LGBT rights movement submits proposal for same-sex marriage</a> (Venezuelan Analysis) </li>
<li><a href="http://venezuelablog.tumblr.com/post/75364883305/venezuelan-ngos-submit-bill-for-legalization-of">Venezuelan NGO's submit bill for legalization of same-sex marriage</a> (Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights)</li>
<li><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-activists-petition-same-sex-marriage-210554945.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory">Venezuela activists petition for same-sex marriage</a> (AFP)</li>
<li><a href="http://venezuela-us.org/2014/01/29/venezuela-to-seek-modification-of-civil-code-to-legalize-gay-marriage/">Venezuela to seek modification of civil code to legalize gay marriage</a> (Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) </li>
<li>Additional photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/99383217@N05/sets/72157640358595894/with/12238809116/">here</a></li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com1United States32.546813173515162 -58.00781257.0247786735151614 -99.3164065 58.068847673515165 -16.6992185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-4735218454565349502014-01-31T02:46:00.002-05:002014-02-07T19:31:56.669-05:00Will Shakira and Rihanna unequivocally stand up for LGBT rights?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhKJ0NYGhuE/UuvS-ERMNQI/AAAAAAAAFmo/aJcPuvvmNG4/s1600/qc7z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhKJ0NYGhuE/UuvS-ERMNQI/AAAAAAAAFmo/aJcPuvvmNG4/s1600/qc7z.jpg" height="308" width="640" /></a></div>
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Twelve years ago when international pop star <b>Shakira</b> was embarking on her first U.S. tour in support of her first English-language album "Laundry Service" a close friend of mine had a unique opportunity to attend a press conference and ask her a couple of questions on behalf of a now-defunct Latino LGBT news magazine.<br />
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<b>Ricky Martin</b> had yet to come out and few Latin American superstars dared talk about LGBT issues so I was hoping it would be an opportunity for someone like Shakira to stand up for a segment of the community that helped to make her a star. Instead she proved defensive and guarded in her response.<br />
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From <b>Hoy</b> on September 26th of 2002 (no online link available):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some difficult questions were asked including whether part of the tour earnings could be used to help people with HIV in Colombia to which she said she always was willing to offer a helping hand as when she launched the "Bare Feet" foundation. Regarding heterosexual and homosexual freedoms, she evaded making any commitments and said "I have always believed in liberty for all social and racial groups."</blockquote>
<b>Diana De La Pava</b>, who asked both questions, said Shakira seemed caught off guard when she was asked serious questions at what was supposed to be a promotional media event.<br />
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Twelve years later, after selling millions of albums, getting a number of multimillion advertising contracts and securing a spot on the hit NBC television show "The Voice" it is still hard to find any on-the-record statements Shakira has made in support of the LGBT community.<br />
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Of course, that is part of her prerogative. It might be part of a larger general strategy not to get involved on so-called "controversial" issues and risk losing international commercial contracts or reflect her conservative upbringing in Barranquilla, Colombia. But to those of us who advocate for the Latino LGBT community it has always been a source of disappointment that some of our biggest pop stars shy away from the subject.<br />
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This is particularly true when it comes to Shakira's home country of Colombia which is embroiled in <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/09/same-sex-couples-marry-in-colombia.html#.UutKrPanljM">a red hot battle for marriage equality</a>. Shakira raising her voice on behalf of those same-sex couples seeking to get married would make huge waves not only in Colombia but throughout Latin America.<br />
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I wouldn't be writing about this if not for the launch of a video for Shakira's first single from her upcoming album "Can't Remember to Forget You" featuring <b>Rihanna</b>.<br />
<br />
In it, the two superstars cavort in a number of erotically charged scenarios that show them as lesbian lovers. Not that this is groundbreaking <a href="http://youtu.be/MAy-NtCQCB8">or hasn't been done before</a> but it seems more than a bit exploitative when you are not even willing to speak up on LGBT rights.<br />
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Come to think of it, Rihanna hasn't necessarily been a beacon of light for the Caribbean's LGBT community either or advocated for changes to homophobic policies in the regions despite her huge influence there. <br />
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If that's the game they are playing, it's high time for both singers to unequivocally and visibly stand up for LGBT rights.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://jezebel.com/shakira-and-rihanna-need-to-stop-with-the-faux-lesbian-1514802604">Shakira and Rihanna need to stop with the faux-lesbian posturing</a> (Jezebel) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/not-sexy-rihanna-and-shakira-pose-as-lesbians-for-a-music-video--but-where-are-they-on-lgbt-rights-9114860.html">Rihanna and Shakira pose as lesbians for a music video - but where are they on LGBT rights?</a> (The Independent)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/shakira-slammed-politician-music-video-rihanna-article-1.1601314">Shakira slammed by politician for 'promoting lesbianism,' 'moral decay' in music video with Rihanna</a> (The New York Daily News)</li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-62062727987897081272014-01-26T19:52:00.000-05:002014-01-26T20:04:22.741-05:00Boxer Ana Laura "La Monita" Esteche comes out after winning world championship belt<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Professional boxers <b>Ana Laura "La Monita" Esteche</b> and <b>Yohana "Yoki" Giménez</b> (with the pink hair). <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Photo used by permission</b></span> <a href="http://100porciento.wordpress.com/about/">courtesy of Martín Canevaro and the 100% Diversity & Rights collective</a>.</span></td></tr>
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In what observers are calling <a href="http://boxingjones.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/ana-laura-esteche-wins-wba-female-light-welterweight-title/">a stunning upset</a>, professional Argentine boxer <b>Ana Laura Esteche</b> defeated three-time defending light welterweight World Boxing Association champion <b>Monica Silvina Acosta</b> when the two met in San Clemente del Tuyú on January 20th (you can watch the whole fight <a href="http://youtu.be/fneIR1I4uMo">here</a>).<br />
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Friends since childhood, Acosta did not wait for officials to announce the fight score and instead took her championship belt from the official who was holding it and handed it to Esteche herself in a show of respect and admiration for the woman who had just defeated her. "It's yours, take care of it, you won fairly and let God guide you," said Acosta - an evangelical preacher outside the ring - to Esteche <a href="http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=2003874&s=box&type=column">according to ESPN</a>.<br />
<br />
For Esteche, better known in Argentina as "La Monita," it was her second try at the championship and her first world title. It was also the night she became the second professional boxer to ever come out while still active in the sport following the steps of Puerto Rican boxer <b>Orlando Cruz</b> who <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2012/10/puerto-rican-featherweight-boxer.html#.UuWYe_Yo4YE">came out in October of 2012</a>.<br />
<br />
In a ringside interview immediately following the fight, Esteche was asked if it had yet dawned on her that she was a world champion. Caught in the moment and overwhelmed by tears, Esteche began by thanking her trainers but extended those thanks to "her woman and my mother-in-law."<br />
<br />
She also said she had gave her all during the match to demonstrate the tremendous day-to-day efforts she had put into the fight along with her trainers and "my woman."<br />
<br />
Here is that interview after the fight and an additional interview done last week:<br />
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In that follow-up interview, which comes <a href="http://youtu.be/sx-LClwRYbM?t=4m16s">at the 4:16 minute mark</a>, the sports anchor asks Esteche about those comments and, with a smile, she says the following of her partner:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thanks to her, I wake up every morning at 6 or 5 in the morning because I am a bit weak when it comes to sleeping in and she always tells me "c'mon 'gorda', let's go, let's go because this is the time you will get it!' and later she would train with me and my physical trainer on my same level as if she had to fight four rounds and I had to fight ten. So she would train with me and sometimes better than me because she is is great physical shape. And she would train and box with me, she is truly and excellent person. And, to be sincere, I am very happy to have a woman like that</blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1GzxWnnWg/UuWr8-C8q7I/AAAAAAAAFlg/HzSjKlrMJ7s/s1600/ring+side+monita+esteche+joki+gimenez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1GzxWnnWg/UuWr8-C8q7I/AAAAAAAAFlg/HzSjKlrMJ7s/s1600/ring+side+monita+esteche+joki+gimenez.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://revistaringside.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/el-boxeo-y-los-temas-de-los-que-no-se.html">Ring Side</a></td></tr>
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Amazingly, Esteche's partner - who you can see in the video standing behind her with her pink hair color - happens to be another WBA professional boxer who tied in a match earlier that same night: <b>Johanna "Yoki" Giménez</b>.<br />
<br />
In the video Esteche also dedicates her victory to her parents "because it has been a long time since I told them I love them."<br />
<br />
Speaking to ESPN's <b>Carlos Irusta</b>, Esterche says that while she is not entirely distant from her parents they do not see each other often and says that <a href="http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=2003874&s=box&type=column">they do not approve of her relationship to Giménez</a>.<br />
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She also tells him they both come from such poor background that they have to make a living scavenging construction materials from building that have to be torn down in the poorest districts of Buenos Aires. "It builds muscles," Esteche <a href="http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1658415-la-monita-que-nunca-se-vistio-de-seda">jokes</a>.<br />
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Finally, on her decision to come out, Esteche says "It's that it's something that you should not hide, after all happiness is not something you should hide, it's something to be shared and I - we - are happy."<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=2003874&s=box&type=column">"A love story" - Spanish language</a> (ESPN, Jan. 20, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1658415-la-monita-que-nunca-se-vistio-de-seda">"The 'Monita' who never dressed in silk" - Spanish languag</a>e (La Nación, Jan. 25, 2014)</li>
<li>World Boxing Association website <a href="http://www.wbanews.com/">here</a></li>
</ul>
Might update as additional details emerge.Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-51877740350253407462014-01-23T22:55:00.001-05:002014-01-24T12:57:28.519-05:00Colombia's Marcus Bachmann-look alike launches senate campaign, vote for Elizabeth Castillo instead<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zrZOZpUMTlk/UuGtft1IIrI/AAAAAAAAFkc/1pZIu46px1g/s1600/j.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zrZOZpUMTlk/UuGtft1IIrI/AAAAAAAAFkc/1pZIu46px1g/s1600/j.png" height="636" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Javier Suarez Pascagaza might be a bachelor but he has an uncanny resemblance to Marcus Bachmann and perhaps similar proclivities.<br />
For one, they bot think homosexuality should be cured.</td></tr>
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Not much has been seen of leading Colombian anti-gay marriage leader <b>Javier Suarez Pascagaza</b> since some former seminary classmates claimed <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-leading-opponent-of-same-sex-marriage.html#.UuGtvvYo4YE">he had been thrown out of Catholic school for being gay back in November</a>. But the self-appointed director of the one man <b>Husband and Woman Foundation</b> finally emerged this week to promote a Senate campaign with some spectacular imagery straight of the very gay <b>Pierre et Guilles</b> cannon (see above).<br />
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This week, Suarez also denounced a re-election campaign ad by <b>Senator Armando Benedetti</b> featuring a gay couple and a lesbian couple in asking Colombians to be respectful of others:<br />
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Last year Senator Benedetti introduced a marriage equality bill in the Colombian Senate which was struck down by a majority.<br />
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Addressing Senator Benedetti in an interview with <b>El Espectador</b> published Monday Suarez said that the ad was "an affront and a threat to Colombian families and children" and said he would go to court to block it from being aired on national television.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Two men might try to have as much sex as they want but they will never be able to get each other pregnant," he said, " and this is clear evidence that homosexuals do not have nor will ever have the same rights as those of a man and a woman."</blockquote>
Yes. he <a href="http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/piden-revisar-contenido-de-publicidad-de-senador-benede-articulo-469633">said that</a>.<br />
<br />
He also participate on a radio debate on Tuesday and <a href="http://www.wradio.com.co/escucha/archivo_de_audio/elizabeth-castillo-javier-suarez-julio-mancera-y-alvaro-polania-en-plazapublica/20140121/oir/2059940.aspx">responded to allegations he is a closeted gay man</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"These are opinions that come from the bottom of the barrel and have been used to attack my good name and honor as well as the prestige of the [one man] <b>Husband and Woman Foundation</b> with the hopes of discrediting the full authority in which we have strongly and clearly opposed [same-sex marriage] regardless of any ideological, Christian or religious basis as they have also claimed... In response to such slanderous and damaging allegations we have launched a lawsuit on my behalf for the sum of five thousand million Colombian pesos against those who made the allegations, Marcela Sanchez of [the LGBT-rights organization] Colombia Diversa and El Espectador because they have no right to play with a person's image and lobby personal attacks against someone who has simply made strong legal arguments against same-sex marriage and adoption rights for gays."</blockquote>
Notice that he thinks being called gay is slanderous and damaging but he never comes out and denies being gay.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqDJCmIXyM/UuHfnH7SHpI/AAAAAAAAFks/k--opNlFOwo/s1600/1003349_10151740206778399_453245424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqDJCmIXyM/UuHfnH7SHpI/AAAAAAAAFks/k--opNlFOwo/s1600/1003349_10151740206778399_453245424_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Lesbian senate candidate <b>Elizabeth Castillo</b> (right) who was also part of the debate and happens to be one of the first women to be granted a marriage license in Colombia - despite an unsuccessful court challenge by Mr. Suarez- put him in place:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Mr. Suarez is prone to launching legal attacks and he does it badly," she argued, "He might claim to have gone to law school but he's not a lawyer; he might claim he has studied theology and it might be true but he's not a theologist and the way he has used the law is an affront to legal theory; he uses 'tutelas' and lawsuits in a manner that is totally inappropriate and in ways that create total confusion. Tomorrow I could easily go and sue him for five hundred million dollars or five million dollars because I feel personally afflicted by his systematic persecution against my marriage which I might point out is still valid despite his efforts." </blockquote>
The main question about Mr. Suarez is not his legal abilities (he has lost every effort to challenge the few same-sex marriage licenses that have been granted in Colombia) but who is funding his one-man efforts.<br />
<br />
He clearly has an ally in the office of the ultra-homophobic and powerful Inspector Genera; Rafael Ordoñez but it is rumored that his anti-gay efforts and senate campaigns are receiving a lot of money from U.S. based religious institutions as well.<br />
<br />
If you would like to support a truly inclusive Colombian senate campaign, please follow Elizabeth Castillo on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/EcastilloVa">here</a>) and YouTube (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ElizabethAlSenado?feature=watch">here</a>). As if it needed to be said, full disclosure, the amazing Elizabeth Castillo is a friend of mine.<br />
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Love her.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-leading-opponent-of-same-sex-marriage.html#.UuIJ0fYo4YE">Leading opponent of same-sex marriage in Colombia outed as a gay man</a> (Nov. 13, 2013)</li>
</ul>
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</div>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-31752589487978443182013-12-27T15:10:00.000-05:002013-12-27T15:10:59.383-05:00Gays are not allowed to serve in military because they are neither female or male: Bolivian Defense Minister<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyx1UBtURwI/Ur3PEDO2TKI/AAAAAAAAFi8/C2zf681ia4Q/s1600/saavedraviceministrodefensa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyx1UBtURwI/Ur3PEDO2TKI/AAAAAAAAFi8/C2zf681ia4Q/s1600/saavedraviceministrodefensa.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolivian Defense Minister Rubén Saavedra.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The stupid, it hurts!<br />
<br />
An article published ten days ago in a Bolivian newspaper indicating military leaders had reached an agreement in principle to include gays in the Bolivian military must have ruffled some feathers higher up because today the nation's Defense Minister publicly rejected those speculations.<br />
<br />
The rumors began when Bolivia's Minister of Decolonization <b>Félix Cárdenas</b> spoke to <b>El Deber</b> on December 16th and said an agreement on allowing gays and lesbians in the military had been in the works since 2010 and that a number of higher military officials had committed, in principle, to begin those efforts <a href="http://www.eldeber.com.bo/las-ffaa-daran-cupos-a-gais-para-que-ingresen-a-sus-filas/131215221806">during a meeting he organized between military leaders and members of the general population</a>.<br />
<br />
"No limits should be placed on any person that wishes to join the military," Cárdenas said indicating that the Bolivian legislature should follow up on the agreement and work on instituting these changes.<br />
<br />
Today it is a different story with <b>Página 7</b> reporting the nation's Defense Minister <b>Rubén Saavedra</b> is <a href="http://www.paginasiete.bo/sociedad/2013/12/27/gobierno-dice-institutos-militares-recibiran-gays-9740.html">having none of it</a>.<br />
<br />
"The Political Constitution of the Sate indicates that only males can participate in mandatory military service and only males and females can join military institutes and schools, there is no other option" Saavedra said.<br />
<br />
"Take it for certain, you have to be male or female," he added.<br />
<br />
In other words gays and lesbians are neither female or male and this they cannot serve in the military. LOL.<br />
<br />
This of course from the Defense Ministry of a country whose president <b>Evo Morales</b> once claimed that <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2010/04/bolivia-president-evo-morales-says.html#.Ur3d1PYS1jM">eating imported non-organic chicken might lead to homosexuality</a>.<br />
<br />
When reached by Página 7 some of the higher military leaders also denied ever signing the previously reported agreement.<br />
<br />
The only point on which the Defense Minister and the Minister of Decolonization agree is that if gays and lesbians ever allowed to serve in the military it will have to happen through a legislative measure.Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-43842991855379358682013-12-27T11:23:00.003-05:002013-12-27T11:23:33.432-05:00Venezuelan government urged to provide political asylum to gay Ugandans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
On Wednesday members from a number of "sexually diverse" organizations friendly to the Nicolás Maduro government announced they would petition the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry to grant political asylum to any LGBT Ugandan citizen seeking refuge in the country.<br />
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The announcement, <a href="http://www.avn.info.ve/node/212623">carried by the official government news agency AVN</a>, said the groups would submit a written statement to a Foreign Ministry representative urging the government to "suspend any type of collaboration or plans to strengthen a relationship with Uganda by making a public statement addressed to the international community and Uganda and to and grant political asylum to gay Ugandans."<br />
<br />
On Thursday, members of the <b>Hugo Chávez Command for Sexual Diversity</b>, <b>Equality Venezuela</b> and the <b>Venezuelan United Socialist Party Youth Committe</b> handed the letter to an an unnamed representative outside the Foreign Ministry offices and said that they decided to speak up as citizens of an important nation.<br />
<br />
"The reason we came to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry is that we do not consider the Bolivarian Government to be just any government at this time in the world - at least among third world countries," said Chea Rodriguez <a href="http://www.noticias24.com/venezuela/noticia/215077/solicitan-a-la-cancilleria-venezolana-que-ofrezca-asilo-a-homosexuales-ugandeses/">speaking to the EFE news agency</a>, adding "this is a country that has great influence."<br />
<br />
The LGBT community in Venezuela is as politically polarized as the general Venezuelan citizenship with LGBT allies to the Maduro government preferring to call themselves the "sexually diverse" instead of lesbian, gay, bisexal or transgender.<br />
<br />
They have defended him from charges he <a href="http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2013/03/venezuelan-presidential-candidate.html#.Ur2nWfYS1jM">used homophobic tactics against the opposition in the past</a> and believe that his government will grant them rights never achieved in the many years Hugo Chávez held on to the presidency.<br />
<br />
But, as surprising as it is that AVN carried the first reports of plans by these "sexually diverse" organizations to ask the government to condemn Uganda's homophobic policies it remains to be seen if the Maduro government actually responds considering he has also met and enjoys <a href="http://blogs.cfr.org/oneil/2013/08/20/guest-post-maduros-limited-foreign-policy-agenda/">a friendly relationship with </a><span class="caption"><a href="http://blogs.cfr.org/oneil/2013/08/20/guest-post-maduros-limited-foreign-policy-agenda/">Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a> and has never raised a finger to protest <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/24/us.iran/">Iran's policies towards the Iranian LGBT population</a>.</span><br />
<span class="caption"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span class="caption">RELATED:</span></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="caption"><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/131226/venezuela-urged-offer-asylum-ugandan-gays">Venezuela urged to offer asylum to Ugandan gays</a> (EFE via Global Post)</span></li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-48109317259583294622013-12-26T22:16:00.000-05:002014-01-08T13:54:50.604-05:00Spain to sign bilateral accord with Russia banning Spanish same-sex couples from adopting Russian children<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eSZlJ1qPI0/UrzBkZEUjsI/AAAAAAAAFic/nMtYYEI3f-w/s1600/Adopcion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eSZlJ1qPI0/UrzBkZEUjsI/AAAAAAAAFic/nMtYYEI3f-w/s1600/Adopcion.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene from a 2013 marriage equality demonstration in France.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <b>Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics</b> are only six weeks away and there are no signs that the Russian government is anywhere close to disavowing any of its recently enacted anti-gay policies despite international pressure. <br />
<br />
France, Germany and the United States <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-biden-to-skip-the-winter-olympics-in-russia/2013/12/17/f7fbb148-676b-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html">have already announced they will be keeping their top diplomats away from the event</a> and the U.S. and has also said their official delegation will include three openly gay former athletes in a clear dig at Russian policies. Similarly the European Parliament <a href="http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-parliament-condemns-russias-federal-censorship-law/">condemned these laws in June</a> and European Commission Vice President <b>Vivian Redding</b> announced she was <a href="http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-commission-vice-president-boycotts-sochi-over-minority-rights/">boycotting the games on December 9th</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
I will certainly not go to Sotchi as long as minorities are treated the way they are under the current Russian legislation<br />
— Viviane Reding (@VivianeRedingEU) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivianeRedingEU/statuses/410127509674803200">December 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Until now most of the international attention has focused on so-called "anti-gay propaganda laws" which ban the "promotion" of homosexuality but some have also expressed dismay about recent Russian efforts to clamp down on international adoptions as well.<br />
<br />
The <i>Los Angeles Times</i> took a look on <a href="http://www.latimes.com/great-reads/la-fg-russian-adoptions-20130521-dto,0,351939.htmlstory#axzz2od8HN87I">the impact of a Russian law restricting adoptions from the United States that went into effect on January 1st</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The new Russian law banning adoptions by U.S. families that took
effect Jan. 1 erased the Nagels' plans to bring Timofey to America in
March. In all, it stranded more than 330 families who had already begun
stitching hoped-for Russian adoptees into the webs of their lives. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We have all these sorts of feelings of grief that we could process —
if we didn't know he's still out there," said Andy Nagel, 31, an
assistant pastor at a Presbyterian church in Germantown, Md. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The estimated 1,000 Russian adoptions annually by American families
has been a tender subject in the Kremlin for years. Though an estimated
300,000 orphans languish in about 3,000 facilities across Russia,
handing them over to a former Cold War enemy can strike a painful note. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The occasional story of a Russian adoptee abused or neglected in an
American home — as in the case of 21-month-old Dima Yakovlev, who died
in 2008 when his American father left him in a hot car for nine hours —
sparks outraged headlines across the country. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But critics say the motivation for the ban was not so much concern over
potential harm — they point out that far more orphans die after being
adopted in Russian homes — as it was reprisal for a U.S. statute
focusing on human rights in Russia. </blockquote>
Furthermore in July, a week after the "anti-gay propaganda" laws were signed, Russian president <b>Vladimir Putin</b> also signed a law <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/us-russia-putin-gay-idUSBRE96210N20130703">explicitly banning adoption rights for same-sex couples</a>.<br />
<br />
In effect the law applied to all same-sex foreign couples wishing to adopt as well as heterosexual couples from countries that allowed same-sex couples to marry.<br />
<br />
Though little noticed at the time, the effect was felt immediately in countries such as Canada ("<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/russia-quashes-halifax-couple-s-hopes-of-adopting-a-child-1.2159683">Russia quashes Halifax couple's hope of adoption</a>"), Sweden ("<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/russia-adoptions-sweden-gay-parents_n_4045252.html">Russia stops adoptions to Sweden</a>") and Spain ("<a href="http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/sociedad/cientos-adopciones-espanolas-paradas-por-homofobia-putin-2645761">Hundreds of Spanish adoptions halted by Putin's homophobia</a>").<br />
<br />
Shockingly instead of condemning these discriminatory turn of events both Sweden and Spain have shown a willingness to change their adoption treaties to meet Russia's homophobic demands and last week <i>El País</i> said <a href="http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/2013/12/19/actualidad/1387464921_291660.html">Spain was ready to sign a new bilateral adoption agreement which would, in fact, kick Spanish same-sex couples to the curb</a>.<br />
<br />
The agreement would open up the possibility for Spanish heterosexual couples to adopt Russian children once again as long as Spain makes a commitment to keep Russian children from being adopted by same-sex couples. From the article:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The government has authorized the international accord on adoptions between Spain and Russia - pending since 2009 - during a meeting that took place on December 20th at the Council of Ministers. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The announcement was made by Vice President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who said the accord was adopted at a meeting between Spanish and Russian authorities that took place on October 3rd in Madrid. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Last August the Russian Supreme Court which ordered a hold on any proceedings with countries that allow gay marriage until there was a bilateral accord guaranteeing the children would not be raised by homosexuals including in the case of orphans. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Since then 500 Spanish families have been affected and, as a result, negotiations between Madrid and Moscow had intensified. "We would like to renew these adoptions," said Santamaría.</blockquote>
Governmental sources tell the paper that the accord will be signed in January and might go into effect by April after Russian authorities had a chance to process the paperwork. In cases the adopted children are abandoned in Spain or lose their Spanish parents Russia also requires Spain to report where they have been relocated to make sure that even in those circumstances the Russian child does not end up being raised by a Spanish same-sex couple.<br />
<br />
A sad development in the country that became the first Spanish-speaking nation to pass a marriage equality law back in 2005.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #1:</b></span> The pro-Putin <i>Voice of Russia</i> reported on December 23rd that <a href="http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_23/Russia-to-have-child-adoption-agreements-with-UK-Israel-children-s-rights-Ombudsman-1895/">bilateral adoption agreements with the U.K. and Israel</a> were also in the works although it doesn't mention whether it would demand those countries place restrictions on same-sex parents.<br />
<br />
It does say that an agreement with Ireland is on hold due to concerns that there were too many American couples with Irish passports who might try to circumvent the blanket ban keeping U.S. citizens from adopting.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #2: </b></span>It appears that Canada might also be considering signing a bi-lateral agreement with Russia to "unfreeze" a number of stalled adoptions in process ("<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/russias-gay-marriage-memo-puts-canadian-adoptions-in-doubt/article16239802/">Russia's gay marriage memo puts Canadian adoptions at risk</a>", The Globe and Mail, Jan. 8, 2014).<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>ADDITIONAL SPANISH LANGUAGE SOURCES:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-gobierno-aprobara-proximas-semanas-convenio-adopciones-rusia-20131211093613.html">Government will approve adoption agreement with Russia "in the next few weeks"</a> (Dec. 11, 2013: Europa Press) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dosmanzanas.com/2013/12/el-gobierno-espanol-cede-ante-rusia-y-acepta-discriminar-a-parejas-del-mismo-sexo-y-personas-homosexuales-en-un-convenio-bilateral.html">Spanish government caves in to Russia and agrees to discriminate against gay couples in bilateral agreement</a> (Dec. 22, 2013: Dos Manzanas)</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>REACTIONS:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.advocate.com/parenting/2013/12/31/reports-spain-sign-accord-russia-barring-gays-adopting">Reports: Spain to sign accord with Russia barring gays from adopting</a> (The Advocate)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2013/12/spain-colludes-with-russia-to-ban-same-sex-adoptions-of-russian-children.html">Spain colludes with Russia to ban same-sex adotion of Russian children</a> (Towleroad)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295213.post-87595182990425047472013-12-21T03:16:00.001-05:002013-12-24T18:13:55.282-05:00Historic: Cuba protects workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation (Report)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PY-HpyJ6dg/UrUpRfey4bI/AAAAAAAAFh0/J17UYXNZiqA/s1600/11466092013_88252ef91d_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PY-HpyJ6dg/UrUpRfey4bI/AAAAAAAAFh0/J17UYXNZiqA/s1600/11466092013_88252ef91d_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuban parliament as they debated adding adding anti-LGBT discrimination language to the island's labor laws (via <a href="http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2013/12/20/raul-preside-sesiones-del-parlamento-cubano/#.UrUWVxqKOSg.twitter">CubaDebate)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In what Cuban LGBT advocates are calling a historic victory the Cuban parliament has reportedly adopted changes to the island's labor codes to include language that explicitly bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lR75Tqt_FA/UrU6aaW6YZI/AAAAAAAAFiI/8SfKHXmiw8c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-12-21+at+1.41.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lR75Tqt_FA/UrU6aaW6YZI/AAAAAAAAFiI/8SfKHXmiw8c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-12-21+at+1.41.30+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Blogger <b>Francisco Rodriguez</b> who is better known by his <i>nom de plume</i> <b>Paquito El De Cuba</b> broke the news on Friday evening with a <a href="https://twitter.com/paquitoeldecuba">series of tweets</a> in Spanish that read as follows:<br />
<br />
"Experienced a countless number of emotions today at the Parliament. We now have the 1st law that protects gays, in this case at the workplace. The intense parliamentary debate left it almost for certain that the labor law will also ban discrimination based on gender identity. [President <b>Raul Castro</b>'s daughter] <b>Mariela Castro</b> proposed banning discrimination based on gender identity and obtained the support of Christian and intellectual parliamentary leaders."<br />
<br />
The parliament is currently taking a look at suggested changes to the labor code and approving them section by section during a series of parliamentary debates which began on Friday.<br />
<br />
In a follow-up blog post in which he expanded his thoughts Francisco stated that a majority of the parliament voted in favor of banning discrimination based on sexual orientation at work ("<a href="http://paquitoeldecuba.com/2013/12/21/lo-logramos-o-primera-ley-cubana-que-protege-derechos-de-personas-lgbt/">We succeeded! The first Cuban law to protect LGBT people's rights</a>").<br />
<br />
He also said that while other protections had yet to be approved Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban president Raul Castro and newly elected member of the parliament, stood up and called for additional language banning employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity, HIV status and disability. Francisco says that while some deputies spoke against the measures they received immediate support from <b>Miriam Ofelia Ortega Suárez</b> who is also the first woman to be ordained as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Cuba as well as deputy <b>Pablo Odén Marichal</b> who is an Episcopalian pastor as well.<br />
<br />
Cuban vice president <b>Miguel Díaz-Canel</b>, who also has a seat in the parliament, said he recognized the political value of Mariela Castro's proposals and suggested the creation of a parliamentary commission to study and implement the suggestions. President Raul Castro who led the Friday parliamentary sessions backed the proposal and a majority voted in favor of sending the additional proposals to a committee.<br />
<br />
The specific language banning employment discrimination specifically based on sexual orientation was approved by the same majority vote and is, in effect, a done deal according to Francisco.<br />
<br />
Writing before the vote took place blogger <b>Camilo Garcia</b> - better known as <b>k1000g </b>- wrote that, if passed, it would "be the first time in the history of Cuba when there is a bill explicitly protecting the rights –specifically at their working environment– of the people who have decided to live openly in contrast with heterosexual norms" ("<a href="http://k1000g.blogspot.com/2013/12/on-eve-of-significant-step.html">On the eve of a significant step</a>").<br />
<br />
Camilo ends by writing the following:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It also constitutes a valuable step, because it was the citizenship participation that brought this issue to the legislation. It happened without any public action, because –as expected-- the national media did not say a word about it during the numerous press reports they have published in the last few months during this process... Something like this makes us think in two things: It may be a demonstration that the perception of the Cuban people about sexual orientation is changing, slightly for good, and that people have lost their fear to talk about it and to defend openly their rights openly. Then we are also talking about an important step against patriarchal power in Cuba... It will also be an action of historic fairness ¿How many people we know that haven’t had access to a job, or have left their profession, due to homophobic actions? ¿How many we know who has suffered in silence all their lives, or have taken more radical decisions –emigration or even suicide– as a result of homophobia? It is clear that this step brings more challenges. Among them, the necessary changes in regulations not to leave the new Working Code to fall on deaf ears. The subject of “gender identity” is still pending because –although people don’t understand it– trans people may not be homosexuals… and they still remain excluded from this piece of legislation. Besides, there’s still an urgent need of a wide and effective education campaign among the general population that addresses respect to sexual rights. In May 2013 <a href="http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_map_2013_A4.pdf">the ILGA map</a> recognized that 66 countries have adopted explicit protection rules over these peoples. Cuba might be number 67 and keep taking new significant steps… because it is important to work out on policies that protect the rights of all people – and including sexual orientation as it was done at the 2012 Party Conference – but it is more important to make those commitments real by making them the law.</blockquote>
During the Friday session President Raul Castro also honored the late former South African president and human rights giant <b>Nelson Mandela</b>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #1:</b></span> In a previous post before the law was approved Francisco took a look at the pluses and minuses of the measure and highlighted removal of language that would have protected Cubans from employment discrimination based on "political opinion" which had been included in a first draft. Francisco called it <a href="http://paquitoeldecuba.com/2013/12/19/incluyen-clausula-contra-discriminacion-por-orientacion-sexual-en-proyecto-de-codigo-de-trabajo/">a major step back</a>. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #2:</b></span> <b>Michael Lavers</b> at the <b>Washington Blade</b> touched base with some of the leading critics of the Cuban government in the U.S. regarding this post. None of them were aware of the developments but they try to walk back some of the statements in this post.<br />
<br />
Cuban-born Republican <b>U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen</b> was particularly dismissive of any claims that the Cuban government might be advancing on LGBT rights telling the Blade as follows:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The tyrannical regime in Cuba likes to fool those who are easily
fooled but, unless there are human rights for all, there can be no true
rights just for gays. One would have to be quite gullible to give any credence to
reports that the non-freely elected sham of a parliament has passed an
non-discrimination law regarding individuals who are LGBT. The Castro
regime allows no freedom but it knows how to sugar coat its horrid human
rights record by promoting a law that will never mean a thing. The
Cuban people deserve freedom, whether they are gay or straight. Liberty
knows no gender identity. </blockquote>
You can read more <a href="http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/12/21/cuban-lawmakers-ban-anti-gay-employment-discrimination/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #3:</b></span> Rep. Ros-Lehitenen tweets: <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Don't fall 4 this sham. There's no freedom in <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cuba&src=hash">#Cuba</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/marielacastro">@marielacastro</a> is part of despotic regime. Don't be duped! <a href="http://t.co/PWrwAzzJhJ">http://t.co/PWrwAzzJhJ</a><br />
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) <a href="https://twitter.com/RosLehtinen/statuses/414589320809680897">December 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE #4:</b></span> Well known Cuban government dissident Orlando Luis Pardo, taking notice that language prohibiting discrimination based on political opinion was eliminated from the bill, took to Twitter to express his displeasure.<br />
<br />
"CUBAN POLITICAL APARTHEID," he writes adding a link to Francisco's blog post, "You can be LGBT or black in Cuba but not a Democrat of anti-Castro".<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
APARTHEID POLÍTICO EN CUBA <a href="http://t.co/Ug5LFDDisx">http://t.co/Ug5LFDDisx</a> Se puede ser LGBT o negro pero no demócrata ni antiCastro <a href="https://twitter.com/paquitoeldecuba">@paquitoeldecuba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CastroEspinM">@CastroEspinM</a><br />
— Orlando Luis Pardo (@OLPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/OLPL/statuses/414797230411755521">December 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
To be updated as more information becomes available.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>RELATED:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=100781">Cuban Labor Code to Protect LGBT Rights</a> (Havana Times) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ipscuba.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=8636%3Acuba-tiene-un-nuevo-c%C3%B3digo-de-trabajo-m%C3%A1s-inclusivo&Itemid=5">Cuba tiene un nuevo Código de Trabajo más inclusivo</a> (IPS) </li>
</ul>
Blabbeandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768984022990770879noreply@blogger.com0