Birmingham Blues

Today is the 12th annual Day of Silence, a student-led effort to bring attention to anti-LGBT harassment and to make schools safer for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. I’m proud to say 14YOD’s high school is participating, and she’s going early to get a sticker. This year’s event is [...]

…to help him with his sackcloth-and-ashes praying-on-the-streetcorner extravaganza. Yep, he’s invited Bishop Eddie Long, “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement”, to participate in tomorrow’s spectacle [edit: scheduled for 6 PM CDT Friday 4/25]. Here’s a taste of what Bishop Long says in the pulpit:
“It is [...]

Melissa on Sen. Hillary Clinton’s interview with the Philadelphia Gay News. This is what I wanted to hear.

No, not “Yea, Alabama”…
A Circuit Court Judge overturned a decision by the Scottsboro Board of Education barring a lesbian couple from Scottsboro High’s prom — and issued his ruling in time for the girls to attend.
In making his 10:15 a.m. ruling Saturday, [Jackson County Circuit Judge John] Graham cited two federal court rulings. In one, [...]

Birmingham SHOUT, the city’s gay and lesbian film festival, is this Saturday, March 29, at WorkPlay. Click here for information on this year’s films. I’m particularly intrigued by the documentary “Chasing the Devil: Inside the Ex-Gay Movement”, which follows the paths of four people who claim they’ve actually changed their orientation from gay [...]

Remember how the Jefferson County Commission voted to allow two commissioners to give $15,000 to support a conference put on by the right-wing Eagle Forum? Yeah, me too. Despite some outcry from taxpayers, the Commission went ahead with the donation, and yesterday the Eagle Forum brought Phyllis Schlafly to town.
Schlafly, wearing her [...]

I know it’s getting a little easier. I don’t fall apart every single day now, but there’s still such a huge hole in my life. I guess there always will be.
The 10th annual hate crimes vigil in remembrance of the murder of Billy Jack Gaither and of other victims of violence will be [...]

I posted below on the general excellence of last night’s health care forum sponsored by Over the Mountain Democrats. It’s unfortunate that my strongest negative response was invoked by the Democratic politician on the panel.
I was not terribly surprised to hear Congressman Artur Davis advocating improvements and expansion of our existing system for health [...]

Alabama native Cody Lyon has a nice piece up at Edge on the Birmingham LGBT community, acknowledging progress in a city (and a state) that many people around the country still perceive as mired in prejudice. It features interviews with Equality Alabama’s Executive Director Danny Upton and newly elected school board member (and former [...]

We’ve had a hell of a week around here. I wish I had the words to describe it; perhaps that would exorcise some of the pain. My brother’s memorial service was beautiful, a reflection of his life and work. The church was full to overflowing with family, friends, and colleagues who came to remember his [...]