Whitney Paige

Congratulations to Whitney Paige...our new Gay USofA Classic!!!!!!!

Go WHIT WHIT!!!!!!!

Video of Tuesday's Prelim to Miss Gay USofA

Federal ban on gay men's blood donation to be reconsidered

CNN) -- When Mark Shields started his job at the American Red Cross in Madison, Wisconsin, he rolled up his sleeve to give blood. It made sense. Part of his job was encouraging the public to donate and supporting the organization's lifesaving mission.

Before he could give, he was told that his blood could never be accepted. Because he's gay.
"I was 23 at the time. I was just coming out," he said. "I was trying to be part of our organization's mission and feeling like I can't do this. ... I certainly felt put on the spot. It was a bad feeling for a lot of reasons."
Under Food and Drug Administration rules, men who have had sex -- even once -- with another man since 1977 are not permitted to give blood. The rule was implemented in 1983, sparked by concerns that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was tainting the blood supply. Screening tests to identify HIV-positive blood had not been developed. The policy was seen as a safety measure.

Mark Shields promoted blood donations for two years at the American Red Cross.But today, with the availability of more accurate testing, activists, blood organizations and several U.S. senators say the lifetime ban is "medically and scientifically unwarranted" and are calling for change.
The Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability will consider the issue in meetings June 10 and 11 in Rockville, Maryland. The committee makes recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA.

Medical opinions vary; some experts say that lifting the ban could pose health risks to blood recipients.
The Human Rights Campaign, the American Red Cross, America's Blood Centers and AABB, formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, support easing the lifetime ban to allow gay blood donors. In a joint statement, the blood organizations said that safety was the first priority and that potential donors should be screened more fairly, regardless of sexual orientation.


About three months ago, Sen. John Kerry and 17 other senators signed a letter to the FDA blasting its "outdated" policy.



Gay men, including those who are in monogamous relationships, are forbidden from contributing blood for the rest of their lives, while "a heterosexual who has had sex with a prostitute need only wait a year [before giving blood]. That does not strike me as a sound scientific conclusion," Kerry wrote in a March 9 letter.
The FDA defended its current policy in an e-mailed statement to CNN.com: The policy, it said, is "based on scientific data that show that certain medical, behavioral and geographical factors are associated with increased risk of transfusion transmitted diseases."


The agency has been "taking into account the current body of scientific information, and we are considering the possibility of pursuing alternative strategies that maintain blood safety," the statement said.


The FDA retained the ban on gay blood donors after reviewing the issue in 2000 and 2006.
Health statistics show that men who have sex with men have a higher rate of diseases including HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Gay men who would be likely to donate have an HIV prevalence that is over 15 times higher than that of the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


FDA: Blood donation questions and answers


"I do not see this being a gay rights issue," said Dr. Jay Brooks, professor of pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, adding that he favors gay marriage and gays serving in the military.


The issue of blood donation has "nothing to do with someone being gay. Any group that's epidemiologically at risk of making blood unsafe, it's unfortunate. ... It's a matter of epidemiology."
The different standards between gay and straight people exists because the risk of HIV is much lower in heterosexuals, he said.


"The interest of the recipient is greater than any donor," Brooks said. "I'd hate to tell the one person who got HIV through a blood transfusion, 'Sorry, we changed the regulation.' "
These days, blood screenings are so effective in detecting diseases that the risk of such infection is very small, said Dr. Norbert Gilmore, a professor and clinician at the McGill University Health Center in Canada.
The blood donations go through HIV antigen screening (to detect antibodies produced by the body in response to the virus) and nucleic acid testing. However, there is a "window period" for about two weeks after an individual becomes infected with HIV when these tests cannot detect the virus.
But that risk of this infection is "so small, we should look at the day-to-day realities rather than those infinitesimal risks," said Gilmore, whose research published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal criticized the ban in Canada and the U.S. as unscientific.





The most important issue in this debate should be the safety of the patients, said Mark Skinner, president of the World Federation of Hemophilia.
"This isn't an issue just about HIV. It isn't a gay issue," he said. "This is an issue that relates to safety in the blood supply. Those decisions should be made on science, not based on societal concerns. We readily recognize the MSM [men who have sex with men] ban is discriminatory, but it's discriminatory for a reason.
"What we're looking for is a thoughtful review. We're not opposed to the change. We want to understand what additional risks patients might be asked to accept," he said.
Shawn Decker, a hemophiliac who contracted HIV through contaminated blood products, said he supports allowing gay men to donate blood.

Read more about Shawn Decker
Potential donors should be screened based on risky behaviors such as unprotected sex or intravenous drug use, not sexual orientation, he said.
Decker said he was looking forward to a time when "those very allies and friends" in the gay community "are allowed to pony up and give the blood that is used to create my treatments for hemophilia."

Lt. Dan Choi Not Happy

I kind of see his point...what do you think?

Events in Atlanta

MondoHomo


Yes, it’s this week, and we’ll be updating you with details as the days count down. But how could we not include the MondoHomo Dirty South Festival, a grassroots startup that has become an annual must-do?

WHO: LGBTQQI alternaqueers who like to rock

WHAT: Arts, counterculture, social justice, DJs, drag, burlesque, politics, slam poetry, theater, dance parties and more disco, punk, hiphop and electro acts than you can handle.

WHEN: May 27-31

WHERE: Mostly at Eyedrum Gallery

WHY: Because there should be room for everyone in the queer village.

The March

SOMB...Shirt off my back but Laura Gentle

White House to end DADT

Gay Internet politics are weird and kooky. The mode is 24/7 distemper and disappointment. Even victories are dismissed with historical analysis that have zilch connection with actual history.




Take yesterday’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” deal brokered at the White House. Sure it’s a compromise. There are thresholds that need to be met, and the Defense Department’s study still gets to be completed by December; however, repeal is official policy. I’ll say that again. The repeal of DADT is official policy. The question now focuses on when, not if.



Still think Obama sold us out and is no different from your standard Malawi judge? Fine. Here is the Palm Center’s director Aaron Belkin in a press release.



“For the past seventeen years, every expert who has studied this policy has emphasized that dismantling it [DADT] would require leadership. Leadership is what the President showed today.”



Want to accuse Belkin of being an Obama stooge? What about this line from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network?



“The White House announcement is a dramatic breakthrough in dismantling ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ The path forward crafted by the President, Department of Defense officials, and repeal leaders on Capitol Hill respects the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service and allows for a vote this week,” said SLDN’s executive director Aubrey Sarvis. “President Obama’s support and Secretary Gates’ buy-in should insure a winning vote, but we are not there yet. The votes still need to be worked and counted.”



That last sentence is for you. You want DADT to be a relic like military segregation? Well it’s time to give Congress a call. Why? Because the approved proposal is an amendment to the annual defense spending bill.



I’ll make it real easy for you. Here is contact information for U.S. senators and representatives.

http://www.365gay.com/blog/052510-the-white-house-takes-the-step-to-end-dadt/

USofA Highlights

Complements of Brent Silver

The Time Has Come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today starts a 4 day battle for Miss Gay USofA 2010-2011. I don't know about you all but I'm excited and can't wait to see who the new winner will be. I know everyone in my house hold is rooting for Jayda Iman Alexander. What about yours?
Details will come the minute I find out what's going on...stay tuned!!!!!!!

Tuesday's Tease

Model SEAN BILOSKI YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Monday's Muse

Actor/Model..Christian Keyes...YES YES Y

ESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Go Head On NANCY P!!!!

Nancy Pelosi spoke to The Hill recently about her conviction to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this legislative term. She is convinced the House of Representatives can pass a repeal of the restrictive Clinton-era law. This is good news! She also intimated that it may be done by adding the repeal to the defense authorization bill, a favored tactic of many Democrats. The bad news? ENDA may not have the same momentum. Though she supports ENDA her words are less convincing, “When the opportunity is there, we want to bring that up, and I hope that will be soon. We’ll see what people want to do. It’s not my own personal decision. We’ll just see where we go from here.” Come on Nancy, it’s way past time.

http://www.365gay.com/topics/news_politics/weekend-watercooler-dadt-is-ending-lgbt-students-get-a-hero/

Anti Bully Law....GLORY GLORY GLORY

"• Governor Smiley, makes me smile. On Thursday, Senator Al Franken introduced the long awaited Student Non-Discrimination Act. This bill would protect GLBT students and those perceived to be LGBT from bullies and the school administrators that refuse to protect them. The bill put an end to discrimination for LGBT students and administrators who ignore harassing behavior. Violators of the law would possibly loose federal funding and would open themselves up to lawsuits under the law. Franken said, “Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability and national origin. My proposal corrects a glaring injustice and extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who need them just as badly.” It’s nice to know that someone is looking out for the most vulnerable of children."

I think this is simply beautiful and I hope people actually take this serious!!!!!!! One more to check off of our list!!!!!YAYYYYYY

What would you do?

This Video is a must see...All I can say is WOW!

Kara Ross off to American Idol

According to Gay USofA press, Kara Young Ross will not be able to sit in as Judge for Miss Gay USofA 2009-2010. She is set to travel with the Great Gladys Knight with a commitment to style Knight's hair during her time on American Idol. Khori T. Ross will be sitting in for Kara at panel.

Best of Luck to Kara and to Khori on their new jobs!!!!!!!!

Malawi Gay Couple Jailed

CNN) -- A gay couple in Malawi, found guilty of gross indecency and unnatural acts after they took part in an "engagement ceremony," was sentenced to 14 years in prison Thursday.

Steven Mojenza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were convicted in a court Tuesday.

The pair was arrested in December at their home in Blantyre, Malawi, for professing their love in a traditional engagement ceremony. They were rounded up after news reports surfaced, charged under colonial-era sodomy laws and detained at Chichiru Prison without bail.

The arrests received some popular support in the conservative southern African nation, but sparked condemnation by gay rights activists. Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for the release of the couple.

Prop H8..Lights Camera Action

More than a dozen mainstream media news organizations petitioned a federal judge Tuesday to allow broadcast of closing arguments in the Proposition 8 lawsuit.


Send / ShareAdd CommentIn a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, the news groups say such a broadcast, and webcast, would “enhance the public’s ability to witness the parties’ respective closing arguments in this historic case.” They ask Walker to once again seek approval from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski to include closing arguments under the circuit’s pilot project on broadcast of court proceedings.

The letter was delivered to Walker on behalf of NBC and CBS, Fox News, Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Cable News Network, In Session (formerly known as Court TV), and other large media interests.

The unprecedented interest in the case challenging Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban, prompted Walker initially to seek approval for some limited live broadcast of the proceedings, as well as delayed viewing on youtube.com. But before the trial got underway, in January, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened and prohibited Walker from making a broadcast of the proceedings available anywhere outside the federal courthouse in San Francisco.

The 5 to 4 majority of the Supreme Court indicated its decision to bar broadcast of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial was based –not on the merits of whether this trial should be made available for public viewing, but rather because— “it appears the courts below did not follow the appropriate procedures set forth in federal law before changing their rules to allow such broadcasting.”

Specifically, the majority suggested that Walker allowed only five business days for public comment on his plan to make the proceedings public, whereas “administrative agencies…usually” provide 30 days or more.

In their letter to Walker, the news organizations note that the federal district court has, since that time, re-opened the public comment period for 30 days and set forth the rules to authorize “the taking of photographs, public broadcasting or televising, or recording” court proceedings as part of the 9th Circuit’s pilot project. The news groups say they believe those developments make broadcast of closing argument “consistent with federal law” and the Supreme Court’s initial ruling.

The groups also note that earlier objections by defendants that broadcast of the proceedings could make them vulnerable to criticism or harassment from people who disagree with them are not at issue in the closing arguments since only attorneys will be speaking in court.

The case has received considerable media attention in part because two high-profile attorneys –conservative Ted Olson and liberal David Boies—are heading up the legal team challenging the anti-gay initiative.

As of Tuesday night, Walker had not yet indicated whether he would seek approval for the broadcast.

Closing argument is scheduled for June 16.


 2010 Keen News Service

http://www.365gay.com/news/media-asks-for-broadcast-of-prop-8-closing-argument/

Thursday's Thunder

Model Miguel Orjuela

Really NYC?

This is funny and sad. Gay marriage does not exist in New York; however, when gay couples head to the Big Apple’s City Hall to register as domestic couples they soon will get the same ceremony straight couples receive.

These spanking new bell and whistles start on June 3. I guess some thanks are in order, but has it come to this? Offering us all the taste, without the calories? The sentiment makes perfect sense. When straight couples looked for their piece of paper from the City Hall, they got a ceremony. Domestic partners were only handed a certificate.

By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog 05.18.2010 9:21am EDT

Wednesday's Wonder

Actor/Model/Dancer Marcus Patrick LAWD YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Tuesday's Tease

Model Neo Anderson YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS