Homophobia on Fox News

John Gibson of Fox News Talk Network announced the death of Brokeback Mountain star, Heath Ledger on Tuesday by mocking him and making light of his untimely passing.

Here what i received in an email alert ...

"Playing an audio clip of the iconic quote, 'I wish I knew how to quit you' from Ledger's gay romance movie Brokeback Mountain, Gibson disdainfully quipped, 'Well, he found out how to quit you.' Laughing, Gibson then played another clip from Brokeback Mountain in which Ledger said, 'We're dead,' followed by his own, mocking 'We're dead' before playing the clip again." Gibson called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem" and suggested that Ledger killed himself because he had "a serious position in the (stock) market" or perhaps "watched the Clinton-Obama debate last night. I think he was an Edwards guy, cause he saw his Edwards guy was just completely irrelevant."

Click here: thinkprogress.org/2008/01/23/gibson-mocks-ledger to listen to the audio of John Gibson's shameful handling of Heath Ledger's death. This action is no different than hatemonger Fred Phelps.

Fox News gets away with alot of stuff. I doubt there is a broadcaster is Canada that would allow this kind of hate. Make no mistake here, this is straight up conservative homophobia. Please take the time to email him, his show and the ceo of Fox Network.

Email john.gibson@foxnews.com and let him know your thoughts!

You can also email his show at: myword@foxnews.com and the network at yourcomments@foxnews.com and the CEO of Fox News, his info is roger.ailes@foxnews.com .

Al Gore comes out!

Al Gore has come out! Not a queer closet however, the "I don't have to worry about losing votes closet" to support gay marriage. Gore has done more for society since he left office than he could have in office it seems.

Here are his comments on gay marriage as posted on youtube.



Its helpful to have Gore speak out like this and I expect that in the next five years gays will be able to marry each other in many US States. The religious right are losing ground and will be pushed even further if the Democrats win the White house and hold onto congress.

This time the Democrats need to take stand up. I think everyone has waited long enough. See this article in the New York Times - Gore’s Gay Marriage Gambit.

Heath Ledger dead at 28

Health Ledger, Australian born actor and new "gay " icon has passed away suddenly in New York. AP is saying "A New York Police Department spokesman says actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a downtown Manhattan residence.

Ledger rose to fame palying the role of a closeted gay man in the runaway hit Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger on Ellen talking about his Oscar nomination



Heath Ledger was born April 4, 1979, in Perth, Australia. He left school at 17 and went to Sydney. His big break came in 1999 when he did landed a role in "10 Things I Hate About You". From there things were on the rise. He was hunky and cute. He had attracted a gay following before this and was selected to play the leading role in what has been seen as a breakthrough movie on homosexuality, Brokeback Mountain.

Ledger starred in the The Batman film, The Dark Knight to be released soon. Ledger was 28.


more here on Brokeback Mountain and gay men and cowboy culture

The New York Times report says "Ledger was discovered by the housekeeper and a masseuse who arrived in the afternoon for an appointment.

They knocked on the door, but "when no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger naked and unconscious on a bed. They shook him, but he did not respond," the Times said.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying pills were found near the body, but gave no further details."

CPP fails people living with HIV

Today thousands of survivors of HIV/AIDS on medical benefits/income support are doing much better. They would like to return to employment. They want to become full contributing citizens again, finding employment, performing a job or returning to a profession.

They are in this position largely due to huge advances in medical treatment, that has slowed the ravages of HIV, in many cases brought them back from the brink. Their immune systems are strong, viral loads are small or undetectable.

Many of these people on private insurance can return work. They have not needed to collect Canada Pension plan payments due to the good insurance they held. Those others, the vast majority have had to rely on welfare - income support programs to put a roof over their heads and to buy life's necessities like food, clothing, transportation, and over the counter medications not covered by provincial phama plans.

The provincial plans differ from province to province and in some cases city to city. Generally the value of these programs provide $300 to 5oo for housing, 200 to 300 for food, 100 for other things, like telephone, transportation, heat, lights etc. and maybe a nutritional allowance of 40 to 200 dollars. HIV meds and other medications are covered in full generally with the requirement for co-pay.

Once on this provincial plan you are required to apply for Canada Pension benefits. Anything received from CPP is then deducted from the provincial plan payment. Generally CPP payments come close to the total amount received on the provincial plan.

So after years of being on HIV meds, battling back to good health, you want to return to work, easy right? Its what we would like people to do if they can right?

The answer is right of course. So why are many apparently healthy HIV/AIDS folks remaining on the dole? Its the rules around CPP. If you collect it for a disability, and you return to work, you can't come back to it if your health makes it impossible to continue working. These people are in a catch 22. Once CPP is given up, its darn near impossible to get back.

What's the answer? It would seem all we need to do is change the rules around CPP. We could do that if you want to amend the constitution! That's not likely so we need a new plan. Many people in the HIV/AIDS support agencies are trying to find a solution to this problem, perhaps a new federal program? CPP isn't working for people with HIV/AIDS and its likely its not working for other people as well. We need a solution and a federal government willing to help make it happen.

more to come...

AIDS Walk OTTAWA

I am currently working for Pink Triangle Services in Ottawa. We are doing some fundraising for AIDS Walk.

Come join us and register to Walk by clicking on the link below: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/StartUp.aspx?TSID=163741

From our team page, please click 'Join our Team' to register for AIDS Walk for Life Ottawa and help us fundraise.

If you can't join us, please click 'Sponsor our Team' to make a quick and secure donation online.

Your efforts will help increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and raise money to provide essential services for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in our community.

If you have any questions, please contact me.Also, please share this event with everyone. Every little bit helps.

A Jihad For Love

A new documentary about Islam and homosexuality is showing at the Toronto International Film Festival

"A Jihad For Love," six years in the making, follows gay and lesbian Muslims battling racial profiling and harassment after the September 11 attacks and subsequent attacks in London and Madrid.

Indian filmmaker Parvez Sharma filmed gay Muslims in 12 countries and nine languages, including India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa and France, and always shot footage in secret to escape the attention of local authorities.

"We are presenting Islam's most unlikely storytellers," Sharma said of his debut feature, which does not yet have North American distribution.

There is a blog on this film by the director, Parvez Sharma. You can find it here.

Homosexuality and Islam

Below are some links from Jihad For Love Website

LGBT Muslims Online

Huriyah: A Queer Muslim Magazine
LGBT Muslims on Temenos.net
LGBT Muslim Web Ring
Queer Jihad
Queer Muslim Revolution


LGBT Muslim Organizations (Worldwide)

Al-Fatiha Foundation (USA)
Al-Fatiha-News (News & Stories on Islam, Gender and Sexuality)
Salaam Canada (Queer Muslim Community)
Imaan (Social & Support Group for LGBT Muslims in UK)
Safra Project (UK-based Resource Project Relating to LGBT
The Inner Circle (LGBT Muslim group based in South Africa)

Asylum & Refugee Information

AsylumLaw.org - Helping Win Asylum Cases Worldwide
Australia Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force
Canada Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force
Columbia University Law School - Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic
Guide to Preparing Sexual Orientation-Based Asylum Claims
Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)
Immigration Equality
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
Jobe Law Firm - Information on Asylum Based on Sexual Orientation
LGBT / HIV Asylum Manual (from Immigration Equality)
National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Orientation (NAPSO)
OUTfront - LGBT Program of Amnesty International USA
Sodomy Laws Around the World
UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group

Southeastern Asia

PT (Pink Triangle) Foundation - (HIV/AIDS Organization in Malaysia)
GAYa Nusantra (Gender & Sexuality Resource Centre based in Indonesia)

HIV/AIDS & Muslims

HIV/AIDS & Islam - Resources & Information
Vision (Pakistan)
Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bangladesh)

Middle East & Western Asia

Ahbab (Online Community for Queer Arabs Worldwide)
Al-Bab (An Open Door to the Arab World)
Bint el Nas - Cultural E-Zine for LGBT Arab Women
Lazeeza (Arab Lesbians Online)
Gay and Lesbian Arab Society
Aswat (Palestinian Arab Gay Women, Trans, Bi, Queer, Intersexual)
Helem (LGBT group in Lebanon)
Al-Qaws - Palestinian LGBT Project at Jerusalem Open House
Algerigay - LGBT Algerians
Kelma - LGBT North Africans in France
Gay and Lesbian Morocco
Kaos GL (LGBT Community Center & Organization based in Turkey)
Lambda Istanbul (First and Oldest Turkish LGBT group)
Southwest Asian and North African Bay Area Queers (San Francisco)
Syrian Same-Sex Society Network

South-Central Asia

Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO)
Boston MASALA - Massachusetts Area South Asian Lambda Association
Khush Texas (LGBT South Asians)
Satrang (Southern California South Asian Queer Organization
Sholay Productions (LGBT South Asians and friends) - NYC
South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) - New York City
Trikone Atlanta (LGBT South Asians)
Trikone Michigan (LGBT South Asians)
Trikone San Francisco (LGBT South Asians)

Ottawa Centre Election debate

There’s a debate for Ottawa Centre riding On QUEER ISSUES

Friday, Sep 14, 6-9pm
Andrew Haydon Hall (council chambers)
Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier

The majority of the time is given over to AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.

Confirmed candidates:
Liberal candidate Yasir Naqvi
NDP candidate Will Murray
PC candidate Trina Morissette

SPONSORED BY: CAPITAL XTRA, EGALE CANADA & CAPITAL PRIDE

See Ontario leaders comments on the GLBTTQ community from XTRA.CA

GLBTQ Health Fair - Ottawa

HIV/AIDS prevention outreach workers talk about pride and why the fair is important... I am in the second part of the clip...