Rainbows bustin loose...

As Pride season 2007 continues to heat up around the nation, there are many stories and happenings that I felt needed to be included in this forum. It's always been our goal to find unique items and topics that often get left off the table of breaking news items. I get tired of hearing the same old headlines or headliners, such as the next "Rosie O." outbreak or tepid human interest tidbit. The direction of this blog will continue to kick the envelope and find those stories, issues, concepts and challenging reports that you are not hearing about from your mainstream hookup. If you want cutting edge, then you will find it here first....

Straights Banned. Tom McFeely owner of The Peel Hotel in Melbourne, Australia has been granted a ruling allowing him to ban heterosexuals from the premises. Mr. McFeely said that the ruling was needed to keep his patrons safe. "If I can limit the number of heterosexuals entering the Peel, then that helps me keep the safe balance," he told Australian raido. The Victorian state civil and administrive tribunal concluded that the hotel could exclude patrons based on their sexuality, running contrary to the country's equal opportunity laws on discrimination. Commission Chief Helen Szoke said the hotels' gay clientele had experienced harassment and violence. Szoke further commented to reporters, "that they also have felt as though they've been like a zoo exhibit with big groups of women on hens' parties coming to the club."

Bad Blood Rationale: The Food and Drug Administration has announced on their website that the current lifetime ban on donating blood will remain in effect for gay and bisexual men. This policy will remain in affect despite 2006 testimony from the American Association of Blood Banks, America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross which stated that the lifetime ban for MSM's is "medically and scientifically unwarranted" and that "it does'nt appear rational to braodly differentiate sexual transmission via male to male sexual activity from heterosexual activity on scientific grounds." Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Executive Director Joel Ginsberg expressed his disappointment, citing "if a man has high-risk sex with a woman, he's allowed back into the pool after 12 months, but if he has safe sex with another man, He's banned for life. This isn't about science; it's about perconceptions about gay and bisexual men." This issue struck close to home recently when I gave my own blood for surgery. Even though the local staff was cooperative and extremely friendly, I still had an uneasy feeling as they entered my personal data into their system. The whole experience made me feel vulnerable, as another element of my life was exposed to government scrunity. Hopefully, the FDA will reconsider there decision, meanwhile finding a rationale blood donation guideline that will allow for a safe blood supply. But certainly founded on the best evidenced -based science and not misguided notions.

Out of The Closet: If you just happen to need that special Pride gift, why not check out, The Closet out on DVD. Produced by Maurice Townes and featuring a 68 member cast is a "gay soap opera with Black SGL (Same Gender Loving) men dealing with the various facets of their lives." In the Platinum edition box set you will find everything from the actual episodes to cast bloopers. It's on sale around the country, except anywhere in Arkansas ( go figure?) but you can get it directly from the website, www.thecloset.tv The men of The Closet: ( left to right) Evan Allison, Preston J. Horne, Kevin F. Allan, Shannon Crawford, Raphael Joseph and Isaias Castaneda

Quick Pick:

4th Annual Conway Pride Parade & Festival

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Simon Park ( located next to City Hall)

1201 Oak Street

Conway Arkansas

contact: 501.244-9690 or artchangesu2@sbcglobal.net for more info!!!

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