Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Star Spangle COP 24/7 part 2

We're having a tropical heatwave, a tropical heatwave...O.K. its not exactly a "tropical heatwave" but more like a Dante Inferno! Wild fires in both Utah and Colorado plus Zeus like thunder bolts busting up the landscape on the east coast, sending many states not only into darkness but more serious heat. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's just damn hot and this is only the first week of July. But as we do what we can to beat the heat, COP 24/7 is no stranger to a hot kitchen and then some. Since most of the firework displays are being cancelled due to the drought conditions, let's do some digital fireworks as a conciliation prize. Let's go for it!!!

OMG! Anderson Coopers is GAY?

As the news rolled out this AM that Anderson Cooper of CNN fame had broke his silence that he was in fact "gay," I kept thinking... REALLY?  So after all this time, the silver haired fox who I aptly named "giggles" due to his sometimes inability to stop giggling like a "girl in a school yard," had finally stepped forward to answer some question about his sexuality and obviously not a minute to soon for some. So what's the big deal, since it seems that the damn closet is so full that it can't hold anyone anymore. Of course the media states that it all started with none other than Ellen DeGeneres, however, I don't know about your but I've been living my life out loud for some three and half decades and no one seems to give a hoot. Yeah, I'm not nationally famous or nothing but my lived experiences are just as valuable and I did it not because I was forced or inquired about as some, but rather because that was who I was and will always be.

I applaud Mr.Cooper for sharing his thoughts via an email to journalist Andrew Sullivan that was posted on the Daily Beast, Anderson Cooper acknowledged that he is “gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.” This was reported on the EW.com website which detailed this supposedly ground breaking news. By my account the list of those outing themselves or otherwise is ongoing. The website cited The Big Bang Theory‘s Emmy winner Jim Parsons is gay, along with American Horror Story‘s Zachary Quinto and White Collar‘s Matt Bomer both having revealed their homosexuality in recent months, and any number of other gay TV personalities, from Modern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson to Glee‘s Jane Lynch to CNN anchor Don Lemon to Bravo’s Andy Cohen.

The list is quite impressive if you want to think about it including Clay Akins, Wanda Sykes, University of Maryland athlete Akil Patterson, WNBA's Sheryl Swoopes, Major League Glen Burke and there's Will Sheridan former Villanova star player who stated that "I'm trying to have a voice, and I want that voice to reach as many people as it can," he said. "I mean, look at me. I'm black. I'm gay. I'm like a quadruple minority, and I feel like a little piece of me resides in everybody. Maybe there's a kid out there who doesn't think he's OK, and he can look at me and say, 'OK, he played college basketball. He went overseas. He has a music career and now he's living his life. Now he's who he wants to be and he's happy and confident and comfortable.' It's my responsibility to talk about that."

After reading about him in OutSports, I though I would also share this brothers push to demonstrate his music talent and producing abilities. Its no secret that no matter where you are in you coming our process, take the time to know that loving yourself no matter what other's think is apart of the journey and when you love yourself, you can start the process of loving almost anyone. Be Proud, Be OUT but by all means be Yourself. And now Will Sheridan's YouTube mash up of his self produced work, "302.






Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Reauthorization


Submit written comments on the 2013 reauthorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program by July 31.
Participate in a listening session between July 9 and 18.

The Ryan White Program is the largest federal program specifically dedicated to providing HIV care and treatment. It funds heavily impacted metropolitan areas, states, and local community-based organizations to provide life-saving medical care, medications, and support services to more than half a million people each year: the uninsured and underinsured, racial and ethnic minorities, people of all ages. It  vitally important that locals consider either submitting written comments or participate in the listening sessions. Being aware of shifts and program changes esepcially in lieu of the affirmation of the Affordable Health Care Act should be of concerned to the entire HIV/AIDS community and beyond. The Living Affected Corporation encourages individuals to participate and engage HRSA with your observations and opinions.

Currently authorized by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, the program will be up for reauthorization by the U.S. Congress in 2013.

To inform that reauthorization, HRSA encourages stakeholders, including grantees, advocacy organizations, State and local administrators, and other members of the Ryan White and HIV/AIDS communities to provide comments on all aspects of the program.

Federal Register Notice (05/02/2012)

How to Comment

Written Comments

Submit written comments by July 31. (You also can search HRSA-2012-0003-0001 at Regulations.gov ).

Please organize your comments under headings that clearly indicate which Part (Part A, B, C, D or F) the comment addresses. If you plan to address multiple Parts, please group the comments for each Part together under a heading that cites the appropriate Part.

Listening Sessions


HRSA will hold four webcast listening sessions in July, each focused on a different geographic region. Please participate in only the listing session for your area.

Join the Webcast at the scheduled time

  • Monday, July 9, 10 – 11:30 am ET (9 – 10:30 CT)
    Southern
    : Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) and Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
  • Wednesday, July 11, noon – 1:30 pm CT (1 – 2:30 pm ET; 11 am to 12:30 pm MT)
    Midwestern
    : Region 5 llinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska) and Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)
  • Monday, July 16, 11 – 12:30 pm PT
    Western
    : Regions 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau) and Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)
  • Wednesday, July 18, 1 – 2:30 pm ET
    Northeastern
    : Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) and Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia)





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