Monday, September 12, 2011

Re: [Peckers_Pics] Male/Gay Health-Discussion-PICS Hair Wars-Sep 12, 2011-Remembering those that Died on 9/11



Every time I am proud to be an American, I realize that I am a second class citizen    

From: Jake <jakewest_tn@yahoo.com>
To: Peckers_Pics@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 3:07 PM
Subject: [Peckers_Pics] Male/Gay Health-Discussion-PICS Hair Wars-Sep 12, 2011-Remembering those that Died on 9/11

 
Hair Wars-PICS-Health-News-Sep 12, 2011-
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Boycott Trump-TARGET-FOX NEWS/Murdoch-Salvation Army
Support Keith Olbermann's show "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" - new on "CURRENT TV" (air's nightly @ 8 PM EST (Mon - Fri). About time - as we need progressive un-censored news! Replays at 11 PM Eastern and 2 AM Eastern.
Alert: Target + Minnesota Forward + Tom Emmer = Support for a rather dangerous and radical political philosophy that diminishes LGBT people to pests that should be murdered. And "Target" is cool with this? In San Diego LGBT community peacefully canvassed customers near their stores. In return, TARGET is suing the LGBT community for voicing our right of FREE SPEECH! Update: Target lost in court! David beat Goliath! What should you do? Return everything you bought to TARGET and tell them why! ....Boycott TARGET!!!!!
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Health - Wellness - Exercise - Reflections:
Top Utah hospitals absent from gay-friendly ranking

By kirsten stewart - The Salt Lake Tribune - Aug 30, 2011

If hospital scorecards are marketing tools, then the appearance of 14 of U.S. News & World Report's top 17 hospitals on a new index may reflect an industry-wide push to cater to the gay health care consumer.

Six marquee hospitals in Utah were invited -- no one RSVP'd -- to participate in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2011 Healthcare Equality Index, a measure of antidiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] patients and employees. They are: LDS Hospital and St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah Valley Regional in Provo, the University of Utah's hospital and clinics and its school of medicine.

Staff at University Health Care, Intermountain Healthcare and MountainStar, which owns St. Mark's, don't recall receiving the survey, they said.

But hospital officials were quick to tout policies they've adopted to keep their facilities free of prejudice, a goal they say goes hand-in-hand with providing quality health care. "We'd actually fare pretty well in the assessment," said University Health Care spokesman Christopher Nelson.

All three hospital chains offer domestic partner benefits to employees.

New hires get inclusion and sensitivity training. Sexual orientation and gender identity are called out in their equal employment opportunity policies; sexual orientation is also mentioned in the U.'s patient bill of rights.

And the health systems have open visitation policies. Patients can designate visitors and health care proxies, and in cases where they can't speak for themselves, hospitals defer to advance directives or court orders.

No Utah hospital made the U.S. News' "honor roll," reserved this year for 17 medical centers that scored at or near the top in at least six of 16 specialties. Rated No. 1 is Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore followed by Massachusetts General in Boston and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. -- all three appear in the LGBT-friendly index.

While U.S. News' ranking is largely a reflection of a hospital's reputation, the index measured hospitals against seven standards for equity.

The Human Rights Campaign sent questionnaires to the country's 1,000 largest hospital groups; 87 responded. The survey asked whether hospitals had explicit visitation rights for same-sex couples and same-sex parents, inclusive hiring practices and cultural sensitivity training for all employees.

The participation by leading health centers "is a recognition that we are all part of the community," said Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah. "Like all residents of the U.S. we consume health care in one way or another...It's important to know your hospital is a safe space, especially at such a vulnerable time in your life."

Among 27 LGBT-friendly leaders -- those with explicit visitation rights for same-sex couples and same-sex parents, inclusive hiring practices and cultural sensitivity training for all employees -- were Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and 36 hospitals in California's Kaiser Foundation network.

"Providing equal treatment to all patients is central to delivering the highest quality, safest and most effective health care," said Mark Laret, CEO of University of California-San Francisco's Medical Center in a press statement on Tuesday.

The report comes at a time of heightened visibility for LGBT health needs.

Earlier this year the Obama administration passed rules expanding hospital visitation rights. Last March a report by the Institute of Medicine highlighted the need for better demographic information as means to understand LGBT health outcomes. And this summer the Joint Commission, the country's largest hospital accreditation organization, announced it will include more expansive anti-discrimination policies as a condition of accreditation.
Take Action:
  • Boycott advertisers of Glenn Beck's radio show and his guest spots on Fox News. Glenn Beck is anti-gay rights. Update: Boycott Successful: Update 4/7/2011: Beck has been fired by FOX NEWS! Radio stations dropping Beck as well in several locations. Now, tell FOX to stop having Beck as a Guest.
  • Update: DADT has been repealed. President Obama has kept his promise!
  • Boycott Bill O'Reilly and FOX News and their advertisers. Bill discussed a French commercial by McDonalds that was meant to show that McDonalds is Gay Friendly. Bill said what is next? Is McDonalds going to be Al-Qaida friendly as well? Imagine - Bill O'Reilly compares Gays to Al-Qaida! Boycott Fox's Owner "Rupert Murcoch" and get him thrown in jail for illegal - political donations, corruption, greed, bribery, hacking!
  • Boycott Arizona the home of "hater" - U.S. Senator John McCain. Arizona's Hateful anti-Immigration Law - encourages racial profiling and increases hatred towards minorities. A remedy: Demand Republicans to support Immigration Reform (The Dream Act). Further, Senator McCain voted against ending DADT and Blocked Immigration reform!
  • Boycott Target, Best Buy, Gold's Gym - for donating money towards anti-gay political candidates/organizations. Update: (12/26/2010): Target is continuing to donate to anti-gay groups/causes/politicians. Update 03/08/11 - Lady Gaga Ends Target Partnership, Reportedly Over Target's Poor LGBT Stance. Update 3/25/2010 - Target displays their hypocrisy and Sues California Gay Rights Group for Lobbying Outside Stores. Target is attempting to block the LGBT right of free speech! STOP SHOPPING AT TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Update 4/8/2011: Target lost its case to stop the LGBT from canvassing in front of their stores. A huge PR Disaster for TARGET! Perhaps Target should go out of business as they betrayed their investers and customer base. Target contributed massive funds to a politician who would like to exterminate gays. Now, Target can not stop us from Boycotting them, nor picketing, nor talking to customers near their stores; although, Target allows a anti-gay company such as the Salvation Army to stand outside their door and speak with customers and raise money. Isn't this a double standard?
  • End DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Prevents Federal employees and Gays in the Military from gaining equal benefits. Prevents Gay Partners from gaining equal benefits.
  • Pass ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act). ENDA would prevent employment discrimination of LGBT workforce.
  • Boycott Salvation Army as they will not hire Gays! "DO NOT DONATE TO THEM."
  • BOYCOTT "Chick-fil-a" for donating money to anti-gay groups.
  • BOYCOTT KOCH INDUSTRIES PRODUCTS- to include their products: Angel Soft toilet paper / Brawny paper towels / Dixie plates, bowls, napkins & cups / Mardi Gras napkins and towels / Quilted Northern toilet paper / Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper / Sparkle napkins / Vanity fair napkins / Zee napkins / Georgia-Pacific paper products & envelopes / All Georgia-Pacific lumber & building products (INVISTA Products) / Lycra / Stainmaster Carpet. The billionaire - Koch brothers are ultra republican - tea bag founders/supporters that do not support causes of the LGBT community.
  • Boycott WALMART - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same-s-x partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better.
  • Remember David Kato, Gay activist - Uganda, who was slain because he is gay!
  • "Tune Out Trump", Boycott all Trump Hotel, casinos, holdings, The Apprentice and NBC Network! At CPAC, Trump said he is considering a run for president as a Republican. In a interview with the Des Moines Register, Trump added that he opposes all forms of legal recognition for gay couples, not just marriage. "They should not be able to marry," he said. So why does NBC keep the Apprentice when Donald Trump has stated he may run for president? After making racist remarks about Obama and recv'g public backlash, Trump decided not to run for president after NBC renewed his awful TV Show. How can NBC re-new the clown's show after he pulled such hateful shenanigans? Boycott NBC! Boycott advertisers of The Apprentice and Trump's other business's. Don't shop at any bullding with Donald Trump's name to include Trump Hotels, Casinos, Condo's, Offices, Shops! The Donald has expressed extreme Hatred towards gays and blacks with his birther remarks and anti-gay rhetoric. Remember how poorly Trump treated Rosie O'Donnel? Now we know why he did that! It was hate against a lesbian as we now know he is biget. Unforgiveable! Again, Dump NBC because they air/re-newed Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"! Now the Donald Claims the Long Form Birth certificate is a fraud. And NBC keeps this guy?
And Now, Our War of the Fittest!
This group is called "Peckers Pics." The English - slang definition of "pecker" is to pluck at the truth. Therefore, we peck at items such as Gay Men's Health, Male Fitness, Gay (LGBT) Politics & Issues. In this section you may peck at each photo in order to decide the winner of the "war of the fittest!" Whereas, you should select the guy that may inspire you to exercise and "get fit!" Warning: This may stoke you!
Your participation in discussion of health / news articles - appearing in this message is greatly appreciated.
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You Decide!
NYC Pride; June 26, 2011
Stoked?
NYC Pride; June 26, 2011
For Gay 9/11 Heroes, Sung And Unsung, Love Is Eternal
by Stuart Wilber - September 11, 2011

When David Badash asked his contributors to submit a piece in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, my first thought was about the heroes. Each of us needs heroes. To a young gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person growing up in terrifying aloneness the truth about the sexual orientation of famous figures means that your sexual feelings don't make you an automatic loser. As a boy growing up in the 1940's and 50's I found my heroes mostly in books: stories of Achilles and his love for Patroclus, David and Jonathan whose love "was wonderful passing the love of women," Alexander the Great and Hephaestion - these were the men I idolized, the relationships I longed for. Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Eakins and of course the occasional diver, wrestler and gymnast furnished the images about whom I fantasized.

In this era which nurtured the Army-McCarthy hearings and equated homosexuality with traitors and molesters of young boys, the portrayal of men who loved each other as heroes was not something I found in magazines and newspapers, or on the radio or TV. Oh, I knew Batman and Robin and I had something in common and the English teacher on whom I had a crush was different from the rest of my teachers. But it was a time of secrecy and in our culture secrecy is often equated with shame. In my teens I expanded my pantheon of Queer heroes to include Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde and Bayard Rustin and as I have matured my assembly of heroes continues to increase.

Times have changed, queer culture is no longer shrouded in secrecy and shame, but the truth about famous figures too often still remains closeted. There are lots of heroes associated with 9/11 and many are probably lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender - but we have only heard about a few.

"As the days went by, we learned that some of the missing rescue personnel were gay, and that many of their lovers, some of whom are cops and fire fighters, were grieving in silence for fear of outing them. There were also gay cops that lost family members that were rescue personnel. We all learned too quickly and in too cruel a way that the closet is a terrible place to grieve…" observed Edgar Rodriguez, NYPD.

One gay 9/11 hero we heard a lot about was Father Mychal Judge, The Firemen's Friar, whose gayness was an open secret, but a secret nonetheless. In a contemporaneous account a writer for The White Crane Journal talks about his interaction with Cardinal Edward Egan after Father Mychal's funeral. 
There is a word that upset Cardinal Edward Egan more than "terrorist" and that is the word "gay." After the funeral service for Father Mychal Judge, the fire chaplain who perished ministering to a dying fireman at the World Trade Center, I tried to ask Egan, "Given Father Mychal's many contributions to the gay community and all you've just heard about how loving and loved he was, does it make you want to rethink your condemnation of homosexuality?" When Egan heard the word "gay," he didn't wait for the question. "Oh, COME ON!" he thundered as he abruptly turned away. Purple with rage, he literally ran to his car. Egan's response explains Mychal Judge's decision not to be a more outspoken gay activist -- something that he debated with me, host of a gay news show on TV that he said he enjoyed, and others over the years. Cardinals John O'Connor or Egan would certainly have put an end to his ability to function as a priest in this Archdiocese, a role that allowed him to roam the city in his brown Franciscan habit giving solace and strength to countless New Yorkers. It might also have meant the loss of his chaplaincy serving his beloved fire fighters, even though he enjoyed the support of the Fire Commissioner, Mayor, and virtually all the rank and file.
 
At his wake and funeral, Mychal Judge, 68, was mourned and celebrated by his two sisters, brother Franciscans, elderly nuns who were his grade school teachers, powerful friends, diverse parishioners, the homeless and others he served, and scores of fire fighters, some covered with dust from the catastrophe downtown. But evidence of Judge's involvement with the gay community- and his wary relationship with the church hierarchy- was hiding in plain sight.
 
... 
 
Public Advocate Mark Green spoke of how he served people of "every orientation."

The night before, his 23 years in Alcoholics Anonymous were invoked, but not that Judge went mostly to gay AA meetings. His gay brothers from the program were all over the church.
 
Present in the pews were Judge's close friends, gay couple Brendan Fay and Tom Moulton. Judge had openly supported (and surreptitiously funded) Fay's Queens St. Patrick's Parade that welcomed gay groups, the only Catholic priest to do so. (The next one, on March 3, is dedicated to Judge's memory.) And when the Emerald Society of the Fire Department honored Father Mychal, he had Brendan and Tom as his guests and the couple danced together at the banquet.
Unlike Father Mychal, another prominent hero, Mark Bingham was openly gay and proud of it. Like Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was murdered by a different breed of terrorists, Alice Hoagland honors her son Mark's memory by being an advocate for LGBT equality. "I may have lost a son, but I've gained a very huge family and it makes me feel good every time I see them," she said.

Bingham, 31, was the rugby player who as a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, helped to thwart the plane's hijackers. For once, many of the reports of Bingham's life mentioned his being gay and they sometimes referenced other gay heroes.

"When you ask what difference it makes if the heroes were gay, I say, I agree with you. That's precisely our point. They were like everyone else. So we ask why is it when they died, they were equal to everyone, but had they lived, they would not have the same equality as heterosexuals?" asked Judy Weidner, then editor in chief of The Advocate.

Weidner was wrong - when they died, the gay and lesbian victims and their survivors were not "equal to everyone" and it wasn't only victims' mothers who were motivated to become advocates for LGBT equality.

In September 2003, while still lobbying to receive money from the federal victim's compensation fund, Keith Bradkowski testified before a Senate subcommittee hearing on banning same-sex civil marriage rights titled, "What is Needed to Defend the Bipartisan Defense of Marriage Act of 1996?" 
It was on a Tuesday, almost exactly two years ago, that I received a call from American Airlines notifying me that I had lost my life partner, Jeff Collman. Jeff was an American Airlines flight attendant who volunteered to work an extra trip on September 11th. His flight was the first of four planes hijacked by terrorists that day. I know in my heart Jeff died with courage, trying to protect the passengers and crew. The last time I spoke with Jeff - who was my soul mate of 11 years - was at about at 2 a.m. Boston time on the morning of the 11th. He had awoken in the middle of the night and uncharacteristically called me to say "I love you and can't wait to get home." I believe he must have had some premonition of the events to come, and I feel blessed to have had that last moment with him.

Jeff was the ultimate caregiver - I experienced his caring by the trail of post-it notes he left for me every time he went on a trip. His last note, still on my bathroom mirror, greets me every morning with a "Guess who loves you?" Jeff and I had exchanged rings and we were married in our hearts. Legally, it was another matter entirely. After his death, I was faced not only with my grief over losing Jeff -who was indeed my better half - but with the painful task of proving the authenticity of our relationship over and over again. With no marriage license to prove our relationship existed, even something as fundamental as obtaining his death certificate became a monumental task. Like so many other gay Americans, my mourning and grief were compounded by the stress and anxiety of horrific legal uncertainty and confusion.

The terrorists who attacked this country killed people not because they were gay or straight -but because they were Americans. It is heart wrenching that our own government does not protect its citizens equally, gay and straight, simply because they are Americans. Two years ago we were all united against the common threat of terrorism. Now, less than two years later I am sitting here and being told that my relationship was a threat to our country. Jeff and I only sought to love and take care of each other. I do not understand why that is a threat to some people, and I cannot understand why the leaders of this country would hold a hearing on the best way to prevent that from happening.
Despite objections by some, including Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality - who called the inclusion of benefits for 9/11 same-sex survivors an attempt to further the homosexual agenda, about 20 lesbian and gay survivors whose partners had died were, with much struggle, able to obtain some of the same benefits extended to partners of heterosexual victims.

On January 22, 2004 Peggy Neff, who lost her partner of 18 years, Sheila Hein, in the attack on the Pentagon was awarded $557,390. It was the first time a same-sex domestic partner had been awarded federal money in such a case.

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 many of our heroes were ignored. While a great deal has been said about the men - the emergency workers, firefighters, and police officers who so quickly became new American heroes -very little was written about women.
 
In 2002, EMT worker and firefighter Susan Hagen and social worker Mary Carouba partially corrected this omission with Women at Ground Zero: Stories of Courage and Compassion, a book that focuses on 20 of the 9/11 heroes.

Lesbian, transgender, gay and bisexual responders remain invisible.

Tom Musbach, of Gay. com wrote, "Francis S. Coppola, a New York City detective whose partner, a firefighter named Eddie, died in the attacks, summed up the bipolar feelings many GLBT people have had about Sept. 11. I have never been more proud of being an American or a New Yorker, but at the same time it has made me sad. The greatest country in the world, and yet we are treated like second-class citizens.… The great love of my life died doing what he did best and what he loved to do: helping others. I have never been an activist or ever wanted to be one; however, it is time we stand up and be counted and demand equality - nothing more or nothing less."

Yes, we each of us need heroes. But reading about ancient heroes and famous figures whose sexuality is insinuated or ambiguous is no longer enough. Our new civil rights movement demands that our history and herstory no longer be distorted or concealed. Fame isn't always synonymous with heroism; there are countless quiet heroes. Heroism has many definitions. Sometimes being a hero is simply speaking the truth. Sometimes being a hero is speaking your truth.
 
In that 2003 Senate hearing, "What is Needed to Defend the Bipartisan Defense of Marriage Act of 1996?," Keith Bradkowski concluded his testimony: 
In closing, I would like to read an excerpt from a letter that Jeff wrote to me on our last anniversary:

"Keith, we've been through much the past 11 years. Our lives haven't always been easy, but through it all, our undeniable love for each other has carried us through! I love you - don't ever forget that! When you're feeling lonely and I'm not home with you, just pull out this letter and read my words to you once again and know how much you will always mean to me! With loving thoughts of you now and forever, Jeff."
 
I truly believe I have learned the meaning of the phrase - Love is Eternal.
Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."
....Jake
 
Important Notice: Our ObamaBiden2008 Group works hand - in - hand with Peckers PICS (Both groups were co-created to work with each-other). To prevent duplication of articles and questions, all members of this group are expected to join ObamaBiden2008. It is unfair for members that belong to both groups to hear members of just Peckers PICS (only) to make statements when the ObamaBiden2008 has covered such topics in detail. Therefore, members need to join ObamaBiden2008 immediately. This shall clear up communications and confusion. The LGBT cause is too important and beyond 1 person's need to just look at pictures. Therefore, please join ObamaBiden2008 now. No you don't have to read every article! But, it covers the LGBT community and includes updates on Health insurance; LGBT boycott list; Westboro Church; and the end of DADT, etc...Also, updates with the multi - state gov't's war against unions and people with disabilities. The group is created for you! There are gay teen suicides going on. There are Hate crimes against gay people. There are gays who are fired over their sexual identity. There are gay people who died for our cause! You always reserve the right to remove yourself from all my groups if you do not appreciate this request. I have done everything I can and now it is time for you to step up! My Groups are for Yahoo members who sincerely care about LGBT rights and Gay Mens Health! Please Join Now!
 
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�Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.�

...Jake (Moderator)



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