Growing Up Hayden

 

We’ve named our blog, Growing Up Hayden because we feel it’s a testament to what it is to live in the now, in a world where the LGBT community is fighting for acceptance and equality.  Our content is focused on all aspects of what it is to live, love and thrive in what’s still a very judgmental world.  Growing Up Hayden is a live narrative that we hope will continue to illustrate positive changes and a more and more loving, open and welcoming world.

Seattle Bans Gay Conversion Therapy

The Seattle City Council unanimously voted Monday to ban conversion therapy for queer youth.  In doing so, they’re joining five other states, The District of Columbia as well as Miami and Cincinnati.

Gay conversion therapy, which claims to help gay individuals overcome their same-sex attraction has been called potentially harmful and discredited by the World Psychiatric Association and numerous mental health professionals.

With this new law, mental health providers are prohibited from offering or advertising conversion therapy to minors. Anyone found to be practicing such therapy on minors will be subject to a civil violation carrying penalties of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent ones. Seattle will also spend around $50,000 in advertising directed to LGBTQ youth to raise awareness that the therapy is now banned.

The bill was introduced in July by Seattle Council member Lorena Gonzalez, who called conversion therapy harmful. “Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer or transgender is not an illness, nor is it something that needs a cure,” she said at the time.

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Hayden’s List Chats with Stan J. Sloan, The Family Equality Council’s new Executive Director

HL StanSloanHighRes
This past June, The Family Equality Council announced their new Executive Director, Stan J. Sloan.
Last week, I got the opportunity to speak with Sloan as the beginning of his tenure coincided with Family Equality Council’s 21st Annual Family Week. It was exciting to discuss his background in community service, his goals for the Family Equality Council, the highlights of Family Week and how to combat “religious freedom” laws that promote hate and exclusion.

Back in the 90s, it was Sloan’s first assignment as a priest that sparked his passion for community service. He was stationed at St. Leonard’s house where he provided support services to help transition formerly incarcerated men back into society. “To see people achieve when the odds are totally stacked against them is very rewarding,” Sloan told me as we chatted.

Sloan has worked with the homeless, LGBTQ and AIDS service communities for over two decades. He has spent the last fifteen years with Chicago House, most recently as CEO, where he helped provide housing and employment programs for those disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ poverty and/or gender nonconformity.

As Executive Director at Family EqualityCouncil, Sloan plans on doing an abundance of listening, especially at the beginning. He wants to get to know the staff, board members and donors so that he can help transfer their hopes and dreams into action. Sloan is particularly passionate about the fact that only 5% of the LGBTQ population support LGBTQ causes and he feels that needs to increase dramatically. “It’s a huge opportunity to create a different type of culture.”

He also wants to focus on LGBTQ income inequality. LGTBQ families and youth are twice as likely to go to bed hungry. Many LGBTQ community members and allies are unaware of this statistic. When he shared this with staff, board members and donors, Sloan said many people were brought to tears.

Sloan’s first week with Family Equality Council was not just all meetings. Sloan enjoyed his time at all the Family Week activities. He was particularly inspired by the Multi-Racial Ice Cream Social, seeing adults and children of all races running, playing, eating ice cream and having fun.

Beach Campfire was also a highlight, where 500 LGBTQ families spread out on the sand. Josh Tayloe, Hayden’s List Director of IT also attended the event and felt it was “such an inspiration to see so many different types of families within the LGBTQ community. We all discussed how it’s great for our kids to know they’re growing up in an inclusive environment and they’re not alone.”

Sloan hopes that his title of Reverend will help bridge the gap that exists for religious conservatives versus the LGBTQ community. As far as the so-called “Religious Freedom” laws that keep popping up, Sloan said the Family Equality Council will continue to work against these laws with other national coalitions. Sloan shared that the Family Equality Council is proud to have started the #StandwithTarget campaign, since Target received backlash for promoting gender inclusivity.

Standing with companies that support the LGBTQ community is where Hayden’s List helps. Sloan said Hayden’s List is a “huge benefit” to the LGBTQ community and especially LGBTQ families. “If you have contractors or other service workers coming into your home, it’s imperative that you check if they’re LGBTQ friendly” and Hayden’s List is the resource to do that.

Hayden’s List congratulates Reverend Sloan on his new position. We look forward to expanding our partnership with the Family Equality Council.

HL FEC

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Nike Celebrates Diversity in Rio Olympics Ad

Chris Mosier, the first transgender duathlete to qualify for a US national team is being featured in a Nike ad.  The ad is inspirational, a series of “How did you know?” questions to which Mosier responds, “I didn’t.”

Gaystarnews states, “The IOC ruled in January transgender athletes are eligible for competition without having undergone gender-affirming surgery.  While Mosier will not compete in the Olympics, as duathlon is not a sport at Rio, he will compete in the World Championships.”

Mosier gives a whole new meaning to Nike’s famous “Just do it” slogan.  We could all use some motivation from Mosier: don’t know?  Just do it anyway.

View the inspiring ad here.

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“Out” Athletes at the Olympics

Forty-five athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympics are open members of the LGBTQ community.  Eight of these athletes are from the United States.  Hayden’s List congratulates these outstanding Olympians and wishes them nothing but success in their quest for gold!

Seimone Augustus, Basketball
Augustus is a five-time All Star with the WNBA and is heading into Rio as a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She is an advocate for the LGBTQ community, especially in sports, saying it is the “alpha-male ego” of male athletes that cannot accept gay players.

Elena Delle Donne, Basketball
Donne was the 2nd overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft.  She is a current member of the Chicago Sky.  Donne is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.  She came out right before the Opening Ceremonies to Vogue Magazine.

Kelly Griffin, Rugby
Griffin is a member of the first-ever Olympic Women’s Rugby Team for the United States. She is married to Ashley Griffin with two children.

Brittney Griner, Basketball
Griner is passionate about fighting bullying. She told the LA Times “When I was younger, it really bothered me…I’ve learned to love myself.”

Angel McCoughtry, Basketball
McCoughtry grew up with “traditional” family values and father who was a pastor. Needless to say she was scared to come out. McCoughtry told ESPN “…I wasn’t expecting it to turn out this positive.”

Ashley Nee, Kayak White Water Slalom
Nee was terrified of rapids as a child and now is competing for gold.  After a shoulder injury took her out of the 2008 Summer Olympics, it was Nee’s wife who encouraged her to continue to pursue her dream.

Jillion Potter, Rugby
Potter has come back from a spinal injury and a cancer diagnosis to compete in Rio.  She’s also come a long way from her Texas high school that cut a girl from the basketball team for being gay.  Potter believes that rugby is a very accepting sport, “…anyone has a place, and it really becomes a safe place to be yourself.”  She also takes her responsibility as an “out” athlete very seriously. “It transforms society’s views when young boys and girls see gay athletes with their partners, and they ask their parents, ‘Oh, that’s OK?’ It becomes commonplace, something people don’t have to be afraid of.”

Megan Rapinoe, Soccer
Rapinoe competed in London in 2012 and scored a “Goal Olimpico” which is kicking a ball in a curve from the corner of the field.  She came home with the gold medal.  Rapinoe works with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and also Athlete Ally.

Quick Facts:

  • Twenty-four percent or eleven athletes of the forty-five “out” athletes are male
  • Seventy-six percent or thirty-four of the athletes female
  • For the United States, all “out” athletes are female

Do you agree with Seimone Augustus and the “alpha-male ego” that does not allow for gay males to be out as athletes?  Share with Hayden’s List your thoughts.

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Slurs at LGBT Olympians

Reports show that LGBT athletes are the target of homophobic slurs.  Megan Rapinoe, a lesbian from the US women’s soccer team said she’s heard words like “bicha” and “puta” while on the field.  (“Bicha is a Portuguese word similar to ‘faggot.’)  Rapinoe told the LA Times, “It is personally hurtful, I think a sort of a mob mentality kind of takes over.”  She adds, “I don’t think that all Brazilians fans or everyone that was there last night is homophobic.”

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BBC Commentator’s Homophobic Remarks

A spokesperson from the BBC apologized on behalf of Paul Hand, tennis commentator.  As the kisscam panned the crowd, Hand said, ‘Let’s hope they don’t go on to two blokes sat next to each other.’  Spectators reacted on twitter, asking the BBC to enlighten Hand, saying that it’s perfectly acceptable for two men to kiss.  BBC said, ‘The comment was ill judged and we apologise to any of our viewers who were offended.’

 

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