Chelsea Manning Marches at NYC Pride

Chelsea Manning Marches at NYC Pride

Released earlier this year from prison, trasgender activist Chelsea Manning, took part in her first LGBTQ pride parade in New York City on June 25.

Manning is the former U.S. Army soldier convicted by court-martial in 2013 for violating the Espionage Act after leaking the largest-ever number of classified documents to WikiLeaks. Prior to leaving office, President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sentence and she was released from prison in May.

Manning marched with the American Civil Liberties Union along with Gavin Grimm. Grimm is the transgender teenager whose lawsuit over a school bathroom was remanded by the Supreme Court.

Manning tweeted about the Pride event: “honored to represent the @ACLU at this years @NYCPrideMarch lost my voice from screaming so much thank you”

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Difference Enriches Us All

Difference Enriches Us All

Frances Goldin is a ninety-two year old literary agent, mother, and activist who has carried the same pride parade sign for thirty years. She’s a staple of New York City Pride with her sign that says, “I adore my lesbian daughters. Keep them safe.”

Goldin has two daughters, Reeni and Sally, who came out as lesbians in 1970. Goldin’s sign was made by a friend of hers. “Since the beginning of the parade, I’ve been going and waving my sign,” Goldin told BuzzFeed. “It sort of hit a nerve with people, particularly those whose parents rejected them. The response to the sign is always so great — it urges me to keep going.”

Photos of Goldin with her signature sign have been popular on Tumblr and other social media sites. She is a shining example of parental support for LGBTQ people. Goldin has even contacted other mothers on behalf of their LGBTQ children.

“I think I changed a few people’s minds and I’m glad about that,” Goldin said of her outreach to other parents. “Everyone should support their gay and lesbian children, they’re missing a lot in life if they don’t.”

In 1997 Goldin told The Washington Post, “Difference enriches us all.”

http://www.bustle.com/articles/183684-this-92-year-old-mom-activist-has-carried-the-same-pride-parade-sign-for-30-years

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“There’s hope.”

Michael Richman and John Rabbia met three years ago at NYC Pride when they joined a group of flag dancers named, “The Flaggots.”  After dating long-distance, finally they found themselves in the same city so John decided to propose. For the perfect proposal he received help from the whole Flaggots team. During their routine at NYC Pride in June, John emerged out of an abundance of LGBT flags, got down on one knee and proposed to Michael.

The video has gone viral so quickly that some relatives are finding out about the engagement via social media. John explained to BuzzFeed that the video is very uplifting especially after the recent tragedy in Orlando. “The Orlando tragedy was so heartbreaking and everyone in the community was so upset and devastated,” he said. “It’s nice there’s a ray of sunshine at the end. There are new beginnings and our community is resilient. Maybe it gives people something to latch onto.”
“There is hope,” he said.

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The A’s Get an A

The A’s Get an A

June 17th is LGBT pride night for the Oakland A’s.  Pitcher Sean Doolittle’s girlfriend, Eireann Dolan, who was raised by two “hella gay” moms, plans on raising the roof for LGBT community that night.  She’s urging all season ticket holders who don’t plan on coming to the game that night to sell their tickets…to her.  She and Sean have set up a gofundme account to collect donations that they will match up to $3000.  Their plan is to purchase seats and give them away to Our Space LGBTQI Community Center for young adults.

Oh, and how cool is it that NPR’s Terry Gross will be throwing the opening pitch that night!  Go Terry!

Thanks, Eireann, for being such an amazing advocate!

Read more about their efforts HERE.

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Pride in New Haven

new haven prideIn honor of the “coming out” of our most recent city, New Haven, Connecticut, we want to share our intern, Billy Holt’s, first “pride” experience.  Thanks to all who helped New Haven get on The List.  Keep the reviews coming.  And a special thanks to Billy for writing his thoughts about last month’s event.

New Haven Pride Experience

As I parked my car on Saturday evening in downtown New Haven I could hear the echoing of music blaring, people singing, and saw the pink lights in the sky from a block away. Crown Street, where the pride event was being held, was an array of rainbow. I didn’t know what to look at first: the exotic dancers, the moon bounce clustered with tipsy people, or the drag queens mingling throughout the crowd. A broad spectrum of people made up the crowd from intoxicated straight housewives to leather daddies to families. Everyone at the event was young, old or in-between, which made for an interesting clientele. After ten the party continued inside the club Empire where drinks were flowing, music was pumping and people were dancing. Strippers lined the bar top swinging from the chandeliers while drag queens on stage lip-synced for their lives. Not one person in the club was sitting still. Everyone was either dancing, singing, drinking or taking body shots off the male dancers. No one was uptight or judgmental; the freak flag flew and only the “normal” were the ones who would feel out of place. Never before have I been in such an accepting crowd who welcomed anyone and everyone. It was a place where I felt I belonged, a place where my only worry was to let loose and enjoy.

 

 

 

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