Progressive, Gay-Friendly Mosques

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At first, the devout Muslims who gathered in a Washington, D.C., conference center seemed like they could have come from any mosque. There were women in headscarves and bearded men who quoted the Quran.

But something was different. While mingling over hors d’oeuvres, they discussed how to change Islam’s future. A woman spoke about fighting terrorism; she had married outside the Islamic faith, which is forbidden for a Muslim woman. A Pakistani man mentioned his plans to meet friends for drinks, despite the faith’s ban on alcohol.

In a corner of the room, an imam in a long gray tunic counseled a young Muslim with a vexing spiritual conflict: being gay and Muslim. The imam, also gay and in a relationship, could easily sympathize with the youth’s difficulties.

Continue reading… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/progressive-muslims-launch-gay-friendly-women-led-mosques_n_1368460.html?ir=Gay+Voices&ref=topbar

March events to benefit Zebra Coalition

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The Other F Word

100% of the proceeds from “The Other F Word” will go to the Zebra Coalition! The Other F Word is an original devised play, based on true stories, that explores gender identity by breaking down the walls of gender norms to expose the reality within the 21st century today. This theatre piece for social change will bring support for all students who fear that they will be judged simply because of who they are.

When: March 22-24, 2012 at 8PM

Where: UCF Performing Arts Center, Theater Building, Studio 1

Cost: FREE for all UCF students with valid UCF ID, $7 general admission, $15 Reserved Seating, $30 *VIP Reception (only valid March 24^th)

*VIP Reception tickets include reserved seating, and admittance into the VIP Reception following the show, Saturday, March 24th. This includes free catering from Pom Pom’s Tea House and Sandwicheria and Tako Cheena along with complimentary wine (if 21+ with proof of ID) sponsored by Revolution Nightclub.

 Visit The Other F Word’s Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/151309818323499/

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St. Patty’s Day 5k

The St. Patty’s Day 5K Recovery Run/Walk on March 18th is benefiting Zebra Coalition!

When: Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 8AM

Where: UCF Campus (free parking on weekends) 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, FL. Start/Finish: Memory Mall (between Psych building & HPA I)

Cost: $25 through 3/17. $30 on race day. Entry fees are non-refundable. Cash or check only accepted on race day.

Everyone receives a t-shirt and prizes will be given to the top overall 3 males & females and the fastest faculty member.

 For more information visit: http://www.raceit.com/search/event.aspx?event=92e509c1-21e8-4747-be5e-7beacc799315.aspx

Homeless LGBT youth is a key issue at Obama administration’s conference in Detroit

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There are tens of thousands of homeless youths across America who are LGBT — lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Most are on the streets because they have nowhere else to go — outcasts who leave home after being rejected by family members or flee shelters because residents bully or beat them.

LGBT young people represent a dramatically high proportion of an estimated 600,000 or more homeless youths across the country — between 20 percent and 40 percent, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. But only about 5 percent of youths identify themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’ve won battles for gay marriage and gays in the military,” says Carl Siciliano, founder and executive director of the New York-based Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization for LGBT youth. “This is the next frontier, the next battle: helping these youths.”

The White House has taken notice. Members of the Obama Administration are hosting a national conference on housing and homelessness in America’s LGBT communities on Friday in Detroit. They’ll discuss these issues with advocates, community leaders and the public.

Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh, who is openly gay, is one of the participants.

“I take this discussion personally because I know too many people who have been kicked out of their homes because of their orientation,” he told The Associated Press. “To get this kind of attention from the White House is exactly what we need to raise conscientiousness and to help parents find a way to deal with their kids’ orientation.”

Click here to continue reading this article by the Associated Press.

Glee’s winter finale sparks record traffic for The Trevor Project

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Last weeks episode of Glee featured a story line surrounding former bully Karofsky (Max Adler), who attempted suicide after finding himself the target of gay bullying.

During the episode, The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, aired a public service announcement featuring Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. The site saw a dramatic increase in traffic to their website following the advertisement. Trevor Project co-founder Peggy Rajski said “on average, our site probably attracts about an average of 1,500 visits a day but on Tuesday we got 10,000. There’s the power of network tv.”

To continue reading the article visit http://huff.to/xBNjuc

Watch Daniel Radcliffe’s ad: