BuzzFeed: Meet The Hero Of The Marriage Equality Movement, Edith Windsor 

Go read it.

Rachel Maddow On PFLAG’s Founder Jeanne Manford

Get a box of tissues for this. I mean it.

AUSTRALIA: “Talk About Gay Marriage This Christmas” Campaign

Gay Star News reports:

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.It also features Carl Katter, the openly gay brother of one of the Australian parliament’s most outspoken critics of same-sex marriage – the independent MP Bob Katter - and ACT gay man Ivan Hinton and his parents and partner - who were the face of a campaign showing the family values behind marriage equality in August this year.‘Christmas is a time when family and friends gather together, making it the perfect time to spread the message about the importance of marriage equality,’ AME national convenor Rodney Croome said.‘We know from experience here and overseas that attitudes to marriage equality are shaped, more than anything else, by personal one-to-one conversations. It doesn’t matter if you’re [Australian Opposition Leader] Tony Abbott’s sister, a church parishioner, a farmer, or a mum or dad - the more people talking about marriage equality the harder it will be for our MPs to oppose reform.’The campaign will also be supported by a selection of shareable Facebook covers and e-cards with the same theme.The group has also unveiled a giftshop website that allows supporters to buy Christmas gifts for loved ones that contribute directly to the marriage equality campaign in Australia.For as little as $9.90 you can have 100 voting guides distributed in a strategic electorate before the next Australian Federal Election on behalf of a loved one.A gift of $250 will put a marriage equality commercial on TV, while a donation of $490 will send a supportive member of clergy to the Australian Parliament to lobby politicians.There are other options to suit any price range.

France: Couples Kiss In Front Of Paris’ Hotel De Ville In Support Of “Marriage For All” Bill

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: Tribute To Matthew Shepard (In Benefit Of The Matthew Shepard Foundation)

The SFGMC will hold their annual foundraising gala on Sunday, October 14th. Gay Activists like Joe Jervis, Dan Savage & Terry Miller will be attending.

UTAH: Pink Dot 2012

Momentum: TheFour2012.com

“Four States, One Election, This November Vote For Marriage Equality”. 

Australia: Anti-Homophobia Campaign Backed By Professional Rugby League

Gay Star News: 

A new Australian campaign tackling homophobia has been endorsed by the Australian Football League (AFL) rugby code.
The No To Homophobia campaign was launched at the Victorian state parliament today by the Victorian Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge and the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.
Wooldridge said it was everyone’s responsibility to take action on homophobic attitudes.
‘This is a call to action in relation to saying no to homophobia,’ Wooldridge said.
A commercial promoting the campaign will screen nation wide on Australian television for a period of 12 months.
The commercial shows a range of homophobic incidents in workplaces and in the community and reminds people that ‘anybody can report this behavior.’
Campaign spokeswoman Anna Brown told the Brisbane Times that it was a ‘community driven grassroots campaign.’
‘The consequences of this harassment can last a lifetime,’ Brown said.
‘We’re really encouraging the community to understand that we all have a responsibility to stand up to homophobic harassment wherever it occurs, and even if we’re not the target ourselves, so if you witness harassment and do nothing, you’re condoning it.’
The campaign comes just weeks after a high profile fining of an AFL player for using a homophobic slur on the field.
St Kilda player Stephen Milne was fined $3,000 for calling another player a ‘f*cking homo’ during a game at the beginning of August.
Milne is a repeat offender and was fined in 2010 for making another homophobic comment to a referee.
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou hoped his code’s support for the campaign made LGBT Australians feel they were welcome at AFL games.
‘A campaign of this nature promoting respect for each other, healthy relationships and a safe, inclusive environment is imperative if we are to affect positive cultural change,’ Demetriou said.
‘We believe the AFL is one game for all Australians … Through both our actions and the guidelines that govern our game, we are committed to providing a truly inclusive, safe and welcoming environment that fosters healthy, respectful relationships on and off the field.’

Denmark: Copenhagen Pride Activists Wear Nooses To Symbolize 78 Nations (Mostly Muslim) That Criminalize Homosexuality

Via GLAAD:

Joint statement regarding shooting at Family Research Council (FRC) from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations
We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers.
The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence.  We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident.

Michael Adams
Executive Director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

Tico Almeida
President, Freedom to Work

Katie Belanger
Executive Director, Fair Wisconsin

Wayne Besen
Founding Executive Director, Truth Wins Out

A.J. Bockelman
Executive Director, PROMO
Sharon Brackett
Board Chair, Gender Rights Maryland
Carly Burton
Deputy Director, MassEquality

Dr. Eliza Byard
Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Jennifer Chrisler
Executive Director, Family Equality Council

Brad Clark
Executive Director, One Colorado

R. Clarke Cooper
Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans

Dwayne Crenshaw
Executive Director, San Diego LGBT Pride

Heather Cronk
Managing Director, GetEQUAL

Jerame Davis
Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats

Emily Dievendorf
Director of Policy, Equality Michigan

James Esseks
Director, ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project

Lynn A. Faria
Interim Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda

Jenna Frazzini
Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon

Herndon Graddick
President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

Chad Griffin
President, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Jody M. Huckaby
Executive Director, PFLAG National (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

Mara Keisling
Executive Director, National Center of Transgender Equality

Kate Kendell
Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)

Abbe Land
Executive Director & CEO, The Trevor Project

Gregory Lewis
Executive Director, True Colors Fund

Ineke Mushovic
Executive Director, Movement Advancement Project

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

Darlene Nipper
Deputy Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Donna Red Wing
Executive Director, One Iowa

Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Josh Seefried
Co-Director, OutServe

Brian Silva
Executive Director, Marriage Equality USA

Lee Swislow
Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

Rachel B. Tiven, Esq.
Executive Director, Immigration Equality

Chuck Wolfe
President & CEO, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute

Evan Wolfson
President, Freedom to Marry

I, too, endorse this statement.

Trailer: How To Survive A Plague 

Madonna Announces Pro-LGBT Pink Wristband Demostration At Saint Petersburg Concert

Joe.My.God. reports:

Well known Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence member, one-time San Francisco mayoral candidate, and early AIDS activist Jack “Sister Boom Boom” Fertig passed away Sunday night at age of 57. The Sisters send us this remembrance:

On August 5, 2012 at 9:30 PM, Sister Boom Boom aka Jack Fertig succumbed to liver cancer in the loving presence of his partner Elias Trevino and dogs, Chloe and Perry. Jack was also known to many as teacher, astrologer, artist, and a devout and faithful scholar of Islam. Sister Boom Boom was a key Queer pioneer who took Queer Consciousness to the mainstream. In 1982, Sister Boom Boom nearly won a Board of Supervisors seat by running a uniquely San Francisco campaign of radical politics and nun drag. She won 23,124 votes with her occupation listed as “Nun of the Above.”

A year later, Boom Boom ran for the 1983 mayoral race against incumbent Dianne Feinstein and, as a result, San Francisco passed a law that requires candidates to only use their legal names on the ballot. This law is often referred to as the “Sister Boom Boom” law. Due to internal disputes, Jack Fertig broke from the Sisters in 1985. Jack Fertig went on to pursue his Divine calling and became an award-winning astrologer and respected Queer Muslim activist. He was also an avid organizer in the leather and sober communities. Cleve Jones, AIDS activist and creator of the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt remembers Sister Boom Boom as a “dear friend” and a “fierce advocate for the poor and immigrant communities.”

Fertig eventually reconciled with the Sisters, who will announce a public memorial for Sister Boom Boom shortly.