Argentina: Home to sexy people, sleek fashions and sultry tango music. I could move there and be a happy boy. But I kind of like Canada. Sometimes.
At the very least, I could now visit Argentina and be a happy patron (someone find me some money, stat!). This month, the Argentine Ministry of Tourism opened South America's first Pink Point LGBT Information Center in Buenos Aires. Pink Point service stops started in Amsterdam in 1998 (for the Gay Games) and have since expanded to London and Barcelona. It only makes sense for Argentina to cater to the LGBT foreigner, because the country has seen a 30 percent rise in gay and lesbian tourism over this time last year.
Since Argentina legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year, it has become the "Gay Mecca" of South America. It is the first country on the continent to take the leap and support same-sex marriage, and the economic benefits have been huge. Gay and gay-friendly tourists have been flocking to Buenos Aires and the new Pink Point stop staffs English-speaking employees to cater to foreign travelers.
“We wanted to bring together all the gay and gay-friendly businesses in Buenos Aires under one roof and provide a venue with information about the city's LGBT social life,” says Erik Hovenga Diaz, director of The Royal Family and main instigator of the Pink Point Buenos Aires. “Visitors will be able to pick up brochures, gay maps, ask questions, and learn about the vibrant Buenos Aires gay community."
Other perks include gay city tours hosted by actual LGBT community members, Pink Point excursions and attractions, and gay souvenirs. What that means, exactly, is beyond my level of comprehension. Maybe they send you home with a mini Argentinean queen? Who knows! A member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, Pink Point Buenos Aires plans to expand in the near future to include an art gallery featuring the works of local gay artists.
On the anniversary of 9/11, Chris McGreal reports from the Tennessee town where Muslims have lived in harmony with Christians for decades – but where they now feel under threat
An opponent of the proposed Muslim centre and mosque near the former World Trade Centre in New York. Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA
Safaa Fathy was as surprised to discover that she is at the heart of a plot against America as she was to hear that her small Tennessee town is a focus of hate in the Muslim world.
The diminutive fifty-something physiotherapist, who has lived in Murfreesboro for most of her adult life, happens to be on the board of her town's Islamic centre. Now she finds herself accused of being a front for Islamic Jihad, of planning to impose sharia law on her neighbours, and of threatening the very existence of Christianity in Tennessee.
"There is something around the whole United States, something is different. I was here since 1982. I have three kids here and I never had any trouble. My kids, they go to the girl scouts, they play basketball, they did all the normal activities. It just started this year. It's strange, because after 9/11 there was no problem," said Fathy, who was born in Egypt. "In the past in America other people were the target. We are the target now. We have trouble in California, we have trouble in New York, we have trouble in Florida. It's a shame because Murfreesboro is a very nice town to live in."
As the US prepares to mark the ninth anniversary of the al-Qaida assault on New York and the Pentagon, the country's Muslims say they are enduring a wave of hostility and suspicion from some of their fellow Americans that they rarely encountered in the years immediately following the 9/11 attacks.
The increasingly bitter dispute over plans to build an Islamic centre and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero in New York is part of it, fuelling a debate about whether Muslims in the US put their faith before their country. Opponents of the mosque plan to mark the anniversary with a rally in New York today led by a leading anti-Islamic activist, Pamela Geller, who has the support of prominent Republican politicians given to increasingly strident anti-Muslim rhetoric. Among those expected to speak is Geert Wilders, the virulently anti-Islamic Dutch political leader.
Even the possibly rescinded threat by a publicity-seeking pastor in Florida to burn hundreds of copies of the Qur'an played into the hands of Islam's foes in America, despite the fact it did not garner much popular support, when it drew threats of bloody retribution from some Muslim groups abroad. All this comes against a backdrop of growing numbers of Americans suspecting that their president is secretly a Muslim – nearly one in five say that he is and many more think it likely – and diminishing support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which are still proving a heavy burden in blood and money. The charged atmosphere in which the terrorist attacks will be remembered this weekend has also penetrated deep into the heartland, where hostility has increasingly shifted inward to focus on America's own Islamic communities. "It really started in May," said Fathay. "I keep asking myself, why this year? Why are they suddenly lying about us now?"
Late last year Musfreesboro's Islamic leaders announced plans to build a new mosque because the 250 Muslim families in town had outgrown the existing one. The construction plans were approved. At first, no one in the town of about 100,000 people south of Nashville said much about it.
In February someone spray-painted over the sign: "Not welcome", with the letter t shaped like a Christian cross. Fathay put that down to one hostile individual. But by May protest meetings were organised, politicians were denouncing the plans and the loyalty of Muslims in the town was openly questioned. Critics did not pull their punches at a public meeting. Among those who spoke against construction of the new Islamic centre was Karen Harrell.
"Everybody knows they are trying to kill us. People are really concerned about this. Somebody has to stand up and take this country back," she said.
Speakers accused Muslims in the town of promoting polygamy and indoctrinating the young with hate, and questioned whether they adhered to the US constitution.
George Erdel, running for a seat in the US Congress as a "Tea Party Democrat", feared that the true intent of the mosque was to impose Islamic rule. "Islam is a system of government. Islam is a system of justice. We've got people here who remember September 11 2001. These people are scared," he said. "I'm afraid we'll have a training facility."
It did not go unnoticed by Islamic leaders that some of the fiercest criticism was whipped up by candidates in this year's elections. At the forefront was Lou Ann Zelenik, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress who is a leader of the local Tea Party movement.
"This 'Islamic Centre' is not part of a religious movement; it is a political movement designed to fracture the moral and political foundation of Middle Tennessee," Zelenik said. "Until the American Muslim community find it in their hearts to separate themselves from their evil, radical counterparts, to condemn those who want to destroy our civilisation and will fight against them, we are not obligated to open our society to any of them."
Alongside Zelenik was Laurie Cardoza-Moore, the founder of a group that rallies Christians in support of Israel. Cardoza-Moore describes herself as "a leader who successfully stewards masses toward her intended outcomes".
She told a Christian television station that the plan to build a new mosque in Murfreesboro was part of a plot to take over Middle Tennessee because it is the heart of the Bible belt:
"You have Bible book publishers. You have Christian book publishers. You have Christian music headquartered here. The radical Islamic extremists have stated that they are still fighting the Crusaders, and they see this as the capital of the Crusaders."
Similar warnings can be heard in other parts of Tennessee and in states from California to New England.
The imam of the Murfreesboro mosque, Ossama Bahloul, says others have been here before. A generation ago in Tennessee black activists were burned out of their homes for agitating against segregation and for civil rights, and Catholics and other Christian minorities were targets for the Ku Klux Klan.
"It's a cycle of life. If we are really dangerous, let them close this [existing] centre too. This community did not do a single act of violence," said Bahloul. "Maybe it has a relationship with the election, maybe with the economic problems we have in the country, maybe it was September 11, but I doubt this, because why did we have a fine time last year and the year before and before that when the memory of September 11 was still fresh in everybody's mind?"
Ron Messier, a professor of Islamic studies who lives in Murfreesboro, says the mood is driven by politics. "It's happened because this is an election year and I think there were some political candidates who thought that here in Middle Tennessee a lot of people have very right leanings and they could gain some political leverage by promoting fear about people who have been here for 20 years or more without ever being an issue," he said. Yet the politicians apparently did not have to drill deep to tap into fears of Muslims, who are subject to language that would not be acceptable when talking about almost any other minority. They are helped by parts of the media. Fox News leads the charge, routinely giving a platform to those who question the loyalty of Muslim Americans and to conspiracy theorists.
This week Martin Peretz, editor-in-chief of New Republic, an influential Washington political magazine, wrote that Muslims were unfit for the protections of the US constitution. "Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. And among those Muslims led by the Imam Rauf [of the proposed New York Islamic centre] there is hardly one who has raised a fuss about the routine and random bloodshed that defines their brotherhood," Peretz wrote. "So, yes, I wonder whether I need honour these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse."
Peretz was swiftly denounced by some prominent American bloggers, among them Glenn Greenwald, who writes for Salon.com. "Bigotry against Muslims and Arabs is one of the last acceptable forms of overt bigotry that is tolerated in American political culture. If you look at the things that he said and replace the word Muslim or Arab with Jew or even Christian, those comments would be completely career ending and reputation destroying," he said.
While Peretz was vigorously criticised on blogs, mainstream newspapers that regularly denounce racism and antisemitism stayed silent.
Two weeks ago someone set fire to construction equipment at the site of Murfreesboro's new mosque. Some in the town were outraged, but not Kimberly Kelly. "I think it was a piece of their own medicine. They bombed our country," she told The Tennessean newspaper. Two days later about 150 people turned out for a candlelight vigil in support of the Muslim community on the steps of the local courthouse.
Many in the town say they have no problem with the new mosque. Among them is a woman called Bonnie who works in a local bookshop and lost a stepbrother in one of the World Trade Centre towers.
"I don't have a problem with them opening a mosque in New York, just not two blocks from where my stepbrother died. But here doesn't bother me because everybody has a right to practise their religion. They've been here, they're quiet. They haven't bothered anybody," she said.
Muslim leaders are careful to say that the hostility has come from a vocal minority and has prompted an outpouring of backing from non-Muslims. The Islamic centre has a "wall of support" with messages from people who say they are Christian and have sons fighting in Afghanistan.
The burning question for many Muslims in Murfreesboro is whether, once the political calendar moves on, they will again be left in peace or whether relations have been poisoned for years to come. Perhaps they can draw comfort from August's primary election for Congress. Zelenick was defeated, along with most of the other politicians who made Islam an election issue in Tennessee.
The Alejandro singer met with clients of the Servicemembers
Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the largest group lobbying for
repeal of the law that prohibits gay troops from serving openly,
that have been discharged from the military for violating the policy.
Lady GaGa stressed the need for repeal of the law that prescribes
discharge for gay and lesbian service members who do not remain
celibate or closeted before taking to the stage in Washington D.C.
“Lady GaGa's recognition of these fine patriots casts a spotlight on
the unjust burden that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' imposes upon the brave
men and women who defend our country every day, and further
underscores why the Senate must swiftly act to get rid of this
despicable law for good,” Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of SLDN, said.
The 24-year-old singer is a strong supporter of gay rights.
The Gay Rodeo: More than just hot cowboys and cowgirls….
When you look beyond the title you realize this is an organization that does more than just ride horses, wear cowboy hats and tame bulls. They are and have been an integral part of GLBT culture for longer than most realize. In fact they have been around since 1975 when Phil Ragsdale came up with the idea to hold a gay rodeo to raise money for the local senior citizens. The Gay Rodeo was started by The Imperial Court De San Diego by the then reigning Emperor 1 of Reno Phil Ragsdale, as a creative and fun way to raise money for the community. Since its beginnings it has given those who have always wanted to participate in rodeo, and those who grew up in the rodeo who were GLBT an outlet where they could be themselves, while enjoying one of Americas most favored and rugged past times.
The organizers of The Gay Rodeo pride themselves on being all inclusive. For those riders who wish to compete, in an event that has traditionally been a male only bastion, The Gay Rodeo has been the answer to their wishes. It allows all to compete regardless of gender, sexual orientation and gender identity in any event they choose. At The Gay Rodeo the competition and events are taken seriously and the organizers take pride in the fact that the judging and the participants are as professional as in the mainstream rodeo circuit. One of the things that stand out most about the Gay Rodeo is the events and entertainment that cater to everyone. This is unique to The Gay Rodeo and includes such events as goat dressing.
It takes a team of very dedicated and hard working individuals to bring the rodeo and its culture to San Diego every year. They work tirelessly to ensure that all of us can experience a part of our culture that we otherwise might not be able to. They are true torch bearers of a sport that most associate with bigotry. On a broader scale the more options and entertainments we have, options that heterosexuals have always had access to, the better it is for our community and the people who make it up.
Since the start of The Gay Rodeo the organization has raised over a million dollars for countless number of charities, with well over thousands and thousands of people benefiting from these donations. Some of the organizations touched by the generous donations of The Gay Rodeo are as follows, Mama’s Kitchen, Auntie Helen’s, Women shelters, The Toni Akins Lesbian Health Fund, just to name a few.
This year will mark the 21st annual San Diego Gay Rodeo and will bring with it another year of fun, diversity and a new crop of events, supporters and patrons. For those who ride in these events our hats are off to all of you, as jumping on or riding a live animal takes some guts and a lot of skill and practice. Some of these contenders will spend all year training for the Gay Rodeo circuit and in doing so make our community increasingly diverse. It sends a clear message to everyone that there is not simply one way to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. For those who laugh and think that all gays are sissies, all they have to do is attend The Gay Rodeo to dispel this myth. Don’t even think that this is just a man’s sport as all the women in the rodeo show that they can do just as well as the men.
Most will tell you that those involved in The Gay Rodeo and the culture surrounding it are very welcoming and accepting of everybody. They are some of the nicest and most polite people you would ever want to meet. Without an ounce of pretension they all work together and view the people around them not only as friends but as family.
This year’s Gay Rodeo is one not to be missed with new and exciting attractions. Finally, on a sadder note this past year The Gay Rodeo lost someone very dear to all of them, Erin Eaton. Anyone who has had any involvement with the Gay Rodeo has only the most heartfelt and warmest regard for her and she will be much missed.
We are grateful to all of those who keep The Gay Rodeo going year after year and of course to Erin Eaton, her wife, friends and family.
In response to Target’s $150,000 donation to a group supporting the anti-gay Minnesota gubernatorial Republican candidate Tom Emmer, the HRC has donated the same amount to support candidates who support LGBT equality.
According to sources, HRC President Joe Solmonese told the Associated Press earlier today the HRC donate more to Minnesota campaigns “because it could become the next state to legalize gay marriage.”
Late yesterday, US District Court Judge Virginia Phillips ruled the controversial military policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” unconstitutional as it violates the 1st Amendment rights of gay and lesbian persons wanting to serve in the armed forces, and issued an immediate injunction that would halt enforcement of the policy by the U.S. government.
But don’t hold your breath as an appeal is expected to be filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Over 14,000 active duty men and women have now been discharged from the U.S. military under the policy, costing the U.S. taxpayers an estimated $1.3 billion.
Recent polls have been consistent in showing a large majority of Americans support repealing the policy and there is currently an attachment to the Defense Authorization bill that would phase out “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. The bill has already passed in the House and is now awaiting a vote from the Senate due later this year.
This decision is the third time this year that a federal court has ruled that laws limiting the rights of LGBT Americans are unconstitutional. Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional in August, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was deemed unconstitutional in July.
Many have been highly critical of the Obama administration for not doing enough, fast enough to help LGBT Americans gain equality and inclusion but we have to step back and look at the big picture. It is difficult to imagine the momentum would be there without a President who has consistently spoke in favor of LGBT equality. It’s a leader’s role to get the ball rolling and it would appear President Obama has done just that. Since his short stint in office, polls show dramatic changes in public opinion with a majority now favoring equality, something that probably would never of happened if he had not been elected. The country has taken his lead as the first president to address the issues of LGBT discrimination and he’s been successful at being the catalyst for change without mandating that change.
Now, it’s up to all of us to keep the momentum moving forward. You have a voice, use it! Talk to as many people as you can. Once people put a face on an issue, it’s often times hard for them to continue with their discriminatory views. We also have to stand against the religious right. They have no ‘real’ argument against equality, yet the LGBT community is still defending our case for equality. We must turn the tables so the religious right is left defending their discrimination. The only way to do this is to continue with our efforts, building a true LGBT community and gaining more straight allies.
It's almost like a headline out of The Onion: the well-known hate group run by the Reverend Fred Phelps and now his daughter Shirley are upset with the Quran-burning stunt that is grabbing headlines across the world.
They feel like Dove World Outreach is stealing their gimmicks, since they already burned a Quran years ago, and no one really cared.
[Shirley Phelps Roper's] irritation Wednesday was not that the Rev. Terry Jones and his Dove World Outreach Center's planned bonfire would offend Muslims worldwide and probably increase the danger to American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It's that in 2008 she and her father's Topeka flock set fire to a Quran in plain view on a Washington, D.C., street and nobody seemed to care.
"We did it a long time before this guy," Phelps-Roper said by telephone from a street corner in downtown Chicago, scene of the latest Westboro picket — against Jews this time, not gays.
The difference could be that in 2008 many news media outlets had decided to ignore the group's routine of spewing hatred at funerals of fallen American soldiers.
So when Fred Phelps, calling Muhammad a "pedophilic gigolo," went online and invited people to attend the burning, most stayed away.
The two churches serve as an excellent example of how a publicity stunt can work, but eventually wear off over time as a group gets more known as a bigoted pseudo-church and their antics get ignored.
In the 90's, when Westboro Church began launching their now infamous anti-gay pickets, pushing their "God Hates Fags" website and anti-homosexual views, they were able to get easy media access due to the novelty of the events. But as the media began to ignore them, the church had to escalate their actions, leading to pickets of military events, allegedly pro-gay schools and art events, and even the funerals of the Minnesota bridge collapse victims.
Even then, few media would cover their schemes, leaving them mostly to themselves.
But Dove World Outreach Center has also had its share of publicity stunts before this proposed Quran burning event. They have been putting out anti-Muslim lawn signs and creating anti-Islamic t-shirts for well over a year now, with very little attention. And likely, this event would have gone unnoticed as well if not for the heightened sensitivity to the issue that started due to the Park51 debate and other related events.
But it's become a much more hostile environment these days, with both racial and religious intolerance escalating -- an environment that plays perfectly for the agenda of thinly disguised hate groups.
Even those who try to mask themselves as churches.
Argentina: Home to sexy people, sleek fashions and sultry tango music. I could move there and be a happy boy. But I kind of like Canada. Sometimes.
