The Best New Cars for 2011 According to Yahoo!

Gays and Lesbians Applaud Repeal Milestone: Yeah Obama!!!

Obama has done it.  Finally, the lesbian and gay community can begin to live the life of freedom that they deserve.  Gays and Lesbians will now be allowed to serve in the U.S. military openly gay.  The country that boasts freedom and equality so proudly can finally stand up for what it believes in, equality for all Americans, not just the chosen few.  

The Senate voted Saturday to end the 17-year ban on openly gay troops, overturning the Clinton-era policy known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Although many soldiers may have been kicked out of the military for their sexual orientation, the repeal will hopefully prevent others from losing their careers based on discrimination.  No longer will our gay and lesbian soldiers have to live in fear of being discharged based on who they are.

The change won't take immediate effect, however. The legislation says the president and his top military advisers must certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' fighting ability. After that, there's a 60-day waiting period for the military.

Lesbians and Poverty: The Truth is still hiding in the Closet

All Gays and Lesbians Aren't Living the High Life that People Expect

Although most people think that gays and lesbians live the lavish life of luxury, that is just not true.  Such shows like the L-Word are really misleading.  We're all not living like Ellen Degeneres and Wanda Sykes.  As a matter of fact, many lesbians, especially stud lesbians live in poverty. 

The U.S. Census and the Department of Health and Human states that 20 million women live in poverty in the United States.  It is unclear how many of these women are lesbians, but experts believe the number is higher than we would like to believe.  One of the reasons lesbians have a hard time is due to homophobia.  Especially with aggressive, butch, and stud lesbians.  As lesbian activist and author of the book Stone Butch Blues, Jeanne Cordova stated, 'butch lesbians have more difficulty finding jobs because of their looks. 

Another challenge that leads women into poverty, is that most women find themselves in low paying jobs, like social worker, teaching, or waiting tables.  But this doesn't necessarily change for those with degrees either, because women actually earn 77% of what men earn. 

So what does all of this mean?  That lesbians are going to have to develop a serious financial plan that should include working for ourselves if we want to afford some of the nicer things in life.  But just in case owning your own spa, dog grooming biz, or wedding singing isn't for you, we must start taking control of our financial future as soon as possible.  This is something we must emphasize to our friends in person, and also as a community.

African American Families Still Struggle with Gay and Lesbian Youth and Stigma

More and more, we are seeing the lives of gays and lesbians on t.v., so we assume that everyone is now starting to accept differences between each other, but that's not so.  Despite having so many gays and lesbians out in public and on televisions shows like "The Wire and The Real House Wives of Atlanta," African Americans are still slower when accepting their child's sexuality.  

Along with religion, many African American parents feared that their children would be facing a double discrimination.  One for the child's sexual orientation, the other for race.  Parents usually are concerned that their daughter would face discrimination because of gender, and their gay sons for being a black male. Some families believe that homosexuality seems to make it harder to climb out of poverty, to attain success, or the fear that their child could become HIV infected more easily.

African American families sometimes also share a sense of shame in the community when their family member is gay.  Many hear comments in the community that 'they learned this sickness from the white man, that this is something that will hold the black man down, that there is a sin or a curse placed on the family.'  The stigma can be overwhelming.  

So will African American families open up more regarding homosexuality?  Chances are yes.  With more and more leaders coming out, and many gays and lesbians proving that they can still acquire a successful career and provide a life out of poverty, many families will begin to shift their worries and concerns to possibilities and differences.

Female Boxer Christy Martin Stabbed and Shot by Husband after Admitting Lesbian Affair

In Apopka, Florida, world champion female boxer Christy Martin got into the fight of her life when she told her husband that she was having an affair with another woman, and he shot and stabbed her.  Before the brutal attack, her husband James Martin threatened to release videos of her according to a TMZ report.  James Martin was arrested.  Christy Martin's last fight was in 2009.  The 42 year old champion is best known as "The Coal Miner's Daughter."  She finishes her professional career with 49-5-3 record, and 31 knock outs.  Christy is expecting a full recovery. 

Pastor Eddie Long Stroke does a Back Door Deal

Ok, we're not supposed to assume he did it.  And I'm supposed to say allegedly or I could get sued, but since I ain't got no money, I'm just gonna say it.  Pastor Eddie Long is guilty.  You don't have to agree with me, I don't care.  He did it.  He never denied his back door motions with those boys, just said he wasn't a perfect man.  I remember the last man that said that in public was R. Kelly.  But instead of going for a public trial, Eddie Long Stroke went and cut a deal in private.  He likes to do things in private you know. 

I used to live in Atlanta.  So to all of my stud lesbians, femme lesbians, and gay brothers and sisters, to all the queer, trans, and bi, and all of us in between, we finally shut his ass up.  He won't be doing any more parades down Peachtree Street calling our lives a sin.  He won't or shouldn't have any more 'get straight' camps at his church.  He won't be able to stand at his pulpit and be held with the same respect or regard that he once had and condemn our lifestyles.  Nope.  So even if he doesn't go to jail, God has finally told the truth and shamed the Devil!  Can the church say Amen?  Amen. 

Was Nikki Minaj a Stud Lesbian before her Record Deal?

Is this Nikki Minaj?  If so, why the flip?  I mean, if you are a stud, butch, dom, aggressive, or whatever, why go from butch to Barbie.  Or could it have been the other way around, Nikki Minaj was always a femme trying to be butch.  That's always a possibility.  Here's my problem with it, I couldn't be femme if I wanted to.  I would look like a man in drag if I put on a dress.  I've always liked men's clothes, shoes, sports, etc.  This isn't too much of a choice for me, so when I see others make a mockery out of my lifestyle, it rubs me the wrong way.  Why?  Because so many people within our own lesbian and gay community have a problem with studs, butches, aggressives, etc.  They feel like we are just trying to be men instead of the fact that we really identify more with our masculine energy.  We are shunned amongst our own from lesbians that think we should all look like white and black Barbies, or like some man's fantasy of two femme women in a menage-a-trois.  If this is Nikki, between the fake butt pad and the fake gimmicks, I can see why she would be a fake stud.  If this is not Nikki, you got a helluva twin.  Nikki, if you are lesbian, I wish you all the courage in the world coming out because so few lesbians of color step out of the closet, unless they're over 40 like Wanda Sykes.  (Sorry Wanda, I love you but you had it coming.)  But no matter if you are butch or femme, be the true you.  If you walk around with money wrapped up in rubber bands in your pocket, cool.  If you love getting your weave colored like the rainbow, cool.  But don't be fake on the lifestyles of millions that walk this walk, talk this talk daily.  On the mic, you definitely got skillz, and you could definitely help a lot of young lesbians of color with your popularity.  But first things first, is this you?  Will the real Nikki please come out.

Two Men Pose as Women, Lure Teenage Boy for Sex!

CLEVELAND, OH - Ok, so this is just plain ole' wrong.  Two men, met a male kid on Facebook and pretended to be women.  The two alledged child rapists, Quinton Harris and Frederick Lamar, sent a limo to pick the boy up.  After meeting Harris and Lamar, the boy thought the men were actually women and began having sex at the ritzy Inter-Continental hotel by the Cleveland Clinic. 

Once the three started doing the wild thang, 'yes I know it sounds corny,' the boy realized they were men.

Quinton Harris is charged with rape and Frederick Lamar has been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Ok Cleveland, you can't blame this one on Lebron!

If you've had any dealings with these guys, please call the Cleveland Sex Crimes Unit at 216-623-5630.

Lesbian Ruby Rose Poses for The Other Team, FHM's Men Magazine

Well ladies and gents, we're crossing over. DJ Ruby Rose is the first lesbian to cover FHM.  Yep, it's true.   What made her do it?  Rose says, she has been asked for years to pose for a men's mag. "I've said no to every men's mag to do any shoot because it didn't feel right at the time and I didn't really want to do it. But then I shot with photographer Carlotta [Moye] and both times the pics have been extraordinary and I thought it would be fun."

As far as her love life, Ruby says, "I was dating someone - I ended that a couple of days ago because it wasn't working out for me," Rose says of her recent squeeze. "She wasn't the kind of person I thought she was, let's leave it at that."  But that's ok with Ruby, because she's still crushing on her ex-fiancee, supermodel Catherine McNeil anyway. 

"I've got Catherine, my ex, back in town and we're going to meet up and work on our friendship." 

If You Haven't Heard, Amber Heard is Out of the Closet

 

Amber Heard has officially 'come out' - she unveiled her partner at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) 25th anniversary event on Saturday night and spoke openly about her sexuality for the first time.

The Pineapple Express star happily posed with girlfriend Tasya van Ree, who she has reportedly been dating since 2008, at the Los Angeles ceremony.  At the show, which was the first public outing for the couple, Heard explained her decision to reveal her homosexuality, insisting she didn't want to be "a part of the problem" by hiding her true self any longer.

She tells AfterEllen.com, "I think GLAAD is one of the many reasons that I, as a 24 year old, can come out. I think that organizations like GLAAD make that possible because if it weren't for opinions being changed, people being influenced, people being engaged to do the right thing, then there would be no prerogative for anyone to come out."

"Like I said, I can't be a part of the problem. I hate the idea of a label just as much as anyone else but I'm with who I'm with, I love who I love and I'm if not a better actress (sic) than I was yesterday and my personal life should have no effect on that... I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you're inadvertently admitting it's wrong. I don't feel like I'm wrong. I don't feel like millions of people are wrong because they love who they love or they were born how they were born."

Speaking about Ree, Heard adds, "She's so beautiful. I mean, you'd have to be crazy not to want to go out with her!"

Thanks Amber, now if we could just get Queen Latifah to come out, we'll be alright!

Aretha Franklin Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

The Queen of Soul has cancelled all of her concerts.  It was just a a few months ago that back that Aretha Franklin  fell and broke 3 of her ribs, and her son was beaten at a gas station.  But no matter what came her way, the 'Respect' singer always bounced back, and her family, friends, and fans are hoping she bounces back again after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The story was released by the grocery store tabloid, The National Enquirer, as they were the first to release the story.

Franklin isn't the only celebrity to be diagnosed with the incurable disease.  Actor Patrick Swayze, Joan Crawford, and Michael Landon are a few.

Although the survival rate is 5-10%, Franklin's long time friend Rev. Jesse Jackson has said that "she is recovering very well after surgery.  She's conscious, communicating and taking daily walks up and down the hall," said Jackson, who accompanied Franklin on one of those walks during his most recent visit. "She has amazing strength — body, religion and faith," Jackson told the AP. "It's what keeps her going."

On December 2, 2010, The R+B diva underwent an undisclosed medical procedure in Detroit.  "The surgery was highly successful. God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country. God bless you all for your prayers," Franklin said.

Experts state that due to Franklin's age and weight, her survival rate would be even less than 5-10%.  They also report that Franklin likely has less than 1 year to live.

Mike Epps Rough Up Paparazzo, As He Should....

Funny man Mike Epps, wasn't laughing when he beat down a paparazzo at his wife's private birthday party.  The paparazzo alledgedly kept harassing Mike's wife, Michelle, at a Detroit's Club for pictures and asking questions while the couple was dining.  Mike got fed up, and roughed up the photographer.

According to Epps, who spoke to TMZ, "It was a private celebration for my wife's birthday.  I asked the photograper numerous times to not film, but he refused to let up.  I then attempted to retrieve the tape from the camera." 

I'm not a fan of the paparazzi because they are just rude and intrusive.  So when I found out Mike Epps beat one down for harrassing his wife, I understood. 
Mike, good looking out on the misses, so we dedicated this video to you and all the stud lesbians that go all in to protect their ladies.

Precious Director Lee Daniels wants to bring Broadway Musical to the Big Screen

Lee Daniels



Lee Daniels is following in Tyler Perry's footsteps after watching the success of "For Colored Girls Only" by possibly bringing a broadway musical to the big screen.  The Scottsboro Boys, a story about nine African-American men wrongly accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1930, is a true story. 



Broadway Musical The Scottsboro Boys



After much success with 'Precious,' 'The Woodsman,' and 'Shadow Boxer,' Daniels is considering bring the story to life after the actual Broadway musical received protests and low ticket sales.  But Daniels is one of the few people that fell in love with the production, and watched it several times. 



The musical also received the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, and the Outer Critics Circle Award when it originated off-Broadway. 

If the movie is as authentic as the block buster 'Precious,' then we know Daniels will make us proud.



Original nine Scottsboro Boys of Alabama



Stud Lesbians Love Keri Hilson's Soft R+B Porn with "The Way You Love Me"

Ok, so we're in a recession and Keri Hilson gotta sell videos and songs.  This is her latest video "The Way You Love Me."  Ahh, I basically just like the hip movement.  So for all of my stud lesbians out there, here we go...

Raheem DeVaughn Releases Soft R+B Porn Video Titled "Single"

Ok, so I don't like the song, but this was a great way for me to see some legal porn with oral sex, and back door action.  Of course it's inappropriate, but they play it on BET so how bad can it be.  You decide.....

Stud Lesbians Dealing with Domestic Violence from Femme Lesbians

'Stud Lesbian gets beat down by her femme lesbian lover!'  The title intrigued me as stumbled onto this video.  Not thinking the video was going to be much, me and one of my bois decided to watch for giggles and kicks.  What we saw horrified us, and after watching the 5:14 minute video, the only thing that we could say was wow.  Wow.  Damn.  The video showed an already crying stud lesbian at the doorsteps of her femme lesbian lover's home.  The stud lesbian was screaming in between the tears, "gimme my phone.  I ain't playing, gimme my phone."  The femme lesbian races out the door and begins pounding on the stud.  Then the femme goes back inside.  The stud continues begging for her property, when the femme comes outside again, and goes for broke on the stud.  This time hitting the stud lesbian with an object repeatedly.  The stud tries to fight back, but the femme is winning.  The femme is screaming, "I heard you were cheating on me anyway.  And you owe me money!"  At some point, the stud lesbian is slung to the ground, and the femme sits on top of the stud pounding blow for blow in the stud's face.  The stud is screaming in and kicking her legs in agony, but can't seem to get up.  At some point the femme goes into the stud lesbian's pocket and takes whatever she wants, maybe her winnings from the fight.  The stud does not even resist.  At some point, the femme even sprays the stud, which is at the point when the stud decides to walk away, without her phone. 

Me and my boi did not get to giggle and kick with laughter as we had hoped for.  Instead we felt sorry for the both the stud and the femme, as we knew they were facing one of the biggest problems in the gay and lesbian community.  Domestic violence.  There is this belief that a stud lesbian should never hit a femme woman since stud lesbians are viewed as men, and men should never put their hands on a woman.  Here's the problem.  Femmes will beat on a stud, with the belief that a stud will not hit her back.  This behavior should never be condoned.  It doesn't matter if you're femme, stud, butch, tomboi, bi, straight, man, woman.  You should never put your hands on another person, and another person should never put their hands on you.  If the stud had been an actual man, we would have called this what it was, domestic violence. 

Unfortunately, violence has grown in the lesbian and gay community.  According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence program, there is a reported 125 % increase in domestic violence fatalities in lesbian and gay couples since just a year ago.  Few lesbians report abuse, and in black lesbian relationships, domestic violence is reported even less.

The rules for domestic violence for same sex couples should be the same as it is for heterosexual couples, keep your hands to yourself.  Go cool off.  If it happens, report it.  If they hit you once, they will hit you again.

I've never been in an domestic violence situation.  Actually, I don't have any friends that have either.  This could be because of how we address things from the beginning.  So to all of my younger studs, here is what I do in each new relationship I have with a woman, and even with women I'm just casually dating.  I have the conversation about keeping our hands to ourselves within the first two weeks of meeting.  Yep, before we can get comfortable.  Before things can get blurry.  Before anyone starts catching feelings.  I tell my lady friend, that I don't believe in hitting women, BUT, I don't believe in taking ass whippings either.  I tell her very seriously without the slightest hint of laughter or a smile, 'If you hit me, I'm going to hit you back.  Period.  I am also pressing charges afterwards.  I am also leaving you, and will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever take you back.'  She knows I mean it.  I follow up with a few stories about close calls so she can know what to expect if she can't keep her composure.  She realizes I'm very serious. 

Does it work?  Absolutely.  Because when things start to get too heated between me and my lady, and she starts cussing and balling up her fist, and I see her mind racing that she wants to sling a glass of kool-aide at me, or that she has decided she just might haul off and slap me, I remind her of my rules.  "I am going to hit you back in self defense, I am calling the cops and will not drop charges once you're in jail, and I will never under any circumstances take your crazy ass back."  Every time, we both walk away, cool our heads, and talk things out a few hours later. 

Just because you are a stud, does not mean you are some one's punching bag.  It's not manly.  It doesn't prove you are hard.  It doesn't prove you are tough.  It proves that you condoning this behavior for the sake of saving face.  No one in this world encourages women in heterosexual relationships to beat the crap out of their boyfriends or husbands.  And no one ever encourages men to allow their women to beat them to a pulp to prove they are real men, so stud's stop convincing yourself that this is ok. 

If you know someone in a violent relationship, encourage them to get out, because being a stud also means walking away with your integrity.

Mental Illness Rates with LGBT Youth

(This story was reprinted from http://www.psychcentral.com/)
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 2, 2010

Researchers have determined that although the majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth do not experience mental illness, approximately one-third of the groups have attempted suicide.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago publish their results online in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
The report is the first to document the frequency of mental disorders in LGBT youth using the standard criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).
Previous studies have relied on questionnaire-type surveys which, the authors suggest, may overestimate mental disorders in certain groups.
The UIC researchers recruited 246 ethnically diverse 16- to 20-year-old LGBT youth in Chicago and conducted structured psychiatric interviews to assess major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts, and conduct disorder.
While a third of participants did meet criteria for at least one of the mental health disorders, about 70 percent of LGBT youth did not meet criteria for any mental disorders.
“One of the most important findings from our work is that most of these youth are doing very well and are not experiencing mental health problems,” said Dr. Brian Mustanski, assistant professor of psychiatry at UIC and lead author of the study.
Nearly 10 percent of study participants met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and about 15 percent met criteria for major depression. A third had made a suicide attempt at some point in their lives, and about 6 percent had made a suicide attempt in the last year.
“The big question is, are these youth more likely to have mental disorders relative to other kids?,” said Mustanski, a clinical psychologist and director of UIC’s IMPACT Program. “And the answer to that is that it really depends on who you’re comparing them to.”
LGBT youths in the study had a higher prevalence of mental disorders than youths in national samples, but were similar to other samples of urban, racial and ethnic minority youths.
The researchers also looked at differences between sub-groups of LGBT youth to determine if bisexual youth tend to have more mental health problems than gay and lesbian youth, or if racial-minority youth experience more mental health problems than white youth.
Contrary to previous research that suggested that bisexual youth are more likely to have mental disorders than other groups, Mustanski found just the opposite. Bisexual youths had a lower prevalence of mental disorders compared with others in the study.
Source: University of Illinois at Chicago

Butch on Butch, Stud on Stud, AG on AG Love!

For the longest time, I had not heard of butch-on-butch.  I didn't have any friends that were butch-on-butch.  I didn't see any butch-on-butches making out in the corner of the club.  I never had another butch try and pick me up.  I just hadn't been exposed to it.  But, the year is 2010, and butch-on-butch love exists, and is growing in popularity.  As the late, great Biggie Smalls once rapped, 'things done changed.'



But butch-on-butch love isn't that strange to me.  What I do find strange, is that many in the lesbian community have a problem with it.  Kinda like when straight people look at two women or two men walking down the street together holding hands.  They say they just don't get it, and they probably don't because it's not something they are exposed to often.  None the less, we still want them to respect us and leave us alone when we are walking in the park, or shopping in the mall.  And if we as a gay lesbian community want to be accepted, we have to first learn to accept ourselves. 



Personally, I love small, petite ladies like Keyshia Cole, Zoe Saldana, and Jada Pinkett-Smith.  I simply love how they get snuggled in my arms.  It just feels nice.  But what if I did like Queen Latifah, Da Brat, or Hanifah Walidah, should I get the stares or frowned faces?  Should I feel like an outcast in my own community?  No.  If femme on femme isn't a big deal, then I don't think butch on butch should be that big of a deal either.  After all, if you're a woman and she's a woman, hell, you're still getting it on with a woman, so let the love making begin!!!