HEROES Archives | Page 412 of 431

Inside the campaign to canonize 9/11 icon, Father Mychal Judge.

September 12, 2017 compassq Comments Off

When Salvatore Sapienza saw the small classified ad in the back of OutWeek, a gay news magazine in New York, he thought it seemed like a sign. “In the spirit of Francis of Assisi,” the ad read, “serving our brothers and sisters affected by AIDS.” At the bottom was the address of the St. Francis AIDS Ministry on West 31st Street in Manhattan. Sapienza was gay—he had been out for years—but he was also a Marist Brother, a Catholic office similar to the priesthood.

The LGBT heroes of September 11th.

September 12, 2017 compassq Comments Off

The website have dedicated a page in memoriam for the LGBT people who perished on September 11, 2001. It is dedicated to, “The Lovers Who Awaken Each Morning without Their Gay Patriot & Hero beside Them.” Although this list does not count all of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives or the over 6,000 who were injured in the attacks, it is a reminder that the LGBT community was affected, many of those heroes who gave their lives in an effort to save others.

Irma leaves gay softball players stranded in Portland.

September 10, 2017 compassq Comments Off

Three Portland hotels have offered to extend discounted rates for Gay Softball World Series players as Hurricane Irma makes its way to Florida, and a few Florida teams are stranded in Portland, unable to go home. Oxford Suites, Doubletree, and Red Lion Jantzen Beach are all discounting rates another 10 percent on top of the contact rate. Some Florida teams have already left the Rose City, but those remaining are stranded for several days.

Damian Light, the first openly gay leader of a political party in New Zealand.

September 10, 2017 compassq Comments Off

Damian Light is believed to be the first openly gay leader of a political party in New Zealand. By “turning the worm” in a television debate, Peter Dunne lifted the fortunes of United Future. By turning heads as “New Zealand’s Ryan Gosling” in a television debate, Damian Light hopes to do the same.

David Bohnett Foundation – Building strong LGBT governments.

September 10, 2017 compassq Comments Off

While it was the nation’s highest court that granted marriage equality to LGBTQ Americans two years ago, the news out of Washington these days isn’t so rosy. With social conservatives like Mike Pence and Jeff Sessions in top roles, many LGBTQ funders have been continuing the fight in places away from the capital. In fact, well before Trump’s election threw up obstacles to gains at the federal level, these funders were focusing new attention and resources at the state and local level, especially in conservative parts of the country where discrimination against LGBTQ people is both legal and common.

Rainbow Camp welcomes LGBT youth.

September 10, 2017 compassq Comments Off

On a cold late August morning, 14-year-old Max Yemelyanov huddles into a circle of groggy teens, some still wrapped in their blankets. A homemade rainbow flag flaps in the brisk wind as more young people trickle out of their cabins and gather around. There’s a welcome practicality to the morning ritual. “Everyone rub their hands together, let’s create some warm vibes,” shouts a cheery counsellor.

UT fraternities are slowly opening up for gay students.

September 8, 2017 compassq Comments Off

When he was handed his bid to the fraternity, the first thing Henry* said was, “I’m gay.” The older man handing him the bid, already a member of the fraternity, responded: “We know. We don’t care.” Henry signed with them and became a member of their fraternity. Henry said he has always felt welcomed and accepted by his brothers, even though most of them had never had a close gay friend before him. He said that being one of their only gay friends has allowed him to enlighten and inform them.