Pepsi will soon have some angry right-wingers on their hands.

The beverage company this week donated $500,000 to PFLAG. Director of PepsiCo Corporate Contributions Director Jacqueline Millan doesn't seem that worried, however, saying in a statement:

We are delighted to continue our partnership with PFLAG. The Straight for Equality in the Workplace training program is unique in that it is promoting the necessary message of inclusion to untapped groups within the local community, and that is a crucial step towards building a healthy working environment."

Pepsi has a long history of helping the homos and has also contributed to the Human Rights Campaign.


Upon hearing news that the ex-gays were coming their way, the parental figures of Alaska's PFLAG today came out against this weekend's Love Won Out conference.

And, realizing that Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's former church endorsed the event, PFLAG used the opportunity to ask the politico for a little compassion:

"It is unfair, at this point, to assume that Governor Palin endorses so-called 'ex-gay' therapy like that espoused by Love Won Out," but that "Saturday's event in Anchorage provides an important opportunity for the first GOP mom on the party's presidential ticket to make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids."

"Palin, and lawmakers of both parties, should seize that opportunity," the group said, "and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as they do for their own."

So, how much money do you guys want to bet that the ever-silent Palin ignores PFLAG's pleas?

a-head.jpg
We're not sure if you've heard, but college can get expensive. Thus, it should come as no surprise to hear that thousands of high school graduates opt out of higher education to focus on stuffing their coffers for future academic endeavors. Hoping to stem the trend among homos, North Carolina gay couple Tim and Neil Griffin founded the Griffin Scholarship, $2500 awarded to two Carolinian gay students annually.

Though PFLAG and other organizations have been doing similar scholarships for years, but Tim Griffin says more must be done, particularly because of discrimination among particular institutions:

There are kids out there who can't get access to military scholarships, or church scholarships, or even the financial support of their family, because they have come out as gay. I want these kids to understand that there are people who want to help, even when other organizations turn them away.

Two kids will benefit each year, and this year the prize went to Juan Vazquez and Azze Waldron, who are psyched to attend school this fall. Whether they'll be so enthusiastic after the scholarly madness begins remains to be seen…

» Protest Pace.

The moms, dads and other gay-lovers of PFLAG want you - yes, you! - to protest anti-gay Peter Pace's Medal of Freedom. Are you - again, you! - up to the job? [PFLAG]

  1 Response
» Parenting

The guys and gals of PFLAG took their show on the road this weekend to protest "ex-gay" group Love Won Out's in Florida. And, yes, they brought a video camera. [PFLAG]

  Respond

calpernia.jpg
While we're on the subject of coupling….

Trans entertainer Calpernia Addams and PFLAG are teaming up this summer to launch a new ad campaign celebrating the trannies of the world.

The campaign, titled This Is Our Love Story, highlights PFLAG’s long-time commitment to the transgender community and urges supporters to help “transform the movement” by joining the organization’s work for transgender rights. Ads will begin appearing in pride guides this summer, and will be featured, through in-kind advertising from supporting publications, in other outlets over the coming months.

Addams, who starred in Logo's Trans American Love Story, couldn't be more happy to work with PFLAG: a group with a "deep commitment" for trans inclusion.

» Dumb.

Anti-gay activist Elaine Donnelly has made it her life mission to maintain Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The issue is so serious, she says, that conservatives must oppose it in the same vein as they oppose stem-cell research, because "it's that serious." Basically, in her closed mind, if we gays can serve openly in the military, then the entire world will crumble into hell and we'll all be raped by Satan. PFLAG disagrees, obviously. [CitizenLink via PFLAG]

  7 Responses

gayfreearmy32.jpg
Former Air Force Colonel and PFLAG board member Daniel Tepfer came out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell today. That policy, signed into law by former President Clinton, prohibits homos from flaunting their gays ways while enlisted.

That discriminatory measure must be overturned, says Tepfer, who served for 23-years:

I swore, as an Air Force officer, to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States. My unwavering belief is that the privileges and responsibilities of the Constitution, including military service, are for all citizens, including my gay child and other gay and lesbian citizens. I am proud of my military career, as are my wife and children. I know many stellar lesbian and gay troops who also served proudly, but who could not serve openly about their lives and their loved ones.

Our national priority should be on the qualification of potential service members, not on discriminating against them because of who they are.

Tepfer's righteous declaration comes just days after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found that the Pentagon has been issuing loads of moral waivers, which allow rapists and arsonists to sign up and serve. They apparently find convicted criminals are more responsible that same-sex lovers. Tepfer, obviously, does not.

bully-1.jpg
How far should teachers go to protect gay students? That's a question being lobbed around a California's Hart school district. While the discrict's diversity coordinator Greg Lee insists teachers take the obligatory training sessions - which include seminars on "eliminating bias" - local PFLAG president Dave McEachern wants to see even more tutelage:

People will comment, 'oh, that's gay,' and my biggest problem is that no one is training the teachers to not allow students to use the words 'gay' or 'queer' in a derogatory manner. When someone says 'that's so gay,' it's just considered an expression.

People get a big laugh when they say something about gays and lesbians, but they don't realize that there are gay and lesbian students who have not come out who are probably listening.

McEachern's now pushing Lee and his peers to expand their queer coverage by inviting an actual homo to discuss matters with students. Radical!

On a related note, The Signal article references 15-year old Lawrence King, who they call transgender. King was, of course, gay, not transgender. Although, he's neither now, because a fellow student shot and killed him in class.

» False.

It's official. Anti-gay lawmaker Sally Kern's a big, fat liar. She claims PFLAG twisted her words to make it seem as if she came out against gay job discrimination. Well, PFLAG taped their 40-minute meeting and she repeatedly says she doesn't condone anti-gay employment discrimination. She says a whole lot more, too. [PFLAG]

  Respond
» Smack!

Brief Sally Kern ally PFLAG ain't happy with the Oklahoma lawmaker's persistent, obsessive anti-gay politics: "It seems as if Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern is determined to do some fancy footwork to avoid even the perception that she might be open-minded enough to consider another view." [PFLAG]

  2 Responses

The right-wing's agenda to turn Stephen Colbert gay, from Superman to Cirque De Soleil to the World Cup, just might be working. [YouTube]

• The "Is Superman gay?" debate rages on, which gets us thinking: Isn't all the buzz over the sueprhero's sexuality sounding a little too much like a well orchestrated publicity effort? [NYDN]

• PFLAG will ring the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on Friday, which is being billed as symbolic of the GLBT community's purchasing power. How cute. [PFLAG]

Footballers' Wives' Marcel McCalla on playing gay. [AfterElton]

• We're not sure what movie this is from, but two hot young guys in the woods (one with his pants down) is always worth a mention. [Teen Boy Secrets]

Zac Posen P Diddy

It's a damn good week to be the gay uncle to a celebrity.

First, Heath Ledger gave his bi uncle props, saying he was the source of inspiration for his grunting and palm-spitting character in Brokeback Mountain. Ledger even brought his uncle, a wrestler (natch), as his date to the movie's Aussie premiere. What a way to support the gays!

Now, friend to twink fashion diva Zac Posen and former beau to fag hag J. Lo, P. Diddy has come out to reveal that his own uncle was the one who gave him his sense of style. If true, someone please revoke his uncle's pink card.

Some may think this only reinforces stereotypes that queers have a great sense of style and a flair for drama. We think it would make a rocking PFLAG ad campaign.

Ledger inspired by bisexual uncle [iAfrica]
Diddy Got Fashion Flair from Gay Uncle [Elites TV]
PFLAG [Official Site]



Queerty Team

Editor
Japhy Grant

Editorial Director
David Hauslaib

Publisher
Jossip Initiatives

Our Network

Jossip The gossip's gossip sheet

Mollygood Splaying celebrities from A- to D-list

Stereohyped Once you blog black, you never go back

About

Advertise

Privacy

RSS

 
Copyright 2008 Jossip Initiatives LLC