How To Get Information Featured In It’s A Drag
Friends and family of the drag queen and king community. If you would like to be featured, have a pageant featured, or would like for someone to be featured in “Where Are They NOW”, please send information and pictures to mila.rich@yahoo.com and I would be happy to prepare a post for your review. I would also ask that if you would like a pageant to be reviewed or a person interviewed that you please contact me at the e-mail spoke of previously.
With many thanks and love for the art that is drag.
Mila Rich
Baby Steps
California was dealt a setback on Election Day with the passage of Proposition 8. Overnight thousands of Californians were denied equal recognition of their relationships. One thing we seem to overlook is the long struggle they had to make to get legally married in the first place. Eventually marriage will be a right for all of us to enjoy. If we as a community want to make that to happen in West Virginia we must first provide basic laws that guarantee safety from violence and protect us in the workplace.
It is no secret to us that equality and fairness legislation exists in urban centers where many members of the GLBT community live. Some believe that these urban centers are almost like a Mecca to GLBT Americans and that these laws just get passed overnight. However, the reality is that Connecticut and California’s non discrimination laws passed in 1991 and 1992. Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey all have non discrimination laws on the books that protect people in public accommodation, housing, and employment. They all have some form of marriage or civil union legislation.
The same can be said about hate crimes. All of the states previously mentioned have laws on the books that deal with hate based crime. Even Kentucky has a hate crimes law that protects the Gay and Lesbian community.
If you would like to view issue maps on non discrimination and hate crimes the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has a wonderful series of resource maps. They can be found at: http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/issue_maps/hate_crimes_7_08_color.pdf
http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/issue_maps/non_discrimination_7_08_color.pdf
The point I hope you take from this weekly post is that GLBT people want marriage equality in West Virginia. We want it as fast as we can get it. However, we have to balance that want with the understanding that in California their nondiscrimination law was enacted in 1992 and marriage came over 15 years later. The powers that be in the legislature and the religious community are going to fight, and they will fight hard. However, if we even want to get the marriage debate on the table we have to pass fairness and equality legislation that protects us in our homes and in our jobs.
World AIDS Day.. What can we do?
LESBIANS DO GET AIDS! This is a fact, but that’s not the only reason we should have been commemorating on World AIDS Day. Leadership was the theme for World AIDS Day 2008. Since we first learned of AIDS, lesbians have taken leadership roles, mainly in caring for our dying gay brothers and pressuring political leaders to take action. Even though the AIDS epidemic in the United States is not as it was 20 years ago, AIDS is still taking its toll on the lives of millions of Americans, Africans, Europeans, Asians, Gays, and Straights alike. What can you do to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS not just on World Aids Day but throughout the entire year? Here are a few simple and fun ways you can participate to help throughout the rest of 2008 and 2009.
The Department of Health and Human Services is working with AIDS.gov to promote “Facing AIDS: World AIDS Day 2008″. This is a web-based campaign that allows people; positive and negative alike; their support of all people living with HIV/AIDS. There are four easy steps to joining this effort.
- Get a photo taken or yourself wearing an AIDS red ribbon. The key is to be creative.
- Add that photo to all your social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, personal blogs, etc. Leave the photo up at least a week past December 1, 2008.
- Add your photo to the “World AIDS Day 2008″ Flickr group
- Spread the word and encourage your friends to do the same.
Put a Web Button on Your Site
Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are all the rage. HIVtest.org offers a collection of web buttons that you can add to your social networking page.
Cell Phones, Texting, and HIV Testing
If you have teenage kids or you even own a cell phone you have probably noticed how texting has become such a huge part of their life. Adults are even joining in the texting fun. Find HIV testing sites near you by sending a text message containing your zip code to the number 566948 (”KNOWIT”). Within a few seconds you will receive on your phone a list of HIV testing sites in your area.
If you missed World AIDS Day this year don’t worry. You can help by continuing to inform people of the risks of AIDS all year long. Try any of these fun ways to promote HIV testing and to raise HIV awareness.
Charleston Remembers World AIDS Day
Last night, a diverse group of West Virginia citizens stood in solidarity with millions of people around the world in rememberance of those affected by HIV/AIDS.
A beautiful serivce was held at the Asbury Methodist Church in Charleston led by Covenant House representatives who shared stories and poetry related to the those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Upon exiting the doors of the church, attendees were given candles and made a procession to the Living AIDS Memorial Garden at the corner of Washingon Street and Sidney Avenue. A short, incredibly moving candle light vigil was held including a reading of names of those who have lost the battle against HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is not a gay disease. HIS/AIDS is not an African disease. World AIDS Day is important because it forces us to be reminded that this can affect anyone. You, me, your family, your friends, gay, straight, black, white, rich, poor. Anyone. It’s “our” battle, not “theirs”. The removal of the stigma attached to AIDS is an important goal that we should all work toward. The sooner we realize that, the quicker we can fight this.
Do your part. Get tested.
The 20th World Aids Day – Monday, December 1,2008
World AIDS Day’s Charleston events will start with YogAid, a yoga seminar led by instructor Dan Connery. A gentle session appropriate for all skill levels, donations will go toward Covenant House and a children’s AIDS organization. 5:00 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church, 501 Elizabeth Street
Join us for a short program lifting up the impact of AIDS on the Mountain State and its people. Poetry, motivational message. 6:00 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church, 501 Elizabeth Street
Candlelight Procession from Asbury to the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, a vigil, memorial service, and refreshments. 6:30 PM from Asbury United Methodist Church, 501 Elizabeth Street to the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, 1600 block Washington Street East
Americans must be reminded that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. With over 1 million HIV-positive individuals living in the U.S., and approximately 40,000 new infections occurring every year, the U.S., like other nations around the world, is deeply affected by this disease.