(And You Thought You Were the Only One!)
Jane Addams is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Hull House.
Christina Aguilera says she loves kissing women.
Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, is the first out lesbian Congresswoman.
Drew Barrymore recently said, "Do I like women sexually? Yeah, I do."
Jennifer Beals plays Bette Porter on The L Word.
Alison Bechdel is the author of Dykes to Watch Out For comic strip.
Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer is the highest ranking military official to come out while in the service.
Catie Curtis is a singer/songwriter who has been out her whole career.
Kate Clinton is a lesbian comedian and actress who makes me laugh.
Tee Corinne was an artist who was famous for her Cunt Coloring Book.
Ellen DeGeneres came out shortly after the character she played on TV did in 1996. She now stars in her own daily talk show.
Portia de Rossi stars in Fox TV's Arrested Development and is dating Ellen DeGeneres.
Marlene Dietrich: This 1920s film star, famous for cross-dressing, had an affair with writer Mercedes deAcosta.
Ani DiFranco: This bisexual rocker is one of the most successful artists on an indepedent label.
Danielle Egnew is a lesbian musician, writer, actress and psychic.
Melissa Etheridge: Grammy winner Melissa came out at the 1993 Presidential Inauguration.
Melissa Ferrick is an out lesbian rocker.
Nelly Furtado came out as bisexual and wants her own gay pride parade.
Janina Gavankar plays Papi on The L Word.
Gina Gershon: She has played a lesbian plenty of times in her film and television roles. But, is Gina Gershon a lesbian?
Sara Gilbert played Darlene on Rosanne from 1988 to 1997.
Missy Giove: Missy, the Missle, World Champion and World Cup winner is one of the fastest female downhill mountain bike racers in the world.
God-dess is an out and proud lesbian hip-hop artist and part of the group God-dess & She.
Leisha Hailey: Leisha was a member of the rock duo, The Murmurs, dated kd lang and now stars in The L Word on Showtime.
Sophie B. Hawkins came out as omnisexual and was nominated for a Grammy in 1992 for Damn, Wish I was your Lover.
Alexandra Hedison was once lovers with Ellen DeGeneres, but she is best known for her guest role as Dylan on The L Word.
Janis Ian: Winner of two Grammy awards, Janis released her first album at age 15.
Indigo Girls: Amy Ray and Emily Saliers make up this out, politically active folk/rock duo.
Angelina Jolie is an out and proud bisexual actress.
Rosie Jones: Winner of 13 LPGA golf titles, Jones came out in March of 2004 to accept a sponsorship from a lesbian travel company.
Janis Joplin: Although Janis Joplin did not self-identify as bisexual, she did have relationships with both men and women.
Barbara Jordan: achieved many firsts for African Americans and women.
Frida Kahlo: One of the most famous painters of our time, both she and her husband Diego Rivera were said to have affairs with both men and women.
Billie Jean King is one of the world's best tennis players and women's rights advocate.
kd lang: Grammy winner kd began her career in country music and caused more of a stir coming out as a vegetarian than as a lesbian.
Lucy Liu: The Charlie's Angels star admits to kissing women.
Kristanna Loken starred in Terminator 3 and Bloodrayne
Karina Lombard: Plays Marina on The L Word.
Audre Lorde: The self-described Black lesbian mother, warrior, poet wrote poetry and Zami: A New Spelling of My Name.
Phyllis Lyon: Author of Lesbian/Woman was the first same-sex person legally married in the United States.
Del Martin: A lesbian activist since the 1950s, Del Martin married her partner of more than 50 years on February 12, 2004.
Heather Matarazzo: starred in the Princess Diaries movies and numerous TV shows.
Amelie Mauresmo is one of the top tennis players in the world.
Tammy Lynn Michaels: Michaels played the bitchy Nicole Julian on WB's drama Popular and has a role in the lesbian series The L Word. Perhaps she is best known for her marriage to Rocker Melissa Etheridge.
Katherine "Kate" Moennig plays heart-throb Shane on The L Word.
Tyria Moore was lover's with serial killer Aileen Wuornos and was portrayed by Christina Ricci in the movie Monster.
Martina Navratilova: This Czechoslovakian born American tennis player won more singles titles than any other player in history, male or female.
Me'Shell NdegeOcello: This out bisexual bass player extraordinaire has four albums to her credit and a hit record with John Mellencamp.
Cynthia Nixon played Miranda on Sex in the City.
Rosie O'Donnell: The talk show host came out, in part to help fight for the rights of gay and lesbian parents.
Ma Rainey was known as the Mother of the Blues and did not hide her preference for women in her songs in the 1920s.
Amy Ray is a lesbian rocker and part of the musical duo, The Indigo Girls.
Michelle Rodriguez is an actress and the star of Girlfight
Eleanor Roosevelt: Former First Lady and wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt had a long-term relationship with another woman.
Vita Sackville-West:English poet and novelist.
Sappho: A Greek poet from the Isle of Lesbos, Sappho penned love sonnets to women. She lived from 610-580 B.C.
Daniela Sea plays Max on The L Word.
Sarah Shahi plays Carmen on The L Word.
Gertrude Stein was a writer and out lesbian who lived her life with Alice B. Toklas 1874-1946.
Sheryl Swoopes is a three-time MVP of the WNBA and Olympic Gold medalist in basketball.
Jackie Warner is the star of Bravo TV's Work Out.
Suzanne Westenhoefer was the first out lesbian to appear on David Letterman, have her own HBO special and to appear on Comedy Central.
Sue Wicks: The former WNBA player for the New York Liberty retired in 2003.
Cris Williamson is a pioneer for lesbians in music.
Aileen Wuornos: Executed in 2002, Wuornos was known as the "Lesbian Serial Killer."
Sunday, June 8, 2008
About Gays (Anonymous)
What does "gay" mean? It is a lot more than just hopping onto the bed with someone of the same sex. It is a way of life. One that has its own vocabulary, customs and rules for living.. Read on and find out what being "Gay" is all about!!
In every society there have been men who have desired only men, both romantically and sexually. They are known as (male) homosexuals. Just as there are myriad expressions of heterosexuality (from celibacy to prostitution), there are myriad expressions of homosexuality. One of them is known as gay.
The word gay is often used as a synonym for male homosexual behaviour. Male homosexual behaviour can be attributed to the segregation of sexes and is often observed in boarding schools or prisons. This usage is not entirely correct. The word gay goes beyond mere desire and the sex act itself. It refers to men who embrace a lifestyle based on their sexual orientation. Gays are men who are comfortable with their desire for men and are neither apologetic nor defensive about their sexuality. Gays emphasize the cultural, social and identity aspects of homosexuality; they emphasize these aspects along with the sexual aspect. This distinguishes them from those indulging in homosexual behaviour who may express only the sexual aspect.
Although in recent years the term gay increasingly has come to be used to refer to both same-sex oriented males and females, it generally refers to the former. Indeed, many lesbian organizations reject the term gay as a self-designation, restricting it to males, although this view may be less common among younger lesbian women.
Historically, the term gay stems from the Old Provencal word "gai," meaning high spirited and mirthful. Beginning in the seventeenth century, the term referred to the behavior of a playboy or dashing man about town. By the 19th century, the term had come to also refer to a woman of allegedly loose morals. The term gay did not attain prominence as a self-selected term for openly homosexual individuals until the late 1950s and early 1960s. It became increasingly common in this usage by the 1970s and was established in general usage by gays and non-gay individuals alike by the 1980s.
Gays have historically constituted a stigmatized social category. In most countries a gay can be arrested even if he has sex with a consenting adult male in the privacy of his house. He can legally be denied housing, employment, and public accommodations simply because of his sexual orientation. In response, many gays have created organizations that seek to further their rights, in much the same manner that African Americans and other ethnic minorities did during the 1950s and 1960s and women did during the 1970s and 1980s. The Stonewall Rebellion of 1969 in New York City was a watershed event that qualitatively expanded the political activism that had been growing in the gay community since the late 1950s. This event constituted a spontaneous and militant act of resistance to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village.
The rebellion spawned a worldwide gay revolution for self-identification, self-esteem and self-reliance amongst gay men everywhere. It also generated greater interest in non-heterosexual lifestyles in academic circles that has led to unravelling of other subcultures based on same-sex desire around the world such as those of 'kotis' in South Asia. Sexologists and sociologists are becoming increasingly aware that society cannot be divided into comparments such as homosexual and heterosexual, gay and lesbian, male and female. There is an entire sexual spectrum out there including bisexuals, transexuals and trangendered people. In fact, sexuality is turning out to be a complex mix of biology, desire, behavior and identity.
In the last few decades the gay men in Europe, U.S. and Australia have established a distinctive subculture that consists of numerous social and cultural institutions, including social and political clubs, community centers, businesses, book stores, publications and other media, cafes, bars, other recreation and vacation institutions, social support and therapy groups, an extensive health education and service structure, and geographically-bounded neighborhoods. It also includes social networks and groups, as well as families or married couples. Because of their stigmatized sexual orientation, gays and lesbians often choose to socialize with each other in a variety of public places, such as bars and cafes.
Whereas the gay subculture in the United States and elsewhere has been in existence for some time, the AIDS epidemic that began in the early 1980s has particularly propelled it into the limelight. In recent years, this subculture has come under increased scrutiny by both the general public and scholars in the social sciences and humanities. Indeed, gay scholars are among the leading figures in an interdisciplinary field now referred to as Gay Studies. This field of research and cultural commentary often takes on a social constructivist perspective, which is sometimes referred to as "queer theory". Intentional use of terms like "queer" or "faggot" within the gay subculture reflects an effort to assert self-acceptance and deny the derision and rejection suffered by homosexuals in mainstream or "straight" society. Gay Pride marches are an expression of the effort among gays to affirm (both to themselves and to non-gays) their right to be gay and their pride and acceptance of their sexual orientation and various subcultural "scenes" (i.e., diverse recreational and lifestyle subgroups).
Many gays desire to have their committed relationships legally recognized as same-sex marriages. Presently, gays do not, for the most part, have the legal right to make medical, legal, and financial decisions on behalf of their partner should the need arise. Furthermore, they may not have access to their partner's employee health insurance or retirement benefits. The onset of the AIDS epidemic has prompted many gays - often in coalition with lesbians and progressive heterosexuals - to agitate for HIV prevention programs and improved health care and treatment options for people living with AIDS, and to oppose discrimination against HIV infected individuals. The gay community played a leading role in pushing for changes in federal funding for HIV/AIDS research and services, and in accelerating access to new therapies of HIV/AIDS.
Although homosexuality has a long history in India, the gay movement is relatively nascent. Until recently, most homosexuals in India did not have many social and cultural avenues to express their sexuality. This is changing now thanks to greater awareness and education. Many men of homosexual orientation are choosing to identity themselves as 'gay' and embracing a lifestyle that resists marriage and other conventions of an otherwise hetersexual society. They remain largely invisible and form networks that shy away from the public glare for fear of social and familial backlash.
In every society there have been men who have desired only men, both romantically and sexually. They are known as (male) homosexuals. Just as there are myriad expressions of heterosexuality (from celibacy to prostitution), there are myriad expressions of homosexuality. One of them is known as gay.
The word gay is often used as a synonym for male homosexual behaviour. Male homosexual behaviour can be attributed to the segregation of sexes and is often observed in boarding schools or prisons. This usage is not entirely correct. The word gay goes beyond mere desire and the sex act itself. It refers to men who embrace a lifestyle based on their sexual orientation. Gays are men who are comfortable with their desire for men and are neither apologetic nor defensive about their sexuality. Gays emphasize the cultural, social and identity aspects of homosexuality; they emphasize these aspects along with the sexual aspect. This distinguishes them from those indulging in homosexual behaviour who may express only the sexual aspect.
Although in recent years the term gay increasingly has come to be used to refer to both same-sex oriented males and females, it generally refers to the former. Indeed, many lesbian organizations reject the term gay as a self-designation, restricting it to males, although this view may be less common among younger lesbian women.
Historically, the term gay stems from the Old Provencal word "gai," meaning high spirited and mirthful. Beginning in the seventeenth century, the term referred to the behavior of a playboy or dashing man about town. By the 19th century, the term had come to also refer to a woman of allegedly loose morals. The term gay did not attain prominence as a self-selected term for openly homosexual individuals until the late 1950s and early 1960s. It became increasingly common in this usage by the 1970s and was established in general usage by gays and non-gay individuals alike by the 1980s.
Gays have historically constituted a stigmatized social category. In most countries a gay can be arrested even if he has sex with a consenting adult male in the privacy of his house. He can legally be denied housing, employment, and public accommodations simply because of his sexual orientation. In response, many gays have created organizations that seek to further their rights, in much the same manner that African Americans and other ethnic minorities did during the 1950s and 1960s and women did during the 1970s and 1980s. The Stonewall Rebellion of 1969 in New York City was a watershed event that qualitatively expanded the political activism that had been growing in the gay community since the late 1950s. This event constituted a spontaneous and militant act of resistance to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village.
The rebellion spawned a worldwide gay revolution for self-identification, self-esteem and self-reliance amongst gay men everywhere. It also generated greater interest in non-heterosexual lifestyles in academic circles that has led to unravelling of other subcultures based on same-sex desire around the world such as those of 'kotis' in South Asia. Sexologists and sociologists are becoming increasingly aware that society cannot be divided into comparments such as homosexual and heterosexual, gay and lesbian, male and female. There is an entire sexual spectrum out there including bisexuals, transexuals and trangendered people. In fact, sexuality is turning out to be a complex mix of biology, desire, behavior and identity.
In the last few decades the gay men in Europe, U.S. and Australia have established a distinctive subculture that consists of numerous social and cultural institutions, including social and political clubs, community centers, businesses, book stores, publications and other media, cafes, bars, other recreation and vacation institutions, social support and therapy groups, an extensive health education and service structure, and geographically-bounded neighborhoods. It also includes social networks and groups, as well as families or married couples. Because of their stigmatized sexual orientation, gays and lesbians often choose to socialize with each other in a variety of public places, such as bars and cafes.
Whereas the gay subculture in the United States and elsewhere has been in existence for some time, the AIDS epidemic that began in the early 1980s has particularly propelled it into the limelight. In recent years, this subculture has come under increased scrutiny by both the general public and scholars in the social sciences and humanities. Indeed, gay scholars are among the leading figures in an interdisciplinary field now referred to as Gay Studies. This field of research and cultural commentary often takes on a social constructivist perspective, which is sometimes referred to as "queer theory". Intentional use of terms like "queer" or "faggot" within the gay subculture reflects an effort to assert self-acceptance and deny the derision and rejection suffered by homosexuals in mainstream or "straight" society. Gay Pride marches are an expression of the effort among gays to affirm (both to themselves and to non-gays) their right to be gay and their pride and acceptance of their sexual orientation and various subcultural "scenes" (i.e., diverse recreational and lifestyle subgroups).
Many gays desire to have their committed relationships legally recognized as same-sex marriages. Presently, gays do not, for the most part, have the legal right to make medical, legal, and financial decisions on behalf of their partner should the need arise. Furthermore, they may not have access to their partner's employee health insurance or retirement benefits. The onset of the AIDS epidemic has prompted many gays - often in coalition with lesbians and progressive heterosexuals - to agitate for HIV prevention programs and improved health care and treatment options for people living with AIDS, and to oppose discrimination against HIV infected individuals. The gay community played a leading role in pushing for changes in federal funding for HIV/AIDS research and services, and in accelerating access to new therapies of HIV/AIDS.
Although homosexuality has a long history in India, the gay movement is relatively nascent. Until recently, most homosexuals in India did not have many social and cultural avenues to express their sexuality. This is changing now thanks to greater awareness and education. Many men of homosexual orientation are choosing to identity themselves as 'gay' and embracing a lifestyle that resists marriage and other conventions of an otherwise hetersexual society. They remain largely invisible and form networks that shy away from the public glare for fear of social and familial backlash.
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