Robinson has worked to secure the success of various NBJC projects including the annual Black Church Summit and Religious Affairs Advisory Committee, plus pursued major gains in NBJC Social Networking, Field Operations, Political Programs and Fundraising & Development.His tenure ends in June. I worked with Alexander when I covered the first National Black Church Summit, and serving on a panel with him (and Mandy Carter) at the 2008 Equality NC conference, "Building People of Color LGBT Visibility.""Robinson has contributed significantly to the development of the community over the last five years," said NBJC Board President Kylar Broadus. The NBJC Board of Directors and staff wish Mr. Robinson all the best in his new ventures.
Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs and Constituency Development has been appointed Interim Executive Director and will take the reigns effective June 1, 2009. Previously, she was employed as the California Freedom to Marry Coalition Manager, the Director of Equal Partners in Faith, and she worked with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights. She also worked at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center as the Assistant Director of Counseling, and then as the Policy and Public Affairs Advocate. A native Californian, she graduated from UCLA with a Masters Degree in Social Work and received a Doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. She is the first African American to receive this degree. Dr. Rhue is the co-producer of the award-winn ing film "All God's Children" and she is an expert on the "ex-gay" movement, which she calls "the cult of the annihilation of the authentic self." Dr. Rhue is a noted public speaker, a documentarian, a religious scholar and a writer.BTW, Sylvia wrote an incredible piece that ran here on the Blend last December, Opposite Sex Sodomites: A Response to Dr. Firpo Carr," that turned the gay-hating, scripture-quoting Carr's deranged screed, "God Pays Gays With AIDS?" on its head. It's definitely worth the click for a priceless flashback."We look forward to continuing this important, groundbreaking work with Dr. Rhue," said Broadus. A nationwide search will be conducted for a permanent replacement.
Here is the teaser for the story that ran tonight on the local WRAL news. You can hear what myself & husband said & thought about marriage equality & the progress being made in North Carolina as well as a straight couple that opposes equality (apparently they actually had a really hard time finding such a couple willing to speak about their conviction on air)
More Details about this & the recent & upcoming Prop 8 Protests in NC after the jump.
Gay marriage debate not simple
Posted: 10 minutes ago
Updated: 5 minutes ago
Raleigh, N.C. — The Gellar-Goads were neighbors at North Carolina State University when they met in 2003. The two hit it off, started dating, and as their relationship got serious, they began talking about tying the knot.
In 2007, the two were engaged over tiramisu at their favorite restaurant – they never finished dessert, they were so happy. In March, they married.
The rest can be read here (including video, slide shows, & longer versions of the interview that w eren't aried):
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5229045/
--------------
Thats the text version of the story they just aired. All credit for it goes to Amanda Lamb & WRAL. I think Amanda Lamb who interviewed us did a terrific job putting the story together, and hopefully it'll help progress the dialogue in NC about equality especially with things like the bullying bill & the sex ed bills being in the air right now. I also liked that the piece pointed out NC is the only state in the south without a marriage equality constitutional ban, I think that is something we North Carolinians should be very proud of.
And as promised here are a few pics from the prop 8 protests in NC. It was a last minute thing so we didn't get many people or pics, but a friend in Greensboro told me he was inspired to hoto host his own protest this weekend after I did mine. Here are the details for his event:
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=83529848151
| Date: | Saturday, June 6, 2009 |
| Time: | 1:00pm - 5:00pm |
| Location: | Greensboro's Governmental Plaza (In front of the cop/kid statue) |
| Street: | Washington Street |
| City/Town: | Greensboro, NC |
I thought in front of a court house was an appropriately symbolic place to hold the protest.
(I'm on the far right, & that is my husband in the middle)
All in all I hope I'm helping to contribute positively to the discussion of marriage equality in NC, and I was a very proud father when my cat got in on the TV action!
The Windy City Times is reporting that at its monthly board meeting on May 19, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for the first time released data on HIV infection rates among city men who have sex with men (MSM), describing the results as "sobering."
Between August and December 2008, CDPH sampled 570 MSM at various Chicago locations. Of respondents, 17.4 percent (91) were HIV -positive. HIV prevalence was 30.1 percent among blacks, 12 percent among Hispanics and 11.3 percent among whites. Black MSM under age 35 were seven times more likely to be infected than their white counterparts (30 percent vs. 4.2 percent).
Of respondents who tested positive for HIV, more than 50 percent were unaware of their infection - including 67 percent of blacks, half of Hispanics, and less than a quarter of whites. Among the MSM unaware of their infection, 50 percent reported not having an HIV test in the previous year. Thirty-nine percent of respondents stated the primary reason for not getting tested was a fear of the result. Of the men who tested positive, all knew where to find an HIV testing location.
According to the survey, risky behaviors included multiple or concurrent sex partners, unprotected anal sex, drug/alcohol use prior to sex, and lack of knowing a partner's HIV status pris prior to sexual activity. Concurrent relationships were more common among blacks (37 percent), compared with 30 percent for whites and 28 percent for Hispanics. In contrast, drug/alcohol use was more common among whites and Hispanics, with 40 and 43 percent acknowledging use before or after sex, respectively, compared to 39 percent for blacks.
Nikhil Prachand, an epidemiologist with CDPH's STD/HIV/AIDS division, said the survey's findings mirror national data. Programs such as the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus already are working to address racial disparities revealed by the data.
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