May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia

International Day Against Homophobia will be observed across Canada and around the world on May 17 – this Sunday. The occasion presents an annual opportunity to rally citizens everywhere against all forms of homophobia.

The theme for the 2009 celebration is Homosexuality Knows No Borders. The goal is to make the general population, especially ethnocultural communities of all backgrounds, more aware of gay and lesbian issues, and also of issues related to sexual diversity.

CLICK HERE to visit the Official website

Lost in Translation?

For those of you who know about the Eurovision Song Contest, it has had a colourful past with some questionable entries over the years and some even more questionable English. But it is quite entertaining to see how involved Europeans get in the process ... "Deux points, Iceland!"

Here is an entry from a Greek singer who is lovely to watch, but if you can tell me what the lyrics of this song are about, please let me know!!! LOL

Greek court annuls same-sex marriages

ATHENS, Greece — A Greek court annulled Greece’s only two same-sex marriages, officials said Tuesday, following a furious backlash against the ceremonies from the government and religious leaders.

The two couples — one male, one female — exploited a loophole in a 26-year-old law that did not specify gender in civil weddings, and were married in June last year by the mayor of the small Aegean Sea island of Tilos.

The ceremonies drew the wrath of the powerful Orthodox Church of Greece, with one conservative bishop denouncing them as weddings of “humanoid couples.”

Quebec spends $500,000 to help gay seniors

The Quebec government is spending half a million dollars on an education campaign meant to improve the lives of gay, lesbian and transgendered seniors.

It's a subject so taboo that the cabinet minister responsible for seniors and representatives of the gay and lesbian communities couldn't find a seniors residence willing to host a news conference.

Laurent McCutcheon of the gay helpline Gai Écoute says homosexuality isn't discussed in most institutions that serve the elderly, leading many Quebec seniors to hide their sexual orientation.

As they age and lose their autonomy, gay, lesbian or transgendered seniors face stigma, loneliness, social isolation, rejection and in extreme cases, harassment from the very institutions they depend on to meet their needs.

WARNING: Men Having Sex Ahead

A park near Amsterdam has unveiled information signs pointing out spots where officials say gay men are known to have sex - so other visitors are not taken by surprise.

The signs "clearly indicate what is happening in each zone; also those where gay men are known to practice 'cruising'," municipal spokeswoman Manon Koffijberg said.

Cruising is a slang word used to describe the act of trawling for casual sex.

Follow this link to a map of the area mentioned

Ottawa is one of Canada’s Most Livable Cities

Canada’s largest cities often top international “best of” lists. Vancouver was called the most livable city in the world by the Economist magazine, while Toronto was ranked the world’s 15th best place to live by AskMen.com, and Montreal’s “City Brand” was Ranked 13th.

But Canada’s smaller cities should not be overlooked, according to new livability rankings from the Martin Prosperity Institute. Ottawa, Guelph, and Victoria compete with bigger cities in terms of livability, and have joined larger centers among the country’s most livable places.

Put on a happy face!

Fears of Swine Flu got you down? Well take that mask and turn it upside down, like these people in Mexico have!

Follow the link below to see more ...

The Irony of Satire

The National Organization for Marriage, a right-wing Christian fear-based org. in the U.S., recently put out a bizarre issue-ad.

The ad contended that heterosexuals should feel threatened by a coming scourge of gay-wedding tornadoes.

Stephen Colbert subsequently produced a commercial parody depicting the NOM membership as closeted nitwits.

NOM sent Stephen a letter of thanks, apparently for somehow helping their cause. See if it makes sense to you ...

Watch the Stephen Colbert clip here

... Early to bed early to rise

Those who stay up late stay mentally alert for longer than those who rise early

Night owls who stay up late and sleep in might be able to work longer and harder than early birds, Belgian researchers say.

In Friday's issue of the journal Science, researchers at the University of Liege used brain scans to test the alertness and ability to concentrate in 30 people who were either extremely early or very late risers.

You have a life, You have a bank

Here is a progressive advertisement by a bank in Latin America.