Pull out your triangles. Today is National Coming Out Day, and people around the nation are celebrating by standing up and speaking out—and not letting the bullies win.
October 11th is the internationally observed day for awareness and support among the LGBT community and beyond, and college campuses across the nation are geared for events that raise the rainbow. It’s a day for celebration, solidarity and pride, and one that encourages everyone to stand up and speak out to protect the liberties of others. And the party’s not just in the states—Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Poland, the Netherlands also rejoice in their pride today, and the United Kingdom comes out of the closet on October 12th. So, whatever your sexual orientation, today’s the day to be honest about who we are and what we are proud of—and have fun doing it.
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Celebrities gathered for the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the 6th Annual GLSEN Awards last night, using the podium to speak out for the rights of LGBT people everywhere.
The TV show Modern Family was awarded for its efforts in promoting tolerance, of which actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson said he was extremely proud. Costar Sofía Vergara and Big Love star Chloë Sevigny also gave statements about spreading tolerance and respect. GLSEN has raised more than $900,000 that will go to improving the lives of gay, lesbian and transgender students in colleges around the nation.
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Serbia hosted its first gay pride march since 2001 yesterday, in the face of protests that turned sporadically violent.
Belgrade police protected 1,000 GLBT marchers from aggression spurned on by what political leaders are calling “hooligan gangs.” Anti-gay slurs were chanted and projectiles thrown by roving packs of “skinheads” despite the Serbian Orthodox Church’s insistence that violence not be used in response to the protest.
But the march went on despite the hostility and no lives were lost, leading to what EU mission head Vincent Degert called a celebration of “the values of tolerance, freedom of expression and assembly.”
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India’s “pink” industry is booming, as fashion, media and tourism outlets are opening up to a new market of LGBT consumers in a move that may turn the country into a hub for Queer travel.
The consumer boom may be partly thanks to last year’s removal of anti-gay laws from the country’s penal code, making it no longer criminal to be gay, lesbian or transgender. Now the country has its magazines, fashion and advertising geared for LGBT markets, its first Pride Store and its own dedicated gay travel boutique, IndjaPink.
Robert Wintemute, a professor at King’s College, is reported as saying that he expects India will emerge as a hot destination for LGBT tourists. “Queer people do prefer to come to places where they don't have a fear of being persecuted and where people are friendly…” Isn’t that what everybody wants?