Flanagan defeats Cruz for WBO Lightweight belt

WBO Lightweight champion Terry Flanagan retains his title after defeating openly gay boxer Orlando Cruz.

Cruz was hoping to becoming the first openly gay boxer to win a world title.

We wish Cruz the best and we hope this would not be his last quest to win a boxing world title.


https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/nov/27/orlando-cruz-terry-flanagan-wbo-lightweight-title-fight

Gay boxer Orlando Cruz

Orlando Cruz is an openly gay boxer from Puerto Rico.  He is currently married to his partner, Jose Manuel. 

Cruz is schedule to fight Terry Flanagan for the WBO Lightweight title on November 26.

Cruz hopes to break gay stereotypes by winning the title.  

Best of luck to Orlando Cruz!

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/11/24/1646978/gay-boxer-cruz-fighting-win-world-title-change-perceptions

Taken from Dallas Voice

Taken from Washington Blade

The Imitation Game

The Oscar award winning film "The Imitation Game" was based on the life of Alan Turing,  a British gay mathematician.  As a World War II code breaker he was able to create a machine that eventually lead to the development of computer science and artificial intelligence.  In short, he started the development of the computer.  Despite his great achievements he was persecuted for being gay.

Pass Anti-Discrimination Law!

You guys should watch the interview of Mr. Lito David of Pro-Life Philippines.  I have never felt so insulted in my entire life.  Mr. David said that same sex-relationship can annihilate humanity because no one would procreate.  He further added that once you grant special rights to LGBTs, what will stop people to soon marry their own dogs or horses?  How can he compare gay marriage to bestiality?  Crazy!


Click on link for the interview

https://anc.yahoo.com/video/house-committee-approves-bill-seeking-002839460.html

Will Shepherd threatened for being a gaymer

YouTube personality and gaymer (gay gamer) Will Shepherd was threatened online for being gay.  For those of you who do not know Will Shepherd, he vlogs everyday in YouTube with his fiance.  I am one of his subscriber fan.

While live streaming on a gaming site, some gamers noticed that Will was wearing a rainbow headband.  What happened next was a hate crime.

Homophobic comments flooded online and eventually his internet connection was Ddos'd by homophobic hackers, forcing it to shut down.  The homophobes further threatened him that they would expose his personal information online.  Homophobia at its best.

After the incident the homophobes explained in a tweet that they were not trying to be "rude".   They took down Will's internet connection not because he was "gay" but because he "likes guys".

Can anyone explain to me what is the difference between a "gay" guy and a guy "who likes guys"?  This is the same reason being given by closeted gays who still thinks they are "straight" despite the fact that they "like guys" and suck dicks.

Will, you are not alone in this fight.  You go gurl!

http://www.gay.net/people/2015/01/05/youtuber-gaymer-will-shepherd-threatened

Let Grace Be Total

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) approved “Let Grace Be Total,” a policy statement on lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender people in its 10th Quadrennial General Assembly and 66th Founding Anniversary. 

“This affirms that all of us regardless of any category are under the grace of God. The statement means that LGBTs should not be discriminated but should be unconditionally accepted in the fellowship and membership of the Church,” says Bishop Reuel Marigza, UCCP General Secretary.

http://outragemag.com/uccp-approves-lgbt-policy-statement-stresses-let-grace-total/

Lance Bass and Elton John weddings

Celebrity weddings!  Elton John finally marries his long time partner David Furnish.   Elton John and David Furnish was technically married through a civil partnership.

On the other side of the ocean, Lance Bass, a former N'Sync band member married his finance Michael Turchin in Los Angeles, California.

Congrats to the two lovely couples and I wish them all the best.

http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/78620-elton-john-weds-david-furnish

http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/78626-nsync-lance-bass-marries-michael-turchin

Openly gay mayor elected in Poland

Poland like the Philippines is majority Catholic and in a recent Polish election, the city of Slupsk elected an openly gay man as their mayor. This is good news for Poland as it tries to open up and be more accepting to all sexual orientation.

In the Philippines, we have already elected public officials who are gay but most if not all are discreet about it.  They are too afraid to open up for fear of being ridiculed and loose the election because of it.

As for Cagayan de Oro it seems being gay is no issue.  A Barangay or village in CDO elected an openly gay guy as Barangay Chairman or Village Head.  I heard there was also a lesbian elected as Barangay Chairman of another area.  And a source told me there are gay politicians in the province as well.  You know who you are ;)

Taken from Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/europe/77256-openly-gay-mayor-takes-power-poland

Colin Farrel supports gay brother

Hollywood actor, Colin Farrell shows his support for marriage equality in behalf of his gay brother.  Colin wrote an open letter to an Irish national newspaper calling on marriage equality.

Having a brother like Colin is important.  I am also blessed that my brother supports me as well.  He knows I am gay and does not really mind at all.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/17/colin-farrell-gay-marriage-letter-_n_6171570.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices

Justice for Jennifer Laude

The death of transgender Jennifer Laude (aka Jeffrey Laude) showed us that the LGBT community in the Philippines is still not totally accepted.  Jennifer Laude was allegedly murdered by an American soldier in a motel in Olongapo.

Comments online were so vicious and ridiculous that you would think we were living in an African country or in the Middle East were gay rights did not exist.

If only Jennifer was a real woman, she could have been given due respect and admiration but since she is gay, most people did not care.

This issue really frustrates me.  How can one persons life be made insignificant because he is gay?  Is this how Filipinos value life?  If you are gay, let them die?  

We want justice for Jennifer Laude.   Every single human being (gay or straight) is entitled to their rights.  Even criminals have rights.  It is my hope that this murder may be solved soon and the suspect be apprehended soon.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/10/17/14/lgbt-group-deeply-disturbed-hate-posts

Gay sex in Aceh, Indonesia is punishable by law

Aceh Province in Indonesia recently passed a law punishing anyone engaging in gay sex with 100 lashes of the cane or imprisonment.  This law is applicable to both locals and foreigners.  Gay sex in Indonesia is not illegal but being gay in a conservative Muslim country is a challenge.

The LGBT community in the Philippines is still lucky.  LGBTs in the Philippines are tolerated however discrimination is still a huge issue


http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/70328-indonesia-aceh-approves-caning-gay-sex

LGBT Rights Exhibit in CDO

I was quite surprised to see an exhibit on LGBT rights at Limketkai Mall.  The exhibit entitled "Being LGBT in Asia : The Philippines Country Report" is basically a study on LGBT rights in the Philippines.

This study or report is funded and supported by the USAID and UNDP.

Thank you to the organizers and sponsors who made this exhibit possible in CDO.  This is a first in Northern Mindanao.

Photo taken from Limketkai Center Facebook account

Loving a Military Man

Reading this article, it made me realize that the Army is fully aware of homosexual soldiers in its organization and they somehow just tolerate them as long as they follow the army code and conduct.

There are still challenges for gays in the military.  The Philippine Army still does not recognize gay partnership.

Hopefully in the feature gays would be given the same rights and privileges as straight couples. 

http://outragemag.com/loving-military-man/

US Embassy in Manila issues first 'fiance visa' to same-sex couple

This is good news for Filipinos who are married to their American partners.

From the Philippine Embassy website in the United States :

"On December 2, 2013, the United States Embassy in the Philippines issued its first fiancé visa to a same-sex couple. Although same-sex marriage is not yet recognized in the Philippines, gay Americans are now able to petition for family-based visas on behalf of their Filipino spouses, fiancés, and their children."

http://manila.usembassy.gov/first-visa-issued-same-sex-couple-manila.html 

LGBT welcome at Sochi Olympics?

Russia has been criticized for its discriminatory attitude towards the LGBT community.  There have been calls by gay athletes to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

President Putin of Russia recently invited the LGBT community to the Sochi Olympics as a way to diffuse criticism over Russias harsh policy against the LGBT community.
  
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10/29/13/gay-people-welcome-sochi-olympics-says-putin

New Jersey USA legalize gay marriage

New Jersey in the US becames the 14th state to legalize gay marriage.  Congrats to New Jersey and to the new same-sex couples!


http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/331859/news/world/gay-marriage-becomes-legal-in-new-jersey-as-gov-christie-drops-opposition

House bill seeks LGBT desks in police stations

Good news for the LGBT community. Police stations may soon have desks that will handle hate- or sexually-oriented crimes against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, if a bill in the House of Representatives is passed into law.

If you have been robbed by call boy swindlers or any person, REPORT IT TO THE POLICE!!  You should let them know what is going on so they can be aware such things are happening.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/329529/news/nation/house-bill-seeks-lgbt-desks-in-police-stations 

Filipino nurse in the US murdered

US authorities are now close in solving the murder case of Filipino nurse Juanario “John” Rosas in Texas, USA.  An arrest warrant has been issued to Damien Lucas Salinas and was been formally charged for the murder of Rosas.  The girlfriend of Salinas was arrested for trying to burn down the house of Rosas and taper with evidence.

The news did not mention the relationship between Salinas and Rosas but in my personal opinion the two were intimately involved with each other.

I just hope the US authorities would find the suspect and bring justice to the death of Mr. Rosas.

Wanted suspect : Damien Lucas Salinas

Wentworth Miller is Gay

Wentworth Miller who was the lead actor in the popular TV series "Prison Break" has come out of the closet.

He was invited to a film festival in Russia but declined because of the anti-gay laws in that country.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/21/showbiz/wentworth-miller-comes-out-ew/?hpt=en_c1

Photo from Wikipedia

Being a Gay Muslim

If you think being a gay Christian is already a challenge, how much more if you are a gay Muslim.

If you are a gay Muslim, we want to hear from you.  We want to know what is life being a gay Muslim.  Are you forced to marry despite the fact you are not attracted to women?

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/321419/pinoyabroad/worldfeatures/gay-muslims-in-turkey-torn-between-religion-and-sexuality