Quote Of The Day - Cristina Kirchner

"Today is a day of tremendous reparation. Today we do not shout for liberation but instead we shout for equality, which is just as important as freedom. I do not want to use a word that bothers me greatly: Tolerance. No. I do not believe in 'tolerance'. To tolerate is to say I'll allow you to be because I have no other choice. I want to talk about equality and I want to talk about all of you who will now have the same rights I have enjoyed from the moment I was born and the rights that so many millions of Argentinians have enjoyed from the moment they were born. This is the society we want." - Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, at an event marking the new right of transgender citizens to officially change their gender on official documents without proving they'd undergone surgery.

Blabbeando author Andres Duque says the new law, which was passed unanimously by the legislature, makes Argentina the world's most progressive nation for transgender rights. Argentina legalized same-sex marriage in 2010 and it's now quite arguable that they are the world's most progressive nation for LGBT rights overall. Hit the link for video of the above-cited ceremony. It's a beautiful thing even if you don't speak a word of Spanish.

Anti-Gay NY Senator Ruben Diaz Endorses Birther For Dominican Presidency

New York state Sen. Ruben Diaz, who has twice led massive anti-gay hate rallies through New York City, sat and roared with laughter as a Dominican presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia declared that President Obama was born in Africa. Diaz has endorsed Mejia because he has vowed to thwart LGBT rights in the Dominican Republic.

Andres Duque has more at Blabbeando:

According to Diario Libre, Mejia said that his campaign was battling "Satanic elements" and argued that while the economic situation of the Caribbean island was dire, the greatest challenge it faced was a "moral crisis". As attendants shouted "Llegó papá"*, Mejia stated that as president he would never allow gays to marry or weaken the island's strict anti-abortion laws. This led, according to Primicias, to an endorsement by Diaz who championed Mejia's commitment to oppose marriage equality in the Dominican Republic and throughout the world (never mind that the Dominican constitution already bans recognition of marriages other than those between a man and a woman). "We cannot walk around with warm diapers since Hipólito is the only one who has respected and maintained a well-defined and clear Christian mission and a platform that guarantees respect of Biblical and moral values that are part of our doctrine," said Diaz.

The Dominican legislature has issued a formal written apology to President Obama. In the clip below, Diaz is seated to Mejia's right.

Two Great Rights Clips From Argentina

(Via - Blabbeando)

Friendly Voices - Jennifer Lopez

"It’s OK to be out. I do think it is. I do think it’s acceptable for people to be who they are. I am a huge advocate of that. In that sense, that’s the only way we can truly love ourselves, it’s by accepting who we are and letting everybody know who we are. So, I’m very proud – you know – I’m friends with Ricky [Martin] and I’m very proud of him and support him in everything he does. And all these people who have been... who want to step forward and tell the world who they are… I think that’s awesome." - Jennifer Lopez, in an interview with gay Latino blogger Andres Duque.

Gay Culture Watch: Glee Airs In Cuba

Dubbed or subtitled episodes of Glee routinely air in Latin America, but in what some say signals the continuing expansion of respect and rights in Cuba, a state-run television channel has now added the show. Over at Blabbeando, Andres Duque translates one local review:

What draws our attention is how the series treats the case of Kurt, an extremely effeminate gay, who showcases the most divine of extravagant fashions and even reaches the tone of a soprano when singing. With his 'bothersome' look (to those who are the most homophobic), he proudly confronts his way of being, and challenges the world with his amply demonstrated talents and virtues, even in the harsh game of football. His father, an apparently dumb mechanic, gives us a masterclass in sensitivity and humanity in defending his son against any discriminatory attempts based on his physical appearance, his mannerisms or his sexual orientation.

For all these lessons that reach the viewer in a fresh and entertaining way and which do so much good when exposed to society, let "Glee" be welcome on the Cuban screens. Although it's a shame that it has to be a foreign series - and from the United States to top it all off - that brings clear and powerful messages in regards to diversity. How much longer do we have to wait for these type of messages, but "made in Cuba?"

Whether you're a fan of the show or not, its unprecedented positive effect cannot be denied.

Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz To Sen. Diaz: You Do Not Represent Latinos!

Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz rocked the house yesterday with her admonition to Sen. Ruben Diaz: "Mr. Diaz: You do not represent the voice of Latinos! Absolutely not! Not in our name!" Go to Andres Duque's excellent Blabbeando for extensive coverage of both the anti and pro-gay rallies, including many videos.