Queer Nation To Fly Boycott Banner Over Fire Island Pines Businesses

Via press release from Queer Nation:

A plane trailing a banner reading “Boycott Hi/Lo Tea! Fight For Full LGBT Rights!” will fly above the beach at Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines on Sunday, June 7, between 2 pm and 3 pm. The action will underscore the LGBT community’s outrage over the April 20 meeting between Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and gay businessmen Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass, who subsequently donated money to the Cruz campaign. The two gay men also held an April 14 fundraiser at their Manhattan penthouse for Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), another anti-LGBT politician.

Reisner and Weiderpass own most of the businesses in the Pines—including the Blue Whale, Sip-N-Twirl, and the Pavilion, where the “High Tea” and “Low Tea” cocktail hours are held—as well as the gay-oriented Out Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.“Two gay business owners are making money off of the LGBT community at a world-famous gay vacation spot and then giving that money to outspoken anti-LGBT politicians,” said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation, the gay rights group that orchestrated the flyover. “Our community is out to win comprehensive federal legislation that will make LGBT Americans fully equal under the law. We will not be taken backward by funding anti-LGBT politicians.”

Has attendance at these Fire Island businesses been affected so far? Readers?

Queer Nation Slams HRC On ENDA

Via press release:

At the same time it is criticizing Roman Catholic schools for their anti-LGBT discrimination, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is lobbying in Congress for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that has a religious exemption that would allow that discrimination under federal law. "All discrimination is immoral and HRC is right to object to what these schools are doing," said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation. "So why is HRC spending millions in Congress to promote ENDA when that legislation has a religious exemption that will let Roman Catholic schools and other religiously-affiliated institutions fire LGBT people and perhaps even pro-LGBT people?" "HRC can't have it both ways," Kidd said. "It can't criticize Roman Catholic schools for discriminating against LGBT Americans and then seek to make that discrimination legal under federal law. ENDA is a lousy bill and it should be scrapped. What the LGBT community needs is comprehensive federal civil rights legislation."

The current form of ENDA is also opposed by the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, Lambda Legal, the ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Transgender Law Center, and Freedom To Marry. ENDA was approved by the Senate last last year but remains stalled in the House.

Queer Nation Disrupts Final Sochi Promotion At Grand Central Terminal

Via press release:

Nearly three dozen members of Queer Nation held a raucous protest at the United States Olympic Committee's final "Road to Sochi Tour" event at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on February 23. The action began just as the event began in historic Vanderbilt Hall, inside the terminal, with protesters chanting "Don't Buy Putin's Lies" and unfurling two banners, one reading "Don't Buy Putin's Lies" and the other reading "Boycott Homophobia." Some members also carried signs that read "Gay Bashing Is Not An Olympic Sport." The banners were hand-sewn by Gilbert Baker, the designer of the original rainbow flag. Queer Nation was then forced out of the terminal by officers in the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department. The group briefly protested in front of a Road to Sochi tour truck on East 42nd Street and then marched to the west entrance of Grand Central Terminal, where the protest continued for over an hour. There were no arrests.

Video by ACT UP New York.

Queer Nation Protests At Today Show

Yesterday several of you emailed me to wonder what they'd just seen over the shoulders of Today Show hosts Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. Queer Nation activist Duncan Osborne explains:

"We walked in from 49th and 6th because they had the small crowd on the little plaza and the 49th St. side of the plate glass windows was unobstructed. As we whipped open... the Boycott Homophobia banner and pulled out Gay-Bashing is not an Olympic Sport signs, the cops tried to grab us and hustle us across the street. We insisted on holding our ground (Get your hands off me! This is a public sidewalk!) and succeeded in staying there, evidently quite visible over Hoda's shoulder. After 5-10 minutes, they went to commercial, and got up from the anchor desk. Kathie Lee gave a smile and wave to the plaza crowd, then turned and looked at us, glared at me, and refused to return the smile and wave I was giving her. About 15 minutes later, they came back to the anchor desk for a segment. This time Kathie Lee looked at me, still stony, but felt forced to return my wave a little. Then they lowered the curtains around the whole studio. We packed up and left. A good time was had by all. All except for Kathie Lee, apparently."

That's famed activist and Gay USA host Ann Northrop behind the letter "B". Photo by Donna Aceto.

Queer Nation Sends Valentine's Day Love Out To The World's LGBT People

TRAILER: Olympic Hunger Games

New from Queer Nation.

Bisexual Dutch Gold Medalist Slammed For Celebratory Cuddle With Vladimir Putin

Openly bisexual Dutch speedskater Ireen Wust told reporters that she had a "cuddle" with Vladimir Putin after winning her gold medal on Sunday.

Wust told Dutch national broadcaster NOS, "I got a cuddle from him," at a party held in her honor. "He congratulated me and asked if everything was OK in Russia and I congratulated him on (Russian speedskater) Olga Graf, of course, for her third place (in the 3,000 meters). He was happy to see me, but then he had to leave again. But I cuddled him." John van Vliet, a spokesman for the Netherlands' Olympics Committee, said Putin gave Wust a quick hug and wished her well. Wust, who took gold at the 3,000 meter women's speedskate on Sunday, is one of seven openly gay athletes competing at the games.

Queer Nation reacts via press release:

“The Olympic athletes have said that they will not make political statements during the Games yet that is exactly what Ireen Wust did,” said Duncan Osborne, a member of Queer Nation. “By embracing Vladimir Putin, a man who has trampled on the human rights of LGBT Russians, political dissidents, artists, undocumented immigrants, and others in Russia, Wust has endorsed his fascist agenda.” “LGBT Russians and political dissidents are showing us what courage and commitment look like,” said Osborne. “Embracing Vladimir Putin is a betrayal of that courage and commitment. Wust should be ashamed of herself. Every athlete in Sochi should understand that the whole world is watching. We cannot make the athletes show the sort of courage that LGBT Russians display, but we will not be silent and we will not forget if the athletes embrace Putin.”

Queer Nation Protests Against Putin Outside New York City's Russian Consulate

This afternoon Queer Nation staged a protest against Vladimir Putin outside the Russian consulate on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

NEW YORK CITY: Queer Nation To Protest At Russian Consulate On February 6th

Via press release:

Members of the gay activist group Queer Nation and others who oppose the Russian government’s continued attacks on human rights, including the rights of LGBT Russians, will mark the start of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games with a protest outside the Russian consulate in New York City at noon on February 6. “Gay bashing is not an Olympic sport,” said Scott Wooledge, a member of Queer Nation. “The International Olympic Committee, the Olympic sponsors, including Coke, P&G, and McDonald’s, and the athletes who are competing in Russia have refused to support human rights -- so we will. The Russian government is on notice that the start of the Olympics is not the end of this fight." "Vladimir Putin," Russia’s president, will appear at the protest outside the Russian consulate at 9 E. 91st in Manhattan, where he is expected to desecrate an Olympic flag.

Get updates from the Queer Nation Facebook page.

From Queer Nation

Activists are continuing to hijack the social media campaigns of major Sochi Olympics marketing partners. #CheersToSochi is the hashtag.

Queer Nation Tweaks Coca-Cola Ad

NEW YORK CITY: Queer Nation Heckles NBC's Matt Lauer And Brian Boitano

Via their Facebook page: "Queer Nation NY paid a visit to NBC News Today Show studio in Rockefeller plaza this morning to say hi to Matt Lauer. Our message: Human Rights Are Not A Game! Putin's Lies Kill!" More photos are at the link.

And from last night, via press release:

Two members of Queer Nation confronted three-time Olympian Brian Boitano tonight, demanding he speak out against Russia’s recently enacted anti-LGBT laws when he represents the U.S. at the Olympics next month. Boitano, who is one of three openly gay men and women chosen by President Barack Obama for the U.S. Olympic delegation, was appearing at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea as part of “Brainwave: Mind Over Matter,” an ongoing series that pairs men and women prominent in their various professions with psychologists, psychiatrists, ​and ​neurologists to discuss how the mind and brain work.

During his introduction of Boitano, Tim McHenry, the Rubin’s director of public programs and performance, spoke with admiration about how Brian Boitano had become “a courageous champion of human rights and artists.” "When did he do that and what is it that he said?" shouted Duncan Osborne, one of the protesters. "He's going to a country with a record of abusing human rights, especially the rights of gay men and women, and he has yet to speak out about it,” Osborne continued.

Boitano has as yet said nothing against Russia’s anti-LGBT laws, instead insisting that athletes and spectators respect the laws of the country they will be visiting. Tennis great Billie Jean King, who has also been chosen to represent the U.S. in Sochi, has been somewhat vocal about her disapproval of the Russian laws. “Stand up and tell us what you are going to do what are you going to say in Russia,” yelled Jamie Bauer,” the other protester from Queer Nation. Boitano remained seated and silent and refused to acknowledge the protesters.

Audience members booed the protesters.

TODAY: Queer Nation To Protest At NBC

Queer Nation will today crash the holiday party for NBC staffers at a hotel in downtown New York City. They write:

This is the not at all inspiring tale of the International Olympic Committee and eleven of the top Olympic sponsors' Road to Sochi. This coalition of some of the biggest mega-corporations on Earth dutifully and unfortunately followed the lead of feckless IOC president Thomas Bach. They have made a collective agreement that the shining ideals of the Olympic charter are merely easily expendable platitudes if they ever threaten to interfere with the collecting of large wheel barrels full of Olympic profits. The result of the IOC and sponsors' inaction is the Olympic charters' hollow assurances of non-discrimination and respect for basic human rights have now been reduced to mere jive talk and many in the global LGBTQ community are not at all fooled by it.

NBC Backs Johnny Weir's Apology

Earlier today I posted Johnny Weir's apology for calling Queer Nation activists "idiots."  NBC has now issued a short statement about the flap. Via Deadline: “We’re supportive of Johnny’s apology for his choice of words last night in an emotional setting. As we’ve previously stated, NBC will cover all newsworthy issues as they are relevant to the Games, including the LGBT law.”

HomoQuotable - Johnny Weir

"I was speaking at a university and called a small group of people protesting my speech, idiots, for no other reason that my tongue getting away from me. This kind of talk is usually relegated to the safety of my own friend groupings and family but for some reason, I felt like a threatened underdog and needed to take a dig at the people who had me on edge. At the end of my speech I opened the floor to a Q&A and it turned out that those very people protesting my speech, were actually friends of the faculty and brave LGBT activists who stood in the same room as me. I felt, and still feel, a great deal of remorse for allowing myself to insult other people, fighting in their own way, and for using insulting words instead of my usual cheerleading antics for one and all. [snip] I have put my foot in my mouth before, and I probably will many times over, but it doesn’t change the fact that I stooped to fighting by slinging insults rather than being proud of my own voice and achievements and saying, my opinion matters too. I showed myself a lesser version of myself that night, and I’m glad I learned from it." - Johnny Weir, writing for the Falls Church News-Press. (Via Towleroad)

Johnny Weir: Gay Activists Are Idiots

Andy Humm reports at Gay City News:

Former Olympic skater Johnny Weir was picketed by Queer Nation outside his talk at Barnard College December 2 for his position that “the Olympics are not the place to make a political statement” about Russia’s anti-gay laws and “you have to respect the culture of a country you are visiting.” During his talk he spoke of “idiots like the ones outside tonight, dumping vodka in the street,” action he dismissed as useless. “They say all these stupid things,” he told the audience of about 40 Barnard women students. “I never supported the [Russian] government. I supported the people.”

The banner outside, made and held by Gilbert Baker, creator of the Rainbow Flag, among others, stated in blood red, “Weir: Russian Olympic Clown; N.B.C.: Naïve Bloody Collaborators.” [snip] “We’re angry at him for not telling the truth about what’s going on in Russia to LGBT Russians and everybody else who dissents, who are being brutalized,” said Ann Northrop of Queer Nation at the protest. “He is selling out millions of people to satisfy his desire not to forgo his income or status. Is this what he would have done in Germany in 1936?”

Read Humm's full article.

Image source.

HomoQuotable - Ken Kidd

"Johnny Weir is an insufferable, entitled twit, to say the least. Fine. But he's NBC's Token Olympic Gay, and many people's only perceived authority on Putin's Russia. So when he starts peppering his NBC color commentary with lies, gently but confidently faux-explaining how 'it's really not so bad over there' and 'what a shame' that a small number of troublemakers have to 'put a black cloud over (Sochi) for everyone,' he becomes a highly-paid, highly dishonest, highly dangerous quisling. Shame." - Queer Nation member Ken Kidd, writing on Facebook.

Radio Free Europe Interviews Rainbow Flag Creator And Activist Gilbert Baker

Radio Free Europe has posted a great chat with rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker, who these days is a major force with Queer Nation here in New York City. The clip takes you inside Baker's Harlem apartment and you even get a look at his sewing machines. He's a JMG reader!

(Tipped by JMG reader Ken)

Queer Nation: The Road To Sochi

(Via Towleroad)

Queer Nation Wins With NYSE

More from the Moscow Times:

During last year's event, the Russian flag was raised on the NYSE building together with a banner announcing "2012 NYSE Russia Day." Amid this year's protests against the Russian law, neither the flag nor any other sign commemorating Russia appeared outside the NYSE building. "Apparently, the NYSE is embarrassed by their association with the Russian government," said Duncan Osborne, an activist with the Queer Nation gay rights group, in an interview. By Monday, gay rights activists had gathered nearly 10,000 signatures for a petition urging the NYSE to cancel its Russia Day altogether to protest the law, which was adopted in June and has been blamed by opponents for a recent flurry of attacks against Russian gays. "Russia's abusive treatment of its LGBT citizens is grimly illustrated by accounts of gay youth being kidnapped, tortured and raped by … gangs whose activities the Russian government allows to to flourish and even actively encourages," said the petition posted on the Change.org website.

Image via Queer Nation.