[Pictured above: Purchase this pink UK Union Jack Flag at: http://www.proudtobebritish.co.uk/product.php?PID=4]
This is an article which explains how there were claims of "institutional homophobia" in the UK Border Agency up until a judge last year ruled in favor of gay and lesbian asylum seekers in the UK.
The UK Home Office and UK Border Agency promised to corret things and to keep good records of the changes, but it appears nothing has been recorded, and so no one really knows if the changes are being implemented or not:
"The UK Border Agency was told by the Home Office last year that the new rules should be applied "with immediate effect" and that relevant cases should be "flagged and recorded".
"But more than six months on, the government still does not know how many cases they are dealing with, let alone whether the ruling is being followed."
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
October brings with it the third Iris Prize Festival, a feast of LGBT films, both short and feature-length. Chapter Arts Centre and Cineworld will show the films between 7th and 10th October.
Thirty shorts will compete for the coveted prize of £25,000; the best feature will be awarded £1000, donated by Martin Briggs and the best British short will win a training award of £1000 for its director, donated by the Welsh Screen Academy.
The thirty shorts come from two sources. Fifteen were nominated by partner festivals including, for the first time, Chicago and Melbourne.
The remaining fifteen were selected by the pre-jury from the seventy submitted by individuals.
The pre-jury took six days to complete this enjoyable task. They were Berwyn Rowlands ( Festivals Company ), James Nee ( Festivals Company ), Lisa Nesbitt ( BAFTA Cymru ) and myself (Philip pictured far left.)
Ten films practically chose themselves, the remaining five were the result of much discussion.
For example, were they definitely within the remits of this particular festival? Were some superb scenes sufficent to justify the inclusion of the film as a whole? We ended up with fifteen films worthy to be shown side by side with the festivals' nominees.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
Just in case you ever wondered whether fanatical religious rhetoric encourages anti-gay violence, which will inevitably be directed against YOUR gay sons and daughters . . .
"Artzi added that homosexuals "are worse than beasts, at least a beast knows it's [homosexuality] wrong, or not natural".
Artzi finished his statements to Haaretz by saying the managers of the gay center "should be forced to face a firing squad".
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
A tale of morality, politics and religion based on Anita Bryant’s 1977 anti-gay crusade a new play by Michael Yawney
Commissioned by Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County produced by Arsht Center and Camposition
November 20-23, 2008 Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater
February 26-28, 2009 Colony Theater Miami Beach
Nov 2009 Theater Offensive, Boston
Summer 2010 AUSTRALIA
1,000 Homosexuals tells the story of Anita Bryant's 1977 crusade against gay civil rights. The play is a documentary/fantasy/comedy presenting Anita just the way she would want: as a musical Joan of Arc battling a powerful and perverse gay mafia.
Due to Anita’s concern for her family, she resists taking a stand against a county-wide gay rights ordinance.
After she heeds God’s call to take heroic action, Anita pays a heavy price for her stand.
The play bends documentary sources such as government records, newspaper stories, and underground gay manifestos into a twisted carnival of 70s-style sex and faith.
Camposition’s programs are supported by Dade Community Foundation and Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Board of County Commissioners.
1,000 Homosexuals has been commissioned by the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and endorsed, thus far, by the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Stonewall Library & Archives.
Michael Yawney (Directing, Playwriting, Theatre History) is a Miami-based playwright/director. He has an M.F.A. from Columbia University and a B.F.A. from the Experimental Theater Wing of New York University. His play 1,000 Homosexuals debuted in November 2008 at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
He was a playwright in residence at New York Stage and Film/Vassar Powerhouse in 2006 and his production Three Angels Dancing on a Needle was named the Best Theatrical Production of 2007 by Miami New Times as well as Best Foreign Language Production at the Brooklyn Brick Theater’s Pretentious Festival.
Mr. Yawney's writing has appeared in Theater Week, Out Traveler, Propaganda, and OFF. He was Artistic Director of New York’s Bad Neighbors Theater and founding member of the Genesius Guild. Mr. Yawney taught workshops at Columbia University, the Minskoff Studios and The South Florida Theater League.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
HBO Presents Oscar-Nominated Paul Morrison, Builds on Success of Welsh-Yiddish Drama w/New, Bisexual Salvador Dalí World Premier in Miami May 3 2009 . . .
After some disturbing adjustments and personnel losses caused by the worldwide 2008 stock market crisis and its local economic effects, the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has risen from the 'ashes' with a World Premier of what could turn out to be the hottest gay movie this year!
The Miami & Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian FIlm Festival with HBO presents the world premier of 'Little Ashes'.
This could be the highest profile film for Closing Night of Miami's celebrated Queer film festival, ever.
[Pictured above: Movie stars Javier Beltran and Robert Pattinson get naked in Little Ashes.]
British Director Paul Morrison boldly advanced on the art house cinema circuit with his Oscar-nominated 'Yiddish-Welsh Romeo & Juliet' love tragedy called 'Solomon & Gaenor'.
Morrison proved his ability to interpret difficult, historic costume dramas with complicated sexual and political twists in Solomon & Gaenor, which told the story of a beautiful Welsh-speaking chapel girl who falls fatefully in love with a Yiddish-speaking peddler.
[Pictured above: Ioan Gruffudd in Paul Morrison's Oscar nominated Solomon & Gaenor]
Paul Morrison's film Solomon & Gaenor starred sex icon Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd - Fantastic Four (2005) Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).
Morrison's sensitivity to historic accuracy and the subtleties of period politics gained him a reputation (along with the Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film) as a new type of European director, making commercially-successful films, but still with complex and romantically lush cinematic landscapes and human plot lines.
[Pictured above:Spanish actor Javier Beltran is giving the "next big thing" treatment by Out (April 2009)]
[Pictured above: Robert Pattinson's spread from GQ (April 2009)]
Miami's Queer Film fest is remarkable for its longevity and ability to constantly re-create itself ever since the brilliant director Robbie Rosenberg launched it many years ago.
The festival has a reputation within the film industry for being the most hospitable and enjoyable festivals a film industry professional would ever want to attend, and the audiences in Miami benefit from the wealth of producers, stars and directors' panels after almost every annual premier.
This year's program is FABULOUS and it's tough to find any bad choices, at all.
So if you have any hopes of getting a ticket, don't procrastinate ordering advance tickets, or you could find yourself standing in the rush lines or worse, not getting in at all.
And when it comes to this gay s Salvador Dalí flick by Paul Morrison, you had better follow my advice which is RUN, DO NOT WALK to get your tickets to this sure sell-out, NOW!!!
Little Ashes Directed by Paul Morrisson UK, 2009, 35mm, 112 Min EAST COAST PREMIER Regent Releasing
Sunday, May 3 6:30PM | Colony Theatre
"Little Ashes" OFFICIAL Trailer with Rob Pattinson!
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, a critically acclaimed event, is based in the world-renowned historic South Beach neighborhood and screens films and videos in locations throughout Miami-Dade county and Ft. Lauderdale.
[Pictured above: Opening Night Gala 10th Annual MGLFF]
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
[Pictured above: Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who plays the gay character in 'Brothers & Sister' made the cover of the world's most read gay magazine, The Advocate.]
Not only do the Welsh continue to lead the acting and film world, providing an endless parade of talent, but Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, has become a must-visit hot spot on the annual calendar for Gay & Lesbian Film production.
Here's the most recent news, directly quoted from the Iris Prize website:
"Brothers and Sisters star Matthew Rhys today (19 March 2009) confirmed that Melbourne Queer Film Festival and REELING - The Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival have become partner festivals for the Iris Prize.
Brothers & Sisters - Jason Lewis and Matthew Rhys first kiss
"They join the global network of gay and lesbian film festivals who nominate a short film to compete for the Iris Prize, the world’s largest gay and lesbian short film prize.
"I’m delighted that Iris has two new partner festivals located in Chicago and Melbourne. Having both these respected festivals join the family brings the total number of partner festivals to 16.
"The global network of film festivals who feed into Iris is hugely important in allowing Iris to identify and support the very best film making talent from all over the world," said Festival Patron, Matthew Rhys (pictured right).
"As the second oldest LGBT film festival in the world, Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival is delighted to participate in identifying the next recipient of the coveted Iris Prize.
B&S 2.01: Good Morning Kiss
"The Iris Prize not only recognizes excellence in LGBT filmmaking, it also makes possible the creation of new work, each year supporting a deserving filmmaker as they embark on their next short film adventure.
"We are thrilled to be part of this process," said Joe Sprague, Operations Director, Reeling.
To learn more about this fantastic festival, created by the Welsh wunderkind Berwyn Rowlands [having already placed Wales on the world stage, having established Ffresh, The Student Moving Image Festival of Wales (2002) and the Welsh International Film Festival (1989)]:
Click here to go directly to the Iris Prize website.
Iris Prize Festival 08 Montage
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomorrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
Good news abounds for gays since Obama came to office!
First of all, there’s the White House web site with Obama’s posting about equal rights for the GLBT communities.
Here's what the White House site says about Equal Rights for Gays:
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes.
President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.
Ellen DeGeneres Wedding Video
Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.
These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation.
Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities.
The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system.
The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses.
President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
Read more about it here:
Click here to read more about White Support for GLBT Equal Rights
Then there’s the good news about U.S. Immigration laws for gays. The good news is that both the House and Senate are considering new or renewed bills to give us equality to settle in the U.S. with our same-sex partners.
Read more about it here:
Click here to read Glenn Greenwald's Salon article about America's inhumane immigration inequality
Then there’s the reversal of Bush policy, where Bush refused to sign the UN Declaration that denounced criminalization of gay persons in all member states.
Bush refused to sign it, and Obama has reversed this bad policy. Read more about it here:
Click here to read the Time article Obama to Sign UN Gay Rights Declaration
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Adoration of Beauty and the Grotesque, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called William Blake Spirituality: Toward a Theory of Horoscopes, Tarot and Tomrrow's Tea Leaves, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Courage 2 Create, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Grace-filled Empty Spaces, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
Queer Day Rising and Queer Advantage GLBT Miami/UK: Queer Advantage Gay and Lesbian Film Reviews, Music, Books, Movies, and Games. Somewhere over the Rainbow, there's a clear advantage to understanding and accessorizing your Shadow Self, what we like to call the 'Queer Advantage'. You're smarter than you think you are, so don't break a nail, Louise, and above all, try to relax . . .
In Dec. 2007 I completed my Ph.D. in Film Studies at the Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK. I live in Miami Beach. I am a native of Youngstown, Ohio.
I am currently completing my L.L.M. in Intellectual & Industrial Property Law, with interests in Transmedia, Multi-Platform Content Origination, Data Protection Law and Developing Digital Economies.
