Press Release - Showtime Networks and Executive Producer Bryn Freedman (A&E's 'Intervention') are developing a new TV documentary series about gays and lesbians coming out to important people in their lives. Our aim is to create a show that not only helps the people we profile and the LGBTQ community in general, but also uses television's vast reach and power to enlighten and increase understanding of what it's like to feel compelled to hide an essential part of oneself.

We were alarmed by the recent San Francisco State University study about family response to a teen's coming out and its conclusion that "teens who experienced negative feedback were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide". The glimmer of hope the study offered however was that "parents who take even baby steps to respond with equanimity instead of rejection can dramatically improve a gay youth's mental health outlook". By raising awareness and visibility, we hope to help people take those 'baby steps' or better.

Our production team includes film & television producer Todd Shotz whose online video campaign against Prop 8 in California was honored on March 14th with the first-ever Human Rights Campaign E-Hero Award.

Freedman, Shotz and the rest of the team will treat the people we profile and their loved ones with the utmost care, dignity and respect, and will provide a support system of counselors and therapists throughout the process.

We are currently casting for the series and want to get the word out as far and wide as possible. To learn more about the show and/or be a participant, please visit our website Way Out Documentary or our Facebook group or check out the interview that 'The Advocate' did with Adam Drucker, our Casting Producer (please note that 'The Advocate' piece is a month old and we are now casting nationwide. We'd like to reach every corner of America, from urban centers to the smallest of towns where it is rare to live openly as a LGBTQ person).

Please don't hesitate to email with any questions or concerns. All inquiries and information will, of course, remain confidential.

When I checked out the link to watch this video, I couldn't help but get choked up. It's from Courage Campaign and it's concerning all those that got married in California before Proposition 8 (articles). There were approx. 18,000 same-sex marriages and now they are trying to have those nullified and a guy named Ken Starr was chosen to represent the Prop 8 supporters once this goes to the supreme court.

Well the Courage Campaign created this video called 'Fidelity' and the music is just way too catchy - a song from Regina Spektor. The video just might break your heart. And after you watch the video, consider signing their letter that they plan on handing over to the Supreme Court.

Thanks to Jacques aka PandaMontreal (galleries - profile) for sending me the link.

The other day, I mentioned in this article that Barack Obama mentioned that he has chosen the evangelical pastor Rick Warren to be a speaker at the president's inauguration and many gay activists criticized Obama's choice since Rick Warren is against same-sex marriages. However this recent Associated Press article has Rick Warren talking favourably about gay folks. Warren mentions that he "loves Muslims, people of other religions, Republicans and Democrats, and he also loves gays and straights". He went on to say that "I have many gay friends. I've eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church".

The question is: is Rick Warren saying all this because he means it or because he's in the spotlight right now as being a speaker at the president's inauguration? People's true colours will always show, so let's hope this Bearish pastor still loves everyone after the show.

Before Proposition 8 (Wiki - articles) came into effect, there were thousands of same-sex couples who got 'legally' married in California between May '08 up until November '08, once Prop 8 came into effect.

Well from this CNN article, it looks like they are trying to nullify those marriages that took place during those 6-7 months. From CNN "Sponsors of the California ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage are seeking to nullify thousands of marriages between gay and lesbian couples performed after the state Supreme Court ruled them constitutional".

I know of some friends who got married, some of them travelling across the country just to say their vows in California. A lot of people put a lot of money into their marriages, and to nullify them is a really low blow.

Besides, has nobody seen Prop 8 - The Musical yet...? Think of how many pink dollars will be put into the economy if same-sex marriages were permitted.

Proposition 8 (articles) is going to have its date in court. The following is from the LA Times (article): "The California Supreme Court voted 6 to 1 on Wednesday to review legal challenges to Proposition 8, the voter initiative that restored a ban on same-sex marriage, but refused to permit gay weddings to resume pending a final decision".

The court is going to also discuss the fate of those who did get married prior to Prop 8. As for Prop 8 going to court so quickly after it was passed, this says nothing as to whether they will uplift the ban to same-sex marriages or not. The Supreme Court should come to a decision on this by spring. Oh, and what does Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger think of all this? He expects "the court to overturn the proposition and indicated that he favored that outcome".

Joe (photo - articles - profile) is on fire. Some know him as Joe Mannetti, others as Joe Falconi... I think I'll just call him Joe since he's the only famous Joe Bear that I know of. After winning Mr Long Beach Pride Bear/Cub '08 and recently Mr. Los Angeles Bear '08, Joe took home this weekend the title of Mr. Southern California Bear '08. Triple wow...! As he says "IBR, here I come".

In other, sobering news, check out Joe's latest article entitled Can't we all get Along?. It's about Prop 8 (article) but not just about 'straight vs gay' but more 'what colour voted more for Prop 8', as in, the news keeps bringing up the issue that "Black support for 8 was larger than any other group, including Hispanics". Alas, Joe is super cute yet he does tackle some hard hitting issues as being a Bearish supporter, fund-raiser and an upcoming important voice in the GLBT community.

After hearing how same-sex marriages are no longer permitted in California due to 'Proposition 8' (article), there's news from the other coast that Connecticut is now recognizing and permitting gay marriages. From this CNN article: "The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on October 10th that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples". Will the east-coast Mormons come out and formulate their own Prop 8...? If so, there's always Vermont... or Canada...

I usually skip over 'gay' news and leave it to the bigwigs like Gay.com and PlanetOut, however the recent news about Prop 8 in California has caught my attention. I first sent out a RIM to my buddy list about it, asking if people knew about it. I got a few people saying they either don't follow gay news either or they don't live in the States. I myself live in Canada and same-sex marriage is legally binding from coast to coast (thanks CBELA).

About this Prop 8... in California, back in May '08, they became the 2nd state to recognize same-sex marriages. I remember the hoopla it caused and saw the stream of photos that poured thru as gays and lesbians took pics of their newly bound matrimony. Well just very recently, Proposition 8 surfaced... it's a ballot and the title of this ballot wants to 'Eliminate (the) Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry'. From Wiki (article): "Proposition 8 is a California State ballot proposition that would amend the state Constitution, to limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman".

From what I understand, not all the ballots have been counted for yet, however if it's reversed - meaning if it goes thru and same-sex marriages are no permitted in California... what happens to all those who did get marry? There's lawsuits right now involving those who did get married and those who planned on getting married.

2ndly - what interested me about this case - is that the church has gotten involved. 8 such religious groups have supported this ballot (the Mormons being the best known) and have poured a ton of money into it.

So... from what I understand... it's still up in the air. Here's a few videos I found in relation to this. This one a little cartoon which explains this Prop 8 (it's more for Prop 8 than against)... and here's one showing people protesting (chanting 'separate church and state' and 'shame on you').

Anyhow, as I mentioned, I sent out a RIM (Recorded Instant Message) to my buddies on TubeBear and I got quite a few responses back. Here's a fine response from DJ Reed (profile - what a fantastic beard he's got going there). DJ is one of the coordinators for Maximus - a group that organizes quarterly socials for butchy men who enjoy a good smoke: