The LGBT+ Gateway to SecondLife Has Opened

It is with great pride I can now announce that the LGBT+ Gateway to SecondLife at SecondPride - after much delay - finally opened at the end of August 2019.

Newcomers who use that entryway will be dropped into the SL 101 learning area at Second Pride. The area is constructed as a building site that the new resident goes through to learn the basics of being a resident in SecondLife. The area was designed and built by Tomais Ashdene, my husband, and his daughter Kerowyn Kirke.

There is an entryway on the Second Pride website (url), but I will put one on this blog as well.

Gay History 1978

Tell it Tom Robinson, tell it as it was! Tell us about the days when our "condition" was considered a disease and had an official number with the WHO and harassment and abuse was rampant.



Sing if you're glad to be gay
Lyrics & music by Tom Robinson

The British Police are the best in the world I don't believe one of these stories I've heard 'Bout them raiding our pubs for no reason at all Lining the customers up by the wall Picking out people and knocking them down Resisting arrest as they're kicked on the ground Searching their houses and calling them queer I don't believe that sort of thing happens here Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way Pictures of naked young women are fun In Titbits and Playboy, page three of The Sun There's no nudes in Gay News our one magazine But they still find excuses to call it obscene Read how disgusting we are in the press The Telegraph, People and Sunday Express Molesters of children, corruptors of youth It's there in the paper, it must be the truth Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way Don't try to kid us that if you're discreet You're perfectly safe as you walk down the street You don't have to mince or make bitchy remarks To get beaten unconscious and left in the dark I had a friend who was gentle and short He was lonely one evening and went for a walk Queerbashers caught him and kicked in his teeth He was only hospitalised for a week Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way So sit back and watch as they close all our clubs Arrest us for meeting and raid all our pubs Make sure your boyfriend's at least 21 So only your friends and your brothers get done Lie to your workmates, lie to your folks Put down the queens and tell anti-queer jokes Gay Lib's ridiculous, join their laughter 'The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?' Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way

SP Board Meeting 02/16/2019 - Minutes Posted

To assist my dear sexy friend Cay (cayson.triellis) and my adorable husband Tomais, the minutes from the board meeting they attended and found bewildering, confusing or downright objectionable are now posted at the Second Pride website (url) under "Documents". This (url) is the direct link to the aforementioned document for the lazy buggers.

The minutes contain a lot of great news, here I will only mention a few select ones.

• Second Pride is applying to become an LGBT+ Gateway to SecondLife. If approved by Linden Lab the organization would save USD249 per month in tier and can reduce its costs - thereby being able to donate more to charitable LGBT+ causes in first life.
• Changes in the mission statement of the Bylaws accepted by the board, to be voted on by the Membership.
• Members are - as has been mentioned in a previous post - invited to contribute with their ideas on an updated logo for Second Pride, a theme for the Festival in June, and additional services they would like from Second Pride.
• The 15^th annual Second Pride Festival will take place between June 14^th and 23^rd, 2019.
• New and improved donation kiosks are now available.

Read all about it and more at greater length in the minutes!

P.S. The Build Director also promised Cay to consider reintroducing floats parade in the festival.

Second Pride Festival, June 15th – 24th, 2018.

Get ready to rumble, boys and girls, because Second Pride 2018 is afoot.

This year's theme is "This is Me. This is Us. A Celebration of Community." 

And to all those of you who say "Well, I surely don't belong to any community, especially not yours!", let me tell you this. Whether you effing like it or not, WE consider YOU to be part of OUR community. Chew on that for a while, darlin'.

It's time for you to get your booth or show your support. Second Pride is a charity event for equality and unity in Second Life. The LGBTQ+ Community is wide and divers in Second Life and they need your support!

Go to the Second Pride webpage (url) where you will find all the information you need on how to sign up and all the options for how to support this major event, but the main thing is: Second Pride NEEDS you! So don’t wait, sign up now!

Announcing: Absolut Rainbow

The Swedish alcohol producer V&S Vin & Sprit AB (a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard) today announced a new product, read more about it here: Absolut Rainbow. I'm certain the launch is connected to the ongoing Stockholm Pride.

"Through the years, Absolut have done all kinds of proud activities, including the first spirits bottle ever to wear the rainbow flag, which was made in collaboration with Gilbert Baker, the designer behind the original flag. To us, the rainbow flag represents the diverse voices of the LGBTQ community coming together, celebrating difference in unity. Now, when the rainbow flag is about to turn 40, the time has come to give the rainbow a permanent place in our portfolio. This time with brush strokes, screen-printed on the glass, creating a strong connection to the creative artists that have been inspired by the Absolut bottle in the past. Absolut Rainbow Edition is limited in volume, but not in time. Consume what's on the inside moderately, but please be anything but moderate when spreading the message on the outside! Taking pride in diversity, is what the world needs, now more than ever."

Repeal Nigeria's Horrific Anti-LGBT Law

Sign the petition!

Pulse, Orlando, Florida - 1st Anniversary

Honor the dead and the survivors of the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016. 

1. Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
2. Amanda L. Alvear, 25 years old
3. Oscar A. Aracena Montero, 26 years old
4. Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, 33 years old
5. Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
6. Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
7. Angel Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
8. Juan Chavez Martinez, 25 years old
9. Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
10. Cory James Connell, 21 years old
11. Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
12. Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
13. Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández, 31 years old
14. Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
15. Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
16. Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz, 22 years old
17. Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
18. Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
19. Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
20. Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
21. Javier Jorge Reyes, 40 years old
22. Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
23. Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
24. Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 years old
25. Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
26. Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
27. Brenda Marquez McCool, 49 years old
28. Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25 years old
29. Kimberly Jean Morris, 37 years old
30. Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
31. Luis Omar Ocasio Capo, 20 years old
32. Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, 25 years old
33. Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
34. Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
35. Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
36. Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
37. Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez, 27 years old
38. Xavier Emmanuel Serrano-Rosado, 35 years old
39. Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
40. Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan, 24 years old
41. Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
42. Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
43. Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
44. Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24 years old
45. Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez, 37 years old
46. Luis Sergio Vielma, 22 years old
47. Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez, 50 years old
48. Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
49. Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Second Pride Festival 2017 - The Logo

Poster by LLedge Eames

Below is the logo of this years Second Pride festival, which was recently released. 

I like it! Its powerful and illustrates that we still have to stand up and be counted in the fight for our own and our International sisters and brothers rights and protections.

Sure, pride is a celebration of who we are and how far we have come in some countries, but we must also always remember there are places in the world where the situation for our sisters and brothers our far from comfortable and easy as it is for us.

We are here to celebrate and to give them hope and show support in their struggles. We are here to be in the faces of their and our oppressors, to show we exist and we are here to stay. We will be loud and proud because we cant!

Dates Decided for Second Pride 2017

The Board of Directors of Second Pride had a General Assembly Meeting in the Second Pride Headquarters Conference Hall on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at 01:30PM SLT.

At the meeting the dates for this years festival were decided. Below are the festival dates as well as release dates for sponsor, vendor, and DJ information.

Festival dates Friday June 23 - Sunday July 2, 2017!

Sponsor Packages available from Monday May 8*
Vendor Packages available from Monday May 15*
Performer Applications from Friday May 26 - June 18th

*) Please note, there is likely to be a shortage of available space at this years festival as it is going to be held on only one sim. You had better be on your toes and leaning forward to grab a place!

Please contact LLedge Eames or Viktor Sandman if you need any further information or have any questions.

New Favicon - The Green Carnation

Before we got the Internet and all the hookup apps, gay men with faulty or spurious gaydar - much like myself - tried coming up with various clear but subtle and innocuous ways of identifying one another in the vast ocean of stunningly handsome heterosexual men.

Ever since Blogger started allowing "favicons" (a.k.a. website icon or bookmark icon) I have availed myself of it as a means of identifying this blog as gay operated. I have used various LGBT symbols to do this, first the λ-sign, then I moved on to the pink triangle. 

When I started looking for a new favicon I came across an account about Oscar Wilde, the biggest and butchest poofter of us all.

It is said that he and his group of friends in the Victorian England of the 1890's wore a green carnation as an emblem.

It would seem - judging from a Wikipedia article on LGBT-symbols - that in doing so the group picked up a previous tradition among homosexuals in ancient Rome.

Great Parenting

The best parental response... pic.twitter.com/VCsJMeJ43z

— LGBT+ Proud! (@LGBTPlusProud) July 21, 2016

Panti Bliss on Homophobia & Orlando

(via ILGA Europe, hat tip to J.M.G.)

The Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss, rocking the European Equality Gala 2016 in Brussels, Belgium. 

#RestInPride

(via J.M.G.)

Clip description
#‎RestInPRIDE is a video campaign honoring our brothers and sisters whose lives were taken far too soon at LGBT nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, FL. More info here- www.RestInPRIDE.org

Please get involved by uploading your own video to www.facebook.com/RestInPRIDE , and donating NOW to OneOrlando.Org

Song Download "LIGHT" by Brian Justin Crum, available on iTunes, with all proceeds to benefit the OneOrlando Fund.

Featuring: Rumer Willis, Greg Louganis, Candis Cayne, Bruce Vilanch Wilson Cruz, and 49 members and allies of the LGBT community sharing their memories in honor of those who sadly can't make anymore of their own.

Created by
Brian Justin Crum
Arno Diem
Blake Peyrot
Charley Cullen Walters

Orlando, Fl

The homophobe and mass murderer Omar Mateen, 29, committed the worst mass shooting in American history yesterday, June 12th 2016, when he attacked the Pulse nightclub, a LGBT club in the heart of Orlando, armed with an AR-15-type assault rifle and other weapons, killing 49 people and wounding 53.

---

Our thoughts at this time must go to the loved ones of the killed and to the wounded and their families. 

LGBT Superheroes

(via J.M.G.)

Clip description
Iceman, Mystique, Catwoman & many others are LGBT in the comic books but appear as straight on screen.

It's time all superheroes were accurately portrayed. 

➵ Share the trailer: http://bit.ly/sharesuperheroes ➵ Tweet the trailer: http://bit.ly/tweetsuperheroes

So we imagined a story where LGBT characters could be accurately portrayed.

Tell the studios to stick to the script.
---
Directed by Mike Buonaiuto (Twitter: @Videographer88)
Director of Photography: Leighton Cox
Produced by: Lauren Kay-Lambert
Featuring: Kane Surry, George Longworth and Conor Boru.

No Running

Just to be clear... 😎😍 pic.twitter.com/0yntZ4p7vR

— LGBT+ Proud! (@LGBTPlusProud) May 23, 2016

It's IDAHOT Day!

"This day was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

In under a decade, May 17 has established itself the single most important date for LGBTI communities to mobilise on a worldwide scale.

The Day represents an annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, opinion leaders and local authorities to the alarming situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people and all those who do not conform to majority sexual and gender norms.

May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal, with 1600 events reported from 1280 organizations in 2014. These mobilisations unite millions of people in support of the recognition of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has received official recognition from several States, international institutions as the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark the Day with specific events."
From "What is May 17th" at IDAHOT's webpage.

Gay Archipelago SummerFest 2016

27th April 2016

To: All LGBTQIA + S and friendly people, vendors, and groups on the grid

From: Weylin Vale, GA Lead

Re: GA Summerfest 2016 Sponsorship & Store Holder Invite

Good day all,

One of the missions of the Gay Archipelago is to coordinate grid-wide activities. That nine year tradition will continue on our watch.  Planning is underway for GA Summerfest 2016 which is scheduled for June 3rd to June 12th 2016 and I personally want you to be a part of this one.

This is your invitation to become a sponsor and a part of a great community event. The Festival comes after months of preparation and planning from a highly dedicated team.  Our last event, Winterfest attracted over 55,000 residents - so we are expecting to entertain very large numbers of people again from all over SL.

The GA has received this private Full Region Island Sim kindly donated by Lucretia Brandenburg which will be dedicated to such things as the Village Stores (vendors, merchant and organizations gathered together to promote their goods and services to the visiting public); the Entertainment Stage (for live performances, cabaret shows and dances); and various activities for everyone to enjoy.  We are dedicated to providing the widest variety of activities to suit every taste - all in a welcoming, all-inclusive environment!  As a sponsor, your SIM, business or organization will get great exposure to an always appreciative crowd.

Radio coverage will be from Universe Radio.

We've significantly cut the prices for GA Summerfest Sponsorship as we strive to promote and provide our community with an event that everyone can participate in and enjoy.    The sponsorship packages follow.

SUMMERFEST 2016 "THE SUMMER OF LOVE" PACKAGES:
(The primary difference is the shop size, location and the personal event)

* BRONZE SPONSORSHIP * L$ 2,500
- Small sized sponsor store - with 50 prims available for you to display products/services/information
- Opening party dedicated to the Festival Sponsors on the "The Summer Of Love" festival sim on June 3rd 2016
- Special mentions by the DJ
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor wall during the Festival.
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor board at the opening party, special mentions by the DJ
- A two hour event scheduled at available times where your estate or shop is the sole sponsor
- Notices and announcements to all GA groups during your event
- Advertisement of your logo on the board at the closing party, special mentions by the DJ

* SILVER SPONSORSHIP * L$ 5,000
- Medium sized sponsor store - with 100 prims available for you to display products/services/information
- Opening party dedicated to the Festival Sponsors on the "The Summer Of Love" festival sim on June 3rd 2016
- Special mentions by the DJ
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor wall during the Festival.
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor board at the opening party, special mentions by the DJ
- A two hour event scheduled at available times where your estate or shop is the sole sponsor
- Notices and announcements to all GA groups during your event
- Advertisement of your logo on the board at the closing party, special mentions by the DJ
- 30 second spot on Festival radio (Universe Radio) during non DJ times.

* GOLD SPONSORSHIP * L$ 10,000
- Large sized sponsor store - with 150 prims available for you to display products/services/information
- Advertisement of your logo on the Festival posters and promotional banners.
- Opening party dedicated to the Festival Sponsors on the "The Summer of Love" festival sim on June 3rd 2016
- Special mentions by the DJ
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor wall during the Festival.
- Advertisement of your logo on the board at the opening party, special mentions by the DJ
- A two hour event scheduled at peak times where your estate or shop is the sole sponsor
- Notices and announcements to all GA groups during your event
 - Advertisement of your logo on the board at the closing party, special mentions by the DJ
- 30 second spot on Festival radio (Universe Radio) during non DJ times.

* PLATINIUM SPONSORSHIP * L$ 15,000
- Extra large sized sponsor booth -200 prims available for you to display products/services/information  
- Advertisement of your logo on the Festival posters and promotional banners.
- Opening party dedicated to the Festival Sponsors on the "Summer of Love" festival sim on June 3rd 2016
- Special mentions by the DJ
- Advertisement of your logo on the Sponsor wall during the Festival.
- Advertisement of your logo on the board at the opening party, special mentions by the DJ
- 2 two hour events scheduled at peak times where your estate or shop is the sole sponsor
- Notices and announcements to all GA groups during your event
- Advertisement of your logo on the board at the closing party, special mentions by the DJ
- 30 second spot on Festival radio (Universe Radio) during non DJ times.
(Naturally Platinum is on the main landing point, dance arena, and theater. This gives you an idea of how the layout will be)

Visitors love a freebie, so we do ask where possible that every store holder put out a gift, great way to get folks shopping in your store or visiting your estate.

GA ESTATE MEMBER BENEFITS
A rebate voucher of L$1,000 will be given to all estates on payment of sponsorship.
Members can hold estate events during the week additional to their weekend party(s)

We shall also be opening up the calendar for round one of the event bookings next week. To book the events however you must have a DJ and Host locked in at the time of booking, if you need a DJ or Host please let us know as we have many on reserve.

BOOKING YOUR STORE... Easy this year, we have a model of the village above the festival sim, each store has a payment terminal outside. Just click and pay and your done.

Go here to book your store at the mock-up of the SummerFest (SLurl)􀀀

Q. SO I PAID WHATS NEXT???????
A. Fill in the attached form and return to WeylinVale
􀀂
For further information contact one of the festival event team today
Weylinvale - Festival Lead
Chade Dagger- - Festival Build
Situazian - Festival PR
Crito Galtier - Entertainment Manager
______________________________________________________________
After having booked your store by paying at the mock-up, copy the following into a note card and send it to Weylin Vale.

Welcome Sponsor and GA Member Estates!

Thank you for your continued support to the Gay Archipelago. Please provide us with the following information and return it to WeylinVale (GA Lead).

It would be greatly appreciated if you use low script / low lag vendors during the event. (We recommend Casper)

Our thanks!

Weylin
GA Lead

________________________________________________________________________

Name of sponsor:

Name of owner(s):

Type of sponsor (Vendor / Non for Profit / Estate / GA Estate):

Please place your logo here, must be full perm and non transparent (512x512 is preferred):

Please tell us about you:

Do you have a website or blog?:

URL of website or Blog:

Landmark or SURL of your store/estate:

Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsors please send your 30 second MP3 advertisement for Festival Radio to; weylin.vale@gmail.com

Which sponsor package have you paid for :
Bronze:     2500L
Silver:       5000L
Gold:      15,000L
Platinum: 20,000L

Would any of your members like to assist us with Summerfest 2016 planning and execution?

Please contact Weylinvale or Crito Galtier to make your party bookings.

UN Issues LGBT Themed Postage Stamps

"The United Nations Postal Administration has released six new postage stamps promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The colourful stamps by artist and UNPA art director Sergio Baradat are also meant to celebrate the diversity of the gay community and marks the first time the global body’s post office has issued stamps with an LGBT theme.

(Source: theguardian.com)

Stockholm Pride, July 27 - August 1, 2015

It's time again for my friend Apmel's neighbours to raise the Pride-flag.

Stockholm Pride, the largest Pride-festival in Scandinavia, started today and ends on Saturday.

For more information about this event, please visit the official website Stockholm Pride (English).