Thursday, March 13, 2014

Second Pride Responds to Defamation on Facebook

Marge Beaumont, the Second Pride Treasurer, has today responded to recent defamation against inworld organizations and charities - among other Second Pride - occurring on Facebook.

I choose to post the full response here.

Letter from the Second Pride Treasurer in response to Facebook (url to the post)
There has been some malicious and unconscionable posts made on Facebook that unfortunately need to be addressed.
“The Second Pride Board uses its funds to supplement the “parties or fundraisers.”” the individual points to the 6/30/2013 link.
In actuality Second Pride donated 533,500 Lindens (2,000USD) to IGLHRC on 8/8/2013.
In addition after the membership voted to purchase a Second Life sim, Second Pride provided rent free space for charities involved with our community.
Events for 2013 cost 1745 Lindens 0.07% of the Second Pride expenditures.
The other expenditures for 2013 as for previous years was sim rental for our fest. As any board would do, Lindens were set aside to pay for sim tier the next year.
There is nothing covered here – it is all transparent.
This year the Second Pride Board has spent 0 Lindens for any fundraiser we have supported or endorsed.
When the sim was stripped of all buildings and landscape, Second Pride Board members and some members, floated that coast through their own donations. To stop an further stripping of the sim – everything belongs to the Second Pride Avatar,
Specific donations for rebuilding or other things are listed as bound donations.
Yes Board members without cost to our finances have donated a lot to Second Pride – a tradition that previous boards have followed.
Before accusing or suggesting that the lindens are going to promote our fundraisers, I suggest you go back yo your puppet master and get new instructions
Our funds are collected, reported along with complete transparency on this website bi weekly.
“I am not going to work with Second Pride if person X or Person Y is working with the Board."
Get over itSecond Pride will work with anyone that outs the mission of Second Pride over their own personal importance or ego.
If you do not “like” someone I am sorry to hear that. However that will not stop the participation of anyone.
This is not a high school or middle school election. Second Pride is an organization that is dedicated to the LGBT community in Second Life. It is not a place for personal egos or fiefdoms.
Last year someone went after a Board member on purpose. They tried to drag her through HELL on facebook. She ignored it for the good of Second Pride and did the job she was elected to do. It is a pity that the megalomaniac that pursued her now turns their venom toward Second Pride.
I have news for that individual. Second Pride is better then that. We do not wrestle in the mud nor throw the type of mud that they do. Frankly you should roll up your virtual sleeves, join us and get some work done for the good of the COMMUNITY!!
Respectfully submitted,
Marge Beaumont

Edit 3/15/2014
I have edited the title of the post by substituting the previously used word "slander" with "defamation". I did so after it had been pointed out to me on Facebook that my choice of word was incorrect. My only excuses are that I am a foreigner and that English is not my first language. I thank you for your indulgence and please feel free to inform me if and when I misuse your language.

What is the difference between libel and slander?

Libel and slander are both forms of defamation. The distinction between slander and libel comes in the form of the publication.

Slander involves the oral "publication" of a defamatory remark that is heard by another, which injures the subject's reputation or character. Slander can occur through the use of a hand gesture or verbal communication that is not recorded. Libel, on the other hand, is the written "publication" of a defamatory remark that has the tendency to injure another's reputation or character. Libel also includes a publication on radio, audio or video. Even though this would be considered oral, or verbal, communication to someone it is actually considered to be libel because it is published in a transfixed form.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Ars In Memoriam 2014

Photography by Kent Hutchinson of KH Photo

Joseph Douglas Wilson Jr. a.k.a
Ars Northmead
★ April 21, 1953 (first life)
 October 25, 2006 (SecondLife)
 March 12, 2010

On this day four years ago my beloved husband Ars passed away after a short illness.

Ars' brothers Dejerrity Mycron and Jeb Nicholls arranged a Memorial Service at Calas Galadhon where Truck Meredith and Tymus Tenk kindly let us use the homestead sim Mirromere for a week before, and their main sim for the big Memorial Service on March 20, 2010. Bora Rossini had created a beautiful setting for the memorial.

All of Ars' family and friends in SecondLife gathered there as well as Doug's parents, one of his sisters, his brothers and and even some of his nephews, nieces and cousins, who joined us in front of a computer screen using an avatar they had created.

I have asked for pictures from that memorial service earlier and this year I was happy to receive two from our friend elis Eun.
Photography by elis Eun
Photography by elis Eun
Although I never at the time thought that I would find love and true joy again, as it turns out life can work miracles and today I am happily married to my darling Tomais. I know that Ars would have wished this for me.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Fashion Pride Opening Today

"As you know, HIV and AIDS still impacts the lives of millions throughout the world today. Its impact in urban areas is often understated publicly, but the effect it has on those it touches is profound, transforming lives, destroying health, and devastating families.

Second Pride, the organization that creates Second Life's largest pride celebration, is holding a fundraiser for AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), to raise funds to increase awareness of the disease, assist those living with HIV, and service the community, while researching its impact on various segments of society.

Fashion Pride is an exciting shopping event that will take place from March 10th through March 17th 2014. It will include fabulous shopping, fashion shows, entertainment events, and a final art auction to raise funds for both the Second Pride main festival in June and ACT.

Marcus Lefevre has generously donated the use of one sim for the Fashion Pride event. We are grateful for his generosity."

Red Dot = Landing Point











11. Empty






17.  Alexandra Sautereau Collection http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Louisiana/76/24/24
























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Still have questions? Look at the Fashion Pride website

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Picture of the Day - 21

"Destroyed City" Photography by Revan Jinn
If you wish to see more of Revan's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream here.

SP Meeting - March 9, 2014, 12PM (noon) SLT

 There is a Second Pride public board meeting today at noon SLT, at the conference hall at Second Pride sim (SLurl).
For complete information on the vendor/sponsor packs for the Pride Festival please visit the Second Pride website.

Come one, come all!

Miss Wigstock 2014 - Seeking Contestants, Bloggers, a Videographer & Sponsors

I am pleased to share this press release from Gay Archipelago with you all, as my family has a stake in this contest ever since my brother Dejerrity Mycron won third place a couple of years ago. (Between us, he should have won of course!)

Dates to remember for Miss Wigstock 2014  
  • March 21 - Contestant entries due
  • April 19 - Preliminary events  
  • April 27 - Miss Wigstock 2014, final event

Contestants 

Sign-ups for Miss Wigstock 2014 contestants are due by March 21st, 2014.  

Please fill out a notecard that you have named "Miss Wigstock 2014 Entry (your name)" with the required information (see below) and send it to Ricogenu and/or Parvin (a.k.a. Xcept Atlas) prior to March 21, 2014. 
SL Avatar Name: (your name)
Drag Stage name: (your preferred stage name) 
PRELIMINARY EVENTs on Saturday April 19 at 12 PM and 4 PM SLT, theme Burlesque:
  1. Your choice of time for the preliminary event  12 PM or 4 PM SLT?:
  2. Pick two songs you will perform at the preliminary event. 
  3. Add a file of both the songs for the preliminary:
FINAL EVENT on Sunday April 27 at 12 PM SLT, theme Disco:
  1. Please pick three songs you would be willing to perform (Only one will be performed)
  2. File of the 3 songs for the final:
  3. Do you require any background set or props?:
  4. Additional notes for the organizers?


Oliver Elton will assist each contestant to get them ready for the shows.

Bloggers & a Videographer

Gay Archipelago are also seeking a videographer for the final event as well as bloggers to live blog the events.

Please contact Ricogenu and/or Parvin (a.k.a. Xcept Atlas) if you are interested in participating.

Sponsors

Gay Archipelago thanks its current sponsors who have signed on. They have donated cash, gift cards, their sims, and items:  GreyMyst EstatesJCNY, RGDW, Roby's style, Empire Emporium, N4RS, Corinthia Isle, GAYstar and HUG's.

Please contact Ricogenu and/or Xcept Atlas is you are considering sponsoring this event.

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*Two preliminary Miss Wigstock shows at Corinthia Isle's "Cawk & Heels Drag Club"*
Each contestant will participate in one of the two shows where they will each perform two songs.

When: Saturday April 19 at 12 PM and 4 PM SLT
Theme: Burlesque
Host:: Edwin Wilmot of Corinthia Isle
DJ: TBD
Voting: Audience favorite, the contest board will be set to group allowed voting only. (Group tags will be given out during the show.)
Builder: Rene Bonaparte
Prize: Gift Cards/Gifts
                  
**  Miss Wigstock Finals will be on the big stage at GreyMyst **
We will have two full sims together, contestants on one sim, audience on the other. Each contestant needs to pick three songs, however they will only perform one at the finals. (This is to prevent duplicates among contestants.)

When: Sunday, April 27 at 12 PM SLT
Theme: Disco
DJ:  TBD
Builder: GreyMyst's builders
MC: Chris Magic Blackheart
Prizes: 
  • L$15,000 First, 
  • L$5,000 Second, 
  • L$2,500 Third 
  • Gift Cards/Gifts 

Judging: 
Judging will be handled by three impartial judges to be determined. Anyone connected to a contestant or a sim will not be permitted to judge. Each judge will have a scorecard, with scoring guidelines. The judges will give their scores to a scorekeeper who will total the points independently.


If you have any questions or comments please contact Parvin (a.k.a. Xcept Atlas).

Ricogenu & Parvin

The Best Gay Possible


(via J.M.G.)

Irishman Rory O'Neill is a drag queen and gay rights activist. His drag persona Panti Bliss is an institution in Ireland.

In January 2014 O'Neill appeared on an Irish television program where homophobia was being discussed. O'Neill alleged that some individuals involved in Irish journalism were homophobic. The persons mentioned by O'Neill were the journalists John Waters and Breda O'Brien of the Irish Times, David Quinn, head of the Iona Institute, and three other members of that same institute. The homophobes later threatened the television company and O'Neill with legal action.

The television company gave in to the pressure and forthwith removed that section of the interview from their online archive and issued a public apology to the homophobes. The company also paid a hefty settlement of €85,000 to the six homophobes.

On February 1, 2014, O'Neill (as Panti) gave a speech at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in response to the events surrounding the controversy. This speech has now been set to music by the Pet Shop Boys.