Billy Bean

Former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean, who has been an advocate for LGBT rights in sports since coming out in 1999, has been named vice chairman of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.

The group was started by former pro rugby player Ben Cohen to fight homophobia in sports. The foundation issued this release: The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation announced that former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean has been named vice-chairman of its board. He will focus on helping professional leagues and athletes at all levels commit themselves to the fairness, equality, dignity and respect that defines true sportsmanship.

The Foundation, founded and chaired by rugby World Cup Champion Ben Cohen, MBE, is the world’s first dedicated to anti-bullying and equality in sports. “We believe it sends a powerful signal to all athletes and fans to see two highly accomplished professional sports stars, one straight and one gay, join forces to advance the acceptance and inclusion reshaping sports today,” said Patrick T. Davis, chief executive officer of StandUp.

Bean played major league baseball from 1987 through 1995. He broke into the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers, and tied a major league record with four hits in his first major league game. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. He kept his personal life a secret from the public and the sports world, before coming out as gay in 1999. “I want people to learn from my pain and journey, not repeat it. My dream is to help end this social epidemic called bullying that so many kids are subjected to each and every day in locker rooms and on playing fields,” Bean said. “I believe we are nearing that moment in time when athletes lead the way as role models for fairness once again. I am honored to serve StandUp as vice-chairman to help make that dream a reality.”

“Billy has worked tirelessly to dispel the myths and stereotypes that follow LGBT athletes. We can think of no better way to help create understanding, respect and real sportsmanship than from one major league athlete to another. It is at our core, and Billy will extend our work in professional sports,” said Cohen.

On Friday, the Constitutional Council rejected a challenge by the right-wing opposition, clearing the way for Francois Hollande to sign the bill.

He said: “I have taken [the decision]; now it is time to respect the law of the Republic.”

The first gay wedding could be held 10 days after the bill’s signing.

But Parliamentary Relations Minister Alain Vidalies told French TV he expected the first ceremonies to take place “before 1 July”.

Today, The Boy with Tape on his Face is announced as host and it’s probably the first time that a large-scale charity gala has been hosted by a silent comedian so it could be pretty interesting.  The two-hour Edinburgh Festival Fringe event will be staged at Venue150@EICC on Monday 12 August and promises a top-flight line up of Fringe acts.

The 2011 and 2012 sell out shows, which raised a total of over £36,000 for Macmillan, were hosted by Ed Byrne and Roy Walker respectively. The Boy appeared on both bills alongside Frisky and Mannish, Josie Long, Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk), Susan Calman, Joe Lycett, Tom Allen and Sarah Millican, amongst others.

The event producer said: “We’ve been delighted by the response to this event over the past two years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with The Boy with Tape on his Face. Having a silent comedian hosting such a large scale gig presents a lot of less than conventional, yet exciting challenges – it’s sure to make for a unique and memorable night. The gala also represents great value for money, as audience members get two hours of entertainment from top comedians and artists for only £20 per a ticket – and of course, this money goes straight to a wonderful charity, adding to the feel-good factor”.

The Big Comedy Gala in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support is run entirely by volunteers with acts donating their time for free to raise funds for the charity. This would not be possible without the generous support of Suisse Design & Art Direction and Dupliquick. Tickets are on sale from 9th May on http://www.edfringe.com

I got in big Twitter fights about it. (If you want to see them, they can be viewed here.) Twitter fights are kind of unfair, because there’s not enough ammunition in 140 characters. It’s just a bit of gunpowder and smoke and misspellings. No one really gets hit as hard as they should. I would love a social media site called “Book” with not just unlimited characters but unlimited chapters and bibliography-style hashtags. The sound that my iPhone would make would be that of a huge, leatherbound encyclopedia shutting really dustily: “You’ve got a new Book!” Then, if you want to fight, you can really throw the book at them!

Read more

Reblogged from Queer Landia:

Winning Rhode Island and Beyond
By Thom Watson, Marriage Equality USA

I was poised to write this column as a speculation about which state would be the tenth to recognize civil marriage equality for same-sex couples, joining nine other states and the District of Columbia where the freedom to marry is already guaranteed.

Would it be Delaware, where the House recently passed a marriage equality bill, just five days after the bill’s introduction?

Read more… 1,032 more words

We’re currently loving this film clip of a little boy’s tantrum over his inability to have a husband in Australia.  We’re a little conflicted though and can’t really decide if it crosses a line in parenting.  Let us know what you think.

For years now, she’s worked tirelessly in artist development, looking out for emerging talent and developing opportunities for others.  We at LGBTicons hope that it’s time for karma to kick in.

We’ll miss her loads when she finally heads over the water to study  in August, but in the meantime, she needs your support.  Here’s information on her Indiegogo campaign.  If you feel like you can help, please do…it feels really good to practise random acts of kindness.  Go ahead, try it!

Check it out here:  http://homohistory.blogspot.nl/