Shane Koyczan : "To This Day" ... for the bullied and beautiful

By turn hilarious and haunting, poet Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it's like to be young and ... different. "To This Day," his spoken-word poem about bullying, captivated millions as a viral video (created, crowd-source style, by 80 animators). Here, he gives a glorious, live reprise with backstory and violin accompaniment by Hannah Epperson.

Shane Koyczan makes spoken-word poetry and music. His poem "To This Day" is a powerful story of bullying and survival, illustrated by animators from around the world.

Dharun Ravi Leniency Shocker

In an unexpected turn of events, some activists for LGBT equality have begun to offer support for Dharun Ravi, the Rutgers University student, who was convicted of invading the privacy of his roommate, Tyler Clementi, in an act that some described as bullying against an LGBT student, which culminated in Mr. Clementi's suicide. In rallies that have been being held in support of Mr. Ravi, a new worldview has been growing among LGBT activists, one that is based on a premise that Mr. Ravi has been the subject of a "judicial witch-hunt." From articles in The New York Times, to blog posts on Towleroad, to Reuters wire stories, there are emerging prominent voices among LGBT equality activists, including William Dobbs, that Mr. Ravi should not be scapegoated for Mr. Clementi's suicide. At a rally in support of Ravi outside the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton this week, Mr. Dobbs ... told the crowd that Ravi was "overcharged" in the incident. "The hate crime law in New Jersey has got so many problems that it should be repealed," Dobbs said. "It has become a dangerous weapon that is not necessary."

Credit : Pool photo by John Munson

Chalking Gillibrand American Equality Bill

Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Please contact: Louis Flores (646) 400-1168 louisflores@louisflores.com

October 24, 2010 -- New York, NY – On Tuesday, October 26, at 6 p.m., LGBT New Yorkers and allies will gather outside 780 Third Avenue in Manhattan, to write chalk messages on the sidewalk outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s legislative offices.

Date : Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time : 6:00 p.m.
Location : 780 Third Avenue, btwn. 48th / 49th Streets

Register to attend at : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101087546628080

Bring Your Own Chalk.

October 26 will mark the 30th day that a vigil called QueerSOS! has been continually held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street. In the month that has passed, the Honourable Senator has not said when she will introduce the American Equality Bill. Tuesday night’s chalking party at 780 Third Avenue is to encourage Sen. Gillibrand, who supports the extension of civil rights to LGBT Americans, to introduce the American Equality Bill.

Other actions sprouting up in support of the American Equality Bill :

* Since September 27, 2010, a vigil called QueerSOS! has been held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street in Manhattan. The vigil participants have been requesting that the Honourable Senator file the American Equality Bill. For more information, please visit : http://www.queersos.com/blog.html

* The East Village blog of The New York Times published photographs of the activist, Iana Di Bona, writing chalk messages in support of the American Equality Bill on St. Mark’s and First Avenue. See : http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/spreading-a-message-of-equal-rights/

* LGBT Americans are turning to social media power of FaceBook and have created a group, which people are joining to learn more about the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=278882199073

* Another American Equality Bill group has been organized in San Francisco. See : http://www.aebnow.com/

* A group of LGBT Americans in Ohio has been formed, and they have created a page on FaceBook to organize support for the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Equality-Bill-AEB-ColumbusOhio-Team/118120201581299

About the American Equality Bill :

The American Equality Bill would amend all existing civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” It would end de jure discrimination in vast areas of life, such as : employment, housing, credit, public places and facilities, and all programs operating with federal funding. It would also cover school discrimination and bullying, adoption, and all federal health programs.

About Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand :

Sen. Gillibrand has said that she supports the inclusion of sexual orientation into the 1964 Act. To view Sen. Gillibrand's statement on this topic, listen to the following video at minute 7:43 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZWFfwx4mg

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Die-In at Grand Central Station - End Homophobia and Bullying

LGBT activists gathered at Grand Central Station on Friday night, at 6 p.m., for a Flashmob demonstration called a ''Die-In.'' At the sound of the whistle, activists dropped to the floor in a demonstration of death -- to symbolise the rash of recent bullying, torture, suicides, and murders of LGBT Americans.



Although the demonstration was meant to be peaceful, the Bloomberg administration dispatched teams of NYPD and other security. Cops were seen carrying riot gear, such as plastic hand cuffs, in case they chose to make indiscriminate mass arrests, like they did during the Republican National Convention in 2004.