Equal Rights for All Americans Championed at Oscars

By Kevin Gosztola

Hey everyone. It's been a while since I've posted anything. I hope all the 2008 fellows are well and congratulations to the new class. I randomly received an e-mail this morning from someone who has set up a blog for those active in the feminist movement, the purpose of which is to air concerns, struggles, and victories.

I have been fairly silent about the passage of disappointing ballot initiatives in California, Florida, and Arizona, restricting the marriage rights of queer people in those states.  I have been silent on this because until recently, the issue of marriage equality was, quite frankly, not that important to me.  I realize that that sentiment might have made me a little unpopular in the queer commu

This PSA is somewhat more on the uneffective than effective side for me:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C277qAKpUaQ&eurl 

PageOneQ just posted about a principal in Memphis, Tennessee who maliciously outed at least one same-gender couple to their parents, classmates and teachers:

According to Nicholas' mother Nichole, the principal said that she didn't tolerate homosexuality in the school and repeatedly asked if she knew her son was gay. The honor student underwent further humiliation, in addition to verbal harassment, when taken out of the running for a class trip to New Orleans related to rebuilding efforts, as a risk to the school's image; Nicholas was told that there were fears he'd embarrass the school by engaging in "inappropriate behavior."

This past weekend I attended a protest at Reggae Carifest over on Randall's Island here in NYC.  

Are we walking the line between allowing "Hate Speech" and infringing upon these artists 1st Amendment Right by protesting events like Reggae Carifest, and calling for the accountability of both the Corporations and artists that provide platforms to spread messages that put people in harm's way?