Tolerance is the Only Way

A new fashion event in SL is combining beauty, creativity and activism to combat the harmful effects of homophobia.

Tolerance is the Only Way is a fashion fair in support of COGAM, the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender & Bisexual Collective of Madrid. In its own words, COGAM seeks to:

• Defend the Human Rights specified in the United Nations Charter, especially those that affect lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people, their human dignity, their freedom to be themselves, their quest for social equality, the right to live free from discrimination, and so on.

• Work to make society more inclusive and respectful, by promoting conditions that will let people truly benefit from freedom and equality, both as individuals and as members of their respective segments of society.

• Promote full legal and social equality for all people, regardless of one's sexual orientation, gender identity, or emotional/sexual relationships with another consenting person or persons.

• Work to eradicate homophobic and transphobic behaviors.

• Work to eradicate discrimination against those of us living with HIV, and promote the right of all HIV-positive people to have free public medical care, psychological services, and social services.

Many of SL's major designers have produced dedicated designs in support of this worthy organizaiton, which are on display at a large, two-storey build on the  Cash Island 4 sim.

The two floors of designer goods include such well-known names as Champagne, Gizza, Tres Beau, SF Designs, Pekas, and Egoisme, along with dozens of others. Like most fashion events, the designs are largely geared towards women, with elaborate gowns, fanciful makeups, and glittering jewellery dominating the vendors. The items dedicated to men may be fewer in number, but no less in quality.

I picked up the handsome Bruno suit from SF Designs while I was there and couldn't wait to get home to try it on. Don't let my crummy photo deter you, this is a sharp suit!

The Tolerance is the Only Way event culminates in a series of fashion shows to be held October 27 to Novemeber 3. For more information, visit the Tolerance is the Only Way blog and visit the fair at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cash%20Island%204/49/164/23

Five Days Left to Stand4Love

Just a reminder that there are 5 days left for you to take a stand for love. To participate in this awareness campaign, just take a photo of your avatar with a plain background, include a Stand4Love logo and your message of support, and upload the photo to the Stand4Love Flickr group. Feel free to tag Editorial Clarity or RicoRacer Flux in your photo so they'll know you're participating. If you lack photographic skills, there is a list of photographers who have donated their time to do photos for the cause, free of charge (under the "Promoters" heading with photographer listed after their names). This campaign supporting marriage rights regardless of gender has seen an outpouring of participation from all orientations, supporting the basic right of everyone to love and celebrate that love equally. It's just waiting for you to add your voice.

A Small Step in the Right Direction

I love this photo of me with Case because it shows our rings together. Although we haven't had a marriage ceremony yet, we are strongly committed to each other. According to Linden Labs, we are as partnered as we can get. My name is in his partner box and his name is in mine. While Second Life doesn't offer many special benefits, we know that our partnership is equal to that of any other couple in SL in the eyes of the Labs.

Today, the United States has taken a small step in the right direction when it comes to creating the same marriage equality we've known for ages in Second Life. A federal appeals court ruled California's Proposition 8 (Prop 8), an amendment to the state constitution that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry, unconstitutional. This ruling upheld District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's August 4, 2010 decision that Proposition 8 was a violation of the Constitution's Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment (http://www.prop8trialtracker.com/). As the court stated in their ruling, released today, Proposition 8 serves only to discriminate against gays and lesbians by denying them "state legitimitization and societal recognition of their committed relationships."

The court's decision does not mean that Great Grandpa Bill and Great Grandpa Frank can finally walk down the aisle to legalize their 40 year commitment to each other, however. A stay preventing marriages in anticipation of an appeal is in place. Proposition 8 proponents have already expressed their desire to appeal the ruling, keeping committed gay couples in limbo.

History isn't made overnight, however. We are moving forward in our quest for equality with each battle won. This decision is certainly worth celebrating as we prepare to continue our fight for basic human rights so our real life partnerships will be granted the same beautiful equality we've been blessed with in Second Life.

For further reading, please check out the following blog, which does a beautiful job of analyzing the court's decision: http://www.towleroad.com/2012/02/9thanalysis.html