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

Take a STAND4LOVE

You may have seen these photos on Facebook or Flickr. STAND4LOVE is an awareness campaign created by RicoRacer Flux and Editorial Clarity (you may remember their photo by Enzo Champagne in Case's Champagne story in our June issue) in support of marriage equality. The LGBTQ community has made great progress but there's so much more ground to gain before we can say we have the equality we deserve as humans. The Stand4Love campaign is pushing us further down the road by presenting images and messages of love from all walks of life, showing the world in one huge blog full of visual and literary commentary that love is love, regardless of sexual orientation. 

Anyone can participate in this campaign. Simply follow the instructions on the STAND4LOVE website.

Free Speech or Hate Speech?

"Censored" sign outside the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ

As a writer and a member of the Second Life press, I value freedom of speech. Censorship limits our personal growth, as we absorb a variety of ideas and opinions and sort through them to form our own. As an agnostic, I value freedom of religion. The ability to choose from a variety of faiths affords the opportunity to find one's own truth and enhances the chance of finding comfort in specific religious beliefs. However, when I see signs with messages posted like the one outside Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, I find myself torn between my belief that a person's freedoms should not be hindered and the activist in me that can only see hate in the message that gay is not okay.

This sign became newsworthy after a Fort Des Moines, Iowa resident took a photo of it and posted it on Facebook. Outrage over the message led to a barrage of angry comments to Reverend Michael Demastus and to the church's Facebook page. Gay rights advocates have chosen to protest tomorrow's service at the church.

Mr. Demastus has changed the sign to say "Adultery is Not Okay," although he is continuing with his anti-gay sermon. According to one source, Demastus changed the sign after recieving a message with his home address saying, "I hope you feel safe at home." I feel for him. I really do. I, too, have been forced to keep my sign changed in real life so that I can feel safe at home. I, too, have known the fear that someone may bring harm to my family if my sign speaks my truth. The sad thing is, my sign speaks only love where Demastus's sign supports hatred. The irony is bittersweet.

So, as I consider when free speech crosses the line, I feel that it crosses the line when it promotes hatred from either point of view. The lesson I see here is that, when we present ourselves with a message of hate, we open ourselves up to the same hate. Mr. Demastus would like to ensure that we all live in the closet that I know so well, and by presenting that argument to the world, he faced a backlash from those who refuse the claustrophobia. Might I suggest to Mr. Demastus that, next Sunday, he read through the actual words of Christ (many Bibles highlight Jesus's words in red, and as Jesus so famously said about homosexuality, "_________________________".) and put up a sign that may be more appropriate to the true message he should be preaching:

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