Grandfather's letter to daughter about gay grandson

A (as yet) unnamed grandfather is gaining lots of online support after his impassioned letter of support for his gay grandson was posted online on Monday.

The letter shows just how different generations react to the news that a family member is gay... but in this instance, it's the older generation telling their kids they need to show more compassion.

In the letter (below) the grandfather passionately addresses his daughter Christine's decision to kick her son, Chad, out of their home after he has told her that he’s gay. It's very powerful.

Here is the letter:

To read more, go here.

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Kevin Rudd gay marriage defence on 'Q & A'

This will be big news today.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks out about gay marriage, and why he supports it. Exceptional, clear, and concise speaking:

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Ricky Martin: "I Bullied Gay People"

Ricky Martin - the darling of Australian TV in 2013 thanks to his stint as the new judge on 'The Voice Australia' has made a surprising admission: that he bullied gay people as a child.

Ricky came out as a gay man in 2010, struggled for years to accept his sexuality and refused to acknowledge it in several interviews.

In a sit-down interview with GQ Australia magazine - as reported by news.com.au - the star says he remembers the painful experience of acting against his own instincts, and revealing how he experience serious Catholic guilt.

"I was very angry, very rebellious. I used to look at gay men and think, I'm not like that, I don't want to be like that, that's not me. I was ashamed.When you're told you're wrong by everyone, from society, from your faith - my self-esteem was crushed. I took my anger out on those around me."

Ricky is now a father to twin boys and in a committed relationship.

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Gok Wan Target Australia: Ad Complaints

Really? Are we doing this?

Okay, maybe I am just blindly a Gok Wan fan from way back (see clips from his shows below), but Gok's Target Australia TV ads have been complained about, specifically his ad for the chain store's bras and bra fittings.

"Your bangers will never feel more loved," Gok says about the bra fittings.

According to an article in 'The Age' newspaper, people have complained to the Advertising Standards Bureau about his use of this term.

Here is the Target Australia ad being scrutinised:

"I find it distasteful that he uses the term 'bangers' to describe women's breasts," one wrote to the Bureau. "If a straight man were to use similar language during prime-time TV, there would be a huge outcry by women claiming sexist behaviour. There should be no different standards of acceptable language simply because a man appears to be gay."

Another complained: "Who on earth calls their breasts 'bangers' and why do we have to watch an obvious gay man talking about women in this way? It is insulting."

A small number were offended because of Wan's sexuality:

"It's an offence to any decent person to watch some queer guy advertising and blaspheming and using insulting descriptive words re a woman's body and to be prancing around half dressed guys," said one.

Target defended its star:

"Target strongly believes that a person's sexuality is irrelevant to their worth as a person. Target makes no apology for using a gay man in its advertising and we do not believe that this should be grounds for upholding a complaint."

As for the use of "bangers", they countered it was an "irreverent term of affection", used "in wry acceptance" that some women are unhappy with their breasts, adding that the word's colloquial British roots meant that "bangers" was another word for "boobs".

The complaints were dismissed by the Bureau, saying that the ad was positive and light-hearted, and that "bangers" was not deemed discriminatory - its use was part of Wan's persona.

To read more of The Age piece, click here.

Here are other fun Target ads:

Here are some Gok clips I adore:

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Wentworth Miller Comes Out As Gay

When I heard this news on the Kyle and Jackie O show this morning I was pretty gobsmacked.

Not about Wentworth Miller coming out (although, sure... that was a surprise), moreso about the way he did it.

The man has guts. Very impressive.

You will remember Wentworth Miller from 'Prison Break'. The actor decided it was time to publicly reveal his sexuality after being invited to attend a film festival in Russia.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes," Wentworth, 41, says in a letter to Maria Averbakh, director of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival. "However, as a gay man, I must decline.

"I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government," he continued in the letter, posted on GLAAD's website. "The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

He also said "if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice."

GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz praised Miller's actions.

To read more, click here.

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'What R U having?' Viral video

This soon-to-be viral video moves me to tears. Watch:



Did it move you also?

Says the YouTube description of the video, which went live on 6 May 2013:

Couples are used to preparing their world so their children have all the opportunities they had. So, what if the next child born into your family was lesbian or gay. What would that child be missing out on? Have you thought about that? Marriage Equality for LGBTI people is still something that has yet to be achieved in Australia. So maybe it's worth helping prepare the world for the lesbian or gay child that you might have in the future by asking your representative to help change the laws to allow full marriage equality today. This video has been commissioned by Shelley Argent, Australian National Spokesperson for the Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG). Visit www.whatruhaving.org for more information about the campaign.

Being gay is not a 'lifestyle choice'. It is inherently within you. It's in your DNA. And I truly believe that those who are critical of challenges faced by the gay community are vocal because their own child have not been dealt the blows a gay person is dealt. You wouldn't sign up for the discrimination they are dished. And supportive parents of the gay community feel their childrens' pain. They are and always will be their precious babies. This is what this video represents to me.

What about you?

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Google "gay" or "marriage equality" = rainbow! Plus, Kristen Bell proposes

Google "gay" or "marriage equality" and watch what comes up... a rainbow!

As Global News reports, the rainbow pops up when searching  “gay,” “lesbian,” “homosexuality,” “LGBT,” “marriage equality,” “bisexual” and “transgender,” as well as searches for gay pride celebrations.

Says this LA Times story:

The rainbow of colors became the standard symbol of the gay community in the 1970s. In 1978, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed a flag with eight bright stripes.

Each color has its own symbolism, as Slate reports: "pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for the human spirit."

This is in line with Wednesday's US Supreme Court rulings, striking down the federal Defence of Marriage Act and California's Prop. 8 prohibiting same-sex marriages.

As usual, Twitter was a fabulous barometer for the sentiments felt by stars.

Actress Kristen Bell tweeted to her fiance Dax Shepard:

"@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove" - Kristen Bell to her fiance, Dax Shepard. The couple previously said they'd wait to wed until it was legal for everyone.

The couple previously said they'd wait to wed until it was legal for everyone. Bless.

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Kevin Rudd Supports Gay Marriage: Blog Post

In new just in, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has declared his support of gay marriage on his blog page.

Today, Kevin Rudd wrote a blog post on the matter, which started like this:

"I have come to the conclusion that church and state can have different positions and practices on the question of same sex marriage. I believe the secular Australian state should be able to recognise same sex marriage. I also believe that this change should legally exempt religious institutions from any requirement to change their historic position and practice that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman. For me, this change in position has come about as a result of a lot of reflection, over a long period of time, including conversations with good people grappling with deep questions of life, sexuality and faith."

You can read the rest here.

This comes hot on the heels of the column his daughter Jess Rudd has written for her regular Cleo opinion piece, on gay marriage. Read more on that here, and in the June 2012 edition of Cleo.

Your thoughts? Feel free to comment below.

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