... at least according to a group of mixed gay queer/straight/what have you activists who shut the place down this past Saturday.

Yesterday, 150 people occupied the LGBT Center!! Queers Against Israeli Apartheid [sic] and 15 other groups* packed the lobby with chants, signs, speak-outs and a banner drop. Check out photos, video and press coverage.

We protested the Center's horrifying indifference to the queers of color, Arab and Muslim queers, and activist queers whose work got us where we are today -- and who are marginalized by the ban on queer human rights organizing in solidarity with Palestinians.

As is usual with these things, there was a list of organizers and participating groups, a total of fifteen.

Queers for an Open LGBT Center (QFOLC)
alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society
Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel
Brooklyn for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace-NY
Jews Say No!
International Action Center
International Socialist Organization
Metropolitan Community Church of New York
New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)
Palestinian Queers for BDS
SALGA
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Workers World Party
Young, Jewish and Proud

Out of these fifteen, even applying the broadest possible measure, seven - bolded above - were actual LGBT organizations. The rest were not. The Workers World party, for example, is a socialist group with a distinct fondness for North Korea, a régime not especially known for its inclusive policies towards anyone, really, let alone sexual minorities. And while I personally am all for "Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society", that's not really an issue I'd be willing to disrupt the LGBT Center in New York City over. It's a question of relevance.

Here's a hint, folks: if someone, like the Center, tells you you're not welcome, perhaps you'd be best off building your own space. Because from everything I'm hearing, and I hear quite a bit, you didn't really make yourselves any friends this past weekend. Queer, gay, or otherwise.  read more »

As a Puerto Rican black woman with a graduate education and a new media platform in the form of a blog, it is my duty to rally my people into a frenzy of il-advised yet necessary reverse racist shenanigans. It is the Puerto Rican Woman Of Color's (aka, PRWOC) burden to bring meaning and a sense of purpose to the lives of oppressed white men like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh.

So please, let's make sure that we get on with the program of alienating, belittling and oppressing that most fragile of ethnic and gender groups in the United States, the disgraced former lawmaker and republican ex-speaker of the House. Let's make sure that we play our manifest destiny of bringing oppressive woe to the likes of Newt Gingrich. Or to poor drug abusing, child prostitution enabling underpriviledged chaps like Rush Limbaugh.

And if you do a funny pic like the one above, you get to win a culturekitchen FOCK t-shirt.

So here's what you need to do:  read more »

'Tis a sad day in Buffalo with the crash of Flight 3407:

'MANY' BUFFALO RESIDENTS AMONG THOSE KILLED IN CRASH

The 50 dead included four on-duty crew members on the Continental plane, one off-duty crew member, as well as 44 people traveling toward Buffalo on business and pleasure trips.

Among the crash victims was Beverly Eckert, the widow of Sean Rooney, who was killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Eckert was traveling to Buffalo for a family celebration of what would have been her husband's 58th birthday.

Family members and friends identified two people believed to be on the plane as Ellyce Kausner, a graduate of Clarence High School and Canisius College, and Maddy Loftus, a Buffalo State College graduate who lives in New Jersey.

The crew members were identified as Capt. Marvin Renslow, pilot of the plane; Rebecca Shaw, first officer of the flight; and flight attendants Matilda Quintero and Donna Prisco.

Another employee of the airline, Capt. Joseph Zuffoletto, a Jamestown resident who was off-duty at the time, was also killed.

My heart goes out to the families' of the victims.  read more »

Seriously, I got this yesterday and today and am curious enough to actually want to go down there and check this out :

WHEN/WHERE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009
· 8:00am-10:00am - Corner of 48th St. & Avenue of Americas
· 12:00pm-1:00pm - Jacques Torres Hudson Store (350 Hudson at King St.)

"Sweet Dreams" models & Jacques Torres handing out complimentary overnight stays and Jacques Torres Chocolate.

WHAT:
· Just in time for the Valentine's Day, Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is giving away 5,000 free guest rooms in New York City on lucky Friday the 13th as part of Harrah's Resort Atlantic City's remarkable $1 million room giveaway.

· Harrah's Resort Atlantic City "Sweet Dreams" models will kick off this extraordinary promotion, handing out complimentary overnight stays to the Waterfront Tower at Harrah's Resort. All lucky key recipients will be invited to enjoy Harrah's Resort Atlantic City's thrilling new non-gaming and entertainment offerings, including The Pool, an ultra-chic indoor tropical oasis.

WHY:
· $1 million room giveaway to celebrate the grand opening (Sunday, February 15 at 2pm) of Temptations Fine Chocolate and Coffee at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, featuring coffee from illycafe and confectionary creations from Jacques Torres Chocolates.

· In celebration of this "sweet" relationship, Torres and Harrah's Resort will kick-off the Valentine's Day weekend and store opening by offering New Yorkers the "Sweet Dreams" promotion.

· Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is the perfect staycation with its central location and easy drive time and with the new 44-story, 960-room Waterfront Tower and The Pool, Harrah's Resort is where summer spends its winter. After all, The Pool is an ideal tropical paradise, 82 degrees, 365-days a year.

That's a lot of free rooms they're giving away, no?  read more »

A special message from the Madame Speaker of the House, who is totally full of win :