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http://alltogethernow.org.au/news/category/discussing-racism/ All together now.org promotes multiculturalism and prevention of racist behaviour through social marketing. :) The people there seem quite nice and inclusive, and explain things in ways that are easy to understand. There are videos on people's experiences in Australia regarding multiculturalism and racism. Some videos include "Were you expecting racism only to be welcomed, which made me happy. Other videos include L Fresh the Lion's (the great hip hop artist) thoughts on racism.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's website seems to be down for somereason.:/ They can be contacted for questions on how to address racism on a smaller or larger level.

For the state of NSW in Australia:you can speak to your human resources department. They can explain if further action can be taken. If they are helpful, then that's great. Read more... ).

For multiculturalism resources in the state of Victoria, in Australia: http://justitia.com.au/race-discrimination/racism-in-the-workplace This link has other links to the Fair work commission, Fair Work Ombudsman,Vic lawyers Health Line. It also has much needed information on how racism affects people's lives (in the workplace and your legal rights.

http://jimhines.livejournal.com/647393.html Jim Hines'fantastic post. This post is extremely helpful and important reading. On addressing sexual harrassment the right way. Backing someone up and Not Creeping.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/18/the-big-idea-michelle-sagara/ A lovely article/post by John Scalzi. On portrayals of female friendships, Aspergers, and great female characters.

http://msagara.livejournal.com/72872.html#com
Quote from Michelle Sagara's informative and helpful post on Asperger's:"I get a little bit tired of having Asperger's brought up as an excuse for harassment. It's not. My son is fully aware that he doesn't always parse or notice social signals Read more... )Holding someone else responsible for the "wrongness" of his thoughts would never even occur to him."
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Hi everyone,

Please read the email below from Senator barbara Lee of the US Congress.

Please Support HR 198 - Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force - legislation that will reexamine and ultimately repeal the flawed blank check authorization to the president to wage war, anywhere at any time.

Now is the time for the U.S. Congress to repeal the overly broad 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
On September 14, 2001, I was the sole member of either house of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. That misguided resolution is a blank check for war. It has been used to justify activities, such as warrantless surveillance, indefinite detention and the lethal use of drones, that fly in the face of our constitutional values. I am convinced that military engagement with no end in sight actually undermines our long-term national security.Read more... )

Click here to learn more and add your name to my petition to Congress, to ask them to repeal the blank-check authorization of war by supporting HR 198.

Thank you for your support.

Rep. Barbara Lee

http://org.credoaction.com/petitions/tell-congress-repeal-the-blank-check-for-perpetual-war?akid=8062.3000764.tmXa2J&rd=1&t=5
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http://theconversation.com/as-a-high-court-challenge-looms-are-there-alternatives-to-australias-indefinite-detention-policy-14498 From "The Conversation" newspaper's website:

The UK was dealing with people against who there was compelling evidence of their terrorist involvement (often with al-Qaeda) and of direct danger to UK citizens. There is no indication that Australia’s refugees with suspected Tamil Tiger links pose an equivalent threat.

If control orders are not possible for some individuals (for example, if the intelligence is too sensitive) there are other means to apply any necessary restrictions. University of Sydney’s Professor of International Law Ben Saul has noted that:Read more... )
detention.
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http://avaaz.org/en/obama_shut_down_gitmo_ss/?tgGvFab

From the Avaaz petition website:

In hours, President Obama could finally move to close Guantanamo -- the most notorious prison camp on earth.

With inmates on a 100-day hunger strike and the UN denouncing their force feeding as torture, Obama has been pushed to respond with a major speech about the prison. If enough of us demand a plan -- he could free the prisoners already cleared for release, and appoint a White House official with one mission: close Guantanamo down!

We're at a tipping point. Sign up to demand Obama close this shameful gulag down, and share the shocking facts below so others join this urgent call.

The facts speak for themselves:

• Detainees in Guantanamo now: 166
• Detainees facing active charges: 6
• Detainees cleared for immediate release, but stuck in the camp: 86
• Guantanamo inmates on hunger strike: 103
• Hunger strikers strapped down and force fed: 30
• Prisoners who have died in custody: 9
• Children the US has held at Guantanamo: 21
• Detainees tried in civilian court: 1
• Detainees who can't be tried for lack of evidence or torture: 50
• Prisoners released by the Bush administration: 500+
• Prisoners released by the Obama administration: 72
• Current annual cost to US taxpayers: $150 million
• Days since Obama first pledged to close Gitmo: 1579
• Time since first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo:

11 years, 4 months, 11 days ...
Thanks so much for your help.
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http://www.chilout.org/blog/13496366 article: Latest Victims of ASIO free reign are 6 and 8 year old boys.

ASIO made an adverse security finding against Ranjini which leaves her and her boys with no visa status and no way out of their predicament. Like 46 other refugees in Australia's immigration detention facilities, Ranjini cannot challenge the findings made against her, neither she nor her lawyers can even know what the claims against her relate to. Like other children at VIDC, this means indefinite detention for Ranjini's young sons.

"Perhaps there are issues of national security, but perhaps there are not. Agencies have been known to get things wrong, including ASIO; remember the case of Dr Haneef? Shouldn't the basic principle of innocent until proven guilty stand? Courts can manage sensitive information, lawyers can adhere to court guidance, there has to be a reasonable way for Ranjini and the 46 others in her position to have access to a fair trial and to natural justice. Surely there are degrees of 'adverse' findings? Not every adverse finding indicates someone is a terrorist. Surely arrangements around living in the community and reporting to authorities can be reached in some cases?"

- Sophie Peer, Campaign Director, ChilOut



How you can help:

- write a letter to Federal Attorney General Nicola Roxon. Address: Parliament House, Canberra 2600. Ph : (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102. Email: nicola@nicolaroxonmp.com

- write a letter of support to Ranjini at http://lettersforranjini.com/

Thank you all so much for your help. One seventeen year old with an adverse security finding against him has attempted suicide several times. Another detainee has suffered a mental breakdown from being imprisoned. These people deserve a fair trial. They should not be detained indefinitely in limbo and cut off from the outside world - *especially* not children. Children are the most vulnerable members of our society.
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Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] baeraad at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] ladyhadhafang at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] lk737 at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] shadowkat67 at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
[Some one actually created a bill about this? Forget about sexism for a second... In a world with teenage pregnancies and overpopulation, hunger, famine, high unemployment, and bone crushing poverty? Are they frigging insane?


Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] rozk at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] cluegirl at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] aubergineautumn at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] enchanted_jae at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill
Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] mandatorily at Stop the Arizona birth control Bill

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Arizona Sentate, Arizona State Legislature, Debbie Lesko.

----------------
Stop the Arizona birth control Bill

If this bill passes the senate then women of Arizona would be forced to provide documentation that birth control is for medical purposes only. The "company" would not be required to cover birth control if it was for prevention of conception. Additionally this bill would give companies the right to fire women if they discovered that she was using a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy
----------------

http://www.change.org/petitions/arizona-sentate-arizona-state-legislature-debbie-lesko-stop-the-arizona-birth-control-bill#

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Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] verloren1983at post
Originally posted by[personal profile] gabrielleabelleat Mississippi Personhood Amendment
Okay, so I don't usually do this, but this is an issue near and dear to me and this is getting very little no attention in the mainstream media.

Mississippi is voting on November 8th on whether to pass Amendment 26, the "Personhood Amendment". This amendment would grant fertilized eggs and fetuses personhood status.

Putting aside the contentious issue of abortion, this would effectively outlaw birth control and criminalize women who have miscarriages. This is not a good thing.

Jackson Women's Health Organization is the only place women can get abortions in the entire state, and they are trying to launch a grassroots movement against this amendment. This doesn't just apply to Mississippi, though, as Personhood USA, the group that introduced this amendment, is trying to introduce identical amendments in all 50 states.

What's more, in Mississippi, this amendment is expected to pass. It even has Mississippi Democrats, including the Attorney General, Jim Hood, backing it.

The reason I'm posting this here is because I made a meager donation to the Jackson Women's Health Organization this morning, and I received a personal email back hours later - on a Sunday - thanking me and noting that I'm one of the first "outside" people to contribute.

So if you sometimes pass on political action because you figure that enough other people will do something to make a difference, make an exception on this one. My RSS reader is near silent on this amendment. I only found out about it through a feminist blog. The mainstream media is not reporting on it.

If there is ever a time to donate or send a letter in protest, this would be it.

What to do?

- Read up on it. Wake Up, Mississippi is the home of the grassroots effort to fight this amendment. Daily Kos also has a thorough story on it.

- If you can afford it, you can donate at the site's link.

- You can contact the Democratic National Committee to see why more of our representatives aren't speaking out against this.

- Like this Facebook page to help spread awareness.




*EDIT* There's also a petition on change.org. The nifty button for that doesn't seem to want to work, but here's a link that should.

---
This has been crossposted to my DW account. You are free to comment either here or there, if you'd like to comment. Preferably here, but it doesn't really matter. Whichever one works for you. :D

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A hilari- I mean, disturbing -I mean hilarious look at Walmart - through a Harry Potter parody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no0WqYWdH74&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL417F1F88DA48D51A


Take action! Here's what YOU can do:

Go to Walmart Watch's website: http://walmartwatch.org/take-action/ There you can:

- Urge the Walmart Board of Directors to be open about how much money it pays to Republicans, and to disclose trade association dues used for political purposes.

- Send letters of the support for the women of Dukes, who are fiercely brave in standing up to Walmart. They have taken their case to the Supreme Court.
**********

Write to your local Senator about Walmart's discrimination (against women, GLBT people and people with disabilities) and anti union stance and urge them to take action! Avoid buying Walmart products if you can. Thank you for your support!


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Italy, Portugal, Austria and Japan refuse to openly say where their foreign aid donations go. 

Sign this petition and tell aid donors to be open about how their money is spent:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/566/350/793/?z00m=19945637 

Many families and other vulnerable people need foreign aid to vaccinate kids, build roads to connect remote villages and help children attend school. Education and having safe roads enable people to leave poverty, gain independence and live in dignity. Medical treatment saves lives, and take away or minimise severe physical pain. Foreign aid ensures that starving people receive food, shelter and clean drinking water - bare essentials that we take for granted each day.

We need to hold all countries accountable and make sure that they're open about where the money goes. This is the best way to avoid corruption and see that foreign aid goes where it's needed the most.
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In Libya, Colonel Qaddafi's armed forces are using machine guns and fighter jets against peaceful pro-democracy protesters -- hundreds have already been killed. 

According to Avaaz:

The United Nations Security Council and the European Union are in emergency sessions on Libya this week. If we can pressure them to agree to a no-fly zone over Libya, a freeze of Qaddafi's, his family's and his high command's assets, targeted sanctions against the regime, and international prosecution of any military officials involved in the crackdown -- this could stop airforce bombings and split Qaddafi's command structure.

We need to act now. The people of Libya are being slaughtered by government forces. Tell everyone you know and get them on board!

Sign the petition to the UN and EU here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/libya_stop_the_crackdown/?cl=953333789&v=8458

Thank you to all of of you who choose to help. Every bit of support counts. Let the Libyan people know that you're behind them.
 

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I'm against the death penalty. I find killing someone to show that killing is wrong is hypocritical. Death prevents people from having the chance of rehabilitation. Keep people in prison without parole if they are incapable of reform (like serial killers). The death penalty doesn't protect people from violence (yes, I am aware that there is violence in prisons. But this means we need to improve security in prisons. It doesn't mean we have to support capital punishment). There's the argument that it can be used in the war against terror. However, It doesn't serve as a deterrent against people like suicide bombers. It can make martyrs out of people (e.g. Timothy McVeigh). Mistakes happen. Judges and juries are not infalllible. Innocent people have been killed through capital punishment, and you can't bring back the dead to life.

Death Penalty: Questions and Answers (Amnesty international):  http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ACT50/010/2007/en/f45ed09c-d3a2-11dd-a329-2f46302a8cc6/act500102007en.html

Use of Death Penalty around the world:http://www.amnesty.org.au/images/uploads/adp/amnesty_international-death_sentences_and_executions_in_2009.pdf

Here are some posts on the death penalty  I found fascinating: http://miketroll.livejournal.com/399799.html

http://bec-87rb.livejournal.com/190189.html

http://peace-froggs.livejournal.com/155466.html

http://community.livejournal.com/talk_politics/571752.html?thread=41561192#t41561192

Read more... )

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Hello everyone,

Please sign this petition to call for an international enquiry into the Israeli army's cowardly attack on the aid flotilla and end the Gaza blockade. It only takes a few seconds:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&aid=14376&ICID=E1006A01&tr=y&auid=6437920The


The Israeli Navy actually used excessive force. Nobody was armed on the flotilla or behaved aggressively. Yet 9 people were brutally slaughtered, and more than 60 people were injured. One female aid worker reported that she had her face smashed against a wall and she was tied up, with a bag over her head. Aid workers are still brave enough to continue trying to deliver aid, despite the brutal treatment of innocents on the aid flotilla.

You can read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_flotilla_raid

From Amnesty website:

Israel's military blockade of Gaza has left more than 1.4 million Palestinian men, women and children trapped in the Gaza Strip. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty and food price rises caused by shortages have left four in five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. As a form of collective punishment, Israel's continuing blockade of Gaza is a flagrant violation of international law.

Thank you so much if you do sign. We need to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The people of Palestine should not be left to suffer any longer.


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Hello everyone,

Please read the email below. Shoot a message to Immigration Minister Chris Evans NOW to stop this. Australia has become the first developed country in the world to stop processing asylum-seeker applications from Afghanis & Sri Lankans. These refugees are fleeing persecution in their war-torn countries. This policy is obscene. Seriously? These are people escaping from torture and war. Many have loved ones that are missing or dead. They've been through enough already. Why would anyone in their right minds shut the door on them and refuse help?
 
The Rudd government should be ashamed of themselves! We should not be turning our backs on people fleeing war. This is not something we should avert our eyes from. I don't want to return to the grim Howard years. Thank you so much if you do spread the message!

On the day of the Government's announcement, a young Sri Lankan teenager gave in to despair and attempted suicide, after languishing in detention for 11 months on Christmas Island. Today there's news of more desperation, with a hunger strike by 50 Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers.

Can you take a stand against this frightening return to the dark days of refugees in custody? Tell Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, that Australians reject a return to this shameful past:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/peopleabovepolitics

Read more... )

Stuck on what to write? Don't worry. The link above has some good pointers. Also, if you want more facts to beef up your argument, go here:
http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/arp/facts-02.html

This website busts myths on refugees. Please feel more than free to use this webpage to explain why we should help refugees - and why fears about refugees are mainly false.

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Hello everyone,

Please sing the petition below to end the monstrous practice of military hazing in Russia. Countless men have died because of this hazing. And more will continue to die unless we do something. The ones who don't are forced to become tormentors of new recruits. The hazing involves brutal humiliation, and lethal beatings. Soldiers have been forced to spend time in freezing temperatures without clothing. One man was killed as a result of this. All this hazing does is create abusers and slaughter people pointlessly. We can't let this go on. 


Sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/440386263?z00m=19832998

Feel free to learn more by reading the email below:

End Military Hazing in Russia

Target: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Sponsored by:
Care2.com

In Russia, it is estimated that nearly 4,000 new army recruits commit suicide or die each year due to military hazing practices known as dedovshchina ("rule of the grandfathers"). These recruits are virtual slaves to their superiors and are subject to humiliation and severe beatings. The next year, those who survive continue the vicious cycle of dangerous hazing.

The Russian government deals with hazing incidents on a case-by-case basis and responds often when it's too late.

TAKE ACTION: Tell President Dmitry Medvedev that the government must implement a plan to eradicate military hazing.


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Hello everyone,
 

Innocent women bystanders and peaceful protesters peacefully protesting in San Salvador, Atenco have been beaten and raped by police officers.  Four years have vanished... but the police who committed this atrocity still haven't been brought to justice. This is an outrage.

What's frightening is that these police officers still walk free - so they can still assault and attack people. Many of the women arrested at Atenco were given trumped up charges of crimes such as ''blocking public roads.'' They even served prison time. The last woman was released in 2008. These innocent women are being punished while their tormentors walk free. This is just obscene.

Amnesty has made huge differences in saving lives and pressuring governments to hold criminals accountable. They're not funded by governments at all. This enables them to be politically neutral.  Political neutrality gives them the strength to defend human rights as best as they can. They depend on donations from ordinary people. You can make a difference by donating. And you can also apply for jobs and volunteer for Amnesty to uphold human rights. We can't do anything  much by ourselves, but we can achieve great things together.

You can donate to Amnesty here, to help them protect these women. Help bring their attackers to justice:


https://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.jhKPIXPCIoE/b.5074883/k.842C/Make_a_donation/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?ICID=T1003F02&msource=W1003IAR2&tr=y&auid=6138317


Feel free to read the email below for more information:

Read more... )
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Hey there people,

The following information is from a workshop on the Guardianship Tribunal at Liverpool Hospital. All mistakes are mine. Let me know if I need to correct something!

Speaker Malcolm Scuyver

Person Responsible

The person after a Guardian who can consent to decisions being made on a person’s behalf is the Person Responsible. “Person Responsible” is the legal name for a person with the legal authority to make decisions on someone’s behalf.

 

Persons Responsible (in order of the person with the most legal authority to make decisions on someone’s behalf):

1.     Guardian

2.     Spouse

3.     Carer (must be unpaid)

4.     Close relative or friend

When is someone not a Person Responsible?

1.     They can decline the role of being the Person Responsible in writing

2.     A doctor can write that a person is incapable of being the Person Responsible

 

Read more... )

 


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An earthquake of 8.8 magnitude has destroyed Chile on 27 February 2010. Over 800 people are dead. Many people are also missing. Countless people are also disabled. I can't imagine what it must be like for the people who are still alive. It must be frightening not knowing what's happened to missing loved ones. This is so terrible and heartbreaking.

You can learn more about what's happening here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake


Please do what you can to help. Every bit counts. Donate here:

http://www.msf.org.au/donate.html Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders)

https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=IHQ-LatinAmerica (Salvation Army)


https://donate.savethechildren.org.au/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=347 (Save the Children)


Read this webpage to find out how you can contact relatives in Chile. You can go here to make sure they are safe:

http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/chile-earthquake-2010-how-contact-relatives-chile-2583842.html


ETA: You can help offer your fandom talents by joining the lj community help_chile at  http://community.livejournal.com/help_chile/profile
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Hi there everyone,

Learn about how much GLBTIQ rights are respected or ignored in different parts of the world. The link below has a chart about which rights are protected, to what extent.

From wikipedia:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) related laws vary greatly by country or territory – everything from legal recognition of same-sex marriage or other types of partnerships, to the death penalty as punishment for same-sex sexual activity or identity.

LGBT-related laws include but are not limited to: government recognition of same-sex relationships, LGBT adoption, sexual orientation and military service, immigration equality, anti-discrimination laws, hate crime laws regarding violence against LGBT people, sodomy laws, anti-lesbianism laws, and higher ages of consent for same-sex activity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_Rights

A must read.
 


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Hi there all,

Learn about the milestones and setbacks made on human rights of indigenous peoples around the world here:

http://aboriginalrights.suite101.com/

The information is readable and a must for anyone.

http://australian-indigenous-peoples.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_change_of_date_for_australia_day Why the date of Australia should be changed: so that all Australians are included and respected. A day of mourning should not be a day for celebration.

http://australian-indigenous-peoples.suite101.com/article.cfm/historic_maori_land_compensation_agreement - a historic land compensation agreement for the Maori people. Because of this agreement, transfers 176,000 hectares of forestland worth $319NZ million will return to its rightful owners and be placed into Maori hands.

http://aboriginalrights.suite101.com/article.cfm/bad_living_conditions_for_aboriginals Appalling living conditions are still rife for Aboriginal people around the world (There are still heartbreakingly high death rates for Aboriginal infants compared to non Aboriginal infants worldwide. This is just plain wrong).
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Hi there all and sundry,

Fantastic link on passing and transphobia (I strongly recommend that people read this. Yes, even LGBTIQ people):

http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/passing/

Best parts:

Passing is a system used by cissexist cultures to control trans people, to ostracize, and to justify violence perpetrated against them.
  1. Don’t bring it up first. It’s up to the trans person, and you should never expect that eventually having that conversation is a guarantee, no matter how well you know the person you think is trans. 
  2. If a trans person outs themselves to you, don’t assume that means the conversation is about whether or not you knew. When I tell someone about my trans-ness, I do so because I want to make it clear I consider them someone I trust to know me in a more significant way.   
  3. Your perspective is not universal. Gender perception varies with individuals, cultures, and any number of factors.  While some might be 100% certain the world must see a trans person’s gender the way they do, this is cis chauvinism.  In the process of making my own gender less clear I have grown used to being confidently sir-ed or ma’am-ed, often within seconds.
  4. Defer to the trans person’s wishes as to how open they want to be...Outing someone can get them killed!  Combined with a strong sense of entitlement to ignore point #3 because they’re queer, this behavior is infuriating and dangerous.
The Straight Person's Guide to Gay Etiquette (what to do (and NOT do)  if someone comes out to you):

http://chronos-tachyon.net/mirror/io.com/

It's a guide that's very easy to understand (and hilarious!).

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