Le Musée des arts gay et lesbien de New York reconnu officiellement

NEW YORK [17.04.12] – L’État de New York vient de reconnaître officiellement le désormais « Musée des arts gay et lesbien » afin que celui-ci puisse intégrer le circuit touristique officiel de la ville. Les fondateurs du lieu soutiennent la spécificité d’un art homosexuel.
Des émeutes de Stonewall à la récente reconnaissance du mariage gay dans l’État de New York, l’histoire de la communauté homosexuelle avance à grands pas. Les arts visuels viennent d’y faire une entrée significative. Originellement fondation, le désormais Musée des arts gay et lesbien. de New York vient de recevoir l’aval officiel des institutions de l’Etat de New York, selon le ArtDaily. 20 ans après son ouverture, le lieu intègre ainsi le circuit touristique validé par les services culturels de la ville et s’apprête à recevoir des subventions visant à conforter son programme d’exposition.

Fondé par Charles Leslie et Fritz Lohman en 1967 le musée des arts gay et lesbien est le seul lieu à s’être spécialisé dans l’exposition d’œuvres créées par la communauté des LGBT. Son inauguration est concomitante à l’émergence d’un débat sur la spécificité d’un art homosexuel, position que défend le Musée depuis son ouverture : « L’expérience homosexuelle et l’art qui en résulte ont une singularité propre », confie son fondateur, Charles Leslie. En France, l’affirmation d’un art spécifiquement homosexuel est notamment défendue par le magazine GayHouse, qui après AA Bronson et Elmgreen & Dragset consacre son dernier numéro à George Tony Stoll.

Installé dans le quartier de SoHo, le Musée des arts gay et lesbien est dirigé par l’historien de l’art et commissaire Jonathan D. Katz. C’est lui qui a organisé à la National Portrait Gallery une exposition contestée « Hide/Seek », sur l’impact du désir homosexuel dans l’histoire de l’art américaine. Jusqu’au 7 juillet, il présente au Musée des arts gay et lesbien « The Piers: Art and Sex Along the New York Waterfront », qui analyse la représentation des docks de l’Hudson Rover dans l’iconographie gay.  

http://www.lejournaldesarts.fr/site/archives/docs_article/99632/le-musee-des-arts-gay-et-lesbien-de-new-york-reconnu-officiellement.php

Lesbian Dallas Judge Won't Marry Straight Couples

DALLAS, TEXAS—

A lesbian judge in Dallas says she won’t marry straight couples, because the same laws don’t apply to her. She says equality reigns in her court. Her remarks were caught on camera and they’re generating a lot of reaction.
“I have to the power, of course, to perform marriage ceremonies -- I don`t,” said Dallas County District Judge Tonya Parker.
Parker is a civil judge in Dallas County's 116th District Court. She says she wants to teach everyone a lesson in marriage equality. “I`m actually extraordinarily proud of Judge Parker,” said GetEQUAL Texas Dallas area Coordinator Daniel Cates. “Maybe she should be in a state where that works better for her,” said Dallas Tea Party member Katrina Pierson. It's comments posted to YouTube they're reacting too. They were made by Judge Parker Tuesday night during a meeting for Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.
“I`m sorry I don`t perform marriage ceremonies, because clearly the state does not have marriage equality and until it does I`m not going to partially apply the law to one group and not apply it to another group of people,” said Parker. “It doesn`t seem right for me to perform ceremonies for people that can`t be performed for me,” she said. Cates and Get EQUAL have been leading a charge to get Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to sign a marriage equality pledge. He welcomes Parker's stand.“As a judge, it is her job to uphold the constitution and just yesterday in San Francisco, a federal judge ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act and laws that discriminate against one group of people in marriage are in fact unconstitutional,” he said.
But some conservative groups see things differently. “You essentially have a judge who feels that she is discriminated against based upon her sexual orientation and therefore is abusing her power as a judge to discriminate against those she represents,” said Pierson.Texas law authorizes judges to perform marriages, it doesn't require it.  Pierson says to not do them based on your ideology is wrong.
“You have to wonder what other decisions are being made based upon your ideology,” she said

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-lesbian-dallas-judge-wont-marry-straight-couples-20120223,0,450684.story

Christine Quinn: ‘This is a monumental occasion for myself, my family, and the LGBT community’

When I was a little girl I dreamed I would one day get married, I never imagined that it would take tonight’s Senate action to make that dream come true. Tonight’s historic Senate vote is a great moment for all New Yorkers. New York State’s recognition of marriage equality for same sex couples is an extraordinary step towards full equality for LGBT people. Tonith’s sweet victory in Albany will be felt all across America. At long last, the change we have fought for will be seen in the lives of families throughout our great state, including my own.

Our community has come a long way from the pre-Stonewall days where people had to deny their own existence and fear recognition from others. This successful vote was made possible by the hard work of many, many New Yorkers. We organized, rallied, called, wrote, emailed, and tweeted, demanding equal rights. Not only LGBT New Yorkers but our parents and friends, neighbors and co-workers. This is a victory for LGBT families, but really it is a victory for all New Yorkers.

Our thanks go to Governor Cuomo, who made this one of his top priorities and never wavered. He is a true hero to our community. Majority Leader Skelos, Minority Leader Sampson and Senator Duane put in tremendous work to pass this bill and deserve our deep gratitude. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Member Danny O’Donnell have been relentless champions of our cause. Tonight would never have happened without the tireless sweat and work of all the members of the New Yorkers United for Marriage coalition and the countless supporters whose belief and persistence gave Senate the loud and clear message to extend marriage equality to all New Yorkers. Thanks to my Council colleagues and Mayor Bloomberg for their eloquent calls for equality.

This is a monumental occasion for myself, my family, and the LGBT community. No longer will families in New York have to worry about medical decision-making authority, inheritance rights, presumption of parenthood among many other rights and responsibilities. Today true equality is closer than ever.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/06/christine-quinn-this-is-a-monumental-occasion-for-myself-my-family-and-the-lgbt-community/

Christine Quinn at the Empire State Pride Agenda Fall Dinner in 2006