It’s Sunday Funday’s First Gay Pride — And Then, A Bear in a Hammock

Calling all queers! Are you sick with the A-Camp Plague? Do you feel isolated or alone? Do you really enjoy footage of happy queers and/or fuzzy beasts? If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you’re in luck, because it’s Sunday Funday and I’m here with a batch of fresh-out-the-oven queer news!

Get Proud, Y’all

It’s Pride Month! I know because President Obama told me so.

Top Secret Mission Obama

Top Secret Mission Obama

This month, as we mark 45 years since the patrons of the Stonewall Inn defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement, let us honor every brave leader who stood up, sat in, and came out, as well as the allies who supported them along the way. Following their example, let each of us speak for tolerance, justice, and dignity — because if hearts and minds continue to change over time, laws will too.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2014 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

In Cyprus, thousands of queers came out for their first-ever Pride Parade. To ring in the month, Facebook gave me a bunch of super gay stickers I’ll probably get drunk and send to Stef. #Mahalo, y’all.

Rachel Jeantel Is Moving On and Up

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Rachel Jeantel graduated high school – so take that, mothafuckas.

Clearly thrilled that she kept her promise to Martin, Rachel Jeantel spoke confidently about her graduation: “I did it. The witness who didn’t know how to speak English knows how to speak English through the 12th grade now. I never quit.”

America Is Seeking Out LGBT History

Earlier this year, we told you about how the National Park Services was working on memorializing more LGBT historic sites; now, they’re starting off with Stonewall.

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“Yes it’s controversial. There are parts of our civil rights history that are controversial,” Jewell said. “It doesn’t mean the story shouldn’t be told. And we feel strongly it’s part of the National Park Service’s job to tell the story of all Americans.”

“We can help promote a dialogue across the board. We can make the issue more relevant to people who visit National Park sites, and engage school children,” said Joshua Laird, Commissioner of National Parks of New York Harbor.

These Breakers Are Not Breaking Up

Jo and Lianne are both team players — and their engagement isn’t changing a thing. The Boston Globe recently sat down with the two Boston Breakers members to talk gay rights and their very public and totally gay relationship.

This Bear Is Kind of Exhausted

Everybody feels this way sometimesamirite? (Click for video!)

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Carmen

Carmen spent six years at Autostraddle, ultimately serving as Straddleverse Director, Feminism Editor and Social Media Co-Director. She is now the Consulting Digital Editor at Ms. and writes regularly for DAME, the Women’s Media Center, the National Women’s History Museum and other prominent feminist platforms; her work has also been published in print and online by outlets like BuzzFeed, Bitch, Bust, CityLab, ElixHER, Feministing, Feminist Formations, GirlBoss, GrokNation, MEL, Mic and SIGNS, and she is a co-founder of Argot Magazine. You can find Carmen on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr or in the drive-thru line at the nearest In-N-Out.

Carmen has written 919 articles for us.

11 Comments

  1. Before this post, I saw the bear in a hammock link a couple of days ago and I don’t know if I am embarrassed to admit that I have re-visited the link multiple times since then. Just picturing the bear trying to get comfortable in the hammock is hilarious. It’s hard enough for me to enter a hammock….. but a bear. Omg.

  2. I avoided the details of the Treyvon Martin case as I am a teacher at a urban school and it hit way too close for me to dive into. Unfortunately I was not shocked, but instead disgusted with, and devastated by the no guilty verdict. Due to your link I looked into the story of Rachel Jeantel’s connection to the case and was absolutely disgusted by what I saw online. WTF! How cheap, foolish, and ignorant the discussion of this woman is. I pray that she does not waste her time reviewing it and (my dream here) will one day work toward social justice goals due to her personal experience with her dear friend’s racist murder.

    Most of the time I avoid “news” all together as the majority of it is garbage intended to instill fear in people, and I guess I will continue to do so. My partner and I have talked for awhile now about leaving the U.S. and all of its BS behind, and what I read and heard brings me right back to that feeling again. I wish the best for Rachel. I can only pray that the ignorant fools out there in the world get educated.

  3. I can’t get over the bear in a hammock part…. specifically because it happened where I live!! How am I just finding out about this!? I want to find a bear in my backyard.

  4. I spent Pride Month Eve spooning with 4 other people. Sounds sexy, but it was for survival; our climb took longer than it should have and we were trapped on top of a mountain in the dark with no camping gear. But still, I was group spooning on Pride Month Eve.

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