In a society where numbers on a measuring tape and weight scale calculate a woman's worth, the field of cosmetic surgery has grown to astounding length...Physicians offer a variety of nip and tuck procedures that can allow the transformation of a female body from the top of her skull to her very tiptoes. More recently, much has been made of what has come to be known as the "designer vagina" craze.

According to a detailed report released this past May by the International Lesbian and Gay Association, which represents [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered] groups in more than 100 countries, "In 2008, no less than 86 member states of the United Nations still criminalize consensual same-sex acts among adults, thus institutionally promoting a culture of hatred. Among those, seven have legal provisions with the death penalty as punishment"...Opposition to universal decriminalization is strong, and led by an alliance of the Vatican and Islamic governments.

Rachel Evans

While celebrations over Barack Obama's victory in the presidential elections dominated US streets, gay rights supporters rallied against the banning of same-sex marriage in California.

October 6, 2008 - Ynet News

Zealots accused of beating [a] Jerusalem woman for allegedly consorting with men, torching store[s] selling MP4 players, fearing devout Jews would use them to download pornography. 'It's very similar to what you hear about in countries like Iran,' says novelist Naomi Ragen...

Direct Action | September 2008

September 7 marks the 40th anniversary of the event that put on the front pages of the world’s press the feminist movement, or more precisely its “second wave” (following the long lapse since the strong campaigns of the early 20th century for women’s suffrage and emancipation).

Movie Fundraiser for the Walk 4 Justice
Suggested Donation $5-$15. No one will be turned away.
Sept. 10 at 7:00pm
Jack Purcell Community Center
Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement – Ottawa (IPSMO)
All donations go to the Walk 4 Justice
Everyone Welcome!
Wheelchair Accessible
Poster: http://ottawa.indymedia.org/media/2008/09//8256.pdf

Ian Sinclair at the Morning Star...did an interesting interview with "Catherine, a prostitute, dominatrix and activist with the International Union of Sex Workers..."

"...[W]e didn't go out and rescue the miners, take them away and give them a wash, and say ‘come and do this you will be much happier'. We gave them rights, we gave them bargaining power."

From Subversivesub

It always makes me a little irritated when I see BDSM misrepresented in the mainstream media. It makes me sad to see feminists critiquing other women for their kinky sexual orientations/practices. But it breaks my fucking heart when I see anarchists doing it.

Anti-racists block fascists in London An attempt by neo-nazis to disrupt London, Ontario's annual Gay Pride Parade was foiled when anti-racists from around Southern Ontario converged to block the fascists from the parade.

By Doug Ireland, Gay City News, July 28, 2008

Recovering our hidden gay history has been a critically important byproduct of the modern gay movement, and in its current Summer 2008 issue, the 46-year-old independent socialist review New Politics has published a significant discovery that restores to us a lost moment of our political history - specifically, of the history of gays and the left.

By john teevins

Somewhere between 15 and 18 years ago I wrote my first batch of songs. The lyrics to the chorus of one of them are as follows: "we the abused we stand accused - of crimes committed against us"

I am a 39 year old survivor of physical, emotional and sexual violence and I am a full time smoker. I have been and still am receiving focused, trustworthy, loving and professional help for the first time in my life and the positive results are astounding.

STOP THE HATE! - Anti-Skinhead Rally

Monday, June 30, 2008
9:00am - 8:00pm
Vancouver City Jail
Main & Cordova
Contact Info Phone: 778-836-0442
Email: peterlotion@hotmail.com

The Interfaith Summer Institute for Justice, Peace, and Social Movements
announces a two day public forum. It's goals are to improve and build relationships between those who are opposed to the sexual
exploitation of women during and after the Olympics; provide an analysis of
trafficking and sex tourism that considers migration , displacement, labour

Sacramento - A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in California was placed on the Nov. 4 ballot Monday, kick-starting an election struggle that will have repercussions across the nation.