Speaking out

Pioneers in the LGBT community continue to break stereotypes about sexuality and gender. This week, Mike Penner, a sports columnist in Los Angeles, discussed his identity as a transsexual. Congratulations for your courage, Mike!

Free money

The good news is that LGBT and straight students/activists can qualify for a $10,000 scholarship from mtvU and The Point Foundation. The bad news is that the deadline for 2007 submissions has already expired. But it’s not too late to think about next year …

According to the mtvU Web site, the scholarship is offered because “LGBT students already face unique challenges that can make it even more difficult to cover the tremendous cost of a college education. From job discrimination to being financially cut off by their parents, LGBT students often learn firsthand why it can be difficult to foot the tuition bill.”

Finding your voice

GLBT teens overwhelmingly report being harrassed in school. It’s so bad that Human Rights Watch says these students are at risk of dropping out or receiving a lesser education. How do you handle it? GLAD says youths can protect themselves by knowing the law, and learning to work the system.

Peanuts

If you have ever wondered what Peanuts might look like if Charles Schultz created anime, please visit this link. Thoughts to ponder: What is with Peppermint Patty and Marcy? Is Snoopy a furry?

Guide for parents

Teens coming out to their parents can refer them to the following article, which discusses common reactions and seeks to dispell misconceptions. There are also some links and resources, but they’re mostly British-oriented. [Link]

New research on gender identity

New research shows that gender identity disorder can start in adolescence, and that this condition may be reflected in brain structure.

Judge: Gay-straight alliance not “sex club”

Judge rules students can form gay-straight alliance in Okeechobee, Fla., high school, rejecting administrators’ arguments that a “sex-based” club would violate the school’s abstinence-only policy.

Does Soy make you gay?

It is being claimed by Jim Rutz of Megashift Ministries that, “Soybean products are feminizing. If soy is so harmful as to potentially alter sexual physiology and behavior, why haven’t the Chinese and Japanese all died off or become homosexual centuries ago?”

Dear reader, I would welcome a discussion on this topic, feel free to expound your theories.

Although soy is not a miracle food, it is very beneficial in a number of ways.

Follow the DASH Diet when dining out

According to the National restaurant Association, follow these tips if you wish to watch your calorie intake -

• Order salad dressings and other sauces on the side.

• When ordering pasta dishes, look for tomato-based sauces.

• Drink water, diet soda, or unsweetened tea or coffee.

• Share the appetizer and dessert with a friend.

• Stop eating when you are full.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – DASH Diet -

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Where did “carino” go?