Lesbians In The News

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Probably the richest, most Hollywood- powerful (young) lesbian on the planet: Megan Elilison. Yes her father is obscenely rich but she is doing interesting things with all that money.

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/...ro-dark-thirty

Also, this year:

"Megan Ellison made history on Thursday, becoming the first woman and only the fourth person to receive two best picture Academy Award nominations in the same year.

The producer earned a trip to the Oscars for her work on “Her” and “American Hustle.” She has previously been nominated for producing 2012′s “Zero Dark Thirty.”

This was an interesting article. I didn't know who Megan Ellison was or what she has accomplished in her young life.

It was also interesting that the author, who was a woman, felt the need to comment on Megan being "a bit overweight" and dresses like a "butch".

It is sad when women have to make digs at other women, using their body and attire, to send a message to other women and to men as well.

It is an example of internalized misogyny and sexism i.e Megan might have done this or that but as a woman, she is overweight and doesn't dress like a woman should.

Very sad.

[C0LLETTE]

Yes. I did notice that. It is all too easy to become inured to that sort of commentary. You rarely see mention of Harvey Weinstein's not so "bit" girth.

Megan Ellison's personal success is probably also hard won in the face of accusations that it is entirely due to her father's money.

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Yes. I did notice that. It is all too easy to become inured to that sort of commentary. You rarely see mention of Harvey Weinstein's not so "bit" girth.

Megan Ellison's personal success is probably also hard won in the face of accusations that it is entirely due to her father's money.

I was going to let that go but seeing you brought it up......yes a woman's success must be tempered by the men who made it all possible.

Did you like the story about her parents marriage and how Dad managed to stay involved after the divorce? (Isn't a Dad supposed to do that?)

And, of course no story about a woman's success would be complete without bringing her bro in the picture too.

Did we leave any males figures out i.e. the dog, the gardener, her male teachers, the milkman etc.

Notice their are no female figures who helped in this process - sperm supersedes womb I guess.

Sad, we as women, are socialized to do this from birth. This, too, is an example of internalized misogyny and sexism.

[Martina]

What does she actually do except invest money she did not earn in movies she does not make? I don't get it.

[C0LLETTE]

well, I suppose you could say that about anyone who invests money...enough lousy choices and you have no more money to invest (though that might take her longer than most ) or if you choose right, you have even more. Welcome to Capitalism

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Martina

What does she actually do except invest money she did not earn in movies she does not make? I don't get it.

Something else women are taught from birth is to make disparaging remarks about other women....like the gist of this post.

Megan Ellison is a producer. A producer, regardless of their gender, has the job of procuring money for projects i.e. their own cash, from investors etc.

Producers make a shitload of money off successful projects.

[Kobi]

Houston’s Mayor Annise Parker married her partner Kathy Hubbard in Palm Springs, Calif. Thursday, according to a press release from her office.

Parker, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city said of her wedding that “This is a very happy day for us. We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship."

A small group of family and friends attended the sunset wedding, which fell on the same day as Parker and Hubbard’s 23rd anniversary, according to the release.

http://www.shewired.com/marriage/201...s-palm-springs

[Happy_Go_Lucky]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...n_4612412.html

How about a few dozen more lesbians, and/or women of color?

YeeHaw!! Now we shall see if she receives senate approval. *Crosses fingers

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by Kobi

Something else women are taught from birth is to make disparaging remarks about other women....like the gist of this post.

Megan Ellison is a producer. A producer, regardless of their gender, has the job of procuring money for projects i.e. their own cash, from investors etc.

Producers make a shitload of money off successful projects.

Procuring and supplying money for filmmaking is one part of a producer's job. Depending on a producer's personal style, they may be very hands-on over the course of filming. Many producers have personal visions which, for better or worse, may get imposed on a film.

Besides possibly having personal involvement in the artistic end of filmmaking, producers make sh@t happen. They and their staff may be called upon to procure the supposedly unattainable and talk actors and other creative staff into getting on board for a film.

And then they say "No! You can't hVe any more money!!"

[firegal]

Originally Posted by Martina

What does she actually do except invest money she did not earn in movies she does not make? I don't get it.

35 oscar nominations for her films, she is a producer also.
Of those 35, 17 were films she financed.

[Martina]

Originally Posted by firegal

35 oscar nominations for her films, she is a producer also.
Of those 35, 17 were films she financed.

Did you read the article? She's lost tens of millions of dollars, which she can well afford, but that's her record. She is 27, has one year of college and seems to spend her much of her time hanging out with movies stars. Fine. Good choice. Better than drug addiction or living a Kim Kardashian style life. Some kind of lesbian role model? Well, not for me.

[Martina]

Let me just add as a resident of Silicon Valley who sees poverty every day, it does not inspire me with admiration to see how the extreme wealth generated here, but kept by the tiniest sliver of the one percent, gets used while the rest of us not only do not share in the wealth we created, but suffer from the consequences of higher cost of living, congestion, and failure of these corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. Today on Facebook, I saw this: http://billmoyers.com/2014/01/17/we-...t-skyrocketed/

Poverty would have been eliminated -- eliminated -- if income inequality had not become so exaggerated. So, no, I am not inspired by her story. Give me a break.

Just found this re oracle --

Fast-forward a decade, over which Oracle finalized four more pacts, including two governing foreign tax benefits, generally covering fiscal years 2002 through 2013, excepting 2006. It also consolidated hundreds of offshore subsidiaries into six core affiliates in Ireland, and by this year had amassed $26 billion in cash held overseas -- more than seven times 2003's level. As of May, when its 2013 fiscal year ended, Oracle had nearly halved its tax bill. It paid $2.6 billion in cash income taxes on pre-tax income of nearly $13.9 billion, a rate of just under 19%.

I'd much rather the corporation paid its taxes, so that we had enough beds for homeless people here in the oh so wealthy Silicon Valley. I'd be much more inspired by that.

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Martina

Did you read the article? She's lost tens of millions of dollars, which she can well afford, but that's her record. She is 27, has one year of college and seems to spend her much of her time hanging out with movies stars. Fine. Good choice. Better than drug addiction or living a Kim Kardashian style life. Some kind of lesbian role model? Well, not for me.

I am really lost as to why you would have such an opinion of this particular woman. I also don't understand what makes you not think she is a good role model for lesbians and women. Are you saying lesbians and therefore women must have a certain level of education, certain friends and certain jobs in order to be considered successful and proper role models?

I think she is a great role model for women and lesbians. Why?

1. She is a female and a lesbian. Period.
2. She is a female and lesbian in the predominately male financial field.
3. Her movies are successful. Per firegal, 35 oscar nominations for her films. Of those 35, 17 were films she financed. She is 27. I am impressed.
4. She has grossed profits from those movies which well exceed losses. Even Ron Howard has made some clunker films.

And the biggest reason of all, seeing you are concerned about poverty and such?

As a producer, she is a job generator in a wonderful thing called trickle down economics. She not only provides the financing for the actors, her money and ability to procure money gives jobs to writers, directors, make up artists, clothing designers, sound people, technical people, scenery people, lighting people, hairdressers......all the way down to the person to makes the coffee.

If the film is shot on location, it provides jobs and income for the local economy in the form of lodging, food, entertainment, transportation, security, even porta potties, electricity, water.

If it is shot in the studio, it supports everyone who is employed there and all the vendors who supply it.

When the film hits the theatres, it provides jobs for the theater owners, managers, ticket folks, concession folks. The concession stands provide for jobs for the vendors who provide their supplies and those who make or grow the products needed.

Sounds like a fricken good role model to me.

[~baby~doll~]

Originally Posted by Kobi

I was going to let that go but seeing you brought it up......yes a woman's success must be tempered by the men who made it all possible.

Did you like the story about her parents marriage and how Dad managed to stay involved after the divorce? (Isn't a Dad supposed to do that?)

And, of course no story about a woman's success would be complete without bringing her bro in the picture too.

Did we leave any males figures out i.e. the dog, the gardener, her male teachers, the milkman etc.

Notice their are no female figures who helped in this process - sperm supersedes womb I guess.

Sad, we as women, are socialized to do this from birth. This, too, is an example of internalized misogyny and sexism.

Most of the world can't believe a woman is capable on her own and needs a male stepping stone. Sick

Also in the earlier post i noticed the women's comment on Megan Ellison weight and garb. It may have been easier for that woman to attack such trivial attributes instead of saying she was against gays (if that is the case).

[*Anya*]

Disney Channel's 'Good Luck Charlie' Introduces Lesbian Couple (VIDEO)
Posted: 01/27/2014 4:30 pm EST | Updated: 01/27/2014 4:59 pm EST

The Disney Channel just introduced its first-ever lesbian couple on the series "Good Luck Charlie."

As TV Guide pointed out:

In the storyline, parents Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker and Eric Allan Kramer) set up a playdate for preschooler Charlie (Mia Talerico) and one of her new friends. When the kid arrives, the Duncans learn that Charlie's pal has two moms. That's fine, but the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob's dull stories.

A Disney Channel spokesperson told the publication that the episode was "developed to be relevant to kids and families around the world and to reflect themes of diversity and inclusiveness."

News of the planned storyline broke last year. Among those to offer her support was none other than Miley Cyrus herself.

Meanwhile, right-wing group One Million Moms (who are best known for a failed boycott against JCPenney after the retail giant hired Ellen DeGeneres as its spokesperson) condemned the episode.

"Conservative families need to urge Disney to avoid controversial topics that children are far too young to comprehend," organizers wrote at the time, according to Lez Get Real. "This is the last place a parent would expect their children to be confronted with topics that are too difficult for them to understand. Mature issues of this nature are being introduced too early and too soon, and it is extremely unnecessary."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...ef=mostpopular

[Kobi]

Alberta's first top-ranking female RCMP officer says she has always been treated with respect as a gay officer in the force.

While the RCMP have been rocked by allegations of harassment in recent months and face several lawsuits, newly appointed assistant Commissioner Marianne Ryan said she has been treated well.

She choked back tears Wednesday as she thanked her partner during a change-of-command ceremony in Edmonton.

"I think it's important to be who you are and the RCMP is a very diverse and welcoming organization. And after 32 years, I'm very proud to be in the organization because of who we are," she told reporters afterwards.

"I'm very fortunate to be able to say the RCMP has always treated me with a great deal of respect."

An RCMP spokesman said Ryan is the first openly gay officer in charge of Alberta.

Ryan told reporters that it's "nice to know" she's the first in the province.

"I'm very proud of who I am and who my partner is and I'm especially proud to be the commanding officer of Alberta," she said.

In 2012, the RCMP released an emotional video by gay and lesbian officers and civilian employees as part of a campaign to combat anti-gay bullying. Some of them talked about how they were bullied in school but said life got better as they got older.

Ryan grew up on a farm in London, Ont., and joined the force in 1982, after graduating from university. She spent 19 years working her way up the ranks in Manitoba before transferring to Vancouver.

In 2011, she became the officer in charge of criminal operations for Alberta. Last fall, she was appointed commanding officer of the province, taking over for retiring deputy commissioner Dale McGowan.

Ryan believes her new job will encourage other women to sign up. She said some women have approached her to ask about being an officer, and she's happy she can act as a marketing tool.

"If I can make it, anyone can make it," she said.

"There are many, many women in the RCMP now. When I joined, not so many. But behind me and with me there are a lot of women and there will be a lot more coming in."

http://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/...d-as-a-lesbian

[C0LLETTE]

Gay heiress Gigi Chao writes open letter to father over $114m husband offer

The lesbian daughter of a Hong Kong tycoon, who offered more than $US100 million ($114.29 million) to find her a male suitor, has issued a heartfelt open letter urging him to accept her sexuality.

In the letter, which starts ‘‘Dear Daddy’’, socialite Gigi Chao asked her father Cecil to treat her partner Sean Eav as ‘‘a normal, dignified human being’’ - the pair have been together for nine years and are reported to have married in 2012 in France

http://www.smh.com.au/world/gay-heir...130-hvae1.html