Diversity Rules Magazine

2 Diversity Rules Magazine July 2013 My Two Cents By Jim Koury, Editor Diversity Rules Magazine PO Box 72 Oneonta, NY 13820 James R. Koury, Publisher 607.432.1179 Website www.diversityrulesmagazine.com Blog www.diversityrulesmagazine.blogspot.com E-Mail generalinfo@diversityrulesmagazine.com Copyright 2013 Diversity Rules Magazine All Rights Reserved Disclaimers If you have a question or comment regarding this issue or future issues of Diversity Rules Magazine, the publisher would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact Diversity Rules using the e-mail above or mailing address listed above. Content submission are always welcome too! All submissions become the property of Diversity Rules Magazine. However, originating authors reserve all rights to their creative works. Diversity Rules Magazine's physical offices are located at 189 River Street, Oneonta, NY 13820. Diversity Rules Magazine will not knowingly publish or advertise text which is fraudulent or misleading. The publisher reserves the right to edit, limit, revise, or reject any text without cause. Diversity Rules Magazine does not assume any fnancial responsibility for typographical errors. If any errors are found, please notify Diversity Rules Magazine immediately. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Welcome to the July issue of Diversity Rules Magazine! What a great issue it is too, and it's packed with some awesome information! Additionally, the dismissal of Prop 8 by the court restores the right to marry in CA, bringing the number of marriage equality states to 12. As I write this editor's message this month, and finalize the issue for the printer, we are in the midst of an historic event! While we can bask in the glow of victory, we must take up the battle immediately, as there are still 38 states who lawfully discriminate against their queer citizens. Also, our transgender brothers and sisters are still persecuted and many states deny gay couples adoption rights, hospital visitation rights, and other such rights and privileges taken for granted by straight couples. On June 26th, the United States Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and dismissed the Proposition 8 case before it as well, in effect upholding the 9th Circuits opinion that it was unconstituional, this allowing marriages to proceed again in California. What a remarkable day it was too! DOMA being declared unconstitutional, brings to an end a very long fight that finally brings fairness and equity to those same sex couples legally married in that they are now accorded all the federal benefits of marriage that are available to heterosexual couples. The beacon of freedom and justice shines a bit brighter in America now since the court rulings. America is a more perfect union because of them as well in that the freedoms of gays and lesbians are more protected now. We still have a long way to go. We cannot let up the pressure or get complacent in our efforts. We must keep up the fight to equality is won for everyone. Inside This Issue Keep Up Now .................................................. Page 3 Feature Interview: JC Calciano ....................... Page 4 QueerToons ..................................................... Page 10 Amazon Trail ................................................... Page 11 inQUEERies ................................................... Page 14 Raven's Porn Corner ........................................ Page 15 Niagara Fall, NY .............................................. Page 16 Visiting Montreal ............................................ Page 17 Remedies ......................................................... Page 19 Events Listing ................................................. Page 20 Resources and Diversions .................................Page 22

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