1st Annual Nationwide You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project

Taking a hint from students at Drew University who put pro-gay chalk messages into their sidewalks, students nationwide will join a campaign to promote love. Messages such as "you are loved", "you are beautiful" and other positive and gay affirming messages will be written.

The project encourages everyone to go out by themselves or with a group of friends and use sidewalk chalk to create positive messages. The campaign also urges people to write an op-ed for their school newspaper about gay rights and why dialogue is needed over divisive hate speech.

What: 1st Annual Nationwide You-Are-Loved Chalk Message Project
When: Monday October 5th, 2009
Where: College campuses and high schools everywhere

*Please contact the project to let them know if your school will be participating. Also note that some private schools have policies against sidewalk chalk, so check with the administration first, and if you encounter problems in this peaceful demo please contact Jen at chalkmessages@gmail.com for help on how to convince them to allow it.

NYU's New Anti-Gay Professor

New York University Law School has hired a new Human Rights professor. Dr. Li-ann Thio, a professor at the National University of Singapore, will be teaching two courses during the Fall 2009 semester as a Global Visiting Professor of Law at NYU.

This professor has been outspoken against gay rights in Singapore. She argued before the parliament to keep statute 377A which criminalizes homosexual sex. She made outrageous claims such as "diversity is not a license for perversity" and "anal sex is like shoving a straw up your nose to drink". Dr. Li-Ann Thio calls "homosexuality a gender identity disorder" and a "moral wrong that cannot be compared to a human right." She supported a 15,000 dollar fine against a television station that portrayed a gay family and a child.

Students, LGBT and human rights activists are outraged at NYU's decision to bring in this controversial and homophobic woman.

She is scheduled to teach two classes: Human Rights in Asia and Constitutionalism in Asia. The classes are in jeopardy of being canceled since many students refuse to sign up.

Please sign the petition in opposition to Dr. Thio Li-Ann teaching at NYU.