(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) DonnaJean Records is proud to announce the release of the hit single Down and Counting by Claudja Barry Following the immense success of the smash hit I Will Stand Down and Counting propels Claudja Barry into the stratosphere DonnaJean Records founder Jim Garrard says I am so excited about Down and Counting Claudja Barry continues to amaze and astound the world with her incredible talent Claudja has been in the studio for the last several months working on a new album and we wanted to share the excitement with the world with the release of Down and Counting Visit Claudja Barrys web site at ClaudjaBarrycom httpwwwclaudjabarrycom and her myspace page at myspacecomclaudjabarry httpwwwmyspacecomclaudjabarryABOUT DONNAJEAN RECORDSWith many years of musical experience in virtually every genre DonnaJean Records treats its performing artists like partners DonnaJean can produce and market into all listening areas while still allowing our artists to achieve their own performance goals DonnaJean Records is constantly seeking new singers songwriters and musicians looking for a home where they can be assured that their needs come firstFor more information contact DonnaJean records at DonnaJean Records httpwwwdonnajeancom or ClaudjaBarrycom httpwwwclaudjabarrycom...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) om 1230 330 pm and is free for the public to attend Asheville NC April 18 2008 The national gay lesbian wedding resource RainbowWeddingNetworkcom has announced that the company will be producing St Petersburgs firstever GLBTQ Wedding Family Expo The event will also include the Same Love Same Rights Mobile Marriage Summit a forum in which ideas are collected from all who attend on innovative ways to create mass change in America concerning marriage equality The Expo will be held at the Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront on Sunday May 4 2008 from 1230 330 pm and is free for the public to attend RainbowWeddingNetworkcom has chosen St Petersburg as the newest location for the companys upcoming GLBTQ Wedding Family Expo and Rally for Equality The event will be held Sunday May 4 2008 from 1230 330 pm at the Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront Dozens of local wedding vendors are scheduled to participate who actively support equal rights in marriage Other highlights include Music Ceremony Tips Samples Fashion and Informative Presentations about the issues concerning equality in marriage and adoption for the GLBTQ community Admission is free and all supporters of equality are encouraged to attend The state of Florida has a history of antigay marriage and adoption legislation says Cindy Sproul coowner of RainbowWeddingNetworkcom So it is important that we show a strong presence in St Petersburg Sproul has worked in the GLBTQ community for over twelve years and launched RainbowWeddingNetworkcom with her partner Marianne Puechl in 2000 To date the company has produced 18 Expos all across America Sproul continues We all need to work together the gay and lesbian community as well as our allies to enact real change in the arena of true equality in Florida and throughout the country This first annual event in St Petersburg will include RainbowWeddingNetworks new initiative the Same Love Same Rights Mobile Marriage Summit Meant as a rally and open forum for the public one of the Summits main goals is to identify activities that individuals can take part in to create mass change in favor of equal rights in marriage Those attending the rally will have the opportunity to share their ideas on the issues and learn new ways to get involved both at the state and national levels Other Mobile Marriage Summit rallies are scheduled for 2008 in Atlanta Seattle and New York City In recent years the gay community in America has become less cohesive says Marianne Puechl And we truly have seen a need to add a political edge to the party atmosphere of our Wedding Expos The Mobile Marriage Summit is an exciting addition it will create a buzz at a grassroots activistlevel and every attendee at the event will have an opportunity to get involved right then right there The sister website is an excellent complement to the work were trying to achieve SameLoveSameRightscom provides all the tools that citizens nonprofit agencies and businesses need in order to work marriage equality into the fabric of America Attendees will have the chance to mingle with dozens of gayfriendly wedding professionals as well as those in the travel gift and homeplanning industries such as realtors lawyers and financial planners Married engaged guests will also be invited to add a photograph to the Commitment Photo Album an ongoing project to document GLBTQ couples and their families throughout the nation Launched in 2000 RainbowWeddingNetworkcom RWN has grown to become the most extensive wedding resource for the gay and lesbian community in the United States RWN produced its first GLBTQ Wedding Expo in 2003 and released the national Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine in 2006 To date RWN has produced eighteen different events in eleven states For more information about nationwide events please visit httpwwwSameLoveSameRightscom and for more samesex wedding and marriage resources visit httpwwwRainbowWeddingNetworkMagazinecom...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Love Electra will be donating thousands of its inspiring tshirt products to the national media advocacy and antidefamation organization the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation GLAAD for the commemoration of its 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards an extended event that will be celebrated in four cities across the country The GLAAD Media Awards recognizes and honors media for their fair accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives The gala affair which kicked off in New York City with a reception and dinner featuring some of Americas most talented and renowned entertainers and media personalities continues through May 10th with events in South Florida Los Angeles and San Francisco The GLAAD Media Awards message of inclusion and acceptance is precisely the one that Love Electra propagates daily with its commitment to love and positivityLove Electra a company that specializes in the conception design and manufacture of tshirts that spread positive messages of love has recognized the constructive influence that GLAAD has had on the medias treatment of the once marginalized LGBT community Electra performs this gesture as a means of emphasizing its wholehearted endorsement of the GLAAD Media Awards Through the dissemination of products containing memorable prolove slogans at this event it recognizes the common goal that exists between the two organizations in their harmonious desire to spread the antihate message We appreciate Love Electras generous and heartfelt support of the 19th Annual GLAAD Media and our critical ongoing work in media advocacy fighting defamation and changing hearts and minds said Diana Rodriquez director of special events sponsorship for GLAAD The dilemma faced by members of the LGBT as well as other communities has always inspired many of the creative products that bear Love Electras designs The messages spread by its founder and designers via their tshirts are of particular interest to the members of the LGBT community as one of Electras aims is to discourage the unfair treatment of individuals on account of their sexual orientation or gender identity Rather love inspiration and acceptance are the mission of the company and with every tshirt worn by the public the message is spread further Through its efforts Love Electra seeks to empower the LGBT community to become what they in fact already arethis and future generations of creative inspiring and talented role modelsThe company uses loveinspired quotes to stir the radiation of love from the center of persons who wear the products toward all those with whom they come in contact The artistry that mixes beautiful colors with powerful designs is therefore also infused with positivity and inspiration Love Electra uses the psychology of color to imbue its products with energy and appeals to such groups as New Age religious organizations who take pride in their work toward furthering the cause of harmony The company also appeals to all social political and environmental groups concerned with the furtherance of justice equality and fairness for all who share the planetLove Electra caters to men women and children with tshirts of all designs and styles They come decorated with rhinestones and rhinestuds or just plain silkscreen graphics for those who want to keep it simple To obtain your love New Age ecology environmental or other types of inspiring tshirts from Love Electra visit the online store at httpwwwloveelectracom With the discount code GLAAD2008 you will receive a 30 discount on all products plus free shipping for domestic orders until July 31 2008 You may also obtain additional information about Love Electra products promotions and events on the website wwwloveelectracom or wwwmyspacecomignitehearts For more information about GLAADs work and the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards please visit wwwglaadorg...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Unison Media Group announces a new and exciting dating site for likeminded males named DowntownDudescomThe site which launched nationally in early March is growing rapidly It offers an alternative place to meet interesting and honest people seeking friendship and datingDowntownDudescom provides a safe forum for single gay men and couples to come together and form friendships with an emphasis on building long term relationships says David Grant a senior executive at Unison Media Group While still in its infancy the staff is working diligently to bring additional features such as blogs active forums informative news and other important tools and resources for its membersDowntowndudescom is expected to become one of the premiere sites in the United States with plans to expand globally Free trial memberships are offered and the interface is user friendlyhttpwwwDowntownDudescom...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Punchbowl Software the developers of MyPunchbowlcom today announced the launch of a new version of their popular event and party planning httpwwwmypunchbowlcom websiteMyPunchbowl now includes a sophisticated party planning notification system named Buzz which tracks host and guests interactions as they happen MyPunchbowl Buzz offers the host personalized alerts during every phase of party planning Guests can enable their own alerts on the site by signing up for a MyPunchbowl account The notification layer has been built to be expandable to other technologies such as RSS instant messaging and mobile messaging SMS all of which will be added to the site in the futureMyPunchbowl Buzz raises the bar for online party planning said Matt Douglas CEO Punchbowl Software Hosts and guests can now share rapidly updating content during every phase of party planning MyPunchbowl offers a modern userfriendly interface that adapts to the party planning needs of the host Unique features such as Pick a Date and Party Checklist along with online invitations httpwwwmypunchbowlcom help hosts with coordination and logistics through every stage of party planning Along with the Buzz notification system the new version offers numerous new additions The entire site has been widened for a contemporary modern design New dashboard provides alerts searchable party planning advice parties youre hosting and parties youre invited to all in one convenient page Dozens of new online invitations httpwwwmypunchbowlcom themes including St Patricks Day and Birthday Party Users can now add additional email addresses to their account in order to aggregate parties they are invited to in one MyPunchbowl account Party Planning Advice httpwwwmypunchbowlcom blog now searchable and available as an RSS feed Start your party wizard quickly customizes MyPunchbowl to fit the needs of the hostPunchbowl Software also announces the launch of a new game available on the popular social networking website Facebook The Hangover Game is an entertaining diversion for Facebook users The Hangover Game challenges Facebook users to be the first among their friends to collect all of the 100 Hangover cards The game features party situations that will make you laugh so much youll want to share them with your friends Facebook users can play The Hangover Game for free at httpwwwfacebookcomappsapplicationphpid8118423374 About Punchbowl SoftwarePunchbowl Software was founded by software and user interface experts Matt Douglas and Sean Conta They were frustrated with the available methods for planning an event or party and knew there had to be a better way Matt was previously in senior management positions at Bose Corporation and Adobe Systems Sean has held positions at Zildjian Cymbals and Innoveer Solutions as a userexperience specialist The company is located in Framingham MA in the heart of the Metrowest technology center of Boston and is backed by Intel Capital To learn more and sign up for a free account visit httpwwwmypunchbowlcom Media Contact David Templeton DBT Communications 2034837373 Company Contact Matt Douglas Punchbowl Software 6508143393...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) MeetGayCouplescom has launched its new enhanced social networking platform reaffirming itself as the goto web portal for gay and lesbian couplesThe newly launched Community Center at httpmeetgaycouplescom enables gay and lesbian couples to create a free personal profile upload photos send private messages post comments and create buddy lists Advanced features enable members to create albums with the capacity up to 50MB of photos and video clips per member write a blog and create private interest groups within the siteAlready an established portal for the gay couples community the site delivers a diverse collection of articles essays advice and resources on gay relationships with two new contributing authors for 2008 Korts Korner A collection of essays on Communication and Relationship skills by Joe Kort MA MSW a specialist in Gay Affirmative Psychotherapy Marital Affairs Mixed Orientation Marriages Sexual Addiction Sexual Abuse and Imago Relationship Therapy Kort is the author of two books 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Improve Their Lives on gay male identity and 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Find Real Love on gay relationships Body Mind Soul From John R Ballew MS a Licensed Professional Counselor LPC and Certified Massage Therapist a somewhat unusual combination that attests to the importance Ballew places on the connection between body mind and soul His excerpts and teachings focus on Spirituality Sexuality and Wellness often with an emphasis on helping men reconnect sexuality with a sense of the sacredReturning Favorites The Gay Love Coach Man4Man Coaching a collection of resource essays and advice by psychotherapist and licensed relationship coach Brian Rzepczynski MSW coauthor of the selfhelp book A Guide to Getting It Purpose Passion Rzepczynski holds a Masters degree in Social Work and is a privatepractice psychotherapist in Illinois Among the topics relationship mistakes validation intimacy rejection jealousy understanding each other the first time and coping with infidelity Ask Angelo Angelo Pezzote journalist author and psychotherapist authors this biweekly internationally syndicated QA column It is a unique mix of hip fun and useful information with an often humorous and spiritual twist Ask Angelo has won the hearts of readers in over 89 countries and is also translated in Chinese Pezzotes new book Straight Acting Gay Men Masculinity and Finding True Love hits bookstores in MarchFounded in 2005 MeetGayCouplescom began as a local message board for gay and lesbian couples and topic of interest to the gay community Since then the site has grown into a social networking forum enabling gay and lesbian couples to foster new friendships with other couples many of which have led to personal meetings and ongoing friendships While most member couples reside in the USA or Canada the site counts member from as far away as China Europe and Australia...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Politeed the edgy new Dallasbased apparel company reports that according to the official gifting company for the GRAMMY Awards Distinctive Assets some officials at the GRAMMY organization wanted Politeed to pull 1819 of their political shirts due to the shirts controversial political questionsPoliteed provokes discussion about current national and socially relevant political issues whether it be race religion human rights global warming war or terrorism Politeed currently has 24 political questions on their web site at wwwpoliteedcom According to Sherry Henry CEO of Politeed the gifting company Distinctive Assets contacted her last week after all details had been finalized and all product was sent to Distinctive Assets for distribution Some of the GRAMMY organization officials apparently believe that most of the shirts are not politically correct enough and requested through Distinctive Assets that I either pull most of the shirts and replace them with gift cards or print up new merchandise for the five or six questions they thought were more pc said HenryFor the GRAMMY committee to approve the shirts tell the client they are approved and then further GRAMMY officials come along look at the shirts and say they are not politically correct enough is actually shocking to me stated Henry It begs the question what do they really believe about free speech What about the awards that are given to the hiphop artists rap stars rock and country music artists for their lyrics which come from their truth What I dont know for certain since Im not in Los Angeles for the event is are all 24 shirts being represented I ask this question still because the only verification that anyone can give me is their word that everything was fine and the shirts are going into the Talent Gift Bags continued Henry If you were the official gifting company for the GRAMMY Awards and the GRAMMY organization told you to pull a 2499 shirt would you as the gifting company stand up for the client or pull the shirts because of your contract Distinctive Assets has assured me that everything had been worked out so thats what I have to go on for now They have been wonderful in helping me and communicating with me so I have no problem with Distinctive Assets and I hope all parties involved are please with the outcome Henry saidAccording to Ms Henry This just proves to me that we have a big problem in this country when it comes to talking about politics and just asking simple questions These barriers need to come down especially when certain people have a problem with free speechFor any questions or comments contact Politeed at info Politeedcom or call 866490TEED 8333 Monday Friday 9 am to 5 pm Central Standard Time...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Kevin Jon has digitally released his first single When Fear Gets in the Way with full support from SavageTrax Records UK Kevin Jon or KJ to his friends suffered from crippling anxiety and depression preventing him from leaving home Searching for ways to combat his fears KJ began to write about how he felt and was finally persuaded to upload his tracks to MySpace where they caught the eye and ear of Kevin Savage of SavageTrax Records Having suffered a similar illness Savage recognised his struggle made contact and offered KJ a fouralbum deal worth 1millionThe single has been released to all major download sites and has two remixes on offer The first remix is by DJ Producers the House Junkies who add their brand of production that proves so popular at the Heaven nightclub in London The second is a remix by Darren Crook a talented Club DJProducer from Portsmouth who adds his twist of Casbah Club coolnessThe subject matter of WHEN FEAR GETS IN THE WAY documents Kevin Jons struggle with panic attacks and has struck a chord with a younger generation of anxiety sufferers Brushing aside the stigma attached to such an ailment Kevin Jon insists being frank about how he felt admitting that initially he resisted persuasion to seek help National statistics show that 1 in 6 adults suffer from mental stress with mixed depression and anxiety being the most common emotional disorder experienced by adults Socioeconomic factors are said to play a large part in the causation of experienced difficulty in controlling distress Clinical and social support can aid recovery to lead a normal life Support can be found through organisations such as the No Panic charity run by Colin Hammond From its inception in 1989 with a total of 253 calls it now has a helpline that manages up to 60000 calls per year No Panic and Kevin Jon have joined forces in an effort to reach sufferers who still shy away from seeking help As a Patron of No Panic Kevin Jon hopes to inspire sufferers to come forward as he did proving that it is possible to beat a panic disorderIn September 2007 Kevin Jon stepped onstage at the Cardiff Mardi Gras to perform in front of 25000 people His motivation was to prove to himself and to others that his fear was no longer in the way...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Travel consultant Maury Newburger will focus on luxury vacation planning for Gay and Lesbian clients Linden Travel announces Gay and Lesbian travel is an emerging market in Linden Travels expertise Gay and Lesbian travelers want luxury and exceptional service Newburger said I offer my clients firsthand advice about where they will experience the highest level of comfort in destinations around the worldMaury Newburger is a twentyyear veteran in the travel industry with expertise in designing luxury vacations in London Caribbean Western Europe Asia Iceland and many cruise lines A past member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and the Metropolitan Association of Professional Travel Agents Newburger has developed strong connections in the industry While he was with American Express Travel Newburger was a Pace Setter five times achieving annual sales of over one million dollars Recently Newburger was recruited by Gourmet magazine as an expert panelist for a luxury travel seminar He also designed an itinerary for China and South Africa for the Trips of a Lifetime program on the Travel Channel Destinations for gay and lesbian clients span the globe Iceland is becoming a new hot spot because there is so much for visitors to experience the culture is welcoming and the country is very green focused says Newburger Linden Travel has consistently received high praise during the last thirtyseven years from clients media and their many trade alliances such as Virtuoso Linden Travel specialists have an average of eighteen years experience and are award winners in all categories Creating a unique experience with personalized service gives true meaning to the word luxury service which is the key differentiator of Linden Travel Well known corporate clients are in Advertising Architecture Automotive Education Entertainment Fashion Finance Foundations Jewelry Legal Medical Publishing Pharmaceutical Real Estate Recruiting and TechnologyFor additional information on Linden Travel visit httpwwwlindentravelcom...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) UK West Midlands based sports equipment and football team wear supplier Maudesport Clubline recently sponsored one of the UK football teams playing in the 2007 International Gay Lesbian FA World Club Championships in ArgentinaThe Gay World Cup which took place in Argentine capital Buenos Aires September 23rd to 29th showcased more than 500 footballers from 28 countries Teams from such countries as England Iceland Germany Mexico Brazil Australia and the USA competed Some taking their football very seriously and some just wanting to have fun There were a lot of games crammed into a week of football with six matches at a time being played at Sarmiento Park It is the first time the cup has been held in Latin AmericaAccording to Csar Cigliutti the head of the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina the Argentine Homosexual Community its a big step because in Argentina soccer is a macho and homophobic sport Of course machismo is just another way of saying Im gay Having made it to the World Cup competition Maudesport Clubline decided to sponsor the London Titans squad who were competing in the Division 2 Gay World Cup Finals The match was played in the 9000 seat Estadio Defensores de BelgranoNick Palmer Sales Marketing Director at Maudesport Clubline said Both myself and all the staff at Maudesport wished the London Titans well and thought it was a great idea to both sponsor one of our UK teams and also to show our support for such a growing sector of the sportIf you would like to find out more about the full range of sport and team wear garments available from Maudesport Clubline visit the website at wwwclublinefootballcom Or if you have any questions please contact Vanessa and her sales team on FREEPHONE 0800 975 6776...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Tim and Andrew aka TinMan and Imelda222 respectively is the latest success in Play65 backgammon room matchmaking efforts Both from the UK the couple wouldnt have met unless randomly assigned as opponents at one of Play65 backgammon tournaments httpwwwplay65comTournamentshtml Their online backgammon match which by the way ended with Tims victory turned into a late night chatting continued with a 5month relationship and ended with the couples engagement announcement In todays computerized world many people find their significant other while surfing on the internet Single people of every age color nation and sexual orientation seek love on the internet via online dating services social network sites etc Just like in the real world for some people love comes just when they least expect it in the middle of an online backgammon game for example Tim a 28yearsold English teacher and Andrew a 35yearsold fitness trainer have found each other while playing backgammon at the online backgammon site play65com The two love birds are both veteran backgammon players Andrew also plays in an offline backgammon league In Andrews words Ive been playing backgammon on play65 for almost 3 years about once or twice I week and it didnt even cross my mind that I can find the man of my life in a backgammon room of all placesAccording to the happy couple the wedding is planned for the first week of December The location the nature of the ceremony and the rest of the minor details are not set yet However the duo is set on including a backgammon board httpwwwplay65comBackgammonBoardSetUphtml on their wedding list...

(Gay and Lesbian News and Information) Although the online dating industry has experienced explosive growth over the past five years the major online dating httpwwwonegoodlovecom services either categorically excluded the gay and lesbian community or have not evolved past promoting casual dating As of January of 2008 relationshipminded gay and lesbian singles will have an exciting and genuine option for serious dating oneGoodLovecom httpwwwonegoodlovecom oneGoodLove was created by the LGBT community for the LGBT community with a dedicated focus on singles who are ready to move past the point of casual dating and are ready to find the one The oGL Personality Test and Service uses a specificallytailored matching algorithm for samesex couples This Personality Test httpwwwonegoodlovecom was created based upon insightful research of the gay and lesbian community and was specifically formulated for samesex dating And without visible profiles like most other dating sites which are normally searchable by the general public the oGL service allows singles to remain discreet while using the oGL service to find them a potential match The concept of oneGoodLove developed organically as a reaction to the underserved and misunderstood gay and lesbian community said Frank Mastronuzzi Founder and President of oneGoodLove The leading online dating sites have either rejected gays and lesbians from membership or have treated them as if their dating process is identical to the heterosexual dating process which it is certainly not So the launch of oGL signifies more than just another dating site It gives the gay and lesbian community a chance to proclaim they too warrant services created specifically for their needs And by using the best tools available to the general dating community to help our users to find a committed relationship we are demonstrating our understanding of the LGBT communitys needsFurther exemplifying the oneGoodLove message is the companys tagline When Youre Ready The tagline empowers gay and lesbian singles to join oGL to take the oGL Personality Test and to deliver to them true and customized matches all at the right time when they are ready to find a life partneroGL aims to eliminate the social perception the LGBT community is solely comprised of promiscuous folks seeking casual sex Our members are attractive intelligent and successful gay and lesbian singles who are ready to move past the point of casual dating and to find a real connection said Mastronuzzi I like to say that our mission is to help gay and lesbian singles find the Big Ls Love and a Life partnerAdditionally oneGoodLove members have the opportunity to give back to the LGBT community through their membership Through the subscription process members can allocate five percent of their monthly subscription fees to a communitybased charity which include organizations like GLAAD Human Rights Campaign and Lambda LegaloneGoodLovecom came to exist because of our commitment and involvement in the gay and lesbian httpwwwonegoodlovecom community So focusing diligently on the needs of the community through the service itself and a corporate dedication to the LGBT charities is our way of giving back to the community that made oGL a reality concludes Mastronuzzi...