Activism

Dan Savage writes at The Stranger: This morning I had the distinct pleasure of mailing off checks to Planned Parenthood ($33,333.34), the ACLU ($33,333.33) and the International Refugee Assistance Project ($33,333.33)—money we raised selling ITMFA (“Impeach The Mother Fucker Already”) buttons, t-shirts, hats, stickers, coffee cups, and lapel pins at www.ITMFA.org. And I got to mail those checks out because …

Via press release: With recent reports of abductions, detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths targeting gay and bisexual men in Chechnya, a Canadian non-profit human rights organization announced today an emergency response plan to assist those in danger. Founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad actively assists LGBTQ people escape danger through its global network of safe routes. “Since we first received …

The Los Angeles Times reports: About 500 pro-Trump demonstrators and counter-protesters faced off Saturday morning at a “Patriots Day” rally in Berkeley, where the two groups have violently clashed on city streets twice in the last three months. About 10 a.m., dozens of counter-protesters dressed in black and wearing masks tore down a plastic netting that separated the two groups …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Saturday reportedly took a longer route than usual on his way back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in what reporters said appeared to be an attempt to avoid large crowds of Tax March protesters. According to pool reports, Trump’s motorcade made a long loop to get back to Mar-a-Lago after leaving Trump International Golf Club …

Clip recap: Gay men are being rounded up and killed in Chechnya, and US officials seem to be turning a blind eye. A European court just ruled against the mandatory sterilization of trans citizens but the practice will continue indefinitely. And same-sex couples just won new protections for adoption, and for housing in a case that could completely change how …

NBC News reports: Since news broke nearly two weeks ago of authorities in Chechnya arresting men suspected of being gay and torturing them in a secretive detention center, a Russian emergency hotline said it has received increasing pleas for help from people who have been targeted. “We have received about 30 unique messages since April 2,” said Natalia Poplevskaia, the …

Playbill reports: Members of the New York theatre community—including Broadway performers and Actors’ Equity leaders—took to the steps of City Hall April 3 to raise their voice in support of the NEA at the Rally to Save the Arts. Playbill was on hand to capture the event and discuss the importance of this program with several featured artists.. At the …

The Phoenix New Times reports: For a few brief moments this Sunday, activists from Trans Queer Pueblo shut down the Phoenix Pride Parade, unfurling a giant banner that read, “No Justice, No Pride.” As Trans Queer Pueblo explained to New Times on Friday, their message was a simple one: They want Pride to be inclusive and stand up for the …

Yahoo Sports reports: The Washington Nationals may have pulled off a dramatic, come-from-behind 4-2 victory Monday against the Miami Marlins, but not every fan was happy following the game. As crowds were leaving the ballpark, a group of protesters hung a sign that read “Impeach Trump #Resist” over a railing in the stadium. The Washington Nationals may have pulled off …

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: A peaceful rally in support of transgender people turned into a disruptive protest in Center City at about noon Saturday when an orange bus bearing anti-transgender messages on it — “Boys are boys… and always will be” and “Girls are girls… and always will be” — rolled around onto the north side of City Hall. The …

The Associated Press reports: A crowd of more than 1,000 people in Utah’s Democratic stronghold booed Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart at a Friday night town hall as the congressman defended GOP positions on health care, public lands and immigration. Audience members yelled, “Do your job,” imploring him to investigate and denounce connections between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia …

Duncan Osborne reports at Gay City News: The organization that produces New York City’s pride parade, rally, and related events has agreed to allow groups eager to confront the Republican Party’s control of the federal government near the front of the June 25 pride parade. “I’m extremely proud of the people who came out to raise their voices about this, …

The Arizona Republic reports: Artist Karen Fiorito knew backlash was bound to come. And it has. Commissioned by a downtown Phoenix art gallery in January to create a billboard art piece that would comment on President Donald Trump’s administration, Fiorito said what she had in mind was going to stir up a controversy. “Billboards are perfect because you don’t have …

Via press release: Commuters passing through Springtown, Texas on Route 199 will likely notice a new black billboard emblazoned with a red inverted pentagram framing a goat’s head underneath, which reads: “Paid for by The Satanic Temple.” More prominently, the primary message states: “Never be hit in school again. Exercise your religious rights.” According to The Satanic Temple spokesperson, Lucien …

The New York Post reports: White House spokesman Sean Spicer was accosted by an Indian-American woman — who peppered him with questions about committing “treason” and working for a “fascist” like President Trump — as he shopped in an Apple Store over the weekend. The encounter has since gone viral after the woman who filmed it, Shree Chauhan, 33, claimed …

BillyPenn.com reports: Little Pete’s is disappearing from Center City sooner than anyone thought. Although developers for the hotel that will replace the iconic diner at 17th and Chancellor had set August 31 as the deadline for vacating the space, owner Pete Koutroubas has decided to shut down earlier. He’s also throwing a farewell party. As reported by Philly Chit Chat, …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: Protesters who damage property or block traffic could face tougher penalties under a criminal offense called “economic terrorism” proposed last week in North Carolina’s legislature. The bill from several N.C. House Republicans comes months after Charlotte faced weeks of protests following the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. While most of the protesters were …

Via press release: The American Civil Liberties Union has today demanded documents from four federal agencies concerning a potential executive order that would sanction religiously motivated discrimination against LGBT people, members of minority faiths, women, and people seeking reproductive health care. “The American people deserve to know whether this administration plans to protect the rights of all Americans or whether …

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy showed up quite late to his townhall yesterday and was SHOCKED to face an angry crowd. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: Sen. Bill Cassidy had to know he was facing a tough crowd when they tried to shout down the invocation. “Amen!” one man hollered just moments after Louisiana State Chaplain Michael Sprague began his prayer. …

Mic.com reports: Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Stonewall Inn Thursday night to protest President Donald Trump rolling back protections for transgender Americans. In the description of the Facebook event for their protest, Rally organizers said they wanted to “make it clear that we will fight to keep protections for Trans and gender non-conforming people and students.” Doing so, …