Activism

JAMAICA: Top Paper Denounces “Buggery” Law

Several days ago a Jamaican activist filed a lawsuit which seeks to overturn his country’s colonial-era criminalization of homosexuality. Today Jamaica’s most-read newspaper endorsed his attempt. From their editorial: Hopefully, Maurice Tomlinson has greater insulation than was available to Javed Jaghai, so as to allow him to sustain, to the final tier of the court system, if necessary, his constitutional …

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CALIFORNIA: Longtime Palm Springs Activist George Zander Dies Weeks After Brutal Gay Bashing

The Desert Sun reports: George Zander, who was a prominent activist in the Coachella Valley’s LGBT community, died Thursday, his husband said. Zander, 71, died “in loving arms and in very little pain,” his husband, Chris Zander, said in a Facebook post. “His passion and strength has paved the road for many of us to follow and build from. His …

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Legendary AIDS Activists: End PrEP Profiteering

Last night a group of noted AIDS activists including Peter Staley and Larry Kramer met in the very apartment where the Gay Men’s Health Crisis was formed 33 years ago to denounce the “abusive pricing” and “profiteering” which continues to put cost of PrEP beyond the means of much of the world. The group has issued a statement: We – …

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CHICAGO: Protesters Blockade Stores In Protest Of Killing Of Black Teen By White Cop

Protesters are blockading the storefronts of major retailers on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at this writing in protest of the murder of a black teen by a white police officer, who has since been charged with murder. The Chicago Tribune is live-blogging from the scene. Hit this link for photos and video from the ongoing protest.

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TRAILER: Countdown To Zero

Vice today released a second trailer for their coming documentary about the continuing search for an HIV vaccine and cure. Today’s trailer features legendary HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley. The film debuts on HBO on World AIDS Day, December 1st, at 9PM.

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It Gets Better Celebrates Five Years [VIDEO]

Five years already! Via the Huffington Post: Five years after its launch, the It Gets Better Project is looking toward the future and continuing its work countering anti-LGBT bullying and suicide rates among queer youth. The organization announced today the “5 Years Better” campaign in honor of the five-year anniversary of founder Dan Savage posting the first-ever It Gets Better …

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Jim Obergefell Endorses Hillary Clinton

Chris Johnson has the quote at the Washington Blade: “We have fought to not only change laws, but to change hearts, and now we need a president who will help us fight to eliminate the injustices that occur regularly in our community, and the best person to do that is Hillary Clinton. Hillary is a proven leader who will not …

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UTAH: HRC Files Complaint Against Anti-Gay Judge

The Human Rights Campaign today filed a formal complaint against Judge Scott Johansen with Utah Judicial Conduct Commission. From their letter to the commission: On behalf of the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide, I write to call your attention to a formal complaint that we have filed with the Commission regarding Judge Scott …

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Equality Case Files Is Now A Non-Profit

As many of you surely know, for the last few years Kathleen Perrin at Equality Case Files has provided this site and other LGBT news outlets with virtually instantaneous reporting on breaking legal developments critical to advancing our movement. DOMA, state marriage rulings, gay adoption, ex-gay torture bans, court recordings, Kim Davis, Obergefell – you name it and Equality Case …

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PHILADELPHIA: Voters Approve Permanent First-In-Nation Office Of LGBT Affairs At City Hall

In 2008 Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued an executive order establishing the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. Since that order could be undone by a future mayor, yesterday voters approved a referendum item permanently establishing the office in the city’s charter. The Philly Voice reports: The office is responsible for working on policies that aid the …

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Michelangelo Signorile: What Went Wrong In Houston

“Political strategists warned LGBT activists in the days ahead of the vote: There was little Spanish-language outreach, no big ad buy in Spanish-language media — in a city that is 44% Hispanic — countering the lies of the opposition, who’d certainly been doing their own outreach. Monica Roberts, a long-time African-American transgender activist, warned of little outreach in the black …

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NEW YORK CITY: Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund Unveils Line-Up For Holiday Fundraiser

A fabulous event that I attend every year. Via press release: Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund today announced the lineup for its 5th annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert on Saturday, December 5th at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness. 100 percent of …

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Anonymous To De-Hood 1000 KKK Members

Anonymous says they will reveal the identities of 1000 Ku Klux Klan members on the first anniversary of the Ferguson riots, which began last year on November 24th. “We are not attacking you because of what you believe in as we fight for freedom of speech,” Anonymous said in a statement released last week. “We are attacking you because of …

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Julian Castro: Keep Houston’s LGBT Rights Law [VIDEO]

HUD Secretary Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio, today urged Houstonians to retain their city’s HERO ordinance. In the clip below, Castro points out that the bill covers more than just LGBT rights. Castro, not incidentally, is on some shortlists to be Hillary’s running mate.

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November 23rd: Rally Against Harlem Hate Church

The last rally against Harlem’s hate church resulted in a truly spectacular screaming meltdown by Pastor James David Manning. (Video below.) Since Manning continues to post signs calling for the murders of LGBT people, activists will again rally outside the church next month. From Harlem Against Violence & Homophobia: The sign once read: “Jesus Would Stone Homos.” Now it says: …

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HOUSTON: Mayor Annise Parker Makes $50K Matching Donation In Battle To Keep LGBT Rights Ordinance

From Houston Unites: We have a clear path to winning on Election Day and protecting Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO)—we need to knock on 60,000 doors and keep two TV ads on the air this week. Right now there isn’t enough money in the bank account to cover these expenses. That’s why until Thursday at midnight, Houston’s Mayor Annise Parker …

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Top Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Comes Out [VIDEO]

ESPN reports: Gus Kenworthy started coming out to his family and closest friends nearly two years ago. His mom said she knew. His brother said he was proud. His best friend 
voiced unrelenting support. And if Gus Kenworthy were an average 24-year-old, the announcement — the story — might have ended there. But Gus Kenworthy is not an average 24-year-old. …

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Houston LGBT Rights Polls: Too Close For Comfort

Two separate polls conducted by Houston television stations show that the Yes On 1 vote, which would keep the city’s LGBT rights law, is leading by an uncomfortably close margin. Most worrying are the undecideds – who make up 18% of the KHOU poll and 20% of the KPRC poll, although the Yes side leads 45-36 in the latter survey. …

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GLAAD & Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Issue Celebrity-Filled PSA: Let’s Finish What We Started

Watch the clip below. Via press release: The PSA begins with Elizabeth Taylor’s historic and impassioned speech at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as a framework to introduce a new generation to the modern realities of HIV and AIDS, as well as the tools we have to overcome them. It includes participation from Meredith Vieira, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, …

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