LGBT News

I learned about this installation a couple of weeks ago and planned on reporting on it once I could take my own photos when the new subway line officially opens on Sunday. But some of you have prodded me not to wait. From the Associated Press: The sight of two men holding hands is far from uncommon, but a mural …

CBS News reports: The Boy Scouts of America is facing tough questions after banning a child over his gender identity. Joe Maldonado, 8, who was born a girl and now identifies as a boy, was removed from his New Jersey Cub Scout troop. Joe’s family says parents of other children had complained. Joe’s mother, Kristie Maldonado, says the organization already …

The Nikkei Asian Review reports: The first draft of a bill on same-sex marriage won approval from the parliament’s judiciary committee on Monday, opening up the possibility of Taiwan becoming the first in the Asia-Pacific region to let gay couples wed. Following its successful first reading, the bill will undergo cross-party negotiations. But it has also drawn protests, and whether …

JMG reader Rob tips us to this lovely three-minute clip from Kodak. From the YouTube description: “Director Terry Rayment’s 35mm film “Understanding” poignantly depicts the transformational power of love and happiness. Cinematographer Kate Arizmendi captured all of the emotions beautifully on KODAK VISION3 500T 5219.” 

The Associated Press reports: Two people were removed from a JetBlue plane after one of them began verbally berating Ivanka Trump and her family. They were flying coach on a JetBlue flight out of JFK when the incident happened. According to published reports, the passenger started screaming “Your father is ruining our country…. Why is she on our flight?” TMZ …

After spending much of the day in recess, the North Carolina House has just gone back into session where at this writing a GOP rep is denouncing HB2 opponents as the “lunatic left” and the “California crowd.” Here are the links for live audio and live video. At this point, nobody appears to be holding their breath that any full …

But we still may see some action very shortly. Here’s how things got started this morning: The session began with a packed House gallery and attempts by some Republican lawmakers to short-circuit it. Rep. Jeff Collins of Nash County rose to declare the session unconstitutional and decried the “extraordinary hubris” of Charlotte City Council in prompting it. Two other members …

The Charlotte Observer reports: Legislators who will convene Wednesday morning are expected to take up repeal of House Bill 2, the “bathroom bill” that has rocked the state’s social and economic climate since it became law nine months ago. Charlotte City Council set the fifth special session of the year in motion on Monday with the surprise repeal of a …

The Charlotte Observer reports: Following a surprise move by Charlotte City Council on Monday, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has called for a special session Wednesday to consider repeal of House Bill 2. The governor’s statement came in a series of rapidly unfolding events that could signal an end to the nine-month drama that has catapulted North Carolina into national headlines. …

Via press release from OutRight Action International: Today in the United Nations General Assembly, a cross-regional group of states affirmed the principles of universal human rights by blocking a hostile attempt to prevent the work established by the UN Human Rights Council of the Independent Expert on Discrimination and Violence based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A small group …

From a joint statement issued this afternoon by the ACLU and Lambda Legal: “H.B. 2 was an unprecedented attack on the LGBT community, in particular against transgender people, and we are encouraged that its days are numbered,” said Sarah Gillooly, Policy Director for the ACLU of North Carolina. “It is imperative that the General Assembly hold up their end of …

This is a rather obvious campaign meant to bolster support for the so-called First Amendment Defense Act, which Trump has promised to sign should it reach his desk. From the National Catholic Register: Catholics hoped for a reprieve from assaults on religious freedom following the November elections, but a very serious threat looms with so-called SOGI [sexual orientation and gender …

Via press release: “Governor McCrory has always publicly advocated a repeal of the overreaching Charlotte ordinance. But those efforts were always blocked by Jennifer Roberts, Roy Cooper and other Democratic activists,” said Graham Wilson, Press Secretary. “This sudden reversal with little notice after the gubernatorial election sadly proves this entire issue originated by the political left was all about politics …

The Associated Press reports: Dozens of people have participated in a gay pride event in highly conservative Montenegro where authorities are promising to boost gay rights as part of efforts to join the European Union. Hundreds of policemen deployed Saturday in downtown Podgorica, the capital, to prevent possible attacks from extremists. Participants in the pride march carried banners reading “born …

Bucking the nationwide trend of gay bars closing. The Washington Blade reports: The Baltimore Eagle, the city’s iconic leather bar, may have its long-awaited opening on New Year’s Eve. “We’re doing two inspections this week,” Charles King, general manager of the Baltimore Eagle, told the Blade. “We’re still hopeful of opening even partially by New Year’s Eve. Keeping our fingers …

Seeker reports: Gay conversion therapy aims to turn gay, lesbian or transgender individuals into heterosexuals. Patients are predominantly minors or young adults and many are forced or pressured into it. Just this month, the tiny island of Malta became the first European nation to outlaw gay conversion therapy. Evidence increasingly shows that it can cause serious medical and psychological harm, …

Erasing 76 Crimes reports: The parliament in the north-central African country of Chad has adopted a new penal code that makes homosexual activity a crime. By this blog’s count, that action, assuming that it is not blocked by the country’s president, increases to 77 the number of countries with anti-homosexuality laws. Chad’s new law provides for violators to be fined …

The Associated Press reports: The Pittsburgh City Council has unanimously voted to ban mental health professionals in the city from using on minors a therapy that attempts to change sexual orientation or how people identify their gender. City spokesman Timothy McNulty tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Mayor Bill Peduto plans to sign the legislation. Numerous medical and psychiatric groups oppose …

Raw Story reports: A new commercial from Denmark contains a heartwarming message for the holidays about acceptance and the power of familiar love. HelloGiggles.com said that the ad is for electronics company Elgiganten and is called “Let the gifts speak.” It begins with a family at Christmas opening presents. One member of the family, a teenaged trans daughter looks uncomfortable …

The Jerusalem Post reports: The first center in Israel dedicated to handling legal issues regarding hate and incitement on the Internet as well as a general struggle against hate and racism opened its doors on Wednesday with a conference on tolerance. The center, hosted by IDC’s Radzyner Law School in Herzliya and in cooperation with the Berel Katznelson Fund, will …