LGBT News

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Pat McCrory Offers To Repeal Hate Law If Charlotte Repeals Law That Spawned It

He’s panicking. Via the Charlotte Observer: Gov. Pat McCrory could call lawmakers into session as soon as next week to repeal House Bill 2 – but only if the Charlotte City Council first drops the ordinance that prompted it, his office confirmed Friday. The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association has been working to broker a compromise to stop the …

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Playwright Edward Albee Dies At Age 88

In 2011, Edward Albee said this: “A writer who happens to be gay or lesbian must be able to transcend self. I am not a gay writer. I am a writer who happens to be gay.” The New York Times reports: Edward Albee, widely considered the foremost American playwright of his generation, whose psychologically astute and piercing dramas explored the …

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Alveda King Bucks Anti-LGBT Activists On Trump’s Plan To Include Gay Families In Proposed Child Care Policy

Here’s some rare evangelical infighting about gay parenting. First, a report from Circa: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s child care plan will cover same-sex married couples and foster parents, and neither evangelicals nor gay rights activists are particularly happy. The revelation was included in a Trump campaign fact sheet accompanying the plan, and it includes only one caveat: “The benefits …

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NEW YORK CITY: Gay Man Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison Over 2015 Chair-Clubbing Attack On Gay Couple

You may recall that the incident, caught on a video that went viral nationwide, was widely characterized as a hate crime until it was learned that all involved parties are gay. Duncan Osbourne reports at Gay City News: Bayna-Lekheim El-Amin was sentenced to nine years in prison and three years post-release supervision for assaulting two men in the Dallas BBQ …

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CHINA: Student Sues Over Anti-Gay Textbooks

Reuters reports: A gay Chinese student activist has lodged a suit against the Ministry of Education over school textbooks describing homosexuality as a mental disorder, the latest step by China’s small but growing gay rights movement. It is not illegal to be gay in China and these days many large Chinese cities have thriving gay scenes, though there is still …

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Feature Film To Center On Harlem Hate Church

NBC Out reports: In his new film, “My Harlem,” filmmaker Jeff L. Lieberman takes a stand against Harlem’s anti-gay ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church. The Vancouver native, who has documentary “The Amazing Nina Simone” under his belt, uses his new film to examine important themes including homophobia, gentrification and violence against the LGBTQ community. In “My Harlem,” the two main characters, …

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US House Rep. Richard Hudson Threatens Tax-Exempt Status Of NCAA And ACC Over Cancellations

Via press release from US Rep. Richard Hudson: “This is political theatre by the NCAA and ACC. If these multi-million dollar, tax exempt organizations were interested in social change and not making a political statement, they would proceed with their marquee events in North Carolina and enact any transgender bathroom policy they wanted. This blatant political move – less than …

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NORTH CAROLINA: State Senator Becomes First Republican Legislator To Call For Repeal Of Hate Law

Bet you can guess why. Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: State Sen. Tamara Barringer, R-Wake, told WRAL News Tuesday night that she became the first Republican lawmaker to call for the “substantial and immediate” repeal of House Bill 2 due to the measure’s “unintended consequences,” which have played out over the past six months. “I did not realize the consequences of …

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NORTH CAROLINA: Atlantic Coast Conference Pulls Ten Championship Events Over Anti-LGBT Hate Law

NCAA 2, Electric Boogaloo! Via press release: Statement from the ACC Council of Presidents: “As members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the ACC Council of Presidents reaffirmed our collective commitment to uphold the values of equality, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination. Every one of our 15 universities is strongly committed to these values and therefore, we will continue to host ACC …

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AUSTRALIA: Proposed Change To Marriage Act Would Allow Civil Servants And Businesses To Refuse Service

The Guardian reports: The government will propose new protections for “conscientious objectors” to same-sex marriage which marriage equality advocates fear could allow civil celebrants, registrars and even bakers and florists to refuse to serve same-sex weddings. According to briefing notes on the plebiscite prepared for the Coalition party room, seen by Guardian Australia, the legislation would allow “conscientious objectors” to …

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North Carolina Newspapers React To NCAA Pulling Events: “A Slap In The Face And It’s McCrory’s Fault”

Above is just one article on the front page of the sports section in today’s Greensboro News & Record. See the full thing below. Here’s what two college athletes are saying in an op-ed for the Raleigh News & Observer: In reaction to HB2, the NCAA’s Board of Governors will relocate all seven collegiate championship events from North Carolina in …

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NORTH CAROLINA: NCAA Revokes Seven Championship Sporting Events Over State’s Anti-LGBT Hate Laws

BOOM. Via press release: Based on the NCAA’s commitment to fairness and inclusion, the Association will relocate all seven previously awarded championship events from North Carolina during the 2016-17 academic year. The NCAA Board of Governors made this decision because of the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections. In its decision Monday, the Board of Governors …

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AUSTRALIA: MP Confronted By Her Gay Brother Over Proposed Plebiscite On Same-Sex Marriage [VIDEO]

Buzzfeed reports: Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie was faced with a question close to home on ABC’s Q&A on Monday, when her gay brother asked if the government’s proposed plebiscite on marriage would affect his emotional wellbeing. “Given the majority of parliamentarians and Australians now support marriage equality, is a $160 million plebiscite necessary, and what impact do you think the …

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AUSTRALIA: Labor Party Leader Introduces Marriage Bill, Critics Denounce His Comment About Gay Suicide

News Corp Australia reports: Federal Labor has introduced to parliament legislation that aims to legalise same-sex marriage in an attempt to gazump the government’s planned national vote on the issue. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduced a private bill on Monday, saying it was a chance for the parliament to prove its worth and fulfil its purpose. “Today we can bring …

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MEXICO: 12 Year-Old Boy Tries To Block Anti-Gay Marriage March, Tells Press He Has A Gay Uncle

Andy Towle reports at Towleroad: Across Mexico over the weekend, thousands of “pro-family” groups protested against same-sex marriage as the country moves toward marriage equality. In one particular march in Celaya, Guanajuato, a 12-year-old boy was photographed in the middle of the street trying to block the march of 11,000 people from moving forward. Journalist Manuel Rodriguez captured an image …

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Lesbian Miss America Candidate Fails To Advance

Via the Hollywood Reporter: Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to advance in the pageant during its nationally televised finale Sunday night. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant was eliminated Sunday night when the top 15 finalists were chosen. Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to …

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RuPaul Wins First Emmy Award

Last night RuPaul won the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. Yahoo News reports: Truth be told, the first-time nominee had reason to feel like an Emmy underdog, since he was representing RuPaul’s Drag Race, a fringe show about drag queens on Logo, a niche LGBT cable network. But Sunday, on night two of …

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FINLAND: Parliament Debates Initiative To Repeal Same-Sex Marriage Law Before It Goes Into Effect

Early this year Finland’s parliament finalized the details of the marriage equality law which goes into effect in March 2017. Enter the group attempting to repeal the law before then. Via the Helsinki Times: A citizens’ initiative to repeal the upcoming legislative amendment granting marriage rights to same-sex couples was discussed at the Finnish Parliament on Thursday. Hanna Sarkkinen (Left …

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Trans Actress Alexis Arquette Dies At Age 47

TMZ reports: Alexis Arquette died Sunday morning surrounded by family and friends … the family confirms to TMZ. Alexis’ brother, Richmond Arquette says Alexis died at 12:32 AM while listening to David Bowie’s, “Starman.” Besides being the sibling of David and Patricia Arquette — Alexis was known for her roles in “Pulp Fiction” and “The Wedding Singer,” as well as …

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NEW YORK CITY: Babs Roasts Trump At Hillary’s LGBT Fundraiser With Parody Of Send In The Clowns [VIDEO]

The video below isn’t very good but the audio is decent. The Washington Post reports: Isn’t it rich? Broadway legend and Hillary Clinton supporter Barbra Streisand lampooned maybe-billionaire Donald Trump before a crowd of wealthy Democrats on Friday night, to the tune of “Send In The Clowns.” Yes, that Broadway classic from 1973 that you now cannot get out of …

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