LGBT News

From the Spokesman-Review: Washington employees were banned from most government-related travel to Mississippi because of that state’s new law allowing businesses owners to refuse service to gay, lesbian and transgender customers for religious reasons. Gov. Jay Inslee issued the ban on non-essential travel Tuesday afternoon, saying Washington has strong laws against discrimination that covers sexual orientation and identity, and its …

From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger: A long Jackson City Council meeting Tuesday night ended on a high note — one that rang out, “We do not discriminate.” Councilmen unanimously passed a resolution in response to the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act, a bill Gov. Phil Bryant signed Tuesday which the city says “could be construed as anti-gay and lesbian and transgender.” “Regardless …

From the San Diego Union-Tribune: A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit over a man’s public nudity citation Tuesday, ruling there is evidence that San Diego police possibly discriminated against him at the annual gay pride event in Balboa Park. The ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the lawsuit is headed back to the lower district …

Via press release: Upon news that Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed the discriminatory House Bill 1523 into law, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement: “It’s embarrassing, shameful, and truly perplexing that the Republicans still don’t get it. LGBT Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law, just as everyone else. No exceptions. No allowances …

Via press release from openly gay New York Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell: It is once again time for New York to send a strong message to the country that we will not allow state funded travel to states that allow discrimination against LGBT individuals. These laws, veiled as religious freedom, are simply attempts to skirt around the Supreme Court ruling last …

This one could ultimately mean thousands of lost jobs. From Charlotte’s Fox affiliate: Red Ventures is also considering pulling out of their 500 person expansion in 2016 after HB2 was passed. “HB2 does not reflect the values of our people, our state or our democratic process. The speed with which it was passed and lack of constituent input enabled a …

Fire up the boycott machine. From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger: Gov. Phil Bryant announced Tuesday via Twitter that he signed controversial House Bill 1523, the religious objections bill. Groups have protested HB1523, which they say will allow discrimination against LGBT people, and urge businesses to pressure Bryant and House Speaker Phil Gunn to fix or kill the legislation. The Mississippi Economic …

Due to his sexual orientation, Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis never landed the major endorsement deals bestowed on many world class athletes, but today he does finally get his Wheaties box. From the General Mills corporate blog: They are three remarkable athletes who won multiple gold medals while competing against the world’s best. Their accomplishments certainly put them into consideration …

Freedom For All Americans reports: This morning, April 5, Paypal, a global company dedicated to facilitating online payments, announced that it is withdrawing plans to open a new global operations center in Charlotte. The reason for their plans to withdraw? North Carolina’s House Bill 2, which was ramrodded through the North Carolina General Assembly on March 23, with just 12 …

This one is especially noteworthy considering that Georgia nearly got its own anti-LGBT hate law. From Atlanta’s ABC affiliate: Atlanta’s mayor has issued a travel ban to North Carolina. This comes after controversy over a nondiscrimination bill that some believe allows for discrimination. Mayor Kasim Reed’s office issued the following statement Monday: “As a result of Governor Pat McCrory’s decision …

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and hate group leaders have been bragging for days about the NCAA keeping their basketball championship tournament in Houston despite that city’s repeal of its pro-trans ordinance. Tonight they have less to laugh about. Via the New York Times: With a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Kris Jenkins, the Villanova men’s basketball team won its first national …

UPDATE: A live video link for the Mississippi House is below. Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: This morning, advocates from HRC and ACLU of Mississippi gathered outside the Mississippi State Capitol to highlight the discriminatory effects of H.B.1523, urging House Speaker Philip A. Gunn to shelve the bill before this afternoon’s final vote. The outrageous legislation would …

Many of us here watched the live-stream last week while Mississippi state Sen. Jenifer Branning presented HB 1523, which legalizes anti-LGBT discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and employment. Branning called into the radio show of hate group leader Bryan Fischer on Friday to defend the bill, claiming that anti-Christian bigotry is sweeping the nation. “All you have to do is …

Theatergoers in North Carolina won’t be seeing Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, or any of Oscar-winning composer Stephen Schwartz’s many other shows due the state’s anti-LGBT hate law. Broadway World has his statement: To my fellow theatre writers and producers: As you no doubt know, the state of North Carolina has recently passed a reprehensible and discriminatory law. I feel that it …

From the Raleigh News & Observer: With signs that read “Y’all means all” and “Bigotry is a bad business model,” more than 200 people marched down Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C., and protested House Bill 2 across from the Executive Mansion on Saturday afternoon. “Triangle Families against HB2” was a peaceful event that lasted about two hours. HB2 overturned an …

Mississippi’s anti-LGBT hate law may reach the desk of Gov. Phil Bryant today and this is the story currently leading his state’s headlines. From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger: A Mississippi RV park owner evicted an interracial couple because of the color of their skin. “Me and my husband, not ever in 10 years have we experienced any problem,” said Erica Flores …

JMG reader Alan directs us to the below clip from the Human Rights Campaign which picks apart the many lies North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has spewed in the wake of national condemnation of his state’s hate bill. The clip notes that Politifact has given McCrory their “false” rating for his claim that HB2 doesn’t take away any existing rights. …

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has posted some of the full performances from this year’s installment of Broadway Backwards, where men perform show tunes written for women and vice versa. Watch as Tony-winning legend Chita Rivera (she’s 83!) takes on All I Think About Is Love, from Chicago. Other highlights below include Jay Johnson’s Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, from …

This morning haters from the Keep NC Safe Coalition unfurled a massive banner bearing the alleged mugshots of trans people as they faced down chanting LGBT activists across a downtown Asheville street. See video below. It’s not yet known what crimes the depicted trans people are accused of having committed, but the message, obviously, is that since some trans people …

The American Public Transportation Association, which was founded in 1882 and has 1500 member organizations, says they really wish they could cancel their May convention in Charlotte over North Carolina’s hate law, but are unable to nullify their contract. From their statement: APTA is committed to being inclusive and does not condone discrimination of any kind against anyone who works …