LGBT News

A new video just in from the DNC: The Democratic National Committee has launched a new media campaign, #FillTheSeat, to explain why it’s so critical for Republican senators to do their jobs and allow a vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. Each day this week, the DNC will highlight how the Republican obstruction on the vacancy in the Supreme …

This morning as LGBT activists turned in petitions in support of the Charlotte City Council’s vote tonight on LGBT rights, crackpot Pastor Flip Benham crashed their photo op for the local press, waving a bible over their heads. The Twitter account for the anti-LGBT side, which calls themselves Don’t Do It Charlotte, is crowing that the group and the media …

Groups from both sides will rally today in advance of an LGBT rights ordinance to be considered tonight by the Charlotte City Council. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory last night warned council members that if the ordinance passes, there will likely be “immediate state legislative intervention.” The Charlotte Observer reports: McCrory is concerned about a provision in the proposed expanded …

Yesterday Human Rights Campaign head Chad Griffin urged President Obama to appoint an LGBT person as Antonin Scalia’s successor. He writes: To have a representative on our nation’s highest court would send a powerful message to the millions of LGBT people who have struggled for recognition — and respect — for many decades. Today, we have other legal champions who …

He doesn’t like it but he had no choice. The Perchy Bird reports: Portugal was once the only country with gay marriage but no adoption rights for couples. That changed today when news emerged that out-going President, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, signed the same-sex adoption bill ushered in by a new Left-leaning Parliamentary majority. The Portuguese Assembly approved the adoption bill …

As those of you watching our live video stream today know, the Georgia Senate has approved its so-called First Amendment Defense Act, which legalizes pretty much any form of anti-LGBT discrimination in the name of White Jesus. During the bill’s debate, a black state Senator asked if the KKK would be considered a Christian organization under the proposed law. Here’s …

Last night Harlem hate Pastor James David Manning posted a jubilant YouTube clip in which he stands outside a Manhattan courthouse with two attorneys who brandish a temporary restraining order on the foreclosure auction that was scheduled for next week. Such delays are apparently routine in cases like these and the court has scheduled an April 21st hearing on whether …

The Guardian reports: A conservative group’s attempt to sabotage a formal for young queer people has spectacularly backfired. The publicity the group drew to the event helped raise enough funds to cover its entire cost. The youth-led organisation Minus18 has held a Same Sex Gender Diverse formal for gender-diverse and same sex-attracted young people aged 21 and under in Melbourne …

From the New York Post: The Mets will host the team’s first ever Pride Night at Citi Field this season, as the latest major New York team to have such a night after the Islanders hosted an LGBT-themed night this month. The Mets in the past have hosted events from Fiesta Latina night to Jewish Heritage Day. Other major league …

From Know Thy Neighbor: This morning, the Georgia Senate will debate HB 757, a hybrid of the House Pastor Protection Act and the Georgia First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). The new bill is pretty terrible. In short, it allows any individual or “faith-based” business, non-profit entity, or taxpayer-funded organization to ignore any law that conflicts with their religious beliefs about …

A survey conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute reveals that a majority of Americans in every state supports the Equality Act, which would ban anti-LGBT discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. From the Human Rights Campaign: Currently, 33 states lack clear, fully inclusive LGBT non-discrimination protections, leaving people at risk for being fired, denied a job or …

Mandatory condom use by porn performers is already the law in Los Angeles County and the issue will be put to voters statewide in November thanks to a ballot initiative sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. However yesterday state OSHA officials declined to beat voters to the punch. From the Los Angeles Times: The state Division of Occupational Safety and …

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn’s sprawling bill to legalize “religious liberty” discrimination against LGBT citizens advanced in the House Judiciary Committee today on a 14-3 vote. From the Human Rights Campaign: Dubbed the “Religious Liberty Accommodations Act,” this horrific legislation would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) …

We know somebody who’ll be VERY unhappy about this. CNN Philippines reports: Should he win the national elections, presidential candidate Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte said he would consider legalizing same-sex marriage if a proposal is presented to him. “If it reaches me in whatever capacity, I’ll consider it,” Duterte said on Thursday (February 18). The Davao City mayor said the law …

TMZ Sports reports: Manny Pacquiao is doubling down on his anti-gay stance — posting a bible verse that condones putting gays to death … hours after he was fired by Nike. The Filipino news agency ABS-CBN captured an Instagram Manny put up early Thursday morning quoting Leviticus 20.13: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does …

The Telegraph recaps the clip: The first trailer for AbFab: The Movie has just landed and as expected it’s pretty fabulous. We meet sweetie-darlings Patsy and Eddie in the Riviera (our money is on St Tropez) clinking pink cocktails with two unidentified gentleman on the beach. A cheesy voice-over says: “When you must have the best, be sure to choose …

This is major, especially for a Japanese corporation. Rocket News 24 reports: Panasonic, the Japanese electronics producer and one of the Olympic Games’ biggest sponsors, announces sweeping policy changes. LGBT rights in Japan have been in the headlines quite a bit the last few years, but today it looks like the LGBT community can count another win: Osaka-based Panasonic has …

Oh, brother. From the Philadelphia Voice: Kathryn Knott is asking Judge Roxanne Covington to grant her a resentencing hearing. Attorney Bill Brennan, who replaced Knott’s former defense attorney Louis Busico, filed a motion for reconsideration Wednesday with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Brennan said late Wednesday afternoon that he is requesting the court consider alternatives to incarceration, contending that …

From the New York Daily News: Criminal charges have been dropped by the feds against six employees of Rentboy.com founder Jeffrey Hurant, it was disclosed Wednesday. The underlings were arrested along with Hurant last year on charges of promoting prostitution. Federal prosecutors alleged that Hurant was operating the web site like an online brothel. Last week Hurant pleaded not guilty …

From the Bay Area Reporter: A gay California lawmaker wants to ban state-funded travel to states with anti-LGBT laws. Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) has introduced AB 1887, which would end state-funded travel to any state with a law in effect that sanctions or requires discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The announcement by Low’s …