LGBT News

Panasonic Announces Global LGBT Protections Including Marriage Recognition For Its 250,000 Employees

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 …

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PHILADELPHIA: Convicted Gay-Basher Kathryn Knott Hires New Lawyer, Requests Resentencing Hearing

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 …

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NEW YORK CITY: Charges Dismissed Against Six Rentboy.com Staffers As CEO Negotiates Plea Deal

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 …

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CALIFORNIA: Assemblyman Evan Low Proposes Ban On State-Funded Travel To States With Anti-LGBT Laws

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 …

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COLOMBIA: Marriage Equality Ruling Due Tomorrow

Tomorrow Colombia may join Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay and become the fourth South American nation to legalize same-sex marriage. From our very own Perchy Bird: Originally, the [Supreme] Court’s website wrote that the debate on the issue of whether gay couples can marry and if existing marriages performed by civil court judges should be annulled was planned on February 4th, …

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FINLAND: Marriage Equality Law Finalized

Finland’s parliament today finalized the details of the marriage equality law which goes into effect in March 2017: Parliament has approved legal changes that will allow same-sex couples in registered partnerships to convert their legal status to ‘married’ by notifying the authorities. MPs voted in favour of the legislation by 106 votes to 42. The move also eliminates registered partnerships …

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TMZ: Nike Is Preparing To Drop Manny Pacquaio

TMZ Sports reports that Nike has pulled its Manny Pacquaio line of branded sportswear from its website in preparation for cutting ties with the anti-LGBT champion boxer. They write: Multiple sources tell TMZ Sports … Nike is preparing to cut ties with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao after his latest round of anti-gay comments. The two sides have had a relationship …

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ITALY: Civil Unions Vote Postponed Again

We had hoped to get a final vote today. Not so. Reuters reports: Italy on Wednesday postponed voting on legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition as some allies of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pushed for the removal of a provision that allows limited adoption rights. This latest delay represented a setback for Renzi, who had promised to enact the …

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SOUTH DAKOTA: LGBT Groups Call For Governor’s Veto After Passage Of Anti-Transgender “Bathroom” Bill

The vote was 20-15. If the governor signs the bill, South Dakota will become the first state with such a law. From Lambda Legal: Today the South Dakota Senate passed House Bill 1008, a discriminatory bill that prevents transgender students from accessing restrooms and single-sex facilities that correspond with their gender identity. Lambda Legal is calling on Governor Dennis Daugaard …

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LIVE VIDEO: South Dakota Senate Debates Bill To Ban Trans Students From Using School Restrooms

The South Dakota Senate is debating a bill that would ban transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms. If passed, the bill, which has already passed in the state House, would be the first law of its kind in the nation. Watch live below right now.

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Brian Sims Ends Bid For US House

From Brian Sims’ Facebook page: I wanted to personally let you know that today I have decided to end my campaign for U.S. Congress. When I started this campaign it was because I felt Philadelphians deserved an advocate in Congress – someone who would focus on equality for all Americans, creating more and better jobs, and ending the culture of …

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INDONESIA: Politicians Call For Blocking Pro-LGBT Sites And Compare LGBT Rights To “Radical Terrorism”

Coconuts Jakarta reports: The climate of moral panic over LGBT rights in Indonesia is really getting scary now. With messaging app LINE having been intimidated into pulling their pro-LGBT stickers in Indonesia and the government pushing Whatsapp and Facebook to follow suit, several prominent Indonesian politicians are now pushing for the government to block all websites containing pro-LGBT content. “As …

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Gay Soldiers’ Wedding Kiss Photo Goes Viral

Via USA Today: Spc. Shane Adriano and Pfc. Tristian Resz chose the Greene County Courthouse as a venue because they wanted something small and intimate for their Feb. 11 wedding. It was to be just the happy couple, a few supportive friends and a judge. But after they shared their “first married kiss” photo on Facebook, their small ceremony turned …

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PERU: Lima Police Use Batons And Water Cannon To Break Up LGBT Valentine’s Kiss-In Protest [VIDEO]

Gay Star News reports: Police in Lima, Peru broke up a peaceful gay kiss protest with water cannons on Saturday (13 February). Dozens of people gathered together to protest against homophobia. They held hands, kissed, embraced and waved rainbow flags. Sin Eqiguetas, a LGBTI website in Lima, posted pictures that showed same-sex couples kissing as armored police trucks loomed in …

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ITALY: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Tells Catholic Church To Stay Out Of The Civil Unions Debate

Reuters reports: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi rejected on Friday the Roman Catholic Church’s interference in a parliamentary debate on legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition and limited adoption rights. Renzi spoke a day after the head of the Italian bishops’ conference, Angelo Bagnasco, urged the upper house Senate to allow secret balloting when it votes on the bill, …

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Honey Maid Issues Another Pro-LGBT Message [VIDEO]

Tissue alert! Nearly two years ago Honey Maid launched a series of pro-LGBT messages, all posted with the hashtag #ThisIsWholesome, which earned them immediate furor and boycott calls from hate groups. Honey Maid continues the theme this week with a “Love Day” Valentine’s clip that includes several heartwarming exchanges between LGBT kids and their families. Pink News recaps: The new …

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VIRGINIA: By One Vote Margin State Senate Approves Bill Allowing Marriage Officiants To Refuse Gay Couples

By a 20-19 vote, today the Virginia Senate approved a bill which allows government employees to refuse to officiate same-sex marriages because Jesus. The bill was sponsored by GOP state Sen. Charles Carrico [photo], who has introduced a slew of other anti-LGBT bills. Democratic Virginia state Sen. Adam Ebbin reacts via press release: Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) expressed deep …

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Freep This West Virginia Poll

Yesterday afternoon the West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a bill that would legalize discrimination against LGBT citizens on the basis of “sincerely held religious beliefs.” The bill now goes to the West Virginia Senate, where the GOP holds a slim two-seat majority. Today the Huntington Herald-Dispatch wants to know what you think. You know what to do.

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Indonesia Asks Facebook To Block Gay Emojis

Last fall Russian police launched an investigation into whether Apple’s so-called “gay emojis” violate the national ban on gay propaganda. Yesterday Indonesia asked Facebook to block them entirely. TIME reports: Indonesian authorities on Thursday said they would ask Facebook and its popular messaging service WhatsApp, to block subscribers from using emojis and stickers with LGBT themes. Ismail Cawidu, spokesperson at …

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YES OR NO: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Continues To Dodge Simple Basic Question On LGBT Rights [VIDEO]

Watch Pence squirm. Freedom Indiana: “Governor Mike Pence has never been able to answer the question of whether he believes LGBT Hoosiers should be fired for who they are. Time after time, he has dodged the question of why he does not support comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. Take action here.”

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