LGBT News

LIVE VIDEO: Anti-Gay Florist Baronelle Stutzman To Testify At Indiana Senate LGBT Rights Hearing

As I noted in an update to this morning’s post on Indiana’s LGBT rights battle, Lambda Legal fiercely opposes the allegedly pro-gay bills to be debated right now in before a state Senate committee. Also opposing the bills is right wing martyr Baronelle Stutzman, who is there courtesy of the Alliance Defending Freedom. Watch at this link. UPDATE: The Oregon …

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INDIANA: Anti-LGBT “Super RFRA” Fails To Advance, Lawmakers To Consider Pro-LGB Bills Later Today UPDATE: Lambda Legal Slams Upcoming Bills

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM LAMBDA LEGAL BELOW. Great news from Freedom Indiana: The Senate Rules Committee just decided to not advance SB66, the “Super RFRA” bill! That means this heinous bill is almost certainly dead for this legislative session — and it’s because of your hard work! It’s certainly a relief that Hoosiers will be spared a second RFRA-fueled tragedy. But …

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LIVE VIDEO: Florida Senate Committee Begins Hearing On Comprehensive LGBT Anti-Discrimination Bill

The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee is just beginning its hearing on a comprehensive LGBT anti-discrimination bill. The chamber appears to be packed with supporters and our enemies. Watch at this link. Equality Florida has the details: The committee will hear The Florida Competitive Workforce Act (SB 120) which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodations. …

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NEW YORK: Gay Pols To Endorse Hillary Clinton

From the New York Daily News: Ten gay and lesbian state and city Democratic elected officials on Tuesday are set to formally endorse Hillary Clinton for president, the Daily News has learned. Among those backing Clinton are state Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and the state’s only openly gay senator, as well as Assembly members Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan), Daniel …

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Sweethearts Candies Celebrates Gay Love With Contest Featuring Couple Together 55 Years [VIDEO]

Jack and George have been “sweethearts” for 55 years and they married in Texas after the Obergefell ruling. Another great story from AdWeek: Candy maker Necco is expanding the definition of “sweetheart” to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its heart-shaped confections stamped with messages of love and affection. A new campaign from Hill Holliday seeks to give the brand a …

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TORONTO: PFLAG Launches School Posters With Special Pro-LGBT Message Visible Only With Camera Flashes

AdWeek approves: New posters have gone up in Toronto District School Board schools, which include 76,000 middle school and high school students. Launched by LGBTQ advocacy group Toronto Pflag, the posters depict a rainbow that spells out the LGBTQ acronym: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Straight, Queer and 2-Spirited. When students use the flash on their camera phones to take a …

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PORTUGAL: President Vetoes Gay Adoption Bill

AFP reports: Conservative Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva vetoed on Monday a bill giving adoption rights to gay couples in one of his last political moves before newly-elected Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa takes the office. The law allowing gay couples to adopt passed through parliament on December 18, and was one of socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s campaign promises. “It …

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Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott To Address Anti-LGBT Alliance Defending Freedom

The Guardian reports: Tony Abbott will address a far-right Christian group in the United States which lobbies against same-sex marriage and abortion. The former prime minister is travelling to the US this week to address the Alliance Defending Freedom, according to Fairfax Media. The group has been heavily involved in fighting the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the US and …

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IOWA: HRC Joins Clinton On Campaign Trail [VIDEO]

Yesterday in Iowa: The Human Rights Campaign proudly joins Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail today in Des Moines, Iowa, as she formally accepted our endorsement for president. “She doesn’t just voice her support, or vote her support for our community, she has been our partner in this fight and always willing to go to battle when we need her,” …

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ITALY: Huge Civil Unions Rallies Take Place Across Nation In Advance Of Parliament’s Debate [VIDEO]

From the New York Times: Tens of thousands of people demonstrated Saturday in nearly 100 cities across Italy to urge the government to permit gay and lesbian couples to have civil unions and legally recognized families. Mirco Pierro, 39, rallied in front of the Pantheon in Rome with his partner and twin infants, saying he wanted “to defend the rights …

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Florida Has No Problem With “GAY” License Plates

Florida has issued a standard series of license plates that happen to begin with “GAY.” Some drivers and at least one dealership have complained, but the state doesn’t see any problem. Orlando’s ABC affiliate reports: Certain words are banned from Florida license plates, but a number of plates with “GAY” on them are being given to drivers across Orange County. …

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Hillary And Bernie Bicker Over “Establishment” Label

This nonsense has been going on for a couple of days and I’ve ignored it until now because it’s just such a dumb argument. Anyway, yesterday afternoon Hillary Clinton took to CNN to respond. Video is below. Via CNN: Hillary Clinton on Thursday sought to turn Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “establishment” attack right back on him — saying he served in …

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ITALY: Pope Francis Slams Civil Unions Bill

ANSA reports: Pope Francis said in a speech for the opening of judicial year of the Vatican’s Roman Rota tribunal that the Catholic Church cannot accept traditional families and other types of unions being given the same status. The pope said the Church’s recent two-year Synod process on the family “told the world that there can be no confusion between …

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ITALY: Catholic Amendment To Civil Unions Bill Would Imprison Gay Couples Who Use Surrogate Mothers

Italy’s The Local reports: In a move branded “indecent” by Italy’s biggest gay rights group, Catholic senators from Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s Democratic Party have tabled [put forth] an amendment to draft legislation legalizing same sex unions which would require gay couples to prove they had not used a surrogate. If they cannot, the partner who is not the biological …

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AHF Files FDA Complaint Against Gilead For Promoting “Off-Label” PrEP Usage Of Truvada [VIDEO]

Via press release from the ever-combative AHF: Advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) stepped up efforts to ensure that Gilead Sciences, Inc. be held accountable for promoting off-label use of Truvada for use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. AHF also wants Gilead to be compelled to promote and market use of its AIDS treatment in accordance with …

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BRITAIN: Gay Tory MP Crispin Blunt Outs Himself As Poppers User During Debate On Ban [VIDEO]

The BBC reports: A Conservative MP has told the House of Commons he is a user of the popper recreational drug and a ban on its supply would be “fantastically stupid”. Ex-minister Crispin Blunt said users of the drug were “astonished” by talk of a ban and respect for the law “would fly out of the window” if it happened. …

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Sanders Camp Slams HRC Over Clinton Endorsement

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: “It’s understandable and consistent with the establishment organizations voting for the establishment candidate, but it’s an endorsement that cannot possibly be based on the facts and the record,” said Sanders campaign spokesperson Michael Briggs. Touting Sanders as “somebody who’s been for gay rights long, long ago” since he was mayor of Burlington, Vt., …

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AUSTRALIA: State Won’t Recognize Marriage Of Gay British Citizen Who Died While Honeymooning

IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW. Patrick Strudwick reports at Buzzfeed: Marco Bulmer-Rizzi’s voice is quiet and steady on the phone from Australia as he tries to stay composed – to explain what has happened, the magnitude of what he has lost, and the sense of injustice he feels. Last Saturday, while on honeymoon in Adelaide, South Australia, his new husband, David Bulmer-Rizzi, …

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ILLINOIS: Sen. Mark Kirk Becomes First US Senate Republican To Co-Sponsor The Equality Act

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: “Senator Kirk has once again proven his leadership, by becoming the first Republican Senator to co-sponsor of the Equality Act,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “His support for the Equality Act sends a strong message that fairness and equality are bipartisan values. It also reflects the view of the overwhelming majority of …

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Satisfaction With Acceptance Of Gays At New High

Gallup reports: A new high of 60% of Americans say they are satisfied with the acceptance of gays and lesbians in the U.S. — up from 53% in 2014 and 2015. As recently as 10 years ago, satisfaction was as low as 32%. The latest poll marks the first time that majorities of Americans from within the three major political …

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