LGBT News

And another one. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Florists, bakers or any other private business owner could refuse service to gay couples getting married in Georgia, under legislation filed Wednesday that is likely to inflame the battle at the Capitol over religious freedom and gay rights. House Bill 756 would allow business owners to cite religious beliefs in refusing goods or …

Last year former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear threw a hissy fit over the “unreasonable” legal fees demanded by the good guys in his state’s losing battle against same-sex marriage. Beshear left office last month, tossing that hefty bill in the lap of incoming wingnut Gov. Matt Bevin, who now has to eat a $1.1M shit sandwich courtesy of a ruling …

The Associated Press reports: FIFA fined Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay on Wednesday for anti-gay chants by their national team’s fans. The “insulting and discriminatory chants” came during qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup, FIFA said. Chile’s fine is the biggest at 70,000 Swiss francs ($70,000) over cases at four different matches. The governing body imposed fines of …

This probably takes the prize for the most bizarre story of the week. Via Jacksonville’s WJXT-TV: A heated debate Tuesday night over the expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance took a disturbing turn. When the City Council opened the floor to public comment on the proposal, a man admitted to sexually molesting children. Roy Bay was there to voice his …

Our scrufftastic friend Matt Baume is back with a look at last night’s SOTU. Clip recap: “There’s been a lot of LGBT change in the last 8 years, thanks in large part to the Obama administration. Now the House GOP wants to take over — but their bizarre animated GIF of Louis Virtel snapping just proved that they don’t understand …

According to the legislation tracker Protect Thy Neighbor, there are presently 59 anti-LGBT bills active nationwide in state legislatures. The site is tracking this post-Obergefell avalanche in multiple categories including same-sex marriage, adoption, healthcare, public accommodations, and religious liberty. Hit the link, check out your home state, and bookmark the site, which is a project of Americans United For Separation …

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence last night delivered his State Of The State address in which he signaled his opposition to any advances in LGBT rights. Via the Indianapolis Star: “I will not support any bill that diminishes the religious freedom or Hoosiers or interferes with the constitutional rights of our citizens to live out their beliefs in worship, service or …

Last May, Jeopardy! contestant Louis Virtel earned social media fame when he gaily snapped after providing the right question during the Daily Double. Today Virtel is furious because House Republicans are using a GIF of his snap to promote their “exclusive behind-the-scenes look at President Obama’s final State of the Union address” via Snapchat. Virtel: “Hey, GOP! Your candidates are …

Via press release from Cytodyn: “Essentially, if PRO 140 is FDA approved, the infected person could finally take a break and go on a vacation without having to remember their pills, and the exact times to take them each day. Some have been on their multiple pill regimen day-in and day-out for decades. Upon FDA approval, all they will need …

GOP Virginia state Del. Mark Cole wants to see what students have between their legs. Via Crooks & Liars: Cole wins the Creepiest Lawmaker of the Day award for this stunning piece of legislation, requiring that students strictly adhere to designated restroom assignments or risk being fined. The legislation as filed requires that students attending schools designating restrooms for a …

Russia’s Duma will vote on banning LGBT citizens from coming out on January 19th. Via Gay Star News: Two senior Russian Communist MPs Ivan Nikitchuk [inset] and Nikolai Arefyev have presented a bill calling for people who come out as LGBTI to serve up to 15 days behind bars. Any public displays of affection among gay men will result in jail …

Bloomberg Business reports: One of China’s newly minted technology billionaires signed a deal to buy a controlling stake in Grindr, the world’s biggest gay social-networking app. Beijing Kunlun Tech Co., an Internet games company that helped introduce Angry Birds to China, offered $93 million in cash for 60 percent of New Grindr LLC, the company said in a statement to …

According to statistics just issued by British police agencies, the number of reported Grindr and Tinder-related crimes have soared by 700% in the last two years. Last year Grindr was named in 135 police reports. BT.com reports: The number of alleged crimes potentially involving people’s use of dating apps Tinder and Grindr has increased more than seven-fold in the past …

White Jesus has apparently delivered a personal message to the president of the Mormon Church. The Salt Lake Tribune reports: After same-sex marriage became legal in several countries, including the United States, the LDS Church’s top 15 leaders wrestled with what to do, weighed all the ramifications, fasted, prayed, met in the temple and sought God’s guidance on the issue. Balancing …

This is considered a win for trans folks who reject traditional pronouns. From the Washington Post: Singular “they,” the gender-neutral pronoun, has been named the Word of the Year by a crowd of over 200 linguists at the American Dialect Society’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on Friday evening. In a landslide vote, the language experts chose singular they over …

Outsports has the details: The Kiss Cam at last night’s Los Angeles Kings game featured a gay couple kissing, and they certainly didn’t hold back. Brad Parr and Andy Evans had secretly been hoping they would be the focus of the Kiss Cam at some point, and they got their wish last night in a 2-1 win over the Toronto …

1.2 million views in 48 hours. Pink News reports: India’s first trans pop band has released its début single. Hum Hain Happy is a Bollywood inspired cover of Pharrell Williams’ ridiculously catchy 2013 hit Happy. The band, who sing in Hinglish – a blend of Hindi and English – is comprised of six trans women from Mumbai, who were selected …

Guyana is the only country in South America where gay sex acts remain illegal. Last week recently elected Guyana President David Granger indicated his willingness to change that. The Guyana Chronicle reports: Granger said that he is prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others. This revelation was made …

Same-sex marriage bans are still on the books in some states. In Utah, Republican state Rep. Kraig Powell wants to do something about that. Ben Winslow reports for Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: “My proposal is simply to remove that from the Utah Constitution so that it is no longer on the books,” he said in an interview Wednesday. In …

After a “heated” public debate, yesterday the Oklahoma City Council voted 5-4 to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in housing. Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate reports: “I just feel this incredible relief and happiness and joy that our kids are going to turn on the TV tonight and think: Oklahoma is standing with you,” said Cindy Cason, whose son is gay. She lives …