LGBT News

Denouncing “East Coast culture,” GOP South Dakota state Rep. Roger Hunt plans to draft a law requiring a “visual inspection” of genitalia to determine gender identity. Via the the Rapid City Journal: The battle over how to officially determine someone’s gender arises from a controversy over whether transgender high school students can declare their own gender when participating in sports. …

The editorial board of the New York Times is “baffled” by Homeland Security’s raid on Rentboy.com.  An excerpt: The criminal complaint is so saturated with sexually explicit details, it’s hard not to interpret it as an indictment of gay men as being sexually promiscuous. “Based on my investigation,” Susan Ruiz, a Homeland Security special agent, wrote in the complaint, “I …

Pennsylvania Democrats are taking another run at a comprehensive LGBT rights bill.  Via press release from state Rep. Brian Sims: “While Pennsylvanians have enjoyed the right to marriage equality for over a year now, we are long past due for equality in our discrimination laws. This is no longer a progressive issue, but an issue of basic fairness. As we …

The gay community may have dodged a huge bullet as it’s being reported that Ashley Madison execs were seriously considering buying Grindr before their hacking scandal. Forbes reports: Amongst the masses of emails dumped by The Impact Team, a group of hackers who have made a mockery of Ashley Madison’s digital defences this month, are a handful of conversations showing …

The mayor of Venice has declared that he will not allow tacky gay pride parades in his city. The Guardian reports: Luigi Brugnaro, a businessman who was elected mayor on a centre-right ticket in June, was quoted as saying that gay pride marches were the “height of kitsch” and would not happen in Venice on his watch. “There will never …

Big news from USA Today: The Pentagon’s ban on transgender troops would end May 27 under a draft timeline on repeal of the policy that affects about 12,000 troops, according to a document obtained by USA TODAY. The memo, circulated last week among top personnel and medical officials, lays out the road map for ending the policy and highlights some …

A coalition of five national LGBT groups reacted to today’s raid on the Rentboy.com offices by tweeting out links to a recently published joint statement calling for decriminalizing sex work. The statement was first issued two weeks ago. An excerpt: As LGBT rights organizations in the United States, we join to applaud and support Amnesty International’s recent resolution to protect …

From the clip recap: We were asked to share our faith story in front of our congregation at First United Methodist Church of Austin. This is a church that has welcomed us and changed our lives. All are welcome, no exceptions. As members of this incredible church family we have grown as Christians, individuals, and as a couple. After 9 …

After having been found mentally competent to stand trial, the Jerusalem Pride killer has finally been formally charged with murder. The Associated Press reports: Jerusalem’s District Court indicted Yishai Schlissel for murder on Monday for last month’s deadly attack, along with multiple attempted murder charges for those he wounded. Schlissel, who had been freed from prison weeks earlier after serving …

Several days ago a trade organization for the porn industry sent out an alert about the ever-combative AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is most famous for its deep-pocketed advertising campaigns against the use of Truvada as an HIV preventive. From the Free Speech Coalition: Earlier this week, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) served several testing centers with subpoenas, asking them to …

A few days ago I reported that anti-gay Oregon bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein had sent ten cakes to LGBT groups as a “gesture of love for homosexuals.” Included in those loving packages was the latest viciously anti-gay DVD from banana man nutcase Ray Comfort. Today we learn that one of the recipients of the cakes was a San Diego-based …

“Candy Land” was this year’s theme at Provincetown’s Carnival Week and JMG reader Rob sends us his photo montage of the gay gay gay festivities. Seen above are the famed Hat Sisters riding in the parade as Life Savers. Much beefcake is in the clip.

TIME Magazine breaks down last night’s show: The fact that discrimination based on sexual orientation is legal in various cases in 31 states may surprise people, said Oliver, showing a poll that said 71% of Americans thought employment discrimination was illegal. “That’s optimistic, but wrong,” noted Oliver. “Like thinking wearing vertical stripes are flattering or making your first condom purchase …

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 217 into law, making Illinois the fifth jurisdiction—behind California, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, and Oregon—to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy. House Bill 217, which protects LGBTQ youth from mental health providers attempting to change their sexual orientation or gender …

AdWeek reports: Black was recently tapped by Pereira & O’Dell to direct three short films for Coca-Cola in Latin America, challenging young people to choose compassion over bullying. One of the films, “The Text,” revolves around gay teens. Another series of ads, from JWT New York for Tylenol, examines the makeup of the modern family. Next up for Black: When …

The Republican National Committee has adopted a resolution which calls on Congress to pass the anti-LGBT First Amendment Defense Act. The resolution names several martyred anti-gay business owners who have recently been found guilty of violating public accommodation laws. The Heritage Foundation celebrates at their Daily Signal blog: The legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, …

Equally Blessed, a coalition of four national LGBT Catholic groups, have been told that they will not be allowed to use the meeting space they were promised during next month’s World Meeting Of Families in Philadelphia.  Philly Mag reports: Equally Blessed had secured the use of St. John the Evangelist Church’s parish center at 12th and Ludlow Streets this spring, …

The commissioners of Florida’s Osceola County, population 275,000, have unanimously approved an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance with exemptions for religious belief. The Orlando Sentinel reports: The ordinance, which would take effect as soon as it is filed with the state, includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the groups protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Despite …

A couple of years ago a veritable who’s-who of American haters screamed their heads off when the US Embassy sponsored Prague Pride.  But this weekend the United States even had a FLOAT as the parade drew a record 35,000 participants. The Prague Post reports: Prague Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) joined the march, the first time for a Prague mayor. It …

In the birthplace of the Southern Baptist Convention, no less. Christian Today reports: While most Christian churches across the United States are strongly opposed to homosexuality and same-sex marriage, the First Baptist Church of Greenville in South Carolina has taken a totally different route: It has decided to allow not just gay unions, but also the ordination of gay and …