Tag Archives: activism

RUSSIA: Arrested Activists Say Cops Beat Them, Threatened Sexual Assault

Earlier today ten LGBT activists were arrested for waving rainbow flags in Moscow’s Red Square. According to text messages from the arrested Russians to a Swedish activist who was also arrested but was released first, the police beat two of the activists still in custody and threatened them with sexual assault. A text message transcript via Buzzfeed: Me:: “We didn’t …

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St. Panti’s Day Parade

After her moving and eloquent speech about homophobia went viral, a campaign was launched to name Irish drag queen Panti Bliss as the grand marshal of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. But the chance of that happening appears to be slim. Organisers have said that the process to select who leads the parade “is well underway and this year’s Grand …

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Quote Of The Day – Chris Kluwe

“What is the true price of fame? The price of fame is what you risk when you have the platform. As an athlete, a role model for society, people listen to you. As an athlete, when you make a statement, that statement is heard, no matter what that statement is. Speak up for LBGTQ rights, for human rights, for empathy? …

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RUSSIA: Moscow Police Arrest 10 LGBT Activists During Sochi Opening Ceremonies

The Russian online news site Grani reports that ten LGBT activists were arrested by Moscow police at Red Square today as they waved rainbow flags and sang the Russian national anthem. The protest was timed to coincide with the opening ceremonies at Sochi. Brave, brave people.

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Tony Mono – Sochi

German pop artist and comedian Tony Mono, who regularly appears on the Cologne-based 1 Live radio network, has created a take on Pharrell Williams’ Oscar-nominated Happy, the theme song to Despicable Me 2. From the clip description: Let’s show Russia, how we love our love. Free from oppression and fear! International superstar producer Tony Mono reaches out to fans across …

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Activists To Launch Sochi “War Room”

Via the #CheersToSochi Facebook page: LGBT activists, allies, social media experts, and journalists are invited to participate in the #CheersToSochi War Room in New York City at Boxers Bar HK during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games this Friday. The purpose of the #CheersToSochi War Room is for participants to monitor the Opening Ceremony and other Olympic-related …

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Gay Bashing As An Olympic Sport

Via press release: The video is the newest fundraising tactic by the Russia Freedom Fund, which aims to raise a million dollars by the end of the Olympics to support LGBT Russian activists. The video was produced by the Fair Games Project, an Indiegogo campaign launched by filmmaker Michael Rohrbaugh. The Fair Games Project also produced a powerful gun violence PSA that received significant attention last year. Athlete Ally is …

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Queer Nation Protests Against Putin Outside New York City’s Russian Consulate

This afternoon Queer Nation staged a protest against Vladimir Putin outside the Russian consulate on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

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IDAHO: Police Arrest 43 LGBT Activists For Occupying State Senate Entrance

Via the Associated Press: Police have arrested dozens of gay rights activists, saying their protest blocked entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers for more than two hours. Idaho State Police say they took 43 people into custody Monday after the demonstrators stood shoulder to shoulder and prevented lawmakers from getting past. Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, the Idaho Legislature’s first …

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NEW YORK CITY: Queer Nation To Protest At Russian Consulate On February 6th

Via press release: Members of the gay activist group Queer Nation and others who oppose the Russian government’s continued attacks on human rights, including the rights of LGBT Russians, will mark the start of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games with a protest outside the Russian consulate in New York City at noon on February 6. “Gay bashing is not an …

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SWEDEN: 2000 Sing Russian National Anthem In Support Of LGBT Rights

From the clip recap: 2,000 people of the city of Stockholm gathered at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium to show their support to the LGBT people of Russia and to sing the most beautiful national anthem in the world. You can do the same, make your own rainbow version of the song and upload under the hashtag #liveandletlove Is is a …

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Kickstarter For AIDS Quilt Documentary

From the website for The Last One: Now more than 50 miles long were it to be laid out end-to-end, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is too large to display in any one location. Yet, even at this size, it does not begin to reflect the number of people who have succumbed to the pandemic. As the film traces The Quilt’s …

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Coke Pulls Web Promo

Towleroad reports that Coca-Cola has apologized for the social media campaign created by its South African division. When users attempted to add the word “gay” to their image of a Coke can, the response was “Oops, let’s pretend you didn’t just type that.” Here is Coke’s statement: “We are aware that the Share a Coke promotion we are running in …

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Pete Seeger Dies At 94

Legendary folk singer and civil rights activist Pete Seeger has died at the age of 94. For more than 50 years, Mr. Seeger roamed America, singing on street corners and in saloons, migrant labor camps, hobo jungles, union halls, schools, churches and concert auditoriums. He helped write, arrange or revive such perennial favorites as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Where …

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From Queer Nation

Activists are continuing to hijack the social media campaigns of major Sochi Olympics marketing partners. #CheersToSochi is the hashtag.

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Share A Coke With…

In the growing campaign to shame Olympic advertisers, activists are using the website of Coca-Cola South Africa, where you can personalize a Coke can and click to share it on social media. I used the above message and added the McDonald’s hashtag #CheersToSochi.  (Tipped by JMG reader Mark) NOTE: If you try to type the word “gay” you get this …

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Queer Nation Tweaks Coca-Cola Ad

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Nancy Goldstein Vs McDonald’s

Activists are now in their fourth day of hijacking the #CheersToSochi hashtag on Twitter. (Tipped by JMG reader Str8 Grandmother)

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HRC Head Chad Griffin On Nigeria

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin joined HuffPost Live today to talk about the situation in Nigeria and Goldie Hawn, who yesterday issued a mortified apology after posting a photo of Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan with the caption, “Met the wonderful president of Nigeria.” In the clip below, Griffin blasts NOM’s Brian Brown and other American Christians for exporting their …

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Stoli Donates $300K To LA LGBT Center

“The responses to the attacks on LGBT rights in Russia show that our lives are global and interconnected. Some responded to the attacks on LGBT rights in Russia by boycotting Stoli. It’s worth clarifying that SPI Group, which is in no way affiliated with the Russian government, has been the owner of the Stolichnaya brand outside of Russia since 1997. …

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