Tag Archives: LGBT rights

LGBT protesters staged a kiss-in outside of Chico’s Tacos in El Paso, Texas on Friday after a group of gay men were booted from the restaurant because two of them kissed. El Paso police made the situation worse by telling the men that it was against the law in Texas for two men to kiss. The head of Chico’s Tacos’ …

On Thursday a Salt Lake City gay couple was briefly handcuffed and detained by police after sharing a kiss on a plaza owned by the Mormon Church. “They targeted us,” said Matt Aune, 28. “We weren’t doing anything inappropriate or illegal, or anything most people would consider inappropriate for any other couple.” Aune and his partner, Derek Jones, 25, were …

Last week the Dehli High Court issued a landmark ruling rolling back a colonial era law prohibiting homosexual sex in India. Yesterday the India Supreme Court said it will hear an objection to the law’s repeal brought by….an astrologer. In his petition, Sushil Kumar Kaushal said “even animals don’t indulge in such activities,” adding that allowing gay sex would help …

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit today challenging the federal government for denying equal benefits to the citizens of her state under DOMA. In March, Coakley expressed strong support for GLAD’s similar DOMA challenge, saying, “DOMA is a law that codifies discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Because of this law, individuals in same-sex marriages often pay …

The National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union, has endorsed marriage equality, with a couple of slight dodges. From the “new business items” recap of their national convention: 1. NEA will support its affiliates seeking to enact state legislation that guarantees to same-sex couples the right to enter into a legally recognized relationship pursuant to which they have the …

“I would encourage gays and straights alike to put pressure on President Obama, on his administration, to call for action — immediate action on the laundry list of items that the gay community deserves for true equality in this country. “What I don’t like is the suggestion by a lot of people that this guy has lied to us and …

Contrary to earlier reports that the Dehli High Court’s ruling to decriminalize homosexuality only applied in the National Capital Territory, today the Times Of India reports that the ruling does indeed apply nationwide. Since a high court has a limited territorial jurisdiction, is homosexuality decriminalized only in Delhi or the whole country? Although legal pundits are divided on this, the …

In 1988 the UK enacted Section 28, a law which ordered that schools “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.” The law was not repealed until 2003. Yesterday, at a gay Pride event in London, …

In a ruling that is only binding in the National Capital Territory (for now), the Delhi High Court has decriminalized homosexuality in a decision with sweeping implications for one of the world’s largest gay populations. Rex Wockner has done an excellent analysis of the decision. An excerpt: What about the rest of India? It certainly carries weight there but is, …

JMG reader Jimbo points us to this bit of delicious snark found in the letters section of Salon. Dear DNC I truly “support” Democrats being elected in 2010 and 2012. I am a “fierce advocate” of the Democratic Party after all. I know that I have promised you my support over the past few decades and have done my best …

One of the world’s largest homosexual populations is anxiously awaiting word on a pending ruling that may decriminalize gay sex. Rex Wockner: The Delhi High Court will issue its long-awaited decision in the case seeking to decriminalize gay sex tomorrow, Thursday, July 2, at 10:30 a.m. Delhi time. You should care because…India is the world’s second-most-populous nation: 17.22 percent of …

“Let’s call it what it is – Gay Apartheid. “Now some of you might think that is a loaded and unfair word. I have chosen the word very carefully and deliberately. Apartheid is when a group of citizens of a nation is by law separated from all other citizens and the rights, benefits and protections all others are granted. “Having …

A quote from Rahm Emmanuel in yesterday’s WaPo sheds some light on what’s not driving the White House to move on LGBT rights. Maintaining a sense of common interest across the party is a paramount goal. Early on, administration officials and Democratic leaders agreed they would steer clear of controversial social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. And to …

Yesterday a military tribunal recommended that Lt. Dan Choi be dismissed. Choi vows to take his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

Pam Spaulding has the complete transcript of the president’s remarks. At one point Obama was interrupted by somebody’s cell phone. The offender’s ringtone? A duck call. Hmm. The president quacked up.

New Dehli saw its second-ever gay pride event yesterday where attendees demanded an end to colonial-era laws against homosexuality. Balloons, whistles, masks, flags, placards and a riot of colours marked the second Delhi Gay Pride Parade, which went down the Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar. And for a show of solidarity, more than a 1000 strong crowd congregated at the …

Today’s LGBT cocktail party at the White House will be livestreamed here beginning at 4:25pm EST. Americablog’s John Aravosis vents: I’m so proud of our gay leaders today. Getting all spiffed up to go to the White House and “deliver our president a message.” That’ll be the day. Oh, I’m sure, in the 8 minutes or so that a small …

Up to 200 people protested outside of Ft. Worth’s police headquarters yesterday after a Saturday raid on a gay bar brought charges of harassment and brutality by police. One patron was hospitalized with a brain injury. Arrests were made for “public intoxication”…inside of a bar. Witnesses say that police arrived at the nightclub about 1 a.m. Sunday and arrested seven …

This is the first national TV interview I’ve seen with new GLAAD head Jarrett Barrios. He’ll be at tonight’s party at the White House.