Daily Archives: July 22, 2015
WATCH: Marriage Equality Will Lead to Man-Animal Love Affairs, Says Pat Robertson
WATCH: Marriage Equality Will Lead to Man-Animal Love Affairs, Says Pat Robertson
The televangelist trots out his shopworn and outlandish arguments that marriage equality will lead to legalization of bestiality, polygamy, and pedophilia.
Trudy Ring
Congressman Trolls Bill To Point Out Republican Hypocrisy
Congressman Trolls Bill To Point Out Republican Hypocrisy
WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman is using a Republican-sponsored bill that would withhold federal law enforcement funding to so-called sanctuary cities to draw attention to GOP hypocrisy.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Wednesday added an amendment that calls for applying the same funding restrictions to states and municipalities refusing to abide by the Supreme Court ruling that legalizes gay marriage.
“Some state and local officials are showing an unwillingness to comply with a clear directive from the Supreme Court of the United States,” Pocan said in a statement. “Officials have an obligation to uphold rights for all Americans enshrined in the Constitution and we need to everything we can to make sure they adhere to the law of the land.”
Both Senate and House Republicans have called for eliminating Department of Justice funding to sanctuary cities, which have said they will not comply with federal immigration officials in tracking and reporting undocumented immigrants. The bills were introduced after a fatal shooting earlier this month in San Francisco, a sanctuary city. Charged in the killing is an undocumented man who had previously been deported five times.
Pocan said he believes that if Congress can restrict funding to state and local authorities based on immigration policies, it can do the same for localities that fail to respect gay marriage, which the Supreme Court has deemed a constitutionally protected right.
Earlier this month, Pocan wrote a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking federal officials to pursue all possible steps to punish states and municipalities holding out against gay marriage.
Though Pocan’s amendment is unlikely to get a vote when the House bill is considered later this week, he plans to introduce the measure in other bills as well, according to his office.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Ted Olson & David Boies Support Comprehensive Federal LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation
Ted Olson & David Boies Support Comprehensive Federal LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation
Acclaimed bipartisan legal duo announce support on eve of the introduction of the Equality Act in Congress
HRC.org
News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness
News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness
> Some LGBT advocates not on board with the ‘Equality Act’ due to be introduced tomorrow.
> Prince George turns 2.
> How strangers harass lesbians on the street.
> Two children killed by Ikea ‘Malm’ dressers.
> At least 9 Alabama counties still not issuing marriage licenses to anyone so they don’t have to issue them to same-sex couples.
> Santa Ana, California (in Orange County) to consider permanently flying the rainbow pride flag at City Hall.
> Free Pride Glasgow reverses ban on drag queens: “We made a mistake, and we apologise.”
> The unseen and often crippling costs of being transgender and transitioning.
> First look: Empire season 2.
> Russian nuclear bombers flew within 40 miles of the California coast on 4th of July, broadcast message to American pilots on the emergency aircraft channel: “Good morning American pilots, we are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day,”
> Charleston church shooter to face federal hate crimes charges. AG Loretta Lynch: “Hate crimes are the original domestic terrorism.”
> Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj get into a Twitter feud over the VMAs. Katy Perry apparently wants in on the fight. And Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran make fun of it.
> Sam Smith spent a little too much time in the sun.
> Hump Day Hotness: Parker Hurley.
> Caitlyn Jenner shows off her considerable shoe collection.
> Dashcam footage of Sandra Bland’s arrest released. Questions arise over whether the footage was edited.
> Jake Gyllenhaal gets slapped in the face.
> 59% of voters less likely to support a political candidate that opposes anti-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans.
The post News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness appeared first on Towleroad.
Sean Mandell
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There's No Federal Law Stopping Businesses From Discriminating Against Female Customers. Now There's A Bill To Fix That.
There's No Federal Law Stopping Businesses From Discriminating Against Female Customers. Now There's A Bill To Fix That.
WASHINGTON — The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 barred places of public accommodation — like movie theaters and restaurants — from discriminating against people on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Lunch counters, for example, would no longer be able to turn away someone because she happened to be black.
But sex wasn’t included in the protected categories. And it still isn’t. In other words, it remains legal in some places for a business to refuse to serve a woman solely on the basis of gender.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) are introducing legislation Thursday that would amend the Civil Rights Act to make it more inclusive. Most notably, it would add sexual orientation and gender identity protections, meaning LGBT people would be protected from discrimination in credit, education, employment, housing, federal financial assistance, jury service and public accommodations — just like everyone else.
The legislation also would close other longstanding gaps, including the exclusion of sex from the areas of public accommodations, state and local government services and federal funding, according to a preview provided to The Huffington Post.
Emily Martin, vice president and general counsel at the National Women’s Law Center, said that when the Civil Rights Act was drafted, the focus was on segregation in public places.
“As a result, the protection against sex discrimination in public places like stores and hotels and restaurants has been piecemeal,” Martin explained. “Lots of states prohibit sex discrimination in those places, but they all define it differently and some states don’t do it at all. This would be a really important step forward that would have real significance for women.”
This change would mean that a car dealership couldn’t charge a woman more than a man, simply because she’s a woman. Or a salon couldn’t charge men and women different prices for the exact same haircut.
The Equality Act also would widen the definition of what constitutes a public accommodation. Right now, the list reflects what was popular in 1964, specifying that places like a “lunch counter” or a “soda fountain” can’t discriminate. The new bill would broaden the categories and cover nearly every entity that provides goods, services or programs.
Merkley and Cicilline, joined by a handful of other Democratic lawmakers and civil rights leaders, will officially introduce the legislation Thursday in a press conference in the Lyndon B. Johnson Room of the Capitol, paying homage to the president who signed the Civil Rights Act into law.
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Florida victim is 10th trans woman murdered in US so far in 2015
Florida victim is 10th trans woman murdered in US so far in 2015
Last weekend, 25-year-old India Clarke posted a selfie on her Facebook page with the message: ‘Happy Saturday’ followed by four smiley faces.
Just three days later, Clarke was found dead in a neighborhood park in Tampa, Florida.
She is the 10th transgender woman to be murdered in the US this year.
Relatives tell WTSP that Clarke was studying cosmetology and began using the name India two years ago and identifying as a woman.
‘No, it did not matter to me. I didn’t care what he was,’ Clarke’s tearful mother, Thelma, said using male pronouns for her child. ‘I still love them — and he knew that. I can say he knew his mother loved him regardless.’
She described her child as ‘a good-hearted person. Very loving person.’
Clarke, who was was last seen by her family on Sunday, suffered blunt force trauma.
The mom said Clarke’s last words heading out the door were, “Mom, I love you, dad, I love you.” And we both said “we love you too.” I hope they find out who did this.’
a reward of up to $3,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
The post Florida victim is 10th trans woman murdered in US so far in 2015 appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
www.gaystarnews.com/article/florida-victim-is-10th-trans-woman-murdered-in-us-so-far-in-2015/
Here’s The Real Reason Madonna Chose Amy Schumer As Her Opening Act
Here’s The Real Reason Madonna Chose Amy Schumer As Her Opening Act
She’s a role model for women, and I am too, and I think it’s a good match. The idea to bring Schumer on board came from my management team. I love her and … I just thought, ‘That’s interesting.’ (I’ll) try something new and different rather than the usual run-of-the-mill — have a band, have a DJ. It’s definitely a new thing. I hope it works — fingers crossed.”
— Madonna telling the AP how she came to select Trainwreck star Amy Schumer to open for the New York City dates of her upcoming Rebel Heart tour
H/t: Madonnarama
Jeremy Kinser
Ted Olson and David Boies Endorse LGBT Equality Act
Ted Olson and David Boies Endorse LGBT Equality Act
Ted Olson and David Boies, the legal eagles behind the reversal of California’s Prop. 8, have come out in favor of new legislation being introduced in Congress tomorrow that would extend non-discrimination protections to all LGBT Americans.
The Equality Act would countermand Republican legislation being floated in Congress that would make it easier for anti-gay foes to discriminate against the LGBT community.
“The introduction of the Equality Act marks a historic moment for our country,” Boies and Olson said in a statement provided to POLITICO by the Human Rights Campaign, which is advocating on behalf of the bill. “The patchwork of protections in this country has provided a crazy quilt of laws, threatening the livelihood of many of the same couples who fought so long and so hard to have their marriages recognized. That’s why we support the idea of a comprehensive approach to non-discrimination protections that would embrace LGBT people as other groups who are protected by our civil rights laws.” […]
Olson is the first prominent Republican to come out in favor of the Equality Act.
“We urge Republicans and Democrats to once again come together to support this important legislation that provides the same protections to LGBT people as other Americans,” the two attorneys added.
Human Rights Campaign released to POLITICO a poll the group commissioned that showed that 64 percent of Republicans favor “protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people from discrimination in employment.” Among white millennials, support for such protections was 86 percent, with 65 percent saying they are less likely to support a candidate who does not favor them.
No major Democratic candidates for president have yet to endorse the Equality Act.
HRC President Chad Griffin spoke with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell earlier today about the need to enact anti-discrimination protections for LGBT citizens.
The post Ted Olson and David Boies Endorse LGBT Equality Act appeared first on Towleroad.
Sean Mandell
