Op-ed: Bridging the Gap Between Gay Pride and Black Lives
This black lesbian argues that true dedication to listening — even when uncomfortable — can help make LGBT people more aware of their racial bias.
Femi Redwood
www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/28/op-ed-bridging-gap-between-gay-pride-and-black-lives
Jamaica prepares for its first LGBTI Pride festival this weekend
Despite the fact that the country is widely regarded as one of the most homophobic places in the world, committed LGBTI advocates in Jamaica are finalizing details for the country’s first Pride festival – due to coincide with the nation’s annual Emancipation and Independence celebrations in the first week of August.
Pride Jamaica will run from 1-8 August and is being promoted with the hashtag #prideja2015
Because of fears over security, Latoya Nugent, the associate director of the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), has told local newspaper Jamaica Gleaner that there will be no parade. However, ‘a parade is not the only way we can celebrate our pride and freedom as LGBT Jamaicans.’
Jamaica Pride 2015
Instead, events will include a flash mob this Saturday at 10am in the capital, Kingston.
Details are not being made public as yet, but those interested in finding out more can email [email protected] to receive more information nearer the date.
There will also be an art exhibition, open-mic night, flag-raising ceremony and ‘coming out’ symposium.
‘The symposium will also feature allies, who will share their experiences of what it is like to publicly support the LGBT community in Jamaica, as well as an acoustic concert for women and a pride party.’
Gay-friendly businesses will be offering discounts to those who use a specific promo code. Further information can be found on the J-FLAG Facebook page.
‘The idea is to support businesses that have been kind to the LGBT community and are considered safe spaces for LGBT people to do business,’ said Nugent.
In a statement to Gay Star News, Nugent, who is co-chair of the Pride committee, said that through the event, ‘We will pause the negative vibrations from anti-gay lobby groups and focus on the strides we have made as a community. More importantly, we will recommit to initiatives that see us moving forward as one community.’
Pride Jamaica has received a video message of support from singer Diana King, in which she asked all Jamaicans to support the event: ‘support freedom, independence and breaking the rules of oppression.’
Recording Artiste Diana King Endorses #PRiDEJAOne of our favourite Jamaican recording artistes – Diana King endorses Jamaica’s first #PRiDE. Happy Pride! #PRiDEJA2015
Posted by J-Flag on Sunday, 26 July 2015
Same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal in Jamaica. Prejudice against LGBT people remains widespread across Jamaican society and homophobic attacks are common.
Last year, Human Rights Watch compiled a report that concluded LGBT Jamaicans are vulnerable to both physical and sexual violence and ‘many live in constant fear’.
Image: Antwain – Gavin Gray | CC BY-SA 3.0
The post Jamaica prepares for its first LGBTI Pride festival this weekend appeared first on Gay Star News.
David Hudson
www.gaystarnews.com/article/jamaica-prepares-for-its-first-lgbti-pride-festival-this-weekend/
UK MPs launch first trans equality inquiry
MPs in the UK have launched their first inquiry into transgender equality.
The newly formed Women and Equalities Committee on Monday (27 July) announced that its first task would be to consider ‘how far, and in what ways, trans people still have yet to achieve full equality; and how the outstanding issues can most effectively be addressed.’
The committee will look at a range of issues facing trans people, from terminology and portrayal in the media to employment and workplace issues (including in the Armed Forces), hate crime and issues in the criminal justice system.
It will also examine the government’s handing of transgender issues, how well current law is operating, access to gender reassignment treatment in the NHS, as well as issues affecting trans youth.
The committee is inviting written submissions on these issues until 21 August.
‘Many trans people still face discrimination and unfair treatment in their work, schools, healthcare and other important services,’ said committee chair Maria Miller.
‘Transphobia and hate crimes are a cruel reminder that we have still have a great deal to do to achieve true equality for everyone.
‘I hope that trans people will feel able to share their experiences with our inquiry, so that the committee can make recommendations for improving people’s lives.’
The inquiry comes a week after a shocking report found that one in five health workers directly dealing with patient had heard colleagues make negative remarks about trans people, using the slurs ‘tranny’ and ‘she-male.’
The post UK MPs launch first trans equality inquiry appeared first on Gay Star News.
Darren Wee
www.gaystarnews.com/article/uk-mps-launch-first-trans-equality-inquiry/
Colin Farrell will be best man at gay brother’s wedding
Colin Farrell will be be best man at his brother’s wedding next year once gay marriage legislation is passed.
The Hollywood actor also played best man at his older brother’s civil union ceremony in 2009, but said he regretted not coming back to Ireland to celebrate the gay marriage referendum, which was passed in May.
‘If I’m honest, selfishly I’m sick I wasn’t at home. It nearly took the joy out of it for me,’ he told the Irish Independent.
‘I was happy for everybody else but I was looking at the pictures online of Dublin Castle and was sick. I think in life sometimes you just want to be around good stuff.
‘You want to be around people that are up for the craic and kind, that you feel you can lean into and that you’re OK with them leaning into you.’
His brother Eamon married artist Stephen Mannion in Canada in 2009 but the couple, who helped drum up support for the referendum, also want to have nuptials in Dublin around Christmas 2016.
The post Colin Farrell will be best man at gay brother’s wedding appeared first on Gay Star News.
Darren Wee
www.gaystarnews.com/article/colin-farrell-will-be-best-man-at-gay-brothers-wedding/
It’s official: Boy Scouts of America has ended ban on gay leaders
As expected, the Boy Scouts of America has voted to end the organization’s ban on openly gay and bisexual adults as employees and volunteers.
The National Executive Committee’s vote on Monday (27 July) came less than two weeks after the organization’s National Committee unanimously approved a resolution to end the ban. They followed the advice of BSA President Robert M. Gates.
‘Moving forward, we will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth, helping them to grow into good, strong citizens,’ the organization said in a statement after the vote.
The national ban ends immediately and allows previously removed leaders to reapply for their positions. Regional governing councils or non-Troop entities such as boy scouts camps are also prohibited from discriminating against employees and volunteers based on their sexual orientation.
Among the most vocal opponents of the ban over the past three years has been Zach Wahls, a former scout whose mothers are lesbian. He cheered the BSA’s vote in his position as executive director of Scouts for Equality.
‘This vote marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Boy Scouts of America,’ Wahls stated. ‘Tens of thousands of people came together because they wanted to build a better future for the Boy Scouts of America, and that future starts now. … As of this vote, the Boy Scouts of America is an organization that is looking forward, not back.’
But the potential for discrimination still exists in a majority of Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout dens. Religious organizations that sponsor a majority of scouting units will still be allowed to set their own policies.
‘… Religious organizations that charter some 70 percent of local BSA units will still be permitted to discriminate in their selection of BSA unit leaders,’ said Jon W. Davidson, legal director of Lambda Legal.
‘Nonetheless, this is another repudiation of ant-igay discrimination by the Boy Scouts and another key moment for gay rights as openly gay and bisexual adults will be able to participate in Scouting, even if not in every troop or den,’ Davidson added.
The BSA decided to finally ended its ban on openly gay scouts in 2013 but the ban continued once a scout reached the age of 18 and applied to adults leaders and employees of the organization.
The post It’s official: Boy Scouts of America has ended ban on gay leaders appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
www.gaystarnews.com/article/its-official-boys-scouts-of-america-has-ended-ban-on-gay-leaders/
Boy Scouts' Ban on Gay Adults Lifted
The group’s national executive board ratified the move today, effective immediately.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/boy-scouts-america/2015/07/27/boy-scouts-ban-gay-adults-lifted
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