Live Chat: UFC on FOX 17 results, MMA in 2016 and more
This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat. There’s a lot going on, so join me today to discuss all of this and more. In terms of today’s chat, anything is up for discussion, but I will lead with this and it all kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. As is customary …

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=3EEDEDF6DE33483D8029CD310EA67732&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmafighting.com%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2F10657640%2Flive-chat-ufc-on-fox-17-results-mma-in-2016-and-more&c=7_5n0j8JYjgfuKBoSuudsFEBDUnrjp32O4YWSGQ21g8&mkt=en-us

This Scholarship Is Sending A Message Of Acceptance To Rural LGBT Students

A Missouri native created a scholarship to send a message of acceptance and courage to LGBT youth in rural areas.

The post This Scholarship Is Sending A Message Of Acceptance To Rural LGBT Students appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/education/2015/12/23/3734620/lgbt-youth-scholarship/

10 human rights cases that defined 2015
[75] You can read Rosalind English’s analysis of the case here. 3. The ‘Gay Cake’ Case: Lee v Ashers Baking Co Ltd and Ors [2015] NICty 2 The judge in the Northern Ireland County Court held that the bakers had refused to bake the cake on the ground …

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=46294C2EBC194F4DBC0721B9D7AB8619&url=http%3A%2F%2Fukhumanrightsblog.com%2F2015%2F12%2F23%2F10-human-rights-cases-that-defined-2015%2F&c=fHwhVZC4ASPCJ-45Vc1UcMxaY1bKhE0Qn1CAg4TyIZc&mkt=en-us

National Stonewall; Empire State folding; Alabama lesbian's case
is reportedly the first in Florida for the human trafficking of gay men. Prosecutors said Vass and two other Hungarian men awaiting trial targeted impoverished men in Hungary and enticed them to come to the United States using a website called GayRomeo.com.

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=E5C5BDA7008D463CAD51A09500178D17&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.windycitymediagroup.com%2Flgbt%2FNational-Stonewall-Empire-State-folding-Alabama-lesbians-case%2F53748.html&c=LdORxPs8zi-7z7QwPW7dMAzMZhurTjG0LE_OGZKqsZg&mkt=en-us

#Bestof2015: Pentagon Takes Huge Step Forward; Announces End to Ban on Transgender Service Members

In 2015, the Pentagon made a stunning announcement, declaring that the ban on transgender service members would come to an end in 2016.
 
“Transgender Americans have every right to serve their country openly and honestly, and for far too long, this discriminatory ban has robbed them of the dignity of doing so,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The time for ending the military’s longstanding ban on transgender service is long overdue. Values that represent the foundation of our armed services–including integrity, respect and courage–will become more true when these outdated regulations are finally updated. We welcome reports that the Pentagon is planning to announce it will end the ban, and we will carefully review their plan for doing so.”
 
While the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the establishment of a working group to study the “policy and readiness implications” of allowing transgender service members to serve openly, it is expected that the ban will be lifted in the new year.
 
There are approximately 15,500 actively serving transgender members of the U.S. military, making the DOD the largest employer of transgender people in America.

Currently, these courageous service members are forced to serve in silence by DOD medical regulations prohibiting their service. These regulations are outdated and out of step with current medical practice. Unlike the statutory ban that interfered with lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members from serving (known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) the ban on transgender military service is regulatory and only requires action by the DOD to update.
 
HRC will also continue to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring that transgender veterans receive respectful, culturally competent support and care that is compatible with accepted standards of medical and mental health practice. Additionally, HRC is committed to ensuring that transgender veterans can update their official service record.
 
Counting down to 2016, HRC is celebrating our greatest milestones and victories in 2015. It has been another incredible year for LGBT equality and we could not have done it without you — our members, readers and supporters–and we look forward to continuing our work in 2016. Stay tuned for more highlights from 2015.

www.hrc.org/blog/bestof2015-pentagon-takes-huge-step-forward-announces-end-to-ban-on-transge?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Utah Utes football live chat with Matthew Piper transcript
The Utah Utes wrapped up a 10-3 campaign with their 35-28 win over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Matthew Piper, one of The Tribune’s Utes beat reporters, held a live chat Tuesday. You can read a transcript of the chat above.

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=5E24F185F0294ECCA9CCF6155ED5638D&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sltrib.com%2Fsports%2F3336109-155%2Futah-utes-football-live-chat-with&c=8vmck2O7n3nAEydiIQjjR4BRRV7YTYmzZV2XfgddTCY&mkt=en-us

Whatsapp to Introduce Video Calling & Multiple Chat Tab Options
Facebook owned Whatsapp now wants to take on Microsoft’s Skype. Whatsapp is reportedly going to rollout a video calling feature on its app in the coming year. While Facebook messenger already has video calling functionality, Whatsapp might now soon have …

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=1E263B156AAB4CEEA4364FC0A3EEBCBE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iamwire.com%2F2015%2F12%2Fwhatsapp-introduce-video-chat-multiple-chat-tab-options%2F129015&c=M0EUk9Nu6MYkZrZbPVLJp0MYI8UqgnC9_CmiKdvZO9k&mkt=en-us

Kentucky governor orders clerks' names removed from marriage licenses
She made headlines by refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, even after the U.S. Supreme Court in June legalized same-sex matrimony across the United States. Citing her Apostolic Christian beliefs defining marriage as a union …

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=E807AA99192F4805803E371F8746E967&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fkentucky-governor-orders-clerks-names-removed-marriage-licenses-053811156.html&c=Ha2JT1_qOdC1V3ckJ7DFVf121UJ8Vd2V4kJdhyTpUn8&mkt=en-us

FDA Cancels Ban on Blood Donations from Gay Males
Gay rights activists said the new policy is a “step in the right … blood – have drastically reduced the risk of spreading HIV through blood transfusions. Canada has changed its policy to a five-year deferral policy (meaning blood donation is allowed …

www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=94720739EFFF41D49C1D3CD534857D3D&url=http%3A%2F%2Fequilibrioinformativo.com%2F2015%2F12%2Ffda-cancels-ban-on-blood-donations-from-gay-males%2F&c=BAHOcJDq9jZxpFLWPL-g0VNsNkU4g61LVSjaZ97J_4I&mkt=en-us