North Carolina Isn't Limiting Discrimination to LGBT (Video)
www.advocate.com/politics/2016/4/26/north-carolina-isnt-limiting-discrimination-lgbt-video
Monthly Archives: April 2016
Dolly Parton has ‘no plans’ to cancel North Carolina concerts because of HB2
Dolly Parton has ‘no plans’ to cancel North Carolina concerts because of HB2
Dolly Parton, an outspoken supporter of LGBTI equality in recent years, still plans to kick off her 2016 concert tour in Greensboro, North Carolina despite the state’s controversial HB2 law.
‘I have no plans to cancel the show,’ Parton said Tuesday (26 April) during a conference call with reporters about the tour.
‘I believe that everybody ought to be treated with respect, but I feel we will serve better from the stage,’ she added. ‘I don’t like to get caught up in controversial issues. I will address whatever I need to from the stage.’
HB2 bans all local LGBTI rights ordinances in the state.
It was pushed forward to override an ordinance in Charlotte that would have allowed transgender people to use the bathroom of their gender identification.
Artists including Boston, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato and Blue Man Group have called off gigs in the Tar Heel State.
Cyndi Lauper, Joel McHale, and Mumford & Sons performed (or will in the future), promising to donate funds to local LGBTI organizations.
The post Dolly Parton has ‘no plans’ to cancel North Carolina concerts because of HB2 appeared first on Gay Star News.
www.gaystarnews.com/article/dolly-parton-no-plans-cancel-north-carolina-concerts-hb2/
Thai Court Recognizes Paternity Of Two Gay Dads Trapped In Terrifying Battle With Surrogate Mother
Thai Court Recognizes Paternity Of Two Gay Dads Trapped In Terrifying Battle With Surrogate Mother
There’s been a resolution for a super-messy situation involving a gay couple and a surrogate mother who refused to sign over custody of the child she’d carried for the two men.
Here’s the backstory: Gordon Lake and his husband Manuel Santos arranged for a surrogate mother to carry their daughter, who was born a little over a year ago. They went to Thailand for the surrogacy, they say, because of the superior medical facilities available there. (Which is a little odd, since the couple is American and Spanish and there seem to be pretty good facilities in those countries, but okay.)
Related: Gay Couple Forced Into Hiding After Surrogate Threatens To Kidnap Their Child
The egg came from an anonymous donor, and the sperm was from one of the men. The surrogate was biologically unrelated to the baby, and says that she only found out that the couple was gay after she gave birth. At that point, she refused to sign the paperwork to allow the newborn to leave the country. The couple already had the baby with them at the time, but the surrogate started to demanding that they return them to her.
In fact, she said she wanted the baby to go to an “ordinary family” or a “legitimate married couple.” So that’s pretty unpleasant.
But now a court has upheld Gordon and Manuel’s custody of the baby, clearing a path for them to return home with her. It’s nice that they’ll be able to put the fight behind them, and lovely for that the court recognized their paternity despite marriage equality not being legalized (yet) in Thailand.
Since the baby was conceived, surrogacy has been banned in Thailand, so it’s unlikely that a case exactly like this will come up again soon. Still, a ruling that two fathers can bring their child home should be a comfort to same-sex parents everywhere.
Related: Gay Men With Baby Fever Share Their Struggles To Become Daddies
Isle of Man Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
Isle of Man Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The Isle of Man has finally legalized same-sex marriage after a long overdue campaign for equality.
Previously, a consultation in the British dependency found majority support for same-sex marriage rights.
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Amendment) Bill had its third reading in the Legislative Council, where six members voted in favour of the bill and three against.
Same-sex couples on the island have been able to enter civil partnerships since April 2011, but not marriage.
The Manx Rainbow Association said the changes show the Isle of Man is “shaking off its dark past”.
Homosexuality was illegal under Isle of Man law until 1992. The age of consent was set at 21 but has since been lowered to 16.
The Act, introduced in England and Wales in 2014, enables couples to marry in a civil ceremony or subject to agreement, in a religious ceremony.
PREVIOUSLY: Isle of Man Leader Comes Out, Launches Campaign for Same-Sex Marriage
Same-sex couples currently in civil partnerships will be able to convert their union to a marriage. Civil partnerships on the island already allowed full adoption rights and the Isle of Man’s leader, Chief Minister Alan Bell, who publicly announced his relationship with a man last year, called the bill a way of crossing off a dark chapter in the island’s history regarding LGBT issues.
The Chief Minister hopes to have weddings start in the summer.
The post Isle of Man Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage appeared first on Towleroad.
Bruce Springsteen Hosts HRC Member to Rally Support in North Carolina
Bruce Springsteen Hosts HRC Member to Rally Support in North Carolina
After Bruce Springsteen canceled his North Carolina concert to promote the repeal of anti-LGBT law H.B. 2, HRC, CrowdRise, Bruce Springsteen and actor Edward Norton teamed up to provide one lucky HRC supporter with the chance of a lifetime.
Last week, any gift made to HRC through the CrowdRise platform automatically entered members a chance to win tickets to Bruce Springsteen’s sold-out show, the last stop on his U.S. tour, in Brooklyn. The winner also received airfare and VIP passes to hang out with actor Edward Norton. All donations raised during the contest went towards HRC’s against anti-LGBT legislation across the country — including in North Carolina, where the legislature reconvened yesterday.
After receiving support around the globe, the winner was drawn at random. Greg Bullock of Tempe, Arizona was the lucky winner. He brought his sister Kristin with him as his guest.
Greg is a big HRC supporter, even wearing his “Love Conquers Hate” HRC t-shirt to the concert, and is also a big Bruce Springsteen fan. Greg sang along to every song throughout the concert. After the show, Edward Norton personally invited Greg backstage to meet The Boss himself.
According to Greg, it was an unforgettable trip and he is still trying to process that he got to meet both Bruce Springsteen and Edward Norton.
Thanks to HRC members like Greg and others who supported the cause, HRC is able to provide on-the-ground support in North Carolina and other states battling discriminatory legislation. We truly appreciate those who gave, CrowdRise, Bruce Springsteen and Edward Norton for all coming together to support a worthy cause.
HRC Celebrates Brave Marriage Equality Plaintiffs
HRC Celebrates Brave Marriage Equality Plaintiffs
Colorado Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal of Antigay Baker (Video)
Colorado Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal of Antigay Baker (Video)
Gay twins Aaron and Austin Rhodes share how they came out to each other
Gay twins Aaron and Austin Rhodes share how they came out to each other
Twins Aaron and Austin Rhodes got a lot of attention for their YouTube video in which they both came out to their father – the trio even went on to make an appearance together on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
They have shared many videos since then but until this new one posted on Monday (25 April), they had not shared how it was that they came out to each other.
The twins were seniors in high school when Aaron fell in love and decided to tell his brother: ‘I’m seeing somebody and it may or may not be a girl … so obviously I’m gay and I’m dating a guy.’
They chatted awhile about Aaron’s new boyfriend then Austin said: ‘I like guys too.’
Says Aaron now: ‘It was one of those moments – and I’ll never forget it – where we just finally caught up with each other. … It ended up with two little gay best friends who happen to be brothers.’
Although the two had never talked about it until then, Austin says ‘there were signs. I kind of had an idea and he had an idea. We never really talked about it – that was always like a taboo subject.’
Aaron says he also was not eager to talk about it earlier because he was daunted by the idea of coming out to the family and if his twin was also gay, both of them coming out.
He admits it ‘just scared me so much so I would just try not to think about it.’
Austin used to think he would never come out and spend his life living a lie.
‘I remember thinking, “Hey, I’m going to have to marry some girl and just pretend my entire life.’
The post Gay twins Aaron and Austin Rhodes share how they came out to each other appeared first on Gay Star News.
www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-twins-aaron-austin-rhodes-share-came/
Family Dollar Will Investigate Cashier’s Refusal To Serve Lesbian Customer
Family Dollar Will Investigate Cashier’s Refusal To Serve Lesbian Customer
Yesterday, we reported that a woman named Melissa Langford, 34, alleges she was subject to a load of homophobic comments and denied service by a foul-mouthed Family Dollar cashier; a confrontation that was caught on video.
Family Dollar now says it’s investigating the incident.
Related: Lesbian Customer Refused Service By Homophobic Cashier At Family Dollar Store
“My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe the things I was hearing this woman say,” Langford told the Times-Picayune. “It’s one thing if it was a customer in line being ignorant with her friends, but this is the cashier.”
Langford says she was the fifth customer in line at the cash register when she overheard the cashier say she hates gay people, that they are “sick,” and “they got somethin’ wrong in they head.”
After Langford objected, noting that she’s a lesbian, the cashier became combative and refused to ring up her purchases.
After a male customer objected to the cashier’s actions, she refused to serve him as well. The other customer, however, wasn’t about to back down as he confronted the cashier, calling her a “nincompoop” and “asshole.”
She says she contacted the company’s corporate office but no one replied to her complaint. The Times-Picayune also tried to get a statement from the company but was initially met with silence.
Now, the company has released an official statement through Bryn Winburn, their public relations manager:
We take incidents like this very seriously. We have a Code of Ethics in place that ensures inclusion for customers and associates and helps to ensure good customer care.”
“The code specifically forbids unprofessional conduct and comments on sexual orientation, among other matters. Any activity that goes against this code is simply not how we expect our stores to do business. This situation is currently under investigation.”
On Facebook, Langford said she was planning a “peaceful protest” outside that Family Dollar on Wednesday night.
“Everyone is welcome,” she writes. “All I ask is that there is no yelling, or bad energy. We don’t even need signs. We can just blast some Cher and make out.”
Watch their altercation below.
H/t: LGBTQ Nation
Nick Jonas Busts Out His Guns In The Spirit Of Equality
Nick Jonas Busts Out His Guns In The Spirit Of Equality
It should come as little surprise that Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato aren’t down with North Carolina’s ugly HB2 law, and now the two singers have become the latest in a string of artists to cancel appearances in the state.
“After much thought and deliberation, we have decided to cancel our Honda Civic Tour: Future Now shows in Rayleigh and Charlotte,” the duo posted together on social media. “One of our goals for the tour has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included, and accepted for who they are.
“North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community’s most basic rights and protections. But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance.”
They added: “We know the cancellation of these shows is disappointing to our fans, but we trust that you will stand united with us against this hateful law.”
Jo-vato join acts like Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Star in canceling gigs over the law, which makes life worse for just about everyone: trans people aren’t allowed to use the bathroom that matches their gender; cities aren’t allowed to protect LGBTs from discrimination; minimum wages cut; fired workers now have fewer protections.
#RepealHB2 pic.twitter.com/YTpOxNP9cB
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) April 25, 2016
#RepealHB2 pic.twitter.com/cXwWeo2lVP
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) April 25, 2016
Other acts like Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton and Duran Duran have chosen to move forward with NC appearances, but still make it the focus of their shows.
Lauper announced all profits from her June 4 show in Raleigh will go to support the fight against HB2, while Duran Duran launched a petition to repeal HB2 during their performance, urging those in attendance to sign. Dolly defended her decision by saying she can “address [HB2] from the stage.”
