Large Majority Reject Bermuda Same-Sex Marriage in Voter Referendum: VIDEO

A large majority of voters in Bermuda rejected same-sex marriage and civil unions in a referendum held yesterday.

Sixty-nine percent voted against same-sex marriage while 63 percent voted against civil unions.

However, The Royal Gazette reports that the total number of votes cast was 20,804 (46.89 percent of the electorate) which is below the 50 percent requirement to make the referendum valid.

Disappointing news ‘Bermuda roundly rejects same sex marriage’ t.co/WQyTuwHaC5 #voteyesyes #voteyesyesBermuda #lovewins

— ShauneeV (@sistrenista) June 24, 2016

The referendum had previously come under fire because it was “non-binding” although Premier Michael Dunkley said earlier this week that “any outcome is the will of the people and will guide their elected officials accordingly.”

RELATED: Bermuda’s Supreme Court Expands Rights for Binational Same-Sex Couples

In a Supreme Court challenge, Chief Justice Ian Kawaley said holding a referendum on the issue broke a “fundamental principle” in relation to human rights.

Should I be glad less than 50% of Bermuda voted? Bigotry stills reigns supreme. Tragic victory. #VoteYesYesBermuda pic.twitter.com/U4UjJARjPn

— Shona C (@ShonieLady) June 24, 2016

The Rainbow Alliance had attacked the referendum because it would cost taxpayers $350,000.

Pro-LGBT campaigner Tony Brannon said the result was “very disappointing.”

Preserve Marriage chairman Dr Melvyn Bassett added:

“We have a responsibility as a Christian community to extend love to all, and I believe that the group may be interested in developing a special ministry to the LGBT community.”

Watch Dunkley announce the referendum last February and a #VoteYesYesBermuda campaign video below.

The post Large Majority Reject Bermuda Same-Sex Marriage in Voter Referendum: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

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Stonewall Inn Becomes A National Monument

LGBT history is recognized with a national monument for the first time ever.

The post Stonewall Inn Becomes A National Monument appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/24/3792431/stonewall-inn-national-monument/

HRC and Eleven Organizations Stand in Solidarity with Turkey’s LGBTQ Community

Today, HRC, along with eleven partner organizations, expressed support for the LGBTQ community in Turkey in the wake of recent police violence and a government ban on LGBTQ pride parades in Istanbul.

Last weekend, Turkish police fired rubber bullets, utilized water cannons, and released tear gas to disperse peaceful marchers gathered for a trans pride parade in the central Istanbul neighborhood of Taksim. Authorities also rejected parade permits for a general LGBTQ pride celebration that is still scheduled for June 26th in Istanbul. Police cited concerns over safety and difficulty in ensuring the protection of marchers. Since 2003, Istanbul Pride has been held largely without incident until police utilized similar violent tactics last year against those in attendance.

“These actions pose a serious threat to the rights and safety of Turkey’s LGBTQ community, which has been doing incredible work in recent years,” said Ty Cobb, Director of HRC Global. “Turkey’s government should protect peaceful parade participants from violence, not attack them under the guise of ‘public safety.’ The LGBTQ community in Turkey should know that U.S. and international human rights organizations stand with them against efforts to persecute or harm them.”

The twelve human and equal rights organizations released the following statement in response to the Turkish government’s actions:

As organizations focused on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world, we are deeply concerned about recent crackdowns on LGBT pride parades in Istanbul and call upon the Turkish authorities to permit and protect those gathered for the LGBT Pride parade scheduled for Sunday June 26, 2016.

While Istanbul once had the distinction of hosting one of the few permitted Pride parades in the Muslim world, we have seen LGBT gatherings in Istanbul crushed with brutal force in recent years, including police use of tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse participants. This is entirely unacceptable and is part of a broader trend rolling back freedoms of expression overall in Turkish society.

While there have been threats made by ultranationalist groups against the parades, and while those threats do present a significant security concern, it is crucial that the authorities protect the people celebrating Pride, rather than disperse them.

In light of the recent killing of 49 LGBT people and allies in Orlando, Florida, we express our solidarity with all organizations supporting the rights of LGBT people, along with organizations promoting fundamental democratic freedoms of speech, assembly and association in Turkey and convey our hope that Turkish authorities will act to protect the rights and safety of the participants in the upcoming Pride parade this Sunday in the face of any threats.

The statement was signed by the Human Rights Campaign, Council for Global Equality, Human Rights First, the Anti-Defamation League, GLAAD, Global Justice Institute (Metropolitan Community Churches), Immigration Equality, MSMGF (The Global Forum on MSM & HIV), the National Center for Lesbian Rights, PFLAG National, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

The Human Rights Campaign is the United States’ largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-and-eleven-organizations-stand-in-solidarity-with-turkeys-lgbtq-comm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 24, 2016

BREAKING: PRESIDENT OBAMA DESIGNATES FIRST-EVER LGBTQ NATIONAL MONUMENT AT STONEWALL: The White House has announced that President Obama designated a new national monument at the historic site of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City — the first-ever landmark honoring the movement for LGBTQ equality. “The announcement is especially significant following the horrific massacre in Orlando, a heartbreaking reminder of the hate and violence we continue to face as a community. In the early days of our movement, the brave individuals who fought back at Stonewall and at other historic moments, helped inspire countless others,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “It is our hope that by honoring these pioneers, this new national monument will be a source of inspiration to a new generation of Americans across the country standing up for equality and uniting to show the world that love conquers hate.” More on today’s historic announcement: White House and HRC

GUN REFORM BILL JUMPS HURDLE: A bipartisan gun violence prevention bill proposed by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) gained majority support in the Senate yesterday, but remains in limbo for now. The vote took place after a more than 24-hour sit-in orchestrated by House Democrats aimed at pressing for action on guns. Read HRC’s new stance on gun violence prevention: HRC

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S IMMIGRATION POLICY BLOCKED: A 4-4 SCOTUS split has resulted in a block to President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The Supreme Court’s inability to reach a decision in the United States v. Texas case means millions of immigrants will no longer be protected from deportation and cannot legally work in the U.S. According to a Williams Institute study, there are close to 1 million LGBTQ adult immigrants, of whom about one-third are undocumented. More on immigration reform’s impact on LGBTQ people: HRC

UK VOTES “LEAVE” FOR BREXIT: The UK has decided to leave the European Union, casting heavy speculation on what this will mean for both the UK and global economy. Several out Members of Parliament also consider what impact Brexit could have on the LGBTQ community. More here: Pink News

STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE: Priorities USA Action has released a new ad campaign urging young voters to “Stop Trump/Stop Hate” (since “Trump” and “hate” have pretty much become synonymous at this point). This first ad features 17-year-old Dante Latchman, who was left disabled after battling a rare form of cancer, watching footage of Trump mocking a disabled journalist, to which Latchman replies: “I don’t want a president who makes fun of me. I want a president who inspires me, and that’s not Donald Trump.”

• Another video from Stop Hate is hard to watch, but everyone should. The “Donald Trump is Full of Hate” video, containing vile, direct quotes from Trump himself, is a reminder that he does not speak for us.

DOLLARS AND SENSE: A new study from the Williams Institute points to the economic benefits of marriage equality, a year after it became the law of the land. The UCLA-based institute estimates that “the unions have generated about $1.58 billion in spending” across sectors. Cha-ching: WIBW

SMALL BUSINESS, BIG HEART: Small business owners are making big strides for their LGBTQ employees following the tragic shooting in Orlando. Several businesses reported that they are revising their company policies to be more inclusive, and are taking steps to have conversations with their employees about creating a “safer, kinder, more accepting” workplace. More here: ABC News  

CHARITY SINGLE HITS HIGH NOTE: The London Gay Men’s Chorus is releasing a single of its version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” with proceeds going to the Pulse Victims Fund in Orlando and Galop, a UK-based LGBTQ charity. Click, listen, and get chills: Gay Star News

CONGRESS MEMBERS URGE FDA TO LIFT THE BLOOD BAN: After Orlando, several members of the LGBTQ community were unable to donate blood to help survivors of the shooting. Some Members of Congress are working to change that, by telling the FDA they have “bad blood” with the outdated, discriminatory blood donor policies that require gay and bisexual men to remain abstinent one year before donating. More here: HRC

READING RAINBOW

A report from Politifact shows that LGBTQ people are most frequently targeted for hate crimes; The Associated Press contrasts views of the LGBTQ community across Florida; The New York Times profiles Chalice, a new transgender superhero from AfterShock Comics; Pink News anticipates that the newest Harry Potter spin-off will tackle marriage equality; and The Associated Press reports that Erin O’Flaherty will be the first openly lesbian Miss America contestant.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-june-24-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

London Gay Men's Chorus releases charity single for Orlando victims

www.glaad.org/blog/london-gay-mens-chorus-releases-charity-single-orlando-victims

It’s Official: Stonewall Inn Is A National Monument

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Sebastian Stan, Aka Bucky: Giving Captain America A Boyfriend Is “Great”

Been lying around wondering what actor Stanley Stan thinks of giving Captain Marvel a boyfriend? Well, get some rest — because he’s all for it.

Related: ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Directors Open To LGBT Superheroes

Speaking to GQ, Stan — who plays Captain America’s bestie Bucky — discussed his feelings about the Twitter campaign #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend, which begs Marvel and DC to suddenly make the superhero recklessly gay and even starting dating his preferred partner in crime.

Related: Comics News: Gay Heroes Swoop Into Teen Titans And Captain America Spin-Off Series

“Look, man, I think it’s great,” he says. “Movies are for people to relate to in whatever way they want. No one here is ever going to point a finger and say what’s right and wrong. For me, it’s like, Awww. It’s cute, it’s great.”

However, Stan doesn’t personally think Bucky swings that way, okay? But don’t get cross. He’s perfectly fine if you want to wander the streets alone thinking Captain America and Bucky are an item. He’s totally fine with that.

“If someone takes the time to think about that, that’s great,” he says, convincingly. “I don’t think of the character that way, though. But there’s no right or wrong answer.”

Director Joe Russo also got embroiled in this invented fray, breaking down the relationship between Cap and Bucky thusly: “These are two guys who grew up together, and so they have that same emotional connection to each other as brothers would, and even more so because Bucky was all Steve had growing up.”

So, it’s an intense relationship, but not necessarily a gay one, alright? That’s not to say Russo thinks there’s anything wrong with gangs of musclebound homosexual superheroes infiltrating the Marvel universe and having really hot gay sex with everybody. That’s cute. That’s great.

In fact, he thinks it’s likely there will be some gay superheroes in mainstream pictures down the line. “I think the chances are strong,”  he says. “I mean, it’s incumbent upon us as storytellers who are making mass-appeal movies to make mass-appeal movies, and to diversify as much as possible.”

And while we agree it’s essential for people who make mass-appeal movies to go ahead and make mass-appeal movies, we don’t think we’re going to see a major Marvel superhero come out as gay in a Hollywood picture anytime soon. And somehow, we’re eerily okay with that.

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Barbara Poma, Owner of Pulse Orlando Nightclub, to Lead NYC Pride Parade

Barbara Poma, the owner of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, where the horrific mass shooting took place on June 12, along with the club’s entertainment manager Neema Bahrami, will ride on the lead float in NYC’s Pride Parade this Sunday, the NY Daily News reports:

Also, in memory of all those lost in the June 12 massacre, their names will be read, followed by a moment of silence, a spokesman for NYC Pride said…

…At Sunday’s parade, the lead float will be surrounded by a color guard carrying 49 orange flags, each with a rainbow stripe, to remember the victims, organizers said. Marchers will follow directly behind, carrying banners, reading #WeAreOrlando and #SomosOrlando.

RELATED: ‘Pulse’ Owner Says Club Will Reopen to ‘Keep Our Hearts Beating and our Spirit Alive’ – VIDEO

Police detail is going to be increased for this year’s event because of the Orlando shooting:

“We will out of caution be increasing the size of the police detail this year, with some degree of focus that we might not have had in years past on the issue of terrorism — certainly in light of the event in Orlando,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said.

The post Barbara Poma, Owner of Pulse Orlando Nightclub, to Lead NYC Pride Parade appeared first on Towleroad.

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Captain America Finally Gets a Boyfriend: WATCH

Fans demanding that Marvel #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend might be satisfied in a certain way by this new adult offering from Men.com which stars Alex Mecum as Captain America, Paddy O’Brian as The Winter Soldier, and XL as Fury.

“In heroes we THRUST”
Cumming this Saturday! #MENCaptainAmerica #gaypornparody #MENteaser pic.twitter.com/Nv11SpALC7

— Men.com (@Men) June 23, 2016

RELATED: Fans Demand That Marvel #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend

Watch the teaser:

The post Captain America Finally Gets a Boyfriend: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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