WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Press Briefing: Watch LIVE
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer holds a press briefing. Expect questions about Georgia’s special election, the lie about the aircraft carrier being sent to North Korea, and the revelations about Carter Page and the Trump dossier.
The post WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Press Briefing: Watch LIVE appeared first on Towleroad.
WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Press Briefing: Watch LIVE
#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 19, 2017
INEXCUSABLE — HRC AND EQUALITY NC SPEAK OUT ON NCAA’S DECISION TO REWARD NC WITH CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: Yesterday, the NCAA chose to reward North Carolina with championship games despite discrimination against LGBTQ people that remains enshrined in state law with HB 142. Because the NCAA Board of Governors requires all bids to include a completed non-discrimination questionnaire, HRC has submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to North Carolina public universities for all materials related to their bids for NCAA events. “The NCAA has fallen ‘hook, line, and sinker’ for this ‘bait and switch’ sham ‘deal’ doubling down on discrimination,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “Even worse, the NCAA has inexcusably gone back on its promise to ensure all championship games are held in locations that are safe, respectful, and free of discrimination. By rewarding North Carolina with championship games, the NCAA has undermined its credibility and is sending a dangerous message to lawmakers across the country who are targeting LGBTQ people with discriminatory state legislation. In addition to protecting the broader LGBTQ community, the NCAA needs to clearly state how they will be protecting their student athletes, personnel and fans.” More from HRC, The Huffington Post, Mic and CBS Sports.
.@NCAA & @RoyCooperNC negotiated away our civil rights for sports games without a single LGBTQ person at the table. t.co/frijEVzMum
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 18, 2017
FROM CNN — TERRIFYING, FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNTS FROM GAY MEN BEATEN, TORTURED IN CHECHNYA: CNN’s Jake Tapper (@JakeTapper) last night featured shocking first-hand accounts and video of two men’s experiences of violence and torture at the hands of Chechen police. They were able to escape Chechnya — though some of the men in the horrifying footage have not. Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta first confirmed the anti-gay actions being taken by authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya, confirming that hundreds of gay men were being detained, and at last three killed, by Chechen police. Novaya Gazeta reporter Elena Milashina, who first confirmed the anti-gay actions being taken by Chechen authorities, has fled her home in Moscow due to threats of violence. More from CNN.
ALABAMA SENATE PASSES ANTI-LGBTQ “LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE” CHILD WELFARE BILL: HRC is calling on Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to veto the anti-LGBTQ bill passed yesterday by the Alabama State Senate and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh. The bill, deceptively titled the “Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act,” would enshrine discrimination into Alabama law by allowing state-licensed adoption and foster care agencies to reject qualified prospective LGBTQ adoptive or foster parents based on the agency’s religious beliefs. “Plain and simple — H.B. 24 is discrimination dressed up as a ‘solution’ to a fake problem,” said Eva Kendrick, HRC Alabama State Director. “It creates an unnecessary hardship for potential LGBTQ adoptive or foster parents in Alabama and primarily harms the children looking for a loving home.” More than 50 faith leaders have joined an open letter to legislators in Montgomery opposing the harmful measure, noting their faith calls them to serve all — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or any other perceived “difference.” More from HRC.
WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY: Stephanie Grace (@StephGraceLA), a columnist for The Advocate of New Orleans, calls out Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry for his shameful crusade against Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order protecting LGBTQ employees from discrimination. She cites data showing that three out of four Louisiana adults support employee protections based on sexual orientation, and seven out of 10 support employee protections based on gender identity. More from The Advocate of New Orleans.
CALL IT OUT — TX GOV ABBOTT SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR DESPICABLE ANTI-TRANS PROPOSAL: In a statement yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott called HB 2899 a “thoughtful proposal.” The measure — which is anything but — would prevent local communities and schools from protecting their transgender populations and students. In this way, it is incredibly similar to SB6, another heinous bill being considered in the Texas Legislature. More from Texas Tribune.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ANTI-LGBTQ TRUMP NOMINATION: President Donald Trump intends to nominate former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) to head the Export-Import Bank. Described as “too homophobic for Congress,” Garrett refused to support his own party’s congressional campaign committee because it “actively recruited gay candidates and supported homosexuals in primaries,” according to a 2015 report in Politico. Garrett has voted against hate crimes protections for LGBTQ people, against the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, refused to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and twice voted in favor of writing a discriminatory ban on marriage equality into the U.S. Constitution. More from The Huffington Post.
NEW STUDY — LGBTQ HOMELESS YOUTH AT RISK FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING: A shocking report has found that 56 percent of homeless transgender youth had been involved in the sex trade, and that 27 percent of LGBTQ youth had been exploited by sex traffickers. The study was conducted by Covenant House and the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola University Modern Slavery Research Project in New Orleans. More from The New York Times.
TRANS WOMAN SUES FOR RIGHT TO CHANGE SEX MARKER ON BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Yesterday, a transgender woman from Idaho sued for the right to change the sex marker on her birth certificate to female after state officials refused – claiming that Idaho law does not allow the the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics to make this change. She is represented by Lambda Legal. More from BuzzFeed.
RUSSIAN VIOLINIST COMES OUT AS GAY: Artem Kolesov posted a powerful YouTube video describing the hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric he grew up with, and his struggle to live openly in Russia. Kolesov now lives in Chicago, where he advocates for LGBTQ youth as part of the “Children-404” project. More from NPR.
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COURT TO RULE ON ALLOWING LGBTQ CLERGY: Rev. Alex da Silva Souto’s calling lies in the hands of the nine United Methodist Church officials who will decide next week if he — a queer man — can be commissioned, ordained, licensed or consecrated in the church. His case is one of seven involving LGBTQ clergy before the church court. More from News Times.
HRC EARNS SILVER IN SHORTIES FOR #ASKTHEGAYS: Just days after the horrific shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Donald Trump had the audacity to pander to LGBTQ voters by challenging his skeptics to “ask the gays” about where he stood on LGBTQ equality. HRC answered. Using the hashtag #AskTheGays, countless took to social media to call out Trump and Mike Pence on their anti-LGBTQ records. The campaign earned the a Silver Distinction in this year’s Shorty Awards. More here.
Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-april-19-2017?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
LGBT Teens Have More Sex Than Pornhub Stars
capitolgeisha posted a photo:
capitolgeisha.com/2017/04/19/lgbt-teens-sex-pornhub-stars/ #Gay, #Gays, #Homosexual, #Lesbians, #LGBT
“I’m Fine” joins the panoply of shows depicting the joys & sorrows of queer ‘hoods
‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Riverdale’ Actress Shannon Purser: I’m Bisexual
Shannon Purser, who plays Barb on Stranger Things and Ethel Muggs on Riverdale, came out as bisexual on Tuesday night in a tweet.
Purser’s coming out was prompted by an earlier tweet (since deleted) toRiverdale castmate Cole Sprouse about “angry Beronica stans” for which she was accused of “queerbaiting.”
Purser’s earlier tweet was commenting on a same-sex kiss between Betty and Veronica on Riverdale and those who “ship” (support a romantic relationship) between the two characters.
Tweeted Purser:
“I don’t normally do this, but I figure now is as good a time as any to get personal. I’ve only just recently come out as bisexual to my family and friends. It’s something I am still processing and trying to understand and I don’t like talking about it too much. I’m very very new to the LGBT community. I have never heard the term ‘queerbaiting’ in my life until today. That being said, I have never ever wanted to alienate anyone and my tweet was thoughtless. I wasn’t referring to all the beronica shippers, just the ones who had been particularly cruel to me personally. Either way, it wasn’t a wise or kind thing to say and I’m disappointed in myself, especially as a Christian who has always been taught to speak love to others. Thank you to all the people who kindly reached out to me and educated me about the reality your feelings about queerbaiting and I apologize to those who were hurt.”
Purser’s tweet:
— Shannon Purser (@shannonpurser) April 19, 2017
The post ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Riverdale’ Actress Shannon Purser: I’m Bisexual appeared first on Towleroad.
‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Riverdale’ Actress Shannon Purser: I’m Bisexual
Gay Men Who Fled Chechnya Speak to CNN About Abduction, Torture: WATCH
CNN’s Russian correspondent Matthew Chance turned in a report on the detentions, torture, and murder of hundreds of gay men in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya.
Chance spoke with gay Chechen man, one identified as Ahmed, who fled the country and spoke on the condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisal.
Said Ahmed:
“My car got stopped at a Chechen police checkpoint and they asked me for my documents. They looked at them and said: ‘We are taking you.’”
Another man told Chance:
“They started beating me with their fists and feet. They wanted to get names of my gay friends from me. Then, they tied wires to my hands and put metal clippers in my ears to electrocute me. They’ve got special equipment which is very powerful. When they shock you, you jump high above the ground.”
Watch:
The leader of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya attacked international human rights organizations over the weekend, accusing them of spreading falsehoods regarding the detention, torture, and possible murder of hundreds of gay men in the country.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said on his social media account Sunday that he had met with the region’s human rights council and proclaimed that rights have undergone a “grandiose” improvement in Muslim-majority Chechnya.
Kadyrov says international organizations are conducting a “massive information attack … using the most unworthy methods, reality is distorted, attempts are being made to blacken our society, lifestyle, traditions and customs.”
Meanwhile, Crime Russia reports on a meeting between “Chechen clergy leaders and public figures” in the country over the situation (a bit of a tough translation, but quite a bit to read here – Novaya Gazeta was the paper that first broke the gay detention story):
At the conclusion of the meeting, a resolution was adopted declaring information about ‘cleansing’ gays in Chechnya “absolute lies and slander”. And its second point, according to the editors of Novaya Gazeta, states open calls for violence. The CrimeRussia quotes it unchanged.
“In view of the insult to the centuries-old foundations of Chechen society and the dignity of Chechen men, as well as our faith, we promise that the retribution will overtake true instigators, wherever and whomever they are, without a statute of limitations.”
In the fourth paragraph of the resolution, the meeting calls on “every sensible person to fight the spread of such baseness and provocation in all possible ways,” but it is noted in brackets that “possible ways” should be “lawful”.
Novaya Gazeta stresses that the main idea of the resolution “pushes religious fanatics towards massacre of journalists”.+
In its statement, the editorial staff urges the Russian authorities to give a legal assessment of the High Assembly of Islamic theologians and leaders of public opinion in Chechnya resolution and “do everything possible to stop actions aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards journalists fulfilling their professional duties.”
Also in its statement the editors of Novaya Gazeta draw the attention of the authorities to the inaction of the Investigative Committee (ICR). 10 days since the publication of the facts on mass persecution of Chechen inhabitants because of their homosexual orientation expired on April 10, the newspaper notes.
According to the law, the ICR must respond to a report of a crime within ten days. In addition, on April 8, Novaya Gazeta editor in chief Dmitry Muratov appealed to Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika with a demand to oblige the ICR of the Russian Federation to verify the facts testifying to the commission of serious crimes.
But as by April 11, there was no any Investigative Committee’s reaction; lawyer of the Agora international human rights organization Andrey Sabinin filed a complaint with the Moscow Basmanny Court. The human rights activist demanded to recognize the inaction of ICR Chairman Alexander Bastrykin unreasonable and illegal and oblige him to eliminate the violation.
UN Ambassador Nikki Haley released a statement on Monday regarding the situation in Chechnya:
We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association. If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored – Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses.
We are against all forms of discrimination, including against people based on sexual orientation. When left unchecked, discrimination and human rights abuses can lead to destabilization and conflict.
Tomorrow, the United States will lead a first-ever meeting on human rights in international conflicts in the UN Security Council to underscore our commitment to addressing human rights abuses wherever they threaten international peace and security.
The post Gay Men Who Fled Chechnya Speak to CNN About Abduction, Torture: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Gay Men Who Fled Chechnya Speak to CNN About Abduction, Torture: WATCH
게이법조회: 군사법원, 육군의 동성애자 색출에 면죄부 주나
A대위에 대한 구속영장이 발부되기 직전에 군사법원은 한때 만났던 여자친구를 감금 폭행하고, 흉기로 살해 협박한 현역 육군 소령에 대해서는 구속영장을 기각했다. 이 같은 흉악한 범죄에 대하여는 불구속 수사의 원칙을 철저히 지키던 군사법원이, 상대방의 완전한 동의하에 성행위를 하여 타인에게 그 어떤 피해를 끼치지 아니한 A대위에 대한 구속영장을 발부했다. 그 성행위가 단지 “동성 간의” 성행위라는 이유다. 군사법원의 동성애에 대한 이중잣대는 우리의 정의관념을 송두리째 흔든다.
기사 보기: 군사법원, 동성애, 게이, 사회, 구속, 게이법조회, 차별, 헌법, Korea News
www.huffingtonpost.kr/korea-gay-bar-association/story_b_16094860.html
The Curious Case of Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley finally addressed the gay murders and torture in Chechnya, and while the U.N. ambassador’s statement is more than we got from Trump or Tillerson, it feels too little, too late.
www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/4/19/curious-case-nikki-haley
Jon Ossoff Heads to Runoff With Big Vote in Georgia House Race
The Democrat narrowly missed the majority needed to avoid a runoff but got far more votes than any rival.
www.advocate.com/politics/2017/4/18/jon-ossoff-heads-runoff-strong-showing-georgia-house-race
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