Starkville, MS Pride to Go Ahead After Revote in Face of Federal Lawsuit

Pride organizers in the city of Starkville, Mississippi got the go ahead to proceed with a March 24 LGBTQ Pride parade after Mayor Lynn Spruill broke a 3-3 tie between aldermen during a revote on the event.

After the alderman denied organizers their parade in February following more than a dozen people who spoke in favor of the parade and two who opposed, a federal lawsuit was filed against the city.

The AP reports:

“What happened at tonight’s meeting was a victory not only for our clients and for their equal dignity under the law, but also for the core principle that in this country, we do not restrict a person’s ability to speak based on whether or not we agree with what they have to say,” said Roberta Kaplan, lawyer for Starkville Pride and organizers Bailey McDaniel and Emily Turner.

Spruill, who doesn’t normally vote on the board, had supported the parade, saying the rejection didn’t reflect Starkville’s diversity and welcoming attitude. She got the chance to cast the deciding vote after Alderman David Little said he maintained his “principled position” but would abstain.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan

The aldermen who voted against the parade did not explain why, but given the city’s history it’s not hard to assume.

The AP adds:

Starkville has a recent history of public contention over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. In 2015, aldermen repealed a resolution that made Starkville the first city in Mississippi to denounce discrimination based on sexual orientation. The same day, aldermen also repealed a city health insurance policy that allowed employees to insure same-sex partners. Gay marriage was legalized later that year nationwide by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The city meeting room was crammed past its capacity Tuesday, with people standing in the lobby. Supporters told aldermen that rejecting the parade was an assault on members of the community.

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Starkville, MS Pride to Go Ahead After Revote in Face of Federal Lawsuit

Did Cops Ignore a Serial Killer Because His Victims Weren’t White or Straight?

Bruce McArthur, accused of killing seven men in Toronto, is finally in custody. Some say the police ignored the men’s disappearances because they were gay and bi men of color.     

www.advocate.com/crime/2018/3/07/did-cops-ignore-serial-killer-because-his-victims-werent-white-or-straight

Mississippi Town Reverses Decision, Will Allow Pride Parade

The new vote in Starkville, Miss., came after the group organizing the parade filed a federal lawsuit.

www.advocate.com/pride/2018/3/06/mississippi-town-reverses-decision-will-allow-pride-parade

Hawaii State Senate Votes to Protect LGBTQ Youth from Abusive Practice of “Conversion Therapy”

HRC praised the Hawaii State Senate for passing SB 270 — legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”

“We thank the state senators who voted to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and inhumane practice of conversion therapy,” said HRC Legislative Counsel Xavier Persad. “Children across the Aloha State deserve to live their lives authentically, and they deserve to know that they are not broken or ill because of who they are. We are calling on the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this bill and send it to Governor David Ige’s desk for his signature.”

There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people such as depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, and Rhode Island all have laws or regulations protecting youth from this abusive practice. A growing number of municipalities have also enacted similar protections, including cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Florida, New York, and Arizona.

Last week, the Washington State Legislature also passed similar protections and the measure now awaits the governor’s signature.

According to a recent report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to conversion therapy by a licensed healthcare professional if state officials fail to act.

More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found here.
 

www.hrc.org/blog/hi-state-senate-votes-to-protect-lgbtq-youth-from-abusive-practice-of-conve?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Ricky Martin Responds to Gus Kenworthy’s ‘Missed Connections’ Ad: WATCH

Ricky Martin appeared on The Talk today and was asked about Gus Kenworthy’s “Missed Connections” ad which the Olympic skier posted after the Oscars. See his response above.

The Instagram entry was directed at Martin and his husband Jwan Yosef (read it HERE) from Kenworthy and his boyfriend Matthew Wilkas.

RELATED: Gus Kenworthy and BF Matt Wilkas Looking to ‘Connect’ with Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef

Wrote Kenworthy: “Living La Vida Lonely – m4m (LA, California)
Us: We were wearing black Ralph Lauren tuxedos, mine had little cowboys on it. You: You were also both wearing tuxedos because… well, because it was the Oscar’s and everybody does. You and your husband stood out though. Partly because you’re both gorgeous but also because you’re literally @ricky_martin & @jwanyosef. The four of us chatted and laughed but then, sadly, got separated in the chaos of the Oscar’s. My bf and I searched for you both for the rest of the night but never found you again. In town for a week. Let’s connect.”

Kenworthy responded to Martin by clearing his schedule.

*clears schedule for the rest of the week* t.co/E1bOeAPLYq

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) March 6, 2018

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Ricky Martin Responds to Gus Kenworthy’s ‘Missed Connections’ Ad: WATCH