New Zealand Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Bill Erasing Past Criminal Convictions for Gay Sex

New Zealand’s parliament has unanimously passed legislation that would erase past criminal convictions for homosexuality.

AFP reports:

Homosexuality was decriminalized in New Zealand in 1986, but people who were convicted before then still had the offence listed on their official records…

…”I would like to apologize again to all the men and members of the rainbow community who have been affected by the prejudice, stigma and other negative effects caused by convictions for historical homosexual offenses,” Justice Minister Andrew Little said.

“This bill sends a clear signal that discrimination against gay people is no longer acceptable, and that we are committed to putting right wrongs from the past.”

The legislation will affect approximately 1,000 people who can seek to have records cleared.

The post New Zealand Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Bill Erasing Past Criminal Convictions for Gay Sex appeared first on Towleroad.

New Zealand Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Bill Erasing Past Criminal Convictions for Gay Sex

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 4, 2018

EARLY RESULTS IN ANCHORAGE INDICATE VOTERS REJECTING ANTI-TRANSGENDER PROP 1: Mail-in voting on an effort to roll back the city’s critical anti-discrimination measure protecting transgender people ended yesterday. “We are encouraged by the results of the first 50,000 votes, representing a quarter of all of Anchorage registered voters, and are optimistic that this discriminatory proposition will be defeated as the remainder of mail-in ballots continue to be counted,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “HRC was proud to work on the ground alongside our Fair Anchorage coalition partners, leading transgender advocates, and Equality Voters across Anchorage. We are also thankful for the significant faith and business leaders who have spoken out against this dangerous, anti-transgender ballot measure.” HRC served on the campaign board for Fair Anchorage, and had field staff working on the ground with the campaign to mobilize opposition to Proposition 1 and elevate transgender voices and stories in the fight. More from Anchorage Press and KTUU.

.@HRC was proud to fight alongside @ACLUofAlaska, @fairanchorage & tremendous LGBTQ advocates against #Prop1. While ballots are still being counted, we have a strong lead this AM. We’re sending a message to bigots everywhere: You come for us & we’ll come for you on Election Day. pic.twitter.com/ey6HDtomuX

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 4, 2018

MORE GAY AND BI CHECHEN MEN REVEAL BRUTAL TREATMENT BY GOVERNMENT: Two more Chechens have broken their silence about experiencing torture at the hands of their government before managing to escape. Novaya Gazeta, a Russian independent media outlet, first broke the news a year ago that authorities in the Russian republic rounded up and detained in secret prisons more than 100 men suspected of being gay or bisexual. Chechen leaders have denied the accusations — going so far as to deny the very existence of LGBTQ people in Chechnya. However, there have been numerous verified reports of torture and the deaths of at least three and possibly as many as 20 men. More from senior reporter Brendan Cole (@brendanmarkcole) in Newsweek.

• HRC President Chad Griffin recently sent a letter to Donald Trump calling on him to end his deafening silence on the ongoing anti-LGBTQ crimes against humanity in Chechnya. More from HRC.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY — JAY-Z TALKS ABOUT SHEDDING TEARS OF HAPPINESS WHEN HIS MOM FINALLY CAME OUT: In an interview with David Letterman, Jay-Z said, “For her to sit in front of me and tell me ‘I think I love someone’ — I mean, I really cried. That’s a real story. I cried because I was so happy for her that she was free.” More from Jon Blistein (@jonblistein) at Rolling Stone.

REFLECTING ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR’S DEATH: Today marks 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. HRC commemorates his life and legacy by working every day to deepen our commitment to working at the intersections of LGBTQ and racial justice.

• Dorian Warren (@dorianwarren), president of the Center for Community Change Action, reflects on Dr. King’s legacy and the state of equality on this somber anniversary in Commercial Appeal.

Today marks 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. @HRC commemorates his life and legacy by deepening our commitment to working at the intersections of LGBTQ equality and racial justice. #MLK50 pic.twitter.com/9olFdntOsx

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 4, 2018

HRC CONGRATULATES REBECCA DALLET ON RESOUNDING SUPREME COURT WIN IN WISCONSIN: “In races across the country, voters are rejecting anti-equality candidates who threaten to turn back the clock on the LGBTQ progress. HRC was proud to mobilize our members and supporters in the state to turn out for equality. We look forward to building on this momentum through the midterm elections in November,” said HRC Wisconsin State Manager Wendy Strout. More from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

HRC MOURNS SASHA WALL, A TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Wall, 29, a transgender woman of color,  was fatally shot Sunday morning in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. While no arrests have been made, police believe that Wall likely knew her killer, according to WSOC-TV, which sadly misgendered her in its article. Donovan Dunlap, a friend of Wall’s, expressed condolences on Facebook, writing, “Sasha Wall you had me always taking photo of you, you stayed ready for the camera. I will miss you my beautiful sister. I cannot sleep, I hope they find who did this.” More from HRC.

YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING PrEP: POZ editor-at-large Benjamin Ryan (@scribenyc) writes that cost and the stigma around HIV and AIDS are contributing to their difficulty accessing the life-saving drug. More from POZ.

MASSACHUSETTS JOINS COALITION OF 19 ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGING TRUMP-PENCE TO WITH DRAW SO-CALLED “CONSCIENCE” HHS RULE: More from Legal NewsLine.

CRUEL — LOUISIANA PRINCIPAL REFUSES TO ALLOW TRANS STUDENT TO TAKE YEARBOOK PHOTO AS TRUE SELF: Kami Pham, a transgender girl, was not allowed to wear girls’ clothing in her senior pictures. Principal Jeff Roberts also told Kami she would not be allowed to walk at graduation if she dressed as her true self. More from CBS Sacramento.

CONGRATS TO CHRIS JOHNSON (@chrisjohnson82) OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE:

The White House Correspondents’ Association is pleased to announce that @chrisjohnson82 of the Washington Blade has received an honorable mention in the Merriman Smith Award for print reporting on the White House under deadline pressure.

— WHCA (@whca) April 2, 2018

JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS — MISS VANJIE… MISS VANJIE… MISS…. VANJIE: If you’ve been on Twitter at all these past two weeks, you’ve no doubt experienced the indelible legacy of Vanessa Vanjie Mateo (@VanessaVanjie), whose sashay off RuPaul’s Drag Race captured our hearts — and launched countless memes. Come get these cookies from Steven Daw (@stephenrdaw) at Billboard.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

GHANAIAN MAN HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS LIFE AFTER HIS SAME-SEX PARTNER WAS LYNCHED: Local advocates say officials are not investigating the crime. More from NewNowNext.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BLOCKS POPULAR LGBTQ WEBSITE: It was blocked because of Russia’s discriminatory “anti-propaganda” law. More from Advocate.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

David Toussaint (@DRToussaint) writes for NewNowNext about having a mental illness as an LGBTQ person; HuffPost features a mother of a trans daughter about her advocacy; Care2 provides the lay of the land in the fight for Northern Ireland marriage equality; Los Angeles Blade remembers LGBTQ ally Steven Bochco; Refinery29 interviews Erin Bailey, the 18-year-old organizing an LGBTQ Pride festival in Mike Pence’s hometown; Geeks of Color discusses why LGBTQ representation in movies like Love, Simon are important; InStyle profiles openly transgender Minneapolis City Councilmember Andrea Jenkins (@annapoetic)

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-april-4-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

51 Times Donald Trump Failed at Basic English

One of Trump’s many problems is a lack of spelling ability, as evidenced by his tweets. We edit them here.

www.advocate.com/politics/2018/4/04/51-times-donald-trump-failed-basic-english

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars Farrah Moan and Shea Coulee Attacked by UK Homophobe: VIDEO

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 stars Farrah Moan and Shea Coulee were attacked in a kebab shop in Newcastle, UK on Sunday night.

A Snapchat video showing them interacting with a drunk customer who was taunting them with gay slurs began spreading on social media.

“Slut,” said the customer.

“Why are you so greasy?”, responded Farrah.

“Why are you so gay?”, asked the customer.

“Because I’m a motherf**king star and I’ve been on TV…We’re touring the whole world being gay. What are you doing? You’re living in Newcastle with your crusty-ass eyelashes.”

“You’re a walking STD!”, said the woman, touching Farrah.

“Don’t touch me!”, demanded Farrah.

Farrah later tweeted about the video after it began circulating: “so I didnt wanna bring attention to the negativity that happened to me and shea last night in Newcastle at a kebab shop but the vid is spreading. No need to apologize on behalf of the city- our show was amazing and theres homophobic twats all over the world. Love you guys! … Hahaha I didn’t maintain my classiness to well in the video… I was drunk as hell and some lil girl came up to Shea and I with her phone calling us faggots, walking stds cuz my hair was pink and I guess she was white girl wasted ”

so I didnt wanna bring attention to the negativity that happened to me and shea last night in Newcastle at a kebab shop but the vid is spreading. No need to apologize on behalf of the city- our show was amazing and theres homophobic twats all over the world. Love you guys!

— Farrah Moan (@farrahrized) April 3, 2018

The only reason I addressed it was because came home to find my inbox flooded and I didn’t want anyone getting wrongly accused. Also I got thousands of death threats after drag race so I think these homophobic ass holes will be fine lol let’s not sympathize w/ abusers

— Farrah Moan (@farrahrized) April 4, 2018

It was complete madness I’ve never used the word “greasy” so many times in my entire life

— Farrah Moan (@farrahrized) April 4, 2018

Been truly having the most incredible time touring the U.K. And meeting all of you I can’t believe it’s almost over also @SheaCoulee is a literal goddess pic.twitter.com/hF94YU6srN

— Farrah Moan (@farrahrized) April 4, 2018

Shea Coulee later described the incident on stage, and said a “6’2″ glamazon named Stef” asked the taunter if she wanted to fight, and the taunter said “yes…you gonna f**kin’ hit me over some dumb fag” and Stef “throat-punched that bitch”:

The post ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars Farrah Moan and Shea Coulee Attacked by UK Homophobe: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars Farrah Moan and Shea Coulee Attacked by UK Homophobe: VIDEO

One of MLK’s Dreams Was an End to Gun Violence

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Guns are going to be the death of this country.” Will we prove him right?

www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/4/04/one-mlks-dreams-was-end-gun-violence