LGBTQ Splinter Group from Migrant Caravan is First to Arrive in Tijuana, Will Seek Asylum in U.S. – WATCH

A group of LGBTQ migrants who split off from the main migrant caravan because of discrimination are the first to arrive in Tijuana, weeks ahead of the others.

NPR reports: ‘About 80 migrants, the majority of whom identify as LGBT, splintered off from the larger group in Mexico City after weeks of what they say was discriminatory treatment by local residents and other travelers, Honduran migrant Cesar Mejia told reporters at a news conference on Sunday. “Whenever we arrived at a stopping point the LGBT community was the last to be taken into account in every way. So our goal was to change that and say, ‘This time we are going to be first,’ ” Mejia said.’

Voice of San Diego added: ‘“In this massive exodus, LGBT people have always been present,” the migrants and advocacy group Diversidad Sin Fronteras wrote in a press release Friday. “As a community we have been organizing to support our needs and during our journey we have met and helped each other. We traveled together to care for each other, not only from the violence of the state and criminal organizations, but also from the violence from civilians migrating with us.” The LGBTQ migrants had organized within the caravan itself, electing leaders and taking their own census within the larger group. It found there were more than 120 LGBTQ people within the stadium where they had been staying. LGBTQ migrants in the larger caravan decided to take their fates into their own hands and figure out a way to more quickly arrive in Tijuana.’

Most are planning to request asylum in the U.S. based on the fact that they are persecuted in their home countries, although Trump last week moved to restrict asylum for those crossing the border from Mexico, Vox reports: ‘The policy itself was developed in just a few weeks, as a slow-moving crisis of resources on the US-Mexico border turned into a hot political issue thanks to President Donald Trump’s obsession with the migrant “caravan.” It became public on Thursday evening and Friday morning, before going into effect Friday at midnight. (Even as of late Friday, some asylum officers hadn’t received guidance about how to implement the new policy.) The policy has already been challenged in court by the ACLU and other immigration advocates, who hope that a federal judge in the Northern District of California will put the policy on hold as early as Tuesday.’

The post LGBTQ Splinter Group from Migrant Caravan is First to Arrive in Tijuana, Will Seek Asylum in U.S. – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

LGBTQ Splinter Group from Migrant Caravan is First to Arrive in Tijuana, Will Seek Asylum in U.S. – WATCH

Tinder U Unleashes Rivalry Week

We’re fueling the fire.

The most heated moments of college football just got hotter. For one week only, we’ll be giving registered Tinder U students the opportunity to scope out the competition. That’s right, you can match and message with your archrivals and show your true colors, come what may. While crossing enemy lines may seem like treason, you can rest assured you’ll be doing vital research for your school, and your single life. And who doesn’t want to see what’s on the other side of the field?

Here’s How It Works:

With Tinder U, you can always see other students at your school and around you. For Rivalry Week, we will expand your Tinder U search to include students at your rival schools, regardless of if your rival school is nearby or across the country.

Don’t forget — the best defense is a good offense: You can steal their mascot, game strategy, and who knows? Maybe you’ll even steal a few hearts while you’re at it because let’s face it — all’s fair in love and war.

We wish you luck in the battle to end all battles, but remember — no matter what happens on the field, you can still score big on Tinder U.

Tinder U Rivalry Week highlights historically competitive college rivalries for students at 4-year, degree-granting colleges and universities in the U.S. from November 17 – 24. Tinder U students can opt out of Rivalry Week by visiting their settings at any time.

Enroll today!

blog.gotinder.com/tinder-u-unleashes-rivalry-week/

Gay Fitness Instructor Found Beaten to Death in Baltimore Apartment: VIDEO

Baltimore police are seeking leads after discovering Brendon Michaels, a 43-year-old gay fitness instructor at Carroll Community College, fatally beaten in his Mount Vernon apartment.

Firefighters discovered Michaels’ body after a concerned coworker called police, according to WBAL. Michaels’ death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma.

The Baltimore Sun adds: “Michaels graduated from Carroll Community College with an associate degree in 1998. The next year, he was hired full time as a fitness instructor on campus. In 2008, he became the coordinator of the campus fitness center. He also taught some fitness classes. In 2014, he was certified as a personal trainer.”

Carroll Community College released a statement: “We are extraordinarily sad to hear about the passing of our beloved friend and staff member Brendon Michaels. Brendon was a vibrant and well respected member of the College community for over 20 years. He graduated from Carroll in 1998 with an AA Degree in Arts and Sciences and began working for us shortly after graduation. He was high energy, passionate about fitness and always willing to help anyone in need. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Brendon will be truly missed and will never be forgotten.”

Police are asking anyone with information to call 410-396-2100.



The post Gay Fitness Instructor Found Beaten to Death in Baltimore Apartment: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Gay Fitness Instructor Found Beaten to Death in Baltimore Apartment: VIDEO

New FBI Statistics Show Alarming Increase in Number of Reported Hate Crimes

Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released hate crime statistics for 2017 revealing a disturbing increase of 17 percent in reported hate crimes from the previous year. Released at the start of Transgender Awareness Week, these statistics highlight the ongoing epidemic of anti-transgender violence, as well as hate violence against other marginalized communities. Because hate crimes reporting is not mandatory, the numbers undercount — likely significantly — the reality of bias-motivated crimes.

In 2017, 7,175 hate crime incidents were reported, 1,130 of which were based on sexual orientation bias and 119 on gender identity bias. These numbers reflect a five percent increase in reporting of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias, and a four percent decrease in reporting of hate crimes motivated by gender identity bias. However, of incidents reported that were motivated by gender identity bias, 106 targeted transgender people, representing a one percent increase from 2016. The overall decrease in reported hate crimes motivated by gender identity bias in 2017 is largely due to a 31 percent decrease in incidents targeting gender non-conforming people.

Despite the slight decrease in reported hate crimes motivated by gender identity bias, anti-transgender violence remains an epidemic. In 2017, advocates reported the tragic deaths of 29 transgender individuals across the U.S., the highest number ever recorded in a single year. While it is unclear if all of these were hate crimes, they illustrate the fatal violence that affects transgender people, especially transgender women of color who live at the intersections of racism, sexism and transphobia.

Unfortunately, it’s not only LGBTQ identities caught up in an epidemic of violence. Bias-motivated crimes based on race, religion, disability and gender all increased. The FBI reported that anti-Black hate crimes increased by 16 percent, from 1,739 incidents in 2016 to 2,013 incidents in 2017. Hate crimes targeting Black people represented 28 percent of all reported hate crimes in 2017. Every other racial and ethnic group also saw increases in the number of reported hate crimes in 2017.

Additionally, hate crimes motivated by anti-religious bias increased 23 percent, largely driven by a 37 percent increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes, which constituted the majority of religion motivated hate crimes. Hate crimes motivated by bias against people with disabilities increased by a disturbing 66 percent and hate crimes motivated by gender bias increased by 48 percent.

Last month, HRC joined the nation in marking 20 years since Matthew Shepard’s death. These latest FBI hate crime statistics show that even decades after his brutal murder, LGBTQ people and other minorities are still facing alarming levels of hate-fueled violence.

However, given that reporting hate crimes to the FBI is not mandatory, the FBI statistics likely represent only a fraction of such violence. While the number of jurisdictions reporting hate crimes data increased to 16,149 in 2017 from 15,251 in 2016, thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the country did not submit any data. The lack of mandatory reporting means that the FBI data, while helpful, paints an incomplete picture of hate crimes against the LGBTQ and other communities. In addition, 87 percent of the agencies that participated in the program reported no hate crimes in their jurisdiction, suggesting that agencies still face challenges in identifying and reporting hate crimes.

That is why since the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) in 2009, HRC has worked with the FBI to update the agency’s crime reporting, from providing training materials to sharing details on hate crimes when they occur. HRC continues to press for improved reporting, passage of state laws that protect LGBTQ individuals from hate crimes, and expanded education and training initiatives.

The Anti-Defamation League has mapped the hate crime incidents that were reported in cities with populations of more than 100,000 and includes information on reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity biases. You can view this map here.

www.hrc.org/blog/new-fbi-statistics-show-alarming-increase-in-number-of-reported-hate-crimes?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

You ‘win’ a horrific new video game by shooting LGBTQ people in a nightclub
“Angry Goy 2” comes from the demented mind of “Crying Nazi” Christopher Cantwell and it’s even worse than you can imagine.

www.queerty.com/win-horrific-new-video-game-shooting-lgbtq-people-nightclub-20181113?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29