House Committee Passes the Global Respect Act

LGBTQ rights are human rights and human rights are LGBTQ rights. Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee recognized this fundamental principle by passing the Global Respect Act, bipartisan legislation focused on protecting the human rights of LGBTQ people around the world.

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced the Global Respect Act on June 13, 2019 in the U.S. House and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bill in the Senate. The bill would block travel to the U.S. for people who have been responsible for the abuse or persecution of LGBTQ people abroad. While the U.S. government already has the power to withhold visas from human rights violators, this legislation would require the State Department to draw up a list of LGBTQ human rights abusers, which would be updated twice each year and submitted to Congress. After being introduced in each of the last several Congresses, this is the first time that a committee has decided to consider the legislation.

In advancing the bill, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) called it “important human rights legislation.” He added that “we need to condemn persecution and violence against LGBT communities wherever and whenever it happens and those responsible for this sort of bigotry need to face justice.”

The lead author of the bill, Rep. Cicilline, said that his bill would “ensure that human rights abusers are held accountable.” He added, “It speaks volumes to the LGBTI community around the world that the United States House stands united in support of the fundamental rights of the LGBTI community to live with dignity and free from violence, unlawful detention, torture and other indignities.”

“We are grateful to Rep. Cicilline for his ongoing leadership on LGBTQ human rights both at home and abroad, and to Chairman Engel for making this a priority for his committee” said David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs Director. “Especially at a time when the current administration consistently ignores human rights violations abroad, it is crucial that Congress make their voices heard in support of human rights and the right of every person to be who they are and to love who they love.”

hrc.org/blog/house-committee-passes-the-global-respect-act?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Kenya Sends Refugees Back to Camp Where They Faced Antigay Attacks

Armed police rounded up 76 refugees, including LGBTQ people and children, and returned them to the camp Wednesday.

www.advocate.com/world/2019/6/20/kenya-sends-refugees-back-camp-where-they-faced-antigay-attacks

Cracker Barrel tells antigay pastor hate isn’t on the menu then shows him the door

Cracker Barrel has put the brakes on an antigay pastor holding a hate event at one of its locations later this month.

Grayson Fritts, a Baptist pastor who also works as a police detective, had planned to hold an event for his congregation at a Cracker Barrel in Cleveland, Tennessee on June 29.

The decision to allow Fritts to stage an event at the eatery invited criticism from the Tennessee Democratic Party, which noted that Fritts’ beliefs conflicted with the the popular restaurant chain’s public dedication to inclusivity.

Cracker Barrel announced via Twitter that it would not allow Fritts to hold the event, saying: “We take pride in serving as a home away from home for all guests and in showing our communities and our country that the hospitality we practice is open for everyone. We serve everyone who walks through our doors with genuine hospitality, not hate, and require all guests to do the same.”

We work hard every day to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive. We strongly disagree with Mr. Fritts’ statements of hate and divisiveness. Please see our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/kYc3fwm5kD

— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) June 18, 2019

The chain also cited its corporate zero-tolerance policy for discrimination as grounds for blocking the Fritts event.

Fritts attracted national attention a few weeks ago when he labeled queer people “worthy of death” in a sermon he posted online.

The move sparked an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office into Fritts’ record to determine if his anti-LGBTQ biases affected any of his cases.

The department also placed Fritts on sick leave until July 19, when he will leave the department for good.

Related: Cop caught on camera calling gay people “freaks” and “animals” who should be “put to death”

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Poppers Found Not to Be Addictive in Study of Gay and Bisexual Men

A study of 800 gay and bisexual men aged 18-35 men who use poppers (aka Alkyl or Amyl Nitrates) “found little evidence of typical dependency characteristics, including health, social, legal and financial problems, and no correlation between popper use and mental health or psychological stress,” researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia reported.

The study’s results came in the wake of a decision by the Australian government not to outlaw alkyl nitrates but to classify them as a Schedule 3 drug available over the counter in pharmacies.

Medicalxpress.com added: ‘Currently, poppers are available on prescription from pharmacies, but they are more commonly bought illicitly, in sex-on-premises venues and LGBT bars. A vial containing 25-30mL of the clear, strong-smelling fluid, possibly labelled as “VHS tape cleaner”, “leather cleaner” or “room deodoriser”, sells for up to $50, despite costing a couple of cents to manufacture.’

Said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Demant of the study and the government classification: “What we see with this research is that poppers are a very commonly used drug in the LGBT community, both recently and over their lifetime. Most of the users are already oppressed or marginalised based on their social identity as gay or bisexual men. This creates a question as to whether there would have been a discriminatory element in banning a substance with such a low risk profile. Banning a substance that is used by so many people would create a new class of criminals, basically overnight.”

That’s not to say poppers are without their health risks. Vice spoke with Dr Aifric Boylan, Australian GP and CEO of online doctor service Qoctor. Poppers create “a sense of euphoria, increased sex drive, reduced inhibitions, increased skin sensitivity, as well as relaxation of the walls of the anus,” according to Boylan.

Added Boylan: “It is possible to develop an allergic reaction over time. Another rare but serious complication is methaemoglobinaemia, which means the blood becomes unable to carry oxygen. This can be life threatening, and it happens when a person swallows rather than inhales poppers.”

Boylan continued: “If a person is susceptible to glaucoma—a condition involving raised pressure in the eyes—amyl can make it worse. And if a person has heart or circulation problems, the unpredictable changes in blood pressure can cause them to become seriously unwell. And if a person is on treatment for erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra, poppers can also cause seriously low blood pressure which may lead to stroke.”

The post Poppers Found Not to Be Addictive in Study of Gay and Bisexual Men appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Poppers Found Not to Be Addictive in Study of Gay and Bisexual Men

Madonna Releases Powerful Video for Activist Anthem ‘I Rise’


www.advocate.com/music/2019/6/20/madonna-releases-powerful-video-activist-anthem-i-rise

Man arrested after sharing plot to murder everyone, yes everyone, at St. Louis Pride

Police in Missouri have arrested a man for threatening to murder everyone — yes, everyone — Every. Single. Person — at the St. Louis Pride Parade later this month.

Law enforcement apprehended 49-year-old Edward A. Terry earlier this week after linking him to threatening emails sent to STLPride, the organization in charge of St. Louis Pride.

In one email, Terry, who is a registered sex offender after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault against a 43-year-old woman in 1995, said he would “come to pride fest with my guns to kill every gay person I can before I kill myself.”

STLPride notified the FBI which tracked the emails to Terry’s cellphone, which led them to a home where Terry resided. He later admitted to sending the emails.

A judge set bail for Terry at a modest $20,000 despite being charged as a terrorist. He also will face outstanding charges of theft in an unrelated case.

Marty Zuniga, vice president of STLPride, said the organization works “hard to produce an event that is safe for all participants” and “takes all threats seriously and works with local law enforcement” to ensure this.

The Pride parade in downtown St. Louis, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators each years, is scheduled to take place June 30.

Related: Car plows into candlelight vigil for murdered trans woman in St. Louis

www.queerty.com/man-arrested-sharing-plot-murder-everyone-yes-everyone-st-louis-pride-20190620?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

A Glorious Previously Unreleased Version and Performance of Freddie Mercury’s ‘Time Waits For No One’ Has Just Seen the Light of Day: WATCH

Universal Music Group / UMe today released a previously unheard version of Freddie Mercury‘s “Time Waits For No One” with an unreleased performance video of the late Queen frontman.

The track, originally recorded in 1986 for the concept album of the musical ‘TIME’, is now stripped down with just a piano accompaniment. The video was shot in April 1986 at London’s Dominion Theatre.

The post A Glorious Previously Unreleased Version and Performance of Freddie Mercury’s ‘Time Waits For No One’ Has Just Seen the Light of Day: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

A Glorious Previously Unreleased Version and Performance of Freddie Mercury’s ‘Time Waits For No One’ Has Just Seen the Light of Day: WATCH

GLAAD marches with Express & local organizers during Columbus Pride

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-marches-express-local-organizers-during-columbus-pride