In Gambia, Being LGBT Now Means Torture, Life in Jail
The west African nation has been cracking down on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people — and will now throw away the key for those convicted of “aggravated homosexuality.”
Thom Senzee
www.advocate.com/world/2014/11/21/gambia-being-lgbt-now-means-torture-life-jail
Matthew Shepard's Mom: Clinton Got 'Bad Advice' On DOMA
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has endured significant criticism for signing the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996 — and he has since had a complete change of heart — but one of the most high-profile parents in the queer community says the legislation wasn’t fully Clinton’s fault.
Judy Shepard, the mother of the late Matthew Shepard, gave Clinton the benefit of the doubt on HuffPost Live this week.
“I personally think he just got some bad advice,” Shepard told host Josh Zepps during a conversation about the upcoming documentary on her son. “I think in [Clinton’s] heart, he wanted to do the right thing and he knew what the right thing was, but the political advice was not right.”
Since President Barack Obama’s “evolving” attitude on same-sex marriage turned into full-fledged support in 2012, DOMA has been overturned and society’s acceptance of gays is at an all-time high — 8 out of 10 Americans now support marriage equality.
Shepard said she is “absolutely” impressed by the pace of change since her son’s death 16 years ago, adding that electing Obama gave Americans “permission” to finally support the gay community.
“We knew we weren’t going to get very far with past leadership, but with President Obama, he’s a leader who understands social injustice and has his people around him who understand it too,” she said. “So it became just a matter of the right message and the timing, and it’s just been incredible.”
Watch the video above to hear more from Matthew Shepard’s parents, and click here to watch the full interview.
Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live’s new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!
Fayetteville Honors Transgender Day of Remembrance with Hope for the Future
On Thursday evening an amazing event was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, honoring the transgender community with over sixty people in attendance.
HRC.org
Austin Police Department Welcomes First Openly Transgender Officer: VIDEO
Austin Police Department’s Senior Officer Greg Abbink introduced himself as the first openly transgender man on the Austin police force during his Transgender Day of Remembrance speech outside of Austin’s city hall on Thursday reports KXAN News. Officer Abbink, who joined the force a decade ago as Emily, officially changed his name this past spring. This year also marks the first time a transgender officer was chosen from APD’s Lesbian and Gay Police Officers Association to deliver the speech.
Said Abbink:
“I was honored when I was asked to speak,” said Abbink. “I can’t imagine the city of Austin or the Austin Police Department, for that matter, being any more supportive than they are. I consider APD my family. They are truly my brothers and sisters.”
Officer Abbink says coming out as transgender comes with its own challenges, but recognizes there are certain rewards that come with it as well.
Added Abbink:
“I didn’t do this for anyone other than me, and I don’t mean to sound selfish, but I had to do this to be the best person that I can be, so that I can serve the public — the city of Austin — to the best of my ability.
“I’d like to be a role model if I can.”
Watch Officer Abbink’s interview with KNAX, AFTER THE JUMP…
Anthony Costello
www.towleroad.com/2014/11/austin-police-department-welcomes-first-openly-transgender-officer.html
Hot Sheet: November 21, 2014
Our top 10 entertainment and events highlights this week include Cher, Wonder Woman, Alvin Ailey, Mary J. Blige, and the penultimate chapter of the Hunger Games saga, Mockingjay Part 1.
Advocate.com Editors
www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/hot-sheet/2014/11/21/hot-sheet-november-21-2014
Viral Infection Forces Cher To Cancel Remainder Of Dressed To Kill Tour
Cher has canceled the remaining 29 dates on her Dressed To Kill tour after developing a viral infection that’s “affected her kidney function,” according to a press release.
The singer postponed several dates in September when the infection was first spotted, but a month later they were rescheduled. Now the final leg of the tour, which first launched in March, has been nixed altogether.
Cher took to Twitter to express her disappointment, saying this and the death of director Mike Nichols, with whom she worked on the movie “Silkwood,” have left her “devastated”:
I’m SORRY I Couldn’t B the 1 to tell you about postponing my tour.
I Tried SO HARD 2b Strong enough,but my Will couldn’t force my Body time
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
let’s talk about it tomm. Between gut wrenching Sadness of not being Able 2go on stage,
sing,b Silly,& wear new Mackie’s & Mike
Dying,I’m
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Im devastated (& NO fun 2b around)that I’m not packing all Blk & 1 P.Treacy 4 Bus WILL NEVER SAY AGAIN“Is It Show Nite?I’m
A-Wee-Bit Tired”
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
Am Trying 2“Let go & Let God,“but I suck at Letting Go & Letting Anybody! This is a CRUSHING BLOW 4 ME & IM BEYOND SORRY 4 DISSAPOINTING U
— Cher (@cher) November 21, 2014
“While her progress has been consistent, Cher’s doctors have advised her to take more time to ensure a complete and total recovery,” the release said.
The canceled dates are as follows:
Nov. 9, 2014: Lubbock, Texas – United Supermarkets Arena
Nov. 11, 2014: Austin, Texas – Frank Erwin Center
Nov. 13, 2014: Corpus Christi, Texas – American Bank Center
Nov. 15, 2014: Bossier City, Los Angeles – CenturyLink Center
Nov. 17, 2014: Pensacola, Florida – Pensacola Bay Center
Nov. 19, 2014: Charleston, South Carolina – North Charleston Coliseum
Nov. 23, 2014: Auburn Hills, Michigan – Palace of Auburn Hills
Dec. 2, 2014: Allentown, Pennsylvania – PPL Center
Dec. 4, 2014: Albany, New York – Times Union Center
Dec. 6, 2014: Washington D.C. – Verizon Center
Dec. 8, 2014: Uniondale, New York – Nassau Coliseum
Dec. 10, 2014: New York, New York – Madison Square Garden
Dec. 12, 2014: Newark, New Jersey – Prudential Center
Dec. 13, 2014: Hartford, Connecticut – XL Center
Dec. 15, 2014: New York, New York – Madison Square Garden
Jan. 5, 2015: Manchester, New Hampshire – Verizon Wireless Arena
Jan. 7, 2015: Boston, Massachusetts – TD Garden
Jan. 9, 2015: State College, Pennsylvania – Bryce Jordan Center
Jan. 11, 2015: Grand Rapids, Michigan – Van Andel Arena
Jan. 13, 2015: Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre
Jan. 15, 2015: Ft Wayne, Indiana – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Jan. 17, 2015: Green Bay, Wisconsin – Resch Center
Jan. 19, 2015: Moline, Illinois – iWireless Center
Jan. 21, 2015: Chicago, Illinois – United Center
Jan. 23, 2015: Cincinnati, Ohio – US Bank Arena
Jan. 25, 2015: Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Denny Sanford Premier Center
Jan. 27, 2015: Omaha, Nebraska – CenturyLink Center
Jan. 29, 2015: Wichita, Kansas – INTRUST Bank Arena
Feb. 4, 2015: Fargo, North Dakota – Fargodome
Michelle Duggar Is Harassing Neighbors With Super Creepy Phone Message About Trans People
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are at it again.
Last week, the 19 Kids and Counting reality stars made headlines when they launched an impromptu kiss-a-thon on social media, encouraging couples everywhere to post photographs of themselves swapping spit to the Duggar’s Facebook page.
Everything was going fine until gay couples started sharing their kissy photos. The Duggars quickly deleted them. But they were careful to leave up pictures of people making out with Godzilla, Diet Coke, Tide Pods and a 14-year-old cat.
Now, it’s been uncovered that Michelle Duggar has been on a not-so-secret campaign to warn residents of Fayetteville, Arkansas that all transgender people are child predators out to rape little girls.
According to sources, Duggar has enlisted the help of an automated call system to cold call residents. When they pick up the phone, the following creepy message is played:
Hello, this is Michelle Duggar. I’m calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children. The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men–yes, I said men–to use women’s and girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only. I don’t believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls.
Of course, this hardly the first time the Duggar family has tried to squash the rights of LGBT people. Last year, the couple endorsed sodomy-obsessed candidate Ken Cuccinelli for Virginia governor. They also encouraged their oldest son, Josh, to become an antigay activist. And they once embarked on a seven state bus tour to oppose marriage equality.
As a result of Michelle’s latest telephone scheme, an online petition calling for Duggar’s TLC reality show to be cancelled has begun circulating.
“End LGBTQ fear mongering by the Duggars,” the petition reads. “The Duggars have been using their fame to promote discrimination, hate, and fear-mongering against gays and transgendered people. You need to take a stand on the side of justice and cancel their show.”
So far the petition has garnered more than 130,000 signatures.
TLC is not yet issued a response to the petition.
h/t: Pink News
Related stories:
Oldest Duggar Child Now Antigay Activist, Will The Other 18 Follow Suit?
Six Loony Anti-Gay Rants From This Week. And It’s Only Wednesday.
Graham Gremore is a columnist and contributor for Queerty and Life of the Law. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Graham Gremore
News: Gwyneth Paltrow, Beard Nets, Zoolander 2, Harry Styles
House Republicans have filed a lawsuit against President Obama over the Affordable Care Act.
Gwyneth Paltrow throws shade at Martha Stewart with “Jailbird Cake” recipe.
Check out this Vogue feature on the wedding of designer Joseph Altuzarra and New York real estate developer Seth Weissman.
Sales of “beard nets” are on the rise as a result of more and more people sporting hipster scruff in the food preparation industry.
FRC hate leader Tony Perkins says gay people are “excluding themselves” from the “divine and natural reality” of marriage.
WATCH: Stephen Colbert’s hilarious interview with Jon Stewart last night.
A Zoolander sequel has been confirmed, with Justin Theroux writing and Ben Stiller directing.
Tom Daley looks cute as a button at the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park.
Harry Styles nixes rumors that he bought 1,989 roses for ex Taylor Swift to celebrate her new album.
Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul gets a release date.
Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson might be resigning from the force.
Television streaming tech company Aereo has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following their Jude defeat in a SCOTUS case brought by several broadcast networks.
A mysterious space object has scientists puzzled as to whether its a black hole or an exploding star.
Find out what critics are saying about The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
A new Michigan State University study shows a bad marriage could literally break your heart.
How to Get Away With Murder showrunner Pete Nowalk (who previously dished on the show’s steamy gay sex scenes) chats with EW about last night’s killer midseason twist.
Kyler Geoffroy
Mom Takes On Fox News Over Network's Reporting Of LGBT Rights, Gender Non-Conforming Youth
By Lisa J. Keating | The Next Family
I’d like to bring to the surface and discuss the real life damage that occurs because of the type of reporting on gender diversity by Fox News and other conservative media outlets. Who really gets hurt? The kids who identify as cisgender boys and girls? No. I believe it is a broader, more negative impression.
The influence, status, and privilege that media organizations such as Fox News enjoy, gives permission to people and religious organizations to further discriminate against those they deem unworthy or less valuable than themselves.
I want to be upfront and transparent about my own specific personal bias towards Fox News because while it helps fuel my passion for a call to action for change, it doesn’t weaken the argument. I find the commentary, as a whole, to be degrading, elitist and deliberately antagonistic. No group or individual is spared from their “mean girl” tactics; teachers, any non-Christian religious organization, young African American males, women, rape victims, immigrants, climate change, equal rights, marriage equality and LGBTQ rights. No group or person that differs from their limited ideology about America is spared from the Fox News gang mentality of degradation.
Since I’m in the business of advocating for gender non-conforming youth, bully prevention, and youth leadership, I’m addressing the elephant in the room; the bully that is Fox News. Now with any bully, the first step is to identify the behavior. Tap Root Theater, based in Seattle, Washington, teaches students the 3 R’s: Recognize, Refuse, Report.
We’ll begin with Recognizing the behavior. A few weeks ago, Carlos Maza, LGBT program director for Media Matters, wrote about the cause and effect conservative media has on creating safe schools for transgender students, highlighting Fox News’ coverage of a school district in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Lincoln School District distributed educational material from the website for Gender Spectrum providing steps schools can implement for more inclusive classrooms and learning environments (enters Fox News).
Gretchen Carlson said during a segment on her show, “Don’t kids have enough to worry about right now? Now we’re going to confuse them even more — right before puberty, by the way — to not call each other what the majority of the population really is, and that would be boys and girls. Once again, this is pandering to outrageous over correction of a society addicted to making sure we take care of the .001 of the population instead of the masses. I want to be very clear: I am not against transgender people or transgender kids in any way, but to make an entire population start calling each other “purple penguins” because maybe one child in the entire school system will turn out to be transgender is crazy.”
Okay, can you recognize the intimidation and exclusion in Gretchen’s statement? Do you see how transgender people are marginalized by her (assuming Gretchen’s preferred pronoun is she) views? Did you notice that there is an assumption that there “might be ONE” transgender child in an entire school district? How about the insinuation that this information is confusing to kids, especially before puberty? Additionally, I’d like to know who’s in this “majority” population Gretchen is referring to. I wonder if she’s been to my town.
Now that we’ve recognized the bullying behavior let’s move onto the next R, Refuse. I am refusing to allow this type of reporting and dialog to go unnoticed. If I’m not willing to stand up and say something how will other people get the courage to do the same? Lead by example, right?
When LGBTQ youth are not allowed to be treated with the same respect and rights as straight, cisgender students it puts them at a higher rate of physical risk. Just ask Tiffany Morones-Suttle, whose son, Michael, attempted to hang himself in their home this past January because he’d been bullied for liking My Little Pony. Michael might have made a different choice had his school had an accepting climate and culture. He might not be in a wheelchair and be able to tell us his own story firsthand.
The final step is to Report. Who am I reporting to? Well, you I guess. I don’t know who else to tell. And I need your help because I can’t do it alone. This bully has too much power to be influenced by one person. I understand that it may feel impossible to get them to stop treating people so badly. Maybe it’s like an abusive relationship that will never end.
If we speak up together, our collective voices get louder and louder. We can support one another while sending a message that we aren’t going to allow Fox News to continue degrading and humiliating people they don’t like or approve of any longer. Let’s look at what recently took place in Berea, Kentucky.
On October 22, Silas House wrote a piece for The New York Times about gay rights in rural America. Earlier that month the City Council of Berea, Kentucky voted 5-3 against an ordinance banning discriminating against people for their sexual orientation or gender identity. House wrote, “The equality divide we face is no longer between red and blue states, but between urban and rural America. Even as we celebrate victories like this month’s Supreme Court order on same-sex marriage, the real front in the battle for equality remains the small towns that dot America’s landscape.”
The correlation that we must recognize, is that as adults we set the context that trickles down to our youth. The City Council of Berea not only set a legal precedent to discriminate against Berea LGBTQ citizens; they made the legal path to extend that discrimination to children, too. It becomes a grey area. Back to Fox News, are they breaking any laws by reporting inaccurately and with prejudice? No, they are not. The First Amendment keeps them cozy and safe, legally. Ethically and morally is another matter and that is what I am challenging.
At a Lincoln (Nebraska) school board meeting former city council woman, Robin Eschliman, protested, opposing the educational material for more inclusive schools and classrooms, using the argument that gender fluidity is a political view. The byproduct of her protests (and a further campaign to discredit Gender Spectrum from Fox News) was that the Lincoln school district removed the educational fliers from Gender Spectrum.
I can guarantee you that my child has no political views, let alone political ones regarding gender expression or identity. No child does and that is an uneducated opinion about the complexities of gender that directly interferes with the efforts of organizations like Gender Spectrum, Welcoming Schools, TransActive, Gender Diversity, The Michael Morones Foundation, The Trevor Project, GLSEN, and Trans Youth Family Allies.
Fox News is targeting a vulnerable population. These children have no way of defending themselves against a giant media organization spreading misinformation, lies, and ones that condemn organizations who’s mission’s are to spread awareness and education.
As Gretchen said, “maybe one child in the entire school system will turn out to be transgender”…maybe it’s just one. Isn’t that life worth protecting?
Join me in signing this petition to protect trans and gender non-conforming kids from reckless and irresponsible reporting. Let’s use our voices to create a safer, more educated environment for them to grow and become successful people. Everyone should have that right.
More on The Next Family:
13 Breath-Taking Moments and The Dads Who Lived Them
An LGBT Perspective on What It Will Be Like To Raise Kids in the South
Gay Dads Who Saved Their Sons Life
Lisa J. Keating is a writer for The Next Family and lives with her family in Seattle. She is also the founder of My Purple Umbrella.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/21/mom-vs-fox-news_n_6200292.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices
Learning the Power of Love, Acceptance and Dedication from LGBT Families
Amy Imber writes about her work in adoption and sends encouragement those within the community who want to adopt, but fear they will be discriminated against.
HRC.org
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