Think twice before adding 'mermaid tails' to Christmas list, commissioner warns
West Australian Consumer Protection acting commissioner David Hillyard also issued a warning about the tails to parents last week. But mermaid tails are not the only toy that have caught the eye of authorities this Christmas. Roads Minister Duncan Gay has …

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Carter claims SPOTY award
New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has been named BBC Overseas Sports … Matt Kvesic and Paul Doran-Jones to do some doodling and chat tight team mates for #CoffeeClub Gloucester. Steve Borthwick has quit Bristol to take up his new role with England, but …

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Hall of Fire this weekend: Fingolfin
It is based on internet relay chat technology (that means it’s hella old skool). It’s a text-only, moderated chat room full of eccentric Tolkien fans. We’re open 24/7 (although some times are busier and more active than others). There are many ways …

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Barack Obama urges US to 'stay united', remain vigilant against homegrown IS militants
United States President Barack Obama has urged Americans to remain … says she is “bewildered” by the continuing controversy over gay marriage in Australia. The collapse of Soundwave this week was the final chapter in a remarkable story of the rise …

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MEI Success Story: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Post submitted Nellie Fitzpatrick, Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs Director
 
For decades, Philadelphia has been on the frontlines of LGBT civil rights. Since the first LGBT rights bill was introduced in the 1980s, Philadelphia has grown into a city dedicated to inclusion and equality.
 
Established by Mayor Michael Nutter in 2008, the Office of LGBT Affairs serves as a conduit and advocate for Philadelphia’s LGBT communities within our government. This past November, Philadelphians voted to amend our city charter to make permanent the Office of LGBT Affairs, recognizing the contributions of LGBT Philadelphians to our city, and ensuring LGBT Philadelphians have a voice in our government for decades to come.
 
This year also saw the creation of the Gotta Go! Guide, an interactive, Google Maps-based guide to gender-neutral bathrooms across the city. The purpose of the Gotta Go! Guide is to help trans and gender non-conforming folk locate a bathroom they can use without fear or anxiety of gender policing or violence.
 
In October, Philadelphia’s city council unanimously passed legislation requiring all single-stall bathrooms in Philadelphia to be gender-neutral. All people deserve to safely access a restroom when they need one. The office has also continued to work closely with the Philadelphia Police Department to train police cadets in LGBT competency, and to coordinate with the police department’s LGBT liaison on the implementation of Directive 152, an internal police directive on appropriate interactions between police and transgender people.
 
There is always room for improvement, but we are proud of the work that can be accomplished when the lines of communication are open.
 
In other exciting news, LGBT-identified law enforcement officers across the greater Philadelphia region have come together to form the Greater Philadelphia Gay Officer Action League (GOAL), an LGBT law enforcement organization. This new chapter of the Philadelphia Police Department’s history undoubtedly marks profound progress, and the Office of LGBT affairs is proud to support the efforts of these officers as they support each other. Thanks to their brave and pioneering efforts, advocates are no longer fighting alone from the outside, and we will see further progress through these change agents within.
 
In my role as Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, I am tasked with elevating the diversity, along with the unique needs, of the LGBT community. This year, the Office has striven to bring increased visibility to each of our LGBT communities. The City of Philadelphia demonstrated its commitment to bisexual visibility by proclaiming September 23, 2015 to be Bisexual Visibility Day, in honor and celebration of our wonderfully diverse bisexual community.
 
This year also marked the first official trans pride flag raising ceremony, where the trans pride flag was proudly flown at Philadelphia City Hall for the first time in the City’s history. Children attending Philadelphia’s Trans Health Conference raised the flag, and Philadelphia will proudly carry on this tradition for years to come.
 
In honor of LGBT History Month, the city also unveiled a newly designed rainbow pride flag embroidered with the seal of the City of Philadelphia and the Office of LGBT Affairs. The flag was raised for the first time during the sixth annual LGBT rainbow flag raising ceremony held on October 6, 2015.
 
It is my distinct honor to stand on the shoulders of the pioneering Philadelphians who came before me to help organize and energize this large scale response, and to continue to lead Philadelphia towards true equality for all. Let’s get stuff done.
 
To see how your city score on this year’s Municipal Equality Index, visit www.hrc.org/MEI. 

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Religious Colleges: Transgender Law Exemption Is Our ‘Defensive Measure’ Against Social Changes
Several religiously affiliated universities and colleges in the United States have been criticized by transgender and gay activists after they have received waivers from the federal government exempting them from abiding the legal provisions that appeared …

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OBVIOUSLY there is already a Star Wars gay porn parody
Lines for the “Star Wars” opening in Raleigh Thursday. She came, she said, because she likes Harrison Ford. United Kingdom inflation turns positive in November Treasury debt prices fell to session lows, while the dollar rose against a basket of currencies …

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Girl next door is typical human trafficking victim
401. Their traffickers advertise their services online. It is estimated that on any given day, 500 of the online sex ads involve victims of human trafficking. While police and organizations such as Toronto’s Covenant House work tirelessly to provide …

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St. Anselm prepares for Democratic debate
“So we’re definitely excited to have some guests come in, check out the campus.” Political analyst Scott Spradling will live-chat during the debate on WMUR.com. “There’s a great deal at stake for all three candidates. This is the beginning of the …

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Oley Valley students talk to teacher in Brazil
“We’re good with just the first verse.” On the other end of the computer, nearly 5,000 miles away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Erica Jaromnak smiled into their Skype video chat, pausing before breaking into her own song, a Brazilian Christmas tune in her …

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