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Ayeffen posted a photo:
Stonewall Equality Walk 2016
Azealia Banks Shows Creativity In Bizarre Homophobic Meltdown Towards Zayn Malik
Azealia Banks Shows Creativity In Bizarre Homophobic Meltdown Towards Zayn Malik
It’s safe to say Azealia Banks has absolutely no filter, and while that trait can come in handy when it comes to making art, it can spell disaster for social interaction.
Her latest in a long, long (no seriously, a long, long, long — what’s her problem anyways?) list of offenses comes at the expense of former One Direction member and current heartthrob Zayn Malik.
And this time, it’s already gotten her fired from her headlining gig at the Rinse Born and Bred Festival in London.
The tussle began after Zayn released the video for his latest single “Like I Would,” which Banks cherry-picked some imagery from and accused the pop star of “mood boarding the fuck” out of her.
It was all good-natured enough, though Zayn did have a rebuttal ready:
No lies … I see you reaching but I don’t care ????
— zayn (@zaynmalik) May 10, 2016
My @’s too good for you
— zayn (@zaynmalik) May 10, 2016
Well that was all it took for Banks to show her true colors once again, setting off on a racist, homophobic tirade over the next twelve hours or so, and finding new, creative ways of losing even more respect (if that’s even possible at this point).
In a series of now-deleted Tweets, she said to Zayn, “you a dick rider for real for real. Ride this dick until the wheels fall off Punjab.”
Then it was, “Keep sucking this yung rapunxel dick u hairy curry scented bitch.”
And not one to let anything rest, she then went after his Pakistani background more directly, saying, “you were the the token brown boy. All those white boys in 1D disrespected you and made you their PET,” followed by, “still doesn’t change the fact that your mother is a dirty refugee who won’t be granted asylum.”
Yikes.
True to form, she’s offered a completely half-assed non-apology that makes as little sense as the insults she lobbed:
Thoughts on everything (loads of typos) pic.twitter.com/kmGhgkrKyz
— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) May 11, 2016
See, apparently she called Zayn a “hairy curry scented bitch,” and his mother a “dirty refugee” because she “had to remind him that we’re both in the same boat in this industry and people of color.” Wait, what?!
Two hours later, she Tweeted, “Resisting The Urge to say loads more terrible things to each and every one of u’s. But obviously I’m insanely fucking talented and have already lowered myself to the levels of ppl who don’t even deserve to share the same air I breathe.”
Talented and modest, too.
Here’s the statement Rinse put out:
.@bornandbredLDN ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/JkwoXLChya
— Rinse FM (@RinseFM) May 11, 2016
Looks like she’ll have to hawk her talents elsewhere.
Rome Goes Rainbow To Celebrate Civil Union Vote – PHOTOS, VIDEO
Rome Goes Rainbow To Celebrate Civil Union Vote – PHOTOS, VIDEO
Monuments around Rome were lit up on rainbow colors Wednesday night following the passage of a same-sex civil union bill earlier in the day.
The Trevi Fountain was one of the high profile monuments lit up in the colors synonymous with gay rights and gay pride in Italy’s capital. Pictures also appear to show the Colosseum lit up in rainbow colors and also covered in the word “love” translated in a variety of different languages.
HISTORY: Italy Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions in Confidence Vote for Prime Minister
Italy has lagged behind the rest of Western Europe in terms of providing legal recognition and rights to same-sex couples. Wednesday’s yes vote came as a sigh of relief for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi–a defeat could have fatally wounded his administration.
See photos of the monuments posted on Twitter, below.
ITALY IS PROUD TO LOVE#unionicivili #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/U5Hrk97RcA
— charlie (@dobrevskendall) May 11, 2016
#unionicivili #LoveWins ITALY 🇮🇹
❤️💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/JiLnFaSmWP— Ed’s Sheerios ITALIA (@EdsSheeriosITA) May 11, 2016
La Fontana di Trevi si illumina con l’arcobaleno per festeggiare l’attesa legge #unionicivili pic.twitter.com/N0mfiMk1fz
— elisabetta margonari (@ikoeli) May 11, 2016
And watch a video of the rainbow colors light up the Trevi Fountain, here:
The post Rome Goes Rainbow To Celebrate Civil Union Vote – PHOTOS, VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.
Target CEO Won’t Back Down on Transgender Bathroom Policy: ‘We Made The Right Decision’ – WATCH
Target CEO Won’t Back Down on Transgender Bathroom Policy: ‘We Made The Right Decision’ – WATCH
Target’s CEO Brian Cornell says the company isn’t backing down from its trans-inclusive bathroom policy that allows transgender people to use bathrooms in accordance with their gender identity.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:
He added the company is adding more family restrooms in its stores, an option for people who worry about the mixing of sexes in bathrooms.
Cornell made the remarks during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box program. He noted that more than 1,400 of the company’s 1,800 stores already have family restrooms. In the next few months, Target will be put them in the rest of its stores.
“We want to make sure we provide a welcoming environment for all of our guests,” Cornell said. “One that is safe, one that is comfortable.”
This morning on CNBC, Cornell said the company received “quite a bit of feedback” on the issue.
“We took a stance,” he said. “We’re going to continue to embrace our belief in diversity and inclusion, just how important that is to our company. But we’re also going to make sure our focus on safety is unwavering.”
Cornell compared the move to Target’s decision in the 1960s to start featuring black models in its ads:
“Back then, it wasn’t well received. We had a lot of tough feedback. But sitting here today, we know we made the right decision.”
Watch, below.
The post Target CEO Won’t Back Down on Transgender Bathroom Policy: ‘We Made The Right Decision’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Montreal Holds LGBT Kiss-In After Vicious Homophobic Attack: WATCH
Montreal Holds LGBT Kiss-In After Vicious Homophobic Attack: WATCH
Hundreds of people took part in a Montreal kiss-in on Monday evening to support a gay couple after they were the victims of a brutal attack last week.
The couple, who only wanted to be referred to by their first names Simon and Sebastien, were attacked on their way to a bar in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montreal.
According to Simon, their attackers said “are you faggots,” to which he replied “What? Are you homophobe? Why did you say that?”
Both men were then punched in the face repeatedly. They fled the scene but were followed by one of the attackers who kicked and punched Simon.
The Monday night kiss-in was organized by the LGBT Quebec Council and the Gai Ecoute support group to denounce homophobia.
Maryse Bezaire of Gai Ecoute said:
“Often people think that we are a progressive society, often people think there’s no more homophobia, but that’s not the case. It’s important to talk about it, it’s important to reaffirm the right of everyone to show affection in public without being afraid of being a target of homophobic slurs or violence.”
Gai Ecoute says it currently receives one to two calls a day reporting homophobic acts.
The couple has filed a police report but say they are more concerned with raising awareness and to let other victims of homophobia know they’re not alone.
Watch a report on the kiss-in below.
The post Montreal Holds LGBT Kiss-In After Vicious Homophobic Attack: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Senate Judiciary Democrats Receive Garland’s Questionnaire and Call for Republicans to #DoYourJob
Senate Judiciary Democrats Receive Garland’s Questionnaire and Call for Republicans to #DoYourJob
Earlier today, Senate Judiciary Democrats received a completed questionnaire from Supreme Court Justice nominee Merrick Garland and urged Senate Republicans to review the questionnaire and hold hearings and a vote on Judge Garland’s nomination. The questionnaire is a standard part of the vetting process for judicial nominees, and Garland’s answers detail his employment history, all of the opinions he has written for the court and his pro bono work, among other information. Notably, Garland mentions in the questionnaire that that none of the opinions he has authored have been reversed—either by the D.C. Circuit court sitting en banc or the Supreme Court of the United States.
Despite President Obama nominating Merrick Garland nearly two months ago and Garland’s many qualifications, Senate Republicans are continuing their unprecedented obstruction of the U.S. Supreme Court nomination process. On the day of Justice Scalia’s death, Republican leadership announced that they would evade their duty and not hold hearings for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee and have continued to stand by that pledge.
Just last month, the LGBT community marked the one-year anniversary of oral arguments in the historic Supreme Court marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges. Cases like Obergefell serve as a reminder of the impact decisions made by the Supreme Court can have on the daily lives of LGBT Americans and the importance of confirming a ninth Justice to the Supreme Court.
HRC is committed to ending the obstruction of the judicial confirmation process, and earlier this year, HRC joined dozens of progressive advocacy organizations around the country for the #DoYourJob National Day of Action to urge Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional obligation and hold confirmation hearings for Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court. In addition, last week, HRC hosted a call for LGBT and allied organizations to provide an update on the status of Garland’s nomination, what’s at stake for the LGBT community and ways that groups can help advance the nomination. You can sign HRC’s petition calling on Senator Mitch McConnell to stop playing politics and to fulfill his constitutional obligation here.
HRC Alabama on the Ground as Oxford Repeals Anti-Transgender Law
HRC Alabama on the Ground as Oxford Repeals Anti-Transgender Law
Post submited by HRC Alabama Organizer Tori Wolfe-Sisson
Last week, HRC was in the room when the Oxford, Alabama, City Council voted 3-2 to repeal a discriminatory new ordinance that would have prevented transgender residents and visitors from using public restroom facilities consistent with their gender identity.
The anti-transgender law was unprecedented in its establishment of criminal penalties for violations — including a $500 fine or 6 months in jail — and raised a myriad of privacy and legal concerns regarding how the law would have been enforced.
Oxford’s ordinance enumerated criminal penalties, including the potential for jail time, for violations. It also applied to bathrooms and locker rooms citywide, including in private businesses, which went further than similar provision in North Carolina’s law, which applies to government buildings and schools. Both pieces of legislation, however, put transgender people at increased risk for violence and intimidation.
While Oxford could have faced the immense backlash North Carolina is seeing, council members did the right thing and repealed the ordinance.
A few days later, HRC joined the Oxford LGBT and allied community and organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, Southern Poverty Law Center, Southerners On New Ground and the Equality Calhoun Coalition to celebrate this immense victory. Over 150 people gathered to reflect on our shared responsibilities and to prepare for the road ahead.
HRC Alabama is grateful that our transgender family and friends are safer here in Oxford and will continue to keep a watchful eye on anti-LGBT legislation throughout the state.
HRC Mississippi Hosts Event Following Successful Rally
HRC Mississippi Hosts Event Following Successful Rally
Post submitted by Harry Hawkins, Field Organizer HRC Mississippi
After the rally to repeal the discriminatory HB 1523 in Mississippi that drew hundreds of people from across the Magnolia State earlier this month, HRC Mississippi took time to celebrate the successful event and our community.
“Mississippi: Express Yourself” was an opportunity for volunteers and supporters to tell their stories, offer poems and sing songs of hope. It was a chance for all of us to see how equality and creativity can go hand in hand.
Prior to the event, hundreds of equality advocates joined HRC, NAACP, ACLU of Mississippi, Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood and other rights organizations and leaders demanding repeal of HB 1523 on the steps of the State Capitol.
On April 5, 2016, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law H.B. 1523, “The Religious Liberty Accommodations Act.” More than 75 major national corporations and businesses have spoken out against the horrific measure, that would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities.
HRC thanks Soul Wired Cafe and the many people who participated and attended the event.
Hopefully, through events like this, we can expand and support our diverse, inclusive and loving community.
Philly Mayor to Lesbian Teen Kicked Out of Prom: “I Love Your Suit”
Philly Mayor to Lesbian Teen Kicked Out of Prom: “I Love Your Suit”
“Keep being yourself,” Philadelphia’s mayor told a teenager who was kicked out of her high school prom for wearing a suit.
www.advocate.com/youth/2016/5/11/philly-mayor-lesbian-teen-kicked-out-prom-i-love-your-suit
