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Strapping Saxophonists Successfully Destroy Street Preacher’s Homophobic Vibe: WATCH

Strapping Saxophonists Successfully Destroy Street Preacher’s Homophobic Vibe: WATCH

A homophobic street preacher was offering a public sermon about how LGBTQ people are going to burn in hell this week in New York City’s Union Square when the day was saved by Augie Bello and Julian Roel, a couple of young saxophonists at The New School for Jazz, one of whom knows how to toot while riding on a Swagtron electric scooter.

The intervention was captured on film by videographer Nicolas Heller. Augie Bello, the scooter-riding lad, wrote on Instagram: “Today @roel.julian and I were hanging and we stumbled upon some homophobic guy with a mic so we played over him. Shoutout to @newyorknico for capturing this moment. And big shoutout to @swagtronofficial for the Swagcycle it really made this situation a lot better. Swipe up on my story to get one!!”

Well done, men.

The post Strapping Saxophonists Successfully Destroy Street Preacher’s Homophobic Vibe: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Strapping Saxophonists Successfully Destroy Street Preacher’s Homophobic Vibe: WATCH

NEWS

Gay cop awarded $20million after being told to “tone down his gayness”

Gay cop awarded $20million after being told to “tone down his gayness”

Sergeant Keith Wildhaber

A jury has decided a gay cop in St Louis, Missouri, should be awarded $19.9million after he was discriminated against because of his sexuality.

Keith Wildhaber joined the St. Louis County police in 1997. Although he progressed to the level of sergeant he did not go any further, despite receiving excellent written reviews. He tried repeatedly to become a lieutenant but was passed over for promotion 23 times.

The force was aware of his sexuality. He says it even asked him to act as a liaison with the LGBTQ community in 2014, although this was not a formalized role. He says he began to pick up on hints that his sexuality might be a problem with some higher up.

Then, in 2014, he says he was invited to a chat with John Saracino, a former member of the department’s civilian police board. Sitting in a restaurant, he says Saracino said: “The command staff has a problem with your sexuality … If you ever want to see a white shirt [i.e., get a promotion], you should tone down your gayness.”

During his court case last week, Wildhaber said he’d never been told anything like this before and was shocked to be having such a conversation in 2014. Saracino denied making this comment.

Related: Trial begins in discrimination case for St. Louis cop told to “tone down his gayness”

When Wildhaber continued to be turned down for promotion, he filed a discrimination complaint against the department with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Shortly after filing the complaint, he was switched from afternoon shifts to a midnight shift 30 miles from where he lived. He believed this was in retaliation for filing the complaint.

The jury agreed with him.

In its ruling Friday, it awarded him $1.9 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages. It also awarded him $999,000 in actual damages and $7 million in punitive damages for the retaliation claim.

Afterward, the foreman of the jury told reporters the discrimination and retaliation was no acceptable, reports St Louis-Post Dispatch.

“We wanted to send a message. ‘If you discriminate you are going to pay a big price. … You can’t defend the indefensible’.”

Related: Ex-gays are going to D.C. to lobby against LGBTQ laws

Following the ruling, council leaders have said that the police department needs to be shaken up and say some should lose their jobs. Councilwoman Lisa Clancy is among those calling for Police Chief Jon Belmar to consider resigning.

“While we are extremely embarrassed of the alleged actions of some of our Department’s senior commanders, we look forward to the healing process that can begin to take place now that this has been heard in open court,” said the county police union in a statement.

www.queerty.com/gay-cop-awarded-20million-told-tone-gayness-20191029?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

NEWS

Street performers drown out homophobe’s hate speech in public square

Street performers drown out homophobe’s hate speech in public square

(@newyorkrico | Instagram)

New York City is not the best place to voice homophobic hate in public. You’re likely to be met with many people who disagree with you.

That’s what one man discovered when he tried it in the city’s Union Square Park last Friday. The park is known for attracting all manner of public speakers.

The man starts to preach about the perils of being a member of LGBTQ community (it looks like he could be carrying a Bible under his arm), highlighting “the homosexual community has the highest suicide rate of any group.”

His comments did not go down well with a couple of student musicians nearby, who decided to play their instruments a little nearer and louder to drown out his words.

Related: Homophobe chases gay man out of subway and through the streets of New York in shocking video

The moment was caught on camera by New York-based filmmaker Nicolas Heller, who is known for his short films and mini-documentaries.

“I was running late to a meeting when I was passing through, so I only had two minutes to see what was up,” he told Queerty.

He shared the encounter to Instagram, saying “This strapping young gent (who clearly gets laid regularly) is preaching that the LGBTQ community is going to burn in hell, so street musicians @augie_bello and @roel.julian offer some foreground instrumentals.”

One of the saxophonists featured also re-shared the post to his own Instagram.

Augie Bello, the man on the Swagcycle, wrote: “Today @roel.julian and I were hanging and we stumbled upon some homophobic guy with a mic so we played over him. Shoutout to @newyorknico for capturing this moment.”

Bello told Queerty, “Me and my friend Julian had just had lunch and were heading back to school (The New School For Jazz) when we heard this guy saying some really hateful homophobic things.

“What the video doesn’t show is what he said before we took out our saxophones. He was saying all gays will burn in hell and that they will be in a ring of fire. So I looked at Julian and he looked at me and we instantly had the exact same thought, to drown out the hate with our saxophones.

“Julian and I were shocked that the video went viral, but it also makes us extremely happy to see how much support there is for the LGBTQ+ community.”

 

www.queerty.com/street-performers-drown-homophobes-hate-speech-public-square-20191028?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

NEWS

Human Rights Campaign Applauds Historic California Poll Worker Training

Human Rights Campaign Applauds Historic California Poll Worker Training

HRC applauded the California Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s announcement of a new historic training for poll workers to ease voter access for transgender and gender non-confirming voters.

“Across the country, transgender and gender non-conforming people deal with unique ballot access issues, especially in states with voter ID laws, that are often overlooked,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “That’s why HRC announced a six-figure partnership with Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight to help fight against voter suppression and ensure that every LGBTQ person is able to vote. “Trainings like California’s are critically important to ensure that the LGBTQ community has fair and equal access to cast ballots. Other states and municipalities must follow suit. Thank you to Secretary Padilla and Equality California for their leadership.”

Earlier this year, HRC announced a six-figure investment in Fair Fight’s crucial work and plans to leverage the existing resources and staff power HRC brings to bear. Voter suppression is a scourge our country faces in states across the nation. Georgia’s 2018 elections shined a bright light on mismanagement, malfeasance, irregularities and more, and this partnership between the Human Rights Campaign and Fair Fight will work to expose both recent and decades-long actions and inactions by the state to thwart the right to vote.

Voter suppression also impacts LGBTQ people, who far too often face disproportionate barriers in accessing their right to vote. For example, a transgender woman may be turned away from voting because she is unable to get her name changed legally in the state where she lives. These types of challenges are often compounded for LGBTQ people of color who face additional barriers that the Human Rights Campaign and Fair Fight are dedicated to exposing and changing.

In the 2018 elections, HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-applauds-historic-california-poll-worker-training?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 25, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 25, 2019

HRC & CNN’S EQUALITY TOWN HALL UNDERSCORES WHY WE MUST FIGHT TO ENSURE A PRO-EQUALITY PRESIDENT IS ELECTED IN 2020: “This room is filled with people who demonstrate the resilience of our community, the power of our pride & our capacity to make change,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). More from HRC. 

ACTOR AMBER HEARD PENS OP-ED FOR TEEN VOGUE ON WHAT THE THREE LGBTQ EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS SUPREME COURT CASES MEAN FOR BI+ PEOPLE: “Imagine if you were a bisexual person and when you are hired, you put a photo of your girlfriend on your desk,” writes Heard (@realamberheard). “That relationship ends, a new one begins, and a new photo appears. What if you are fired because the gender of your partner has changed?” Read the full op-ed from Teen Vogue. 

ICE OFFICIALS DELETED SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF ROXSANA HERNÁNDEZ, A TRANS ASYLUM SEEKER WHO DIED IN ICE CUSTODY: More from Adolfo Flores (@aflores) at BuzzFeed. 

FEEL-GOOD FRIDAY — LGBTQ ELDERS ARE FINDING COMMUNITY IN AFFIRMING, INCLUSIVE HOUSING: “This place affords me the chance to be human,” said Suz Atlas, who lives in an LGBTQ-inclusive housing complex in Philadelphia with her partner, Mary Groce (@MaryGroce). “I don’t have to hide. I can be myself.” More from NBC Out.

  • HRC and SAGE recently announced a partnership on a first-ever nationwide assessment of care facilities serving older LGBTQ people, the Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI). Learn more here. 

VOTING IN SPECIAL ELECTION BEGINS FOR TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 28: HRC, Equality Texas and the Texas Freedom Network have endorsed out candidate Eliz Markowitz in the special election on Nov. 5. Learn how to get involved here, and read more from the Houston Chronicle. 

HRC MARKS DIWALI WITH ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS COMING OUT RESOURCE: “Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a time to be with family. Our new Coming Out Guide supports LGBTQ South Asians to navigate their coming out process so all our families have full love and acceptance for all their family members,” said Glenn D. Magpantay, NQAPIA Executive Director. More from HRC. 

HRC ASSOCIATE LEGAL DIRECTOR ROBIN MARIL JOINED ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS ANTI-LGBTQ JUDICIAL NOMINEE STEVEN MENASHI: Watch the conversation here. 

U.N. INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY CALLS FOR ENDING CRIMINALIZATION OF LGBTQ PEOPLE: More here.

Today at #UNGA74 I redoubled my call for a world free of criminalization on the basis of #sogi by 2030. #IESOGI @free_equal pic.twitter.com/hDiyXWX2SU

— Victor Madrigal-Borloz (@victor_madrigal) October 24, 2019

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

ACTOR ALEX DIAZ CONFIRMS HE IS BISEXUAL IN EMOTIONAL POST: “Never again will I be shackled by the fear of what might be said about who I am for fear of losing my career and instead, I will seek help, heal, and champion change, acceptance, and representation for the bisexual community and/or anyone who is met with prejudice in our society,” wrote Diaz (@alexandermcdizz). More from PinkNews. 

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

CORRESPONDENT JAMES LONGMAN PENS A POWERFUL PIECE ON HIS RECENT EXPERIENCE IN CHECHNYA FOR ABC NEWS: Writes Longman (@JamesAALongman): “Authorities are accused of arresting LGBTQ people, often having entrapped them in the first place, and subjecting them to… abuses. The authorities deny all this, and have famously said gay people don’t even exist — part of the reason I later thought it would be valid to bring up my own sexuality. I am gay.” Read the full piece from ABC News. 

NEW WILLIAMS INSTITUTE STUDY RANKS LEVEL OF LGBTQ ACCEPTANCE IN NATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD: More from The Advocate. 

GEORGIAN TRANSGENDER MAN APPEALS TO EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AFTER LOCAL COURTS REFUSED TO ALLOW GENDER MARKER CHANGE: Nicolo’s appeals to change the gender marker on his official government documents to match his gender identity were denied without gender confirmation surgery. More from OC Media. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

NBC Out expands its list of must-read books for LGBTQ History Month

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-october-25-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

GLAAD calls on media to keep spotlight on most vulnerable immigrants, including transgender asylum seekers

GLAAD calls on media to keep spotlight on most vulnerable immigrants, including transgender asylum seekers

Diversidad Sin Fronteras

According to news reports in CNN and BuzzFeed, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency within the Trump Administration may have deleted critical surveillance video that would have helped tell the story of the last few days of Roxsána Hernández, a transgender Honduran woman and asylum seeker who died in ICE custody. Roxsána’s attorneys argue that various transfers to different facilities without providing HIV treatment or taking note of her deterioration contributed to her death. Video footage was a vital key that would have helped with the investigation.

“Her need for medical attention was obvious, it was documented, and it was life threatening, and the records we have to date indicate that ICE officials knew those three things and decided to transfer her,” said Andrew Free, an attorney representing the family, to BuzzFeed News. “If DHS cannot be trusted to play by the rules, both before and after a detained migrant’s death based on these records, how can DHS be trusted to continue imprisoning migrants at all?”

“The LGBTQ community and other communities demand transparency from government entities that are funded by our tax dollars. We should never punish immigrants seeking safety, including LGBTQ asylum seekers, by housing them in unsafe conditions or keeping critical medical treatment from them,” said Monica Trasandes, Director of Spanish Language and Latinx media Representation for GLAAD. “The media is necessary to bring awareness and accountability when it is lacking from the government.”

This story offers a vivid and heartbreaking account of what Roxsána and other transgender women like her face while fleeing to the United States and away from unsafe living conditions. LGBTQ activists like GLAAD have argued that far too many already vulnerable people are being unnecessarily placed in dangerous situations as they wait for their hearings.

October 25, 2019

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-calls-media-keep-spotlight-most-vulnerable-immigrants-including-transgender-asylum

NEWS

16 gay activists arrested in Uganda and forced to undergo anal examinations

16 gay activists arrested in Uganda and forced to undergo anal examinations

(Image: Shutterstock)

Ugandan authorities confirmed yesterday the arrest of 16 LGBTQ people by police in Kampala on Monday.

Gay sex is illegal in Uganda and those found guilty face life in jail.

Although there is widespread persecution of LGBTQ minorities in Uganda, local activists say it has increased in recent weeks.

They say the atmosphere has worsened since reports emerged Uganda may be again considering legislation to introduce the death penalty for same-sex sexual activity.

Following swift international condemnation, the government has denied it is looking to change the law – despite it being one of its own ministers who initially mooted the legislation returning.

Related: Uganda wants to start killing the gays. Again.

According to Thomson Reuters Foundation, the individuals were arrested Monday at a shelter of a sexual health charity, Let’s Walk Uganda, where they resided or worked. They are all thought to be aged 22-35.

Reports say a crowd had gathered outside the building and was chanting anti-gay slogans. Those inside the building called the police to rescue them. Instead, they were arrested.

Police say that they found condoms, lubricant, and anti-retroviral drugs at the site.

The individuals concerned were taken into custody and all underwent anal examinations.

“Based on the medical examination report, it was established that the suspects were involved in sexual acts punishable under the penal code,” Kampala Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said.

All 16 have now been released on police bond. However, it is expected that they will be recalled to attend court at a later date.

A police spokesperson told Thomson Reuters Foundation: “They will keep reporting to the police on selected dates pending further guidance from the state attorney’s office.”

Amnesty International is just one of the organizations to denounce the use of forced anal examinations to determine sexual activity, previously labeling such practices “abhorrent” and tantamount to “torture.”

www.queerty.com/16-gay-activists-arrested-uganda-forced-undergo-anal-examinations-20191025?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

NEWS

Texas teacher claims he was fired after coming out as gay to his students

Texas teacher claims he was fired after coming out as gay to his students

Josh Hamilton (left) with his attorney

Dr. Josh Hamilton, a three year veteran of Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District in Texas, claimed this week that he lost his job after mentioning to a group of students that he’s gay. School officials insist that Hamilton lost his job for sending a text message to a student.

Hamilton, who served as a coach for the school’s speech team, says he casually mentioned to a group of students that he was gay during a speech tournament. The next day, Hamilton says, human resources contacted him about his comments and asked to inspect his cell phone message history. Not long after, Hamilton was placed on administrative leave before the district announced it would fire him.

School officials insist firing Hamilton had nothing to do with his sexual orientation. Rather, the district says he sent inappropriate text messages to a student discussing his personal life. “To be clear, Mr. Hamilton’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with the reason Mr. Hamilton has been proposed for termination,” district spokeswoman Kristin Snively said in a statement. “Mr. Hamilton has been proposed for termination for good cause due to violations of the District’s electronic communications policy, violations of student privacy, failure to follow written directives, and violations of the Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics. In GCISD, we hold all employees to high standards for their interactions with our most important people, our students. His conduct is not acceptable for an educator in GCISD.”

Related: This bisexual teacher came out to help a suicidal student, then his school fired him

Hamilton claims he only texted a student about a babysitting arrangement, though he did mention that he would be on a date at one point when requesting childcare. “If we’re going to fire a teacher for texting a kid, we’re going to fire a lot of teachers in Texas,” Hamilton said.

The district’s Board of Trustees voted 7-0 Monday to allow Hamilton’s termination. Hamilton plans to appeal to the state education agency.

The case of Josh Hamilton comes at a sensitive time for LGBTQ rights in the workplace, as the Trump Administration has argued before the Supreme Court that queer Americans are not entitled to civil rights protections, and that businesses should have the right to fire employees for identifying as LGBTQ.

www.queerty.com/texas-teacher-claims-fired-coming-gay-students-20191024?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

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