Dan Savage, thestranger.com
Maybe the question should be, “What isn’t the matter with Kansas?”The Kansas state legislature is on the verge of approving—and Kansas’s Republican governor has pledged to sign—a bill that legalizes discrimination against gay couples.…
Sad day for Kansas
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#lgbt #lesbian #homophobia #hate #rights #equality #kansas #queer #gay #LGBTQ #discrimination #law #USAThis interesting LGBTQ ad comes from TBWA Paris for Inter-LGBT. The ad depicts a gay youth as they progress through their life and face a number of obstacle-like challenges throughout. What do you think?
I don’t think that the Olympians should boycott. I think the athletes from various countries should go and play their hearts out while wearing screaming rainbows and espousing their love of LGBT people, or of their same-sex partners. However I will be damned if any corporation will benefit economically from me watching the Olympics. Despite what Mr. Burke says in this well worded article money does talk. A boycott of watching the games can ensure that Russia pays the economic price hatred comes with and that sponsors understand that prejudice and the systemic discrimination of an entire people will not be tolerated. Those organizations in Russia, like Stolichnaya Vodka, feeling the pinch can take their lobbying back to the Kremlin. While not sending athletes may not effect much changes the complaints of a multi-million dollar companies might.
Your latest on the nightmare that will be the First Amendment Defence Act.
What people could legally do to LGBTQ people under this just on the basis that they are gay:
1) Refuse people entry at the border
2) Reject someone from receiving health insurance
3) Refuse entry onto a plane, bus, train, taxi, etc.
4) Refuse police or ambulance assistance
5) Refuse medical treatment
6) Kick someone out of a restaurant or refuse them service
7) Fire someone.
8) Evict someone
9) Deny them insurance of any kind
10) Refuse any service/assistance of any kind (whether they work in the public sector or private sector)
11) Refuse to teach them/mark their work.
12) Deny them admission into a school
13) Expel them from a school/educational institution.
And the list could go on and on and on.
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The bill would look at fines of up to $16,500 for spreading “spreading homosexual propaganda” to minors and promotes a gay life as “normal”.
This could effectively mean that the TV show Glee, Degrassi, 90210, Greek, or really another other show whose target audience includes those under 18 would be banned from airing within the country. Certain movies would require restricted ratings or would otherwise be banned entirely and having a group like GLESN or the Trevor Project, forget it. The It Get’s Better Campaign and subsequent youtube videos could become banned within Russia under the new law. It could also lead to a ban on public demonstrations by Queer and Queer advocates.
Seems like Russia as a little case of Ugandaitis.
What does this law do? Well if I were in Russia it would be illegal for me to have my blog, I wouldn’t have been able to be a part of Queer McGill during university, my soccer or water polo organization wouldn’t be allowed to exist, pride parades are banned, making public statements supporting the rights of LGBTQ people is illegal, even movies, TV shows, music, or art seen as ‘promoting’ homosexuality are effectively banned from Russia. I hope the international community denounces this for the draconian and extremely oppressive act that it is. I also hope that any LGBTQ athletes or allies going to Socchi next year make a stand and proudly sport the rainbow flag during their events or upon receiving medals in protest of this disgusting stance.
Find out more about the bill here.
Voters in Anchorage Alaska voted by at least 58% to deny an anti-discrimination ordinance on the basis of sexual orientation. The result allows landlords to be able to deny housing to and to evict residents on the basis of their sexual orientation as well as allowing businesses and city services to kick out or deny services to people on the basis of their sexual orientation.
So if the person at the movie theatre or restaurant doesn't like the fact that you’re gay they can legally tell you to leave or deny you service.
I suppose on the plus side landlords could evict someone because they’re straight or businesses could deny straight people service as well according to the law?
Well there goes the cruise I was thinking of taking to Alaska.
It’s not everyday that you hear a politician telling people from a particular group to vote for someone else but that is exactly what Newt Gingrich did the other day.
“I asked him if he’s elected, how does he plan to engage gay Americans. How are we to support him? And he told me to support Obama,” said Scott Arnold, an adjunct professor of writing at William Penn University.
A very unfortunately event is a somber reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done in North America at combating homophobia.
Kudos to Mr. Hardaway for proving that people can change their way of thinking and become open minded and accepting of others. It is extremely refreshing to see this and I thank him for his new found support of the Queer community.
