First Female-Only Flight Celebrates International Women's Day
Passengers were in for a treat when they boarded a plane that was completely prepared, operated, and piloted by women.
www.advocate.com/women/2017/3/08/first-female-only-flight-celebrates-international-womens-day
Snapchat Rolls Out Offensive Lenses for International Women's Day
The social networking app has had issues with offensive lenses in the past, and despite efforts toward sensitivity, its Women’s Day Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, and Marie Curie filters missed the mark.
www.advocate.com/women/2017/3/08/snapchat-rolls-out-offensive-lenses-international-womens-day
Is this what Hugh Jackman sounds like in bed?
One of those annoying people who say “awesome sauce’ would surely say it about the below vid.
Related: Hugh Jackman’s Wife Really Not A Fan Of Those Gay Rumors
Featuring Hugh Jackman getting very into some voiceover work for a Logan fight scene, the footage is perplexingly endearing — possibly even life-affirming –and we’ve been consuming it regularly since first seeing it last night.
Related: Hugh Jackman Reveals He Has Sex Dressed As Wolverine — Ouch!
We feel it’s our civic duty to share it with you, in case you haven’t seen/heard it yourself.
Rrrowowwwrr:
“I just want him here and I want him safe.”
MUST WATCH: The heartbreaking story of an LGBTQ couple separated by Donald Trump’s discriminatory travel ban.
Queer Women Who Paved the Way: Political Pioneer Elaine Noble
To mark Women’s History Month, The Advocate will feature a different queer woman from history each day, beginning with political pioneer Elaine Noble.
www.advocate.com/women/2017/3/08/queer-women-who-paved-way-political-pioneer-elaine-noble
Heard of “no promo homo” laws? They’re still enforced in 7 states, and they totally suck.
You’re likely familiar with Russia’s shameful so-called “gay propaganda” law that bans the favorable presentation of LGBTQ topics to youth, but did you know seven US states enforce something similar on public campuses?
“No promo homo” laws ban schools from discussing all things LGBTQ — especially favorably — in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina. Utah also has a ban, though lawmakers moved to repeal it this week with nearly unanimous support. Now it’s up to Gov. Gary Herbert to sign the bill.
Related: Youth group uses disturbing transphobic message to advertise on Facebook
The restrictions are primarily focused on squashing any talk of sexual health and HIV/AIDS awareness, but vague wording allows schools to extend the ban to other areas, from school events to extracurricular activities.
Some go even further. In Alabama, schools are instructed to inform students that “homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public.”
Arizona law says “no district shall include in its course of study instruction which…(1) promotes a homosexual life-style…(2) portrays homosexuality as a positive alternative life-style…(3) suggests that some methods of sex are safe methods of homosexual sex.”
Related: Teen’s antigay rant shows the bigotry LGBTQ youth face every day
According to GLSEN, an advocacy group that works to improve the lives of LGBTQ students:
These laws foster an unsafe school atmosphere. GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey shows that LGBT students in states with stigmatizing laws are more likely to hear homophobic remarks from school staff, are less likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff, and are less likely to report having support from educators. Moreover, when incidents occur and educators do intervene, they do so less effectively in these states.
We don’t say this often, but it’s time to take a hint from Utah and get rid of these lingering blights on the books.
Anheuser-Busch Threatens Boycott of Boston St. Pat’s Parade if LGBTQ Vets are Excluded
Anheuser-Busch has denounced the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade for excluding the LGBTQ vets group from participating and said they are evaluating their participation.
Breaking: Statement from Anheuser-Busch on the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade: pic.twitter.com/z8CzS3ApOA
— Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) March 8, 2017
Dedham Bank has also announced it’s not participating.
Statement from Dedham Savings Bank on the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. pic.twitter.com/djngYT4mLA
— Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) March 8, 2017
Today, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker both said they would not march if OUTVETS was excluded.
OUTVETS, a Boston-based LGBTQ veterans organization, was denied entry despite marching in it for the past two years.
The reason, they say, is homophobia.
Wrote the group on Facebook:
We just received word from the South Boston Allied War Veterans that OUTVETS has been denied entry into the 2017 South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. While four members of the council advocated for our organization, the majority ruled against having OUTVETS in the parade. While the reason for our denial is unclear, one can only assume it’s because we are LGBTQ.
OUTVETS has marched in the parade for the last two years without incident. We followed their rules to the letter and our presence helped to tear down the wall of discrimination that surrounded this event. In our first year, Congressman Seth Moulton and Secretary of Veterans Services, Francisco Urena marched with our organization in support of LGBTQ Veterans and our right to be respected as Veterans for our selfless service to our nation. However, last year our organization was placed at the rear of the parade and no where near other Veterans organizations. While many wanted to quit and go home, we agreed that as an organization we were there to honor those who had served and are still serving our country.
OUTVETS complained to the organizers about this and thought we had a good working relationship with the council. We feel that with the death of former South Boston Allied War Veterans Council Commander, Brian Mahoney our strongest ally was gone and the old mindset of bigotry and discrimination crept back into the parade.
This is a sad day for the LGBTQ community but also a horrible day for Veterans. We served our country with honor and distinction. But even after successfully participating in this parade and bringing honor to those who have served, we are still fighting for the respect that comes with serving our country.
The post Anheuser-Busch Threatens Boycott of Boston St. Pat’s Parade if LGBTQ Vets are Excluded appeared first on Towleroad.
Anheuser-Busch Threatens Boycott of Boston St. Pat’s Parade if LGBTQ Vets are Excluded
Second Mississippi City Passes Major LGBTQ-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Ordinance
Today, HRC hailed the Magnolia, Miss., Board of Aldermen for unanimously enacting a city-wide non-discrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public accommodations and employment. The ordinance also includes a new LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provision. Magnolia is now the second city in Mississippi to pass a fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance, joining Jackson, which passed a similar measure in June of last year.
“Magnolia has sent a clear message that all people are welcome, and all people are protected from bias-driven crimes in this inclusive city,” said Rob Hill, HRC Mississippi state director. “As cities like Magnolia and Jackson pass these important protections, they are showing our state legislators and our other elected officials that inclusivity and acceptance are Mississippi values, and that we don’t want hate in our state.”
“Magnolia, Miss., is a welcoming, warm place, and I am pleased we have proven that yet again by passing a fully inclusive non-discrimination ordinance,” said Mercedes Ricks, alderman-at-large. “As a Magnolia resident, a lesbian and an elected official, today’s vote by the Board of Aldermen has made me very proud of this city, my home.”
The fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) protects people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, based on real or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, familial status, and veteran status. The new, inclusive hate crimes provision equips Magnolia to better address hate crimes within the city by requiring policies for identifying, investigating, and documenting hate crimes. The provision, which includes the same classifications protected under the NDO, also mandates that the city report hate crime statistics to the FBI.
Mississippi is one of 34 states that do not have statewide hate crime laws explicitly covering sexual orientation and gender identity, and one of 31 without fully-inclusive, comprehensive LGBTQ non-discrimination protections. According to the most recent FBI statistics available, nearly 20 percent of hate crimes reported nationally in 2015 targeted people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. As a recent investigation by the Associated Press uncovered, this reporting dramatically undercounts LGBTQ data, as it is based on local, non-mandatory reporting. Strong, fully-inclusive hate crimes legislation at the local level plays an important role in improving data collection and ultimately saving lives.
In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared towards advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. HRC Mississippi continues to work to advance equality for LGBTQ Mississippians who have no state level protections in housing, workplace, or public accommodations. Through HRC Mississippi, we are working toward a future of fairness every day—changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.
Boston Mayor Boycotts St. Patrick's Day Parade After It Axed Gay Vets
“I will not tolerate discrimination in our city of any form,” said Marty Walsh, after the group OutVets wasn’t allowed to participate.
