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Daily Archives: December 22, 2016
Man Will Be First Prosecuted Under Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for Transgender Murder
Man Will Be First Prosecuted Under Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for Transgender Murder
A landmark first prosecution under a federal hate crimes law for the murder of a transgender victim has been successful. Joshua Vallum, 27, of Mississippi pleaded guilty Wednesday for the hate crime of the murder of his ex-girlfriend Mercedes Williamson, a transgender teenager.
President Barack Obama greets Louvon Harris, left, Betty Byrd Boatner, right, both sisters of James Byrd, Jr., and Judy Shepard, center, mother of Matthew Shepard, following his remarks at a reception commemorating the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, in the East Room, of the White House, October 28, 2009.
According to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Vallum was aware of Williamson’s transgender identity prior to the crime, making him subject to prosecution under the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. For this reason, although Vallum had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of first-degree murder, additional federal charges were brought.
Vallum had initially claimed he only learned about Williamson’s transgender identity upon commission of the crime, but details emerged that showed more than year since he had dated her, he sought her out upon discovery of the affair by a fellow gang member. He admitted that he would not have killed her if she were not transgender.
The 2009 Act is named for two prominent victims of notorious hate crimes. Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man of Wyoming, was murdered in 1998 while James Byrd Jr., a 49-year-old African-African man, was also targeted in that year. The repercussions of these crimes led to the passage of the bill in their name. Shepard’s parents have gone on to become advocates against anti-LGBT violence and discrimination.
“It sends a message, especially to the LGBT community, that the federal government will use this law when they are victims of crime . . . For too long LGBT people have been ignored and violence against them has been ignored and they’ve felt that crimes against them will never be taken seriously.”
The prosecution is especially significant when one considers that ensuring coverage and prosecution of crimes committed against transgender persons remains an ongoing challenge, in a year where at least 26 transgender murder victims have been reported.
Political challenges likely remain ahead as well, given that figures such as Virginia Foxx, who fought the passage of the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act as well as proclaimed the circumstances of Shepherd’s death a “hoax,” are slated to fill posts in the incoming Trump administration.
The post Man Will Be First Prosecuted Under Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for Transgender Murder appeared first on Towleroad.
Man Will Be First Prosecuted Under Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for Transgender Murder
キャシー: 血が繋がっている家族だからって、無理して親しい関係を保つ必要はない
Christians Outraged at 'Blasphemous' Nativity Ornaments with Two Josephs (Video)
Christians Outraged at 'Blasphemous' Nativity Ornaments with Two Josephs (Video)
Another one featured two Marys, but after complaints, the seller has pulled both of the pro-LGBT decorations.
RuPaul is the ghost of Christmas past in her impossibly ’90s holiday special
RuPaul is the ghost of Christmas past in her impossibly ’90s holiday special
Glue-sniffing elves in drag. Tic-Tacs as diet regime. Eartha Kitt shilling her memoir Confessions of a Sex Kitten. RuPaul‘s ’90s holiday special really does have it all (including cameos by Elton John, Boy George, Belinda Carlisle, and Nirvana.)
Related: In Shocking Twist, RuPaul Is Eliminated From “Drag Race”
Don’t you owe it to yourself to curl up by the hearth and let the spirit of this magical season grab you? Of course you do, sweetie.
Watch:
And while you’re at it, check out her cameo in Tom Rubnitz’s Pickle Surprise, which is possibly the most brilliant minute-and-a-half ever committed to videotape. Yes, that’s Lady Bunny, too:
Gay Couple Removed from JetBlue Flight for Confronting Ivanka Trump
Gay Couple Removed from JetBlue Flight for Confronting Ivanka Trump
A gay man and his husband were kicked off a JetBlue flight at JFK for verbally confronting Ivanka Trump (she was flying with husband Jared Kushner, their cousins, and their three kids), Heatstreet reports:
According to TMZ, Ivanka had already boarded the plane and settled in when a man, carrying his own child, approached her and her family and began screaming.
“Your father is ruining the country,” he yelled while Ivanka attempted to distract her children. “Why is she on our flight. She should be flying private.”
JetBlue personnel reportedly escorted the man off the flight while he was still yelling. Asking them, “You’re kicking me off for expressing my opinion?!!”
Ivanka and family were unharmed, but Tweets from the man’s partner indicate that he intended to accost the family and disrupt their flight as a political protest.
The man had reportedly seen the Trump family earlier in the airport, according to his husband Matthew Lasner, who tweeted (in a tweet since deleted), “My husband chasing them down to harass them.”
Another man on the flight, Marc Scheff, who is pictured in a photo tweeted (and since deleted) by Lasner (above), told his side of the story on Facebook. He said he would have made the same call JetBlue did, and eject the couple from the flight:
JetBlue released a statement:
“The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly. If the crew determines that a customer is causing conflict on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of escalation during flight. Our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight.”
(main photo via twitter)
The post Gay Couple Removed from JetBlue Flight for Confronting Ivanka Trump appeared first on Towleroad.
Gay Couple Removed from JetBlue Flight for Confronting Ivanka Trump
Gay Couple Removed From Flight After Confronting Ivanka Trump
Gay Couple Removed From Flight After Confronting Ivanka Trump
One of the men reportedly screamed at the future First Daughter, “Your father is ruining the country.”
www.advocate.com/election/2016/12/22/gay-couple-removed-flight-after-confronting-ivanka-trump
North Carolina will continue to suffer financially for failing to repeal ‘bathroom bill’
North Carolina will continue to suffer financially for failing to repeal ‘bathroom bill’
Republicans aren’t content to be ruining the world on a national scale — they’re also ruining people’s lives at the state and local level. A sneaky maneuver in North Carolina saw GOP politicians pushing hard this week to eliminate protections for queer people, all while promising that in exchange they would repeal the loathsome anti-trans HB2.
But surprise! After Charlotte eliminated its nondiscrimination laws as part of a deal, the Republicans went back on their pledge and kept HB2 in place. Hahaha, that’s what you get for trusting the GOP. Naturally, they say that it’s about “protecting children” and “privacy.” Wouldn’t their lives be so much easier if they just told the truth? Just be honest, Republicans — you don’t really care about safety.
Related: On second thought, North Carolina decides to remain the most homophobic state in America
Anyway, in response, the NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to staying the hell away from North Carolina. That means moving 15 college championships out of the state. And they’re not alone: lots of businesses, from Deutsche Bank to Paypal, have cancelled business in the state since the passage of the bill.
As of a few months ago, it was estimated that outgoing loser Governor Pat McCrory’s bill had cost the state about a half billion dollars in lost business. That includes the loss of the Southern Conference and Division II’s Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The loss in jobs was pegged at around 1,000 back in September, after Lionsgate announced they wouldn’t be filming movies in the state. Bruce Springsteen and Maroon 5 also cancelled concerts.
A few entertainers went the opposite direction: the Throwing Shade tour, for example, held a night of comedy in North Carolina, but donated all the money to charity.
NC NAACP Calls for National Economic Boycott of North Carolina After HB2 Debacle
NC NAACP Calls for National Economic Boycott of North Carolina After HB2 Debacle
The North Carolina NAACP says it will call for a national economic boycott of North Carolina following the dismal, lying failure of the GOP state lawmakers to fully repeal anti-LGBT HB2 as promised. And a few other things as well, namely the hijacking of the Board of Elections and gerrymandering.
RELATED: NC Republicans Break Promise to Fully Repeal Anti-LGBT HB2 Law
Writes the group on Twitter:
“Enough is enough so we are making 3 announcements today…On Feb 11, we will hold the #MoralMarch on RALEIGH themed resisting the continued attacks and unconstitutional overreach of the #NCGA…We will file a lawsuit against the political overreach of the #NCGA…After Christmas, the NC NAACP leadership will convene to write a proposal to the Nat’l NAACP to call for a national economic boycott of #NC.
“The boycott proposal will be based on 1) restoration of access to the Supreme Court and full repeal of the hijacking of the BOE. The boycott proposal will be based on 2) full repeal of #HB2. The boycott proposal will be based on 3) fair and constitutional redrawing of NC districts.
“This group of extremists doesn’t respect the constitution, the will of the people, or the vote…We will fight them in the streets, courts, ballot box and soon in their pocketbooks.”
NC NAACP President Reverend Dr. William Barber, II released a statement as well:
Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger committed to repealing House Bill 2 in its entirety, as promised to Governor-elect Cooper and as confirmed by Governor McCrory, during the special session held today. Instead, they spent nine hours at the NC General Assembly playing political games with the constitutional rights of North Carolinians.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is clear: equal protection for all is the law of the land. House Bill 2 undermines equal protection for workers who need a living wage, citizens in North Carolina who need access to state courts for employment discrimination complaints and the LGBTQ community who have the right to live free from fear of discrimination in schools and at work.
House Bill 2 is anti-civil rights and anti-LGBTQ hate-filled legislation. We believe Charlotte should not have been forced to repeal its good ordinance before this ideologically-controlled legislature considered repealing it. However, once they did, HB2 should have been repealed in its entirety as promised by the leadership of the NC General Assembly. Our elected officials should have worked to protect all the people of North Carolina but instead they wasted our time and tax money. Both the House and the Senate’s all white Republican caucus have proven that they are not fit to govern North Carolina. Both Chambers were found unconstitutional by a federal court earlier this year which ruled that NC districts were racially gerrymandered and must be redrawn and elections must be held again in 2017 for every member of the House and Senate.
The legislature adjourned without repealing House Bill 2 because they could not bring themselves to protect living wages and the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. This is shameful and a disgrace to North Carolina. The majority of the Republican extremists can only seem to get together when they are passing unconstitutional laws that hurt the poor, African Americans, minorities, women, immigrants, public education, the environment and the LGBTQ community. Otherwise, today is proof that they are totally dysfunctional. The hope for North Carolina is that next year, when the courts have demanded that the NC General Assembly fairly redraw the districts and hold an additional election, the people will have the opportunity to judge these legislators at the ballot box.
The NC NAACP tweets:
Enough is enough so we are making 3 announcements today
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
On Feb 11, we will hold the #MoralMarch on RALEIGH themed resisting the continued attacks and unconstitutional overreach of the #NCGA
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
We will file a lawsuit against the political overreach of the #NCGA @RevDrBarber
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
After Christmas, the NC NAACP leadership will convene to write a proposal to the Nat’l NAACP to call for a national economic boycott of #NC
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
The boycott proposal will be based on 1) restoration of access to the Supreme Court and full repeal of the hijacking of the BOE
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
The boycott proposal will be based on 2) full repeal of #HB2
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
The boycott proposal will be based on 3) fair and constitutional redrawing of NC districts
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
This group of extremists doesn’t respect the constitution, the will of the people, or the vote #RespectOurVote @RevDrBarber
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
These extremists are trying to run a modern day southern political coup. @RevDrBarber
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
We will fight them in the streets, courts, ballot box and soon in their pocketbooks #moralboycott #RespectOurVote
— NC NAACP (@ncnaacp) December 22, 2016
The post NC NAACP Calls for National Economic Boycott of North Carolina After HB2 Debacle appeared first on Towleroad.
NC NAACP Calls for National Economic Boycott of North Carolina After HB2 Debacle
16 Inspirational Voices for LGBTQ Equality in 2016: Coming Out Edition
16 Inspirational Voices for LGBTQ Equality in 2016: Coming Out Edition
As 2016 comes to a close, there is no doubt that this year was difficult for many in the LGBTQ and allied community. After a year of such celebration and momentous progress in 2015, 2016 was a shocking wake-up call to many about the realities that LGBTQ people face. From the rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation to the horrific shooting at Pulse, from the incidents of anti-transgender violence to the election of a presidential ticket that threatened to undermine equality and justice, we know that our job is more important now than ever before.
However, through these difficult times, we witnessed countless moments of inspiration. Throughout the year, time and time again, we saw people stand up and do what was right. Whether they were celebrities, politicians, a friend or just an acquaintance, we saw people stand up for equality and inspire us all. Their stories made us cry, gave us hope and reminded us that love will conquer hate.
Whether it’s coming out as LGBTQ or as an ally, countless American actors, athletes, musicians and YouTube sensations have helped advance the movement for equality this year. Here are a few of our favorite, inspirational coming out stories from 2016:
Rayvon Owen
American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen came out on Valentine’s Day in a video for his song “Can’t Fight It,” released on Billboard.
“I was given an incredible platform with American Idol and I felt I had a responsibility to do something positive with it, especially if there was a chance that it would help others,” Owen said in an exclusive interview with HRC. “When it came time to storyboard my new music video, the director, not knowing I was gay, presented the idea of a female love interest. At that moment, I knew in my heart that it needed to be a man. Authenticity suddenly became more important to me than hiding who I am.”
Owen, who is grateful to out artists such as Sam Smith, Troye Sivan and Frank Ocean for paving the way, has an inspiring message for LGBTQ youth.
“Surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally and who lift you up. Find your tribe. I promise there are people out there who will understand and love you. Life is short and tomorrow is never promised, so be proud of who you are and spend time with people who make you happy.”
In October, Owen took over @HRC‘s Twitter account in honor of National Coming Out Day to discuss his brave decision to come out as gay.
Hi, everyone! @RayvonOwen here for a #NationalComingOutDay #HRCTwitterTakeover to talk about my decision to come out earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/2qGwSXSaGN
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) October 11, 2016
Nyle DiMarco
The first deaf winner of America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With the Stars, Nyle DiMarco came out as sexually fluid on Twitter.
When a fan asked DiMarco if he preferred men or women, he responded, “fluid” with a link to an article titled How Fluid Sexuality Fits into the LGBTQIA+ Spectrum.
At HRC’s 20th annual National Dinner in September, DiMarco spoke about the intersectionality of our issues and embracing our differences.
“My passion is being my true self while inspiring young people who are struggling with their identities to love themselves for who they are,” DiMarco told the crowd. “As a sexually fluid deaf man, I know that embracing all of our identities is the way to thrive and overcome limitations and prejudices. There is no doubt in my mind that human diversity is what colors our world.”
Colton Haynes
Actor Colton Haynes opened up about being gay in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in May. Haynes acknowledged that prior to coming out, hiding his reality took a toll on his health, both mentally and physically.
“People don’t realize what it’s like to act 24 hours a day. I’d go home and I was still acting,” Haynes said. “People who are so judgmental about those who are gay or different don’t realize that acting 24 hours a day is the most exhausting thing in the world.”
Now that Haynes is living his truth, his life is in a positive place.
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”
Haynes gave a touching and emotional speech after being awarded HRC’s Visibility Award at its annual Seattle dinner in August.
“My promise…I am making it to the next generation of lesbians and gay men, bisexuals, transgender youth, and I hope my example will give them the confidence and hope to be who they are, and for them to conquer their own fears and their own hesitations” Haynes said. “I want to give them just a little more courage to know that they’re loved just as they are, and to know that they’ll grow up beautiful and strong and proud.”
Amandla Stenberg
Actress Amandla Stenberg came out as bisexual in a Snapchat takeover for Teen Vogue earlier this year.
“It’s a really, really hard thing to be silenced and it’s deeply bruising to fight against your identity and to mold yourselves into shapes that you just shouldn’t be in,” she said in the video. “As someone who identifies as a black bisexual woman, I’ve been through it and it hurts and it’s awkward and it’s uncomfortable.”
Stenberg is perhaps best known for her role in the movie The Hunger Games as Rue, a part for which she was nominated for a 2013 NAACP Images Award. She, alongside actress Rowan Blanchard, received the most votes for Feminist Celebrity of 2015 in an online survey promoted by the Ms. Foundation for Women in partnership with Cosmopolitan.com.
Lilly Wachowski
In March, filmmaker Lilly Wachowski, sister of director and producer Lana Wachowski, wrote a piece for the Windy City Times after tabloid reporters attempted to out her as transgender against her will.
“I am one of the lucky ones. Having the support of my family and the means to afford doctors and therapists has given me the chance to actually survive this process,” Wachowski wrote. “Transgender people without support, means and privilege do not have this luxury. And many do not survive.”
Wachowski went on to denounce the onslaught of anti-transgender laws appearing across the country.
“We continue to be demonized and vilified in the media where attack ads portray us as potential predators to keep us from even using the…bathroom. The so-called bathroom bills that are popping up all over this country do not keep children safe, they force trans people into using bathrooms where they can be beaten and or murdered. We are not predators, we are prey.”
As this year comes to a close, we honor all who have come out as LGBTQ or as a straight ally for equality – that takes bravery, and we commend you. Watch HRC’s National Coming Out Day 2016 video below and learn more about coming out here.
Follow along with HRC’s blog in the coming days as we recognize the people who inspired us and gave us hope, courage and strength in 2016.