28 Percent of People Worldwide Say Homosexuality Should Be Criminalized

A new ILGA survey has found that more than a quarter of people worldwide believe that homosexuality should be criminalized.

The survey (Minorities Report 2017: attitudes to sexual and gender minorities around the world) polled more than 105,000 participants from 77 countries and territories to respond to the statement “People who engage in romantic or sexual relationships with people of the same sex should be charged as criminals”.

Of those respondents, 28.5 percent believe engaging in same-sex relationships should be a criminal offence.

The report says “in criminalising states, unsurprisingly, the percentages that agree that same-sex romantic or sexual relationships should be criminalized increases substantially.”

RELATED: U.S. Clarifies ‘No’ Vote on UN Resolution Condemning Death Penalty for Homosexuality: There Were ‘Broader Concerns’

SBS reports:

“Much of the data elicited in this survey simply acts to confirm what sexual, gender and sex minority communities already know from personal or anecdotal experience,” the report adds.

“A finding that emerges repeatedly in this survey is that when respondents know people belonging to sexual and gender minorities, their opinions tend to be more inclusive and less harsh.”

Africa (45 per cent), Central Asia (45 per cent) and South Asia (42 per cent) were more in favour of punishing people in same-sex relationships, while Western Europe and North America had similar results to Australia and New Zealand, generating strong disagreement rates.

In Australia, 16 percent of respondents said that homosexuality should be criminalized.

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28 Percent of People Worldwide Say Homosexuality Should Be Criminalized

Labour Party Investigating Shadow Minister Clive Lewis Over Groping Claim

Labour is investigating Clive Lewis after an official complaint accused the shadow minister of groping a woman at the party’s annual conference last month.

The allegation was made by a party member who said she was meeting the front-bencher for the first time when they hugged and gave her “bum a big squeeze”, reports The Independent.

The Labour Party told HuffPost UK in a statement: “The Labour Party is investigating a formal complaint made today against Clive Lewis.”

reprimanded by the party last month after a video emerged of him appearing to tell an audience member at an event to get “on your knees, bitch”.

The latest development comes after Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins was suspended from the party ahead of allegations of sexual harassment emerging in a national newspaper.

He has “absolutely and categorically” denied allegations.

The allegations of inappropriate behaviour that have rocked Westminster have already led to the resignation of Sir Michael Fallon as defence secretary.

Jeremy Corbyn is facing questions over why Hopkins was promoted to the shadow cabinet after a complaint against him had been made.

Labour MP John Mann will ask the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) to introduce a new code of conduct to try and prevent staff members being subject to unwanted advances.

One of his demands is that Labour MPs be prevented from visiting the Sports and Social bar in parliament – a pub popular with young staff.

Mann also wants a MPs to be given compulsory management training and for a clear system of warnings for those who breach the rules.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/clive-lewis-investigation_uk_59fcc01fe4b0baea2631a878

Paid Leave: An LGBTQ Issue

By Mary Beth Maxwell, Senior Vice President for Programs, Research and Training, HRC Foundation

There’s no denying that just about every American — LGBTQ or not — will one day have to call their boss and tell them they can’t come in. Maybe they have to undergo cancer treatments. Perhaps an aging parent has had a medical emergency and is in the hospital. Or maybe they’re calling to tell their boss that they just went into labor and will be having a child. Whatever the reason, they’ll be largely dependent on the will of their employer when it comes to whether they get paid.

The United States lags far behind other industrialized countries when it comes to paid medical leave. And we are the only industrialized country to offer no paid family leave to working adults (for example, leave that would allow an employee to take care of a sick family member or welcome a new child). But despite the universal challenges resulting from our country’s lack of paid leave, LGBTQ people in the United States are uniquely impacted. And new research out from the Center for American Progress (CAP) backs that up.

According to CAP, 42 percent of LGBTQ people say they’ve needed to take time off work to care for a chosen family member — compared to 31 percent of non-LGBTQ people. And that’s just those who have taken time off, even considering many were not paid. Not only are we more likely to take time off work, but we’re more vulnerable to the lack of paid leave.

Consider that seven-in-ten LGBTQ Americans live in states that lack a family leave law or have a law that only allows leave for workers who have a biological or legal relationship with the child. LGBTQ couples raising children are also twice as likely to have household incomes near the poverty line compared to their non-LGBTQ peers — and single LGBTQ people are three times more likely to live near the poverty threshold as their non-LGBTQ peers.

Without explicit federal laws protecting us from being fired simply because of who we are, LGBTQ workers also remain at risk of being fired if we’re forced to come out when requesting leave.

Medical leave is especially important to LGBTQ people. Think about transgender people pursuing transition-related care or people living with HIV and AIDS. While people living with HIV are no more likely to request medical leave than workers without HIV, they will be impacted more acutely by an inability to access leave. And for the transgender worker, lack of explicit federal law protecting them from discrimination can make the request devastatingly costly in more ways than one.

There is good news. More and more policy leaders are working to address the gaps at the state and even federal level. And more and more companies are recognizing that providing paid leave isn’t only the right thing to do, it’s good for their businesses.

As organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, CAP, the National Partnership for Women and Families, the National Women’s Law Center and Paid Leave for the United States continue to push for more inclusive leave policies, it’s important for LGBTQ people to recognize the myriad ways in which we’re impacted by this country’s lack of paid leave — and to demand better.

Visit HRC’s website to learn more about LGBTQ Community and Paid Family and Medical Leave.

www.hrc.org/blog/paid-leave-an-lgbtq-issue?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The GLAAD Wrap: ‘No Dresscode Required’ and ‘BPM’ in theaters, new music from Sam Smith, Sia, and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-no-dresscode-required-and-bpm-theaters-new-music-sam-smith-sia-and-more

Women Lawmakers Tell of Sexual Harassment in Congress

The suggestive remarks and propositions are all about power, the women point out.

www.advocate.com/politicians/2017/11/03/women-lawmakers-tell-sexual-harassment-congress

Trio of male Marines disciplined after raunchy sex tape is discovered
“This was puerile and repugnant as the narration clearly demonstrates,” said Deputy Stewart Duncan.

www.queerty.com/trio-male-marines-disciplined-raunchy-sex-tape-discovered-20171103?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Most Popular Emoji, Jared Kushner, Lion King, Julian Aubrey, Taylor Swift, Robert Downey Jr., Aaron Schock: HOT LINKS

MOST POPULAR. Apple reveals most popular emoji is the laugh/cry face. “Apple revealed the news in a report about how they anonymously collect user data for insights into iPhone usage and potential problems, via The Verge. One of Apple’s techniques allows them to collect data on word and emoji usage, which the tech company says can help with word suggestions for users.”

AARON SCHOCK. Former Illinois Congressman’s lawyers want all charges dismissed: “The move could place the Jan. 22 trial date in the Urbana courtroom of U.S. District Judge Colin Bruce in jeopardy as such appeals can freeze the proceedings until they are resolved. But the appellate court could opt not to hear the matter as well. Schock, 36, is battling federal fraud and corruption charges that were filed in November 2016. The charges allege a course of conduct that began when Schock, a Peoria Republican, was first elected to Congress in 2008 and continued until October 2015, about six months after he resigned from office.”

INCOG-NOT-O. Harvey Weinstein dines out in disguise.

RUSSIA PROBE. Jared Kushner has turned over documents to Robert Mueller.

GAY HAIRDRESSER DARRYL ROWE. I drank urine to cure my HIV.

DNA INFO AND GOTHAMIST. Billionaire Trump donor shuts down publications after staffers unionize: ‘At 5 p.m., a post by Mr. Ricketts went up on the sites announcing the decision. He praised them for reporting “tens of thousands of stories that have informed, impacted and inspired millions of people.” But he added, “DNAinfo is, at the end of the day, a business, and businesses need to be economically successful if they are to endure.”’

Joe Ricketts is a coward. He wouldn’t last a minute under the intrepid scrutiny of the reporters he employed. What a loss for our city. t.co/IH0NH3JM0Z

— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 3, 2017

THE LION KING. Disney’s live action film has lined up major star power.

CONGRESSIONAL HARASSMENT. 4 more lawmakers claim they’ve been harassed by colleagues: “Former Reps. Mary Bono (R-Calif.) and Hilda Solis (D-Calif.), former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and current Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) tell the Associated Press that they experienced sexual harassment, including unwanted sexual advances and demeaning comments, during their time at the Capitol.”

A BEAUTIFUL FALL. Wendy Williams opens up about her Halloween fainting spell.

LONDON. Gay rights activist stabbed to death in apartment : “Julian Aubrey, 55, was found suffering multiple knife wounds in his home in Earl’s Court on Monday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives today appealed for witnesses to come forward as neighbours described hearing screams in the early hours.”

NEW TUNE OF THE DAY. Taylor Swift “Call It What You Want”.

WINDMILL HOME OF THE DAY. Robert Downey Jr.

FRIDAY FLASH. Azzan Keseri.

The post Most Popular Emoji, Jared Kushner, Lion King, Julian Aubrey, Taylor Swift, Robert Downey Jr., Aaron Schock: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Most Popular Emoji, Jared Kushner, Lion King, Julian Aubrey, Taylor Swift, Robert Downey Jr., Aaron Schock: HOT LINKS

Gavin Williamson Accused Of ‘Rank Hypocrisy’ By Labour For Arguing Against Cuts To Local Services
Gavin Williamson has been accused of “rank hypocrisy” by the Labour Party for arguing against cuts to local services in his constituency.

Before his promotion this week, Williamson served as Theresa May’s Chief Whip and was responsible for ensuring Tory MPs voted with the government.

But in an articles on his website, Williamson said he campaigned against cuts to the police, fire services, prisons and libraries.

In one post, the South Staffordshire MP’s constituents were told he had “started a national campaign to protect the [local] police station after learning that the facility was being considered for closure”.

And in another press release, the then Chief Whip said he was “was very concerned to hear that Cheslyn Hay Library’s opening hours have been dramatically reduced”.

Jon Trickett, Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, said Williamson’s “commitment to his career advancement appears to be stronger that his commitment to his constituents”.

“As Chief Whip, Gavin Williamson was guilty of rank hypocrisy, whipping Tory MPs to vote for cuts to local councils, police forces, fire services and prisons while railing against them in his local papers,” he said.

“Now that he is defence secretary and a full member of the Cabinet, we expect him to keep his word to people in his South Staffordshire constituency and speak up against these cuts that are destroying their public services.”

Williamson was May’s surprise pick to run the Ministry of Defence after Sir Michael Fallon resigned amid the ongoing Westminster sexual harassment scandal.

His appointment triggered a backlash from some Tory MPs.  One minister told HuffPost UK it was an “appalling appointment” and another said Williamson was a “real slimeball”.

In further posts on his website, Williamson said he had “campaigned against proposals to close Fire Stations” in his constituency.

And he said in September that prisons needed to “have the right resources to maintain order” and “sentences should be extended considerably” following disruption at HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood near his constituency.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gavin-williamson-accused-of-rank-hypocrisy-by-labour-for-arguing-against-cuts-to-local-services_uk_59fc9627e4b01b47404a2481