Jeb Bush Supports State-By-State Approach to Extending Non-Discrimination Protections to LGBT Americans

Speaking to staffers at a San Francisco tech startup yesterday, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush signaled his support for a state-by-state approach to extending non-discrimination protections to LGBT citizens.

TIME reports:

An employee who identified himself to Bush as being gay asked about Bush’s position on legislation to ban discrimination of LGBT Americans. “I don’t think you should be discriminated because of your sexual orientation. Period. Over and out,” he replied.

Bush continued: “The fact that there wasn’t a law doesn’t necessarily mean you would have been discriminated against.” He added that in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, the country must work to carefully balance the rights of those seeking to marry and the religious beliefs of those who oppose those unions.

Citing the frequently-used example by religious freedom advocates, Bush said that in the case of a florist approached by a gay couple, “you should be obligated to sell them flowers, doing otherwise would be discriminatory.” But he said that the objecting florist should not be required to participate in the wedding, a fine line that he hopes will appeal to all sides of the debate.

When the employee followed up to ask specifically whether he would support anti-discrimination laws for LGBT Americans for their housing and employment—the next target for gay rights marriage advocates—Bush said he would at the state level.

“I think this should be done state-by-state, I totally agree with that,” he said.

Following the Supreme Court’s historic ruling on marriage last month, Bush issued the following statement:

“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage.  I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision.  I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.  In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side.  It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.”

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Kyler Geoffroy

Jeb Bush Supports State-By-State Approach to Extending Non-Discrimination Protections to LGBT Americans

Meet Two Of The First Gay Dads To Foster-To-Adopt In Florida

In this installment of the Huffington Post Gay Voices RaiseAChild.US “Let Love Define Family™” series, contributing writer David Humiston is inspired by two foster and adoptive dads in Tallahassee, Florida, and shares their story.

Inspiration is a living thing. In the act of making ordinary people do extraordinary things, it gets passed on. Those inspired become those that inspire and, in this way, one candle is used to light another.

Couples like Daniel Nurse and his husband, Casanova, a thirtysomething couple from Tallahassee, Florida, are inspiring. Together since 2006 and married on Valentine’s Day of this year, Danny has taken on the Florida House Judiciary Committee (testimony against anti-gay adoption, i.e., Bill 7111), biased caseworkers and even an attorney who initially (and illegally) refused to represent them during adoption proceedings, and have successfully adopted three beautiful children into their loving home. The process was not easy for them, and they admit to moments of difficulty and even self-doubt. However, they persevered and can say that they were among the first same-sex couples to foster-to-adopt in Tallahassee. Daniel, already from a family familiar with the beautiful rewards of adoption, related to me that he was inspired to take his first steps by the annual CBS television special, “A Home for the Holidays.”

In 2010, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals struck down a 1977 law banning adoption by gay parents, declaring it unconstitutional. Danny and Cas were among the very first to subsequently apply for fostering. 

Their first adoption placement, a precious girl, was challenging. The family struggled to adapt and parent, as any family would, and the young girl placed in their care blossomed, but was ultimately reunited with her birth mother. The experience made them wiser, perhaps more patient, but no less eager to try again. And so they did, with two adorable and, as Danny says, “amazing” boys. Sadly though, neither child ended up staying with them for the long haul, but Danny and Cas remained positive and persistent.

Determination has paid off, and they have now successfully adopted three children through the foster-to-adopt program. Two boys, Neijal and Cameron — both 4 — and Ava Rose, who is only 22 months old. The children have brought more joy and meaning into Danny and Cas’s life. 

Cas’s family, long apprehensive and unaccepting of his sexuality, have even been won over by the children, and family meetings have engendered deeper respect, love and understanding. Cas’s father, the children’s “Paw-Paw,” was instantly smitten upon meeting them and insisted on showing his love by cooking them a “hearty meal,” as Cas puts it. That meeting, and those that followed, were “critical in mending many years of misunderstanding and misperceptions about my husband’s life, and gay life in general,” says Cas.

Danny and Cas are happy. They are optimistic. They know that struggles are likely to come their way, but it is nothing they aren’t willing to face together. In Daniel’s words, they “may face issues, ridicule, embarrassment, but it is all worth it to be able to give back and provide a loving and committed family for those that would not otherwise have one.” This is a common theme among foster-to-adopt families, perhaps even more so among same-sex couples who have faced struggles for the opportunity to raise children. Nonetheless, this family is a heartening inspiration for all of us to reflect upon. Their candle of inspiration will, hopefully, be used to inspire the flame of other candles yet to be.

RaiseAChild.US is the nationwide leader in the recruitment and support of LGBT and all prospective parents interested in building families through fostering and adoption to meet the needs of the 400,000 children in the foster care system. RaiseAChild.US recruits, educates and nurtures supportive relationships equally with all prospective foster and adoptive parents while partnering with agencies to improve the process of advancing foster children to safe, loving and permanent homes. For information about how you can become a foster or adoptive parent, please visit www.RaiseAChild.US.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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84% of Filipinos oppose gay marriage

More than 8 in 10 Filipinos oppose gay marriage, according to a survey conducted in May.

A massive 70% of respondents said they ‘strongly disagree’ with gay marriage being legalized in the Catholic-majority country, according to the poll conducted by Laylo Research Strategies for The Standard newspaper.

Only 4% said they ‘strongly agree’ with gay marriage. The rest of the respondents ‘somewhat disagree’ (14%) and ‘somewhat agree’ (12%) with a possible reform in the country’s marriage laws.

Opposition was strongest in Central/Northern Luzon and among well-to-do respondents.

Those from urban areas were most likely to ‘strongly agree’ with gay marriage, but that proportion still only stood at 7%.

The majority of responses to the survey on social media supported the findings.

‘Getting wed is not just an event,’ wrote one Facebook user.

‘It’s a sacred act. People should respect its sanctity. I am not against the gay and lesbian people. But I am against the Same-sex Marriage. If you respect God, you need to respect his ways.’

Another said: ‘We can offer our respect to LGBT Community, but we can’t offer the Church their marriage. We’ll be insulting God if we let that happen.’

The survey also found that 8% of Philippines had had same-sex relations, 12% of males and 5% of females.

From 8-18 May, 1,500 adults from all regions of the Philippines were polled for the survey, which has a margin of error of 2.6%.

See the full results below:

The post 84% of Filipinos oppose gay marriage appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/84-of-filipinos-oppose-gay-marriage/

You’ll Never Guess Who Taught Channing Tatum To Dance

Each Friday online comedian, voice actor and chest hair model Sam Kalidi creates a new meme each week for Queerty readers. This week he dug deep into Channing Tatum‘s career and found out where the former stripper learned his highly-touted dance moves. Sam looks forward to all your hate mail. You can find him onTwitter, Facebook, Instagram and at your local glory hole.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/J2VP2L4o83s/youll-never-guess-who-taught-channing-tatum-to-dance-20150717

Airbnb Honors Caitlyn Jenner, Transgender Rights with ‘Transkind’ Ad: VIDEO

Online rental service Airbnb honored Caitlyn Jenner at Wednesday’s ESPY Awards where she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and gave a groundbreaking, emotional speech about her transition.

Airbnb ran an ad celebrating ‘transkind’ and also tweeted its support during the ceremony, saying “It takes courage to make a difference in the world. It also takes kindness. Tonight we honor both. #Transkind #ESPYS.”

It takes courage to make a difference in the world. It also takes kindness. Tonight we honor both. #Transkind #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/fVuxXhxKgp

— Airbnb (@Airbnb) July 16, 2015

The Angela Bassett-narrated ad featured a baby walking toward an open door and the words mankind, womankind, humankind, transkind.

Says Bassett: “Is man kind? Are we good? Go see. Go look through their windows so you can understand their views, sit at their tables so you can share their tastes. Sleep in their beds, so you may know their dreams.”

Watch, below:

The post Airbnb Honors Caitlyn Jenner, Transgender Rights with ‘Transkind’ Ad: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Andy Towle

Airbnb Honors Caitlyn Jenner, Transgender Rights with ‘Transkind’ Ad: VIDEO

18 Presidential Candidates — As Depicted By Cats

There are now at least a dozen and a half candidates running for president in 2016. It’s not easy to keep track of all their positions on LGBT issues, but hopefully this feline menagerie will make it a little easier.

read more

Amanda Kerri

www.advocate.com/politics/election/2015/07/17/18-presidential-candidates-depicted-cats

For the first time in history, a Ugandan presidential candidate backs gay rights

In a historic moment, Amama Mbazazi has become the first Ugandan presidential candidate to say he is opposed to homophobia.

The current Prime Minister, who launched his campaign last month to be named president in 2016, has shocked the public by saying that gay people, it turns out, are not the ‘biggest threat’.

Gay rights activists have hailed this as one of the most significant moments of progress that Uganda has seen in years.

Speaking on NDS Television earlier this morning, Mbabazi said: ‘I am opposed to homophobia. While I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, homosexuality is not something new.

‘I have stated very clearly that there shouldn’t be any discrimination and it is not the biggest threat right now in the country.’

This is big in two ways. In Uganda, there is an attitude that homosexuality is ‘un-African’ or that it is a Western import. By making clear it is not anything new (after all, they once had a gay king), it could begin to be seen as natural. And by saying it is not a big threat, it should force the public to look at the serious issues that have been disguised by the current president Yoweri Museveni’s unrelenting and public campaign against the LGBTI community.

His statement caused a deep divide among the Ugandan public, with some saying it was right that LGBTI people should not be persecuted while others said they could not support him because of this issue. Some on NDS Television’s Facebook page even wondered whether Mbabazi was receiving his campaign funds from Americans.

Mbabazi, who has served as Uganda’s Prime Minister, was opposed to the Anti-Homosexuality Act because he believed that homosexuals should not be killed.

Edwin Sesange, a LGBTI Ugandan rights activist, commended Mbabazi for ‘bravely standing up against homophobia’.

‘This is the first time in Ugandan history for an aspiring presidential candidate to speak publicly against homophobia,’ he said to Gay Star News. ‘We call upon other presidential candidates to be inspired by him.

‘We would like to make it clear that no LGBTI person in Uganda is campaigning for same-sex marriage, we are campaigning against being persecuted.’

While Sesange said he was concerned his message might be used against him in the election, he added: ‘We have more work to be done to support those allies who are against homophobia as well as helping to change people’s attitudes towards the LGBTI community.’

In Mbabazi’s campaign video, launched last month, he said: ‘You’ll be making a choice for your families, your children, and the generations to come. A new age is upon us, and upon this, our focus must rest. Yesterday is gone, and today’s challenges must have newer, better answers. Uganda can work, together let us make it work.’

The post For the first time in history, a Ugandan presidential candidate backs gay rights appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/for-the-first-time-in-history-a-ugandan-presidential-candidate-backs-gay-rights/

The Appalling True Story Of What Happened At A Texas Frat When They Thought No One Was Watching

When Derek Elrod was rushing a fraternity at the University of North Texas (UNT) in the fall of 2013, he was having, as he puts it, “the time of my life.” The brothers at the fraternity of his first choice, Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), were surprisingly warm and welcoming.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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US evangelist calls on Christians to fight gay marriage – with guns

US evangelist and internet personality Joshua Feuerstein has taken a shot at gay marriage in a recent video – well, almost.

The Arizonan ended his 2-minute 30-second video rant by brandishing a semiautomatic assault rifle and calling on his 1.6 million followers to fight for their ‘First Amendment right to refuse’ recognition of gay marriage with their Second Amendment right.

The video has been viewed more than 5 million times since it was posed on Facebook on 9 July.

Feuerstein claims the recent US Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide was not about equal rights but ‘about reconstitutionalizing a term so that now it opens up the door for the left and the liberals to come after Christianity.’

And Christians have to fight back – with guns.

‘They’re coming after our First Amendment constitutional rights! Well, check this out, this is one pastor that will not bow. Why?’ he asks as he draws a semiautomatic assault rifle.

‘Because my First Amendment right is guaranteed by my Second Amendment right. Think about that, ladies and gentlemen.

‘It’s time that we finally take a stand and say no more. We’re not backing up any further. We’re not going to allow a tyrannical government to come in and strip away our rights as Christians and try to demonize us so that they can make the Bible bigoted.’

Watch the video below:

The post US evangelist calls on Christians to fight gay marriage – with guns appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-evangelist-calls-on-christians-to-fight-gay-marriage-with-guns/

'Friday Night Lights' Producer Apologizes for Anti-Jenner Post

After sharing a transphobic meme in regard to Caitlyn Jenner’s Courage Award, producer-director Peter Berg has issued a statement of respect for her and support for trans equality.

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Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/media/2015/07/17/friday-night-lights-producer-apologizes-anti-jenner-post