Australia’s Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt is “concerned” after Iran reportedly summons the Australian Ambassador to the country after sharing a pro-LGBTQ+ post on Instagram.
The embassy shared the post to mark Wear It Purple Day on 30 August, a date that “strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people” in Australia.
Reuters reported that Iran summoned the Australian Ambassador, Ian McConville, to the ministry in the capital Tehran in response to the social post, which was dubbed as “norm-breaking” and “promoted homosexuality”.
Watt has since responded to the news, saying that the reaction from the Iranian government is “concerning”.
He told ABC News Breakfast on 4 September: “Certainly, the Albanese government’s views and our values are that we support all Australians, regardless of their sexual orientation, their gender, their race.”
The Minister added: “I am concerned to see this reaction from the Iranian government to the activities of the Australian Embassy.
“We’re very proud about the fact that our embassies promote Australian values internationally, and I’m very concerned to see an overseas government seemingly take action against an Australian Embassy that is upholding Australian values.”
Watt was asked whether there would be any “counter-reaction” in Australia, to which Watt responded: “It’s probably a little bit early for me to be predicting that.
“But I’m sure these are things that Penny Wong [Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and leader of the Government in the Senate] and others will be taking into account,” he concluded.
The original social media post in question read: “Celebrating ‘Wear it Purple Day’ with a splash of purple in every corner, and some delicious cupcakes made with love.
“Today, and every day, we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves. Let’s keep championing diversity and inclusion for a brighter, more inclusive future,” the post went on to proclaim.
The Iranian Labour News Agency quoted McConville as saying the post was not meant to be an insult to the Iranian people or their values and the Islamic Republic was not mentioned in the post, which remains live on the embassy’s Instagram account.
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and same-sex acts between men are punishable by death, while women face the possibility of 100 lashes. There are no protections for LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, and conversion therapy is believed to be widely performed.
Last year, Nicolette Mason, the founder of the Iranian Diaspora Collective, a non-partisan, queer-led, multi-faith group, told PinkNews that the country’s younger citizens wanted “to be able to live freely like the rest of the world”.
The results of a new survey published by Knight Foundation in partnership with Langer Research Associates shows that book bans, and the people who promote them, are losing support. The recent primary election results in Florida, home base for book-banning Moms for Liberty, show even more rejection at the ballot box.
First, the survey: Of more than 4,500 adults sampled, two thirds oppose book bans in public schools, and 78% trust school staff to stock shelves with “appropriate” titles. And although 60% of respondents view “appropriateness” as a reason to place restrictions on book access, Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen notes, “‘appropriateness’ here is not about topics like diversity, queerness, social-emotional learning, climate change, and other issues that have been the target of the book banning agenda.”
While Americans largely share a distaste for book bans and 23% are aware that these kinds of censorship efforts are happening in their community, only three percent have gotten involved, with two percent fighting to retain challenged titles and one percent attempting to ban them. In other words, says Jensen, an incredibly small subset of people are “instigating the astronomical rise in book bans nationwide.”
Diminishing Returns
Both Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Moms for Liberty took major hits during last week’s election. Eleven out of 23 DeSantis-backed candidates lost their races.
While Moms for Liberty’s list of school board endorsements in Florida somewhat differs from that of DeSantis, the results match a trend that started with recent elections: Campaigning on book bans is a losing platform. Of M4L’s list of endorsements in Florida, only three candidates won. Six lost their campaigns, while an additional five will be headed to a runoff election in November.
Of note in Indian River County: Candidates endorsed by DeSantis and M4L lost their races. Indian River is the birthplace of M4L. Stitching an article from the Associated Press, author and social media personality Jeffrey Marsh said, “even the people of Florida don’t want school board members who harass LGBTQ kids, who ban books, who push Christian nationalist agendas in schools.”
Florida and the Waning Influence of Moms for Liberty
Last week’s losses come after years of coordinated assault against books by and about LGBTQ people and people of color. According to a PEN America report, July-December 2023 saw more book bans than the entire 2022-23 school year. In Florida alone, there were 3,135 bans in 11 school districts.
Declared that Florida “will not comply” and would “fight back” against recent Title IX rule updates announced by the Biden administration, which include specific protections for LGBTQ students and prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
While calling book ban accusations against him a “hoax” and stating that Florida book bans are a “false narrative,” DeSantis walked back earlier book ban efforts under the “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law (House Bill 1557). Florida now limits book challenges to one title per month for “residents who don’t have a child in school.”
Spoke at Moms for Liberty’s 2023 national summit, and appointed M4L co-founder Bridget Ziegler to an oversight board he created to take on Disneyafter the company critiqued DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ agenda. Ziegler and her husband Christian were later investigated as part of a rape allegation from a woman they had a sexual relationship with.
Signed House Bill 1557 into law in 2022. The legislation, informally known as “Don’t Say LGBTQ” or “Don’t Say Gay,” initially forbade discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in K-3 public schools. The following year, DeSantis expanded the ban to all grades. Said DeSantis, “Schools are not there for you to try to go on some ideological joyride at the expense of our kids.”
In 2023, DeSantis and the Board of Governors appointed several members to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees. This month, passersby discovered that the college tossedhundreds of LGBTQ-inclusive titles from their dismantled Gender and Diversity Center.
Moms for Liberty appears to be trying to rebuild after its trouncing at the polls in 2023 and 2024, and devastating personal scandals against its co-founder and her disgraced husband. M4L has invited former President Donald Trump to speak at their annual summit this week, Trump’s second time addressing the group.
The American Bar Association has filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors.
“Equal protection forbids differential treatment in the exercise of important constitutional rights absent the strongest justification, and Tennessee’s [Senate Bill 1] cannot withstand scrutiny under that standard,” says the ABA brief, filed Tuesday. It adds, “The ABA has recognized in its past policy statements, state policy denying any individual access to needed medical care for reasons wholly unrelated to any medical justification — as SB1 does — is inimical to equality and equal dignity before the law.”
“The right of patients to access treatment without arbitrary governmental interference is grounded in the common-law right of bodily integrity and self-determination, as well as liberty interests protected by the Fourteenth Amendment,” the brief continues, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s prior decisions.
Friend-of-the-court briefs, known in legal jargon as amicus curiae briefs, are filed by people or organizations not directly involved in a case but with an interest in its outcome.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the federal government, asked the Supreme Court to hear the case, and in June, the court agreed to do so. The justices will hold a hearing in their new term, which begins October 7.
The case is known as U.S. v. Skrmetti, Jonathan Skrmetti being the attorney general of Tennessee, which is one of 26 Republican-controlled states that have banned or restricted gender-affirming care for trans minors. The Tennessee ban has been upheld by a federal appeals court.
“In its brief, the ABA outlines its lengthy record of supporting LGBTQ rights, first urging the repeal of laws criminalizing private sexual relations between consenting adults more than a half century ago,” says a press release from the organization. “Most recently in August, the ABA House of Delegates adopted policy urging legal protection of access to gender-affirming care.”
The ABA is the world’s largest voluntary association of lawyers.
The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court will hear a challenge on August 30, 2024, to laws that criminalize consensual same-sex conduct by officers in the police and armed forces, Human Rights Watch said today. In an amicus curiae brief, Human Rights Watch said that these discriminatory laws violate the rights under international law of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) officers to equality, privacy, and the ability to work without fear, among others.
“These draconian laws are a stain on the Dominican Republic’s human rights record and contribute to an unchecked discriminatory environment in the police and armed forces,” said Cristian González Cabrera, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “State-sanctioned bigotry has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law and in a region that has mostly disavowed the criminalization of private sexual acts between people of the same sex.”
The Dominican Republic does not ban same-sex conduct by private individuals. Yet, it lags behind on LGBT rights, lacking comprehensive civil anti-discrimination legislation, same-sex marriage or civil union rights, and gender identity recognition for transgender individuals, Human Rights Watch said. In recent months, LGBT activists have criticized a proposed criminal code for not providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including hate crimes provisions.
In 2019, a viral video exposed a Dominican army sergeant in a same-sex encounter, leading to his dismissal. The army cited a “duly proven serious fault that tarnishes the morals and ethics of the institution.” The sergeant filed an appeal. An administrative court dismissed his case in 2021 on procedural grounds, but the sergeant filed a new appeal and is awaiting a final decision.
In 2014, the then-director of the National Police told a congressional committee that existing legislation “does not allow people who are homosexual” to be part of the force. In response to questions about what would happen to homosexual officers already in the police force, the then-director asked for them to be identified, news reports said.
Anderson Javiel Dirocie de León, one of the lawyers leading the constitutional challenge, told Human Rights Watch: “The discriminatory provisions mean that LGBTI officers serve in constant fear of being discovered, sanctioned, and losing everything, including their livelihood. The provisions convey a message from the state that LGBTI people are inherently unfit to perform public functions and can be considered criminals for being who we are.”
In 2004, the Dominican Republic’s congress passed a broad criminal procedure reform that limited the ability of the police and the armed forces to criminally sanction officers, but made clear that those institutions retain their administrative “disciplinary powers.” In 2019, the Constitutional Court clarified that criminal cases against officers should be heard by ordinary criminal courts, but it did not strike down the provisions on sodomy in the security forces’ codes of justice.
In recent years, countries in the region, including Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the United States, have scrapped laws that criminalize same-sex conduct by officers.
In its amicus curiae brief, Human Rights Watch said that the criminalization of same-sex conduct violates international standards, including the rights to be protected against arbitrary and unlawful interference with one’s private and family life and to one’s reputation or dignity, as emphasized by the United Nations independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.
While the provisions under constitutional challenge prohibit same-sex conduct only in the military and police context, they make the Dominican Republic one of the few remaining countries in the Americas to criminalize same-sex conduct.
“President Luis Abinader and Congress should not wait for the Constitutional Court ruling and should promptly introduce legislation to repeal these outdated and discriminatory laws that meddle in officers’ private lives,” González said. “Repealing these laws would send a strong signal to LGBT people and the world that the principles of equality and nondiscrimination are of the utmost importance in the Dominican Republic.”
Kamala Harris’ journey to become the first Black and South Asian vice president of the United States is nothing short of groundbreaking. Now, as the 2024 presidential nominee, understanding Kamala Harris’ political stances offers valuable insight into her vision for the future.
What key issues define her political agenda, and how might they affect her candidacy and the shaping of the nation? Let’s take a look at her stances to explore these questions further.
Gaza
As the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has articulated her robust support for Israel’s right to defend itself, emphasizing the necessity of protection against threats from militant groups like Hamas. At the same time, she has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, highlighting its severe impact on Palestinian civilians.
In her recent remarks, Harris affirmed her commitment to working with President Joe Biden to negotiate a cease-fire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. “Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a cease-fire deal done,” she asserted in her Democratic National Convention speech.
Moreover, Harris has consistently addressed the rights of Palestinians, advocating for their right to “dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.” Her stance underscores a nuanced approach, aiming to maintain support from both pro-Israel Democrats and those advocating for Palestinian rights.
However, her campaign has said she doesn’t support an embargo on the sale of U.S. weapons to Israel, something long sought by pro-Palestinian protestors. She risks alienating them and other progressive voters if she doesn’t explain how her administration would differ from the current one’s approach.
If she becomes president, Harris is expected to replace some of the chief architects of the Biden administration’s strategy in Gaza, The Wall Street Journal reported. Her national security adviser, Philip Gordon, has emphasized the need for diplomatic (rather than military) foreign policy solutions. However, she has not yet laid out concrete details about the diplomatic levers she could use to force Israel to end its targeting of Palestinian civilians.
Kamala Harris has consistently championed the need to protect reproductive rights, advocating for national legislation that mirrors the protections once granted by Roe v. Wade. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe, Harris emerged as a key figure in the Biden administration’s efforts to keep the issue at the forefront. Her proactive stance was underscored by a historic visit to an abortion clinic, marking the first such visit by a sitting vice president.
During her tenure in the Senate, Harris was a vocal supporter of abortion rights. She co-sponsored legislation to ban states from restricting abortion rights and opposed a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. She has also advocated for laws requiring states with histories of restricting abortion rights to obtain federal approval for new abortion-related laws.
In her speech at the end of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, she mentioned that former President Donald Trump and his conservative allies are “out of their minds” for intending to empower extremists, cut social programs, and outlaw abortion across the country.
Taxing the rich
Kamala Harris supports a comprehensive tax plan that would increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations to generate nearly $5 trillion in revenue over the next decade. She would increase taxes on individuals earning more than $400,000 a year — a group representing approximately 1.8% of America’s top income earners. She has pledged to ensure that middle and lower-income families don’t face increased tax burdens.
Additionally, Harris wants to raise the corporate tax rate from the existing 21% to 28%, which would generate an estimated $1.3 trillion over ten years, according to the Treasury Department. By targeting affluent individuals and major corporations, she seeks to address economic disparities and secure funding for essential government initiatives without affecting the broader population.
Her campaign spokesman, James Singer, articulated her vision by saying the plan is “a fiscally responsible way to put money back in the pockets of working people and ensure billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.”
Healthcare
During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris supported the introduction of a “Medicare-for-all” public option that would allow people to choose between public and private health insurance. While she has since backed away from this plan, during her time in the Senate, she supported bills that expanded Medicare coverage in individual states.
She has supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows the federal government to negotiate drug prices for those most commonly prescribed under Medicare. As vice president, she has also spoken about the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce medical debt.
During her current presidential campaign, she has pledged to improve healthcare access by reducing drug prices and expanding coverage under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, a federal law that Republicans have long sought to repeal. She has also publicly opposed Republican proposals to privatize or cut health care programs for elderly and lower-income Americans.
The 2024 Democratic National Platform has also pledged to ensure that health insurers adequately cover mental health and substance use treatment.
Although she has not introduced new policies for tackling climate change, she has supported the Biden Administration’s pledges to fight climate change, pledged U.S. investments into helping other countries fight climate change, and previously supported the Green New Deal, which would invest federal funds into state and local efforts to end pollution and build renewable energy sources.
LGBTQ+ issues
Kamala Harris has consistently demonstrated her commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, building a record of support that spans her career in public service. As California’s Attorney General, Harris played a pivotal role in restoring marriage equality in the state by refusing to defend Proposition 8, a voter-approved measure that had revoked the right to same-sex marriage. Her decisive actions helped pave the way for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that ultimately struck down the proposition.
As a vocal opponent of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Harris has condemned policies that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those affecting transgender youth. She emphasized her stance by saying, “The fight for equal rights is patriotic. We believe in the foundational principles of our country; we believe in the promise of freedom and equality and justice.”
As president, she has pledged to support the Equality Act, a bill that would add LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. She has also pledged to continue protecting transgender students and gender-affirming care and to oppose anti-LGBTQ+ book bans in red states.
A vision for progressive change
Kamala Harris stands as an advocate for progressive change, pushing for policies that tax the rich, expand healthcare, fight environmental pollution, and expand LGBTQ+ civil rights. While her current campaign hasn’t always detailed the specific policies she’ll pursue as president, the Democratic National Platform and her past actions and statements reflect her long-term dedication to these issues.
The U.S. Census Bureau is testing questions about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) on the American Community Survey (ACS).
The bureau received approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget on July 11 following a brief period to receive public comment on the questions, the Bay Area Reporter reported. The announcement follows through on a commitment by President Joe Biden during Pride Month two years ago when he issued a directive to federal agencies directing them to find ways to better gauge and serve the LGBTQ+ community.
The ACS is sent to 295,000 households every year. The results are used to analyze household data and allocate federal funding.
In 2022, the ACS found approximately 1.3 million same-sex couple households in the U.S. Of those couples, around 741,000 (or 57 percent) were married while the rest were not. Additionally, 31 percent of the married same-sex couples were interracial, significantly higher than opposite-sex married couples.
Of particular interest to the Bureau is the use of proxy reporting in responding to census questions.
“In 2023, the AHS asked SOGI questions of adult respondents in regular, occupied housing units; one-half of the sample included experimental proxy questions for all members of the household along with the self-response questions,” the Bureau wrote in a press release announcing the proposed SOGI questions in June. “This research will help us understand how LGBT households compare to non-LGBT households on things like housing characteristics, housing costs, and housing quality, among others. It will also tell us about differences or similarities in trends between respondent and proxy data.”
The news was welcomed by a former Census Bureau and SOGI expert Nancy Bates, who is a lesbian.
“This is a watershed moment for both the Census Bureau and the entire US federal statistical system,” Bates told the Reporter via email. “I eagerly await the findings and ultimate implications this will have for the LGBTQI+ community.”
Sunday, Sept. 8 @ 3 pm . 3 Acre Holler at Occidental Center for the Arts. Join us in the OCA Amphitheater to enjoy Appalachian-inspired, soulful melodies performed by talented Sonoma County musicians Cori Wood, Michael Capella, Paul Shelasky, Cary Black and Layne Bowen. Refreshments for sale, art gallery open during intermission. Outside food and drink is not permitted in the amphitheater (excludes water). OCA is wheelchair accessible.Tickets are $25 GA, $20 for OCA members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. Online sales end at Noon day of show; tickets will be available at the door. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. 707-874-9392. OCA is a 501 K community-based arts organization with volunteer staffing.
Heroes of the Fourth Turning opens Sept 5 – Sept 21by Will Arbery. Directed by Skylar Evans It’s nearing midnight in Wyoming, where four young conservatives have gathered at a backyard after-party. They’ve returned home to toast their mentor Gina, newly inducted as president of a tiny Catholic college. But as their reunion spirals into spiritual chaos and clashing generational politics, it becomes less a celebration than a vicious fight to be understood. On a chilly night in the middle of America, this haunting play offers grace and disarming clarity, speaking to the heart of a country at war with itself.
Join us for eventsthroughout the month of September, from chair yoga to ukelele for beginners. All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend; registration is required for select events. See some of our September events below!
For grades K-6. At four libraries: Roseland, Northwest Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Guerneville.Little Artist’s First 100 WordsJoin children’s author Tenisha Bernal to explore little artist’s first words through interactive reading and hands-on activities. Recommended for ages 0-6. At two libraries: Cloverdale and Central Santa Rosa.
TeensTeen Ukelele Workshop Learn to play ukelele in a three-part series for beginners at the Windsor Regional Library! Ukeleles provided. For grades 7-12. Register to receive a reminder email. Paying for College with ScholarshipsJoin scholarships advisor Becca Lippman for three interactive workshops that teach students and parents how to find, apply for, and manage scholarships. For grades 9-12. Register to receive a reminder email. At two libraries: Petaluma and Sonoma Valley.
AdultsChair Yoga with Stacie DooreckKeep your body and mind healthy with chair yoga! Suitable for all ages and abilities, including those with chronic illness or pre/post-surgery injuries. At three libraries: Cloverdale, Petaluma, and Rincon Valley.Flor de Calabaza Quesadillas WorkshopLearn how to use colorful squash blossoms—flor de calabaza—to add delicate flavor to a traditional Mexican dish. At four libraries: Windsor, Rohnert Park Cotati, Central Santa Rosa, and Cloverdale.Looking for more? Explore the full calendar! Explore the CalendarA Reminder from Your Library
Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here. Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message.
Eventos en septiembre Únete a nosotros para disfrutar de eventosdurante todo el mes de septiembre, desde yoga en silla hasta ukelele para principiantes. Todos los eventos son gratuitos y no necesitas una tarjeta de la biblioteca para asistir;
se requiere inscripción para eventos seleccionados.¡Conoce algunos de nuestros eventos de diciembre a continuación!Niñes Semillas y libros: Estrellas de mar¡Descubre datos divertidos sobre las estrellas de mar y decora tu propio modelo de masa de sal!
Para los grados K-6. En cuatro bibliotecas: Roseland, Northwest Santa Rosa, Windsor y Guerneville.Las primeras 100 palabras de un pequeño artistaAcompaña a la autora Tenisha Bernal a explorar las primeras palabras de pequeños artistas a través de la lectura interactiva y actividades prácticas.
Recomendado para edades 0-6. En dos bibliotecas: Cloverdale y Central Santa Rosa.JóvenesTaller de ukelele para Jóvenes¡Aprende a tocar el ukelele en una serie de tres partes para principiantes en la Biblioteca Regional de Windsor! Los ukeleles serán proporcionados. Para los grados 7-12. Inscríbete para recibir un recordatorio del evento por correo electrónico.Pagar la universidad con becasÚnete a la asesora de becas Becca Lippman en tres talleres interactivos que enseñan a estudiantes y padres cómo encontrar, solicitar y administrar becas.
Para los grados 9 a 12. Inscríbete para recibir un recordatorio del evento por correo electrónico. En dos bibliotecas: Petaluma y Sonoma Valley.
AdultosYoga de silla con Stacie Dooreck¡Mantén tu cuerpo y tu mente sanos con el yoga en silla! Adecuado para todas las edades y habilidades, incluidas aquellas personas con enfermedades crónicas o lesiones antes y después de la cirugía. En tres bibliotecas: Cloverdale, Petaluma y Rincon Valley.Taller para hacer quesadillas con flor de calabazaAprende a usar las coloridas flores de calabaza para agregar un sabor delicado a un plato tradicional mexicano. En cuatro bibliotecas: Windsor, Rohnert Park Cotati, Central Santa Rosa y Cloverdale.
