Google is under fire for allowing users to download a LGBTI ‘conversion therapy’ app.
Religious group Living Hope Ministries offers vulnerable LGBTI teens and adults ‘gay cures’ through prayer and therapy.
Every mainstream health group considers ‘gay cure’ therapy dangerous to a person’s mental and physical health.
The Texas-based group refers to LGBTI people as ‘sexually broken’ individuals.
Living Hope Ministries also encourages people to ‘walk out of false identities’, claiming LGBTI lifestyles are harmful.
The app also falsely portrays homosexuality as an ‘addiction’, ‘sickness’, and a ‘sin’.
Truth Wins Out has already been victorious in seeing the app removed from the Apple store.
‘By any standard, the app is awful,’ they say.
‘It brazenly compares homosexuality to an addiction. It casually trashes LGBT people as living “destructive lifestyles.”
Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, says it is ‘unconscionable’ that Google is still offering the app.
He said: ‘We are hoping this is simply an oversight from a very large company, rather than an objectionable policy decision that would warrant further action.’
A Living Hope Ministries spokesman said: ‘The claims made by Truth Wins Out are inaccurate and are not descriptive of our ministry or the free app that we offer or the other free services we provide individuals.
‘We are a discipleship ministry that holds to a traditional, orthodox, understanding of Scripture.
‘They also added: ‘We journey with individuals who seek out our help and help as they pursue a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
‘We are saddened by the efforts of Truth Wins Out to eliminate our voice in the public arena.’
Spotlight on New Queer Literature is a monthly series highlighting publications that are LGBTQIA owned, promote queer and trans writers, or publish work on LGBTQIA themes, seeking to connect Lambda’s readership with contemporary queer publishers and authors.
To ring in the new year, Lambda spoke with César Ramos, founder and editor of Raspa Magazine, a print magazine dedicated to queer Latinx literature. We spoke about Raspa‘s dedication to artistic innovation, representation, and community building.
Tell us a little bit about Raspa and its mission.
Raspa Magazine is a response to paucity of queer Latinx literature readily available to readers. Through the creation of a print publication my goal was to exhibit the experiences of the queer Latinx, thereby providing a better understanding for our selves as peers and for those outside of our community. It was founded on the values of equal representation, dedication to the arts, community building, and exemplifying Latinx leadership. These values stem from my own personal beliefs of equality, healing through creation, and community service. My decisions, as editor, are guided by these values. Every issue, every visual artist selected, every creative piece is carefully curated to demonstrate the talent and the diversity within our own Latinx community. These same values grant me the freedom to promote work that may not be accepted in conventional literary circles but are important for what they represent to us; that our voice matter, and that our experiences are valid.
How long has Raspa been around? How has it developed or changed since it began?
Raspa Magazine was established in 2012. Since its inception, it was intended to serve as a literary based initiative to assist marginalized communities increase representation, improve accessibility, and achieve greater artistic merit in the literary arts. In the beginning, my team and I worked toward this goal solely through the publication of the magazine. Over time, with gained professional experience, overwhelming community support, and some difficult conversations, we have been able to expand on our original efforts and develop programming that helps us become a more impactful platform. The magazine itself, now boast contributors from the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, with an increase in Spanish language works. Raspa Magazine also organizes Rough Nights: A Reading Series. A yearly reading event that connects audiences and featured authors in a way that expands past the page. It is an effort to foster deep and meaningful conversations for better understanding through increased visibility and access. Raspa also develops community collaborations with community members who identify as queer, or as Latinx, but not both. The intended goal is to explore the intersectionality of identities through in depth creative written work that
What kind of work do you publish?
Raspa Magazine publishes creative written work and visual art that narrates the queer Latinx experience. We do not focus on genre or form, but on artistic merit, innovativeness, and potential cultural impact. Raspa Magazine serves as a sustainable space for queer Latinx artist to share work without the fear of being tokenized, with liberty to experiment, and create work with the knowledge that it will be treated with dignity and respect. Our intent is to cultivate an environment that empowers art makers to push boundaries in their process, redefine the literary canon, and reshape art to be more representative and inclusive.
How would you describe Raspa’s aesthetic?
The queer, Latinx experience is diverse. We encourage contributors to embody their own experience through their work, how they see fit. We do not expect contributors to adhere to a tone, style, form, or genre. What we do expect is artistic excellence, quality and innovative creative written work, and thoughtful story telling. Each issue has no theme. It is a cross section of work being created at the moment, with varying conversations occurring within a single issue. We believe this allows for a more accurate representation of the queer, Latinx community.
Can you highlight some of the work Raspa publishes?
“After Citlalli Died” and “Following Alfonsina” by mónica teresa ortiz are two poems that were published in our inaugural issue. mónica’s language manages to express genuine sentimentality through powerful imagery without becoming cliché. mónica is a skilled poet that manages to convey universal experiences in a few stanzas, if not in a single one, that offer magnetic and beautiful perspectives. After working with her as contributor on the first issue, I immediately recognized a social conscious, skilled writer and asked her to join our team as poetry editor.
“To Kill a Mariposa” by Juliana Delgado Lopera is an intense short story about a queer and gender non-conforming Mario. The story takes us through several humiliating acts of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his parents, and his final act of defiance before escaping his turbulent home. I appreciate this story because Mario, the protagonist, is unapologetically queer. He remains true to himself despite the abusive attempts by his parents to challenge his behavior. Mario, is also flawed and his misguided decisions lead to an aggressive and violent confrontation. The story illustrates the importance of allowing queer youth to express themselves and it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of repressing queer youth.
“Three Scenes Explaining a Theory of Restraint” by Marcos Santiago Gonsalez is an essay written in three sections, with each section discussing a significant person in the author’s life. Collectively they offer insight on how interpersonal relationship can shape our identities, and how those relationships can impact our own relationship with ourselves. I appreciate a good essay, and even more when I can relate to the topic on multiple levels. Marcos pulls from his personal history to create writings that are intimate and vulnerable but speak to the Latinx experience, writing about topics seldomly discussed in our community.
What would you like writers and artists interested in submitting to Raspa to know?
I am often asked if submissions need to be about Latinidad and/or queerness to be considered for publication, to which I answer no! We would like for potential contributors to submit work about anything and everything they feel is important to them. Raspa Magazine is a queer, Latinx literary magazine, which means we will consider work by anyone who self-identifies as queer and Latinx. We, as a community of marginalized artist, already face an oppressive arts industry that supports and props up work that aligns with their pre-conceived notions of our cultural and sexual identity, and we are here to undermine those efforts.
Raspa Magazine is currently a print publication only. Historically, print media has been inaccessible to marginalized communities. It was difficult for queer artist of color to be included in literary magazines, anthologies, and art catalogs. We feel it is important that queer writers of colors be able to experience the joy of seeing their work manifest itself in a very real and tangible form. My team and I work diligently to produce a publication with high production value to not only match the quality content entrusted to Raspa, but as a sign of respect for the contributors selected.
William Barr, President Trump’s pick to become the next attorney general, held his cards close to the vest on LGBT issues Tuesday during his confirmation hearing, but hinted upon confirmation he’d pursue the anti-LGBT policies of his predecessor Jeff Sessions.
The answers from Barr suggest he’d continue to uphold the Justice Department’s view that LGBT people aren’t protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights of 1964, which bars sex discrimination in the workforce. Additionally, Barr suggested he’d uphold religious freedom even at the expense of anti-LGBT discrimination.
In his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Barr recognized the increasing number of hate crimes in the United States, including LGBT people, and pledged to address them under the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
“We can only survive and thrive as a nation if we are mutually tolerant of each other’s differences, whether they be differences based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political thinking,” Barr said. “And yet, we see some people violently attacking others simply because of their differences. We must have zero tolerance for such crimes, and I will make this a priority as attorney general if confirmed.”
But under questioning on LGBT issues from Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Barr indicated enforcement of the hate crimes law would likely be the extent of his pro-LGBT advocacy at the Justice Department.
Booker initiated the questioning on LGBT issues by referencing a 1995 article Barr wrote for a conservative Catholic publication that laments growing acceptance of the LGBT movement compared to religious communities.
Asserting the 1995 article demonstrated a view being LGBT was immoral, Booker asked Barr whether he still holds those views, Barr replied “no,” but disputed the article conveyed anti-LGBT views.
After Booker insisted he was quoting the actual language, Barr said he’d inform the committee about his views. Barr reflected on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling for same-sex marriage.
“If I had been voting on it at the time — my view is that under the law, under the Constitution, as I originally conceived it before it was decided by the Supreme Court, marriage was to be regulated by the states, and if it was brought to me, I would have favored martial unions, single-sex,” Barr said.
When Booker interjected he was questioning Barr about his views in the 1995 article and whether the LGBT movement is immoral, Barr expressed a need for tolerance.
“In a pluralistic society like ours, there has be to a live-and-let-live attitude, and mutual tolerance, which has to be a two-way street,” Barr said. “My concern, and the rest of the article addresses this, is I am perfectly fine with the law as it is, for example, with gay marriage, perfectly fine, but I want accommodation for religion.”
When the New Jersey Democrat interjected LGBT youth are disproportionately bullied at schools, Barr interrupted to recognize anti-LGBT hate crimes. Booker acknowledged that before adding many LGBT youth report they are missing school because of fear of being bullied and are disproportionately homeless.
Booker asked Barr whether he thinks laws “designed to protect LGBT individuals from discrimination contribute to what you describe as a breakdown for traditional morality.”
Barr replied “no,” but added, “I also believe there has to be accommodation to religious communities.”
Booker acknowledged, “You and I believe in freedom of religion,” but shifted the focus to anti-gay workplace discrimination. Barr replied, “I think’s that wrong.”
When Booker asked whether that means the Justice Department should protect LGBT kids from harassment and hate crimes and pursue efforts to protect the civil rights of LGBT Americans, Barr replied. “I support that.”
Referencing his opening statement, Barr said, “As I said in the beginning, I’m very concerned about the increase in hate crimes.”
But when Booker asked Barr if he sees a role for the Justice Department in banning anti-LGBT discrimination, the nominee had a different take. Barr replied, “If Congress passes such a law.”
Barr then referenced the petitions currently before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking clarification on whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of sex in the workplace, applies to cases of anti-LGBT discrimination.
“I think the litigation going on now on Title VII is what the the 1964 act actually contemplated, but personally, I think —,” Barr said.
Before Barr could finish and venture an opinion on Title VII, Booker interrupted and asked to verify whether lawmakers contemplated including LGBT people in Title VII. Barr rejected that idea, saying “no.”
“I think it was male-female that they were talking about when they said sex in the ’64 act,” Barr added.
Booker then interjected again by conflating anti-LGBT discrimination with sexual harassment: “So protecting someone’s basic rights to be free from discrimination because of sexual harassment is not something the Department of Justice should be protecting?”
Playing with one of the many U.S. Senate coasters before him on the witness stand, Barr insisted the onus is on Congress to make the law.
“I’m saying Congress passes the law, the Justice Department enforces the law,” Barr said. “I think the ’64 act on its face — and this is what is being litigated, what does it cover? I think for like three or four decades, the LGBT community has been trying to amend the law.”
Booker interrupted again before Barr could finish, saying the Obama administration’s Justice Department “was working to protect LGBT kids from discrimination.” (The Justice Department in the Obama years asserted anti-trans discrimination was illegal under Title VII, but took no position with respect to the law on anti-gay discrimination despite pleas from LGBT rights supporters.)
When Booker asked if Barr would pursue the Obama administration practices, Barr replied, “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“I’m against discrimination against anyone because of some status, their gender or their sexual orientation or whatever,” Barr continued.
Hirono picked up where Booker left off, asking Barr directly about the Justice Department’s friend-of-the-court brief before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals arguing anti-gay discrimination isn’t covered under Title VII. As Hirono noted, both the Second Circuit and the Seventh Circuit have “rejected the department’s argument” about the law.
The Hawaii Democrat asked Barr if he’d appeal those decisions to the U.S. Supreme Court. In response, Barr seemingly referenced the petitions before justices, noting, “I think it is going up to the Supreme Court.”
When Hirono asked if DOJ will continue to argue Title VII doesn’t bar anti-gay discrimination, Barr initially declined to answer directly.
“It’s pending litigation and I haven’t gotten in to review the department’s litigation position, but the matter will be decided by the Supreme Court,” Barr said.
Hirono responded: “That sounds like a ‘yes’ to me. The department will continue to push the argument that has been rejected.”
At this point, Barr tipped his hand on his view Title VII doesn’t cover anti-gay discrimination.
“It’s not just the department’s argument,” Barr said. “It’s been sort of common understanding for almost 40 years.”
Asked by Hirono if discrimination is OK, Barr replied, “That’s not at all what I’m saying. I’m saying the question is the interpretation of the statute passed in 1964.”
“As I’ve already said, I personally, as a matter of my own personal feelings think there should be laws that prohibit discrimination against gay people,” Hirono said.
When Hirono asked Barr if he’d review the Justice Department’s position, Barr replied, “No. Because there’s a difference between law and policy.”
“I will enforce the laws as passed by Congress,” Barr said. “I’m not going to amend them. I’m not going to undercut them. I’m not going to try to work my way around them and evade them.
Hirono responded: “The DOJ doesn’t have to file an amicus brief either.”
The Hawaii Democrat wasn’t done on LGBT issues, asking Barr about an explosive report in the New York Times asserting the Department of Health & Human Services was preparing a rule to define transgender people out of existence under Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972.
Asked by Hirono if he believes transgender people are protected from discrimination under Title IX, Barr dodged.
“I think that matter’s being litigated in the Supreme Court, too,” Barr said.
When Barr added he doesn’t know the Justice Department’s position on the issue, Hirono said she’d ask him to review the issue.
LGBT groups have raised concerns about Barr’s confirmation as attorney general, asserting he lacks a commitment to protecting civil rights. (One longtime gay friend of Barr’s, however, former Time Warner general counsel Paul Cappuccio, has defended the nominee, telling the Blade, “He’s not going to ever let people be discriminated against, OK?”)
Jon Davidson, chief counsel of Freedom for All Americans, said Barr’s testimony “did little to assuage those concerns” of LGBT rights groups.
“While he testified he is “fine” with “gay marriage,” his comments that there “has to be accommodation to religion” — something not required or even permitted for other people’s marriages — is very disturbing,” Davidson said.
Davidson also raised concerns about Barr’s response on whether Title VII should cover anti-gay discrimination.
“In addition, although he said he thinks firing someone based on their sexual orientation is ‘wrong,’ he refused to disagree with the anti-LGBTQ positions the Justice Department has been taking when it comes to Title VII and he erroneously asserted that Title VII should be limited to what Congress believed it was accomplishing in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Davidson said. “That position has already been rejected several times by the Supreme Court, which has said that what Congress had in mind at the time is not controlling.
Ultimately, Davidson had a dismal forecast for Barr’s stewardship of the Justice Department.
“It appears that he intends to carry forward the positions of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, which have consistently opposed equal rights for LGBTQ people,” Davidson said.
Sharon McGowan, chief strategy officer for Lambda Legal, also said Barr’s testimony didn’t allay her concerns.
“I think he said absolutely nothing to alleviate any of the concerns that we have based on his record, and if anything, his comments only demonstrate that he is exactly what his record suggests that he is, which is someone who will not be a champion for civil rights generally or LGBT equality specifically,” McGowan said.
Barr’s confirmation hearing took place as the Justice Department is defending President Trump’s transgender military ban in court and has called on the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Barr didn’t address the policy, nor did any member of the Senate Judiciary Committee inquire about Barr’s view on the issue.
PFLAG National—the nation’s first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their families, and allies—announced that Brian Bond will join the organization as its new Executive Director, effective February 1st.
Board President Kathy Godwin said, “I am thrilled to welcome Brian to the helm of PFLAG National. He has a proven record of success unifying people across communities, building strong alliances and partnerships, and working in challenging environments and moments to effect change. His personal story—as a young gay man raised in rural America—will resonate with so many people, including our supporters and members. I know Brian is the leader PFLAG needs to continue our work, and greatly expand our reach.”
Bond, a Missouri native with a degree in Public Administration from Missouri State University, is a former Obama Administration official and LGBTQ+ advocate with an extensive background in constituency outreach and coalition bridge-building. He most recently served as the Coalitions Director for the Climate Action Campaign in Washington D.C., working to protect clean air and promote action to limit climate change. Prior to that, he was the Deputy CEO for the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
During the Obama Administration, Bond served as Deputy Director for the White House Office of Public Engagement and primary liaison for the LGBTQ community. After the re-election of President Obama in 2012, he moved to the Environmental Protection Agency to work on the Administration’s climate initiatives as Associate Administrator for Public Engagement and Environmental Education. Prior to these roles, he served as the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and is credited with expanding the success of the organization and support for LGBTQ candidates during his six-year tenure.
“I know what it is to be the scared kid growing up in a rural community feeling different and alone, struggling with accepting who I was and living in fear because I knew I was different,” said Bond. “As the Executive Director of PFLAG National—arm in arm with the hundreds of thousands of exceptional people who are the backbone of PFLAG—it is my goal to intensify all our efforts serving our diverse families and communities.”
“For communities of color, we can make this stronger through continued cultural inclusion work and expanded outreach, listening, and tools. We can build on PFLAG’s long and noteworthy trans-inclusive history to expand our programs for transgender and gender-expansive youth and their families. There is no question we also will find the best way forward for faith-based and more conservative families torn between loving their kids and loving their faith. PFLAG is uniquely positioned to do this work, with over 400 chapters in communities across the country, and over 45 years on the front lines of this movement. I am truly honored to take up this work with the dedicated leaders and volunteers of PFLAG, and the PFLAG National staff.”
The PFLAG National Search Task Force included board members and national staff representing a diversity of race, ethnicity, age, and professional experience. The Task Force undertook a thoughtful and deliberative search process which surfaced more than 15 qualified candidates nationwide before making their final recommendation.
The news of Bond’s appointment was welcomed by leaders in the LGBTQ+ equality movement, as well as other leaders in the fight for social justice among marginalized communities.
“During my time at the White House I saw firsthand PFLAG’s legacy of loving, affirming families and actively engaged allies at work. PFLAGers are changing hearts and minds in every corner of our country in support of equality for the LGBTQ+ community. I also witnessed Brian Bond’s commitment to moving equality forward with passion, empathy, and humility. Brian’s skill set, collaborative leadership style, creative thought process, and ability to build bridges across diverse communities and life experiences will serve PFLAG well. I am thrilled that Brian Bond has been selected as PFLAG National’s next Executive Director during this pivotal and critical moment in time.”
– Valerie Jarrett, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama
“I wholeheartedly commend the PFLAG National Board of Directors for their selection of Brian Bond as the organization’s Executive Director. I have known Brian for over twenty years both professionally and personally. I am amazed by his ability to move within multiple communities—especially Communities of Color—with respect and humility, to achieve common goals. Brian has both the skill set and professionalism to build upon PFLAG’s success to expand the organization’s reach to provide more support for African-American parents who want to understand the struggle of their LGBTQ+ children in an oft-hostile world.”
– Earl Fowlkes, President/CEO, Center for Black Equity, Inc.
“Brian Bond embodies leadership. He has earned the trust and respect of diverse communities and coalitions over his lifetime because he has worked tirelessly to uplift people of all ages and backgrounds every step of the way. I count myself in that category, first as his summer intern and later as his successor as the White House LGBT Liaison and a committed partner in the fight for equality and justice. PFLAG, already an effective and important organization, has gained a talented, humble, inclusive, and strategic leader in Brian—and I look forward to the scores more families and young people supported by this work with Brian at the helm.”
– Aditi Hardikar, Former White House LGBT and AAPI Liaison
“I have had the pleasure to work for and with Brian Bond closely for over a decade. You follow and trust his vision because he embodies what he fights for everyday. As a Latina from an immigrant family raised from humble beginnings by a teen mother, I know that our rights and a seat at the table are not automatic. I have seen Brian time and time again not just stand up for ALL communities including communities of color and our most vulnerable but more importantly fight to give them the power they rightfully deserve. From Farmworkers to Latinx students on campuses, I have seen him purposefully and artfully lift up voices, genuinely listen and advocate for what was needed on ground without hesitation. PFLAG will gain tremendously from their selection of Brian Bond as their next Executive Director, I am excited for what the future holds for them.”
– Amanda Aguirre, Former Acting Director of Public Engagement at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Associate Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
“Transgender people and our families couldn’t ask for a better ally than Brian Bond. Throughout his career, Brian has served as an invaluable partner in the fight for transgender equality, as well as a dear friend for nearly two decades. Brian has the vision and devotion to lead PFLAG and the millions of families it serves.”
– Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality
“Brian Bond is a fantastic selection by PFLAG National as its next Executive Director. His steadfast dedication to LGBTQ issues throughout his career, especially for youth and those most vulnerable in our community, alongside his top-notch excellence in leadership, community organizing, and strong relationships with leaders across the nation will allow Brian to thrive at PFLAG. I cannot think of anyone better to be at the helm and I wish him and the whole PFLAG family much success in the coming years ahead.”
– Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, Director of External Relations, National Center for Transgender Equality
“The smartest hire I ever made was recruiting Brian Bond to lead the Victory Fund when I was co-chair. PFLAG will benefit from that same vision, tenacity and work ethic that has made Brian a success throughout his career.”
– Jeff Trammell, Former Co-Chair, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
“Having followed in Brian’s footsteps as President Obama’s LGBTQ liaison, I know firsthand the incredible work he did in the early days of the Obama Administration to build the foundation of what later became an unparalleled presidential record on advancing LGBTQ equality. Brian is exactly the kind of advocate and leader that queer kids across America—and their families and allies—need in their corner. His passion and compassion, strategic vision and capacity to execute, national network and local relationships, and most importantly his commitment to and long track record of inclusivity will be a tremendous asset to PFLAG. I can’t wait to see him take this critically important organization to the next level.
– Gautam Raghavan, former Obama White House LGBTQ Liaison; Vice President for policy at the Gill Foundation; current Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
“PFLAG has played a central role for the past 45 years in changing hearts and minds in the continuing quest for LGBTQ equality in this country, which is why I am extremely pleased that Brian Bond will be PFLAG’s incoming Executive Director. I have worked closely with Brian for many years to ensure that Indian Country has a voice at the table. He is a passionate advocate for inclusion and full participation and consistently turns words into meaningful and impactful action. Nothing is more important than family in Indian Country, I am confident, based on our past work, that Brian will do the work to help ensure that PFLAG best meets the needs of all communities to affirm, respect and celebrate diversity and families.
– Keith M. Harper, Former US Ambassador;
Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council
##
PFLAG is the nation’s first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed. To learn more, visit pflag.org, like us on Facebook (/pflag), or follow us on Twitter (@pflag) or Instagram.
A conservative Christian group in the US has urged a district judge to block trans women from using a faith-based women’s shelter.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sued the city of Anchorage in Alaska to stop the authorities from applying a gender identity law to the Hope Center women’s shelter.
The ADF – which has been labeled an anti-LGBTI ‘hate group’ by some rights organizations – argues that issues of privacy and religious freedoms are at risk.
The case was brought about after a trans woman was turned away from the shelter last year.
ADF attorney Ryan Tucker argued that a number of women who used the shelter had been survivors of abuse or violence, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports.
He went on to say that allowing biological men to stay in the same shelter would be highly traumatic for some of the women, adding that some ‘would rather sleep in the woods’ in sub-zero temperatures rather than use the shelter which allowed trans women.
Tucker argued that there were other shelters available for biological men in the city.
ADF protesting marriage equality at the Supreme Court | Photo: Facebook/Alliance Defending Freedom
The shelter operators filed a lawsuit against the Equal Rights Commission last year after a trans woman complained that she was turned away in August last year.
The shelter argues that this was not because of her gender identity, but because she was intoxicated and had been fighting in a different shelter.
The operators say they are suing to clear their names of any wrongdoing.
Assistant municipal attorney Ryan Stuart countered that the legal moves were premature as the Equal Rights Commission had not finished their investigation.
The investigation is currently on hold, in part because of the shelter’s lack of cooperation, Stuart added.
The ADF is a controversial organization in the US, and in the past have argued that LGBTI rights infringe on religious freedoms.
They have been labeled a hate group by legal advocacy organization, The Southern Poverty Law Center, who say the ADF wants to push transgender people ‘back into the shadows’.
LGBTI rights group the Human Rights campaign described the ADF as ‘one of the nation’s most dangerous organizations working to prevent equality for LGBT people’.
The group is most commonly known for defending Jack Philips, a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
The case went to the US Supreme Court, which sided with the baker. However, the court ruled in a limited capacity and said that their ruling might not apply to other cases.
This case is another instance of trans rights recognition, which has become a major talking point in the US.
There have been many recent arguments over whether trans people can use toilets in line with their actual gender, and whether trans women prisoners should be housed in male or female correctional facilities.
Conflict over trans rights has increased amid the deeply polarised climate of Donald Trump’s presidency.
At the first Face to Face staff meeting of the new year, we took time to reflect on all we accomplished in 2018 in support of our mission to end HIV in Sonoma County. Here is a short list:
We moved dozens of clients into housing, continuing to assist dozens more with their housing searches.
We supported clients through the complicated state and federal income benefits claims process.
We tested hundreds of people for HIV and Hepatitis C, finding a few new cases of HIV and guiding those individuals through our Sonoma County HIV system of care.
We distributed clean syringes to hundreds more through our evidence-based, HIV harm reduction Syringe Exchange Program.
Plus, we worked tirelessly to destigmatize HIV and the members of our community who are HIV-positive. U=U or those individuals with an undetectable HIV viral load cannot pass HIV onto their sex partners.
The F2F staff could not have been successful without our supportive community of HIV service providers, volunteers, community members and donors.
Now that the winter holiday season is behind us and your inbox is less full, I hope you will take a few minutes to read through the following highlights of our work ending HIV in Sonoma County and feel a sense of pride for your part in all that what we have accomplished together.
Warmly,
Executive Director
Undetectable = Untransmittable
That’s right! People living with HIV who are adherent to their meds and get to and keep an undetectable viral load have no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sex partners.
We began shouting this universal stigma-reducing message to our local community in all our marketing efforts–from the window signs at our office to our website and on Facebook and in print in The Bohemian.
Yes, indeed, there is a pill HIV-negative people can take once a day to reduce their risk of HIV transmission by up to 99 percent.
We tested hundreds of individuals at our office in Santa Rosa for HIV, plus many more at the North County Detention Facility and at annual events like Cinco de Mayo and Pride. During our test counseling session we introduce clients to and make referrals for PrEP.
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and is the strongest shield against HIV transmission.
Securing stable housing in Sonoma County is difficult on a good day. For some F2F clients, good days can be few and far between.
We serve the most vulnerable members of our community, many of whom are suffering housing insecurity or who are homeless, are persons with mental health challenges, and/or have no rental history. To lessen their stress and provide helpful resources, we have a veteran housing specialist on staff who works with our clients to ready them for the daunting task of searching for a home.
We are proud to have successfully transitioned two dozen of our clients from our emergency housing program onto Sonoma County Housing Authority’s “Move On” program. This program maintains the cost of rent as a percent of monthly income, allowing clients to retain more of their income for other necessities such as food, clothing, and transportation to and from work and medical appointments.
Face to Face has a benefits counseling specialist who assists clients through the application process for help in resolving problems they may encounter while applying for various benefits programs. We can also help determine eligibility for benefit programs such as Social Security, MediCal, MediCare, disability, health, and life insurance, and more. We can support clients with the application process and filing claims.
Coupled with the many challenges our most vulnerable clients face, securing benefits can take months to years. This year, we helped 10 clients successful secure monthly benefits while helping dozens more file new claims, support existing claims, or accompanying them on redetermination hearings.
Our Wall is Welcoming
Building walls can be controversial, but not when the wall is welcoming and a part of an evidence-based HIV harm reduction strategy
The F2F Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) is that program–having grown exponentially in the three years since its inception. We now serve hundreds of clients per quarter.
Owing to this growth, we have expanded our facility to include additional storage for supplies, and to provide our counselors a bigger space in which to meet with clients.
As the main SEP in Sonoma County, we maintain services during regularly scheduled hours of operation from Tuesday – Friday from 9am-4:30 pm.
Our SEP clients–any person who uses drugs intravenously–can visit our new distribution facility for clean supplies and the exchange of used, with many sitting for regular HIV and Hepatitis C counseling and testing session. Importantly, we distribute Naloxone–overdose prevention medication that our clients have used to save the lives of dozens of people in Sonoma County.
A 17-year-old was charged with the murder of Dejanay Stanton (Dejanay Stanton/Facebook)
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 24-year-old transgender woman Dejanay Stanton in Chicago.
The teenager, who was charged as an adult, was identified in local news outlets such as the Chicago Sun Times as Tremon T. Hill.
Speaking at a bail hearing on Sunday (January 13), prosecutors said Hill knew Stanton and the two had been involved in a sexual relationship since July.
Investigators found a text Hill sent Stanton the morning of her death, asking her to meet him in a lot in the 4000 block of South Calumet Avenue, where her body was found later that day.
“This young lady was special and so innocent. One of the sweetest presence I’ve seen and known!”
— Dejanay Stanton’s friend Trisha Holloway
The more than 400 messages exchanged between the two between July and the day of Stanton’s murder also indicated Hill was uneasy with Stanton being a trans woman.
Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Britt Steinberg said that, at one point, Hill asked Stanton to delete photos of him from her phone, which she did, and told her their relationship was making him feel suicidal.
Steinberg also said a police search of Hill’s home found pants with “small red stains” and other clothing matching the outfit he was wearing on the day of the murder, as filmed by surveillance cameras.
Judge Mary C. Marubio ordered Hill to be detained without bail, but the teen is scheduled for a review of his bail on Monday (January 14).
Several friends of Stanton welcomed news of the arrest on social media, hoping that the trial would bring justice to the victim and her family.
The murder of transgender Chicago woman Dejanay Stanton
Stanton’s body was found laying on the ground outside of her car, which was left with its doors open and a bag and mobile phone inside, on August 30 morning. She had a gunshot wound to the head.
Her family and friends held a vigil in her honour and dozens of people left tributes on social media remembering the young woman, who also had a Facebook account under the name De’janay Lanorra.
The teen accused of murdering transgender woman Dejanay Stanton had a relationship with her, investigators said. (Dejanay Stanton/Facebook)
Friends described her as a sweet, kind and loving person. “This young lady was special and so innocent. One of the sweetest presence I’ve seen and known!” her friend Trisha Holloway wrote.
Stanton’s murder took place on the same day as that of another young trans woman, 18-year-old Vontashia Bell. Their deaths marked the 17th and the 18th known killing of a transgender person in the US in 2018.
Black queer activist LaSaia Honey Wade remembered both women in a touching statement on Facebook.
“My sisters are being killed, Vontashia Bell in Shreveport, LA and Dejanay Stanton here in Chicago tonight we mourn, we cry and we tell the ancestors to now watch over them. My heart is hurting so much,” she wrote.
Commenting on the two killings, LGBT+ rights group Human Rights Campaign said in a statement: “The deaths of Dejanay Stanton and Vontashia Bell underscore the urgent need to address the epidemic of violence against the transgender community across the U.S.”
“To the left of me,” wrote David Colker for the Los Angeles Times in a 1994 article, “four men were having sex. Only two of them were actually looking at each other.”
So begins most bathhouse stories of the time. At the Compound, one of the Valley’s oldest establishments, porn would screen on the walls while patrons got it on in public (or private) rooms below. But not for long. Even in 1994, the gay bathhouse’s days were numbered.
“A decade ago,” Colker writes, “Los Angeles boasted slick, high-tech bathhouses famous throughout the gay world. But as the specter of AIDS darkened the mid-1980s, the baths came under fire as places where unsafe, multi-partner sex spread the disease.”
The Compound wasn’t the only spa coming under attack. It seemed that the more sexually open the bathhouse was, the more it would be targeted by law enforcement and political officials.
“The Corral Club…” according to the L.A. Times “had a community ‘orgy room’ with a small stage where live sex shows took place, and several private rooms containing chains with wrist and ankle straps hanging from the ceilings.”
Photo: Hollywood Spa.
When Hollywood’s oldest bathhouse closed its doors in 2014, it marked the end of an era.
Whether or not the baths were at fault for these crimes, the scene soon shut down, leaving only a few houses remaining in L.A. by the late ‘90s. In 2014, the oldest of these, Ivar Avenue’s Hollywood Spa, closed its doors for good. The spa was originally opened by Scott Goulet in 1974, when bathhouse culture was booming in the city. The owner’s death by AIDS-related complications came only three years after the spa was included in a lawsuit filed against the then-L.A. District Attorney for encouraging the spreading of HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex.
“We’re going to fight this thing. As far as we’re concerned, we’re the good guys,” co-owner John Ferry, told the Los Angeles Times at the time. “We consider the Hollywood Spa to be an important asset in terms of being a place for gay men to socialize, be educated about health issues and be free from homophobic attacks such as this lawsuit.”
Little did he know that the spa would end up shutting down decades later due to factors as basic as a declining patronage and a rent increase.
While a few bathhouses still exist that cater to a Gay clientele – FLEX Spa and North Hollywood Spa to name a few – the fact that the bathhouse has gone the way of the dodo says more about trends in law enforcement and national prudishness than anything else. When these bathhouses first opened, they had to fight against an openly homophobic government and a culture still viewed gay sex as deviant. Today, in a more outwardly liberal era, bathhouse culture hasn’t had a real renaissance.
“Behind the walls of a bathhouse lies a totally homosexual world unlike anywhere on the outside.” Colter wrote in his article. “Even on the streets of gay enclaves such as West Hollywood, there are billboards showing heterosexual couples, straight love songs on the radio and plenty of reminders ranging from magazine covers to movie posters that to be gay in this society is to be different.”
Senator Laura Kelly signing executive orders on her first day in office | Photo: Facebook/Gov Laura Kelly
16 January 2019 9:23 GMT
Kansas’ new governor has signed back into law anti-discrimination measures for LGBTI workers employed by the state government.
Governor Laura Kelly made it illegal again to discriminate against LGBTI government workers.
Her predecessor, Sam Brownback, overturned anti-discrimination laws in 2015. He overturned the laws in the same year the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. At the time of the ruling Brownback said marriage equality created a new ‘protected class’.
‘As I have said numerous times before, discrimination of any kind has no place in Kansas and it will not be tolerated in this administration,’ Kelly said as reported in the Kansas City Star.
‘We will ensure that state workers feel safe and supported in their working environment.’
Kelly became the first Democrat elected to the governor’s office in Kansas since 2009.
LGBTI groups in Kansas welcomed the executive order.
‘It’s an important message to businesses and everybody else in Kansas that this is going to be a place where fairness and equality are valued and promoted,’ said Tom Witt, director of Equality Kansas.
But some Republicans were not so happy with the governor’s decision. State Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook said it was ‘degrading to reduce individuals’ to their ‘sexual inclinations’.
‘These laws cause divisions in communities and can have serious detrimental and unintended consequences because of their subjective nature,’ she told the Associated Press.
Second Lady Karen Pence began teaching art at Immanuel Christian School, which refuses admission to LGBTQ students and allies and forces prospective employees to sign a pledge not to engage in “homosexual or lesbian activity or transgender identity.” In response, DNC LGBTQ Media Director Lucas Acosta issued the following statement:
“Mike Pence has repeatedly supported anti-LGBTQ groups and treated us like second-class citizens. It is no surprise that the Second Lady holds the same values. School should be a place where every child feels welcome, free to identify, and empowered to learn without fear or distraction. No child should fear expulsion, discrimination or any other retribution by school officials for coming out or allying with LGBTQ people.
“By teaching at a school that bans LGBTQ parents, teachers, students and allies, Karen Pence is actively supporting and promoting an institution that endorses discrimination. And this is just the latest example of this administration using its power and platform to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. As leaders of this country, the Pences should promote values of acceptance, inclusivity and diversity rather than divisiveness and exclusion.”
