James Besanvalle

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Elizabeth Warren Promises Reparations for Same-sex Couples

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has promised reparations for same-sex couples. The senior United States Senator from Massachusetts renewed her commitment to correct the ‘wrongs’ of the past. ‘It wasn’t until marriage equality became law that gay and lesbian couples could jointly file tax returns,’ she wrote on Twitter yesterday (23 June). ‘So they paid more in taxes.’ She then added: ‘Our government owes them more than $50M for the years our discriminatory tax code left them out. We must right these wrongs.’ Elizabeth Warren✔@ewarren It wasn’t until marriage equality became law that gay & lesbian couples could jointly file tax returns—so they paid more […]

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Azerbaijan Police ‘Broke the Law’ in Randomly Detaining LGBTI People

Azerbaijan police randomly began detaining LGBTI people on Monday (1 April) night. LGBTI rights organization Minority Azerbaijan broke the news yesterday (2 April) morning, revealing shocking details of authorities ‘hunting’ transgender people, then handcuffing them and detaining them. Now they confirm authorities detained at least 14 people and they can identify five. Authorities fined two of them under Article 510 of the Code on Administrative Offenses – Minor Hooliganism. While three detainees had official charges under section 535.1 (wilfully not obeying lawful orders of the police officer who engaged protecting of public order) of the Code of Administrative Offences. Protest in Germany. | Photo: […]

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Jussie Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to Lying about Hate Crime

Empire actor Jussie Smollett has officially pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to police about a gay hate crime. One of Smollett’s lawyers, Tina Glandian, entered the plea at his arraignment in a Chicago courtroom this morning (14 March). Smollett is due in court again on 17 April. He could face up to three years in prison. Jussie Smollett: A background This story began in late January when Smollett reported to Chicago police two men attacked him. The investigation took a turn when police arrested two brothers. The brothers claimed Smollett paid them to help him stage the attack. Jussie Smollett on Good […]

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Gay Dads Are More Active in Parenting than Straight Men

Gay dads are more active in child-rearing than heterosexual men, according to a new study. Conducted by Éric Feugé from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), the study is the ‘first of its kind’. It observed 46 families (including 92 gay fathers and 46 children – ages one to nine) over seven years. The study analyzed the roles gay dads take in raising their kids and found the way they parent is ‘very equitable’. ‘We learned that gay fathers’ sharing of tasks is very equitable,’ Feugé told the Montreal Gazette. ‘There was a high degree of engagement in all types of parental roles.’ Sam Blaylock and gay dads […]

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Young Black Gay and Bisexual Men in US 16 Times More Likely to Acquire HIV

Young black American gay and bisexual men are 16 times more likely to acquire HIV than white gay and bisexual men, according to a new study. Northwestern University found black 16-29-year-old men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most at risk of HIV. This is despite reporting fewer sexual partners, more frequent testing and safer sex practises. Researchers said this is because of ‘more dense and interconnected social and sexual networks’ within the black community. There are also disparities with access to healthcare after an HIV diagnosis. The study warned if the trend persists, one in two black […]

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Twitter Now Protects Trans People from Targeted Misgendering and Deadnaming

You can now report Twitter users for targeted deadnaming and misgendering. Twitter updated its Terms of Service last night (23 November) to protect trans people from online abuse. The new protection comes under the heading: ‘Repeated and/or non-consensual slurs, epithets, racist and sexist tropes or other content that degrades someone.’ It continues: ‘We prohibit targeting individuals with repeated slurs, tropes or other content that intends to dehumanize, degrade or reinforce negative or harmful steroetypes about a protected category. ‘This includes targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals,’ it said. Targeted misgendering is the process of deliberately using the wrong pronouns […]

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San Marino Passes Civil Union Law for Same-sex Couples

The Republic of San Marino just passed civil union laws for same-sex couples. Nestled within Italy, San Marino is the world’s smallest republic and has a population of just over 33,000 people. The Grand and General Council governs the people of San Marino and yesterday (15 November) it began to discuss the proposed Regulation of Civil Unions. It was the second reading, after the Commission for Constitutional and Institutional Affairs approved the draft on 27 September. Milan pride 2011. | Photo: Federico Moroni / Flickr There are 14 articles in the law, but most notably one that states: ‘A civil union is […]

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LGBTI Activist Zach Wahls Wins Iowa Senate Seat

Zach Wahls just won a senate seat in the US state of Iowa. The 27-year-old, who went viral in a video in 2011 defending his lesbian moms, took to Twitter last night (6 November) to announce his victory. He tweeted: ‘We won. Thank you, Iowa.’ Zach Wahls, who ran as a Democratic candidate, received 78% of the vote. He will be one of the youngest people to ever serve in the state senate. The young senator campaigned on issues like affordable health care, education, improved workers’ rights and gun control. ‘I hope tonight marks a fresh start for Iowa,’ he […]

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UK Gay and Bisexual Men More Likely to Marry Later in Life

Same-sex couples are more likely to marry later in life than opposite-sex couples, according to new data. The Office of National Statistics commissioned a four-part series on young people in the UK, entitled Being 18 in 2018. The series focuses on 18-year-olds since the start of the millennium. In the UK, people can marry as soon as they turn 18. But since 1970, couples are waiting longer on average to tie the knot. Single women marrying men are more likely to marry the youngest. For example, the average age for women marrying men in 1970 was around 22 years old. […]

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Almost Half of Bisexual People in Utah Experience Sexual Violence

Bisexual people in the U.S. state of Utah report the most incidences of sexual violence, according to a new survey. The shocking new survey analyzes responses from about 10,000 Utahan adults collected in 2016. It reveals 45.5% of bisexual people in Utah have experienced sexual violence. It also said 33.6% of lesbian/gay respondents reported sexual violence. This compares to just 8.7% for straight people. According to the survey, sexual violence is ‘sexual activity (sexual touching, harassment or exposure to sexual content) that involves victims who do not consent, or who are unable to consent.’ Turner Bitton, executive director of the […]