Matilda Davies

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Trans woman shares ‘immense anxiety’ she feels going through airport security

TikToker and model Rose Montoya has called out the Transport Security Administration (TSA) on TikTok for how their scanners give trans people “immense anxiety”. In the viral video, which has been viewed more than three million times, she talks about her experience with airport security and why “we need to change how the scanners function and educate TSA about trans people”. She explained: “Going through the scanner, there’s a male and female scanner for the TSA checkpoint. “But going through the scanner, I always have an ‘anomaly’ between my legs that sets off the alarm. So she asked me if I […]

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School bans Pride flags because they’re a ‘political statement’

A high school in Indiana has ordered teachers to remove Pride flags from their classrooms to “maintain viewpoint neutrality”, and students have slammed the decision. The principal of Pendleton Heights High School, Connie Rickert, ordered three teachers to remove Pride flags from their classrooms, local newspaper The Herald Bulletin reported. “Teachers are legally obligated to maintain viewpoint neutrality during their official duties to ensure all students can focus on learning and we can maintain educational activities and school operations,” she stated. “Our counselors are trained to respond to any student who desires support.” Despite outrage from students, other senior staff also issued statements about […]

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School bans Pride flags because they’re a ‘political statement’

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A high school in Indiana has ordered teachers to remove Pride flags from their classrooms to “maintain viewpoint neutrality”, and students have slammed the decision. The principal of Pendleton Heights High School, Connie Rickert, ordered three teachers to remove Pride flags from their classrooms, local newspaper The Herald Bulletin reported. “Teachers are legally obligated to maintain viewpoint neutrality during their official duties to ensure all students can focus on learning and we can maintain educational activities and school operations,” she stated. “Our counselors are trained to respond to any student who desires support.” Despite outrage from students, other senior staff also issued statements about […]

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Court overturns ruling that stripped mother of parental rights because she’s a lesbian

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The Michigan Court of Appeals has overturned a decision to remove a lesbian mother’s name from her children’s birth certificates. Lanesha Matthews and Kyresha LeFever had a custody battle for their twins, who were born before same-sex marriage was legalised nationwide in the United States. The couple had their children using LaFever’s egg, fertilised using donor sperm, which Matthews then carried. When the children were born both mothers’ names were listed on the birth certificates. However, the couple split in 2014 and in the custody battle, a Michigan judge ruled that Matthews’ name be removed from the birth certificates. The […]

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President Biden announces new gender policy council to protect women’s and LGBT+ rights

President Joe Biden has announced two new orders to promote gender equality at the federal level with a new White House Gender Policy Council. The executive orders are set to be signed by Biden Monday (8 March) to mark International Women’s Day. The official White House statement said: “The White House Gender Policy Council will be an essential part of the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to ensure we build a more equal and just society – by aggressively protecting the rights and unique needs of those who experience multiple forms of discrimination, including individuals who are Black, Latina, Native, Asian American […]

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‘Gay Panic’ Defence Abolished in Australia

South Australia has finally abolished the ‘gay panic’ defence for violent crimes, becoming the last state in Australia to do so. It is officially called the provocation defence or the ‘homosexual advance defence’. The accused can use it downgrade charges of murder to manslaughter when they claim to have become violent upon finding out a victim’s sexuality or gender identity. The ‘gay panic’ defence is set to be banned in South Australia (Envato Elements) South Australia has finally abolished the ‘gay panic’ defence for violent crimes, becoming the last state in Australia to do so. It is officially called the […]