Meka Beresford

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Some Philadelphia Adoption Agencies Are Refusing to Put Children with LGBTQ Families

Two adoption agencies in Philadelphia, US have been found to turn away LGBTQ couples from their services. A lesbian couple has spoken out about how they were turned away from Bethany Christian Services and Catholic Social Services – two separate agencies which are listed with the Department of Human Services. The department has issued an urgent call for more foster parents. Despite this, the agencies have turned away potential parents over their sexuality – in turn, violating a contract which forbids discrimination. Talking to the Philly Inquirer, a married lesbian couple explained how they were turned away from the agencies. […]

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Ugandan LGBTQI Activists Announce Plans for Pride following Crackdown

LGBTQ+ activists in Uganda have announced plans to run a Pride event this year after a violent crackdown in 2016 which saw police raids and arrests at the event. Ahead of the 2016 Pride, government officials warned that they would arrest anyone that took part. Simon Lokodo, the Minister of State for ‘Ethics & Integrity’, likened LGBTQ+ people to paedophiles in the statement in which he warned people would be apprehended. He said: “We are aware that there are inducements, including money, being offered to young people to promote the practice.  “We wish to emphasise that whereas the promotion of […]

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Non-binary Teen Celebrates ‘B’nei Mitzvah’

A synagogue has held the first known gender-neutral “B’nei Mitzvah” in the UK for a non-binary teenager. The Jewish coming of age ritual is typically gendered, with males attending a Bar Mitzvah and females attending a Bat Mitzvah. When Esther Thorpe, 14, came out as non-binary last year, their mother, Miriam, worried about how the important ceremony would be held. Miriam Taylor Thorpe explained that despite the traditional routes of the ceremony, she felt strongly that her child should have something that felt right to them.  Miriam said: “I was quite concerned because if something is important in your coming […]

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Phylicia Mitchell is Fifth Frans Woman Murdered in the US this Year

(Photo by Phylicia Mitchell/Facebook) A fifth transgender woman has been murdered in the US. Phylicia Mitchell was shot dead outside of her home in Cleveland, Ohio last week. The 45-year-old was found with bullet wounds in her chest in her living room on February 23. She was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead. Police have not yet determined a suspect or a motive for the shooting. Her partner of 30 years, Shane Mitchell, said that he is distraught over her loss. Phylicia and Shane (Photo by Phylicia Mitchell/Facebook) “Everyone loved her,” he told Cleavland.com. “I miss her tremendously. […]

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LGBTQ+ People Raped And Beaten in ‘Gay Cure’ Rehab Clinics in Ecuador

LGBTQ community protest against discrimination in Ecuador with “public kiss” demonstration (Photo by JUAN CEVALLOS/AFP/Getty Images) LGBTQ+ people are being forced into “gay cure” rehab clinics and subjected to rape and beatings in Ecuador. Campaigners in the country have called on the government to investigate into over 100 clinics in which they believe human rights violations are being carried out against LGBTQ people. Ecuadoran LGBTQ people demonstrate in front of the government palace in Quito against human rights abuses of gays in 1998. (Photo by GUILLERMO LEGARIA/AFP/Getty Images) An estimated 200 clinics are operating in the country. Four people have […]

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Trans Prisoner Wins Court Case Allowing Her to Access Gender-affirming Treatments

(Lambda Legal/Jessica Hicklin) A trans prisoner in Missouri has won a landmark court case meaning that she will be able to access gender-affirming treatments. Jessica Heckling has been n the Potosi Correctional Center since she was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1995.  At just 16-years-old, was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action after she shot an killed a man during a drug-related incident. Sponsored Content At that time, Hicklin was beginning to come to terms with her trans identity but because of former rules held by the Missouri Department of Corrections, she had been unable […]

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Walgreens Changes Bathroom Policy After Woman Denied Access Because They Thought She Was Trans

(Photo by ACLU of Southern California/YouTube) US pharmacy giant Walgreens has updated its bathroom policy to be trans-friendly after a woman was denied access because an employee thought she was transgender. Jessie Meehan helped implement a companywide policy which allows customers to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender policy.  Meehan took on the task after she was told she could not use the female bathroom at the Walgreens on Sunset Boulevard. She was in the store during the LGBTQ Pride festival and had purchased some items in the store. However, she was told she looked to masculine to […]

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Illinois Governor Candidate Blasted Over Anti-trans Ad

(Photo from jeanneives.org) A Republican candidate for the role of Illinois governor has been slammed for refusing to take down an advert that spurts anti-trans rhetoric, despite calls from the party to remove it and apologise. Lawmaker and state representative Jeanne Ives released the advert, which is a take on a former advert run by current governor Bruce Rauner, and has since faced a barrage of criticism. Rauner’s original ad shows GOP governors from states neighbouring Illinois thanking the Democratic House speaker for policies which helped their states. Ives’ take on the ad portrays a transgender woman, a woman wearing […]

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Transgender Woman Burnt to Death is Second Killed this Year

(Photo from GoFundMe) A transgender woman who was burnt to death is the second to be killed in the US this year. Viccky Gutierrez was brutally murdered on Wednesday (January 10) in the morning. The Los Angeles Police Department has not confirmed that it was Gutierrez’s body that was found but a close founder of the deceased has said that it was her. TransLatin@ Coalition founder Bamby Salcedo claimed that it was Gutierrez who died in a Facebook Live video. Salcedo said that they know for sure the burned body is that of Gutierrez and they believe she was “brutally […]

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Trans Hockey Player Halts Hormone Treatment to Continue Playing Sport

Trans hockey player Harrison Browne has halted his hormone therapy so that he can continue to compete in the sport. Browne rose to fame as a trans athlete after he made history when he became the first openly transgender athlete on a professional US sports team. Competing in the National Women’s Hockey League, Browne often spoke openly about his transition and what it meant to him to hear his name announced on a loudspeaker. “I’m still the same player, I’m still playing in the body that I did last year, I’m still the same exact person. I’m just a different […]

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