Everybody’s Business

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Disney Announces Pause on All Political Giving in Florida

CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney was suspending its political donations in Florida due to the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and he apologized for the company’s previous silence on the issue.   In reaction to the announcement, Sonja Spoo, director of Reproductive Rights campaigns at UltraViolet, a leading gender justice organization, issued the following statement: “It is long past time that Disney paused its political contributions to radical right-wing politicians pushing a vicious anti-LGBTQ and anti-woman agenda so contrary to the company’s stated values. But simply pausing donations to all politicians instead of the ones pushing this radical agenda – embodied by […]

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Disney thinks it’s off the hook on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill because it tells ‘diverse stories’

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Disney CEO Bob Chapek has faced stiff criticism from staff for refusing to condemn Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. In an internal memo, Chapek expressed his “unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community” but refused to publicly oppose the bill, which would block discussion of LGBT+ identities in school. Following weeks of criticism from Disney staff, writers and fans, Chapek argued that “diverse stories” are more impactful than a company statement against the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, SB 1834, also known as the Parental Rights in Education bill. “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds,” […]

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Top LGBTQ-supporting companies bankroll politicians behind Fla. ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

Some of the top companies in the U.S. that show public support for the LGBTQ community have donated thousands of dollars to the politicians behind a piece of Florida legislation opponents deemed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.  The bill, which has versions in both the Florida House and Senate, would ban classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity that are not “age-appropriate” in schools — though it is not clear what is considered “age-appropriate.” It also includes a provision that could effectively “out” LGBTQ students to their parents without their consent.  Despite opposition from Democrats and LGBTQ rights advocates, the […]

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While some banned queer books see a sales bump, others quietly disappear

George M. Johnson’s young-adult memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” about growing up Black and queer, appeared on The New York Times bestseller list this month for the first time since its publication nearly two years ago. The spike in sales was undoubtedly fueled by the publicity the title received after being banned in public libraries and schools in at least 19 states, according to Johnson’s count.  Johnson’s book was joined on the Times’ young adult hardcover bestseller list by two other widely challenged books — 2017’s “The Hate U Give” and 2020’s “Stamp” — which made the American Library Association’s 2020 list of Top 10 most […]

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Tesla sued by Black, gay employee over ‘festering’ racism and being anti-LGBT+

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Kaylen Barker was a contract worker at a Tesla Inc factory in Lathrop, California, inspecting brake parts, according to Bloomberg, and her complaint filed Tuesday (1 February) alleges that she was also subject to physical violence. She claims a white colleague called her the n-word, “stupid”, “dumb” and a “bitch” while they hit her with a hot grinding tool. The worker was fired, according to her complaint, but “shockingly rehired without any forewarning or explanation” just two weeks later. Barker, 25, was hired at the California sub-assembly plant via a staffing agency, but was fired just eight month later in “retaliation”, she […]

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Grindr disappears from app stores in China

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Grindr, the world’s most famous dating app for gay and bi men, has reportedly disappeared from app stores in China. According to AFP, it was removed from Apple’s app store in China on Thursday. It is also not on the Android store. Google’s Play Store is not available in the country. Related: Grindr hook-up leads to shock pregnancy The removal of the app comes as China cracks down on online activity. In recent months it has acted to remove access to pornography and instructed big tech to do more to create a “clean and healthy” cyberspace. Last summer, the country’s hugely popular […]

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Over 500 corporations back effort to support Equality Act

A business coalition that is urging the passage of landmark LGBTQ rights legislation grew to more than 500 companies Tuesday. Launched in 2016 by LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, the Business Coalition for the Equality Act is a group of U.S. corporations that have pledged their support for a bill that would federally ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, known as the Equality Act. As of Tuesday, the group was composed of 503 corporations — including 160 Fortune 500 companies — making it the largest business coalition to pledge support for LGBTQ equality, the HRC said. Corporations […]

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‘Just for females’ social media app Giggle under fire for ‘excluding’ trans women

Giggle, a social media app designed for “females”, has come under fire for excluding trans women with its use of artificial intelligence. The app is marketed as a female-only space that allows women to find roommates, engage in freelance work, find friendship groups and more.  The Verge reported that Giggle, which first launched in early 2020, uses facial recognition to determine if new users are male or female, however it has allegedly failed to properly recognise women of colour or transgender women.  Jenny, a 23-year-old trans woman from California, told The Verge: “The way the app works is when you install it, you […]

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Fashion designer Thierry Mugler dies, aged 73

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The French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler has died at the age of 73. His death was due to “natural causes” according to his agent. On his official Mugler Instagram page, a statement said, “We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday January 23rd 2022. May his soul Rest In Peace.” Mugler was born and raised in Strasbourg, where he trained in his teens as a ballet dancer for six years. He relocated to Paris at the age of 24 and launched his eponymous fashion line in 1973. He opened his first boutique in 1978 and […]

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Antigay wedding photographer had a very bad day in court

A Christian wedding photographer who refused to work at same-sex weddings is going to have to do some career soul-searching after a federal court in New York dismissed her lawsuit. Emilee Carpenter filed the suit in April after she was asked to photograph seven same-sex weddings, arguing that New York’s nondiscrimination laws forced her to betray her faith by snapping photos of happy, same-sex couples or else pay fines of up to $100k. She claimed her First and 14th amendment rights were being violated. “Just as the government cannot compel a lesbian baker to create a cake condemning same-sex marriage […]

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