News

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Germany to Compensate Gay Men Investigated after WWII

German authorities on Wednesday extended compensation payments to more gay men who were investigated under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was enthusiastically enforced in West Germany after World War II. German lawmakers in 2017 approved the annulment of thousands of convictions under the Paragraph 175 law, which remained in force in its Nazi-era form until homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969. They cleared the way for payments of 3,000 euros ($3,380) per conviction, plus 1,500 euros for every year of jail time the convicted men started. The Justice Ministry’s new directive extends compensation to people who were put under investigation or […]

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Democrats Re-introduce Equality Act to Congress for the Third Time

Democrats on Wednesday (13 March), with some bipartisan support, are re-introducing the Equality Act to Congress for the third time. This bill seeks to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected traits. If passed, it would prohibit discrimination in various areas, including employement, housing, public accommodation, and more on a national level. When nearly half of all LGBTI people in the US live in states without workplace protections, such legislation becomes especially pressing. Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), as well as Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) […]

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US Congressional Candidate Warned of the ‘Destructive’ Gay ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Homosexual Recruitment’ of Children

longtime Tea Party Republican politician now running in a special election for the open U.S. House seat for North Carolina has a long history of anti-LGBT animus and spreading lies about gay people. Fern Shubert during her failed campaign to become governor of North Carolina in 2004 claimed that gay people lead a destructive lifestyle. ThinkProgress’ Josh Israel unearthed an archived copy of Shubert’s old campaign website and investigated her long history of extremist attacks against LGBT people, same-sex marriage, women’s choice, gun control, and the Democratic party. “Love the sinner but hate the sin seems appropriate,” Shubert’s 2004 campaign website stated. “Unfortunately, some believe […]

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Russia Ignoring Chechnya Torture and Murder, Say European Investigators

Russia is failing to address the gravity of torture use by authorities in Chechnya. That’s the conclusion of the Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee. Yesterday, the committee issued a public statement. It urges the Russian Federation to do more to investigate reports of atrocities and an anti-gay purge. Located in the North Caucasus region, Chechnya is a subject of the Russian Federation. Its president is Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been in power since 2007. He tends to rule the country in accordance with traditional Islamic social codes, even if these contravene Russian law. Since late 2016, the country has arrested, detained and […]

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Trump Proposes Cutting Over $1 Billion in Global HIV and AIDS Funding

President Donald Trump unveiled his annual budget proposal on Monday (11 March). It includes $291 million for the national fight against HIV and AIDS — while cutting over $1 billion in similar funding on a global scale. In the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020, Trump allocated $291 million to the Department of Health and Human Services. This money is specifically allocated to end the transmission of HIV. In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump pledged to end new HIV transmissions in the US by 2030 — an announcement met with skepticism from many LGBTI groups. ‘My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to […]

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County, State and Federal Agencies Helping Flood-impacted River Businesses

County officials are working to bring programs to help businesses get back on their feet. State and Federal officials are still working to determine Federal Disaster status that will unlock FEMA support.  The Local Assistance Center set up at the Bank of America Building in Guerneville will be open from 9-6 through next weekend – go there for individual advice on programs open for residents, workers, and businesses.  There are two loan disaster assistance programs that businesses should look into right away: *****California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program &Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Programwww.ibank.ca.gov │916.341.6600 │ SBFC@ibank.ca.govUse of FundsNew ConstructionInventoryWorking CapitalLines of CreditAgricultureDisaster […]

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Chile Set to Pass Equal Marriage Bill

The new president of Chile’s upper house of parliament, the Senate, has promised to pass an equal marriage bill this legislative year. ‘Chile is in full cultural change, [and] demands wider freedoms and rights’ Jaime Quintana, who will take office on Tuesday [12 March] wrote on Twitter. ‘There is no doubt’ Quintana wrote, the Senate will ‘discuss and approve the equal marriage this legislative year’. Chile has recognized same-sex civil unions since 2015. And, in 2017, former President Michelle Bachelet introduced an equal marriage bill. However, when Sebastián Piñera took office in March last year, his government said it would […]

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Locals Blocking Plans for LGBTI Senior Housing Say it’s ‘in No Way’ Homophobic

The battle to open New York City’s first affordable LGBTI senior home is on, as some New Yorkers are attempting to block the plans. While queer pensioners will soon have access to homes in Brooklyn and the Bronx, Manhattan might be awhile coming, the Daily Beast reported.  Haven Green would comprise 123 studio apartments. The home would require a razing Elizabeth Street Garden in Little Italy, a one-acre green space run by locals since 2013. LGBTI pensioner group, SAGE, identified the location. But some have mobilized against the plan, Curbed New York reported. Who’s against the home and why? The garden and a separate nonprofit filed […]

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Thailand’s First Transgender Candidate Runs for Prime Minister

A transgender woman who is running to be prime minister of Thailand has said she is ready to take the role – but wonders if the people are ready to accept a transgender candidate. Pauline Ngarmpring transitioned at the age of 49, and has said she is “comfortable” and has “nothing to hide” ahead of the general election on March 24. The trans Thai candidate said that—while she is ready for the race—she is accepting that she will likely not become prime minister on this occasion, according to the Thomas Reuters Foundation. “I know having my candidacy is a symbolic gesture. […]

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Many LGBTQI Films Slated for Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 2019 is pleased to partner again with OUTwatch, Wine Country’s LGBTQI Film Festival, to offer a slate of films curated by the OUTwatch producers as part of our program. Look for the OW icons in the program! SDFF 2019: 4 LGBTQI features, 2 LGBTQI shorts plus 4 more films about strong women: LGBTQI FeaturesThe Rest I Make Up Friday March 29, 4pm   Rialto Cinemas® #9Leitis in Waiting Friday March 29, 7:30pm Rialto Cinemas®  #7Singing For Your Lives Friday March 29, 4:15-5:45  Brent Theater – Sebastopol Center for the ArtsBaghdad To the Bay Sunday March 31, 2-4pm Rialto Cinemas®  #7 LGBTQI ShortsA Great Ride before Baghdad to the Bay Sunday March 31, 2-4pm, […]

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