News

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Barbra Siperstein, First Trans Member of Democratic National Committee, Dies at 76

Transgender activist Barbra ‘Babs’ Casbar Siperstein died on Sunday (3 February) at the age of 76. Throughout her life, Siperstein accomplished much and made a legacy for herself. In 2009, the Democratic National Committee appointed her as a member. She became the first openly transender person serving on the committee. She remained in that position until 2011, when they promoted her to the executive committee, where she served until 2017. Two days before her death, a law went into effect in New Jersey named after her. The Babs Siperstein Law allows transgender, non-binary, and other gender nonconforming people to request a change […]

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Gay Men’s Chorus of LA Leader Steps Down after Claims of Sexual Misconduct

One of the most well known gay men in Los Angeles is stepping down after claims of sexual misconduct. John Duran, also the mayor of West Hollywood, has denied allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. However, he is also stepping down from his post at the end of the season. Three chorus members accuse West Hollywood mayor of sexual misconduct Three current or former chorus members have accused Duran of inappropriate comments or touching. Jason Tong has accused Doran of slipping his hand inside the waistband of his underwear in a changing room before a show. He described the alleged […]

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Ca State Senator Introduces Bill to Stop Unnecessary Surgery on Intersex Babies

Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and a coalition of civil rights, intersex, healthcare and LGBT advocates announced legislation to ensure intersex babies – “intersex” being a term used for people born with variations in their sex characteristics, including genitalia – can provide informed consent before undergoing medically unnecessary surgeries that can effectively assign them a gender (before they can decide for themselves) and that can irreversibly harm them. Senate Bill 201 would not prohibit treatment or surgery when it is medically necessary; it simply prohibits cosmetic surgeries on babies that are medically unnecessary and based on a desire to […]

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Lesbian Prisoners in Jamaica Raped in an Attempt to ‘Cure’ Them

Lesbian prisoners in Jamaica are subjected to ‘corrective rape’, a study revealed today (5 February). Women in prison are raped out of a ploy to ‘cure’ them of their sexuality, according to activists. Carla Moore, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies, has explored LGBTI experiences in prison. Moore said: ‘The thing that lesbians have to deal with that we often overlook is corrective rape. ‘It is quite prevalent in Jamaica where people think if you rape a lesbian you turn her straight.’ Gay prisoners feel isolated Moreover, she observed gay and trans males experienced isolation and had limited access […]

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Primary School Teacher Found Stabbed to Death in Mexico for Being Gay

A gay primary school teacher was found stabbed to death in Mexico. Hugo Méndez, a teacher who worked in Puebla, was found murdered in his home. Neighbors called the authorities after they heard a struggle. When paramedics arrived to help him, he was already dead. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.Gay teacher stabbed to death because of his sexuality Méndez was killed because of his sexuality, according to activists. Individuals close to him described him as a ‘very committed and sensitive person who had received numerous threats against because of his sexuality’. As well as teaching kids, […]

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Republicans ‘Shameful’ for Stopping Vote on LGBTI Legal Protections

State Republicans in Virginia are being slammed for refusing to allow a vote on LGBTI non-discrimination laws. LGBTI civil rights group, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the ‘shameful decision’ by Virginia Speaker of the House Kirk Cox, Majority Chairman Tim Hugo. He and other leaders in the House of Delegates, refused to bring up LGBTI non-discrimination protections for a vote in the General Laws committee. The two bills, HB 2677 and HB 2067, would add protections for LGBTI Virginians in housing and public employment, respectively.  According to HRC, similar bills have passed the Virginia Senate several years in a row […]

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Jussie Smollett Strikes Emotional Chord: Bashers Won’t Win

 Jussie Smollett was blunt, emotional and defiantly determined Saturday night at a Southern California concert some urged him not to play, telling the crowd before singing a note that he had to go on with the show because he couldn’t let his attackers win. “The most important thing I can say is ’thank you so much, and I’m OK,” said the “Empire” actor and R&B singer from the stage at the Troubadour in West Hollywood in his first public appearance since he reported to police in Chicago on Tuesday that two masked men had assaulted him and put a rope […]

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LGBTI Ally Cory Booker Announces He Will Run for President in 2020

Senator Cory Booker has announced his run for president in 2020. The New Jersey Democrat chose the first day of Black History Month to announce his run. He announced: ‘The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it.’ Booker will be the second black senator to join the presidential race, alongside his colleague Senator Kamala Harris. Rumors have long suggested that […]

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Gay Men Are Voting More for Anti-LGBTI Right-wing Policitians

A gay historian has revealed that in major western countries, gay men were more likely to vote for right-wing parties. Samuel Huneke of Stanford University looked at voting data from 14 elections in five western countries US, UK, France, Germany and Brazil. He found that in the US, LGBTI people overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party. But gay men were more likely than the general electorate to support conservative or far-right party in other western countries. ‘LGBT voters in other [non-U.S.] countries were less likely to support the conservative (or in some cases far-right) party by an average of only seven percent,’ […]

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Arkansas Court Rules City Can’t Enforce LGBT Protections

Arkansas’ highest court on Thursday said a city can’t enforce its ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, saying it’s already ruled the measure violates a state law aimed at preventing local protections for LGBT people. The state Supreme Court unanimously reversed a Washington County judge’s decision to allow Fayetteville to continue enforcing its anti-discrimination ordinance while the city challenged the constitutionality of a 2015 law preventing cities and counties from enacting protections not covered by state law. Arkansas’ civil rights law doesn’t cover sexual orientation or gender identity. The court in 2017 ruled the ordinance violated the state […]

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