The U.S. has decided to withdraw its ambassador to Zambia, after the president of the southern African nation said he didn’t want him there for criticizing the jailing of two men for having a consensual relationship, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The State Department is “dismayed” with Zambia for having effectively declared Foote a persona non grata, it said in an emailed statement. The U.S. government strongly opposes abuses against sexual minorities, it said, without confirming Foote’s withdrawal.
Zambia denounced Foote after he said he was “horrified” at the news that two allegedly gay men had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for consensual sex.
Unlike many current US diplomats, Foote has spent his entire career with the State Department and has been posted to numerous countries.
The State Department has not said when or even if Zambia will get a replacement for Foote.
RELATED: Zambia not only criminalizes homosexuality, it is illegal there to advocate for LGBT rights. According to its Wikipedia entry, Zambia was targeted by “fundamentalist missionaries” more than any other African nation during its colonial period.
A gay Santa is retiring after 30 years of impersonating the most famous North Pole resident, and he is donating his family collection of Santa suits to a historical society where they will appear alongside archives of his LGBT+ activism.
Leo Treadway, 76, is an AIDS and LGBT+ activist, a mental health counsellor, a church leader and an official member of Minnesota’s “real-bearded” North Star Santas.
Among many other projects, he served on the Governor’s Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Minnesotans, was an adult leader in the Lesbian and Gay Youth Together organisation and worked as a consultant for Minneapolis schools on issues relating to LGBT+ kids.
Throughout his life, Treadway has also collected correspondence, agendas, bylaws, minutes, financial reports, notes, newsletters, brochures, miscellaneous printed matter, and newspaper clippings of the LGBT+ rights movement in Minnesota, and previously donated them to the Minnesota Historical Society.
But according to the West Central Tribune, when Treadway returned from the Vietnam war in 1987 he noticed that his voluminous beard was beginning to turn white.
He realised that the time had come to put on the red suit handed down to him by his father, and take on the role of Santa Claus, appearing in church, family gatherings and various Christmas celebrations.
(Leo Treadway/ Facebook)
When his father’s red suit began to come apart at the seams, the gay Santa worked with local designers to commission a series of new suits based on European interpretations of Santa, from St. Nicholas to the ancient Yule Goat-man of Finland Joulupukki.
Now, retiring from his festive role, his trademark suits will join archives documenting his lifelong commitment to advocating for the LGBT+ community.
Describing his attitude to portraying Santa Claus, especially during the 2007 to 2009 recession, he told the West Central Tribune: “I transitioned from the kind of traditional conversation that Santa has with kids: ‘Hi, how are you, what do you want for Christmas?’
“I transitioned to ‘tell me how you’ve helped somebody this year,’ which was a question they were totally unprepared for.
“For me, it was less about ‘I’ve been good’ to making them think about good things they’ve done.”
Several actors, DJs, models and Instagram influencers have come under fire for promoting a music festival in Saudi Arabia, a country with a horrific human rights record.
Electronic festival MDL Beast took place on 21-23 December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, with a lineup that included DJs David Guetta, Dish Dash, Tiesto and Steve Aoki.
While the model Emily Ratajkowski reportedly rejected the festival out of concern for human rights, the actors Armie Hammer and Ed Westwick both attended, as did supermodels Jazelle, Joan Smalls, Amy Jackson and Alessandro Ambrosio.
The Conde Nast publication Glamour UK also included a sponsored campaign from the festival.
They are now being condemned for giving their support to the festival, with many noting that Saudi Arabia still enforces gender segregation and punishes homosexuality with death.
Podcast host and writer Aminatou Sow said on Twitter that influencer culture was “shameless”, while fashion commentator Diet Prada accused those involved of taking part in “rehabilitating” the country’s image in return for six-figure sums.
“What’s worse than an all white @revolve influencer trip?” their Instagram post asked. “Cashing big fat checks in exchange for #content creation (aka propaganda) to rehabilitate the image of Saudi Arabia, a country said to be causing ‘the world’s worst humanitarian crisis’, according to the United Nations.
“According to anonymous sources, six-figure sums were offered for attendance and geo-tagged posts.”
In a statement addressed to Diet Prada, Ratajkowski explained why she declined to attend the festival.
“It’s very important to me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, freedom of expression and the right to a free press. I hope coming forward on this brings more attention to the injustices happening there,” she said.
Praising the festival, Armie Hammer declared that it felt like a “cultural shift” – although the culture hasn’t shifted far enough to stop punishing homosexuality with public whippings, chemical castrations, life imprisonment, torture and death.
Journalist Yashar Ali responded by asking Hammer: “Did you find Jamal Khashoggi’s body while you were there?”
Another commenter asked: “How much did Mohammed Bin Salman pay you to say this?”
A school district is facing legal action from the mother of a 12-year-old who took his own life after homophobic bullying.
Marcy Peterson has filed a lawsuit against the school district in Upper Deerfield, New Jersey, after the suicide of her son Tristan in 2017.
Tristan faced bullying and taunting from his classmates at both Elizabeth Moore School and Woodruff School before taking his own life.
The lawsuit alleges that the school district failed to address “an extended and persistent period of bullying, intimidation, and harassment related to Tristan’s sexual orientation and identity.”
School district sued for ‘failing to act’
According to NJ.com, the suit alleges the student was “specifically subjected to threats from another student… at the Woodruff School related to his sexual orientation, which was witnessed by a staff member” – but the school “failed to properly prevent the abusive behaviour.”
The suit alleges the school district failed to act to prevent homophobic bullying
It adds: “The defendants had a duty to provide for the safety and security of students.”
The wrongful death suit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, accuses the defendants of negligence and violating anti-discrimination laws.
The school district said it could not comment on the litigation.
New Jersey students ‘should feel safe’
Laurie McGuire of GLSEN New Jersey told the outlet there was a need for LGBT+ inclusive education.
“As a community, I think we can probably all agree that we want all of our children to be cared about and to be supported and to be safe. We need to work together to create safe schools for all students.
““The idea that there are students that are marginalised, that there are students that are bullied and picked on and harassed because they are perceived or seen as different from others and that don’t fit the norm that society has created for them, those students need a space that is supportive and affirming.”
GLSEN’s 2017 national school climate survey revealed that ninety percent of LGBT+ students in New Jersey had heard the word “gay” used in a negative way, while 79 percent reported hearing homophobic slurs.
Sixty percent of LGBT+ students in the state said they had faced verbal harassment, while 20 percent reported physical harassment.
If you are in the US and are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression, or just want to talk, call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. If you are in the UK, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123.
A senior Thai legislator has been forced to apologise after two gay men kissed at a press conference in parliament on Wednesday.
The conference was held by the Future Forward party to highlight Thailand’s marriage laws, with LGBT coordinator Ekkawat Pimsawan ceremoniously submitting a proposal calling for a legal change to allow same-sex marriage.
TV footage of the conference shows an MP standing next to the two men, James Panumas and Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, and applauding as they embraced. The simple kiss was so extraordinary that it sparked widespread accusations of “improper” behaviour in parliament.
Senator Somchai Sawengkarn reportedly wrote on Facebook that he found the incident too shameful and beyond forgiveness, and urged parliament to probe the ethics of the MPs and the House committee concerned.
House speaker’s secretary Tankhun Jit-Issara said: “There are rules for using the press conference room that prohibit inappropriate language, insults, slander and indecent behaviour. Furthermore, users must maintain polite manners at all time in the establishment and follow other stated rules strictly.”
Parliament President Chuan Leekpai has demanded a report on two men and will later decide on what “punitive action” should be taken against those who arranged the event.
MP Mukda Pongsombat, who chairs the committee, was forced to issue an extensive apology for the display of public affection, and promised it would not be repeated.
“As the chairwoman, I accept a lack of prudence, but it was unexpected,” she said. “The committee did not plan for such incident to happen and we are sorry that the incident affected the image of the House of Parliament. I will admonish the persons involved and make sure that such an incident never happens again.”
She added: “While we are within our rights to express ourselves, we should also show respect for the venue.”
Thailand is often viewed as a very LGBT-friendly country, but public sentiment is not always so liberal. Thai law currently does not recognise same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships, although LGBT+ activists are fighting for this to change.
South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a small lead in a new survey of Iowa, but Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are close behind.
The latest Iowa State University/Civiqs poll finds Buttigieg at 24 percent, followed by Sanders at 21 percent, Warren at 18 percent and former Vice President Joe Biden at 15 percent. The poll has a 4.9 percentage point margin of error.
No other candidate is polling above 4 percent in the survey. The results are similar to other recent polls in the Hawkeye State.
An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire.
Police said he stole a pride banner hanging at Ames United Church of Christ, 217 6th St., and burned it early June 11 outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, 111 5th St.
Martinez admitted to police that he lit the banner on fire with lighter fluid and a lighter after stealing it from the church, according to court documents.
A conservative law firm has threatened legal action against a school district over a policy that bans teachers from outing their students.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty sent a letter of demand to Madison School District, seeking the repeal of its policy on support for transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive students.ADVERTISING
The disputed policy, issued in 2018, directs that “school staff shall not disclose any information that may reveal a student’s gender identity to others, including parents or guardians and other school staff, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorised such disclosure.”
Madison School District could face lawsuit over policy that bans ‘outing’
The law firm, which says it is representing 15 parents with children in the Madison, Wisconsin school district, claims that the policies “violate our clients’ constitutional rights as parents.”
If its demands are unmet within 45 days, the group is expected to file legal action against the school board.
The conservative law firm is seeking to challenge a policy that bans teachers from outing teens
In a statement to the Wisconsin State-Journal, a spokesperson for the school district said: “Currently, our view of the challenged portions of the guidance document remains unchanged. We intend to review the letter closely and will formulate a response accordingly.
“[The district] remains dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.
“Our commitment to this and all other inclusive practices in our schools remain unchanged.”
Conservative law firm claims parents have a right to know about their children’s gender identity
Luke Berg of Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty told the local newspaper: “Parents have a constitutional right to be involved in significant decisions that affect their child’s health and well-being.
“The decision to change gender identity, which should not be a surprise, is both highly controversial and potentially highly consequential, and that’s exactly the type of decision that parents need to be involved in.”
He added: “Our hope is that the School District will see the flaw in the policy and will be willing to make some changes.
“Obviously, we’d prefer not to file a lawsuit, but what we care about is protecting parents’ rights and changing the policy.”
Hotel giant Marriott has issued an apology after a same-sex couple were told to take their wedding booking elsewhere.
Travel YouTuber Josh Rimer and husband-to-be Heath spoke out after booking a wedding at the Marriott-owned Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center in the gay-friendly city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.ADVERTISING
Hotel claimed it is ‘not specialised’ to carry out gay weddings
Rimer explained that while making arrangements for the wedding, he had mentioned to staff that the couple would not need a bridal bouquet – only to later be told via email that the hotel “is not specialised to carry out” a same-sex wedding.
The email from resort staff directed the couple to seek an alternative venue.
The email told Josh Rimer to seek another venue elsewhere
In a YouTube video, Rimer said it was “probably the most homophobic experience I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.”
He said: “What do you mean specialise? Why do you need to specialise in gay weddings?
“There’s not much to specialise, other than it’s going to be a groom and a groom instead of a bride and a groom.
“I don’t know if she thinks we’re going to show up in speedos with go-go dancers, and we expect the officiant to be wearing leather chaps? This is just a normal wedding, it just happens to be with two guys.”
While Rimer later received an apology from Marriott head office, he has had no further contact from the resort itself – and said he is still unhappy with how the company handled the situation.
He said: “Even if they were just like, ‘we’re going to sponsor an LGBT+ event or donate to an LGBT+ charity in Puerto Vallarta to make a public statement’, it would have nipped this in the bud.
“A phone call apologising and saying you’ll look into it is literally the least you could do.”
Hilton steps in to save couple’s Puerto Vallarta wedding
However, the story has a happy ending after the incident caught the attention of rival hotel brand Hilton – which offered to host Rimer’s wedding for free at its neighbouring Hilton Puerto Vallarta property.
The company is arranging to make the couple’s big day truly special, with wedding vendors stepping up to provide complimentary services.
Josh Rimer was not impressed by Marriott’s attempt to apologise
Rimer said Hilton has offered to host “the wedding of my dreams,” adding: “They are putting out the red carpet for us.
“When they sent us the write-up of everything that’s going to be included, everything said ‘groom and groom’. Hallelujah!”
He quipped: “I wonder what kind of special training they had to do that.”
The incoming mayor of Bogota, who takes office in January, thanked her bride for “loving me always” and promised “to honor and love” her the rest of their days. Photographs show the pair dressed in white, holding a simple bouquet of flowers and smiling.
The couple’s union has become a rallying cause among supporters promoting LGBTQ rights in the traditionally conservative, Catholic country – though Colombia has permitted gay marriage since a landmark Constitutional Court ruling in 2016.
Lozano told Colombia’s BLU Radio that the couple has tried to marry previously but their schedules made organizing a wedding complicated.
“We told ourselves, ‘We have to do it now or another four years will pass by,” Lozano said. “Because Claudia’s priority the next four years will be her job.”
Claudia Lopez, mayoral candidate for Bogota, celebrates after winning local elections in Bogota, Colombia on Oct. 27, 2019.Luisa Gonzalez / Reuters file
When she is sworn into office, López will become the first openly lesbian mayor of a capital city in Latin America, a region slowly advancing in improving LGBTQ rights but where long-standing cultural biases and inequality remain barriers.
López has been making waves in Colombia for years, starting from her days as an analyst shedding light on corruption in the highest echelons of power. In her personal life, she’s been equally upfront and transparent, sharing a passionate kiss with Lozano as the election results came in during the October vote for Bogota mayor.
Few details about the ceremony were released, but López said their white pant suits were crafted by Colombian designer Ángel Yañez.
“Thank you life for this marvelous year!” López hailed on social media. “I graduated with my doctorate, won mayoral office and married the love of my life!”
