Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Give 'Em An Inch...
Florida Senator Marco Rubio next
month, will speak at an event alongside numerous anti-LGBT activists.
After dropping out of the GOP
nomination race, Rubio cited the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in
Orlando in reversing course on whether he would seek a second term in
the Senate. Rubio said that the attack had raised questions about
the “service to your country and where you can be most useful to
your country.”
Earlier
this month, LGBT rights activists protested outside Rubio's
office as he held a press conference to discuss the economic impact
of the shooting. When confronted by one of the protesters, Rubio
reiterated his opposition to marriage rights for gay and lesbian
couples.
Next
month's two-day event, to be held in Orlando, is sponsored by The
Florida Renewal Project and is part of the conservative group's
“Rediscovering God” campaign.
In addition to Rubio, speakers at the
conference include Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, David Lane of the
American Renewal Project, self-described historian David Barton,
Pastor Ken Graves and Religious Right activist Bill Federer, all of
whom strongly oppose LGBT rights.
Staver and his group are best known for
representing Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in her legal attempt to block
her office from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples after the
Supreme Court's 2015 ruling that ushered in nationwide marriage
equality.
I look forward to the day that this asshat gets outed, you just know that it's gonna happen, sooner or later.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
UK will boost trade in previously banned North Carolina
Liam Fox MP hopes to boost UK trade after the country voted to leave the European Union by opening a new office in North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh.
North Carolina was the first US state to pass a law insisting people use only public bathrooms that match the gender on their birth certificate.
The anti-trans HB2 law has been widely criticized by business.
It has led to boycotts or scaling down of investment by Pepsi, Deutsche Bank, PayPal, Hyatt, HP, Levis. The NBA may even pull their All Star 2017 game.
It’s not clear if Fox didn’t realize or has chosen to ignore the controversy.
Fox will tell a business audience in Chicago today:
‘I am pleased to announce today that the UK government plans to open three new offices right here in the United States, in Minneapolis, Raleigh and San Diego.
‘Our ambitious vision for an open and outward-looking UK economy includes growing our footprint in the most important markets around the world and these three cities offer exciting opportunities to boost trade and investment.’
Fox was a leading campaigner in the UK’s bid to leave the European Union.
New UK Prime Minister Theresa May created the job of International Trade Secretary to find new opportunities for the country after the Brexit vote.
Fox’s record on LGBT rights in the UK is poor. He voted against equal marriage, an equal age of consent and access to adoption.
Oops!
But a photo on his very active Instagram account had pretty much taken that step for him.
Curnick had posted a photo of himself and another guy on the same motorcycle and his buddies at the US Naval Base in Pensacola, Florida, wanted answers.
‘Explain this,’ said one message on Instagram. Another was even more to the point: “Curnick, are you gay? Don’t lie to us.’
‘Their messages wanted to know the truth. I realized my biggest fear had come to fruition,’ Curnick writes in a column for Outsports.
Curnick, a Petty Officer Third Class, was alone at the time and in tears. He decided to come clean and told them: ‘Yes, I’m gay.’
‘The reactions started coming in and, to my relief and surprise, they were overwhelmingly positive,’ he writes.
‘While I did lose a few friends, the ones closest to me became even closer, because I no longer had to lie about who I was and for the first time they knew what was really going on in my life.’
But not everyone in the military has been supportive since Curnick began to live openly more than a year ago.
‘This past spring, in combat training before my deployment to Afghanistan, someone found out I was gay, walked up to me and said, “I’m glad I’m not deploying with you, I wouldn’t trust a fag with my life.” This despite the fact I was one of the better marksmen and performers in my class.’
Curnick refused to let it get him down: ‘I use comments like that to fuel my fire to succeed in everything that I do.’
Curnick is currently working with fellow LGBTI sailors to start an organization at their base promote understanding and ensure equality in the workplace..
He has been to the Middle East twice and been awarded accolades for his achievements including letters of accommodation from leaders at Combatant Commands. He has also won Sailor of the Quarter at his command of 2,300 Sailors.’
‘Since coming out, I have become a much happier, productive and successful person.’
Monday, July 25, 2016
Hillary's Choice For VP
Senator Tim Kaine, who was named as the former Secretary of State’s running mate, has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights across his time as Governor of Virginia and in the Senate.
One of Kaine’s first actions as Governor in 2006 was to sign an executive order adding sexual orientation protections to the non-discrimination policy for state workers.
Kaine came out in favor of equal marriage before President Obama did in 2013, signed a Supreme Court brief calling for nationwide marriage equality, and is a sponsor of the Equality Act – proposed legislation that would introduce LGBT anti-discrimination protections across all 50 states.
His views contrast with Donald Trump’s VP pick Mike Pence, a diehard opponent of LGBT rights who previously signed a ‘religious freedom’ law permitting anti-LGBT discrimination.
Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur said: “With her selection of Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton has highlighted the stark differences between her ticket and her opponent’s. In contrast to the extremes of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and homo- and transphobia on display this week at the Republican National Convention, Kaine presents an alternative: a pragmatist who works across ideologies and across the aisle to get things done.
“As governor of Virginia, Kaine partnered with the state’s Republican legislators and attorney general to strengthen background checks on gun purchases. Vice President Joe Biden hailed the legislation as a potential model for a federal bill.
“After exhibiting the same ‘evolution’ on LGBT issues as the nation as a whole, Kaine is now solidly pro-LGBT equality. As governor, he issued an executive order banning discrimination against lesbian and gay state employees and campaigned against a ballot measure barring same-sex couples from marrying. He has spoken out strongly in favor of marriage equality and adoption by same-sex couples, receiving a 90 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.
“Donald Trump’s feigned concern in his speech for the perils LGBT people face abroad ignores the very real danger presented by his own party here at home. The virulently anti-LGBT Republican platform, Trump’s choice of arch-homophobe Mike Pence as his running mate, and a campaign based on fear, bias and hatred clearly foreshadow what LGBT people can expect from a Trump administration. It is imperative that the LGBT community do all it can to ensure that Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States.”
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said: “While Donald Trump doubled down on discrimination by picking Mike Pence, Hillary Clinton has bolstered her campaign’s historic commitment to LGBTQ equality by choosing Tim Kaine.
“Having proven time and time again that they have the experience, determination, and leadership needed to move equality forward for all Americans, we are confident Clinton and Kaine will tear down the walls of discrimination that hold all of us back.
“The stakes for LGBTQ people in this election couldn’t be higher, and the choice for pro-equality voters couldn’t be clearer.”
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Deluded Gay Republican Shill Still Thinks The GOP Is Gay Inclusive
While her pleas for inclusion and tolerance were ignored, Hoff has hope for the GOP.
‘Outside of the platform committee, our party is ready to move on,’ Hoff said in an interview with Think Progress.
Hoff, a member of the Washington, DC delegation, noted how multiple party members came up to her last week to thank her for trying to move the party on LGBT rights.
‘A huge number of people have come up and thanked me for being their voice in the room,’ Hoff said to Think Progress. ‘It’s especially touching when it’s fellow LGBT Republicans. Most of the people are just people who want to see our party either fully support pro-LGBT policies or move on from anti-LGBT policies.’
There is evidence to support Hoff’s idea Republicans are prepared to ‘move on.’ Donald Trump is the first Republican presidential nominee to offer support to the LGBTI community in an acceptance speech.
‘As your President, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from foreign terrorist,’ the nominee said.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
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