Monday, March 27, 2017
Government Advice For Russians Traveling Abroad: "Don't Treat Gay People Like You Do At Home"
Russia has warned homophobic citizens to refrain from homophobic attacks… while on holiday in other countries.
The advice comes from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which has updated its travel advice for visitors hoping to holiday around the world.
The guidance for visiting France warns that in some countries it is advisable “not to speak or act abusively to members of the LGBT community”.
Advice for Russians heading to Spain warns: “Public expression of negative attitudes towards persons with different sexual orientation are not met with understanding in others, so you should refrain from it.”
Guidance for Denmark and Austria also warns Russians not to make offensive remarks to local gay people.
The entry for Canada includes the longest warning.
he travel advice warns that “there is a serious fixation on sexual equality” in Canada, “which has long legalised same-sex marriage”.
It cautions Russians against telling homophobic jokes, noting that “in addition to public condemnation, in urban areas with many sexual minorities) particularly Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal) there is a risk of punishment in the form of fines or being charged with ‘hate crimes’.”
The inconsistent guidance does not include similar warnings on a number of other equally LGBT-friendly destinations, however.
The UK’s Foreign Office previously updated its travel advice to Russia to warn LGBT people of the danger they face.
It states: “In June 2013 a law banning the promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ entered into force, but the definition and scope of prohibited activity is vague. Foreign nationals convicted under this law could face arrest and detention, fines and deportation.
“There have been reports that instances of harassment, threats, and acts of violence towards the LGBT community have increased following the introduction of the law.”
Homophobia has surged in Russia since the passage of 2013’s so-called ‘gay propaganda’ law, which has been exploited by anti-LGBT forces in law enforcement and government in order to clamp down on the LGBT community.
Some reports have suggested that vigilante attacks and hate crimes against LGBT people are on the rise in the country, but data is difficult to gather on the issue as police often do not support victims.
Texas A&M Student President Offers To Meet With Big Pussy Rick Perry
Now that student, Bobby Brooks, wants to meet face-to-face with Perry who is the former governor of Texas.
Brooks took the high road in a letter to Perry who had charged that the student’s opponent was essentially being discriminated against because he is a white male.
‘I would like to invite you to come home to Texas to meet with my team and me as we take office later this month to discuss how we can work together to achieve our common vision,’ Brooks wrote.
‘We have many students on this campus from all walks of life, whose perspectives I would care to share with you.’.
Brooks is the first openly gay president in the school’s history.
He was the second-highest vote-getter but declared the winner when the school administration and and Student Government Association disqualified the original winner.
Robert McIntosh was disqualified for not providing receipts for glow sticks used in a campaign video. He had appealed charges of voter intimidation which were later dismissed on appeal.
‘Brooks’ presidency is being treated as a victory for “diversity,”‘ Perry wrote in the Houston Chronicle. ‘It is difficult to escape the perception that this quest for ’diversity’ is the real reason the election outcome was overturned. Does the principle of “diversity” override and supersede all other values of our Aggie Honor Code?’
Brooks wrote in his letter to Perry that his platform did feature diversity and inclusion.
‘I pledged to make diversity and inclusion a hallmark of my time in office, and I appreciate that you share my view that respecting and honoring all students is one of the things critical to ensuring that Texas A&M continues to grow and remains the world-class university we all know and love.’
Bobby, your already ten times the politician and diplomat Rick Perry could ever hope to be
Sunday, March 26, 2017
New CHIPs Movie Not Meant To Be Homophobic In A Bad Way?
In Dax Shepard’s new cop buddy comedy CHIPS, an undercover FBI agent played by Michael Pena accidentally does a face-plant into his partner’s crotch.
Then he kind of freaks out about it.
In an earlier scene, the hyper-masculine agent’s face can be seen twitching uncomfortably when he is greeted in a police locker room with the sight of cops in their tight underwear.
Their bulges bounce off each other as the bare-chested cops share hugs, according to TheWrap.
‘The buddy comedy — set amid the culture of a Southern California police force — seems to endlessly dredge up scenarios where men are confronted with the naked bodies, perceived masculinity and potential desire for other men,’ the site states.
Shepard not only stars in the comedy, he also wrote and directed it. He and his actress wife Kristen Bell – one of the film’s co-stars – addressed the charges of homophobia this week.
‘I do think it’s fun and challenging to have a topic like homophobia be in this movie and to do it correctly. That’s a very fun challenge,’ Shepard tells Huffington Post.
The intent isn’t homophobic, the intent is actually to be progressive and still deal with that issue because that issue is always going to be funny ― all those issues are going to be funny.’
Bell described her husband to the Associated Press as ‘the most un-homophobic person you could ever find ― I mean, we waited until everyone could get married before we got married, based on principle.’
The Wrap notes that the film has three gay characters. The include a dirty cop and an armored car driver are secretly a couple.
Another cop – this one openly gay – is proudly promiscuous. He tells female officers he’d sleep with either Shepard or Pena’s character as he objectifies them in their tight uniforms.
So let's see, constant gay panic and gay stereotypes aren't homophobic humor, it's progressive?
Keep telling yourself that.
The movie seems to pander to teenage boy angst and it certainly views like it was written by one.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Neo-Nazi Richard Spencer Gets His Ass Handed To Him
Neo-nazi Richard Spencer found himself at the receiving end of the most perfect clapback we’ve seen in a long time.
The last time anything the Montana-based white supremacist did went quite this big, he was punched in the face as he attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Live on TV.
Now Jason Kander, president of Let America Vote and former Missouri Secretary of State, hit back at Spencer – with words, and it was incredibly satisfying.
Last week Spencer tweeted a video from musical film Cabaret in which a member of the Hitler Youth sings the well-known Tomorrow Belongs To Me.
Josh Marshall
✔ @joshtpmTake your trash philosophy back to the 1930s, chump. You're just a punk. https://twitter.com/richardbspencer/status/843213184689291264 …
.@joshtpm 1930s? No, tomorrow belongs to us. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=29Mg6Gfh9Co …
That’s where Jason Kander comes in.
His great-uncle is legendary composer John Kander, who happens to be part of Kander & Ebb – who wrote Cabaret.
The musical is set in 1931 in Berlin and based on gay novelist Christopher Isherwood’s short novel Goodbye to Berlin.
It tells the story of a young American and his relationship with an English cabaret performer against the backdrop of 1931 Berlin, where the Nazis are rising to power.
And Jason was quick to point out his uncle incorporated just about everything the neo-Nazi hates.
‘Hey buddy, that song you love was written by my uncle,’ he tweeted.
‘He’s been married to my other uncle for 40 years. And he’s a Jew.
‘Sing it proud.’
In the recent past, Spencer has called for ‘peaceful ethnic cleansing’.
According to the Tab, who went through Spencer’s reddit profile, he also said ‘the glorification of homosexuality is not healthy for society’ and called homosexuality ‘a suboptimal deviation from the norm, much like a birth defect’.
We’d call Kander’s burn nasty, but from Spencer’s Twitter feed it is fairly clear he probably doesn’t care much
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)