The Alabama Senate passed its own version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law Thursday after a surprise amendment to a transgender bathroom bill. At the start of debate Thursday, an amendment was offered that would stop K-5 elementary teachers from “instruction” on sexuality and gender. The bill passed the Senate 26-3. Since it was amended, it needs to go back to the House for final approval. In addition to instructional limits, the bill requires students to use school bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex on their birth certificate.
The GOP in Red states are following the templates that have be devised by renegade Florida and Texas. This will not stop until we make them stop.
The bathroom/Don't Say Gay bill passes the Alabama Senate on a 26 to 5 vote. The bill goes back to the House for concurrence or a conference committee. #alpolitics
A 21-year-old gay man waiting for a D train at the Tremont Ave. station near the Grand Concourse was attacked and hit repeatedly with a hammer before being thrown onto the subway tracks early Friday morning at about 1:10 a.m.
“Fag, fag!” the man screamed before swinging the hammer at the victim, hitting him repeatedly police sources said.
He then grabbed the victim and threw him onto the tracks before running off.
The victim miraculously managed to climb back onto the train platform on his own. Medics took him to St. Barnabas Hospital with minor injuries.
The suspect is described as a black male in his 30s with braided hair, approximately 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, wearing gray sweatpants and a black coat.
Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime because of the anti-gay slur reported by the victim.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has also directed the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation.
“I am absolutely sickened by the vicious anti-LGBT assault on a Bronx subway platform early this morning,” Cuomo said. “This horrific and ugly crime is repugnant to our values as New Yorkers, and we have zero tolerance for such vile acts of hate.”
New York City’s hate crime epidemic on subways has spiked more than 54 percent this year.
As of October he NYPD have made arrests in eight of the 13 hate crimes that have been committed against individuals this year.
Beatrice Palmer cleared her schedule for Friday evening. Among a typical busy week of drag gigs, she planned to make an appearance at a prom night before her next show. The local drag entertainer and producer wanted to be there for the 100 teenagers who signed up to attend the Storybook Pride Prom at Riverside’s Willowbranch Library dressed as their favorite book characters or in drag Friday night.
After the Jacksonville Public Library canceled the night of music, dancing and costumes Monday morning, Palmer wants to reschedule the event. The decision came Monday morning after the library received hundreds of phone calls supporting and protesting the Storybook Pride Prom. Hundreds commented on and shared the library’s Facebook post canceling the dance to express their disappointment.
Elizabeth Johnston, a popular blogger and author who goes by “The Activist Mommy,” asked her hundreds of thousands of Facebook followers in a post Friday to call Willow branch and “express your disgust that this perversion is taking place in a taxpayer funded library.” Johnston did not return the Times-Union’s request for comment before publication.
Johnson used Facebook as a major tool in her attack by doxing the library and publishing its phone number . Facebook would not respond or remove the reported posts from Back2Stonewall. Harassment, bullying, and hate speech are all against Facebook’s terms of service.
Said Johnson:
Christians have been complacent, tolerant, and silent for far too long. If you love the citizens of our nation, if you love the children and the drag queens and the gay pride dancers, then you will fight for a world where this sin is no longer promoted.
Months after winning a Supreme Court case over his refusal to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple Jack Phillips, in concert with designated hate group Alliance Defending Freedom once again is trying to push anti-LGBT discrimination under the guise of so-called religious freedom,”
Autumn Scardina tried to order a cake from Phillips’ Masterpiece Cakeshop in June 2017 with a pink interior and blue exterior to celebrate the anniversary of her coming out as a transgender woman. Phillips refused to make the cake, saying “it would have celebrated messages contrary to his religious belief that sex ― the status of being male or female ― is given by God, is biologically determined.”
Phillips, was then ordered by the state Civil Rights Commission into mediation with the trans customer for whom he had refused to bake a cake, and is now suing Colorado officials in federal court claiming they violated his rights to freedom of speech and religion.
“Colorado has renewed its war against him by embarking on another attempt to prosecute him,” the lawsuit alleges.
Phillips lawsuit argues, that the Supreme Court ruling allows him to decline customers for religious reasons. The court, however, did not address whether religious objectors to same-sex relationships can avoid anti-discrimination laws under the guise of “religious freedom” to refuse to serve to LGBT customers.
“The state of Colorado is ignoring the message of the U.S. Supreme Court by continuing to single out Jack for punishment and to exhibit hostility toward his religious beliefs,” said Kristen Waggoner, an attorney of the anti-LGBT hate group Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing Phillips.
A representative for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission said that the commission could not comment on pending or active litigation and, by law, could not verify or disclose the existence of charges detailed by Phillips.
A mob of homophobic bigots chased four men gay men leaving Utah Pride, hurling anti-gay slurs at them and attacking a man who tried to intervene on their behalf.
A group estimated to be of about 15 and 20 men chased four gay men leaving Pride,Utah on Saturday night, to the Doki Doki dessert shop, where employee Terrance Mannery tried to hold off the angry mob after learning what was happening.
Jen Parsons-Soren, who had attended Pride said she heard the group yelling homophobic slurs; Salt Lake City police also have also confirmed that the group was shouting slurs.
“Based on the actions the group was making, based on everything the gentlemen who came in had told me — if I allowed anyone in the store, they would try to cause harm to people,” Mannery told The Salt Lake Tribune
Mannery said he couldn’t see how many people were hitting him; but he got punched at least seven times. Mannery did not suffer any dangerous injuries.
“It felt like they were trying to pull me out so they could all jump on, but I was trying to push them out, so that actually worked in my favor,” he said.
Inside the shop, customers, staff and the four men chased there by the crowd watched helplessly.
A woman outside the shop tried to break up the crowd as Mannery kept fighting. Finally, a security guard from a neighboring building approached, and the mob ran away.
News of the attack has shocked Salt Lake City’s LGBT community. The Utah Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday it was offering $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and prosecution
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, Monday that killed 22 people and injured 59 others.
In a statement translated from Arabic, ISIS said that a soldier of the caliphate placed explosives among a gathering of crusaders — meaning Christians — at the Manchester Arena. The statement said about 30 were killed and about 70 were wounded.
The man believed to. be the lone attacker died at the scene after using an improved explosive device, officials said, but police are still determining if the attacker acted alone or as part of a wider group, said United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May. Greater Manchester Police said a 23-year-old man has been arrested in South Manchester in connection with the attack – ABC NEWS
“…[A] soldier of the caliphate placed explosives among a gathering of crusaders — meaning Christians — at the Manchester Arena.
Yes, because gum-chewing tweens are clearly the largest enemy. Seems like the most logical and cowardly move.
Joshua Melton and his husband James Feltner lived in a townhome in Manchester, KY for about nine months. They say they never had a problem until mid-June when they claim their landlord told them to get out the next day.
Their landlord was Esther Thompson, who is a Manchester City Council member who repeatedly called them “faggots” and assaulted one of them while she was evicting them due to their sexual orientation.
In the complaint, Thompson wrote the tenants violated their lease in many ways, including having six dogs and damaging the carpet. Thompson said it was, “by far one of the worst I have seen.”
“Yeah she’s lying,” Joshua Melton said. “There were three dogs … chihuahuas that we’ve had forever and she knew that we had them. The carpet was not destroyed.” “She said she should have never rented to the faggots,” Melton told WYMT.
WYMT could not find an eviction notice on-record with any official, but we did find a small claims complaint Thompson filed one month AFTER the incident asking for $2,500.
Melton, who went to the emergency room after Thompson allegedly struck him in the head, has filed a criminal complaint against her for assault. Thompson told the couple she “owned the police,” who illegally took part in the eviction, according to the Kentucky Equality Federation, which is assisting the couple.
The Equality Federation also alleges that the county attorney, who serves as Thompson’s private lawyer, violated ethics rules in handling Melton’s assault complaint because he has a conflict of interest. In addition, Thompson is accused of using a fictitious corporation on the couple’s lease and illegally mishandling their security deposit.
Court documents show Thompson is scheduled to be arraigned in Clay District Court Aug. 8 on the fourth-degree assault complaint. However, for Jordan Palmer of the Kentucky Equality Federation, that is not enough.
“Discrimination, we won’t tolerate it in any form in any part of the Commonwealth,” Palmer said. “It’s just unfortunate that it’s happened here in Clay County … again … but, we will see the case through to the end until justice is served.”
Palmer claims the issues lie within city and county government. He said Manchester Police assisted in the eviction, which the police chief says is not true.
In March of 2016 Kentucky’s Republican-controlled Senate today approved a “license to discriminate” bill that would allow individuals and businesses to deny service to LGBT people without being penalized under local antidiscrimination ordinances.
Bristol Palin and her ghostwriter on her Patheos blog. (Cause lets face it we know its not Bristol writing it. ) is attacking Miley Cyrus for what she calls the pop star’s hypocrisy when it comes to asking for tolerance.
Cyrus who did an interview with Paper Magazine this week (along with a nude photo shoot) talks about her sexual identity, calls her parents “conservative-ass motherfuckers,” ridicules the “fairy tales” of the Bible.
“Is it just me,” Palin asks, “or does it seem more than a little fake that someone claiming to be accepting of everyone and everything would spew such judgment towards her own parents and their deeply held religious beliefs?”
“She wants everyone else to let her be ‘free to be Miley,’ but seems unwilling to offer the same respect to her parents and those who wish to live out their Christian faith,” she added.
The post ended with a sarcastic aside to the “Adore You” hitmaker. “Oh, Miley,” Palin wrote. “Thanks for giving us the best example of what ‘tolerance’ looks like in Hollywood: It looks a lot like contempt.”
Of course Palin’s attack is as fake as her blog writing since Miley actually voiced her displeasure over Christian fundamentalists LEGISLATING their beliefs, not having them. (Reading comprehension is an actual thing Bristol)
Another desperate attempt for publicity after becoming a has.-been from Bristol “I’m such a model for deeply held religious beliefs that I had a kid out of wedlock. Never got married TWICE. And I am role model of Christian purity that gets drunk and wails on people in a crowd with my family!” Palin.
In what has been deemed an “intentional act”. Nineteen people were hospitalized early Sunday after powdered chlorine was placed in a ninth floor stairway at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare during the 2014 Midwest FurFest,
Rosemont Public Safety received several calls from guests at the hotel stating there was a noxious odor spreading across the 9th floor about 12:45 a.m. Sunday.
Crews discovered a high level of chlorine gas in the air and evacuated hotel staff, guests and pets. HazMat technicians decontaminated the area and conducted tests.
Paramedics took 19 guests who complained of nausea and dizziness to hospital.
The hotel was hosting the 2014 Midwest FurFest convention. Attendees dress up like furry animals and celebrate art, literature and performance based on anthropomorphic animals, (according to the convention’s website.)
Despite the fact that police are investigating the matter as a criminal act. The Furfest has released a statement stating that the last day will go on as scheduled (and there will be no refunds.)
As we wake up today we want to continue to provide the best possible convention that we can, despite the trying circumstances. The convention will be running on a full normal programming schedule today. We ask you to continue to be patient, and remember that the volunteers who make Midwest FurFest happen intend to give 110% to make sure that the fun, friendship, and good times of Midwest FurFest 2014 overshadow last night’s unfortunate incident.
To dispel rumors: Because this was an unforeseen possibly criminal act, Midwest FurFest will not be offering refunds, nor will the Hyatt Regency O’Hare be comping any rooms. Any further questions should be referred to info@furfest.org.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mountain Home in Mountain Home, Arkansas has come under attack for its LGBT inclusive polices which have resulted in having the church’s windows shot out.
WWJTD blog at Patheos reported the attack on the church Wednesday. A threatening note, written in all capital letters, and with multiple misspellings, including “socialist,” which somehow came out “scholiast” was left behind:
Hello from your neighbors!
You filthy white trash scum-billy!
Why don’t you move to Ferguson, MO.
Or Chi-Congo, IL. Since you like niggers and queers so well.
And you idolize the nigger commie, Muslin, scholiast destroying the USA
He’s the worst garbage to ever occupy the White House bar none.
See how long your white trash ass would last among them.
You brain dead bastard.
Just remember, we true Southerners know where you live asshole!
The letter and the vandalism appear to have been a response to a letter to the editor published in the local newspaper, the Baxter Bulletin, in June, announcing that the congregation welcomed people of all backgrounds, including their LGBT neighbors:
From Alice Hurley, Minister,
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mountain Home:
While the Arkansas Supreme Court considers their position on same-sex marriage, let’s take a moment to reflect on the importance of the separation of state and church. Arkansas state, as a representation of all people contained within its boundaries, cannot dictate the conduct of a church or fellowship of any religion or philosophy. It has a responsibility to ensure all citizens are treated equally under the law. Conversely, individuals and private organizations, religious or otherwise, do have the right of discrimination.
Once the state ensures everyone is represented equally, then individuals are free to choose, within the bounds of law, whom they befriend and what organizations hold their loyalty or membership. Individuals can be open to learning about different people and cultures, choosing to be inclusive and tolerant of their neighbors in a community, or they can choose to be insular and discriminatory.
We at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mountain Home choose not to discriminate. Our Fellowship Hall is open to all truth-seekers, regardless of race or sexual orientation. Please feel free to visit our fellowship and consider becoming part of our family. We respect the right of people to choose their marriage partners for themselves, and are happy to perform, for members or non-members, commitment ceremonies and same-sex marriages, as soon as the state of Arkansas realizes it cannot discriminate and must ensure that all of its citizens are equal under the law.
Mountain Home. whose racial make-up is over 97 percent white has a notorious history of being one of the south’s most racist “sundown towns,” that warned blacks that they were not permitted to be within the town limits after dark.
