Tag Archives: SJW

CHICAGO: Man Abducted At Gunpoint on Christmas Eve in Boystown

Chicago’s Historic Gay Neighborhood “Boystown’ Now To Called “Northalstead” To Be More Inclusive

Boystown, the historic gay neighborhood in Chicago will now be known as Northalsted after calls from certain groups that it should be named something more inclusive.

The Northalsted Business Alliance announced Wednesday it was eliminating the use of “Boystown” in its marketing campaigns to be more inclusive of all genders despite the fact that most of the area’s businesses are gay male orientated.

Local non-binary queer activist Devlyn Camp launched a petition in July to push for a new neighborhood name.

The NBA launched a three-month survey to get more feedback. They opted for the name change even though the majority of people who responded said they supported keeping the Boystown name.

Of the nearly 7,900 people who responded, 58 percent favored keeping the Boystown moniker and 80 percent said they don’t feel unwelcome by the name.

As culture and language change and develop over time, we must listen to the community to support inclusivity, and this survey is a step towards gaining valuable insight,” NBA President Ramesh Ariyanayakam said in a press release.

Response to the name change so far has been overwhelmingly negative:

Marc Roger I’ll stop calling it Boystown just like I stopped calling the Sears Tower the Sears Tower and the Hancock building the Hancock.
So, never.

Dillon David If you feel unwelcome in Boystown, you will still feel unwelcome even with the name change… it’s not a neighborhood name issue, it’s a much bigger issue of the discrimination that occurs within the community… it’s an issue that needs to be addressed with business owners and how the neighborhood runs its events… the name change won’t change squat and everyone is still going to call it Boystown.

Josh Kanode And the New Stupid just keeps rolling in Chicago.

Jamie Henderson North Halsted is a direction, Boystown is an identity.

How do you feel about the change? Sound off below.

CHICAGO: Man Abducted At Gunpoint on Christmas Eve in Boystown

Activists Demand Chicago’s Gay Neighborhood “Boystown” Name Be Changed To Be More Inclusive

A petition, created by local “queer” non-binary activist Devlyn Camp is demanding that the historic Chicago gay neighborhood of “Boystown” change it’s name claiming it perpetuates sexism and other discrimination in the neighborhood.

The petition posted on Change.org reads in part:

The Castro, Greenwich Village, West Hollywood, and many more. LGBTQ neighborhoods exist for all intersections of queer identity. Chicago’s is the only gendered nickname. Systemic transphobia, racism, and sexism have plagued our neighborhood for decades, and it begins at the top, with the all-male board of the Northalsted Business Alliance. It begins with the BOYSTOWN signs down our street announcing that this neighborhood is “for the boys,” though the signs hang above our diverse Legacy Walk of several LGBTQ icons in our history.”

(SNIP)

“Many of our transgender siblings must visit the Center on Halsted to utilize necessary resources. Many of them have experienced transphobia in the North Halsted area. Our LGBTQ siblings of color looking for inclusive bars have been met with racism. Many women frequenting and working in North Halsted businesses have been met with sexism. When police shut down the bars early after Pride in 2018, many on the Northalsted Business Alliance praised the police.”

Northalsted Business Alliance board said in a written statement that it had formed a committee to begin outreach to businesses and community members, with the goal of gaining “important perspective” on a possible name change.

“This process will likely take a few months, as we listen to the community feedback and engage in broad-based efforts beyond just a possible name change, but a commitment to learning how to ensure the neighborhood moves forward as an inclusive and welcoming neighborhood for all,” the statement said.

The boundaries of the neighborhood stretches from about 3100 to 3800 North Halsted. The unofficial designation of Boys Town as an area dates back 50 years to 1970’s The neighborhood has always been predominantly populated by gay men and lesbians.

At the time of this post 1300 people have signed the petition. But blowback by many who live and work in the neighborhood have been equally strong against the name change.

Do you think the name change of Boystown to something more inclusive is justified or is it really much ado about nothing?

Sound off in the comments below.

Toronto PRIDE Bans Uniformed Police From Parade

Toronto PRIDE Bans Uniformed Police From Parade Indefinitely

Ooops they did it again. And many people are not happy.

Uniformed police officers have been indefinitely barred from participating in Toronto’s Pride Parade.

On Tuesday night, Pride members voted 163-161 to keep uniformed officers out of the parade. Officers can still march, but not in uniform.

“What this vote has told us is we need to better understand what this community feels about police services and how they feel it negatively impacts their lives and so that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Olivia Nuamah, executive director of Pride Toronto.

The members’ decision means police will be out of the festivities indefinitely, she said. Another vote would be needed to allow uniformed officers back in.

Mayor John Tory said the result of the vote was “deeply disappointing.”

“Division is the enemy to be wary of here for everybody,” Tory said Wednesday. “And so I will be continuing to exert whatever effort I can to see if we can achieve a different outcome. Pride is still some time away. I believe the police should be in Pride,” Tory said to reporters Wednesday.

The vote comes about three months after the organization lifted a ban on uniformed officers taking part in PRIDE, saying the force was welcome to apply to be a part of this summer’s festivities. After a push-back from members of the trans and QPOC . Who say they don’t feel safe with the uniformed officers participating.

In 2016, Black Lives Matter (a non-LGBT specific group) abruptly halted the Pride Parade march, demanding that uniformed police, their floats and cruisers be excluded. 

It must be noted that before becoming Executive Director of Toronto Pride Olivia Nuamah was behind and advocated the Black Lives Matters agenda of Police exclusion.

Arrow Star Stephen Amell Gets Attacked by SJW's Over T-Shirt at PRIDE

Arrow Star Stephen Amell Gets Attacked by SJW’s Over T-Shirt at PRIDE

Canadian born actor Steven Amell who plays the lead character Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) on the TV superhero series Arrow has come under fire from that ever increasing, humorless, thin skinned, stick up their asses section of the LGBT community we call Social Justice Warriors all because of a tee shirt he wore to Toronto Pride.

 His shirt stated “I’m not gay but $20 is $20”, a comedic reference to being gay for pay, or straight guys being willing to engage in same-sex acts for money. (although many do for free.) But this has some in our community reaching for their smelling and going the faux outrage route.

 Said The shirt choice is just, stupid. That shirt is basically saying you’ll be gay for (low) pay. I can’t believe these shirts are still in circulation 

Other comments include: 

Stephen Amell (perpetually the most accidentally problematic person in the world) wore a shirt to Pride that said ‘I’m not gay, but 20$ is 20$’ ??? https://t.co/ZobInpOZxm

— Summer Hater™ Sonja (@infiniterain) August 6, 2018

your straight ass shouldn’t have even went to pride if you gonna wear that homophobic ass shirt. deactivate@StephenAmell

— “?????????” (@mattisaiah) August 5, 2018

yeah that’s a pretty stupid t-shirt @StephenAmell Gay for Pay? unless you are, don’t make fun of our gay culture ???? we love you but… #BeKind at #Pride pic.twitter.com/zs89wKQpit

— ?an ?oyle (@ZanDoyle) August 6, 2018

Oh the drama! Oh the outrage! Oh the scandal! How triggering!

So what do you think?  Did this hunky LGBT ally make a major fashion faux pas?  Or are you standing up and waving a $20.00 bill?

Leave a message in the comments section and let us know!

Toronto PRIDE Bans Uniformed Police From Parade

PRIDE Toronto Executive Director Olivia Nuamah Aligns w/Black Lives Matter, Forces LGBT Police Out of Parade

LGBT Police in Toronto have withdrawn their application to march in the 2018 Toronto Pride parade, after pressure from the Toronto Pride’s executive director Olivia Nuamah thus ending efforts to appeal a rejection by parade organizers. Toronto Pride initially banned police from marching last year after Black Lives Matter demonstrators interrupted the parade to protest police brutality.

The call for a ban is said to have intensified in recent months over police’s handling of a serial killer case that claimed the lives of at least six gay men. But many think that this may be being used as an excuse to hasten Numah’s personal agenda to ban LGBT police from marching because of a small group feel “unsafe” and “triggered” by the officers presence.

Toronto Mayor John Tory acknowledged the difficult situation but said hoped discussions between cops and organizers continue. “I want everyone to be in Pride,” he told reporters. But a rep for the Toronto Police’s union thinks he made the wrong call. “We think that this type of action drives a wedge deeper in the community and policing, and it’s disappointing to our members.”

Nuamah has been pushing her own and the Black Lives Matters agenda of Police exclusion since before she became Executive Director in 2017. Addressing a group of Councillors at city hall last year Nuamah was once again defending the decision to ban uniformed police from marching in the parade. For months, she had heard complaints of exclusion, seen the issue chewed over by political pundits, and has stubbornly stood firm on a decision made in response to a in by Black Lives Matter Toronto at the 2016 parade. They, and a few others others, argued that police uniforms, cars, and weaponry made the most vulnerable parts of the LGBTQ community, who had been targeted by cops, feel unsafe.

Pride Toronto describes Nuamah as a “community builder, mother and artist” with a background in government and non-profit work, as well as a love of music and DJing. 

That experience gives Nuamah “a unique understanding of the representation of trans and queer artists in cultural spaces,” the website states.

Unfortunately though it gives her no understanding of the sacrifice many LGBT police officers make every day and the discrimination that they themselves face from within their job as they try to educate fellow officers.  So Nuamah’s and Toronto Prides “exclusion for inclusion” is nothing more than discrimination and is against all that PRIDE stands for.

Google Appoints Right-Wing Extremist Heritage Foundation President To It's Advisory Council

Trans Man Files Lawsuit Against Google, Alleges Company Fired Him For “Pro-Diversity” Posts

A lawsuit has been filed against Google by former software engineer Tim Chevalier for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Chevalier who is transgender claims that Google fired him when he responded with internal posts and memes to racist and sexist encounters within the company.

Chevalier said in a statement to The Verge, “It is a cruel irony that Google attempted to justify firing me by claiming that my social networking posts showed bias against my harassers.” Chevalier, who sufferers PST and is transgender, alleges that his internal posts that defended women of color and marginalized people led directly to his termination in November 2017. He had worked at Google for a little under two years.

“Google’s internal social networking platforms were widely used to belittle and harass women, people of color, LGBTQ employees, and other underrepresented groups,” Chevalier alleged in the lawsuit filed in California state court in San Francisco.

Chevalier claims that his supervisors were critical of his efforts to change the company’s culture, he said in the suit.

“Human Resources explicitly told Chevalier that Google was ending his employment because of his political statements in opposition to the discrimination, harassment, and white supremacy he saw being expressed on Google’s internal messaging systems,” the suit said.

One of the internal memes Chevalier created was inspired by a black Google employee, who wrote in an internal Google Plus post that she was being asked to present her ID badge more often than her white co-workers. If you’re looking for a good and experienced lawyer for your case just visit Amy & Barbara Witherite. A Google employee allegedly responded to the post by noting that asking for ID was just part of the job, Gizmodo reported. Chevalier then made a privilege-denying dude meme using Google’s internal meme generator with the caption, “I have opinions about forms of oppression that don’t affect me.”

Chevalier’s acting manager told him repeatedly he was engaging in too much “social activism”.

In September, Chevalier was called into a meeting by HR and told that a complaint had been made about another post in which he said he would not work with people who shared James Damore’s views.  Darmore authored a 10-page screed condemning the company’s diversity efforts in July of 2017 claiming that men are biologically more predisposed to working in the tech industry than women. Darmore was subsequently fired by the tech giant..

Google spokesperson Gina Scigliano says that in Chevalier’s case Google was enforcing its policy against the promotion of harmful stereotypes. “An important part of our culture is lively debate. But like any workplace, that doesn’t mean anything goes. All employees acknowledge our code of conduct and other workplace policies, under which promoting harmful stereotypes based on race or gender is prohibited” Scigliano says. “This is a very standard expectation that most employers have of their employees. The overwhelming majority of our employees communicate in a way that is consistent with our policies. But when an employee does not, it is something we must take seriously. We always make our decision without any regard to the employee’s political views.”

Tim Chevalier v. Google by Nick Statt on Scribd

WTF? – Canadian Student Association Apologizes For Playing “Transphobic” Lou Reed Song “Walk on the Wild Side”

The student association at Ontario’s University : University of Guelph has apologized to members of the transgender community who may have felt “hurt” or devalued by overhearing Lou Reed’s famous song “Take a Walk on the Wild Side.” at a campus event.

In an apology published to Facebook and subsequently removed, the group said: “We now know the lyrics to this song are hurtful to our friends in the trans community and we’d like to unreservedly apologize for this error in judgement.”

The lyrics in question focus on Reed’s friends from Andy Warhol’s Factory, among them transgender “superstars” Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling.:

It’s come to our attention that the playlist we had on during bus pass distribution on Thursday contained a song with transphobic lyrics (Lou Reed, Take a Walk on the Wild Side). The playlist was compiled by one of the Executives with the intent of feeling like a road trip from the 70s and 80s. The song was included solely on those terms and made in ignorance as the person making the list did not know or understand the lyrics.

We now know the lyrics to this song are hurtful to our friends in the trans community and we’d like to unreservedly apologize for this error in judgement.

The student association page continued by saying the mere concept of the song, taking a walk on the wild side, is “problematic” and “dangerous” because it describes transgender people (reportedly 0.5 percent of the Canadian population) as being “unusual,” which they claim is “dehumanizing” and makes people somehow less supportive of transgender rights:

Additionally, stating that conversing, spending time with, or having sex with a trans person is “taking a walk on the wild side” is also problematic. It labels trans folks as “wild” or “unusual” or “unnatural” which is a dangerous rhetoric.

Friends of the late Lou Reed responded on Saturday with disbelief to a claim by a Canadian student body that the singer’s 1972 hit Walk on the Wild Side contains transphobic lyrics.

“I don’t know if Lou would be cracking up about this or crying because it’s just too stupid”

“I don’t know if Lou would be cracking up about this or crying because it’s just too stupid,” the singer’s longtime producer, Hal Willner, said . “The song was a love song to all the people he knew and to New York City by a man who supported the community and the city his whole life.”

Jenni Muldaur, a friend of Reed who was also an occasional backup singer for him, said the group’s objection was “completely ridiculous”.

“Lou was open about his complete acceptance of all creatures of the night,” she said. “That’s what that song’s about. Everyone doing their thing, taking a walk on the wild side. I can’t imagine how anyone could conceive of that. The album was called Transformer. What do they think it’s about?”

 

Immigration Activists Trans Queer Pueblo Hijacks Phoenix Pride Parade [Video]

Immigration Activists Trans Queer Pueblo Hijacks Phoenix Pride Parade [Video]

 

Phoenix New Times reports:

For a few brief moments this Sunday, activists from Trans Queer Pueblo shut down the Phoenix Pride Parade, unfurling a giant banner that read, “No Justice, No Pride.” As Trans Queer Pueblo explained to New Times on Friday, their message was a simple one: They want Pride to be inclusive and stand up for the rights of LGBT undocumented immigrants.

That means getting rid of the police float, refusing corporate sponsorships from banks that have funded immigration detention centers, and using the group’s political influence to lobby against laws that predominantly affect LGBT people of color.

Reaction to the protest was over-overwhelmingly negative with minor confrontations and chants of “Get out of our Pride” and “Go home.” Groups of bystanders booed as the protesters began marching down the parade route.

Phoenix Pride organizers state that they have every desire to meet with the activists. But they didn’t receive the group’s demands until Thursday evening, just hours before Pride festivities officially kicked off. They said this was too late for any practical solutions to be discussed.

In a statement to the Phoenix New Times, Justin Owen, executive director of Phoenix Pride, said, “We are aware that there are still many causes that need attention, and we always stand willing to work with members of our community to end oppression and injustice of any kind of and against any individual or group.”

Hijacking a Pride event to suit your own needs is an ultimately self-destructive tactic. All it does is anger many who could possibly be an ally in the future, and if that is your goal, it is truly self defeating.  And while I am ashamed of some of the pride attendees behavior, it shows that protesting your own NEVER works.  

Perhaps protesting a bigger issue other than a Police float might be in order.  Like perhaps maybe fighting for better immigration laws and full LGBT civil rights?

Stonewall was a riot.  But we fought against our real enemy not our own.

Just a thought.

 

Social Justice Warriors Attack J.K. Rowling On Twitter Over Saying Sirius Black Is Not Gay – Stupificus!

Social Justice Warriors Attack J.K. Rowling On Twitter Over Saying Sirius Black Is Not Gay - Stupificus!

J.K. Rowling has upset a blizzardful of Special Snowflake, SJW, (Social Justice Warriors) Potterheads over the weekend when she confirmed that Sirius Black, one of the main characters in her Harry Potter series, is not gay.

It appears that many of them had decided that the prisoner of Azkaban and driving force in the fight against Voldemort was also a pioneering LGBT wizard. But when a Twitter user got the chance to ask Rowling about Black’s sexual orientation, she confirmed that he’s definitely a cis-wizard heterosexual.

The announcement left the Snowflakess crushed, they started a hashtag, “#JKRowlingIsOverParty, where they commiserated about their favorite author’s lack of interest in gay characters and went so far into histrionics (once again) to call her a traitor to the LGBT cause and, occasionally a “homophobe”—all because, as the author of the Harry Potter works, she had a different vision from her fans about the sexuality of a fictional character that she created.

I will never understand JK Rowling claiming she supports the LGBT community and then have just one canon LGBT character in her books.— Lindsey || 66 days (@HobbitLindsey) August 31, 2016

remember that time when JK Rowling represented & supported our community and made LGBT+ youth everywhere feel empowered? me neither— Rob (@robnoon7) September 1, 2016

full oh fence why does jk rowling hate lgbt ppl so much
— dann(ia)y devito (@jamesmadiSIN) September 6, 2016

“jk rowling is a homophobe because sirius isn’t gay” #JKRowlingIsOverPartypic.twitter.com/Tq7SfNIXvN
— ♞ (@ARASHlNARUKAMI) September 6, 2016

Despite the fact Rowling herself is also a vocal advocate for LGBT rights, most recently standing up to anti-gay bullies intent on harassing British Olympic diver Tom Daley after he failed to qualify for medal contention SJW’s continue to bash Rowlings and do what they do best. Pick on our allies because fighting the real enemies is just too hard and actually takes effort.

The sorting hat says send them to Kindergarten.

OH THE HORROR! – Trans-Activists and SJW’s Go After Bette Midler For Joke Tweet They Deem “Transphobic”

Bette Midler's Caitlyn Jenner Tweet

Bette Midler has been an LGBT community ally for over 50 years.  Known for using her quick wit and sharp tongue for decades she has poked fun at everyone regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation.

Last night Midler was attacked on Twitter for posting a  joke tweet about Caitlyn Jenner by thin skinned trans-activists and social justice warriors.

Midler tweeted:

“Now that @IAmCait has been cancelled, will she go back to being Bruce? Will Kris take him back? Do I smell a re-wedding?

Well that threw trans-activist, many of whom do not like Jenner themselves into a tizzy with many labeling the Divine Miss M. “transphobic”

@BetteMidler @IAmCait Yes, because being transgender is just a phase? What a vile tweet. Will you go back to being irrelevant?

— Josh Haigh (@joshcharles_21) August 21, 2016

.@BetteMidler @IAmCait Just shows, you can be as gay-friendly all you want, but to some, transphobia comes so easy. How tired and pathetic.

— Annie Wallace (@anniewallace) August 21, 2016

I hope @BetteMidler apologizes for her terrible transphobic comments and takes the time to educate herself on trans people’s rights/dignity

— Her Majesty (@RoyalHoeliness) August 21, 2016

Having respect for transgender people and also believing Caitlyn Jenner may be a phony are not mutually exclusive points of view. Is it even possible anymore  to say anything negative or make a joke about one trans person no matter how warranted without it equating to saying it about all trans people and getting in hot water? 

Midler who later deleted the tweet and apologized for any feelings she might have hurt has made a living out of comedy, snark, and music for almost a half-a-century and has always been a staunch supporter of the LGBT community. So it’s ironic that trans-activist are telling Bette Midler to get educated about trans rights because she tweeted about Caitlyn Jenner, when Caitlyn Jenner herself was once a wealthy white Republican man who is now a wealthy white Republican woman who herself needs to be educated about LGBTQ rights.

My only question is now when will these same trans-activist demand an apology from Caitlyn Jenner’s  for embarrassing the entire LGBT community since her transition and for supporting a political party that wants to see us without any rights or human dignity?

Oh that’s right she doesn’t have to make one.  She’s transgender.