California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill ( AB ) 1732, authored by Asm. Phil Ting ( D-San Francisco ) and sponsored by Equality California, the Transgender Law Center and California National Organization of Women ( NOW ), a press release stated. AB 1732 establishes the nation's most progressive restroom-access law, requiring that single-occupancy restrooms in California businesses, government buildings and places of public accommodation be universally accessible to all genders. "This law is a simple measure that will make everyone's lives easier," said Kris Hayashi, executive director of Transgender Law Center. "Having restrooms open to all genders will mean less hassle for everyone going about their day, and will allow people who don't fit neatly into expectations of what it looks like to be male or female to use the restroom without fear of harassment."
Gov. Brown also signed Senate Bill ( SB ) 1146, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara ( D-Bell Gardens ) and sponsored by Equality California, a press release disclosed. The bill requires private universities receiving public funds to publicly disclose if they discriminate against students with respect to gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Senate Bill 1146 requires universities that are granted a Title IX exemption to notify the California Student Aid Commission and disseminate the information to students and staff.
A YouTube video posted publicly Sept. 27 titled "ICandy Philadelphia Owner Uses the N-Word" has been circulating on social media, Philadelphia Magazine reported. The YouTube account, called "Gay By Gay," claims in the video's title that Guy No. 1 in the video ( who says, There you go, and he was definitely your real boyfriend. All three of them that ask you for drink passes are n—-rs" ) is Darryl DePiano. DePiano later confirmed on Facebook that he was the man in the video, and apologized. ICandy is a bar in Philadelphia's gayborhood.
LGBTQ Catholic group DignityUSA issued a press release rejecting the pope's claim that gender theory is "the great enemy of marriage." Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke said, in part, "Pope Francis sets up a false dichotomy in pitting people's basic human right to be who they are against marriage. ... It is troubling that the Vatican continues to support the false claim, originated by a few ultra-conservative religious leaders, that development aid is being conditioned on support for same-sex marriage. This is a patently untrue statement, and only serves to turn people against one another. The leaders of our Church must not fall into the trap of becoming pawns in a right-wing agenda of division."
Bisexual Oregon Gov. Kate Brown came out again in a debate with her Republican opponent—as a domestic-violence survivor, LGBTQ Nation noted. "I know what it feels like to be a victim of domestic violence," Brown said. Her campaign confirmed that she experienced domestic violence, declining to provide additional details except to make clear that the perpetrator was not Brown's husband Dan Little, whom she married in 1997. Brown became governor in 2015 after the four-term Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned amid scandal, making her the first openly bisexual governor in the country.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund issued a press release about how the Sept. 26 presidential debate failed to address LGBTQ rights. Executive Director Rea Carey said, "We are disappointed that neither Presidential candidate spoke about the need for strong federal nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) people. With an anticipated 100 million viewers watching, this would have also been a great opportunity for the candidates to provide clear remedies on how to advance voting rights, secure reproductive justice, and fix the broken immigration system.
A new report, "Justice Out of Balance," finds that the election of judges and lack of diversity on state courts threaten the rights of the LGBT community, according to a Lambda Legal press release. The report, which Lambda Legal published, examines all cases involving LGBT issues in state high courts since 2003. Among the findings are that there are only two transgender judges in the country—zero openly bisexual judges. The full report is at LambdaLegal.org/justice-out-of-balance.
Biased remarks, bullying and harassment remain a significant problem in U.S. middle and high schools, according to a report GLSEN released. The report, "From Teasing to Torment: School Climate Revisited, a Survey of U.S. Secondary School Students and Teachers," includes data from a nationally representative sample of 1,367 U.S. middle and high school students and 1,015 teachers. Data was collected online between January 29 and February 15, 2015, on behalf of GLSEN by Harris Poll. See GLSEN.org/article/teasing-torment-school-climate-revisited-survey-us-secondary-school-students-and-teachers.
One of the officers involved in a deadly confrontation with an unarmed Black man in a San Diego suburb was demoted last year amid allegations that he sexually harassed a lesbian colleague, LGBTQ Nation noted. Richard Gonsalves, who has 21 years with the El Cajon Police Department, was identified by the mayor as one of two officers who confronted Alfred Olango. Gonsalves was a sergeant when Christine Greer sued him and the city last year. She alleged that Gonsalves repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances.
A Republican politician representing Louisiana's largest parish is being investigated by the FBI for allegedly having sexted a 17-year-old young man, Towleroad reported. Jefferson Parish Presidenti Mike Yenni, 40, who is married to a woman with a young daughter, reportedly met the teen at a function at the teen's Catholic high school. Yenni, who was mayor of the city of Krenner at the time the sexts were reportedly sent, has refused to be interviewed on the subject.
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) slammed Donald Trump for refusing to support the Obama administration's decision to end the ban on transgender Americans serving openly in our military. When asked this morning about transgender military service, Trump said, "We're going to get away from political correctness." "Allowing transgender people to serve their country isn't about politics, it's about extending them the respect and dignity every service member deserves. This is yet another example of the grave threat that Donald Trump and Mike Pence pose to LGBTQ Americans," said HRC Communications Director Jay Brown.
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) and Equality NC jointly responded to the decision by the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) to move the league's 2016 football championship game to Orlando, Florida, due to North Carolina's HB2 law. "What will it take for Governor McCrory and state legislative leaders to stop holding the people and economy of North Carolina hostage?" said HRC President Chad Griffin. The ACC's decision to move the 2016 football championship to Orlando—a city with a perfect 100 point Municipal Equality Index score that has also come together in the wake of a tragic attack on the LGBTQ community—has sent an especially strong message to Governor [Pat] McCrory and his allies."
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) Foundation joined with the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) and the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians ( ACOP ) to release "Supporting and Caring for Transgender Children," a new guide for community members and allies to ensure that transgender young people are affirmed, respected and able to thrive, a press release noted. Transgender advocate Jazz Jennings, an HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador, and her family tell their story in the new resource, which also includes quotes from parents Wayne Maines, Ofelia Barba Navarro, and Peter Tchoyrk. See http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/documents/SupportingCaringforTransChildren.pdf.
San Francisco police are searching for the attackers of two visitors to the city who pepper-sprayed them in an unprovoked and unexpected assault, LGBTQ Nation noted. Neil Frias and Jeff White, each 28, were in town from New York City to attend the Folsom Street Fair, the world-famous leather-themed street party in San Francisco's Fillmore district. Police say the Special Investigations Division, which handles hate crime investigations, will be leading the search for the attackers, and hopes surveillance video might aid in that investigation.
A candidate for the Utah state senate is under fire for posting harassing Facebook comments that refer to a recent gay suicide victim as a sinner and a murderer, LGBTQ Nation noted, citing Raw Story. Braxton Taylor, a gay 19-year-old, committed suicide, and many—including the mother of one of Taylor's former classmates—expressed their grief. However, ason Christensen, an Independent American Party candidate for the Utah state senate, came across her comments and started posting insulting comments about the young victim. Christensen has tried to apologize, but said he has received death threats and hate mail.
Officials in a New Jersey shore town won't sign off yet on a proposed $369,000 settlement with a gay former police officer who filed a discrimination lawsuit, an LGBTQ Nation noted. The Press of Atlantic City reported that Cape May City Manager Bruce MacLeod issued a statement saying city officials would review the case—but they haven't decided if the settlement is in the taxpayers' "best interest." Steven Pascal claimed in his 2013 suit that the police department created a hostile, anti-gay work environment and unjustly fired him.
Out athletes, sports icons and allies gathered in New York City to support LGBTQ representation in sports and to honor those making unprecedented strides for inclusion, NBC News reported. The third annual Athlete Ally Action Awards drew such people as Athlete Ally Executive Director Hudson Taylor; out Olympian diver Greg Louganis; Violet Palmer, the NBA's first openly gay referee; and basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Grant Hill.
A Christian woman claims Colorado law violates her ability to deny business to supporters of same-sex marriage and has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the laws on the basis they violate the U.S. Constitution, ABC15.com reported. Lorie Smith—who owns 303 Creative LLC, a graphic and web design company based in the Denver area—filed the suit in Colorado's U.S. District Court. She claims that Colorado law that says refusing people services on the basis of sexual orientation, among other reasons, is unconstitutional and violates her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association ( CIAA ) Board of Directors decided to immediately relocate eight of the 10 North Carolina-based conference championships in light of the HB2 law, WCNC.com reported. he CIAA says the move is the first step in demonstrating that the conference does not support laws that prevent communities from effectively protecting student-athletes and fans. The 2017 CIAA Women's and Men's Basketball Tournament will remain in Charlotte due to time constraints and contractual obligations, as well as relocation not being "in the best interest of the membership and its student-athletes at this time."
Evangelical Christians have expressed their opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage in a document titled "Declaration of Dependence," The Christian Times noted. The document contains a pledge to refuse government mandate to support or fund abortions and oppose "same-sex marriage, polygamy, bestiality, and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by Holy Scripture." The declaration appeared as a full-page advertisement in the New York Times.
In Denver, Jennifer Johnston has filed a federal employment discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in that city, claiming anti-LGBT abuse, The Denver Post reported. The "hostile and abusive" work environment ultimately led to Johnston's "constructive" resignation, the lawsuit says. Johnston seeks damages in excess of $75,000 for emotional distress including mental anguish.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has released a video on HIV prevention starring Alex Newell, according to On Top Magazine. Part of the "Start Talking. Stop HIV." campaign, the video follows several gay male couples who meet at a club where Newell is performing. The video follows the couples as they talk about the options they have to stop the spread of HIV. Newell ( Glee ) keeps the club hopping as he belts out acover of The Knocks' "Collect My Love."
A Pennsylvania man who was already awaiting trial for allegedly raping a 66-year-old woman by knife-point in a motel in April now faces new charges that he repeatedly raped a 75-year-old woman while keeping her captive in her own home—and calls himself "an innocent gay guy," LGBTQ Nation reported. The woman says she has known Earl Maust, 49, since he was a boy and let him stay with her while he tried to get back on his feet. Maust was convicted in 1999 of molesting a 14-year-old girl and his two half-brothers, according to The Daily Mail.
A Florida woman has won the right to "repeatedly" punch the infamous "Pharma bro" Martin Shkreli in the face.for charity, PinkNews noted. Shkreli said he auctioned off the chance to punch him in the face to raise money for the family of Mike Kulich, his former PR consultant who recently died in his sleep; Kulich, 29, left behind a young son who had just finished treatment for leukemia. Shkreli announced the woman, named Katie, won the bid after agreeing to donate $50,000 to Kulich's family. Turing Pharmaceuticals founder Shkreli came under fire last year after buying the rights to 62-year-old drug Daraprim—used to treat conditions including AIDS-related toxoplasmosis—and jacking up the price to $750 a pill.
Levi Strauss & Co., actor/activist Rosie Perez, journalist/editor Margaret Russell and AIDS activist Barbara Hughes will be honored at the 2016 Research in Action Awards on Thursday, Nov. 17, in New York City, a press release stated. Fitness expert Jenna Wolfe and actor/comedy writer Bruce Vilanch will host the event.
The National Black Justice Coalition ( NBJC ) has announced its HBCU LGBTQ-Equality Initiative Advisory Council Co-chairs: Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Ph.D, of Spelman College and Anika Simpson, Ph.D., of Morgan State University, according to a press release. The Advisory Council was created to advise and assist NBJC in developing a strategic model that conceptualizes the critical path forward to ensure a welcoming, nurturing and affirming environment at HBCUs ( historically Black colleges and universities ) for the LGBTQ community.
The first show about LGBTQ ghost hunters has debuted online as LGBT History Month and the month of Halloween have kicked off, according to a press release. The docu-series follows real people discovering stories of the queer past in places such as the Ohio State Reformatory, where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. The trailer is at www.youtube.com/watch; the Kickstarter campaign is at www.kickstarter.com/projects/8068868/1989603056 .
