Sara Banks, Author at STR8DAR

The Human Rights Campaign Warns LGBTQ+ People Against Visiting Florida

24May

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

The Human Rights Campaign Warns LGBTQ+ People Against Visiting Florida

The largest LGBTQ+ rights organization in the U.S. issued a Florida travel/relocation advisory Tuesday. This comes as newly passed Florida legislation may pose a threat to minorities according to the organization. The Human Rights Campaign’s travel advisory comes just days after the NAACP and the League for United Latin American Citizens issued similar warnings. The LGBTQ+ advocacy group stated that they aren’t calling for a boycott of the Sunshine State. They claim that the purpose of the advisory is to highlight new policies that have been passed by the Florida GOP, that they consider to be “hostile” to the LGBTQ+ community. The Human Rights Campaign also criticized recent efforts by the DeSantis administration to restrict abortions and to allow Floridians to carry concealed we...

23May

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

Texas Senate Pass ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

The Texas Senate advanced a bill mirroring Florida’s infamous “don’t say gay” bill without much debate. In a 19-12 vote on Monday, the senate’s upper chamber decided to preliminary advance House Bill 890. The legislation seeks to drastically limit teacher guidance, classroom lessons and school programming about gender identity and sexual orientation. If signed into law, the bill will ban discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in Texas classrooms from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. While critics are accusing the Texas GOP of mirroring Florida’s efforts to suppress the LGBTQ+ community. Texas republicans claim that the bill is an effort to protect parental rights. "This bill takes a stand by enshrining parental rights and ensuring that Texas parents ar...

NAACP Warns Against Visiting Florida in New Travel Advisory

21May

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

NAACP Warns Against Visiting Florida in New Travel Advisory

According to the organization, Florida is “openly hostile” to the LGBTQ+ community & people of color. The NAACP issued a travel advisory Saturday claiming that the Ron DeSantis administration has made “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.” The travel advisory comes just days after LULAC (the League of United Latin American Citizens) issued a similar one in response to DeSantis’ new immigration law. In the advisory, the NAACP warns that “Florida is openly hostile towards African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” “Before traveling to Florida, please understand the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African American...

Andy Cohen Reveals That He Feels Vulnerable as a Single Gay Dad

21May

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Entertainment

Andy Cohen Reveals That He Feels Vulnerable as a Single Gay Dad

Bravo executive Andy Cohen recently opened up about being brought to tears as a single gay dad. In an interview with Tamra Judge & Teddi Mellencamp on their podcast Two T’s in a Pod. Andy spoke on the difference between having one child and two. While also discussing his experience as a single gay parent. The 54-year-old father of two, has a four-year-old son named Benjamin and a 12-month-old daughter named Lucy. Andy spoke on the difference of having two children compared to one, “The thing has been for me in the last year is when Lucy came, I think it really changed me as a parent. I felt way more in control when I had just one. Then when I had two, I not only felt, I don’t want to say I felt out of control, but I just felt the experience got a little lone...

Pentagon to Reevaluate How To Rectify Past Discharges for Being Gay

17Feb

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

Pentagon to Reevaluate How To Rectify Past Discharges for Being Gay

The Biden administration announced on Thursday that they will “reevaluate & assess” how the Department of Defense may rectify discharges that were made under “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Reports have revealed that many of the veterans who were kicked out of the military for being gay still haven’t been able to receive their honorable discharge status. Making them ineligible for any type of benefits that veterans typically receive. The announcement was made during Thursday’s press conference by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "It's concerning, it is very concerning that veterans who were unfairly discharged under the don't ask, don't tell have been facing these challenges to upgrade their discharges, denying them benefits they have earned," she said. "It's somethin...

Anti-LGBTQ+ Protesters Target Drag Story Hour at New York Library

18Dec

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

Anti-LGBTQ+ Protesters Target Drag Story Hour at New York Library

A group of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters assembled outside of a New York special needs library Saturday morning to disrupt a Drag Story Hour event. The protesters held signs against “grooming” and hurled slurs at people entering and leaving the Chelsea library. While the protesters reportedly were relentless, the event was able to continue on uninterrupted. There were counter demonstrators standing in between the anti-LGBTQ+ protests and the entrance. Yet no one was injured and the property remained unharmed. No arrests were made at the protest. The event was organized by the non-profit New York City Drag Story Hour, at The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. A library that seeks to provide blind New Yorkers with talking books and braille. The New York Public L...

US Legislators Criticize FIFA’s Response to ‘One Love’ Armbands

17Dec

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Sports

US Legislators Criticize FIFA’s Response to ‘One Love’ Armbands

U.S. lawmakers drag FIFA over threats made to players wearing “one love” armbands and for sending "a message to LGBTQ+ people that neither they nor their allies are welcome at the World Cup." 30 senators and members of Congress released a joint letter Friday strongly criticizing FIFA, just two days before the final. FIFA’s decision to allow Qatar, with its archaic anti-LGBTQ+ laws, to host the 2022 World Cup has caused a great deal of controversy. When the tournament began, players from different teams wore “One Love” armbands to show their support for LGBTQ+ rights. Manuel Neuer, Germany’s goalkeeper, announces he will go against new FIFA rules and will wear the "One Love" armband. He will have to pay a fine and may receive a yellow card at the start of the game. pic.twi...

17Dec

By Sara BanksNo Comments

US

Grindr Cannibal Gets Life Sentence

Michigan cannibal, Mark Latunski, sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the 2019 murder and mutilation of 25-year old Kevin Bacon. Latunski pleaded guilty in September to killing and eating the victims genitals after having met on dating app Grindr. The killer received an additional 11 to 120 months for the mutilation of Bacon’s body. Latunski met and murdered the 25-year old hairstylist on Christmas Eve 2019. He has confessed to cutting the victim’s throat before hanging him in the basement and eating his genitals. Court documents unveiled that Bacon was aware that the murderer had violent tendencies. Bacon’s father said that “what was released shows that Kevin had a dark side." Adding that, "he obviously got into something that he wasn't prepared for. I'm going to remember hi...

Gay Norwegian Filmmaker Facing 3 Years in Prison for Saying Trans Women Can’t Be Lesbian

16Dec

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Gay Norwegian Filmmaker Facing 3 Years in Prison for Saying Trans Women Can’t Be Lesbian

Gay Norwegian filmmaker, Tonje Gjevjon, is facing up to three years in prison for speaking out against a local transgender activist that identifies as a lesbian. Gjevjon’s claims that Christine Jentoft, who transitioned from being a man and now identifies as a woman, can’t be lesbian. This has led to Gjevjon becoming the subject of a criminal investigation as hate speech against transgender people was outlawed in Norway in 2020. Gjevjon made her claims via Facebook in October by posting “it is just as impossible for men to become lesbians as it is for men to become pregnant.” She also added that she believes that “men are men regardless of their sexual fetishes.” The comments have led Norwegian authorities to investigate the filmmaker as transphobic hate speech was outlawed i...

Journalist Mysteriously Dies in Qatar After Being Detained for Wearing Pride Shirt

10Dec

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Sports

Journalist Mysteriously Dies in Qatar After Being Detained for Wearing Pride Shirt

American sports journalist Grant Wahl died on Friday after collapsing during a soccer game in Qatar where he was covering the World Cup for CBS sports. While the cause of death currently is unknown, members of Wahl’s family claim that they suspect foul play. The journalist & sports analyst passed away during Friday's Argentina versus Netherlands match at 48 years old. Wahl reportedly received death threats after being detained for wearing a Pride shirt at the soccer tournament. Stories of players and attendees being reprimanded for showing support to the LGBTQ+ community have tainted the 2022 FIFA World Cup since it started. On Nov. 21, Wahl tweeted a photo of himself in Qatar wearing a Pride shirt captioned “Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You ...