September 2022 - Page 3 of 3

Ukrainian LGBT Activists Now Running Refugee Shelters Instead of Planning Pride Events

6Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Ukrainian LGBT Activists Now Running Refugee Shelters Instead of Planning Pride Events

Ukraine’s LGBT community is standing together in solidarity as the country continues to be invaded by Russian forces. LGBT activists in Kiev have gone from planning Pride events to running refugee shelters in order to support the community. The Kiev Pride organization is now operating several LGBT shelters across Ukraine. With the organization's activists now focusing on supporting LGBT refugees rather than organizing the city's Pride events. Reports indicate that many of the refugees are coming from Mariupol, Kharkiv and other parts of eastern Ukraine that have been heavily targeted by Russian forces. The shelters offer them food vouchers, medicine, job advice and clothes to wear at job interviews or when exploring the city. Some guests use the shelter to get away from homophobic fami...

LGBTQ+ Suicide Helpline Targeted by Far-right Trolls

5Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Health

LGBTQ+ Suicide Helpline Targeted by Far-right Trolls

Far-right trolls flooded the Trevor Project’s anti-suicide hotline in an orchestrated attack that sought to get young LGBTQ+ people to kill themselves last Tuesday. By inundating the helpline with fake calls, far-right trolls hoped that delayed waiting times would result in young LGBTQ+ people taking their own lives. The Trevor Project’s phone line is specifically designed to help connect young LGBTQ+ people with trained counselors that can talk them through whatever they’re going through. The organization had to put up a banner on their website to warn users of their prolonged waiting times during the attack. Reports indicate that the attack was orchestrated on a message board called 4chan which is popular among far-right extremists. Media Matters’ senior researcher, Alex Ka...

Two Gay Rights Activists Sentenced to Death in Iran

4Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

World

Two Gay Rights Activists Sentenced to Death in Iran

Iran has sentenced two gay rights activists to death, according to a report from human rights organization Hengaw released today. 31-year old Zahra, and 24-year old Elham received the sentence for the crime of “corruption on earth” as they stand accused of promoting homosexuality. The activists are currently being held in the women’s section of the Urmia Central Prison. Zahra has reportedly been denied access to legal counsel by Iranian authorities and has faced threats and verbal abuse while in custody, according to human rights organizations. Local gay rights activists are urging the international community to step in on behalf of the two women. Reports indicate that Zahra was arrested when trying to flee Iran for Turkey in October, 2021. She was then held in solitary confinement for...

Drag Queen Berated During Story Time Event at Bookstore

3Sep

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

US

Drag Queen Berated During Story Time Event at Bookstore

A Bay Area bookstore's “story hour event” was disrupted by protesters yelling homophobic & transphobic slurs Wednesday night. Drag queen Toria Tia was finishing reading a story to about 20 children in a Campbell bookstore when she was interrupted by a group of protesters. A man reportedly made it inside and raised his hand to say, “I looked you up on the internet and I saw pornography,” a claim organizers have called “ridiculous.” Tia described the attack in an interview, stating that “he was saying like some really transphobic stuff. Like he was calling me a 'transvestite' and I shouldn’t be let around the children, and the parents should be ashamed of themselves.” As the man berated Tia with transphobic slurs, adult spectators reportedly started chanting “story time” and used a p...

Man Killed by ‘Hate Attack’ at Gay Pride Event in Germany

2Sep

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

US

Man Killed by ‘Hate Attack’ at Gay Pride Event in Germany

Malte, a 25-year old trans man died of injuries he sustained from being physically assaulted at a gay pride event in the city of Muenster in western Germany. While prosecutors announced his death today, the deadly attack took place on Aug. 27 after Malte stepped in to help other participants that were being insulted by an unknown man. The man responded by attacking Malte and knocking him to the ground. German authorities have said that the suspect escaped after the attack and they have been unable to identify him. The German government’s queer commissioner, Sven Lehmann, has called the killing a hate crime. “Malte has died following a hate attack at the CSD Muenster,” the commissioner said on Twitter. “I’m stunned and sad. My condolences and deep sympathy go to his family and friends....

David Beckham Facing Backlash for Promoting Qatar

1Sep

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

Sports

David Beckham Facing Backlash for Promoting Qatar

British soccer legend David Beckham is facing backlash on social media for doing a 30-minute “Visit Qatar” video after years of claiming to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The promotional video shows Beckham riding a motorcycle, sailing a yacht and visiting a spice market as he calls Qatar "perfection,” in spite of the country’s strict anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The criticism comes as Beckham previously has marketed himself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community by posing for Gay magazines and posting rainbow flags on his Instagram. 🤡 David Beckham historically posting the Rainbow Flag on Instagram.💥 Now the face of Qatar - where homosexuality comes with punishment of up to 3 years in prison and a fine and the possibility of death penalty for MuslimsNot that he needs the cash but £10m i...

Christian Teacher Wins $95K Settlement After Pronoun Dispute

1Sep

By Ernesto FernandezNo Comments

US

Christian Teacher Wins $95K Settlement After Pronoun Dispute

Former Kansas middle school math teacher wins settlement after a dispute about the teachers treatment of transgender students. Christian teacher Pamela Ricard’s lawyer announced yesterday that she won $95,000 in damages and legal fees in a settlement with Geary County. The dispute came as Ricard reportedly had two transgender students in her class and went against school policy by outing them to their parents. Ricard claims that respecting her students preferred pronouns goes against her religious beliefs and that barring her from outing them to their parents compromises her first amendment rights. The decision by the district judge Holly Teeter blocks the school from disciplining Ricard if she reveals students’ preferred pronouns to parents. "Plaintiff believes that addressing st...