Thursday, May 2

Month: November 2022

Russia Expands Its ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban
28Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
World

Russia Expands Its ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban

The lower house of the Russian Parliament voted last week to expand the country’s ban on “gay propaganda’ or any promotion of LGBTQ+ people. The law which previously applied to “gay propaganda” that targeted minors, will now be expanded to cover all “gay propaganda.”  Any positive mention of “non-traditional sexual relations” or relationships in the media will be considered as serious of an infraction as distributing pornography, promoting violence or inciting racial tensions. Violating the law will lead to costly fines, regular people will have to pay up to $9,600 per infraction while companies can be forced to pay up to $120,000.  The previous version of the law was introduced in 2013 and prohibited “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” that targeted minors. While t...
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London: Transportation Network Bans Ads Promoting Qatar Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
27Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
World

London: Transportation Network Bans Ads Promoting Qatar Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

London’s public transportation network has banned ads that promote Qatar, or make it appear as a desirable travel destination over the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The ban, which prohibits advertising that encourages Londoners to attend the World Cup, has reportedly angered Qatari authorities. According to the Financial Times, the Qatari regime is currently reviewing all of its investments in the British capital.  London’s public transportation network has since 2019, taken different nations' treatment of LGBTQ+ people into consideration when determining advertisers suitability. By using a list provided by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), Transport for London ensures that ads that promote countries with strict anti-LGBTQ+ legislation aren’...
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Los Angeles: Grindr Robber Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison
23Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
US

Los Angeles: Grindr Robber Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

According to documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, a 23-year old man from Compton was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in federal prison. In his plea agreement. Derrick Patterson, admitted to using LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr to find and rob five victims in the greater Los Angeles area, from June 2021 to March 2022. In a previous report that was released by the LA Times, prosecutors stated that Patterson was suspected of having committed over 20 similar crimes since 2019.  In court documents, authorities claim that Patterson would plan to meet with his victims at their homes or in hotel rooms for sexual encounters. He would then ask to use their phones and transfer significant amounts of money to himself via Venmo or other banking apps.  Prosecutors detailed a...
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The Mormon Church Supports Legislation That Seeks to Codify Gay Marriage
22Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
US

The Mormon Church Supports Legislation That Seeks to Codify Gay Marriage

In what’s being called a “stunning move,” the Mormon Church released a statement in support of the Respect for Marriage Act (HR 8404) that seeks to codify gay marriage into federal law. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), also known as the Mormon Church, announced its stance last week while clarifying that the church only recognizes straight marriages. The bill would make same-sex & interracial marriage legal on a federal level, independently of the Supreme Court. This comes after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed his interest in dismantling court issued same-sex marital protections as was done to abortion rights.  In its statement the church said, “the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related to marriage between a man and...
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New York Gay Bar Attacked 3 Times in 1 Week (Video)
21Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
US

New York Gay Bar Attacked 3 Times in 1 Week (Video)

Hell’s Kitchen gay bar “VERS,” attacked three times in one week. Local authorities are receiving critique for being reluctant to launch a hate crime investigation. The latest attack, which took place on Nov. 19, was captured by surveillance footage and showed an unknown man hurling a brick at the establishment. This was the third time in one week that someone threw a brick at the bar and fourth total. It is unknown if the same person is responsible for all of the attacks.  Members of the community are supposedly outraged by the lack of action taken by authorities. According to a report from the Gothamist, the bar's management has reported the attacks to police but detectives dismissed the suggestion that the attacks were motivated by homophobia and advised against reporting the in...
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At Least 5 Killed & 18 Injured After Mass Shooting in Colorado Gay Club
20Nov By str8darNo Comments
US

At Least 5 Killed & 18 Injured After Mass Shooting in Colorado Gay Club

At least five people were killed and 18 injured in a Colorado Springs gay club after a man opened fire last night. The primary suspect is in custody and his motives are still unknown. Authorities are currently investigating whether or not this was a hate crime as the mass shooter targeted an establishment that was frequented by the LGBTQ+ community, named Club Q. Authorities have revealed that they received the initial call at 11.56 p.m. on Saturday night. Within six minutes, police had entered the nightclub and had a primary suspect in custody. The suspect reportedly used a long rifle and was identified by authorities as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22. Who also had to be transported to a local hospital for injuries. Club Q released a statement on their official Facebook page saying that ...
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Grindr’s Stock Rose by More Than 400% After Going Public
19Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
US

Grindr’s Stock Rose by More Than 400% After Going Public

Grindr’s debut on the New York stock market has been called “remarkable” as its stock soared by more than 400% after the company went public on Friday.  The dating app first announced that it was going public in March. Yet it wasn’t until Friday that Grindr announced its successful merger with a special purpose acquisition company and debuted on the New York stock market. The app launched in 2009 and has since become popular among LGBTQ+ communities across the globe.  "Today marks an important milestone not only for the team at Grindr, but for the LGBTQ community we serve," Grindr CEO George Arison, said in a statement. "We enter the public markets with momentum, carried by our market leadership, strong financial performance and significant growth runway as we step up inve...
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Report: New ‘Black Panther’ Movie To Be Banned in China for Featuring Queer Content
12Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
World

Report: New ‘Black Panther’ Movie To Be Banned in China for Featuring Queer Content

Marvel’s newest “Black Panther” installment, “Wakanda Forever,” will be banned in China, experts warn. This comes as one of the characters, Aneka, is openly queer and in love with a fellow warrior named Ayo. While the film made its debut in theaters worldwide on friday, it most likely won’t be shown in Chinese theaters due to the country's strict censorship laws surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusive content. The movies fate in the nation is currently undetermined but experts say that its unlikely that the movie will be shown there, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This would not be the first time a Marvel blockbuster gets banned in China. Movies such as "Spider-Man: No Way Home," & "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" are also banned in the country. In Marvel Studios’ “B...
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Midterm Elections Called “Rainbow Wave” as LGBTQ+ Candidates Break Records
10Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
Politics

Midterm Elections Called “Rainbow Wave” as LGBTQ+ Candidates Break Records

In what’s being called a “rainbow wave,” a record breaking amount of out LGBTQ+ candidates won their races in the U.S. midterm elections this year.  While many races still haven’t been called yet, at least 400 openly LGBTQ+ candidates had won their elections as of Thursday afternoon. Meaning that this “rainbow wave” breaks the previous record from 2020, when 244 out LGBTQ+ candidates were elected.  678 openly gay, transgender, bisexual, lesbian & queer candidates ran for office in the U.S. midterms this year. With at least 400 of them winning, LGBTQ+ candidates will have a midterm success rate of 58% thus far.  Out of the out LGBTQ+ candidates that ran for office in these midterms, the vast majority were democrat. This coincides with voter trends as 84% of LGBT...
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Brittney Griner Moved to Russian Forced Labor Camp
9Nov By Sara BanksNo Comments
Sports

Brittney Griner Moved to Russian Forced Labor Camp

Brittney Griner’s Russian legal team announced early Wednesday that she has been moved to a forced labor camp. Her exact location is reportedly unknown to her lawyers and U.S. authorities who were made aware of the transfer on Tuesday, even though it was initiated 4 days prior. This comes months after Griner was arrested for trying to enter Russia with cannabis oil. In a court appearance earlier this year, Griner said "I'd like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn't want to break the law." Griner's appeal was denied on Oct. 25. as a Russian court upheld her 9-year sentence. U.S. officials have stated that they're hopeful that Russia will be more prone to negotiating once the U.S. midterms are over as they don't want to give the Biden administration any wins. ...
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