Rafaella Gunz

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These Tech Companies Continue to Donate to Anti-LGBTI Politicians

On Wednesday (10 July), a group of 30 LGBTI advocates sent a letter to dozens of tech companies, urging them to stop donating to anti-LGBTI politicians.

These companies include Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell, T-Mobile, and Amazon.

Tell me more

According to Buzzfeed News, the group Zeros for Zeros analyzed the contribution data between 2010 and 2019 of the top-scoring companies on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index.

It found that 49 corporate PACs gave a combined $5,837,331 [€5,171,495.84] to members of Congress who received a rating of zero on the HRC’s legislative scorecard. This includes Texas Rep. Ted Cruz. Last year, Cruz introduced legislation that would make it legal for businesses and nonprofits to discriminate against same-sex couples.

‘These corporations create welcoming and safe environments for their LGBTQ employees and market to LGBTQ customers,’ Lane Hudson, campaign manager for Zero for Zeros, told Buzzfeed. ‘But they’re still giving to members of Congress who will make an America that is unsafe for all of us. And we want them to reconcile their values with their corporate giving.’

Companies like Google gave a combined $178,500 [€158,139.40] through their corporate PAC to anti-LGBTI politicians as well. Google has faced scrutiny for refusing to crack down on hate speech, and donated $10,000 [€8,859.35] to Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee. In 2014, Lee made statements in defense of religious liberty at the expense of LGBTI rights.

Brian Babin

PACs associated with Amazon, AT&T, Microsoft, and Dell gave about $15,000 [€13,289.02] total to Texas Rep. Brian Babin. Republican Babin previously called Obama’s policy on gender-neutral bathrooms ‘wrong’ and ‘misguided.’

‘The federal government should not be in the business of throwing common sense and decency out the window and forcing local schools to permit a teenage boy who “identifies” as a girl to use changing rooms, locker rooms, and bathrooms with five year-old girls,’ Babin said in a statement.

‘For over four decades we’ve been committed to the LGBTQ+ community and have led the way in adopting workplace policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,’ an AT&T representative told Buzzfeed. ‘We support candidates on both sides of the aisle who are addressing the issues that impact our business, our employees, and our customers. That doesn’t mean we support their views on every issue.’

Steve King

Microsoft, Google, AT&T, and T-Mobile are among the companies that, via their PACs, have donated thousands to Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King. King ran a successful campaign to oust three of the state’s Supreme Court judges after they ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the Constitution.

Amazon, Dell, Google, Microsoft, and T-Mobile did not reply to Buzzfeed’s request for comment.

‘We’re not asking for the moon,’ Hudson said. ‘We’re just asking them to not give money to the most anti-gay members of Congress. These companies are giving money to politicians who would undo all the progress they supported. It doesn’t make sense.’

Anything else?

This revelation comes after many responded skeptically to corporations participating in this year’s Pride. This phenomenon is known as Rainbow Capitalism. This is where, for the month of June, companies will pay lip service to the LGBTI community (for example, changing their logos to include the Pride flag) in a way to pander to LGBTI consumers.

See Also

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Armed Neo-Nazi Group Disrupts Detroit Pride with Police Escorts

An armed group of self-described white supremacists have crashed Detroit Pride with the help of police escorts. The incident happened yesterday (Saturday, 8 June).N

The National Socialist Movement (NSM) disturbed the annual Motor City Pride Festival in Detroit, Michigan with swastika flags, Nazi salutes, and other offensive items.

‘[The National Socialist Movement] NSM will be armed and counter-protesting the freaks,’ wrote Burt Colucci, the self-identified ‘commander’ of NSM, on Russian social network VK. ‘NSM, let’s put some boots on the ground!! I don’t really give a damn about op-sec or Antifa in this situation. We go in with Swastikas blazing and if people don’t like it, tough shit.’D

Photos and videos from the event show about ten NSM members dressed in black. Some carried weapons. They were led through the crowd of thousands of Pride-goers by police officers. Some of the NSM members can be seen tearing Pride flags and pushing people. One even urinated on someone’s Israeli flag.

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honeydip@hannahckessler

#Detroit #Pride2019 punch a fucking nazi3411:01 PM – Jun 8, 2019222 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

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marc@marcklock

Today at Motor City Pride, a friendly LGBT+ event, Detroit PD escorted Nazi’s in full uniform outside of the entrance to the festival. Detroit PD bruised those that tried to intervene (see below) and allowed this to happen.8,6598:58 PM – Jun 8, 20196,669 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

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约瑟夫@zhongguoyuesefu

PSA: !!! Guys there are literal nazis at Detroit pride today- Please be safe they ARE armed with weapons!!2514:32 PM – Jun 8, 2019 · Genoa, MI179 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

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StanceGrounded@_SJPeace_

Nazis out here In Detroit, Michigan right now.

“I AM SHOOK. Please be safe out there today, my brothers and sisters.”- via Kelsey Hubbell

This is OUTRAGEOUS!

Retweet17.6K2:10 PM – Jun 8, 201915.4K people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

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Hate Trackers@TrackersHate

I’ve obtained video of the Nazis at Motor City Pride in Detroit. They ripped up Pride and an Israeli flags. Their group looks to have been pretty small. A Drag Kid hopped up on a Red Bull could’ve taken that sorry lot of losers out.372:49 PM – Jun 8, 201931 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

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Job Advisor@jobadvisorlink

White supremacist appears to urinate on an Israeli flag as nationalist group interrupts #LGBT celebration in Detroit by tearing apart Pride flags and giving Nazi salutes72:05 AM – Jun 9, 2019See Job Advisor’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacyView image on Twitter

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Donald Allan Yenson@morfiouzReplying to @LibertyHangout @KaitMarieox

Armed conservatives protesting gay pride in Detroit today….. but your the victim right? #MAGA #Nazi #StraightPrideParade #LibertyHangout #Cult45 #QAnon94:41 PM – Jun 8, 2019See Donald Allan Yenson’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy

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chloe@chIoelynn

💛

to all my friends going to pride:
PLEASE be careful and aware of your surroundings. there was a group of neo nazis trying to get into detroit’s pride and they were also recording and shouting slurs at people coming in and out of pride. celebrate and have fun but also be safe 1,9121:12 PM – Jun 8, 2019885 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

Reactions

Many Pride-goers were rightfully upset by the presence of NSM, especially as they got police protection.

‘Why are you protecting them? These are literal Nazis,’ one voice in a video can be heard saying.

‘How come they get protected and we’re not,’ shouted another. ‘Our police should be protecting us.’

At the same time, a woman marching under a swastika flag used a megaphone to shout, ‘you are all trash’ to the people celebrating Pride.

Anything else?

Website The Grit notes that no injuries were reported. There is currently no word about if NSM plans to return to other activities during Motor City Pride.

See Also

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Art Looted by Nazis Returned to Poland with Help of Gay Couple

A 17th-century portrait was returned to Poland’s National Museum nearly eight decades after it was seized by Nazis. This recovery was in part thanks to the cooperation of the gay couple who purchased the painting, unaware of its origins.T

Back in 2016, the Department of Homeland Security showed up at their door, explaining the situation to them. Saddened, they allowed the officers to take the artwork, Portrait of a Lady by Flemish artist Melchior Geldorp.

The portrait is now back at the National Museum in Warsaw. Its return was welcomed in a ceremony last September, attended by Poland’s culture minister, the American ambassador, and the couple themselves.L

Now, the couple, Craig Gilmore and David Crocker, are working to advance LGBTI rights in Poland. The Times of Israel reports that the couple was recently back in Poland, using the connections they made with their goodwill gesture to reach out to the local LGBTI community. They are offering the community financial donations and messages of solidarity.

LGBTI people in Poland face a great deal of discrimination. Last month, the chair of Poland’s ruling conservative party deemed LGBTI rights a ‘threat to the nation.’

In early April, Gilmore, who is an opera singer, proposed to Crocker, an artist, at a park in Warsaw. He said yes. All this was filmed. Both men are 55, and have discussed marriage during their 20-plus years together. However, Gilmore said it ‘felt right’ to propose in Poland, where neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions are legal.

Gilmore said they hoped the gesture will ‘invite the Polish LGBTQ community to join in our joy. David and I are confident that very soon they will prevail in their struggles.’

Poland’s LGBTI community appreciated this message of solidarity but still saw its limits.

‘It was a nice and brave gesture to do it in Warsaw, the capital of one of the few remaining EU countries not to recognize any form of partnership between people of the same sex. But the problems are too massive and profound to be changed symbolically,’ Vyacheslav Melnyk, director of Campaign Against Homophobia, told the Times of Israel.

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National Guard Leaders in 5 States Defy Trump and refuse to Dismiss Trans Troops

National Guard leaders in five states have decided to defy the Trump Administration’s ban on transgender troops in the military. The states of California, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington are refusing to discharge their trans soldiers in the National Guard.T

Two months ago, the assistant adjunct general for the California National Guard announced they would not be dismissing trans troops.

‘Nobody’s going to kick you out,’ Major General Matthew Beevers said at the time.

Now, four more states are following suit. The governors of New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington have decided to retain their transgender soldiers.

Each of the 50 states have their own National Guard units, primarily under the governor’s control. Because of this, many governors have been emboldened by this chain of command to defy Trump’s discriminatory policy.

New Mexico

‘We are not going to discharge any transgender individual from serving in our state National Guard, nor would this state ever discriminate against someone based on their gender identity,’ a spokesperson for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said.

Nevada

‘The State of Nevada does not discriminate against anyone, including and especially servicemembers, based on gender identity or expression,’ Helen Kalla, communications director for Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, told The Daily Beast.

Oregon

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown told The Daily Beast she’s ‘appalled that the Supreme Court is delivering an intentional blow to civil rights by supporting a push from the Trump Administration to bar transgender people from serving in the military.’

‘I will use every option available to ensure that every eligible Oregonian, regardless of gender identity, can serve their state and country,’ Gov. Brown stated.

Washington

In Washington State, a spokesperson for Gov. Jay Inslee told The Daily Beast that they stand ‘in solidarity with transgender Americans across the country in opposing this policy and won’t stop fighting until it is defeated.’

‘Until then, we will continue to welcome transgender service members to the greatest extent possible under the rules,’ the spokesperson continued. ‘It’s our understanding that is what New Mexico is doing as well.’

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AARP Finds Today’s Grandparents Are more Accepting of LGBTI Grandchildren

A study by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), an organization supporting elders, found that today’s grandparents are more open-minded when it comes to LGBTI grand kids.T

The online survey was conducted between 20 August and 4 September 2018. The results were published April 2019. The survey included 2,654 grandparents ages 38 and up.

According to the study, 4 in 5 of today’s grandparents would be accepting of an LGBTI grandchild

‘In contrast to former generations, today’s grandparents are more accepting of their grandchildren’s different sexualities as well, with a majority saying they would support an LGBT grandchild,’ the report states.

The study shows that today’s grandparents value gender equality and raising girls to be strong and independent. To the question ‘It is important to raise girls to be strong/independent women,’ 42% of respondents agreed, and 49% strongly agreed.

To the question, ‘If my grandchild came out as LGBT, I would accept him/her regardless,’ 46% agreed and 42% strongly agreed.

43% of respondents agreed with the notion that girls and boys should be raised the same.N

However, it seems the idea of non-binary gender identities is still something many grandparents are struggling to grasp. Only 28% agreed that they’d support a non-binary grandchild (plus 9% marking ‘strongly agree’). On the other side, 29% disagreed and 25% strongly disagreed.A

The survey covered many other topics. For instance, having mixed race grandchildren, parenting styles of today, financial support of grand kids, and time spent with grandchildren. Additionally, the survey found that today’s grandparents are welcoming of the internet as a source of information and communication. Eight in ten Boomer and Gen-X grandparents prefer online channels.

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Brunei Announces it Will Not Enforce Death Penalty for Gay Sex, Following Global Condemnation

Following global condemnation, Brunei has announced it will not enforce the death penalty as a punishment for gay sex.

The small country in Southeast Asia was met with a great deal of criticism after announcing on 3 April that it will uphold Sharia Law. With this, they would be punishing sodomy, adultery, and rape with death, including by stoning. Numerous corporations, governments, rights groups, and high-profile individuals like Richard Branson, Sir Elton John, and George Clooney have come out against Brunei’s new law.

Backtracking

Now, the nation’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has backtracked. He stated that the death penalty would not be enforced in the implementation of the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO).

Crimes such as trafficking and premeditated murder are already punished by the death penalty in Brunei. However, the country has not carried out an execution since the 1990s, according to the Independent. Interestingly, a UN report states that the nation hasn’t executed anyone since 1957.

‘I am aware that there are many questions and misperceptions [sic] with regard to the implementation of the SPCO. However, we believe that once these have been cleared, the merit of the law will be evident,’ Sultan Bolkiah said in a statement ahead of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.

‘As evident for more than two decades, we have practiced a de facto moratorium on the execution of death penalty for cases under the common law. This will also be applied to cases under the SPCO, which provides a wider scope for remission.’

In a unique turn of events, the Sultan’s office released a full English translation of his speech. This is not something the nation of Brunei commonly does.

‘Both the common law and the Syariah [sic] law aim to ensure peace and harmony of the country,’ the Sultan said. ‘They are also crucial in protecting the morality and decency of the country as well as the privacy of individuals.’

Anything else?

The Independent reports that Brunei has signed the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. However, it has not yet been ratified in the nation.

Under internationally-recognized human rights law, all forms of corporal punishment (including stoning, whipping, and amputation) are barred.

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Lesbian Couple Turned away from Dance Class

A lesbian couple in Missouri were reportedly denied entry to a dance class. They are now alleging discrimination based on their sexual orientation.W

Michelle King and Amanda Shelton are engaged and went to Prestige Ballroom in Des Peres, Missouri to learn how to dance for their upcoming wedding.

According to ABC News 13, the couple were looking forward to their dance lessons, which they purchased on Groupon. That is, however, until dance instructor Dave Thompson said he would not accept their business because they are gay.

‘He was like we don’t have accommodations for same sex couples to dance. It would make everyone in the room awkward,’ King told ABC News.

When reporters went to Prestige to get Thompson’s side of the story, he said, ‘I can’t discuss it right now. I’ll have to get with my legal counsel and have them get back with you.’

The next day, the couple got a call from St. Louis Equality Dance, a group offering dance instruction to LGBTI people. The couple was informed that Thompson recommended them.

‘They said that David referred us to them,’ the couple told news sources. ‘Well, I didn’t pay for you. I paid for Prestige.’M

According to legal experts, it is legal in the state of Missouri to refuse business to someone based on religious belief. However, St. Louis County, where Des Peres is based, bans this type of discrimination.

Yet, when the couple asked Thompson is his refusal to accept their business was religiously motivated, he allegedly said no, ‘That has nothing to do with that.’

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Alabama Lawmakers Vote to Stop Issuing Marriage Licenses to Prevent Same-sex Weddings

Lawmakers in Alabama have unanimously voted to stop issuing marriage licenses. This is because some of the state’s judges don’t want to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples.W

The Alabama Senate approved this bill on Thursday, 21 March. Sponsored by Republican Sen. Greg Albritton, the bill passed 26-0. It will now move to the state’s House. If passed, Alabama will become the only state where marriage licenses would not generally be required to get married. Instead, couples would have to fill out a form from the state and then present that form or affidavit to a probate judge, who would then record the marriage.

According to Albritton, who first filed this bill in 2015 after the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal nationwide, at least seven but as many as ten of the state’s 68 probate judges stopped issuing marriage licenses after the 2015 Supreme Court decision. About one-third of counties in Alabama had cracked down on issuing marriage licenses since 2015.

‘A license is a granting of permission or authority for people to take actions,’ Albritton said. ‘That’s the same thing with marriage licenses.’

Watch a video of Sen. Greg Albritton discussing the bill back in January below:

The bill, Albritton argues, eliminates the need for a wedding ceremony, leaving the state to only deal with the civil aspect of a marriage, not the religious one.

Albritton is attempting to compromise so that marriage licenses would be issued in all Alabama counties again.

‘This bill separates that out and allows the two separate things to be handled but it provides and protects everyone so that they can get married when and where they choose,’ he said.

Albritton is optimistic that the bill will be passed this year.

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A Majority of Evangelicals Now Support LGBTI Rights with the Equality Act

A majority of Evangelical Christians have thrown support behind the Equality Act.

This past week, House Democrats introduced the Equality Act for the third time. This time around, the bill received bipartisan support. A record 201 Congress members co-sponsored the legislation to prohibit anti-LGBTI discrimination across the United States.

The most surprising supporters of the bill: white Evangelical Christians.Tell me more

According to the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), a whopping 54% of Evangelicals are in favor of protections on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in housing and employment.

The country’s most conservative religious group support proposals like the Equality Act by a 16-point margin. Just 38% of Evangelicals surveyed oppose the kinds of protections the Equality Act would offer.

The PRRI’s survey also showed that most major religious groups in the country now overwhelmingly support LGBTI-inclusive nondiscrimination laws. 53% of Jehovah’s Witnesses support these protections. Similarly, 70% of Mormons, 68% of non-white Catholics, 65% of African American Protestants, 60% of Muslims, and 59% of Orthodox Christians support measures like the Equality Act.

Overall, about 70% of Americans believe anti-LGBTI discrimination should be illegal.

Even before the reintroduction of the Equality Act, two major Evangelical groups came out in support of inclusive federal nondiscrimination laws. These groups are the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and National Association of Evangelicals.

Religious divide

Still, within religious communities, there is divide on how LGBTI people should be treated. For instance, a 2018 study found that just a quarter of white Evangelical seniors were in favor of same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, 53% of young Evangelical Protestants believe all people should have the right to marry.

Similarly, a 2017 survey by PRRI found that most Evangelicals support laws allowing people of faith to deny service to LGBTI people. 65% of this group were in favor of wedding-based businesses like bakers, photographers, and florists having the ability to deny LGBTI couples. Only 29% of Evangelicals surveyed were against licenses to discriminate on religious grounds.

However, this divide is mainly in white Protestant circles. 73% of Hispanic Catholics, 56% of black Protestants, and 55% of white Catholics believe people of faith shouldn’t have the right to turn away LGBTI people.

The future of the Equality Act

Despite overwhelming support in the House of Representatives for the reintroduction of the Equality Act, there is doubt that it will pass. This is due to the Republican-controlled Senate and Donald Trump’s White House.

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Updates to the International Code Council Recommends Gender Neutral Bathrooms

The International Code Council (ICC), which develops standards for safe and sustainable buildings, has approved changes to restroom standards.W

The ICC is a 64,000 member organization focused on building codes and standards worldwide. Their International Building Code standards are the most widely used set of building safety codes. The ICC is also the group that helps establish federal, state, and municipal construction standards.

At the recommendation of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Center for Transgender Equality, the ICC is updating their standards to include a requirement for single-stall restrooms and other gender neutral facilities.R

According to LGBTQ Nation, the first proposal was approved this week. It mandates that all single-stall restrooms must be shown to be available to all users, not a particular gender.

The second approved proposal allows for multi-stall gender neutral facilities, with a shared sink area and private stalls for each toilet.

These new provisions will make it so everyone — including trans and nonbinary people, disabled people, and families with small children — will be able to access a restroom.

‘The American Institute of Architects is proud to have taken a proactive public stance to ensure bathroom accessibility for all,’ CEO of the AIA, Robert Ivy, told LGBTQ Nation.

‘As architects, we are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of all citizens in the built environment. With pragmatic solutions, we can better serve and accommodate a variety of community needs. The code proposals are but one step in the right direction to enable access for all.’The problem in building codes

Ivy is not the only architect that found problems with the existing building codes.

‘In my teaching and in my practice, I’ve become increasingly aware that the “default user” of architecture is basically a white, able-bodied, cisgendered male. And we tend to disregard other, non-conforming bodies,’ architect and Yale professor Joel Sanders told Architectural Digest.

Many other architects are working on finding solutions to this restroom dilemma. Stalled! is one example. This project is led by both architects and activists to ensure the creation of ‘safe, sustainable, and inclusive public restrooms.’

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