Stonewall Gazette

Written by The Gay Almanac


San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk were shot and killed in San Francisco City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White today, November 27, in 1978.
 

Brutal Crackdown Has Gay and Transgender Egyptians Asking: Is It Time to Leave?
For Mostafa, a gay Egyptian man in his mid-20s, seeing rainbow flags flying at an open-air rock concert in the Arab world’s most populous nation was thrilling. But he had a feeling it wouldn’t end well. Dozens of people have been arrested and put on trial in Egypt in the ensuing crackdown. Some were also beaten and subjected to invasive physical exams, spreading panic in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender circles. Many of Mostafa’s friends are deleting their profiles on cellphone dating apps and scrubbing their social media accounts, which police have long used to ensnare people suspected of being gay or transgender. Some who were at last month’s concert have gone into hiding. There has even been talk of fleeing the country. “The problem is that no one can tell the limit of this crackdown and how far it might go,” said Mostafa, a community activist who asked to be identified by one name, for fear that he too might be swept up by police. “There was an incredible amount of hate speech by the media and by people on social media. Everyone I know is depressed and fearful.” MORE

Written by Christianna Silva

A case is headed to the Supreme Court in December that centers around Jack Phillips, the owner of the Colorado-based Masterpiece Cakeshop, who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. But the case doesn’t actually have anything to do with cake—it’s rather an issue that hangs on the line between free speech and discrimination.

Phillips argues his cakes are art, and as such he shouldn’t be forced to make it for anyone he doesn’t want to—including David Mullins and Charlie Craig, who claim that Phillips was discriminating against them because they are gay. But Colorado’s anti-discrimination law says he can’t refuse his service to someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

But the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorneys representing the couple don't concur. “For example, hair salons, tailors, restaurants, architecture firms, florists, jewelers, theaters and dance schools use artistic skills when serving customers or clients,” the ACLU argued in its briefs. Lambda Legal and more than a dozen organizations agree with the ACLU and have submitted their own friend-of-the-court briefs. READ MORE

Written by Susan Dicklitch-Nelson, Berwood Yost and Scottie Thompson


Our research gives most countries in the world a failing grade in LGBTQ rights, reflecting widespread persecution of sexual minorities. Only one country in 10 actively protects the human rights of sexual minorities.

The Extremes Are Stunning

In 2017, 23 countries have legalized same-sex marriage, yet 71 countries still criminalize same-sex acts. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen score lowest on our scale, with an overall GBGR score of 3 out of a possible score of 100, while Luxembourg, Malta and New Zealand score highest, with 100 percent. A score of 100 percent doesn’t mean a country is perfect in its treatment of LGBT individuals, but it does mean they protect LGBTQ rights. Our initial findings suggest that higher income, lower rates of religiosity, higher life expectancy, a higher freedom rating by nonprofit Freedom House and having a democratic political system are the best predictors of how much a country respects or abuses the rights of sexual minorities. This suggests that a country’s attitude toward gay rights is strongly related to its level of socioeconomic development, political development and religiosity. That makes the U.S.‘ low score an even greater anomaly. READ MORE

Written by Shane Smith, Editor, Stonewall Gazette


While writing the post for Pulse Nightclub Massacre: Year End Special Video Report I was reminded of how powerful art, dance and music are to us in the LGBTQ community. I can think of no better example of this than the deeply moving tribute song, "Pulse", which was created within hours of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre, by openly gay singer-songwriters, Brandon Skeie and Eli Lieb. The song gave much comfort to those of us who grieved this senseless loss of lives at the hands of a terrorist.

Written by Beatrice Hazlehurst


In a story that becomes increasingly horrific by the minute, Chechnya are still very much carrying out their "gay purge", but due to global backlash and pressure from the Russian media they're having to do so more covertly. When an investigation team from Novaya Gazeta arrived at the camp as described by former inmates, they found the location completely abandoned and covered in debris. The group then headed to another rumored prison, a Special Police Force training base in Terek (60km North) but were turned away from the areas by authorities because "training was taking place."

Human Rights Watch has affirmed Novaya Gazeta's findings, saying they were "consistent" with reports they themselves had received. "The information published by Novaya Gazeta is consistent with the reports Human Rights Watch recently received from numerous trusted sources, including sources on the ground." They said in a statement. "The number of sources and the consistency of the stories leaves us with no doubt that these devastating developments have indeed occurred."
READ MORE

At least three LGBT community centers have been vandalized in recent attacks that could be part of a national trend of rising hate seen since the election of Donald Trump as US president.

 Washington Blade reports:

In the last few weeks, vandals smashed a window at the office of Equality Florida in Orlando, the city where last year a shooter took the lives of 49 people and wounded 53 others at a gay nightclub, and windows were smashed at the headquarters in Asbury Park of the New Jersey LGBT Garden State Equality. In Tulsa, Okla., 13 shots were fired from a pellet gun at the Equality Center on Monday just hours before a man came into the lobby yelling profanities and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric at front-desk staff. The trend of attacks on LGBT centers echoes anti-Semitic attacks since the inauguration of President Trump, who ran a campaign rooted in animosity toward minority groups, such as Muslims and immigrants. READ MORE

Trump also won with the support of white nationalists like David Duke, who as former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has advocated anti-Semitic and racist ideology.

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Written by Dominic Parrott

In the United States, public support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has increased in recent years. These changes are associated with increased visibility of openly gay characters on television, the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. Nevertheless, violence against sexual minorities remains a major public health problem in the U.S. and internationally. A recent study concluded that approximately 50 percent of LGBT adults experience bias-motivated aggression at some point. For every highly publicized act of violence toward sexual minorities, such as the recent mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, there are many more physical and verbal assaults, attempted assaults, acts of property damage or intimidations which are never reported to authorities, let alone publicized by the media. What spurs on these acts of violence? Can we do anything to prevent them? Fortunately, an extensive body of social science research exists that identifies perpetrators’ motivations and suggests ways we can reduce the likelihood of these acts of aggression toward sexual minorities. READ MORE

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Written by Elizabeth Byrne

(Australia) Four Canberra youths — including two teenage brothers — who were accused of running a blackmail scam targeting gay men on dating apps are denied bail. The alleged scam came to light last month when the AIDS council raised concerns about people targeted by the group. The youths allegedly lured men using dating apps, before demanding money amid threats of exposing them. The amounts demanded ranged from $150 to $1,000. A 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court today, where each was denied bail. Police told the court one of the alleged victims in New South Wales had taken his own life. The court heard other victims had been identified by material found on social media and other accounts belonging to the group, as well as stolen mobile phones. But police told the court most were reluctant to complain, because of embarrassment. The court heard one of the boys told police the people they were targeting were pedophiles. Police argued against bail, citing concerns there could be a risk of interference with evidence or witnesses.

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Gay club in Zagreb. For illustrative use only.

At least two people have been injured after an unknown assailant threw a tear gas canister during a party for LGBT people in Croatia's capital of Zagreb. Police say an investigation is underway into the incident at a Zagreb night club early Sunday. Local news reports say people inside the club fled in panic, storming the exit and breaking windows to get out. A witness tells the Croatian newspaper, Vecernji List Daily that he was trampled during a rush for the stairs. Croatian gay rights groups are describing the attack as an "act of hate violence." The Zagreb Pride group says in a statement that Croatia's conservative government has turned a blind eye to a recent surge in right-wing sentiment in the European Union's newest member state.

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Los Angeles LGBT Center Is Vandalized with Anti-LGBT Slurs
When employees and volunteers of the Los Angeles LGBT Center arrived for work this morning they found anti-LGBT slurs spray-painted across the entire side of one wall of a Center facility in Hollywood. The slurs painted on The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, near Santa Monica Blvd. and Highland Ave., included “Fuck trannies” and “Fuck all yall.” Although this is not the first time the Center has been vandalized, it is the worst case of vandalism targeting a Center facility in recent history. “It happened sometime between 9 and 10 pm last night,” said Jackie DeFede, Director of Facilities at the Center. “We had a security officer on duty, but he was patrolling other areas of the building. Fortunately, we have cameras that should have recorded the perpetrators.” DeFede will be filing a police report and sharing video footage with the investigators. By 11:30 am Center staff had painted over the slurs.

RELATED Milwaukee LGBT Center Has Been Vandalized Three Times!

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Milwaukee LGBT Center Has Been Vandalized Three Times!
For the third time in two months, an LGBT Center near the Riverwest neighborhood has been vandalized. Someone spray painted an offensive phrase on its building and coated the windows with graffiti this week. "We already cleaned up some paint yesterday. There was quite a bit more on the windows and that was pretty easy to get off. Now, we are cleaning up the paint on the building," said Gerald Coon, the president of Diverse & Resilient. "The words are shocking and disturbing but at the same time being in the LGBT community we understand people don't like us." Diverse & Resilient supports the LGBT community by offering various health and counseling programs.

Written by Mamba

An LGBT hate speech case in the Equality Court in Johannesburg has become bogged down in details about the safety of pigeons, leading activists to question the efficacy of the system. Tim Trengove Jones, an English literature lecturer and cultural commentator, last year sued his neighbour, Elvira Oelofse, for allegedly making anti-LGBT slurs against him. Jones claims that in a verbal dispute in July over allowing a contractor to protect their Killarney apartment complex from roosting pigeons, Oelofse called him a “fucking old queen,” among a host of other alleged insults. Jones said that the slur “was based on my identity as a gay male… and aimed to mock me on the basis of my sexuality”. The case, which should be a relatively simple one, has now dragged on for months. Activists are concerned that the magistrate has allowed Oelofse’s legal representative to present arguments on her concerns about the pigeons and their safety, instead of focusing on what was said or not said by her. The Equality Court has been presented as any easy to use and low cost means for victims to enforce the Equality Act, but Jones’ experience indicates otherwise. In addition to the costs of legal representation and the days spent in court, the ongoing emotional stress saw him briefly hospitalized in November. Jones is asking for R50,000 (approx $3800 US) in compensation and an apology from Oelofse. The money, should it be awarded, would be donated to the gender equality NGO, Sonke Gender Justice. READ MORE

To honor the victims of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre a comic anthology has been created called, "Love Is Love". Organized by out writer Marc Andreyko and published by IDW, the 144-page graphic novel features some top tier writing talent: J.K. Rowling, Patton Oswalt, Matt Bomer, Damon Lindelof, and Taran Killam. 

DC Entertainment has fully backed the project which will incorporate many iconic DC characters, some of which are LGBTQ themselves. Also featured will be characters from Archie comics, and thanks to Rowling, Harry Potter himself! According to Entertainment Weekly, "All the work and art produced for the anthology’s 100-plus stories has been donated, with the proceeds from sales of the comic going to Equality Florida’s fund to benefit the victims and survivors of the tragedy, as well as their families."

Entertainment Weekly's Nivea Serrao spoke with Marc Andreyko about what the process of working on this anthology has been like for him. Enjoy the excerpt below.

Nivea Serrao: There’s a diverse range of contributors, not just in terms of identity, but also comics-creating experience, included in the effort. Why was that important for you?

Marc Andreyko: Because this tragedy affected everyone to some degree, it was important to have diverse voices: gay, straight, trans, male, female, black, white, Latino, Asian… Diversity is a wonderful thing and I wanted the book to reflect the makeup of the culture. And comics experience wasn’t a deal breaker. I wanted people from every group who all had specific points of view.

Nivea Serrao: How would you describe the impact on readers of seeing big name characters like Superman and Poison Ivy, or even Harry Potter and Kevin Keller from Archie featured in this issue?

Marc Andreyko: It is hugely important for gay kids who might not be out or in a safe space to live openly to see their heroes and the publishers of these heroes telling them that they are not just okay, but are valued and loved. Representation is important for those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to have familial support or live in a big city. Having DC, Archie, and Harry Potter in this book could quite literally help people at risk know that they are loved.

Nivea Serrao: What is the biggest takeaway you want readers to have?

Marc Andreyko: Simply that, as the title says, “love is love.” We should all be lucky enough not only to love someone but to be loved in return. No one should be threatened or scared about other people loving one another. Love should be celebrated and encouraged.

WATCH VIDEO


While writing the post for Pulse Nightclub Massacre: Year End Special Video Report I was reminded of how powerful art, dance and music are to us in the LGBTQ community. I can think of no better example of this than the deeply moving tribute song, "Pulse", which was created within hours of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre, by openly gay singer-songwriters, Brandon Skeie and Eli Lieb. The song gave much comfort to those of us who grieved this senseless loss of lives at the hands of a terrorist.

Muse Dance Company & MusEffect produced a loving tribute of their own. The dance piece, "Pulse - Unify Over Violence", was dedicated to the victims of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Muse Dance Company & MusEffect share about their project: "This Summer we teamed up with Muse Media and the incredible artists of The Muse Experience of 2016 to develop a piece that is close to our hearts. It is our mission to see this PSA initiate the conversation needed most in our society right now. There are far too many humans loosing their lives over nothing they've done but pure and simply because of who they are. Why not choose to celebrate diversity, practice tolerance and learn from those who've ended their stories far too soon. Let us put an end to these senseless deaths and unify over violence." Watch the video below.

View the video of the Brandon Skeie and Eli Lieb song, "Pulse" here.

WATCH VIDEO: Healing Through Art, Dance and Music (Pulse - Unify Over Violence)

WATCH VIDEO


Since its start in the 1920's, gay conversion therapy has drawn considerable criticism from human rights groups. So why is it still legal in the United States of America and, in fact, in many other countries around the world?

Trace Dominguez from the YouTube channel Seeker Daily has put together this informative video on the dark history of gay conversion therapy. Definitely worth watching!

Edgemedia reports:


Family members of three victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando have filed lawsuits against tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter for providing "material support" to ISIS. According to Portland, Oregon TV station KATU, the lawsuit alleges that ISIS used Facebook, Google and Twitter to spread propaganda, raise money and recruit new members. "For years, Defendants (Google, Facebook, Twitter) have knowingly and recklessly provided the terrorist group ISIS with accounts to use its social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds, and attracting new recruits," the complaint reads. "This material support has been instrumental to the rise of ISIS and has enabled it to carry out or cause to be carried out, numerous terrorist attacks, including the June 12, 2016 attack in Orlando where 53 were injured and 49 were killed." READ MORE

Associated Press:

The owner of the Florida nightclub where the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place said Monday that she is no longer interested in selling the property to the city of Orlando.

Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma said in a statement that she can't walk away from the property, where 49 people were killed and dozens more injured during a massacre last June. Gunman Omar Mateen, who was killed in a shootout with SWAT team members after a three-hour standoff, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Poma said she plans to use the space to create a "sanctuary of hope" and a welcoming area where people can reflect on those affected by the tragedy. "I feel a personal obligation to ensure that a permanent space at Pulse be created so that all generations to come will remember those affected by, and taken on, June 12," she said. READ MORE

Last month, the city of Orlando announced plans to purchase Pulse and eventually convert it into a memorial. The city had planned to pay $2.25 million for the gay nightclub property.

Written by Tara Culp-Ressler


Across the Country, Americans Are Standing Up Against Hate

Since Donald Trump was elected to the presidency, there’s been a dramatic uptick in hate and harassment. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a group that tracks hate crimes, has recorded hundreds of instances of “hateful harassment and intimidation” since Election Day, leaving many people who live in this country fearful for the safety of themselves and their loved ones. At the same time, however, Americans across the country are taking a stand against the vitriol being directed at their friends, neighbors, and classmates. Here are a few recent examples.

The city of Orlando has reached a deal to buy the Pulse nightclub for $2.25 million and plans to eventually transform the site of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history into a memorial. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday that the city won't rush to change the club, once a mainstay in the gay community that has become a gathering place for visiting and local mourners alike. "There are lots of people that are making a visit to the site part of their trip, part of their experience of Orlando, so I think 12 to 18 months of leaving it as-is would be appropriate," Dyer said. In the meantime, the city plans to solicit ideas from the community for what form the lasting memorial should take. Dyer said the city hasn't ruled out leaving part of the club intact permanently, such as the roadside sign featuring its now-iconic logo. The city's ultimate goal, he said, will be to "create something to honor the memory of the victims that are deceased [and] those that were injured, and a testament to the resilience of our community." READ MORE