No lesbians on the Nutella
A marketing campaign by the makers of Nutella in which fans can create a digital jar with their own text has banned the word “lesbian.” Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella, says that “negative or insulting messages were directly removed from the field of possibilities . . . similarly words of communities that are often subject to attacks by malicious people were removed from the proposals.” The words “Jewish” and “Muslim” were also banned.
Nebraska same-sex marriage ban struck down
A US federal judge has ruled that Nebraska’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, and an “unabashedly gender-specific infringement of the equal rights of its citizens.” The judge also denied the state’s request for a stay pending appeal, and gave officials until March 9 to prepare to marry same-sex couples.
California citizen’s initiative: Shoot gays in the head
A citizen’s ballot initiative in California proposes to deputize all citizens to shoot gay people in the head at the slightest provocation. The citizen’s initiative system allows Californians to propose legislation to the state government, but initiatives require over 500,000 signatures to reach the ballot. The “Sodomite Suppression Act” proposes that any person touching another of the same sex for sexual gratification be shot immediately.
UK Labour leader promises gross indecency pardons
UK Labour leader Ed Miliband says if his party is re-elected, he will pass a law to pardon the 49,000 men convicted of gross indecency under the country’s anti-gay laws before their repeal in 1967. Codebreaker Alan Turing was famously convicted under the laws, but received a royal pardon in 2013. The campaign to pardon other men convicted under the laws has peaked since the release of the Turing biopic The Imitation Game.
Controversial US senator retires
US Senator Barbara Mikulski has announced her retirement, sparking mixed reviews from the gay press. The Human Rights Campaign praised her record, calling her a “strong partner and advocate for LGBT equality.” The Washington Blade, however, criticized Mikulski for dodging questions about her own sexuality, and voting for anti-gay legislation early in her career.
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