Arkansas bans local anti-discrimination laws
The state of Arkansas has passed a law banning local governments from establishing any additional anti-discrimination laws, including ones that would protect LGBT people. The law prevents local governments from protecting LGBT people when the state government refuses, a strategy that has been popular in larger cities across the American South. Observers blamed the silence of national politicians like Arkansas natives Bill and Hillary Clinton, or lack of support from corporations and the business community for the bill’s passage.
Madrid Metro security head fired for anti-gay memo
The head of security for Madrid Metro has been fired over a memo suggesting that “gays, musicians and beggars” are less trustworthy, and should have their tickets checked more often. Representatives from the Metro’s security company met with LGBT activists after the firing to try to repair the damage.
Being gay and being “weird”
In his acceptance speech for the screenplay for The Imitation Game, (straight) writer Graham Moore compared the experience of gay people to that of all those who suffer bullying and rejection for being “weird.” J. Bryan Lowder at Slate thinks Moore’s speech was well intentioned but poorly executed, and that there’s a lot more to being gay than just being weird.
Gay Korean celebrity heads to politics
Gay South Korean actor and restaurateur Hong Seok-cheon says he is ready to try his hand at politics, running for administrator of Seoul’s Yongsan District. “If I am elected, I will be the first gay person to become a government official,” he told the Korea Times. “It means the country has accepted my identity as a homosexual.” If elected, he says he would build a counselling centre for sexual minorities, and a night market for young artists.
Native groups move towards recognition of same-sex marriage
In Alaska, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes has adopted a new law allowing same-sex couples to marry under tribal law. The Navajo nation in New Mexico is also beginning to re-recognize sexual and gender diversity that was an important part of their cultural history, but was destroyed by European influence.
Image Credit: Veto SB202
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