Tag: homophobia

“To provide context, I am tired of being slandered by some people on Twitter as anti-LGBT." Charlotte mayoral candidate Joel Ford landed in hot water this week when he tweeted a GIF of a dog defecating in response to criticism over his stance on LGBT equality. The Democratic senator was called out on Twitter by Matt Comer, a board member of Charlotte Pride and former editor of the city’s LGBT paper, QNotes. When Comer blasted Ford for his poor track record on...

"If they try to take it down again we'll put another one up." A Texas couple’s rainbow flag was ripped down and set on fire early Thursday morning. Markus Maguire and his husband, Wilson Nash, found the still smoldering flag stuffed in their mailbox with neighbor’s mail used as kindling. A neighbor’s security cameras captured video of a van pulling up to the house, someone pulling the flag down and the van leaving. The vehicle returned a few minutes later so...

An economist has argued that homophobia and discrimination against the LGBT community costs countries up to $100 billion a year. UNAIDS researcher Erik Lamontagne found that nations with the most oppressive LGBT laws lose more in economic terms. “More than the cost itself, it’s the share of the cost of homophobia that is high. The cost, as a share of the GDP, is disproportionately higher in more homophobic settings,” Mr Lamontagne told Humanosphere. Due to limited data, the figure is a conservative...

A 22-year-old has been left with a series of scratches and wounds on his face after he was attacked in broad daylight. Christopher Johnson was attacked at 11am on Tuesday morning leaving him needing urgent medical attention. Johnson, who said he lost an hour of his memory following the attack, had his facial wounds treated at the hospital. He told the Liverpool Echo, who published images of Johnson’s wounds: “I spent the night at my best friend’s house and I walked along...

“We repudiate this attack of hate, which deserves all legal and social sanction." A young Jewish gay advocate was attacked in a park in Santiago, Chile, by three men wearing neo-Nazi symbols. The men punched him in the neck and slashed his arms and legs with a razor more than 40 times. Jorge Arce was walking through Bustamante Park wearing a t-shirt with the Israeli flag on it, when the three assailants yelled “murderer” and attacked him. “I had 40 stitches on...

After reportedly defending a gay friend who was being harassed in a bar, one of the Kennedys has found himself in legal hot water. Conor Kennedy, 22, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, was arrested shortly after the scuffle, which took place at the Bootsy Bellows nightclub in Aspen, Colorado. The Aspen Times reports that the brawl began when a group of men began harassing Kennedy’s gay friend with antigay slurs. According to reports, Kennedy asked the men to apologize, and that’s when...

Joey Essex has come back to our screens for a Christmas special – and it didn’t disappoint. The reality TV star shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex some years ago. Since then he’s stumbled into British hearts with his less than excellent knowledge of the world around him. And last night’s Christmas special, What You Seighing? was no different. Asked what homophobia is, he had a, er, odd understanding. His attempt at the definition: “Some people don’t like to leave the...

A heartbroken husband was completely blindsided by his wife’s sudden request for a separation, so he’s seeking advice from Trish Murphy, a psychotherapist who writes for the Irish Times. “Recently my wife said she wants to separate after eight years of marriage, and has been to a solicitor,” the letter begins. “She doesn’t seem to want to discuss the reasons why she wants to separate, simply saying she doesn’t love me any more.” Though he’s not 100% sure why she wants to break...

Tim Ramsey founded LGBT charity Just Like Us to help provide to the support he never got at school. My Dad left me a voicemail. He never leaves me voicemails. “Nothing to worry about, but could you just give me a ring.” Instantly worried, I stopped training our volunteers to call home. Dad answered: “I wanted to speak before mum gets home. I opened an anonymous letter threatening to take you and us to court because the charity is operating illegally.” I felt sick....

The head of an Indonesian university has initiated a program to “normalise” gay students. The State University of Gorontalo (UNG) in northern Indonesia issued the new policies which target members of the LGBT community. Syamsu Qamar Badu, the rector of the university, announced that a “special team” will be employed to look out for and offer counselling too students who they suspect may be within the community. “This identification process will not be easy, but we can’t just let it happen if...

A socialite dubbed Britain’s vainest man was attacked inside a gay nightclub in Manchester. Ryan Staveley was assaulted in Kiki, on Canal Street, whilst out with friends in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 25 year old has been told he will need stitches after he was left with a bloody, swollen face and a potentially broken eye socket. Staveley has hit out at the police for allowing his attacker to walk away with a caution. “It’s disgraceful. The guy walked over...

X Factor fans were left stunned yesterday after host Simon Cowell made a crude joke about Xtra Factor host, Rylan Clark-Neal. Rylan his co-host Matt Edmondson were getting the judges to pick a front door to choose which caller the judges would talk to for a Q&A session. Rylan remarked “I love a front door”, and Simon retorted “I thought you liked back doors?” Moments after making the remark Simon admitted he had over stepped the line. Whilst fellow judges and the studio...

Sweet Cakes by Melissa refused to bake a cake for a lesbian couple and found themselves at the center of a media storm. Three years later, the bakery is closed. Aaron and Melissa Klein abruptly announced the closure of their Gresham, Ore., bakery three and a half years after they ignited a firestorm by proudly refusing service to a same-sex couple. Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer were denied a wedding cake from the Kleins, who claimed their "religious freedom" allowed them to...

Do you remember where you were 18 years ago?  I was in my third year of teaching high school in a small Maine town with a student population 330 and town population of 3,200.  Everyone knew everyone.  If you wanted privacy, you would have to leave town.  I had started going to gay bars, had just been on a very few dates, dealt with some psychos, dead ends, but never found someone that helped me be me.  As youngins,...