Tag: usa

This Jewish day school’s drag queen havdalah ceremony has S.F. roots – J.

Today January 20th Lander Grinspoon Academy, a jewish K-8 day private school in Northampton Massachusetts will include something unique for jewish schools storytime lead by a local drag queen. This will occur at Saturday evening after sundown to celebrate havdalah a ceremony marking the end of the Shabbat, in addition to the normal ceremony Jenayah De Resario a local drag queen will be reading a book written by Jewish children’s story author Leslea Newman called “Sparkle Boy” about a young jewish boy who likes to wear sparkly traditionally not male clothing, after seeing what his sister wears he falls in love with her sparkly skirt, nails, and bracelets he gets some of his own supported by his parents, the book is “

about acceptance, respect, and the freedom to be yourself in a world where any gender expression should be celebrated

“(Amazon.com). The author of the book will also be there and will read two of her other books “Here Is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays” and “Heather Has Two Mommies” a book about a girl who has same-sex parents. The celebration will end with lots of glitter having, face painting, a photo booth with costumes and workshops to make sparkly bags and crowns.

This is an amazing show of LGBT inclusivity by this school and is teaching all of its students acceptance and respect at a young age of everyone, and how for themselves it is good to express yourself however you want, I am personally extremely happy for this and I hope that other Jewish schools and schools in general follow their footsteps.

This Jewish day school’s drag queen havdalah ceremony has S.F. roots – J.

Concordia University Reverses Course and Recognizes LGBTQ Student Group

Concordia University in Oregon, has reversed its previous decision to block a student group for LGBT students. The college was called out previously by this newspaper for trying to get the club to change its name, and would not approve the charter or allow it to host events. The president of this Lutheran college has released a statement saying 

“We remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we support all students, particularly people from groups who have historically been marginalized,” and then followed this by reversing the decision made approving the charter. This gives the group a space to hold meeting and student funding. The group a GSA said in response that they are still fearful of these policies and believe that the university will continue to discriminate against them.

Concordia University Reverses Course and Recognizes LGBTQ Student Group

Catholic University In Kansas Cancels Art Exhibit Meant To Celebrate Queer Creativity | Luxora Leader

A catholic university in Kansas was planning to have art exhibit entitled “Rainbow in reverse: Queer Kansas History” which used different art forms to honor the various achievements of LGBT Kansans. The artist originating from the town where the exhibit was going to be showcased is now looking for a new place to hold it after the community lashed out at the college after the college “thought it best to cancel, after local community members expressed concerns.” These community concerns were accusations of the college exposing the students to evil and a sickness in our society. LGBT student leader Kevin Clack, president of Kaleidoscope an LGBTQ group at the school formed last year stated that this shows how “they make us feel like we aren’t as much a part of the Newman community as other students.”

Catholic University In Kansas Cancels Art Exhibit Meant To Celebrate Queer Creativity | Luxora Leader

Senate passes ban on conversion therapy for LGBT youth

This is not a complete ban but it is still good news. The Bill that was passed by the senate 32-16 not only put forth that it would be “unprofessional conduct” meaning that they can be removed from being a certified therapist and other consequences for preforming therapy that would try to change a minor’s sexual orientation, while this does nothing for gender questioning youth it is a huge step in the right direction. They also passed another important bill that is heading as well over to the house which addresses transgender bullying in schools, and now places policies mandating that school districts either create or fix transgender student policies and develop a mandatory training class for teachers.

Senate passes ban on conversion therapy for LGBT youth

U.S. high court turns away dispute over gay worker protections

The United States Supreme court turned away a case in which a woman was fired for being a lesbian. The woman was working as a security guard and challenged the case in a lower district court, and lost she then appealed to the supreme court who denied her saying that they agree with the previous national district court ruling that title IX does not specify sexual orientation and therefore does not apply and this discrimination, while being discrimination is legally allowed. The court shutting this down means that it did not pass the rule of four which means that three or less of the judges disagree with this. With Donald Trump as president with some old justices he could replace those who disagreed even. This is a scary time in America and I remind everyone to stay safe.

U.S. high court turns away dispute over gay worker protections

Mother fires photographer after learning she is a lesbian

Lesbian Faith Grace, just lost one of her customers, a mother who hired her for maternity photos, for that reason because she’s a lesbian. This occurred in Alabama, which not to generalize people in the state has many people who are homophobic, and in general having a very negative opinion of the LGBT community. This person was truly directly discriminated against for being a lesbian. The woman found out after seeing an LGBT flag, (the article does not specify whether it was the rainbow flag or another) and immediantly fired her.

Mother fires photographer after learning she is a lesbian

Tennessee’s first LGBT historical marker honors Penny Campbell

A historical marker is going was placed today December, 9th in Tennessee, that was the first marker of LGBT history. It will honor Penny Campbell the lead plantiff in decriminzing gay sex, in 1996 in Tennessee. She also went county to county pushing clerks to request same-sex marriage licenses.

Tennessee’s first LGBT historical marker honors Penny Campbell

Trans, Teen and Homeless: America’s Most Vulnerable Population

neutrois:

There are now more than 350,000 transgender people under the age of 25 in the United States, the majority in the largest cities of New York, California, Florida and Texas – and an estimated 20 percent of them lack secure housing, though many service providers believe that figure is low. 

Trans, Teen and Homeless: America’s Most Vulnerable Population

Intimate Partner Violence is an LGBT Issue

The Violence Against Women Act is up for reauthorization in Congress and under both President Donald Trump’s leadership and the strong republican House of Representatives, the pieces of the bill that allow this protection towards LGBT people is risked being taken away, as commentary on the bill by the justice department says “

This groundbreaking provision will ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking are not denied, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, access to the critical services that OVW supports.

“(https://www.justice.gov/archives/ovw/blog/vawa-2013-nondiscrimination-provision-making-programs-accessible-all-victims-domestic) This part of legislation that prevented individuals from being discriminated against and not recieving help if these things occurred can very likely be taken away by the Republican majority. 

Intimate Partner Violence is an LGBT Issue