Tag: LGBT Pride

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Hillary Clinton Celebrates LGBT Pride, Looks To Future Progress

As gay Americans celebrate LGBT Pride AND the historic Supreme Court Obergefell ruling one year ago today which brought marriage equality to the entire nation, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joins in celebrating the progress of the LGBT community, but also noted the work still to be done in the march for full equality.

Via press release:

“One year ago today, we celebrated a watershed moment for equality in America. Thanks to the bravery of LGBT Americans like Jim Obergefell and Edie Windsor, and the determination and tireless organizing of the LGBT community and their allies, marriage equality became the law of the land in all 50 states.

“Over the last year, more barriers to equality have fallen – including, finally, the last state law banning same-sex couples from adopting. Just this month, President Obama designated Stonewall as the first national monument commemorating LGBT history in America.

“We’ve also seen how much work is still unfinished. The attack in Orlando broke our hearts, and reminded us that LGBT people – particularly people of color – are still targets for harassment and violence. Discriminatory laws in states like North Carolina highlight the need for full federal equality under the law for LGBT Americans. And Donald Trump’s pledge to consider appointing Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality underscores the fact that so much of the progress we’ve made is at stake in November.

“But even when the road ahead seems daunting, never forget: on this day in history, love triumphed in the highest court in the land. Today, our march toward a more perfect union continues—toward equality, dignity, and justice for all.”

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English Cop Pops Proposal At London Pride

We’ve seen many public proposals between same-sex couples here in the U.S. with the arrival of marriage equality, but it’s not so common in the UK.

But London got to share in a couple’s happy moment right on the streets of this year’s Pride Parade when a constable marching in the parade with his department stopped along the way to get down on one knee and propose to his boyfriend.

ITV News reports that the constable stopped along the parade route where his partner, Jonathan Sammons, was watching and got down on one knee. The two exchanged a kiss to the roaring of the crowd and then the constable rejoined his fellow police officers.

The newly elected Mayor Sadiq Khan marched in the festivities, too.

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Istanbul: Riot Police Use Rubber Bullets & Tear Gas On Pride Parade

Earlier this week I reported that the government in Istanbul cancelled an LGBT Pride Parade set to take place this weekend.

When Pride goers showed up today, the riot police used rubber bullets and tear gas on the crowd.

From the Guardian:

Riot police have fired teargas and rubber pellets to disperse an LBGT march in Istanbul that had been banned after ultranationalists said “degenerates” could not demonstrate.

Hundreds of riot police cordoned off Taksim Square in the heart of the city to prevent the Trans Pride rally taking place during Ramadan.

Authorities have banned transgender and gay pride marches this month, which coincides with the period of fasting for Muslims, citing security concerns after warnings against any such events taking place in Turkey.

Although the Turkish republic is constitutionally secular, the vast majority of the population is Muslim.

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Elizabeth Warren To Boston Pride-Goers: “The Only Way We Beat Bullies Is We Stand Up And Fight Back”

(pic via Facebook)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, dressed in a waving feather headdress, told Boston LGBT Pride celebrants today to mobilize against hate, especially as espoused by Trump:

“This is a day of celebration. I have my boa in the car, I am raring to march in the parade. But there are big fights to come,” Warren said. “There is a man who hopes to be the leader of this great nation and he hopes to get there by hating others…The only way we beat bullies is we stand up and fight back.”

More pics from Boston Pride via The Gaily Grind:

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Cuba Celebrates LGBT Pride With International Days Against Homophobia And Transphobia

Cuba celebrated the island country’s version of LGBT Pride, under the title “International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia,” led by activist Mariela Castro-Espin, the 48-year-old daughter of Cuba’s President, Raul Castro, and niece of Fidel Castro.

From the Washington Blade:

Mariela Castro, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sexual Education that is known by the Spanish acronym CENESEX, joined transgender actress Candis Cayne and hundreds of others who marched from the oceanfront promenade at the base of the Hotel Nacional to a nearby pavilion under a scorching sun.

Mariela Castro, who is a member of the Cuban Parliament, has publicly spoken in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples. She voted against a gay-inclusive workplace discrimination bill in 2013 because it did not include gender identity.

The Cuban constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

The Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights and other independent advocacy groups launched a campaign late last year that encourages Cubans to sign a petition in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Two of the United States’ best known LGBT activists – Evan Wolfson (Freedom To Marry) and Tico Almeida (Freedom To Work), traveled to Havana to participate in the event.

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Video: 38th Annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras In Sydney, Australia

With 178 floats, over 12,500 participants and a massive party that stretched through the entire night, the 38th Annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras was the biggest and gayest party in the world yesterday.

Notable attendees included Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. While Mr. Turnbull has attended the event before, this year he becomes the first sitting Australian Prime Minister to attend the event. Also of note – Mr. Turnbull continues to block a vote on marriage equality.

The video below is covers almost four hours of gay Australia’s “night of nights.”

A video posted by Qantas (@qantas) on Mar 4, 2016 at 10:27pm PST

A photo posted by Contiki (@contiki) on Mar 5, 2016 at 3:43am PST

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Justin Trudeau To Become Canada’s First Sitting Prime Minister To March In LGBT Pride

Justin Trudeau

From Pride Toronto:

Pride Toronto, the city’s most vibrant and inclusive arts and cultural festival and North America’s largest Pride celebration, unveiled today its 2016 Pride Month theme, announcing to the world that this June, “YOU CAN SIT WITH US.”

Pride Toronto’s 2016 Parade will make Canadian history, with Justin Trudeau participating as Canada’s first ever sitting Prime Minister to march, alongside leadership from both Toronto’s municipal and Ontario’s provincial governments.

This year’s theme is a play on, and response to, the infamous line from the 2004 cult-classic film Mean Girls. ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH US’ conveys a strong message of belonging and inclusion – a sentiment that was heard in consultations with community members.

Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on June 1, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating the much-anticipated Pride Parade on July 3.

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Digital Pride: First Online, Global Pride Festival

This year, anyone with a computer, laptop or smartphone will be able to take part in LGBTI Pride from anywhere in the world.

LGBT media site Gay Star News is planning Digital Pride – the first-ever global streaming Pride event.

Via press release:

Everything a Pride should be for everyone in the world.

The LGBTI Pride movement is going fully online for the first time with a new global event – Digital Pride.

Created by Gay Star News, the Digital Pride festival will start on 25 April with the main Pride day on 30 April.

You will be invited to join live-streamed video discussions on topics ranging from identity and isolation to international LGBTI rights.

Help us celebrate our culture with the ultimate crowd-sourced LGBTI music playlist, stop-motion art creations and a short film festival – all shared entirely online.

Celebrities, politicians, activists and YouTube stars will be joining in with video messages and the world’s leading social media channels will help amplify the message of LGBTI love.

And it will all lead up to a big party with live performances – all live streamed, so people who have never had the chance to go to a gay club can be part of it all from the safety of their own homes.

Scott Nunn, Gay Star News director, said: ‘For a lot of people going to a Pride is not an option. They could risk their lives by trying to be open and proud about who they are.

‘The LGBTI community connects digitally more than any other way and we have used our power online to accelerate change around the world.

‘It’s time we brought the power of digital to the Pride movement with this global event.

‘This isn’t just a Pride for one city or even one country. A parade and party are great but Pride can and should be so much more.

‘So Digital Pride in 2016 will build the foundations for an annual LGBTI festival that will become the biggest Pride event in the world. And, in the spirit of Pride, it will be free.’

For more info, check in at DigitalPride.com.