LGBTQ news and entertainment
From Apple:
On June 29, thousands of Apple employees and their families marched in the San Francisco Pride Parade.
They came from around the world — from cities as far as Munich, Paris, and Hong Kong — to celebrate Apple’s unwavering commitment to equality and diversity.
Because we believe that inclusion inspires innovation.
Seattle drag queen Mama Tits was not having Christian protesters who tried to put a kink the city’s Gay Pride Parade on June 30.
Mama Tits stopped the anti-gay protesters in their tracks saying that they themselves are sinners “because they are wearing cotton polyblend – that is an abomination.”
And the speechifying just got better and better:
“Why don’t you read your own book and actually follow the teachings to the letter of god and learn to support and love. You need to drop the hate. You are a sad, sad excuse for a human being. Once you learn to drop the hate, you too can find happiness because we will welcome you with open arms if you learn to open your minds. Not today satan, not today!”
Mama Tits said this to Seattle Gay Scene:
“Before I knew it, I was standing tits to nose with the leader guy on the megaphone. It felt like I had the strength of all the people who had ever been hurt by these people standing right behind be me giving me power!
I was almost in autopilot mode from my days as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence.
I planted myself in his path and wouldn’t move. When he walked around me, I got back in front of him again and again. I stared him in the eyes and could see the pain in his eyes, I could see he was scared and he should have been.
He tried to hit me with his sign, but like Bianca Del Rio says ‘Not Today, Satan!’ I pushed his sign away from my face and hair, because you DO NOT TOUCH my hair.
And, it was all I could do to NOT get violent, but I didn’t because once that happens, we all lose.”
Starbucks celebrated the beginning of Seattle’s 40th LGBT Pride Week on Monday by raising an 800 square foot rainbow pride flag over its Seattle headquarters.
“A gesture as simple as flying a flag might not seem like much on face, but it represents another step forward for the LGBT community as companies all around Seattle both recognize and celebrate the LGBT community,” said Seattle Pride, in a statement.
“The flag flying over their headquarters will welcome thousands of visitors coming to Seattle to celebrate Pride this week and is a testament to the support Starbucks has shown the LGBT community over the years,” said Adam McRoberts, Communications Director for Seattle Pride.
Melissa Etheridge, Deborah Cox and Steve Grand were just a few of the entertainers who helped kick off WorldPride in Toronto last night.
Anti-gay “Christians” found they could not stay at home with a beautiful gay pride event happening in Spokane.
Why these folks make such an effort to make signs, bring their children, and travel to where a pride event is just to disrupt is beyond me.
And no, I don’t for a minute believe it’s because the haters “love” us and have our best interests at heart. I think they just don’t like anyone who’s different.
Sad.
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| US Ambassador Dan Shapiro prepares to march in Tel Aviv Pride Parade |
The US Embassy issued this congratulatory video for Tel Aviv Pride 2014.
In addition, the US Ambassador to Israel – Dan Shapiro – marched in the pride parade and wished the those celebrating happy pride.
I should add my longtime friends Russell and Dan are visiting Tel Aviv for Pride and are in the video below for a short moment at the :05 mark!
Happy Pride Tel Aviv!
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| My friends Dan and Russell who have a quick cameo in the US Embassy’s Pride Video |
I recently reported on a Salt Lake City police officer who allegedly “refused” an assignment to work on the Utah Pride Parade.
It turns out there’s another side to that story. According to the officer’s lawyer, he never “refused” to work the Parade, just asked to not ride a motorcycle at the head of the parade.
From FOX13 in Salt Lake City:
The officer’s attorney, Bret Rawson, told FOX 13 that his client worked on the motorcycle squadron for the Salt Lake City Police Department and was uncomfortable with his role at the pride parade. Rawson said the officer has “conservative, religious beliefs” and felt that riding with the motorycle squad would be seen as “advocating in favor of the LGBTQ community, a possition which made him uncomfortable given his personal and religious beliefs.”
Rawson claims the officer had managed to trade roles with another officer, when department administration intervened and put him on suspension.
“He never flatly refused to do his job in that motorcade,” Rawson said in an interview with FOX 13. “Instead of being given that opportunity, he was ridiculed in the press by allegations of bigotry and more.”
On Friday, the officer was put on paid administrative leave after he reportedly refused an assignment during this past weekend’s Utah Pride Festival.
I would love to say, if true, this makes the story a different issue. BUT – for one thing, as the police department pointed out, officers don’t get to pick and choose their assignments. So why should this instance be different?
Also, with a motorcycle helmet and sunglasses and uniform, I can’t imagine anyone would even recognize this particular officer. So the idea of his being seen as “advocating” homosexuality is a stretch. I think that idea would only exist in his head.
It’s interesting that he did not want to be on a motorcycle at the head of the parade, but now feels he’s been “defamed” by the police department’s statements – which did not include his name. How can you be “defamed” if no one knows who you are?
See FOX13’s report below.
On this week’s episode of Our America on the OWN Channel, Lisa Ling revisits Ty and Landon – two transgender men – three years after documenting their journey from female to male.
In the episode, Ty recalls the first time he attended a gay pride parade. “Maybe one day my family will come to this,” he said.
Kim struggled with the loss of her daughter, Tanya, as she transitioned into Ty. Now, at the San Francisco Pride Parade, Kim tells her son how happy she is for him and how his journey inspired her to change her life for the better:
“You’ve always known who you are and who you wanted to be. And just in the last three years, the man that you have become, that’s why I’ve quit my job and gone back to school. You have inspired me so much.”
Learn more about the two men’s journeys at oprah.com.
KSL.com is reporting a police officer assigned to perform traffic control and security for Utah Pride Parade has been placed on leave after refusing the assignment.
“We don’t tolerate bias and bigotry in the department, and assignments are assignments,” said department spokeswoman Lara Jones.
The officer is on paid administrative leave as the internal affairs unit reviews the situation, Jones said. He had been given a traffic control and public safety assignment.
“We serve a variety of community events with similar functions, and to allow personal opinion to enter into whether an officer will take a post is not something that can be tolerated in a police department,” Jones said.
The police department has provided these services since the parade began. In addition, several Salt Lake City police officers, including the Police Chief, have marched in the Parade.