LGBTQ news and entertainment
Some news items that caught my eye: • The Guardian: Deputy Joseph Benza III, of the LA Sheriff’s Department, has pleaded guilty to beating and arresting a trans man in February 2023 for flipping the middle finger. Eight other deputies were dismissed for helping Benza cover up his false police report. Continue reading “LA Sheriff’s Deputies Dismissed For Covering Up Trans Beating + More News”
Newsmax talking head Rob Schmitt had an on-air meltdown upon finding out the Buffalo Bills are “proud to support the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) with a sponsorship to launch a chapter in Buffalo.” Continue reading “Newsmax Host Melts Down Over National Gay Flag Football League”
(photo: Lucy Copsey)
U.S. Supreme Court (public domain)
(image via Depositphotos)
Some news items you might have missed: • Back2Stonewall: Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick won the special election in Florida’s heavily-Democratic 20th District with 79% of the vote. But her Republican opponent/convicted felon Jason Mariner is calling it election fraud. Continue reading “News Round-Up: January 14, 2022”
North Dakota’s state legislature passed a bill today prohibiting transgender students from participating in a school-sponsored athletic team. The bill passed 69 to 25 and now goes to Gov. Doug Burgum’s desk. Bills banning transgender students from sports participation are now awaiting vetoes or signatures from governors of North Dakota, Montana, Kansas and West Virginia.
BREAKING (bad news…again): The North Dakota legislature has now passed HB1298 – a bill that bars trans kids from sports. We must quickly mobilize to tell @DougBurgum to VETO HB1298. Kids need to live. #LetKidsPlay
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) April 15, 2021
“Transgender young people just want to be safe, belong, and live free of discrimination, including from some in their own government. There is no evidence that including trans kids harms anyone.
“This bill and similar measures across dozens of states are unnecessary and harmful to all young people. Lawmakers must stop targeting the most vulnerable in their states. They are sending a terrible message that hurts all kids and threatens their states’ economies. Gov. Burgum must veto this damaging bill.”
Action alert: The North Dakota Senate has passed the anti-trans sports ban #HB1298. The bill now heads to Gov. Burgum’s desk.
If you live in North Dakota, call @DougBurgum and tell him to veto this bill.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 15, 2021
At least 64 anti-trans sports bills have been introduced across the country in 2021.
Sports are for everyone. Sign on to our grassroots team and join the fight to #LetKidsPlay: https://t.co/coyz7Wt5ph
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 15, 2021
Anthony Neuer makes history at Pro Bowlers U.S. Open
Because, what could possibly go wrong?
From The Guardian:
Conservative legislators in Washington state have proposed a bill that would allow fans to bring guns into stadiums. The bill was proposed by Republican representatives Matt Shea, David Taylor and Bob McCaslin and would prevent stadium operators from stopping members of the public with licenses to carry concealed firearms from entering their venues with weapons.
Stadiums affected would include the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, the home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and MLS’s Seattle Sounders. The Sounders won their first MLS title on Saturday night with victory over Toronto FC.
On Sunday, the NFL told the Washington Post it would oppose the bill. “We haven’t seen the proposed legislation but we have a policy forbidding carrying a weapon into NFL stadiums,” Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, said in a statement.
Although US sports do not have the same reputation for violence as some of the more dangerous parts of European and South American soccer, there would be obvious concerns about allow firearms into venues with alcohol and where passions can ignite.
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| Coach Sean McKinney |
Last week, former Minor League Baseball player Tyler Dunnington spoke to Outsports to share his story of the homophobia he experienced while playing both in college and for the Gulf Coast League Cardinals, a team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Even though he was closeted at the time, it was the language he heard from other players and coaches – yes, coaches – that wore heavily on his soul.
Dunnington recalled being on the field one day when a coach mentioned in passing, “We kill gay people in Wyoming.” Tyler never named the coach or any individuals. He eventually stepped away from the game that had given him so much joy.
After that report broke and investigation was done, and that coach – Sean McKinney of Colorado Mesa University – stepped up and took responsibility for the comment. McKinney says the comment, in the moment, was meant to be “humorous,” not fully understanding the impact of his language.
The university president and others at CMU are now collaborating with the school’s Gay/Straight Alliance and One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people to improve the atmosphere for LGBT athletes at the school.
From Outsports:
“As the story spread and more stuff was revealed, it got really tough this week,” McKinney told Outsports in an exclusive interview. “I’m forever in debt to the people in this university and my friends and family. They know my true character. Some of that is in question, obviously, because of what’s gone on with Tyler’s story. But I would never harm anyone on our team. This week I’m sure this has been questions about how I feel about Tyler. I hope he’s OK. I called him this morning to apologize. I want him to have a good life.”
“I’ve made some off-the-cuff comments, and one in particular was not right. Tyler heard it, and I apologized for it. Through this process I’m learning everyone’s stories and what the impact of our language is.”
“This has been a tremendous learning experience. In meetings with our president and people across campus, I think this is going to go in a very positive direction. I’ll focus on my team and my guys to raise awareness. This is an experience we can use to move forward. I’ve talked to all of our players. We’ve had conversations, and they’ve gone great. And that will have a ripple affect across our campus.”
McKinney says this past week has been “life-changing” for him and he looks forward to the opportunity to turn this to a positive conversation.
You can watch the press conference at Colorado Mesa University here.
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| Out baseball player Tyler Dunnington during his Minor League Baseball days |