Tag Archives: Discrimination

Update: Russian lesbian feminist fined for gay propaganda, still facing jail on pornography charge

Yulia Tsvetkova

Yulia Tsvetkova, who was charged with spreading “gay propaganda” among minors three times in less than a year, was fined by a court in the eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Friday (July 10).

Vladimir Putin and his government banned so-called “gay propaganda” in 2013, prohibiting the “promotion of nontraditional sexual relations to minors”. Under his rule, sharing information about LGBT+ people’s lives can earn a person a prison sentence.

Tsvetkova was prosecuted for her colourful drawings showing LGBT+ relationships. One of the drawings, called “A family where love is”, shows gay and lesbian couples with their children.

She was also investigated for running a social-media page called Vagina Monologues, which encourages people to share artistic depictions of vaginas in order to “remove the taboo”.

The 27-year-old is facing a criminal trial for the offence of pornography after posting drawings of vaginas online in this group.

If convicted on these charges, Tsvetkova faces six years in prison.

Continue reading at: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/07/13/yulia-tsvetkova-russia-activist-fine-gay-propaganda-drawings-lesbian-gay-lgbt-families/ (Source)

Related articles:

Russia: two additional cases opened against lesbian activist Julia Tsvetkova

L2L Russia

Second case:

A second case was drawn up against Julia Tsvetkova, a feminist and artist from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, alleging promotion of “gay propaganda” among minors – because of the picture in support of LGBT families “Family is where there is love” and other materials in relation to this topic. RFI reported the news about Julia Tsvetkova on July 2.

Third Case:

A third case alleging promotion of homosexuality has been opened against artist and LGBT activist Julia Tsvetkova, as reported on her Facebook wall. The trigger for the case is the picture published by Julia for the flashmob #Yes I choose, which was launched on social networks in response to a video promoting amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation with the involvement of same-sex families.

“With the previous administration, the investigation took six months. Therefore, it is too early to talk about the protocol, the court and the fine in the context of the new case. Is it possible this case won’t reach court? I doubt it. My predictions are that they will dig and dig for everything they want. So far it works that way. What is this about? The fact that they are not far behind me? That the country is homophobic? That a shell can hit three times in one place? That all this is not ok? Why state the obvious? This is probably all I can say now. And also, that I will not choose a country in which three charges are laid just to oppose the idea that ​​“Family is where there is love,” Tsvetkova noted.

Second case: Continue reading at: The second protocol on “gay propaganda” was drawn up for the artist Julia Tsvetkova

Third case: Continue reading at: https://www.buro247.ru/news/lifestyle/7-jul-2020-yulia-tcvetkova-new-case.html (Source)

Related articles:

второй протокол:

На феминистку и художницу из Комсомольска-на-Амуре Юлию Цветкову составили новый протокол о «гей-пропаганде» среди несовершеннолетних — из-за картинки в поддержку ЛГБТ-семей «Семья там, где любовь» и других материалов на эту тему Вконтакте. Об этом Юлия Цветкова 2 июля сообщила RFI.

третий протокол:

На художницу и ЛГБТ-активистку Юлию Цветкову заведено третье административное дело о пропаганде гомосексуализма. Она сообщила об этом на своей странице в фейсбуке. Причиной послужила картинка, опубликованная девушкой в рамках флешмоба #ДаВыберу, который был запущен в соцсетях в ответ на ролик за поправки в Конституцию РФ с участием однополой семьи.

«По предыдущей административке проведение экспертизы заняло полгода. Поэтому говорить о протоколе, суде и штрафе в рамках нового дела пока рано. Может ли это дело не дойти до суда? Сомневаюсь. Мои прогнозы, что копать будут и накопают все, что хотят. Пока это работает именно так. О чем это говорит? О том, что от меня не отстали? О том, что страна гомофобна? О том, что снаряд может трижды ударить в одно место? О том, что все это не ок? Зачем проговаривать очевидное? Наверное, это все, что я могу сказать сейчас. А еще, что я не выберу страну, в которой за идею “Семья там, где любовь” с подачи ФСБ заводят уже третье дело подряд», — отметила Цветкова.

(Original)

Australia: Lesbian couple told to leave cafe and ‘never come back’

Image courtesy of Sarah Ward

Last Sunday, at the end of Pride month, during the worst health crisis in a century and as the world grapples with racial discrimination through the Black Lives Matter movement, the owner of Poets Cafe in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, chose the moment to demand an inter-racial pair of lesbian health workers leave his cafe and “never come back.”

C is a doctor who currently works in an Emergency Department. J is a student midwife on call to deliver babies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. QNews chooses not to divulge the names of the couple because they remain working in the health system at a time of global crisis.

Like most health workers, the two women work long shifts during the pandemic.

Last Sunday, enjoying rare time off together, they took a drive through the Sunshine Coast hinterland. They made the most of a rare opportunity to enjoy some downtime together and reconnoitre potential wedding venues for their planned nuptials. They arrived at scenic Montville — as the name suggests — a mountain village, just 20 minutes drive from Australia Zoo. With sweeping views across the Sunshine Coast from high atop the green hills of the Blackall Range, Montville enjoys a thriving tourist trade.

Swept away by the beauty of the small township and reassured of a friendly welcome by the rainbow flags dotted about the town, the couple looked around for a wedding venue.

C and J found the Poets Cafe. The cafe’s website boasts of “uninterrupted views of the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

While waiting for someone to take their order, the couple held hands as loving couples commonly do. They noticed that an older man they assumed owned the venue became visibly angry as he watched them.

C said, “We ordered coffee, took a menu, sat at a table and caught up on paperwork.” (With their work hours monopolised by caring for patients, they take paperwork home to do in their own time.)

J told QNews, ” We told four different waitstaff we wished to order food after our coffee.”

However, the moment the women took the first sip from their coffees, the older man instructed a staff member to present them with a bill.

C asked the man if he needed the table back. Although the cafe was not following COVID-19 restrictions, there were plenty of empty tables.

“Finish up and leave!”
The man responded angrily.

“I want you to just finish up and leave!”

Not comprehending what inspired the anger and adverse to causing a scene, the pair went outside. They thought the owner might follow and explain. Instead, one of the waitstaff came out and asked for payment for the coffees. The couple stated they would not pay after such poor treatment. They asked to speak to the owner but the staff member said he would not come out and somewhat defensively stated: “That’s just what he’s like.”

Seeing him standing at the counter unoccupied, C returned and asked for a word with him. He answered curtly.

“I want you to never come back here.”

Continue reading at: https://qnews.com.au/lesbian-couple-told-to-leave-cafe-and-never-come-back/ (Source)

Update: Protesters arrested in Russia for supporting lesbian activist

L2L Russia

Russian police on Saturday detained more than 30 people, most of them women, who were staging separate one-person protests in central Moscow against charges of spreading pornography levelled against a prominent LGBT activist, a monitoring group said.

One activist was also detained in St Petersburg, according to OVD-Info, which monitors law enforcement issues in Russia.

Earlier this month, police in the Russian far east charged Julia Tsvetkova, an LGBT and feminist activist, with spreading pornography via her pictures, she said on her Facebook page.

If found guilty, Tsvetkova may face up to six years in prison.

Continue reading at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/27/over-30-protesters-arrested-in-moscow-for-supporting-lgbt-activist-rights-group (Source)

Original article: Russia: Lesbian artist faces six years jail for creating innocent pictures

Updates:

UK: crowdfunding removed for lesbian lawyer suing Stonewall and law firm

Allison Bailey

My name is Allison Bailey. I am a criminal defence barrister, a feminist, a lesbian, a lifelong campaigner for racial equality, lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights, and a survivor of child sexual abuse.  …

In 2019, I helped to set up the LGB Alliance with other campaigners and activists who felt, like me, that organisations such as Stonewall had seriously lost their way in recent years: they had conflated sex with gender, meaning that same sex attraction – the fundamental basis of lesbian and gay attraction, and therefore the fundamental basis of lesbian and gay rights – was no longer recognised.  The impacts of this have been several and severe, and in order to campaign properly for gay and lesbian rights, we felt that a new organisation was required. …

A person may identify as they identify, and they should be protected and respected for their identity. However, a person’s identity is not a license to cause distress or intimidation to others, and can never legitimately be used to put others to harm. There are necessary exceptions to the acceptance of males in female spaces, and those exceptions are necessary to protect women.

These injustices arise as a result of the misguided insistence that gender has somehow replaced sex as a fundamental aspect of human identity.  It is for that reason that I am gender critical.  This is not to say that gender is not a genuine aspect of identity for some people.  But it is separate and does not (and cannot) replace sex.

The result of Stonewall’s “acceptance without exception” mantra is to put women at risk of harm. …

Perhaps most specifically from my point of view, that Stonewall unilaterally and without any mandate whatsoever, and to further its lobbying ambitions, redefined homosexuality as same-gender and not same-sex attraction was an especially egregious betrayal of LGB people, especially lesbians. The inclusion of male-bodied people into the class of lesbian women means that lesbians are excoriated for bigotry and transphobia simply for being same-sex attracted.  This is base homophobia.

It was because of these injustices – and the role as I and others saw of it of Stonewall in promoting these injustices – that the LGB Alliance was set up, in order to fill the void in LGB campaigning that Stonewall had left when they decided to campaign for “acceptance without exception”.

Continue reading at: https://filia.org.uk/news/2020/6/27/allison-bailey-i-am-suing-stonewall-to-stop-them-policing-free-speech (Source)

US: Catholic Church fires lesbian music director after 3 decades

Image courtesy of Sarah Ward

Terry Gonda loves the Catholic church, though it hasn’t always loved her back — at least unconditionally.

After three decades helping run the musical life of her parish, Gonda was fired from her job as music director Wednesday for being married to a woman — a relationship that she says was never a secret. Not with her family, friends, church or pastor.

But in recent weeks, Gonda said, someone within the Detroit Archdiocese caught wind of her marital status and decided that something needed to be done, that her same-sex marriage made her morally unfit to keep her job.

As was explained to her in a June 12 email: “The Archdiocese is choosing to activate its morality clause to terminate your employment.”

The words stung Gonda, who has long stood by the embattled Catholic church despite its strained relationship with the LGBTQ community and its past: The sex abuse scandal involving pedophile priests. The coverups. Homosexuals denied Communion. Lesbians fired from teaching jobs.

Continue reading at: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2020/06/24/detroit-archdiocese-terry-gonda-catholic-church-same-sex-marriage/3247103001/ (Source)

Italy: lesbians harassed in public park

L2L Italy

“My girlfriend and I sat down at a table to eat a pizza. Suddenly she seemed very tired, so I hugged her. It was a spontaneous, thoughtful gesture. At some point a man approached and started screaming in our direction,” says Mirella.

“You two have to go away! A man and a woman together are fine. A woman with another woman is not. ”

Mirella, incredulous, asked him: “Can’t we hug each other?” and the man replied: “No, this is a public park! There are also children! You suck! ” After that, the park keeper moved away, but continued to control them by remaining seated on a bench nearby.

Before leaving , she approached him to ask for an explanation: “Other people are embracing, why haven’t they been told off?” Raising his voice, the man replied: “Because what they do is normal, what you do is not. And you’ve done it before ”

“I asked him to stay calm because he was screaming. It is not the first time it has happened. Last year, always in that park, my ex gave me a kiss and he told us to leave. But then there are kids aged 15-16, one on top of the other, and he never says anything to them. It is just an injustice. I didn’t want to be silent. I don’t accept it. I was afraid. I don’t want to experience something like this again.”
(Translated)

“Io e la mia ragazza ci siamo sedute ad un tavolino per mangiare una pizza. Ad un tratto mi è sembrata molto stanca, così l’ho abbracciata. E’ stato un gesto spontaneo, premuroso. Ad un certo punto un uomo si è avvicinato e ha iniziato a urlare in nostra direzione”, ci racconta Mirella.

“Voi due dovete andare via! Un uomo ed una donna insieme vanno bene. Una donna con un’altra donna no”.

Così Mirella, incredula, gli ha chiesto: “Non ci possiamo abbracciare?” e questa persona ha risposto: “No, questo è un Parco pubblico! Ci sono anche bambini! Fate schifo!” Dopodiché il Guardiano si è allontanato, ma ha continuato a controllarle rimanendo seduto su una panchina poco distante.

Così lei, prima di andarsene, gli è andata incontro chiedendo spiegazioni: “Si stanno abbracciando altre persone, perché a loro non è stato detto niente?”
L’uomo alzando la voce le ha risposto: “Perché ciò che fanno loro è normale, quello che fate voi no. E tu l’hai già fatto altre volte”

“L’ho invitato a stare calmo perché stava urlando. Non è la prima volta in cui accade. L’anno scorso, sempre in quel parco, la mia ex mi diede un bacio e lui ci invitò ad andar via. Poi però ci sono ragazzini sui 15-16 anni, uno sopra all’altro, e a loro non ha mai detto nulla. È proprio un’ingiustizia. Non ho voluto stare in silenzio. Non lo accetto. Ho avuto paura. Non voglio vivere ancora una cosa del genere”.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.arcigay.it/articoli/comunicato-stampa-nuovo-atto-omofobo-a-pescara/#.XvMoqWgzbIU (Source)

Germany: lack of protection for black lesbian refugees

L2L Germany

NGO figures indicate that in Bavaria around 95% of asylum applications made by black lesbian women are initially rejected by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

This contrasts with the general rejection rate of gay men of 50% and that of heterosexual women of around 30%. Although the numbers on LGBTI asylum applications are only an estimate because the BAMF does not separately register asylum cases from LGBTI people, these seem to show that lesbian asylum seekers in Germany are facing special challenges in their search for refugee protection.

Women and children are particularly vulnerable

This is especially true for black lesbian women of African descent who often experience forms of LGBTIQ-hostility such as social ostracism, racism and (sexual) violence.

In line with a recent EU directive, Germany recognises violations of human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for asylum. In addition, with the ratification of the 2011 Istanbul Convention, Germany recognises that gender-based violence can be a persecution and that refugee protection should therefore be guaranteed. Indeed, women and children, along with victims of sex trafficking, are considered the most vulnerable and vulnerable in the European asylum system.

As the 2019 statistics from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees show, over 50% of heterosexual women in Germany have successfully achieved refugee status as victims of gender-specific persecution (forced marriage, FGM, honour killings, rape, domestic violence or forced prostitution). However, lesbian refugees are struggling to show the violence and human rights violations they have experienced to receive protection of asylum.
(Translated)

NGO-Zahlen deuten darauf hin, dass in Bayern etwa 95 Prozent der Asylanträge, die von Schwarzen lesbischen Frauen gestellt werden, beim Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) erst einmal eine Ablehnung erfahren.

Dies steht im Gegensatz zu der allgemeinen Ablehnungsrate von schwulen Männern von 50 Prozent und der von heterosexuellen Frauen von etwa 30 Prozent. Obwohl die Zahlen zu LSBTI-Asylanträgen nur eine Schätzung sind, weil das BAMF Asylfälle von LSBTI nicht gesondert erfasst, scheinen diese jedoch zu zeigen, dass lesbische Asylsuchende auf der Suche nach Flüchtlingsschutz in Deutschland besonderen Herausforderungen gegenüberstehen.

Frauen und Kinder gelten als besonders schutzbedürftig
Dies gilt insbesondere für Schwarze lesbische Frauen afrikanischer Herkunft, welche oft Formen von LSBTIQ-Feindlichkeit wie soziale Ächtung, Rassismus und (sexuelle) Gewalt erfahren.

In Übereinstimmung mit einer kürzlich erlassenen EU-Richtlinie erkennt Deutschland Menschenrechtsverletzungen aufgrund der sexuellen Ausrichtung und der Geschlechtsidentität als Asylgrund an. Darüber hinaus erkennt Deutschland mit der Ratifizierung der Istanbuler Konvention von 2011, dass geschlechtsspezifische Gewalt eine Verfolgung darstellen kann und daher Flüchtlingsschutz gewährleistet werden soll. Tatsächlich werden Frauen und Kinder zusammen mit den Opfern von Sexhandel als die schutzbedürftigsten und am stärksten gefährdeten Personen im europäischen Asylsystem betrachtet.

Wie die 2019 Statistik des Bundesamtes für Migration und Flüchtlinge zeigt, haben in Deutschland über 50 Prozent der heterosexuellen Frauen erfolgreich den Flüchtlingsstatus als Opfer geschlechtsspezifischer Verfolgung (Zwangsheirat, FGM, Ehrenmord, Vergewaltigung, häusliche Gewalt oder Zwangsprostitution) erlangt. Lesbische Geflüchtete kämpfen jedoch darum, erlebte Gewalt und Menschenrechtsverletzungen für den Flüchtlingsschutz geltend zu machen.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/queerspiegel/asylgrund-homosexualitaet-fehlender-schutz-fuer-schwarze-lesbische-gefluechtete/25938886.html (Source)

Aram Bolandpaz: a lesbian TV reporter fighting for her community in Iran

Aram_Bolandpaz

By Aram Bolandpaz

To be an openly proud member of the LGBT+ community working as a journalist and presenter is a unique opportunity.

It has enabled me to report on the issues I care about the most. My work primarily focuses on human rights and edgy stories. That includes reporting on LGBT+ life inside Iran and the experiences of the LGBT+ community more broadly in the Middle East.

You see, LGBT+ rights in Iran have come into conflict with the Iranian penal code since the 1930s.

Post-revolutionary Iran forbids any type of sexual activity outside of a heterosexual marriage. Moreover same-sex sexual activities are punishable by imprisonment, corporal punishment, or execution.

In the Middle East, Iran is one of five countries to punish same-sex relations by the death penalty. The others are Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, and Sudan.

When it comes to the lesbian and bisexual community inside Iran, the punishment for same-sex conduct starts with lashes. But on the fourth ‘offence’ the court can give the death penalty.

Continue reading at: https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/how-this-lesbian-tv-reporter-uses-journalism-to-fight-for-the-lgbt-community-in-iran/ (Source)

Mexico: violent father granted sole custody of daughter because mother is lesbian

L2L Mexico

Anayansi has not seen her daughter for five years, after divorcing her ex-husband to marry Martha. Despite serious allegations that the girl is being raped by the father, the justice system in Sinaloa and the institutions that watch over the family and women’s rights have ignored the evidence.

According to Anayansi, the authorities’ justification for not giving her custody of her daughter is because “being a lesbian, she sets a bad example for the minor.”

Martha and Anayansi were married in Guadalajara when same-sex marriage was made legal there.

Anayansi says that almost six years ago when she separated from her ex-husband, the divorce process began and with it the unexpected child custody outcome.

When all this started, it was a big deal in my family and in the courts. They said that I was a tomboy and the judge, although she did not put the reason for her decision in writing in the judgement, practically said that I was a bad mother and for that I was not going to be able to see my daughter. When I personally went to ask for the reason that my daughter was going to live with her father, she concluded by saying that it was because of who I was: my sexual orientation.
(Translated)

Anayansi tiene cinco años sin ver a su hija, tras divorciarse de su ex marido para casarse con Martha. Pese a que existen señalamientos graves de que la niña es violentada por el padre, la justicia en Sinaloa y las instituciones que velan por la familia y derechos de las mujeres, han ignorado las pruebas.

Según Anayansi, la justificación de las autoridades para no darle la custodia de su hija es porque “al ser lesbiana da un mal ejemplo a la menor”.

Martha y Anayansi se casaron en Guadalajara ya que en esa entidad sí es legal el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo.

Anayansi cuenta que hace casi seis años se separó de su ex marido, se inició el proceso de divorcio y con ello la incógnita de para quien sería la custodia de la niña.

Cuando todo esto empezó se hizo un zafarrancho en mi familia y en los juzgados, decían que yo era una marimacha y la juez, aunque no dejó por escrito en la sentencia en qué basó su dictamen, prácticamente dijo que yo era una mala mamá y por eso no iba a poder ver a la niña. Cuando fui personalmente a ver el porqué de esta decisión de que se quedara la niña con su papá, ella remató diciendo que era por cómo yo era: mi orientación sexual.
(Original)

Continue reading: https://www.elsoldesinaloa.com.mx/local/por-ser-lesbiana-la-justicia-discrimina-a-anayansi-5334426.html (source)

France: 2020 SOSHomophobie report shows family and public violence against lesbians

SOSHomophobie 2020

The previous report highlighted the extent of lesbophobia, and numbers for 2019
are still alarming: lesbians are targeted in 679 cases, including 300 specifically
lesbophobic and 379 expressions of general LGBTIphobia. Analysis of specific cases shows the increased weight of violence within the family (16%), but especially in public spaces public (19%), a significantly higher share than for the other categories of LGBTI people. Rejection (75%), insults (43%), discrimination (24%) or harassment (21%) and threats (19%), are the most common manifestations of lesbophobia. We find that, most often, violence against lesbians is related to the fact that they dare to show themselves and go out together: this is the case in 58% of assaults in public places. The rejection of same-sex parenthood is also very significant and involved in almost 12% of cases of lesbophobia and 9% of cases of general LGBTIphobia.

Once again this year, lesbians are not spared from discrimination, manifestations of hate and violence, and are their sexual orientation is rejected as much as gay men. As women and homosexuals, they doubly transgress the social norm of heterosexism, a political system in which the norm is heterosexuality and with male dominace. Any woman who deviates from expected behaviour is the object of lesbophobia: “Girls with short hair are all lesbians.”
By freeing themselves from male domination, lesbians are victims of insults and assaults focused on denying their sexuality: “You will see, I will make you change sides and love my big venous cock. ”
Lesbophobia is present in everyday life and manifests itself in any sphere: college, high school, family, work, neighborhood, friendly circle; “dirty dykes, dirty whores, you are waste of society, shitty gouinasses” are commonplace.

(Translated)

Le rapport précédent mettait en lumière l’ampleur de la lesbophobie, et les chiffres de 2019 sont encore alarmants : les lesbiennes sont visées dans 679 cas, dont 300 spécifiquement lesbophobes et 379 expressions d’une LGBTIphobie générale. L’analyse des cas spécifiques montre le poids accru des violences au sein de la famille (16 %), mais surtout dans l’espace public (19 %), une part nettement plus importante que pour les autres catégories de personnes LGBTI. Rejet (75 %), insultes (43 %), discriminations (24 %) ou encore harcèlement (21 %) et menaces (19 %), sont les manifestations qui reviennent le plus pour dénoncer cette lesbophobie latente. On constate que, le plus souvent, la violence envers les lesbiennes est liée au fait qu’elles osent se montrer et sortir ensemble : c’est le cas dans 58 % des agressions dans les lieux publics. Le rejet de l’homoparentalité est également très prégnant et concerne près de 12 % des cas de lesbophobie et 9 % des cas de LGBTIphobie générale.

Cette année encore, les lesbiennes ne sont pas épargnées par les discriminations, manifestations haineuses et violences, et sont autant que les gays confrontées au rejet de leur orientation sexuelle. En tant que femmes et homosexuelles, elles transgressent doublement la norme sociale de l’hétérosexisme, système politique dans lequel la norme est l’hétérosexualité et l’homme le dominant. Toute femme dérogeant aux comportements attendus est l’objet de lesbophobie : « Les filles aux cheveux courts sont toutes lesbiennes. »
En s’affranchissant de la domination masculine, les lesbiennes sont victimes d’insultes et d’agressions mettant en évidence le déni de leur sexualité : « Tu verras je vais te faire changer de bord et aimer ma grosse bite veineuse. »
La lesbophobie est présente au quotidien et se manifeste dans n’importe quelle sphère: collège, lycée, famille, travail, voisinage, cercle amical ; les « sales gouines, sales putes, vous êtes des déchets de la société, gouinasses de merde » sont monnaie courante.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.sos-homophobie.org/sites/default/files/rapport_homophobie_2020_interactif.pdf (Source)

U.S: Lesbian teen denied graduation over dress code

Dynasia

Dynasia Clark is a senior from Lamar High School in Darlington County. Like most high school students, Clark loves music, writes poems, and couldn’t wait to graduate.

While other schools across the nation aren’t able to hold an in-person graduation because of the coronavirus pandemic, the school was able to find a way to still have a ceremony.

On Tuesday, Clark was getting prepared to walk the stage and become an official high school graduate. But before she was able to take her seat she was told she was not allowed to walk because of what she was wearing– pants.

Being openly gay [sic], she wanted to feel comfortable in her skin as she experienced this once in a lifetime moment.

The school, not the county, had put in place a dress code for the event which required girls to wear a dress. For Dynasia, she wasn’t expecting the school to stop her.

“I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal, because we’re already here, we’re already fixing to walk but now I can’t go because of a dress code,” Clark says.

Realizing that school officials were not going to change their minds, she walked off the field.

“I was angry more than anything because we worked hard to even have a graduation and then I can’t walk because I don’t got on a dress,” Clark says.

However, understanding the importance of this moment, she decided to stay and watch the ceremony from the other side of the gate.

“I was okay standing outside the gate watching them graduate because they’re my classmates,” says Clark. “I wouldn’t want to just go home because I can’t walk.”

As names were being called to receive their diplomas, Clark was ready to hear her name to acknowledge all the hard work she put in the past four years.

But it was never said.

Continue reading: https://wpde.com/news/local/gay-lamar-hs-senior-denied-walking-at-graduation-over-dress-code (source)

Update: Kenyan court refuses to lift ban on acclaimed lesbian romance film

rafiki

A Kenyan court on Wednesday refused to lift a ban on a locally-made acclaimed film portraying a lesbian romance, the film’s producer said, adding that she would continue to fight for freedom of expression in the East African nation.

The film “Rafiki” – which means friend in Kiswahili – was banned by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) in April 2018 on the grounds that it promotes homosexuality in a country where gay sex is a criminal offence.

Rafiki’s producer Wanuri Kahiu appealed against the ban, arguing it was against freedom of expression which is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution. But the constitutional court stayed the ban, saying there was no violation of freedom of expression.

“We are disappointed of course. But I strongly believe in the constitution and we are not going to give up,” Kahiu told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“I think it is very important for us to define what freedom of expression means in Kenya as per our constitution. We are going to appeal. The ruling today is not a true reflection of what the constitution says.”

Continue reading: https://news.trust.org/item
/20200429132946-3oyxt
(source)

Original article: https://listening2lesbians.com/2018/09/24/update-kenyan-court-lifts-ban-on-lesbian-love-film/

U.S: Lesbian couple’s house vandalized with hate speech & obscene drawings

Image courtesy of Sarah Ward

Keri and Katrina Sprinkle live in Borden in southern Indiana. On April 10, they woke up to find the words “LESBIN” [sic] and “QUEER” spray-painted on their truck. Penises were painted on the truck and their driveway too.

The vandal also painted a message on their house, “I love penis,” written in symbols.

“I was in total shock,” Keri told WLKY. “I collapsed in the middle of the street and just started crying because it was that whole feeling of violation and how could someone not only do this to my place of dwelling, but my vehicle, and then we found another graffiti mark in the driveway, and then we found one on her car as well.”

Katrina posted images of the graffiti on Facebook.

“I will pay a reward for anyone who can tell me, without a doubt, who did this!!!” she wrote.

Continue reading: https://www.lgbtqnation.com
/2020/04/lesbian-couples-house-vandalized-hate-speech-obscene-drawings/
(source)

A third of UK lesbian mothers experience homophobia from other parents

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One in three lesbian mothers in Britain has experienced homophobia from other parents, while the same proportion have children who have been bullied for having two mums, according to a rare study of LGBT+ women published on Monday.

The online survey by research firm Kantar of more than 1400 LGBT+ women – one of the largest of its kind – found 37% of lesbian mothers suffered discrimination from other parents, while the same number’s children were victimised.

The study offers a rare look at the plight of lesbian mothers in the country, where reported homophobic hate crimes rose 25% in England and Wales in the year to March 2019 and three-fold since same-sex marriage was legalised in 2013.

Continue reading: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-lgbt-education-trfn/third-of-uk-lesbian-mothers-experience-homophobia-from-other-parents-idUSKBN2220YW (source)

U.S: Lesbian judge sanctioned for displaying rainbow flag in court

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A judge in Texas has been sanctioned by the state for displaying a rainbow flag in her courtroom.

Bexar County Court’s Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez is out and she flies the rainbow flag in her court because it shows that “everyone is welcome into this courtroom.”

She didn’t think that the flag would be a problem because other judges have flags and symbols in their courtrooms. One judge who’s a veteran has a camouflage robe and another flies an Irish flag to take pride in his heritage, she said.

But San Antonio lawyer Flavio Hernandez was “offended” by Speedlin Gonzalez’s rainbow flag and he filed a complaint with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct, saying that the flag meant that the judge couldn’t be impartial.

“I think a judge bringing in symbols of sexuality — regardless of what kind of sexuality — I think that has no place in the courtroom,” he told Texas Lawyer.

He said that he would have been just as offended by “a swastika or confederate flag,” effectively comparing being gay to being a white supremacist.

Continue reading: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/04/
texas-sanctions-judge-displaying-rainbow-flag-court/
(source)

Russia: Lesbian artist faces six years jail for creating innocent pictures

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A lesbian artist has spent months under house arrest and is facing fines and six years jail, just for publishing innocent images in Russia.

Yulja Tsvetkova faces three separate trials. Under the first, Russia has charged her with ‘pornography’, with a penalty of up to six years in prison. Moreover, she also faces two trials for LGBT+ ‘propaganda’ – with a fine of 50 million rubles (€600 $625) for each one.

But despite all this, Tsvetkova told GSN that she would continue her artistic work and fight for LGBT+ people.

In the pornography case, Tsvetkova posted a drawing of a vagina in a social media page about body positivity. The page features many figurative and artistic images of vaginas. They wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery and certainly aren’t pornographic.

In addition, the 26-year-old published articles on queer culture, supporting LGBT+ youth and discrimination for LGBT+ people in Russia on a social media group. That earned her one charge of distributing LGBT+ ‘propaganda’.

The other ‘propaganda’ charge came after Tsvetkova drew an illustration of a lesbian and gay couple with kids.

Continue reading: https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/this-lesbian-artist-faces-six-years-jail-for-creating-innocent-pictures/ (source)

Updates:

Germany: Lesbian family faces housing discrimination

Evelyn Yasemine Arslan

After the birth of the youngest child last November, a larger apartment was needed, the couple told queer.de. With the current housing shortage in Germany it was certainly not an easy task to find one, but nevertheless not impossible. Yasemine and Evelyn Arslan looked at first as if they had found a suitable apartment in Mainaschaff for their small family.

When she finally wanted to sign the lease at the end of January, however, there was a problem. When asked about Evelyn’s husband, the two came out and told the landlord that they were married. The latter replied that he could not reconcile this with his religious views and the rental opportunity was gone.

What Yasemine and Evelyn Arslan experienced is not an isolated case. Again and again, queer tenants with experience of discrimination turn to the federal anti-discrimination agency. In principle, the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) prohibits sexuality based housing discrimination, but there are restrictions, such as when the landlord has fewer than 50 apartments. Those affected can theoretically file a claim for damages and compensation in court, but proving the case is often difficult. A case of discrimination against a homosexual tenant has not yet been brought to justice in Germany.
(Translated)
Nach der Geburt des jüngsten Kindes im vergangenen November musste eine größere Wohnung her, berichtete das Paar gegenüber queer.de. Bei der aktuellen Wohnungsknappheit in Deutschland sicherlich keine leichte Aufgabe, aber dennoch nicht unmöglich. Auch bei Yasemine und Evelyn Arslan sah es erst einmal so aus, als hätten sie eine passende Wohnung in Mainaschaff für ihre kleine Familie gefunden.

Als sie Ende Januar dann endlich den Mietvertrag unterschreiben wollte, kommt es jedoch zum Eklat. Auf die Nachfrage nach Evelyns Ehemann outeten sich die beiden und erklärten dem Vermieter, sie seien miteinander verheiratet. Dieser entgegnete, das könne er nicht mit seinen religiösen Ansichten vereinbaren. Die Vermietung war geplatzt.

Was Yasemine und Evelyn Arslan erleben musste, ist kein Einzelfall. Immer wieder wenden sich queere Mieter mit Diskriminierungserfahrungen an die Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes. Grundsätzlich verbietet das Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) Diskriminierung beim Zugang zu Wohnraum wegen der sexuellen Identität, allerdings gibt es Einschränkungen, etwa wenn der Vermieter unter 50 Wohnungen besitzt. Betroffene können theoretisch vor Gericht auf Schadensersatz und Entschädigung klagen, oft ist der Nachweis jedoch schwierig. Ein Diskriminierungsfall eines homosexuellen Mieters landete in Deutschland bislang nicht vor Gericht.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=35605 (Source)

U.S: Lesbian couple sues prison system for workplace discrimination

A lesbian couple who worked in the Michigan prison system for decades is suing the state, claiming prison officials failed to do anything to protect them from years of harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

The couple, the lawsuit claims, faced harassment, discrimination and retaliation daily for not fitting into the standard mold of a state prison employee – being a heterosexual white man.

“[Michelle] (Woods) has, on countless occasions, been referred to as a ‘dyke,’ … has been told that ‘Stanley Steamer has nothing on you,’ and has had a beaver and a taco put as the desktop background on her computer,” according to the lawsuit.

Woods would later be reprimanded for various violations she had no knowledge of committing, the lawsuit claims. She was spied on by a higher ranking officer and was denied consideration for a promotion by officials who said she needed to learn to “play the game,” the lawsuit alleges.

[Loretta] Smith, who also works for MDOC, claims she was demoted to working the midnight shift in retaliation for complaining about the hostile work environment.

Continue reading: https://www.mlive.com/news
/2020/03/lesbian-couple-sues-michigan-prison-system-for-workplace-discrimination.html?fbclid=IwAR2u1ryfB07bYjUm9Ozj0
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(source)

Disney/Pixar’s ‘Onward’ Banned In Multiple Middle East Countries Due To Lesbian Reference

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Disney/Pixar’s family film Onward has been banned in multiple Middle East markets due to the film’s minor reference to a lesbian relationship.

[T]he reference hasn’t gone down well with censors in some countries, sources have confirmed. Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have all banned the film due to the reference. The film, released regionally this week, is nowhere to be seen on cinema schedules in those territories. Other Middle East markets such as Bahrain, Lebanon and Egypt are showing the film.

Russia, another territory with recent history for banning or censoring LGBT content, censored the Onward scene by changing the word “girlfriend” to “partner” and the local version avoids mentioning Specter’s gender.

Continue reading: https://deadline.com/2020/03/disney-onward-banned-multiple-middle-east-markets-lesbian-lgbt-reference-1202876168/ (source)