Canada Pride Montréal 2017

There will be over 200 activities in celebration of sexual diversity & gender plurality this summer at Canada Pride Montréal 2017 that runs from August 10th to the 20th. Programming will feature 15 free blockbuster shows, daily DJ's, fabulous drag queens, exhibits, sports tournament & two conferences on LGBTQ rights. Éric Pineault, Montréal Pride President & founder stated, “The activities we offer are really diverse! The festival, cultural & community components all have something appealing to persons of sexual diversity & gender plurality, as well as to our allies.” Nelly Furtado will headline the festival presented by Sirius XM Canada with Gregory Charles & Marie-Mai, l’Acadie de demain, with Édith Butler & Radio Radio, Supernovas, with David Usher & Jonas, Drag Superstars with 12 contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Throughout the festival an art gallery will be set up in containers at the corner of Sainte-Catherine & Saint-Hubert Streets. It will feature the works of 10 artists including paintings, drawings, photography & high fashion creations. A presentation on 375 years of LGBTQ+ history & the evolution of the Pride Movement in Canada will be featured at Pride House in the heart of Parc des Faubourgs. Theatrical productions will also be presented & a two-day sports tournament has been added into the program featuring badminton, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball & water polo. Founded in 2007 Montréal Pride is dedicated to promoting LGBTQ rights & celebrates their cultural wealth & social advances.
For More Info: fiertemontrealpride.com
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LGBT Health & Well Being Report

The United Nations needs to address the health & well-being of our LGBTI people. A new report released by OutRight Action International & the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) just ahead of this year’s United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development calls on countries to recognize & address the impact of stigma, discrimination, violence & criminalization has on the health of our LGBT community. While data regarding LGBTI health needs are inadequate & incomplete across the globe the data that is available demonstrate that the health of LGBTI people is consistently poorer than the general population. Dr. Felicity Daly OutRight Action International’s Global Research Coordinator stated, “LGBTI people are well-aware of the health disparities taking hold & stealing lives in their communities, but are being excluded from data collection efforts. As a result, LGBTI communities are rendered invisible & therefore unable to make a convincing case for health financing to address their needs.” Dr. George Ayala MSMGF Executive Director added, “Disproportionate rates of depression, anxiety, homelessness, problem substance use & suicide among LGBTI people can each be traced back to the stigma, discrimination & violence they face worldwide. Connection to community, safety & security offset the devastating effects of social exclusion.” The HLPF will take place at UN headquarters in New York from July 10th to 19th.
Read Full Report… 
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Independence Day & LGBT Equality

It’s interesting what legislation some American states squeeze in as we break for the 4th of July Holiday. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that the Constitutional right to marriage equality established by Obergefell v. Hodges does not require states to include gay & lesbian couples in state employee spousal benefits. Equality Texas reported that during their 85th legislative session over two dozen bills targeting LGBTQ people were filed. Many of these bills targeted the most vulnerable & marginalized within our communities. Meanwhile in California at the same time new regulations went into effect to protect the rights of transgender people in the workplace. Selisse Berry, CEO & Founder of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates stated, “Marriage equality is about more than a ceremony & a marriage license—it’s about gay & lesbian marriages being treated with equal dignity & recognition under the law. The Texas ruling dishonors the work of those who’ve fought for decades for this victory & threatens the progress we’ve made. It’s not enough to simply be able to get married: LGBT people should have the same access to employee benefits, public accommodations & opportunities to build our families as anyone else. Instead of undermining the equality of LGBT people, Texas should look to the example of California, a state where just last week new regulations went into effect to ensure that transgender people are treated fairly at work. We all have a stake in LGBT equality: When LGBT people can live, love & work without fear of discrimination or violence, it strengthens all our communities.” I talked to Jim Obergefell in this audio byte about the marriage equality backlash & more. LISTEN:
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Jim Obergefell Honored (AUDIO)

LGBTQ activist Jim Obergefell was awarded the National Education Association’s Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights for his marriage equality victory in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges. This was the 50th anniversary of the NEA annual dinner event entitled “Living the Legacy: After 50 Years, Still We Rise.” Lily Eskelsen García NEA President stated, “Jim Obergefell embodies the spirit of Dr. Maya Angelou’s beloved poem ‘Still I Rise’. Through his deeds & actions, this human & civil rights hero is still rising & carrying the torch forward. Tonight, we renew our commitment to stand for racial & social justice & pledge to continue to shed a light on his work as he guides & inspires us all.” After Obergefell’s partner of 20 years died Obergefell fought & won marriage equality nationwide on June 26th 2015 when the Supreme Court ruled in his favor in Obergefell v. Hodges the case that secured the rights of gay & lesbian couples to legally marry nationally with the same rights & protections as heterosexual couples. Since his landmark decision Obergefell has written the novel Love Wins with Pulitzer Prize-winner Debbie Cenziper. It tells the story of Obergefell as well as the lawyers, judges & activists behind Obergefell v. Hodges. Obergefell is continuing his advocacy for our LGBTQ community on a national & international level most recently focusing on our transgender community. Last year I talked to Obergefell in this exclusive audio podcast on the red carpet at the GLAAD Media Awards about LGBTQ equality & more. LISTEN:
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Transgender Military Policy Delay

The Department of Defense has announced that there will be a 6 month delay in the enactment of policies allowing qualified, transgender individuals to enter military service. Matt Thorn OutServe-SLDN Executive Director stated, "Under former Secretary Carter's guidance, the services were directed to develop policies which would allow transgender individuals to join the military, a privilege they are currently denied. Over the past several months, our team has worked closely with Pentagon officials & allied organizations to ensure necessary policy changes related to accessions were ready for a timely deployment by July 1st. We remain confident that the services are equipped to support this final piece of transgender military service & there should be no delay in its implementation…Transgender service members have been serving, openly & authentically, since October 2016 with no impact on readiness. It is time to full lift the ban on transgender service by implementing this final piece by implementing the accessions policy. This delay is a disservice to the transgender community & to our military as a whole...” READ FULL STATEMENT
More than 14,000 transgender individuals are currently serving in our armed services. Many of them are serving openly as a result of the retention policy as part of the lifting the ban on transgender service last year. Transgender individuals currently serving this Trump administration postponement has no impact on them. However it does affect the many transgender individuals that are standing by ready to report to duty.
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San Francisco Mime Troupe “Walls”

San Francisco Mime Troupe has received a NEA Grant for “Walls” their summer Musical that runs July 1st to September 10th. The troupe has been providing free Musical Political Theatre in the Bay Area Parks for 58 years. “Walls” asks the question: How can a nation of immigrants declare war on immigration? The answer is Fear. “Walls” is about L. Mary Jones (Velina Brown) who knows all about fear. As a top agent for I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) she knows how to stoke fear to keep her country safe. Fear of people like Bahdoon Samakab (Rotimi Agbabiaka), a Somali refugee escaping oppression, fear of Cliodhna Aghabullogue (Lizzie Calogero), an Irish woman yearning to be American & fear of Zaniyah Nahuatl (Marilet Martinez), whose family comes from here. As a foreigner in a land her people have worked for thousands of years suddenly Zaniyah is a criminal, an illegal, a "bad hombre." What part of herself will this American give up to pass as "American?" Will she? Can she? Should she? Can someone leave part of themselves behind without losing their mind & is it better or worse that she crossed the border to find Agent L. Mary Jones - the woman she loves? It seems even Breitbart News caught wind of “Walls” stating “A San Francisco musical about a criminal illegal alien lesbian with mental health issues who is in love with an immigration agent." “Walls” is written by Michael Gene Sullivan. Photo by David Allen.
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Congress Addresses Chechnya

Congress has passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the violence & persecution against gay & bisexual men in Chechnya. Congressman David Cicilline LGBT Caucus Co-Chair stated, “I’m proud that the House passed this strong resolution condemning the recent violence targeting gay men in Chechnya. Now, it’s critical that we do more to ensure those fleeing horrific violence can relocate somewhere safe. This is an important step, but there is much more work left to be done.” Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who has a transgender son & is a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus & introduced House resolution 351 May 23rd stated, "We will continue to stand united with the LGBT community & shine a bright light on these atrocities, which are encouraged by the evil Putin regime in Russia, in order to help ensure that those who are responsible for these crimes are held to account for their despicable actions." Rep. Alan Lowenthal LGBT Equality Caucus Vice Chair concluded, "It is now up to President Trump, Secretary of State Tillerson & our United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to follow through on the consensus of the House & bring as much domestic & international political pressure as possible on the Russian government to rein in these deplorable human rights violations.” The House resolution comes months after the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta first reported that members of Chechen law enforcement were targeting gay & bisexual men. The Russian LGBT Network described that roughly 100 LGBTQ men were initially captured by authorities & taken to a detention center where they were beaten, tortured & deaths were reported.
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