Greenland Ushers in New Era Of Marriage Equality

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If you needed proof that marriage equality is spreading to the far corners of the Earth, look no further than Greenland!  The country’s same-sex marriage law went into effect on April 1st.

Last year, the country unanimously passed a marriage bill,which is an adoption of Denmark’s matrimonial laws. After taking two years, the bill was finally approved after a series of starts and stops, like the stepping down of Greenland’s Prime Minister had put the bill on hold. The marriage bill was approved by the Greenlandic Parliament on a vote of 27-0. An autonomous Danish Territory, Greenland can now celebrate same-sex weddings with the approval of Greenland’s Bishop. The Bishop has welcomed the arrival of a gender neutral marriage law and the Church of Greenland “worked closely with the government to amend the portion of the Danish law that covered same-sex blessings in religious weddings. The joint adoption clause that was included in Greenland’s new Marriage Act will go into effect on July 1st,” according to Out.com.  Nivi Olsen, the Minister of the Church in Greenland, wrote on the Greenlandic Parliament’s website:

“We have long waited for this day. To have the opportunity to enter into marriage means a lot to many couples regardless of the gender of one’s partner. I am therefore pleased that a united Parliament adopted in 2010, finally made it a reality. The Government warmly welcomes this new opportunity and the national church rejoices that we are ready for the new era.”

Disney & Marvel To Boycott Georgia If Anti-LGBT Bill Passes

CIchTNYUsAEiZT7Add Disney and Marvel to the growing list of companies to say they will boycott the state of Georgia if the governor signs a bill restricting the rights of LGBT people into law. HB 757 formerly known as the “pastor protection act” has passed in the House and Senate and is heading to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk to be signed. HB 757, like Indiana’s ‘religious freedom bill’, would allow pastor’s, churches and other faith-based organizations to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies to certain groups including LGBT couples. The bill would even allow hospitals to deny services to LGBT couples. “Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law,” a Disney spokesman said on Wednesday. This could be a huge  financial hit for the state of Georgia if other studios followed suit. Thanks to great tax breaks for studios, there are currently 10-30 film and television shows being filmed in Georgia at any given time, meaning millions in revenue for the state. According to the Los Angeles Times, “During Georgia’s fiscal 2015, 248 film and television productions shot in the Peach State, representing $1.7 billion in spending there, according to a statement last year by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Those film and TV projects generated an economic impact of more than $6 billion during the fiscal year extending from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015.”

Disney and Marvel join the NFL, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and dozens of other companies who have come out in opposition to the measure.

Antarctica Declared First LGBT Friendly Continent

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Non-profit organization Planting Peace has declared Antarctica the world’s first LGBT-friendly continent. Planting Peace hopes to “instill full fundamental rights to LGBT people inhabiting or visiting the continent of Antarctica.” Founder Aaron Jackson has set social media ablaze recently with images of him travelling around Antarctica carrying a Pride flag “to raise awareness for the need for action across the planet because basic rights are still denied to the LGBT community in so many countries across the world.” The group wants to shed a light on the 76 countries which continue to ignore the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, six of which still consider homosexuality a crime punishable by death. Jackson and company first made headlines a few years back when they purchased a house in Topeka, Kansas directly across the street from Westboro Baptist Church and painted it in the colors of the Pride flag. original

 

 

LGBT History Made in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

alav1On Thursday people around the country celebrated St. Patrick’s Day but in New York City this year’s festivities were extra special for the LGBT community. “This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade — the world’s oldest and largest — also proved to be a historic one, as openly gay and lesbian groups were allowed to march in the parade, ending a quarter-century long ban,” according to NBC. “I never thought I’d see the day when I could march up Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my husband,” said Brendan Fay, chairman of the Lavender and Green Alliance, as the parade began. “When we started in 1991, after getting arrested so many times for protesting the parade, wow, what a moment this is.” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio marched in the parade for the first time this year too. He boycotted the parade for his first two years in office because of the parade’s ban on LGBT advocacy groups. “Today everyone is celebrating together,” de Blasio said. “The city is at peace and unified.”

Mayor of Kokomo Signs LGBT Protection Act

Final Welcome SignKokomo is the latest community in Indiana to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. According to WTHR in Indiana:\

Council members voted 5-4 in favor of an ordinance protecting members of the LGBT community after what has been a contentious debate. Mayor Greg Goodnight signed the ordinance early Tuesday. The overflow crowd tested the capacity of Kokomo’s council chambers. By fire code, only 157 could fit inside. Police estimated 300 to 400 more people had to stand outside and await the final vote on the human rights ordinance. The measure protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens from discrimination. It also bans discrimination based on marital status, age or veteran status.

Despite death threats and harassing emails, council members voted to end LGBT discrimination. “One of our members was basically told ‘you better vote no or else’ and I won’t go into what the ‘or else’ was. But he has filed a police report on that,” said Council President Robert Hayes.”There were things we received in emails that no elected official should have received. When I get emails invoking my dead mother, saying she’d be weeping at my vote, well, you don’t know my mother. She’d say ‘atta boy. Go get ’em and speak your mind,” Hayes said. “I certainly hope we haven’t come to the point where we cannot agree to disagree in a civil manner without intimidation and in some cases outright bigotry.”

Senate Committee Approves First Openly Gay Military Leader

043013-eric-fanningLast Thursday, Eric Fanning was confirmed as the nominee for the Army Secretary by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Fanning was nominated by the White House for the position back in September. Fanning is currently the highest ranking openly gay member of the Department of Defense. While some Republican lawmakers like Pat Roberts are said to block the nomination over plans to close Guantanamo Bay, Fanning certainly has President Obama’s support. “Eric brings many years of proven experience and exceptional leadership to this new role,” Obama said. “I look forward to working with Eric to keep our Army the very best in the world. I am grateful for his commitment to our men and women in uniform, and I am confident he will help lead America’s Soldiers with distinction.”

60 Major Corporations Endorse Equality Act

apple-logo-2Apple, Amazon, Google, and Coca-Cola are just a few of the huge brands on the Human Rights Campaign’s list of companies in favor of the Equality Act. Released this week, the list includes 60 companies that support the bill which would protect LGBT people from discrimination. Per the HRC’s press release:

Since HRC joined with lawmakers and advocates last July to introduce the Equality Act in Congress, HRC has continued to build support from the business community. Today, the Business Coalition for the Equality Act launches with 60 leading American companies. With operations in all 50 states, headquarters spanning 22 states and a combined $1.9 trillion in revenue, the companies that make up the coalition employ over 4.2 million people in the United States.

“These business leaders are showing true leadership and fighting to end a shameful status quo that leaves LGBT people at risk in a majority of states for being denied services or fired because of who they are or who they love,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We’re proud of all these corporate leaders stepping forward to say that all Americans, including LGBT people, should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living.”

A majority of states — 32 states in total — still lack fully inclusive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people, and there are no explicit federal protections against discrimination. Introduced one month after the historic Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that ushered in nationwide marriage equality, the Equality Act would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people under our existing civil rights laws. The Equality Act provides clear, permanent and equal protections under federal law for all Americans in vital areas of life, like employment, access to public spaces, housing, credit, education, jury service, and federally funded programs.

VIDEO: Jillian Micheals Proposes to Longtime Girlfriend

Made famous for her tough as nails training style on shows like The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels proved this week she’s a big old romantic just like the rest of us. Michaels, on the series finale of her docu-series Just Jillian, proposed to longtime girlfriend Heidi Rhodes. Forgoing the usual proposal, the celebrity fitness guru showed Rhodes an adorable video montage of the couple and their two children and followed it up by a tear-eyed proposal. Watch it here!

Read This Inspiring Love Story Between an Olympian & an Editor

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Who doesn’t love a good, real-life love story? When we read about former Ebony editor Audrey Smaltz and Olympian Gail Marquis in the Advocate, we just had to share it with you! The couple had their first date in 1999 and have been together ever since. Their secret? “We laugh a lot! We don’t take ourselves too seriously and never go to bed angry,” Marquis told Advocate. “We really enjoy each other,” Smaltz said, “and we liked one another before we loved one another. Friends first,that’s the key.” Read their inspiring story here!

 

Eddie Redmayne Records PSA for LA’s LGBT Center

While he may not have won an Oscar on Sunday night, Eddie Redmayne is a winner in our eyes for visiting the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The actor took time out of his crazy awards season schedule recently to tour The Center and meet with over 70 homeless LGBT youth. “The Center is the only facility in Los Angeles that provides beds specifically designated for LGBT homeless youth. The Center also offers GED and employment programs intended to help LGBT homeless youth move beyond homelessness,” according to Towleroad. Redmayne was so impressed with The Center’s services he offered to record a PSA. Check it out below!