Canadian Navy Makes History With Same-Sex Kiss

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It’s a long-standing tradition that the first sailor off a ship be met with a kiss by their loved one. Early this week, that tradition got a modern twist when Master Seaman Francis Legare of the Canadian Navy was kissed by his partner Corey Vautour. Their smooch is believed to be the first time the ceremonial kiss was between two men. “I have been away for 255 days, so it feels great,” Legare told CBC. “I am speechless.” The kiss was met with loud cheers, proving the navy has come a long way in accepting LGBT unions. “We are reflective of society and we do recruit across all across society,” Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, commander of the Pacific Navy, said. “If we don’t adapt, we won’t have any sailors joining.”

Lawyer Worries Goat and Tiger’s Romance Could Turn Kids Gay

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A story from the “People Need To Calm Down File”: a Russian prosecutor is “investigating whether media coverage of the unlikely friendship between a male goat and a male tiger could spark interest among children in ‘non-traditional sexual relations,'” according to Time magazine. Last November, Amur the tiger and Timur the goat were introduced at a wildlife park near Vladivostok. The goat was supposed to be a meal for the tiger but instead the pair became friends and their unconventional relationship went viral. Now, Alexei Krestyanov, a lawyer with seemingly nothing else to do, claims the relationship could be harmful to children. “I think the positive coverage of this topic is nothing less than interference in the personal lives of minors, which is what hidden propaganda is, and public, active imposition of homosexuality,” Krestyanov wrote on Facebook. Sigh. Unfortunately, Timur and Amur are currently undergoing a trial separation after they attacked one another. Here’s hoping these two crazy kids can work it out!

 

New Stamps Promote LGBT Rights

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Need a cool stamp to put on one of our cards? The United Nations Postal Administration has just the thing! The agency has recently released six new postage stamps promoting LGBT rights. These colorful stamps created by UNPA art director Sergio Baradat are “meant to celebrate the diversity of the gay community and marks the first time the global body’s post office has issued stamps with an LGBT theme” according to The Guardian. The stamps were unveiled at the UN general assembly building in New York City. The ceremony featured a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of New York and speeches by UN officials. While acknowledging the advancements made by the LGBT community, speakers noted that there is still more work to be done as hate crimes are still common and the c homosexuality is still criminalized in certain countries. “We need to change attitudes to one of acceptance,” said Stephen Cutts, UN assistant secretary-general. The stamps are available to purchase here.

NHL Shows Its Pride with Rainbow Pride Tape

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Here’s a fun story from the NHL courtesy of Joe My God:

The Edmonton Oilers became the first NHL team to use Pride Tape, a multicolored tape to promote inclusiveness in sports. The Oilers used the tape Sunday during their annual Skills Competition at Rexall Place. “Many view professional hockey players as role models and our team felt this was a great initiative to let every person know they’re welcome in the game of hockey,” defenseman Andrew Ference told the Oilers website. “We’re all proud to play for a team and city that supports diversity and human rights.”

Wells and Calder Bateman Communications are working together on a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough funds to produce 10,000 rolls of the tape. As of Sunday, they have raised more than $40,000 of their $54,000 campaign goal. On the Kickstarter page, Pride Tape is described as a badge of support from the teammates, coaches, parents and pros to young LGBTQ players. It shows every player that they belong on the ice, that everyone is on the same team and your help is needed to make it a reality.

Equality Act Gets First Republican Co-Sponsor

On Tuesday, Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois became the first Republican to co-sponsor the Equality Act. The LGBT anti-discrimination bill is now a “bi-partisan effort in both chambers of Congress,” according to Buzzfeed.

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Kirk told Buzzfeed, “Discrimination on the basis of being gay is against the law in Illinois and should be against the law nationwide.” Kirk has been a rare and outspoken Republican voice in the battle for marriage equality and LGBT rights. The Equality Act ban discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While the likelihood of the bill passing in a Republican dominated Congress isn’t encouraging, Kirk’s support is. Democrat and lead sponsor of the Equality Act, Sen. Jeff Merkley applauded Kirk and said, “In communities across America, Republicans and Democrats alike share a common belief that discriminating against someone just because of who they are is fundamentally wrong. It is time for all Americans to work together to end long-standing discrimination against the LGBT community.”

Monday Meme: MLK

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Happy MLK Day!

We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Monday meme featuring one of his most relevant and powerful quotes. While King’s place as a civil rights advocate is rightfully secured, it is his belief in love and human kindness that resonates today. Lots of great tributes, images and articles are floating around the web today including a great homepage by Apple, a little known story about King’s 1958 stabbing from Mashable and an interesting take on MLK and gay marriage from the Advocate. Enjoy!

CBS President Glen Geller Comes Out

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Earlier this week at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, CBS president Glenn Geller came out as gay. “We’re always evolving, changing,” Geller said in response to tough questions about the network’s lack of diversity. ““I’m just a gay guy from Indiana who doesn’t play basketball. There is diversity at CBS. It exists in front and behind the camera. Can we do better? I think we are.I mentioned my husband earlier, because I want to normalize my diversity. CBS will always reflect what America looks like,” Geller says. As for LGBT content, CBS still has room for improvement. GLAAD’s 2015 Responsibility Index which rates the networks LGBT content gave CBS a score of “adequate” while ABC Family  and Fox scored “excellent.”

 

Queer Icon David Bowie Dies of Cancer

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Rock legend, groundbreaking artist and LGBT icon David Bowie passed away January 10 from a long-battle with liver cancer at age 69. Bowie with a staggering five decades as a performer and a massive musical catalog, was also one of the first rock stars to bend gender roles and flaunt sexual fluidity. While his own sexuality leaned primarily to the straight side, Bowie’s relationships with men are well chronicled. His ex-wife Angie once claimed she found him in bed with Mick Jagger and the star himself told Playboy in 1976 that he was bisexual. But it was his androgynous image and refusal to be crammed in a societal box that opened the doors for artists like Lady Gaga, Boy George, Adam Lambert and Madonna. Mark Simpson, journalist and creator of the term “metrosexual” told the Daily Beast regarding Bowie,

“Bowie didn’t of course turn out to be the ‘Gay Elvis’ that many gay people hoped for but by flagrantly refusing to be restrained by ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ expectations and becoming a study in male beauty and glamour, he offered an inspiration to millions, whatever their gender or sexuality. Bowie was a prototype of metrosexuality—which is in many ways the 21st Century High Street, off-the-peg version of his 1970s experimentalism. Whatever the ‘truth’ of Bowie’s sexuality, he outed male bisensuality, big time. A priceless, liberating legacy—whatever your gender or sexuality.”

Salt Lake City Gets First Openly Gay Mayor

On Monday, Jackie Biskupski was sworn as Salt Lake City’s 35th mayor. Biskupski is the second woman and first openly gay mayor of Salt Lake City.

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Biskupski defeated two-term mayor Ralph Becker in November, winning 52 percent of the votes. After the ceremony, 500 or so supporters of the new mayor gathered yesterday outside Salt Lake’s City Hall. In her inauguration speech, Biskupski called the victory, “a historic moment for equality that no one should take lightly.”She added, “We have work to do still. We must pursue equality for everyone.” The new mayor said she takes the position with “a spirit of optimism.” Themes touched on in the inauguration speech included, “economic development, air quality, homelessness, crime and investment in the west side,” according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.  “As your new mayor,” she said, “I commit to building an inclusive and welcoming city worthy of the unique history and legacy of this place we call home.”

 

 

NBA referee comes out of the closet

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Earlier this week, NBA referee Bill Kennedy revealed he is gay. “I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.” Kennedy’s coming out comes on the heels of the explosive suspension of Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo unleashed a firestorm of anti-gay slurs directed towards Kennedy following his ejection from a game in Mexico City earlier this month. Kennedy along with two other referees heard Rondo’s tirade, leading to his league suspension announced last Friday.

The NBA has thrown their support behind Kennedy and denounced Rando’s behavior. NBA commissioner said in a statement, “”I wholeheartedly support Bill’s decision to live his life proudly and openly. Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage. Those qualities will continue to serve him well both as a game official and as a positive influence for others. While our league has made great progress, our work continues to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.”

Rajon Rondo is the third player suspended for using anti-gay slurs. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls center were both separately fined by the NBA during the 2011 season.