Supreme Court Rules Against Anti-Gay Marriage Clerk

a4ad2cf245b4bd27800f6a706700f53f_c0-119-3696-2273_s561x327The Supreme Court on Monday ruled against the Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The clerk arrived at work Tuesday morning to face her moment of truth.

According to the Washington Times,  “Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis will have to choose whether to issue marriage licenses, defying her Christian conviction, or continue to refuse them, defying a federal judge who could pummel her with fines or order that she be hauled off to jail.” The latest reports say that Davis is, as of this afternoon still denying, marriage certificates. Several denied couples have now filed lawsuits against Davis. Lawyers for the defendants are asking, “Since Defendant Davis continues to collect compensation from the Commonwealth for duties she fails to perform, impose financial penalties sufficiently serious and increasingly onerous” to “compel her immediate compliance without delay.”

Davis cannot be fired from her $80,000 a year job because she is an elected official. A proposed impeachment couldn’t happen until the Legislature’s regular session next year. Legal action against Davis, however, including arrest could happen as soon as today.

Openly Gay Author Oliver Sacks Dead at 82

Sad news this weekend when word came that openly gay author and renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks had passed away at the age of 82. Sacks came out as gay in 2015 in his autobiography On the Move: A life.

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The British writer is perhaps best known for his work Awakenings which was later turned into an acclaimed film with Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams. Last winter, Sacks revealed that an earlier case of melanoma in his eye had spread to his liver and was in the late stages of terminal cancer. Of the cancer Sacks wrote, “A month ago, I felt that I was in good health, even robust health. At 81, I still swim a mile a day. But my luck has run out – a few weeks ago I learned that I have multiple metastases in the liver.”

Sacks gained notoriety for a series of books which profiled rare medical conditions including Awakenings which was based on his work with patients treated with a drug that woke them up after years of being catatonic.

Cyndi Lauper’s Residence for Homeless LGBT Youth Celebrates 4 Years

Pop music legend Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Residence in Harlem, N.Y. is celebrating a major milestone this fall. The residence, which serves as a shelter for homeless LGBT youth, opened its doors for the first time in September 2011. According to Towleroad:

Lauper’s 30-bed housing facility was designed for youth 18-24 and comes with indoor and outdoor community spaces and created with energy efficiency in mind. Residents do have to pay rent, but the rent is adjusted to the residents’ income level; counseling and job placement services are also available on the premises to assist residents.

Lauper, a longtime LGBT activist, appeared before a Senate subcommittee on Capitol Hill earlier this year discussing efforts on alleviating homelessness among LGBT youth and addressing factors that lead to LGBT homeless.

Monday Meme: Trees

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Cuban writer, gay activist, playwright and vocal critic of the Cuban government, Reinaldo Arenas lead a life so inspiring, it was turned into an acclaimed film in 2000 with Javier Bardem. Arenas committed suicide after suffering with AIDS in 1987 but his legacy of courage lives on. We’re celebrating the man and all who are willing to climb trees with today’s meme.

Get inspired by our whole line of cards here. 

Gay Rugby Star Says Support Has Been “Overwhelming”

Batley-Rugby-League-player-Keegan-HirstThe world of professional sports has been slower to embrace openly gay athletes but thanks to courageous folks like rugby player Keegan Hirst, that might be changing. Hirst, the Batley Bulldogs captain recently became “the first professional rugby league player to come out publicly as gay, is speaking out about the positive reactions he’s received from teammates and those on social media since his revelation,” according to Towleroad News.

In an interview with BBC 2’s Naga Munchetty, Hirst said:

I told two of my close teammates first and they were both fantastic and took it really well. One of them said he knew all along. Really supportive. Got behind me 100%. And then of course when it got filtered out to the rest of the team and coaching staff, nothing but positive messages. It’s really, really overwhelming.

In the interview, Hirst shared why he decided to come out now, how his wife took the news, when he realized he was gay, and whether he sees himself as a crusader for a cause.

“I suppose it’ll break down stereotypes. And that can only be a good thing. I’m just trying to get that message across. It’s okay.”