May 2012
29 posts
Happy International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia!
Jay-Z Throws His Support Behind Same-sex Marriage →
advocate.com
Kudos Jay-Z, you rock!
Fox News Headline States: "Obama Flip Flops, Declares War On Marriage"
Fox News has since changed their headline but because of the ridiculousness of it and the extreme homophobia behind it, that someone supporting one group’s right to marriage and the rights/privileges is bestows is tantamount to a war on marriage just because that group is made of of same-sex couple is atrocious.
I will be boycotting not only Fox News, but the Fox network itself as well as any productions by Twentieth Century Fox and all of it’s affiliates until an apology is issued by the company.
North Carolina's Ban on Same-sex Marriage: What Does It Mean for Business?
North Carolina’s new ban (they already had a measure in place stating marriage is between a man and a woman) could end up putting businesses in a tricky situation.
The new law, which passed 61% to 39%, states that marriage between a man and a woman is the only valid domestic legal union. So how does this affect businesses? Well any business in North Carolina that is currently covering people who are in same-sex marriages/civil unions/domestic partnerships OR in opposite-sex civil unions/domestic partnerships might have to stop recognizing those relationships according the new law. Unfortunately some of those organizations have pretty strict equality measures in place.
TD Bank for instance, a branch of the Toronto-Dominion Bank recognizes civil unions, civil/domestic partnerships, and same-sex marriages. How would they be supposed to operate within North Carolina when the law states that they cannot recognize those? Will they and other organizations like it be fined? Furthermore how are companies expected to attract talent from other areas of globe, where many heterosexual couples have shifted towards domestic partnerships rather than marriages (Quebec, many European countries) and their relationships will be made invalid within the state.
It seems like the law makers and more importantly, the voters, weren’t really thinking of what’s good for North Carolina. They were just thinking how they can screw over a group of people who want nothing more than to have the same rights and privileges that everyone else is entitled to. It turns out they may very well have ended up screwing over their state in the process.
Josh Dixon, Hopeful for US Men's Gymnastics Spot in 2012 Olympics, Comes Out →
outsports.com
Congrats to Josh. If he does make the cut, which looks very likely, he will be the first out gay gymnast the U.S. has sent to the games.
Toronto Mayor's Radio Show Mouthpiece for Homophobia →
metronews.ca
Rob Ford’s weekly radio show with brother brought their standard low brow discourse to a whole other level in their latest broadcast. The guest on the show, David Menzies a Toronto Sun reporter, compared homosexuality to obesity, claiming it effects your health as you are more likely to get HIV. He also took shots at a reporter with a rival newspaper, the Toronto Star, claiming the Star sent the most effeminate reporter they had to look into a story that has caused it’s own media firestorm - http://metronews.ca/voices/ford-for-toronto/129795/ford-angry-reporter/
Rob Ford has been no stranger to homophobia, refusing to attend any LGBTQ related events, including Toronto Pride (3rd largest pride festival in the world), claiming that if you’re not gay or a drug user then you don’t need to worry about getting AIDS, endorsing a candidate known for homophobic views and sermons (claiming it is evil, and a disease needing to be cured), he now has this to add to it.
UK To Wipe All Convictions That Occurred Under Buggary Laws →
xtra.ca
It looks like politicians in the UK have heard the chorus coming from the masses after Alan Turing was denied a posthumous pardon for his conviction for buggery.
The UK will now pardon all those who suffered convictions under the Sexual Offences Act of 1956. An estimated 16,000 convictions could now be eligible for removal from police records along with malicious convictions for “loitering with intent” according the Pink Press.
Kudos UK! It puts a big smile on my faces when suggestions made in previous posts then come to fruition (though it is HIGHLY doubtful this blog was influential on that in anyway).
Toronto International Pride Cup - Toronto's LGBTQ Friendly Soccer Tournament
2012 marks the 6th year since it’s inception for the Toronto International Pride Cup, or TIPC.
While the tournament has been in a couple of different venues over the past few years it seems to have found a home at L’Amoreaux Field in Scarborough where the 2011 tournament was held and where it will be held again during the August 10-12 weekend this year.
The tournament has received teams from Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Montreal, Washington, Boston, and Waterloo.
The tournament has two streams, mixed or open (which are open to people of any gender identity) and womens (open to those who are female identified).
The matches take place over 2 days, which a registration event on the Friday evening (which will be held at Slacks) in the heart of Toronto’s Gay Village (Church-Wellesley Village, or Gaybourhood).
This year the tournament is experimenting with the format: Whereas in the past squads were comprised of the traditional 11 or more players this year each squad will have 7 members (with the option of including and ‘alternate’). For each game 2 squads will be paired to play against 2 other squads for a full 11v11 match. Stats for each game will count toward the round-robin standings of both squads. Squads with an 8th alternate may only play 7 of their players in any one game, but the alternate may switch in throughout the weekend. Additionally a team cannot have more than 6 players from their squad on the field during play.
For those with spouses, partners, family, friends, or FWBs that may not be soccer fans other highlights in Toronto that weekend include the Toronto Beer Festival and the ever popular Taste of the Danforth.
Other events during TIPC include the banquet held on the Saturday evening, all signs point it being held at the 519 community centre in the heart of the gay village and will be catered by Fabarnak recently named one of the top five restaurants to go in to Toronto for locally sourced food by Now Magazine (http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/story.cfm?content=186034).
Registration can be done through the TIPC website - http://www.tipc.org/.
You can also let people know you plan to go through the TIPC 2012 facebook event page and follow them on facebook or twitter (@TIPCtweet).
