Latest news with #LGBTQ
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Names of Sam Nordquist, Jiggly Caliente, Lady Chablis, and more added to Stonewall Wall of Honor
Names of seven transgender trailblazers were added to the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall Inn Thursday night. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The Wall of Honor posthumously celebrates LGBTQ+ activists, artists, and others who played crucial roles in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. This year's inductees are all transgender at a time when trans Americans are under attack from the federal government and elsewhere. They were inducted by the National LGBTQ Task Force and the International Imperial Court Council. 'This year's focus on transgender trailblazers and changemakers underscores the importance of recognizing our history and the current climate for our trans siblings,' Cathy Renna, communications director for the Task Force, said in a press release. 'As we continue to fiercely battle against attacks on our trans and nonbinary communities, we are honored to uplift their legacies. Their courage inspires our ongoing fight for liberation, both within the Task Force family and across every queer advocacy organization.' 'In these times, when there are radical and extreme campaigns trying to erase our transgender community, the Imperial Courts and Task Force are reminding us all that transgender people have not only always been here, but have also been some of our community's most dedicated activists and leaders,' added Nicole Murray-Ramirez, founder of the Wall of Honor, a San Diego city commissioner, and titular head of the Imperial Court System. This year's honorees are Ruddy Martinez, Chilli Pepper, Lynn Conway, Alan L. Hart, Jiggly Caliente, the Lady Chablis, and Sam Nordquist. Related: Martinez, a.k.a. 'Mami Ruddys,' was the matriarch of Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ community and a pioneering drag artist, activist, and trans woman who, since the 1980s, opened her home to young queer people rejected by their families. Chilli Pepper appeared on talk shows, including Phil Donahue's and Oprah Winfrey's, in the 1980s to discuss life as a trans woman and debunk harmful stereotypes about trans and queer people. She also was an activist for AIDS awareness. Conway was an electrical engineer, computer scientist, and trans activist. While facing discrimination as a trans woman in her field, she created a simplified method of microchip design and helped develop the Very Large-Scale Integration design. Hart, a physicist and writer, was among the first people to receive gender-affirming surgery and identify and live as a man. He attended medical school after the typhoid epidemic in 1912 and contributed to tuberculosis Caliente, a.k.a. Bianca Castro-Arabejo, died at age 44 on April 27 of this year. The Filipino-American drag queen rose to fame in season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race and also starred in the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. She was a resident judge of Drag Race Philippines and appeared in Pose as Veronica Ferocity. The Lady Chablis, a performer in Savannah, Georgia, was portrayed in John Berendt's nonfiction book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which highlighted the city's underground nightlife scene and a scandalous murder. She played herself in the film based on the book. While publicizing the film, she charmed journalists and audiences with her charismatic presence. Nordquist, a Black trans man from Minnesota, died in February in upstate New York after being tortured for more than a month. Seven people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with his death. All have pleaded not guilty. Nordquist's family attended the ceremony. 'We just wanted to thank everybody for acknowledging Sam and having Sam being honored on the wall,' his mother, Linda Nordquist, said at the event, according to TV station WHEC. 'There's no words to express how we're feeling.' The Wall of Honor was inaugurated in 2019 with 50 names to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Each year, additional honorees are added, joining a living memorial of LGBTQ+ legends such as Leslie Jordan, Gloria Allen, Terrence McNally, Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, Keith Haring, José Sarria, Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, and Matthew Shepard. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Names of Sam Nordquist, Jiggly Caliente, Lady Chablis, and more added to Stonewall Wall of Honor
Bloomberg
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Hungary Set to Hold Pride Parade in Defiance of Orban's Ban
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban changed the constitution earlier this year to ban the country's Pride parade, in what critics say was an attempt to ramp up his culture war and reverse his fading political fortunes. It hasn't worked. Thousands of people from Hungary and around Europe — including government officials, lawmakers and diplomats — have signaled on social media that they'll be in Budapest on Saturday for the annual gathering celebrating LGBTQ identity. They'll be flouting a police ban, transforming the event into an act of defiance against Orban's attempt to scapegoat minorities and silence dissent.
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Budapest Pride Parade Will Go On Despite Orban's Ban. How Will He Respond?
A government ban on gay Pride events this weekend in Budapest has put Hungary's right-wing strongman, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a tricky spot. Mr. Orban's party in March rushed legislation through Parliament that made it illegal to hold gatherings like Pride parades, under an earlier law banning material that 'propagates' homosexuality. Billed as an effort to protect children, it looked to politicians and analysts like a trap set for Hungary's surging opposition leader, a conservative whom Mr. Orban hoped to expose as a closet liberal soft on child protection. Instead, it may be Mr. Orban who is ensnared. Despite the ban, the Budapest Pride parade is set to go ahead on Saturday, recast by the capital city's liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, as a municipal event celebrating Hungary's recovery of full freedom when Soviet troops pulled out in June 1991. Tens of thousands of Hungarians and foreigners, including more than 70 European Parliament members, are expected to join a parade renamed as Budapest Pride Freedom. The mayor said that thanks to the government ban it would likely be Hungary's biggest-ever Pride parade. He predicted a turnout of at least 50,000 people. Mr. Orban and his governing Fidesz party now face a choice: try to enforce their ban and punish participants, or let the march go ahead and risk looking impotent. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Independent
What to know about the US Supreme Court's ruling on public school lessons using LGBTQ books
A divided U.S. Supreme Court has sided with religious parents who want to pull their children out of the classroom when a public school lesson uses LGBTQ-themed storybooks. The 6-3 decision Friday in a case brought by parents in Maryland comes as certain books are increasingly being banned from public schools and libraries. In Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion — joined by the rest of the court's conservatives — he wrote that the lack of an 'opt-out' option for parents places an unconstitutional burden on their rights to religious freedom. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent for the three liberal justices that public schools expose children to different views in a multicultural society. 'That experience is critical to our Nation's civic vitality,' she wrote. 'Yet it will become a mere memory if children must be insulated from exposure to ideas and concepts that may conflict with their parents' religious beliefs." Here's what to know about the case and its potential impacts: What happens next The decision was not a final ruling in the case. It reversed lower-court rulings that sided with the Montgomery County school system, which introduced the storybooks in 2022 as part of an effort to better reflect the district's diversity. At first, the school district allowed parents to opt their children out of the lessons for religious and other reasons, but the district later reversed course, saying it became disruptive. The move prompted protests and eventually a lawsuit. Now, the case goes back to the lower court to be reevaluated under the Supreme Court's new guidance. But the justices strongly suggested that the parents will win in the end. The court ruled that policies like the one at issue in this case are subjected to the strictest level of review, nearly always dooming them. The ruling could have national implications for public education Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court's ruling could inspire similar lawsuits in other states. 'I think any school district that reads similar books to their children is now subject to suit by parents who don't want their kids to hear these books because it substantially interferes with their religious beliefs," she said. Whether it could open the door to broader legal challenges remains to be seen. Levinson said the majority opinion's emphasis on the particular books at the center of the case, including 'Uncle Bobby's Wedding,' a story about a two men getting married, could narrow its impact. 'The question that people will ask," Levinson said, 'is if this could now allow parents to say, 'We don't want our kids to learn about certain aspects of American history.' ' LGBTQ rights advocates slam court ruling Adam Zimmerman, who has two kids in school in Montgomery County, Maryland, called the ruling abhorrent. 'We need to call out what's being dressed up as religious faith and values and expose it for the intolerance that it really is,' he said. Zimmerman has lived in Montgomery County for 16 years and wanted to raise his son and daughter there, in large part, because of the school district's diversity. It was important to him, he said, that his kids be exposed to people from all walks of life. 'It's a beautiful thing, and this ruling just spits on that diversity," he said. Other rights groups described the court's decision as harmful and dangerous. "No matter what the Supreme Court has said, and what extremist groups are advocating for, book bans and other censorship will not erase LGBTQIA+ people from our communities,' said Fatima Goss Graves, CEO and president of the National Women's Law Center. Conservative advocates say the case is about parental rights and religious freedom Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who was part of an amicus brief filed in the case in support of the Maryland parents, called the ruling a 'win for families.' "Students should not be forced to learn about gender and sexuality subject matter that violates their family's religious beliefs,' he said. Lawyer Eric Baxter, who represented the parents at the Supreme Court, also called the decision a 'historic victory for parental rights.' ' Kids shouldn't be forced into conversations about drag queens, pride parades, or gender transitions without their parents' permission,' Baxter said. Other opponents say ruling will have 'broad chilling effect' PEN America, a group advocating for free expression, said the court's decision could open the door to censorship and discrimination in classrooms. 'In practice, opt outs for religious objections will chill what is taught in schools and usher in a more narrow orthodoxy as fear of offending any ideology or sensibility takes hold,' said Elly Brinkley, a staff attorney at PEN America. In a joint statement Friday, some of the authors and illustrators of the books in question described the ruling as a threat to First Amendment rights to free speech, as well as diversity in schools. 'To treat children's books about LGBTQ+ characters differently than similar books about non-LGBTQ+ characters is discriminatory and harmful,' the statement said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The 9 LGBTQ+ children's books targeted in high court ruling upending education policy
Picture books are not usually the stuff of Supreme Court rulings. But on Friday, a majority of justices ruled that parents have a right to opt their children out of lessons that offend their religious beliefs — bringing the colorful pages of books like "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" and "Pride Puppy" into the staid public record of the nation's highest court. The ruling resulted from a lawsuit brought by parents in Montgomery County, Md., who sued for the right to remove their children from lessons where LGBTQ+ storybooks would be read aloud in elementary school classes from kindergarten through 5th grade. The books were part of an effort in the district to represent LGBTQ+ families in the English language arts curriculum. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that schools must 'notify them in advance' when one of the disputed storybooks would be used in their child's class, so that they could have their children temporarily removed. The court's three liberals dissented. Read more: Parents may pull their children from classes that offend their religion, Supreme Court rules As part of the the decisions, briefings and petitions in the case, the justices and lawyers for the parents described in detail the story lines of nine picture books that were part of Montgomery County's new curriculum. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor even reproduced one, "Uncle Bobby's Wedding," in its entirety. Here are the nine books that were the subject of the case: Pride PuppyAuthor: Robin Stevenson Illustrator: Julie McLaughlin "Pride Puppy," a rhyming alphabet book for very young children, depicts a little girl who loses her dog during a joyful visit to a Pride parade. The story, which is available as a board book, invites readers to spot items starting with each of the letters of the alphabet, including apple, baseball and clouds — as well as items more specific to a Pride parade. Lawyers representing the parents said in their brief that the "invites students barely old enough to tie their own shoes to search for images of 'underwear,' 'leather,' 'lip ring,' '[drag] king' and '[drag] queen,' and 'Marsha P. Johnson,' a controversial LGBTQ activist and sex worker." The "leather" in question refers to a mother's jacket, and the "underwear" to a pair of green briefs worn over tights by an older child as part of a colorful outfit. The Montgomery County Public Schools stopped teaching "Pride Puppy" in the midst of the legal battle. Read more: As children's book bans soar, sales are down and librarians are afraid. Even in California Love, VioletAuthor: Charlotte Sullivan WildIllustrator: Charlene Chua The story describes a little girl named Violet with a crush on another girl in her class named Mira, who "had a leaping laugh" and "made Violet's heart skip." But every time Mira tries to talk to her, Violet gets shy and quiet. On Valentine's Day, Violet makes Mira a special valentine. As Violet gathers the courage to give it to her, the valentine ends up trampled in the snow. But Mira loves it anyway and also has a special gift for Violet — a locket with a violet inside. At the end of the book, the two girls go on an adventure together. Lawyers for the parents describe "Love, Violet" as a book about "two young girls and their same-sex playground romance." They wrote in that "teachers are encouraged to have a 'think aloud' moment to ask students how it feels when they don't just 'like' but 'like like' someone." Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named PenelopeAuthor: Jodie Patterson Illustrator: Charnelle Pinkney Barlow In "Born Ready," 5-year-old Penelope was born a girl but is certain they are a boy. "I love you, Mama, but I don't want to be you. I want to be Papa. I don't want tomorrow to come because tomorrow I'll look like you. Please help me, Mama. Help me be a boy," Penelope tells their mom. "We will make a plan to tell everyone we know," Penelope's mom tells them, and they throw a big party to celebrate. In her dissent, Sotomayor notes, "When Penelope's brother expresses skepticism, his mother says, 'Not everything needs to make sense. This is about love.' " In their opening brief, lawyers for the families said that "teachers are told to instruct students that, at birth, people 'guess about our gender,' but 'we know ourselves best.' " Prince and Knight Author: Daniel Haack Illustrator: Stevie Lewis "Prince and Knight" is a story about a prince whose parents want him to find a bride, but instead he falls in love with a knight. Together, they fight off a dragon. When the prince falls from a great height, his knight rescues him on horseback. When the king and queen find out of their love, they "were overwhelmed with joy. 'We have finally found someone who is perfect for our boy!' " A great wedding is held, and "the prince and his shining knight would live happily ever after." "The book Prince & Knight clearly conveys the message that same-sex marriage should be accepted by all as a cause for celebration," said Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, a concerning message for Americans whose religion tells them that same-sex marriage is wrong. "For young children, to whom this and the other storybooks are targeted, such celebration is liable to be processed as having moral connotations," Alito wrote. "If this same-sex marriage makes everyone happy and leads to joyous celebration by all, doesn't that mean it is in every respect a good thing?" Uncle Bobby's WeddingAuthor: Sarah S. Brannen Illustrator: Lucia Soto In "Uncle Bobby's Wedding," a little girl named Chloe learns that her beloved uncle is engaged to his partner, a man named Jamie. At first, she worries that the marriage will change her close bond with her uncle. But she soon embraces the celebration and the joy of getting another uncle through the union. In the majority opinion, Alito wrote that the book sends children the message that "two people can get married, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex, so long as they 'love each other.' " That viewpoint is "directly contrary to the religious principles that the parents in this case wish to instill in their children." Parents ability to "present a different moral message" to their children, he said, "is undermined when the exact opposite message is positively reinforced in the public school classroom at a very young age." In her dissent, Sotomayor includes the entire book, writing that, "Because the majority selectively excerpts the book in order to rewrite its story." The majority's analysis, she writes, "reveals its failure to accept and account for a fundamental truth: LGBTQ people exist. They are part of virtually every community and workplace of any appreciable size. Eliminating books depicting LGBTQ individuals as happily accepted by their families will not eliminate student exposure to that concept." Jacob's Room to ChooseAuthor: Sarah Hoffman and Ian HoffmanIllustrator: Chris Case "Jacob's Room to Choose" is a follow-up to "Jacob's New Dress," a picture book listed as one of the American Library Assn.'s top 100 banned books of the last decade. Jacob wears a dress, and when he tries to use the boy's bathroom, two little boys "stared at Jacob standing in the doorway. Jacob knew what that look meant. He turned and ran out." The same thing happens to his friend Sophie, who presents as a boy and is chased out of the girl's bathroom. Their teacher encourages the whole class to rethink what gender really means. The class decides everyone should be able to use the bathroom that makes them feel comfortable, and makes new, inclusive signs to hang on the bathroom doors. "After relabeling the bathroom doors to welcome multiple genders, the children parade with placards that proclaim 'Bathrooms Are For Every Bunny' and '[choose] the bathroom that is comfy,' " lawyers for the parents wrote. IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All Author: Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council and Carolyn Choi Illustrator: Ashley Seil Smith "IntersectionAllies," written by three sociologists, is a story about characters with different identities, including one who uses a wheelchair, and another, Kate, who identifies as transgender. One page shows Kate in a gender-neutral bathroom, saying, "My friends defend my choices and place. A bathroom, like all rooms, should be a safe space." In the majority opinion, Alito describes a discussion guide included with the book that he said asserts: "When we are born, our gender is often decided for us based on our sex . . . . But at any point in our lives, we can choose to identify with one gender, multiple genders, or neither gender." The guide asks readers, 'What pronouns fit you best?' Alito wrote. What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns Author: Katherine LockeIllustrator: Anne Passchier "What Are Your Words" is a picture book about a child named Ari whose pronouns are "like the weather. They change depending on how I feel. And that's ok, because they're my words.' Ari's Uncle Lior (who uses they/them pronouns) is coming to visit, and Ari is struggling to decide which words describe them. "The child spends the day agonizing over the right pronouns," the lawyers for the parents wrote. At the end, while watching fireworks, Ari says, "My words finally found me! They and them feel warm and snug to me.' My RainbowAuthor: DeShanna Neal and Trinity NealIllustrator: Art Twink "My Rainbow" tells the true story of a Black child with autism who self-identifies as a transgender girl. Trinity wants long hair, just like her doll, but has trouble growing it out. "The mother decides that her child knows best and sews him a rainbow-colored wig," lawyers for the parents wrote. The Montgomery County Public Schools also stopped teaching "My Rainbow" during the course of the lawsuit. This article is part of The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
