Country singer Kacey Musgraves is frustrated that the country music industry isn’t LGBT-inclusive. During the New Yorker Festival on October 5, Vulture asked Musgraves about her LGBT following. “What I think it is — someone told me this recently and it broke my heart — they said, ‘I’ve grown up loving country music and I grew up gay in a small town, and country music has always felt like a big party that I wasn’t invited to.’ Oh my god, you’re invited to my party,” Musgraves replied. “It’s crazy that a certain kind of a person could feel excluded from a genre that’s so real — or supposed to be so real. That has always really pissed me off. Because I love the genre so much, I felt, ‘Well fine, maybe I’ll just have an all-gay audience.’” She went on to say she became an LGBT ally when a friend came out to her after they graduated high school. “I was the first person … [Read more...] about Kacey Musgraves is ‘pissed’ country music isn’t LGBT-inclusive
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Florida ranks No. 3 on HRC’s 2014 ‘Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality’ survey
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) 2014 report, showing Florida as No. 3 in the number of recognized HEI 2014 “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality.” 26 Florida healthcare systems were recognized as “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality,” tying with Ohio and coming behind California and New York. The following healthcare systems in Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area were recognized: The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) The grading for the HRC Foundation’s HEI 2014 survey is based on healthcare systems meeting a Core Four Leader Criteria covering patient nondiscrimination, LBGT-inclusive visitation and employment nondiscrimination. Eligible healthcare systems have received HEI approved training for dealing with their LGBT patients. “At the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center and our clinics located across southwest Florida, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, high-quality health care … [Read more...] about Florida ranks No. 3 on HRC’s 2014 ‘Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality’ survey
Chick-fil-A partnership with Pittsburgh Marathon causes ire among LGBT activists
Activists have criticized the Pittsburgh Marathon for partnering with Chick-fil-A. (Reuters) The Pittsburgh Marathon ran into some problems earlier this month when it announced Chick-fil-A as the official title partner for its children’s race. Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R) announced its partnership with Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh late last month and celebrated with a family-oriented event on Oct. 2. Children posed for photos with the iconic cow mascot dressed in running gear and took home prizes and coupons. Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh serves as the title partner of the kids' marathon and a presenting partner for Kids of STEEL, a nutrition and activity program for children in southwestern Pennsylvania. “We’re grateful to Chick-fil-A for their support and are thrilled they share our commitment to inspiring the next generation of runners throughout the Pittsburgh region,” Troy Schooley, P3R senior vice president, said in a statement. NORTH CAROLINA … [Read more...] about Chick-fil-A partnership with Pittsburgh Marathon causes ire among LGBT activists
Anti-LGBT legal organization designated a hate group
The Southern Poverty Law Center on Wednesday announced it has designated an anti-LGBT legal organization as a hate group. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which is based in Montgomery, Ala., describes the Alliance Defending Freedom as “a legal advocacy and training group that specializes in supporting the recriminalization of homosexuality abroad, ending same-sex marriage and generally making life as difficult as possible for LGBT communities in the U.S. and internationally.” The Southern Poverty Law Center on Wednesday also released a series of anti-LGBT statements that current and former Alliance Defending Freedom staffers and their supporters have made. “[C]ontrol of the educational system is central to those who want to advance the homosexual agenda,” said then-Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Piero Tozzi in a speech he gave at the World Congress of Families’ 2012 conference in Madrid. “By its very nature, homosexual acts are … [Read more...] about Anti-LGBT legal organization designated a hate group
Tokyo adopts ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT community
In a bid to curtail hate speech ahead of the 2020 Games, Tokyo on Friday adopted an anti-discrimination ordinance aimed at protecting the LGBT community.The rule is the first ordinance at the prefectural level to contain a stipulation prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people and other sexual and gender minorities.The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly approved the ordinance at its regular session held Friday, despite criticism that there had been insufficient debate over potential conflicts between the measure and laws to protect free speech.The goal of the ordinance, which is scheduled to take effect in April, is to use edifying campaigns and education to realize the Olympic Charter goal of respect for human rights.The charter is a set of rules and guidelines documenting the fundamental Olympic principles. It states: “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, color, sex, sexual … [Read more...] about Tokyo adopts ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT community