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Pride Month: Why is women’s football so much more LGBTQ+ inclusive than the men’s game? – Sports Media LGBT+

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Pride Month: Why is women’s football so much more LGBTQ+ inclusive than the men’s game? – Sports Media LGBT+

In the third and final feature of his series on football for Pride Month, Danyal Khan asks Cheltenham’s Sophie Griffiths and sports reporter Beth Fisher whether they think the men’s game really is following the example set by the women’s game on LGBTQ+ inclusion…

Throughout this feature, you will also hear from football fans who are LGBTQ+ as they offer their views on why women’s football is more inclusive than men’s…

By Danyal Khan

Charlton Athletic fan Gary Ginnaw explains why he thinks the women’s game is more LGBTQ+ inclusive compared to the men’s

Women’s football leading the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity at the highest level – and what the men’s game can learn

Megan Rapinoe, Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr are three of many LGBTQ+ players who play at the highest level in the women’s game. 

Each of them are stars that shine bright for club and country every year, and as a result they inspire younger generations of LGBTQ+ girls into pursuing their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

The first name of the three – and arguably the biggest advocate for LGBTQ+ rights within the game and within society – Rapinoe is seen as a role model to Cheltenham Town Ladies academy graduate Sophie Griffiths.

Griffiths, 25, has made her breakthrough into the Robinesses side this season as an openly LGBTQ+ player.

Rapinoe’s influence in trying to inspire change for the LGBTQ+ community is admired by the young forward.

“There are quite a few I look up to, who set the bar high for women’s football,” Griffiths says. “Megan Rapinoe is a really good role model for me. 

“She says it as it is, doesn’t care about how people see her and she’s very much to the point. 

“Her morals, and the way she goes about things, are really good. And she has the best interests of everybody.

“Looking at the stats, around 40 women at the most recent World Cup were out, so that goes to shows the impact people like Rapinoe are having on the women’s football landscape. They are always changing things for the better.”

Rapinoe’s work has created the environment for players to be open about their sexuality, and Griffiths feels accepted by the rest of her team at Cheltenham.

“I feel really accepted at the club and it’s absolutely fine,” Griffiths reveals. “All the girls there are amazing. You find that a lot of the team are LGBTQ+ or are friends with someone who is. It’s completely normal and nobody ever says anything.

“I find it easy, which shows how accepting we are as a club and more specifically women’s football is to LGBTQ+ people like myself.” 

Charlton Athletic fan Sam Clarke on why women’s football is more LGBTQ+ inclusive compared to men’s football

Griffiths, who works as a teacher, explains why she thinks the women’s game is more LGBTQ+ inclusive than the men’s.

“For as long as I can remember, it’s always been quite accepted in the women’s game,” Griffiths reflects. “Maybe it could be something to do with the fact that it’s a newer institution, that has definitely helped with acceptance.

“But many girls grow up in these teams, we are surrounded by LGBTQ+ people all the time, meaning it’s easier for them to accept that there are some different players in the team.

“I don’t believe that because you are going to be in this team, you are going to fall into this LGBTQ+ culture and therefore become LGBTQ+ yourself.

“I feel like a lot of people who don’t follow women’s football perceive the situation like that.

“In the men’s game, it’s all about stigma and fear of change.”

ITV Wales’ Beth Fisher on the importance of having LGBTQ+ allies within men’s football
Beth Fisher on the fact that there are still some issues within women’s football in relation to LGBTQ+ inclusivity and representation

The theme of acceptance and being open with your identity is normalised in the women’s game, but what is the situation like in the men’s?

Taking the daunting step into the unknown hasn’t been a path followed by many regarding coming out in English men’s football.

Sheffield United fan Callum Mackay on what the men’s game can learn from the women’s when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusivity

In fact, the late and great Justin Fashanu was the only footballer to come out whilst being a player in the top four leagues of English football, and this happened in the 90s. 

 A new millennium later, and still we wait for a player to replicate the bravery Fashanu demonstrated all those years ago.

Instead, retirement and coming out in another country have been the paths that the brave Thomas Hitzlsperger, Robbie Rogers, Andy Brennan and Collin Martin have all taken when balancing out their sporting and personal lives. 

Why is there such a big cultural stigma within the footballing remit in this country?

LGBTQ+ sports reporter Beth Fisher explains: “I think there’s loads of complex issues, but you know what I always say is forget about the sport for one minute, these men have got to come out to their families and friends and to themselves. 

“And for a sportsman, coming out can affect certain things such as sponsorship opportunities and transfer possibilities.

“But coming out and accepting that you’re gay, is hard for some footballers who are from parts of the world where being homosexual is still considered to be illegal.

“There are so many layers to people coming out and then obviously coming out publicly is another layer which none of us really ever have had to go through.”

Beth Fisher on the sponsorship issue that could arise when/if a men’s player decides to come out

The question remains, will we ever see a couple of LGBTQ+ role models playing at the top level in the men’s game?

Griffiths is optimistic about the new younger generation helping when it comes to future players equalling the progress made in women’s football.

Aston Villa fan Tom Cowley on why the women’s game is more LGBTQ+ inclusive compared to the men’s game

Griffiths predicts: “In years to come, this will definitely be something that I can see happening. 

“It’s just one of those things that will take time. We need people in the men’s game to follow the example of the women and say, ‘it doesn’t really matter who you are’. 

“I’ve got so many male friends who are heavily into football, and they have gay mates, and they are absolutely fine with them and have no problem with them at all. 

“They are normally there as support, and I feel like this is starting to become more of a thing within younger generations, which is positive to see.”

Undoubtedly, there is a long way to go until this is a possibility in the men’s game. But the women’s side of the sport has given a blueprint as to what needs to be replicated.

Beth Fisher talks about her pride in seeing her partner Anita Asante being an LGBTQ+ role model in the women’s game

The rise of LGBTQ+ all-inclusive clubs and fan groups is a good start, but more needs to be done to bring about parity between the two.

Rapinoe, Miedema, and Kerr have shown it’s possible to be a top-level LGBTQ+ footballer, and it’s now time for the men’s game to move into a more tolerant era of acceptance and inclusion. 

Thanks to Danyal and all those he interviewed for his ‘LGBTQ+ In Football’ series.

Sports Media LGBT+ is a network, advocacy, and consultancy group that is helping to build a community of LGBT+ people and allies in sport. We’re also a digital publisher. Learn more about us here.

LGBT+ in sports? Your visibility will inspire other people – sharing your story can be hugely rewarding and you don’t have to be famous to make a positive and lasting impact. We encourage you to start a conversation with us, in confidence, and we’ll provide the best advice on navigating the media as part of your journey so that you retain control of your own narrative.

Email jon@sportsmedialgbt.com or send a message anonymously on our Curious Cat.

Explained: Why Hungary has banned LGBT content from school curriculum – The Indian Express

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Explained: Why Hungary has banned LGBT content from school curriculum – The Indian Express

Hundreds of protesters thronged the streets of Budapest on Wednesday, demanding the reversal of a newly adopted law that effectively bans all content about homosexuality and gender change from Hungarian school curriculum and television shows for children under the age of 18.

With the country’s upcoming parliamentary election less than a year away, the legislation is the latest in a string of discriminatory and anti-minority reforms initiated by the ruling conservative party Fidesz, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Introducing the legislation in parliament on Tuesday, the party claimed that the goal of the law was to ensure the “protection of children”, AP reported.

Human rights groups and queer activists have since denounced the law, accusing the Hungarian administration of discriminating against sexual minorities to further their conservative Christian agenda ahead of the polls.

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So, what do we know about Hungary’s new anti-LGBT+ law?

The latest Hungarian legislation outlaws disseminating information meant for children which is considered to promote homosexuality or gender change. “There are contents which children under a certain age can misunderstand and which may have a detrimental effect on their development at the given age, or which children simply cannot process, and which could therefore confuse their developing moral values or their image of themselves or the world,” a government spokesperson said.

The law also limits who can conduct sex education classes in schools. Now, only individuals and organisations listed in an official government registry can carry out these classes. This measure is meant to target “organisations with dubious professional background … often established for the representation of specific sexual orientations”.

The limitations placed on content is not limited to school curriculum alone. It also bans TV shows meant for children, which feature gay characters or LGBTQI+ themes. Hungary’s largest broadcasters have criticised the law, saying that it could even impact showings of popular films like the ‘Harry Potter’ series, as well as class shows like ‘Friends’, Reuters reported.

“Excluding sexual minorities from mass media hinders responsible and colourful portrayals of the world” in line with the values of tolerance and acceptance,” the Hungarian Association of Advertisers (MRSZ) said in a statement.

The law also bans companies and organisations from running advertisements in support of the LBTQI+ community, if they are targeted at minors, The Guardian reported. This is not the first time ad campaigns in support of sexual minorities have faced a backlash in Hungary. In 2019, several prominent Fidesz members called for a Coca Cola campaign featuring gay couples to be boycotted.

Is this the first time the Fidesz party has taken an anti-LGBT+ stance?

No, the Orban-led Hungarian government has previously introduced measures to prevent transgender and intersex people from changing their gender marker on official documents. It has also practically banned same-sex couples from adopting children.

The government has also defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman in the constitution, thereby excluding gay marriage altogether. A similar government-led LGBTQI+ movement is playing out in neighbouring Poland, where local authorities are passing laws against “LGBT ideology”. Both countries, close allies, have faced criticism from their European Union partners due to their regressive policies.

However despite criticism, Orban’s popularity in the country has long remained unchallenged. Since 2010, he has won three election landslides. Now opposition parties have joined forces for the first time and are finally catching up with the ruling Fidesz party in opinion polls.

The recent legislation was passed by 157 votes to one, after several Opposition leaders boycotted the vote. Their presence, however, would have made little difference, given the fact that Fidesz enjoys a healthy majority in the Hungarian parliament.

How have activists and political leaders responded to the new law?

Apart from protests in front of the parliament building in Budapest, the law has also elicited widespread criticism from political leaders, activists and human rights organisations from around the world.

In a letter, Amnesty International Hungary said that the law “clearly infringes the right to freedom of expression, human dignity and equal treatment.” Human Rights Watch pointed out that the law could have “sweeping consequences for health providers, educators, and artists, among others” apart from having a harmful impact on children.

Opposition leaders, including Anna Donath, have called on the EU to intervene and take immediate action against the Hungarian government. Ministers from the EU have been urged to raise the controversial law at an upcoming meeting in Luxembourg next week.

Before the vote on Tuesday, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Dunja Mijatović, called the legislation an “affront against the rights and identities of LGBTI persons” that would curtail freedom of expression in the country.

Countries that criminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use have poorer HIV outcomes – aidsmap

Kim Martel
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Countries that criminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use have poorer HIV outcomes – aidsmap

Countries that criminalise same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use have significantly more people with undiagnosed HIV and lower rates of viral suppression than countries that do not criminalise, or criminalise these areas to a lesser extent. Countries with human rights protections in place fared much better than those without on these HIV-related indicators, according to an analysis by Dr Matthew Kavanagh of Georgetown University. It has been published as a pre-print and has not yet been reviewed by other scientists.

The UNAIDS 2020 targets – that 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of those who know their status are on treatment and 90% of those on treatment are virally suppressed – have been achieved to varying degrees globally, with some countries making incredible progress and others lagging far behind. Currently, only 23 countries are on track to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030.

While HIV outcomes at a country level are determined by a variety of factors, the legal and policy environments can shape both vulnerability to HIV and how easily those at risk for and living with HIV are able to access services along the HIV care continuum, from testing to treatment. Financial resources is not always the central factor in this regard: in Thailand, over 90% of people living with HIV know their status and 78% are virally suppressed. This is in contrast to the United States, the country that spends the most on health care in the world – where progress towards reaching the targets vary widely from state to state and the country as a whole has made slower progress towards the 90:90:90 goals than some countries that spend much less.

“This research emphasises the crucial need to remove legal and systemic barriers to reducing the number of HIV infections globally.”

Criminalisation of same-sex relationships, sex work and drug use remains common in many UN member states. This means that key populations – such as gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers and injecting drug users face barriers to accessing much-needed HIV services. In some instances, seeking out HIV-related or sexual health services may present an opportunity for arrest, prosecution and imprisonment under these laws. Criminalisation contributes to a climate of stigma regarding these behaviours – including from health care providers and government institutions – leading people living with HIV to avoid seeking out services and mistrust service providers.  Many governments with these laws justify their existence based on supposed public health benefits.

This study considered data from all 194 UN member states to broadly gauge whether countries with criminalisation laws achieved better or worse HIV-related outcomes in relation to knowledge of HIV status and viral suppression.

For same-sex relationships, the researchers considered both laws in place and active prosecution under these laws; for sex work, any laws prohibiting buying, selling or organising of sex work and for drug use, whether or not use or possession of small amounts for personal use is criminalised. Similarly, researchers also considered whether countries had protections (such as non-discrimination protections and gender-based violence laws) in place.

Knowledge of HIV status

In countries criminalising same-sex relationships, the results revealed that knowledge of HIV status was 11% lower among those living with HIV compared to countries with no same-sex criminalisation. Similarly, countries that criminalise sex work had 10% fewer people knowing their status compared to those countries that do not. This pattern held for drug use criminalisation – where HIV-status knowledge was 14% lower in criminalising countries. However, after controlling for HIV prevalence and health expenditure at the national level, only the relationship between same-sex criminalisation and knowledge of HIV status maintained statistical significance.

According to the model, a theoretical country with no criminalisation across all three areas would have as much as 24% higher knowledge of HIV status than a country fully criminalising all areas.

A higher percentage of people living with HIV knew their status in countries with non-discrimination protections (10% more), independent human rights institutions (3%) and explicit gender-based violence laws (16%) compared to countries lacking these aspects.

Viral suppression

Similarly, viral suppression rates were lower in countries that criminalise same-sex relationships (8%), sex work (6%) and drug use (15%). Higher viral suppression was associated with protections in the form of non-discrimination (11%), independent human rights institutions (3%) and gender-based violence laws (16%), with non-discrimination and gender-based violence laws maintaining a significant association with viral suppression after taking HIV prevalence and health care expenditure into account.

A theoretical country with no criminalisation in this instance could have 18% higher viral suppression rates than one criminalising all three areas.

Conclusion

It’s worth noting some limitations to the study. The researchers did not adjust for many other factors that could affect these outcomes. If countries which criminalise tend to be countries which have some other defects in their HIV policy and programmes, the poorer outcomes could be driven by other factors rather than by criminalisation. 

Glossary

criminalisation

In HIV, usually refers to legal jurisdictions which prosecute people living with HIV who have – or are believed to have – put others at risk of acquiring HIV (exposure to HIV). Other jurisdictions criminalise people who do not disclose their HIV status to sexual partners as well as actual cases of HIV transmission. 

virological suppression

Halting of the function or replication of a virus. In HIV, optimal viral suppression is measured as the reduction of viral load (HIV RNA) to undetectable levels and is the goal of antiretroviral therapy.

stigma

Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.

systemic

Acting throughout the body rather than in just one part of the body.

statistical significance

Statistical tests are used to judge whether the results of a study could be due to chance and would not be confirmed if the study was repeated. If result is probably not due to chance, the results are ‘statistically significant’. 

Also, as this study is cross-sectional and looks broadly at trends at the country level, there is the danger of making the assumption that these broader trends also remain true at the individual level. This may not necessarily be the case, as the researchers simply set out to discover broadly whether countries with certain forms of criminalisation fare better than those without, in terms of certain HIV outcomes.

However, this research emphasises the crucial need to remove legal and systemic barriers when it comes to reducing the number of HIV infections globally. This is reflected in the revised UNAIDS 2025 targets: the aim is to have less than 10% of countries having punitive laws and policies, and less than 10% of those living with HIV experiencing stigma, discrimination, gender inequality and violence.

As the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima states: “We must put people first to get the AIDS response back on track. We must end the social injustices that put people at risk of contracting HIV. And we must fight for the right to health.”

Human Rights Campaign focuses on LGTBQ Issues – California News Times

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Human Rights Campaign focuses on LGTBQ Issues – California News Times
Los Angeles (KABC)-During Pride Month, witness newsmakers focused on social issues and laws affecting the LGBTQ community.

Guests were Alfonso David of the Human Rights Campaign Transgender Justice Initiative and Tori Cooper, President of the Human Rights Campaign. HRC is the largest LGBTQ rights organization in the world.They talked about newsmakers from Washington DC via Zoom

This week, the Ministry of Education has decided that Title IX will apply to gay and transgender students in federally funded schools.

The Human Rights Campaign praised the decision. HRC President Alfonso David said Title IX would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“As a matter of fact, this means that students facing discrimination at school can file complaints with the Ministry of Education, and their claims are arbitrated by the Ministry of Education in line with this interpretation under the law. I will, “said David.

“This is a big win for young people, children, sports, transgender people, and members of the non-binary community,” said Tori Cooper of HRC.

She further states, “It provides protection and acknowledges that the presence of transgender and non-gender-incompatible people is valid in sports and participation in sports is valid. It is necessary and protected. “

David said the ruling goes beyond sports.

“This covers harassment because LGBT children unfortunately face harassment at a much higher rate than non-LGBTQ children,” he added. So I think it is also important for us to emphasize other elements of everyday practice that this interpretation will cover now. “

The HRC is working towards passing the Senate under the Equality Act. It passed home in February.

David says this measure isn’t just about gay and transgender rights.

“When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, it did not include the public facility locations, retail stores, and transportation hubs we think of today. These spaces are traditionally public facilities. Is not considered. “

“So we have to amend existing legislation to protect us all. It’s not just LGBTQ people. It’s LGBTQ people, people of color, and religious minorities of women. This bill will protect us all. “

Seven out of ten voters say they support equality, but 2022 will be the watershed year of the anti-LGBTQ bill, HRC said. “Looking at all the bills submitted in the states across the country, more than 250-24 bills have been signed, and when you ask the elected civil servants, what is the problem they are actually solving? No. I can’t answer that question. ”

Copyright © 2021 KABC-TV. all rights reserved.

Human Rights Campaign focuses on LGTBQ Issues Source link Human Rights Campaign focuses on LGTBQ Issues

‘Sesame Street’ episode features family with 2 gay dads for Father’s Day – WLS-TV

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‘Sesame Street’ episode features family with 2 gay dads for Father’s Day – WLS-TV
There are some new faces on “Sesame Street” just in time for Father’s Day.

The show released a new episode featuring a family with two gay dads in celebration of Pride Month.

On the episode titled “Family Day,” we meet the husbands – played by Chris Costa and Alex Weisman – and their daughter, played by Olivia Perez.

In a post on Facebook, the co-director of the episode celebrated its airing writing: “Love is love, and we are so happy to add this special family to our Sesame family.”

Copyright © 2021 KABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Deadly Pride parade crash appears unintentional | News, Sports, Jobs – Marshalltown Times Republican

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Deadly Pride parade crash appears unintentional | News, Sports, Jobs – Marshalltown Times Republican

Police and firefighters respond after a truck drove into a crowd of people injuring them during The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival in Wilton Manors, Fla., on Saturday, June 19, 2021. WPLG-TV reports that the driver of the truck was taken into custody. (Chris Day/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A member of a men’s chorus group unintentionally slammed into fellow chorists at the start of a Pride parade in South Florida, killing one member of the group and seriously injuring another, the group’s director said Sunday, correcting initial speculation that it was a hate crime directed at the gay community.

Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Paul Rolli and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said the early investigation shows it was an accident. The 77-year-old driver was taken into custody, but police said no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.

The elderly driver had ailments that prevented him from walking, according to a statement Sunday from Fort Lauderdale Police, who said he was cooperating with the investigation and there was no evidence drugs or alcohol was involved.

“The early investigation now indicates it looks like it was a tragic accident, but nobody’s saying finally what it is,” Rolli told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

The driver and the victims were a part of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus family, a small 25-member group of mostly older men.

“Our fellow Chorus members were those injured and the driver is also a part of the Chorus family. To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community,” President Justin Knight said in a statement Sunday, calling it “an unfortunate accident.”

Rolli was on the float in front of the chorus truck along with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and other city officials at a staging area where the floats were being readied. Trantalis said the driver of a pickup truck suddenly accelerated when he was told he was next in the parade, crashing into the victims.

The driver continued across all lanes of traffic, ultimately crashing into a fence on the other side of the street, police said.

Rolli was on the other side of the float and didn’t witness the crash, but jumped off immediately and ran to the victims. In the confusion, it was unclear what happened.

“People were really distraught and some people were crying,” said Rolli, who explained that the crash happened in an area where the floats were lining up, so there weren’t as many parade-goers. “I was getting phone calls from people I knew at the other end waiting for the parade saying, ‘Is this true? Is that true, do we have anything to worry about?’ You don’t know at that point.”

Fort Lauderdale Police said no arrests have been made saying they are conducting a thorough investigation with the FBI, nothing in a statement they are “considering and evaluating all possibilities.”

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Political donations lead Stonewall Inn to ban some beers – WJXT News4JAX

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Political donations lead Stonewall Inn to ban some beers – WJXT News4JAX

NEW YORK – The Stonewall Inn’s owners say they won’t serve certain beers at the famous LGBT bar during Pride weekend to protest manufacturer Anheuser-Busch’s political contributions to some politicians who have supported anti-LGBT legislation.

Co-owners Stacy Lentz and Kurt Kelly said they would be instituting the ban on Friday in support of the “Keep Your Pride” campaign, a recently launched effort highlighting five companies that it says advertise support during Pride but have also made contributions to anti-LGBT lawmakers.

The campaign, a project of Corporate Accountability Action, used data compiled from the National Institute on Money in Politics to show that Anheuser-Busch contributed more than $35,000 to 29 legislators it described as anti-LGBT between 2015 and 2020.

“We just felt Stonewall having the platform, the power to do this, it was important to stand up,” Lentz said. “We really just want Anheuser-Busch to stop donating to lawmakers who are trying to legalize discrimination.”

In a statement, Anheuser-Busch said, “We support candidates for public office whose policy positions and objectives support investments in our communities, job creation, and industry growth.”

The statement continued, “Together, with our brands, we have a clear role to play in bringing real change and creating an inclusive and equitable world where we cherish and celebrate one another.”

It was at an earlier incarnation of the Stonewall Inn in June 1969 when bar patrons fought with police who had come to carry out a raid, which galvanized gay rights activism around the country and the world.

Former Cambria County native continues making a difference – Altoona Mirror

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Former Cambria County native continues making a difference – Altoona Mirror

Heather S. DeWees (right), Clerk of Circuit Court, administers the oath of office for Mayor of Sykesville to Stacy Link. Link is formerly of Chest Springs and is the first female to hold the position in the town’s history.
Courtesy photo

A former Cambria County woman who won the right to play on a boys Little League team when she was 9 is now serving as the first woman mayor and first gay mayor of Sykesville, Maryland.

Whether she is restoring her 125-year-old home and carriage house or overcoming voter apathy, Stacy Link has a reputation for success.

Her cousin, Nichole (Link) Tewell of Duncansville, said that when she found out Link was running for mayor against a longtime incumbent, she had no doubts Link would succeed.

“Not for one second did I doubt she would win. I knew she would win. If Stacy’s focused on something and wants something and it’s important, she will make it happen,” Tewell said. “She moved to a town where she’s not a local, she’s a woman, a gay woman, and look at all the things she’s been able to do. It’s a statement of who she is. She’s always been that way. She likes to make a difference.”

Link opted to oppose longtime conservative incumbent mayor Ian Shaw rather than seek a third term on town council.

“I was risking my seat at the table by running for mayor. I felt there was much more I could do and accomplish (as mayor),” Link said.

Named the “Coolest Small Town in America” in 2016, Sykesville, in Carroll County, Maryland, is 20 miles west of Baltimore and 40 miles north of Washington, D.C. It has a population of 4,436, according to the 2010 census.

Link is the third female mayor in Carroll County.

She undertook an extensive door-to-door campaign with twin goals of winning and increasing voter turnout. She and her supporters accomplished both. Voters turned out in historic numbers and Link won 111 votes more than the incumbent opponent. The final tally, 519 for Link and 408 for Shaw.

“We engaged inactive voters. Voters turned out. That’s 33% greater numbers on May 4 than they did four years ago,” Link said. “It was about making neighbors aware of what is going on in the community — they should know how their tax dollars are being spent and have a say in what services are provided. They should know my phone number and my email address and that’s been lacking.”

A self-described environmentalist and conservationist, Link, who drives a 2016 hybrid car, has been a highly visible community member for years, said Julie Della-Maria, executive director of the Downtown Sykesville Connection, an economic development organization. Link led a grassroots campaign for a Main Street Association in 2011 that later became The Downtown Sykesville Connection.

“Stacy had already been carrying the effort for so long. She knows what is the right way to engage people and demonstrates such leadership,” Della-Maria said. “With a leader like her, the sky’s the limit. She has a vision that completely embraces our mission to improve the quality of life of residents and visitors alike. Her leadership is so inclusive. She doesn’t see limits and takes no sides. She won because of leadership.”

Lifelong friend and former St. Benedict resident Maxine (Cavallo) Gesualidi, who lives in the Philadelphia area, credited their mutual upbringing in rural Cambria County for her success.

“(Link) has this sense of justice, fairness, grittiness and perseverance that came from where we lived. She sees the value in everyone,” Gesualidi said.

They learned to care for others, such as bringing a casserole to a neighbor during a family illness or death.

“You don’t see that in the bigger communities, but we’ve taken that with us.”

Link said she learned from her parents to anticipate a neighbor’s need — without being asked. Her parents, Regis and Polli, still live in Chest Springs.

Her father recalled his daughter’s birth.

“The doctor said to us, ‘She will be different and she will make a difference.’ I don’t know how he knew that. Stacy was very bright, alert and outgoing right from the beginning.”

Regis Link still becomes emotional when talking about the couple’s decision to pursue a sexual discrimination suit against the Patton Little League in the mid-1980s.

“It was my first awareness of being vulnerable to other people’s control,” Stacy Link said. “And, how (being female) might be used to keep me from what I wanted to accomplish.”

The legal action, Regis Link said, came after efforts to resolve the dispute locally failed.

“I had to support my daughter. She was good enough to play and she wanted to play,” he said. “I created a lot of hard feelings and it was difficult but it eventually worked out. She went to college and played softball and did well.”

While Link won the legal right to play on the all-male team, she opted for girls softball.

“I’m thankful I got turned away. It has built the foundation of who I am. I do not like being told no. If you give me a reason and it’s not a good one, I’ll prove you wrong.”

At first, Mayor Link said she didn’t want to win just because she was a woman. But in talking to voters she realized constituents — especially the fathers of daughters — wanted her to win so their daughters had a positive role model.

Shortly after the election, a Sykesville family told her she inspired them to vote after 25 years of apathy.

“They made it a family affair and the daughter said she was so excited that she got to vote for the first female mayor on her very first ballot she cast,” Link said. “That took me back to being 9 years old. I didn’t have anyone like me to look up to back then. Of all the things that people have shared with me, that’s what makes the greatest sense. Young girls need a positive role model.”

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Peter Gay: Thank you Tony! | Columns | thesunchronicle.com – The Sun Chronicle

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Peter Gay: Thank you Tony! | Columns | thesunchronicle.com – The Sun Chronicle

Tony Calcia would often begin his many stints as master of ceremonies by asking, “Can everyone see me?”

The joke was, of course, in reference to his size.

His self-deprecating humor would continue for a few minutes before he turned his attention to those in the room. After all, how could you be upset if he made a joke about you after doing the same to himself?

No one could see Tony during the special event to celebrate his life Saturday morning at one of his favorite spots in earth, Community Field, but his presence was felt.

Tony died suddenly on March 27, 2020, when Massachusetts and most of the world was on lockdown due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

Although Tony’s funeral was limited to a small gathering of family, hundreds of others in dozens of cars followed the procession through North Attleboro as it stopped at numerous spots that were significant in his life.

Tony loved his hometown and residents showed Saturday that the feeling was mutual.

21 East

The six-story apartment complex across South Washington Street from Community Field was in the news this week.

I was impressed with the members of North Attleboro’s planning board when they turned down a request from officials of the 21 East apartment complex on the site of the former Balfour building.

Planning Board Chair Marie Clarner said it best: “I feel like we’re in a lose, lose, lose (situation) at the moment.”

Apartments have been ready for tenants for months but the town has withheld the issuing of an occupancy permit until flooding issues are addressed.

A woman who lives on Holbrook Street and whose property abuts 21 East told the board she had water in her basement for months as a result of the project.

Her family is without heat and hot water as a result.

“The only thing we’re surviving on right now is electricity,” the woman said. “Why should they be allowed to have people in there with hot running water and air conditioning and I don’t even have that?”

She added that she is worried about what will happen the next time a tropical storm hits the area.

A man who was supposed to move into his apartment at 21 East months ago asked the board to grant a permit for partial occupancy, “I’ve felt entrapped because I’ve been promised this space since March without this ever being a possibility.”

That’s certainly not the fault of town officials and the residents of Holbrook Street they serve.

Juneteenth

I’ve encountered a number of people — all white males — who have mocked about the creation of the federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery.

I’ve heard others — all white males — state that they don’t consider America a racist nation.

I don’t agree and point to the recent yearbook-signing at Seekonk’s Hurley Middle School as proof that we have a long way to go before we are truly free of racism.

I have to wonder if the opinion of those white males would be different if they had been born to a minority family in a big city with parents struggling to put food on the table.

Your welcome

Last week in this space I thanked the members of the enterology department at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for the care they gave me during a recent colonoscopy.

It is not the first time I’ve complimented the staff at Sturdy.

It is the first time, however, I’ve received a phone call thanking me for the shout out.

One of the nurses left a message on my voicemail on Friday.

“Thank you for the very kind words that you said about your experience here,” the recording, from Elaine, said.

“All the nurses here really appreciate it and thank you very much,” she added.

You’re welcome. It’s the least I could have done for how comfortable you made me during a procedure only a sadist would enjoy.

China’s LGBTQIA+ trust can’t be bought | Analysis – Campaign Asia

Kim Martel
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China’s LGBTQIA+ trust can’t be bought | Analysis – Campaign Asia

China is home to the largest gay social app in the world, Blued, which made history when it went public in 2020. Its founder, Ma Baoli or “Geng Le,” was awarded Man of Year by GQ China. Yet, every step forward is the result of generations of LGBTQIA+ advocacy. As is the case globally, being “out” in China, whether gay, lesbian, transgender or other, comes with daily challenges.

While Pride has now become a global celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities with increasing corporate involvement, it is foremost a protest and recognition of a community’s strength in the face of adversity. Brands who aim to attract China’s “pink yuan” need to remember this applies here as much as any country. 

Given China’s vast population, the spending power of its queer community should not be undervalued. Estimates suggest that LGBTQIA+ members in China number over 70 million, which puts their spending power at roughly $300 billion across industries—and counting. Therefore, as companies seek more ways to engage and expand their Chinese consumer base post-pandemic, the onus is on them to understand and respect the “pink yuan” if they wish to court it. 

The recent appointment of openly transgender icon Jin Xing as brand ambassador by Dior has been heralded as a milestone of positivity by citizens, showing that attitudes in China might be slowly shifting. Meanwhile, a number of local brands like Neiwai and CoFancy are actively supporting and endorsing these citizens on an ongoing basis.  

Although the parade has been disbanded, Pride Shanghai will hold a “rainbow party” this week sponsored by Absolut Vodka on June 19 and launch a Proud Stories podcast towards the end of the month. Here, Jing Daily explores China’s pink economy and how luxury can step up—not only for the month of June, but all year round.  

The growth of China’s LGBTQIA+ community

From online platforms and advertising to mainstream TV dramas, citizens in China’s LGBTQIA+ base are becoming more visible and vocal. This is amplified by netizen support online which has been on the rise too; for example, this year the hashtag “#517 the day to stand against homophobia” has over 1 billion views on Weibo. 

Beauty expert Linzi Zhan says that the award given to “Geng Le” last year shows how the issue has gradually entered public conversation: “Nowadays, China definitely offers a more open and freer macro context for discussing and expressing people’s perspectives of their sexual preference. You will see gay fashion editors and beauty experts share their beauty tutorials on Little Red Book.”

This exposure on social media has been helped by the likes of Bilibili, which Zhan says has been very encouraging of lesbian bloggers especially. “It offers traffic support for them though this might be biased with people considering content from females as very girly and gentle without offense,” she said. “Transgender beauty bloggers are more frequent on Bilibili and TikTok as well.” 

This popularity comes despite the difficulties faced by the group at work, school, or at home, as well as different geographical locations. But it’s the younger generations that are approaching the issue with a more open-mindset. Caroline Chen, co-founder of Top10 C-beauty brand CoFancy, pinpoints them as leaders for change. 

“Millennial and Gen Z acceptance of this community is very high. Also, many young brands want to express themselves, be open, free and inclusive with trendy ideas.” Chen also notes advertising—even Alibaba has produced a same-sex advert—and entertainment as keys to pushing acceptance. 

Famous TV shows and dramas, animations and fan fiction are expressing stories with an LGBT slant, “albeit in an obscure way.” The popular breakout Chinese TV drama Word of Honor starring Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan has recently dropped on Netflix and is based on a gay fiction. 

Following the success of The Untamed, Word of Honor is another TV show that taps China’s Boys’ Love (BL) phenomenon. Photo: Youku


On the flip side, some of these representations have been deemed too forward. Brands found this out when embroiled in a fan fiction debacle last year with idol Xiao Zhan in which followers were unhappy about the representation of their favourite idol in homoerotic literature and boycotted Cartier, Estée Lauder and Piaget. This backlash indicated that like many countries, there is still much anti-queer sentiment in China. 

What global brands can learn from local companies

The conversation of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in the luxury industry does not start and end in June. Consumers are becoming more discerning of brands who actually care about inclusivity versus brands who are faking it. Although some have year-long efforts, this year, many companies started to engage this base from May’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). 

Laurence Lim Dally, founder at branding agency, Cherry Blossoms, suggests local names are doing a better job in addressing these issues as their approach is more emotional and authentic, notably through the topic of family rejection and reconciliation. “Many gay advertisements depict the empowering freedom but also the difficulty to live the life that you choose. They focus on real, authentic life stories, which make these campaigns more emotional.”     

Lim Dally points to uplifting campaigns from companies like phone maker Meizu and Didi which both encouraged acceptance and celebrated the freedom to love who you want. Intimates label Neiwai has built diversity and body positivity into its company DNA from the start. “The campaign Nowness also stages the intimacy of gay couples through personal and intimate phone recorded testimonials — it’s a way to make gay people look ‘normal’ and to celebrate love.” 

The Neiwai x XU ZHI campaign explores intimate relationships and features lesbian and gay couples. Photo: Screenshot, Neiwai’s Weibo


For Spring 2021, homegrown activewear brand Maia Active’s campaign told stories that challenged the norm, including one from a transgender woman. Its accompanying inclusive hashtag #SheCanMakeHerOwnDecision received over 12 million views in one week on Weibo. 

Western brands can do better

Put simply, the challenge for luxury brands is to resonate at a deeper level when speaking to these groups and addressing their struggles. This begins with industry leaders understanding that the fight for equality is not tied to one dimensional causes. Luxury needs to avoid “inauthenticity and accusations of rainbow capitalism,” Lim Dally reminds. 

Moreover, there’s a reason the acronym and the associated pride flag continue to grow, to fully represent the intersectionality that exists within the queer community. Particularly when dealing with China, brands would be well advised to focus on a specific cause where they can impose change, in addition to sharing far reaching messages of acceptance. 

Companies that have understood this nuance have fared well, from Jin Xing at Dior to Farfetch’s collaboration with drag queen @莲龙青Kudos and voguer @雪莲莲ShirleyMilan. “All brands can show their care about LGBT fans in various ways, just don’t make it too commercial or utilitarian,” Zhan says. “Don’t be too obsessed with certain figures or over fascinating their lives on purpose. Put more emphasis on encouraging people to express themselves freely.” 

Farfetch spotlights drag queen @莲龙青Kudos on its social media during Pride month. Photo: Screenshot, Farfetch’s Weibo


Beyond the fact that the gay market in China may be underestimated by Western brands, companies are increasingly aware they have a role to play in promoting diversity, rather than purely look to profit. “Any marketing or brand activities should not be used as a means to bring sales growth for the purpose, but always from the brand spirit, or attitude, from top to bottom,” Chen concludes. For many major luxury brands this means a deep rewriting of their history and internal culture. This will show they truly understand, respect, and genuinely want to support the community, not just take its pink yuan. 

Out MOV invites community to Parkersburg celebration | News, Sports, Jobs – Parkersburg News

Kim Martel
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Out MOV invites community to Parkersburg celebration | News, Sports, Jobs – Parkersburg News

PARKERSBURG — Out MOV will host a family-friendly Pride in the Park LGBTQIA+ Community Celebration from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 26 at the Band Shell in City Park.

This event is an opportunity to join in a community celebration of Pride Month.

“Out MOV is proud to invite every member of the LGBTQIA+ community, our friends, allies and family members to join us for a day of family fun in the park as we celebrate our community,” said Out MOV Vice President Jeanne Peters.

Live entertainment for the day will be provided by local musicians The Janes, Fox and The Forest, Racheal Harrison, LeeAnn Galluci, Smokestack Betty, The Gay Agenda, and Back Porch Alibi. C8Cosplay and Professor Bubblemaker will also share the joy with the crowd all day.

Out MOV Inc. is a 501c4 nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization working to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ people in the Mid-Ohio Valley by promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion through education, communication, and advocacy. Out MOV works to connect community members with services and organizations that enrich and support their lives.

Several organizations will be exhibiting at the event, including: Actors Guild of Parkersburg, ACLU of WV, Children’s Home Society, Circles Campaign, Fairness WV, Hope Recovery Manor, Job Corps, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Morgantown Pride, New Wineskins, Planned Parenthood, Prevent Suicide WV/Westbrook Health Services, Queer Mountaineers, United Way 211, You Matter I Matter, Wood County Democrats and WV Free.

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Sesame Street introduces family with 2 gay dads during Pride Month – WISHTV.com

Kim Martel
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Sesame Street introduces family with 2 gay dads during Pride Month – WISHTV.com

(CNN) — There are some new faces on “Sesame Street” and they’re bringing a new layer of diversity to the decades-old children’s show.

The show dropped its Family Day episode Thursday on HBO Max (which, like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia) and YouTube. The episode featured a family with two gay dads.

On the episode, Nina introduces her brother and his husband, played by Chris Costa and Alex Weisman, as well as their daughter, played by Olivia Perez, to Elmo and his friends as they celebrate Family Day.

The milestone for the show comes during Pride Month, which Alan Muraoka, known as Alan on “Sesame Street,” acknowledged in a Facebook post.

“Sesame Street has always been a welcoming place of diversity and inclusion. So I’m so excited to introduce Nina’s Brother Dave, his husband Frank, and their daughter Mia to our sunny street,” Muraoka, who co-directed the episode, wrote. “Love is love, and we are so happy to add this special family to our Sesame family.”

LGBTQ advocates celebrated the inclusion.

“The ‘Family Day’ episode of Sesame Street sends the simple and important message that families come in all forms and that love and acceptance are always the most important ingredients in a family,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis tweeted.

“Sesame Street” has throughout the years introduced diverse characters and tackled issues such as hunger and addiction.

Earlier this year, the show introduced two new Muppet characters who were both African American and discussed what racial difference means.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

MTC presents CYRANO, a gender-flipped musical adaptation by Virginia Gay | News – Aussie Theatre

News Editor
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MTC presents CYRANO, a gender-flipped musical adaptation by Virginia Gay | News – Aussie Theatre

Virginia Gay ups the ante with a gender-flipped, music-filled take on Cyrano de Bergerac.Packed with joy, wit and aching romance, Cyrano will make its world premiere on Thursday 5 August at Southbank Theatre.

Following the wild success of Calamity Jane, Gay gives us a delightfully self-aware theatrical love letter for our times, freely adapted from Edmond Rostand’s literary classic.

Virginia Gay

Directed by Sarah Goodes (Home, I’m Darling), the production is written by and starring Virginia Gay (Vivid White), alongside Holly Austin (Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears), Robin Goldsworthy (This Much Is True), Milo Hartill (Guerilla Sabbath), Claude Jabbour (Eden) and Tuuli Narkle (Sunshine Super Girl).

Virginia Gay said:

I am utterly thrilled to be bringing Cyrano to MTC. I wrote it in high lockdown in LA, where I went months without touching another human being, and I created it specifically for Melbourne – I thought we all deserved a reward for getting through these dark times. It’s filled with joy and hope and music and so many laughs – celebrating the very thing we haven’t been able to do for so long – coming together in a theatre. It’s magic, that. Cyrano is the story of a terrific, sparkling human being carefully, tenderly coming out of isolation, and the courage and hope and the collective act of community it takes to do that.’

Cyrano is the most interesting person in any room – a wordsmith, a charmer, a ruthless fighter. She works twice as hard and runs twice as fast as any of the pretty boys, because she’s deeply ashamed of something about herself. She’s fallen hard for Roxanne, the brilliant, beautiful new girl in town with a penchant for poetry and a way with words. Just like Cyrano. But Roxanne’s only got eyes for Yan: hot, manly Yan; all-brawn-and-no brains Yan, who’s dumbstruck around Roxanne – probably shy, right? Until suddenly he starts saying the most amazing things. But it’s not Yan writing these perfect love scenes, it’s Cyrano…

Virginia Gay is a graduate of WAAPA. Her theatre credits include Vivid White, Minnie & Liraz, The Beast and On The Production of Monsters (Melbourne Theatre Company); and Gaybies(Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Calamity Jane (One Eyed Man Productions); The Wharf Revue(Sydney Theatre Company); Cautionary Tales For Children (Arena); High Society (Hayes Theatre); Mame (Neglected Musicals); The Producers, Jerry’s Girls (The Production Company) and La Clique (Famous Spiegeltent – Leicester Square). In addition to writing Cyrano she’s also written a new play, The Boomkak Panto, which will premiere in December at Belvoir, and which she will also co-direct. Her film credits include Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch (Sundance); and she wrote and directed the short film Paper Cut (Tropfest 2018). Her television credits include being a series regular on All Saints and Winners & Losers; team captain on CRAM! (10); ABC Book Club(ABC); Good News Week (10); In Gordon St Tonight (ABC). Virginia won a Sydney Theatre Award for her role in Calamity Jane.  

Script development of Cyrano by Virginia Gay (after Edmond Rostand) has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney Festival and the NSW Government through Create NSW and the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants.

Tickets and more information are available at mtc.com.au

Orlando Pride captain Ashlyn Harris leads team in supporting trans children – Orlando Sentinel

Kim Martel
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Orlando Pride captain Ashlyn Harris leads team in supporting trans children – Orlando Sentinel

“This sport has given me so much,” Harris said. “It’s given me a place to call home. Truthfully, it saved my life. And I just feel really sad inside that our governor is attacking these children and telling them that they can’t play this sport, which for us is a place where everyone belongs. It’s an inclusive sport, everyone’s safe, everyone is seen, everyone is accepted for all their individualities and their differences. Our team is heartbroken and we need to make actionable steps.”

Michigan gay couple discusses process of finalizing family through adoption – Fox17

News Editor
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Michigan gay couple discusses process of finalizing family through adoption – Fox17

LANSING, Mich. — Just this past week, the Supreme Court ruled that the city of Philadelphia can’t refuse to work with a faith based agency because it will not certify same-sex couples as foster parents. It’s a battle between protection of religious exercise and LGBTQ rights, something a mid-Michigan couple knows about.

Soon after their marriage five years ago, Anthony Soto and James McGrath realized they were ready for the next step in building their family and open to fostering to eventually adopt. But living in Texas then, like Michigan at the time and so many other states right now, was in a battle as to whether a state can cut-off its relationship with a foster or adoption.

McGrath who was working at Texas A & M at the time is currently the president, dean and professor at WMU-Cooley Law School and describes the controversy. “That means if you are going to provide these services for the state, you can’t discriminate on any of the protected classes which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.”

McGrath says at the time in Texas, there were a number of different fostering agencies which simply didn’t accept gay or lesbian couples, but Anthony says living in a bigger city like Fort Worth helped them in their search for an accepting agency. “Luckily we knew people in the area that had used the agency prior, so for us that was a very important piece of the process.”

The couple quickly found a fit with then 4 ½ year old Kinsey and a year in a half later they officially adopted Kinsey in November of 2018. Anthony said, “We sort of had that moment when you saw her, and we said, ‘Ok this is our family.’” James added, “She just fit right into our family. We have animals, cats and dogs and she just came in and immediately became part of the family.” Kinsey who will turn 9 this summer is excited to return to in-person school again this fall when she enters the 3rd grade.

The now family of three lives in Lansing and says overall their community is accepting, however there aren’t any similar families in their school or community, at-least that they know of, but Anthony says they generally feel “accepted” with James adding, “If you look at the nationwide statistics, 21% I think of same sex couples have adopted, but again you have to be open, you have to be out there. So not everybody is out there. I grew up in an era where it was kind of dangerous to self-disclose that you are gay or lesbian. I personally have never been the victim, but have been around when these things have happened and have friends who have been victims of gay bashing. That’s not what’s happening here and now, it’s just we feel more invisible I think.”

As a pride flag waves proudly in their yard this month, this now complete family says the progress they are seeing across the country is a welcomed change, regardless of what the courts may say. “During Pride Month, even in Lansing and Detroit, I see stores having the gay flag and publicly supporting the LGBT community, and I think that’s something that I certainly didn’t see 25 years ago. So I think all those things help,” Anthony told Fox 17.

A federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan recently entered a temporary order that allows religious adoption agencies to continue their selective practices, but that is still pending and it’s expected the final ruling will involve an appeal, regardless of the court order.

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