Month: August 2017

OPINIONS

Trump’s ban on transgender recruits is ‘about normalizing hate,’ says Chelsea Manning

August 27, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Trump’s ban on transgender recruits is ‘about normalizing hate,’ says Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning, the U.S. military’s most famous transgender service member, accused President Trump of “normalizing hate” by issuing a directive banning trans recruits. The former Army intelligence analyst took aim at the policy change from her widely-followed Twitter account Friday shortly after it was reported that Mr. Trump signed a directive banning the Department of Defense from recruiting transgender individuals into the armed forces on the heels of announcing his intentions in a tweet of his own last month.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Burning Man, where no body cares if you’re gay.

August 27, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Burning Man, where no body cares if you’re gay.

This year’s Burning Man — the wild, weeklong, annual festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert — will start on August 27. Tens of thousands of people are expected to venture to the desert and follow a 31-year tradition of creating a temporary city, making art, throwing nonstop parties, and burning “the man” (a 100-foot flammable structure that resembles a stick figure).

WORLD NEWS

LGBT issues not discussed in Northern Ireland schools.

August 27, 2017 compassq Comments Off on LGBT issues not discussed in Northern Ireland schools.

Just over one in five schools in Northern Ireland have said they cover lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) issues with pupils. That is one of the findings of a Department of Education (DE) survey of more than 420 schools. Schools were asked whether they covered LGB issues in relationship and sex education (RSE) or other parts of the curriculum.

US NEWS

Being Baptist in an LGBT friendly world.

August 27, 2017 compassq Comments Off on Being Baptist in an LGBT friendly world.

Last year, an elementary school classmate came out as a transgender boy to Dean Inserra’s fourth-grade son. So, the Southern Baptist pastor turned it into a teachable moment. Inserra, who leads City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, said he told his son that nothing changes about their friendship, and the loving thing to do was to use the name his classmate preferred. However, at home, the Inserra family would make clear his friend is biologically a girl.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

No new transgender troops, but everything else is up to Mattis.

August 27, 2017 compassq Comments Off on No new transgender troops, but everything else is up to Mattis.

President Trump signed a long-awaited directive on Friday that precludes transgender individuals from joining the military but gives Defense Secretary Jim Mattis wide discretion in determining whether those already in the armed forces can continue to serve. Mr. Mattis’s decisions will be based on several criteria, including military effectiveness and budgetary concerns, a senior White House official said in briefing reporters.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

A shelter for Britain’s LGBT homeless.

August 26, 2017 compassq Comments Off on A shelter for Britain’s LGBT homeless.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to open Britain’s first homeless shelter for LGBT people. The shelter, based in London, will comprise a former tour bus previously owned by the rock band Status Quo remodelled to temporarily house those most at risk from the dangers of rough-sleeping – many of whom also face compound problems resulting from hate crimes, domestic abuse, family rejection, and poor mental health.